Divine mortals by Amanda M. Helander

Mona Arnett describes herself as ‘the girl who killed her brother, who never leaves the house’. She’s also a reknown soothsayer able to divine each person’s soul-mate. It’s a gift she’s received from her protector, Irinorr, Crow God of Love. Her notoriety leads to an invitation to join the elite group of royal magicians charged with the task of selecting the ideal partner for the ailing king, to ensure a successor before the kingdom’s bond with magic fades.

It’s an intriguing idea, an agoraphobic heroine wracked with grief and guilt but quick with smart repartee and impertinence. However her self-revilement along with her self-centred disregard for the feelings of others makes it hard to empathise with her as a character.

At the front of the book there is a much needed cast listing of gods and court members, and while the narrative is divided into distinct episodes, the multitude of strangely named characters and the intricacies of the convoluted plot means that the reader is completely in the dark as to what is really happening. It’s one of those stories that requires a lot of explanations as it rushes towards its conclusion.

This is a romantasy in the style of Lyra Selene’s A feather so black (2024).  Mona drinks a lot of whisky, and is sexually provocative on more than one occasion, so I would suggest that the book, while labelled as YA, is more suited to a slightly older readership.

For those who enjoy this genre, the sequel ‘Wayward gods’ is due to be released later in 2025.

Themes: Fantasy, Romance, Gods, Magic, Guilt.

Helen Eddy