Kissed by the Gods
Kissed by the Gods by Caty Rogan is the kind of romantasy that grabs you by the throat early and then simply refuses to let go. See below for full review.
This book is full of everything I love in a high-stakes fantasy romance. Divine magic, brutal kingdoms, hidden powers, feminine rage, found family, forbidden tension, and a heroine who has every reason to be furious. Leina is not a soft, passive main character waiting for the world to change around her. She is angry, desperate, powerful, and willing to sacrifice almost anything for the freedom of her people.
The world itself feels intense and dangerous, with godsworn warriors, divine armies, death demons, winged war horses, royal secrets, and gods who clearly have no interest in minding their own business. There is so much political tension and mythology woven throughout the story, and it made the book feel bigger than just one character’s journey.
And then there is Ryot. The Broody. Protective. Complicated. Very much giving “I am trying to stay in control, but this woman is absolutely ruining my life” energy. The romance is slow-building, tense, and full of that delicious friction that makes every interaction feel loaded. It never overpowers the larger fantasy plot, but it adds so much emotional pull to the story.
What I loved most was how emotionally intense this book felt. Leina’s anger, grief, loyalty, fear, and determination all felt so vivid. This is a story about power, survival, oppression, choice, and what someone is willing to become when the world has taken too much from them.
And the ending was absolutely diabolical. I am absolutely unwell. Fully emotionally victimized. The cliffhanger had me staring into the void like Caty Rogan personally owed me answers and therapy.
If you love romantasy with fierce heroines, divine powers, forbidden love, found family, brutal trials, morally complicated kingdoms, slow-burn tension, and endings that leave you screaming internally, Kissed by the Gods needs to be on your TBR.
Tropes & Vibes:
Feminine rage
Hidden/divine powers
Forbidden love
Slow burn romance
Protective MMC
Found family
Trial by combat
Divine schemes
Oppressive kingdom
Winged war horses
High-stakes romantasy
Insane cliffhanger
