By: Mariah Thomas
Queen of the Gods by Katherine and Elizabeth Corr is the awaited sequel to 2022’s Daughter of the Underworld. The first book in the “House of Shadows” series sees the lead character, Deina, ultimately make a life altering decision. Now Queen of the Gods explores the repercussions of that choice as Deina works to undo the trouble caused. Dealing with mythical Gods and fate, the stakes are high as Deina faces a new set of choices to change her future.
Previously, Deina was one of Hades’ Soul Severers. She was tasked with helping guide spirits from the mortal world to the underworld. She was trapped in this with the only way out to be earning or stealing enough souls to barter for her freedom. The consequences of her actions in the previous book now have her eternally stuck in the Underworld. Her desire to keep her friends and Theron safe forces her to adapt to this new way of living. However, a new way out makes an appearance. If she is able to drink an elixir that turns her into a deity herself, she could be free. The downside is she would never be able to have a life with Theron. With a new danger in the form of Aristaeus in the midst of a reign of tyranny, Deina must make her new decision quickly. Wanting to find a way to be free while also keeping love in her life, Deina gears up for another battle with the Gods.
I enjoy how the character of Deina truly has some selfish and unlikeable qualities. Most books tend to go the route of a fully unlikeable protagonist or simply attempt to justify every decision. Here Deina has some moments that make you lose trust in her as the reader, but also eventually come back around to her. Those decisions aren’t validated or given a grand reason, they feel more human. The focus is more on what she does next to fix those choices. The “House of Shadows” series is a fresh exploration of Mythology as it tends to focus on the repercussions of going against the Gods. There is fear instilled in the reader over pure admiration. Daughter of the Underworld and Queen of the Gods are intended to be a duology. With many series expanding into books five, six and seven, it is refreshing to know where the intended story moves forward. When you arrive at the ending, it hits more knowing there isn’t a planned third book in the works.
Sisters Elizabeth and Katherine Corr are on their eighth book as a writing duo. Growing up with many of the same interests in films/TV/books, the sisters clearly have found their writing voices as their books seem to have a natural flow to them. Coming from two different voices merged into one makes this story all the more fascinating to me. Part of me wonders if the conflicting sides we occasionally see of some characters come from that medley of two writing voices – each sister having their desire to guide Deina. However, the Corr sisters have created a fun, whimsical world that feels like an expansion of the Greek Mythology we all know.
Diving into the world of Mythology can be intense with the different variations out there. The House of Shadows series is a digestible version for the average reader since it allows an introduction to the world without feeling too overwhelmed with the lore and information given. Queen of the Gods is another great addition to Greek Mythology fiction.