To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods

By: Molly X. Chang

Narrated by: Natalie Naudus, Molly X. Chang

She has power over death. He has power over her. When two enemies strike a dangerous bargain, will they end a war . . . or ignite one?

“A thrilling tale of magic and murder, intrigue and betrayal.”—Cassandra Clare, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Sword Catcher

Heroes die, cowards live. Daughter of a conquered world, Ruying hates the invaders who descended from the heavens long before she was born and defeated the magic of her people with technologies unlike anything her world had ever seen.

Blessed by Death, born with the ability to pull the life right out of mortal bodies, Ruying shouldn’t have to fear these foreign invaders, but she does. Especially because she wants to keep herself and her family safe.

When Ruying’s Gift is discovered by an enemy prince, he offers her an impossible deal: If she becomes his private assassin and eliminates his political rivals—whose deaths he swears would be for the good of both their worlds and would protect her people from further brutalization—her family will never starve or suffer harm again. But to accept this bargain, she must use the powers she has always feared, powers that will shave years off her own existence.

Can Ruying trust this prince, whose promises of a better world make her heart ache and whose smiles make her pulse beat faster? Are the evils of this agreement really in the service of a much greater good? Or will she betray her entire nation by protecting those she loves the most?

Critic reviews

“With hauntingly poetic prose, Molly X. Chang spins a tale at the intersection of science fiction, fantasy, and the very real devastation that colonialism brings down on colonized peoples.”—Xiran Jay Zhao, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Iron Widow

“This book is a thrilling gut punch, both lavishly magical and devastatingly human.”—Laini Taylor, New York Times bestselling author of Strange the Dreamer

“Readers will be on the edge of their seats wondering what’s going to happen next.”—Adalyn Grace, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Belladonna

“A heart-pounding, brilliant debut that shines with pure magic.”—Rebecca Ross, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Divine Rivals

“An electric collision of science, magic, and a terrifying alternate history, To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is the complex romantic fantasy you’ve been waiting for.”—Hannah F. Whitten, New York Times bestselling author of For the Wolf

“A fantasy rich with heart and rooted in ancestral memory, a romance that will leave readers on the edge of their seat, a story that will take one’s breath away—this book is the complete package.”—Thea Guanzon, New York Times bestselling author of The Hurricane Wars

“To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is absolutely captivating, with a fierce heroine torn between love and loyalty as two worlds collide with devastating consequences.”—Emily Thiede, author of This Vicious Grace

“As ambitious as it is heartfelt, To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods cements Molly X. Chang as an explosive new talent in fantasy. I was swept away by this debut and eagerly await her next book.”—Isabel Cañas, USA Today bestselling author of Vampires of El Norte

“To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is desperate, grasping, breathless, filled with hard choices and characters who seek some measure of peace in an unforgiving land. Intensely riveting character dynamics in a truly unique world make this debut an absolute stunner!”—Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter

“History and fantasy, sisterhood and betrayal, the tragedy of empire and triumph of the human spirit are vivid interwoven threads in an extraordinarily fine debut.”—Sarah Rees Brennan, author of Long Live Evil

Nothing happened

The build up was great for nothing to happen in the end. I get a good cliff hanger and all but literally nothing happened. It felt like everything that would have been worth the read was saved for the next book, which if there was a next book already out I’d be reading cause I need to know what happens next.

Intriguing and refreshing

This book was an interesting meld of worlds with characters that are complex and realistic in the actions and emotions they portray. I’m excited to listen to the next one.

A great story that opens us to a new world mixed with culture and fantasy

I thought that this was a great story to the open us to the world and people in it, and can not wait for more to come.
Some may not agree, but growing up in a traditional Asian household, women are brought up to be passive to men. This story brings to light the struggles a lot of us find in learning to stand on our own feet while balancing love, honor, and duty.
I see in the comments that there are some that can not relate to the main character, but I can simply because she is just one person trying her best to save her family. This is a world where everyone is against each other in some form or another and betrayal is hard to see until it is too late, so her reaction to everyones choices are realistic to me. You can't hide important information about something and expect others to blindly comply, so her choices are just in the moments.
Every character is fighting for what they believe in, each with their own cause for it being just.
Overall this brought a great story that I enjoyed and am excited to see where everyone's choices leads them to in the end.

Everything

Hooked from start to finish. Sad there’s not another yet. I’m captivated by the characters and the history applied to the story! Will re-listen a few more times simply for my love for the story.

Temu poppy war

Noooooooo.
This has been my ted talk.

Talking heads

Two scenes of action

The relationship was weird and I didn’t like it. It reminded me of the weird relationship in Faebound

Temu The Poppy War without the war school and falling for an “good” heir.

I understand why she had to do what she did but I wish she was a double agent

The main characters powers are cool. But the entire time I was reading this I was like I get it you’re doing this all for your family but stop saying that out loud. We know you’re doing this for your family.

Narrators saved it tbh.

Morally grey done wrong 🤮 🤢