Book Review: Reverence by Raena Rood (The Reverence Trilogy Book 1)

 Genre: Dystopian Romance • Post-Apocalyptic Fiction • Science Fiction

Tropes: Government Control, Sacrificial Society, Slow Burn Romance, Forbidden Connection, Corrupt System, Pandemic Aftermath, Secrets & Lies, Rebellion, Cliffhanger Ending

Spice Level: None so far

Format: eBook

Series: The Reverence Trilogy Book 1

    While the rest of the world collapsed under the virus, Vita Nova sealed itself off and survived. But survival comes at a cost. In this carefully controlled society, resources are rationed and every citizen is expected to contribute. The elderly and chronically ill become "Mandatories"—people selected to die for the good of the community. Others choose a different path and volunteer their lives willingly, spending their final week in luxury before their sacrifice.

    Kira knows the system better than most. As a Volunteer Advocate, she helps those facing their final days receive whatever they desire before the end. Most requests are predictable. Then Will walks into her office. Unlike everyone else, he doesn't ask for wealth, experiences, or indulgence. He asks for her. And that single request changes everything.

    I found this book through a Facebook ad and immediately downloaded it while my TBR pile looked on in absolute horror. I have a serious weakness for post-apocalyptic fiction, and post-apocalyptic romance is a combination I don't come across nearly often enough.

    From the very beginning, the premise hooked me. The concept of Mandatories and Volunteers creates a society that feels both horrifying and believable. The ethical questions surrounding Vita Nova's survival strategy linger throughout the story, adding an extra layer of tension beyond the romance itself.

    Kira was an easy protagonist to root for. We witness the devastating impact of the system through her mother's fate and then follow her years later as she tries to help others navigate their final days with dignity. When Will enters her life, the story shifts into something much bigger than a romance, and that's where the book truly shines.

    The author does an excellent job revealing information gradually. Readers learn the truth alongside Kira, discovering the cracks in Vita Nova's carefully constructed façade piece by piece. Some of the larger mysteries surrounding the Wastelands felt fairly obvious early on, but the details of how everything unfolded still managed to keep me invested.

    Beyond the romance, there is plenty of action, political intrigue, and danger. The government secrets, manipulation, and power plays kept the story moving at a steady pace, and I found myself particularly fascinated by Kira's connection to one of the major antagonists.

    The ending definitely leaves the door wide open for the next installment. While a significant chapter of Kira's life reaches a satisfying stopping point, the larger story is far from over. It's very much a cliffhanger, but one that left me excited to see what happens next rather than frustrated.

You'll Love This Book If You Enjoy:

• Post-apocalyptic romance
• Dystopian societies
• Corrupt governments and hidden agendas
• Slow-burn relationships
• Pandemic aftermath stories
• Moral dilemmas and social commentary
• Strong female protagonists
• Rebellion against oppressive systems
• Science fiction with romance at its core
• Books that end with major sequel hooks

A compelling dystopian romance that blends emotional character development, government conspiracy, and post-apocalyptic survival into a story that was nearly impossible to put down. I'll absolutely be continuing this series.

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $0.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: The Beginning by Joshua Kern (The Game of Gods Book 1)

 Genre: LitRPG • Progression Fantasy • Apocalypse Fantasy

Tropes: System Apocalypse, Mythology-Inspired Gods, Chosen Champion, Survival Quest, Animal Companion, Anti-Social MC, Leveling System, Divine Challenges, Found Family, Road Trip Adventure

Spice Level: None

Format: Audiobook

Series: The Game of Gods Book 1

    The gods are tired of being forgotten. After centuries of fading into myth and legend, they decide to remind humanity exactly who they are. Their solution? End the world and turn survival into a game. Some gods choose human champions. Others choose monsters. 

    Charles, however, misses the announcement entirely because he sleeps through the apocalypse. The punishment is immediate and brutal: he loses the ability to sleep until he completes twelve divine challenges. His first task seems simple enough—travel from Colorado to Maine and find his sister, potentially the last surviving member of his family. The problem? The world is overrun with monsters, everyone else can grow stronger while sleeping, and Charles can't. Armed with a few divine gifts and accompanied by a loyal canine companion named Alley, Charles sets out across a shattered world where surviving one day at a time is an accomplishment in itself.

    I stumbled across this audiobook while browsing Audible's included catalog and looking for something to fill the void while waiting to continue another series. I've been on a massive LitRPG kick lately, and this one ended up being exactly what I was hoping for. The apocalypse setup grabbed me immediately. Instead of the typical system arrival, we get gods actively participating in humanity's downfall and transformation. The mythology elements add a fun twist to the genre, especially because the gods aren't distant figures—they are directly involved in shaping the world and influencing the people trapped inside it.

    Charles makes for an interesting protagonist as well. He's an anti-social computer programmer who suddenly finds himself navigating a world where social skills might actually be useful. Watching him adapt to impossible circumstances while dealing with the curse of sleeplessness creates a constant sense of urgency throughout the story. 

    The real star of the book, however, is Alley. Give me a giant husky companion that gets bigger, stronger, smarter, and more powerful as she levels up, and I am immediately invested. I will never get tired of animal companions gaining intelligence and becoming full-fledged characters. Every scene involving Alley was a highlight for me, and she easily stole the show.

    Beyond the action and monster fights, I also appreciated the character development. Along the journey, Charles gains new allies and encounters challenges that force him to grow beyond the isolated life he lived before the apocalypse. One particular storyline involving a new companion added a surprising amount of emotional depth and helped develop both characters in meaningful ways. The pacing stays consistently strong throughout, with plenty of combat, progression, and system-based advancement to keep things moving. By the end, the major characters feel well established, the world has expanded considerably, and the groundwork has been laid for future books.

    While the story does end on a cliffhanger, it feels like a satisfying first installment because so much time is spent developing the characters and setting up the larger journey ahead.

    As for the audiobook, I thought the narration was excellent. The narrator delivered clear character voices, handled the action sequences well, and—most importantly—never had any distracting pronunciations that pulled me out of the story. It's a single-narrator production, but I never struggled to follow conversations or identify who was speaking.

    At this point I've already read Book 2, which should tell you everything you need to know about how much I enjoyed this one. And yes, Book 3 is absolutely on my TBR.

You'll Love This Book If You Enjoy:

• System apocalypse stories
• LitRPGs with strong progression systems
• Mythology-inspired fantasy worlds
• Gods interfering directly with humanity
• Animal companions that level up
• Survival adventures across post-apocalyptic landscapes
• Anti-social protagonists forced to grow
• Monster hunting and dungeon-style combat
• Road trip fantasy adventures
• Audiobooks with strong narration

A highly entertaining LitRPG apocalypse featuring divine challenges, nonstop progression, memorable characters, and one of the best animal companions I've read in a long time. Alley alone is worth the price of admission.

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $4.99 by clicking here.