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22 must-read romantasy books

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12 of the most anticipated debut books of 2024

To Kill These Monstrous Gods

From the bestselling author of To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods comes the highly anticipated second book in the captivating anti-colonial fantasy series, Gods Beyond the Skies. Yang Ruying must harness her power of Death as she secretly reunites with her childhood crush and navigates treacherous wartime alliances, all in a daring bid to save her realm. 
 
The perfect read for fans of Red Queen, These Violent Delights and Iron Widow. 
 
Antony, the second Prince of Rome, and his brothers Valentin and Cassius, are hellbent on securing a deal that will see the people of the Pangu empires forever be controlled by the Romans. Yang Ruying, The Girl Blessed by Death, has other plans, even if it means betraying the man she once thought she could trust. 
 
Joining forces with her closest confidant and childhood crush, Baihu, they hatch a plan to rid Pangu of the Romans, growing closer by the day. But when disaster strikes, Ruying has no other choice but to turn to the Emperor of Er-Lang and the mysterious, handsome warrior by his side. 
 
All signs point to The Girl Blessed by Death as the key to securing freedom, but with Antony seemingly always one step ahead, will Pangu ever be unshackled? 
 
Praise for To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods: 
 
‘A thrilling tale of magic and murder, intrigue and betrayal.’ Cassandra Clare 
 
‘Hauntingly poetic prose’ Xiran Jay Zhao 
 
‘A tender and brutal fantasy that will leave readers breathless and eager for more’ Rebecca Ross 
 
‘A thrilling gut-punch, both lavishly magical and devastatingly human.’ Laini Taylor

Molly X. Chang is the bestselling author of To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods. She’s a first-generation immigrant born in Harbin, China.

Molly X. Chang

The haunting story of a young woman caught between saving her family and standing up for the world she loves, To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is a thrilling tale of magic and murder, intrigue and betrayal.

Cassandra Clare, author of The Mortal Instruments series

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.

Molly X. Chang deftly paints both a tender and brutal fantasy that will leave readers breathless and eager for more. To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is a heart pounding, brilliant debut that shines with pure magic.

This book is a thrilling gut-punch, both lavishly magical and devastatingly human. I couldn’t put it down, and finished it both sated and aching for vengeance.

Laini Taylor, author of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series

Chang has come out of the gate strong with this action-packed debut. To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is a unique blend of science fiction and fantasy with fascinating magic and a premise that sets up what promises to be a strong series. Readers will be on the edge of their seats wondering what’s going to happen next.

With hauntingly elegant prose and feverish imagination, Molly X. Chang effortlessly bridges the gap between science and magic in this spectacular, genre-bending debut. TO GAZE UPON WICKED GODS is a captivating tale of rebellion and intrigue and the darker side of love, centered on an unconventional, multi-layered heroine and her equally riveting villain as they ensnare each other amidst a dangerous collision of glittering worlds. 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. I will eagerly devour anything Chang writes from now on.

Thea Guanzon, 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

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 Drowning Empire series

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 Whitten, author of The Foxglove King

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, author of Vampires of El Norte

A No. 1 and Sunday Times Bestseller! Red Queen meets These Violent Delights and Iron Widow in the epic first book in the captivating anti-colonial fantasy series, Gods Beyond the Skies. 
 
This gorgeous paperback features a limited edition sprayed edge and special cover finishes. 
 
Don’t miss the second book in the trilogy, To Kill These Monstrous Gods, coming November 2025. 
 
‘A thrilling tale of magic and murder, intrigue and betrayal.’ Cassandra Clare 
 
‘Hauntingly poetic prose’ Xiran Jay Zhao 
 
‘A tender and brutal fantasy that will leave readers breathless and eager for more’ Rebecca Ross 
 
Known as The Girl Blessed By Death, Yang Ruying wants only to survive, but when her magic is discovered by an enemy prince she must decide if saving her family is worth betraying her country. 
 
For as long as Yang Ruying can remember, the empire of Er-Lang has been occupied by Romans, whose advanced science and military make them Gods. But these Gods are not kind. Their only gifts: cruelty, opian and destruction. 
 
When Antony, the second Prince of Rome, uncovers Ruying’s power, she becomes what she always feared: the perfect assassin. As tensions mount and rebellion stirs, Ruying can no longer deny that peace is a death sentence for Er-Lang. A death she may not be willing to deliver.

Molly X. Chang

Praise for To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods

The haunting story of a young woman caught between saving her family and standing up for the world she loves, To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is a thrilling tale of magic and murder, intrigue and betrayal.

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.

Molly X. Chang deftly paints both a tender and brutal fantasy that will leave readers breathless and eager for more. To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is a heart pounding, brilliant debut that shines with pure magic.

The haunting story of a young woman caught between saving her family and standing up for the world she loves, To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is a thrilling tale of magic and murder, intrigue and betrayal.

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.

Molly X. Chang deftly paints both a tender and brutal fantasy that will leave readers breathless and eager for more. To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is a heart pounding, brilliant debut that shines with pure magic.

The haunting story of a young woman caught between saving her family and standing up for the world she loves, To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is a thrilling tale of magic and murder, intrigue and betrayal.

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.

Molly X. Chang deftly paints both a tender and brutal fantasy that will leave readers breathless and eager for more. To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is a heart pounding, brilliant debut that shines with pure magic.

Books by Molly X. Chang

Series by Molly X. Chang

Gods Beyond the Skies

Articles featuring Molly X. Chang

22 must-read romantasy books

12 of the most anticipated debut books of 2024

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