"We Who Have No Gods" by Liza Anderson is an excellent gothic dark academia fantasy, chock-full of secret societies, witches, monsters, and one brave woman. I love dark academia books—add gothic vibes, and I’m sold!
The book follows Victoria (Vic) and Henry Woods, two siblings on the run. After their mother died under mysterious circumstances, they tried to stay under the radar, moving from place to place. But the past catches up with them when a representative of the Acheron Order—a secret society of witches tasked with keeping the dead at bay—appears at Vic’s work and then at their home, ordering Henry to join the Order’s academy. It turns out Henry inherited their mother’s magical abilities, while Vic did not, which marked him as the Order’s newest recruit.
Determined to keep him safe, Vic accompanies Henry to Avalon Castle, located in the isolated woods of upstate New York. Despite lacking powers of her own—and the fact that humans aren’t welcome there—she insists on staying. Max, one of the elders, invites her to remain, but the others aren’t as welcoming. Xan, the head Sentinel—imposing, ruthless, and powerful—is in charge of protecting Avalon and wants her gone. And he isn’t the only one. As Vic makes both enemies and allies and uncovers secrets about her mother and the Order, she becomes caught between two opposing factions and the war that is coming. She must hunt or be hunted in a world that sees humans as expendable.
Although Henry is the one with powers, the focus is on Vic. Written in third person, we follow her struggles and journey of self-discovery. She’s a skilled warrior—brave, less trusting than her brother, and fiercely determined. She is impulsive, and more than once I wanted to yell at her to stop. Furthermore, she’s stubborn—sometimes too much for her own good. She has a fear of intimacy and no lasting relationships. More than anything, she’ll do whatever it takes to protect Henry, whether he likes it or not. (And he doesn’t.) While I liked her, I didn’t like her brother—he came across as spoiled, ungrateful, and irritating.
The pacing is excellent—tight, engaging, and fast-moving without feeling rushed. I flew through the pages. The novel thoughtfully explores humanity, betrayal, duty, self-discovery, hypocrisy, and the emotional dynamics between characters—especially the chemistry between Vic and Xan. While the main characters are well-developed, some of the side characters have their own distinct personalities, making them stand out. The villains are thoroughly detestable and add a dark edge that heightens the stakes throughout the story.
The dark, gritty atmosphere and the lore surrounding monsters and witches were fascinating. There’s a hint of romance, but it’s not the focus. The spotlight is on world-building and action. I loved the illustrations at the chapter headings, and the way each chapter began with a brief history of the Order, the Orcans (monsters), or the magic. The writing flows beautifully. The combination of narrative style and rich information made this a very gripping read.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* For more info about the book: "We Who Have No Gods" by Liza Anderson
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