The Things Gods Break: A High-Stakes Greek Gods Romantasy (The Crucible, 2)

This book was amazing! I bought the first book at Walmart and could not put it down. When I finished it and found out there was a second book, I had to order one immediately. This book was delivered to me by the next day and as soon as I received it, I started reading it. Just like the first book, I could not put this book down as well. The characters are lovable and some were not, there is sexual content, foul language, a beautiful romance story, and great friendships. The book itself is beautiful with amazing painted edges. This book is going into my bookshelf to show off and to keep in my collection. Now I have seen there will be a third book to this series and can you guess who will be ordering one, yes I definitely will. The author does an amazing job at keeping you entertained, never knowing what is going to happen next, and making it a page turner book. Thank you for a beautiful inside and outside book, can’t wait to order the third book.

📖 The Things Gods Break by Abigail Owen ⭐ Rating: ★★★★¼ When a book makes you ugly cry at 2 AM and then keeps you awake until dawn because you physically cannot stop listening, you know you've found something special. The Things Gods Break catapults Lyra from the deadly games of the first book into something infinitely more complex and emotionally devastating. Trapped in Tartarus with time-bending powers she barely understands, Lyra must navigate trials that aren't just about her survival anymore, they're about preventing the end of everything. The audiobook experience with Piper Goodeve and Tom Kiteley is absolutely phenomenal. Their performances breathe life into every emotional gut punch, every tender moment between Lyra and Hades, and every heart-stopping revelation. What absolutely wrecked me was watching Hades transform from the enigmatic King of the Underworld into someone willing to "burn the world" for Lyra. The time travel elements reveal the depth of his devotion across millennia, and those glimpses into his perspective cracked my heart wide open. Seeing him break every divine rule, lose his powers, and fight desperately for her while she struggles with feeling unlovable created this beautiful, agonizing tension that had me sobbing into my pillow. Lyra's evolution from cursed mortal to goddess of time is breathtaking to witness. Her relationship with Cronos and the other Titans adds layers of found family that I never expected, making his eventual sacrifice even more devastating. The way Owen weaves together mythology, time loops, and raw emotional truth creates something that feels both epic and deeply personal. Yes, the first third moves slower as the time travel mechanics establish themselves, and Lyra's internal spiraling about Hades' love can feel repetitive. But once everything clicks into place, the emotional payoff is extraordinary. The revelations about Zeus, the prophecy, and Lyra's true nature had me gasping out loud during my commute. That cliffhanger ending though? Absolutely criminal. I'm already counting down to book three. 📦 What to Expect ✨ Greek Mythology Retelling 💖 Slow Burn Romance Intensifies 🔥 Possessive, Devoted Love Interest 🤯 Mind-Bending Time Travel Plot 💔 Found Family Bonds & Loss ⚡ Reality-Altering Powers ⚔️ High Stakes World-Saving Mission 🎯 Final Thoughts If you're ready to have your heart systematically destroyed and rebuilt while experiencing some of the most beautiful mythological storytelling in recent memory, this belongs in your immediate TBR. Fair warning: keep tissues handy and clear your schedule, because you won't be able to stop. 📚 Book Tags Keywords: Greek Mythology, Time Travel, Underworld, Goddess Powers, Tartarus, Divine Politics, Emotional Romance Tropes: Fated Mates, Power Couple, Found Family, Sacrifice for Love, Enemies to Allies, Prophecy, Cliffhanger Ending

I’m stunned with this ending! This is definitely one of the best books I have read all year! I love way Hades yearns for Lyra! I love that Lyra doesn’t back down or quit even if she has to do something over a 1000 times. I found myself liking characters that I never dreamed I would. This book is more than the 5 stars I can only give it! Read it!

The Things Gods Break started a little slower than I expected, and there were stretches in the first half where the pacing dragged. Thankfully, once the story found its footing, it really took off. The second half had me flying through the pages. One of my favorite aspects was the fresh take on the Titans and Tartarus. Instead of simply reusing familiar Greek mythology, the author expanded on it in ways that felt creative and interesting while still respecting the source material. I also loved the inclusion of gods from other mythologies, which made the world feel much larger and more layered than a typical Greek mythology retelling. The stronger pacing in the latter half, combined with the expanding mythology and higher stakes, made for a very satisfying read. While I wish the beginning had moved a little faster, the payoff was absolutely worth sticking with. If you enjoy mythology-inspired fantasy that isn’t afraid to broaden its scope beyond the Greek pantheon, this one is definitely worth picking up.

I truly enjoyed reading this second installment. It was action-packed, well thought-out, and nicely woven in between the events of the first book's timeline. However, I have a few specific sticking points. I sorely missed the Hades from the first book—the one who brought me to my knees with his perfect "hurt/comfort" and "touch her and die" tropes. Here, he was depicted as a more passive, manipulated character, and I found that shift disappointing. Furthermore, the ending got a bit complicated. I'm not a fan of the seemingly endless gradation trope where, immediately after overcoming a massive hurdle, the characters face an even bigger obstacle. It felt like the rules were being bent slightly to suit the narrative's convenience. On the upside, I loved seeing the past and came to adore many of the new side characters. Although I was a bit weirded out by a certain "not-so-much-fatherly" energy between Cronos and Lyra, the bigger picture story is fantastic, and I truly can't wait for the third one!

It was good but not as much of a Paige turner as book 1. The timeline for me was hard to follow but it was interesting. I am curious what will happen next.

Oh my goodness. This book. Wow. Just wow. It. Is. Everything. This book is even more phenomenal than the first one. It was definitely a stay up too late, cannot put it down, it should get 1,000 stars kind of book. The Greek mythology based storyline continues to be imaginative, the characters were real and relatable, and the writing was addictive. The world building (this time within Tartarus) was phenomenal, woven together scene by scene, layer by layer until it became a living breathing place full of three dimensional beings. Plus, story will have you feeling all the deep emotions - laughing, crying, swooning, cringing, teeth gritting, knuckle biting, raging, and cheering. I was right there with Lyra feeling all the things. Phew. This book picks up right where book one left off. Lyra is a new goddess who after winning the Crucible, managed to get locked in Tartarus with her friend and new God Boone along with the worst gods, the Titans. To get out, Lyra will have to survive all the tests that Tartarus throws at her. But if she gets out, so do the Titans. Meanwhile in the Overworld, Hades is losing it and the world might not survive his rage. Lyra’s journey is filled with arrogant Titans, terrifying monsters, impossible tasks, difficult choices, mysteries, revelations, hard choices, pain, death, and heaps of physical and emotional overload. The book has a little bit of everything just like you would expect from this genre - sweet moments, spice, real life issues, imperfect characters, dangerous moments, supernatural creatures, secrets, plot twists, painful pasts, evil actors, and love. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series and see what happens next with Lyra and Hades because that ending…Ahhhhh.

I’m loving the little looks into the past. I love all the secret/surprising explanations about things but there were some I did NOT see coming. But the ending has me fuming. Then that epilogue…GRRR!

Another well written dive into the Greek world of the Pantheon. Lyra's adventure continues as she tries to escape. For most of the book I was waiting for the titans to meet the expectation of stabbing her in the back. The twists and turns really keeps you interested but also means the story never grows stale. The plot is never over complicated but keeps you wondering. I sobbed like a baby at the last lock. Cannot wait for the next book to see how Lyra and Hades conquers it all.

I cried so many ugly tears reading this 😭 I finally picked up The Things Gods Break by Abigail Owen and to say this book wrecked me is an understatement . Im emotionally unwell. I loved the first book, but this book is on an entirely different level. The Games Gods Break was amazing but this sequel is even better and now one of my fave books . The love story woven through out these pages is poetic, heartbreaking and unforgettable , a tale as old as time itself. I know im getting poetic , i cant help it . This book has changed my brain chemistry 😭. This book is full to the brim with Greek mythology and crptic deadly trials (locks) , whilst also mixing in the vibes of 12 Monkeys and The Time Traveler's Wife . I loved this concept so much . I cried so many times while reading this. Hades and Lyra's story broke me , my poor heart is not ok . Their love is beautiful, painful, and utterly consuming. I couldn't put the book down. The Hades POV chapters completely stole my heart. I felt like I was witnessing a love story so epic unfold before me. You could feel the love growing in the first book, but this one amplifies everything. My heart was in tatters for Hades.I went into this book with so many theories after finishing book one, and not a single one came close to the truth. Abigail blindsided me in the best possible way, so much so i found myself diving straight back into the first book to reread scenes with an entirely new perspective. Did I mention this book broke me? Because I genuinely cannot cope.From beginning to end, this book delivers emotional whiplash. It's heartbreaking, beautiful, devastating, and ultimately unforgettable. It broke me and somehow put me back together again . oh and then that ending somehow put me right back to being utterly wrecked .

I love this story sooo much! It's not just the story. It's also the characters. It's also the incredibly fascinating world and the topic that slowly develops into a marathon of drama, sadness, and an endless struggle for survival. . It's also the blend of dramatic events and sarcastic humor that the author has crafted so wonderfully. . I've read many of her books, but this series is simply brilliant. My favorite story so far. . And Hades and our badass heroine are trying to save the brutal world, dying a thousand deaths every day in the process. . The narrators are phenomenal. I listened to the movie-like audiobook performance with bated breath and fascination. 👏🏻 WOW! Bravo! . Gods, goddesses, and titans from various mythologies and worlds await the battle of their lives. Emphasis on waiting, because Lyra is actually the only one who can save everyone. She and Hades are the key to world order. Unfortunately, everything has conspired against them. . This book is a mythological action thriller romance. 😂 Yes, I know how that sounds, but this isn't mythology, it's a mayhem of maniacs, gods and titans. And right in the middle of it all is Lyra, trying to navigate the mystery of fake worlds and illusions to finally get her life back. . The book was great. I enjoyed every exciting and captivating second. A retelling about Hades, but of a completely different kind. . I can't wait to read the last book in the series! 👏🏻😍👏🏻 .

Okay…. This series, even without me reading the third book (which is yet to release) NEEDS to be made into movies. If captured right, this would be an amazing show. Lucky for me, my imagination runs wild and I can picture it but for those who don’t read…. Movies. Make them movies please. After leaving on a cliffhanger from THE GAMES GODS PLAY, we are now in Tartarus with Lyra and the titans in book 2, THE THINGS GODS BREAK. But there is a new game to play, new challenges to conquer and defeat, more lies and manipulation and problems to discover and solve. Time travel is a key element to the second book of this series which not only opens Lyra’s eyes to many things, but to us, the readers, as well. This book kept me on my toes in certain parts and had some heart breaking scenes unfold. The world building was well done and described, there are new characters to meet and learn about and a whole chaotic, action packed story to follow…. And another twist to lead into book 3 which is set to release in November. I love this story and can’t wait to find out how it concludes. Fantasy/romantasy genre. Greek gods meet the hunger games and maze runner with unbelievable twists. A must read in my opinion.

Absolute stunning sprayed edges. And inside the book - the beautiful illustrations. I could not ask for more. Stunning special addition. Thanks Amazon