Godsgrave (2017) by Jay Kristoff is the second installment in the Nevernight Chronicle, sequel to Nevernight, plunging Mia Corvere deeper into a whirlwind of vengeance, betrayal, and bloodshed. Fresh from the brutal trials of the Red Church, Mia now operates as a trained assassin, but her quest to slaughter the powerful men who destroyed her family takes a twisted turn when she uncovers a devastating secret about her past.
To get closer to her enemies, Mia infiltrates the Gladiatii, a lethal gladiatorial tournament held in the cursed city of Godsgrave, where warriors fight to the death for the amusement of the elite. Disguised as a slave, she battles monstrous foes in the arena, forging uneasy alliances with fellow fighters—including the enigmatic Furian, a champion with his own dark ties to Mia’s vengeance. Meanwhile, Mister Kindly and Eclipse, her shadowy companions, grapple with their own mysteries as the lines between ally and enemy blur.
Kristoff’s signature style—darkly poetic, laced with savage humor and footnoted wit—reaches new heights as the stakes escalate. The novel’s climax is a breathtaking cascade of twists, leaving Mia’s fate hanging by a thread and setting the stage for the trilogy’s conclusion in Darkdawn.
For fans of: The Hunger Games meets Spartacus, with the ruthless cunning of Game of Thrones and the lyrical brutality of The Poppy War.
