The Things Gods Break

A mortal woman has angered the gods, fallen for Hades, the King of the Underworld, and ended up as the prize in a divine death match. She is now trapped in Tartarus, where Titans, warped by centuries of rage, are sealed behind seven ancient locks. She is the key to opening them.

To get out, she has to survive every trial the Titans set. Winning may mean turning into something the gods never expected. The narrator speaks in first person, and her voice is sardonic and wry, even in the worst pit in the mortal and divine worlds.

Hades is working against the rules the gods have written. To save her, he is ready to burn the world. Her escape carries its own cost: if she breaks free, the Titans go free with her, and the damage would be ruinous.

This is mythological fantasy with a romance at its centre, built around a run of dangerous trials in a hostile setting. Expect high stakes, monsters and a dry sense of humour running through the peril.

The book is the second in the Crucible series, which follows The Games Gods Play and is best read in order. A deluxe limited edition exists for the U.S. and Canada.