A brilliant concept, with a Roman Empire that invented the internal combustion engine, and an 18th-century government full of climate change deniers. There are some obvious parallels with our world, but this takes climate fiction in a truly inventive new direction. The main character, an ex-gladiator, has tremendous depth, and her emotional journey is heart-wrenching and uplifting. Her violent past has given her first-hand knowledge that violence never brings resolution, so, although there is a lot of violence in the book, it's never glorified. The plot was inventive and often unexpected, but for me, the heart of the book was the touching relationship between Arrow and her charge.

A great read. I really enjoyed it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.

This is a title that I almost read by accident and it convinced me I need more accidents like this one. What a fabulous story, set in a people landscape that we might so easily confuse for our own. A "fight" between those in charge and everyone else jockeying for a better life. Set against what is seen as an "uncivilised" people. It should ring many bells about our 21st Century, even though the book's timeline is Roman as in a Britain still being ruled by the descendents and influence of Caesar's rule but in the 19th Century. Having said that, this book world is set in a time of oil where it sets a "civilisation" that runs on oil (just like it is now), stolen from the "uncivilised" people, against those very civilised jungle dwelling "uncivilised" people who want nothing more than to stop Gaea's Blood from being drained, misused and abused for the benefit of the ruling classes back in "civilisation" and the detriment of everyone else. This tale is far too good to be a one-off and so I wait with bated breath for Solitaire Townsend to announce the sequel. An Advanced Reader Copy review - free books never buy my opinion!

Godstorm was an absolute winner for me, from the first chapter I was instantly hooked by the story. The world building was very interesting and easy to understand and the characters are lovable (unless intentionally not) and the relationships between characters are well thought out and very natural. The interactions between Arrow and her ward Livvy was very touching and did seeing how it changes throughout felt very rewarding as a reader. I love the juxtaposition of Arrows character throughout going from a fearsome Gladiator to a Governess which leads to some very entertaining inner dialogue and makes her a very unique FMC. Godstorm also provides some extremely relevant and important social commentary o about current situations going on in our world in a way that doesn’t take you out of the book. It reads very well and makes you think more about it after! The plot twist towards the end was a genuine shock while also making so much sense. It was written so well that I didn’t even see it coming!!! Overall, I am eagerly awaiting a second book and will not stop thinking about it until then!!!

Godstorm is what happens when the Roman Empire never falls, steals all the oil, builds steampunk monorails, angers the gods, and then throws a former gladiator into the middle of it all and says, “Good luck, babe.” This book has: Gladiators God-powered death storms Airships Pirate crews Jungle warriors Political corruption Climate rage Found family And one extremely feral woman who will burn the world down for her child Arrow is an ICON. A LEGEND. A gladiatrix-turned-governess-turned-mama-bear-on-a-warpath. If Livy so much as stubs her toe, Arrow is ready to fight gods, emperors, storms, and probably gravity itself. Their relationship is emotional, devastating, and beautiful, I was rooting for them like my life depended on it. The worldbuilding is wild in the best way. Imagine ancient Rome, but make it Victorian, add steampunk tech, oil worship, divine weather tantrums, and then toss in social injustice, feminism, climate change commentary, and a splash of chaos. It shouldn’t work. It absolutely does. Is it ambitious? Yes. Is it unhinged? Also yes. Is it fun, emotional, and impossible to stop reading? Extremely yes. This book doesn’t walk, it sprints through gods, storms, empires, and emotional damage. I laughed. I gasped. I whispered “oh no” more than once. If you like: morally grey women epic fights angry gods steampunk chaos found family that will emotionally wreck you then congratulations, this book was written for you. Now excuse me while I sit here impatiently waiting for book two like a Roman citizen demanding more gladiators.