Format: 464 pages, Paperback
Release Date: January 13, 2026
Publisher: Ace
Source: Publisher
Genre: Fantasy / Romance
Danger looms when a former priestess sails to the realm of the dead to find her fallen lover, only to discover the gods she thought she defeated are preparing for war.
Iona Night-Singer thought she’d overthrown the gods. Her mortal rebellion eked out a painful victory by using the gods’ own powers against them—though she lost her betrothed, Taran, in a final battle with the god of death. Months later, the war doesn’t feel over. Not with Taran gone. Especially not when the gods still answer the prayers she sings.
Angry, grieving, and with a gnawing dread that the gods will return, Iona strikes a deal with her former patron goddess: if Iona can convince Taran to follow her home from the Underworld, he’ll be free to live again. If she fails, they’ll both be trapped there forever.
No sooner does she find him, she makes a horrible discovery. The dead gods have been reborn, they are plotting revenge—and Taran, it seems, was always one of them. This reincarnated trickster god with Taran’s face no longer remembers her or the war they fought together, and she doubts not just his loyalties but his love.
Determined to stop the next war without revealing her part in the last one, Iona enters her deadliest battle yet, one where she fights to bring Taran home without him even knowing it.
Iona Night-Singer thought she’d overthrown the gods. Her mortal rebellion eked out a painful victory by using the gods’ own powers against them—though she lost her betrothed, Taran, in a final battle with the god of death. Months later, the war doesn’t feel over. Not with Taran gone. Especially not when the gods still answer the prayers she sings.
Angry, grieving, and with a gnawing dread that the gods will return, Iona strikes a deal with her former patron goddess: if Iona can convince Taran to follow her home from the Underworld, he’ll be free to live again. If she fails, they’ll both be trapped there forever.
No sooner does she find him, she makes a horrible discovery. The dead gods have been reborn, they are plotting revenge—and Taran, it seems, was always one of them. This reincarnated trickster god with Taran’s face no longer remembers her or the war they fought together, and she doubts not just his loyalties but his love.
Determined to stop the next war without revealing her part in the last one, Iona enters her deadliest battle yet, one where she fights to bring Taran home without him even knowing it.
The Younger Gods, by Katie Shepard, is the first of a two-part duology called The Night-Singer Duology. This story is the author's romantasy debut in the epic fantasy space, blending Greek-inspired mythology, a gender-swapped Orpheus-and-Eurydice retelling, high-stakes adventure, and deeply emotional romance. At its core, the story follows Iona, a former priestess who once led a rebellion against the tyrannical gods—particularly the God of Death—and seemingly won.
But victory came at a devastating personal cost: the death of her beloved betrothed, Taran. Refusing to accept his loss, Iona embarks on a perilous journey to the Underworld (the realm of the dead) to bring him back. What begins as a classic descent-into-hell-for-love quest quickly spirals into something far more complex and dangerous. In the land of the dead, Iona discovers that the gods she believed defeated are not gone—they've been reborn as the "younger gods," scheming revenge and preparing for war.
Even more shattering, Taran may not be the mortal man she loved; he could be the reincarnated form of a trickster god, with no memory of their shared past or their relationship. The worldbuilding feels rich and lived-in: a complex religious system, vivid depictions of the Underworld, and a pantheon of gods who are convincingly vicious, petty, cruel, and manipulative—far from benevolent Olympians. The gods' cruelty and the lingering consequences of Iona's rebellion add moral ambiguity that elevates the stakes beyond simple good vs. evil.
Iona is a compelling protagonist—fierce, determined, guilt-ridden, and deeply human in her flaws. Her grief and love for Taran feel raw and authentic, driving the book's emotional core. Taran, as the potential trickster god, brings sharp banter, charisma, and layers of mystery; their chemistry crackles with tension, especially as questions of identity, memory, and trust complicate their reunion. Side characters, including scheming deities and allies in the Underworld, add depth and keep the plot twisting, including a twisted cliffhanger ending.
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