Book Review: When Sisters Collide (The Gifts of the Gods #2) by S.E. Bouvier

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: New Adult Fantasy Romance
Length: 620 pages
Author: S.E. Bouvier
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 15th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two sisters, torn apart by fate, now stand on opposing sides of a brutal war.

High in the snowy mountains, Alena trains harder than ever under the watchful eye of an Amazon warrior. Driven by her sister’s heartbreaking choice, she’s determined to embrace her destiny as the Omega and fulfil the Mother Goddess’s command—defeat Emperor Tarquinius before his legions conquer the Western Lands and his greed destroys the remnants of the old gods. But when her closest allies are captured and enslaved, Alena’s world descends into chaos. She soon realises her sister’s treachery was only the beginning…

Meanwhile, Katell, now leader of the Black Helmets, battles on the war front against the Ice Kingdoms. Wielding the dangerous magic of Laran’s Tears, she is more powerful than ever, but at a steep cost to her health. When a rescue mission goes awry and she mistakenly attacks a legate, her loyalty to Rasenna is called into question. To prove her worth, Katell is sent to the besieged city of Tiryns with a single end the siege by any means necessary and capture the rebels hiding within its walls.

Under the gods’ unwavering eyes, the sisters’ paths draw them together once more. With loyalty and love hanging in the balance, they will be forced to decide where their true allegiances lie—and what they are willing to sacrifice.

Full of adventure, magic, and steamy romance, WHEN SISTERS COLLIDE is the second book in THE GIFTS OF THE GODS, a thrilling epic romantic fantasy series perfect for fans of Throne of Glass, An Ember in the Ashes, and Greek mythology.

Please note the series is New Adult and contains moderate steam/spice, some violence, language, and mature situations. Recommended for ages sixteen and up.

I’M GOING TO NEED YOU TO GO PICK UP THIS SERIES.

OH Y’ALL. I loved book one and this sequel held up. HELD UP. I can’t help but get hesitant when I see a book over 600 pages, but let me tell you, all worth it. I’m obsessed.

The romances are everythinggggg. And not always what you’re expecting or the typical route. Which is probably why they make me drool. I love when fantasy romances accomplish this kind of longing and betrayal and angsty tension that you can’t look away from. There’s multiple romantic plot lines (and even a new POV that might have one too???).

And while the romance sing the plot lines hold their own elite status. It’s a great combination of politicking, travel, battles with gods and more. Every chapter brings you something new. This may have taken me awhile to read but that was only because I was enjoying it so thoroughly I didn’t want it to end.

Overall audience notes:

  • New adult fantasy romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 2ish open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: loss of life, war themes

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