s.e. bouvier – GoodeyReads

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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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 607 pages
Author: S.E. Bouvier
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: November 23rd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two sisters. Both destined for greatness. One will rise. One will fall.

In the Freefolk camps, magic is forbidden, and the gods are dead.

Alena has lived in the camps all her life but is fascinated by the Old Lands and their magic.

When her father is injured in a hunting accident, that same magic is his only hope of survival. Alena has no choice but to break Freefolk law to save him—a crime for which she is swiftly captured. Now, only her older sister, Katell, can help her.

But Katell, a Freefolk huntress, discovers she has magical abilities of her own, and in the camps, being Marked is a death sentence. The sisters are forced to leave their home and venture into the war-torn Old Lands in search of answers. Their journey takes a dangerous turn when slavers capture them.

Alena escapes slavery and finds an unlikely ally—a rebel warrior, fighting against the oppressive Rasennan Empire. Katell, a slave, is sold to an arena to fight for the entertainment of the Rasennan crowds. Her life is on the line with each ferocious fight.

Alena vows to rescue her sister, but amidst awakening gods, scheming rebels, and a power-hungry Emperor, the sisters’ bond will be tested, and each must decide how far she is willing to go to save the other.

If you crave strong heroines, elemental magic, ancient Greek and Roman influences, tortured heroes, and a heart-wrenching romance, get ready to dive into this gripping upper YA fantasy.

WHEN GODS FALL is the first book in a new epic fantasy series, perfect for fans of Throne of Glass, An Ember in the Ashes, and Air Awakens.

Please note: WHEN GODS FALL is an upper YA fantasy that contains moderate violence, some gore, and mild adult situations.

MORE PEOPLE NEED TO READ THIS BOOK.

I love finding indie gems. AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM. I loved it so much. I loved all of the Greek & Roman inspired dynamics and how those + the meddling gods played into the larger plot. I loved both of these sisters and how much they cared for each other but also how they have to pursue their own paths for now.

I’m also weak for the subtle slow burn romances. The longing glances and heated kisses, good heavens, if I could ask for one thing, MORE of this. I loved both dynamics (each sister has a romantic sub plot). And the reveals??? I kept thinking I had figured something out and then was hit with new information that made me GASP. And tear up, let me tell y’all, things get emotional.

I loved all of the more prevalent side characters. I loved how much action and politicking was involved. I loved seeing glimpses of the emperor and the big journey these characters went on. The magic is really cool, and is one of those thick fantasy books I crave. It absolutely deserves all the love and I need more people to find it.

Overall audience notes:

Upper YA/NA Fantasy
Language: low
Romance: one closed door
Violence: moderate-high
Trigger/Content Warnings: war themes, loss of life, near death experiences, weapons violence