Ruthless Gods

 Duncan, Emily A. Ruthless Gods. Book 2 of the Something Dark and Holy series. 544p. ISBN 9781250195692. Available as an audiobook from the library.

Following Malachiasz's transformation into an almost god in Wicked Saints, the Black Vulture escaped the Tranavia capital and withdrew with his forces to the salt mines, leaving Nadya confused and upset at the depth of his betrayal. Serafin, for his part, ascended the Tranavian throne following his rebirth, but the cost of his death means that he is now plagued by visions of a being older than the gods. His nobles are plotting his demise, and they have sufficient evidence that Nadya's papers are forged, and that she is instead Kalyazin's lone cleric. 

With her life in danger, Nadya flees the capital and first heads to the salt mine, hoping to rescue a noble girl that was given to the vultures. There she discovers that Kostya, a childhood friend from the monastery, has been imprisoned in the dark. Torn and given the choice by Malachiasz to only pick one, she chooses to free Kostya at the expense of her mission to free the noble girl. Her feelings for the Black Vulture are such that when Malachiasz agrees to join her for what she thinks will be his ultimate sacrifice at the sacred Kalyazin mountain, she is secretly thrilled she will be spending more time with him.

Returning to her friends, they head out west towards Kalyazin, but are soon separated. Sefarim is captured by Kalyazin troops led by the heiress to the throne, and manages to convince her they need to head to the sacred mountain. Nadya and her friends, for their part, continue to travel through dangerous country to end the rift that opened the gate for the banished gods and for even older beings, who have taken a sudden interest in the world. As they head into danger, is Nadya ready to sacrifice the creature that was once Malachiasz, and for whom she still has feelings, or is she still but a pawn in his long game to secure himself the title of god? Can Serafim, for his part, break free from the bonds that bind him to an elder being?