The Things Gods Break, the explosive second installment in Abigail Owen’s The Crucible series, catapults readers directly from the relative safety of winning divine games into the literal bowels of hell itself. Where The Games Gods Play established the intoxicating world of gods walking among mortals, this sequel strips away any pretense of safety and plunges both protagonist and reader into Tartarus—the deepest, most unforgiving prison in all mythology.
Owen demonstrates remarkable courage in her storytelling choices, refusing to grant her characters or readers a moment’s respite after the supposed triumph of the first book. The opening finds Lyra, newly crowned Queen of the Underworld, immediately ripped away from her hard-won throne and love to face trials that make the previous Crucible Games seem like warm-up exercises.
The Mythological Labyrinth Deepens
Character Evolution Under Extreme Pressure
Lyra’s character development throughout this narrative proves both her greatest strength and most vulnerable weakness. Owen masterfully portrays a protagonist grappling with newly acquired godhood while being systematically stripped of divine powers within each Lock. The psychological toll of experiencing multiple timelines and deaths creates a complex emotional landscape that feels authentically traumatic rather than merely dramatic.
The most compelling aspect of Lyra’s journey lies in her gradual understanding of her role as “savior” to the imprisoned Titans. Her initial resentment at being manipulated by fate slowly transforms into reluctant acceptance, then determined agency. However, this transformation occasionally feels rushed, particularly when she makes strategic decisions that seem beyond her established character development.
Hades receives more nuanced treatment in this installment, with Owen exploring the mythology of the god of death through both his present-day relationship with Lyra and his ancient past. The revelation of his connection to the seven Locks adds satisfying layers to his character, though some romantic scenes feel somewhat repetitive compared to the first book’s electric chemistry.
The Titans as Complex Antagonists
Owen’s portrayal of the Titans elevates them beyond simple villains into genuinely complex figures. Cronos, in particular, emerges as simultaneously sympathetic and terrifying—a father who devoured his children yet maintains an oddly paternal concern for Lyra’s survival. Rhea, Mnemosyne, and Phoebe each bring distinct personalities and motivations that prevent the Titans from feeling like a monolithic threat.
The author’s decision to reveal the Titans’ inability to escape through their own power creates an intriguing power dynamic. These ancient beings, capable of reshaping reality itself, remain trapped by the very nature of their immortality. It’s a clever mythological constraint that serves the plot while adding philosophical depth about the price of power.
Structural Brilliance and Narrative Challenges
The Seven Locks Framework
The seven Locks structure provides an excellent framework for escalating stakes and varied challenges. Each Lock strips away Lyra’s divine abilities, forcing her to rely on human ingenuity and determination. Owen excels at creating distinct atmospheres for each trial—from Hestia’s nightmarish creatures to Hades’s emotional manipulation to the glimpses we receive of Demeter’s agricultural trials.
However, this structure occasionally creates pacing issues. Some Locks feel more fully developed than others, and the repetitive cycle of entering a Lock, losing powers, facing death, and escaping can begin to feel formulaic despite Owen’s efforts to vary the specific challenges.
Time Travel Complexity
Owen’s handling of time travel and timeline resets proves both ambitious and problematic. The concept of Lyra experiencing multiple death scenarios across different timelines creates genuine emotional weight and explains her growing exhaustion and trauma. Mnemosyne’s revelation of these various outcomes adds psychological complexity that elevates the stakes beyond simple physical survival.
Yet the time travel mechanics sometimes feel inconsistent. The rules governing when time resets, how memories persist across timelines, and what changes can be made without triggering resets could benefit from clearer explanation. Advanced fantasy readers may find themselves questioning certain time travel logic rather than remaining immersed in the story.
Romance Amidst Chaos
The Hades-Lyra Dynamic
The romantic relationship between Hades and Lyra continues to smolder throughout the narrative, despite their physical separation for much of the book. Owen’s exploration of their bond across different timelines and the divine connection they forge adds mythological weight to their romance. The scenes where Lyra encounters past versions of Hades provide emotional complexity and showcase Owen’s skill at depicting the same relationship from multiple temporal perspectives.
The introduction of Persephone creates expected romantic tension, though Owen handles this potential love triangle with more nuance than many fantasy romances. Persephone’s characterization as perpetually optimistic yet harboring secrets provides interesting contrast to Lyra’s growing darkness and determination.
Secondary Relationships
Boone’s character development suffers somewhat in this installment, as his role becomes primarily supportive rather than integral to the plot. His romantic subplot with Persephone feels underdeveloped, serving more as conflict generation than authentic relationship building. The tension between past connections and present realities could have been explored more thoroughly.
Writing Craft and Style
Owen’s Evolving Voice
Owen’s prose demonstrates increased confidence and complexity compared to the first book. Her ability to shift between Lyra’s sardonic internal monologue and the epic scope of mythological storytelling shows real growth as a writer. The dialogue remains snappy and authentic, particularly Lyra’s voice, which maintains its distinctive blend of modern cynicism and ancient wisdom.
The author’s world-building continues to impress, expanding the mythology established in the first book while introducing entirely new environments. Tartarus itself becomes a character—oppressive, labyrinthine, and filled with both ancient horrors and unexpected beauty. Owen’s descriptions of the various Locks create distinct atmospheres that enhance rather than overshadow the character development.
Areas for Improvement
Despite its strengths, The Things Gods Break suffers from occasional exposition dumps, particularly when explaining the complex time travel mechanics or mythological background. Some transitions between timeline jumps feel abrupt, potentially confusing readers who haven’t recently reread the first book.
The book’s length, while allowing for comprehensive exploration of the premise, occasionally feels excessive. Certain training sequences and repetitive Lock attempts could have been condensed without losing narrative impact.
Mythological Authenticity and Innovation
Owen demonstrates impressive knowledge of Greek mythology while making bold creative choices that enhance rather than contradict classical sources. Her interpretation of Tartarus as a prison of seven Locks rather than simply a place of punishment provides fresh perspective on familiar material. The inclusion of Titans as complex individuals rather than mere monsters adds depth to the mythological foundation.
The integration of time travel into Greek mythology feels organic rather than forced, connecting to existing mythological concepts of fate, prophecy, and divine intervention. Owen’s exploration of how immortal beings experience trauma and memory across multiple timelines provides philosophical weight that elevates the fantasy adventure.
Comparative Analysis
Within the Series
Compared to The Games Gods Play, this sequel, The Things Gods Break, demonstrates both the benefits and challenges of expanding a successful formula. While the first book’s contained structure of twelve Labors provided clear progression and varied challenges, the open-ended nature of the seven Locks creates both greater scope and potential for repetition.
The character development shows more complexity in the sequel, particularly Lyra’s psychological journey, but some of the fresh discovery and world-building wonder of the first book necessarily diminishes as readers become familiar with Owen’s mythological universe.
Genre Positioning
Within the modern mythology romance subgenre, The Things Gods Break distinguishes itself through its unflinching approach to consequences and trauma. Unlike many mythological romances that treat divine intervention as primarily beneficial, Owen explores the genuine cost of divine attention and power.
The book’s complexity places it closer to authors like Jennifer L. Armentrout’s From Blood and Ash series or Scarlett St. Clair’s Hades X Persephone saga in terms of mythological depth and romantic intensity, while maintaining Owen’s distinctive voice and plotting sensibilities.
Technical Elements
Pacing and Structure
The novel’s pacing proves both its greatest strength and occasional weakness. Owen excels at building tension within individual Locks and maintaining emotional momentum across Lyra’s various trials. However, the repetitive structure of entering Locks, losing powers, facing death, and escaping can create a sense of sameness despite the varied specific challenges.
The multiple timeline revelations provide excellent pacing for emotional development, gradually revealing the scope of Lyra’s repeated experiences without overwhelming readers with information. The integration of past and present timelines through Lyra’s visits to earlier periods demonstrates sophisticated structural planning.
World-building Expansion
Owen’s expansion of her mythological world proves consistently impressive. Tartarus feels genuinely alien and threatening while remaining comprehensibly navigable. The various environments within the prison—from burning wastelands to ancient Mediterranean coastlines—provide visual variety that prevents monotony.
The author’s attention to mythological detail, from the specific powers of individual Titans to the cosmic implications of their imprisonment, creates a sense of depth that rewards careful readers while remaining accessible to those less familiar with classical mythology.
Critical Perspective
Strengths That Elevate
The novel’s greatest achievement lies in its unflinching examination of trauma and resilience. Lyra’s psychological journey through repeated deaths and resets creates genuine emotional weight that transcends typical fantasy adventure. Owen’s willingness to explore the genuine cost of heroism and divine attention provides maturity often missing from mythological romance.
The complex moral landscape, where imprisoned Titans demonstrate both sympathy-worthy suffering and genuinely threatening power, avoids simple good-versus-evil dynamics in favor of more nuanced ethical questions about justice, redemption, and the price of power.
Areas Requiring Attention
The time travel mechanics, while emotionally effective, sometimes feel inconsistent in their logical application. Readers seeking clear, systematic magical rules may find certain aspects frustrating. The repetitive nature of the Lock structure, while thematically appropriate, occasionally creates pacing issues that could benefit from tighter editing.
Some secondary character development, particularly Boone’s arc and the introduction of new Titans, feels rushed compared to the careful development of Lyra and Hades’s relationship.
Recommendation and Series Outlook
The Things Gods Break succeeds as both a satisfying continuation of Lyra’s story and an expansion of Owen’s mythological universe. Readers who enjoyed the first book will find this sequel delivers on its promises while raising stakes considerably. The novel’s complex exploration of trauma, power, and divine politics provides substance beneath its entertaining surface.
However, new readers should definitely begin with The Games Gods Play, as this sequel assumes familiarity with characters, relationships, and mythological concepts established in the first book. The complex timeline elements and ongoing character development require the foundation provided by the series opening.
For readers of mythological romance seeking stories that balance epic scope with intimate character development, Owen’s series offers genuine innovation with in familiar mythological frameworks. The author’s willingness to explore darker themes while maintaining romantic and adventurous elements creates a reading experience that satisfies multiple genre expectations.
Similar Reading Recommendations
Readers who enjoy The Things Gods Break should consider:
- From Blood and Ash series by Jennifer L. Armentrout – Complex mythology with romantic elements and similar themes of destiny and divine manipulation
- Hades X Persephone saga by Scarlett St. Clair – Direct mythological parallels with modern sensibilities and romantic focus
- Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan – Foundational modern mythology fiction, though aimed at younger audiences
- The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller – Literary approach to Greek mythology with emotional depth
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – While not mythological, similar themes of identity, love, and the price of fame/power
Final Verdict
The Things Gods Break demonstrates Owen’s growth as a storyteller while delivering the mythological romance and adventure readers expect from the series. Despite some structural and pacing challenges, the novel’s emotional depth, character development, and innovative approach to classical mythology create a compelling reading experience that justifies its place in contemporary fantasy romance.
The book succeeds in expanding its mythological universe while deepening character relationships and raising stakes for future installments. Owen’s willingness to explore darker themes of trauma and divine manipulation while maintaining romantic and heroic elements creates a mature, satisfying sequel that sets up intriguing possibilities for the series conclusion.
For fans of mythological romance seeking stories that balance epic adventure with genuine emotional complexity, The Things Gods Break delivers an engaging, if occasionally flawed, continuation of Lyra’s divine journey through the depths of hell itself.
