Available only on AmazonLiterature & FictionASIN: B0GRNZ69CB

Public Book

The Sleeping Goddesses

A Dark Renaissance Fantasy of Exile, Vengeance, and Forbidden Gods (Book 1)

by Alex Tarapowski

★★★★★5.09 confirmed internal ratings

About the Book

Power belongs to men. Divinity belongs to women. And the goddesses are waking. Medici meets George R. R. Martin in a Renaissance-inspired dark epic fantasy saga of love, exile, vengeance, and bloody religious war. Their father murdered in his own hall. Their stepmother opened the gates to the enemy. Three brothers escaped as their city fell — and fled across the sea to kinsmen they believed would help them fight back. But exile is only the beginning.

Someone wants the Scaliger name erased from history — and the brothers are walking into a trap they can’t see. Their only hope doesn’t look like a hero. Young Beatrice Feski smiles at court and listens. Beyond the palace walls, she’s an entrepreneur, spymaster’s protege, and owner of a gladiator stable. In a world where magic belongs only to women, she’s learned to wield steel, gold, and secrets instead.

Read more

A mysterious bond forms between Beatrice and the middle brother — shared dreams, foreign memories, visions that feel like prophecy. Something ancient is reaching for them. Because a holy war is brewing. Hecate the Devourer has ruled for three centuries — but the vanquished pagan goddesses are waking, whispering to the desperate, choosing champions, demanding sacrifice. And they never give freely. For readers of Joe Abercrombie, Guy Gavriel Kay, and R. F. Kuang.

Key features

A mysterious bond forms between Beatrice and the middle brother — shared dreams, foreign memories, visions that feel like prophecy. Something ancient is reaching for them. Because a holy war is brewing. Hecate the Devourer has ruled for three centuries — but the vanquished pagan goddesses are waking, whispering to the desperate, choosing champions, demanding sacrifice. And they never give freely. For readers of Joe Abercrombie, Guy Gavriel Kay, and R. F. Kuang.

Book details

AuthorAlex Tarapowski
GenreLiterature & Fiction
LanguageEnglish
ASINB0GRNZ69CB
Rating5.0 / 5
StatusLIVE

Confirmed Reader Feedback

3 confirmed reader reviews.

5.0

A Lush, Eerie Descent into Dark Renaissance Fantasy

The Sleeping Goddesses feels like the kind of dark fantasy you sink into slowly and don’t really want to leave. The Renaissance‑tinged world is lush, eerie, and carefully built, with forbidden gods and old myths humming just beneath the surface. I loved how the story lets tension and mystery build gradually, rewarding patient readers with layers of lore and moral complexity rather than quick thrills. The themes of exile, vengeance, and sacrifice give the book real emotional weight, and the characters’ choices rarely feel simple or clean. As a book lover who enjoys atmosphere as much as plot, I found this an immersive, thoughtful read that stays with you after you close the last page.

5.0

Definitely a strong start to a series

The characters aren't simply good or bad, and I liked seeing how their motivations and choices developed as the story progressed. The themes of exile, power, and revenge add weight to the plot without slowing it down, and there were several moments where I genuinely wasn't sure what would happen next.

5.0

An atmospheric, dark, and beautifully gothic Renaissance tale

I am a massive fan of fantasy books that step away from the usual medieval settings, and The Sleeping Goddesses completely swept me away with its grim, highly immersive Renaissance backdrop. If you love stories filled with complex political intrigue, heavy historical atmosphere, and a lingering sense of gothic dread, this first installment is a fantastic read.