The Deer and the Dragon

No Other Gods, Book 1

By: Piper CJ

Narrated by: Luna Rey

Length: 15 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Hazbin Hotel meets Crescent City in this new fantasy romance series from USA Today bestseller Piper CJ.

"How does a human girl lose the Prince of Hell?"

Marlow needs to believe she's crazy. The alternative would mean embracing the gift—or curse—shared by her mother and grandmother: she can see angels and demons, including a dark and haunting entity who's been with Marlow her entire life. At least, she believes that's all he is until a fae from the Nordic pantheon strolls into her life and informs her that she's been sharing a bed with the Prince of Hell.

A Prince who's now gone missing.

Before she knows it, Marlow is deeply entangled in a centuries-old war, stumbling straight into a battleground between mighty beings of myth and legend from powerful pantheons around the world. And who will come out on top may just depend on her and the love she never dared to believe in.

Contains mature themes.

©2024 Piper CJ (P)2024 Tantor

Fae Smut for Those of Us With Religious Trauma

As an ex-evangelical Preacher's Kid with my own degree in biblical and religious studies, I was fascinated by the fun way that the author interweaves various pantheons in this opening book of the series. The way she pays special attention to a few fascinating ancient myths that are on the fringe of biblical lore contributes to this story easily transcending the typically shallow paranormal love story featuring Angels and Demons.

The protagonist has deconstructed from her own religious baggage in a way that will resonate DEEPLY with anyone who has followed a similar journey. The character took an academic journey away from the abuse of her youthful religious indoctrination, but along the way she encounters some folks who have taken a more spiritual or witchy route away from the Christian Church.

While the book is often intentionally sacrilegious – hurling multiple insults at the Christian God, and painting a few followers of such a God as abusive – it also takes intentional steps to validate the religious experience of devout Christians who believe they have certain spiritual gifts such as "the discernment of spirits". The mythos of the fictional world paints a long-standing war between Heaven and Hell, about which very few of the other pantheons of even care.

As for sexual tension, this book starts and ends with a lot of it. Nevertheless, do not go into the book expecting gratuitous smut throughout. Sex plays an unapologetic role in the story, but I honestly expected much more based on the way the opening was written.

The narration was wonderfully immersive, fitting the irreverent voice of the protagonist very well.

I can't wait to catch future books in this series! The cliffhanger was definitely a little mean!

Piper does it again!!!!

Amazing story- read well. I literally couldn’t stop listening as soon as I started it. Can’t wait for the next book in this series! Piper takes some very real and raw feelings, experience, and emotions and channels it into her work. As always well done!

Dark fantasy MADE for neurodivergent queers with religious trauma

I had a feeling this series would be good (since I enjoyed the authors night and it’s moon series so much) but holy gods I was not expecting it to be THIS good. I had real, visceral, emotional reactions relating to Marlow in some of her childhood struggles, as well as her development into the beautiful woman she becomes in her own right through lots of therapy, self discovery, and self development. Piper manages to capture the struggles of being deconstructed from a religion and finding ones’ own belief system while simultaneously encompassing the experience of being a queer woman navigating life’s many challenges. The story takes place in a world where all belief systems and their pantheons have validity, the realms they’re a part of are just simply hidden to those who cannot see through the veil. I can’t wait to continue this series, I’ve fully fallen in love with the characters and wanna bone most if not all of them haha. Amazing work!

Love this book I want more

That it ended and there was not another one to one out right away to continue

A glorious ode to mythology, folklore, and friendship

This book has taken over life. I read and then listened to it and it is just perfection. It has the perfect balance of a gripping plot, addictive characters, and some lovely prose. I immediately became emotionally invested in Marlow despite having very little in common with her (unfortunately). Her family and religious trauma broke my heart and I too feel like I would risk the wrath of heaven for her. Fauna, however, may be my favorite character ever. She is the perfect combination of bubbly, irreverent, and sexy that made me fall in love. She also is super quotable in ways that made me either laugh or get choked up. I really enjoyed the narrator of this book as well. She’s new to me, but she did a lovely job depicting the characters. I especially loved the voice she gave to Marlow which I felt I could bathe in.

yes.

Crescent city meets American Gods. Fresh upbeat, non stop story. Excellent characters and unforgettable worlds. A Must read.

Once again another great work from this author.

I really like this book! If you like eye opening works with fantasy,spiciness and action, this is a great read. As a victim of Christian grooming myself I really appreciate how deep and how sincere this work felt and how hopeful it can be for change and what the right path can feel like. A lot of good points from the perspective of deconstructing and I live for the grey area vibes this book has. I will probably listen several more times until the next book is released.

Also this book feels very genuine. I can tell Piper poured her to heart and soul into this one not that she didn’t with her other books.It’s just this one seems much more personal based on my limited knowledge from other social media post this Author has shared about her personal life.

I am already eagerly anticipating the next book in this series as the cliffhanger has me on the edge of my seat. Thank you for sharing another great work Piper CJ. I cannot wait for more.

I'm pissed that I have to wait for the next book

the read just amazing! smooth like tinted glass! the story flows so smoothly. Each detail directly moves the story forward. simply hot! I am so excited for this next book!

Amazing story, I’m so sad I have to wait for the next one

Great character development and story, this is one of the best books I’ve read recently