Jessica Balazovich’s Gods Above and Below feels like a late-summer afternoon that suddenly becomes a midnight storm — familiar, cozy, and then wildly, wonderfully unpredictable. The book opens in a town so small you can finish everyone’s sentences, with a heroine, Rian Eberna, whose life is measured in routines and half-finished plans. If you’ve ever felt stuck on a loop — the same coffee shop, the same playlist, the same people — Rian will feel like a friend who finally admits she wants more.
Enter Gabe: bold, messy, magnetic, and just enough of a risk to break Rian’s rhythm. Their chemistry crackles, but the novel isn’t just a romance. When ancient, terrifying forces return and the Fae arrive with secrets of their own, Rian’s small life turns into a crucible. Balazovich writes with an easy, heartfelt voice — funny one moment, sharp the next — and she builds characters you’ll want to ride into danger with. This is YA fantasy that loves its characters first; the magic and monsters follow.
Quick Look
- Title: Gods Above and Below (Ascendant Fae, Book 1)
- Author: Jessica Balazovich
- Genre: Young Adult / Sci-fi Fantasy
- Tone: coming-of-age, romantic tension, urban/fantasy menace
- Where to buy: Amazon
The book follows Rian Eberna, a teen stuck in small-town monotony who longs for anything extraordinary. When new boy Gabe arrives and the long-dormant demons return through rips in the earth, Rian’s quiet life explodes into danger, courage, and mystery. Jessica’s work is for readers who love character-driven YA fantasy with stakes, heart, and big reveals about identity and power.
Author Q&A with Jessica Balazovich
Q: What is your book about and what inspired you to write this book?
A: It had always been a lifelong dream of mine to become an author. I started this project back when I was eighteen and in my undergrad program. I had just finished Twilight, and was convinced I was the next Stephanie Meyer. I wrote the first book in about a year, and started on the second book to quickly figure out I didn’t have the direction to finish it. And so it sat unfinished for years and years.
I started voraciously reading again about four years ago (I’m now 35), and it rekindled my love for writing. I rescurrected the manuscript with the intention of sharing it with a friend, and almost immediately discovered it was total garbage. It was awful from start to finish. I hacked it to pieces, changed just about everything but character names, and ran with it.
I’m often inspired by sincere and monumental character growth. I love to see how a character changes and evolves as they endure whatever the author is willing to put them through.
Q: When did you start writing, and what made you decide to publish this book?
A: I started when I was about eighteen, after a high school English teacher told me I had some talent. I enjoyed watching my ideas come to fruition, and sharing them with friends.
I think Rian’s story is worth sharing. She grows and endures so much during this first book, and she comes out better because of it. She’s fearless in a way she doesn’t fully understand or acknowledge and I think so many people are the same way and just need to realize it.
Q: Which character was the most fun—or most challenging—to write, and why?
A: Catherine! She’s my favorite character, but Lucy is a close second. Both are absolutely fearlessly themselves, and won’t let anyone tell them otherwise. I really admire that in people.
Q: What themes or messages do you hope readers take away from your book?
A: To never accept that someone or something can control you.
Q: Were there any real-life experiences that influenced your story or characters?
A: There’s a lot of myself in both Rian and Cat. I think everyone has had some expierence with rocky relationships, so it’s hard not to interject that into my writing too. It’s incredibly relatable. Small pieces of the people I love–and those who have wronged me along the way–are in many of the characters.
Q: What question do you wish readers would ask you about the book?
A: That’s a tough one, especially without spoiling anything! Maybe something about what happens in the second book?
I will say, it’s in a totally different location, and means you’ll learn LOTS more about the Prorsa!
Q: Do you have a favorite quote or moment from the book you’d like to share?
A: I really love when Rian is on Gabe’s motorcycle for the first time, and she realizes how free she can really feel. It’s a major turning point for her character, and a really powerful moment overall because most people have experienced something similar.
Q: What was the biggest challenge in writing or publishing it?
A: Probably realizing that traditional publishing is not for me, at least not this series. It’s a really tough process, and I sincerely admire anyone who’s made it through. It’s even harder selling a planned series, and I just couldn’t deal with the idea that Rian’s story might be cut short because multiple books were not marketable.
Q: What’s next for you as a writer?
A: I am working through the edits on book two while writing book three! I expect book two will be released early to mid next year. Book three might take a while longer, but might be released a year or so after book two.
Why Gods Above and Below Will Appeal to You
- You like YA fantasy with emotional stakes and romantic tension.
- You enjoy character arcs where protagonists discover courage they didn’t know they had.
- You want a story that balances small-town realism with high-concept supernatural danger.
- You’re drawn to fiercely authentic friends (think Cat and Lucy) who lift the lead character up.
Review Highlights — What Readers Are Saying ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lindsay McCarty — 4.0 / 5 stars
Amazing debut novel!
“What a great debut novel for this author. Her characters feel so real and authentic. The story is enticing and entrancing. If you like fantasy books that destroy you and then put you back together, this book is for you.” — Reviewed October 29, 2025 (Hardcover)
About the Author
Jessica Balazovich received her BA in English with a Specialization in Writing in 2012 and her MA in Arts in Administration in 2016, both from the University of Michigan-Flint. She started writing while working on her undergrad program, and takes inspiration from her travels across the Atlantic and her time as a youth growing up in a small town in Michigan.
Aside from writing, Jess enjoys doing beadwork, stagework, and wildlife watching. She lives in central Michigan with her fiance and her cat.
Follow her series on Instagram: @the_ascendant_fae_series
Buy Gods Above and Below on Amazon
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