Rina Kent’s Legacy of Gods series establishes a world built on intense rivalries, with the preceding novel, God of Malice, detailing the deep-seated animosity between Royal Elite University (REU) and King’s University, or King’s U. Each has its own secret societies: the Elites at REU and the Heathens and the Serpents at King’s U. All of the societies are known for threatening, fighting, or sabotaging each other. Taking place on the fictional Brighton Island in the United Kingdom, this conflict takes a darker interpretation of real-world collegiate rivalries, such as the one between the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. Rooted in centuries of history, the Oxford-Cambridge rivalry extends beyond academics into highly publicized sporting events, most notably the annual Boat Race, which draws national attention and fosters intense loyalty. These organizations are known for their exclusivity, rituals, and powerful alumni networks that perpetuate wealth and influence, creating a rigid social hierarchy.

Similarly, the rivalry between REU, funded by “old British money” (13), and King’s U, backed by international Mafia empires, creates a similar social hierarchy on Brighton Island. These universities are equal parts educational institutions and battlegrounds for social status and power. Annika Volkov’s family, the Russian Bratva, is a primary funder of King’s U, and her brother Jeremy is president of its dominant club, the Heathens. Conversely, Creighton King is a student at the rival REU, though he doesn’t take part in the Elites’ activities. The Kings, such as his adopted siblings and cousins, are prominent in the society. These social roles complicate his and Annika’s relationship, as it does for protagonists of the other novels in the series. Though each one follows different characters at these universities, they are all standalone stories.