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The Secret Market of the Dead
An “enthralling” (Genevieve Cogman, author of The Invisible Library and Elusive) Italian-inspired gothic historical fantasy about a young woman who finds her power in the nocturnal realm that lurks beneath her town.
Just beyond the waking edges of Lucerìa, an 18th-century town in the kingdom of Naples, lies the an enigmatic fiefdom governed by seven immortals and fueled by Moira, the power to reshape one’s destiny.
On this porous border separating Day from Night, Oriana spends her time fantasizing about becoming a smith in her father’s forge and eavesdropping on whispered tales of beasts and men who roam the nocturnal realm. But in the Night, these stories come alive, as Oriana saw for herself after she inadvertently trespassed into the Secret Market of the Dead, where vendors hawk Moira to those desperate enough to accept its immeasurably steep price.
Years later, when her father chooses her twin brother to succeed him, Oriana challenges her sibling to a series of trials to determine the forge’s true heir. But as the twins’ fierce competition escalates, with the town and her own family set firmly against her, Oriana realizes that to break free from the stifling confines of Day, she must once again embrace the Night—and, as always, everything comes with a cost.
Just beyond the waking edges of Lucerìa, an 18th-century town in the kingdom of Naples, lies the an enigmatic fiefdom governed by seven immortals and fueled by Moira, the power to reshape one’s destiny.
On this porous border separating Day from Night, Oriana spends her time fantasizing about becoming a smith in her father’s forge and eavesdropping on whispered tales of beasts and men who roam the nocturnal realm. But in the Night, these stories come alive, as Oriana saw for herself after she inadvertently trespassed into the Secret Market of the Dead, where vendors hawk Moira to those desperate enough to accept its immeasurably steep price.
Years later, when her father chooses her twin brother to succeed him, Oriana challenges her sibling to a series of trials to determine the forge’s true heir. But as the twins’ fierce competition escalates, with the town and her own family set firmly against her, Oriana realizes that to break free from the stifling confines of Day, she must once again embrace the Night—and, as always, everything comes with a cost.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 8, 2025
76 people are currently reading
11979 people want to read
About the author
Giovanni De Feo
19 books41 followersGiovanni De Feo è nato a Roma nel 1973. Laureato in Storia del Cinema, nel 2003 ha vinto il Premio Solinas per la miglior sceneggiatura originale e da un suo soggetto è stato tratto il film "L’Uomo Fiammifero", finalista al David di Donatello 2010.
Ha pubblicato con E/O e, nel 2010, con Salani il romanzo fantastico "Il Mangianomi". Ha insegnato all’Università di Reading e a Oxford, alla Berlitz School. Attualmente insegna Letteratura italiana alla Deledda International School di Genova.
Ha pubblicato con E/O e, nel 2010, con Salani il romanzo fantastico "Il Mangianomi". Ha insegnato all’Università di Reading e a Oxford, alla Berlitz School. Attualmente insegna Letteratura italiana alla Deledda International School di Genova.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
March 19, 2025
full rtc closer to pub day, but basically one of my newest favorite reads that i’ll continuously recommend. read if you love the obscure studio ghibli movies 🤞🏼
March 1, 2025
"The Secret Market of the Dead" by Giovanni De Feo is an original, Italian-inspired gothic historical fantasy debut in which a young girl struggles to change her destiny—one denied to her due to her gender.
Set in Lucerìa, an 18th-century town in the Kingdom of Naples, the story follows eight-year-old twins, Oriana and Oriano, along with their parents and baby brother. This is a patriarchal society, and the twins are not treated equally by their parents and peers. Oriano is the favored child, given more freedom. He is popular and loved, so his pranks are met with indulgence. Oriana, on the other hand, is the more studious of the two. She has always dreamed of becoming a smith in her father’s forge, but her mother, and fate, have other plans for her.
The novel is steeped in mysticism, folklore, and tales of the nocturnal realm—a place ruled by seven immortals and fueled by Moira, the power to reshape one’s destiny, though not without a cost. Oriana’s path is forever altered when she encounters Emistuchivio, the Duke of the Under-Earth and Darkness, and other creatures of the Night, forcing her to enter the Secret Market of the Dead to fulfill a task.
Years later, at 14, Oriana’s twin brother is chosen as the first apprentice, destined to inherit the family forge. Unwilling to accept this, Oriana challenges her brother to three trials that will determine the rightful heir. What follows is a captivating tale of struggle, ambition, myths, and dreams.
At its core, this is a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of a rigid patriarchal society. Oriana is ahead of her time—the first feminist, fighting against the limitations placed on her due to her gender—and I admired her for that. The book also explores themes of family bonds, sibling rivalry, societal constraints, misogyny, and the courage to defy expectations in pursuit of one’s dreams.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story. The author weaves a world rich with legend and myth, blending logic and the supernatural. The worldbuilding, the night saints, and the interplay between pagan beliefs and Christianity make for a truly unique backdrop. The characters are complex and realistic—Dame Lena, a hardened woman whose ambitions have turned her bitter; clever Oriana, educated in the era’s liberal ideas, which, sadly, did not extend to women; and Oriano, who benefits from a system he does not question.
Despite the title, the story does not revolve around the Secret Market itself—which is a pity, as I would have loved to explore it further. However, the novel beautifully captures a dreamlike world where one can become whatever their heart desires. And there’s a talking cat!
To sum up, I found this to be a refreshing and engaging tale. While I truly enjoyed the story, I felt certain aspects—like the limited focus on the Secret Market—kept it from being a full 5-star read. That said, it was still an excellent book, earning 4 out of 5 stars. While it is suitable for YA readers, adults will also appreciate its depth and themes. The pacing is steady, and the twist at the end genuinely caught me by surprise. Fans of gothic historical fantasy, folklore-infused stories, and strong heroines will find much to love in this book.
Trigger warnings: animal death, mistreatment, and abuse of power.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review in my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2025...
Set in Lucerìa, an 18th-century town in the Kingdom of Naples, the story follows eight-year-old twins, Oriana and Oriano, along with their parents and baby brother. This is a patriarchal society, and the twins are not treated equally by their parents and peers. Oriano is the favored child, given more freedom. He is popular and loved, so his pranks are met with indulgence. Oriana, on the other hand, is the more studious of the two. She has always dreamed of becoming a smith in her father’s forge, but her mother, and fate, have other plans for her.
The novel is steeped in mysticism, folklore, and tales of the nocturnal realm—a place ruled by seven immortals and fueled by Moira, the power to reshape one’s destiny, though not without a cost. Oriana’s path is forever altered when she encounters Emistuchivio, the Duke of the Under-Earth and Darkness, and other creatures of the Night, forcing her to enter the Secret Market of the Dead to fulfill a task.
Years later, at 14, Oriana’s twin brother is chosen as the first apprentice, destined to inherit the family forge. Unwilling to accept this, Oriana challenges her brother to three trials that will determine the rightful heir. What follows is a captivating tale of struggle, ambition, myths, and dreams.
At its core, this is a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of a rigid patriarchal society. Oriana is ahead of her time—the first feminist, fighting against the limitations placed on her due to her gender—and I admired her for that. The book also explores themes of family bonds, sibling rivalry, societal constraints, misogyny, and the courage to defy expectations in pursuit of one’s dreams.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story. The author weaves a world rich with legend and myth, blending logic and the supernatural. The worldbuilding, the night saints, and the interplay between pagan beliefs and Christianity make for a truly unique backdrop. The characters are complex and realistic—Dame Lena, a hardened woman whose ambitions have turned her bitter; clever Oriana, educated in the era’s liberal ideas, which, sadly, did not extend to women; and Oriano, who benefits from a system he does not question.
Despite the title, the story does not revolve around the Secret Market itself—which is a pity, as I would have loved to explore it further. However, the novel beautifully captures a dreamlike world where one can become whatever their heart desires. And there’s a talking cat!
To sum up, I found this to be a refreshing and engaging tale. While I truly enjoyed the story, I felt certain aspects—like the limited focus on the Secret Market—kept it from being a full 5-star read. That said, it was still an excellent book, earning 4 out of 5 stars. While it is suitable for YA readers, adults will also appreciate its depth and themes. The pacing is steady, and the twist at the end genuinely caught me by surprise. Fans of gothic historical fantasy, folklore-infused stories, and strong heroines will find much to love in this book.
Trigger warnings: animal death, mistreatment, and abuse of power.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review in my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2025...
July 8, 2025
I loved the idea of a historical fantasy set in Italy and indeed it was very good at setting a Studio Ghibli-like atmosphere, but it just wasn't the story I thought it was and in the end this just wasn't for me.
The story follows our young heroine, Oriana, first at age 8 when she encounters the Night Market for the first time and overcomes a challenge set to her by a supernatural creature, to 14, when she is struggling with her role in life given her society's oppression of women. I think a large part of my issue with this book had to do with her age. I aged her up in my head and that helped.
Oriana wants nothing more than to join her twin Oriano as an apprentice at her father's smithy, but it's illegal for women to do that trade. My other issue with this book was that only a very small part of the book was set at the Night Market, which was a very fun setting, and it was mostly about Oriana's challenge to her brother for the right to the smithy, which I found kind of boring. Everyone in Oriana's life was so cruel to her that it became tedious to read.
This book just wasn't for me, despite the delightfully charming scene with the Parliament of Cats.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story follows our young heroine, Oriana, first at age 8 when she encounters the Night Market for the first time and overcomes a challenge set to her by a supernatural creature, to 14, when she is struggling with her role in life given her society's oppression of women. I think a large part of my issue with this book had to do with her age. I aged her up in my head and that helped.
Oriana wants nothing more than to join her twin Oriano as an apprentice at her father's smithy, but it's illegal for women to do that trade. My other issue with this book was that only a very small part of the book was set at the Night Market, which was a very fun setting, and it was mostly about Oriana's challenge to her brother for the right to the smithy, which I found kind of boring. Everyone in Oriana's life was so cruel to her that it became tedious to read.
This book just wasn't for me, despite the delightfully charming scene with the Parliament of Cats.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 27, 2025
Oriana is in competition with her twin brother for a position in the family business. She finds this world is not in her favor as she grows into her teen years and when she’s ultimately not chosen, she challenges her brother to trials for the position as she believes herself to be the true heir. In the meantime, she’s found herself in a secret market where she’s finding her power.
Historic fantasy set in Italy caught my attention immediately! This is such a unique story and I loved that about it. I also loved the side characters. Even though I completely enjoyed certain parts of this book, I struggled to get through others and I just can’t pinpoint exactly why. I just struggled to stay in the story and be interested to find out what happened next. It ran very hot and cold for me. I can understand why so many people loved it though! It just didn’t quite fall into the love category for me. I did enjoy the story and believe others would as well.
Thank you so much to Saga Press and Giovanni De Fao for providing this physical ARC, this published back on July 8th. This is my honest review!
Historic fantasy set in Italy caught my attention immediately! This is such a unique story and I loved that about it. I also loved the side characters. Even though I completely enjoyed certain parts of this book, I struggled to get through others and I just can’t pinpoint exactly why. I just struggled to stay in the story and be interested to find out what happened next. It ran very hot and cold for me. I can understand why so many people loved it though! It just didn’t quite fall into the love category for me. I did enjoy the story and believe others would as well.
Thank you so much to Saga Press and Giovanni De Fao for providing this physical ARC, this published back on July 8th. This is my honest review!
July 22, 2025
Review originally on JamReads
The Secret Market of the Dead is a gothic dark fantasy novel, written by Giovanni de Feo, and published by Saga Press. A coming of age story that touches themes such as sibling dynamics, a feminist take on fighting patriarchal societies and defying expectations in a lush and gothic world that blends together legend and myth, the logical and the supernatural, all woven with the mastery of a seasoned storyteller.
Set in Lucena, an 18th century town in the Kingdom of Naples, our story starts following eight-year-old twins, Oriana and Oriano; Lucena's society is heavily rooted into tradition and that means a patriarchal society where Oriano is favoured, while Oriana, despite being more studious, is dismissed. She dreams of becoming an apprentice at her father's forge, but her mother and fate have other plans for her.
At this point, Oriana has a first encounter with the creatures of the Night and their world, the nocturnal realm, ruled by seven immortals; her fate will irremediably change after having to enter the Secret Market of the Dead to fulfill a task in the name of Emistuchivio.
Fast forward, at 14, Oriano is chosen as the first apprentice to the family forge, effectively making him the one who would inherit it; using an obscure law, Oriana challenges him to three trials. However, she soon experiences that despite in theory they would be given the same opportunities, Oriano is favoured during the teachings for the challenges, having Oriana embark on a quest that will take her back to the nocturnal realm, in a path that will get her towards the myths, all due to her ambition to change society.
Oriana is an excellent main character: a female with liberal ideas who is fighting against the established gender roles; she's ambitious, and that would also mark the decision that will change her path. As a reader, you want her to succeed, but also fear that she will end up being engulfed by the nocturnal realm, trapped by the astute creatures that call it their home. In comparison, Oriano is a conformist; while he's aware he's being benefited by the system, he won't move in favour of Oriana. He's a product of the ideas that form Lucena's society.
De Feo also establishes a colourful but dark cast of creatures that are part of the nocturnal realm, playing with the fates and trying to get advantage of those that dare to enter their domain; all while keeping that eerie sensation of them not being of our world.
The prologue/introduction of this book is actually a promise that De Feo fulfills marvelously: that this will be the same experience as such a storyteller would be recounting you the legends of place, let you be absorbed by the narrative. The pacing is well suited to the story, slowly introducing you to Lucerna, and keeping you engaged until the very end.
The worldbuilding is another of the highlights of this novel: not only because the gothic aspects of the narration make Lucerna such a special place, but also in how De Feo blends together folkloric stories, mysticism and Christianity to create a living lore of Lucerna; a place where the frontier between realms is diffuse and some humans might end stepping into their stories.
The Secret Market of the Dead is an excellent novel, perfect if you are looking for a gothic fantasy that plays to the best with the folkloric inspirations; the triumph of a storyteller that wishes to keep your attention focused on the richness of this world while giving you a compelling main character. Just the English debut of Giovanni De Feo, but I hope this is not the last time we have the pleasure of reading novels by him in this language!
The Secret Market of the Dead is a gothic dark fantasy novel, written by Giovanni de Feo, and published by Saga Press. A coming of age story that touches themes such as sibling dynamics, a feminist take on fighting patriarchal societies and defying expectations in a lush and gothic world that blends together legend and myth, the logical and the supernatural, all woven with the mastery of a seasoned storyteller.
Set in Lucena, an 18th century town in the Kingdom of Naples, our story starts following eight-year-old twins, Oriana and Oriano; Lucena's society is heavily rooted into tradition and that means a patriarchal society where Oriano is favoured, while Oriana, despite being more studious, is dismissed. She dreams of becoming an apprentice at her father's forge, but her mother and fate have other plans for her.
At this point, Oriana has a first encounter with the creatures of the Night and their world, the nocturnal realm, ruled by seven immortals; her fate will irremediably change after having to enter the Secret Market of the Dead to fulfill a task in the name of Emistuchivio.
Fast forward, at 14, Oriano is chosen as the first apprentice to the family forge, effectively making him the one who would inherit it; using an obscure law, Oriana challenges him to three trials. However, she soon experiences that despite in theory they would be given the same opportunities, Oriano is favoured during the teachings for the challenges, having Oriana embark on a quest that will take her back to the nocturnal realm, in a path that will get her towards the myths, all due to her ambition to change society.
Oriana is an excellent main character: a female with liberal ideas who is fighting against the established gender roles; she's ambitious, and that would also mark the decision that will change her path. As a reader, you want her to succeed, but also fear that she will end up being engulfed by the nocturnal realm, trapped by the astute creatures that call it their home. In comparison, Oriano is a conformist; while he's aware he's being benefited by the system, he won't move in favour of Oriana. He's a product of the ideas that form Lucena's society.
De Feo also establishes a colourful but dark cast of creatures that are part of the nocturnal realm, playing with the fates and trying to get advantage of those that dare to enter their domain; all while keeping that eerie sensation of them not being of our world.
The prologue/introduction of this book is actually a promise that De Feo fulfills marvelously: that this will be the same experience as such a storyteller would be recounting you the legends of place, let you be absorbed by the narrative. The pacing is well suited to the story, slowly introducing you to Lucerna, and keeping you engaged until the very end.
The worldbuilding is another of the highlights of this novel: not only because the gothic aspects of the narration make Lucerna such a special place, but also in how De Feo blends together folkloric stories, mysticism and Christianity to create a living lore of Lucerna; a place where the frontier between realms is diffuse and some humans might end stepping into their stories.
The Secret Market of the Dead is an excellent novel, perfect if you are looking for a gothic fantasy that plays to the best with the folkloric inspirations; the triumph of a storyteller that wishes to keep your attention focused on the richness of this world while giving you a compelling main character. Just the English debut of Giovanni De Feo, but I hope this is not the last time we have the pleasure of reading novels by him in this language!
May 2, 2025
This was such an interesting ARC.
It started off feeling like Stephanie Garber x The Master & The Margarita vibes vibes - like a fairy tale you haven’t heard yet. Full of magical markets, listening ears, and society of cats.
Add in some dramatic patriarchy /matriarchy issues, a girl finding her way against all odds and complicated sibling love and you see why it made my TBR.
The pacing feels somewhere between fevered dream and whiplash. So maybe it’s not a surprise it felt so short and I didn’t want it end where it did. Or maybe I felt rushed where I wanted to soak up a moment. I also admit, I wish the romance was kicked up a notch or two- the set up was perfect for it.
I’ll say this in the end, keep your eyes on Giovanni De Feo if the above sounds like your vibe. I have a sense he’s just getting started.
3.75/5
TY @Netgalley & @SagaPressBooks 🥰
It started off feeling like Stephanie Garber x The Master & The Margarita vibes vibes - like a fairy tale you haven’t heard yet. Full of magical markets, listening ears, and society of cats.
Add in some dramatic patriarchy /matriarchy issues, a girl finding her way against all odds and complicated sibling love and you see why it made my TBR.
The pacing feels somewhere between fevered dream and whiplash. So maybe it’s not a surprise it felt so short and I didn’t want it end where it did. Or maybe I felt rushed where I wanted to soak up a moment. I also admit, I wish the romance was kicked up a notch or two- the set up was perfect for it.
I’ll say this in the end, keep your eyes on Giovanni De Feo if the above sounds like your vibe. I have a sense he’s just getting started.
3.75/5
TY @Netgalley & @SagaPressBooks 🥰
April 7, 2025
*I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*
DNF at 33%.
I think this could have been absolutely amazing had it been written in the style of Tanith Lee’s Night’s Master, a series of interconnected short stories revolving around the Market. Because when Feo gets to write about the strangeness, about all things Night – those were easily the best parts of the book. There’s a folkloric feel to it all, but also a ton of unique creativity that lets loose with the otherworldly imagery, the borderline horror-fantasy elements. Feo is unafraid to be weird – there’s a moment when a cloak of eyes grows countless eyelashes and uses them to fly its wearer, and it was SUPERB! The passages that were about the Market and its denizens, that were describing the bizarre and magical things Oriana saw and experienced – that was all pretty great.
(Pretty great. Bits of it were underwhelming: I was expecting much more pizzazz from the Parliament of Cats, and I didn’t find the allure of Moira convincing for a moment. Since both of those were pretty big deals, that was disappointing.)
The problem for me was twofold: first, I found the writing rhythm just a little off. Years of trying to explain this has convinced me that most readers have no idea what I’m talking about, so this is very unlikely to bother anyone else. For me, it’s as if a piece of music is slightly out of tune – that becomes most of what I can hear, and I can’t appreciate the music itself because some part of my brain can’t let it go. Here and there the phrasing struck me as out of place, or incorrect, or jarring; the dialogue felt flat and false, and whenever we had a stretch of telling-not-showing I wanted to twitch, because the prose just…didn’t flow naturally.
Can’t explain it any better than that, but if you haven’t experienced a similar thing with other books, don’t worry about it, this is an issue most readers clearly don’t have.
The other problem, the one other readers might actually experience too, is that all of the lovely strangeness is bogged down in the very mundane real world. Oriana’s home life made my blood boil – her parents are awful and her twin is a traitor, they can all take a long walk off a short pier – but it was also incredibly boring. That Oriana is so young – eight, maybe, for the first chunk of the book? I assume there’ll be a timeskip at some point where we get to see her older, but – you can have Adult stories that have a young protagonist. It’s difficult (or maybe just rare?) but it can be done. Oriana’s perspective, unfortunately, left this book with a very Young Adult feel that I did not want or sign up for.
I think this would have worked much better as a series of linked short stories than it does as a novel; if the Day parts had been skimmed over rather than given so much pagetime. The Night is where all the appeal of this story is, and it was kind of a waste of time to show us anything else. Especially when it was so clear that Feo, also, was pretty bored with the Day parts and just felt they had to be in there.
And I just don’t feel any urge to continue. Oriana doesn’t wow or interest me as a character, and I never really engaged with her; I don’t care where her story is going. I wouldn’t mind learning more about the Market, about the Night, but with the prose rhythm making me twitch…I’m not willing to keep twitching all the way through.
Great imagination, and prose that won’t bother most other readers. The Secret Market of the Dead is…fine? But I don’t love it, and I don’t have time for books I feel this meh about.
DNF at 33%.
I think this could have been absolutely amazing had it been written in the style of Tanith Lee’s Night’s Master, a series of interconnected short stories revolving around the Market. Because when Feo gets to write about the strangeness, about all things Night – those were easily the best parts of the book. There’s a folkloric feel to it all, but also a ton of unique creativity that lets loose with the otherworldly imagery, the borderline horror-fantasy elements. Feo is unafraid to be weird – there’s a moment when a cloak of eyes grows countless eyelashes and uses them to fly its wearer, and it was SUPERB! The passages that were about the Market and its denizens, that were describing the bizarre and magical things Oriana saw and experienced – that was all pretty great.
(Pretty great. Bits of it were underwhelming: I was expecting much more pizzazz from the Parliament of Cats, and I didn’t find the allure of Moira convincing for a moment. Since both of those were pretty big deals, that was disappointing.)
The problem for me was twofold: first, I found the writing rhythm just a little off. Years of trying to explain this has convinced me that most readers have no idea what I’m talking about, so this is very unlikely to bother anyone else. For me, it’s as if a piece of music is slightly out of tune – that becomes most of what I can hear, and I can’t appreciate the music itself because some part of my brain can’t let it go. Here and there the phrasing struck me as out of place, or incorrect, or jarring; the dialogue felt flat and false, and whenever we had a stretch of telling-not-showing I wanted to twitch, because the prose just…didn’t flow naturally.
Can’t explain it any better than that, but if you haven’t experienced a similar thing with other books, don’t worry about it, this is an issue most readers clearly don’t have.
The other problem, the one other readers might actually experience too, is that all of the lovely strangeness is bogged down in the very mundane real world. Oriana’s home life made my blood boil – her parents are awful and her twin is a traitor, they can all take a long walk off a short pier – but it was also incredibly boring. That Oriana is so young – eight, maybe, for the first chunk of the book? I assume there’ll be a timeskip at some point where we get to see her older, but – you can have Adult stories that have a young protagonist. It’s difficult (or maybe just rare?) but it can be done. Oriana’s perspective, unfortunately, left this book with a very Young Adult feel that I did not want or sign up for.
I think this would have worked much better as a series of linked short stories than it does as a novel; if the Day parts had been skimmed over rather than given so much pagetime. The Night is where all the appeal of this story is, and it was kind of a waste of time to show us anything else. Especially when it was so clear that Feo, also, was pretty bored with the Day parts and just felt they had to be in there.
And I just don’t feel any urge to continue. Oriana doesn’t wow or interest me as a character, and I never really engaged with her; I don’t care where her story is going. I wouldn’t mind learning more about the Market, about the Night, but with the prose rhythm making me twitch…I’m not willing to keep twitching all the way through.
Great imagination, and prose that won’t bother most other readers. The Secret Market of the Dead is…fine? But I don’t love it, and I don’t have time for books I feel this meh about.
September 5, 2025
Well this was unexpected! I dove in without any expectations or any knowledge of what the book was about (as usual lol), and I know absolutely nothing of Italian folklore so not sure if these stories that are told in the book are also tales that are being told (or have been told in the past) in Italy.
Such good storybuilding!
I listened to the audiobook and it took a while to hear that the twins actually do have a different names and it wasn't Oreano and Oreana.
I'm taking one star off because I didn't like the way it ended, it was unsatisfactory after everything Oreana went through.
PS. My father's name was almost Giovanni, like the author.
Such good storybuilding!
I listened to the audiobook and it took a while to hear that the twins actually do have a different names and it wasn't Oreano and Oreana.
I'm taking one star off because I didn't like the way it ended, it was unsatisfactory after everything Oreana went through.
PS. My father's name was almost Giovanni, like the author.
March 2, 2025
i do adore when the content of a fantasy book matches the beauty of the cover. it happens so rarely, and it's always a delight when it does.
first off, the prose and worldbuilding are truly lovely. exactly as fantastical and dreamlike as you would expect from a gothic fairytale about shadow markets. the descriptions are lush, filled with myth and magic and marvel (and a talking cat!). i love any stories with amoral god-creatures sending humans on impossible quests, and the nocturnals did not disappoint. the concept might be everywhere, but in "the secret market of the dead," the author makes it completely his own. i also love the visuals of the nocturnals in this—they weren't dressed up pretty faeries, but weird biblical six-eyed demon things from nightmares.
second, i absolutely love the characters. oriana was engaging and vibrant from the first page, and i can't remember the last time i was so invested in a character's journey. her fight to prove her worth, women's worth, to an audience of women, including even her own mother, trying to bury her aspirations, was so inspiring and beautifully executed. donna lena, her mother, was also an amazing, well-rounded character. her experiences in being shut down/harassed by men and her internalizing it and trying to diminish oriana as a way to "protect" her was excellently written. oriano realistically depicts many male children in male-centric families, who have all the privilege and willfully refuse to acknowledge the harm their sisters face.
the plot was intriguing as well. it's sort of alice in wonderland meets hercules. in the first section, oriana meets a nocturnal, accidentally gets on his bad side, and must retrieve his magic hammer from a dreamscape of fairytale creatures and fables. in the second section, she enters into a contest to inherit her father's forge and must complete three trials. i really liked it, but the pacing felt a bit off? the first section felt slightly too long, even though, yes, eight-year-old oriana is an immensely interesting character. it seems more like a background story than something that should have taken that long, and the second section with the trials should have been a little more in-depth. it felt like we barely saw them at all. i also wish we had a little more of the secret market in part two. it's such a captivating part of the story, and i wish it had been explored more. i do love the focus on the townspeople's reactions to oriana challenging for her inheritance, however. i think this is one of the best written explorations of feminism and the role of marriage and family for women in young adult novels that i've read.
this was a truly gorgeous read, and thank you to netgalley for sending me an advanced copy!
first off, the prose and worldbuilding are truly lovely. exactly as fantastical and dreamlike as you would expect from a gothic fairytale about shadow markets. the descriptions are lush, filled with myth and magic and marvel (and a talking cat!). i love any stories with amoral god-creatures sending humans on impossible quests, and the nocturnals did not disappoint. the concept might be everywhere, but in "the secret market of the dead," the author makes it completely his own. i also love the visuals of the nocturnals in this—they weren't dressed up pretty faeries, but weird biblical six-eyed demon things from nightmares.
second, i absolutely love the characters. oriana was engaging and vibrant from the first page, and i can't remember the last time i was so invested in a character's journey. her fight to prove her worth, women's worth, to an audience of women, including even her own mother, trying to bury her aspirations, was so inspiring and beautifully executed. donna lena, her mother, was also an amazing, well-rounded character. her experiences in being shut down/harassed by men and her internalizing it and trying to diminish oriana as a way to "protect" her was excellently written. oriano realistically depicts many male children in male-centric families, who have all the privilege and willfully refuse to acknowledge the harm their sisters face.
the plot was intriguing as well. it's sort of alice in wonderland meets hercules. in the first section, oriana meets a nocturnal, accidentally gets on his bad side, and must retrieve his magic hammer from a dreamscape of fairytale creatures and fables. in the second section, she enters into a contest to inherit her father's forge and must complete three trials. i really liked it, but the pacing felt a bit off? the first section felt slightly too long, even though, yes, eight-year-old oriana is an immensely interesting character. it seems more like a background story than something that should have taken that long, and the second section with the trials should have been a little more in-depth. it felt like we barely saw them at all. i also wish we had a little more of the secret market in part two. it's such a captivating part of the story, and i wish it had been explored more. i do love the focus on the townspeople's reactions to oriana challenging for her inheritance, however. i think this is one of the best written explorations of feminism and the role of marriage and family for women in young adult novels that i've read.
this was a truly gorgeous read, and thank you to netgalley for sending me an advanced copy!
March 21, 2025
4 stars
This is a charming and imaginative fairy tale, a novel about fate and destiny that kept me invested throughout. The story follows Oriana, a young woman who wishes to join her twin brother as heir to her father’s forge, forced by opposition to her dream to turn to magical means from the Night side of her 18th-century Italian city. The Night is a fey and perilous realm where nothing is quite as it seems and it is all to easy to become lost, but Oriana braves it with incredible courage and the help of magical allies.
I love that the beauty of the Night lies in the unexplainable. This is not a book with a hard magic system that could be easily spreadsheeted and made into the rules of a roleplaying game; this is a book that celebrates mystery, the sacred potential of the dark that contains unknown possibilities.
I would recommend this book to fans of historical urban fantasy and dark (not grimdark, just dangerous) fairy tales.
Content warning: cat death.
This is a charming and imaginative fairy tale, a novel about fate and destiny that kept me invested throughout. The story follows Oriana, a young woman who wishes to join her twin brother as heir to her father’s forge, forced by opposition to her dream to turn to magical means from the Night side of her 18th-century Italian city. The Night is a fey and perilous realm where nothing is quite as it seems and it is all to easy to become lost, but Oriana braves it with incredible courage and the help of magical allies.
I love that the beauty of the Night lies in the unexplainable. This is not a book with a hard magic system that could be easily spreadsheeted and made into the rules of a roleplaying game; this is a book that celebrates mystery, the sacred potential of the dark that contains unknown possibilities.
I would recommend this book to fans of historical urban fantasy and dark (not grimdark, just dangerous) fairy tales.
Content warning: cat death.
September 14, 2025
E-Galley/Overall Story:2.5/5
Audiobook/Narration: 4/5
Audiobook/Narration: 4/5
December 20, 2025
Thank you to netgalley and Saga Press for providing a copy of this novel!
I really enjoyed this book, but I can understand why it doesn't have a very high goodreads rating. The Secret Market of the Dead is essentially two stories in one: a fantastical story following a young girl who enters a strange and magical world and a historical story of a young girl being constantly beaten down by a patriarchal society. I enjoyed both aspects of the story, but they are quite different, and it can be a bit jarring. The secret market itself is reminiscent of a ghibli movie, but in the way that ghibli movies are sometimes creepy and surreal more so than fun and whimsical. While the "real world" narrative is more of a traditional coming of age narrative. I do think these two narratives work well together though since they share a similar tone. There is just this underlying sense of foreboding throughout the entire story. Very gothic, if you will.
I was engaged in the story from the start and was impressed by how the novel handled the patriarchal society. I think it did a great job of showing how even a "fair" competition isn't truly fair when one of the competitors is lacking in resources from the start. Something I really appreciated about this book was how it illustrated Oriana and her brother's different upbringings. It truly felt like it embodied the concept that "boys will be boys." As well as the pressure put on little girls to "be mature" and "act like a lady." Even though the disparity was clear, it still felt like it was done in a realistic way. It did get a little "mustache twirly" at some points, but I didn't mind, as that was more related to the magical elements than the "real world."
I recommend giving this book if you are a fan of creepy and kind of unsettling fairytales.
I really enjoyed this book, but I can understand why it doesn't have a very high goodreads rating. The Secret Market of the Dead is essentially two stories in one: a fantastical story following a young girl who enters a strange and magical world and a historical story of a young girl being constantly beaten down by a patriarchal society. I enjoyed both aspects of the story, but they are quite different, and it can be a bit jarring. The secret market itself is reminiscent of a ghibli movie, but in the way that ghibli movies are sometimes creepy and surreal more so than fun and whimsical. While the "real world" narrative is more of a traditional coming of age narrative. I do think these two narratives work well together though since they share a similar tone. There is just this underlying sense of foreboding throughout the entire story. Very gothic, if you will.
I was engaged in the story from the start and was impressed by how the novel handled the patriarchal society. I think it did a great job of showing how even a "fair" competition isn't truly fair when one of the competitors is lacking in resources from the start. Something I really appreciated about this book was how it illustrated Oriana and her brother's different upbringings. It truly felt like it embodied the concept that "boys will be boys." As well as the pressure put on little girls to "be mature" and "act like a lady." Even though the disparity was clear, it still felt like it was done in a realistic way. It did get a little "mustache twirly" at some points, but I didn't mind, as that was more related to the magical elements than the "real world."
I recommend giving this book if you are a fan of creepy and kind of unsettling fairytales.
July 8, 2025
Overall, I had a lot of fun with this story and all of its rich world building with myths and legends woven in. This felt like a fever dream while reading but I really enjoyed how weird things got. I was super fascinated by the night saints and other supernatural elements and find them to be my favorites part of this story. I loved the focus on Day vs. Night and how each reflects different sides of the same city.
This book explores misogyny, sibling rivalry, societal constraints, and more while following Oriana and her coming of age story. I really liked Oriana as a main character and felt like, despite her being a younger child for a majority of the book, she was refreshingly bright and determined in perusing what she wants for her life.
I loved how magical the world felt with the secret market, dream worlds, nocturnals, and a parliament of talking cats. The gothic themes were fantastic and the prose dreamlike.
However, I just found myself getting a little bored at times and wondering when we would get more of the secret market. I really enjoyed how weird and bizarre some aspects were, that made things more exciting and unique. I also found myself not wanting the story to end where it did. I felt like things were just picking up and getting really interesting. I would have loved more detail in the ending chapters.
Thank you to Saga Press for a gifted copy!
This book explores misogyny, sibling rivalry, societal constraints, and more while following Oriana and her coming of age story. I really liked Oriana as a main character and felt like, despite her being a younger child for a majority of the book, she was refreshingly bright and determined in perusing what she wants for her life.
I loved how magical the world felt with the secret market, dream worlds, nocturnals, and a parliament of talking cats. The gothic themes were fantastic and the prose dreamlike.
However, I just found myself getting a little bored at times and wondering when we would get more of the secret market. I really enjoyed how weird and bizarre some aspects were, that made things more exciting and unique. I also found myself not wanting the story to end where it did. I felt like things were just picking up and getting really interesting. I would have loved more detail in the ending chapters.
Thank you to Saga Press for a gifted copy!
August 20, 2025
Summary: In this Italian-inspired gothic historical tale, Oriana trespasses into the Secret Market of the Dead when she is just 8 years old. She ends up making a deal with a dark entity and going on a quest to find a mysterious item. As she ages, she is constantly suppressed for being a girl and must eventually vie against her twin brother in trials to prove she is more worthy of being the heir to her family’s forge. She realizes she must again embrace the mysterious Night Market.
Review: This was an interesting premise, but the plot seemed to fall short for me. I don’t know if it was the characters or lack of enough action, but I struggled through some parts. Overall, it was a good story and unique in its own way. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review: This was an interesting premise, but the plot seemed to fall short for me. I don’t know if it was the characters or lack of enough action, but I struggled through some parts. Overall, it was a good story and unique in its own way. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 17, 2025
This was a highly anticipated book for me and I adore the cover and title of it. The historical setting in Italy and the world building in general were really fun. That definitely was the highlight for me.
Sadly, overall it wasn’t quite the right story for me. The buildup to the main conflict of the story took too long and by that time I had already considered DNFing because I didn’t enjoy the pacing and really disliked most of the characters in the MC’s life. The plot did pick up a lot in the last third and I liked the ending because I’m a fan of stories that don’t end perfectly with sunshine and roses for everyone.
Sadly, overall it wasn’t quite the right story for me. The buildup to the main conflict of the story took too long and by that time I had already considered DNFing because I didn’t enjoy the pacing and really disliked most of the characters in the MC’s life. The plot did pick up a lot in the last third and I liked the ending because I’m a fan of stories that don’t end perfectly with sunshine and roses for everyone.
July 6, 2025
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Saga Press for the free ARC! The Secret Market of the Dead releases this Tuesday, July 8th 2025! 🇮🇹✨🌌💀🔨
"The Secret Market of the Dead" is an imaginary fantasy folklore story set in Italy by Giovanni De Feo. I enjoyed this one and enjoyed exploring the imagination of De Feo. I really liked the setting of Italy, the market, the Night, and the smithy/forge. It gave me a very fairy tale like vibe but also very dark. I was swept away in this long ago Italian world and it was a pure delight. Pinocchio, Coco, Pan's Labyrinth, and Hercules all came to my mind while reading this story. Oriana is a strong female main character and you find yourself pulling for her. Sometimes endings can be tough but I found myself liking the ending quite a bit. It will be one that sticks with me for a while! Make sure to check out this imaginary dark Italian world!
"The Secret Market of the Dead" is an imaginary fantasy folklore story set in Italy by Giovanni De Feo. I enjoyed this one and enjoyed exploring the imagination of De Feo. I really liked the setting of Italy, the market, the Night, and the smithy/forge. It gave me a very fairy tale like vibe but also very dark. I was swept away in this long ago Italian world and it was a pure delight. Pinocchio, Coco, Pan's Labyrinth, and Hercules all came to my mind while reading this story. Oriana is a strong female main character and you find yourself pulling for her. Sometimes endings can be tough but I found myself liking the ending quite a bit. It will be one that sticks with me for a while! Make sure to check out this imaginary dark Italian world!
December 8, 2025
Thank you, NetGalley, for giving me this opportunity to be able to read this book. But I think you had given me the book after it was published. But even so, I decided to read it.
I have tried to read this multiple times. But for some reason, I just wasn't able to get past the first chapter for some reason.
I will have to DNF the book. I am really sorry.
Thank you for understanding.
I have tried to read this multiple times. But for some reason, I just wasn't able to get past the first chapter for some reason.
I will have to DNF the book. I am really sorry.
Thank you for understanding.
October 31, 2025
I had to start reading it twice to get into the rhythm and feel of his writing, but it was well worth it. It is familiar in its concepts of folklore and dreaming, for I suppose they are universal, and yet it is strange in the way true novelty always is. His transition from reality to dreaming, from possible to impossible, is accomplished not only by the Nocturnal inhabited, surreal landscapes in contrast to that of the mundanely human, but also in a subtle change of writing, when the story turns into a tale and back.
As I understood the acknowledgement, it is "custom tailored" for foreigners, native to the English language, and I approve of the concept. This is not a cultural transplant, but a legend cultivated for the English language. It is brilliant, and I wonder if more storytellers across the world will globalise their fabulous heritage thus.
As I understood the acknowledgement, it is "custom tailored" for foreigners, native to the English language, and I approve of the concept. This is not a cultural transplant, but a legend cultivated for the English language. It is brilliant, and I wonder if more storytellers across the world will globalise their fabulous heritage thus.
July 14, 2025
Thank you to Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for a free eARC in exchange for my honest review.
The Secret Market of the Dead is a gothic historical fantasy that feels a touch like a gothic version of Spirited Away mixed with a dark historical fairytale. The world building and writing were so atmospheric, I was immediately pulled back in time and into this world that De Feo has created and I absolutely loved the world. The character work was good, I really enjoyed most of the characters and felt really connected to Oriana. The only thing is that she's 8 and 14 in this book and to be honest, she did not feel 8 years old at all. I don't mean that in a bad way, I just think she could have been aged up because I'm not sure any 8 year old that acts the way she does.
It was really interesting to see the family dynamics between Oriana and her twin, Oriono, along with her mother and father. I like that this book explores the complexities of the parent-child relationship and how that comes into play with societal norms, expectations, and legacy. I loved the shadow market, secret society of cats, and dream realm. I found it to be so fun to read about, while also giving a very eerie, gothic fairytale feel to the story, especially with the gods sending Oriana on a seemingly impossible quest.
I do feel like this wrapped up a little too quickly so I was left wanting in terms of the ending. I really wish the end was drawn out more just since it felt like it wrapped up so many big plot points in a short amount of time.
Overall, I had a good time with this book and I love anything that gives me a good gothic atmosphere. I'm so glad I got the chance to read this book!
The Secret Market of the Dead is a gothic historical fantasy that feels a touch like a gothic version of Spirited Away mixed with a dark historical fairytale. The world building and writing were so atmospheric, I was immediately pulled back in time and into this world that De Feo has created and I absolutely loved the world. The character work was good, I really enjoyed most of the characters and felt really connected to Oriana. The only thing is that she's 8 and 14 in this book and to be honest, she did not feel 8 years old at all. I don't mean that in a bad way, I just think she could have been aged up because I'm not sure any 8 year old that acts the way she does.
It was really interesting to see the family dynamics between Oriana and her twin, Oriono, along with her mother and father. I like that this book explores the complexities of the parent-child relationship and how that comes into play with societal norms, expectations, and legacy. I loved the shadow market, secret society of cats, and dream realm. I found it to be so fun to read about, while also giving a very eerie, gothic fairytale feel to the story, especially with the gods sending Oriana on a seemingly impossible quest.
I do feel like this wrapped up a little too quickly so I was left wanting in terms of the ending. I really wish the end was drawn out more just since it felt like it wrapped up so many big plot points in a short amount of time.
Overall, I had a good time with this book and I love anything that gives me a good gothic atmosphere. I'm so glad I got the chance to read this book!
Read
November 8, 2025“Who was he really? She would never know, she reckoned, at least not while she lived in the Day. But that was also why she loved the Night, for not everything had to be explained, and so not everything was.”
October 18, 2025
I was hopeful going into The Secret Market of the Dead. The premise—steeped in folklore, eerie markets, and mythic figures—had incredible potential. And in some ways, the world does shine. The lore surrounding the Nocturnals was intriguing and atmospheric. Unfortunately, those moments are few and far between.
The bulk of the story centers on Oriana, a young girl subjected to overwhelming injustices and emotional torment, largely at the hands of her own mother. While the book attempts to frame Oriana as a symbol of resistance—challenging expectations and asserting her right to work in her father’s smithery—her development often felt inconsistent. Her reactions were sometimes jarring, especially toward characters meant to be allies. And while she does grow a little by the end, her overwhelming pride often bordered on frustrating rather than empowering.
What truly disappointed me was how little time we actually spent in the titular Market. For a book with such an evocative title, the eerie heart of the story felt underused. Instead, long stretches were devoted to Oriana’s suffering, almost as if pain was the only currency the plot cared about. Rather than letting us explore the magic and mystery of the world, the narrative became increasingly about how much could be heaped on the protagonist before she finally cracked.
There’s a version of this story that could have been a haunting, mythic coming-of-age. Instead, it often read like a moral allegory disguised as folklore. Beautiful in moments, but weighed down by narrative choices that felt more punishing than profound.
2.5 stars, rounded down. There was potential here, but the imbalance between the rich worldbuilding and the relentless focus on torment left me more exhausted than enchanted.
The bulk of the story centers on Oriana, a young girl subjected to overwhelming injustices and emotional torment, largely at the hands of her own mother. While the book attempts to frame Oriana as a symbol of resistance—challenging expectations and asserting her right to work in her father’s smithery—her development often felt inconsistent. Her reactions were sometimes jarring, especially toward characters meant to be allies. And while she does grow a little by the end, her overwhelming pride often bordered on frustrating rather than empowering.
What truly disappointed me was how little time we actually spent in the titular Market. For a book with such an evocative title, the eerie heart of the story felt underused. Instead, long stretches were devoted to Oriana’s suffering, almost as if pain was the only currency the plot cared about. Rather than letting us explore the magic and mystery of the world, the narrative became increasingly about how much could be heaped on the protagonist before she finally cracked.
There’s a version of this story that could have been a haunting, mythic coming-of-age. Instead, it often read like a moral allegory disguised as folklore. Beautiful in moments, but weighed down by narrative choices that felt more punishing than profound.
2.5 stars, rounded down. There was potential here, but the imbalance between the rich worldbuilding and the relentless focus on torment left me more exhausted than enchanted.
July 10, 2025
Giovanni De Feo emerges as a compelling new voice in gothic historical fantasy with The Secret Market of the Dead, a debut novel that weaves Italian folklore into an intricate tapestry of ambition, sacrifice, and the price of defying destiny. Set in 18th-century Lucerìa, a fictional town in the Kingdom of Naples, this tale follows Oriana Siliceo's fierce struggle to claim her place in a world that refuses to see her worth.
A World Where Night and Day Bleed Together
De Feo constructs a richly atmospheric setting where the boundaries between the mortal realm and the nocturnal otherworld remain tantalizingly porous. Lucerìa exists in a constant state of twilight tension, where seven immortal Major Ones—Night Saints—govern different domains of darkness. The worldbuilding draws heavily from Southern Italian folklore, creating an authentic sense of place that feels both historically grounded and delightfully otherworldly.
The concept of Moira—the power to reshape one's destiny—serves as the novel's central magical system, though it comes with devastating costs. De Feo's exploration of how desperation drives people to the Secret Market of the Dead feels particularly resonant, as vendors hawk destiny itself to those willing to pay its "immeasurably steep price."
Oriana Siliceo: A Protagonist Forged in Fire
Oriana stands as one of the most compelling protagonists in recent fantasy literature. Her journey from a young woman fantasizing about smithwork to someone willing to embrace the Night's dangerous gifts showcases De Feo's skill in character development. The author portrays her frustration with societal constraints through vivid, often painful scenes that highlight the suffocating expectations placed upon women in this era.
The relationship between Oriana and her twin brother Oriano provides the novel's emotional core. Their bond, fraught with love, competition, and growing distance, feels authentically complex. De Feo avoids simplistic portrayals of sibling rivalry, instead crafting a relationship that shifts between tenderness and bitter competition as their paths diverge.
Particularly effective is how Oriana's character arc mirrors the classical hero's journey while subverting traditional expectations. Her trials aren't just about proving her smithing skills—they're about claiming agency in a world determined to deny it to her.
The Poetry of De Feo's Prose
De Feo's writing style draws clear inspiration from Italian literary traditions, particularly the lyrical quality found in magical realism. His prose flows like molten metal, shaped by careful attention to rhythm and imagery. Consider this passage describing Oriana's nocturnal forging:
"When she needed strength, she asked the Hammer. And the Hammer gave to her the power of rivers and ancient roots."
The repetitive, almost incantatory quality of such passages creates a hypnotic effect that perfectly suits the novel's gothic atmosphere. De Feo excels at sensory description, making readers feel the heat of the forge, smell the sulfur of the Night, and taste the metallic tang of destiny being reshaped.
However, this poetic approach occasionally slows the narrative pace. Some readers may find certain descriptive passages indulgent, particularly in the middle section where Oriana navigates the dream realms. While these sequences showcase De Feo's impressive imagination, they sometimes feel disconnected from the central plot's urgency.
Themes That Cut Deep
The novel explores themes of gender inequality, family expectation, and the price of ambition with remarkable nuance. Oriana's struggle against a patriarchal society that values her only as a potential wife and mother feels genuinely urgent, never descending into heavy-handed messaging. De Feo understands that the most effective social commentary emerges from character-driven storytelling rather than authorial lecturing.
The exploration of family dynamics proves equally compelling. The Siliceo household, with its complex web of love, disappointment, and manipulation, feels authentically dysfunctional. Donna Lena's transformation from protective mother to manipulative force showcases De Feo's understanding of how love can become twisted by fear and societal pressure.
The Market's Dark Bargains
The titular Secret Market of the Dead serves as both a brilliant plot device and a powerful metaphor for how desperation can lead people to make choices that fundamentally alter their nature. De Feo's descriptions of the market's otherworldly vendors and their impossible wares create some of the novel's most memorable scenes.
The author's handling of the supernatural elements demonstrates impressive restraint. Rather than overwhelming readers with fantastical creatures and powers, he uses them sparingly, making each supernatural encounter feel significant and earned. The Major Ones—particularly the Duke of the Under-earth—possess a gravitas that makes their rare appearances genuinely impactful.
Where the Forge Burns Less Bright
Despite its many strengths, The Secret Market of the Dead isn't without flaws. The pacing suffers in places, particularly during the extended sequences in Serapide's dream realm. While these sections showcase De Feo's imagination, they occasionally feel indulgent at the expense of narrative momentum.
Some secondary characters, particularly the young women who support Oriana's cause, could benefit from more individual development. They often feel more like symbols of female solidarity than fully realized characters with their own motivations and complexities.
The novel's resolution, while emotionally satisfying, raises questions about the sustainability of Oriana's choices. De Feo's ending feels both triumphant and melancholic, which suits the gothic tone but may leave some readers wanting more concrete resolution of the societal issues the story raises.
Final Verdict
The Secret Market of the Dead succeeds as both an entertaining fantasy novel and a thoughtful exploration of gender, family, and the price of ambition. While it occasionally stumbles under the weight of its own lyrical ambitions, the novel's emotional core remains strong throughout. De Feo has crafted a story that lingers in the mind long after the final page, much like the nocturnal marketplace of his imagination.
This is historical fantasy at its most atmospheric and character-driven, a debut that establishes De Feo as a voice worth following. For readers seeking stories that challenge societal expectations while delivering genuine emotional impact, Oriana's journey from forge-dreamer to Night-touched smith offers rewards worth the price of admission.
A World Where Night and Day Bleed Together
De Feo constructs a richly atmospheric setting where the boundaries between the mortal realm and the nocturnal otherworld remain tantalizingly porous. Lucerìa exists in a constant state of twilight tension, where seven immortal Major Ones—Night Saints—govern different domains of darkness. The worldbuilding draws heavily from Southern Italian folklore, creating an authentic sense of place that feels both historically grounded and delightfully otherworldly.
The concept of Moira—the power to reshape one's destiny—serves as the novel's central magical system, though it comes with devastating costs. De Feo's exploration of how desperation drives people to the Secret Market of the Dead feels particularly resonant, as vendors hawk destiny itself to those willing to pay its "immeasurably steep price."
Oriana Siliceo: A Protagonist Forged in Fire
Oriana stands as one of the most compelling protagonists in recent fantasy literature. Her journey from a young woman fantasizing about smithwork to someone willing to embrace the Night's dangerous gifts showcases De Feo's skill in character development. The author portrays her frustration with societal constraints through vivid, often painful scenes that highlight the suffocating expectations placed upon women in this era.
The relationship between Oriana and her twin brother Oriano provides the novel's emotional core. Their bond, fraught with love, competition, and growing distance, feels authentically complex. De Feo avoids simplistic portrayals of sibling rivalry, instead crafting a relationship that shifts between tenderness and bitter competition as their paths diverge.
Particularly effective is how Oriana's character arc mirrors the classical hero's journey while subverting traditional expectations. Her trials aren't just about proving her smithing skills—they're about claiming agency in a world determined to deny it to her.
The Poetry of De Feo's Prose
De Feo's writing style draws clear inspiration from Italian literary traditions, particularly the lyrical quality found in magical realism. His prose flows like molten metal, shaped by careful attention to rhythm and imagery. Consider this passage describing Oriana's nocturnal forging:
"When she needed strength, she asked the Hammer. And the Hammer gave to her the power of rivers and ancient roots."
The repetitive, almost incantatory quality of such passages creates a hypnotic effect that perfectly suits the novel's gothic atmosphere. De Feo excels at sensory description, making readers feel the heat of the forge, smell the sulfur of the Night, and taste the metallic tang of destiny being reshaped.
However, this poetic approach occasionally slows the narrative pace. Some readers may find certain descriptive passages indulgent, particularly in the middle section where Oriana navigates the dream realms. While these sequences showcase De Feo's impressive imagination, they sometimes feel disconnected from the central plot's urgency.
Themes That Cut Deep
The novel explores themes of gender inequality, family expectation, and the price of ambition with remarkable nuance. Oriana's struggle against a patriarchal society that values her only as a potential wife and mother feels genuinely urgent, never descending into heavy-handed messaging. De Feo understands that the most effective social commentary emerges from character-driven storytelling rather than authorial lecturing.
The exploration of family dynamics proves equally compelling. The Siliceo household, with its complex web of love, disappointment, and manipulation, feels authentically dysfunctional. Donna Lena's transformation from protective mother to manipulative force showcases De Feo's understanding of how love can become twisted by fear and societal pressure.
The Market's Dark Bargains
The titular Secret Market of the Dead serves as both a brilliant plot device and a powerful metaphor for how desperation can lead people to make choices that fundamentally alter their nature. De Feo's descriptions of the market's otherworldly vendors and their impossible wares create some of the novel's most memorable scenes.
The author's handling of the supernatural elements demonstrates impressive restraint. Rather than overwhelming readers with fantastical creatures and powers, he uses them sparingly, making each supernatural encounter feel significant and earned. The Major Ones—particularly the Duke of the Under-earth—possess a gravitas that makes their rare appearances genuinely impactful.
Where the Forge Burns Less Bright
Despite its many strengths, The Secret Market of the Dead isn't without flaws. The pacing suffers in places, particularly during the extended sequences in Serapide's dream realm. While these sections showcase De Feo's imagination, they occasionally feel indulgent at the expense of narrative momentum.
Some secondary characters, particularly the young women who support Oriana's cause, could benefit from more individual development. They often feel more like symbols of female solidarity than fully realized characters with their own motivations and complexities.
The novel's resolution, while emotionally satisfying, raises questions about the sustainability of Oriana's choices. De Feo's ending feels both triumphant and melancholic, which suits the gothic tone but may leave some readers wanting more concrete resolution of the societal issues the story raises.
Final Verdict
The Secret Market of the Dead succeeds as both an entertaining fantasy novel and a thoughtful exploration of gender, family, and the price of ambition. While it occasionally stumbles under the weight of its own lyrical ambitions, the novel's emotional core remains strong throughout. De Feo has crafted a story that lingers in the mind long after the final page, much like the nocturnal marketplace of his imagination.
This is historical fantasy at its most atmospheric and character-driven, a debut that establishes De Feo as a voice worth following. For readers seeking stories that challenge societal expectations while delivering genuine emotional impact, Oriana's journey from forge-dreamer to Night-touched smith offers rewards worth the price of admission.
July 10, 2025
“We create the impossible, so that the possible might exist."
This book was a gothic fantasy fever dream I never wanted to wake up from. Imagine falling asleep and descending into a hauntingly surreal world that feels like a mix of Alice’s Wonderland, Ghibli’s The Boy and the Heron, and Pan’s Labyrinth. That first slip from reality into the fantastical feels less like a transition and more like a hallucination. 🌙✨
Set in a small Italian town, the story explores significant themes, including the expectations placed on women, the ache of being underestimated, complex family dynamics, and the ever-blurring lines between darkness and light. There’s the Day world, filled with Diurnals, which feels so rigid and cruel from Oriana's perspective, and the Night—ruled by Nocturnals, swathed in dream logic, and threaded with impossible bargains.
Oriana, at the delicate ages of 8 and 14, wants nothing more than to be a smithy and the heir to her father's forge, but the patriarchy (and her family) have other ideas. The love and rivalry between her and her twin brother, Oriono, was so well-done yet still broke my heart. I’ve never felt so much rage at how a character was treated, especially a youth, by her family, teachers, society… all of it. And yet, the Night and those within it gave her space to become something more.🖤
She learned to judge the quality of a fire with just one look. Hammering became like breathing to her, a rhythm in her blood.
This book has fantastic world-building, beautiful prose, and strange characters that keep you on your toes. There’s a secret dream market with customers ranging from humans to animals to sentient buildings, a Duke of the Under-Earth, faceless creatures, trickery beyond imagination, and a Parliament of Cats (yes, you read that right). While struggling with challenges in her waking life and the Night, Oriana is propelled through surreal trials, discovers hidden strengths, and even gains a few feline traits during one trip to the Secret Market, as she fights for what she’s owed.
I will say, I loved the ending. Even though it squeezed my heart, it just felt right. This story is for anyone who’s ever raged at injustice but still believed in dreams and magic.
Thank you to Saga Press for the gifted copy!
“Dreams are powerful tools, milady. They are the fire in which people forge their own souls, day by day. Or rather, Night by Night.”
Things I loved:
🔨 Bookish x Blacksmith FMC
🌃 Day vs Night
🪬 Strange Dreamlike World
✨ Magical Bargains
⚔️ Trials
👯 Sibling Rivalry
🏢 Societal Expectations
🐈 All of the Cats!
April 14, 2025
3.5 Stars
Thank you to Simon & Schuster/Saga Press Books for providing me with a gifted ebook copy of The Secret Market of the Dead through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Oriana lives with her family and twin brother, Oriano, in Luceria, an 18th century town in the kingdom of Naples. Oriana believes in the stories of the Nocturnals, the seven immortals who control Moira, which can reshape one's destiny. Oriana soon finds that these whispered stories are true when she accidentally enters the Secret Market of the Dead, where dreamers make desperate trades for a new destiny. When Oriana and her brother reach the age to begin apprenticeship at their father's forge, Oriana challenges him to three trials to determine the true heir. As the challenges unfold, Oriana realizes the odds and everyone in her life are against her, so she must once again look to the Nocturnals and embrace the Night to succeed and take over the family forge.
The Secret Market of the Dead definitely has a unique feel to the story. I really liked the gothic undertones and strangeness that De Feo brought to the story. There is a great folklore feel, and I liked that it was set up as a cautionary tale at the beginning of the book.
I thought the underlying story of women finding equality in the profession they wanted to pursue was done well, and thought De Feo set it up perfectly with the strain on her relationship with her brother and with the townspeople. Oriana's character worked great, in that she persevered in the face of her own struggles and the adversity from those in her family and those who wished to see her fail.
I did find it hard to connect with Oriana's character for most of the book. She is 8 for at least the first half of the book and then 14 for the second half. I wish her character would have been aged up and I think it would have worked better for the story. I also felt like the first half of the book was just a bit bizarre. I felt like I was Alice at the Mad Hatter's tea party, and just couldn't really get a great grasp on the Nocturnals. I did find that the story picked up, for me, around the 50% mark, when the conflict of Oriana and Oriano's challenges for inheriting the forge became the main focus.
I definitely think The Secret Market of the Dead was an imaginative story, and that it would appeal to those that enjoy gothic fiction, strange worlds, mysterious immortals, questionable bargains, and complicated families.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster/Saga Press Books for providing me with a gifted ebook copy of The Secret Market of the Dead through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Oriana lives with her family and twin brother, Oriano, in Luceria, an 18th century town in the kingdom of Naples. Oriana believes in the stories of the Nocturnals, the seven immortals who control Moira, which can reshape one's destiny. Oriana soon finds that these whispered stories are true when she accidentally enters the Secret Market of the Dead, where dreamers make desperate trades for a new destiny. When Oriana and her brother reach the age to begin apprenticeship at their father's forge, Oriana challenges him to three trials to determine the true heir. As the challenges unfold, Oriana realizes the odds and everyone in her life are against her, so she must once again look to the Nocturnals and embrace the Night to succeed and take over the family forge.
The Secret Market of the Dead definitely has a unique feel to the story. I really liked the gothic undertones and strangeness that De Feo brought to the story. There is a great folklore feel, and I liked that it was set up as a cautionary tale at the beginning of the book.
I thought the underlying story of women finding equality in the profession they wanted to pursue was done well, and thought De Feo set it up perfectly with the strain on her relationship with her brother and with the townspeople. Oriana's character worked great, in that she persevered in the face of her own struggles and the adversity from those in her family and those who wished to see her fail.
I did find it hard to connect with Oriana's character for most of the book. She is 8 for at least the first half of the book and then 14 for the second half. I wish her character would have been aged up and I think it would have worked better for the story. I also felt like the first half of the book was just a bit bizarre. I felt like I was Alice at the Mad Hatter's tea party, and just couldn't really get a great grasp on the Nocturnals. I did find that the story picked up, for me, around the 50% mark, when the conflict of Oriana and Oriano's challenges for inheriting the forge became the main focus.
I definitely think The Secret Market of the Dead was an imaginative story, and that it would appeal to those that enjoy gothic fiction, strange worlds, mysterious immortals, questionable bargains, and complicated families.
Read
July 1, 2025Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
The Secret Market of the Dead by Giovanni De Feo is a third person-POV historical fantasy/fabulism set in a small Italian town. Twins Oriana and Oriano are the children of a smithy and believe that they will share it when they come of age. But when Oriano is given chances Oriana isn’t, she starts to find her own chances among the Night instead of the Day.
I thought it was very cool how the worldbuilding is really focused on Night vs Day and how they are very different parts of the same city. Day is bound by the rules of our world but Night is more fantastical and operates closer to a fairy tale. Statues can move and foxes can talk and other aspects of Italian folklore that I would love to explore further in my own research. They really do feel like separate worlds in a lot of ways.
Oriana and Oriano are very different characters with very different experiences. Oriana is held back by her gender in ways Oriano never has to contend with but Oriano is not as intelligent as Oriana and people do try to manipulate him because of this. Of the two, I did prefer Oriana but I never felt like I truly disliked Oriano even though he does sometimes feed into the sexist ideas of the culture around him and I can understand why Oriana is resentful of his relationship with their mother and the opportunities given to him. Oriana does receive benefits of her own because she spends time in Night, a chance Oriano is never, to our knowledge, even presented.
The book moves at a fairly slow pace and is mostly focused on Oriana and Oriano’s childhood and the expectations placed on tweens at the time in this city. Getting prepared to work at fourteen and marriage contracts to be finalized later both show up as do questions around succession. The pacing helps let the world breathe and for us to see what limitations are being put onto Oriana without stalling the story for pages and pages. It’s all handled quite well.
Content warning for depictions of sexism and mentions of child brides
I would recommend this to fans of fabulist literature and readers who like books with lots of folklore
The Secret Market of the Dead by Giovanni De Feo is a third person-POV historical fantasy/fabulism set in a small Italian town. Twins Oriana and Oriano are the children of a smithy and believe that they will share it when they come of age. But when Oriano is given chances Oriana isn’t, she starts to find her own chances among the Night instead of the Day.
I thought it was very cool how the worldbuilding is really focused on Night vs Day and how they are very different parts of the same city. Day is bound by the rules of our world but Night is more fantastical and operates closer to a fairy tale. Statues can move and foxes can talk and other aspects of Italian folklore that I would love to explore further in my own research. They really do feel like separate worlds in a lot of ways.
Oriana and Oriano are very different characters with very different experiences. Oriana is held back by her gender in ways Oriano never has to contend with but Oriano is not as intelligent as Oriana and people do try to manipulate him because of this. Of the two, I did prefer Oriana but I never felt like I truly disliked Oriano even though he does sometimes feed into the sexist ideas of the culture around him and I can understand why Oriana is resentful of his relationship with their mother and the opportunities given to him. Oriana does receive benefits of her own because she spends time in Night, a chance Oriano is never, to our knowledge, even presented.
The book moves at a fairly slow pace and is mostly focused on Oriana and Oriano’s childhood and the expectations placed on tweens at the time in this city. Getting prepared to work at fourteen and marriage contracts to be finalized later both show up as do questions around succession. The pacing helps let the world breathe and for us to see what limitations are being put onto Oriana without stalling the story for pages and pages. It’s all handled quite well.
Content warning for depictions of sexism and mentions of child brides
I would recommend this to fans of fabulist literature and readers who like books with lots of folklore
September 16, 2025
If Studio Ghibli ever decided to adapt a gothic fairytale, it might look something like this. This book felt like Alice in Wonderland tangled with The Night Circus, Pan’s Labyrinth, and Hercules - all wrapped in the atmosphere of a Stephanie Garber story.
This was absolutely phenomenal, and so different from what I usually read. De Feo’s world is lush, brimming with myth and menace. There’s a Parliament of Talking Cats, buildings that dream, and nocturnals. We follow Oriana, first as a child who accidentally stumbles into the Night - a dreamscape world ruled by strange immortals and shadowy, whimsical markets - and later as a teenager determined to inherit her father’s forge, even if it means defying her family and the roles society expects of her.
“A destiny denied is twice a destiny.”
Beyond the dreamlike fantasy, what really hit me were the themes running underneath. This is a story layered with feminist motifs: Oriana defying tradition by challenging her twin brother for their inheritance, her struggles against the narrow roles of wife and mother that threaten to confine her, and her hunger to create something beautiful in a world that tells her a girl’s work will never matter.
“I think your work is most splendid. But that counts for nothing, for in this world all the standards are set by men. This is the lesson I so bitterly learned, and the one I came to teach you. You are too good for your own good.”
Oriana was such a stunning character. She carried a deep loneliness that made my heart ache. By the end, I was in tears. I only wished for a happier ending, because she was tormented almost the entire book.
Others have said this feels like a fever/lucid dream, and I couldn’t agree more. At first it’s disorienting, but once you surrender to its rhythm, it sweeps you into a flow that’s almost hypnotic. The writing is also gorgeous and very easy to read. My one gripe is that Oriana actually felt more mature than her age. She acted like a 17-18 year old rather than an 8 year old or 14 year old.
From the worldbuilding to the characters to the prose, The Secret Market of the Dead is unlike anything I’ve read before. I cant recommend it enough!
“For in mystery alone are stories truly alive.”
4.25⭐️
Read if you like:
🕯️ gothic historical fiction
✨ feminist coming-of-age
🐈⬛ italian folklore
🗡️ trials
🌌 dreamlike worlds
Thank you Saga Press/S&S for the review copy! All opinions are my own.
This was absolutely phenomenal, and so different from what I usually read. De Feo’s world is lush, brimming with myth and menace. There’s a Parliament of Talking Cats, buildings that dream, and nocturnals. We follow Oriana, first as a child who accidentally stumbles into the Night - a dreamscape world ruled by strange immortals and shadowy, whimsical markets - and later as a teenager determined to inherit her father’s forge, even if it means defying her family and the roles society expects of her.
“A destiny denied is twice a destiny.”
Beyond the dreamlike fantasy, what really hit me were the themes running underneath. This is a story layered with feminist motifs: Oriana defying tradition by challenging her twin brother for their inheritance, her struggles against the narrow roles of wife and mother that threaten to confine her, and her hunger to create something beautiful in a world that tells her a girl’s work will never matter.
“I think your work is most splendid. But that counts for nothing, for in this world all the standards are set by men. This is the lesson I so bitterly learned, and the one I came to teach you. You are too good for your own good.”
Oriana was such a stunning character. She carried a deep loneliness that made my heart ache. By the end, I was in tears. I only wished for a happier ending, because she was tormented almost the entire book.
Others have said this feels like a fever/lucid dream, and I couldn’t agree more. At first it’s disorienting, but once you surrender to its rhythm, it sweeps you into a flow that’s almost hypnotic. The writing is also gorgeous and very easy to read. My one gripe is that Oriana actually felt more mature than her age. She acted like a 17-18 year old rather than an 8 year old or 14 year old.
From the worldbuilding to the characters to the prose, The Secret Market of the Dead is unlike anything I’ve read before. I cant recommend it enough!
“For in mystery alone are stories truly alive.”
4.25⭐️
Read if you like:
🕯️ gothic historical fiction
✨ feminist coming-of-age
🐈⬛ italian folklore
🗡️ trials
🌌 dreamlike worlds
Thank you Saga Press/S&S for the review copy! All opinions are my own.
June 30, 2025
“𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞.”
𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌: The Secret Market of the Dead
𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓: Giovanni De Feo
𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
𝑽𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒔: 🎼 🕯️ 🗡️ 🪬 💍🐈⬛✨
Ah to be swept away into a world of magical mystery where dreams come alive! Not just the dreams of humans, but those of cats, buildings, and rivers too! The Secret Market of the Dead was entirely inspired and enthralling. Every page riffled with magic and mystery in a quaint but magical town in Italy. I felt as though I was in something all together new but reminiscent. De Feo’s writing transported me and it felt as if I was in a lucid dream. There are talking cats, handkerchiefs that unfold to reveal mansions, and rings made of water from the beginning of time. If you are not thoroughly intrigued right now, I’m not sure what else I can tempt you with!
This book has prompted a sense of nostalgia within me- like remembering some diluted dream or a faint childhood memory that was laced with magic! We follow a young girl through a journey of self-discovery. She is bold, persistent, and self-made! I loved every minute of the story and I was swept away. The pages flowed so smoothly because it felt like I opened and closed the book in an instant! Left with the feeling of magic!!
For fans of Caraval, The Night Circus, and Pan’s Labrinth! It was one enthralling journey into The Secret Market of the Dead✨🖤 A beautiful tale of growth, magic, and discovery!!
Noted; the only thing that keeps me from a 5 star read is that I did find myself a bit lost at times, but I almost think that is somewhat the appeal of the story. A lucid dream as I said. A solid 4.5 stars- I highly recommend this! Keep your wits about you and always stick with your companion while in the market!✨
𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌: The Secret Market of the Dead
𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓: Giovanni De Feo
𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
𝑽𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒔: 🎼 🕯️ 🗡️ 🪬 💍🐈⬛✨
Ah to be swept away into a world of magical mystery where dreams come alive! Not just the dreams of humans, but those of cats, buildings, and rivers too! The Secret Market of the Dead was entirely inspired and enthralling. Every page riffled with magic and mystery in a quaint but magical town in Italy. I felt as though I was in something all together new but reminiscent. De Feo’s writing transported me and it felt as if I was in a lucid dream. There are talking cats, handkerchiefs that unfold to reveal mansions, and rings made of water from the beginning of time. If you are not thoroughly intrigued right now, I’m not sure what else I can tempt you with!
This book has prompted a sense of nostalgia within me- like remembering some diluted dream or a faint childhood memory that was laced with magic! We follow a young girl through a journey of self-discovery. She is bold, persistent, and self-made! I loved every minute of the story and I was swept away. The pages flowed so smoothly because it felt like I opened and closed the book in an instant! Left with the feeling of magic!!
For fans of Caraval, The Night Circus, and Pan’s Labrinth! It was one enthralling journey into The Secret Market of the Dead✨🖤 A beautiful tale of growth, magic, and discovery!!
Noted; the only thing that keeps me from a 5 star read is that I did find myself a bit lost at times, but I almost think that is somewhat the appeal of the story. A lucid dream as I said. A solid 4.5 stars- I highly recommend this! Keep your wits about you and always stick with your companion while in the market!✨
July 1, 2025
I fell under the spell of De Feo's "The Secret Market of the Dead" from the moment I stepped into his borderlands of 18th-century Naples—a world split between mundane Day and magical Night that functioned as both tangible reality and perfect metaphor for societal constraints. This liminal space transformed familiar historical fiction into something far more potent for me, especially when inhabited by seven immortals and powered by Moira, a fate-altering magic that exacted devastating personal costs from those desperate enough to wield it.
What enthralled me most was the relationship between twins Oriana and Oriano, their competition for their father's forge transcending simple sibling rivalry. Through their increasingly fractured bond, I watched De Feo examine how gender expectations can poison even the closest relationships. Oriana's determination to claim her rightful place despite society's—and her own family's—opposition drew me deeply into her struggle. I found myself championing her resilience at every turn, my emotional investment building even as the magical elements grew more complex.
De Feo seamlessly wove supernatural elements into his period setting. The Secret Market didn't feel like an intrusion into history but rather a shadowy truth existing just beneath accepted reality. I appreciated how the immortals governing this nocturnal realm emerged organically from the cultural tapestry rather than feeling imposed upon it.
Oriana's journey from curious outsider to determined competitor broke my heart because her defiance felt so necessary—making the devastating conclusion both shocking and somehow inevitable. I admired how the narrative honored fantasy traditions while reconfiguring them through a distinctly Italian lens, creating something that felt both comfortingly familiar and startlingly new. In the increasingly crowded field of historical fantasy, De Feo's voice stands refreshingly apart.
Special thanks to Saga Press and NetGalley for providing the advance review copy, though all opinions expressed are entirely my own.
What enthralled me most was the relationship between twins Oriana and Oriano, their competition for their father's forge transcending simple sibling rivalry. Through their increasingly fractured bond, I watched De Feo examine how gender expectations can poison even the closest relationships. Oriana's determination to claim her rightful place despite society's—and her own family's—opposition drew me deeply into her struggle. I found myself championing her resilience at every turn, my emotional investment building even as the magical elements grew more complex.
De Feo seamlessly wove supernatural elements into his period setting. The Secret Market didn't feel like an intrusion into history but rather a shadowy truth existing just beneath accepted reality. I appreciated how the immortals governing this nocturnal realm emerged organically from the cultural tapestry rather than feeling imposed upon it.
Oriana's journey from curious outsider to determined competitor broke my heart because her defiance felt so necessary—making the devastating conclusion both shocking and somehow inevitable. I admired how the narrative honored fantasy traditions while reconfiguring them through a distinctly Italian lens, creating something that felt both comfortingly familiar and startlingly new. In the increasingly crowded field of historical fantasy, De Feo's voice stands refreshingly apart.
Special thanks to Saga Press and NetGalley for providing the advance review copy, though all opinions expressed are entirely my own.
June 29, 2025
4 ⭐️ 𝘼 𝙝𝙪𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙖𝙜𝙖 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙂𝙞𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙞 𝘿𝙚 𝙁𝙚𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬.
The Secret Market of the Dead is gorgeously strange! The comparison to Pan's Labyrinth is so spot on. It's like a grown up fairytale with weird and interesting creatures around every corner and steeped in lore. Reading this felt like a fever dream in the best way and was beautifully surreal.
We follow Oriana who lives on the border between day and night. There are stories told of the creatures of the night "nocturnals" who most fear but Oriana is curious about them. She enters the secret market of the dead where they trade in deeply personal and impactful memories or aspirations that shape a person's life and legacy instead of coin. De Feo's descriptions of the market are full of dark whimsy that is both atmospheric and eerie. Oriana's story is one of perseverance against gender roles and her place in society as a woman.Her character development throughout the book was so well written and the ending actually left me stunned. There is also sibling rivalry with her twin Oriano when he is announced to become the apprentice of his father's forge. This sets into motion a series of trials that the twins must complete.
Also a shoutout for the side characters that I fell in love with. Growler has my heart.
My reason for the deduction of 1 star was the pacing. The first quarter of the book is like a wild ride but by the second part it takes on a more serious tone and dragged a bit for me. I was also left wanting to explore the secret market more because I was so intrigued by it in the beginning of the book. That being said this book is full of heart and whimsy and I can't wait to see what De Feo will put out next.
𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙚𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪!
The Secret Market of the Dead is gorgeously strange! The comparison to Pan's Labyrinth is so spot on. It's like a grown up fairytale with weird and interesting creatures around every corner and steeped in lore. Reading this felt like a fever dream in the best way and was beautifully surreal.
We follow Oriana who lives on the border between day and night. There are stories told of the creatures of the night "nocturnals" who most fear but Oriana is curious about them. She enters the secret market of the dead where they trade in deeply personal and impactful memories or aspirations that shape a person's life and legacy instead of coin. De Feo's descriptions of the market are full of dark whimsy that is both atmospheric and eerie. Oriana's story is one of perseverance against gender roles and her place in society as a woman.Her character development throughout the book was so well written and the ending actually left me stunned. There is also sibling rivalry with her twin Oriano when he is announced to become the apprentice of his father's forge. This sets into motion a series of trials that the twins must complete.
Also a shoutout for the side characters that I fell in love with. Growler has my heart.
My reason for the deduction of 1 star was the pacing. The first quarter of the book is like a wild ride but by the second part it takes on a more serious tone and dragged a bit for me. I was also left wanting to explore the secret market more because I was so intrigued by it in the beginning of the book. That being said this book is full of heart and whimsy and I can't wait to see what De Feo will put out next.
𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙚𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪!
July 13, 2025
When comes the time when I actually read something good this month? It's been dud after dud lately.
This was simply not for me. I think if you liked The Night Circus you will probably enjoy this book. They are both surreal in their own ways. And they both have a competition in which two characters have to complete, showing their skills.
I just couldn't grasp the "night world" too well. It of course is meant to be this dreamlike setting in which everything is strange and unfamiliar, but it never got interesting.
I also never got why Oriana was so set on becoming a smith. Her passion is never shown, we only know that she wants to create things, but why go for the one thing that's already in her vicinity? She didn't even try out any other passions. The conflict just didn't seem justified.
I did like that it was never clear which path the book would take to get to the ending. There were some conveniences along the way (the rules in the law, etc.) which were only there to have another reason to visit the night world. Neither world was kind to her, and that's one thing to be aware of when going into this, there is nothing fun about this book. I mean this in the literal way, it's all quite dreary and bleak.
This was simply not for me. I think if you liked The Night Circus you will probably enjoy this book. They are both surreal in their own ways. And they both have a competition in which two characters have to complete, showing their skills.
I just couldn't grasp the "night world" too well. It of course is meant to be this dreamlike setting in which everything is strange and unfamiliar, but it never got interesting.
I also never got why Oriana was so set on becoming a smith. Her passion is never shown, we only know that she wants to create things, but why go for the one thing that's already in her vicinity? She didn't even try out any other passions. The conflict just didn't seem justified.
I did like that it was never clear which path the book would take to get to the ending. There were some conveniences along the way (the rules in the law, etc.) which were only there to have another reason to visit the night world. Neither world was kind to her, and that's one thing to be aware of when going into this, there is nothing fun about this book. I mean this in the literal way, it's all quite dreary and bleak.
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