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Green & Deadly Things
For fans of S.A. Chakraborty, Robin Hobb, and Martha Wells's Witch King, a page-turning standalone fantasy of necromancy and magical mayhem from Jenn Lyons, the acclaimed author of The Ruin of Kings.
Centuries ago, necromancy almost destroyed the world. That’s how history remembers it.
History remembers it wrong.
Mathaiik has trained all his life to join the sacred order of the Idallik Knights, charged with defending their world from the forces of necromancy. Only vestiges of that cursed magic remain, nothing like the fabled days of the Grim Lords, the undead wizards who once nearly destroyed the world.
But when an even stranger kind of monster begins to wake, the Knights quickly prove powerless to stop them. Whole forests are coming alive and devouring anyone so foolish as to trespass, as if the land itself has turned upon humanity.
It’s a good thing, then, that the Grim Lords were never truly destroyed. One of their number sleeps below the Knights' very fortress. And when an army of twisted tree monsters attacks the young initiates in his charge, Math decides to do the he wakes her up.
This is only the beginning of his problems. Because said necromancer, Kaiataris, knows something history has forgotten. The threat of this wild magic is part of a cycle that has repeated countless times–life after death, chaos after order. And if she and Math can’t find a new way to balance the scales, this won't just be the end of the world as they know it, but the end of all life, everywhere.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Centuries ago, necromancy almost destroyed the world. That’s how history remembers it.
History remembers it wrong.
Mathaiik has trained all his life to join the sacred order of the Idallik Knights, charged with defending their world from the forces of necromancy. Only vestiges of that cursed magic remain, nothing like the fabled days of the Grim Lords, the undead wizards who once nearly destroyed the world.
But when an even stranger kind of monster begins to wake, the Knights quickly prove powerless to stop them. Whole forests are coming alive and devouring anyone so foolish as to trespass, as if the land itself has turned upon humanity.
It’s a good thing, then, that the Grim Lords were never truly destroyed. One of their number sleeps below the Knights' very fortress. And when an army of twisted tree monsters attacks the young initiates in his charge, Math decides to do the he wakes her up.
This is only the beginning of his problems. Because said necromancer, Kaiataris, knows something history has forgotten. The threat of this wild magic is part of a cycle that has repeated countless times–life after death, chaos after order. And if she and Math can’t find a new way to balance the scales, this won't just be the end of the world as they know it, but the end of all life, everywhere.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
359 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2026
79 people are currently reading
5185 people want to read
About the author
Jenn Lyons
18 books1,653 followersJenn Lyons lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband, three cats, and a lot of opinions on anything from the Sumerian creation myths to the correct way to make a martini. At various points in her life, she has wanted to be an archaeologist, anthropologist, architect, diamond cutter, fashion illustrator, graphic designer, or Batman. Turning from such obvious trades, she is now a video game producer by day, and spends her evenings writing science fiction and fantasy. When not writing, she can be founding debating the Oxford comma and Joss Whedon’s oeuvre at various local coffee shops.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
March 1, 2026
Green & Deadly Things has a lot of jenny’s favorite things… Botanical magic, necromancy, a quest, and a yearn-y romance. Plus an interesting world with complicated political dynamics.
I had a good time with this book. The audiobook is phenomenal and probably (at least partly) responsible for my overall enjoyment of this book. A good audiobook can really take an OK book and make it great imho.
I actually read the first 37% of this book 2x. I was, admittedly, multitasking while listening and (notsoquickly) realized I was completely lost. I restarted the book, and you’d think listening a 2nd time would = boring, but nope. The audiobook performance makes it impossible not to be into this book (in the moment). (confession: I was still a little lost on the 2nd read) This is a “trust the process and enjoy the ride” kinda book.
All that said, I don’t think this is one that will stay with me. More of a—great in the moment—book.
If you’re a fan of a good audiobook, a yearn-y man, and don’t mind a slower plot, and being a bit confused at first, you might enjoy this one!
Also… it is single POV from the male’s perspective (& an m/f romance) and that was kinda fun? definitely different than what I’m used to!
Audiobook: 5/5 | Narrator: Torian Brackett | Length: 15 hrs 26 mins
I absolutely loved this narrator! His inflection and overall performance was top tier. I really enjoyed the variety of voices for the different characters and especially his ability to nail a BELIEVABLE female voice. The audiobook made this such an easy and enjoyable reading experience! The pace & pausing were perfect!
4⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you to Tor & Macmillian Audio for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
I had a good time with this book. The audiobook is phenomenal and probably (at least partly) responsible for my overall enjoyment of this book. A good audiobook can really take an OK book and make it great imho.
I actually read the first 37% of this book 2x. I was, admittedly, multitasking while listening and (notsoquickly) realized I was completely lost. I restarted the book, and you’d think listening a 2nd time would = boring, but nope. The audiobook performance makes it impossible not to be into this book (in the moment). (confession: I was still a little lost on the 2nd read) This is a “trust the process and enjoy the ride” kinda book.
All that said, I don’t think this is one that will stay with me. More of a—great in the moment—book.
If you’re a fan of a good audiobook, a yearn-y man, and don’t mind a slower plot, and being a bit confused at first, you might enjoy this one!
Also… it is single POV from the male’s perspective (& an m/f romance) and that was kinda fun? definitely different than what I’m used to!
Audiobook: 5/5 | Narrator: Torian Brackett | Length: 15 hrs 26 mins
I absolutely loved this narrator! His inflection and overall performance was top tier. I really enjoyed the variety of voices for the different characters and especially his ability to nail a BELIEVABLE female voice. The audiobook made this such an easy and enjoyable reading experience! The pace & pausing were perfect!
4⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you to Tor & Macmillian Audio for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This review was originally published on Grimdark Magazine
Now, I will admit that I went into Green & Deadly Things with deadly high expectations, not only because of its killer premise, but also because Jenn Lyons is the author who gave me A Chorus of Dragons, which will forever live rent free in my heart and soul. This time, we get necromancers, a holy knight school, sentient killer trees, and the promise that history got it all wrong. On paper, this is the stuff I want injected into my veins, but in reality, it is just… aggressively fine, which somehow hurts even worse than if it had been a total trainwreck.
To give credit where it is due, Green & Deadly Things opens strong. A plant zombie attack at a magical knight academy is a bold introduction, and the early chaos is immediate and cinematic. The forests awakening and devouring the faithful have me genuine horror energy, and if you enjoy fantasy that hits the ground running and never looks back, this absolutely delivers. For me, though, the relentless pace came at the expense of emotional investment, and I soon found myself yearning for something to hook me beyond just the cool factor of it all.
It definitely helped that we got to experience this all through Mathaiik’s eyes though, who instantly gave me disaster golden boy knight energy. He is raised within the rigid doctrine of the Idallik Knights, trained to believe necromancy nearly ended the world and must never rise again, only to be confronted with the fact that history may have lied. I found his internal conflict quite compelling, especially as his magic and personal trauma started to intersect with a much older cycle of destruction. I do have to say that I felt like Lyons was going for more depth than I felt, and I just kept waiting for that gut punch moment where it would all click.
Enter Kaiataris, one of the allegedly destroyed Grim Lords, who has been napping under the fortress like a very dangerous secret. The second Math reawakened her, the book significantly improved for me, and their dynamic quickly became the highlight of Green & Deadly Things for me. I mean, an ancient necromancer with sharp edges, dry authority, and inconvenient truths accidentally becoming magically linked with a devout young knight just screams tension, and when Lyons allows them space to talk rather than fight, I was completely locked in.
Honestly, I just wanted the entire book to slow down and let them be complicated together, but instead we get a romance that goes from zero to soul bound in what feels like a long weekend. Even with the magical bond and high stakes, their level of eternal devotion on a one-week turnaround just gave me emotional whiplash and did not feel earned. They also often read younger than the gravity of their roles demands, and I felt like that really undercut what could have been a far more layered connection. In my opinion, a slower burn would have really amplified the tragedy and the intimacy, and all things are better with more yearning if you ask me.
Still, you cannot accuse Lyons of lacking imagination, and just as when I read The Sky on Fire, I am utterly in awe of how much she packed into such a tight standalone story. The sentient necromancy plant magic is grotesque and gorgeous, the horror imagery is dark and unsettling, the lore is surprisingly rich, and the concept of cyclical catastrophe gives the story an almost mythic scope. Also, I loved that the queer-normativity in Green & Deadly Things is handled with the same effortless confidence Lyons has shown before, because I will always value that.
Moreover, Lyons sure knows how to keep you on your toes, and every time I was flirting with the idea of putting the book down, I found myself getting pulled back in by a new little twist or intriguing bit of foreshadowing. There is also no denying that the thematic resolution has bite and that the final revelations land with satisfying brutality, and I effortlessly blasted through the last half of Green & Deadly Things in one afternoon. Although I don’t know if that really counts as praise, because I honestly have to admit that I am not sure if I devoured it out of pure excitement or out of a wish for it to be over already.
Ultimately, I can’t really say if it was a book problem or a me-problem, but I just did not enjoy Green & Deadly Things as much as I desperately wanted to. That said, I still love Jenn Lyons and I will absolutely read whatever else comes out of her scarily imaginative and wildly ambitious mind. This might not have been the perfect fit for my slow-burn loving heart, but if you like the sound of a fast-paced and darkly fun standalone fantasy adventure with strong ideas, twisted greenery, and a romantic core, I would definitely give this one a shot.
Thank you to Tor UK for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Green & Deadly Things is scheduled for release on 5 March 2026.
Now, I will admit that I went into Green & Deadly Things with deadly high expectations, not only because of its killer premise, but also because Jenn Lyons is the author who gave me A Chorus of Dragons, which will forever live rent free in my heart and soul. This time, we get necromancers, a holy knight school, sentient killer trees, and the promise that history got it all wrong. On paper, this is the stuff I want injected into my veins, but in reality, it is just… aggressively fine, which somehow hurts even worse than if it had been a total trainwreck.
To give credit where it is due, Green & Deadly Things opens strong. A plant zombie attack at a magical knight academy is a bold introduction, and the early chaos is immediate and cinematic. The forests awakening and devouring the faithful have me genuine horror energy, and if you enjoy fantasy that hits the ground running and never looks back, this absolutely delivers. For me, though, the relentless pace came at the expense of emotional investment, and I soon found myself yearning for something to hook me beyond just the cool factor of it all.
It definitely helped that we got to experience this all through Mathaiik’s eyes though, who instantly gave me disaster golden boy knight energy. He is raised within the rigid doctrine of the Idallik Knights, trained to believe necromancy nearly ended the world and must never rise again, only to be confronted with the fact that history may have lied. I found his internal conflict quite compelling, especially as his magic and personal trauma started to intersect with a much older cycle of destruction. I do have to say that I felt like Lyons was going for more depth than I felt, and I just kept waiting for that gut punch moment where it would all click.
Enter Kaiataris, one of the allegedly destroyed Grim Lords, who has been napping under the fortress like a very dangerous secret. The second Math reawakened her, the book significantly improved for me, and their dynamic quickly became the highlight of Green & Deadly Things for me. I mean, an ancient necromancer with sharp edges, dry authority, and inconvenient truths accidentally becoming magically linked with a devout young knight just screams tension, and when Lyons allows them space to talk rather than fight, I was completely locked in.
Honestly, I just wanted the entire book to slow down and let them be complicated together, but instead we get a romance that goes from zero to soul bound in what feels like a long weekend. Even with the magical bond and high stakes, their level of eternal devotion on a one-week turnaround just gave me emotional whiplash and did not feel earned. They also often read younger than the gravity of their roles demands, and I felt like that really undercut what could have been a far more layered connection. In my opinion, a slower burn would have really amplified the tragedy and the intimacy, and all things are better with more yearning if you ask me.
Still, you cannot accuse Lyons of lacking imagination, and just as when I read The Sky on Fire, I am utterly in awe of how much she packed into such a tight standalone story. The sentient necromancy plant magic is grotesque and gorgeous, the horror imagery is dark and unsettling, the lore is surprisingly rich, and the concept of cyclical catastrophe gives the story an almost mythic scope. Also, I loved that the queer-normativity in Green & Deadly Things is handled with the same effortless confidence Lyons has shown before, because I will always value that.
Moreover, Lyons sure knows how to keep you on your toes, and every time I was flirting with the idea of putting the book down, I found myself getting pulled back in by a new little twist or intriguing bit of foreshadowing. There is also no denying that the thematic resolution has bite and that the final revelations land with satisfying brutality, and I effortlessly blasted through the last half of Green & Deadly Things in one afternoon. Although I don’t know if that really counts as praise, because I honestly have to admit that I am not sure if I devoured it out of pure excitement or out of a wish for it to be over already.
Ultimately, I can’t really say if it was a book problem or a me-problem, but I just did not enjoy Green & Deadly Things as much as I desperately wanted to. That said, I still love Jenn Lyons and I will absolutely read whatever else comes out of her scarily imaginative and wildly ambitious mind. This might not have been the perfect fit for my slow-burn loving heart, but if you like the sound of a fast-paced and darkly fun standalone fantasy adventure with strong ideas, twisted greenery, and a romantic core, I would definitely give this one a shot.
Thank you to Tor UK for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Green & Deadly Things is scheduled for release on 5 March 2026.
March 6, 2026
4.0 Stars
As someone who binged through the Chorus of Dragons program, I was eager to read a new fantasy story but this author. This is a separate plot but has some familiar similarities.
Once again, Lyon writes a story filled with unique characters, whimsical plots and queer romance. Usually I prefer more epic fantasy with darker themes but this one works because the author was such a good storyteller.
Personally I prefer the author's earlier books but if I got the opportunity to spend more time in this world, I could see this storying growing on me as well.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
As someone who binged through the Chorus of Dragons program, I was eager to read a new fantasy story but this author. This is a separate plot but has some familiar similarities.
Once again, Lyon writes a story filled with unique characters, whimsical plots and queer romance. Usually I prefer more epic fantasy with darker themes but this one works because the author was such a good storyteller.
Personally I prefer the author's earlier books but if I got the opportunity to spend more time in this world, I could see this storying growing on me as well.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
March 16, 2026
3.75 🌟
This was a great stand alone! If you are looking for a story that feels like an epic fantasy but you don't want to commit to a big series, than this one is definitely for you!
The worldbuilding felt super magical en was filled with epic creatures, knights and an unique magical system. I felt instantly captivated by the characters and was really excited to see were the story was going.
The story was a bit predictable, I must say. About half way I could easily see how the story was going to end. But that didn't really matter for me. I still enjoyed it.
Thank you Netgalley and Pan Macmillan publishing for this ARC! 💚💚
This was a great stand alone! If you are looking for a story that feels like an epic fantasy but you don't want to commit to a big series, than this one is definitely for you!
The worldbuilding felt super magical en was filled with epic creatures, knights and an unique magical system. I felt instantly captivated by the characters and was really excited to see were the story was going.
The story was a bit predictable, I must say. About half way I could easily see how the story was going to end. But that didn't really matter for me. I still enjoyed it.
Thank you Netgalley and Pan Macmillan publishing for this ARC! 💚💚
Read
February 23, 2026A standalone romantic fantasy with interesting world-building involving necromancy and sentient plants! Green & Deadly Things feels a bit lighter than some of Jenn Lyons other books, but equally unique in terms of ideas for the world and setup.
Mathalik is sworn to an order of celibate knights, but has not been able to fully develop his magic. He's also obsessed with solving the riddle of this ancient maze. But when sentient tree deities are accidentally awakened, he accidentally ends up waking an ancient, powerful woman who legend has painted as a villain. But perhaps history is not what it has been made out to be.
This blends action and romance, with a few twists along the way. The plant magic is creepy and cool. The audio narration is done well. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Mathalik is sworn to an order of celibate knights, but has not been able to fully develop his magic. He's also obsessed with solving the riddle of this ancient maze. But when sentient tree deities are accidentally awakened, he accidentally ends up waking an ancient, powerful woman who legend has painted as a villain. But perhaps history is not what it has been made out to be.
This blends action and romance, with a few twists along the way. The plant magic is creepy and cool. The audio narration is done well. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Want to read
March 6, 2026🌿Green & Deadly Things 🌿
Full ARC Review to come! Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy.
🎧 Narration Style: Solo
📅 Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Full ARC Review to come! Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy.
🎧 Narration Style: Solo
📅 Pub Date: March 3, 2026
March 7, 2026
A guy who fails at being a holy knight in desperation allies with a girl who's a 1400yo wizard on a mad dash quest to save the world from immense danger where nobody believes them or tries to exploit the situation for their political gains. Look if it isn't a compilation of my favourite tropes all in one bag!
Mmc, Mathaiik, Math for short, was taken as a child by a holy knight order established to fight "dark magic". They take any child who manifests power, kinda similar to the Jedi Order. Similarly, they have strict rules about controlling emotions and no attachments. Unfortunately, Math isn't doing well in the order, one because he's not very obedient, two because he still didn't learn to summon a magical weapon every knight needs to learn, and three because he specializes in plant magic and one of the bigger enemy faction is a faction of plant people and there's some odd suspicion Math is connected to them...
So generally he's considered a failure at best, a saboteur at worst, and nobody believes him. When his Order's fortress gets attacked by the plant people, Math hides in the dungeons with the Order's children to protect them... and there he finds the Sleeping Beauty, the ancient wizard Kaiataris, who people also suspect of being a necromancer, a grim lord, and generally another "dark magic" enemy. He wakes her up more by accident than intent, despite what the blurb says, which makes his situation worse, i.e. people believe even more he's a traitor and a saboteur.
Shortly, he finds himself on the run with everyone wanting his head, but this is only the beginning of his problems... There's a big magical Order vs Chaos battle going on that could end the world, but somehow nobody really believes it, they'd rather concern themselves with their petty power plays. So Math and Kai are the only people aware the world needs saving, while everybody else tries to hunt them down.
This has all my favourite elements:
✨mmc who's a bit of a failure / underdog, but means well
✨competent fmc who doesn't fold for the mmc, but also isn't a meanie for no reason
✨us against the world
✨epic quest
✨corrupt people in power who serve as an extra obstacle
✨great side characters who feel like people (esp. Math's sister, Tanxi, and Math's childhood rival, Nuzhar)
✨action-packed
✨funny banter (that doesn't fall too far into cringe)
✨complex web of political intrigue and shifting alliances
✨diverse characters without falling into tokenism (Math is bisexual and has a brown shade of skin, Kai is described as Asian-coded, Math's sister, Tanxi, is mentioned to be sapphic) - they're interesting people and their diversity doesn't define them
✨satisfying ending
✨worldbuilding that mixes epic and approachable in perfect amounts
✨magical bond (sharing emotions and pain)
This is a New Adult romantic fantasy standalone. There's one explicit sex scene. Math is 22. Kai was in magical slumber for 1400 years, but she seems young overall. It's 3rd person pov from Math's pov, which feels rare in romantic fantasy, but I've seen it in The Gods Must Burn and The Last Dragon of the East. I think it worked here much better than in the other 2, where also mmc was the "fish out of water through whom the story is explained to the reader" while fmc was "an ancient powerful being". Kai isn't as standoffish or inscrutable as the fmcs in these other 2 books. However, she is cautious and cunning, as befits an ancient being (what I missed in Smoke and Scar where fmc did not feel her age for a 200yo fae).
The attraction between the leads develops pretty fast, even though the characters do put emphasis on how much divides them and agonize whether their relationship is appropriate and even feasible. They share a magical bond that helps justify the speed, because they can be sure what the other one feels. It is also lampshaded in a few scenes where the characters are confronted whether they mistook forced proximity and attraction for love, and whether they know each other enough.
The romance overall was pretty respectful and includes my favourite version of enemies to lovers, which is 2 people from different groups / belief systems must work together on a goal, but they don't personally hate one another, only have prejudice / suspicion towards their affiliation. I much more prefer this version of ETL to the other version i.e. "they're hateful or even abusive towards one another, but can't resist their mutual attraction" (which usually leads to hate-lust relationship).
The plot was fast-paced and full of plot twists. The worldbuilding was understandable and robust, albeit slightly over-explained. I'm shocked to see reviews calling it confusing, but I had an equal shock with similar reactions to Queen of Faces. I'm neither familiar with other works of Jenn Lyons to know the world beforehand, nor am I skilled at deciphering complex worldbuilding in epic fantasy, but I found it very clear.
My nitpicks:
- It was very obvious from the moment Math survived the ambush while being transported as a prisoner who was trying to get him killed. It's also an extremely common trope in fantasy these days that the villain is but here I feel Math was unsuspecting for too long.
- Another problem with the villains these days is that often they're very much evil for the sake of evil or "greedy and powerhungry" and nothing more. Rarely they have more complex motivations, or are ambiguous / sympathetic in any way. This was the case here with
- At around 60%, a "mastermind plan" is revealed, at this point I guessed what will mcs do about it, and the solution they arrived at was exactly what I guessed will happen.
- The sex scene was surprisingly lengthy and explicit for a book that isn't very spicy, so it felt tonally jarring. I don't mind any spice level from 0 to full on, but it should match the overall tone of the book.
- The soapbox moment with the lecture about how bullying a trans kid is bad was really too on the nose. And because it happens in chapter 2, it sets a weird mood that it's gonna be a preachy book, which it's not.
Overall, I had a lot of fun with this book and the nitpicks are fairly minor all things combined. The prose flows, the pacing is great, the worldbuilding is interesting, and the characters lovable. I can't believe this is rated at 3.6 currently, there's nothing wrong with this book except, well, all the people complaining it's "too YA" (I seem to be the target audience for all these "too YA" adventure fantasies, like half the Harper Voyager's catalogue... this one is from Tor though.)
I would recommend this book to readers who like new adult / crossover adventure fantasy with a prominent romance plot, which doesn't overshadow the main fantasy plot.
I think the blurbs from Daniel M. Ford and Glen Cook signal the intended vibe of sword & sorcery / adventure fantasy. I don't get the Robin Hobb comp though, I always associate Robin Hobb with sprawling epics that are somewhat depressing in tone. This book is not. S.A. Chakraborty, sure, she writes adventure fantasy and City of Brass is one of more known crossover / new adult titles before the label was even established.
Thank you Netgalley and Pan Macmillan / Tor UK for the ARC!
Also thanks to Book's Blabbering Cait for putting this on my radar, I initially didn't request the arc because I expected it to be super dark and horroresque, but nope, it's the kind of adventure heroic fantasy I love.
Mmc, Mathaiik, Math for short, was taken as a child by a holy knight order established to fight "dark magic". They take any child who manifests power, kinda similar to the Jedi Order. Similarly, they have strict rules about controlling emotions and no attachments. Unfortunately, Math isn't doing well in the order, one because he's not very obedient, two because he still didn't learn to summon a magical weapon every knight needs to learn, and three because he specializes in plant magic and one of the bigger enemy faction is a faction of plant people and there's some odd suspicion Math is connected to them...
So generally he's considered a failure at best, a saboteur at worst, and nobody believes him. When his Order's fortress gets attacked by the plant people, Math hides in the dungeons with the Order's children to protect them... and there he finds the Sleeping Beauty, the ancient wizard Kaiataris, who people also suspect of being a necromancer, a grim lord, and generally another "dark magic" enemy. He wakes her up more by accident than intent, despite what the blurb says, which makes his situation worse, i.e. people believe even more he's a traitor and a saboteur.
Shortly, he finds himself on the run with everyone wanting his head, but this is only the beginning of his problems... There's a big magical Order vs Chaos battle going on that could end the world, but somehow nobody really believes it, they'd rather concern themselves with their petty power plays. So Math and Kai are the only people aware the world needs saving, while everybody else tries to hunt them down.
This has all my favourite elements:
✨mmc who's a bit of a failure / underdog, but means well
✨competent fmc who doesn't fold for the mmc, but also isn't a meanie for no reason
✨us against the world
✨epic quest
✨corrupt people in power who serve as an extra obstacle
✨great side characters who feel like people (esp. Math's sister, Tanxi, and Math's childhood rival, Nuzhar)
✨action-packed
✨funny banter (that doesn't fall too far into cringe)
✨complex web of political intrigue and shifting alliances
✨diverse characters without falling into tokenism (Math is bisexual and has a brown shade of skin, Kai is described as Asian-coded, Math's sister, Tanxi, is mentioned to be sapphic) - they're interesting people and their diversity doesn't define them
✨satisfying ending
✨worldbuilding that mixes epic and approachable in perfect amounts
✨magical bond (sharing emotions and pain)
This is a New Adult romantic fantasy standalone. There's one explicit sex scene. Math is 22. Kai was in magical slumber for 1400 years, but she seems young overall. It's 3rd person pov from Math's pov, which feels rare in romantic fantasy, but I've seen it in The Gods Must Burn and The Last Dragon of the East. I think it worked here much better than in the other 2, where also mmc was the "fish out of water through whom the story is explained to the reader" while fmc was "an ancient powerful being". Kai isn't as standoffish or inscrutable as the fmcs in these other 2 books. However, she is cautious and cunning, as befits an ancient being (what I missed in Smoke and Scar where fmc did not feel her age for a 200yo fae).
The attraction between the leads develops pretty fast, even though the characters do put emphasis on how much divides them and agonize whether their relationship is appropriate and even feasible. They share a magical bond that helps justify the speed, because they can be sure what the other one feels. It is also lampshaded in a few scenes where the characters are confronted whether they mistook forced proximity and attraction for love, and whether they know each other enough.
The romance overall was pretty respectful and includes my favourite version of enemies to lovers, which is 2 people from different groups / belief systems must work together on a goal, but they don't personally hate one another, only have prejudice / suspicion towards their affiliation. I much more prefer this version of ETL to the other version i.e. "they're hateful or even abusive towards one another, but can't resist their mutual attraction" (which usually leads to hate-lust relationship).
The plot was fast-paced and full of plot twists. The worldbuilding was understandable and robust, albeit slightly over-explained. I'm shocked to see reviews calling it confusing, but I had an equal shock with similar reactions to Queen of Faces. I'm neither familiar with other works of Jenn Lyons to know the world beforehand, nor am I skilled at deciphering complex worldbuilding in epic fantasy, but I found it very clear.
My nitpicks:
- It was very obvious from the moment Math survived the ambush while being transported as a prisoner who was trying to get him killed. It's also an extremely common trope in fantasy these days that the villain is but here I feel Math was unsuspecting for too long.
- Another problem with the villains these days is that often they're very much evil for the sake of evil or "greedy and powerhungry" and nothing more. Rarely they have more complex motivations, or are ambiguous / sympathetic in any way. This was the case here with
- At around 60%, a "mastermind plan" is revealed, at this point I guessed what will mcs do about it, and the solution they arrived at was exactly what I guessed will happen.
- The sex scene was surprisingly lengthy and explicit for a book that isn't very spicy, so it felt tonally jarring. I don't mind any spice level from 0 to full on, but it should match the overall tone of the book.
- The soapbox moment with the lecture about how bullying a trans kid is bad was really too on the nose. And because it happens in chapter 2, it sets a weird mood that it's gonna be a preachy book, which it's not.
Overall, I had a lot of fun with this book and the nitpicks are fairly minor all things combined. The prose flows, the pacing is great, the worldbuilding is interesting, and the characters lovable. I can't believe this is rated at 3.6 currently, there's nothing wrong with this book except, well, all the people complaining it's "too YA" (I seem to be the target audience for all these "too YA" adventure fantasies, like half the Harper Voyager's catalogue... this one is from Tor though.)
I would recommend this book to readers who like new adult / crossover adventure fantasy with a prominent romance plot, which doesn't overshadow the main fantasy plot.
I think the blurbs from Daniel M. Ford and Glen Cook signal the intended vibe of sword & sorcery / adventure fantasy. I don't get the Robin Hobb comp though, I always associate Robin Hobb with sprawling epics that are somewhat depressing in tone. This book is not. S.A. Chakraborty, sure, she writes adventure fantasy and City of Brass is one of more known crossover / new adult titles before the label was even established.
Thank you Netgalley and Pan Macmillan / Tor UK for the ARC!
Also thanks to Book's Blabbering Cait for putting this on my radar, I initially didn't request the arc because I expected it to be super dark and horroresque, but nope, it's the kind of adventure heroic fantasy I love.
March 8, 2026
I can fully admit that magical forests are like catnip in my TBR. TBH, give me your weird, woody delights and I’ll just want more. 🥰🤭
Jenn Lyons is a new to me author (but the Chorus of Dragons has been in my forever long TBR list).
This felt like a distant cousin The Everlasting (Alix E Harrow). Yes– less poetic, but in some parts equally compelling/intriguing in world building.
Three reasons to listen:
1 - This was my first time listening to a Torian Brackett narration- and I thought his performance really elevated the plot- he made it feel more of a dramatized version.
2 - If you need books where justice is served.
3 - Some of your favorite things include: a big cast of characters, found family, a strong FMC, & love is love is love.
My thanks to @NetGalley & @Macmillan.Audio for this audiobook ARC.
Green & Deadly Things is out now.
🎧: 4/5 Highly Recommended
Jenn Lyons is a new to me author (but the Chorus of Dragons has been in my forever long TBR list).
This felt like a distant cousin The Everlasting (Alix E Harrow). Yes– less poetic, but in some parts equally compelling/intriguing in world building.
Three reasons to listen:
1 - This was my first time listening to a Torian Brackett narration- and I thought his performance really elevated the plot- he made it feel more of a dramatized version.
2 - If you need books where justice is served.
3 - Some of your favorite things include: a big cast of characters, found family, a strong FMC, & love is love is love.
My thanks to @NetGalley & @Macmillan.Audio for this audiobook ARC.
Green & Deadly Things is out now.
🎧: 4/5 Highly Recommended
Did not finish
January 31, 2026DNF @ 68%
This had such a cool intro with plant necromancers killing people and turning them into plant zombies. There was a plant zombie attack at a magical knight school. The MMC's nickname was MATH, which honestly, I couldn't get over, but whatever.
The worldbuilding was pretty cool, but it wasn't enough to get me to finish the book. The two MCs read like teens. They go on the run and pretty much all the tropes and cliches that come with two people in forced proximity with each other pop up.
Extremely predictable if you've read novels and watched movies/TV shows about a couple running from the authorities. Pretty boring. Not all that interesting.
After everything in the summary happened, the book turned out to be a lot more older YA than adult. Or I guess it's fair to say that this is the type of book like Mistborn: The Final Empire where both older teens and adults can enjoy. If you're into that type of fantasy novel, then this might be for you.
I DNF'ed The Sky on Fire too, so it might be safe to say that Jenn Lyons isn't the author for me.
Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for this arc.
This had such a cool intro with plant necromancers killing people and turning them into plant zombies. There was a plant zombie attack at a magical knight school. The MMC's nickname was MATH, which honestly, I couldn't get over, but whatever.
The worldbuilding was pretty cool, but it wasn't enough to get me to finish the book. The two MCs read like teens. They go on the run and pretty much all the tropes and cliches that come with two people in forced proximity with each other pop up.
Extremely predictable if you've read novels and watched movies/TV shows about a couple running from the authorities. Pretty boring. Not all that interesting.
After everything in the summary happened, the book turned out to be a lot more older YA than adult. Or I guess it's fair to say that this is the type of book like Mistborn: The Final Empire where both older teens and adults can enjoy. If you're into that type of fantasy novel, then this might be for you.
I DNF'ed The Sky on Fire too, so it might be safe to say that Jenn Lyons isn't the author for me.
Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for this arc.
Read
September 12, 2025jenn i’m sorry i cannot follow you here but we will Always have horsegender the greatest fantasy series of the last 10 years
March 12, 2026
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted audio review copy!
I struggled quite a bit with this one at the beginning. I knew going in that it would be darker, but the body horror was sometimes difficult for me to get past. It also took a while for the story’s threads to connect in a way that really kicked the plot into motion.
Once those connections started happening, though, the story became much more engaging. There were some really interesting ideas at play and a few twists that made the payoff worthwhile.
I did have a harder time with the audiobook narration. The voices for the two main characters worked well, but I struggled with the voices for the children, which felt a bit too affected and pulled me out of the story at times.
I struggled quite a bit with this one at the beginning. I knew going in that it would be darker, but the body horror was sometimes difficult for me to get past. It also took a while for the story’s threads to connect in a way that really kicked the plot into motion.
Once those connections started happening, though, the story became much more engaging. There were some really interesting ideas at play and a few twists that made the payoff worthwhile.
I did have a harder time with the audiobook narration. The voices for the two main characters worked well, but I struggled with the voices for the children, which felt a bit too affected and pulled me out of the story at times.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My rating is 4.25
Oh I really liked this story!
I immediately connected with the story. Give me all the Knights, necromancers and trees that are more than they seem...and deadly!
Math is an interesting character and when we get to see him grow into his skills and what he is capable of, it's so good. Add to that the relationship between he and Kai, the Grim Lord that he awakes out of sheer desperation, and we have a real book on our hands. They absolutely make the book for me.
The pacing of this book is at a breakneck speed and leans quite dark....and I'm here for it. There is a lot going on, maybe too much if I'm being honest but it's all interesting. The author hits us with everything she could think of to include, lots of twists and turns, bad decisions and cool outcomes.
It's not perfect but I had a good time and that's what reading is about!
I want to compliment the narrator Torian Brackett, who did a terrific job with this cast of characters. The voice acting was phenomenal, the pacing was perfect and the tension ratcheted up as the story unfolded.
Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this ALC. My thoughts are my own.
Oh I really liked this story!
I immediately connected with the story. Give me all the Knights, necromancers and trees that are more than they seem...and deadly!
Math is an interesting character and when we get to see him grow into his skills and what he is capable of, it's so good. Add to that the relationship between he and Kai, the Grim Lord that he awakes out of sheer desperation, and we have a real book on our hands. They absolutely make the book for me.
The pacing of this book is at a breakneck speed and leans quite dark....and I'm here for it. There is a lot going on, maybe too much if I'm being honest but it's all interesting. The author hits us with everything she could think of to include, lots of twists and turns, bad decisions and cool outcomes.
It's not perfect but I had a good time and that's what reading is about!
I want to compliment the narrator Torian Brackett, who did a terrific job with this cast of characters. The voice acting was phenomenal, the pacing was perfect and the tension ratcheted up as the story unfolded.
Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this ALC. My thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A fast paced, standalone fantasy novel that reads a lot like a YA book, but the characters are a little older and there's one open door s*x scene.
I tend to like these standalones because they have to go at a pace that keeps things quick and interesting, without getting bogged down in detail.
I liked the overall idea and the banter is good. the betrayals are constant. Lots of things got resolved pretty easily while other things got dark real quick. It did seem like Lyons was going for a lighter vibe for the most part.
One thing I didn't quite like was how easily the characters kept getting out of imprisonment/traps etc because it made the stakes feel low, even though they really weren't.
The audiobook was great though, the narrator does awesome voices and I'll be looking out for more of his work!
3.5 overall
Thanks so much to Macmillan Audio via netgalley for the ALC, all opinions are my own 🖤
I tend to like these standalones because they have to go at a pace that keeps things quick and interesting, without getting bogged down in detail.
I liked the overall idea and the banter is good. the betrayals are constant. Lots of things got resolved pretty easily while other things got dark real quick. It did seem like Lyons was going for a lighter vibe for the most part.
One thing I didn't quite like was how easily the characters kept getting out of imprisonment/traps etc because it made the stakes feel low, even though they really weren't.
The audiobook was great though, the narrator does awesome voices and I'll be looking out for more of his work!
3.5 overall
Thanks so much to Macmillan Audio via netgalley for the ALC, all opinions are my own 🖤
March 10, 2026
One of my most anticipated reads of the month.
A book with necromancers, botanical magic, knights, and political warfare, all my favorites; but it just wasn't delivered right. The beginning starts out very confusing and it takes a while for anything to be explained. You're just kind of thrown in to this world with no explanation of their magic or the characters or anything really. The plot also unfolded at a slower pace than I usually prefer.
An otherwise distinctive storyline that unfortunately felt weighed down by its missed potential.
Although the book was not quite what I hoped for, I did enjoy this narrator, he told the story with the enthusiasm that I love from voice actors.
Thank you NetGalley, Tor Publishing, and MacMillan Audio for this ARC/ALC.
A book with necromancers, botanical magic, knights, and political warfare, all my favorites; but it just wasn't delivered right. The beginning starts out very confusing and it takes a while for anything to be explained. You're just kind of thrown in to this world with no explanation of their magic or the characters or anything really. The plot also unfolded at a slower pace than I usually prefer.
An otherwise distinctive storyline that unfortunately felt weighed down by its missed potential.
Although the book was not quite what I hoped for, I did enjoy this narrator, he told the story with the enthusiasm that I love from voice actors.
Thank you NetGalley, Tor Publishing, and MacMillan Audio for this ARC/ALC.
March 4, 2026
🎧📖𝒜𝐿𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌📖🎧
𝒢𝓇𝑒𝑒𝓃 & 𝒟𝑒𝒶𝒹𝓁𝓎 𝒯𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 ʙʏ ᴊᴇɴɴ ʟʏᴏɴs
𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🥀🥀🥀 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻 ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴏsᴇs
𝒮𝓅𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🌶🌶 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻
✨ 𝐻𝑜𝑜𝓀
𝒩𝑒𝒸𝓇𝑜𝓂𝒶𝓃𝒸𝓎 𝒶𝓁𝓂𝑜𝓈𝓉 𝒹𝑒𝓈𝓉𝓇𝑜𝓎𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝑜���𝓁𝒹.
𝒮𝑜 𝑜𝒷𝓋𝒾𝑜𝓊𝓈𝓁𝓎… 𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓀𝑒𝓈 𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓊𝓅.
𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:
ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴀᴄᴍɪʟʟᴀɴᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ & ᴛᴏʀ ʙᴏᴏᴋs ғᴏʀ ɢɪғᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʟᴄ!
𝒢𝓇𝑒𝑒𝓃 & 𝒟𝑒𝒶𝒹𝓁𝓎 𝒯𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 ʙʏ ᴊᴇɴɴ ʟʏᴏɴs ɪs ᴀ sʜᴀʀᴘ, ғᴀsᴛ-ᴍᴏᴠɪɴɢ sᴛᴀɴᴅᴀʟᴏɴᴇ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ғʟɪᴘs ᴛʜᴇ “ᴇᴠɪʟ ɴᴇᴄʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇʀ” ᴛʀᴏᴘᴇ ᴏɴ ɪᴛs ᴜɴᴅᴇᴀᴅ ʜᴇᴀᴅ.
ᴍᴀᴛʜᴀɪɪᴋ ʜᴀs ᴛʀᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ʜɪs ᴡʜᴏʟᴇ ʟɪғᴇ ᴛᴏ ғɪɢʜᴛ ɴᴇᴄʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄʏ ᴀs ᴀɴ ɪᴅᴀʟʟɪᴋ ᴋɴɪɢʜᴛ—ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ʜɪsᴛᴏʀʏ sᴀʏs ɪᴛ ɴᴇᴀʀʟʏ ᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ғᴏʀᴇsᴛs sᴛᴀʀᴛ ᴡᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴠᴏᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ, ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴡɪʟᴅ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ ᴛᴜʀɴs ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀɴᴅ ɪᴛsᴇʟғ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴘʀᴇᴅᴀᴛᴏʀ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɴɪɢʜᴛs ᴀʀᴇ ʜᴇʟᴘʟᴇss. sᴏ ᴍᴀᴛʜ ᴍᴀᴋᴇs ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏsᴛ ʀᴇᴄᴋʟᴇss ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴘᴏssɪʙʟᴇ:
ʜᴇ ʀᴇsᴜʀʀᴇᴄᴛs ᴀ ʟᴇɢᴇɴᴅᴀʀʏ ɢʀɪᴍ ʟᴏʀᴅ.
ᴋᴀɪᴀᴛᴀʀɪs ɪs ɴᴏᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀᴄᴋʟɪɴɢ ᴠɪʟʟᴀɪɴ ʜɪsᴛᴏʀʏ ᴘᴀɪɴᴛᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ. sʜᴇ’s ᴀɴᴄɪᴇɴᴛ, ʀᴀᴢᴏʀ-sᴍᴀʀᴛ, ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴄᴀᴛᴇᴅ—ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴏʟᴅɪɴɢ sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴀ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄᴀʟ ᴄʏᴄʟᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴋᴇᴇᴘs ᴅᴇsᴛʀᴏʏɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ. ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴅʏɴᴀᴍɪᴄ (ɪᴅᴇᴀʟɪsᴛɪᴄ ᴋɴɪɢʜᴛ x ᴘʀᴀɢᴍᴀᴛɪᴄ ɴᴇᴄʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇʀ) ᴄʀᴀᴄᴋʟᴇs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ, ᴘʜɪʟᴏsᴏᴘʜʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇʟᴜᴄᴛᴀɴᴛ ᴛʀᴜsᴛ.
ᴛʜɪs ɪsɴ’ᴛ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴍᴏɴsᴛᴇʀs ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴀʏʜᴇᴍ (ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʙsᴏʟᴜᴛᴇʟʏ ɢᴇᴛ sᴇɴᴛɪᴇɴᴛ ᴛʀᴇᴇ ʜᴏʀʀᴏʀ). ɪᴛ’s ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʜɪsᴛᴏʀʏ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ʀᴇᴡʀɪᴛᴛᴇɴ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠɪᴄᴛᴏʀs, ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʟɪғᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴀs ɴᴇᴄᴇssᴀʀʏ ғᴏʀᴄᴇs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴇᴛʜᴇʀ “ғᴏʀʙɪᴅᴅᴇɴ” ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ ᴡᴀs ᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴜᴇ ᴠɪʟʟᴀɪɴ.
🎙️𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃:
ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ sʜɪɴᴇs ɪɴ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛɪᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴀᴛʜ’s ᴇᴀʀɴᴇsᴛ ᴅᴇᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴋᴀɪᴀᴛᴀʀɪs’s ᴅʀʏ, ᴀɴᴄɪᴇɴᴛ ᴡɪᴛ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀᴄɪɴɢ ғᴇᴇʟs ᴛɪɢʜᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄɪɴᴇᴍᴀᴛɪᴄ—ʙᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ sᴄᴇɴᴇs ᴀʀᴇ ɪᴍᴍᴇʀsɪᴠᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʜɪʟᴏsᴏᴘʜɪᴄᴀʟ ᴇxᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇs ʟᴀɴᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ ɪɴsᴛᴇᴀᴅ ᴏғ sʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛᴜᴍ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴇᴇᴘɪɴɢ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴏғ ʟɪᴠɪɴɢ ғᴏʀᴇsᴛs ғᴇᴇʟs ᴇsᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴠɪᴠɪᴅ ɪɴ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ.
𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈 & 𝒱𝒾𝒷𝑒𝓈:
🌿ɴᴇᴄʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇʀ ᴀʟʟʏ (ɴᴏᴛ ᴠɪʟʟᴀɪɴ)
✨ɪᴅᴇᴀʟɪsᴛɪᴄ ᴋɴɪɢʜᴛ x ᴀɴᴄɪᴇɴᴛ ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ɢʀᴀʏ ᴍᴀɢᴇ
🌿ʜɪsᴛᴏʀʏ ʟɪᴇᴅ
✨ғᴏʀʙɪᴅᴅᴇɴ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ
🌿“ᴡᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɴᴄɪᴇɴᴛ ᴇᴠɪʟ” (ʙᴜᴛ sʜᴇ’s ᴀᴄᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ʀɪɢʜᴛ)
✨sᴇɴᴛɪᴇɴᴛ ғᴏʀᴇsᴛ ʜᴏʀʀᴏʀ
🌿ʀᴇʟᴜᴄᴛᴀɴᴛ ᴍᴇɴᴛᴏʀsʜɪᴘ
✨ᴄʏᴄʟᴇ ᴏғ ᴅᴇsᴛʀᴜᴄᴛɪᴏɴ & ʀᴇʙɪʀᴛʜ
🌿ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴘᴜʀᴘᴏsᴇ
✨ᴡɪᴛᴄʜ ᴋɪɴɢ ᴇɴᴇʀɢʏ
🌿ɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ ʜᴏʀʀᴏʀ ᴍᴇᴇᴛs ᴇᴘɪᴄ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ
✨ᴀɴᴄɪᴇɴᴛ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ & ᴄʀᴜᴍʙʟɪɴɢ ᴅᴏɢᴍᴀ
🌿ᴘʜɪʟᴏsᴏᴘʜɪᴄᴀʟ ʙᴜᴛ ғᴀsᴛ-ᴘᴀᴄᴇᴅ
✨ᴅʀʏ, ᴄᴜᴛᴛɪɴɢ ʜᴜᴍᴏʀ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴀᴄᴇ ᴏғ ᴀᴘᴏᴄᴀʟʏᴘsᴇ
🌿“ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏɴsᴛᴇʀs ᴡᴇʀᴇɴ’ᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴏʙʟᴇᴍ”
✨ᴘʟᴀɴᴛ ɴᴇᴄʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇʀs
🌿ᴇɴᴇᴍɪᴇs-ᴛᴏ-ʟᴏᴠᴇʀs ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴄᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴠᴏᴡs ᴏғ ᴄᴇʟɪʙᴀᴄʏ
✨ᴋɪɴᴅʜᴇᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ғᴍᴄ
🌿ᴘᴏʟɪᴛɪᴄs, ᴡᴀʀ, ᴀʀʙᴏʀᴇᴀʟ ɪɴᴛʀɪɢᴜᴇ
✨ᴍᴀɢɪᴄᴀʟ ᴍᴀʏʜᴇᴍ x ʙᴇᴛʀᴀʏᴀʟ
🌿ᴄʜᴀʀᴍɪɴɢ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
✨ᴘʟᴀɴᴛ-ʙᴀsᴇᴅ ʙᴏᴅʏ ʜᴏʀʀᴏʀ
🌿sʟᴏᴡ-ʙᴜʀɴ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
✨ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ ɢᴏɴᴇ ᴡɪʟᴅ
🌿ғᴏʀʙɪᴅᴅᴇɴ ʟᴏᴠᴇ
𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉:
sᴍᴀʀᴛ, sᴜʙᴠᴇʀsɪᴠᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇʟɪᴄɪᴏᴜsʟʏ ɴᴇᴄʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛɪᴄ. ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ɢʀᴀʏ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ, ᴜɴᴅᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴇɢᴇɴᴅs ᴡʜᴏ sᴛᴇᴀʟ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ sᴄᴇɴᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴs ᴡʜᴏ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ɢᴇᴛs ᴛᴏ ᴡʀɪᴛᴇ ʜɪsᴛᴏʀʏ— 𝒢𝓇𝑒𝑒𝓃 & 𝒟𝑒𝒶𝒹𝓁𝓎 𝒯𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 ɪs ᴀʙsᴏʟᴜᴛᴇʟʏ ᴡᴏʀᴛʜ ᴡᴀᴋɪɴɢ.
ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ: @ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ
++++
NOTES:
Tropes:
- Plant necromancers
- Enemies-to-lovers and complicated by vows of celibacy
- Kindhearted FMC
- Politics, war, arboreal intrigue
- Magical Mayhem x Betrayal
- Charming romance
- Plant-based body horror
- Slow-burn romance
- World with nature gone wild
- Forbidden Love
𝒢𝓇𝑒𝑒𝓃 & 𝒟𝑒𝒶𝒹𝓁𝓎 𝒯𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 ʙʏ ᴊᴇɴɴ ʟʏᴏɴs
𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🥀🥀🥀 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻 ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴏsᴇs
𝒮𝓅𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🌶🌶 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻
✨ 𝐻𝑜𝑜𝓀
𝒩𝑒𝒸𝓇𝑜𝓂𝒶𝓃𝒸𝓎 𝒶𝓁𝓂𝑜𝓈𝓉 𝒹𝑒𝓈𝓉𝓇𝑜𝓎𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝑜���𝓁𝒹.
𝒮𝑜 𝑜𝒷𝓋𝒾𝑜𝓊𝓈𝓁𝓎… 𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓀𝑒𝓈 𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓊𝓅.
𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:
ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴀᴄᴍɪʟʟᴀɴᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ & ᴛᴏʀ ʙᴏᴏᴋs ғᴏʀ ɢɪғᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʟᴄ!
𝒢𝓇𝑒𝑒𝓃 & 𝒟𝑒𝒶𝒹𝓁𝓎 𝒯𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 ʙʏ ᴊᴇɴɴ ʟʏᴏɴs ɪs ᴀ sʜᴀʀᴘ, ғᴀsᴛ-ᴍᴏᴠɪɴɢ sᴛᴀɴᴅᴀʟᴏɴᴇ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ғʟɪᴘs ᴛʜᴇ “ᴇᴠɪʟ ɴᴇᴄʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇʀ” ᴛʀᴏᴘᴇ ᴏɴ ɪᴛs ᴜɴᴅᴇᴀᴅ ʜᴇᴀᴅ.
ᴍᴀᴛʜᴀɪɪᴋ ʜᴀs ᴛʀᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ʜɪs ᴡʜᴏʟᴇ ʟɪғᴇ ᴛᴏ ғɪɢʜᴛ ɴᴇᴄʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄʏ ᴀs ᴀɴ ɪᴅᴀʟʟɪᴋ ᴋɴɪɢʜᴛ—ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ʜɪsᴛᴏʀʏ sᴀʏs ɪᴛ ɴᴇᴀʀʟʏ ᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ғᴏʀᴇsᴛs sᴛᴀʀᴛ ᴡᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴠᴏᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ, ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴡɪʟᴅ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ ᴛᴜʀɴs ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀɴᴅ ɪᴛsᴇʟғ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴘʀᴇᴅᴀᴛᴏʀ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɴɪɢʜᴛs ᴀʀᴇ ʜᴇʟᴘʟᴇss. sᴏ ᴍᴀᴛʜ ᴍᴀᴋᴇs ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏsᴛ ʀᴇᴄᴋʟᴇss ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴘᴏssɪʙʟᴇ:
ʜᴇ ʀᴇsᴜʀʀᴇᴄᴛs ᴀ ʟᴇɢᴇɴᴅᴀʀʏ ɢʀɪᴍ ʟᴏʀᴅ.
ᴋᴀɪᴀᴛᴀʀɪs ɪs ɴᴏᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀᴄᴋʟɪɴɢ ᴠɪʟʟᴀɪɴ ʜɪsᴛᴏʀʏ ᴘᴀɪɴᴛᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ. sʜᴇ’s ᴀɴᴄɪᴇɴᴛ, ʀᴀᴢᴏʀ-sᴍᴀʀᴛ, ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴄᴀᴛᴇᴅ—ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴏʟᴅɪɴɢ sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴀ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄᴀʟ ᴄʏᴄʟᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴋᴇᴇᴘs ᴅᴇsᴛʀᴏʏɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ. ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴅʏɴᴀᴍɪᴄ (ɪᴅᴇᴀʟɪsᴛɪᴄ ᴋɴɪɢʜᴛ x ᴘʀᴀɢᴍᴀᴛɪᴄ ɴᴇᴄʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇʀ) ᴄʀᴀᴄᴋʟᴇs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ, ᴘʜɪʟᴏsᴏᴘʜʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇʟᴜᴄᴛᴀɴᴛ ᴛʀᴜsᴛ.
ᴛʜɪs ɪsɴ’ᴛ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴍᴏɴsᴛᴇʀs ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴀʏʜᴇᴍ (ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʙsᴏʟᴜᴛᴇʟʏ ɢᴇᴛ sᴇɴᴛɪᴇɴᴛ ᴛʀᴇᴇ ʜᴏʀʀᴏʀ). ɪᴛ’s ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʜɪsᴛᴏʀʏ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ʀᴇᴡʀɪᴛᴛᴇɴ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠɪᴄᴛᴏʀs, ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʟɪғᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴀs ɴᴇᴄᴇssᴀʀʏ ғᴏʀᴄᴇs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴇᴛʜᴇʀ “ғᴏʀʙɪᴅᴅᴇɴ” ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ ᴡᴀs ᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴜᴇ ᴠɪʟʟᴀɪɴ.
🎙️𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃:
ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ sʜɪɴᴇs ɪɴ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛɪᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴀᴛʜ’s ᴇᴀʀɴᴇsᴛ ᴅᴇᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴋᴀɪᴀᴛᴀʀɪs’s ᴅʀʏ, ᴀɴᴄɪᴇɴᴛ ᴡɪᴛ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀᴄɪɴɢ ғᴇᴇʟs ᴛɪɢʜᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄɪɴᴇᴍᴀᴛɪᴄ—ʙᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ sᴄᴇɴᴇs ᴀʀᴇ ɪᴍᴍᴇʀsɪᴠᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʜɪʟᴏsᴏᴘʜɪᴄᴀʟ ᴇxᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇs ʟᴀɴᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ ɪɴsᴛᴇᴀᴅ ᴏғ sʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛᴜᴍ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴇᴇᴘɪɴɢ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴏғ ʟɪᴠɪɴɢ ғᴏʀᴇsᴛs ғᴇᴇʟs ᴇsᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴠɪᴠɪᴅ ɪɴ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ.
𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈 & 𝒱𝒾𝒷𝑒𝓈:
🌿ɴᴇᴄʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇʀ ᴀʟʟʏ (ɴᴏᴛ ᴠɪʟʟᴀɪɴ)
✨ɪᴅᴇᴀʟɪsᴛɪᴄ ᴋɴɪɢʜᴛ x ᴀɴᴄɪᴇɴᴛ ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ɢʀᴀʏ ᴍᴀɢᴇ
🌿ʜɪsᴛᴏʀʏ ʟɪᴇᴅ
✨ғᴏʀʙɪᴅᴅᴇɴ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ
🌿“ᴡᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɴᴄɪᴇɴᴛ ᴇᴠɪʟ” (ʙᴜᴛ sʜᴇ’s ᴀᴄᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ʀɪɢʜᴛ)
✨sᴇɴᴛɪᴇɴᴛ ғᴏʀᴇsᴛ ʜᴏʀʀᴏʀ
🌿ʀᴇʟᴜᴄᴛᴀɴᴛ ᴍᴇɴᴛᴏʀsʜɪᴘ
✨ᴄʏᴄʟᴇ ᴏғ ᴅᴇsᴛʀᴜᴄᴛɪᴏɴ & ʀᴇʙɪʀᴛʜ
🌿ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴘᴜʀᴘᴏsᴇ
✨ᴡɪᴛᴄʜ ᴋɪɴɢ ᴇɴᴇʀɢʏ
🌿ɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ ʜᴏʀʀᴏʀ ᴍᴇᴇᴛs ᴇᴘɪᴄ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ
✨ᴀɴᴄɪᴇɴᴛ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ & ᴄʀᴜᴍʙʟɪɴɢ ᴅᴏɢᴍᴀ
🌿ᴘʜɪʟᴏsᴏᴘʜɪᴄᴀʟ ʙᴜᴛ ғᴀsᴛ-ᴘᴀᴄᴇᴅ
✨ᴅʀʏ, ᴄᴜᴛᴛɪɴɢ ʜᴜᴍᴏʀ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴀᴄᴇ ᴏғ ᴀᴘᴏᴄᴀʟʏᴘsᴇ
🌿“ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏɴsᴛᴇʀs ᴡᴇʀᴇɴ’ᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴏʙʟᴇᴍ”
✨ᴘʟᴀɴᴛ ɴᴇᴄʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇʀs
🌿ᴇɴᴇᴍɪᴇs-ᴛᴏ-ʟᴏᴠᴇʀs ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴄᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴠᴏᴡs ᴏғ ᴄᴇʟɪʙᴀᴄʏ
✨ᴋɪɴᴅʜᴇᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ғᴍᴄ
🌿ᴘᴏʟɪᴛɪᴄs, ᴡᴀʀ, ᴀʀʙᴏʀᴇᴀʟ ɪɴᴛʀɪɢᴜᴇ
✨ᴍᴀɢɪᴄᴀʟ ᴍᴀʏʜᴇᴍ x ʙᴇᴛʀᴀʏᴀʟ
🌿ᴄʜᴀʀᴍɪɴɢ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
✨ᴘʟᴀɴᴛ-ʙᴀsᴇᴅ ʙᴏᴅʏ ʜᴏʀʀᴏʀ
🌿sʟᴏᴡ-ʙᴜʀɴ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
✨ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ ɢᴏɴᴇ ᴡɪʟᴅ
🌿ғᴏʀʙɪᴅᴅᴇɴ ʟᴏᴠᴇ
𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉:
sᴍᴀʀᴛ, sᴜʙᴠᴇʀsɪᴠᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇʟɪᴄɪᴏᴜsʟʏ ɴᴇᴄʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛɪᴄ. ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ɢʀᴀʏ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ, ᴜɴᴅᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴇɢᴇɴᴅs ᴡʜᴏ sᴛᴇᴀʟ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ sᴄᴇɴᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴs ᴡʜᴏ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ɢᴇᴛs ᴛᴏ ᴡʀɪᴛᴇ ʜɪsᴛᴏʀʏ— 𝒢𝓇𝑒𝑒𝓃 & 𝒟𝑒𝒶𝒹𝓁𝓎 𝒯𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 ɪs ᴀʙsᴏʟᴜᴛᴇʟʏ ᴡᴏʀᴛʜ ᴡᴀᴋɪɴɢ.
ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ: @ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ
++++
NOTES:
Tropes:
- Plant necromancers
- Enemies-to-lovers and complicated by vows of celibacy
- Kindhearted FMC
- Politics, war, arboreal intrigue
- Magical Mayhem x Betrayal
- Charming romance
- Plant-based body horror
- Slow-burn romance
- World with nature gone wild
- Forbidden Love
Read
February 27, 2026The synopsis led me to believe this would be a necromancy book.
It's not.
But it does involve plant magic, my other love, so I was still in. 3/5
This has pretty standard Epic Fantasy vibes. It's not quite old school-old school, but like one generation younger. So it subverts the most absolute basic bitch tropes of the genre, but 100% adheres to the standard subversions, if that makes sense?
I had a decent time with it, but have to admit that I was disappointed with the conclusion and ultimately how rote the experience ended up feeling. (Also really think the romance was under-developed and should've been omitted, tbh.)
Audiobook Notes:
The narrator is a bit of a mixed bag. There were some narrations and voices he would do that I really liked, but I didn't like the voices he did for neither the MC nor the children. I probably wouldn't've realized it if not for hearing a dialogue between my favourite voice he puts on (spoilers) and the MC that made me realize the contrast is just so sharp. So overall it's very good and sometimes great, but the primary/most common voice is bleh.
Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It's not.
But it does involve plant magic, my other love, so I was still in. 3/5
This has pretty standard Epic Fantasy vibes. It's not quite old school-old school, but like one generation younger. So it subverts the most absolute basic bitch tropes of the genre, but 100% adheres to the standard subversions, if that makes sense?
I had a decent time with it, but have to admit that I was disappointed with the conclusion and ultimately how rote the experience ended up feeling. (Also really think the romance was under-developed and should've been omitted, tbh.)
Audiobook Notes:
The narrator is a bit of a mixed bag. There were some narrations and voices he would do that I really liked, but I didn't like the voices he did for neither the MC nor the children. I probably wouldn't've realized it if not for hearing a dialogue between my favourite voice he puts on (spoilers) and the MC that made me realize the contrast is just so sharp. So overall it's very good and sometimes great, but the primary/most common voice is bleh.
Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 8, 2026
This book is really hard for me to review. It sounded so good and I was prepared to love or like it very much. And I did love parts of it. I especially loved the worldbuilding and the story in the beginning. The eerie atmosphere was awesome! The middle part? Not so much. He was just betrayed and someting super dangerous was coming and the thing to focus on is his feelings for a woman?There were a lot of side quests and running and some fast background info. And then -finally- it became interesting again. Sorry, I try not to be spoilery. From the moment he saved someone and slayed a big monster things started to move forward again. Very fast but also very fun again. The last chapters were magnificent. Parts of this book I loved and a chunck of it was meh... So, like I said.. So hard to review for me! I liked it but I'm pretty sad I didn't love it.
Read
February 27, 2026⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 - I am very much in my gothic botanical fantasy era. If that’s not a thing, I’m making it a thing. I enjoyed this book immensely. The world building included the lores of the kingdom so you get to see how time (and people) twisted the actual history into something that suits their purpose. Our MC’s, Math and Kai, are fantastic together. You are rooting for both of them from the very start! And then they say things like this:
“How dare you hold your life so cheap, when to me, it is more precious than all the stars!"
*swoon* I’m glad this is a stand alone but I’m also a little sad because I’d love just a little more time with these characters.
Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
“How dare you hold your life so cheap, when to me, it is more precious than all the stars!"
*swoon* I’m glad this is a stand alone but I’m also a little sad because I’d love just a little more time with these characters.
Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc of Green & Deadly Things.
I really liked this. I thought the characters were great and I liked the chemistry between the main characters Math & Kai. I also thought some of the side characters were done really well also. I enjoyed the children and also the relationship with the "enemy" he grew up with. The magic was unique and fun. We also got to see different kinds of magic with some of the different characters and I thought that was a nice addition. For a stand alone fantasy story the plot was really flushed out and easy too follow, not complicated, but also not too simple. Overall this was a great story and can't wait to see what Jenn Lyons does next.
I really liked this. I thought the characters were great and I liked the chemistry between the main characters Math & Kai. I also thought some of the side characters were done really well also. I enjoyed the children and also the relationship with the "enemy" he grew up with. The magic was unique and fun. We also got to see different kinds of magic with some of the different characters and I thought that was a nice addition. For a stand alone fantasy story the plot was really flushed out and easy too follow, not complicated, but also not too simple. Overall this was a great story and can't wait to see what Jenn Lyons does next.
March 7, 2026
I listened to the ALC for Green & Deadly Things by Jenn Lyons and I thought this was so good. The audiobook is narrated by Torian Brackett and I thought the audio production was well done. Mathaiik has trained all his life to join the sacred order of the Idallik Knights, charged with defending their world from the forces of necromancy. Only vestiges of that cursed magic remain, nothing like the fabled days of the Grim Lords, the undead wizards who once nearly destroyed the world. Math is well past the age when he should have been made a knight but he is unable to complete his training. Usually novices like him are sent away, but Math has continued as a novice. There is a new threat in the world and that is botanical magic. There are trees, vines, plants attacking their camp. Math takes the young novitiates and brings them into the maze that he has been trying to solve for years and wakes the Grim Lord at the center of the maze. When she awakens, they try to figure out how to escape the threat and save the kids and Math's sister. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, the world building, the plant magic, the characters, and the romantic subplot. This was such a good listen! Thank you so much to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for my advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy!
"How dare you hold your life so cheap, when to me, it is more precious than all the stars!"
Green and Deadly Things completely pulled me in, and I’m here for it! The stakes feel real, the world feels lived in, and the plot is chef’s kiss. No unnecessary lore dumps. No confusing politics. Everything builds with purpose. The atmosphere is rich and cinematic without ever feeling bloated, and every scene feels intentional.
Kai and Math steal the show. Their flirting had me grinning like an idiot!
This isn’t just pretty worldbuilding. Everything in the world actually matters, and it all affects the story.
"How dare you hold your life so cheap, when to me, it is more precious than all the stars!"
Green and Deadly Things completely pulled me in, and I’m here for it! The stakes feel real, the world feels lived in, and the plot is chef’s kiss. No unnecessary lore dumps. No confusing politics. Everything builds with purpose. The atmosphere is rich and cinematic without ever feeling bloated, and every scene feels intentional.
Kai and Math steal the show. Their flirting had me grinning like an idiot!
This isn’t just pretty worldbuilding. Everything in the world actually matters, and it all affects the story.
March 17, 2026
Jenn Lyons has cooked once again 🫡 similar to Sky on Fire, I remain a little sad that this isn't a multi-book series just because I could spend so long learning more about the worlds she creates, but this is a phenomenal stand-alone story.
There's a perfect mix of twists that I guessed correctly and ones that I didn't which kept the story fresh and exciting.
I really loved the magic, as well as the hints of politics and linguistics (though don't be scared off if those aren't your thing)
Also, I can't wait for Full Negative!
There's a perfect mix of twists that I guessed correctly and ones that I didn't which kept the story fresh and exciting.
I really loved the magic, as well as the hints of politics and linguistics (though don't be scared off if those aren't your thing)
Also, I can't wait for Full Negative!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In days of old, the Grim Lords ruled the land, nearly destroying their world with their dark necromantic powers. Although the Grim Lords have faded into legend, remnants of their magic remain, and the Idallik Knights exist to destroy that power wherever it lingers. But when a new threat faces the kingdom, novitiate Mathaiik wakes a Grim Lord in a desperate gambit to save the fortress where he trains. But waking Kaiataris reveals even more problems. This land is trapped in a cycle of raising chaos and order - and if Mathaiik and Kaiataris can't work to find a way to balance those forces, life across the continent will be wiped out.
GREEN & DEADLY THINGS is a cinematic thrill ride that lacks fully developed characters to back it up. On the plus side, I can fully see the movie version of this book. There's a creepy plant enemy, an order of knights that uses elemental magic, and a whole lot of great action scenes. The author knows how to keep the plot moving, zipping you from one end of the country to the other as our heroes try to find a way to deal with the multiple threats facing the nation.
But with the snappiness of an action film comes the flimsiness of action characters. Most people you encounter along the journey are fairly flat, reduced to one or two traits. There's no real depth or history for most people outside the two main characters, and even they are fairly thin. The main villain is just out to rule the world; even with the stakes as high as the end of all life, I found myself simply not caring by the end of the book. The stakes just weren't personal enough. Even the romance felt by the numbers at best.
GREEN & DEADLY THINGS is a great book for those who want a plot driven adventure. If you want to dash about a magical world from fight scene to chase sequence to fight scene, this will fit the ticket nicely. As someone who values characters over plot, I struggled a bit with this one, even though I've enjoyed the author's past works immensely. At the end of the day, this feels like a movie script adapted to book instead of the other way around, and as much as I enjoy a popcorn flick, this just didn't quite work for me as much as I'd hoped.
Note: I was provided a free ARC by the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.
GREEN & DEADLY THINGS is a cinematic thrill ride that lacks fully developed characters to back it up. On the plus side, I can fully see the movie version of this book. There's a creepy plant enemy, an order of knights that uses elemental magic, and a whole lot of great action scenes. The author knows how to keep the plot moving, zipping you from one end of the country to the other as our heroes try to find a way to deal with the multiple threats facing the nation.
But with the snappiness of an action film comes the flimsiness of action characters. Most people you encounter along the journey are fairly flat, reduced to one or two traits. There's no real depth or history for most people outside the two main characters, and even they are fairly thin. The main villain is just out to rule the world; even with the stakes as high as the end of all life, I found myself simply not caring by the end of the book. The stakes just weren't personal enough. Even the romance felt by the numbers at best.
GREEN & DEADLY THINGS is a great book for those who want a plot driven adventure. If you want to dash about a magical world from fight scene to chase sequence to fight scene, this will fit the ticket nicely. As someone who values characters over plot, I struggled a bit with this one, even though I've enjoyed the author's past works immensely. At the end of the day, this feels like a movie script adapted to book instead of the other way around, and as much as I enjoy a popcorn flick, this just didn't quite work for me as much as I'd hoped.
Note: I was provided a free ARC by the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.
Did not finish
February 28, 2026DNF @ 21%
i am simply not ✨vibing✨ with this one. i’m not sure what i was expecting from a book about plant necromancers with chakraborty and hobb comps, but this is not it—those comps set a high bar and based on what i read, it seems like whoever wrote the blurb just plucked two big fantasy names at random, as this doesn’t remind me of anything i’ve read by either author.
and i know i’m being fussy about names lately, but his name is MATH? why
i am simply not ✨vibing✨ with this one. i’m not sure what i was expecting from a book about plant necromancers with chakraborty and hobb comps, but this is not it—those comps set a high bar and based on what i read, it seems like whoever wrote the blurb just plucked two big fantasy names at random, as this doesn’t remind me of anything i’ve read by either author.
and i know i’m being fussy about names lately, but his name is MATH? why
January 24, 2026
EEK, this was a great story. What a journey!
The overarching plot with the conflicting magic systems felt a lot like the conflict with life vs death in Deathless by Catherynne Valente, one of my favorite books, and the prose style and humor felt very similar to T. Kingfisher’s style.
While I wish there had been a few more sentences at the beginning to outline the magic system earlier on, you do figure it out as you keep reading.
Loved how we got so much world building in a natural way, it never felt like stuff was being info dumped, which is a huge pet peeve of mine. It can be hard to nail indirect explanations, I thought it was very well done in this book.
Perhaps the main characters were a LITTLE obtuse through the middle third, buuuuuuut I was still satisfied by the twists and reveals despite that.
The main characters were both so funny and prickly in the best way. It was so nice to see a male character with this kind of personality too. Honestly, all the characters were great. Even the ones you were supposed to hate, at least felt realistic and consistent within the plot.
The overarching plot with the conflicting magic systems felt a lot like the conflict with life vs death in Deathless by Catherynne Valente, one of my favorite books, and the prose style and humor felt very similar to T. Kingfisher’s style.
While I wish there had been a few more sentences at the beginning to outline the magic system earlier on, you do figure it out as you keep reading.
Loved how we got so much world building in a natural way, it never felt like stuff was being info dumped, which is a huge pet peeve of mine. It can be hard to nail indirect explanations, I thought it was very well done in this book.
Perhaps the main characters were a LITTLE obtuse through the middle third, buuuuuuut I was still satisfied by the twists and reveals despite that.
The main characters were both so funny and prickly in the best way. It was so nice to see a male character with this kind of personality too. Honestly, all the characters were great. Even the ones you were supposed to hate, at least felt realistic and consistent within the plot.
November 7, 2025
Lyons pens a stand alone fantasy about magic and necromancy, sure to delight fantasy fans! Mathaiik has been a novitiate much longer than most because he's unable to manifest his weapon. But he's also got a secret that would cause the Order alarm. But when they are attacked, he may be the only one who can help them.
This is only my second Lyons book, but I have the first of another series on my shelf. I loved the other one I read and didn't realize until then she's local! But I'm not sure about this one. It felt overly long and lacking in many side characters. I'm not sure if my problem was that I was reading this mostly just at the gym, so it was taking longer, but I didn't love this one.
This is only my second Lyons book, but I have the first of another series on my shelf. I loved the other one I read and didn't realize until then she's local! But I'm not sure about this one. It felt overly long and lacking in many side characters. I'm not sure if my problem was that I was reading this mostly just at the gym, so it was taking longer, but I didn't love this one.
February 16, 2026
Thank you to Tor UK & Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy. This review contains no major spoilers.
3.25★
"Heart" can carry a read for me, I can look past a lot and still enjoy a book if I think it's earnest, and Green & Deadly Things has heart.
At it's core, this is a fantasy-romance. I'm not calling it a romantasy, as I don't think it fits that tag, and the romance is secondary to the plot. Honestly I think you could remove the romance in it's entirety and the major plot would've remained largely unchanged. I mention this, mainly because I don't want to mislabel this book, but also to better highlight where it does excel and where it doesn't.
So onto the first word, this is a solid standalone fantasy novel, with a really unique premise, world, and a plot that felt unpredictable. It's rather refreshing to read something in this genre that's standalone and not a trilogy at bare minimum, but I digress. The concept of magic here, of the "green & deadly things", this idea of nature and necromancy, is fantastic, unique and one of my favourite bits of worldbuilding in a novel in recent memory. The way it thematically links the cycle of life and death into a part of the magic is inspired, I loved it.
That second word then, the romance. For me, I felt this was the stronger side of the book. The way the relationship between our two main characters develops is what kept the pages turning more so than anything else, and whilst I've not read enough of the genre to have a solid feeling of how this compares to others in a similar space, I buy the way this romance develops. The circumstances around it make it believable, as does the way they talk and interact with each other.
Now, this is my first of Lyons' books, and I'm unsure how it compares to her others, but I did feel that some of the writing felt wooden. Not all the time, but whilst sufficient to get us from A to B, I was rarely, if ever, blown away by the prose. A particular strength this book did highlight was snappy, fun banter and dialogue. It was always entertaining and put a smile on my face to see our two main characters verbally joust, and how it evolved from open distrust to snarky camaraderie, as well as with our collection of side characters throughout.
Speaking of characters, they're decent, but I felt lacked something hard to pinpoint. Our main two characters come across as a bit simple, despite having background and history, and personality during dialogue, I felt there was something missing to further flesh them out as real, living people. To be honest, I'm unsure as to what they lack, or how it could have been improved.
So, let's revisit that word, heart. It's vague, hard to define, but I think we all know when we read something with it, and Green & Deadly Things has it, but I wish had had more.
3.25★
"Heart" can carry a read for me, I can look past a lot and still enjoy a book if I think it's earnest, and Green & Deadly Things has heart.
At it's core, this is a fantasy-romance. I'm not calling it a romantasy, as I don't think it fits that tag, and the romance is secondary to the plot. Honestly I think you could remove the romance in it's entirety and the major plot would've remained largely unchanged. I mention this, mainly because I don't want to mislabel this book, but also to better highlight where it does excel and where it doesn't.
So onto the first word, this is a solid standalone fantasy novel, with a really unique premise, world, and a plot that felt unpredictable. It's rather refreshing to read something in this genre that's standalone and not a trilogy at bare minimum, but I digress. The concept of magic here, of the "green & deadly things", this idea of nature and necromancy, is fantastic, unique and one of my favourite bits of worldbuilding in a novel in recent memory. The way it thematically links the cycle of life and death into a part of the magic is inspired, I loved it.
That second word then, the romance. For me, I felt this was the stronger side of the book. The way the relationship between our two main characters develops is what kept the pages turning more so than anything else, and whilst I've not read enough of the genre to have a solid feeling of how this compares to others in a similar space, I buy the way this romance develops. The circumstances around it make it believable, as does the way they talk and interact with each other.
Now, this is my first of Lyons' books, and I'm unsure how it compares to her others, but I did feel that some of the writing felt wooden. Not all the time, but whilst sufficient to get us from A to B, I was rarely, if ever, blown away by the prose. A particular strength this book did highlight was snappy, fun banter and dialogue. It was always entertaining and put a smile on my face to see our two main characters verbally joust, and how it evolved from open distrust to snarky camaraderie, as well as with our collection of side characters throughout.
Speaking of characters, they're decent, but I felt lacked something hard to pinpoint. Our main two characters come across as a bit simple, despite having background and history, and personality during dialogue, I felt there was something missing to further flesh them out as real, living people. To be honest, I'm unsure as to what they lack, or how it could have been improved.
So, let's revisit that word, heart. It's vague, hard to define, but I think we all know when we read something with it, and Green & Deadly Things has it, but I wish had had more.
March 14, 2026
“History says necromancy destroyed the world. History might be lying.”
🗓️ Publication Date: March 3, 2026
📖 Book Title: Green and Deadly Things
✍️ Author: Jenn Lyons
✨ Quick Summary & Tea Thoughts
In Green and Deadly Things, Mathaiik has spent his life training to become one of the Idallik Knights, an order sworn to protect the world from the horrors of necromancy. For centuries, the Grim Lords and their undead magic have been blamed for nearly destroying civilization. But when strange monsters begin appearing and entire forests start turning violent against humanity, the Knights prove powerless to stop them. In desperation, Math does the unthinkable.. he awakens a long-imprisoned necromancer, Kaiataris, one of the very Grim Lords history claims nearly ended the world. What follows forces him to question everything he was taught about magic, monsters, and who the real enemy might be
What I enjoyed most about this story is how it plays with the idea of history being unreliable. The book constantly pushes the question of whether the villains everyone fears were actually misunderstood all along. Pair that with forests literally coming alive, strange magical creatures, and a knight forced to ally with the very necromancy he was trained to destroy, and the story becomes this chaotic mix of dark fantasy and adventure. The dynamic between Math and Kaiataris especially adds tension to the narrative because every step forward feels like it could either save the world or doom it entirely.
🗓️ Publication Date: March 3, 2026
📖 Book Title: Green and Deadly Things
✍️ Author: Jenn Lyons
✨ Quick Summary & Tea Thoughts
In Green and Deadly Things, Mathaiik has spent his life training to become one of the Idallik Knights, an order sworn to protect the world from the horrors of necromancy. For centuries, the Grim Lords and their undead magic have been blamed for nearly destroying civilization. But when strange monsters begin appearing and entire forests start turning violent against humanity, the Knights prove powerless to stop them. In desperation, Math does the unthinkable.. he awakens a long-imprisoned necromancer, Kaiataris, one of the very Grim Lords history claims nearly ended the world. What follows forces him to question everything he was taught about magic, monsters, and who the real enemy might be
What I enjoyed most about this story is how it plays with the idea of history being unreliable. The book constantly pushes the question of whether the villains everyone fears were actually misunderstood all along. Pair that with forests literally coming alive, strange magical creatures, and a knight forced to ally with the very necromancy he was trained to destroy, and the story becomes this chaotic mix of dark fantasy and adventure. The dynamic between Math and Kaiataris especially adds tension to the narrative because every step forward feels like it could either save the world or doom it entirely.
March 4, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Jenn Lyons, and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to and review this audiobook.
A fun start with an intriguing introduction to the world and its magic. The fantasy elements aren’t especially heavy and the "main" magic system isn't overly interesting, but the surrounding, "forbidden" magics are enough to pull you in.
As the book goes on, though, it gradually loses some of the more sincere fantasy feeling it started with and leans more into an easy romantasy vibe from the MMC’s perspective. That shift didn’t quite work for me. The romantic elements felt pretty cliché, and I would have enjoyed the story a lot more if that part had been handled with a bit more depth (relationship building, tension).
There are some genuinely fun action scenes scattered throughout that kept things moving, even if the overall plot ended up feeling fairly predictable.
Torian Brackett's narration suited the POV well and made the listening experience enjoyable.
Overall, an entertaining read with some cool magic ideas and good narration, but the lazy romance and predictability kept it from being something I loved. 3 to 3.5 stars. A solid middle-of-the-road fantasy for me.
A fun start with an intriguing introduction to the world and its magic. The fantasy elements aren’t especially heavy and the "main" magic system isn't overly interesting, but the surrounding, "forbidden" magics are enough to pull you in.
As the book goes on, though, it gradually loses some of the more sincere fantasy feeling it started with and leans more into an easy romantasy vibe from the MMC’s perspective. That shift didn’t quite work for me. The romantic elements felt pretty cliché, and I would have enjoyed the story a lot more if that part had been handled with a bit more depth (relationship building, tension).
There are some genuinely fun action scenes scattered throughout that kept things moving, even if the overall plot ended up feeling fairly predictable.
Torian Brackett's narration suited the POV well and made the listening experience enjoyable.
Overall, an entertaining read with some cool magic ideas and good narration, but the lazy romance and predictability kept it from being something I loved. 3 to 3.5 stars. A solid middle-of-the-road fantasy for me.
March 5, 2026
⭐⭐.75 | 2.75 stars rounded up
I was immediately sold by the premise of knights, plant magic, and necromancy, as well as comparisons to Chakbraborty and Hobb - two authors I adore. However, I believe those comparisons did a disservice to this story, because it in no way felt similar to books penned by either of those authors.
The start of the book was very promising and the world is imaginative, but the execution was not successful in my opinion. Both Math and Kai felt extremely 2D to me throughout and I struggled to buy into their relationship, which was insta-lust and didn't seems to progress beyond that. The world-building got clunky once Kai was introduced, and I think the book suffered for it. I didn't enjoy the pacing either, sadly, as it made the story drag.
There is also a missed opportunity for very interesting necromantic magic and interactions with the grimmocks, which left me wanting more. This may have been more successful as a duology, because it felt as though there wasn't enough space to give aspects of the world-builing and magic the attention they needed.
I really wanted to love this book, but unfortunately it just didn't work for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group | Tor Books for the eARC.
I was immediately sold by the premise of knights, plant magic, and necromancy, as well as comparisons to Chakbraborty and Hobb - two authors I adore. However, I believe those comparisons did a disservice to this story, because it in no way felt similar to books penned by either of those authors.
The start of the book was very promising and the world is imaginative, but the execution was not successful in my opinion. Both Math and Kai felt extremely 2D to me throughout and I struggled to buy into their relationship, which was insta-lust and didn't seems to progress beyond that. The world-building got clunky once Kai was introduced, and I think the book suffered for it. I didn't enjoy the pacing either, sadly, as it made the story drag.
There is also a missed opportunity for very interesting necromantic magic and interactions with the grimmocks, which left me wanting more. This may have been more successful as a duology, because it felt as though there wasn't enough space to give aspects of the world-builing and magic the attention they needed.
I really wanted to love this book, but unfortunately it just didn't work for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group | Tor Books for the eARC.
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