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Deathly Fates
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Expected 14 Apr 26A sweeping debut inspired by the Chinese folk practice of necromancy, Deathly Fates is perfect for fans of Descendant of the Crane, The Bone Shard Daughter, and A Magic Steeped in Poison.
As a priestess paid to guide the deceased home, Kang Siying has never feared death. However, when her beloved father collapses, Siying realizes that even she is not free from the cruel grasp of mortality. Desperate to provide her father with the medical aid he needs, Siying accepts a dangerous job that promises a generous commission, and travels to a hostile state to retrieve the corpse of a missing prince.
But the moment Siying places her reanimation talisman on the dead prince's head, rather than make the corpse obedient to Siying's commands, the talisman brings the prince back to life. Worse, he won't stay alive for long—not unless he absorbs enough qi, or life force, to keep his soul anchored to his body.
In return for a reward worth twice her original commission, Siying agrees to aid the frustratingly handsome prince in finding and purifying evil spirits for their qi. As they journey across the countryside, encountering vengeful ghosts and enemy spies alike, they gradually uncover dark secrets about the prince's death—secrets that could endanger both Siying's father and their entire kingdom.
A Macmillan Audio production from Wednesday Books
As a priestess paid to guide the deceased home, Kang Siying has never feared death. However, when her beloved father collapses, Siying realizes that even she is not free from the cruel grasp of mortality. Desperate to provide her father with the medical aid he needs, Siying accepts a dangerous job that promises a generous commission, and travels to a hostile state to retrieve the corpse of a missing prince.
But the moment Siying places her reanimation talisman on the dead prince's head, rather than make the corpse obedient to Siying's commands, the talisman brings the prince back to life. Worse, he won't stay alive for long—not unless he absorbs enough qi, or life force, to keep his soul anchored to his body.
In return for a reward worth twice her original commission, Siying agrees to aid the frustratingly handsome prince in finding and purifying evil spirits for their qi. As they journey across the countryside, encountering vengeful ghosts and enemy spies alike, they gradually uncover dark secrets about the prince's death—secrets that could endanger both Siying's father and their entire kingdom.
A Macmillan Audio production from Wednesday Books
Audible Audio
Expected publication April 14, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 290 reviews
October 20, 2025
˙₊➴ ꒰ 3-stars★ ꒱ ꒷⊹࣪˖
📜┆ ARC ⤿ St. Martin's Press & NetGalley
✒️┆ Author ⤿ Tesia Tsai
💌┆ Pub Date ⤿ 04/14/26
With her father's health waning, Siying takes on any work she can find. So when she's offered a generous sum to escort the corpse of a fallen soldier to the capital of Sian, she accepts it without hesitation. But the supposed soldier wasn’t just any foot soldier. He’s a prince, trapped between life and death, and he needs Siying’s help to restore his qi.
As they travel through the troubled lands of Wen, Siying begins to uncover secrets about the prince, the war, and those who rule the kingdom. The more she learns, the more she begins to question her task and where her true loyalty lies.
⊹ ࣪ ˖ੈ Thoughts
‧˚ ꒰ 👻 ꒱ world & story ₊˚⋆
When I started this story, I thought I was in for a light-hearted tale of a priestess necromancer guiding/helping a prince home, with few ghostly encounters, hauntings, and catching along the way. But oh this wasn’t just that it turned out to be so much more! This wasn’t just a simple journey back to the capital, it was a path of understanding, growth, empathy, love, loss, and the quiet acceptance of what must be. An endearing story that shines not only through Siying and Renshu’s journey, but through every life and character they met along the way.🥹🤍
‧˚ ꒰ 🍑 ꒱ characters & romance ₊˚⋆
Following Kang Siying, our ganshi priestess who guides the dead, was already interesting to see, as I haven’t yet seen an occupation like hers. But what drew me to her was the way she carries herself with poise, strong sense of duty, and a calm, reserved exterior. But beneath that, we get glimpses of her inner struggles and the reasons behind her choices, making her all the more compelling! Then there’s Meng Renshu, the second prince of Sian, who is not your typical royal. Ren is someone who genuinely cares, who leads with empathy and refuses to turn away from the suffering of others (i know it should be the bare minimum, but being empathetic makes a character an instant favorite for me). Ren is my kind of Prince Charming as he is the kind, courageous person who is willing to fight for everyone, not just himself!
They were already compelling on their own, but watching them spend more time together slowly learning, understanding, and accepting how the other sees the world, made their connection truly special. I love love loved how Ren gently melted Siying’s walls, with his constant teasing, small acts of care, and simply by being unapologetically himself❗️Their bond wasn’t loud, it was soft and endearing. Despite their differences in personality, beliefs, and status, it was their shared compassion for others that truly brought them together. But what connected them most was their desire for peace, not just for themselves but for everyone. Their love might not have been the central focus of the story, but the way they stood by each other through everything made their relationship feel more rewarding💗
‧˚ ꒰ ꒱ concerns ₊˚⋆
One of my main concerns with this was its pacing. Siying and Renshu’s journey often felt rushed, which made it a bit hard to fully connect or dive into the emotional weight of it all (don’t get me wrong it did sway me but i just felt like it could’ve felt much more impactful). I just found myself wishing they had more time to linger and marinate everything that was happening. The pacing was already pretty fast and the addition of the abrupt transitions made the rushed feeling even more noticeable. That said, the story itself was still good and impactful I just believe everything could have been amplified tenfold with smoother transitions and pacing🙂↕️💯
‧˚ ꒰ 🍵 ꒱ final thoughts ₊˚⋆
You already know that I usually gravitate towards my high-stakes and action-packed reads cause of the thrill and emotional punch they deliver, but this story brought something different, and it didn’t disappoint!! Instead of the intensity, it offered its quiet strength. It was a reflection on life, loss, and peace, and how we, as humans, learn to embrace not only ourselves but those around us🫂🤍
It reminds us that grieving isn’t about forever letting go, it’s about honoring those we've lost and recognizing that their lives were already meaningful and that their absence doesn’t fully erase their memories, impact, and whole existence. A solid 3-star for this soft, thoughtful, and heartwarming read! This was an awesome debut, and I can’t wait to see what Tesia Tsai has in store for us!💌💫
➳ Huge thanks to the publisher & author—St. Martin's Press, Tesia Tsai & NetGalley—for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
˚₊ ⟢┊pre-read 🖇️┊⊹࣪⋆
Needed more asian rep and set books in my life + I just love me historical fantasy, so I got a bit giddy when I got this hihi!☁️✨
📜┆ ARC ⤿ St. Martin's Press & NetGalley
✒️┆ Author ⤿ Tesia Tsai
💌┆ Pub Date ⤿ 04/14/26
❝ These hands can do more than carry a staff or write talismans in blood. They can offer support and tend wounds, perhaps even save a life. You need only call upon the strength inside you to do so. ❞
With her father's health waning, Siying takes on any work she can find. So when she's offered a generous sum to escort the corpse of a fallen soldier to the capital of Sian, she accepts it without hesitation. But the supposed soldier wasn’t just any foot soldier. He’s a prince, trapped between life and death, and he needs Siying’s help to restore his qi.
As they travel through the troubled lands of Wen, Siying begins to uncover secrets about the prince, the war, and those who rule the kingdom. The more she learns, the more she begins to question her task and where her true loyalty lies.
⊹ ࣪ ˖ੈ Thoughts
‧˚ ꒰ 👻 ꒱ world & story ₊˚⋆
❝ Such a human thing, to want. To want safety. Freedom . Peace. To want for self and for others. ❞
When I started this story, I thought I was in for a light-hearted tale of a priestess necromancer guiding/helping a prince home, with few ghostly encounters, hauntings, and catching along the way. But oh this wasn’t just that it turned out to be so much more! This wasn’t just a simple journey back to the capital, it was a path of understanding, growth, empathy, love, loss, and the quiet acceptance of what must be. An endearing story that shines not only through Siying and Renshu’s journey, but through every life and character they met along the way.🥹🤍
‧˚ ꒰ 🍑 ꒱ characters & romance ₊˚⋆
❝ To care for another person was frightening, vulnerable. It meant another thing for my heart to lose. And now I’d gone and grown fond of someone challenging death itself. ❞
Following Kang Siying, our ganshi priestess who guides the dead, was already interesting to see, as I haven’t yet seen an occupation like hers. But what drew me to her was the way she carries herself with poise, strong sense of duty, and a calm, reserved exterior. But beneath that, we get glimpses of her inner struggles and the reasons behind her choices, making her all the more compelling! Then there’s Meng Renshu, the second prince of Sian, who is not your typical royal. Ren is someone who genuinely cares, who leads with empathy and refuses to turn away from the suffering of others (i know it should be the bare minimum, but being empathetic makes a character an instant favorite for me). Ren is my kind of Prince Charming as he is the kind, courageous person who is willing to fight for everyone, not just himself!
❝ You gave me a second chance once. This time, there’s no escaping it. But you still have a chance, Mistress Kang. Let me be a royal you can count on for once. Use my death to save yourself. ❞
They were already compelling on their own, but watching them spend more time together slowly learning, understanding, and accepting how the other sees the world, made their connection truly special. I love love loved how Ren gently melted Siying’s walls, with his constant teasing, small acts of care, and simply by being unapologetically himself❗️Their bond wasn’t loud, it was soft and endearing. Despite their differences in personality, beliefs, and status, it was their shared compassion for others that truly brought them together. But what connected them most was their desire for peace, not just for themselves but for everyone. Their love might not have been the central focus of the story, but the way they stood by each other through everything made their relationship feel more rewarding💗
‧˚ ꒰ ꒱ concerns ₊˚⋆
❝ What’s the point of living a human life if you forget your humanity? ❞
One of my main concerns with this was its pacing. Siying and Renshu’s journey often felt rushed, which made it a bit hard to fully connect or dive into the emotional weight of it all (don’t get me wrong it did sway me but i just felt like it could’ve felt much more impactful). I just found myself wishing they had more time to linger and marinate everything that was happening. The pacing was already pretty fast and the addition of the abrupt transitions made the rushed feeling even more noticeable. That said, the story itself was still good and impactful I just believe everything could have been amplified tenfold with smoother transitions and pacing🙂↕️💯
‧˚ ꒰ 🍵 ꒱ final thoughts ₊˚⋆
❝ But in all my years as a ganshi priestess, I’d learned that the dead— whether lost, embittered, or afraid— only truly wanted one thing. And that was peace. ❞
You already know that I usually gravitate towards my high-stakes and action-packed reads cause of the thrill and emotional punch they deliver, but this story brought something different, and it didn’t disappoint!! Instead of the intensity, it offered its quiet strength. It was a reflection on life, loss, and peace, and how we, as humans, learn to embrace not only ourselves but those around us🫂🤍
❝ It still hurt, that act of letting go, but I realized now that there was also freedom in doing it. Freedom to be my own person and discover new loves. Freedom to wander different paths , to experience more joy and struggle and growth. Freedom to hold on to other hands, regardless of who would leave and who would stay. ❞
It reminds us that grieving isn’t about forever letting go, it’s about honoring those we've lost and recognizing that their lives were already meaningful and that their absence doesn’t fully erase their memories, impact, and whole existence. A solid 3-star for this soft, thoughtful, and heartwarming read! This was an awesome debut, and I can’t wait to see what Tesia Tsai has in store for us!💌💫
➳ Huge thanks to the publisher & author—St. Martin's Press, Tesia Tsai & NetGalley—for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
˚₊ ⟢┊pre-read 🖇️┊⊹࣪⋆
Needed more asian rep and set books in my life + I just love me historical fantasy, so I got a bit giddy when I got this hihi!☁️✨
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.0 ★ — What to do when you find an undead prince on a battlefield?
Kang Siying is a priestess, used to helping various types of spirits who are stuck in the earthly realm move on. When she meets the undead prince Ren, it’s only the prospect of getting paid enough to buy medication for her ailing father that convinces her to help him.
This is the type of book I definitely feel like I might have enjoyed a bit less if I had only read it, but experiencing it partly as an audiobook made it really entertaining and fun to follow!
As a real treat, this story flips some of the more common dynamics of the male love interest being the stronger, more adept one, with it having Siying be the competent party opposite a bumbling, flirty prince. Being a priestess leaves Siying in a very respected position in her world, and her knowledge and experience shine through in every one of her interactions, making me (someone with a competence kink, lol) love following her as a main character.
On their journey and quest together to find more qi (energy) to purify his spirit, they meet a variety of characters and encounter restless spirits that Siying has to help guide onward. Sometimes following along with those adventures felt a bit like watching multiple episodes of a show or reading a slew of interconnected short stories, as I got to see them repeatedly solve spirits’ unrest before moving onto the next location.
Like I said in the beginning, I don’t think I would have loved this quite as much in book format only, because while I enjoyed their multiple adventures, Siying having to save the MMC from similar situations multiple times, started to feel a bit repetitive near the end.
Mostly, though, I just had a really good time with this and thought the way the romance played out was very cute. There was some very entertaining banter and development between the two leads that made them getting together feel earned!
🎧 Audiobook Notes
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo
⭐ Listener Rating: 5/5
This was very well narrated, and I thought the female narrator’s lovely voice added a lot to the story. She portrayed the sassiness of the prince perfectly and did some amazing intonations for the different spirits they encounter.
_______________
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC and to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
Kang Siying is a priestess, used to helping various types of spirits who are stuck in the earthly realm move on. When she meets the undead prince Ren, it’s only the prospect of getting paid enough to buy medication for her ailing father that convinces her to help him.
This is the type of book I definitely feel like I might have enjoyed a bit less if I had only read it, but experiencing it partly as an audiobook made it really entertaining and fun to follow!
As a real treat, this story flips some of the more common dynamics of the male love interest being the stronger, more adept one, with it having Siying be the competent party opposite a bumbling, flirty prince. Being a priestess leaves Siying in a very respected position in her world, and her knowledge and experience shine through in every one of her interactions, making me (someone with a competence kink, lol) love following her as a main character.
On their journey and quest together to find more qi (energy) to purify his spirit, they meet a variety of characters and encounter restless spirits that Siying has to help guide onward. Sometimes following along with those adventures felt a bit like watching multiple episodes of a show or reading a slew of interconnected short stories, as I got to see them repeatedly solve spirits’ unrest before moving onto the next location.
Like I said in the beginning, I don’t think I would have loved this quite as much in book format only, because while I enjoyed their multiple adventures, Siying having to save the MMC from similar situations multiple times, started to feel a bit repetitive near the end.
Mostly, though, I just had a really good time with this and thought the way the romance played out was very cute. There was some very entertaining banter and development between the two leads that made them getting together feel earned!
🎧 Audiobook Notes
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo
⭐ Listener Rating: 5/5
This was very well narrated, and I thought the female narrator’s lovely voice added a lot to the story. She portrayed the sassiness of the prince perfectly and did some amazing intonations for the different spirits they encounter.
_______________
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC and to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
October 4, 2025
big thanks to the publisher for inviting me to read this book, all thoughts below are 100% my own
when i first got a cutesy little email in my inbox that i'd been invited to read this novel, i was shocked. because little ole me??? like yes i know im so amazing and wonderful (jo no one cares just write the review okay babes???)
lets get into it
maybe like dont say that again? alright, from the first chapter i was instantly feeling the vibes for this novel. i love our fmc siyang, she's the right amount of girlboss but also she knows what she can and can't do. and our love interest -- aka the dead prince -- is such a cutie pie. he doesn't deserve the world tbh.
i got all the cdrama vibes from this and i highly thing that if you are a fan of them you will greatly like this story.
i will note that it takes a minute to understand our character (which yes i was just saying i love her) and what i mean by that is i LOVED her once i UNDERSTOOD her. because babes has no emotion.
whatsoever.
like a brick wall had more emotion thatn siyang for the first few chapters of deathly fates. and once i understood why she's like that i was like okay queen slay. (do you think i'd get kicked out of a fantasy world for saying "u ate babes" or "slay queen"? real question, pls dont answer me
the plot was fun and had me going "OOOH" at like two am in the morning (don't reccomend btw, highly not a good idea) and kept turning the page. all the characters who were the bad guys i really wanted to like... toss into a haunted mansion??? and was so satisfied with that ending but in a good way.
and the romance was SLOW BURNING THE WAY SLOW BURN SHOULD BURN
to wrap up this review im going to try a new format that i made up about 2.4 seconds ago and if you've read this somewhere else no u haven't bc im delusional sometimes.
plot ────୨ৎ 4 stars, would read again
characters ────୨ৎ 3 stars,, only our princey boy and siyang ate
vibes ────୨ৎ 4 stars (i mean if u like dead things and cdramas !!!
─── all in all, a highly well written debut novel and i look forward to reading more by this author! i greatly enjoyed it and hope this review urges you to pick up this novel! again thank you so much to the publisher for inviting me to read this in exchange for an honest review< 3 also a note for my clean reader girlies this one passes the test!
xx
jo
when i first got a cutesy little email in my inbox that i'd been invited to read this novel, i was shocked. because little ole me??? like yes i know im so amazing and wonderful (jo no one cares just write the review okay babes???)
lets get into it
maybe like dont say that again? alright, from the first chapter i was instantly feeling the vibes for this novel. i love our fmc siyang, she's the right amount of girlboss but also she knows what she can and can't do. and our love interest -- aka the dead prince -- is such a cutie pie. he doesn't deserve the world tbh.
i got all the cdrama vibes from this and i highly thing that if you are a fan of them you will greatly like this story.
i will note that it takes a minute to understand our character (which yes i was just saying i love her) and what i mean by that is i LOVED her once i UNDERSTOOD her. because babes has no emotion.
whatsoever.
like a brick wall had more emotion thatn siyang for the first few chapters of deathly fates. and once i understood why she's like that i was like okay queen slay. (do you think i'd get kicked out of a fantasy world for saying "u ate babes" or "slay queen"? real question, pls dont answer me
the plot was fun and had me going "OOOH" at like two am in the morning (don't reccomend btw, highly not a good idea) and kept turning the page. all the characters who were the bad guys i really wanted to like... toss into a haunted mansion??? and was so satisfied with that ending but in a good way.
and the romance was SLOW BURNING THE WAY SLOW BURN SHOULD BURN
to wrap up this review im going to try a new format that i made up about 2.4 seconds ago and if you've read this somewhere else no u haven't bc im delusional sometimes.
plot ────୨ৎ 4 stars, would read again
characters ────୨ৎ 3 stars,, only our princey boy and siyang ate
vibes ────୨ৎ 4 stars (i mean if u like dead things and cdramas !!!
─── all in all, a highly well written debut novel and i look forward to reading more by this author! i greatly enjoyed it and hope this review urges you to pick up this novel! again thank you so much to the publisher for inviting me to read this in exchange for an honest review< 3 also a note for my clean reader girlies this one passes the test!
xx
jo
Currently reading
March 11, 2026₊‧꒰preview ᝰ.ᐟ꒱ ‧₊ 💨✨
₊‧꒰3.11.26꒱ ‧₊
⤷ EEK!! thank you netgalley and ms tesia tsai for the beautiful arc!! i love a good asian lit fantasy and so far so good 💌 cover is BEAUTIFUL
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
── ⟡ 🍜 three stars ★
ꕀ book review #17 ੭
ㅤㅤ⌗ book num. 19 !
I mean it WASNT bad it just wasn’t that entertaining?? rtc
ꕀ book review #17 ੭
ㅤㅤ⌗ book num. 19 !
I mean it WASNT bad it just wasn’t that entertaining?? rtc
March 7, 2026
a necromancy priestess fmc + a dead, absolutely pathetic (complimentary) prince mmc go on a quest together to so she can save his life.
I love a pathetic mmc, and I love it more in a fantasy setting where the badass, strong fmc gets to do the saving. Throw in a family forward narrative, with a splash of found family, plus some kissing, and you have a winning book!
This was fun, easy to binge, and had lots of my favorite elements!
The audiobook was so well narrated it made it hard to put this book down!
Audiobook: 5/5 | Narrator: Katherine Chin | Length: 10 hrs 35 mins
This is the second book I’ve read that Katherine Chin has narrated & the second absolutely phenomenal performance. I think she officially needs to go on my favorite narrator list. This audiobook is perfect. 10/10 no notes. I need to seek out more books narrated by her!
Katherine Chin also narrated The Poet Empress!
4.25⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
I love a pathetic mmc, and I love it more in a fantasy setting where the badass, strong fmc gets to do the saving. Throw in a family forward narrative, with a splash of found family, plus some kissing, and you have a winning book!
This was fun, easy to binge, and had lots of my favorite elements!
The audiobook was so well narrated it made it hard to put this book down!
Audiobook: 5/5 | Narrator: Katherine Chin | Length: 10 hrs 35 mins
This is the second book I’ve read that Katherine Chin has narrated & the second absolutely phenomenal performance. I think she officially needs to go on my favorite narrator list. This audiobook is perfect. 10/10 no notes. I need to seek out more books narrated by her!
Katherine Chin also narrated The Poet Empress!
4.25⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
rtc!!
— # PRE-READ.
necromancer romantasy!! sign me up 🤭 buddy reading this with ml ishy <3
⤿ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
— # PRE-READ.
necromancer romantasy!! sign me up 🤭 buddy reading this with ml ishy <3
⤿ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
October 12, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers & the author for a chance to review this ARC!
I’m in absolute awe… especially knowing this is a debut! I will read everything this author writes ; her writing flows incredibly beautifully.
Chinese mythology is my all time favourite. Therefore, this caught my attention right away.
Siying is a death priestess. She gets hired for a job… and the corpse starts talking to her. He’s not supposed to interact… why is this happening?
This sets them off on a journey, where nothing is easy. Siying is a grumpy FMC - which is pretty normal considering everything she has on her plate. She was forced to grow old too young.
Ren is a golden retriever type of man, living in a sunshine world. He is rather delusional, but he’s endearing.
The romance was a slow burn done right. I loved their interactions and how he kept irritating her to no ends. Their relationship really portrayed an eldest daughter with a youngest son.
The only thing that hindered my reading experience a bit was how the ending unfolded. Siying was a very reflective character ; but she became exceedingly impulsive towards the end. Some factors definitely weighed in ; but it felt out of character. I also disliked how her sister blamed her for her absence… especially considering she was the one paying the medical bills their father needed. I think this is all a matter of perception though.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. The writing flows beautifully and the plots & storyline were just so unique! I absolutely recommend this one.
I’m in absolute awe… especially knowing this is a debut! I will read everything this author writes ; her writing flows incredibly beautifully.
Chinese mythology is my all time favourite. Therefore, this caught my attention right away.
Siying is a death priestess. She gets hired for a job… and the corpse starts talking to her. He’s not supposed to interact… why is this happening?
This sets them off on a journey, where nothing is easy. Siying is a grumpy FMC - which is pretty normal considering everything she has on her plate. She was forced to grow old too young.
Ren is a golden retriever type of man, living in a sunshine world. He is rather delusional, but he’s endearing.
The romance was a slow burn done right. I loved their interactions and how he kept irritating her to no ends. Their relationship really portrayed an eldest daughter with a youngest son.
The only thing that hindered my reading experience a bit was how the ending unfolded. Siying was a very reflective character ; but she became exceedingly impulsive towards the end. Some factors definitely weighed in ; but it felt out of character. I also disliked how her sister blamed her for her absence… especially considering she was the one paying the medical bills their father needed. I think this is all a matter of perception though.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. The writing flows beautifully and the plots & storyline were just so unique! I absolutely recommend this one.
March 21, 2026
I liked the premise, it was really interesting. However, the story didn’t quite capture what I expected from it.
I loved the narrator’s voice! It was really pleasant.
Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC!
I loved the narrator’s voice! It was really pleasant.
Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC!
January 17, 2026
"we can't kill the big bad guy because that'll make us just as bad as they are" shut the fuck up and kill that psychopathic ugly clown you loser
Did not finish
November 19, 2025DNF @ 57%
While I liked the blood and ghosts, the story and characterizations were too young YA, simplistic, and formulaic for me. It also felt more ghost story than necromancy.
Even though it wasn't for me, I think that this would be a great intro to (slightly dark) fantasy for young teens with a grumpy x sunshine type of romance.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this arc.
While I liked the blood and ghosts, the story and characterizations were too young YA, simplistic, and formulaic for me. It also felt more ghost story than necromancy.
Even though it wasn't for me, I think that this would be a great intro to (slightly dark) fantasy for young teens with a grumpy x sunshine type of romance.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this arc.
March 11, 2026
I’m so torn on this one! On one hand, the magic system is chef’s kiss. 😘🤌🏼 I’ve never read a necromancy-based quest quite like this, and the scenes where they’re dealing with evil spirits actually gave me the creeps… think “The Conjuring” but in a fantasy setting. It’s the perfect spooky season read, as well.
But for some reason, I just didn't feel that desperate need to keep picking it up. When I was reading, I was having a good time, but it wasn't a "stay up until 2 AM" kind of book for me. The plot felt a little predictable, even if the world-building itself was super unique. A solid 3-stars for the vibes alone.
Just received a Netgalley copy in exchange for an honest. Thank you to Austin from St. Martin's for the opportunity!
But for some reason, I just didn't feel that desperate need to keep picking it up. When I was reading, I was having a good time, but it wasn't a "stay up until 2 AM" kind of book for me. The plot felt a little predictable, even if the world-building itself was super unique. A solid 3-stars for the vibes alone.
Just received a Netgalley copy in exchange for an honest. Thank you to Austin from St. Martin's for the opportunity!
August 12, 2025
I like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing it as a read.
For a debut novel, a YA one? I loved it. It reminded me of a cdrama reminiscent of Back from the Brink, Fangs of Fortune. Necromancer, cute undead prince, a mission, and a mystery of who killed him.
The plot was smooth, easy to understand. Girl's father was a necromancer, he became too old for the job and she has taken over. He is sick, and to heal him, she takes on his job of dealing with the dead. She is paid a huge sum to bring back a body from a nearby battle. Finding the body, she discovers the body is none other than the prince. Someone murdered him, but who? He can return from the dead, but they need the qi from evil spirits / demons to do so. Luckily for them there are rumored to be a few in the area.
I loved the prince. He is a perfect blend of funny, kindhearted, brave, but admitting that he lacks any sort of gumption to be a ruler. He wishes that his older brother is made king in his stead. Watching her go from wanting to get rid of him for sake of the job to wanting to not part with him was super sweet. Again, giving me those cdrama feels. I could tell what bits would get a 'slow mo' moment or a 'insert pop song here'. (That's why I can see Neo Hao in this role because he would be so cute with his teasing, banter, and kiss scenes.)
I loved our female lead because while she could oggle our main lead, she had a mission - or several by the end of it - that she needed to complete. She was tough, determined, and could oggle but not let the oggling distract from the missions. (Zhou Ye would be my choice if I could cast it - he gumption and her acceptance to romance reminded me of the character she played in Back from the Brink.)
Why one star less? While the story was simple, the romance good, I felt like the world could use more or another book. I want to see more necromancer problems, more time for romance and court / politics. I can understand the author one-and-done-ing this, but there is room for more if she so chooses.
I'm happy to find another Asian author to support and I can't wait for her next book!
For a debut novel, a YA one? I loved it. It reminded me of a cdrama reminiscent of Back from the Brink, Fangs of Fortune. Necromancer, cute undead prince, a mission, and a mystery of who killed him.
The plot was smooth, easy to understand. Girl's father was a necromancer, he became too old for the job and she has taken over. He is sick, and to heal him, she takes on his job of dealing with the dead. She is paid a huge sum to bring back a body from a nearby battle. Finding the body, she discovers the body is none other than the prince. Someone murdered him, but who? He can return from the dead, but they need the qi from evil spirits / demons to do so. Luckily for them there are rumored to be a few in the area.
I loved the prince. He is a perfect blend of funny, kindhearted, brave, but admitting that he lacks any sort of gumption to be a ruler. He wishes that his older brother is made king in his stead. Watching her go from wanting to get rid of him for sake of the job to wanting to not part with him was super sweet. Again, giving me those cdrama feels. I could tell what bits would get a 'slow mo' moment or a 'insert pop song here'. (That's why I can see Neo Hao in this role because he would be so cute with his teasing, banter, and kiss scenes.)
I loved our female lead because while she could oggle our main lead, she had a mission - or several by the end of it - that she needed to complete. She was tough, determined, and could oggle but not let the oggling distract from the missions. (Zhou Ye would be my choice if I could cast it - he gumption and her acceptance to romance reminded me of the character she played in Back from the Brink.)
Why one star less? While the story was simple, the romance good, I felt like the world could use more or another book. I want to see more necromancer problems, more time for romance and court / politics. I can understand the author one-and-done-ing this, but there is room for more if she so chooses.
I'm happy to find another Asian author to support and I can't wait for her next book!
September 21, 2025
ty Netgalley for the arc <3
🇵🇷🇪🇲🇮🇸🇪 💫
I loved the premise of the book. A priestess, Siying, works as a corpse-driver and guides the corpses to find peace. She accepts a rather high-stakes job in which her corpse turns out to be a not exactly dead prince, and together they journey to restore his qi, or his life through a series of "evil" spirits.
🇨🇭🇦🇷🇦🇨🇹🇪🇷🇸 💗
➛Siying. I loved her. Out of all the characters, she had to most depth. Her passion for her work and upholding her dad's legacy mixed with her empathy creates a fun dynamic between her and Ren.
➛Ren. Imma admit, his character was a bit two-dimensional. His character arc was very plain and predictable but he did grow on me as the book went on.
➛The "evil" spirits they encountered. I loved the backstory behind each of these spirits. It felt like journeying through the world and added so much depth to the world-building, characters, storyline, everything.
🇵🇱🇴🇹 🍑
➛I started for the romance, stayed for the plot. I loved the sort of quest-like story line mixed with the unpredictability thrown in by the side characters. The plot wasn't driven by the romance, the romance was driven by the plot which I LOVED.
🇫🇪🇪🇱🇮🇳🇬🇸 😌
➛Overall, it was an enjoyable read. With that said, it was a very simple book. Nothing complex, nothing mind-blowing, just some not so laid-back adventure with a touch of death lurking around the corner.
expected release date: Apr 14 2026
🇵🇷🇪🇲🇮🇸🇪 💫
I loved the premise of the book. A priestess, Siying, works as a corpse-driver and guides the corpses to find peace. She accepts a rather high-stakes job in which her corpse turns out to be a not exactly dead prince, and together they journey to restore his qi, or his life through a series of "evil" spirits.
🇨🇭🇦🇷🇦🇨🇹🇪🇷🇸 💗
➛Siying. I loved her. Out of all the characters, she had to most depth. Her passion for her work and upholding her dad's legacy mixed with her empathy creates a fun dynamic between her and Ren.
➛Ren. Imma admit, his character was a bit two-dimensional. His character arc was very plain and predictable but he did grow on me as the book went on.
➛The "evil" spirits they encountered. I loved the backstory behind each of these spirits. It felt like journeying through the world and added so much depth to the world-building, characters, storyline, everything.
🇵🇱🇴🇹 🍑
➛I started for the romance, stayed for the plot. I loved the sort of quest-like story line mixed with the unpredictability thrown in by the side characters. The plot wasn't driven by the romance, the romance was driven by the plot which I LOVED.
🇫🇪🇪🇱🇮🇳🇬🇸 😌
➛Overall, it was an enjoyable read. With that said, it was a very simple book. Nothing complex, nothing mind-blowing, just some not so laid-back adventure with a touch of death lurking around the corner.
expected release date: Apr 14 2026
September 16, 2025
huge thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
this was really good first off - easy to stay along, hooks you.. so on.
i will say though... it took me a moment to get into it. the fmc (which is on first person POV) is very headstrong, controlling, and very family first but also, does not show emotion. once i realized, THIS was HER - and she chooses to hide emotions and so on, is when i realized how much she truly does feel. working with death regularly, you have so much empathy and so on, but if you get so wrapped in it, then it becomes hard to form the line between your own life and those around you...
also when i say i love slow-burn - THIS IS SLOW BURN. was i upset it took forever and when it happened? yes. was i still happy i got it? YES
the plot was great... i expected the twist that it took, but it was still amazing.
this was really good first off - easy to stay along, hooks you.. so on.
i will say though... it took me a moment to get into it. the fmc (which is on first person POV) is very headstrong, controlling, and very family first but also, does not show emotion. once i realized, THIS was HER - and she chooses to hide emotions and so on, is when i realized how much she truly does feel. working with death regularly, you have so much empathy and so on, but if you get so wrapped in it, then it becomes hard to form the line between your own life and those around you...
also when i say i love slow-burn - THIS IS SLOW BURN. was i upset it took forever and when it happened? yes. was i still happy i got it? YES
the plot was great... i expected the twist that it took, but it was still amazing.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Actual rating: 2.5☆
The synopsis makes this book sound so intriguing however, the execution just felt short on all aspects. Everything felt so surface level, from character development, their dynamics and the political intrigue.
There was nothing awful about it, but it definitely isn't memorable.
Actual rating: 2.5☆
The synopsis makes this book sound so intriguing however, the execution just felt short on all aspects. Everything felt so surface level, from character development, their dynamics and the political intrigue.
There was nothing awful about it, but it definitely isn't memorable.
February 28, 2026
Thanks so much to Netgalley and St Martins press for allowing me to read this early! I stayed up all night to devour it. Excellent writing with an interesting but easy to understand magic system and world. The romance was very well done and the quest moved quickly enough to have me turning page after page to know what would happen next. My only regret was there wasn’t more lol if you like anime, forgery of fate , daughter of the moon goddess this will be right up your alley!
Yet again had the honor to listen to this thanks to Netgalley and an ALC! The narrator did a fantastic job with varying characters males voices and the tone and emotion necessary to bring this to life. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to our main characters and their gentle grumpy/sunshine relationship. This does cover topics of death and grief so be mindful 💜 Absolutely enjoyed listening to our fmc be a complete bad ass with her skeleton army at the end. Thanks so much to Netgalley, narrator, author and the publisher!
Yet again had the honor to listen to this thanks to Netgalley and an ALC! The narrator did a fantastic job with varying characters males voices and the tone and emotion necessary to bring this to life. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to our main characters and their gentle grumpy/sunshine relationship. This does cover topics of death and grief so be mindful 💜 Absolutely enjoyed listening to our fmc be a complete bad ass with her skeleton army at the end. Thanks so much to Netgalley, narrator, author and the publisher!
August 17, 2025
2.5 stars
This was a pretty okay debut. The story was interesting enough. However, it just failed to keep my attention because the characters were quite simple. I really wish I liked this more.
This was a pretty okay debut. The story was interesting enough. However, it just failed to keep my attention because the characters were quite simple. I really wish I liked this more.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Audio🖤
Not bad at all and I love these books for the YA genre
Thoughts to come
Not bad at all and I love these books for the YA genre
Thoughts to come
Read
January 7, 2026
Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026:
This debut gives us a look at Chinese folklore from a bit of a different angle. In it, Kang Siying is a necromancy priestess who must take a dangerous job retrieving the corpse of a prince for a big commission to take care of her ailing father. But when she reanimates the dead prince, he doesn't respond to her like reanimated corpses usually do. Instead of obeying her commands, he comes back as himself, but he needs life force, or qi, to stay on the earthly plane. The two journey around the countryside, purifying evil spirits for qi for the prince, and uncovering secrets along the way—secrets that could threaten the entire kingdom. —Erica Ezeifedi
This debut gives us a look at Chinese folklore from a bit of a different angle. In it, Kang Siying is a necromancy priestess who must take a dangerous job retrieving the corpse of a prince for a big commission to take care of her ailing father. But when she reanimates the dead prince, he doesn't respond to her like reanimated corpses usually do. Instead of obeying her commands, he comes back as himself, but he needs life force, or qi, to stay on the earthly plane. The two journey around the countryside, purifying evil spirits for qi for the prince, and uncovering secrets along the way—secrets that could threaten the entire kingdom. —Erica Ezeifedi
Want to read
August 13, 2025I got approved for an ARC!! Very excited to get into this. Thank you to St Martin's Press!
October 19, 2025
3.5 stars
Kang Siying is no stranger to death. As a ganshi, a priestess tasked with purifying troubled spirits and guiding the dead to the afterlife, she knows the weight of final goodbyes. But when her father falls gravely ill, love and duty drive her to accept a lucrative commission to retrieve a soldier’s corpse from the aftermath of a brutal ambush. What should have been a simple job takes a turn when her purification talisman unexpectedly revives the dead man. Even worse, the corpse is no ordinary soldier, but Prince Renshu, the missing second prince of Sian. But death is not so easily undone. Now, Siying is in a race against time to gather enough qi to keep the prince alive and deliver him to the palace so she can save her father.
The heart of this book is Kang Siying. She is quite possibly one of the best protagonists that I’ve had the pleasure of reading. From the beginning, Tsai establishes duty as Siying’s core. She is dedicated to her job as a priestess, she is a dutiful daughter, and a rock for her father and younger sister. She went through a lot at such a young age and, as a result, Siying is very no-nonsense and serious and one bad day away from a breakdown. Despite that, Siying is compassionate and empathetic, especially when it comes to the spirits that she has to purify.
Renshu, or Ren, is the complete opposite of Siying. As the second prince, he doesn’t really have any aspirations for the throne. He actually enlisted in the army to make it clear that he didn’t want his older brother’s position. He was essentially Siying’s foil—playful and lackadaisical, bereft of any desire to carry responsibility. He does get better towards the end, but he continues to have rose-colored glasses until the last 80% of the book. Compared to Siying, he was underdeveloped and less interesting, but I did like his character arc.
The romance wasn’t necessarily the focus of the book. I felt like the focus really was on Siying that Ren’s character was put in the background, thus the romance wasn’t developed too well. It was a slow burn, a little predictable, but still enjoyable. I did appreciate the fact that Siying acknowledged that they only knew each other for two weeks when Ren confessed to her.
The underlying conflict in Deathly Fates surrounds the civil war between the kingdom of Sian and the state of Wen. Wen is a territory composed of smallfolk who are tired of Sian’s exploitation of their land and resources. Their grievances center around the King’s inattention to the land and people outside of the palace, especially when it came to a deadly fever that killed many citizens, including Siying’s mother. Though Siying, as a ganshi, is meant to be impartial, she sympathizes with the Wen and makes her dissatisfaction with the King known to Ren, who doesn’t quite understand the hostility and goes as far as to defend his father and brother. Tsai works in this political subplot very well. There was a kind of monster-of-the-week structure to the ghosts that Siying and Ren encountered, but they all served to explore that political conflict. The ending was a little anticlimactic and there was such a sudden shift in tone and with Siying’s later actions, but I still really liked it.
Overall an incredibly solid debut! I’d love to read more from Tesia Tsai.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for providing me with a digital arc.
Kang Siying is no stranger to death. As a ganshi, a priestess tasked with purifying troubled spirits and guiding the dead to the afterlife, she knows the weight of final goodbyes. But when her father falls gravely ill, love and duty drive her to accept a lucrative commission to retrieve a soldier’s corpse from the aftermath of a brutal ambush. What should have been a simple job takes a turn when her purification talisman unexpectedly revives the dead man. Even worse, the corpse is no ordinary soldier, but Prince Renshu, the missing second prince of Sian. But death is not so easily undone. Now, Siying is in a race against time to gather enough qi to keep the prince alive and deliver him to the palace so she can save her father.
The heart of this book is Kang Siying. She is quite possibly one of the best protagonists that I’ve had the pleasure of reading. From the beginning, Tsai establishes duty as Siying’s core. She is dedicated to her job as a priestess, she is a dutiful daughter, and a rock for her father and younger sister. She went through a lot at such a young age and, as a result, Siying is very no-nonsense and serious and one bad day away from a breakdown. Despite that, Siying is compassionate and empathetic, especially when it comes to the spirits that she has to purify.
Renshu, or Ren, is the complete opposite of Siying. As the second prince, he doesn’t really have any aspirations for the throne. He actually enlisted in the army to make it clear that he didn’t want his older brother’s position. He was essentially Siying’s foil—playful and lackadaisical, bereft of any desire to carry responsibility. He does get better towards the end, but he continues to have rose-colored glasses until the last 80% of the book. Compared to Siying, he was underdeveloped and less interesting, but I did like his character arc.
The romance wasn’t necessarily the focus of the book. I felt like the focus really was on Siying that Ren’s character was put in the background, thus the romance wasn’t developed too well. It was a slow burn, a little predictable, but still enjoyable. I did appreciate the fact that Siying acknowledged that they only knew each other for two weeks when Ren confessed to her.
The underlying conflict in Deathly Fates surrounds the civil war between the kingdom of Sian and the state of Wen. Wen is a territory composed of smallfolk who are tired of Sian’s exploitation of their land and resources. Their grievances center around the King’s inattention to the land and people outside of the palace, especially when it came to a deadly fever that killed many citizens, including Siying’s mother. Though Siying, as a ganshi, is meant to be impartial, she sympathizes with the Wen and makes her dissatisfaction with the King known to Ren, who doesn’t quite understand the hostility and goes as far as to defend his father and brother. Tsai works in this political subplot very well. There was a kind of monster-of-the-week structure to the ghosts that Siying and Ren encountered, but they all served to explore that political conflict. The ending was a little anticlimactic and there was such a sudden shift in tone and with Siying’s later actions, but I still really liked it.
Overall an incredibly solid debut! I’d love to read more from Tesia Tsai.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for providing me with a digital arc.
August 19, 2025
ᯓ★3 Stars!!!
This book was an interesting read for sure! As far as asian fantasies go, this one was different from the others that I have read. In a good way! I enjoyed the book overall and would love to read the finalized copy as well.
I just have a few points to make. Siying's father has so little screen time for someone who haunts the narrative. He's brought up so many times and Siying's entire existence is built around trying to save her father, yet...we get so little time with him. I wish we had seen more of that relationship throughout the book in order to really feel the impact of his sacrifice. It would have made her crash out so much more impactful. The lack of substance regarding the relationship between her and her father made her crash out feel like it came out of nowhere.
The only other complaint I have is the pacing of the book. it felt very...fast and lacked transitions. One minute we're here and the next we're here and the plot thickens and thins at the same time. It just needs some fine tuning.
That being said, it didn't make this book not enjoyable. I devoured this book pretty quickly and would love to read another title by this author.
⊹ ࣪ ˖Thank you to netgalley for the advanced readers copy!!
This book was an interesting read for sure! As far as asian fantasies go, this one was different from the others that I have read. In a good way! I enjoyed the book overall and would love to read the finalized copy as well.
I just have a few points to make. Siying's father has so little screen time for someone who haunts the narrative. He's brought up so many times and Siying's entire existence is built around trying to save her father, yet...we get so little time with him. I wish we had seen more of that relationship throughout the book in order to really feel the impact of his sacrifice. It would have made her crash out so much more impactful. The lack of substance regarding the relationship between her and her father made her crash out feel like it came out of nowhere.
The only other complaint I have is the pacing of the book. it felt very...fast and lacked transitions. One minute we're here and the next we're here and the plot thickens and thins at the same time. It just needs some fine tuning.
That being said, it didn't make this book not enjoyable. I devoured this book pretty quickly and would love to read another title by this author.
August 24, 2025
I would like to thank Netgalley for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
You guys needdddd to read this book omg. Book like this are literally why I love to read. Everything about this book leaves you wanting more. In fact, my only criticism of this book is that I wish the ending was longer. Ren and Siyang were such interesting characters, and I loved watching their character arcs. The themes surrounding freedom, grief, and duty were also done so well, and all the side characters were so fun to read about, though I do wish they were a bit more developed. The romance was also so cute. I love slow burn, I love reluctant allies, I love grumpyxsunshine, and I love this book has these tropes without being about the tropes. When the final copy of the book is released, you better believe I’ll be rereading this. I don’t know how my next read is going to top this one.
You guys needdddd to read this book omg. Book like this are literally why I love to read. Everything about this book leaves you wanting more. In fact, my only criticism of this book is that I wish the ending was longer. Ren and Siyang were such interesting characters, and I loved watching their character arcs. The themes surrounding freedom, grief, and duty were also done so well, and all the side characters were so fun to read about, though I do wish they were a bit more developed. The romance was also so cute. I love slow burn, I love reluctant allies, I love grumpyxsunshine, and I love this book has these tropes without being about the tropes. When the final copy of the book is released, you better believe I’ll be rereading this. I don’t know how my next read is going to top this one.
Currently reading
March 20, 2026🧡❘༻░P░R░E░R░E░A░D░༺❘🧡
╰┈➤Started March 19th
╰┈➤ Thank you so much to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this e-ARC!
My first time ever actually requesting an ARC (rather than picking a read-now one) and I was so excited to the approval notice in my inbox! I love Chinese-inspired stories, I love the supernatural, so what could go wrong? 🤭
╰┈➤Started March 19th
╰┈➤ Thank you so much to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this e-ARC!
My first time ever actually requesting an ARC (rather than picking a read-now one) and I was so excited to the approval notice in my inbox! I love Chinese-inspired stories, I love the supernatural, so what could go wrong? 🤭
Want to read
August 4, 2025here for more necromancy books, thank you
October 18, 2025
Deathly Fates had such a promising premise: necromancy, ghosts, and a dangerous journey across kingdoms? I was ready for the haunting atmosphere and emotional depth. But sadly, this one fell flat for me.
The plot felt predictable, and I never found myself fully invested in the characters (except maybe the male lead, who was easily the most interesting part of the book). The worldbuilding had potential, but the execution just didn’t keep me hooked.
While the writing itself wasn’t bad, it didn’t bring the story to life in the way I hoped. Overall, Deathly Fates was a miss for me unfortunately.
The plot felt predictable, and I never found myself fully invested in the characters (except maybe the male lead, who was easily the most interesting part of the book). The worldbuilding had potential, but the execution just didn’t keep me hooked.
While the writing itself wasn’t bad, it didn’t bring the story to life in the way I hoped. Overall, Deathly Fates was a miss for me unfortunately.
November 18, 2025
I don’t know if Deathly Fates fully qualifies as cozy romantasy, but that’s where I would put it.
There is quite a bit of death in the book, as Siying is a priestess of death, but it isn’t of a particularly violent sort, and it does introduce her to Ren, the other protagonist and love interest.
Unfortunately for Siying, Ren is dead. Or mostly dead, anyway. And her mission ends up changing from bringing his body back home to helping him find enough qi to keep him alive.
As she soon finds out, this turns out to be pretty important because Ren is the younger prince of her kingdom, and as the two discover on their way back home, everything is not right in Sian.
To acquire qi for Ren, the pair must face evil spirits, and as they do so the reader sees people mistreated and how their anger can have far reaching consequences if a right isn’t committed. It also shows the commitment to family, sometimes deservedly so and sometimes on blind faith.
The book is more heavily focused on the adventure and journey of Siying and Ren, with really more a dash of romance thrown in. This worked well for me because world building for a fantasy story often seems to come more easily than creating an authentic relationship between the protagonists that the reader can get emotionally invested in, and Tsai created a world and adventure that was easy to dive into and enjoy, with fun characters falling in love as a bonus.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
There is quite a bit of death in the book, as Siying is a priestess of death, but it isn’t of a particularly violent sort, and it does introduce her to Ren, the other protagonist and love interest.
Unfortunately for Siying, Ren is dead. Or mostly dead, anyway. And her mission ends up changing from bringing his body back home to helping him find enough qi to keep him alive.
As she soon finds out, this turns out to be pretty important because Ren is the younger prince of her kingdom, and as the two discover on their way back home, everything is not right in Sian.
To acquire qi for Ren, the pair must face evil spirits, and as they do so the reader sees people mistreated and how their anger can have far reaching consequences if a right isn’t committed. It also shows the commitment to family, sometimes deservedly so and sometimes on blind faith.
The book is more heavily focused on the adventure and journey of Siying and Ren, with really more a dash of romance thrown in. This worked well for me because world building for a fantasy story often seems to come more easily than creating an authentic relationship between the protagonists that the reader can get emotionally invested in, and Tsai created a world and adventure that was easy to dive into and enjoy, with fun characters falling in love as a bonus.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
•𝐀𝐋𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝘄•
[Deathly Fates]
🔥 Release Date: April 14, 2026 🔥
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced copy!
★★★★☆
Deathly Fates follows a priestess tasked with guiding the dead, until she accidentally resurrects a soldier. Together, they navigate quests, messy power struggles, and some very tricky ghosts.
I loved the world building and the way Chinese folklore and necromancy are woven into the story. The magic feels grounded and purposeful, and the story ramps up toward the end with twists that kept me on my toes. The priestess and soldier have a playful back and forth that kept me smiling. The audiobook is fantastic! This is my second Katharine Chin narration, and she’s quickly becoming a favorite!
A few quests felt repetitive, the soldier flirts with death a lot, and some sections were slightly stiff, but the twists and the characters kept me locked into the story. Overall, a strong, enjoyable debut.
[Deathly Fates]
🔥 Release Date: April 14, 2026 🔥
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced copy!
★★★★☆
Deathly Fates follows a priestess tasked with guiding the dead, until she accidentally resurrects a soldier. Together, they navigate quests, messy power struggles, and some very tricky ghosts.
I loved the world building and the way Chinese folklore and necromancy are woven into the story. The magic feels grounded and purposeful, and the story ramps up toward the end with twists that kept me on my toes. The priestess and soldier have a playful back and forth that kept me smiling. The audiobook is fantastic! This is my second Katharine Chin narration, and she’s quickly becoming a favorite!
A few quests felt repetitive, the soldier flirts with death a lot, and some sections were slightly stiff, but the twists and the characters kept me locked into the story. Overall, a strong, enjoyable debut.
January 25, 2026
I had feared this would be more romance focused than it was (I’m honestly not sure where I got that impression; it’s probably just my default state in an era where romance is booming), but I really liked the focus on grief and vengeance and regret. This is a necromancy story, so it wouldn’t have been as good without those elements. But seeing them in the context of a budding war of secession and the battle for power vs autonomy just felt poignant.
I wish Anshi played a bigger role, though. She’s integral to the climax but I felt like we didn’t really “get” her - and I especially would have liked to see where she ended up at the end, but she just vanishes off the page…
Overall, solid
{Thank you Wednesday Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
I wish Anshi played a bigger role, though. She’s integral to the climax but I felt like we didn’t really “get” her - and I especially would have liked to see where she ended up at the end, but she just vanishes off the page…
Overall, solid
{Thank you Wednesday Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
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