To the Death

by Andrea Tang

Two teens are pitted against each other in a magical duel for revenge, but they’ll have to fight their growing attraction first, in this YA fantasy thriller from the author of These Deadly Prophecies.

Eighteen-year-old Samantha Chan wants only one revenge for her brother’s death in an illegal magical duel. Ever since that terrible day, she’s been quietly working with legitimate dueling champion Lysander Rook and biding her time until she can take down her brother’s Mateus Blackwood.

Tamsin Blackwood is trapped. She wants to make a name for herself in the magical dueling circuit, but she can’t get away from the legacy of her father—and coach—Mateus Blackwood. When she receives a challenge from the undefeated Lysander and his assistant Sam, she jumps at the chance to earn enough fame and glory to finally escape her father’s influence.

Tamsin has no idea about Sam’s scheming, and Sam plans to keep it that way. Despite herself, though, she can’t help liking Tamsin, and the two girls quickly grow closer to each other than anyone else in their lives. But Sam won’t let anything get in the way of her revenge—not even her heart.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Lesbian, Queer, LGBT, Fiction, Romance

297 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 10, 2026

About the author

Andrea Tang grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, and currently lives, writes, and works in the Washington, DC area. She loves martial arts in general and Brazilian jiu-jitsu in particular, and in her spare time, enjoys learning new sports and checking out live theater.

Reviews

[Zana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars.

I wish this was a duology because the sapphic romance was cute and I wanted so much more!

Actually, I wanted to so much more out of everything: the magic, the duels, the family history. This was a fun and quick read for what it was though. I'm actually surprised that I enjoyed it. Usually, I like my fantasy with a lot more worldbuilding and lore, but I'll take it for what it is.

I really enjoyed the semi not-quite enemies to lovers romance. The tension between the two was written pretty well and I enjoyed the suspense and the drama when it came to the relationship buildup.

I liked the dual POV with Samantha and Tamsin in the first half, but after they cross paths, their POVs read pretty similar and it was kinda difficult to tell them apart. I'm normally an audiobook listener, so maybe the audiobook will be better with the POV switches.

I think this will be a fun read for teens looking to dip their toes into urban fantasy and who are looking for diverse rep. The magical concepts here are pretty easy to understand and everyone's motives are straightforward. There are a few twists and turns to keep you on your toes.

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for this arc.

[tiana ♡]

pre-read notes:
ARC received! This sounds sooo good and also.. the cover???

[snazzy pen ✰ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Current rating: 3.25-3.5 stars
I feel like if this book was a bit longer and more developed, I would have given it 4 stars!

I haven't read all of Andrea Tang's other books (I've only read 2), but I found myself having very similar thoughts back when I read Kingdom of Without. Both were short, solid, and entertaining reads, but I always end up yearning for more: more worldbuilding, more time with the characters, more development for the romance, etc. But on the other hand, there is something bittersweet about how she doesn't provide complete closure, and I do find myself thinking about the characters even after I read. Idk, I'll just say that I would love for this to be a series, as I grew to be surprisingly attached to Samantha, Tamsin, and even Rook, so again, I want more of these characters and to explore their world!!

I don't have too much else to add; both POVs were relatively compelling, though I did prefer Samantha's chapters by a slight margin. Romance was nice, though there wasn't as much build-up as I would have liked due to the short length of the book.

Overall, this was a fun read and would be great if you're in a slump; I would have finished this in one sitting if I had started reading at a reasonable time. I think I'll read These Deadly Prophecies next and see how that goes!

[Chelsea]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

To the Death by Andrea Tang is a first person dual-POV contemporary fantasy Sapphic romance. Several years ago, Samantha's older brother was killed in the arena of an underground dueling ring run by a legendary duelist, Blackwood. To get revenge for her brother’s death, Samantha takes a job as the second of up-and-coming duelist Lysander, and waits the day for him to beat Blackwood’s daughter, Tamsin. But Tamsin doesn't know anything about Samantha's past nor of her plans.

I would put this more as a fantasy romance rather than romantic fantasy because the story does not really go without the romance plot. The revenge aspect is part of Samantha's motivations and it is the original driving force for her, but it's not really as central to Tamsin’s story. Since the general book is more focused on general interiority and overall feelings shifting and the magic aspects served as a backdrop, it felt like a romance novel with fantasy elements. Because of how one-sided the enemies aspect is for the whole book, I would not call this enemies-to-lovers nor would I really call it rivals-to-lovers. It's more forbidden love.

Tamsin and Samantha's romance is closer to slowburn territory. It takes a while for the two of them to admit their feelings for each other and very little happens until the end. A lot of that has to do with the secrets between them as well as the fact that as long as Tamsin is still working with her father, it would be impossible for Samantha to really give her whole heart to her.

The worldbuilding is mostly limited to the magic system as the book is set in an alternative universe of our world where some people have magic and everyone is vaguely aware, but it hasn't changed history that much. The magic system itself is spell-based, with elemental magic being the basics and magic users are constantly creating new spells. We don't see a ton of fighting and a lot of the magic beyond a few bits here and there.

I would recommend this to fans of YA romantasy who prefer low fantasy or paranormal romance and readers of fantasy who like a slowburn romance

[Laura (crofteereader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one’s a slump-buster! Somewhat like a YA version of An Unkindness of Magicians (with the magical duels and people taking some personal vendettas into the ring), TO THE DEATH was snappy and quick and much more about the people than the magic. It took me a long time to realize that we had no idea how the magic worked, what qualified magicians to compete in the various circuits beyond age, how one became an arcane master, whether magic is only innate or if anyone can learn it… I actually had a whole lot of questions, it turns out! But the plot and characters let me kind of let a lot of those questions lie because the story charged ever onward.

I genuinely don’t think we needed Tamsin’s POV, but I did like having it, especially in the beginning where we got to see her ravenous loneliness and her dad’s assholery. It just had a lot less momentum than Sam’s.

I also like that their attraction to each other was a garnish and not a main course. Because, helloooo, escaping an abusive parent and a revenge plot are much more interesting.

{Thank you GP Putnam’s Sons for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books that would have been better if it was longer. I loved the backdrop of magical duels as effectively a professional sport , and I would have liked to have seen and understood more of it (I’m still not fully sure what the point was of having a second).

In addition to that, the romance between Tamsin and Sam, as well as the development of all major characters, could have been fleshed out much more if this was longer. I’m a big fan of revenge plotlines and the enemies/rivals to lovers tropes that frequently comes in revenge-based stories, but because of the length of this book, there was definitely an insta-love vibe despite the fact that one wants to take down the other’s whole family.

There is still a little bit of tension between them in what ends up being their third act, and the characters do have good chemistry on page, so this is still decent as far as a romance goes if you are looking for one that doesn’t go far into the relationship. Also good if the favorite arc of any show or book for you is the sports/fighting festival or if you enjoy individual sports and fantasy books.

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers, and Andrea Tang for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ solid 4 / 5 STARS

i thoroughly enjoyed this read. the tension, characters, storyline, magic, and the world-building are all exquisitely done. i do wish there were more information in terms of the magic system and a pinch more vivid imagery, but as is... i really liked it.

nonetheless, i HIGHLY recommend this book! this is my first dose of Andrea Tang's writing and story-telling abilities, and it sure as hell won't be my last. it's a great introduction to this author. looking forward to more!

shout out to the author and publisher for allowing me the privilege of reading this book in advanced via NetGalley. i leave this review of my own volition. all thoughts and opinions are mine.

[Natalie O’Boyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ for To the Death by Andrea Tang

Samantha Chan seeks revenge for the loss of her brother’s life in a magical duel. She blames a prominent magician Mateus Blackwood, and plans to get back at him through his up and coming magician daughter Tamsin.

I’ll start with the romance, which I thought was super cute! Sam and Tamsin had potential for a great build up of a relationship, but I don’t think there was enough scenes of the “good” side to outweigh their bad and angry parts. I wanted more happy times and connection to maybe lessen some of the horrible things they said to each other. I do think by the end they each had significant growth and it gave more hope to them working things out.

I loved the magical duels! I think I would have liked a little more of them to be honest, I think it’s such a cool magic system and I’d love to hear more about it. The spells were intriguing and the laws surrounding it seemed to be in place limiting it to fighting. Each of the characters relationships with magic were toxic at times, and it helped to create a non-romantic side to the characters growth.

Overall this was a cute YA fantasy romance, and one I enjoyed reading. I’d love to see the author write more books in this world where magical duels are a spectator sport.

To the Death by Andrea Tang comes out February 10, 2026

Thanks to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the opportunity to read this e-arc.

[Fanna]

i have a soft spot for fantasy thrillers

[Prof. Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

To the Death by Andrea Tang offers a compelling blend of YA fantasy, intrigue, and romance that kept me hooked from start to finish. The story centers around Samantha Chan and Tamsin Blackwood, two talented young duelists whose worlds collide in a high-stakes magical competition. Their evolving relationship adds a compelling layer to an already intense plot of revenge and legacy.

One of the strengths of the book was its pacing—action-packed duels paired with moments of vulnerability and tenderness. Andrea Tang does a great job of balancing the adrenaline of magical combat with the emotional stakes of her characters’ personal journeys. Samantha’s drive for revenge against her brother’s murderer is both understandable and tragic, and Tamsin’s desire to carve out her own identity outside her family’s shadow felt very relatable.

However, I felt like the story lacked some depth when it came to the broader world and outside characters. Despite how vital the magical duels are to the plot, I never really felt immersed in a fully fleshed-out universe. There are mentions of illegal spells, laws, and governance, but these details are mostly glossed over. We’re told magic is primarily used for fighting, but there’s little exploration of how society at large functions with magic—what other uses it might have, how it influences daily life, or how widespread the laws and restrictions are. The magic system itself is only briefly touched upon, with references to foundations, curses, elements, and shields, but I was left wanting more specifics to truly understand and visualize the world Tang has created. It felt like a backdrop rather than an integrated part of the story.

The characters, though well-drawn, also felt somewhat isolated from this larger context. Tamsin’s struggles with her narcissistic father were intense, but her father sometimes read more like a cartoon villain than a nuanced person. Rook, Sam’s champion, had a background arc that piqued my interest, but it felt underdeveloped, and I wish we had more insight into his motivations and history. I would love to see a spinoff centered around him someday.

The romance between Sam and Tamsin was sweet, but I found the tension predictable at times. I would have appreciated more exploration of their internal conflicts and the complexities of their feelings beyond initial attraction. A few plot twists felt a little rushed, lacking the build-up I was hoping for.

Overall, To the Death is an enjoyable YA fantasy thriller with a strong premise, memorable characters, and enough surprises to keep readers engaged. It’s a solid choice for fans of magical duels and layered character dynamics, but I personally felt it could have benefited from richer world-building and deeper character backgrounds. Still, it’s a fun, fast-paced read worth checking out, especially if you’re looking for a story of revenge, romance, and magic with a promising start.

[Leah Stuhler · Rating 3 out of 5]

To the Death is a magic filled book that explores family dynamics, relationships, and self-discovery.

Eighteen year old Samantha Chan is out for revenge. After her brother died in an illegal magical duel, Samantha's goal has been to take down her brother's killer, Mateus Blackwood. In order to do that, she has been working with dueling champion Lysander Rook and waiting for the right moment to set up a duel with Blackwood's daughter, Tamsin.

Tamsin has been living in her father's shadow since she started dueling. And since he's her coach, she's finding it difficult to pull away from him and make a name for herself in the magical dueling world. When Tamsin receives an invitation from Lysander Rook's assistant to fight him in a duel, she jumps at the chance. Tamsin knows this could be her shot to finally escape her father.

When Tamsin and Samantha unexpectedly develop a friendship, and their feelings begin to grow deeper, things get a bit complicated. How can Sam get her revenge with growing feelings for Tamsin? And how can Tamsin defeat Rook when Sam is his partner?

I've read a lot of books with magic in them before but not like this one. Magical dueling is an innovative concept and worked really well in this story. The magical duels are exciting and have a lot of tension in them. However, I would have liked to see more specific detail about the spells that are cast in the duels. Some of the description felt a little vague. But the overall visuals and images Andrea Tang paints of the duels, along with the description of the emotions the competitors feel while dueling, are captivating.

It was delightful watching Sam and Tamsin go from strangers/enemies to friends and developing romantic feelings for each other. There is a lot of tension as they both struggle to fight their feelings for each other since they are competitors. But, despite being competitors, they also encourage each other and help each other achieve their goals and increase their magical abilities.

The relationship between Tamsin and her father is nothing short of toxic. As the reader you feel sympathy for Tamsin and her situation. She is a character that is easy to root for and whom you want to see succeed. Tamsin's desire to separate herself from her father takes her on a journey of self-discovery. Samantha also has her own journey of self-discovery as she fights to avenge the death of her brother. Her relationship with Lysander Rook keeps her grounded throughout the story; he is a good sounding board for Sam.

Overall, this was a great book. There is a strong plotline, the characters have strong character arcs, the world of magical duels fits well into the NYC setting, and the exploration of relationship dynamics makes you empathetic towards the characters.

[Karis · Rating 3 out of 5]

~~Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC!~~

3.5/5 stars rounded down!

This was cute and had so much potential, but I wanted more.

Despite how vital the magical duels are to the plot, I never felt like it was explored much outside its niche, particularly for the main characters and those heavily involved in the duels. It's mentioned a few times that people who don't know about magic don't really know or care about the duels, and we don't get a bigger picture to how the world at large functions with magic. I think its implied it's primarily used for fighting, but surely that can't be all there is. There's mentions of illegal spells, so there had to be governance and laws put in place, but that kind of information is push aside to focus on the moment. We don't even learn much about the specifics of the magic other than there are foundations, curse, elements, and some sort of shields. It was interesting when it was explored; I just wish we were given more information to fully emersed in the world.

The main characters were distinct and had complex personalities and roles in one another's lives. Sam was a little more grating because her whole personality revolved around her revenge quest for most of the book, but, luckily, the narrative confronted that fact and had her grow in a satisfying way. Tamsin's side of the plot could infuriate anyone with a narcissist parent. The dad tended to lean more cartoon villain than grounded for me the more he was on page, but the resolution Tamsin gets with him well made up for it. The girls had some cute chemistry together, too. I only wish we got further insight into Rook, Sam's champion, because he gets a background arc that felt in equal weight to the main plot. I would so love if there was a spinoff with him as the main character.

All in all, this was a good read! Maybe great for those who want a lighter urban fantasy, but I personally wanted much more out of it.

[Aila Krisse · Rating 3 out of 5]

To the Death is a YA fantasy set in a world of high-stakes magical sports duelling. This was a nice, quick read, but I kinda wish it wasn’t quite this short. The idea of a magical fighting/duelling sports league sounded really interesting and the fact that it’s sapphic is just the cherry on top. But unfortunately both those aspects felt very underdeveloped in this book.

The sapphic romance follows a pretty typical enemies/rivals-to-lovers trajectory, with the small caveat that they actually are not lovers (yet) by the end of the book. The change from rivals/enemies to developing romantic feelings for each other was done fairly well and actually felt mostly believable. However, because the developing-feelings-for-each-other stuff only starts maybe halfway through the book (which only has 300 pages), the relationship didn’t really get the time it deserved and still ended up feeling undercooked. It is also definitely not the main focus of the story, but I didn’t actually mind too much because the two protagonists’ (Tamsin and Sam) character arcs - which are the actual main focus - were so well done.

The other disappointingly underdeveloped part of this book was the magic system and general world-building. The story is set in a version of our world, just one that has magic. But that’s about it as far as establishing the lore goes. The magic is only ever shown as being used in fights, it is never mentioned whether there are any other applications for the magic. There are plenty of moments where characters get seriously injured and I don’t think they ever get any sort of magical healing. So that must mean that the only use magic has in this world is for duelling, which just feels… wrong? It leaves the world of the story feeling empty and hollow, and makes it very difficult to truly feel immersed in the story.

So, this book is for you if you want a quick and easy character-driven YA read with a little dash of sapphic romance, and are fine with world-building that is rather slapdash.
----
Many thanks to Penguin Young Readers for the ARC!

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ultimately, I wanted more out of this than I got. Perhaps due to its YA genre.

I was disappointed in the magic system; it's not expanded on at all, and we don't really get much out of the magicians fighting in this world. Basically, there's not a lot explained about it. There's magic, there's people that can wield it, and then there are these fights that happen, and are apparently (what I'm imagining to be like MMA) sources of money/betting/gambling.

This world we're given is much like our own, just with magicians that fight. That's fine. Just, how can we have this concept and then not really go into it. There is so little depth to it.

Samantha is pretty boring as a character. Yes, she wants revenge, which I can totally respect, but it's like......not even revenge she's getting on her own. And the way she goes about it is not my taste. I think revenge, if not done by yourself and orchestrated behind the scenes, means you should STAY BEHIND THE SCENES. Tamsin is kind of okay-- her characterizing mostly comes from her strained relationship with her father, so she doesn't really get to grow outside of that. And then there's Rook, who I think is the most underutilized character and simultaneously unneeded. I think if he's going to exist, he probably should have had a bigger part to play, bigger stakes. The story focuses on the two girls, but it's so yawn. Tamsin's father is also a very poor antagonist; he's giving big bad meanie more than anything.

The plot does, however, not go the way I thought it would. How we end up is at least more interesting than it could've ended, but it was still a big whatever for me.

thank you to netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the eARC!

[SJARR ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

All I could picture here was that scene in the Detective Pikachu movie, where the pokemon are using their powers in a fighting ring.
Imagine that, but it’s people instead.

This story was pretty good.
Theres definitely an emphasis on strong women and some female rage going on- which I’m always fond of.
Now, add in magic and bad guys that can’t believe they’re getting defeated by women, and you have something extra special.

I was under the impression that this was going to be a romantasy novel. But it actually turned out to be fantasy with a very minor romantic subplot.
Personally, I would have loved to see Tasmin and Sam’s relationship get more development, and some more in-depth cutesy scenes.
But, thats because i'm a romance lover. It isn’t really something I would take away any points for.
If you really enjoy fantasy, and don’t mind when that is the main focus- you will probably enjoy this.

I think this could benefit from some more explanations surrounding the magic system.
There is a lot of people fighting with magic- but not a ton of detailed description on what is actually happening to the opponent (if that makes sense).
This may be because it’s a YA, and thus can’t get overly descriptive or graphic- but i think even just a bit of detail would have helped more with visualization.

Overall though, the story is nice, and it will probably be enjoyable to a lot of YA fantasy lovers.

Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P Putman’s Sons Books for Young Readers and author Andrea Tang, for providing me with the eARC of “To the Death”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: February 10, 2026

[Nishana · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC!

i absolutely loved all the characters in this novel. sam and tamsin were both strong protagonists with compelling motivations. i couldn't help but root for them both even when they were on opposing sides.

the few supporting characters in this book were also great. i especially loved rook's complicated but sweet relationship with sam.

i do have a few criticisms with this book. the magic system is never explained, like at all. so during a lot of these fight scenes i couldn't really understand what the characters were doing or how they were doing it.
my second issue is that sam's whole plan to defeat tamsin in a fight to get back at her dad for killing sam's brother just... didn't really make sense. i find it hard to comprehend how someone would decide to get revenge for their sibling's murder by... ruining the social status of their murderer? not by killing them, not by sending them to prison? i also didn't like how all the characters seemed to paint sam as a horrible person for her way of coping with her brother's death instead of showing her empathy. her brother died in such a violent way, and while sam's way of grieving wasn't healthy, i do think it's kinda awful to tell her to just move on.

all that said, the book had a really great ending, with a fresh new outlook for everyone. i do wish we got another kiss between sam and tamsin though, but maybe i'm just greedy. i had a great time reading this though, and i recommend it to anyone looking for a fast-paced urban fantasy novel.

[Helen Freire · Rating 4 out of 5]

To the Death is an adrenaline-filled, magic-soaked sapphic fantasy that hooked me from the first page, because MAGIC! Books with magic are always a treat, and this one absolutely delivers. Set in a world where official and underground magical duels can leave competitors brutally wrecked, the story follows Sam and Tamsin through alternating POVs that enrich every emotional blow and twist. Tamsin Blackwood’s arc is a standout as she slowly breaks free from her controlling, once-legendary father—whose dark secrets cast a heavy shadow—and learns to fight for her own identity and glory. Sam, meanwhile, is a complete gem: brilliant, driven, and consumed by a revenge plan rooted in grief for her brother, only to have her entire worldview shattered when the truth behind his death finally comes to light. Their chemistry screams rivalry, anger, attraction, and betrayal, creating a romance that’s quick but charming, even if I wanted more time to explore it fully. The world of magic duels is fascinating and vividly built, but with only 304 pages, the ending does feel a bit rushed, and I especially wished the full weight of Sam’s revenge had more room to unfold. Still, every second of reading was exciting and emotionally rich—fast-paced action, morally tangled choices, a splash of romance, and two characters discovering who they are once truth hits harder than any spell. A gripping, magical ride that leaves you wanting just a little more—maybe even a second book to dive deeper into this world.

[♡ A ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

To the Death follows Samantha Chan, second to an unbeatable magic dueler, Lysander Rook. She only wants one thing: get revenge on Mateus Blackwood for the death of her brother. Tamsin Blackwood lives in her father’s shadow and desperately wants to make a name for herself as a magical dueller. When Tamsin agrees to a duel against Lysander, she collides with Samantha and the two girls hit it off. But Sam can’t let anything get in the way of her revenge, even if it means breaking a heart.

I quite enjoyed the concept of this book, but the execution didn’t work for me. I really do think its more a case of my preferences than the book though. It was definitely interesting and fun. I just wanted more from the world building and the pacing. The magic was interesting though and I enjoyed the duals. I haven’t read many magical duel books before so that was fun.

While I liked Tamsin, I wasn’t as fond of Sam. I love a revenge story but this one didn’t work for me with how I prefer them to play out. I just couldn’t really ship them as a couple. But the potential is there for another audience. I did enjoy how much each of them grew for such a short novel. That was well done.

If you like magical duel books, this one might be for you!

Thank you to Penguin Teen CA and Netgalley for the arc!

[Tiphaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

[RATE: 3.5/5] || Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Putnam for providing me this arc in exchange for an honest review ! ||

Firstly I have to say I was confused that this was a urban fantasy, as by reading the blurb I expected some kind of medieval-ish fantasy or 17th century tops - but no, it's modern-day New York where youtube, reddit and social media exist.

And that's part of was bothered me in this book, along with the lack of worldbuilding. We barely know the relation with magic from the outside world ; is the magic used in any other domain or is it really just for entertainment, are the spells and arcane energy used for more (useful) stuff than basically attack or defense in a duel... It has a lack of information, of depth in the magic system and the world.

Otherwise I did still really enjoyed the story and the main characters. I loved seeing both Tamsin and Samantha's character growth, even if Sam's one was slower due to her revenge. The relationship between Tamsin and her father was hard to read sometimes but the ending is extremely satisfying. I also really enjoyed the love relationship between Tam and Sam, even when there were issues regarding them being rivals and vengeance in between them ; there were a good chemistry, and I enjoyed the ending.

[Aurora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the full review with representation information and trigger warnings on my blog.

Samantha has been hatching a plot to get revenge on Tamsin’s father ever since he was responsible for the death of her brother in an illegal duel. Tamsin wants to get out from under the thumb of her narcissistic father. When Samantha approaches Tamsin about a duel with the person she’s the second of with enough prize money to set Tamsin up for life, hoping to destroy her, Tamsin accepts, but Samantha does not expect that she will fall for Tamsin.

This book was marketed as a fantasy thriller, but it really seemed like more of a romance to me. I also don’t think the title makes much sense. There is no actual duel to the death in the book, and despite all the talk about how dangerous dueling is and how bloodthirsty the audience is, nobody dies during the actual book. It makes it kind of anticlimactic. There’s also the practically requisite bit in revenge-related romances about how revenge isn’t actually healing. Okay, that is a valid thing to write a book about, but if you’re writing a book about revenge not actually fixing anything why is it marketed as a thriller and titled To the Death? It just doesn’t make sense.

The worldbuilding was definitely sparse in this book, and I agree with other reviewers that it could have been better. It looked like maybe we were about to get some worldbuilding when Samantha is watching a documentary about the history of dueling, but then she basically zones out and there is no worldbuilding there. That would’ve been a great opportunity for worldbuilding; another great opportunity would’ve been when Tamsin and Samantha were shopping in a bookstore for books about magic. The book itself is a lot more character focused than plot or worldbuilding-focused, which is fine, but it wasn’t really what I was expecting when I picked up the book.

The characters are interesting, but it does feel like everything’s very convenient in a way that meant the plot was predictable. It’s also clear which one of the two POV characters the author favors (Samantha), which was a little weird. If you’re writing a romance with two POV characters, they should probably both get equal authorly effort on their plotlines and endings. I think the book could’ve been better if it was just from Samantha’s POV, honestly. I liked Tamsin more, but if there was going to be so much favoring of Samantha, maybe it should have just been from Samantha’s POV?

To the Death releases February 10 from G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers. Thank you to Netgalley, Andrea Tang and Penguin Young Readers Group for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 4 Stars

I could spend a LOT more time in this fantasy world, which is both a good thing and a bad thing. I think this book works perfectly well as a standalone, but I didn't want it to be a standalone. It's fine. Everything is developed. All the characters stand on their own. But... it could have been so great with another book or two (or three or four). It could have been amazing. It was fine. I enjoyed it. But the potential here is so untapped.

I really did like this book. I loved it. And I'll be writing all about that in my full review over at Gateway Reviews. If you know me, you know I'm not one to beg for books to be longer. I like short and snappy if you pull it off. So the fact that this book had me wanting more is certainly a good thing (even if the end product here feels a little... underwhelming). Anyway, all of that's for my full review. Stop by if you get the chance!

Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read filled with rivalries, magic, strained relationships, and minor sapphic romance.

The world-building was straightforward - modern times but injected with a healthy dose of magic. Magicians are accepted and perform registered duels for entertainment. Beyond the basics of the four elements and that the main magic used are curses of various "flows" or styles (there are not concrete names of techniques or stringent naming conventions).

The alternating POV between Samantha Chan and Tamsin Blackwood made for interesting perspectives as we learn about each of their backstories and motivations. Even after their initial meeting and further run-ins with each other, the difference in perspectives kept the story fresh and interesting.

Overall, a pleasant read that doesn't require philosophical thinking but does analyze what it means to strive for revenge and how revenge can change a person's entire outlook.


Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher G.P. Putnam's for allowing me an ARC to read and review.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I read this book, the words that came to mind were "cute" and "adorable". The idea for the storyline was good and I liked the characters, but the writing overall missed the mark for me. Usually, I am able to visualize a version of what the author was trying to convey, but I had a hard time doing that with this book. The imagery was lacking. There were also plot holes that left me confused. Rook did not have much of a backstory. I also did not quite understand the mechanics of the magician world as I was reading. It became a little more clear as I read, but I still don't understand the dynamics between the second and the arcane master. The execution of the magic itself also needed more detail. But I enjoyed the dialogue, and this was a good read over the holidays to lose myself in a book for a bit.

Thank you to Andrea, the publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC. I look forward to continuing to see this author grow in her writing.

[Audra · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I loved
- Magic duels - the descriptions of these were strongly paralleled with a boxing or MMA fight. I haven't seen this take on magical fighting before.
- Characters - Tamsin, Sam, and even Rook are all flawed but likable.
- Relationship dynamics - I loved seeing the relationships between all of the characters evolve and really influence character development.
- This quote - "It's worth it, every time, for the chance to experience– just for a little while–something extraordinary."

What I didn't love as much
- The pacing felt inconsistent.

Verdict: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

Dueling duos, stealthy schemes, and rocky relationships - what's not to love? If you're into YA books, even if fantasy isn't normally your thing, you should give this a shot.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this book to review. All opinions are my own.

[Merkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved To the Death. I thought it was equal parts gritty teen drama, fantasy/magic and HBO boxing pay-per-view. It was so much fun to read. A minor critique that in no way impacted my reading experience, but I wish there were more. More about the world, more story even for this to be some kind of series or duology. But even without that I really enjoyed this story. I really liked how magic was being used in a boxing style match up, including things like promotional events leading up to the main. This felt really unique to me. There isn't significant world building, which serves the story in that it is fast paced and you are never bogged down with details. But you also feel like you want more from it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Hollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Penguin Young Readers Group and Netgalley for this ARC. This review is my own honest opinion.

Tamsin Blackwood is a young up-and-coming dueling magician who is slowly suffocating under the weight of her father’s reputation and expectations. When she receives a challenge to face Lysander Rook, the hottest young magician in the game, it’s finally a chance for her to escape her father’s hold if she can win. What she doesn’t know is Rook’s second Samantha Chan is out for revenge and doesn’t care who she hurts in the process. Fate keeps bringing Tamsin and Sam into each other’s circles. Can two rivals become more than that?

This was such a fun read! I could not put it down. I loved the magic system, the competition side of it, and the mystery that we encounter along the way. I really enjoyed the dynamics between Tamsin and Sam. I look forward to reading more of Tang’s work.

[Chris G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tamsin is the nepo baby of the magical dueling world; her father and second is world famous for his legendary skills which he has not always employed solely in the service of legal and regulated magic. Tam is contacted by Samantha, the second of the reigning champion Rook, to book a duel that would give Tam financial independence from her father’s domination - if she can win. Rook is famous for destroying his opponents and Samantha is using him to seek revenge on Tam’s father, who was responsible for Sam’s brother’s death in an underground, unregulated duel. Sam’s and Tam’s attraction to each other crackles with chemistry that burns brightly without the need of magic. Tang excels at world building and has created another compelling read. EARC from Edelweiss.

[rose ✨]

DNF @ 26%

it’s not you, book, it’s me.

i mean, maybe it’s a little bit you.

i’m DNFing because this just isn’t grabbing me and i suspect i’ll give it an unfairly low rating if i force myself to finish it.

tamsin blackwood is an undefeated dueling champion trying to make a name for herself as more than her controlling father’s daughter. samantha chan, assistant to another infamously undefeated champion, is out for revenge: she wants to punish her brother’s killer—tamsin’s father—by arranging for her champion to defeat tamsin in a widely publicized duel. fans of YA urban fantasy, enemies to lovers, and magical competitions (the dueling circuit seems to be a magical WWE of sorts) may appreciate this one more than i did.

[USOM · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

To the Death is multi-faceted. It starts off this story about dueling magician, ambition and revenge. For Samantha she's so hell bent on revenge that she doesn't care who she takes down on the way just if it eventually achieves her goal. In To the Death she come to ask herself if this makes her just as bad as those she seeks to punish? If we turn ourselves into a weapon, what's left of us? In some senses, it examines this pursuit of magic, this raw desire to be the absolute best, to push ourselves to the limit. For Tamsin, we witness the pressures of being our parent's dreams, of their ambitions weighing on our shoulder.

[JXR · Rating 1 out of 5]

No, this one just did not land at all for me. Tamsin was a great character, and I feel like Rook needed to be utilized better but could have worked. But there was a few problems: the big bad antagonist was so generic with no real goal or personality, the magic system was so weird, and most importantly I absolutely loathed Sam, which was a problem as she was the centerpiece and the more main of the two protagonists. a mary sue with no real identity other than scheming, she really felt a lot more like she should have been the main antagonist. if she'd have actually faced challenges, or had more of a personality, or had less non sequitur power, this might have worked a bit better, but still no. 1 star. tysm for the arc.