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The Gravesinger #2
The Heartless One
Princess Jessamine and Elric’s story continues after she has brought him back to full physical form in this second book in a romantasy trilogy from
USA TODAY
bestselling author Emma Hamm, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas.
She won the heart of Death…now she must fight for the hearts of her people.
Jessamine never expected to be on the Deathless One’s side—let alone be in love with him. But now that Elric has returned to his corporeal form and Jessamine has joined the coven of witches that sustain his power, the two are stronger than ever.
But the kingdom is still in turmoil. Jessamine and Elric must prepare their coven of witches to meet the kingdom’s forces in battle—before the man who’s usurped her throne learns how to harness the power of Elric’s fellow gods. How can Jessamine accept that to fight for her kingdom, she might have to fight against it?
She won the heart of Death…now she must fight for the hearts of her people.
Jessamine never expected to be on the Deathless One’s side—let alone be in love with him. But now that Elric has returned to his corporeal form and Jessamine has joined the coven of witches that sustain his power, the two are stronger than ever.
But the kingdom is still in turmoil. Jessamine and Elric must prepare their coven of witches to meet the kingdom’s forces in battle—before the man who’s usurped her throne learns how to harness the power of Elric’s fellow gods. How can Jessamine accept that to fight for her kingdom, she might have to fight against it?
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Published March 3, 2026
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Emma Hamm
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
March 3, 2026
Aaaahhh absolutely obsessed! Loved book one and this one takes all the good things in that and runs with it! Even deeper political intrigue, an absolute POWER couple they’re perfect! . Love love love cannot wait for the next book! Thank you Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my arc!
Want to read
August 31, 2025Immediately added to the tbr 🥳
October 15, 2025
This read higher fantasy than I was expecting from this book. I enjoy more of the grim and atmospheric settings. Lots of witchy stuff going on. This book is written in third person and a bit ominous because I felt more distant from how things were described. It has got a lot of drama rolling, which works for the plot. I guess the one thing I couldn’t get over with this book was how things were done matter of the factly. I think it is the writing style, but I would have enjoyed to see the characters’ struggle/inner emotions more at the forefront.
Recommendable if you love solid fantasy, high fantasy, and maybe Orders structure? Think religious orders. The Deathless One is a God so there is that element of religion. The main witch is a princess. That is a unique interesting point.
Recommendable if you love solid fantasy, high fantasy, and maybe Orders structure? Think religious orders. The Deathless One is a God so there is that element of religion. The main witch is a princess. That is a unique interesting point.
October 3, 2025
I think it takes great skill to balance world building plot, characterization, and also the buildup of a relationship successfully in a way that manages to make each element wholly shine in their own way, but without distracting from any of them.
I’ve read a lot of books with inhuman protagonists before it became trendy so trust me when I say from experience, I think Emma does a fantastic job showing exactly how a relationship like that can work in a way that is utterly compelling, completely believable, and utterly romantic. It doesn’t feel like something where they like each other, because of circumstances (like life-threatening danger)or because they are intrigued by the differences, but rather because of who they are. Reading this, it is characters would always have been perfect together in any universe. That they mesh perfectly, the relationship is real, and that you can’t just substitute another character in and have it make no difference- unlike some books where the main character is just sort of a generic stand-in.
Also people often grow attached to the male main characters, especially in books that are more of a monster romance, and it makes sense, especially since they are usually built up or a focus.
However, Emma manages to have you grow extremely attached to the female characters where you want to both be them and also have them as a friend.
I have such a fondness for all her characters, they read like fully realized people with their own idiosyncrasies and quirks, where it is clear that they are developed with love and care and craft. Where is the clear the male main characters not just grow to love the protagonists, but also to respect them, which is so key and underrated. Where falling in love only enhances, showcases, and protects who they are, the same way a frame does for a painting. Adding to all that, sometimes plot or background is sacrificed for the development of the relationship in romance books, but Emma skillfully weaves in world-building without holding the reader’s hand like a child or lore-dumping in a way that overwhelms you.
It is a pleasure to have watch Emma develop her craft. She already had a knack from her first book of using the plot and setting as a vehicle for their relationship to grow and blossom rather than relying on tired tropes for conflict or development like miscommunication, but it has only grown stronger to complement her naturally fantastic grasp of characterization and relationship dynamics. I thoroughly enjoy Emma’s books, I first started reading Heart of The Fae but really jumped in with her mermaid series as it came out since it actually was the type of mermaid book I was looking for.
Since then, I have only enjoyed them more and more and I applaud her for also taking creative risks and branching out into other worlds instead of playing it safe Ike she could have. That’s the mark of a true artist and someone who genuinely loves to tell stories.
Also, as someone who is part of her Patreon and Discord, it gives me great personal pleasure to say the artist is just as charming, if not more so, than her books- and that’s a very high bar.
(Review to be finished)
I’ve read a lot of books with inhuman protagonists before it became trendy so trust me when I say from experience, I think Emma does a fantastic job showing exactly how a relationship like that can work in a way that is utterly compelling, completely believable, and utterly romantic. It doesn’t feel like something where they like each other, because of circumstances (like life-threatening danger)or because they are intrigued by the differences, but rather because of who they are. Reading this, it is characters would always have been perfect together in any universe. That they mesh perfectly, the relationship is real, and that you can’t just substitute another character in and have it make no difference- unlike some books where the main character is just sort of a generic stand-in.
Also people often grow attached to the male main characters, especially in books that are more of a monster romance, and it makes sense, especially since they are usually built up or a focus.
However, Emma manages to have you grow extremely attached to the female characters where you want to both be them and also have them as a friend.
I have such a fondness for all her characters, they read like fully realized people with their own idiosyncrasies and quirks, where it is clear that they are developed with love and care and craft. Where is the clear the male main characters not just grow to love the protagonists, but also to respect them, which is so key and underrated. Where falling in love only enhances, showcases, and protects who they are, the same way a frame does for a painting. Adding to all that, sometimes plot or background is sacrificed for the development of the relationship in romance books, but Emma skillfully weaves in world-building without holding the reader’s hand like a child or lore-dumping in a way that overwhelms you.
It is a pleasure to have watch Emma develop her craft. She already had a knack from her first book of using the plot and setting as a vehicle for their relationship to grow and blossom rather than relying on tired tropes for conflict or development like miscommunication, but it has only grown stronger to complement her naturally fantastic grasp of characterization and relationship dynamics. I thoroughly enjoy Emma’s books, I first started reading Heart of The Fae but really jumped in with her mermaid series as it came out since it actually was the type of mermaid book I was looking for.
Since then, I have only enjoyed them more and more and I applaud her for also taking creative risks and branching out into other worlds instead of playing it safe Ike she could have. That’s the mark of a true artist and someone who genuinely loves to tell stories.
Also, as someone who is part of her Patreon and Discord, it gives me great personal pleasure to say the artist is just as charming, if not more so, than her books- and that’s a very high bar.
(Review to be finished)
July 2, 2025
loved this 2nd book in the series with elric and the gravesinger and taking back the kingdom and adding more witches to the coven. loved that romance between the deathless one and gravesinger. thanks edweiss
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2026
This was an excellent sequel to the first book, The Deathless Ones, and was perfectly paced with the right amount of plot, action and romance!
“𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐞…𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭.”
Book 1 Recap: Princess Jessamine was murdered on the day of her wedding, when her Gravesinger powers woke up the Deathless One, God of Death and Witches. He reanimates her and needed her to fully awaken him in his true form in the world but first he needs to gain her trust. The book leaves off with conspiracies against her family identified, Elric in his true form and plenty of leads on where to look to next!
“𝐍𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐝, 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞. 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐞.”
I loved how much the world building was expanded upon in this one, especially in relation to the gods and their dynamic between the perception of them after they were gone, with the first hand experience from the Elric himself. With the way book 2 ended, this will certainly be a big plot point in book 3 and I’m super excited to learn more about what it means to be a god in this world!
“𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡, 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫. 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞.”
I loved seeing how close Elric and Jessamine got in this book and how much Jessamine came into her own power. I love seeing a FMC with agency still and even more power, especially as soon as she enters a relationship instead of just staying back and letting others handle things for her. And while there was miscommunication issues and secrets kept, it was handled in a way that didn’t make it an annoying third act break up, which I super appreciated, and instead just added more character insight into both of them!
“𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞, 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬.”
It was also interesting seeing the coven grow in this book and learning more about all the different types of magic in the world and seeing them in action. I’m a sucker for world building and magic systems so I appreciated how it’s been rolled out in line with the story and feels very seamless!
𝐈𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞. 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐞’𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤.
If you like:
☠️Coven of Witches
❤️Pantheon of Gods
☠️A Down Bad MMC
❤️Found Family
☠️Taking Back a Kingdom
❤️Touch Her and Die
Then you will love this series!!! I can’t wait to read Endless Ones and see wha happens next! Thank you so much to Gallery for the advanced copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
| Insta | Tiktok |
“𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐞…𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭.”
Book 1 Recap: Princess Jessamine was murdered on the day of her wedding, when her Gravesinger powers woke up the Deathless One, God of Death and Witches. He reanimates her and needed her to fully awaken him in his true form in the world but first he needs to gain her trust. The book leaves off with conspiracies against her family identified, Elric in his true form and plenty of leads on where to look to next!
“𝐍𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐝, 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞. 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐞.”
I loved how much the world building was expanded upon in this one, especially in relation to the gods and their dynamic between the perception of them after they were gone, with the first hand experience from the Elric himself. With the way book 2 ended, this will certainly be a big plot point in book 3 and I’m super excited to learn more about what it means to be a god in this world!
“𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡, 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫. 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞.”
I loved seeing how close Elric and Jessamine got in this book and how much Jessamine came into her own power. I love seeing a FMC with agency still and even more power, especially as soon as she enters a relationship instead of just staying back and letting others handle things for her. And while there was miscommunication issues and secrets kept, it was handled in a way that didn’t make it an annoying third act break up, which I super appreciated, and instead just added more character insight into both of them!
“𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞, 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬.”
It was also interesting seeing the coven grow in this book and learning more about all the different types of magic in the world and seeing them in action. I’m a sucker for world building and magic systems so I appreciated how it’s been rolled out in line with the story and feels very seamless!
𝐈𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞. 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐞’𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤.
If you like:
☠️Coven of Witches
❤️Pantheon of Gods
☠️A Down Bad MMC
❤️Found Family
☠️Taking Back a Kingdom
❤️Touch Her and Die
Then you will love this series!!! I can’t wait to read Endless Ones and see wha happens next! Thank you so much to Gallery for the advanced copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
| Insta | Tiktok |
March 22, 2026
Title: A masterful sequel that levels up the stakes!
I was lucky enough to win an advanced copy of this book, and it did not disappoint. As a sequel to The Deathless Ones, this installment was perfectly paced, strike the ideal balance of plot progression, high-stakes action, and swoon-worthy romance.
The expansion of the world-building was a standout for me. I loved the deep dive into the pantheon of gods and the contrast between historical perception versus Elric’s firsthand experience. The way the magic system and the coven’s growth are woven into the narrative feels incredibly seamless.
Jessamine is a fantastic FMC; I loved seeing her step into her power and maintain her agency even as her relationship with Elric deepened. Speaking of their dynamic—it’s electric. While there are secrets and miscommunications, they are handled with maturity and provide genuine character insight rather than falling into the "annoying third-act breakup" trope.
That ending has me desperate for Endless Ones!
Read this if you love:
☠️ Coven of Witches & Magic Systems
❤️ A "Down Bad" MMC (God of Death vibes!)
☠️ Found Family & Kingdom Building
❤️ The "Touch Her and Die" Trope
I was lucky enough to win an advanced copy of this book, and it did not disappoint. As a sequel to The Deathless Ones, this installment was perfectly paced, strike the ideal balance of plot progression, high-stakes action, and swoon-worthy romance.
The expansion of the world-building was a standout for me. I loved the deep dive into the pantheon of gods and the contrast between historical perception versus Elric’s firsthand experience. The way the magic system and the coven’s growth are woven into the narrative feels incredibly seamless.
Jessamine is a fantastic FMC; I loved seeing her step into her power and maintain her agency even as her relationship with Elric deepened. Speaking of their dynamic—it’s electric. While there are secrets and miscommunications, they are handled with maturity and provide genuine character insight rather than falling into the "annoying third-act breakup" trope.
That ending has me desperate for Endless Ones!
Read this if you love:
☠️ Coven of Witches & Magic Systems
❤️ A "Down Bad" MMC (God of Death vibes!)
☠️ Found Family & Kingdom Building
❤️ The "Touch Her and Die" Trope
March 12, 2026
Jessamine and Elric’s connection and bond is somthing else! I love how even though Jessamine wants power and to get back to her throne she won’t do it by hurting The Deathless One along the way she wants to support him and be a team! I loved reading the coven grow I was so nervous with each witch what it may bring our way they truly can be so unpredictable with their hidden goals I just want Elric to be able to live in his body without fear it will be taken away! THE WAY HE WAS ON HIS KNEES for Jessamine oh my gosh!
“I like to see you wild and undone, Princess.”
“Call yourself what you wish, Gravesinger. Just know that the only thing you have to call yourself is mine.”
When Elric commands a room and reminds them that he is The Deathless One and the power he can control I legit get goosebumps! Jessamine becoming the Queen that she is owning her truth and what she is owed! When she suggested space and this was his answer,
“Space? Jessamine Harmsworth, the last thing I want from you is space! I want to inhale the very air you breathe. I would live inside of your skin if I could. I want you more than anything I have ever wanted” ahhh!
Rule together or burn together!!! I want to be in Elrics coven!
“I like to see you wild and undone, Princess.”
“Call yourself what you wish, Gravesinger. Just know that the only thing you have to call yourself is mine.”
When Elric commands a room and reminds them that he is The Deathless One and the power he can control I legit get goosebumps! Jessamine becoming the Queen that she is owning her truth and what she is owed! When she suggested space and this was his answer,
“Space? Jessamine Harmsworth, the last thing I want from you is space! I want to inhale the very air you breathe. I would live inside of your skin if I could. I want you more than anything I have ever wanted” ahhh!
Rule together or burn together!!! I want to be in Elrics coven!
October 19, 2025
This is an exciting second installment in the paranormal romantasy Gravesinger series. It should be read in order.
FMC Jessamine is beginning to come into her Gravesinger powers, with MMC Elric, the Deathless One, at her side. But as they gather their coven and try to reclaim Jessamine’s kingdom and throne, it often feels like one step forward and two (or three or four) steps back.
I enjoyed this second book, though probably not quite as much as the first. There were some delightful new characters introduced and plenty of political intrigue and plot development. There’s also a lot of spice, with the main characters exploring their new relationship and power dynamics.
I can’t wait to see what happens next in the series!
Spice 4/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
My Enjoyment: 4.5/5
*** I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
FMC Jessamine is beginning to come into her Gravesinger powers, with MMC Elric, the Deathless One, at her side. But as they gather their coven and try to reclaim Jessamine’s kingdom and throne, it often feels like one step forward and two (or three or four) steps back.
I enjoyed this second book, though probably not quite as much as the first. There were some delightful new characters introduced and plenty of political intrigue and plot development. There’s also a lot of spice, with the main characters exploring their new relationship and power dynamics.
I can’t wait to see what happens next in the series!
Spice 4/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
My Enjoyment: 4.5/5
*** I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
October 13, 2025
I absolutely loved the Deathless One. This continues from the first book. I felt like the Deathless One followed their journey and had some love interest. The Heartless One was kind of hard to follow at times. I liked the story itself but it felt like there were a lot of parts that kind of dragged on. It seemed to focus more on their relationship than the story itself. The FMC seemed like she was all over the place with how she felt and her personality. There were a few chapters where she got very frustrating to listen to because she was dragging out a fight simply because she didn’t want to communicate.
However, I do love the bond the coven has. I love that they are trying to work together to solve the issues at hand (I don’t want to give away any spoilers). I enjoyed the first one more because it focused more on the story and what they were setting out to do. I hope in the last book they get back on track to taking the kingdom back.
However, I do love the bond the coven has. I love that they are trying to work together to solve the issues at hand (I don’t want to give away any spoilers). I enjoyed the first one more because it focused more on the story and what they were setting out to do. I hope in the last book they get back on track to taking the kingdom back.
January 22, 2026
I loved all the added characters. The coven dynamic was phenomenal. Jessamine and Elric’s love story was amazing and I loved the banter. Seeing them happy together is all I ever need. The plot was still very interesting, if a little off-paced here and there. I felt like we jumped around to getting things done, then focused on only on our main characters with no progress elsewhere for long periods. But I’m not complaining because I do love these characters and I can’t wait to see where they go together in book 3!
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Gallery Books for a digital ARC for review
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Gallery Books for a digital ARC for review
March 9, 2026
Emma kills me every time and I just know book 3 is going to HURT!!!!
Seeing the love and relationship grow from book 1 to book 2 is sweet. He would burn the world for her and she him.
Though I feel like after all that’s happened to both of them the insecurities they show is so HUMAN.
Yes this book is fantastical but there is something so real about the characters, I don’t even think people realize when they read it.
You start feel the emotions.
Seeing the love and relationship grow from book 1 to book 2 is sweet. He would burn the world for her and she him.
Though I feel like after all that’s happened to both of them the insecurities they show is so HUMAN.
Yes this book is fantastical but there is something so real about the characters, I don’t even think people realize when they read it.
You start feel the emotions.
March 12, 2026
Perfect second book. I absolutely love this series and cannot wait to read The Endless One. I love that Emma can give us all the things we love from a Romantasy without us needing to slog through 500+ pages of over complicated world building. Don’t get me wrong, this story is complex and unique but in a way that doesn’t feel daunting for the reader. This is not easy but Emma is an amazing storyteller.
October 13, 2025
In the follow up to The Deathless One, Jessamine and Elric continue their quest to save Jessamine's kingdom and take back her throne.
This was so good! I loved it even more than book one and I adored that one too!
First off, the world building and magic in this series is amazing. There are a few scenes that really blew me away. In this book you see Elric building his coven so the found family story gets even better. I loved seeing all of the misfit women come together and really find this true friendship. All of them, while being side characters, are still developed and you become attached to them quickly.
The main story, along side the taking back of the kingdom, is obviously the romance between Jessamine and Elric and I adored them. There is spice and even some groveling on his part.
This series just keeps getting better and I can't wait to read more!
Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!
This was so good! I loved it even more than book one and I adored that one too!
First off, the world building and magic in this series is amazing. There are a few scenes that really blew me away. In this book you see Elric building his coven so the found family story gets even better. I loved seeing all of the misfit women come together and really find this true friendship. All of them, while being side characters, are still developed and you become attached to them quickly.
The main story, along side the taking back of the kingdom, is obviously the romance between Jessamine and Elric and I adored them. There is spice and even some groveling on his part.
This series just keeps getting better and I can't wait to read more!
Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!
March 15, 2026
Nah those last few pages… they better not. Jessamine better not let them I stg I will riot. Need answers and book 3 now.
March 26, 2026
It could've ended with the first book for me.
This was OK but the indecisiveness of the charachters got on my nerves.
This was OK but the indecisiveness of the charachters got on my nerves.
March 29, 2026
Little disappointed that we missed the banter between Elric and Jessamine in this book. This seems to be more a filler book, building the coven and preparation for what’s to come in book 3.
March 17, 2026
DNF at 49% and 1.5 stars that didn’t earn rounding up. I’ve read worse, but this was not good. Yes, I’m still marking it as read because I would like some kind of consolation prize for making it even that far. Goodreads DNF shelf is exclusive now so I can’t shelve it as both anymore - I tried.
I didn’t like the first book. I rated it two stars. I don’t usually get attached to authors. Just because I like something you’ve written doesn’t mean I’m going through your catalog or pressuring myself to enjoy something. The first in this series read like a debut. Good story idea, poor execution hence the low rating but willingness to pick up the next. I figured I’d give the sequel a shot to see if the writing would get any better. It wasn’t a debut, and it didn’t get better. It got worse.
There are editing errors galore, poor pacing and no sense of urgency or that there are even any stakes to their adventure. The infected are supposed to be a big deal but they seem like a minor foot note. Things with the budding coven just work out. Jessamine is even more of a Mary Sue than she was in the first book. Her relationship with Elric didn’t make much sense to begin with (I guess that’s what insta-love does?) and it feels even less natural in this one. There isn’t much to build upon to begin with, but it just felt like there was no substance there. The smut seems to be included just for the sake of it - probably because it sells really good.
Granted I didn’t torture myself with finishing it, but my god that was an awful 150ish pages of nothing. Let me summarize. Jessamine goes to house of suspected witch. Confirms person is witch, brings into the coven, bangs Elric. Repeat. I’m not sure what happened in the second half since I DNF’d but if it followed the first half, you could probably skip this one and go straight to book three.
It was just so boring! About where I ended, we’re told it’s been six months since our heroine was murdered. I don’t expect a daily play by play, but without that note I would have guessed it was maybe a month tops? Not enough happened in that amount of time for it to feel like six months was a believable time frame.
And the names! Don’t get me started on the names. Jessamine I can forgive. It’s unique, a mouthful, but pretty. Elric, “noble” appropriate for a God who would be King. Sybil. We have us a witch named Sybil ladies and gentlemen! And a black cat familiar named Nyx… are we going to meet Sabrina and Salem in book three? How about Fortuna of the Pleasure district, hmm? Some of the name choices are just a little too on the nose to not be massively distracting. Not everyone needs to have a convenient name or one with a deeper meaning.
I could go on, but honestly I’ve wasted too much of my time on this book as it is. Are SparkNotes or CliffNotes still a thing? Wait for one of those.
I didn’t like the first book. I rated it two stars. I don’t usually get attached to authors. Just because I like something you’ve written doesn’t mean I’m going through your catalog or pressuring myself to enjoy something. The first in this series read like a debut. Good story idea, poor execution hence the low rating but willingness to pick up the next. I figured I’d give the sequel a shot to see if the writing would get any better. It wasn’t a debut, and it didn’t get better. It got worse.
There are editing errors galore, poor pacing and no sense of urgency or that there are even any stakes to their adventure. The infected are supposed to be a big deal but they seem like a minor foot note. Things with the budding coven just work out. Jessamine is even more of a Mary Sue than she was in the first book. Her relationship with Elric didn’t make much sense to begin with (I guess that’s what insta-love does?) and it feels even less natural in this one. There isn’t much to build upon to begin with, but it just felt like there was no substance there. The smut seems to be included just for the sake of it - probably because it sells really good.
Granted I didn’t torture myself with finishing it, but my god that was an awful 150ish pages of nothing. Let me summarize. Jessamine goes to house of suspected witch. Confirms person is witch, brings into the coven, bangs Elric. Repeat. I’m not sure what happened in the second half since I DNF’d but if it followed the first half, you could probably skip this one and go straight to book three.
It was just so boring! About where I ended, we’re told it’s been six months since our heroine was murdered. I don’t expect a daily play by play, but without that note I would have guessed it was maybe a month tops? Not enough happened in that amount of time for it to feel like six months was a believable time frame.
And the names! Don’t get me started on the names. Jessamine I can forgive. It’s unique, a mouthful, but pretty. Elric, “noble” appropriate for a God who would be King. Sybil. We have us a witch named Sybil ladies and gentlemen! And a black cat familiar named Nyx… are we going to meet Sabrina and Salem in book three? How about Fortuna of the Pleasure district, hmm? Some of the name choices are just a little too on the nose to not be massively distracting. Not everyone needs to have a convenient name or one with a deeper meaning.
I could go on, but honestly I’ve wasted too much of my time on this book as it is. Are SparkNotes or CliffNotes still a thing? Wait for one of those.
February 24, 2026
A series evolving in the right direction. My issues with it, unfortunately, are not.
If you read my review of The Deathless One, you already know my complicated relationship with this series. Gorgeous concept. Stunning worldbuilding. Writing style that keeps me at a polite but persistent arm's length.
The Heartless One picks up after Jessamine has brought Elric fully back to corporeal form, which is a sentence I genuinely enjoy typing. The two of them are stronger than ever, bound together through the coven, through blood, through whatever complicated divine thing is happening between them. But the kingdom is still in chaos. The usurper who murdered Jessamine at her own wedding altar is still on her throne. And he's figured out how to start harnessing the power of Elric's fellow gods, which is the kind of problem that makes everything significantly worse.
The plot is doing more here. The political stakes are sharper, the war preparation gives the story a momentum the first book sometimes lacked, and Jessamine stepping fully into her power as both gravesinger and leader is genuinely satisfying to watch. This is where the series finds its footing in terms of plot and I appreciated it.
But the writing. Still flowery. Still dense. Still a style that wraps around every moment like silk when sometimes you just need the window open. The dialogue carries it too, conversations that should crackle with tension or chemistry instead read like carefully composed letters between two people who have never spoken casually in their lives. I still couldn't fully feel Jessamine and Elric as a unit. I could see them. I understood them intellectually. The spark just never quite reached me through the prose.
This is genuinely a me problem as much as anything else, readers who love lyrical, atmospheric writing will be completely at home here and I understand that. But I read for emotional gut-punches, and this series keeps softening them on the way out.
Trope Chaos Check:
✨ established couple navigating power and war (growth arc doing its job)
✨ reclaimed power / vengeance quest (Jessamine is not here to be calm about any of this)
✨ coven politics (witches sustaining a god's power is a concept I will always be here for)
✨ love versus duty (the kingdom she's fighting for might become the enemy, delicious)
✨ morally complex MMC learning to be human again (Elric navigating a corporeal form is genuinely interesting)
✨ political intrigue with actual stakes (the upgrade this book needed and delivered)
⭐⭐⭐.5 The plot is finding its stride and I'm genuinely rooting for where this series is going. I just wish the writing would meet me halfway.
Thank you to the Gallery, and Emma for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you read my review of The Deathless One, you already know my complicated relationship with this series. Gorgeous concept. Stunning worldbuilding. Writing style that keeps me at a polite but persistent arm's length.
The Heartless One picks up after Jessamine has brought Elric fully back to corporeal form, which is a sentence I genuinely enjoy typing. The two of them are stronger than ever, bound together through the coven, through blood, through whatever complicated divine thing is happening between them. But the kingdom is still in chaos. The usurper who murdered Jessamine at her own wedding altar is still on her throne. And he's figured out how to start harnessing the power of Elric's fellow gods, which is the kind of problem that makes everything significantly worse.
The plot is doing more here. The political stakes are sharper, the war preparation gives the story a momentum the first book sometimes lacked, and Jessamine stepping fully into her power as both gravesinger and leader is genuinely satisfying to watch. This is where the series finds its footing in terms of plot and I appreciated it.
But the writing. Still flowery. Still dense. Still a style that wraps around every moment like silk when sometimes you just need the window open. The dialogue carries it too, conversations that should crackle with tension or chemistry instead read like carefully composed letters between two people who have never spoken casually in their lives. I still couldn't fully feel Jessamine and Elric as a unit. I could see them. I understood them intellectually. The spark just never quite reached me through the prose.
This is genuinely a me problem as much as anything else, readers who love lyrical, atmospheric writing will be completely at home here and I understand that. But I read for emotional gut-punches, and this series keeps softening them on the way out.
Trope Chaos Check:
✨ established couple navigating power and war (growth arc doing its job)
✨ reclaimed power / vengeance quest (Jessamine is not here to be calm about any of this)
✨ coven politics (witches sustaining a god's power is a concept I will always be here for)
✨ love versus duty (the kingdom she's fighting for might become the enemy, delicious)
✨ morally complex MMC learning to be human again (Elric navigating a corporeal form is genuinely interesting)
✨ political intrigue with actual stakes (the upgrade this book needed and delivered)
⭐⭐⭐.5 The plot is finding its stride and I'm genuinely rooting for where this series is going. I just wish the writing would meet me halfway.
Thank you to the Gallery, and Emma for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5/5.
Heat Index: 7/10
—dark fantasy romance
—god/witch
—second in a trilogy
The Basics:
Now that Elric (the Deathless One) has been given his mortal form once more, he and Jessamine must prepare to reclaim her stolen throne. That's going to mean training a new coven of witches—which is easier said than done. With their lives and kingdom on the line, the stakes have never been higher... never mind the threats head.
The Review:
I loved The Deathless One last year. It was dark, intense, passionate. And though the passion and intensity certainly remained with regard to Elric and Jessamine's relationship here, I feel The Heartless One suffered a bit from Second Book Syndrome. In truth, I didn't realize this was a trilogy; I think of thought it would be a duology, and maybe that would've been better?
Don't get me wrong, I'm looking forward to book three. But as the cast expanded and we kept returning to Elric's trauma regarding his (gory) past, I kind of got restless. When Jessamine and Elric were together, the book had me. But when they were apart (which was more than I expected, a problem with many fantasy romance series), I wanted to go back to that. Not because I'm a romance reader first (though I am). Rather, because the new characters just weren't as interesting.
I also felt like, to an extent, the relationship wasn't pushed further to a degree that we needed three books. I'm not saying there weren't challenges. But because the first book ended on these two so committed to each other, and there isn't too much challenge to that for a lot of this one. This is one reason why romance series can be challenging. Yes, there are plot conflicts; but I also want to see relationship conflicts. For a series of this tone, big ones. I think I would've liked more moral ambiguity from BOTH parties.
Again, I did have a good time, and I'm down for book 3! But this is very much a bridge between 1 and 3, and I wish it had packed a bigger punch.
The Sex:
Okay, so. Here, there was no letting up. It was hot. It was WORSHIPFUL. Elric may be the god in the relationship, but he's more than happy to hit his knees at any given moment. This was one part of the established relationship I felt was really well done. They did feel like a couple that was really starting to know each other in that sense.
The Conclusion:
Solid, if not the thrilling follow-up I wanted, The Heartless One sets up for what promises to be a dark finale... with an HEA, I'm sure.
Thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Heat Index: 7/10
—dark fantasy romance
—god/witch
—second in a trilogy
The Basics:
Now that Elric (the Deathless One) has been given his mortal form once more, he and Jessamine must prepare to reclaim her stolen throne. That's going to mean training a new coven of witches—which is easier said than done. With their lives and kingdom on the line, the stakes have never been higher... never mind the threats head.
The Review:
I loved The Deathless One last year. It was dark, intense, passionate. And though the passion and intensity certainly remained with regard to Elric and Jessamine's relationship here, I feel The Heartless One suffered a bit from Second Book Syndrome. In truth, I didn't realize this was a trilogy; I think of thought it would be a duology, and maybe that would've been better?
Don't get me wrong, I'm looking forward to book three. But as the cast expanded and we kept returning to Elric's trauma regarding his (gory) past, I kind of got restless. When Jessamine and Elric were together, the book had me. But when they were apart (which was more than I expected, a problem with many fantasy romance series), I wanted to go back to that. Not because I'm a romance reader first (though I am). Rather, because the new characters just weren't as interesting.
I also felt like, to an extent, the relationship wasn't pushed further to a degree that we needed three books. I'm not saying there weren't challenges. But because the first book ended on these two so committed to each other, and there isn't too much challenge to that for a lot of this one. This is one reason why romance series can be challenging. Yes, there are plot conflicts; but I also want to see relationship conflicts. For a series of this tone, big ones. I think I would've liked more moral ambiguity from BOTH parties.
Again, I did have a good time, and I'm down for book 3! But this is very much a bridge between 1 and 3, and I wish it had packed a bigger punch.
The Sex:
Okay, so. Here, there was no letting up. It was hot. It was WORSHIPFUL. Elric may be the god in the relationship, but he's more than happy to hit his knees at any given moment. This was one part of the established relationship I felt was really well done. They did feel like a couple that was really starting to know each other in that sense.
The Conclusion:
Solid, if not the thrilling follow-up I wanted, The Heartless One sets up for what promises to be a dark finale... with an HEA, I'm sure.
Thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 6, 2026
Book 2 after The Deathless One
⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️
Book two shifts more toward expanding the coven and I actually really enjoyed that aspect of the story. Throughout the book, they’re essentially gathering witches who are very different from the kind the Deathless God is used to. Felt a lot this collecting strays lol.
In the past, he was surrounded by powerful witches who were confident in their magic, women who were deeply knowledgeable about their power and secure in their place within their covens. But after the gods died and many covens scattered, the witches they begin finding now are much more novice. They’re uncertain, still learning, and in many ways figuring out their magic for the first time.
Eldric acknowledges these witches aren’t the powerful, confident women he’s used to but he also recognizes that power and confidence grow with numbers. As their coven slowly expands, we start to see those witches become more sure of themselves. By the end of the book, you can already see them stepping into their power and he overhears them talking about his worst fear - sacrificing him again.
One of my favorite things in romantasy is when the MMC is completely, hopelessly down bad for the FMC.. just absolutely obsessed. This book definitely delivers on that. The Deathless God, Eldric, is so devoted to her that he’s willing to sacrifice anything and everything. At one point she literally tells him to beg for her forgiveness… and he does it. No ego, no hesitation. He just gives everything he is to her.
“You are the only goddess I will ever worship. Please. Let me touch you.”
“If you want to use me, then I will grovel at your feet for an ounce of your attention.”
My biggest issue and I think this is more of a personal preference, is the third-person POV. For me, it creates a bit of distance from the characters, and because of that I never fully felt the emotional stakes. Even when the characters were saying all the right things, it felt like there was a small barrier between the reader and their emotions.
I think if this story had been written in first-person with dual POV from both the FMC and MMC, it would have been much easier to connect with their relationship and the intensity of their feelings.
Overall, it’s not a bad book at all. It’s still a solid witch story and I enjoyed the coven-building aspect. It just isn’t very high stakes.. there’s not a lot of action, huge twists, or intense plot moments. It’s more of a slower, character-focused continuation of the story.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️
Book two shifts more toward expanding the coven and I actually really enjoyed that aspect of the story. Throughout the book, they’re essentially gathering witches who are very different from the kind the Deathless God is used to. Felt a lot this collecting strays lol.
In the past, he was surrounded by powerful witches who were confident in their magic, women who were deeply knowledgeable about their power and secure in their place within their covens. But after the gods died and many covens scattered, the witches they begin finding now are much more novice. They’re uncertain, still learning, and in many ways figuring out their magic for the first time.
Eldric acknowledges these witches aren’t the powerful, confident women he’s used to but he also recognizes that power and confidence grow with numbers. As their coven slowly expands, we start to see those witches become more sure of themselves. By the end of the book, you can already see them stepping into their power and he overhears them talking about his worst fear - sacrificing him again.
One of my favorite things in romantasy is when the MMC is completely, hopelessly down bad for the FMC.. just absolutely obsessed. This book definitely delivers on that. The Deathless God, Eldric, is so devoted to her that he’s willing to sacrifice anything and everything. At one point she literally tells him to beg for her forgiveness… and he does it. No ego, no hesitation. He just gives everything he is to her.
“You are the only goddess I will ever worship. Please. Let me touch you.”
“If you want to use me, then I will grovel at your feet for an ounce of your attention.”
My biggest issue and I think this is more of a personal preference, is the third-person POV. For me, it creates a bit of distance from the characters, and because of that I never fully felt the emotional stakes. Even when the characters were saying all the right things, it felt like there was a small barrier between the reader and their emotions.
I think if this story had been written in first-person with dual POV from both the FMC and MMC, it would have been much easier to connect with their relationship and the intensity of their feelings.
Overall, it’s not a bad book at all. It’s still a solid witch story and I enjoyed the coven-building aspect. It just isn’t very high stakes.. there’s not a lot of action, huge twists, or intense plot moments. It’s more of a slower, character-focused continuation of the story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Heartless One by Emma Hamm
The Gravesinger 2 | Romantasy
✨ A powerful continuation that deepens the romance while raising the stakes for crown, coven, and kingdom.
Jessamine has already done the impossible. She brought Death back into flesh and chose him anyway. Now, with Elric restored to his corporeal form and Jessamine bound to the coven that sustains his power, their bond is stronger and far more dangerous.
But love does not quiet a kingdom on the brink of collapse.
As forces gather and a usurper threatens to weaponize the power of the gods themselves, Jessamine and Elric must prepare their witches for war. Jessamine is no longer just fighting for her heart. She is fighting for her people, even if that means standing against the very kingdom she was born to rule.
This book leans hard into leadership, loyalty, and the cost of choosing a future that others fear.
What I Loved:
🖤 Jessamine stepping fully into her role as leader and protector
💀 Elric navigating humanity, power, and devotion after his return
🔮 Coven politics and magic systems that feel purposeful
⚔️ Rising political tension alongside looming war
💘 A romance that grows stronger under pressure rather than resolving it
👑 Questions of duty versus love handled with care
🌫️ A darker tone that reflects the cost of power and choice
Tropes & Elements:
💀 Death as a Love Interest
🧙♀️ Witch Coven
👑 Reclaimed Power
💘 Established Romance
⚔️ Preparing for War
🖤 Morally Complex Choices
🔥 Love Versus Duty
Vibe: dark, romantic, politically tense, character driven
Spice: moderate with emotional focus
For fans of: romantasy with established couples, witches and gods, slow building political conflict, and heroines who lead with conviction
💜 The Heartless One expands the world of The Gravesinger in meaningful ways, strengthening both its romance and its stakes. A compelling middle installment that sets the stage for an explosive conclusion.
#TheHeartlessOne #EmmaHamm #TheGravesinger #RomantasyReads #WitchesAndGods #DeathRomance #FantasyRomance #Bookstagram #RomantasyTropes
The Gravesinger 2 | Romantasy
✨ A powerful continuation that deepens the romance while raising the stakes for crown, coven, and kingdom.
Jessamine has already done the impossible. She brought Death back into flesh and chose him anyway. Now, with Elric restored to his corporeal form and Jessamine bound to the coven that sustains his power, their bond is stronger and far more dangerous.
But love does not quiet a kingdom on the brink of collapse.
As forces gather and a usurper threatens to weaponize the power of the gods themselves, Jessamine and Elric must prepare their witches for war. Jessamine is no longer just fighting for her heart. She is fighting for her people, even if that means standing against the very kingdom she was born to rule.
This book leans hard into leadership, loyalty, and the cost of choosing a future that others fear.
What I Loved:
🖤 Jessamine stepping fully into her role as leader and protector
💀 Elric navigating humanity, power, and devotion after his return
🔮 Coven politics and magic systems that feel purposeful
⚔️ Rising political tension alongside looming war
💘 A romance that grows stronger under pressure rather than resolving it
👑 Questions of duty versus love handled with care
🌫️ A darker tone that reflects the cost of power and choice
Tropes & Elements:
💀 Death as a Love Interest
🧙♀️ Witch Coven
👑 Reclaimed Power
💘 Established Romance
⚔️ Preparing for War
🖤 Morally Complex Choices
🔥 Love Versus Duty
Vibe: dark, romantic, politically tense, character driven
Spice: moderate with emotional focus
For fans of: romantasy with established couples, witches and gods, slow building political conflict, and heroines who lead with conviction
💜 The Heartless One expands the world of The Gravesinger in meaningful ways, strengthening both its romance and its stakes. A compelling middle installment that sets the stage for an explosive conclusion.
#TheHeartlessOne #EmmaHamm #TheGravesinger #RomantasyReads #WitchesAndGods #DeathRomance #FantasyRomance #Bookstagram #RomantasyTropes
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is continuing the tale of Princess Jessamine and Elric (the Deathless One). Now that Elric has been restored to his mortal form, Jessamine and Elric work together to reclaim her stolen throne and prepare their newly formed coven of witches for the looming battle against the kingdom’s forces. As unrest spreads and the usurper seeks to harness the powers of other gods, Jessamine is forced to confront the difficult reality that fighting for her kingdom may mean standing against it.
Elric, known as the Deathless One, is restored from immortality to a mortal form in "The Heartless One," Elric's journey is marked by his intense and worshipful devotion to Jessamine, as well as newfound vulnerability and insecurity stemming from his past. While he flips between embracing his godly identity and wanting to be simply Elric, his love for Jessamine is unwavering and devoted, creating a complex blend of power and human emotion. This transformation, along with his passionate yet sometimes inconsistent behavior, makes Elric both compelling and flawed as he and Jessamine prepare for the looming battle to reclaim her throne.
I will admit that having not read the first book, I was at a disadvantage, but I was also a bit surprised at the relationship between Jessamine and Elric, it lacked the tension and drama I would have expected in the second book of a trilogy. Their romance, although passionate, sometimes feels too perfect and the character development was somewhat inconsistent. The overall pace of the book felt uneven, with long stretches of setup and a climax that feels rushed and underwhelming. Those things aside, the book was an entertaining, easy read and sets the reader up for what should be a satisfying finale. I think the fact that I did not read the first book made this book less satisfying than it could have been, and I would recommend reading the series in order, but that aside, if you are looking for a cozy, low-stakes fantasy romance this book should check all the boxes.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *
Elric, known as the Deathless One, is restored from immortality to a mortal form in "The Heartless One," Elric's journey is marked by his intense and worshipful devotion to Jessamine, as well as newfound vulnerability and insecurity stemming from his past. While he flips between embracing his godly identity and wanting to be simply Elric, his love for Jessamine is unwavering and devoted, creating a complex blend of power and human emotion. This transformation, along with his passionate yet sometimes inconsistent behavior, makes Elric both compelling and flawed as he and Jessamine prepare for the looming battle to reclaim her throne.
I will admit that having not read the first book, I was at a disadvantage, but I was also a bit surprised at the relationship between Jessamine and Elric, it lacked the tension and drama I would have expected in the second book of a trilogy. Their romance, although passionate, sometimes feels too perfect and the character development was somewhat inconsistent. The overall pace of the book felt uneven, with long stretches of setup and a climax that feels rushed and underwhelming. Those things aside, the book was an entertaining, easy read and sets the reader up for what should be a satisfying finale. I think the fact that I did not read the first book made this book less satisfying than it could have been, and I would recommend reading the series in order, but that aside, if you are looking for a cozy, low-stakes fantasy romance this book should check all the boxes.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *
December 29, 2025
3⭐️
3🌶️
📗 eARC
Themes/Tropes: revenge plot, gods x witches, found family, feminine rage
Firstly, a big thank you to NetGalley, Emma Hamm, and Gallery Books for the opportunity to do an advanced e-read of The Heartless One. I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was thrilled to get approved for this read.
That being said, this book was a bit of a let down for me. This book felt laborious to me and probably could’ve been tackled in two chapters. The book focused a lot on the relationship of the grave singer and the Deathless one, but even that felt borderline cheesy and hollow. I think a big issue is that this book was all about the character development but the characters were inconsistent, a tad insufferable, and the whole thing felt a bit rushed. An example:
Elric/The Deathless One thinks to himself “He had played the role of a god perhaps a little too well, but to her, he never wanted to be that.” Then the literal next words out of his mouth to her are, “I am a God, Jessamine.” Pick a lane, sir.
Elric/The Deathless One: “ and yet he wouldn’t let her go. Even if she wanted to die, he knew he wouldn’t let her soul go to the afterlife. He would keep her here, no matter how much she begged, for he couldn’t imagine his existence without her.” - That isn’t love. That’s selfish obsession. Gross.
The Deathless One simping over Jessamine makes no sense. He gave off creepy stalker boyfriend vibes, but in the “I need a restraining order” kind of way. The intimate scenes were also very forced in the sense that they felt gratuitous and did not add to the plot.
Overall, I’m a bit bummed because I thought book one had a lot of promise and I adore Emma Hamm. Her Whispers of the Deep series is one of my favorites. Unfortunately, I just feel like this series has fallen flat for me and I’m not sure I’ll continue on in this world.
Quotes I ❤️:
“But he had learned a long time ago that age did not equal wisdom…”
3🌶️
📗 eARC
Themes/Tropes: revenge plot, gods x witches, found family, feminine rage
Firstly, a big thank you to NetGalley, Emma Hamm, and Gallery Books for the opportunity to do an advanced e-read of The Heartless One. I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was thrilled to get approved for this read.
That being said, this book was a bit of a let down for me. This book felt laborious to me and probably could’ve been tackled in two chapters. The book focused a lot on the relationship of the grave singer and the Deathless one, but even that felt borderline cheesy and hollow. I think a big issue is that this book was all about the character development but the characters were inconsistent, a tad insufferable, and the whole thing felt a bit rushed. An example:
Elric/The Deathless One thinks to himself “He had played the role of a god perhaps a little too well, but to her, he never wanted to be that.” Then the literal next words out of his mouth to her are, “I am a God, Jessamine.” Pick a lane, sir.
Elric/The Deathless One: “ and yet he wouldn’t let her go. Even if she wanted to die, he knew he wouldn’t let her soul go to the afterlife. He would keep her here, no matter how much she begged, for he couldn’t imagine his existence without her.” - That isn’t love. That’s selfish obsession. Gross.
The Deathless One simping over Jessamine makes no sense. He gave off creepy stalker boyfriend vibes, but in the “I need a restraining order” kind of way. The intimate scenes were also very forced in the sense that they felt gratuitous and did not add to the plot.
Overall, I’m a bit bummed because I thought book one had a lot of promise and I adore Emma Hamm. Her Whispers of the Deep series is one of my favorites. Unfortunately, I just feel like this series has fallen flat for me and I’m not sure I’ll continue on in this world.
Quotes I ❤️:
“But he had learned a long time ago that age did not equal wisdom…”
September 23, 2025
Thank you to the author, publisher, and goodreads for the free ARC version! I read the first book in about a day to prepare for this one ^_^
✧ overall score: 4 stars
✧ TLDR: The Heartless One is a fun and exciting second installment of the Gravesinger series. Emma Hamm's unique and elegant writing style, as well as worldbuilding, was excellent. Oh, and Elric is hot!
✧ favorite quotes:
₊˚⊹ "How sacrilegious it was to see him kneel like that, worshipping at his own altar as if he had forgotten he was the god.
₊˚⊹"'There is no greater worship of a god than giving him your body.'"
₊˚⊹"'If you are going to say anything, it should be to grace this temple with the cries of your pleasure, Jessamine. Anything else I will punish you for.'"
₊˚⊹ "...and she saw stars behind her eyes that only a god could have birthed. No temple had ever been desecrated so thoroughly, and yet she found prayers still dripping from her lips."
࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ Full review: may contain spoilers
The sequel to the Deathless One was better than my expectations. While there might have been some pacing issues and plot blunders in the first book, this sequel is much better at solidifying the world-building and expanding upon Jessamine and Elric's relationship.
Although the suspence and thrill of Jessamine and Elric getting together is no longer a big plot point, their love grows stronger. The plot of this book was much more interesting, with more things for the characters to do. I also liked Jessamine a lot more in this one, because she was more confident in herself and her values. I felt I could relate a little bit more.
Like the first book, the romance scenes are steamy and hot. I wish there were more of them, but that would change the vibe of the whole book, and I'm glad it is where it's at. DEfinitely love this story, and the beautiful writing made it all the more better! The possessiveness of Elric, and their hot dynamic, is well worth the read.
✧ overall score: 4 stars
✧ TLDR: The Heartless One is a fun and exciting second installment of the Gravesinger series. Emma Hamm's unique and elegant writing style, as well as worldbuilding, was excellent. Oh, and Elric is hot!
✧ favorite quotes:
₊˚⊹ "How sacrilegious it was to see him kneel like that, worshipping at his own altar as if he had forgotten he was the god.
₊˚⊹"'There is no greater worship of a god than giving him your body.'"
₊˚⊹"'If you are going to say anything, it should be to grace this temple with the cries of your pleasure, Jessamine. Anything else I will punish you for.'"
₊˚⊹ "...and she saw stars behind her eyes that only a god could have birthed. No temple had ever been desecrated so thoroughly, and yet she found prayers still dripping from her lips."
࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ Full review: may contain spoilers
The sequel to the Deathless One was better than my expectations. While there might have been some pacing issues and plot blunders in the first book, this sequel is much better at solidifying the world-building and expanding upon Jessamine and Elric's relationship.
Although the suspence and thrill of Jessamine and Elric getting together is no longer a big plot point, their love grows stronger. The plot of this book was much more interesting, with more things for the characters to do. I also liked Jessamine a lot more in this one, because she was more confident in herself and her values. I felt I could relate a little bit more.
Like the first book, the romance scenes are steamy and hot. I wish there were more of them, but that would change the vibe of the whole book, and I'm glad it is where it's at. DEfinitely love this story, and the beautiful writing made it all the more better! The possessiveness of Elric, and their hot dynamic, is well worth the read.
March 2, 2026
An excellent sequel to The Deathless One, The Heartless One picks up right where we left off!
The political environment of the storyline advanced so much and I loved everything we learned! This book expanded on why and how the disease running throughout the kingdom came about, as well as everything the faux king is planning. I enjoyed all of the strategy running throughout this installment, especially around one of Jessamine’s lifelong bullies who played the part of a mini boss in this one. I loved watching Jessamine get her revenge against her, knowing that each of these mini bosses are just leading up to an exceptional ending brawl to come; especially with a secret ally close to the King…
I absolutely loved that Elric had a physical form in this book. Not only did it allow him to be more involved in their plans, but it lead to the much appreciated spicy scenes this book delivered! After all of the tension and burning love/hate in book 1, Emma did the readers right by giving us both quality and quantity of intimate scenes, including “desecrating” his own godly statute. Freaking brilliant!!
Speaking of Elric, his encouragement of Jessamine was EVERYTHING!! He made it very clear that he is a God, but she is his everything so he will stop at nothing to get her the throne she deserves. They had such a wonderful connection, often steadying each other even when they didn’t realize they needed it. And Jessamine is definitely coming into her own more and more as her story progresses. I loved seeing her decisions and how she was willing to hear people out and forgive when necessary, but was also very clear that her forgiveness would not come a second time. I felt this showed so much about the ruler she will be, which will be magnificent.
I loved watching the coven grow, especially with the band of misfits who were recruited. I love a ragtag group of underestimated persons, especially rageful women, coming together for a larger cause, and that’s exactly what we got! I loved how everyone had their own strengths and weakness, as well as role within the coven. I even really liked the grandson of one of the recruits who acted as muscle at times when it was needed. The coven is coming together nicely, and I can’t wait to see it dominate in book 3!
Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Emma Hamm for the eARC! The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.
The political environment of the storyline advanced so much and I loved everything we learned! This book expanded on why and how the disease running throughout the kingdom came about, as well as everything the faux king is planning. I enjoyed all of the strategy running throughout this installment, especially around one of Jessamine’s lifelong bullies who played the part of a mini boss in this one. I loved watching Jessamine get her revenge against her, knowing that each of these mini bosses are just leading up to an exceptional ending brawl to come; especially with a secret ally close to the King…
I absolutely loved that Elric had a physical form in this book. Not only did it allow him to be more involved in their plans, but it lead to the much appreciated spicy scenes this book delivered! After all of the tension and burning love/hate in book 1, Emma did the readers right by giving us both quality and quantity of intimate scenes, including “desecrating” his own godly statute. Freaking brilliant!!
Speaking of Elric, his encouragement of Jessamine was EVERYTHING!! He made it very clear that he is a God, but she is his everything so he will stop at nothing to get her the throne she deserves. They had such a wonderful connection, often steadying each other even when they didn’t realize they needed it. And Jessamine is definitely coming into her own more and more as her story progresses. I loved seeing her decisions and how she was willing to hear people out and forgive when necessary, but was also very clear that her forgiveness would not come a second time. I felt this showed so much about the ruler she will be, which will be magnificent.
I loved watching the coven grow, especially with the band of misfits who were recruited. I love a ragtag group of underestimated persons, especially rageful women, coming together for a larger cause, and that’s exactly what we got! I loved how everyone had their own strengths and weakness, as well as role within the coven. I even really liked the grandson of one of the recruits who acted as muscle at times when it was needed. The coven is coming together nicely, and I can’t wait to see it dominate in book 3!
Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Emma Hamm for the eARC! The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.
March 20, 2026
2.5 stars
Honestly, I'm not sure why I requested this book because I did not really enjoy the first one until the very end. I guess I was just hopeful that things would get better. Unfortunately, they did not. This book suffered from the same problem I had with the first. Despite the fact that Elric and Jessamine are always doing something in pursuit of their goal, it felt as though nothing actually happens until the end. It wasn't boring per se, but it was pretty darn close.
These two make their way back to the city after a big sacrifice is made to Elric. He is not happy with the thought of his coven growing, but he knows that Jessamine will need all the help they can get in order to get her crown back. Too bad this witch is nothing more than a bird breeder who was desperate for help. But it is thanks to her that they do manage to get another witch on their side, who in turn is able to get them closer to one of their main targets. But goddamn it if Jessamine isn't so fucking stupid when they finally come face to face and she JUST STANDS THERE when this person comes after her with a knife. Which then unleashes all kinds of suffering. It's at this party though that they finally learn who is behind the infected, why Jessamine was killed, what these baddies have planned for the future, and they pick up a guy who knows more about it than most. Oh, and Jessamine learns of a secret that Elric has been keeping from her from the start. So of course she's mad and starts acting like a spoiled princess again. But that's not even the worst of it. I absolutely HATE how Elric is this crazy powerful god who's first thought is often to just kill those in his way, but he's also this pathetic male that begs the one he loves just for scraps of affection and thinks that he only exists in order to be sacrificed by his coven. Man The Fuck UP dude. It drives me insane how little this guy thinks of himself.
Things picked up a bit at the end with not only Elric letting himself be known but also Jessamine coming out and showing the people she is back. Elric's coven grows even more after their display but oh my gawd did the ending really piss me off. I'm so over these stupid witches so easily being able to kill Elric for them to gain more power. Especially after that, I don't want to know how this series ends enough to deal with this so I passed on getting a copy of the next one.
Honestly, I'm not sure why I requested this book because I did not really enjoy the first one until the very end. I guess I was just hopeful that things would get better. Unfortunately, they did not. This book suffered from the same problem I had with the first. Despite the fact that Elric and Jessamine are always doing something in pursuit of their goal, it felt as though nothing actually happens until the end. It wasn't boring per se, but it was pretty darn close.
These two make their way back to the city after a big sacrifice is made to Elric. He is not happy with the thought of his coven growing, but he knows that Jessamine will need all the help they can get in order to get her crown back. Too bad this witch is nothing more than a bird breeder who was desperate for help. But it is thanks to her that they do manage to get another witch on their side, who in turn is able to get them closer to one of their main targets. But goddamn it if Jessamine isn't so fucking stupid when they finally come face to face and she JUST STANDS THERE when this person comes after her with a knife. Which then unleashes all kinds of suffering. It's at this party though that they finally learn who is behind the infected, why Jessamine was killed, what these baddies have planned for the future, and they pick up a guy who knows more about it than most. Oh, and Jessamine learns of a secret that Elric has been keeping from her from the start. So of course she's mad and starts acting like a spoiled princess again. But that's not even the worst of it. I absolutely HATE how Elric is this crazy powerful god who's first thought is often to just kill those in his way, but he's also this pathetic male that begs the one he loves just for scraps of affection and thinks that he only exists in order to be sacrificed by his coven. Man The Fuck UP dude. It drives me insane how little this guy thinks of himself.
Things picked up a bit at the end with not only Elric letting himself be known but also Jessamine coming out and showing the people she is back. Elric's coven grows even more after their display but oh my gawd did the ending really piss me off. I'm so over these stupid witches so easily being able to kill Elric for them to gain more power. Especially after that, I don't want to know how this series ends enough to deal with this so I passed on getting a copy of the next one.
March 17, 2026
I loved this book. Elric is exactly the kind of chaotic death god I love in fantasy. He is powerful, unpredictable, a little terrifying, and somehow still manages to be an incredible book boyfriend. The way he worships Jessamine without diminishing her strength made their dynamic one of my favorite parts of the story.
Their relationship feels established, but that does not mean everything is easy for them. Jessamine is still learning what it means to stand beside someone as powerful as Elric while also carrying the weight of her own responsibilities. He is learning what it is like to be with a mortal. Watching her grow into that role while still holding onto who she is made her a very compelling main character for me.
One of the things I enjoyed most was the banter between them. Jessamine has no problem scolding a literal god, and the reactions from everyone around them never stopped being entertaining.
I love the moments where she seems vulnerable or uncertain, and I personally think that complexity makes her more interesting. She has sacrificed a lot and gone through immense trauma. It makes sense that she would not always be perfectly confident or ruthless. Strength does not mean never struggling, and I appreciated that the story allowed her those moments.
The worldbuilding and magic continue to expand in really interesting ways, and I especially liked learning more about Elric’s past and the deeper mythology behind the story.
Overall I had a great time with this book. The characters, the romance, and the magical elements all kept me hooked. I am very glad I picked it up and I am already looking forward to the next installment.
Their relationship feels established, but that does not mean everything is easy for them. Jessamine is still learning what it means to stand beside someone as powerful as Elric while also carrying the weight of her own responsibilities. He is learning what it is like to be with a mortal. Watching her grow into that role while still holding onto who she is made her a very compelling main character for me.
One of the things I enjoyed most was the banter between them. Jessamine has no problem scolding a literal god, and the reactions from everyone around them never stopped being entertaining.
I love the moments where she seems vulnerable or uncertain, and I personally think that complexity makes her more interesting. She has sacrificed a lot and gone through immense trauma. It makes sense that she would not always be perfectly confident or ruthless. Strength does not mean never struggling, and I appreciated that the story allowed her those moments.
The worldbuilding and magic continue to expand in really interesting ways, and I especially liked learning more about Elric’s past and the deeper mythology behind the story.
Overall I had a great time with this book. The characters, the romance, and the magical elements all kept me hooked. I am very glad I picked it up and I am already looking forward to the next installment.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
i was feral over The Deathless One last year and somehow this book said oh you thought that was intense and cranked it up. the angst, the obsession, the emotional damage, INJECT IT INTO MY VEINS EMMA. Elric and Jessamine together are genuinely lethal to my sanity. every time they shared a moment together I literally forgot how to function. i am already unhinged waiting for book three, especially with the side characters getting more layered and Elric’s past continuing to loom over everything like a storm cloud. his trauma is not just mentioned and tossed aside, it bleeds into every choice he makes and it makes the romance hit even harder in my opinion.
the first book ended with them fully locked in on each other, and this one feels like watching that devotion turn into something solid and unbreakable. yes there is external conflict and chaos, but i was living for how hard they ride for one another. THE LOYALTY babes!!! the intensity. the absolute refusal to fold. AND THE SPICE. listen. it does not hold back!!!! perioddddt. it is bold, it is reverent, it is unhinged in the best way. Elric might be a literal god, but that man will drop to his knees for Jessamine without hesitation and I SHIP IT FOREVER. The Heartless One is clearly setting us up for a dark explosive finale (i can't believe we're reaching the end!!!) and i will be seated and emotionally unstable when it arrives. thank you to GalleryBooks and Netgalley for the copy. all thoughts are my own and my obsession is very real.
✨Tropes✨
⭐️ enemies to lovers
🌙 shadow daddy
💫 feminine rage
⭐️ betrayal
🌙 found family
💫 gods x witches
the first book ended with them fully locked in on each other, and this one feels like watching that devotion turn into something solid and unbreakable. yes there is external conflict and chaos, but i was living for how hard they ride for one another. THE LOYALTY babes!!! the intensity. the absolute refusal to fold. AND THE SPICE. listen. it does not hold back!!!! perioddddt. it is bold, it is reverent, it is unhinged in the best way. Elric might be a literal god, but that man will drop to his knees for Jessamine without hesitation and I SHIP IT FOREVER. The Heartless One is clearly setting us up for a dark explosive finale (i can't believe we're reaching the end!!!) and i will be seated and emotionally unstable when it arrives. thank you to GalleryBooks and Netgalley for the copy. all thoughts are my own and my obsession is very real.
✨Tropes✨
⭐️ enemies to lovers
🌙 shadow daddy
💫 feminine rage
⭐️ betrayal
🌙 found family
💫 gods x witches
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