"What do we say to the God of Death? Not today." -Syrio Forel, A Game of Thrones

Where do I even start with this deliciously dark romantasy? It’s like someone took a medieval zombie apocalypse, tossed in a scorned princess, and sprinkled it with a trickster god who’s equal parts swoon-worthy and suspicious. I dove into this book with the enthusiasm of a kid raiding a candy store, and while it didn’t quite give me the full sugar rush I craved, it still left me giggling, blushing, and occasionally rolling my eyes in the best way. Let’s unpack this, shall we?

First off, the premise hooked me faster than a TikTok video about Goldie’s. Princess Jessamine, our fierce leading lady, gets brutally murdered at her own wedding altar by her slimy new husband. Rude, right? But death isn’t the end for our girl. She strikes a deal with the Deathless One, a god named Elric who’s basically a walking red flag with a devilish smirk. He offers her life and her kingdom back in exchange for his resurrection. Sounds like a fair trade until you remember he’s a notorious trickster, and deals with him are signed in blood. Cue the tension, the banter, and the *slow burn* that had me fanning myself like I was at a Regency ball.

Jessamine’s journey from betrayed royal to vengeful witch had me cheering, especially when she starts embracing her inner dark sorceress. I mean, who doesn’t love a woman who rises from the grave and says, “Hold my crown, I’ve got revenge to serve”?

Now, let’s talk about Elric, because *swoon*. He’s the kind of morally gray bad boy who’d steal your heart and your soul, then offer you a cheeky wink as he saunters off. Their chemistry is electric, and Hamm nails the slow-burn romance. 

So why 3.5 stars instead of a full-on five? Well, the pacing tripped over its own feet a bit. The first couple of chapters is a galloping stallion, but somewhere in the middle, it slows to a leisurely trot. I found myself skimming a few pages, muttering, “Come on, let’s get to the good stuff!” The plot gets a little tangled, like my earbuds after a day in my purse, and I wished for tighter focus on Jessamine and Elric’s dynamic instead of some of the side quests. Also, the final battle felt rushed, like Hamm realized she was running out of pages and decided to wrap it up faster than I fold laundry (which is to say, not very fast).

Overall, it’s is a wickedly fun ride for anyone who loves dark romantasy with a side of snark and a whole lot of heart. If you’re into stories that blend revenge, romance, and a touch of the macabre, grab this book and prepare to lose a few hours to its spell.