I just finished The Deathless One by Emma Hamm and I’m left with mixed feelings. However, as someone who frequents BookTok, I think it will really satisfy the romantasy lovers of the platform.
What I Liked
A princess seeking revenge who makes a deal with the literal god of death? I was immediately sold on the concept. The premise is compelling, especially with the MMC coming across as this tricky shadow god who feels genuinely unpredictable with somewhat unknown morals. Literal shadow daddy, anyone?
The Deathless One hits so many popular tropes: enemies to lovers, forbidden romance, the aforementioned shadow daddy, and more. The slow burn, tension-filled romance was easily the strongest aspect of this book (and my favorite). The tension between the two main characters had me completely invested, especially with all the built-in “will they, won’t they” from the plot. If you’re someone who loves that dynamic, this absolutely delivers.
What Didn’t Work For Me
This book is extremely descriptive, sometimes to a fault. While I appreciate atmospheric writing, there were moments where it felt like the author was going on tangents with details, and the actual plotline sometimes suffered because of it.
The world building was interesting because sometimes I felt overwhelmed with details that created confusion, while other times missing basic explanations that would help me understand the foundation of this world. I found myself trying to piece together information without having a solid base to work from.
Jessamine as our female main character presented some challenges for me. While I understood her motivations, there’s a disconnect between who we’re told she is and what she actually does. We’re constantly told she’s driven and will do anything to reclaim her throne, but she doesn’t seem to follow through on that intensity. The gap between her determination and her actual actions was noticeable.
Overall, this feels like a very much a romance-first fantasy. It succeeds as romance with interesting supernatural elements, but struggles with pacing and world-building. I’d recommend it for readers who prefer to read about character relationships and romantic tension over tight plotting.
An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.