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When Death Blooms
To save her soul, she’ll have to put her faith in the Devil.
Vivian is trapped in a crumbling tomb masquerading as a palace. Her magic has abandoned her. She is forced to spend each day with Phanes, the false God of Life, afraid of his erratic behavior and his plans for her.
After nearly succumbing to her injuries, Venus is stuck in her nightmares, both real and imagined. Her love for Vivian is the only thing driving her forward, desperate to rescue the witch from her father’s grasp.
Both fight like Hell to return to one another, but the Vivian that returns is not the woman Venus knows. As Vivian struggles to overcome her trauma, her and Venus must prepare to fight against Phanes’s crusade against them, overcoming their fears to right his wrongs.
The fate of the world hangs in the balance. Will the Dark Lady and the witch who defied her be able to prevail, or will the world be thrown into darkness?
This is the second book in the Deal with the Devil duet. Book one, When Flowers Wilt, must be read first.
Vivian is trapped in a crumbling tomb masquerading as a palace. Her magic has abandoned her. She is forced to spend each day with Phanes, the false God of Life, afraid of his erratic behavior and his plans for her.
After nearly succumbing to her injuries, Venus is stuck in her nightmares, both real and imagined. Her love for Vivian is the only thing driving her forward, desperate to rescue the witch from her father’s grasp.
Both fight like Hell to return to one another, but the Vivian that returns is not the woman Venus knows. As Vivian struggles to overcome her trauma, her and Venus must prepare to fight against Phanes’s crusade against them, overcoming their fears to right his wrongs.
The fate of the world hangs in the balance. Will the Dark Lady and the witch who defied her be able to prevail, or will the world be thrown into darkness?
This is the second book in the Deal with the Devil duet. Book one, When Flowers Wilt, must be read first.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 15, 2024
About the author
G.E. Masters
5 books118 followersG.E. Masters is an author of dark sapphic romance. Ever since she was a child, she was fascinated with imaginary worlds and creating complex characters in her head. Now, she's writing those stories to share. She writes all things paranormal to horror and loves morally grey characters and women's wrongs.
When she's not writing, she's at the pottery studio or at home with her two cats and dachshund.
When she's not writing, she's at the pottery studio or at home with her two cats and dachshund.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
July 13, 2026
Okay, first time listening to G.E. Masters AND first time listening to narrator Ellie Gossage, and I am already a certified insta-fan of both. Immediately.
This duet absolutely sucked me in and did not let go for a second. Vivian is a witch who's spent ten years running from the Dark Lady, denouncing her own magic, terrified of what happens when it finally catches up to her.. and when it does, it's not for the reason she thought. Covens are disappearing, and the Dark Lady needs Vivian's magic to stop it. So Vivian strikes a deal: she'll help, but she keeps her soul. That premise alone had me hooked, and then book two cracks it wide open with Vivian trapped with Phanes, the false God of Life, her magic gone, while Venus fights through her own nightmares just to get back to her. It's dark. It's delicious. It commits to that fully from minute one.
The narration is superb. Dual POV audiobooks live or die by the narrator's ability to make both women feel fully distinct, and Ellie Gossage nails it every single time, there was never a second I didn't know exactly whose headspace I was in.
Can we talk timing? With the state of the world right now, I desperately needed paranormal escapism, and this duet delivered exactly that. It's the kind of listen that pulls you completely out of your own head and into something dark and magnetic instead.
And the spice? Spicingggg. The tension between Vivian and Venus builds into an actual epic battle of wills, and then somehow escalates into a legit battle, against Phanes himself, for everything. Emotional stakes and physical stakes, back to back, and I was not remotely ready for either.
I am so beyond excited to read and listen to more from this author. Insta-fan status: locked in, immediately. If you want your paranormal romance dark, spicy, and completely un-put-downable, start here.
This duet absolutely sucked me in and did not let go for a second. Vivian is a witch who's spent ten years running from the Dark Lady, denouncing her own magic, terrified of what happens when it finally catches up to her.. and when it does, it's not for the reason she thought. Covens are disappearing, and the Dark Lady needs Vivian's magic to stop it. So Vivian strikes a deal: she'll help, but she keeps her soul. That premise alone had me hooked, and then book two cracks it wide open with Vivian trapped with Phanes, the false God of Life, her magic gone, while Venus fights through her own nightmares just to get back to her. It's dark. It's delicious. It commits to that fully from minute one.
The narration is superb. Dual POV audiobooks live or die by the narrator's ability to make both women feel fully distinct, and Ellie Gossage nails it every single time, there was never a second I didn't know exactly whose headspace I was in.
Can we talk timing? With the state of the world right now, I desperately needed paranormal escapism, and this duet delivered exactly that. It's the kind of listen that pulls you completely out of your own head and into something dark and magnetic instead.
And the spice? Spicingggg. The tension between Vivian and Venus builds into an actual epic battle of wills, and then somehow escalates into a legit battle, against Phanes himself, for everything. Emotional stakes and physical stakes, back to back, and I was not remotely ready for either.
I am so beyond excited to read and listen to more from this author. Insta-fan status: locked in, immediately. If you want your paranormal romance dark, spicy, and completely un-put-downable, start here.
September 5, 2025
4 Stars
When Death Blooms is the second instalment to the Deal With the Devil Duet. An enemies to lovers novel by GE Masters.
Book two held what book one lacked - a strong foundational backstory. However, because book two is a continuation, it makes sense that the author gradually unfolded the story and not info dumped in the previous book. All I’m saying is, When Death Blooms had a more stimulating plot.
I appreciate how Vivian’s journey to healing was written. It was “just enough” that a proper mental and emotional healing would occur (obviously we’re not all the same). But as a reader, if left too long it would have felt dragging and repetitive. If written too fast, it would come across as unrealistic. Thus, my adulation to the author for striking just the right amount of balance for the said issue.
Warning this paragraph contains spoilers.
Another cause for praise is how the author undertook the abuse. If we dissect it technically, he did not insert his in her. HOWEVER! The constant threat of such act plus the touching in the bath, the physical attacks to lure her power out, resulted in Vivian losing bodily autonomy and she inadvertently developed learned helplessness. And that right there is the genius of how the author presented the torture. I’m not glorifying torture. I am amazed at how the author put the main character through the wringer in a way I haven’t read in other fictional book which makes this stand out.
In summation, I enjoyed both books. Heavy and light and most importantly entertaining.
When Death Blooms is the second instalment to the Deal With the Devil Duet. An enemies to lovers novel by GE Masters.
Book two held what book one lacked - a strong foundational backstory. However, because book two is a continuation, it makes sense that the author gradually unfolded the story and not info dumped in the previous book. All I’m saying is, When Death Blooms had a more stimulating plot.
I appreciate how Vivian’s journey to healing was written. It was “just enough” that a proper mental and emotional healing would occur (obviously we’re not all the same). But as a reader, if left too long it would have felt dragging and repetitive. If written too fast, it would come across as unrealistic. Thus, my adulation to the author for striking just the right amount of balance for the said issue.
Warning this paragraph contains spoilers.
Another cause for praise is how the author undertook the abuse. If we dissect it technically, he did not insert his in her. HOWEVER! The constant threat of such act plus the touching in the bath, the physical attacks to lure her power out, resulted in Vivian losing bodily autonomy and she inadvertently developed learned helplessness. And that right there is the genius of how the author presented the torture. I’m not glorifying torture. I am amazed at how the author put the main character through the wringer in a way I haven’t read in other fictional book which makes this stand out.
In summation, I enjoyed both books. Heavy and light and most importantly entertaining.
November 16, 2024
When Death Blooms is a continuation of where
When Flowers Wilt left us (hanging on the edge of a cliff by our pinky fingers, I KNOW). Vivian endures horrible, disgusting treatment at the hands of Phanes and Venus is being forced by her people to recover from her injuries. Everyone scrambles to get their shit back in order/rescue Vivian: chaos ensues, shit hits the fan, the trauma is alive and well, you get to heal with Vivian, and Venus is terrifyingly hot.
PLEASE respect your boundaries and read the content warnings! I cannot stress this enough as this is a darker book than its predecessor, considering the nature of what our protagonist is put through before she is able to move forward.
The adoration and chemistry between V + Vis palpable, once again. Semi spoiler: Their witty banter survives and so does Vivian's Barbie-esque traits. I felt a few different neglected parts of myself healing right alongside these characters, and I can't thank Masters enough for that. 🩷
When Flowers Wilt left us (hanging on the edge of a cliff by our pinky fingers, I KNOW). Vivian endures horrible, disgusting treatment at the hands of Phanes and Venus is being forced by her people to recover from her injuries. Everyone scrambles to get their shit back in order/rescue Vivian: chaos ensues, shit hits the fan, the trauma is alive and well, you get to heal with Vivian, and Venus is terrifyingly hot.
PLEASE respect your boundaries and read the content warnings! I cannot stress this enough as this is a darker book than its predecessor, considering the nature of what our protagonist is put through before she is able to move forward.
The adoration and chemistry between V + Vis palpable, once again. Semi spoiler: Their witty banter survives and so does Vivian's Barbie-esque traits. I felt a few different neglected parts of myself healing right alongside these characters, and I can't thank Masters enough for that. 🩷
November 16, 2024
With the cliffhanger at the end of book 1, I was gutted. I started reading book 2 and I was on the edge of my seat, scared, anxious and excited! This book gripped me from the start. I went from the scared and anxious to heartbroken and elated. Then amazed and choked up at both Venus and Vivian as healing started and how one step forward three steps back it was and that was so relatable too. As they opened up and came together in strength and steam, it was needed and wanted and beautiful. They way they lifted each other up even when they clashed and hit where it hurt the most. The way they needed (and wanted) each other as well as support and choice from the side characters. The story flowed beautifully and intensely and was a perfect conclusion to this duet!
November 16, 2024
I just finished WDB as and ARC and I don’t even know how to put into context the amazing story I just read…. 😭🥵🥰
The continuation of WFW and the story of Vivian and Venus overcoming some really hard circumstances. I don’t think I’ve ever cried, laughed or thought a book was spicy 🌶️ all at once but WDB definitely has done that! 🎉
WDB deals with a lot of mental, emotional and physical trauma therefore it is not as spicy 🌶️ as WFW but when those spicy scenes hit they are GOOOOOD! In saying this the plot through out the whole novel was consistent and very fleshed out which out dragging the story along for too long!
G.E. Masters luv you’ve done it again I’m so proud of you 🩷
The continuation of WFW and the story of Vivian and Venus overcoming some really hard circumstances. I don’t think I’ve ever cried, laughed or thought a book was spicy 🌶️ all at once but WDB definitely has done that! 🎉
WDB deals with a lot of mental, emotional and physical trauma therefore it is not as spicy 🌶️ as WFW but when those spicy scenes hit they are GOOOOOD! In saying this the plot through out the whole novel was consistent and very fleshed out which out dragging the story along for too long!
G.E. Masters luv you’ve done it again I’m so proud of you 🩷
December 7, 2024
Dang, I think Goodreads deleted my review or something. I wish I could just repost exactly what I said, but I can’t. All I know was this book was indeed another banger. Very appreciative for the arc. Can’t wait for what the author brings out next.
September 23, 2026
i could not stop reading this oh my god! i love the way trauma was described and how beautiful (and painful) the healing process was for vivian. oh my heart explodes whenever venus and vivian flirt ugh
January 13, 2025
First off- I liked this enough that I sped through both books in two days. Even though it wasn’t my favorite read it was still fun and kept me interested through almost the whole story.
Things I liked:
I felt that Vivian’s trauma through her sexual assault was portrayed very realistically. Honestly the first half of the second book where she’s grappling with these new feelings and putting herself back together- reckoning with this new disconnect between her and her body- we’re the most engaging parts of the book for me. I also enjoyed how her interest in primal play and giving up control was shown as a tool to regain her autonomy. It really pulled the erotica into the story and made everything flow nicely.
I felt that Vivian was a really strong character in the first book- unfortunately I think in the second half of the second book her character fell apart at times and I was confused by a lot of her actions.
In the first quarter of the first book I was really turned off by the dynamic between the main characters- I just felt like the power dynamic was too unbalanced and they were too much at odds. But I was pleasantly surprised and by the end I feel like they only became more evenly matched as the story went on. Venus goes through a lot of character development and I ended up liking her as a love interest.
I also really felt uneasy and uncomfortable with Phanes. I think he could’ve been a big more developed but his obvious power coupled with his almost goofy misunderstanding of human nature and how to interact with others was super unsettling and i was genuinely afraid for Vivian in the beginning! Bravo.
I’d also like to note that if you’re turned off by the scene near the beginning where Venus seems to assault Vivian in her sleep- the story has an undercurrent of bdsm and primal play so I would give it a pass as it fits into those themes later.
Things I didn’t like:
I feel like there was so much potential to explore a cool magic system but it was barely touched on. I ended up having so many questions about the lore of this world; how does the magic work? Who were the other gods? Why did Vivian’s mother think she needed an heir? The demons come from these cool primal demon monsters but it’s barely mentioned? When did they diverge? Why? Where the hell did Phanes come from? Was he an alien? So many questions.
I also felt like Lilith had a lot of “haunting the narrative” potential. Venus’ powerful lover that had the same powers as her new love, taken from her violently and tragically. But I honestly felt nothing for her. I didn’t feel like Venus cared for her and she didn’t take up a solid place in the narrative. I wanted to feel like there was a Lilith shaped hole in the story and I honestly forgot about her most of the time.
And finally the whole last 30 minutes of the book left me completely confused. I barely knew what was going on at any given moment. There was a moment before the battle where Vivian flees their bedroom in what seemed like a self sacrificial play to save her loved ones, only for that to be overwritten in the next chapter. Never mind, it was all planned and actually she DID give her soul away, the moment the entire series was building on, OFF SCREEN. Then in a deus ex machina every character we’ve ever met swoops on screen and the big bad is vanquished as soon as he came.
Aside from those gripes, I think you will like this series if you’re looking for a fun, quick sapphic romance with a witchy vibe and very interesting sex scenes. Check the trigger warnings- there is a very large part of the book that deals with themes of SA and also child abuse.
Things I liked:
I felt that Vivian’s trauma through her sexual assault was portrayed very realistically. Honestly the first half of the second book where she’s grappling with these new feelings and putting herself back together- reckoning with this new disconnect between her and her body- we’re the most engaging parts of the book for me. I also enjoyed how her interest in primal play and giving up control was shown as a tool to regain her autonomy. It really pulled the erotica into the story and made everything flow nicely.
I felt that Vivian was a really strong character in the first book- unfortunately I think in the second half of the second book her character fell apart at times and I was confused by a lot of her actions.
In the first quarter of the first book I was really turned off by the dynamic between the main characters- I just felt like the power dynamic was too unbalanced and they were too much at odds. But I was pleasantly surprised and by the end I feel like they only became more evenly matched as the story went on. Venus goes through a lot of character development and I ended up liking her as a love interest.
I also really felt uneasy and uncomfortable with Phanes. I think he could’ve been a big more developed but his obvious power coupled with his almost goofy misunderstanding of human nature and how to interact with others was super unsettling and i was genuinely afraid for Vivian in the beginning! Bravo.
I’d also like to note that if you’re turned off by the scene near the beginning where Venus seems to assault Vivian in her sleep- the story has an undercurrent of bdsm and primal play so I would give it a pass as it fits into those themes later.
Things I didn’t like:
I feel like there was so much potential to explore a cool magic system but it was barely touched on. I ended up having so many questions about the lore of this world; how does the magic work? Who were the other gods? Why did Vivian’s mother think she needed an heir? The demons come from these cool primal demon monsters but it’s barely mentioned? When did they diverge? Why? Where the hell did Phanes come from? Was he an alien? So many questions.
I also felt like Lilith had a lot of “haunting the narrative” potential. Venus’ powerful lover that had the same powers as her new love, taken from her violently and tragically. But I honestly felt nothing for her. I didn’t feel like Venus cared for her and she didn’t take up a solid place in the narrative. I wanted to feel like there was a Lilith shaped hole in the story and I honestly forgot about her most of the time.
And finally the whole last 30 minutes of the book left me completely confused. I barely knew what was going on at any given moment. There was a moment before the battle where Vivian flees their bedroom in what seemed like a self sacrificial play to save her loved ones, only for that to be overwritten in the next chapter. Never mind, it was all planned and actually she DID give her soul away, the moment the entire series was building on, OFF SCREEN. Then in a deus ex machina every character we’ve ever met swoops on screen and the big bad is vanquished as soon as he came.
Aside from those gripes, I think you will like this series if you’re looking for a fun, quick sapphic romance with a witchy vibe and very interesting sex scenes. Check the trigger warnings- there is a very large part of the book that deals with themes of SA and also child abuse.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2026
After how good When Flowers Wilt was, I was so excited to jump into When Death Blooms and boy howdy was it worth the wait! G.E. Masters knocked it the fuck out of the park with this one too, and I'm so grateful to her for the gifted audiobook copy (I have since purchased the ebook of both books so I can relive them with my eyeballs)!
This book is so much darker than When Flowers Wilt - that book ended with Vivian kidnapped, and this book begins in the aftermath of that, with Venus and her council of witches and demons plotting to save Vivian and take out Phanes, and Vivian being sexually abused by an evil god obsessed with her power. G.E. Masters represents the SA with a kind of dignity that doesn't reduce Vivian's assault to crass shock value. After her rescue/escape, Vivian isn't miraculously all better. The bulk of the book deals with Vivian reclaiming her agency and power as a person and as a witch with the most ancient and powerful magic of creation. The discussions Vivian has with Venus and with the other witches are soul-crushingly realistic - like her disgust with herself and her body and anger at her magic for abandoning her, dissociative panic attacks and her fear that Venus won't love her anymore - but ultimately she begins to heal. One of the breakthrough conversations between Vivian and Venus had me sobbing wildly in my car, I just really love these babes, okay? And I want them to be happy!
I really enjoyed how Vivian's personal recovery blended with the plot to overthrow Phanes, and I think that in general this was one of the coolest instances of "the devil comes back to kill god" that I've read or seen. I loved how Venus' history was front and center in so much of this, and the legacy of Lilith and witchcraft was just deeply cool. We get to see Venus' darker side, too (ironic given that she's the literal devil) and how fiercly protective she is. There was so much more than what we even get to see that I would love short stories or vignettes that give more space to really take advantage of and flesh out some of the lore (like I want to know more about the history of Hell!!!)
As emotionally heavy this book is, it still has its lighter moments of banter between the two babes and Vivian's amused reactions to some of Venus' very clearly inhuman behaviors (poor nail salon employee, having to service an ancient being trying to give her fiancée a day of normalcy within the storm).
Across both books - the plot? Fantastic. The spice? Oh it's spicy ;) Masters has taken the Fall and Satan's war against God and written it in a new and exciting way. It begins light and a little silly (sweet AND spicy) and then goes to deep dark places, but comes out again to a world saved (and the epilogue is just too cute) - and with a good variety of sapphic spice along the way. Anybody who enjoys books and other media that play with the morality of the Devil will love Venus and Vivian's story!
I nearly clap my hands in glee, but reign myself in, giving her a lazy smile instead. "We're going to read about how to kill a god."
This book is so much darker than When Flowers Wilt - that book ended with Vivian kidnapped, and this book begins in the aftermath of that, with Venus and her council of witches and demons plotting to save Vivian and take out Phanes, and Vivian being sexually abused by an evil god obsessed with her power. G.E. Masters represents the SA with a kind of dignity that doesn't reduce Vivian's assault to crass shock value. After her rescue/escape, Vivian isn't miraculously all better. The bulk of the book deals with Vivian reclaiming her agency and power as a person and as a witch with the most ancient and powerful magic of creation. The discussions Vivian has with Venus and with the other witches are soul-crushingly realistic - like her disgust with herself and her body and anger at her magic for abandoning her, dissociative panic attacks and her fear that Venus won't love her anymore - but ultimately she begins to heal. One of the breakthrough conversations between Vivian and Venus had me sobbing wildly in my car, I just really love these babes, okay? And I want them to be happy!
I really enjoyed how Vivian's personal recovery blended with the plot to overthrow Phanes, and I think that in general this was one of the coolest instances of "the devil comes back to kill god" that I've read or seen. I loved how Venus' history was front and center in so much of this, and the legacy of Lilith and witchcraft was just deeply cool. We get to see Venus' darker side, too (ironic given that she's the literal devil) and how fiercly protective she is. There was so much more than what we even get to see that I would love short stories or vignettes that give more space to really take advantage of and flesh out some of the lore (like I want to know more about the history of Hell!!!)
As emotionally heavy this book is, it still has its lighter moments of banter between the two babes and Vivian's amused reactions to some of Venus' very clearly inhuman behaviors (poor nail salon employee, having to service an ancient being trying to give her fiancée a day of normalcy within the storm).
Across both books - the plot? Fantastic. The spice? Oh it's spicy ;) Masters has taken the Fall and Satan's war against God and written it in a new and exciting way. It begins light and a little silly (sweet AND spicy) and then goes to deep dark places, but comes out again to a world saved (and the epilogue is just too cute) - and with a good variety of sapphic spice along the way. Anybody who enjoys books and other media that play with the morality of the Devil will love Venus and Vivian's story!
June 11, 2025
O M G. It took me a few months to start this book because I just knew it was going to break my heart! But, I could not stop thinking of Vivian and The Dark Lady. I can honestly say, this is such an incredible duology!
Please, check those trigger warnings though! Don't be like me and just wing it 🫶🏼
I loved the progression from the first book (When Flowers Wilt) to When Death Blooms. Let me tell you, this book had me on the edge of my seat wondering what the heck was going to happen with Vivian and Venus! Oh, and we can't forget the MVP Steve!! He is so freaking cute and made me want to seek out my own cats to give them love just like Vivian.
Also, I loved all the side characters. They truly added to the story and I loved how it all came together in the end.
I wish I could read 50 more books of Venus and Vivian but I'll just have to re-read these books again 💞
Finally, I'll say that the author has such a way with world building. This is the third book I've read of hers and I always fall in love with the story and the characters immediately.
Please, check those trigger warnings though! Don't be like me and just wing it 🫶🏼
I loved the progression from the first book (When Flowers Wilt) to When Death Blooms. Let me tell you, this book had me on the edge of my seat wondering what the heck was going to happen with Vivian and Venus! Oh, and we can't forget the MVP Steve!! He is so freaking cute and made me want to seek out my own cats to give them love just like Vivian.
Also, I loved all the side characters. They truly added to the story and I loved how it all came together in the end.
I wish I could read 50 more books of Venus and Vivian but I'll just have to re-read these books again 💞
Finally, I'll say that the author has such a way with world building. This is the third book I've read of hers and I always fall in love with the story and the characters immediately.
November 16, 2024
Arc reader in exchange for an honest review
Wow what a rollercoaster of emotions this book was! I've been eagerly awaiting it since reading When Flowers Wilt and becoming invested in Vivian and Venus' stories and this 100% did not disappoint!
The book explored some heavy topic around trauma, mental health and recovery but does so in such a realistic, moving and sensitive way. I found myself crying more than once as I felt so moved by the writing.
A story of recovery, patience, love and sticking two fingers up at those who wronged you! Loved it and will be keen to read more from this author!
Wow what a rollercoaster of emotions this book was! I've been eagerly awaiting it since reading When Flowers Wilt and becoming invested in Vivian and Venus' stories and this 100% did not disappoint!
The book explored some heavy topic around trauma, mental health and recovery but does so in such a realistic, moving and sensitive way. I found myself crying more than once as I felt so moved by the writing.
A story of recovery, patience, love and sticking two fingers up at those who wronged you! Loved it and will be keen to read more from this author!
November 20, 2024
OMG - I've been so keen to read this one after the way When Flowers Wilt ended and boy does this deliver!
Before anyone attempts to read these books I would urge you to check any trigger warnings, because this one especially covers some very sensitive subjects.
I think the author did a fantastic job of portraying the various emotions of our main characters - from gut punching and raw lows to absolute euphoric highs and everything messy in-between.
I love the world building and I adore Vivian and Venus.
Huge thanks to the author for having me as part of her arc team.
Before anyone attempts to read these books I would urge you to check any trigger warnings, because this one especially covers some very sensitive subjects.
I think the author did a fantastic job of portraying the various emotions of our main characters - from gut punching and raw lows to absolute euphoric highs and everything messy in-between.
I love the world building and I adore Vivian and Venus.
Huge thanks to the author for having me as part of her arc team.
January 30, 2025
DNF: Office Bookclub book for January 2025! I would not have read this book if it wasn’t apart of my Bookclub. I hated the first book and took so long to read it. My daughter has the same name as the head archivist in the story. It’s even spelled the same I was quite surprised to see it. I am enjoying this book a lot more than I was enjoying book one. I DNFed because I did not like the first book so much that even though this book was a little more enjoyable I still couldn’t bring myself to want to read this. 2025 challenge: character that can fly.
May 29, 2025
3.5
angst was perfect. plot was too slow
angst was perfect. plot was too slow
January 8, 2025
Absolutely incredible duet. I was lucky enough to ARC both and I couldn't put either of them down. Make sure to check your TW because this is a deliciously dark masterpiece. I don't want to spoil anything but if you enjoy the enemies to lovers trope, witches, spice, dark themes, badass women, and a thrilling adventure- open this bad boy and get lost in its pages. So damn good.
January 13, 2025
Good book!
Continuation of the story from book 1 of the duology “The Deal with the Devil”. I liked it a lot. Intense, in moments heartbreaking and full of emotions. This goes to my favorites of the year shelf. Vivian and Venus love flourished beautifully despite what happened to them and how heavy burdens they were carrying on their backs.
Continuation of the story from book 1 of the duology “The Deal with the Devil”. I liked it a lot. Intense, in moments heartbreaking and full of emotions. This goes to my favorites of the year shelf. Vivian and Venus love flourished beautifully despite what happened to them and how heavy burdens they were carrying on their backs.
April 2, 2025
**This review applies to both books in G.E. Masters' Duology, "When Flowers Wilt" and "When Death Blooms"**
Month of March was a great month for me in discovering new (to me) sapphic authors whose books I really loved and enjoyed! It's like one author led to another and another! I can't recall how I found G.E. Masters 3 days ago but when I stumbled upon this cover, with the glorious title and then the catchphrase with a delish dash of witchcraft, I was like, SOLD!! Needless to say, I was hooked upon reading the 1st chapter! And devoured it in a few hours and then OMG! The cliffhanger!!!
Aaaarghhh! Cliffhangers are the binger's Achille's heel!!! So, obviously, I had to devour the sequel, the final chapter of the duology! OMG. I mean... I bloody LOVED it!!!! All through gobbling up Masters' duology, I kept thinking about Hazbin Hotel and wishing that someone would adapt this crackin' story that's incredibly creative, devilishly subversive, naughtily cheeky, and erotically delish, already!! I mean, come on!! If Hazbin can make it to Prime, I tell ya, THIS duology has every ingredient there is for any fan of witchcraft, witches, demons, the Devil, gods and monsters, MAGICK to savour! And the icing on the already-delish cake? It's SAPPHIC...presented in DUAL POVs!! That's my favourite 1st-person style! Yes, I do want to know BOTH perspectives, thank you very much! So, cheers, G.E. Masters!!!
I won't elaborate on the story because it's best experienced by your own reading. What I can say is, if you love to endeavour your reading enjoyment with an enemies-to-lovers, erotic (a fun one!) romance involving witches, demons, gods, goddesses, LILITH, The Devil, nature/earth (gaia), good ol' MAGICK, not to mention, a kick-ass FINAL BATTLE action scene between "good and evil" (Who's good and who's evil? That is the question!) original story, look no further. READ this Duology, preferably back-to-back!! You won't regret it!
You'll also find yourselves absolutely engrossed and invested in the 2 absolutely adorable, lovable, hilarious MCs!! But twist me arm, my fave is defo The Devil!! Mwahahahahaa!! Oh, Masters' story also reminds me of E.J. Noyes' "Reaping the Benefits," another must-read, btw!! And oh-oh-oh, the villain?! Ugh! First, I was reminded of Voldemort (with his Nagiri), but INFINITELY WORSE, MUCH MUCH Worse! I mean, compared to THIS sack of rubbish, Voldemort is a SAINT!! 'Nuff said. READ this story and you'll find out.
So, if you love Hazbin Hotel or Good Omens, you'll love this, too! It's simply fun and hilarious, it's devilishly subversive (I love that! I find it funnier simply because I grew up immersed in that religion so I KNOW and I can laugh about it!) and the addictively erotic chemistry between the Witch and the Devil (you'll know their names and labels when you read it!) will have you wanting more long after you've finished the sequel (final)!
Thank YOU, G.E. Masters!! For daring to create such a masterful story that is rich in fun, hilarious, romantic and subversive flavours but the kicker for me is how she manages to rip off the layers to delve deep into the very real, very authentic side of it all that is the psychology of PTSD, trauma of the worst kind that branches off into other mental health issues, i.e. anxiety, depression, dissociation, and how to navigate its causality toward total healing of the mind, body, and the soul/spirit. LOVE. Unconditional. Unwavering. Infinite.
TWO VERY ENTHUSIASTIC THUMBS UP!!!
Month of March was a great month for me in discovering new (to me) sapphic authors whose books I really loved and enjoyed! It's like one author led to another and another! I can't recall how I found G.E. Masters 3 days ago but when I stumbled upon this cover, with the glorious title and then the catchphrase with a delish dash of witchcraft, I was like, SOLD!! Needless to say, I was hooked upon reading the 1st chapter! And devoured it in a few hours and then OMG! The cliffhanger!!!
Aaaarghhh! Cliffhangers are the binger's Achille's heel!!! So, obviously, I had to devour the sequel, the final chapter of the duology! OMG. I mean... I bloody LOVED it!!!! All through gobbling up Masters' duology, I kept thinking about Hazbin Hotel and wishing that someone would adapt this crackin' story that's incredibly creative, devilishly subversive, naughtily cheeky, and erotically delish, already!! I mean, come on!! If Hazbin can make it to Prime, I tell ya, THIS duology has every ingredient there is for any fan of witchcraft, witches, demons, the Devil, gods and monsters, MAGICK to savour! And the icing on the already-delish cake? It's SAPPHIC...presented in DUAL POVs!! That's my favourite 1st-person style! Yes, I do want to know BOTH perspectives, thank you very much! So, cheers, G.E. Masters!!!
I won't elaborate on the story because it's best experienced by your own reading. What I can say is, if you love to endeavour your reading enjoyment with an enemies-to-lovers, erotic (a fun one!) romance involving witches, demons, gods, goddesses, LILITH, The Devil, nature/earth (gaia), good ol' MAGICK, not to mention, a kick-ass FINAL BATTLE action scene between "good and evil" (Who's good and who's evil? That is the question!) original story, look no further. READ this Duology, preferably back-to-back!! You won't regret it!
You'll also find yourselves absolutely engrossed and invested in the 2 absolutely adorable, lovable, hilarious MCs!! But twist me arm, my fave is defo The Devil!! Mwahahahahaa!! Oh, Masters' story also reminds me of E.J. Noyes' "Reaping the Benefits," another must-read, btw!! And oh-oh-oh, the villain?! Ugh! First, I was reminded of Voldemort (with his Nagiri), but INFINITELY WORSE, MUCH MUCH Worse! I mean, compared to THIS sack of rubbish, Voldemort is a SAINT!! 'Nuff said. READ this story and you'll find out.
So, if you love Hazbin Hotel or Good Omens, you'll love this, too! It's simply fun and hilarious, it's devilishly subversive (I love that! I find it funnier simply because I grew up immersed in that religion so I KNOW and I can laugh about it!) and the addictively erotic chemistry between the Witch and the Devil (you'll know their names and labels when you read it!) will have you wanting more long after you've finished the sequel (final)!
Thank YOU, G.E. Masters!! For daring to create such a masterful story that is rich in fun, hilarious, romantic and subversive flavours but the kicker for me is how she manages to rip off the layers to delve deep into the very real, very authentic side of it all that is the psychology of PTSD, trauma of the worst kind that branches off into other mental health issues, i.e. anxiety, depression, dissociation, and how to navigate its causality toward total healing of the mind, body, and the soul/spirit. LOVE. Unconditional. Unwavering. Infinite.
TWO VERY ENTHUSIASTIC THUMBS UP!!!
December 5, 2024
“Sometimes, revenge must be enacted against the one who harmed you. Other times, the best revenge is forgiving and moving forward—but never forgetting. My enemies no longer have control over me.”
I was so excited when I got the email saying that this book was in the works and that I could apply to be an ARC reader again. I’m pretty sure I squealed as soon as I saw the subject line! After the first book left me with a cliffhanger, I was eagerly awaiting this one!
“When Death Blooms” immediately picks up where “When Flowers Wilt” left off and, you, as the reader, are immediately thrown back into the captivating world G.E. Masters created. The story follows the traumatic journey of Vivian, who endures horrific abuse at the hands of Phanes, the sadistic false God of Life. As she loses hope of rescue, Venus, still recovering from her own injuries, struggles to regain her strength and save Vivian. Despite the emotional and physical toll, Venus manages to rescue Vivian at just the right moment, but the trauma of what she experienced leaves Vivian deeply changed.
Back in Hell, Venus supports Vivian as she battles her nightmares and attempts to reclaim her former self. Together, they strengthen their bond and prepare to confront Phanes, whose looming threat endangers both Vivian and the world. The story builds toward their high-stakes plan to defeat him, leaving the outcome, and the fate of humanity, uncertain until the end.
I get up on my tiptoes and press a kiss to her cheek. “What was that for?” she asks as I pull away. “Just…for seeing me,” I say, emotions threatening to bring me to tears. “For fighting for me to come back to myself. For not giving up on me.”
All in all, this book will have you at the edge of your seat the entire time! Not only did I love this book for its gripping storyline, but I loved the emotions I experienced while reading. From deep anger, disgust and tremendous sadness for what Vivian had to go through at the beginning of the story, to relief, joy, and a deep sense of pride towards everything the characters accomplished and had to face. The story allowed me to accept that I can forgive, but certainly do not need to forget. It was very empowering for me. I also want to comment on the spicy scenes… they were again *chef’s kiss* and slightly more intense than the previous book.
I dislike that I wasn’t able to read this book sooner and get this review out before it published, but I had made myself a book timeline and was in the middle of a series when I got the ARC file. (I honestly debated reading it at the same time as the other series, but I wanted to make sure this book got my full attention).
If you read “When Flowers Wilt” and throughly enjoyed it, this book is a must to complete the story! It’s a medium-paced, adventurous, somewhat complex, sapphic romance (with spice), mixed with a roller coaster of emotions and self-discovery, set in a supernatural fantasy world. You will not be disappointed!
November 16, 2024
When Death Blooms is by far one of my all time favourite books!!
I think first and foremost before reading the book and starting the review though I must stress- MAKE SURE TO read the author’s content and trigger warnings because WDB is a bit darker than WFW, and those warnings are to be taken seriously!!!
- with that being said, let’s get into the review!
When Death Blooms is a great book- you’ve got the pick up where you left off (which I really appreciate), you’ve got more depth to the characters and their feelings, you’ve got to see different aspects of some of the characters you haven’t seen before, you’re introduced to new ones, you learn more about Venus, and more!!
I think it was very well written- When Flowers Wilt, if you’ve already read it, is an incredible book! But somehow, in my personal opinion, I think that When Death Blooms is a whole other playing field- which I don’t even know how that’s possible- G. E. Masters just knows how to write incredibly incredible books.
I love Venus and Vivian with my whole heart, and I would go through everything and more to have these characters live and love forever. Genuinely. I’d fight everyone for these characters. I think we see a side to Venus that no one was expecting when we first met her- a lot softer, a lot more protective than we ever thought possible and all for Vivian. Vivian on the other hand, that girl goes through it and I’m so so glad she has Venus. Reading this book you just want to give them all hugs and call it a happy day but you go on this adventure with them knowing they aren’t alone and you aren’t either.
I loved the other characters that we met, and some old friends who we see again from When Flowers Wilt- I really love the counsel scenes because they made me feel like I was in the room- sometimes it made me feel like Venus was my own boss! I think that when you feel like you’re a part of a scene, like really in it, that speaks to how incredible the writer is.
Like I said before, G. E. Masters is an incredible author and I can’t wait to read more of her books. I know we’re only two books in but I truly believe that she will capture you and pull you in with her thoughts on paper with every particle of ink. I’m really excited to see what’s next and to read what’s next, but for now until then, I’ll be continuously re-reading WFW and WDB until I know it word for word!!
Also, one last thing to mention- the spice in this was hella hot 🥵 and I still need a few business days to uh, I think process or like not have a dirty mind!!
G. E. Masters… the woman you are ❤️
I think first and foremost before reading the book and starting the review though I must stress- MAKE SURE TO read the author’s content and trigger warnings because WDB is a bit darker than WFW, and those warnings are to be taken seriously!!!
- with that being said, let’s get into the review!
When Death Blooms is a great book- you’ve got the pick up where you left off (which I really appreciate), you’ve got more depth to the characters and their feelings, you’ve got to see different aspects of some of the characters you haven’t seen before, you’re introduced to new ones, you learn more about Venus, and more!!
I think it was very well written- When Flowers Wilt, if you’ve already read it, is an incredible book! But somehow, in my personal opinion, I think that When Death Blooms is a whole other playing field- which I don’t even know how that’s possible- G. E. Masters just knows how to write incredibly incredible books.
I love Venus and Vivian with my whole heart, and I would go through everything and more to have these characters live and love forever. Genuinely. I’d fight everyone for these characters. I think we see a side to Venus that no one was expecting when we first met her- a lot softer, a lot more protective than we ever thought possible and all for Vivian. Vivian on the other hand, that girl goes through it and I’m so so glad she has Venus. Reading this book you just want to give them all hugs and call it a happy day but you go on this adventure with them knowing they aren’t alone and you aren’t either.
I loved the other characters that we met, and some old friends who we see again from When Flowers Wilt- I really love the counsel scenes because they made me feel like I was in the room- sometimes it made me feel like Venus was my own boss! I think that when you feel like you’re a part of a scene, like really in it, that speaks to how incredible the writer is.
Like I said before, G. E. Masters is an incredible author and I can’t wait to read more of her books. I know we’re only two books in but I truly believe that she will capture you and pull you in with her thoughts on paper with every particle of ink. I’m really excited to see what’s next and to read what’s next, but for now until then, I’ll be continuously re-reading WFW and WDB until I know it word for word!!
Also, one last thing to mention- the spice in this was hella hot 🥵 and I still need a few business days to uh, I think process or like not have a dirty mind!!
G. E. Masters… the woman you are ❤️
December 23, 2024
Rarely do I feel that a sequel has outdone the book before it but I think that was definitely the case in this book which I didn’t think possible
When Death Blooms picks up directly where the previous book left off with Vivian captured and the rest of the book kind of handles the fallout and aftermath and revenge of that. This book deals with a lot of heavy topics so please check the content warnings at the front of the book if you feel necessary.
I feel like Masters handled the depiction of trauma and healing beautifully. This book will definitely have you emotionally wrecked so if you're a crier like I am I recommend having your tissues on hand. I love how in this book the focus is not only on Vivian and her healing journey but also on Venus and how hard it can be to be the support for a person who has been through something terrible even when you love them. Not that Venus doesn't do a lot of healing of her own in this book. The way that Masters uses Vivian and Venus’s magic as tools to help give the reader insight into the emotional states of these two was so beautiful and I absolutely loved it.
There is so much to talk about when it comes to the gorgeous character growth in this book and the series as a whole most of which I’m going to let you discover most of on your own because I’d be pissed if someone spoiled it for me but I will say that I was on the fence about wether or not I was going to like Venus in the beginning of the last book and she has grown to become one of my favorite characters in anything that I’ve read. The way that Masters is able to capture the emotional turmoil of having a parent who is responsible for the pain of those you care for in an incredibly insightful and considerate manner is truly remarkable.
The spice and dirty talk are so good it will have you blushing. The chemistry between Vivian and Venus is even more electric and steamy at some points in this book than the last. The growth in the understanding that Venus and Vivian have of each other and emotional journeys were reflected in the spicy scenes and I really loved this about the book.
Overall the book is beyond what I can wrap up in one review so you should just go preorder so you can see for yourself.
When Death Blooms picks up directly where the previous book left off with Vivian captured and the rest of the book kind of handles the fallout and aftermath and revenge of that. This book deals with a lot of heavy topics so please check the content warnings at the front of the book if you feel necessary.
I feel like Masters handled the depiction of trauma and healing beautifully. This book will definitely have you emotionally wrecked so if you're a crier like I am I recommend having your tissues on hand. I love how in this book the focus is not only on Vivian and her healing journey but also on Venus and how hard it can be to be the support for a person who has been through something terrible even when you love them. Not that Venus doesn't do a lot of healing of her own in this book. The way that Masters uses Vivian and Venus’s magic as tools to help give the reader insight into the emotional states of these two was so beautiful and I absolutely loved it.
There is so much to talk about when it comes to the gorgeous character growth in this book and the series as a whole most of which I’m going to let you discover most of on your own because I’d be pissed if someone spoiled it for me but I will say that I was on the fence about wether or not I was going to like Venus in the beginning of the last book and she has grown to become one of my favorite characters in anything that I’ve read. The way that Masters is able to capture the emotional turmoil of having a parent who is responsible for the pain of those you care for in an incredibly insightful and considerate manner is truly remarkable.
The spice and dirty talk are so good it will have you blushing. The chemistry between Vivian and Venus is even more electric and steamy at some points in this book than the last. The growth in the understanding that Venus and Vivian have of each other and emotional journeys were reflected in the spicy scenes and I really loved this about the book.
Overall the book is beyond what I can wrap up in one review so you should just go preorder so you can see for yourself.
April 23, 2025
Things I loved:
• Sapphic Romance
• Amazing Trauma Representation
• Strong FMC's who take back their own power
• More magic and new creatures
• Hurt/comfort, so much chemistry and more!!!
Do you know how hard it was to summarise what I loved about this book into a few small things. Extremely.
This book absolutely demolished my heart in so many ways. As someone who has dealt with and is still dealing with ptsd, it hit hard and so close to home. This author just absolutely wrote Vivian so beautifully, that I cried along side her, you couldn't help but break with her. But my goodness as she slowly starts to find her strength, to find herself again and gently place herself back together piece by piece she became magnificently beautiful. But my goodness, it was a journey and I appreciated that her healing wasn't linear.
The way the author captured Venus during these moments too, on her own journey of healing, her own journey of trauma and a dark past causing very real trauma and anxiety in the present. How Vivian's own journey affected Venus, because too often I don't think its focused on enough how healing and trauma can affect our closest loved ones. These two rewlly did capture my heart in so many ways.
My goodness and then comes the strength and the Revenge and the power and oh my goodness me, I was here for it. I fucking loved these two reconnected and rebuild and plan and grow and fight. Just wow. I cant even tell you how much I loved every second of this book.
I truly don't want to spoil any major parts or the plot at all, but trust me when I say this is hands down of my favourite duets I have read, ever. Just ever. Its just everything, sapphic romance, great characters, amazing plot, Witches, devil, gods, magical creatures, magic, enemies to lovers, mystery, banter, mental health rep, hurt/comfort, amazing Spice, perfectly balanced writing, well detailled scenes. 10/10
✨️
• Sapphic Romance
• Amazing Trauma Representation
• Strong FMC's who take back their own power
• More magic and new creatures
• Hurt/comfort, so much chemistry and more!!!
Do you know how hard it was to summarise what I loved about this book into a few small things. Extremely.
This book absolutely demolished my heart in so many ways. As someone who has dealt with and is still dealing with ptsd, it hit hard and so close to home. This author just absolutely wrote Vivian so beautifully, that I cried along side her, you couldn't help but break with her. But my goodness as she slowly starts to find her strength, to find herself again and gently place herself back together piece by piece she became magnificently beautiful. But my goodness, it was a journey and I appreciated that her healing wasn't linear.
The way the author captured Venus during these moments too, on her own journey of healing, her own journey of trauma and a dark past causing very real trauma and anxiety in the present. How Vivian's own journey affected Venus, because too often I don't think its focused on enough how healing and trauma can affect our closest loved ones. These two rewlly did capture my heart in so many ways.
My goodness and then comes the strength and the Revenge and the power and oh my goodness me, I was here for it. I fucking loved these two reconnected and rebuild and plan and grow and fight. Just wow. I cant even tell you how much I loved every second of this book.
I truly don't want to spoil any major parts or the plot at all, but trust me when I say this is hands down of my favourite duets I have read, ever. Just ever. Its just everything, sapphic romance, great characters, amazing plot, Witches, devil, gods, magical creatures, magic, enemies to lovers, mystery, banter, mental health rep, hurt/comfort, amazing Spice, perfectly balanced writing, well detailled scenes. 10/10
✨️
Review of advance copy received from Author
I've listened to the audiobooks, and my initial reviews stand: they're fabulous books, and now there's a fabulous new way to take them in. It's not my first time listening to Ellie Gossage, and I've loved her narrations for each one. The Deal With the Devil duet is no different, and I think I actually love them even more than I already did.
___
Okay, two things right off the bat: first, this is book two in the Deal with the Devil duology, and it cannot be read as a standalone; and second there are a lot of triggers here, which Masters lists at the beginning of the book. Please make sure to check them before diving in.
If you haven’t read When Flowers Wilt stop reading now, because while I’m not planning to spoil this book, I am going to spoil that one. Okay? Okay. So. We start off right where the first book left off. Vivian is held captive by Phanes as he breaks her physically and mentally, and she has given up hope. Venus is gravely injured, unable to think of anything but rescuing Vivian. This part is hard to read, particularly Vivian’s experience, but what follows is a master class on trauma, its aftereffects, and loving someone through it.
One of the benefits of a series is that characters are generally established in the first installment, so the next can take those characters and run with them. We get deeper into their thoughts and feelings, build on relationships, and, when done well, fall even more in love with them. This is done well. When Death Blooms is an incredible story, and I can’t wait to read more from G.E. Masters.
I received a free ARC from the author, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.
___
Okay, two things right off the bat: first, this is book two in the Deal with the Devil duology, and it cannot be read as a standalone; and second there are a lot of triggers here, which Masters lists at the beginning of the book. Please make sure to check them before diving in.
If you haven’t read When Flowers Wilt stop reading now, because while I’m not planning to spoil this book, I am going to spoil that one. Okay? Okay. So. We start off right where the first book left off. Vivian is held captive by Phanes as he breaks her physically and mentally, and she has given up hope. Venus is gravely injured, unable to think of anything but rescuing Vivian. This part is hard to read, particularly Vivian’s experience, but what follows is a master class on trauma, its aftereffects, and loving someone through it.
One of the benefits of a series is that characters are generally established in the first installment, so the next can take those characters and run with them. We get deeper into their thoughts and feelings, build on relationships, and, when done well, fall even more in love with them. This is done well. When Death Blooms is an incredible story, and I can’t wait to read more from G.E. Masters.
I received a free ARC from the author, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.
November 17, 2024
Huge thank you to G for the opportunity to read, review, and be part of this world of yours.
𝕿𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖎𝖘 𝖜𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖑𝖔𝖛𝖊 𝖎𝖘, 𝕴 𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖑𝖎𝖟𝖊. 𝕷𝖔𝖛𝖊 𝖎𝖘 𝖍𝖔𝖑𝖉𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖇𝖗𝖔𝖐𝖊𝖓 𝖕𝖎𝖊𝖈𝖊𝖘 𝖔𝖋 𝖘𝖔𝖒𝖊𝖔𝖓𝖊 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖜𝖆𝖎𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖋𝖔𝖗 𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖒 𝖙𝖔 𝖕𝖚𝖙 𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖒 𝖇𝖆𝖈𝖐 𝖙𝖔𝖌𝖊𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖗, 𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖓 𝖜𝖍𝖊𝖓 𝖆𝖑𝖑 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖜𝖆𝖓𝖙 𝖙𝖔 𝖉𝖔 𝖎𝖘 𝖋𝖔𝖗𝖈𝖊 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖕𝖎𝖊𝖈𝖊𝖘 𝖇𝖆𝖈𝖐 𝖎𝖓 𝖕𝖑𝖆𝖈𝖊 𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖗𝖘𝖊𝖑𝖋.
When Death Blooms continues where When Flowers Wilt ended, and GODS, it was a ride. This one is darker than the first, and my heart absolutely broke for Vivian. Seeing her become a shell of the Vivian we were introduced to in WFW was so realistic and so raw considering the treatment that she goes through. The emotions. The trauma. The healing. All of this story was amazing. And if I could take one thing from this, it's the importance of patience with the person you love and, most of all, patience with yourself.
𝕸𝖞 𝖜𝖗𝖆𝖙𝖍 𝖎𝖘 𝖆 𝖑𝖎𝖛𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖎𝖓𝖘𝖎𝖉𝖊 𝖒𝖊, 𝖇𝖔𝖙𝖍 𝖋𝖊𝖊𝖉𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖋𝖗𝖔𝖒 𝖒𝖊 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖋𝖚𝖊𝖑𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖒𝖊.
V+V have to be one of my favorite duos in sapphic fantasy. Their relationship is literally everything to me. Venus helping Vivian in her healing, Vivian trying to heal herself, the waiting for the rug to be pulled out from underneath the both of them. I couldn't get enough of them. I couldn't get enough of this world, and I couldn't get enough of this story.
“𝕴’𝖒 𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖍 𝖞𝖔𝖚. 𝕴’𝖒 𝖍𝖔𝖒𝖊. 𝕴’𝖒 𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖍 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝕴’𝖒 𝖍𝖔𝖒𝖊.”
And, if you don't recall my review of WFW, I must state again: SHADOW MOMMY ALERT. Venus still holds the title of this. You'll love her, and you'll love Vivian. As I said, they mean everything to me, and this book means everything to me. There is so much I could go on about, but I need you to experience this for yourself. They are worth it. They are so worth it. And, never fear, these babes get their revenge, get their HEA, and give you *healing* spice.
“𝖂𝖊 𝖆𝖗𝖊 𝖒𝖊𝖆𝖓𝖙 𝖙𝖔 𝖇𝖊, 𝖆𝖘 𝖘𝖚𝖗𝖊 𝖆𝖘 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖘𝖙𝖆𝖗𝖘 𝖌𝖑𝖎𝖙𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖎𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖑𝖎𝖛𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖑𝖒’𝖘 𝖘𝖐𝖞, 𝖆𝖘 𝖘𝖚𝖗𝖊 𝖆𝖘 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖙𝖍 𝖚𝖓𝖉𝖊𝖗 𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖋𝖊𝖊𝖙.”
ALL THE STARS
ALL THE LOVE
3 🌶️
𝕿𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖎𝖘 𝖜𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖑𝖔𝖛𝖊 𝖎𝖘, 𝕴 𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖑𝖎𝖟𝖊. 𝕷𝖔𝖛𝖊 𝖎𝖘 𝖍𝖔𝖑𝖉𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖇𝖗𝖔𝖐𝖊𝖓 𝖕𝖎𝖊𝖈𝖊𝖘 𝖔𝖋 𝖘𝖔𝖒𝖊𝖔𝖓𝖊 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖜𝖆𝖎𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖋𝖔𝖗 𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖒 𝖙𝖔 𝖕𝖚𝖙 𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖒 𝖇𝖆𝖈𝖐 𝖙𝖔𝖌𝖊𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖗, 𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖓 𝖜𝖍𝖊𝖓 𝖆𝖑𝖑 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖜𝖆𝖓𝖙 𝖙𝖔 𝖉𝖔 𝖎𝖘 𝖋𝖔𝖗𝖈𝖊 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖕𝖎𝖊𝖈𝖊𝖘 𝖇𝖆𝖈𝖐 𝖎𝖓 𝖕𝖑𝖆𝖈𝖊 𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖗𝖘𝖊𝖑𝖋.
When Death Blooms continues where When Flowers Wilt ended, and GODS, it was a ride. This one is darker than the first, and my heart absolutely broke for Vivian. Seeing her become a shell of the Vivian we were introduced to in WFW was so realistic and so raw considering the treatment that she goes through. The emotions. The trauma. The healing. All of this story was amazing. And if I could take one thing from this, it's the importance of patience with the person you love and, most of all, patience with yourself.
𝕸𝖞 𝖜𝖗𝖆𝖙𝖍 𝖎𝖘 𝖆 𝖑𝖎𝖛𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖎𝖓𝖘𝖎𝖉𝖊 𝖒𝖊, 𝖇𝖔𝖙𝖍 𝖋𝖊𝖊𝖉𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖋𝖗𝖔𝖒 𝖒𝖊 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖋𝖚𝖊𝖑𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖒𝖊.
V+V have to be one of my favorite duos in sapphic fantasy. Their relationship is literally everything to me. Venus helping Vivian in her healing, Vivian trying to heal herself, the waiting for the rug to be pulled out from underneath the both of them. I couldn't get enough of them. I couldn't get enough of this world, and I couldn't get enough of this story.
“𝕴’𝖒 𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖍 𝖞𝖔𝖚. 𝕴’𝖒 𝖍𝖔𝖒𝖊. 𝕴’𝖒 𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖍 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝕴’𝖒 𝖍𝖔𝖒𝖊.”
And, if you don't recall my review of WFW, I must state again: SHADOW MOMMY ALERT. Venus still holds the title of this. You'll love her, and you'll love Vivian. As I said, they mean everything to me, and this book means everything to me. There is so much I could go on about, but I need you to experience this for yourself. They are worth it. They are so worth it. And, never fear, these babes get their revenge, get their HEA, and give you *healing* spice.
“𝖂𝖊 𝖆𝖗𝖊 𝖒𝖊𝖆𝖓𝖙 𝖙𝖔 𝖇𝖊, 𝖆𝖘 𝖘𝖚𝖗𝖊 𝖆𝖘 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖘𝖙𝖆𝖗𝖘 𝖌𝖑𝖎𝖙𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖎𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖑𝖎𝖛𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖑𝖒’𝖘 𝖘𝖐𝖞, 𝖆𝖘 𝖘𝖚𝖗𝖊 𝖆𝖘 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖙𝖍 𝖚𝖓𝖉𝖊𝖗 𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖋𝖊𝖊𝖙.”
ALL THE STARS
ALL THE LOVE
3 🌶️
December 27, 2024
I had to impulse-buy both books as soon as I saw someone comment it reminded them of Agatha/Rio just when I finished the show - but it was so much better than I expected! I don’t even know where to start with this. I love how both characters are strong in their own ways and they constantly challenge eachother. Both books took me through the full range of emotions. Vivian’s trauma, grief and pain was palpable and it was SO SATISFYING when they both finally got their revenge (and I loved how they made sure it was like the fucker never existed after that). The way Venus helped her heal felt so real and believable and I love how, slowly but steadily, Vivian came back to herself and learned to let Venus in again. The spice was 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻 and I’m saying this as someone who doesn’t usually feel much when reading spice. I absolutely fell in love with Venus and now I desperately want my own shadow goddess, everything about her is a dream come true - both her darkness and the hidden vulnerability. I love how the darker moments, like Vivian coping with her grief and trauma, are balanced with lighter moments like when she decided to adopt a random cat and call it Steve (??). I cried when everyone finally got their happy ending and Vivian and her magic became one after she slowly grew closer to it throughout both books. My only complaint is that it ended so soon lol, I binged through both books in 4 days and would have loved to read more of them.
December 30, 2024
For those of us hanging on by our fingertips at the cliffhanger at the end of 'When Flowers Wilt', the wait is over, and the story continues in 'When Death Blooms'.
We left Vivian and Venus as they were wrenched apart, their futures uncertain. We rejoin them on their separate paths as they fight to survive, fight to win the war against evil, and fight to get back to each other.
Their journeys won't be easy, and this book is definitely darker than the first. (Please treat yourself kindly and heed the content warnings if you need to do so.)
There is trauma, PTSD, guilt, and many other dark topics dealt with, but everything is handled realistically and processed in a very human way.
Imprisoned, Vivian's magic has deserted her, leaving her more alone than ever as she fights to keep her sanity and soul from Phanes.
Our Dark Lady, Venus, impatiently works to recover from her injuries whilst trying to help stop evil from killing them all and doing whatever needs to be done to get Vivian back in her arms.
The bond between Vivian and Venus is almost tangible, leaping off the page as you read. Whilst the second book doesn't have as much spice as the first, it is HOT HOT HOT when it happens.
This book was the perfect continuation of Vivian and Venus' story, told with careful handling and fantastic world-building.
I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
*I received an advance reader copy for free, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review*
We left Vivian and Venus as they were wrenched apart, their futures uncertain. We rejoin them on their separate paths as they fight to survive, fight to win the war against evil, and fight to get back to each other.
Their journeys won't be easy, and this book is definitely darker than the first. (Please treat yourself kindly and heed the content warnings if you need to do so.)
There is trauma, PTSD, guilt, and many other dark topics dealt with, but everything is handled realistically and processed in a very human way.
Imprisoned, Vivian's magic has deserted her, leaving her more alone than ever as she fights to keep her sanity and soul from Phanes.
Our Dark Lady, Venus, impatiently works to recover from her injuries whilst trying to help stop evil from killing them all and doing whatever needs to be done to get Vivian back in her arms.
The bond between Vivian and Venus is almost tangible, leaping off the page as you read. Whilst the second book doesn't have as much spice as the first, it is HOT HOT HOT when it happens.
This book was the perfect continuation of Vivian and Venus' story, told with careful handling and fantastic world-building.
I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
*I received an advance reader copy for free, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review*
November 16, 2024
Okay, two things right off the bat: first, this is book two in the Deal with the Devil duology, and it cannot be read as a standalone; and second there are a lot of triggers here, which Masters lists at the beginning of the book. Please make sure to check them before diving in.
If you haven’t read When Flowers Wilt stop reading now, because while I’m not planning to spoil this book, I am going to spoil that one. Okay? Okay. So. We start off right where the first book left off. Vivian is held captive by Phanes as he breaks her physically and mentally, and she has given up hope. Venus is gravely injured, unable to think of anything but rescuing Vivian. This part is hard to read, particularly Vivian’s experience, but what follows is a master class on trauma, its aftereffects, and loving someone through it.
One of the benefits of a series is that characters are generally established in the first installment, so the next can take those characters and run with them. We get deeper into their thoughts and feelings, build on relationships, and, when done well, fall even more in love with them. This is done well. When Death Blooms is an incredible story, and I can’t wait to read more from G.E. Masters.
I received a free ARC from the author, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.
If you haven’t read When Flowers Wilt stop reading now, because while I’m not planning to spoil this book, I am going to spoil that one. Okay? Okay. So. We start off right where the first book left off. Vivian is held captive by Phanes as he breaks her physically and mentally, and she has given up hope. Venus is gravely injured, unable to think of anything but rescuing Vivian. This part is hard to read, particularly Vivian’s experience, but what follows is a master class on trauma, its aftereffects, and loving someone through it.
One of the benefits of a series is that characters are generally established in the first installment, so the next can take those characters and run with them. We get deeper into their thoughts and feelings, build on relationships, and, when done well, fall even more in love with them. This is done well. When Death Blooms is an incredible story, and I can’t wait to read more from G.E. Masters.
I received a free ARC from the author, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.
February 26, 2025
This is the second book in the series, following the cliffhanger of When Flowers Wilt. This fantasy story follows Vivian as she is trapped, powerless, and at the mercy of Phanes, the false God of Life and Venus's father. Meanwhile, Venus, haunted by nightmares, plots and fights to save her. But the Vivian who returns is not the same—she has endured immense trauma, and Venus doesn’t know how to help her. As they battle Phanes’s growing threat, they must overcome fear and pain to stop him.
I enjoyed this second read. Venus is a "dark fallen angel." In the first book, we get to know her as impatient and determined to claim Vivian's soul. In the second book, her character development introduces us to a more mature and caring partner. I was heartbroken at first, reading about Vivian repressing her happy and easygoing personality, but we do see her return to herself—the funny banter between her and Venus, and, of course, the spiciness of their intimacy.
If you enjoy fantasy, dark angels, and witches, this is an entertaining story.
Thank you, G.E. Masters, for this free copy—I really enjoyed it!
I enjoyed this second read. Venus is a "dark fallen angel." In the first book, we get to know her as impatient and determined to claim Vivian's soul. In the second book, her character development introduces us to a more mature and caring partner. I was heartbroken at first, reading about Vivian repressing her happy and easygoing personality, but we do see her return to herself—the funny banter between her and Venus, and, of course, the spiciness of their intimacy.
If you enjoy fantasy, dark angels, and witches, this is an entertaining story.
Thank you, G.E. Masters, for this free copy—I really enjoyed it!
April 8, 2026
The first 40% of the book is HEAVY. The topic of SA is prevalent and leaves your skin crawling afterwards. It isn't super graphic, but the imagination of what was done to Vivian is enough to churn your stomach. Be prepared for a story filled with grief and trauma.
Vivian had a great character arc as she searches for her bubbly, pink self again. We see a softer side of Venus and the strain between their relationship rips your heart in two. Masters has done a great job showing the aftermath of physical, mental, and sexual abuse on not just the victim but the people in her life. It's raw, it's brutal, and it's the truth.
Vivian shows her true strength about halfway through the book and the plot picks up swiftly from there. Don't forget the very steamy scenes between V and V, either. This book keeps you turning the page with quick wit and protective snarls of the FMC.
A great ending to the duology by Masters. If you love a grumpy x sunshine power couple this is the read for you.
Vivian had a great character arc as she searches for her bubbly, pink self again. We see a softer side of Venus and the strain between their relationship rips your heart in two. Masters has done a great job showing the aftermath of physical, mental, and sexual abuse on not just the victim but the people in her life. It's raw, it's brutal, and it's the truth.
Vivian shows her true strength about halfway through the book and the plot picks up swiftly from there. Don't forget the very steamy scenes between V and V, either. This book keeps you turning the page with quick wit and protective snarls of the FMC.
A great ending to the duology by Masters. If you love a grumpy x sunshine power couple this is the read for you.
May 28, 2025
After I finished reading When Flowers Bloom, it took me exactly 20 minutes to decide between reading one of my comfort books and forgetting about what I just read until I was ready for more or summoning my courage and diving straight into pain. I’m glad I chose the latter.
I won’t lie. The first pages were hard to read. What Vivian goes through is horrific as hell, and Venus’ helplessness was heartbreaking.
For me, the beauty of this story lies in how Vivian and Venus navigate Viv’s trauma. It’s raw, tear-triggering, and amazingly brought.
I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, waiting to know what would happen to them and the other witches and beings, and how they would defeat Phanes.
Everything comes together nicely at the end, and I managed to breathe in relief. I definitely enjoyed this series, even if it made my stomach turn at times.
I won’t lie. The first pages were hard to read. What Vivian goes through is horrific as hell, and Venus’ helplessness was heartbreaking.
For me, the beauty of this story lies in how Vivian and Venus navigate Viv’s trauma. It’s raw, tear-triggering, and amazingly brought.
I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, waiting to know what would happen to them and the other witches and beings, and how they would defeat Phanes.
Everything comes together nicely at the end, and I managed to breathe in relief. I definitely enjoyed this series, even if it made my stomach turn at times.
December 9, 2024
The author sent me a copy of this ARC around 2:43 yesterday afternoon and thanks to insomnia I woke up and finished around 4:30 this morning! This sequel picks right up where the first book left us and is incredible! I would have liked to have more to the fight scene and for Phanes to suffer a more agonizing death, I felt he got off easy after what he put Vivian through. I would also like to know more about the outcome of the demon's meeting, perhaps there is a spinoff planned in regard to this and other tidbits we learn of some of the side characters? 🤞🏼Because of this I would rate 4.5 stars rounded up because these things are minor, and the duet is absolutely wonderful and the characters loveable. We have a morally gray Shadow Mommy?! Yes, to more powerful women in charge!
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