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Queen of the Dead
Speaking with the dead is nothing new for Lou. It’s a curse she’s learned to hide from everyone – sometimes even herself. After running away from a past that took advantage of those abilities, Lou finally carves out a normal life for herself. That is, until she receives a mysterious message from a ghost – the Veil is thinning – and a cult of necromancers infiltrates her small town.
In a race to discover and defeat her foe, Lou learns she’s not alone in the fight. She grudgingly leans on her allies but wonders who to trust. What’s more impossible is suddenly finding herself the romantic interest of a man who somehow isn’t afraid of all the dark, creepy things about her... but even he has secrets for her to discover.
Time is running out, and reality seems to be slipping away. To save her new life and the people she loves, Lou must learn to accept who she is and embrace her true abilities, no matter where they might take her.
In a race to discover and defeat her foe, Lou learns she’s not alone in the fight. She grudgingly leans on her allies but wonders who to trust. What’s more impossible is suddenly finding herself the romantic interest of a man who somehow isn’t afraid of all the dark, creepy things about her... but even he has secrets for her to discover.
Time is running out, and reality seems to be slipping away. To save her new life and the people she loves, Lou must learn to accept who she is and embrace her true abilities, no matter where they might take her.
400 pages, Paperback
Published November 25, 2025
9 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Broadway
1 book2 followersSarah Broadway works as a news producer at a TV station in Alabama. Sarah's passion for storytelling has her delving into the fictional world during her free time. She writes in several different genres, though it's always contemporary fantasy and the paranormal that feels the most like home. When she’s not writing, Sarah can be found knitting, crocheting, or spending time outdoors surrounded by nature.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
September 14, 2025
Huge thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for this ARC!!
The Queen of the Dead was such an entertaining & fun read! I was hooked from chapter one and didn’t want to put it down.
I requested it because any Fantasy books that dabbles in death intrigues me. And I wasn’t let down for one second. The characters were really fun to read about - and the found family was truly precious. I absolutely loved the FMC and thought she was different from what I normally read.
The whole story was unique & refreshing. I saw some twists coming but still had a few I hadn’t predicted. The vibes were absolutely eerie & creepy. I was actually creeped out a few times! Romance is an important piece of this story but not the sole focus, which I appreciated.
The pacing was flowing perfectly up until the 80% mark. It was rushed at that point for a few chapters, with information being thrown nonstop. It then went back to a normal pace.
The mystery really intrigued me from start to finish. The author definitely has a prose that keeps you hanging on every word!
It’s definitely the best Autumn read. It fits the vibes perfectly.
The Queen of the Dead was such an entertaining & fun read! I was hooked from chapter one and didn’t want to put it down.
I requested it because any Fantasy books that dabbles in death intrigues me. And I wasn’t let down for one second. The characters were really fun to read about - and the found family was truly precious. I absolutely loved the FMC and thought she was different from what I normally read.
The whole story was unique & refreshing. I saw some twists coming but still had a few I hadn’t predicted. The vibes were absolutely eerie & creepy. I was actually creeped out a few times! Romance is an important piece of this story but not the sole focus, which I appreciated.
The pacing was flowing perfectly up until the 80% mark. It was rushed at that point for a few chapters, with information being thrown nonstop. It then went back to a normal pace.
The mystery really intrigued me from start to finish. The author definitely has a prose that keeps you hanging on every word!
It’s definitely the best Autumn read. It fits the vibes perfectly.
October 26, 2025
Imagine being able to see ghosts.
Not a new concept to be explored in fiction, but the writing style was bingable and it started off quite fun and quirky.
However, after the 50% mark, basically after the plot starts, I lost interest.
I have read this type of book too many times and it played out exactly as I thought it would. It doesn’t help that the title spoils the book.
There is an insta-romance with ‘betrayal’ which was predictable and surface level. Apparently, being odd (I mean, spending your nights reading at a cemetery isn’t on my bucket list) means that this romance is more nuanced than heart-eyes??
There is also signs of a richer past that is never fully addressed. I think this contributed to me being unable to connect to the characters.
There was a lot of tell, instead of show which added to the melodramatic tone and gimmicky plot.
I will read more from this author as I enjoyed her writing style, but felt that this type of story is overdone.
Arc gifted by angry robot.
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Not a new concept to be explored in fiction, but the writing style was bingable and it started off quite fun and quirky.
However, after the 50% mark, basically after the plot starts, I lost interest.
I have read this type of book too many times and it played out exactly as I thought it would. It doesn’t help that the title spoils the book.
There is an insta-romance with ‘betrayal’ which was predictable and surface level. Apparently, being odd (I mean, spending your nights reading at a cemetery isn’t on my bucket list) means that this romance is more nuanced than heart-eyes??
There is also signs of a richer past that is never fully addressed. I think this contributed to me being unable to connect to the characters.
There was a lot of tell, instead of show which added to the melodramatic tone and gimmicky plot.
I will read more from this author as I enjoyed her writing style, but felt that this type of story is overdone.
Arc gifted by angry robot.
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December 1, 2025
Queen of the Dead
by Sarah Broadway
Paranormal
NetGalley Audio ARC
Narrated by Cat Protano
Pub Date: Nov 25, 2025
Dreamscape Media
Ages: 14+
Lou sees her ability to see and speak to the dead as a curse because of being taken advantage of by somebody she trusted as a kid. Now, as she tries to have as normal a life as she can, she hides it, but sometimes the ghosts really need to talk to her
Such as one ghost who tells her that the veil is thinning, then Lou stumbles upon a cult of necromancers.
But she also finds out that there are others, even in her small town, who have gifts, and together they try to piece together what the necromancers are up to and stop them before they destroy the veil.
This is a cozy paranormal mystery that, while there is a romance subplot, doesn't go any further than kissing. It isn't scary, and this isn't a 'ghost story', but there is violence, and there is enough that I don't think it's suitable for readers under fourteen. It is an easy read, and moved along at a good pace. The narrator of the audio version I was granted, Cat Protano, did a good job with all of the different voices.
I can't remember if Lou's age was ever given, but even though she was supposed to be an adult, to me, she felt more like an older teen with her reactions and how she presents herself. Even some of the side characters, who were supposed to be older than Lou, still came across as young. I also feel that more history and detail about the magic would have helped. And there was one character, who was important, wasn't given enough detail/history/scenes to make their importance more impactful. When their time in the light came, I didn't know who they were for a few paragraphs, so that took away from the story.
Overall, this was a good story that I recommend.
3 Stars
by Sarah Broadway
Paranormal
NetGalley Audio ARC
Narrated by Cat Protano
Pub Date: Nov 25, 2025
Dreamscape Media
Ages: 14+
Lou sees her ability to see and speak to the dead as a curse because of being taken advantage of by somebody she trusted as a kid. Now, as she tries to have as normal a life as she can, she hides it, but sometimes the ghosts really need to talk to her
Such as one ghost who tells her that the veil is thinning, then Lou stumbles upon a cult of necromancers.
But she also finds out that there are others, even in her small town, who have gifts, and together they try to piece together what the necromancers are up to and stop them before they destroy the veil.
This is a cozy paranormal mystery that, while there is a romance subplot, doesn't go any further than kissing. It isn't scary, and this isn't a 'ghost story', but there is violence, and there is enough that I don't think it's suitable for readers under fourteen. It is an easy read, and moved along at a good pace. The narrator of the audio version I was granted, Cat Protano, did a good job with all of the different voices.
I can't remember if Lou's age was ever given, but even though she was supposed to be an adult, to me, she felt more like an older teen with her reactions and how she presents herself. Even some of the side characters, who were supposed to be older than Lou, still came across as young. I also feel that more history and detail about the magic would have helped. And there was one character, who was important, wasn't given enough detail/history/scenes to make their importance more impactful. When their time in the light came, I didn't know who they were for a few paragraphs, so that took away from the story.
Overall, this was a good story that I recommend.
3 Stars
November 4, 2025
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley. This is my honest opinion.
Lou might seem to be a normal girl who work at a grocery store, but she has a secret: she can talk to ghosts. She is used to seeing ghosts around town or being disturbed during her day when they take her to the cemetary. However, everything changes one night, when one of them warns her that someone — or something — is after her and won’t stop until they get what they want.
What I liked
The found family was such an important part of the book, and I enjoy it. Lou is surrounded by people who love her and protect her, even when she doesn’t think she needs it. Especially Mortie, I have a soft spot for him and his relationship with Lou. Vick was a great character, but their relationship could have been more developped.
What left me unsatisfied
The premise of the story sounded really interesting, but the book didn’t deliver as much as I expected. I wanted to know more about people with special abilities, blood magic and the mysterious villain. The ending felt a bit underwhelming; I guess I expected something more epic.
I’m also glad the romance wasn’t a bigger part of the story because I didn’t really like the MMC that much and it was too insta-love for me. I think this story had a lot of potential for more yearning on this part — given that ghosts are people with regrets or who didn’t move on.
Lou might seem to be a normal girl who work at a grocery store, but she has a secret: she can talk to ghosts. She is used to seeing ghosts around town or being disturbed during her day when they take her to the cemetary. However, everything changes one night, when one of them warns her that someone — or something — is after her and won’t stop until they get what they want.
What I liked
The found family was such an important part of the book, and I enjoy it. Lou is surrounded by people who love her and protect her, even when she doesn’t think she needs it. Especially Mortie, I have a soft spot for him and his relationship with Lou. Vick was a great character, but their relationship could have been more developped.
What left me unsatisfied
The premise of the story sounded really interesting, but the book didn’t deliver as much as I expected. I wanted to know more about people with special abilities, blood magic and the mysterious villain. The ending felt a bit underwhelming; I guess I expected something more epic.
I’m also glad the romance wasn’t a bigger part of the story because I didn’t really like the MMC that much and it was too insta-love for me. I think this story had a lot of potential for more yearning on this part — given that ghosts are people with regrets or who didn’t move on.
November 6, 2025
Queen of the Dead was such a fun surprise. It blends cozy small-town charm with eerie supernatural chaos in a way that just worked for me. Magnolia Grove feels like the kind of place where everyone knows your business… including the ghosts.
Lou was easily my favorite part of the story. She’s a relatable, low-key heroine who just wants to stock shelves and mind her own life, but fate apparently has her on speed dial. I loved following her as she stumbled into this world of necromancers, restless spirits, and secrets buried way deeper than the town’s grocery aisles. The found-family vibes really shined through too and the side characters felt warm, supportive, and sometimes downright hilarious.
The story leans spooky without being frightening, giving off nostalgic paranormal romance energy with culty necromancer drama, whispering ghosts, and a plot that keeps moving. I saw a couple twists coming, but there were still moments that genuinely caught me off guard. The ending was a little quick compared to the rest of the pacing, but not enough to take away from how much I enjoyed the journey.
Overall, this was an engaging, entertaining read with great characters, eerie atmosphere, and just enough emotional beats to keep me invested. I definitely hope we get more stories in this world. Magnolia Grove still has secrets left to dig up.
Thank you to Angry Robot Books and NetGalley for the gifted ARC!
Lou was easily my favorite part of the story. She’s a relatable, low-key heroine who just wants to stock shelves and mind her own life, but fate apparently has her on speed dial. I loved following her as she stumbled into this world of necromancers, restless spirits, and secrets buried way deeper than the town’s grocery aisles. The found-family vibes really shined through too and the side characters felt warm, supportive, and sometimes downright hilarious.
The story leans spooky without being frightening, giving off nostalgic paranormal romance energy with culty necromancer drama, whispering ghosts, and a plot that keeps moving. I saw a couple twists coming, but there were still moments that genuinely caught me off guard. The ending was a little quick compared to the rest of the pacing, but not enough to take away from how much I enjoyed the journey.
Overall, this was an engaging, entertaining read with great characters, eerie atmosphere, and just enough emotional beats to keep me invested. I definitely hope we get more stories in this world. Magnolia Grove still has secrets left to dig up.
Thank you to Angry Robot Books and NetGalley for the gifted ARC!
September 17, 2025
thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
wowowowow.
this started off honestly good and had me hooked from the beginning, i mean lou sees and talks to ghosts? and someone...or something is after her... and her abilities.
this was first person pov vs dual pov and it's cool, i would have loved to know what went on with scott especially since we basically got next to NOTHING about him but whatever. that's my biggest tiff i'd have to say cause why bring in a mysterious, assassin like love interest but literally give no background? minimal connections? i mean WHERE WAS THE INTEREST BESIDES A COUPLE KISSES? def would not call this a romance of much at all.
OTHERWISE - the plot, story, the group of friends - everything else tied together perfectly and i loved it
there was definitely a few ends that were left loose and i don't know if maybe there may be another book in the works to tie them up or it's made for us to wonder or what... maybe some of it was too rushed.
3.5 stars
wowowowow.
this started off honestly good and had me hooked from the beginning, i mean lou sees and talks to ghosts? and someone...or something is after her... and her abilities.
this was first person pov vs dual pov and it's cool, i would have loved to know what went on with scott especially since we basically got next to NOTHING about him but whatever. that's my biggest tiff i'd have to say cause why bring in a mysterious, assassin like love interest but literally give no background? minimal connections? i mean WHERE WAS THE INTEREST BESIDES A COUPLE KISSES? def would not call this a romance of much at all.
OTHERWISE - the plot, story, the group of friends - everything else tied together perfectly and i loved it
there was definitely a few ends that were left loose and i don't know if maybe there may be another book in the works to tie them up or it's made for us to wonder or what... maybe some of it was too rushed.
3.5 stars
September 9, 2025
First of all, I would like to thank the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC! I've been wanting to read a paranormal story for a long time now, and I'm surprised with this book! It is really entertaining, and keeps you wanting to know more about the story from page 1. I loved that at times it felt kind of a mystery/thriller, but with ghosts, different kinds of spirits, and characters with special abilities. I really enjoyed that the author used lore for the creatures, I love folk based stories! I also liked how the author portrayed "the veil" (the other side) with a gloomy atmosphere, and longing at the same time. There's also a found family trope, and good banter which gives you a cozy feeling with laughs! It's a fast-paced book, with short chapters that wrap up just right, so you don't get lost in the story (I really appreciate that). Overall, a great reading! I would definitely read more books from Sarah.
December 1, 2025
This was very entertaining.
I love me some stories where people talk to ghosties.
This had a bunch of other layers added in and some fabulous found family rounding it out.
I was draw in straight away and never lost interest.
Surprising to learn this was a debut for Sarah Broadway.
I will definitely be on the lookout for more from them in the future.
Much love to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for my ALC!
I love me some stories where people talk to ghosties.
This had a bunch of other layers added in and some fabulous found family rounding it out.
I was draw in straight away and never lost interest.
Surprising to learn this was a debut for Sarah Broadway.
I will definitely be on the lookout for more from them in the future.
Much love to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for my ALC!
December 21, 2025
Review originally on JamReads
Queen of the Dead is a standalone urban fantasy novel written by Sarah Broadway, published by Angry Robot Books. A fast-paced proposal that blends cozy-small town charm with supernatural chaos, featuring an unlikely heroine that just wants to mind her own business, a dash of romance and a bit of spooky vibes to deliver a round story.
Lou is trying to carve a normal life for herself, despite being able to see and speak to ghosts; her nice routine starts to break when a ghost delivers a cryptic message to her and a cult of necromancers infiltrates her small town, Magnolia Grove. She will be forced to fight against them and to find unlikely allies for it, including the romantic interest of Steve, a policeman that doesn't seem afraid of the dark, but with his own set of secrets; Lou will need to accept her abilities if she wants to save the city.
I was gladly surprised by Lou as the main character: she's not a heroine, she wants to mind her own life, but her abilities seem to have different plans for her; she's a fish outside the water trying to navigate this world of necromancers, powers and secrets. The group that she ends working with gives all the vibes of a found family, which was one of the best aspects of the book; however, I found the romance to be too rushed, especially as it starts as an instalove.
In terms of plot, the story leans more into the paranormal side, a bit spooky at some points but never frightening; there's space for humour and jokes, and the romance also helps alleviate the tension. It is really fast-paced, which makes this book compulsively readable, a novel that you devour in few sessions.
Queen of the Dead is a solid debut novel, a fast-paced urban fantasy novel perfect if you are looking for Supernatural vibes and an almost cozy story. A debut novel that makes me want to read more books by Sarah Broadway!
Queen of the Dead is a standalone urban fantasy novel written by Sarah Broadway, published by Angry Robot Books. A fast-paced proposal that blends cozy-small town charm with supernatural chaos, featuring an unlikely heroine that just wants to mind her own business, a dash of romance and a bit of spooky vibes to deliver a round story.
Lou is trying to carve a normal life for herself, despite being able to see and speak to ghosts; her nice routine starts to break when a ghost delivers a cryptic message to her and a cult of necromancers infiltrates her small town, Magnolia Grove. She will be forced to fight against them and to find unlikely allies for it, including the romantic interest of Steve, a policeman that doesn't seem afraid of the dark, but with his own set of secrets; Lou will need to accept her abilities if she wants to save the city.
I was gladly surprised by Lou as the main character: she's not a heroine, she wants to mind her own life, but her abilities seem to have different plans for her; she's a fish outside the water trying to navigate this world of necromancers, powers and secrets. The group that she ends working with gives all the vibes of a found family, which was one of the best aspects of the book; however, I found the romance to be too rushed, especially as it starts as an instalove.
In terms of plot, the story leans more into the paranormal side, a bit spooky at some points but never frightening; there's space for humour and jokes, and the romance also helps alleviate the tension. It is really fast-paced, which makes this book compulsively readable, a novel that you devour in few sessions.
Queen of the Dead is a solid debut novel, a fast-paced urban fantasy novel perfect if you are looking for Supernatural vibes and an almost cozy story. A debut novel that makes me want to read more books by Sarah Broadway!
November 17, 2025
3.5 ⭐
Thank you Netgalley and Angry Robot for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Queen Of The Dead follows Lou who tries to carve out a normal life for herself despite being able to both see and speak to ghosts. Something strange is happening in town, the Veil is thinning – and a cult of necromancers infiltrates her small town. Time is running out, and reality seems to be slipping away. To save her new life and the people she loves, Lou must learn to accept who she is and embrace her true abilities, no matter where they might take her.
This book was an incredibly fun and easy read, in fact, I read it in two sittings. It wasn’t anything groundbreaking but it was a nice break from the chunky fantasy I typically read. Lou was incredibly loveable along with her companions Mortie, Victoria and her love interest Scott and I’m always a sucker for a good found family trope! If you need a good and easy fantasy/horror read with an added romance element this is for you!
Thank you Netgalley and Angry Robot for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Queen Of The Dead follows Lou who tries to carve out a normal life for herself despite being able to both see and speak to ghosts. Something strange is happening in town, the Veil is thinning – and a cult of necromancers infiltrates her small town. Time is running out, and reality seems to be slipping away. To save her new life and the people she loves, Lou must learn to accept who she is and embrace her true abilities, no matter where they might take her.
This book was an incredibly fun and easy read, in fact, I read it in two sittings. It wasn’t anything groundbreaking but it was a nice break from the chunky fantasy I typically read. Lou was incredibly loveable along with her companions Mortie, Victoria and her love interest Scott and I’m always a sucker for a good found family trope! If you need a good and easy fantasy/horror read with an added romance element this is for you!
December 14, 2025
"Queen of the Dead" is a very solid debut that’s immediately engaging and light throughout. For reasons not entirely clear to me, I braced myself for a heavier read, but instead found this book compulsively readable and just all-around fun.
The story follows Lou, a likeable main character who is able to speak with the dead. Despite this paranormal ability, she's managed to carve out a mostly normal small-town life for herself, until a ghost warns her that the veil between the living world and the dead is weakening, with potentially disastrous results ahead. What really worked for me is how the supernatural is woven into Lou’s day-to-day in such a matter-of-fact, “this is just how it is” way. I appreciated that style of writing, as it kept the reading experience breezy and easy, but some readers might wish for deeper world-building as a result.
"Queen of the Dead" is a ghost story without the chills; it’s ultimately a cozy mystery with a paranormal twist. I enjoyed the suspense side of it the most and didn’t really need the romance thread, but I can also see how including both helps readers cross over from a preferred genre into trying something new. This makes it an easily accessible read for many, and the found family theme checks the heartwarming box, too. It’s well-performed on audio by Cat Protano, which made it an especially easy listen.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media, NetGalley, and Sarah Broadway for an advance copy for honest review.
The story follows Lou, a likeable main character who is able to speak with the dead. Despite this paranormal ability, she's managed to carve out a mostly normal small-town life for herself, until a ghost warns her that the veil between the living world and the dead is weakening, with potentially disastrous results ahead. What really worked for me is how the supernatural is woven into Lou’s day-to-day in such a matter-of-fact, “this is just how it is” way. I appreciated that style of writing, as it kept the reading experience breezy and easy, but some readers might wish for deeper world-building as a result.
"Queen of the Dead" is a ghost story without the chills; it’s ultimately a cozy mystery with a paranormal twist. I enjoyed the suspense side of it the most and didn’t really need the romance thread, but I can also see how including both helps readers cross over from a preferred genre into trying something new. This makes it an easily accessible read for many, and the found family theme checks the heartwarming box, too. It’s well-performed on audio by Cat Protano, which made it an especially easy listen.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media, NetGalley, and Sarah Broadway for an advance copy for honest review.
November 25, 2025
3.5⭐️ - Rounded Down
Queen of the Dead was a paranormal fantasy that focuses on the main character, Lou, who can both see and talk to the dead. I was under the impression going into this book that it wasn't a romantic fantasy, but it did end up being that way. As far as originality goes, a character who can see and speak to the dead, this isn't quite an original concept, but it was an entertaining enough read.
Lou can speak to the dead and doesn't exactly feel like what she can do is a gift, but rather a curse. She is a store clerk and desperately just wants to be a normal girl. Luckily enough, her neighbor "Mortie" has an ability to sense the emotions of others through touch and is becomes not only a friend, but the closest thing she has to family. Lou finds herself tangled up in a battle with evil after the arrival of a book that radiates dread.
Like I said, there is a romance that is part of the story and it's almost a very "insta-love" type of relationship that occurs between Lou and Scott, which I definitely wasn't the biggest fan of.
This book had ghosts, magic, witches, banshees, and other magically touched characters. I found this book to be entertaining, but it's not one that I would consider to be a favorite and probably not a read that will stick with me.
Expected Publication Date 📅: November 25th, 2025.
Thank you to NetGalley, Angry Robot, and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Queen of the Dead was a paranormal fantasy that focuses on the main character, Lou, who can both see and talk to the dead. I was under the impression going into this book that it wasn't a romantic fantasy, but it did end up being that way. As far as originality goes, a character who can see and speak to the dead, this isn't quite an original concept, but it was an entertaining enough read.
Lou can speak to the dead and doesn't exactly feel like what she can do is a gift, but rather a curse. She is a store clerk and desperately just wants to be a normal girl. Luckily enough, her neighbor "Mortie" has an ability to sense the emotions of others through touch and is becomes not only a friend, but the closest thing she has to family. Lou finds herself tangled up in a battle with evil after the arrival of a book that radiates dread.
Like I said, there is a romance that is part of the story and it's almost a very "insta-love" type of relationship that occurs between Lou and Scott, which I definitely wasn't the biggest fan of.
This book had ghosts, magic, witches, banshees, and other magically touched characters. I found this book to be entertaining, but it's not one that I would consider to be a favorite and probably not a read that will stick with me.
Expected Publication Date 📅: November 25th, 2025.
Thank you to NetGalley, Angry Robot, and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 8, 2025
place holder - review to follow by mid Dec 2025
November 10, 2025
13.5 stars rounded down. Thanks to Netgalley and Sarah Broadway for this ARC. This was a fast paced story that kept my attention snagged and kept me engaged. I will say the plot pace dropped a little bit around 50-75% but I still like it. I listened to this via audiobook with a little bit of e-reading thrown in.
Lou can speak to the dead, even more odd is that the dead can pull her to them, which is super inconvenient if she's working at the grocery store or showering....
Lou almost has a normal life when she gets a message about the veil thinning from a ghost and it just gets weirder from there. There are necromancers trying to plot there way into eternal life and of course our girl Lou is gonna stop them! And in the course of this she may realize being normal isn't all it's cracked up to be.
There is a romance sub-plot but it was just that, the author didn't switch gears and make it all about the romance. I did very much enjoy the found family aspect of this, Lou just wants to be normal and even though she may not be exactly like everyone else she has people who accept her for who she is. The story was cozy and spooky and perfect for this time of year. If you like paranormal, ghosts, cozy, or found-family I think you'd enjoy this book.
Lou can speak to the dead, even more odd is that the dead can pull her to them, which is super inconvenient if she's working at the grocery store or showering....
Lou almost has a normal life when she gets a message about the veil thinning from a ghost and it just gets weirder from there. There are necromancers trying to plot there way into eternal life and of course our girl Lou is gonna stop them! And in the course of this she may realize being normal isn't all it's cracked up to be.
There is a romance sub-plot but it was just that, the author didn't switch gears and make it all about the romance. I did very much enjoy the found family aspect of this, Lou just wants to be normal and even though she may not be exactly like everyone else she has people who accept her for who she is. The story was cozy and spooky and perfect for this time of year. If you like paranormal, ghosts, cozy, or found-family I think you'd enjoy this book.
November 19, 2025
2.0 ★— This one just didn’t work for me, but it might be a good fit for people who want an easy listen and a paranormal romance set in a small town with a mousy, self-conscious heroine who is dealing with the repercussions of her ability to see the dead, along with a small romance subplot.
I just didn’t enjoy the FMC’s constant negative self-talk. She called herself “awkward” and “a weird girl” so many times that I almost felt transported back to early 2010s media, and her lack of agency kept me from enjoying the pace of the story. The ghostly characters were the best part for me, and I enjoyed those sections much more because I wasn’t being confronted with the FMC repeatedly pointing out “how much her eyes were too big for her face,” which happened more often than I liked. The romance, as it developed, was fine and I did eventually enjoy the MMC and his chemistry with the main character.
🎧 Audiobook Note
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo
I did enjoy the narrator and found her tone of voice very fitting for the main character. Her performance is what helped me finish the story, since she brought a good sense of personality to the audiobook.
_______________
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
I just didn’t enjoy the FMC’s constant negative self-talk. She called herself “awkward” and “a weird girl” so many times that I almost felt transported back to early 2010s media, and her lack of agency kept me from enjoying the pace of the story. The ghostly characters were the best part for me, and I enjoyed those sections much more because I wasn’t being confronted with the FMC repeatedly pointing out “how much her eyes were too big for her face,” which happened more often than I liked. The romance, as it developed, was fine and I did eventually enjoy the MMC and his chemistry with the main character.
🎧 Audiobook Note
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo
I did enjoy the narrator and found her tone of voice very fitting for the main character. Her performance is what helped me finish the story, since she brought a good sense of personality to the audiobook.
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Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
October 15, 2025
What you can expect:
Urban fictional setting in a small town named Magnolia Grove. Yes, there is also a Piggly Wiggly mention, and as a Southern gal, I ate that up, lol.
A variety of interesting and likable characters with supernatural gifts.
Fast-paced story that keeps the pages turning.
I absolutely LOVED this ghost story. Just like our MC Lou, I hate being overly scared. 𝑸𝒖𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅 was a balance of spooky, not scary, while also being eerie and utterly entertaining. It was a creepy, haunting story that kept me ensnared within its pages. This book buried me six feet deep and held me trapped until the story was consumed. The writing was exceptional, and the characters gave off found-family vibes with X-Men-like powers. With it being a fast-paced and quick read, I was pleasantly surprised to connect with so many of its characters. I will absolutely be reading more from this author.
Thank you to Angry Robot Books for the paranormal urban fantasy novel. 𝑸𝒖𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅 by debut author Sarah Broadway is scheduled to release November 25th, 2025.
Urban fictional setting in a small town named Magnolia Grove. Yes, there is also a Piggly Wiggly mention, and as a Southern gal, I ate that up, lol.
A variety of interesting and likable characters with supernatural gifts.
Fast-paced story that keeps the pages turning.
I absolutely LOVED this ghost story. Just like our MC Lou, I hate being overly scared. 𝑸𝒖𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅 was a balance of spooky, not scary, while also being eerie and utterly entertaining. It was a creepy, haunting story that kept me ensnared within its pages. This book buried me six feet deep and held me trapped until the story was consumed. The writing was exceptional, and the characters gave off found-family vibes with X-Men-like powers. With it being a fast-paced and quick read, I was pleasantly surprised to connect with so many of its characters. I will absolutely be reading more from this author.
Thank you to Angry Robot Books for the paranormal urban fantasy novel. 𝑸𝒖𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅 by debut author Sarah Broadway is scheduled to release November 25th, 2025.
October 16, 2025
This book surprised me! Sorry for this rambling review but after a night of great sleep my thoughts are still all over the place.
The story starts pretty slow but gives you this eerie feeling. You know something will happen soon and so does our FMC Louise (Lou) . But she is really chill about it. I loved Lou! She considers herself weird but I think she is awesome. I think she is different than a lot of other FMC's at the moment because she is really understanding and kind but not a doormat and she can definetely save herself and her found family. I'm a sucker for a good found family thrope and this book definetely has one!
The romance isn't a big part of the story but it's there and I really adored it! Also the surprises it brings along the way!
The second part of the book is a little more fastpaced and we learn a lot of things about Lou alongside her. The story wasn't really scary but it had it's eerie elements, and I really liked that. And I adore the way the world and afterlife works in Lou's world. This book made me feel so in my book that's a 5 star book.
Thanks for the advanced copy Sarah and Angryrobot! All of my thoughts are my own.
The story starts pretty slow but gives you this eerie feeling. You know something will happen soon and so does our FMC Louise (Lou) . But she is really chill about it. I loved Lou! She considers herself weird but I think she is awesome. I think she is different than a lot of other FMC's at the moment because she is really understanding and kind but not a doormat and she can definetely save herself and her found family. I'm a sucker for a good found family thrope and this book definetely has one!
The romance isn't a big part of the story but it's there and I really adored it! Also the surprises it brings along the way!
The second part of the book is a little more fastpaced and we learn a lot of things about Lou alongside her. The story wasn't really scary but it had it's eerie elements, and I really liked that. And I adore the way the world and afterlife works in Lou's world. This book made me feel so in my book that's a 5 star book.
Thanks for the advanced copy Sarah and Angryrobot! All of my thoughts are my own.
November 29, 2025
Queen of the Dead is a fast paced, cozy, mystery paranormal adventure- with a touch of romance. Built very hard on the found family trope, it focuses on Lou, who can see and talk to ghosts, and is filled with many other quirky characters. We have the typical misscommunication trope, mixed with slight feelings of betrayal - from and by multiple sources, and the unknown identity trope - although the title kinda gives it away. The books ending was fast, and it felt like there was more left open than there was closed. Our villains backstory was glossed over, there was no true explanation of what he was, we are missing so much information on multiple characters that the ending just felt… wrong. Not unlike how Lou feels when the ghosts that want to harm appear tbh. I wonder if it was left open in order to write more in this world. Overall, it was fun, fast and slightly refreshing having the romance take a backseat.
November 22, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for this ALC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Queen of the Dead is a fast-paced, very easy read—a modern paranormal fantasy filled with eerie graveyards and supernatural abilities. I particularly enjoyed the found family element, which brought warmth and charm to the narrative and offered a lovely counterbalance to the darker themes.
Where it fell a little short for me was the romance, which felt rushed and veered into insta-love, largely because we knew so little about the MMC. At times the plot had so much happening at once that it became a touch overwhelming, and I found my interest wavering. Even so, it’s a cosy story overall, with clear writing and constant action that will suit anyone in the mood for a lighter supernatural read.
Queen of the Dead is a fast-paced, very easy read—a modern paranormal fantasy filled with eerie graveyards and supernatural abilities. I particularly enjoyed the found family element, which brought warmth and charm to the narrative and offered a lovely counterbalance to the darker themes.
Where it fell a little short for me was the romance, which felt rushed and veered into insta-love, largely because we knew so little about the MMC. At times the plot had so much happening at once that it became a touch overwhelming, and I found my interest wavering. Even so, it’s a cosy story overall, with clear writing and constant action that will suit anyone in the mood for a lighter supernatural read.
September 23, 2025
First of all, thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Queen of the Dead is a fast-paced and very easy read, with a modern paranormal fantasy with eerie cemeteries, and supernatural powers. I especially enjoyed the found family, who brought warmth and interest to the story, balancing the darker elements.
Where it fell a little short for me was in the romance, which felt rushed and leaned toward insta-love, because we knew nothing of the mmc. At times, the plot also had so much going on that it became a bit overwhelming and I lost some interest. Still, it’s a cosy story overall, with clear language and constant action that will work well for someone looking for a lighter supernatural read! 👻
Queen of the Dead is a fast-paced and very easy read, with a modern paranormal fantasy with eerie cemeteries, and supernatural powers. I especially enjoyed the found family, who brought warmth and interest to the story, balancing the darker elements.
Where it fell a little short for me was in the romance, which felt rushed and leaned toward insta-love, because we knew nothing of the mmc. At times, the plot also had so much going on that it became a bit overwhelming and I lost some interest. Still, it’s a cosy story overall, with clear language and constant action that will work well for someone looking for a lighter supernatural read! 👻
November 17, 2025
Queen of the Dead is a contemporary novel that has some supernatural elements and would make for the perfect story to read around Halloween time. I will say thay I enjoyed this book very much found it to be very engaging. If your wanting to find another fall read before the snow comes then you should definitely check out this story.
We are introduced to Lou who should be enjoying the best years of her young life but the problem is that she has the gift to see ghosts. She absolutely despises this because she finds herself taken from her home and sent to the cemetery. However, she later learns that the ghosts are trying to help her because someone is after her. Will she accept their help and let them help her resolve the threat that wants to destroy her?
We are introduced to Lou who should be enjoying the best years of her young life but the problem is that she has the gift to see ghosts. She absolutely despises this because she finds herself taken from her home and sent to the cemetery. However, she later learns that the ghosts are trying to help her because someone is after her. Will she accept their help and let them help her resolve the threat that wants to destroy her?
December 17, 2025
This was a pretty short and easy read. I read it one day. The gothic atmosphere was great and Lou was such a likable main character. Found family is my favorite trope and this book did it well. It was very sweet seeing Lou find her people who loved and protected her. I especially loved Mortie 🥹 If you enjoy cozy paranormal vibes with found family and a touch of romance then this might just be for you!
November 25, 2025
This was a fun, quick, and easy read. The romance didn't really work for me (I'm not a fan of insta-love) but the found family aspect was very cute. The ending fell a bit flat, but the lead up to it was good. The narrator for the audiobook was very good. Her voice was perfect for the FMC.
Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced ARC.
November 24, 2025
ARC Review
The premise sounded interesting and the first half of the book kept my interest but then unfortunately I started lose interest into the book. There was not enough depth to the romance and felt a little too instalove for my interest. The found family was great but I wish we could have dived more into the powers everyone had. At times it felt like some characters had over reactions that didn't make sense because we weren't given enough context or background as to why. Overall I loved the concept but it fell a little short for me.
The premise sounded interesting and the first half of the book kept my interest but then unfortunately I started lose interest into the book. There was not enough depth to the romance and felt a little too instalove for my interest. The found family was great but I wish we could have dived more into the powers everyone had. At times it felt like some characters had over reactions that didn't make sense because we weren't given enough context or background as to why. Overall I loved the concept but it fell a little short for me.
November 26, 2025
This review was originally posted on Queen's Book Asylum.
I received an eARC from Angry Robot Book in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating: 2.5*
I requested Queen of the Dead on a whim (which I completely forgot about until it showed up in my inbox thanks to the lovely Angry Robot Books publicists, whoops), because it sounded interesting, and we all know UF is close to my dark little heart. As far as I can tell, this is Broadway’s debut novel, so even if I wanted, I couldn’t have any expectations set for it, which is probably a good thing. This way, I was only mildly disappointed, and can peacefully go my own way after finishing it.
The setting is simple. We have Lou, a young lady in her early twenties, living in a small city, working in a grocery shop, and spending probably way more time in cemeteries than any other people. What makes her different is that she can see and talk to ghosts. We don’t really learn an awful lot about her besides some nuggets of her childhood and her mother who used her to her own ends, and that she has low self-esteem (somewhat understandably, I grant you), and her friendship with his lovely neighbor, Mortie. Who happens to be an empath. And the only queer character. Who was probably my favorite one, and he didn’t get nearly enough page time. And he got kind of sidelined in the last thirdish of the book, I should say, after fulfilling his role of usefulness. But then, I think this was my major issue with the Queen of the Dead – you never get the chance to really bond with any of the characters, they don’t seem to have a lot of depth, and they seemingly only appear when the plot needs them to be useful. Which, okay, this is how stories work, but as a reader, I shouldn’t be aware of this while reading. And while Mortie is sidelined, Lou goes and puts her trust into people whom she has either just met, barely knows, or, in Vick’s case, only appears when her psychic abilities tell her to, which is conveniently whenever Lou needs her.
Queen of the Dead builds on tropes and clichés; it has nothing we haven’t seen a hundred times before, and therefore it fails to be very interesting. It also doesn’t always make sense – like when Lou finds out – surprise, surprise! – that she is special even among the people who have all kinds of abilities, and she gets this title, but like, couldn’t she get called something more fitting? She is now called “queen” because she happens to be a woman, and also reasons. Whatever. And did I mention the romance plot yet? I was sooooo not buying that Lou and Scott have any chemistry whatsoever. Also, he was suspicious AF, so you could see from a mile that there is going to be something about him that makes him so “mysterious”. And creepy as hell. Red flags, anyone? But what do I know? It’s not like I have a lot more dating experience than Lou, but still. If you’ve read enough romance novels, you can spot all the signs and twists that are coming your way. Which is not a bad thing if you are looking for a book that has a feeling of familiarity and predictability. But I personally like to have a lot more actual mystery in my reads – murder mysteries/thrillers tend to be my favorite books for a reason.
I obviously had issues with this book – could you tell? – but I have to say, that despite all that, it’s super easy to read – even if I’m not sure if I wasn’t a fan of the writing or the editing side of things. And yes, I’ve been grumbling a lot, but I still read until the end, because I was invested enough to find out how the story ends. Although I think I mostly wanted to know what’s the deal with the book. Because yes, there is a book featured in Queen of the Dead, and trust a reader to be the most interested in that. And btw, was I supposed to feel any sort of empathy towards Ivan? I know, I know, I’m being cryptic, but I don’t want to spoil this book more than I already did.
To close off this slightly ranty review, Queen of the Dead is a quick, easy romantic fantasy romp that will appeal to people who don’t mind clichés and a bunch of tropes thrown together. It very lightly touches on topics of childhood traumas, found family, and discovering things about yourself you didn’t know. Unfortunately, these remain very light touchees indeed, never delving too deep, making the characters lacking, and thus hard to connect with. I couldn’t help feeling like I was reading an early version rather than an ARC copy, almost ready for publishing. But maybe I’m unfairly harsh to Queen of the Dead as I was myself in an editing frame of mind when reading, making me look at it with more critical eyes than usual. I guess we’ll never know. Either way, Queen of the Dead, while having an interesting setup, didn’t quite deliver what it promised on the surface.
I received an eARC from Angry Robot Book in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating: 2.5*
“You can’t let their stories drain you, eventually changing you into something hardened and numb. Or you can embrace them, giving yourself the allowance to feel all their sorrow, all their pain. You let it pass through you, accepting it. On the other side of acceptance comes compassion and understanding. And then you simply press on and keep living.”
I requested Queen of the Dead on a whim (which I completely forgot about until it showed up in my inbox thanks to the lovely Angry Robot Books publicists, whoops), because it sounded interesting, and we all know UF is close to my dark little heart. As far as I can tell, this is Broadway’s debut novel, so even if I wanted, I couldn’t have any expectations set for it, which is probably a good thing. This way, I was only mildly disappointed, and can peacefully go my own way after finishing it.
The setting is simple. We have Lou, a young lady in her early twenties, living in a small city, working in a grocery shop, and spending probably way more time in cemeteries than any other people. What makes her different is that she can see and talk to ghosts. We don’t really learn an awful lot about her besides some nuggets of her childhood and her mother who used her to her own ends, and that she has low self-esteem (somewhat understandably, I grant you), and her friendship with his lovely neighbor, Mortie. Who happens to be an empath. And the only queer character. Who was probably my favorite one, and he didn’t get nearly enough page time. And he got kind of sidelined in the last thirdish of the book, I should say, after fulfilling his role of usefulness. But then, I think this was my major issue with the Queen of the Dead – you never get the chance to really bond with any of the characters, they don’t seem to have a lot of depth, and they seemingly only appear when the plot needs them to be useful. Which, okay, this is how stories work, but as a reader, I shouldn’t be aware of this while reading. And while Mortie is sidelined, Lou goes and puts her trust into people whom she has either just met, barely knows, or, in Vick’s case, only appears when her psychic abilities tell her to, which is conveniently whenever Lou needs her.
Queen of the Dead builds on tropes and clichés; it has nothing we haven’t seen a hundred times before, and therefore it fails to be very interesting. It also doesn’t always make sense – like when Lou finds out – surprise, surprise! – that she is special even among the people who have all kinds of abilities, and she gets this title, but like, couldn’t she get called something more fitting? She is now called “queen” because she happens to be a woman, and also reasons. Whatever. And did I mention the romance plot yet? I was sooooo not buying that Lou and Scott have any chemistry whatsoever. Also, he was suspicious AF, so you could see from a mile that there is going to be something about him that makes him so “mysterious”. And creepy as hell. Red flags, anyone? But what do I know? It’s not like I have a lot more dating experience than Lou, but still. If you’ve read enough romance novels, you can spot all the signs and twists that are coming your way. Which is not a bad thing if you are looking for a book that has a feeling of familiarity and predictability. But I personally like to have a lot more actual mystery in my reads – murder mysteries/thrillers tend to be my favorite books for a reason.
I obviously had issues with this book – could you tell? – but I have to say, that despite all that, it’s super easy to read – even if I’m not sure if I wasn’t a fan of the writing or the editing side of things. And yes, I’ve been grumbling a lot, but I still read until the end, because I was invested enough to find out how the story ends. Although I think I mostly wanted to know what’s the deal with the book. Because yes, there is a book featured in Queen of the Dead, and trust a reader to be the most interested in that. And btw, was I supposed to feel any sort of empathy towards Ivan? I know, I know, I’m being cryptic, but I don’t want to spoil this book more than I already did.
To close off this slightly ranty review, Queen of the Dead is a quick, easy romantic fantasy romp that will appeal to people who don’t mind clichés and a bunch of tropes thrown together. It very lightly touches on topics of childhood traumas, found family, and discovering things about yourself you didn’t know. Unfortunately, these remain very light touchees indeed, never delving too deep, making the characters lacking, and thus hard to connect with. I couldn’t help feeling like I was reading an early version rather than an ARC copy, almost ready for publishing. But maybe I’m unfairly harsh to Queen of the Dead as I was myself in an editing frame of mind when reading, making me look at it with more critical eyes than usual. I guess we’ll never know. Either way, Queen of the Dead, while having an interesting setup, didn’t quite deliver what it promised on the surface.
November 17, 2025
Huge thanks to the team at Angry Robot Books for my gifted arc review copy of the forthcoming, 'Queen Of The Dead' by Sarah Broadway, which is due to grace bookshelves from November 25th.
It is a fantastic read, with echoes of the early Anita Blake novels, and I mean that sincerely as a compliment.
Lou appears to have things worked out-she doesn't use anything technological, because the ghost energy interrupts them and causes them not to work, walks certain places -and not others-due to overwhelming ghost energy, and has established relationships with some of them.
There is a little boy with a sinister, Damien from the Omen presence, called Tom-Tom,Mrs Hammond, constantly disapproving of 'modern young women', and fond of abruptly yanking Lou out of her sleep and into her graveyard who immediately stole my heart.
Lou works in a shop, at night, in order to avoid lots of tech and potentially dangerous situations with the undead, who sense Lou like a ship to a lighthouse, and seems to have it all together. She has a home, a best friend named Mortie who is aware of her gift for seeing, and speaking with the dead, and uses it to help him piece together the stories of those in the graveyard , where he undertakes a lot of grace rubbing.
He looks after herm, and vice versa, their small social circle existing quite peacefully until a malevolent spirit crosses the Veil to bring her into a realm of darkness.
As Lou and Mortie try to establish just what is happening, she finds the ghosts she is accustomed to seeing are behaving in increasingly strange ways, warning her that something dark and terrible is coming.
The control she had over when and where she can go is increasingly wary, she is being pulled from pillar to post with no idea why, or where this will end up being other than the spirits are in danger.
Hooded, cloaked men are chasing her, the places she thought were safe , no longer are, and her small group of allies-Mortie, Zelda the cat, Cliff, her manager at the Piggly Wiggly, Vick, Scott the policeman who rescues her bike after it is stolen -are in dire need of her to stand her ground and fight back.
What she took for an annoying quirk of character that means she has to ride a bike rather than drive a care, means she has to avoid the lake in the local park as the ghost there wants to drown her, all of the little things are actually a pretty big deal. And the fate of the world kind of depends on her not running any longer.
I genuinely loved the attention which was paid to the supporting characters, the arc that Louy has to go through to become herself, and the fierceness with which she fights for her friends.
Lou is a character who hits the ground running, and this first volume sets the stage for a hopefully long lasting series which will only grow in the ability to transport you to a completely different world.
It is dark, genuinely scary in parts and so full of heart and hope , and I loved it!
It is a fantastic read, with echoes of the early Anita Blake novels, and I mean that sincerely as a compliment.
Lou appears to have things worked out-she doesn't use anything technological, because the ghost energy interrupts them and causes them not to work, walks certain places -and not others-due to overwhelming ghost energy, and has established relationships with some of them.
There is a little boy with a sinister, Damien from the Omen presence, called Tom-Tom,Mrs Hammond, constantly disapproving of 'modern young women', and fond of abruptly yanking Lou out of her sleep and into her graveyard who immediately stole my heart.
Lou works in a shop, at night, in order to avoid lots of tech and potentially dangerous situations with the undead, who sense Lou like a ship to a lighthouse, and seems to have it all together. She has a home, a best friend named Mortie who is aware of her gift for seeing, and speaking with the dead, and uses it to help him piece together the stories of those in the graveyard , where he undertakes a lot of grace rubbing.
He looks after herm, and vice versa, their small social circle existing quite peacefully until a malevolent spirit crosses the Veil to bring her into a realm of darkness.
As Lou and Mortie try to establish just what is happening, she finds the ghosts she is accustomed to seeing are behaving in increasingly strange ways, warning her that something dark and terrible is coming.
The control she had over when and where she can go is increasingly wary, she is being pulled from pillar to post with no idea why, or where this will end up being other than the spirits are in danger.
Hooded, cloaked men are chasing her, the places she thought were safe , no longer are, and her small group of allies-Mortie, Zelda the cat, Cliff, her manager at the Piggly Wiggly, Vick, Scott the policeman who rescues her bike after it is stolen -are in dire need of her to stand her ground and fight back.
What she took for an annoying quirk of character that means she has to ride a bike rather than drive a care, means she has to avoid the lake in the local park as the ghost there wants to drown her, all of the little things are actually a pretty big deal. And the fate of the world kind of depends on her not running any longer.
I genuinely loved the attention which was paid to the supporting characters, the arc that Louy has to go through to become herself, and the fierceness with which she fights for her friends.
Lou is a character who hits the ground running, and this first volume sets the stage for a hopefully long lasting series which will only grow in the ability to transport you to a completely different world.
It is dark, genuinely scary in parts and so full of heart and hope , and I loved it!
November 24, 2025
Lou lives a little life and at first sight it looks like she’s happy with her little life, her little house, her little friendship with Mortie, her next door neighbour, her little job at the Piggly-Wiggly, and her little bike that gets her from A to B. Lou keeps away from technology, she doesn’t mix well with anything electronic and to keep her little life the way it is, she keeps away from electronics and technology as much as she can. What most people don’t know is that Lou can see ghosts, she can speak to the dead and this is why she keeps her life small. Lou is hiding what she can do and hiding what lies in her past in the hope that she can life as normal a life as she can live.
Lou has been successful at living her little life until suddenly she gets a chilling warning from the ghost of a 3 year old little boy, (and yes, it did give me The Omen – Damien shivers initially,) the Veil between life and death is being threatened by dark forces and everything that Lou has built is at risk. And from this point on the paranormal elements of the story come front and centre, focused around the mystery of Who or What is threatening the Veil and Lou’s little life.
Lou is such a great character and her arc in this story is really well developed. At the start of the story only Mortie knows about Lou’s gift but, as The Brethren infiltrate Magnolia Grove Lou’s world widens to include romance, found family and some truly fabulous characters, dead and alive! Tom Tom is that perfect mix of chilling and cute, the ghost of a 3 year old Victorian boy, Vick is a no nonsense psychic, who doesn’t take any crap from anyone, and Mrs Hammond gives the most fabulous Hyacinth Bucket vibes (IYKYK,) with her disapproval of modern young women and demanding Lou’s attention in the most physical way whenever she wants!
As well as this great cast of characters, there is the paranormal danger, and the truly scary dark cult that is threatening Lou and those around her. The level of threat and danger increases in parallel with the pace of the story and plot to truly draw you in to whether Lou will solve the plot and save the day, alongside the development of the romance between Lou and Officer Cute (Scott,) who is so much more than the shy young police officer she originally believed he was.
Queen of the Dead by Sarah Broadway is a heart pounding, gripping read that had me hooked from start to end, following Lou’s journey from hiding behind her little life to facing and embracing the realities of her gifts and the danger that threatens her and those she cares for around her. I absolutely loved that ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ vibe and sense of friendship, hope, found family, and embracing yourself in all your parts feeling I got from this story, and of course those things that go bump in the night scary parts too!
Thank you so much Angry Robot Books and NetGalley for sharing this arc with me in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Lou has been successful at living her little life until suddenly she gets a chilling warning from the ghost of a 3 year old little boy, (and yes, it did give me The Omen – Damien shivers initially,) the Veil between life and death is being threatened by dark forces and everything that Lou has built is at risk. And from this point on the paranormal elements of the story come front and centre, focused around the mystery of Who or What is threatening the Veil and Lou’s little life.
Lou is such a great character and her arc in this story is really well developed. At the start of the story only Mortie knows about Lou’s gift but, as The Brethren infiltrate Magnolia Grove Lou’s world widens to include romance, found family and some truly fabulous characters, dead and alive! Tom Tom is that perfect mix of chilling and cute, the ghost of a 3 year old Victorian boy, Vick is a no nonsense psychic, who doesn’t take any crap from anyone, and Mrs Hammond gives the most fabulous Hyacinth Bucket vibes (IYKYK,) with her disapproval of modern young women and demanding Lou’s attention in the most physical way whenever she wants!
As well as this great cast of characters, there is the paranormal danger, and the truly scary dark cult that is threatening Lou and those around her. The level of threat and danger increases in parallel with the pace of the story and plot to truly draw you in to whether Lou will solve the plot and save the day, alongside the development of the romance between Lou and Officer Cute (Scott,) who is so much more than the shy young police officer she originally believed he was.
Queen of the Dead by Sarah Broadway is a heart pounding, gripping read that had me hooked from start to end, following Lou’s journey from hiding behind her little life to facing and embracing the realities of her gifts and the danger that threatens her and those she cares for around her. I absolutely loved that ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ vibe and sense of friendship, hope, found family, and embracing yourself in all your parts feeling I got from this story, and of course those things that go bump in the night scary parts too!
Thank you so much Angry Robot Books and NetGalley for sharing this arc with me in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
November 12, 2025
Blend of paranormal intrigue, heart-pounding mystery, and tender romance.
Lou has spent years hiding her ability to speak with the dead, determined to escape the past that exploited her gift and build a normal life. But when a ghost delivers a chilling warning that the Veil is thinning and a cult of necromancers invades her quiet town, that fragile normalcy shatters. Forced to confront dark forces and her own fears, Lou must rely on unlikely allies - and navigate a surprising new romance with a man who accepts her eerie world, even as he hides secrets of his own. As reality unravels and danger closes in, Lou must embrace her powers and her true self before everything she loves slips beyond reach.
The paranormal elements are immediately front and center, with Lou communicating with spirits in her local cemetery. Each ghost she encounters feels vivid and distinct - whether they’re tragic, wistful, or mischievous, they each leave a lasting impression. I especially appreciated how their voices reflected different time periods and styles, adding rich texture to the story’s supernatural world.
The central mystery - a dark cult and the ominous power threatening Lou’s life - ratchets up the tension to near-breaking point. Every time Lou is summoned or forced to cross the veil, you can feel her fear and uncertainty. The danger is real and pressing, and the reader is drawn into solving the puzzle alongside her. It’s a perfectly paced blend of suspense and discovery that keeps you turning pages late into the night.
Balancing the darkness is Lou’s romance with Scott, a change of pace that adds warmth and humanity to the story. Scott’s calm, steady presence is a safe harbor for Lou amid the chaos. Their relationship unfolds gently, offering moments of respite and genuine connection that make you root for them both.
This is also a story about friendship, trust, and found family. Lou’s isolation - born from her unusual abilities and her mother’s trauma - has always kept her at a distance from others. But her bond with Mortie, who serves as a mentor and father figure, is deeply moving. Their shared understanding of their burdens gives Lou strength to open up to others, learning that there is power in companionship as much as in the supernatural.
Overall, Queen of the Dead delivers an emotionally rich and atmospheric tale that deftly balances the chill of the paranormal with the warmth of human connection. It’s a haunting, heartfelt journey of fear, discovery, and belonging.
Lou has spent years hiding her ability to speak with the dead, determined to escape the past that exploited her gift and build a normal life. But when a ghost delivers a chilling warning that the Veil is thinning and a cult of necromancers invades her quiet town, that fragile normalcy shatters. Forced to confront dark forces and her own fears, Lou must rely on unlikely allies - and navigate a surprising new romance with a man who accepts her eerie world, even as he hides secrets of his own. As reality unravels and danger closes in, Lou must embrace her powers and her true self before everything she loves slips beyond reach.
The paranormal elements are immediately front and center, with Lou communicating with spirits in her local cemetery. Each ghost she encounters feels vivid and distinct - whether they’re tragic, wistful, or mischievous, they each leave a lasting impression. I especially appreciated how their voices reflected different time periods and styles, adding rich texture to the story’s supernatural world.
The central mystery - a dark cult and the ominous power threatening Lou’s life - ratchets up the tension to near-breaking point. Every time Lou is summoned or forced to cross the veil, you can feel her fear and uncertainty. The danger is real and pressing, and the reader is drawn into solving the puzzle alongside her. It’s a perfectly paced blend of suspense and discovery that keeps you turning pages late into the night.
Balancing the darkness is Lou’s romance with Scott, a change of pace that adds warmth and humanity to the story. Scott’s calm, steady presence is a safe harbor for Lou amid the chaos. Their relationship unfolds gently, offering moments of respite and genuine connection that make you root for them both.
This is also a story about friendship, trust, and found family. Lou’s isolation - born from her unusual abilities and her mother’s trauma - has always kept her at a distance from others. But her bond with Mortie, who serves as a mentor and father figure, is deeply moving. Their shared understanding of their burdens gives Lou strength to open up to others, learning that there is power in companionship as much as in the supernatural.
Overall, Queen of the Dead delivers an emotionally rich and atmospheric tale that deftly balances the chill of the paranormal with the warmth of human connection. It’s a haunting, heartfelt journey of fear, discovery, and belonging.
September 17, 2025
This book felt like a lil’ snack of a read; bite sized and gone before you knew it. The author’s world building and use of language was easily accessible and descriptive.
Queen of the Dead featured a mix of cozy small town life featured alongside malevolent necromancers who were raising the dead in search of eternal life. Quite opposite sides of the pendulum, but I think many will be drawn to the combination of such diverse themes. I know I was.
One of the biggest strengths of the story was the found family aspect. From Mortie to Vick and even some of the ghosts, the secondary cast is supportive and willing to sacrifice all for the heroine, Lou, as she is willing to do so in turn for them. There were many heartwarming moments.
I enjoyed getting to know Lou’s character. She is a sweet, unassuming protagonist who honestly just wants to work her humble job as a stocker at the local grocery store and stay out of everyone and everything’s business but fate has other plans for her.
Some of the most enjoyable portions of the book was Lou discovering who and what she is and not only learning how to accept these new revelations about herself but how to channel it for her purposes.
The romance was on the cuter side. From the description of the book I had hoped for a grittier love interest with more tension. I will say, however, that not all is as it seems when it comes to Scott but to say further would spoil some plot points.
I think the pacing was rather slow the first half and didn’t pick up until the fifty percent mark when all of the malevolent themes began coming to a head.
One of the villains was rather predictable as well which was disappointing as I guessed their role within the first half of the book. I do love a good surprise and I didn’t get that here.
There was no spice whatsoever which made for a clean read. The book was saturated with creepy vibes but never over the top graphic or gorey. Overall it was pretty tame as far as spooky books go.
It feels a bit of a shame that the release date for Queen of the Dead is in November as it feels a bit late to embrace the eerie atmosphere that envelops the story. A pre Halloween date would have been more fun for readers but I’m glad I was able to read it in September in advance of release.
Thank you to Angry Robot and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Queen of the Dead featured a mix of cozy small town life featured alongside malevolent necromancers who were raising the dead in search of eternal life. Quite opposite sides of the pendulum, but I think many will be drawn to the combination of such diverse themes. I know I was.
One of the biggest strengths of the story was the found family aspect. From Mortie to Vick and even some of the ghosts, the secondary cast is supportive and willing to sacrifice all for the heroine, Lou, as she is willing to do so in turn for them. There were many heartwarming moments.
I enjoyed getting to know Lou’s character. She is a sweet, unassuming protagonist who honestly just wants to work her humble job as a stocker at the local grocery store and stay out of everyone and everything’s business but fate has other plans for her.
Some of the most enjoyable portions of the book was Lou discovering who and what she is and not only learning how to accept these new revelations about herself but how to channel it for her purposes.
The romance was on the cuter side. From the description of the book I had hoped for a grittier love interest with more tension. I will say, however, that not all is as it seems when it comes to Scott but to say further would spoil some plot points.
I think the pacing was rather slow the first half and didn’t pick up until the fifty percent mark when all of the malevolent themes began coming to a head.
One of the villains was rather predictable as well which was disappointing as I guessed their role within the first half of the book. I do love a good surprise and I didn’t get that here.
There was no spice whatsoever which made for a clean read. The book was saturated with creepy vibes but never over the top graphic or gorey. Overall it was pretty tame as far as spooky books go.
It feels a bit of a shame that the release date for Queen of the Dead is in November as it feels a bit late to embrace the eerie atmosphere that envelops the story. A pre Halloween date would have been more fun for readers but I’m glad I was able to read it in September in advance of release.
Thank you to Angry Robot and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 25, 2025
ARC received from NetGalley and Angry Robot
Queen of the Dead swept me away from the very first page with its irresistible premise. Lou, who secretly speaks to the dead, is suddenly thrust into chaos as a sinister cult of necromancers rises and the Veil between worlds grows dangerously thin. The story masterfully blends cozy warmth with spine-tingling chills, creating a paranormal world that feels both inviting and hauntingly atmospheric.
The found family dynamic absolutely shines here. Lou is surrounded by a fiercely loyal group who accepts and protects her, even as she faces her own doubts, and their bond is genuinely heartwarming. Mortie completely stole my heart; every scene with him sparkles with warmth and humor, adding so much heart to the story. I loved that the author lets the supernatural mystery and ghostly friendships take center stage, keeping the focus on what makes this world so enchanting rather than letting romance take over.
That said, I couldn’t help but wish for even more when it came to the world-building. The hints of special abilities, blood magic, and the enigmatic villain were absolutely fascinating, but I wanted the story to dive deeper into these elements and really bring them to life. At times, this left some character reactions feeling a bit rushed or confusing, since the stakes and context weren’t always fully explored.
The romantic subplot was the one element that didn’t quite land for me. While I appreciated that it stayed in the background, the relationship itself felt rushed, almost like insta-love, and I never fully connected with the male lead. With such powerful themes of regret and moving on in a world haunted by ghosts, I was hoping for a richer, slow-burn romance that would really tug at my heartstrings.
Ultimately, while I adored the cozy vibes and the core concept, the story didn’t quite reach the epic heights I was hoping for, and the ending left me wanting more. Still, this is a solid and enjoyable read for anyone who loves paranormal stories, ghosts, and found-family dynamics. If you’re looking for a book with a unique premise and heartwarming friendships, Queen of the Dead is definitely worth picking up.
Queen of the Dead swept me away from the very first page with its irresistible premise. Lou, who secretly speaks to the dead, is suddenly thrust into chaos as a sinister cult of necromancers rises and the Veil between worlds grows dangerously thin. The story masterfully blends cozy warmth with spine-tingling chills, creating a paranormal world that feels both inviting and hauntingly atmospheric.
The found family dynamic absolutely shines here. Lou is surrounded by a fiercely loyal group who accepts and protects her, even as she faces her own doubts, and their bond is genuinely heartwarming. Mortie completely stole my heart; every scene with him sparkles with warmth and humor, adding so much heart to the story. I loved that the author lets the supernatural mystery and ghostly friendships take center stage, keeping the focus on what makes this world so enchanting rather than letting romance take over.
That said, I couldn’t help but wish for even more when it came to the world-building. The hints of special abilities, blood magic, and the enigmatic villain were absolutely fascinating, but I wanted the story to dive deeper into these elements and really bring them to life. At times, this left some character reactions feeling a bit rushed or confusing, since the stakes and context weren’t always fully explored.
The romantic subplot was the one element that didn’t quite land for me. While I appreciated that it stayed in the background, the relationship itself felt rushed, almost like insta-love, and I never fully connected with the male lead. With such powerful themes of regret and moving on in a world haunted by ghosts, I was hoping for a richer, slow-burn romance that would really tug at my heartstrings.
Ultimately, while I adored the cozy vibes and the core concept, the story didn’t quite reach the epic heights I was hoping for, and the ending left me wanting more. Still, this is a solid and enjoyable read for anyone who loves paranormal stories, ghosts, and found-family dynamics. If you’re looking for a book with a unique premise and heartwarming friendships, Queen of the Dead is definitely worth picking up.
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