For No Mortal Creature

by Keshe Chow

A dark YA fantasy pitched as Wuthering Heights + Inception, in which a girl, gifted with the ability to resurrect herself, must traverse the afterlife to rescue her grandmother–but in the death realm, even ghosts have ghosts, including the spirit of the boy who once betrayed her.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Mythology, Gothic, Romantasy, Young Adult Fantasy

480 pages, Library Binding

First published October 7, 2025

About the author

Keshe was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and migrated to Australia when she was two. She currently lives in Naarm (Melbourne) with her partner, two kids, and two cats.

She has won multiple awards for short fiction, as well as the 2022 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards Prize for an Unpublished Manuscript.

Her second YA fantasy novel, FOR NO MORTAL CREATURE is due out in 2025 with Penguin Random House.

Reviews

[rosie (jason todd's version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

(⭐4.5)

KESHE CHOW, YOU'VE DONE IT AGAIN 🙂‍↕️💗

࣪ ִֶָ☾. 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴

⋆˙⟡ 𝘫𝘪𝘢 👻

jia, our main character, was definitely interesting! i did really like how unique she was, and i loved her abilities/powers! she was definitely stubborn, which was edging on a little irritating but honestly it was everyone else who was limiting jia's understanding and hiding things from her.

the amount of plans that she had no clue about was just 😭😭😭 poor girl knows just as much as the reader does 💔💔

but omg!! i really loved how passionate she was about saving her grandma and the people she loved 💞

⋆˙⟡ 𝘭𝘪𝘯 ⚔️

lin, one of the points to our love triangle, was veeery up and down (again, leaving jia - and by extension, the reader - completely in the dark regarding his plans) but by the end i really did like him.

we didn't get too much insight on him (and when we finally learned enough about him to get attached... well, that didn't end so well 😭) which caused me to be a bit confused about my feelings towards him for majority of this book 🥹

⋆˙⟡ 𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘯 👑

I LOVED HIM SO MUCH AAAAHHHH

essien was such a cutie patootie oh my goodness gracious i LOVED him 🥹💖

the way he cared about jia so much and was so obsessed with her oh my gosh i can't even organise my thoughts... i think it's safe to say i adored essien lancaster.

UGHHH the last 10% was just *chef's kiss*. i really liked how everything ended, and ohhhh my gosh essien, sweet, forgiving, beautiful essien... i'm gonna start bawling 🥹💞

MOVE OVER JIA, IT'S MY TURN (i'm kidding. i love them so much) 💗💗💗


࣪ ִֶָ☾. 𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘵

i honestly really liked the plot of this book - it's such an incredibly unique and intriguing concept to have different layers of the afterlife, and for our main character to be able to move between them?! i was so curious as to see how keshe chow would make this work, but she executed it FLAWLESSLY. especially at the end with that big showdown.

it makes me so happy that this world is the same as the one the girl with no reflection is set in. these stories are both similar with the structure, which just made me love for no mortal creature more 🥹💞


࣪ ִֶָ☾. 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴

i'm so so grateful to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Australia for providing me the e-ARC for For No Mortal Creature. This book was such a joy and I found myself gasping and cheering at the plot twists. so worth a read! All thoughts and opinions are my own 💖


˙⋆✮ pre-read: 30th July

AHHH omg i was accepted for the arc of this!! thank you so much to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Australia for sending me a digital Advance Review Copy of this gorgeous book!

Keshe Chow’s newest book, For No Mortal Creature, will be released on the 7th October 2025!

[Ricarda]

This author must truly be blessed by the cover gods. This looks so good!

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obsessed ghosts traveling through ghostly realms looking for a sword is definitely my jam.

Jia Yi discovers she has resurrection magic, which throws her life into turmoil for several reasons: firstly, she is now being asked to carry out a mission for a prince; second, she still needs to save her dying grandma; and third, the boy who once betrayed her has been haunting her since his untimely death a year earlier.

It was a really interesting setup to me, as I'm a big fan of thinking about ghosts and the afterlife. This explores an afterlife made up of levels - ghosts can still die, and lower through the levels as they do.

I've never read Wuthering Heights, but I presume Lin's unhelathy obsession with Jia Yi is very much why the author compares the two. I didn't like him at all, and that obsession was all red flags to me.

Essien, on the other hand, was warm and safe and absolutely stole my heart to the point that I was very mad any time Lin got in Jia's face.

Definitely some interesting relationship dynamics here.

There's also the thread of family - Jia's grandma is a huge part of the motivation for this story, and her sisters play roles as well.

There's plenty of action, and some rather interesting beasties on the other side to up the stakes. There's drama and a bit of a mystery, though at times it did feel like the story was being put to the side in favour of the spice between Lin and Jia.

It was quite a simple plot, so I would have liked a little more padding in this area, but the ghostly world was enough to keep me interested. I didn't totally buy the obsessive relationship between Lin and Jia - I saw it from his side but hers left me unconvinced. It felt like maybe it was pushing the Wuthering Heights angle a little too hard; I think perhaps maybe less might have been more in this case. However I 100% believed the thaw between Jia and Essien, and enjoyed reading their interactions immensely.

To be fair, I do feel like the Brooding, Over-Protective Bad-Boy type is done to death, so that's just another reason I prefer Essien to Lin. When will people stop romanticising the RED FLAGS? Please, ladies - get yourself an Essien.

This was a quick read that I quite enjoyed, with an entertaining take on death and the world beyond. Characters to love and loathe, an easy plot to follow, and plenty of action.

Highly recommend for fantasy fans.

With thanks to the author, Penguin Teen Australia and NetGalley for an ARC

[ray ౨ৎ]

SOMEONE TAKE AWAY MY ARC REQUEST BUTTON 😭

anyways this is ‘read now’ so you don’t have to request and can literally just get it for a click of a button ! reading for aapi month lovelies<3

[jo ୨୧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

so that was something.

I am writing this on my phone late at night because my thoughts work. my grammar, no, but thoughts, yes. my sarcasm is off the charts and my humor is dead (just like Lin) 🤭

I went into this book completely blind after clicking the cute little "read now" button in all it's glory. oh how I wish I could go back. sue me but I did think this book was going to cook.

however this book cooked me. honestly who is to say I'm not writing this from the underworld right now? it would explain the lack of punctuation, capitalization and proper spelling. I never said I was perfect 🤚

to start off this book is one pov, first person (which imo is a great way for ya fantasy and I love being immersed with it) it's combined with a past and present day timeline which is--how do I say? fricken confusing.

at first I thought I was confused because I first read it at night so I went back and read it during the day and...nope still confused. okay maybes it's just me.

no, I was STILL confused. not just me, cool. wow we unite in confusion 😃

second of all, our main character started off extremely likeable. I thought she was strong and had a good sense of humor about her. the only downside she kind of had was she was obsessed

I mean obsessed with the fact that her former "love" it was basically a situationshop (sorry not sorry) Lin had left her and guess what, now he's dead and he's just a ghosty little angry (that was supposed to be angsty autocorrect but angry works too) Boi 💛 yeah so we have rhat for however many pages.

we start off the plot. chugging along, with Jia going through hell (....kinda literally) and coming back (also...literally) and now she's in thr princes mansion? house? castle? whatever the heck it is.

yeah, prince essien Lancaster. honestly this man was too wholesome for this book. he tried so hard to he 💀🗡🐈‍⬛️⬛️⚫️ but just ended up being 🎀🌸. I kid you not. he was sweet and at first I was very apprehensive about him but did grow to like him. he took care of Jia (even later we find out he healed her. okay mans lessgo).

so prince dude and Jia? they make a deal. he needs the sword and she needs it. they agreed tho she doesn't tell him her whole story and guess what

baby girl needs to go back to the underworld and die a bunch of times 🤭🤭🤭 wow so fun. while he's up on normal world keeping her body from decaying (true love wow)

she dies, meets Lin who is a bish the whole time (we later find out hid secret and her Wai Po's secret as well)

I do have to say I loved her loyalty to her family and her grandmother, that plot was done incredibly well 🤌

but back to Lin. so this man is obsessed, I literally and I quote because my life isn't mine! it's yours"

oh. um not sure how I feel about that buddy PRETTY SURE YOU ARE DEAD WITH A CAPITAL D

anyways.

she kisses a ghost.

or rhe ghost kisses her? yeah the ghost is Lin obvi but imagine walking by and you just see a girl hard-core making out with

air 💀

no thanks!!!!!

I know in this economy being single is hard but we can do better babes. it's okay, well get through it together.

kissing ensues, heartbreak, nadayada, we get the plot, we get action and then we get the details (which I pegged early on but won't share bc of spoilers, look I'm nice like that) so Jia survives and transports herself back to the normal world where she I'd not decaying thanks to prince Boi and he heals her they have a tender moment and bam, his absolute piece of crap older princey brother shows up.

okay pause. this got me the whole book.( might have been because it was 12am and I was craving ramen and a chicken sandwich with bubble tea but we'll never know) they didn't eat. aside from breakfast BUT THEY GOT FRICKEN INTERUPTED TWICE so
yeah random rant

back to older bro. anyways older bro wants younger bro to kill Jia and ofc essien refuses because we can all tell he loves Jia and Yada Yada even tho Jia was full on making out with....a sorta ghost in the underworld

chaos ensues and Jia starts screaming and she unleashes her full...power. yeah girliepop basically wiped out a bunch of people beacuse her power manifested 💀 yeah, cool! anyways she saves essien and they are having a happy near death reunion when it happens


yeah

it ends on the stupidest fricken cliffhanger known to all of freaking mankind and that's where I am

that was long and ranty and made no sense but that was my review. I'm giving it three stars because it's technically a 2.75 for me but yeah. ghost bois, and death traveling girls with softboi princes, this book has it all.

I wouldn't say I enjoyed it nesscarily, just that I might not be the target audience for it.so if u too are like me, we can relate together and let others enjoy.

I may be hater but I do have an ounce of kindness left in me (tho rude drivers really do take it out I'm so sorry.

anyways, happy reading loves
xx
jo

🗡

full review to come after my thoughts simmer like a nice cooked stew (also does no one eat in this book???)

thank you to the publisher and net galley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

[Keshe Chow]

Hello! As the author of this book, I'm not here to review my own book (though if I could, I'd give it five stars for the characters, who I've grown to love... and one star for the headaches they caused me). What I'd like to do though, is give a little context.

Many years ago, a few days after my first child was born, my grandmother passed away. Since she lived overseas, I never had the chance to say goodbye. So writing this book - a book about a girl who is so desperate to save her grandmother, she'd willingly enter the afterlife to do so - was always on the cards.

This is not just a melancholic story, however. In this book, love and death are equally as brutal. It's a vicious world, and as such there are some content warnings I'd like to drop here (spoilered for those of you who prefer not to read them), so you can decide for yourself if reading this book is for you. Thank you, either way, for considering it!

Major: Body horror, Murder, Gore, Death (including death of a grandparent and sibling), Blood, Grief

Moderate: Alcohol, Medical trauma, Child death, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Violence, Bullying, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Animal cruelty, Suicide, Classism

Minor: Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Animal death (mentions), Xenophobia

[Mikayla Bridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Professional review: For No Mortal Creature is a gothic, romantic fever dream. Utterly impossible to put down. With a complex heroine, crackling prose, and relationships as layered as the deathly realms Chow navigates, this book grips you in its ghostly hands and refuses to let go. This is a story that lingers long after the final page.

Unhinged review: THIS BOOK. I can’t wait to scream all of my spoiler-filled affections for Keshe’s gorgeous gothic creation. Inception x Wuthering Heights??? Incredible comps that are absolutely earned. An easy MUST-READ, and an easy new favourite.

[Billie's Not So Secret Diary · Rating 3 out of 5]

For No Mortal Creature
by Keshe Chow
Fantasy
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Oct 7, 2025
Random House
Ages: 14+

Jia's village is hidden by magic because magic is outlawed, but she ventures out to hunt and gather. This trip, she is looking for a flower to help her grandmother, who is dying. But she strayed too far and ended up at the border, where she was killed by the enemy's general.

She never had any magic until that day, when she resurrected. Now she can see ghosts, including Lin, the boy she used to love until he betrayed her.

Brought to Prince Essien, Jia is once again tested to see if she is a witch. Somehow passing, the prince agrees to release her if she searches for a sword stolen years ago.

She knows of the sword, but with a different name, and the legend tells that it is hidden in the farthest layer of death.


First off, the book cover is cool, and was the first thing that caught my attention, but it really has nothing to do with the story other than a girl and a sword. The snake, there is only one little detail that I can think of that would correlate, but it is minuscule. The title is also cool, but it and the cover are a little misleading, though I can see the title's connection.

As for the story, it's written simply, obviously aimed towards younger readers, so there weren't many detailed descriptions or difficult plots. But with that said, I wish the layers of death had been explained/detailed more. Most felt skimmed over, done quickly, and that, for me, took a lot away from the MC's magic and even from the concept of the layers of death, which were supposed to be a major concept in this story.

I also didn't care much for Lin's character. He came across as fake. I'm sure that was supposed to be the intent because of his betrayal, but... spoiler....

Overall, not that bad of a story. The concept of layers of death and ghosts was creative, but needs more depth to them, as does the rest of the story.

A low...

3 Stars

[Eel Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gothic, romantic, and utterly consuming. For No Mortal Creature breathes fresh life into the afterlife.

From the first page, I was drawn into Jia Yi’s haunting world. This girl who, after being killed, discovers she has the rare ability to cross the veil between life and death. What follows is an unforgettable descent into a realm teeming with ghosts, unresolved emotions, political power plays, and the haunting pull of love and betrayal. Wuthering Heights meets Inception with a twist.

This story is beautifully layered, inspired themes stitched into a richly imaginative world. Jia’s emotional journey is tangled and poignant, and her connections with Lin and Prince Essien are intense, dynamic, and riddled with secrets. I was especially captivated by the atmosphere. Lush, eerie, and laced with longing. Just the right amount of tortured and tangled to hook you completely.

The pacing is tight, the stakes are high, and the twists? Deliciously executed. It’s one of those books that’s nearly impossible to put down, and even harder to stop thinking about.

Thank you to the Author and Net Galley for the ARC, I am leaving this review with my honest opinion.

The cover is stunning, the prose lyrical without being overwrought, and the emotional depth of the characters is something I’ll be thinking about for a long time. I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy, this one earns a spot on the shelf so I can read it again and again.

[Jordan Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely beautiful read! This is the story of a young girl, Jia Yi, who realizes she has resurrection powers and goes on a journey to the death realm in search of her grandmother, amongst other things. All the while, she’s faced with the ghost of her first love, Lin, and dealing with his betrayal and how they left things, and her blooming friendship with the mysterious yet alluring Prince Essien. Jia Yi juggles trying to figure out her newfound powers, how to traverse (and “survive”) the death realm, and where her feelings truly lie as she’s faced with the (literal) ghosts of her past.

The descriptions and visuals in this story are absolutely amazing. The imagery of the death realm are both beautiful and horrifying at the same time. The way the author portrays death and the afterlife is mesmerizing, and we get to explore it right along side Jia Yi.

And the romance! It’s angst all around, and I’m here for it! The complicated feelings that arise from Jia Yi seeing her first love in the death realm and having him accompany her on this journey make the tension top tier! And the chemistry with Prince Essian is just as juicy.

I loved how I never could guess what would’ve happened next in this book. Sometimes with the romantasy genre, it can get predictable, but this one blew me away. I never knew where the plot was going to take me, and I miss being surprised by that. I read this book in less than 24 hours, that’s how quickly it got its hooks in me. I continuously wanted to know what would happen next and where Jia Yi’s story would go.

I can’t wait for this book to come out so more people can read it and hopefully enjoy it as much as I did!

[Nenia Campbell]

Update: I have an ARC >:D

I would do terrible things to get a copy of this D:

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an exquisite exposition of life and death. This book had everything; humor, love, devotion, animosity, betrayal, beauty, darkness, radiancy. I am so stunned by the story, the characters, the depth, the underlying meanings that can be gleaned, that I'm struggling to find enough words to actually review the book. The characters seem so one note at first, but there is so much depth to them as the story progresses, and so much character growth. Characters that I really didn't like at first became characters that I adore. The top later motivations changed frequently, but the underlying motivation was always there in everything Jia did, and could always be seen from the outside perspective. I loved that there were moments of levity, but there was an underlying tenseness to everything that every character did. There were an exceptional amount of layers and plot shifts and shifts in characters personalities and motivations that it always kept me on my toes. Everytime I thought I had something figured out, that I knew what was going to happen, that I knew what a character was going to do or say, my ideas would be thrown out of the window by a plot twist or a characters actions. The death realm was more fleshed out than I expected. There was so much to it, so many nuances and tiny details that you don't think about missing until they're given to you. This book was exceptional, it had everything I could ever want or wish for or hope for in a book, and I wish I could erase my memory of this book so I could experience it for the first time again. The Girl With No Reflection instantly went to the top of my loved books list, but I think this may have topped it.

[Zana]

DNF @ 52%

I was really bored. The worldbuilding and characterization aren't really hitting me as much as they should. This is supposed to be a dark, emotional story, but there was no breathing room to feel any emotions or connect with any of the characters.

Events happen one after another and there wasn't really any time for the FMC to self-reflect on anything. Something important would happen and then the next scene starts rolling pretty quickly.

The whole thing just felt really cartoonish too. The ghost friend, hot prince, ghost sister, etc. all felt very Middle Grade instead of YA.

Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for this arc.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

For No Mortal Creature is a clever, action-packed story that sees our heroine, Jia, straddling the lines between life and death with her unique power to resurrect herself. I don't want to go into more details because this book is worth reading so that you can unravel the complicated, but very entertaining, plot on its own. However, I will say that it is unlike anything I have ever read. Sure, there are other romantasies out there that explore the underworld, but Jia's ability to willingly and quickly move between layers in the underworld and back to mortal life makes this particular book quite novel and memorable. Additionally, as Jia goes on a "mission" which requires her to delve deeper and deeper into the underworld, her powers afford moments of comedic brevity which is much appreciated for such an emotionally heavy plot.

What I appreciated most about this book, aside from the storyline, is the way the author handles the love triangle--and I say this as someone who avoids books with love triangles most of the time. I won't lie, at first I really detested one side of this triangle, but as the book neared its end, I found myself getting all choked up for said detestable side. Urgh! And Jia's other love interest? Well this individual must be protected at all costs, and future readers will see why. Hats off to the author for making the reader care deeply for and empathize with both of Jia's love interests.

The ending is a cliffhanger that will remind you of a certain blockbuster film and a spinning top. That is all I can say about that.

All in all, this was my first book by this author, but it won't be the last. I CANNOT WAIT to read more of Jia's story. Wow!

[Sarah Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: For No Mortal Creature by Keshe Chow

For No Mortal Creature is a haunting and exquisitely crafted novel that blends elements of magical realism with deep psychological introspection. Keshe Chow weaves a mesmerizing tale that explores the boundaries between reality and myth, memory and imagination, leaving readers both unsettled and enchanted. With prose that is at once lyrical and precise, this book lingers in the mind like a half-remembered dream.

Premise & Themes
The novel follows an unnamed protagonist who returns to their ancestral village in rural China after years of self-imposed exile. What begins as a journey of reconciliation quickly spirals into something far more surreal as the protagonist encounters folkloric creatures, fragmented family histories, and unsettling visions. Chow masterfully explores themes of cultural identity, intergenerational trauma, and the weight of unspoken histories. The narrative blurs the line between the supernatural and the psychological, asking whether the ghosts we encounter are external or manifestations of our own unresolved pasts.

Execution & Pacing
Chow’s writing is immersive and atmospheric, with a deliberate pacing that builds tension like a slow-creeping fog. The novel unfolds in a series of vignettes that alternate between the present-day journey and flashbacks to the protagonist’s childhood, creating a mosaic-like structure that enhances the dreamlike quality of the story. While some readers may find the nonlinear narrative challenging, those who appreciate literary fiction will be rewarded with a deeply layered and emotionally resonant experience.

Worldbuilding & Atmosphere
The rural Chinese setting is rendered with breathtaking detail, from the mist-shrouded mountains to the creaking wooden houses that seem to breathe with secrets. Chow’s descriptions are so vivid that the village itself becomes a character—alive with folklore, superstition, and the whispers of the past. The atmosphere is thick with unease, straddling the line between the familiar and the uncanny. Fans of Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami or The Vegetarian by Han Kang will find a similar haunting beauty here.

Character Depth
The protagonist is a deeply introspective and flawed figure, whose internal struggles mirror the external strangeness of the village. Their relationships—with family, with the land, and with the spectral figures that haunt them—are portrayed with raw emotional honesty. Supporting characters, though often enigmatic, add richness to the narrative, each carrying their own burdens and mysteries.

Score Breakdown (Out of 5)
-Concept: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) – A brilliant fusion of folklore and psychological depth.
-Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) – Slow but purposeful, rewarding patient readers.
-Worldbuilding: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) – The setting is immersive and hauntingly beautiful.
-Characterization: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) – The protagonist is compelling, though some side characters feel elusive.
-Emotional Impact: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) – Lingers long after the final page.
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) – For No Mortal Creature is a masterpiece of literary fiction, perfect for readers who crave stories that challenge, unsettle, and enchant. Keshe Chow has crafted a novel that is as thought-provoking as it is beautifully written.

Who Should Read It?
-Fans of magical realism and literary fiction.
-Readers who enjoy atmospheric, slow-burn narratives.
-Those interested in explorations of cultural identity and memory.

Who Might Not Love It?
-Readers who prefer fast-paced, plot-driven stories.
-Those who dislike ambiguous or open-ended conclusions.

Acknowledgments:
Thank you to NetGalley and Keshe Chow for providing an advance review copy of For No Mortal Creature in exchange for an honest review.

[Lisa Tirreno · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to read an ARC of this via NetGalley and it was such an adventure! The world building is rich but also grounded in detail, making it seem very real.

The gothic roots of the story are well and truly present, with looming strongholds full of secrets, untrustworthy nobles with villainous lackeys, dubious holy people, dangerous landscapes, obsessive emotion, lethal supernatural elements, layers of betrayals and let’s not forget a cast of arrogant men who think they know best. A real study in how far people will go for love, as they race past any moral or ethical questions.

Angsty romantic tension, a lot of unpredictable twists and the main character’s uncertainty over who she can trust kept it interesting, while the difficulty of her quest and what it could mean makes you want to keep reading to find out what happens next. I won’t spoiler, but I really liked the tone of the ending as well.

It reminded me a lot of Chow’s debut so this will definitely appeal to all the people who loved that one!

[Anna (annareadit) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My rating: 4.5

Jia Yi’s grandmother is dying, so she sets out into the forest on the border with another kingdom—one that does not look kindly on people like her—in search of an herb that might help. There, Jia Yi encounters death for the first time and discovers a gift.

This story has unique worldbuilding. The author writes so vividly that you become completely immersed in the plot and don’t want to leave it. I’m usually not a fan of love triangles, but this one didn’t bother me at all. The story may lack a bit of detail here and there, but it didn’t really matter to me, as I had a wonderful time diving into the adventures alongside Jia Yi.

If you enjoy well-written stories, I definitely recommend picking this one up. I’d also recommend it to fans of Belladonna, One Dark Window, The Scarlet Alchemist, and Wuthering Heights.

Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sally Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was amazing! Very unique I really enjoyed it.

[Cassandra Grosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite honestly, this is one of the most captivating books I have ever read. I could not put it down until I fell asleep with it in my hand at 2am, and then stayed up until 2am again to ensure I finished it.

This book continuously felt like a refreshing new experience for me. Chow’s setting is instantaneously captivating—locating readers in a Chinese province constantly endangered by the white Lancaster colonizers who have invaded and desecrated the land and cultural traditions, seeking to eliminate magic and conquer everything within their sight. The backdrop of a castle and moat—protected by armed men in chain link—also situates a rough timeline for the novel, without explicit time and place ever being stated.

Starting somewhat in medias res, Jia is in danger from the first scene, and the high-stakes danger—literally, death, death, and more death—never stops until the last page. Then, enemies to lovers is added to the tale—times two! Jia’s relationship to both Lin and Essien are so startlingly different, providing an excellent commentary and insight for how the love we need and give shifts as we grow and learn more about ourselves and our needs.

One of the blurbs I read for this book was inspiration from Inception, and Jia’s travels between the various realms of the afterlife—meeting with Chinese ghosts, demons, and loved ones—continuously tests her resolve, fortitude, understanding of interpersonal relationships, and knowledge of her culture. Some of the most memorable moments of this book come from when Jia’s sense of self and reality are challenged—but not by the afterlife. Instead, she must encounter how her actions and perceptions of past interactions have been interpreted differently by her loved ones, demonstrating that there truly are more than one side to each story. Jia then must reflect on how little she truly knows—despite her traditional YA confidence of “I am an adult!”

Overall, this was truly a fantastic read, filled with deception and surprising twists and turns. Despite often feeling like I can predict the ending and what loyalties of secret relationships characters share, I continuously found myself blown away by this book and will happily recommend it to anyone.

***thanks to NetGallery for providing me with an ARC copy of this novel***

[Denise Ruttan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had me at Inception meets Wuthering Heights, a love triangle, that beautiful cover, and a girl who can cheat death with resurrection magic, but ultimately it failed in its execution for my taste.

Jia has grown up thinking she was Untouched and the only one in her village who does not have a magical ability. Her village has been hunted by the neighboring kingdom, which has a prejudice against magic and has oppressive laws outlawing magic. Her only solace is her best friend Lin, an orphan her grandmother took in who also doesn't have magic.

I am told rather than shown about their childhood first love, but it plays out as a situationship and I never believed Lin was a viable contender in the love triangle. Love triangles work best for me when you're constantly guessing about whom the FMC will choose and the stakes are high for both picks. I didn't mind the betrayals in their arc but Lin and his grandmother kept so many secrets from Jia that I could never believe he truly cared about her. They just seemed obsessed with each other for no reason. Jia spends most of the book loathing Lin without any heat or evidence of attraction; how is this romantic?

Lin's grandmother dies and beset by grief, Jia is captured by the enemy kingdom, where she is drawn to the kindhearted idealist, Prince Essian. Here again too there is more telling than showing of their romance and they had no heat together. I did think the book did an excellent job examining grief and using that as a strong motivator.

Prince Essian secretly has the magical ability of healing, and Jia falls for his lost puppy act. But she is still torn up by Lin, who keeps kissing her and confusing her in the death realm. Essian wants her to find a sword in the death realm that has the ability to win any battle when he learns of her powers of resurrection. But most of the book is spent in the death realm instead of on building their romance. They hardly spend any time together. I also never believed that Essian would fight for their forbidden love given the oppressive laws of his land against magic. He was too weak as a leader except for a little gumption at the end.

The other plot device I found confusing was the flashbacks. I was never confused about what time we found ourselves in, but the chapters would jump between "present day" and "three years ago" and the present day chapters would always reference the flashbacks, which muddled the timeline and became annoying.

And don't get me started on Jia, our leading lady. Normally I don't like to call FMCs bratty and unlikable because people always say this about teenage girls in YA, especially YA written by diverse authors. Teenage girls are unlikable, hello! They can't help it, it's puberty. Anyway, I found Jia annoying because she was just so stupid. She asked obvious questions, took too long to reach obvious conclusions, she had no curiosity, she was selfish the whole way through aside from her love for her grandmother, and mostly she was just the opposite of whip smart. She didn't have a personality or interests other than being obsessed with two boys and her grief, and she was generally a flat character whom I did not emotionally connect to. I frequently wanted to yell at her for being so stupid.

But I also wanted to yell at everyone in her life for not trusting her enough and keeping too much from her. She didn't have support or love from her family and that became hard to root for. They claimed to care for her well being but they rarely acted in her best interest.

So sadly this was pretty underwhelming to me despite some intriguing elements. I am sure this will find appreciative readers though who enjoy surface-level, tropey, Asian-inspired YA fantasy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Fanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this felt like walking in a graveyard on a misty morning while sunlight occasionally breaks through the grey clouds, and you keep praying the sun never sets but the night is bound to descend. rtc.

[Karis · Rating 1 out of 5]

~~Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for the ARC!~~

Damn you books with beautiful covers but bad writing. I fall for your tricks far too often; one day I will wise up to them.

But yeah, I hated this book.

YA books with stupidly juvenile writing really piss me off, especially when it comes to fantasy/historical fiction with prose and dialogue that doesn't match the tone the story is attempting to convey. I could not take anything seriously, nor could I feel like I could give a damn. Nothing in the prose was evoking any reaction Chow may have wanted. Besides trying not to fall asleep, I was just frustrated with how often I was able to guess/figure out things the plot was trying to hide because Jia was so damn oblivious to them.

The fact Chow is trying to replicate Heathcliff and Catherine with Jia and Lin is the cherry on top of this horrendous cake, for Chow's poor imitations couldn't hold a candle to the real thing. Lin's sole motivation being he wanted to protect Jia by no telling her anything is so overplayed and tiring. This felt especially apparent when there was no natural chemistry or dynamics between any of the characters, including with the main love interest of the triangle (Because there's always one). I simultaneously hated everyone while not caring for anyone. It was so exhausting.

All in all, this was a deeply unsatisfying read. The one thing I got out of this was that I will not be reading any of Chow's past or future work from here on out.

[Atheina Vismark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley, publisher Delacorte Press and the author for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.

This book was a breath of fresh air. It has been a long time since I had so much fun reading a book like this one.

What really made this book amazing for me was the worldbuilding. The whole idea that ghosts can just be killed again, be dragged down in levels only to then start haunting other ghosts again until they reach the bottom? GENIUS. SIMPLY GENIUS. This book had some serious worldbuilding, something that nowadays I don't really see in fantasy books, especially in a standalone like this one where you only have one book. To be able to weave the whole magic system in a single book, make it pretty much clear to the reader and all at the same time being actually interesting? Keshe Chow you know your strengths pretty damn well that I must admit.

I loved how Chow wrote each single character. The way my feelings where placed on a rollercoaster with Lin was just unfair, even if at the end of the day damned love be well... damned, I prefer our softer prince to our grumpy lying ghost. Even if I did half-ish (maybe) forgive Lin at the ending. Jia was just funny to read and at times realistic yet stupid. But that's to be expected by a 17 year old I would have been surprised otherwise.

The only reason why this book is not a 5 stars was because of Jia's age. I felt like for me if she hadn't been 17 but a little bit over I would have appreciated the love triangle (the romance in general) much more.

4.25/4.5 ⭐️ 0.5🌶️ (A few scenes of kissing)

[MyNeverEndingTBRList · Rating 4 out of 5]

A YA romantic, gothic fantasy inspired by Wuthering Heights? Yes, please.

Right from the striking cover, which perfectly reflects the broody and atmospheric tone, this book drew me in. I really enjoyed Keshe Chow’s debut, so I was eager to see what she would do next, and she’s delivered another story rich in mood, mystery, and emotion.

At the heart of the novel is a stubborn, determined heroine who refuses to be intimidated by the shadows around her. The gothic setting is laced with whispers of ghosts, dangerous secrets, and a simmering love triangle.

I loved the gothic tropes...haunted landscapes, restless spirits, the weight of grief and desire. For readers who love ghostly encounters, slow-burn romances (no spice), and secrets lurking behind locked doors, this will be a perfect autumn read.

4 stars

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. For No Mortal Creature will be released on October 7, 2025!

[Bre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic YA fantasy that explores life, death, and everything in between. This fast paced story follows Jia and her journey to (and from) the afterlife. Jia is born without magic, or so she thinks after some unfortunate circumstances with Essien, the ruler of their territory. Magic in this story is different for each person- and not well liked by Essien and his ilk. It’s hard to summarize it without spoiling too much, but it’s full of action, deception, twists, love, and self discovery. It’s like Inception but for death and ghosts. The yearning between the love interests is great. The ending, while heartbreaking, was beautifully written. I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a fast paced and surprisingly introspective YA fantasy!

Thank you Delacorte Press, Toppling Stacks Tours, and NetGalley for the gifted eARC.

[Kimmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in 24 hours! I was so sleepy around 1 a.m., but I just had to finish. The world-building was done well; a bit slow at first, but it laid a solid foundation for the rest of the book, which I think is necessary.

I loved Jia’s magic, I mean, who wouldn’t want the power to resurrect over and over again? It was such a unique take on magic, death, and ghosts. I really enjoyed the layers of death in the book and different type of ghost.

I definitely recommend this book. There’s romance, but it’s not overpowering. It leans more into longing, tension, and that kind of angry, complicated love. Still, the story is packed with action and mystery from start to finish!

Thank you to NetGalley, Keshe Chow, Random House Children's Books, and Delacorte Press for the gifted eARC.

[Diana]

Dnfed at 29%

[Amanda N Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning. Exquisite. Unforgettable.
For No Mortal Creature is a haunting, emotionally charged fantasy that will stay with you long after the final page. With lyrical prose, layered worldbuilding, and some of the most nuanced character arcs in recent YA fantasy, this debut firmly announces Keshe Chow as a voice to watch.

The story follows a girl with resurrection magic, but what unfolds is far more than just a supernatural tale—it’s a piercing meditation on grief, betrayal, isolation, and the fragile beginnings of healing. The emotional core of the novel is both tender and tragic, with glimmers of hope woven throughout in the form of fragile truces and slow, earned growth. Characters who seem one-dimensional at first gradually reveal incredible depth, shifting in their motivations and allegiances in ways that keep readers constantly engaged. Some who begin as unlikeable become beloved by the end.

Chow’s prose evolves beautifully over the course of the story—from straightforward and accessible in the early chapters to poetic, intense, and richly complex as the narrative deepens. The tone mirrors the journey of the characters and the maturation of the plot, transforming a seemingly standard YA setup into a deeply textured and unpredictable fantasy with crossover appeal for adult readers.

The death realm is particularly well-realized: eerie, beautiful, and teeming with unexpected detail. The worldbuilding never feels tacked on—every detail has weight, and the tension hums constantly beneath the surface. Chow masterfully juggles humor, heartbreak, tension, and moments of warmth, all without compromising the dark and aching atmosphere that defines the novel.

This is not a story of clear heroes and villains. It is a story of complicated people grappling with pain, love, and impossible choices. There are twists that shock, moments of quiet emotional devastation, and themes that linger like echoes in the soul. To read this book is to be changed a little by it.

This book will resonate with:
• Fans of emotional, character-driven fantasy who appreciate lush prose and deep internal conflict.
• Readers who enjoy resurrection magic, death realms, and morally complex heroines.
• Those who loved Wuthering Heights, Sabriel by Garth Nix, The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon, or The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater.
• Readers who appreciate stories with literary undertones, evolving prose, and psychological depth.
• Anyone looking for a book that feels like poetry wrapped in grief and fire, with a cathartic emotional payoff.

Thank you again to NetGalley and Random House / Delacorte Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review

[Jolie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC from NetGalley.

It was such a great story, and I could really feel the rage and yearning between the toxic soul mates Jia and Lin. Them traveling deeper into death realms really reminded me of Inception, and I was glad it was mentioned in the Acknowledgements.

The ending was satisfying and open-ended. It makes me wonder if this is a standalone or the beginning of a series as it could go either way.

[h i n d · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dark YA fantasy pitched as Wuthering Heights + Inception

I had really high hopes for this book as I am a sucker for anything pitched with elements of Inception. I was super excited, I was part of the street team, participated in the cover reveal and got an arc. I do recognize that my issues with it were more about personal taste. The vibes were claustrophobic and there was a bit more body horror than I'd enjoy. It was also more plot driven than character driven and I tend to gravitate towards character centric stories more. The concept is still interesting, please don't let my review deter you from giving it a try.

Thank you to the author for giving me access to an digital advance reader copy via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.