The Prince of Mourning

by Jenn Bennett

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace meets A Study in Drowning in this sizzling gothic romantasy that follows the forbidden romance between a young nurse and a mysterious young man imprisoned by a dangerous occultist.

After receiving a strange summons, eighteen-year-old nursing student Molly O’Rinn finds herself the private live-in nurse for a wealthy young man in his haunting Hudson Valley mansion. But after arriving at his secluded estate, Molly discovers that her handsome employer is not what he seems, and most surprising of all is what rests deep inside the mansion’s walls.

Perhaps not what, but who…

A young man about Molly’s age—at least in appearance—is a prisoner of the estate, locked behind magical barriers. Nin is royalty, the son of a legend. He is not human, not of this world…and not like anyone Molly has ever met.

Molly should stay away from him. But Nin is a terrifying yet strangely attractive being, and soon both Molly and Nin find themselves drawn to each other, sparked by a connection neither of them can deny. But as the two become entangled in a forbidden affair, outside forces start to press in.

Because Nin’s legendary father is looking for his son, and he’s not the only one.

To keep Molly safe, Nin must find a way back to his realm or suffer the consequences. Even if it means choosing his princely duty over love.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Romantasy, Gothic, Young Adult Fantasy, Historical Fiction

464 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 28, 2025

About the author

Jenn Bennett is the author of over a dozen books for children and teens, including: ALEX, APPROXIMATELY; STARRY EYES; and GRUMBONES. She also writes romance and fantasy for adults. Her books have earned multiple starred reviews, been Goodreads Choice Award nominees, and have been included on annual Best Book lists for both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. She lives in a haunted house near Birmingham with one husband and two dogs. Visit her at www.jennbennett.net.

Follow her on:

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Reviews

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy an atmospheric read with creepy vibes, an interesting mystery, and a romantic subplot that will leave you breathless, this is the book for you!

A great book for your Fall TBR!

The Prince of Mourning started a bit slow, but around the 30% mark things started moving and I found it hard to put it down. One more chapter, turned into nearly finishing the book in a single sitting.

I think this book shines in the unique magic and folklore of its world, and I found myself wanting to know more about the Nightlands and Nin’s mother! I do think this isn’t quite a true romantasy and feels more like a fantasy with a heavy romantic subplot. The romance that IS in the book is fantastic and I wanted more of it!

What’s to love…
- gothic vibes and plenty of atmosphere
- interesting magic and folklore
- strong independent FMC and a sad boy MMC
- mystery and unknown to keep you turning the pages
- reveals I didn’t see coming
- ghosts, witches, demons, occult, and gods - perfect for spooky season

What’s not to love…
- too light on the romance for me to call this a romantasy. I’d probably say the romance is a heavy subplot.
- A little slow to start but does pick up around 30%
- overly descriptive at times, but the vibes are pretty great so its worth it
- ending was a bit rushed

Parting Thoughts…

The ending feels like it is open for a sequel but also maybe not? Those that like things wrapped up neatly might not find this book satisfying in the end.


4.25⭐️ | IG | TikTok |

Thank you the publisher for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[kylie’s been jinxed ౨ৎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

"ᴍᴏsᴛ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴏʀ ʙᴀᴅ, ᴊᴜsᴛ sᴛʀᴏɴɢ ᴏғ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ ᴏʀ ᴡᴇᴀᴋ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ's ᴍɪɴᴅ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴏᴡɴ"

₊˚🕯️♱‧₊˚ 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙈𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 ₊˚🕯️♱‧₊˚

ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs:
I didn't enjoy this book, but I wasn't disappointed either. It was just really unexceptional.

The main character is named Molly and she's a female nursing student who has the power to see ghosts. She's a little annoying and many of her actions feel a little bit unreasonable (like I'm screaming internally "why would you do that!”)

I think the synopsis is a little misleading, as it discusses a "handsome employer" who ends up being pretty irrelevant to the romance of the story (mainly because he's bed ridden with tuberculosis). However Nin, the prisoner, seems pretty sweet and acts very much like how he’s described in the synopsis.

I think this book really tried to give off creepy vibes and it kind of succeeded? There's plenty of mention of ghosts, witches and the occult throughout the book. I still didn't feel super chilled though (and I get scared pretty easily), maybe others will find it spookier and enjoy the book more.

ᴏᴠᴇʀᴀʟʟ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ:
⤷ 3 stars ★★★☆☆

sɪᴍɪʟᴀʀ ʙᴏᴏᴋs:
⤷ Heartless Hunter (Kristen Ciccarelli)
⤷ A Study in Drowning (Ava Reid)

[Billie's Not So Secret Diary · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Prince of Mourning
by Jenn Bennett
Fantasy
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Oct 28, 2025
Simon and Schuster
Ages: 14+

Learning to become a nurse, Molly roams around the hospital at night, secretly trying to learn everything she can because women aren't allowed to do anything but change bandages and administer medicines. But a few weeks after assisting the doctor, she was summoned to the mansion of a wealthy young man who was impressed by her and requested her to be his live-in nurse because he was dying of consumption.

Molly didn't want to go because she had a secret; she could see ghosts, and had never met anyone else who could until that night helping the doctor. It seemed as if the wealthy young man had looked directly at the ghost of a nursing student who followed Molly around the hospital, but Molly didn't feel as if she could trust him.

Encouraged by the school because of a large donation by the gentleman, Molly goes to the estate only to find something is going on because there is a boy chained in the basement, a boy whom Molly had seen over the years, but he has never aged.


This story was slow to start, but I was curious about Molly's search for knowledge and her ability. Sadly, though, some things felt too hurried here and there, especially during her first meeting with the wealthy man.

But when Nin was introduced, chained in the basement, it reminded me so much of 'Sandman.' And while the story did differ, there were still a lot of similarities.

As for the ending, I'm torn. I was liking it until the final few paragraphs. So there is a little opening for a possible second book, but I have no interest in reading it.

Not a bad story, and I can say that overall it did keep at a steady pace, but some things felt rushed and not really explained. There is violence, but not graphic, and the romance aspect is minimal, so it is suitable for readers fourteen and older.

2 Stars

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I thought the premise of the story was perfect for the fall season; a gothic, spooky romance set in the 1800s. It ultimately did not catch my attention as much as I thought it would. It was good but, not great. I didn’t find myself really wanting to pick it back up when I would set it down. I did love our main character, Molly, I thought she was so headstrong in herself and would have really thrived in today’s world. With that being said, I do think some of the modern day language being used in a story set way back in the day threw me off. At what point our main character really asked someone “what their beef was” and I was so taken aback that I had to reread the sentence to make sure I didn’t make it up. Overall, I thought this was a good book to read if you want a spooky and gothic atmosphere.

Thank you to Simon Teen for the opportunity to read this eARC.

[Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars rounded up.

This cover is deceptive. Not in a nefarious way, but I think it gives the reader a misconception of what the book will be about. This story is about The Prince of Mourning, but he is not the main character, or even A main character for half the book, and he never wears a mask. However, this novel IS a book of mystery, which I think the cover conveys nicely, and the prince is integral to the plot. I do wish the main character, Molly, and the ominous manor were portrayed on the cover, though.

The Prince of Mourning is a thrilling, mysterious fantasy with a sweet romantic side plot. There's occult magic and gods and ghosts. I liked how, from the get-go, we knew Molly had an abnormal ability to see ghosts and how that connected her to the prince. I liked how Molly was taken out of her comfort zone and to the manor. I liked exploring it with her and trying to decipher who we could trust. I really liked learning about the prince and his world. This was a solid story with atmospheric writing and a great main character!

But I did have some gripes with the story. Molly sneaks around the manor a lot, and there weren't many stakes with that. She must be reallyyyyy good at sneaking. Also, the romance's pacing was a bit off to me. Aaaand there was too much going on in the end without real consequences for some of the characters. I did really enjoy the Epilogue, though.

Overall, I was surprised by how fun and engaging I found this story. The mystery elements kept me reading, and I'll definitely read the sequel if there is a book 2! Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

haunting and gorgeous
i want to thank simon teen so much for the arc! i saw it in an email from you guys of some upcoming releases and ran to netgalley to see if i could request it. thank you, i was so excited to read this one!
the cover and blurb immediately drew me in, i knew i needed this book immediately. i LOVE gothic and paranormal romance and this was freaking stunning. gorgeous atmosphere and outstanding characters, they were all perfectly crafted with such a visually captivating setting, with a plot to die for. i adored this book and i loved molly and bethany so much! their friendship was so sweet and unique. molly was strong, smart and charismatic. Nin was EVERYTHING, he is my new book boyfriend for sure, i loved him. the slow burn between him and molly was scrumptious. the master was scary and interesting and that twist at the end was awesome, absolutely fabulous book.
my only complaint is that of some of the language used? maybe i’m wrong but i figured this was set around the 1800s considering the gas lamps, manors, chamber pots, carriages etc. so i was a little confused when the FMC used the phrase “what’s your beef?” and i think she also said “booked it” as well, which took me out of the story a bit because those are more modern terms and phrases. so i’m hoping that was fixed in the final draft! other than that, fabulous book

[Andi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me a read.

I chased after this book because the cover had me thinking it had something to do with masked character (it doesn't). To be quite honest, I have no idea what the cover has to do with the story I read. But hey, it sucked me into reading it.

Unfortunately this book suffers from a lack of staying true to the time period and a plot that meanders and doesn't quite make sense in the details.

It takes place in the late 1800's but he dialogue and the things the female says at times is absolutely ... not quite from that time period. I get that we're reading a YA book that has fantasy elements, but it still takes place in the U.S. , and with characters that come from Europe as well. I expect some conformity to the times.

As for the fantasy elements, the author decides to grab versions of 'death' throughout the world and give them a spot in this story. The reason that the female lead can see ghosts / dead is not really gleamed, and if there is a sequel to this (since the ending screams it) then we might get some explanation. Otherwise, her affinity for doing so is confusing and basically is used as a tool to hook the Death prince and her up.

The plot revolves around her being a live in maid for a man who is acting absolutely nutty after the death of his sister, and is dying of an incurable illness. Meanwhile, secrets abound in this creepy half closed off manor, and the Death prince in the basement make her suspicious of her being there.

There is gothic theme to the story and I guess that's where the two stars come from. I like gothic stories, and true to form, gothic stories should not quite have a clear idea of who to trust and where the story is going... However, I did not expect that to be the case quite literally.

All in all, a lemon of a book - pretty cover but story ain't much to write about, and if it gets a sequel I have no idea what is in store.

[sophia_thesecond (gibsie's ver)(not accepting frq)]

hellooo?? this cover is absolutely gorgeous, I hope it's good!!!

[Dayle (the literary llama) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve always enjoyed Jenn Bennett’s style, which is where I think most of the 3 Stars come from, but the book as a whole didn’t really work for me. The gothic atmosphere, descriptions and tone, carries a lot of the weight. Beyond that, it was slow to get going and somewhat misleading. The first half didn’t really mesh well with the second half, almost like two plot ideas that had been mashed together but not integrated. The pace meandered and I wanted to just get to the point already.

The really irksome part is that I could SEE the potential in every page and turn. There are solid ideas and characters shining through. I just wanted to lean harder into the fantasy elements throughout or remove them altogether and just rely on vague spooky supernatural phenomena.

Overall, I’d still call it okay. But I don’t think I’ll continue with it if a sequel comes along.

* I received a free early copy from the publisher

[abby (smash the patriarchy)]

Jenn Bennett will be releasing a new book this 2025 (and another one in 2026).

My 2025 is now healed.

[Weronika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly O’Rinn becomes a private live-in-nurse for Charles Voss, a wealthy individual, reeling from the recent death of his sister. Molly begins her new job with a lot of questions. How come the large mansion is understaffed, and why is she seeing a ghost from her past chained in the basement? Master Voss is not who he seems, to free them both, Molly will have to get to the bottom of the mystery.

Stating the obvious, but the cover art for this book is absolutely stunning. Mysterious and gothic, just like the story. I was immediately drawn in by the historical fiction, Molly and her ability to see ghosts, as well as the shadowy figure she calls The Black Groom. Nin, The Sorrowful, God of the Nightlands. I loved the interactions between them, he was an enigma, an otherworldly character, and it balanced out the historical to fantasy ratio well.

I also liked the occult magic and world building, I thought it was unique and quite interesting. It is a slower paced book, but I was not bored, in fact, I really enjoyed the pacing and how the story unfolded. The various supporting characters helped the story, I liked the ghost of Bethany and the odd friendship with Molly. I’m afraid it’s a standalone novel, though the epilogue left me wanting more. I am a big fan of the adult urban fantasy Arcadia Bell series by this author, so it was nice to read something new and more YA.

[Sarah ⟡ Tea & Tomes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Simon Teen for the free gift!

This story started off so strong with an atmosphere I absolutely loved. The eerie, isolated mansion and haunting supernatural mystery gave it perfect Crimson Peak vibes that were moody, romantic, and beautifully gothic. The beginning completely hooked me with its setting, tone, and sense of foreboding.

But as the story progressed, it shifted focus into a different plotline, and while that new direction was good on its own, it didn’t quite feel cohesive with the first half. It was almost as if two separate stories—one about the mysterious manor and another about Nin’s otherworldly legacy—had been combined. Both were interesting, but together they didn’t blend as smoothly as I’d hoped.

That said, I still found the book enjoyable overall. The writing, atmosphere, and emotional depth were all solid, and Jenn Bennett’s storytelling style made it easy to stay invested. I just wish the two main threads had meshed better, because each had so much potential on its own.

[Adrianna Heaney-velu · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Prince of Mourning,” by Jenn Bennett

Spooky ghost book for spooky season. A live-in nurse was a unique plot point that I don’t see a lot, so it stands out to me. I liked the dark academia type vibes without the school aspect but still kept the lack of options the FMC had because she wasn’t in charge the same was in dark academia book with the characters being minors and such. Great power dynamic issues but a clear ability from FMC to make the decisions on her own to fix problems that no one else seemed to do for a long time lol. I loved to see her character between acting recklessly and then also doing all the right things and all that push and pull the entire book. The ending did feel rushed compared to the rest of the book, but it wasn’t that bad. I really liked this book, 4 out of 5 stars.

-Live-in Nurse
-Ghosts
-Mysterious

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

[akacya ❦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

2025 reads: 343/300

i received a digital review copy from the publisher as part of their influencer program. i am leaving this review voluntarily.

eighteen-year-old nursing student molly o’rinn finds herself in a strange situation following a mysterious summons to a haunting mansion. she is to be the private live-in nurse for a wealthy young man, who she soon finds out is not what he seems. she discovers a young man, seemingly around her age, imprisoned deep inside the mansion’s walls. nin is royal, attractive...and not human. these two become entangled in a forbidden affair, pressing nin to figure out a way to keep molly safe, even if it means placing his princely duties above love.

i’ve heard so much about jenn bennett, but i believe this is the first book of hers i’ve read! the chilling vibes made this a great book for the fall-turning-into-winter time of year i read this. the fantastical elements were pretty cool, from the different realms to the structure of the royal family. the romance was also so lovely, and i adored the dynamics between the independent molly and emo nin. overall, this was a great romantic fantasy read. i’d be interested in reading more from jenn bennett, especially if she continues writing in this genre.

[Jaimes_Mystical_Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great young adult romantasy. I was immediately immersed in this gothic tale and I loved its atmospheric setting. I really enjoyed following Molly in this story as she trained to become a nurse as well as had the ability to see ghosts. I found Nin’s character to be interesting as well and loved learning more about him alongside Molly. I loved reading this one and it’s definitely a book that I recommend picking up this fall.

Read this if you like:

📖 Gothic romantasy
📖 Forbidden romance
📖 Atmospheric reads

Thank you to @simonteen for the gifted copy.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

So…I liked this. I did. The vibes, the romance, and the story ITSELF were immaculate. I couldn’t put it down and I definitely wanted to know what was going on. It was super intriguing and had a lot of great moments.

However.

Molly has to be one of THE dumbest fucking protagonists in YA history. It was so infuriating how she never listened and then was pikachu surprised when something bad happened. She could literally see ghosts with her own eyeballs yet she had so much trouble believing in other fantastical things? Give me a fucking break.

As others have said, some modern language was thrown in and it really took me out of the plot. I would be really into a scene and then she would keep saying “hey” or that one “what’s your beef” line that we all hated. It was awful. She talked like she was fourteen at times and she was just so fucking childish.

I also didn’t love the mix of mythologies and the fact that there was SO MUCH information repeated on the next page as if they forgot they had literally just said that thing but then acted as if it were new. I can’t stand when editors can’t do their fucking jobs.

But if you go into this for the gothic vibes and Nin, you’ll have a great time.

[Andi · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐.5 | 3.5 stars rounded down

The gothic, spooky, occultist vibes of this book are perfect for the fall season. I loved how headstrong the FMC, Molly, is and I loved her strong Irish roots. I also really enjoyed the mystery throughout the novel and found the world-building unique and quite compelling.

However, there were several instances of anachronistic phrases that completely took me out of the story, ie. "what's your beef with her?"

Ultimately, I think this book suffered from a bit of mis-marketing. The cover doesn't really relate to the story at all and the romance is almost completely absent from the first half of the book - which I didn't mind, but I wouldn't classify this as a "romantasy". I also wish the romance was developed more gradually as it felt rushed.

This story had a lot of potential, but I feel as though it feel a bit short. I would consider picking up the next book because I am curious how it'll play out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for the eARC!

[Cait | GoodeyReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Simon Teen for the gifted eARC.

WENT ROGUE.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK

Well I think calling this one adjacent to Belladonna is where this all went wrong. These two books are not on the same level.

I thought things started out fine and I was intrigued. There’s a good atmosphere and spooky gothic vibes throughout. That note did hit the best.

But a few things didn’t make sense. One of those being the dialogue. Some of it felt extremely modern and I get that it’s a young adult book but it threw me out of the story the way Molly would phrase somethings.

The cover lends itself to some kind of haunting ball vibes right? Those aren’t there either. The plot meanders and slows to excruciating lengths. Molly, “I’m a nurse I know what to do” (though she hasn’t even completed her training), wasn’t that fun to be around. And then adding in so many gods, possession, curses, etc. in the late second half had me quirking my head. It did not need all of that. Once again, the lack of focus for the story is when it really went off the rails.

It looks like there will be a sequel, but I don’t know how I feel about it or if I’ll read it [yet].

Overall audience notes:
- Upper YA Fantasy Romance
- Language: mild
- Romance: vague fade to black
- Violence: moderate
- Content warnings: those dying of tuberculosis, loss of loved ones

[Courtney Shapiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
I love Jenn Bennett's contemporary YA, so I was excited to try a YA fantasy from her. This was SO good. I loved the dark and gothic vibes. The setting was just spooky enough (ya girl does not do horror), and it fit the vibes of fall so well. Molly was a great FMC, and I loved the journey she went on from beginning to end. The reveals were captivating, too. I couldn't stop reading because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. The mix of ghosts, curses, and actual illnesses was a really interesting combination. This was a nice contrast of strong girl and sad boy vibes, which was fun. I did think the romantic elements were secondary, but I liked the plot, so I wasn't really all that upset about it. This was an enjoyable read, and I would definitely read more in this world or more fantasy from Jenn! Thank you to Simon Teen for the ARC to read and review.

[Kaitlynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very spooky and atmospheric, and it was definitely appropriate that I found this during Spooky Season.

It is a slower paced, more molasses-y read, and that was kind of hard for me. Not anything wrong with the book, I just personally needed something that was moving a little faster.

I liked the premise of the book, and I think it was done fairly well. The ending felt a little rushed, and I don't know why I had it in my head that this was a standalone, because it's most definitely been set up to have a sequel.

I'm curious, and a little confused as to what's going to happen next and how things will play out.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for this review copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[Savannah Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

i had really high hopes for this, but unfortunately this fell very short for me. this was honestly just boring. i felt like i was constantly on the edge of excitement… and then it never came. it was truly a very odd feeling and something i’ve never experienced in a book before. i also found that the synopsis was somewhat misleading, which may have added to my confusion that i experienced during my read of this book. this was kind of creepy and unsettling and is what gets this book 2 stars, it definitely has that dark, gothic feel to it that i was hoping for.

[Noelle Haycraft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything about this book. Was I meant to find this as funny as I do? Unsure, but I totally recommend it. I've read Jenn Bennett in the past and have liked her books, but this is probably going to be my favorite of hers for a while.

Full review to come! Recommend this book for those who are looking for a historical fantasy with some mystery and gaslighting thrown in. Have fun, it's a wild ride!

Happy Reading!

[Mere · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Simon Teen for an e-arc.

This book is perfect for the spooky season! It's a girl who goes to care for a sick man in an old manor -- gothic at its core. Plus, it takes place in Tarrytown, where the legend of Sleepy Hollow comes from. Honestly, absolutely perfect for this time of year. There is a lot of mystery surrounding the family and this house, and the atmosphere is creepy once we arrive to where the main story takes place.

Add in that Molly can see ghosts -- this is definitely an omen of things to come. This book reads like a good old gothic horror novel from the very beginning. There are banned areas in the house, creepy servants...you don't know who to trust or what is going on.

I really liked the mystery aspect of this book, it was done really well. I did find the pacing to be a bit slow at times, which made when getting to the middle of the book little harder to get through. I just wasn't invested in the relationship between the main characters. I just felt that it wasn't...interesting? There was very little I felt convinced by.

I wanted to like this book more than I did, but I do think it will appeal to readers.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jenn Bennett is one of my favorite contemporary YA romance authors and this YA gothic romantasy didn't disappoint! It has so much of the romantic charm of her other books with a gothic, mysterious atmosphere. This was definitely part 1 of at least a duology (maybe more? I'm not sure) - for anyone who starts reading, know that it ends in a cliffhanger. I really enjoyed the romance especially and will be looking forward to the next part!

[Nicole Austin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Jenn Bennett’s “The Prince of Mourning” is a gothic, atmospheric historical fantasy that focuses on themes of mystery and the supernatural while also having a touch of slow-burn romance. Set in the late 1800s, the story follows Molly, a determined young nursing student who secretly defies societal expectations by sneaking through hospital wards at night, desperate to learn more than women are permitted to know. But Molly has another secret; she can see ghosts. When she’s summoned to a sprawling country estate to care for a dying young nobleman, her world takes a chilling turn, and she discovers that the mansion’s dark halls hide more than just the echoes of the dead.

From the opening chapters, Bennett establishes a richly eerie atmosphere, full of decaying grandeur and creeping shadows. The manor itself becomes a character, filled with secrets, whispers, and an unsettling boy named Nin who is chained in the basement and mysteriously untouched by time. The early chapters, steeped in dread and suspense, are some of the story’s strongest.

Molly is a good protagonist; she is headstrong, curious, and courageous in a world that constantly underestimates her. Her rebellious streak and refusal to accept the limits placed on her make her an engaging character to root for. At times, she felt like someone who would thrive in a modern setting, which makes her occasional use of more modern language feel jarring in the otherwise historical tone. Still, her intelligence and agency carry the story.

As for the titular Prince of Mourning, he isn’t as central to the story as the title might suggest; he emerges more fully in the second half, when the story expands into a broader tale of ghosts, gods, and otherworldly legacies. The mythology is intriguing, but some readers felt that the shift in focus from the haunted manor mystery to the fantasy-heavy finale made the story feel disjointed, as though two separate but compelling ideas had been stitched together.

Bennett’s prose, however, remains lush and cinematic, balancing tension, tenderness, and the creeping chill of the supernatural. The romance subplot is soft and understated; it’s more emotional than physical. And while the pacing occasionally falters, the bond between Molly and the mysterious young man she nurses adds warmth to an otherwise haunting story.

Though the ending feels rushed, and not all plot threads are fully explained, the story’s sense of atmosphere and the emotional depth of its heroine make it a memorable gothic read. With occult magic, lingering ghosts, and an independent heroine navigating class, gender, and power, “The Prince of Mourning” delivers a moody, fall-perfect escape for fans of gothic fantasy.
Overall, “The Prince of Mourning” proves once again that Jenn Bennett can craft atmosphere and emotion in equal measure.

[Jordan Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this novel in exchange for a review!

This story is a gothic, YA romantasy set in the late 1800’s, where Molly is sent to be a live-in nurse for a rich man at his estate. However, things are not as they seem when Molly realizes there’s a lot of strange stuff going on (and she’s used to strange, since she can see ghosts). Through exploring the manor and running into an old “friend” of hers, Molly must solve the mystery surrounding the estate she’s working at before it’s too late for her and everyone there.

This book had an interesting premise, but it missed the mark for me, personally. I think it was a bit slow moving, and then all of the sudden the very end was very fast-paced and felt like it just needed to be wrapped up quickly. There was a lot of dead space, where nothing seemed to really be happening to further the plot or the character arcs at all, so it felt like it was dragging to me.

I like the idea of Death and the multiple gods involved, but I think I really needed more of the world and the fantasy element explained. It kept me from fully investing into this story, because aside from what Molly finds in a book and a random chapter of an origin story, we truly don’t know much about the world that Molly ends up being thrust into. I’m not sure if that’s because there’s meant to be a sequel or a series, but I feel like we needed more information as a base to set this story off. I was also confused by the introduction of new elements to this supernatural world at the very end of the book. It was kind of a deus ex machina moment, and I ended up feeling like I had missed some crucial detail or storyline, but I don’t think we ever got it. So as much as I liked the supernatural and magical elements, I feel like they weren’t explained or expanded on enough as to where I’d be able to explain the world to someone else if they asked.

I also wish we got more of Nin. I think that because we didn’t get a lot of backstory on the gods and what they do, this is why it felt like we didn’t really know him. A whole family dynamic is set up, but I wish we got some more of that so the climax at the end felt more emotional and meaningful. I liked him and Molly there, but as this was marketed as a romantasy, I think I was expecting more scenes between them than there actually was.

Overall, this book has a fun and unique concept, and may be someone’s perfect read! It just didn’t hit the spot for me. I’m okay with having bombs dropped during the climax and with cliff hangers leaving you wanting a second book to get answers, but the ending felt rushed and confusing to me. It almost read like a sequel wasn’t intended until the last few pages, instead of leading up that this may be a story that has a lot more to it.

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for providing a copy of this novel!

This book wasn't great. It almost felt like 2 books in one. The first half is really slow. Little to nothing happens. It is pretty much just Molly wandering around being confused all the time. I think it was meant to set up tension and "gothic vibes," but it was honestly just boring. The second half, while a lot more interesting, was rushed and completely different tonally. It kind of dropped the whole gothic setup and just went full action fantasy. There were also a bunch of crazy reveals that weren't set up in the first half at all so they were not satisfying.
The romance was also pretty lame. It didn't necessarily "come out of nowhere," but was severely underdeveloped. They went from mere curiosity to declaring eternal love in a matter of pages. Also, I'm fairly certain this is supposed to be YA, but Molly and Nin have a lot of sex. It is "closed door," but was brought up a lot within a maybe 50pg span. It was just excessive, especially since there was so little romance in the first half of the book.
I also didn't like Molly's character change at the end. Her whole thing is that she doesn't want to get married, she wants to be a nurse. She knows if she marries she will need to give up her dreams, but she doesn't want to live for someone else, she wants to live for herself. Well, at least she does, until she meets a 6.5ft tall God, then she was quick to give up nursing to be with him. It was just embarrassing. The book tries to convince the reader that Molly was just afraid of being hurt like her mother, but she made it pretty clear that the main reason she didn't want to marry was because she didn't want to give up her dream of being a nurse. While I don't necessarily have anything against the whole "love over everything" mindset, I feel like this shift in character was underdeveloped. It almost felt like she forgot all her dreams and aspirations the second she had sex.
Anyway, the common theme here is that everything in this book is underdeveloped. Also, it is maybe a stand alone? I don't see any indication that there is a sequel coming, but the epilogue was very explicitly setting one up.
Quick nitpick, but I almost dnf-ed when I learned that Molly was 5ft tall and oh so very tiny while Nin was a huge 6.5 ft tall man. Their height difference isn't brought up a ton of times, but enough to make me roll my eyes. I'm going to start dnfing every book with an "oh so tiny" female lead and an "over 6ft tall massive" male lead.

[Ashley - The Tattered Page · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨ 𝒜𝑅𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌✨

𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🥀🥀🥀 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻 ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴏsᴇs

𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:

ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ sɪᴍᴏɴᴛᴇᴇɴ ғᴏʀ ɢɪꜰᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜɪs ᴘʜʏsɪᴄᴀʟ ᴀʀᴄ!

ᴊᴇɴɴ ʙᴇɴɴᴇᴛᴛ’s 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒫𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝑀𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔 ɪs ᴀ ʟᴜsʜ, ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀɪᴄ ɢᴏᴛʜɪᴄ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʙʟᴇɴᴅs ʜᴀᴜɴᴛɪɴɢ ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀʏ, sʟᴏᴡ-ʙᴜʀɴ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʟʟᴜʀᴇ ᴏғ ғᴏʀʙɪᴅᴅᴇɴ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ. ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡs ᴍᴏʟʟʏ ᴏ’ʀɪɴɴ, ᴀɴ ᴇɪɢʜᴛᴇᴇɴ-ʏᴇᴀʀ-ᴏʟᴅ ɴᴜʀsɪɴɢ sᴛᴜᴅᴇɴᴛ ᴡʜᴏ ᴀᴄᴄᴇᴘᴛs ᴀ ᴘᴏsɪᴛɪᴏɴ ᴄᴀʀɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ʀᴇᴄʟᴜsɪᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜɴɢ ᴍᴀɴ ɪɴ ᴀ sᴘʀᴀᴡʟɪɴɢ ʜᴜᴅsᴏɴ ᴠᴀʟʟᴇʏ ᴍᴀɴsɪᴏɴ. ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʙᴇɢɪɴs ᴀs ᴀɴ ᴇᴇʀɪᴇ, ǫᴜɪᴇᴛ ᴊᴏʙ ǫᴜɪᴄᴋʟʏ ᴛᴜʀɴs ᴏᴛʜᴇʀᴡᴏʀʟᴅʟʏ ᴡʜᴇɴ sʜᴇ ᴅɪsᴄᴏᴠᴇʀs ᴀ sᴜᴘᴇʀɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴀʟ ᴘʀɪsᴏɴᴇʀ—ɴɪɴ, ᴀ sᴛᴜɴɴɪɴɢ ʏᴇᴛ ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀᴏᴜs ғᴀᴇ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ—ᴛʀᴀᴘᴘᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴍᴇɴᴛs ᴅᴇᴇᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇsᴛᴀᴛᴇ.

ʙᴇɴɴᴇᴛᴛ ᴄʀᴀғᴛs ᴀɴ ɪɴᴛᴏxɪᴄᴀᴛɪɴɢ ɢᴏᴛʜɪᴄ sᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ, ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴋɪɴɢ ʜᴀʟʟs, ᴄᴀɴᴅʟᴇʟɪᴛ sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴠᴇʀ-ᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴛ sᴇɴsᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ sɪɴɪsᴛᴇʀ ʟᴜʀᴋs ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ sɪɢʜᴛ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ ɪs ᴇᴠᴏᴄᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄɪɴᴇᴍᴀᴛɪᴄ, ᴅʀᴀᴡɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇsᴛ ᴇʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛs ᴏғ ɢᴏᴛʜɪᴄ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ: ʏᴇᴀʀɴɪɴɢ, ᴅʀᴇᴀᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴍᴘᴏssɪʙʟᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴇᴍɪsᴛʀʏ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴍᴏʟʟʏ ᴀɴᴅ ɴɪɴ ɪs ᴀ ʜɪɢʜʟɪɢʜᴛ—��ᴄʜɪɴɢʟʏ sʟᴏᴡ, ᴄʜᴀʀɢᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴄᴏʀᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ sᴇɴsᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴅᴇsᴛʀᴏʏ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ʙᴏᴛʜ. ғᴀɴs ᴏғ ʙᴇʟʟᴀᴅᴏɴɴᴀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ sᴛᴜᴅʏ ɪɴ ᴅʀᴏᴡɴɪɴɢ ᴡɪʟʟ ғᴇᴇʟ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴀᴛ ʜᴏᴍᴇ ʜᴇʀᴇ.

ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴀɪᴅ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀᴄɪɴɢ ʟᴇᴀɴs ʜᴇᴀᴠɪʟʏ ᴏɴ sʟᴏᴡ-ʙᴜʀɴ ɪɴᴛʀᴏsᴘᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ. ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ ʜᴀʟғ ɪs ʀɪᴄʜ ɪɴ ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀᴇ ʙᴜᴛ sᴏᴍᴇᴛɪᴍᴇs ᴅʀɪғᴛs ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴏᴠᴇʀ-ᴅᴇsᴄʀɪᴘᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴅᴇʟᴀʏɪɴɢ ᴋᴇʏ ʀᴇᴠᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴs. ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴛᴀᴋᴇs ᴄᴇɴᴛᴇʀ sᴛᴀɢᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs ᴏғ ɴɪɴ’s ɪᴍᴘʀɪsᴏɴᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴜɴғᴏʟᴅ, ʜᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ, ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ғɪɴᴅs ɪᴛs ʀʜʏᴛʜᴍ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ. ʙᴇɴɴᴇᴛᴛ’s ᴘʀᴏsᴇ sʜɪɴᴇs ᴍᴏsᴛ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴏsᴇ ɪɴᴛɪᴍᴀᴛᴇ, ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ ғʀᴀᴜɢʜᴛ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛs ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴇᴀᴅs—ʙᴀʟᴀɴᴄɪɴɢ ᴛᴇɴᴅᴇʀɴᴇss ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀ ɪɴ ᴀ ᴡᴀʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ғᴇᴇʟs ʙᴏᴛʜ ɢᴏᴛʜɪᴄ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴇᴘʟʏ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ.

𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈 & 𝐸𝓁𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓈:

✨ғᴏʀʙɪᴅᴅᴇɴ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
✨ɴᴜʀsᴇ x ᴄᴀᴘᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ
✨ɪsᴏʟᴀᴛᴇᴅ ɢᴏᴛʜɪᴄ ᴍᴀɴsɪᴏɴ sᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ
✨ʜɪᴅᴅᴇɴ ᴘʀɪsᴏɴᴇʀ x sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛ ɪᴅᴇɴᴛɪᴛʏ
✨sʟᴏᴡ-ʙᴜʀɴ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ
✨sᴘᴏᴏᴋʏ ɢʜᴏsᴛs, ᴡɪᴛᴄʜᴇs, ᴅᴇᴍᴏɴs, ᴏᴄᴄᴜʟᴛ, ɢᴏᴅs, & ᴀɴᴄɪᴇɴᴛ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ
✨ᴅᴇʟɪᴄɪᴏᴜs ʏᴇᴀʀɴɪɴɢ

𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉: 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒫𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝑀𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔 ɪs ᴀ ᴅᴀʀᴋʟʏ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛɪᴄ ᴀɴᴅ ɢᴏʀɢᴇᴏᴜsʟʏ ᴡʀɪᴛᴛᴇɴ ɢᴏᴛʜɪᴄ ᴛᴀʟᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜʀɪᴠᴇs ᴏɴ ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀᴇ, ʏᴇᴀʀɴɪɴɢ, ᴀɴᴅ ғᴏʀʙɪᴅᴅᴇɴ ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ. ɪᴛ’s ᴀ ᴅᴇʟɪʙᴇʀᴀᴛᴇ sʟᴏᴡ ʙᴜʀɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʀᴇᴡᴀʀᴅs ᴘᴀᴛɪᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ʜᴀᴜɴᴛɪɴɢ ʟᴏᴠᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ.

✨𝐹𝓊𝓁𝓁 𝓇𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌 ᴏɴ ɴᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟᴇʏ, ɢᴏᴏᴅʀᴇᴀᴅs & ᴀᴍᴀᴢᴏɴ!✨

ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ: @ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

THE PRINCE OF MOURNING by Jenn Bennett (Oct 28)

Thank you Netgalley and SimonTeen for the earc

After Molly is summoned as a live-in nurse, she learns that the wealthy man isn't who he seems. When Molly discovers a boy, Nin---prisoner of the estate, not human---she knows she should stay away, but she is drawn to him. Together, they must work to escape the estate before it's too late.
THE PRINCE OF MOURNING is a YA romantasy novel. First, let's talk about that stunning cover. It's so pretty and somehow sums up the book.
THE PRINCE OF MOURNING is unique. I haven't read anything with this premise, so I really enjoyed that. I liked the concept of ghosts and---surprisingly enough---the time period it was set in. This book is atmospheric. The vibes are gothic, and I thought the author did a great job of keeping that especially the ghost, occultist, and eerie location of it all. And then, of course, it progressed in a way that I didn't see coming. I cannot go into it without spoiling, but that reveal helped explain things, and I was like, "Oh, this is what is happening. How odd, but like, it makes sense."
The characters were a mix of likeable and unlikeable, so it was hard to decide who could be trusted. Because there was a layer of mystery in THE PRINCE OF MOURNING, I thought this was perfect because in this kind of story---mystery mixed with fantasy---you don't want to know who to trust so the reveal is shocking, and what a reveal that was.
Something I was missing was the banter, especially in the first half---this is just something I've come to expect with romantasy's. Once everything picked up, I really liked this. It was witchy, very ghostly, and there was a bit of romance that rounded everything out. This comes out just in time to be the perfect fall read.

[Abigail Books Addiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there’s one thing about me, it’s that I will always read a book that involves the underworld, Hades, or any mythology themes. Those stories are absolutely my jam—and The Prince of Mourning delivers exactly what I love and more. From page one, I knew I was in for a wild, twisty, dark fantasy ride, and it did not let me down.

This young adult fantasy blends underworld vibes, eerie ghost lore, and a touch of Olympus mythology in a way that feels fresh but familiar. The story kicks off with Molly, who starts a new job in a town she doesn't know—and immediately, things feel off. Her discomfort isn’t just new-job nerves; there’s something deeper and darker creeping at the edges.

Molly’s lifelong ability to see ghosts has always been a secret part of her life, especially her connection with one ghost in particular: Nin, a familiar presence she’s never understood. But when Molly finds herself trapped in a strange house—with Nin, of all people (yes, ghosts are people too)—things start spiraling into the paranormal fast.

The stakes rise quickly, and the mystery of why Molly and Nin are both stuck in this house becomes the core of a chilling, myth-laced plot. The house itself becomes a character—dark, shifting, and suspicious—and as secrets start to unravel, so does Molly’s understanding of the world she thought she knew.

This book has everything I look for in a YA fantasy: a bold but believable protagonist, a mystery that pulls you in, and a setting that practically breathes underworld energy. It’s haunting, atmospheric, and impossible to put down.

If you’re into underworld mythology, ghostly mysteries, or fantasy stories that blur the lines between life and death, The Prince of Mourning is a must-read. It’s creepy, clever, and full of heart—and I had a fantastic time reading it.