What do you think?
Rate this book
Death Becomes Her
Rose Walker has always been able to see the dead.
Determined to leave that part of her life behind, she accepts a scholarship to Banecroft University in England, far from her small, judgmental Colorado town. No one there knows about her gift—or the past she’s desperate to forget.
But when Rose’s roommate, Eleanor, dies under mysterious circumstances, her new beginning shatters. Haunted by Eleanor’s ghost and missing memories from the night of her death, Rose doesn’t know if her friend’s spirit seeks answers—or revenge.
Desperate for the truth, Rose teams up with Dawn, a fellow outcast with a knack for solving mysteries, and Val, a dangerously charming Mage Seeker who forces her to question everything she thought she knew about her abilities, and herself. But when another student is attacked, it’s clear that Eleanor’s death is just the beginning, and time is short.
In this supernatural mystery of self-discovery, first love, and ancient magic, Rose must face the hardest question of all:
Was it my fault, again?
Death Becomes Her is the first novel in the Death’s Legacy series, perfect for fans of The Ninth House, The Raven Boys, and Supernatural.
Determined to leave that part of her life behind, she accepts a scholarship to Banecroft University in England, far from her small, judgmental Colorado town. No one there knows about her gift—or the past she’s desperate to forget.
But when Rose’s roommate, Eleanor, dies under mysterious circumstances, her new beginning shatters. Haunted by Eleanor’s ghost and missing memories from the night of her death, Rose doesn’t know if her friend’s spirit seeks answers—or revenge.
Desperate for the truth, Rose teams up with Dawn, a fellow outcast with a knack for solving mysteries, and Val, a dangerously charming Mage Seeker who forces her to question everything she thought she knew about her abilities, and herself. But when another student is attacked, it’s clear that Eleanor’s death is just the beginning, and time is short.
In this supernatural mystery of self-discovery, first love, and ancient magic, Rose must face the hardest question of all:
Was it my fault, again?
Death Becomes Her is the first novel in the Death’s Legacy series, perfect for fans of The Ninth House, The Raven Boys, and Supernatural.
306 pages, Paperback
First published August 2, 2025
10 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Ina Harrington
1 book17 followersIna Harrington is a Bulgarian-born urban fantasy author who loves blending real-world drama with magic and just the right touch of horror. Though she studied English formally, she credits Cartoon Network with teaching her some of the most important bits. She’s largely self-taught in everything else – from programming and web design to writing.
Now, she lives in the UK with her amazing husband and a very needy, spoiled, and handsome cat who’s pretty sure he runs the place. Ina is always eager to learn something new – except when it comes to saying no to her cat’s demands.
Ina also hates writing bios, but is no stranger to talking in third person.
Now, she lives in the UK with her amazing husband and a very needy, spoiled, and handsome cat who’s pretty sure he runs the place. Ina is always eager to learn something new – except when it comes to saying no to her cat’s demands.
Ina also hates writing bios, but is no stranger to talking in third person.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
June 17, 2025
Death Becomes Her is one of those books that grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go. Ina Harrington delivers a fast-paced, twist-filled fantasy that kept me hooked the whole way through. The writing is immersive, and the story constantly kept me guessing—which I loved.
It’s one of those reads where you just have to know what happens next. Now my "next" is officially counting down the days until the next book drops. Highly recommend if you love darkish-fantasy with great twists and addictive storytelling!
It’s one of those reads where you just have to know what happens next. Now my "next" is officially counting down the days until the next book drops. Highly recommend if you love darkish-fantasy with great twists and addictive storytelling!
Want to read
July 6, 2025My first ever ARC!!!
Thank you Netgally and Ina Harrington for this<333
Thank you Netgally and Ina Harrington for this<333
July 29, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Harrington Publishing for providing a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I want to preface this review with the reminder that I usually would not reach for a YA book but I still enjoyed it nonetheless!
This book follows our girl Rose whose first year at university is anything but boring. Within her first week there she deals with the unexpected loss of her roommate and the mystery that surrounds it. Rose is anything but normal and the gifts she was once bullied for as a child aid her in unraveling this mystery.
*spoiler warning*
I absolutely loved the characters in this book, I think they were so well written. Dawn is so adorable and I absolutely loved Val. The author did a very good job at writing Rose to be sheltered, but she was so sweet and I felt so bad for her. The descriptions of the ghosts in this story were horrifying and I honestly felt like I was watching a movie while reading this book! It was very easy to get lost in the pages.
The only thing that is holding this back from being a 5 star review is the magic system and how little is explained. I understand the set up for the second book/ continuation of the series but I would have liked to know more about Rose’s powers and Val’s place in all of this. The ending was very ominous and I am a bit disappointed to not see Rose and Val become a couple.
Overall this was a great read and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next one!
I want to preface this review with the reminder that I usually would not reach for a YA book but I still enjoyed it nonetheless!
This book follows our girl Rose whose first year at university is anything but boring. Within her first week there she deals with the unexpected loss of her roommate and the mystery that surrounds it. Rose is anything but normal and the gifts she was once bullied for as a child aid her in unraveling this mystery.
*spoiler warning*
I absolutely loved the characters in this book, I think they were so well written. Dawn is so adorable and I absolutely loved Val. The author did a very good job at writing Rose to be sheltered, but she was so sweet and I felt so bad for her. The descriptions of the ghosts in this story were horrifying and I honestly felt like I was watching a movie while reading this book! It was very easy to get lost in the pages.
The only thing that is holding this back from being a 5 star review is the magic system and how little is explained. I understand the set up for the second book/ continuation of the series but I would have liked to know more about Rose’s powers and Val’s place in all of this. The ending was very ominous and I am a bit disappointed to not see Rose and Val become a couple.
Overall this was a great read and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next one!
June 26, 2025
Rose Walker has always been able to see the dead.
Determined to leave that part of her life behind, she leaves her small Colorado town. She accepts a scholarship to Banecroft University in England, where no one there knows about her ability.
But when Rose’s roommate, Eleanor, dies under mysterious circumstances, her hopes of leaving her past behind are broken, crushed, stomped on. Haunted by Eleanor’s ghost and missing memories from the night of her roommate's death, Rose doesn’t know if her friend’s spirit seeks answers—or revenge, and let me tell you, neither do we. She’s not at all friendly, but neither would I be if I were murdered.
Desperate for the truth, Rose teams up with her new friend, Dawn, and a dangerously sexy and charming Mage Seeker, Val, who forces her to question everything she thought she knew about her abilities, despite not knowing very much. But when another student is attacked, it’s clear that her roommate’s death is just the beginning, and time is short.
I get absolutely giddy over a paranormal mystery, especially when it comes to paranormal themes in general, but a paranormal mystery? Count me in. Therefore, I was confident I would thoroughly enjoy this story, and I did. It's the perfect package of self-discovery, first love, and magic!
First of all, I had beef with Rose at the beginning. She doesn’t like being called a witch, and I understand her perspective, but what I would do to be a present-day witch and be called a witch is a dream. Poor Rose, she came to England to escape her past, she was thrown through the wringer, and she wasn’t even my favourite character. The guilt weighed heavily on my heart. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed her character, and with this being the first of a series, she was written in a way that she has room for development, and I’m going to be here for her all the way. She’s going to have her moment of badassery, and I cannot wait. The character that holds my heart was Dawn, Val was high up there too, but Dawn. Girl, she crushed it with the vibes. A girl’s girl. You know there’s more to her, and you’re just waiting for it, and then the emotions. They hit hard. She was a great character. Would love it if she were my friend. I could go on about the characters, because they each had something to love, but you’ll have to see for yourself!
I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline. It was spot on with the mystery; I didn’t know what to expect, and even as the story progressed, I was completely immersed, struggling to put it down. It just kept getting more and more chilling, and even a little grotesque with a hint of naive, first love. The first love was spot on; it was cute without trying to be cute. We’ve all been in this girl's position with the first love, you know, so completely relatable. What wasn’t relatable, though, was Rose’s battles with the dead. Give the girl a break. Luckily, she had Val there for some guidance; he was a typical prick, though, but a caring one. Their dynamic was enjoyable! The way they journeyed through this outrageous situation was quite inspiring. Once I got to the end, you would have had to pull the book out of my cold, dead hands to get it away from me. I couldn’t stop reading.
I’m so glad this is the first novel in the Death’s Legacy series; it would be impossible to end there. Rose needs her moment of badassery, she had a bit of one, but this girl is a strong woman; she will be delivering more, and I can’t wait.
Determined to leave that part of her life behind, she leaves her small Colorado town. She accepts a scholarship to Banecroft University in England, where no one there knows about her ability.
But when Rose’s roommate, Eleanor, dies under mysterious circumstances, her hopes of leaving her past behind are broken, crushed, stomped on. Haunted by Eleanor’s ghost and missing memories from the night of her roommate's death, Rose doesn’t know if her friend’s spirit seeks answers—or revenge, and let me tell you, neither do we. She’s not at all friendly, but neither would I be if I were murdered.
Desperate for the truth, Rose teams up with her new friend, Dawn, and a dangerously sexy and charming Mage Seeker, Val, who forces her to question everything she thought she knew about her abilities, despite not knowing very much. But when another student is attacked, it’s clear that her roommate’s death is just the beginning, and time is short.
I get absolutely giddy over a paranormal mystery, especially when it comes to paranormal themes in general, but a paranormal mystery? Count me in. Therefore, I was confident I would thoroughly enjoy this story, and I did. It's the perfect package of self-discovery, first love, and magic!
First of all, I had beef with Rose at the beginning. She doesn’t like being called a witch, and I understand her perspective, but what I would do to be a present-day witch and be called a witch is a dream. Poor Rose, she came to England to escape her past, she was thrown through the wringer, and she wasn’t even my favourite character. The guilt weighed heavily on my heart. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed her character, and with this being the first of a series, she was written in a way that she has room for development, and I’m going to be here for her all the way. She’s going to have her moment of badassery, and I cannot wait. The character that holds my heart was Dawn, Val was high up there too, but Dawn. Girl, she crushed it with the vibes. A girl’s girl. You know there’s more to her, and you’re just waiting for it, and then the emotions. They hit hard. She was a great character. Would love it if she were my friend. I could go on about the characters, because they each had something to love, but you’ll have to see for yourself!
I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline. It was spot on with the mystery; I didn’t know what to expect, and even as the story progressed, I was completely immersed, struggling to put it down. It just kept getting more and more chilling, and even a little grotesque with a hint of naive, first love. The first love was spot on; it was cute without trying to be cute. We’ve all been in this girl's position with the first love, you know, so completely relatable. What wasn’t relatable, though, was Rose’s battles with the dead. Give the girl a break. Luckily, she had Val there for some guidance; he was a typical prick, though, but a caring one. Their dynamic was enjoyable! The way they journeyed through this outrageous situation was quite inspiring. Once I got to the end, you would have had to pull the book out of my cold, dead hands to get it away from me. I couldn’t stop reading.
I’m so glad this is the first novel in the Death’s Legacy series; it would be impossible to end there. Rose needs her moment of badassery, she had a bit of one, but this girl is a strong woman; she will be delivering more, and I can’t wait.
August 2, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have felt all the things while reading Death Becomes Her. Most of all, I feel that this is a story that needs to be talked about.
This story covers urban fantasy and paranormal murder mystery. Read the blurb for full details, but Rose is a college student with witchy powers. After her roommate dies, she begins to experience hauntings that become increasingly dangerous. For everyone’s safety, Rose needs to figure out what happened to her roommate in order to bring peace to the dead.
My hot-take is that ghost stories are hard to write well. Without just the right flair, they can either be cliché, or turn into a Scooby Doo mystery. Ina nailed it. Seriously. This book is scary…and you are immersed so wonderfully that it is not campy or silly.
Can we talk about the romance subplot? It is more of a side quest, and it is the slowest of slow burns. And yet…what a gift to read Rose and Val’s story. I so appreciate that the romance element does not distract from the horror of the story. More like the sprinkles on top of the donut, the story would have been fine without it, but look at the added beauty.
Every girl needs a best friend - and Dawn is a TREASURE. Seriously. Ina writes secondary characters that add layers of depth to the story without becoming too much. Dawn is vibrant, special, and hilarious, adding lighter notes to an often dark story.
It’s one thing to be able to emulate real-world experience through writing and another to make real the unreal. To die, to be haunted, to experience the paranormal. All of these sensations are brought to life, giving me chills goosebumps along the way. Thank you, Ina, for writing such a wonderful story. I can’t wait for my paperback in August!
I have felt all the things while reading Death Becomes Her. Most of all, I feel that this is a story that needs to be talked about.
This story covers urban fantasy and paranormal murder mystery. Read the blurb for full details, but Rose is a college student with witchy powers. After her roommate dies, she begins to experience hauntings that become increasingly dangerous. For everyone’s safety, Rose needs to figure out what happened to her roommate in order to bring peace to the dead.
My hot-take is that ghost stories are hard to write well. Without just the right flair, they can either be cliché, or turn into a Scooby Doo mystery. Ina nailed it. Seriously. This book is scary…and you are immersed so wonderfully that it is not campy or silly.
Can we talk about the romance subplot? It is more of a side quest, and it is the slowest of slow burns. And yet…what a gift to read Rose and Val’s story. I so appreciate that the romance element does not distract from the horror of the story. More like the sprinkles on top of the donut, the story would have been fine without it, but look at the added beauty.
Every girl needs a best friend - and Dawn is a TREASURE. Seriously. Ina writes secondary characters that add layers of depth to the story without becoming too much. Dawn is vibrant, special, and hilarious, adding lighter notes to an often dark story.
It’s one thing to be able to emulate real-world experience through writing and another to make real the unreal. To die, to be haunted, to experience the paranormal. All of these sensations are brought to life, giving me chills goosebumps along the way. Thank you, Ina, for writing such a wonderful story. I can’t wait for my paperback in August!
August 4, 2025
I love fantasy novels, good mysteries, and well-written horror stories that immerse me in the environment. Death Becomes Her is an excellent mixture of all three.
Rose Walker has powers that haunt her (literally) and that she does not understand. When another mysterious death occurs around her, questions arise about her power, and she is introduced to the world of mages, seekers, and cursed. Rose, a powerful mage, is “paired” with hot, bad boy, mage seeker Val, and they work together to try to figure out what is behind the mysterious happenings on campus.
Rose, Val, and Tyler (Rose's twin brother) are all incredibly annoying as characters, but in the best way. They all just feel like real people. In many fantasy novels, especially those that deal with teenagers and young adults, have characters that feel like they are reduced only to their powers or abilities. This is not what happens here. They are complex, multi-faceted, and with detailed backstories. While there is more I wish had been explored, such as Rose's relation with her family's community and where the scholarships come from, I am sure the sequel will solve my questions. Dawn (the best friend) is just an absolute sweetheart and a great balance from all of the supernatural stuff going on.
The mystery kept me enraptured, and I could not put the book down until I had answers. I unfortunately could not solve it by myself, but I am giving myself a point for predicting what was the piece of evidence that broke the case wide open. But even more than the mystery aspect, what stood out to me the most was the incredible writing in the horror scenes. They felt extremely vivid; I was almost expecting to find a ghost hand coming out from under my bed. It is also interesting, but it felt like the scenes were writing as if for a movie (I'm not entirely sure this makes sense). I could feel the scene cuts and how the editing would work, and it made everything feel even more realistic for me.
The summary said this book would be recommended for fans of Supernatural, and I can definitely vouch for it. It feels like one of the episodes in which the boys find a monster, but it isn't the one actually responsible for the murders, so they all team up to catch the actual bad guys. Some parts of it also made me think of the game Phasmophobia, with the different lore bit about the types of ghosts. The scenes involving Rose's encounters with the ghosts reminded me of the Intertwined series, one of my favorites (although very unhinged) from my teen years. Caleb and Julian would fit right in the Death Becomes Her universe.
I can't wait to see what happens next in the series and what Ina Harrington has in store for us.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ina Harrington for the advanced copy. This review is left voluntarily and honestly.
Rose Walker has powers that haunt her (literally) and that she does not understand. When another mysterious death occurs around her, questions arise about her power, and she is introduced to the world of mages, seekers, and cursed. Rose, a powerful mage, is “paired” with hot, bad boy, mage seeker Val, and they work together to try to figure out what is behind the mysterious happenings on campus.
Rose, Val, and Tyler (Rose's twin brother) are all incredibly annoying as characters, but in the best way. They all just feel like real people. In many fantasy novels, especially those that deal with teenagers and young adults, have characters that feel like they are reduced only to their powers or abilities. This is not what happens here. They are complex, multi-faceted, and with detailed backstories. While there is more I wish had been explored, such as Rose's relation with her family's community and where the scholarships come from, I am sure the sequel will solve my questions. Dawn (the best friend) is just an absolute sweetheart and a great balance from all of the supernatural stuff going on.
The mystery kept me enraptured, and I could not put the book down until I had answers. I unfortunately could not solve it by myself, but I am giving myself a point for predicting what was the piece of evidence that broke the case wide open. But even more than the mystery aspect, what stood out to me the most was the incredible writing in the horror scenes. They felt extremely vivid; I was almost expecting to find a ghost hand coming out from under my bed. It is also interesting, but it felt like the scenes were writing as if for a movie (I'm not entirely sure this makes sense). I could feel the scene cuts and how the editing would work, and it made everything feel even more realistic for me.
The summary said this book would be recommended for fans of Supernatural, and I can definitely vouch for it. It feels like one of the episodes in which the boys find a monster, but it isn't the one actually responsible for the murders, so they all team up to catch the actual bad guys. Some parts of it also made me think of the game Phasmophobia, with the different lore bit about the types of ghosts. The scenes involving Rose's encounters with the ghosts reminded me of the Intertwined series, one of my favorites (although very unhinged) from my teen years. Caleb and Julian would fit right in the Death Becomes Her universe.
I can't wait to see what happens next in the series and what Ina Harrington has in store for us.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ina Harrington for the advanced copy. This review is left voluntarily and honestly.
July 11, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Harrington Publishing for a complimentary early release copy of Death Becomes Her by Ina Harrington.
I didn’t really know what to expect going into Death Becomes Her, the premise sounded interesting but what mainly drew me in is the absolutely stunning book cover! I was also intrigued because it’s a mystery & thriller with fantasy elements and I just haven’t read many mystery fantasy novels. Death Becomes Her does not disappoint! I enjoyed all of our characters, I liked Rose and her brother Tyler, they made a good pair as an opposites attract kind of thing. I liked that they had positive relationship, I do however hope that we get more of Tyler in the next books. He seems like an interesting character, I liked how he stood up for Rose and was protective of her but I felt that we could have gotten just a bit more background with him. (I would love a perspective from Tyler!).
Val and Rose are a good pairing, I was a bit iffy about Val when things were first introduced but as the story goes on he really did grow on me! The broody mysterious personality of Val and the anxious & clueless personality of Rose worked well together. Both of them have some funny and cute scenes that made me smile, I definitely ship them together! The romance between them is teased a bit in this book but this series is definitely going to be a slow, slow kind of burn. The teasing tension between them is there though so it’s definitely worth it! I did find it just a bit repetitive that Val was so dodgy about things but I’m eager to learn more about him in future books.
The dynamic between Rose, Val, and Dawn is nice! I liked their whole group dynamic but I really hope Dawn is more included in the story in the next book. I loved her character but I would have loved to see her be a bit more involved with things.
The plot was intriguing, I found the mystery and fantasy elements to be interesting. I really liked Rose’s abilities and found them unique. This book was a page turner and it goes by rather quickly, there are so many things I found enjoyable about thing book. The characters, romance, friendships, abilities, and much more. While I did enjoy the story overall I think some of the fantasy elements with the mage seekers, veil, and the ending went a bit over my head. I still have some questions and stuff I feel a bit clueless about but I still had a pleasant reading experience with Death Becomes her. I would definitely be interested to see what the next installments would include, I need more of Val and Rose immediately! As a side note, The authors note and you matter message are so sweet. I really recommend reading them! This book touches on topics of bullying, grief, mental health, and self harm. Please read with caution if you are sensitive to those topics!
I didn’t really know what to expect going into Death Becomes Her, the premise sounded interesting but what mainly drew me in is the absolutely stunning book cover! I was also intrigued because it’s a mystery & thriller with fantasy elements and I just haven’t read many mystery fantasy novels. Death Becomes Her does not disappoint! I enjoyed all of our characters, I liked Rose and her brother Tyler, they made a good pair as an opposites attract kind of thing. I liked that they had positive relationship, I do however hope that we get more of Tyler in the next books. He seems like an interesting character, I liked how he stood up for Rose and was protective of her but I felt that we could have gotten just a bit more background with him. (I would love a perspective from Tyler!).
Val and Rose are a good pairing, I was a bit iffy about Val when things were first introduced but as the story goes on he really did grow on me! The broody mysterious personality of Val and the anxious & clueless personality of Rose worked well together. Both of them have some funny and cute scenes that made me smile, I definitely ship them together! The romance between them is teased a bit in this book but this series is definitely going to be a slow, slow kind of burn. The teasing tension between them is there though so it’s definitely worth it! I did find it just a bit repetitive that Val was so dodgy about things but I’m eager to learn more about him in future books.
The dynamic between Rose, Val, and Dawn is nice! I liked their whole group dynamic but I really hope Dawn is more included in the story in the next book. I loved her character but I would have loved to see her be a bit more involved with things.
The plot was intriguing, I found the mystery and fantasy elements to be interesting. I really liked Rose’s abilities and found them unique. This book was a page turner and it goes by rather quickly, there are so many things I found enjoyable about thing book. The characters, romance, friendships, abilities, and much more. While I did enjoy the story overall I think some of the fantasy elements with the mage seekers, veil, and the ending went a bit over my head. I still have some questions and stuff I feel a bit clueless about but I still had a pleasant reading experience with Death Becomes her. I would definitely be interested to see what the next installments would include, I need more of Val and Rose immediately! As a side note, The authors note and you matter message are so sweet. I really recommend reading them! This book touches on topics of bullying, grief, mental health, and self harm. Please read with caution if you are sensitive to those topics!
June 19, 2025
DBH was a book that I had high hopes for, and Ina definitely delivered because the thicker the plot got, the more I wanted to get home faster so I could find out what happens next. I love the abilities and the world-building. I love the actions of the FMC, Rose, because I could relate to her. The more creepy and dark scenes thoroughly creeped me out and that means it was done perfectly. I love the slow burn that burns without being overtly sexual or overly romantic; which is perfect for the kind of characters Ina has built. I’ve brought up my own “opinions” to Ina herself, and she’s very open. I say this in quotation marks because I wasn’t really critiquing the book, but simply giving my take on it. I wouldn’t change the book at all and I am waiting for the second book!
August 10, 2025
before i start this review, i’d like to thank netgalley for providing me with this arc!
i really wanted to like this book because conceptually it is perfect for me. an urban fantasy about a girl who can see ghosts and detect whispers (which essentially are truths and lies) whilst studying at a prestigious exclusive university. it had everything.
i know this is marketed as y/a, but based off the author’s marketing of 16-18, i would have to strongly disagree. the writing felt so young, and the over-excessive use of words such as “smirk” really pulled me out of the story. seriously, he smirked every chapter, multiple times!!!! is his face okay? should we take him to the doctors?
i found the lore to be extremely confusing. the m/c - rose - is unaware of anything in the world, which is fine. but the way val (the mmc) described everything was often rushed or half assed. i understand that this is due to his character but when setting up a world for a series as this one is, it’s just confusing and nothing comes across clearly. granted, i do understand the lore now, but when they were solving the mystery and he was prattling about different ghosts and she was sat there like ???…. girl, same. (and no one even explained it to her!). even her use of powers at the end of the book made no sense. i still barely comprehend any of it.
which brings me to my next point! which version of england do they live in, because as a british citizen for… well my whole life! i am utterly confused what is going on. firstly, the dorm situation is just confusing and weird. they try brush past it by say none of it is legally enforced, but then why are there “rules”. i don’t get it. secondly, and this it a bit nitpicky, but no way this man is saying 18:00. come on. we say 6pm. i swear. i don’t know man.
i also find the relationship between rose and val very strange. i understand the idea of wanting to normalise virginity at the age of 18 (which is incredibly normal irl but sure) but i think harping on about her inexperience and innocence is adding to the stigma more than anything. especially when he is portrayed as this bad boy womaniser. like really? it’s a little stereotypical, and a little gross actually. i’m not a big fan.
all in all, i did enjoy some parts of this book. the horror aspect was really well done and i felt a bit spooked at times. i think this book just isn’t for me at all and that’s fine because i am definitely not the audience as i have learned.
thank you once again to netgalley for the arc!
i really wanted to like this book because conceptually it is perfect for me. an urban fantasy about a girl who can see ghosts and detect whispers (which essentially are truths and lies) whilst studying at a prestigious exclusive university. it had everything.
i know this is marketed as y/a, but based off the author’s marketing of 16-18, i would have to strongly disagree. the writing felt so young, and the over-excessive use of words such as “smirk” really pulled me out of the story. seriously, he smirked every chapter, multiple times!!!! is his face okay? should we take him to the doctors?
i found the lore to be extremely confusing. the m/c - rose - is unaware of anything in the world, which is fine. but the way val (the mmc) described everything was often rushed or half assed. i understand that this is due to his character but when setting up a world for a series as this one is, it’s just confusing and nothing comes across clearly. granted, i do understand the lore now, but when they were solving the mystery and he was prattling about different ghosts and she was sat there like ???…. girl, same. (and no one even explained it to her!). even her use of powers at the end of the book made no sense. i still barely comprehend any of it.
which brings me to my next point! which version of england do they live in, because as a british citizen for… well my whole life! i am utterly confused what is going on. firstly, the dorm situation is just confusing and weird. they try brush past it by say none of it is legally enforced, but then why are there “rules”. i don’t get it. secondly, and this it a bit nitpicky, but no way this man is saying 18:00. come on. we say 6pm. i swear. i don’t know man.
i also find the relationship between rose and val very strange. i understand the idea of wanting to normalise virginity at the age of 18 (which is incredibly normal irl but sure) but i think harping on about her inexperience and innocence is adding to the stigma more than anything. especially when he is portrayed as this bad boy womaniser. like really? it’s a little stereotypical, and a little gross actually. i’m not a big fan.
all in all, i did enjoy some parts of this book. the horror aspect was really well done and i felt a bit spooked at times. i think this book just isn’t for me at all and that’s fine because i am definitely not the audience as i have learned.
thank you once again to netgalley for the arc!
July 9, 2025
first, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!
Death Becomes Her was a fast-paced, entertaining book and a promising start to a new series. It features mysteries, horror elements, LGBTQ representation, and an interesting magical system and world. I definitely enjoyed reading Death Becomes Her, and once I started, I ended up flying through it in about two days (which I think is a testament to how engaged I was)!
From the premise and the comparisons, I was definitely intrigued, but I didn’t really know what to expect. I’ll admit that, initially, the writing style and narrative voice took me a bit to get into. I mainly felt that it sounded more juvenile than I expected, considering these characters are in university and it’s labeled as New Adult on NetGalley. The “younger” tone of the book is definitely consistent to the end, but I began thinking of it as Young Adult. Once I made that distinction in my head, I had quite a good time reading. I enjoyed learning about the magical world, getting to know the characters, and seeing their feelings for each other evolve. I was also pleasantly surprised that the author focused more on world-building, solving the mysteries, and self-discovery rather than the romance!
Overall, I thought the world and characters were well-developed and that Death Becomes Her was a good introduction to a new series. If the premise sounds like something you’d enjoy, I definitely recommend giving this book a try!
Death Becomes Her was a fast-paced, entertaining book and a promising start to a new series. It features mysteries, horror elements, LGBTQ representation, and an interesting magical system and world. I definitely enjoyed reading Death Becomes Her, and once I started, I ended up flying through it in about two days (which I think is a testament to how engaged I was)!
From the premise and the comparisons, I was definitely intrigued, but I didn’t really know what to expect. I’ll admit that, initially, the writing style and narrative voice took me a bit to get into. I mainly felt that it sounded more juvenile than I expected, considering these characters are in university and it’s labeled as New Adult on NetGalley. The “younger” tone of the book is definitely consistent to the end, but I began thinking of it as Young Adult. Once I made that distinction in my head, I had quite a good time reading. I enjoyed learning about the magical world, getting to know the characters, and seeing their feelings for each other evolve. I was also pleasantly surprised that the author focused more on world-building, solving the mysteries, and self-discovery rather than the romance!
Overall, I thought the world and characters were well-developed and that Death Becomes Her was a good introduction to a new series. If the premise sounds like something you’d enjoy, I definitely recommend giving this book a try!
July 9, 2025
Death becomes her is the perfect blend of horror and mystery. It has LGBTQIA+ representation, mention of past trauma and self acceptance which I personally feel are all handled and discussed really well.
I loved the banter and slow burn in this book between Rose and Val as well as the friendships our main characters form throughout the story.
Rose has always been made to feel growing up that being a “Witch” is a sin and felt alone in the world, when she starts university she quickly realise that she is not the only one and that there is a way to control her gifts. Throughout the story you see her learn to accept herself with the help of those around her.
Our main characters are constantly met with danger as they try to solve the mystery and you can’t help but continue reading to find out more.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book!!!
4.5 Stars
I loved the banter and slow burn in this book between Rose and Val as well as the friendships our main characters form throughout the story.
Rose has always been made to feel growing up that being a “Witch” is a sin and felt alone in the world, when she starts university she quickly realise that she is not the only one and that there is a way to control her gifts. Throughout the story you see her learn to accept herself with the help of those around her.
Our main characters are constantly met with danger as they try to solve the mystery and you can’t help but continue reading to find out more.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book!!!
4.5 Stars
August 1, 2025
I was lucky to be given the chance to review Death Becomes Her of my own accord, through being offered an eARC.
This book kept me enthralled.
I loved the characters, the relationships, the tension and thrill, the horror. It was all just right.
I need more!
This book kept me enthralled.
I loved the characters, the relationships, the tension and thrill, the horror. It was all just right.
I need more!
August 5, 2025
First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Ina Harrington for giving me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Ina, I am so impressed that English is your second language, your writing in this novel was fantastic.
I did enjoy this book. It was quite a mixed bag - A YA paranormal mystery in a fantasy academia setting. I'm actually going to rate this one 3.5 stars, with definite potential for a further book to exceed that rating.
The spookier aspects of the novel were fantastic and suspenseful. Any time a ghost was involved, I was completely engaged with the story and would not put the book down. The descriptions really did stir up my imagination, especially since we were often shown different glimpses of the ghosts here and there, rather than a complete image every time. This added to the creep factor.
I wonder about the book's potential, whether the author had come at this from more of a horror/mystery angle without the additional fantasy elements.
Bonus points for LGBTQIA+ supporting character being introduced, would like to see more of her in the next book. And additional points for the shy and awkward main character/bad boy pairing that stirred up some romantic undertones to the story. Their interactions were annoying initially, but ended up being really cute.
Unfortunately, I do not think there was enough of an explanation about the different kinds of magic users early enough in the novel for the story to make sense. Especially in a YA novel, I think it's important to ensure the characters and their motivations are easy enough to understand. The investigation process would have made more sense if these magic types were introduced and explained, rather than introducing individual characters as 'X type of magic user' with no further description given until later on.
I would certainly read the second book when that comes out - I had a few unanswered questions at the end. I do think there will be readers who struggle with this one.
Ina, I am so impressed that English is your second language, your writing in this novel was fantastic.
I did enjoy this book. It was quite a mixed bag - A YA paranormal mystery in a fantasy academia setting. I'm actually going to rate this one 3.5 stars, with definite potential for a further book to exceed that rating.
The spookier aspects of the novel were fantastic and suspenseful. Any time a ghost was involved, I was completely engaged with the story and would not put the book down. The descriptions really did stir up my imagination, especially since we were often shown different glimpses of the ghosts here and there, rather than a complete image every time. This added to the creep factor.
I wonder about the book's potential, whether the author had come at this from more of a horror/mystery angle without the additional fantasy elements.
Bonus points for LGBTQIA+ supporting character being introduced, would like to see more of her in the next book. And additional points for the shy and awkward main character/bad boy pairing that stirred up some romantic undertones to the story. Their interactions were annoying initially, but ended up being really cute.
Unfortunately, I do not think there was enough of an explanation about the different kinds of magic users early enough in the novel for the story to make sense. Especially in a YA novel, I think it's important to ensure the characters and their motivations are easy enough to understand. The investigation process would have made more sense if these magic types were introduced and explained, rather than introducing individual characters as 'X type of magic user' with no further description given until later on.
I would certainly read the second book when that comes out - I had a few unanswered questions at the end. I do think there will be readers who struggle with this one.
July 16, 2025
3.5-3.75/5
This was such a unique and intriguing urban fantasy/paranormal story!
I thought this magic system was very cool and unique (and I always love coming across a new magic system that I haven't really seen before).
This is set in an English university and follows Rose, our main character and a loner. She can see the dead.
I loved how the characters interacted with each other and their dynamics, they were really fun. Especially when it came to solving the mystery of Rose's roommate. I think that's what made their relationships really shine.
There is also a touch of romance in this book!
This is the first book in a new series and I will certainly be coming back for the sequel!
And I think this cover is so pretty!
I don't want to say anything else because I feel like anything else will be crossing over into spoiler territory, but just know that I had a great time reading this (and was so close to giving it a 4/5, but some moments just felt a tad dragged out). I would definitely recommend. This is the kind of book that I think would be best if you knew as little as possible going in, let the mysteries and spooky whimsiness really surprise you.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
This was such a unique and intriguing urban fantasy/paranormal story!
I thought this magic system was very cool and unique (and I always love coming across a new magic system that I haven't really seen before).
This is set in an English university and follows Rose, our main character and a loner. She can see the dead.
I loved how the characters interacted with each other and their dynamics, they were really fun. Especially when it came to solving the mystery of Rose's roommate. I think that's what made their relationships really shine.
There is also a touch of romance in this book!
This is the first book in a new series and I will certainly be coming back for the sequel!
And I think this cover is so pretty!
I don't want to say anything else because I feel like anything else will be crossing over into spoiler territory, but just know that I had a great time reading this (and was so close to giving it a 4/5, but some moments just felt a tad dragged out). I would definitely recommend. This is the kind of book that I think would be best if you knew as little as possible going in, let the mysteries and spooky whimsiness really surprise you.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
July 28, 2025
Rose Walker, an American attending Banecroft University in England, is determined to investigate the eerie and unexpected death of her roommate. With the help of a mage seeker named Val and her close confidant Dawn, they look under every stone to investigate this supernatural mystery. Did I mention Rose is a powerful mage who has always been able to see ghosts? While attending university Rose becomes more and more aware of the extent of her powers.
This is an urban YA fantasy, and while there is no cliff hanger in the end, there is just enough to suspect there may be a sequel. The writing style is smooth and easy to follow. Unfortunately I found Val’s character a tad too aggressive for my comfort. Rose’s character can be described as a bit naive, however i found this to be understandable considering the town and life she lived in the US before moving to England. You can see a little character development near the end for Rose, but I’m curious how she will change if there is a book two.
This is an urban YA fantasy, and while there is no cliff hanger in the end, there is just enough to suspect there may be a sequel. The writing style is smooth and easy to follow. Unfortunately I found Val’s character a tad too aggressive for my comfort. Rose’s character can be described as a bit naive, however i found this to be understandable considering the town and life she lived in the US before moving to England. You can see a little character development near the end for Rose, but I’m curious how she will change if there is a book two.
August 9, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Ina Harrington for providing an E-arc. I'm leaving an honest review.
....
Death becomes her follows an interesting premise: a girl able to see ghosts trying to solve the death of her roommate and gain back her memories of that night.
What follows is an enthralling read that manages to be both really fun and deeply unsettling and horrifying.
The characters were really fun to read and get to know. I could relate to the main character Rose and her shyness, having been bullied for who she is and just recently coming out of a really strict religious environment. I loved Dawn and her optimism, her teasing and her friendship with Rose. And I also loved Val, he was such a lovable and at the same time exasperating man.
I will say I expected more romance than there actually was, but I didn't feel like it was needed either. Keep it in mind though, if you're looking for a romance.
The horror scenes were really well-written and atmospheric. And the magic system was cool, though I'd really have loved to see more of it. I felt like I didn't learn enough about it in some ways.
The ending is really satisfying, but I'd love to see a follow-up novel written someday, where I could hopefully learn more about mages, seekers and the other altered in this universe.
....
Death becomes her follows an interesting premise: a girl able to see ghosts trying to solve the death of her roommate and gain back her memories of that night.
What follows is an enthralling read that manages to be both really fun and deeply unsettling and horrifying.
The characters were really fun to read and get to know. I could relate to the main character Rose and her shyness, having been bullied for who she is and just recently coming out of a really strict religious environment. I loved Dawn and her optimism, her teasing and her friendship with Rose. And I also loved Val, he was such a lovable and at the same time exasperating man.
I will say I expected more romance than there actually was, but I didn't feel like it was needed either. Keep it in mind though, if you're looking for a romance.
The horror scenes were really well-written and atmospheric. And the magic system was cool, though I'd really have loved to see more of it. I felt like I didn't learn enough about it in some ways.
The ending is really satisfying, but I'd love to see a follow-up novel written someday, where I could hopefully learn more about mages, seekers and the other altered in this universe.
July 15, 2025
Death Becomes Her was a compelling paranormal mystery, with an intriguing magic system and a romance sub-plot, which was the perfect amount for a book like this in my opinion.
Rose Walker is a social outcast, who moves from her small town in Colorado to Banecroft University in England. Rose has a life-long gift (or curse, depending on how you see it!) of being able to see the dead, and when just her roommate Eleanor dies, Rose finds her new beginning start to collapse before it’s truly even started.
At times I felt like the dialogue was a little drawn out and I wasn’t particularly engaged with the characters, although I really loved the dynamic between Rose, Val and Dawn as they worked together to unravel the mystery of what happened to Eleanor.
This book is the first instalment in the Death’s Legacy series, and whilst Death Becomes Her didn’t fully captivate my soul, it was a solid read and I look forward to finding out what comes next at Banecroft.
Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!
Rose Walker is a social outcast, who moves from her small town in Colorado to Banecroft University in England. Rose has a life-long gift (or curse, depending on how you see it!) of being able to see the dead, and when just her roommate Eleanor dies, Rose finds her new beginning start to collapse before it’s truly even started.
At times I felt like the dialogue was a little drawn out and I wasn’t particularly engaged with the characters, although I really loved the dynamic between Rose, Val and Dawn as they worked together to unravel the mystery of what happened to Eleanor.
This book is the first instalment in the Death’s Legacy series, and whilst Death Becomes Her didn’t fully captivate my soul, it was a solid read and I look forward to finding out what comes next at Banecroft.
Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!
August 5, 2025
I am a sucker for a "dark" university setting! Add a paranormal mystery plot on top of that, and it's instantly on my TBR!
I enjoyed the fact that the romance was not the main focus and was more of a subplot, leaving space for the mystery to be the central focus of the story. I also appreciated that it wasn't insta-love and was a true slow burn.
I did feel like it was a little slow to get in to in the beginning. Once you get a few chapters in though, the story really begins to pick up and you start flying through the chapters. While each genre does operate on a spectrum, and this book is YA, I did feel like it leaned really really YA in some of the writing and plot points. So just something to be aware of. However, I didn't feel like that took away any of the enjoyment for me.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and will be continuing with the series as the books come out.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harrington Publishing for the digital advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
I enjoyed the fact that the romance was not the main focus and was more of a subplot, leaving space for the mystery to be the central focus of the story. I also appreciated that it wasn't insta-love and was a true slow burn.
I did feel like it was a little slow to get in to in the beginning. Once you get a few chapters in though, the story really begins to pick up and you start flying through the chapters. While each genre does operate on a spectrum, and this book is YA, I did feel like it leaned really really YA in some of the writing and plot points. So just something to be aware of. However, I didn't feel like that took away any of the enjoyment for me.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and will be continuing with the series as the books come out.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harrington Publishing for the digital advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
August 15, 2025
For fans of dark academia and Ninth House - this one is it. Dark academia done so well. I loved, loved, loved it🥰
Rose and her twin brother score a full-ride scholarship to an elite school in the UK. Rose is a talented artist with an amazing swimmer roommate, but she’s also sweet, naive, and very innocent. So why can’t she remember what happened at last night’s party? And more importantly, what did happen?
This book had me glued from page one. It’s got those rich dark academia vibes mixed with horror and urban fantasy, and the pacing is perfect. If you liked Ninth House, you’ll eat this up.
The characters were fantastic, and the lore was even better! And I’m obsessed that the MMC is Bulgarian 🥰 The tension between the characters is electric, I loved their banter. Watching Rose grow through everything made me love her even more. I’m going to need book two immediately🤩
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!
Rose and her twin brother score a full-ride scholarship to an elite school in the UK. Rose is a talented artist with an amazing swimmer roommate, but she’s also sweet, naive, and very innocent. So why can’t she remember what happened at last night’s party? And more importantly, what did happen?
This book had me glued from page one. It’s got those rich dark academia vibes mixed with horror and urban fantasy, and the pacing is perfect. If you liked Ninth House, you’ll eat this up.
The characters were fantastic, and the lore was even better! And I’m obsessed that the MMC is Bulgarian 🥰 The tension between the characters is electric, I loved their banter. Watching Rose grow through everything made me love her even more. I’m going to need book two immediately🤩
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!
July 22, 2025
I related to this book so much, as someone who struggled with bullying and low self-esteem. This book tackles these topics in a supernatural murder mystery style that feels unique. The book follows Rose as she is in the middle of a murder mystery, when her roommate is drowned at a party. A party Rose doesn't remember attending.
The author does a great job keeping the reader in the dark about the paranormal and giving clues little by little as the story goes on and the Rose (MC) explores her potential and reflects on what she is capable of, you start to wonder if you should cheer her on or be afraid for her.
The author does a great job keeping the reader in the dark about the paranormal and giving clues little by little as the story goes on and the Rose (MC) explores her potential and reflects on what she is capable of, you start to wonder if you should cheer her on or be afraid for her.
August 1, 2025
I’m starting to get back onto the kindle (it’s been SO long!)
Thankyou so much Harrington Publishing and netgalley for this ARC.
Honestly this did take me a bit to get into, but once I did I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the paranormal mystery element to it, aswell as the magic system. our FMC, Rose is able to see the dead, when her roommate dies, she finds that her new beginning at University is starting to collapse before she even starts.
I wasn’t as engaged to the characters as I had hoped, but also i’m lowkey getting into another reading slump so that’s probably why😭
This is the first in the Deaths Legacy series, and i’m excited to see what will happen next!!
Thankyou so much Harrington Publishing and netgalley for this ARC.
Honestly this did take me a bit to get into, but once I did I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the paranormal mystery element to it, aswell as the magic system. our FMC, Rose is able to see the dead, when her roommate dies, she finds that her new beginning at University is starting to collapse before she even starts.
I wasn’t as engaged to the characters as I had hoped, but also i’m lowkey getting into another reading slump so that’s probably why😭
This is the first in the Deaths Legacy series, and i’m excited to see what will happen next!!
July 21, 2025
Death Becomes her is a great book and the plot and the romance makes you keep coming back for more. Something I did not realize is that this is more of a horror/scary book. It is not my typical read, however, I still greatly enjoyed reading Val and Roses' romance story. I also enjoyed the dynamics between Val, Rose and Dawn. Overall, I enjoyed this book and definitely recommend reading it. I will be counting the days until the next book comes out!
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is an independent and honest review with no outside influences.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is an independent and honest review with no outside influences.
September 3, 2025
I really enjoyed Death Becomes Her! The story follows Rose Walker, a girl who can see the dead and is trying to escape her past by starting fresh at Banecroft University in England. But her new beginning quickly unravels when her roommate, Eleanor, dies under mysterious circumstances. Rose becomes haunted not only by Eleanor’s ghost, but also by doubts about her own abilities and whether she’s to blame.i loved how the book blended mystery, magic, and ghostly suspense with themes of self-discovery and friendship. The dynamic between Rose, Dawn (the clever outsider), and Val (the mysterious Mage Seeker) kept me hooked, and the tension never let up as more secrets came to light. It’s a dark, atmospheric read that asks big questions about guilt, trust, and what it means to carry a legacy of death.If you like supernatural mysteries with a touch of romance and danger, this book is a perfect pick especially if you’re a fan of The Ninth House or The Raven Boys.
August 12, 2025
I absolutely adored this book, so amazing and captivating from start to finish, I am desperate for the next book in this series already!!
August 11, 2025
I wasn’t going to post this, but the husband/editor is on Threads complaining about the low reviews being posted publicly because “they just don’t understand the story”. Not professional.
——
I had a hard time reading this and only got five chapters in before putting it down. The premise was really interesting, I liked how Rose’s personality was shown, and I love the cover art, but the execution was ultimately lacking.
I just couldn’t get over the fact that in the first two chapters, we’re supposed to believe that (as specified in the text) a singular male paramedic brought a 100% unconscious girl back to her dorm bedroom without waiting for her to sober up or taking her for medical care. It made everything that followed feel unnatural to me because there’s no way this would happen with absolutely no one acknowledging it.
Is this supposed to be a mysterious plot point that is solved later…? If so, I would expect that someone would point out it was inappropriate/bizarre, but neither the FMC nor the side characters acknowledge it, leading me to believe it’s not actually a plot point.
Instead of having Rose’s actual thoughts or trying to show her emotions about things, the narration frequently makes statements spelling things out as if this were a book for younger readers. It didn’t come across as Rose’s genuine POV.
The language used to describe the twin brother’s appearance is also used to describe the love interest when he shows up for the first time, which made me feel uncomfortable. Not every “good guy” has to be a super hot Adonis, especially when we are ostensibly in his sister’s POV.
Being very picky:
There were multiple grammatical/sentence structure errors that threw me out of the story.
For example, all in Chapter 2:
“As I left the dorm, I rushed down the marbles steps in Birdsong Park, the well maintained square green area between Nightingale and Lark.” > How is she already in a park if she is in the process of leaving the dorm building? Should say “After I left the dorm” or have an action she did while still in the building/act of physically leaving the premises.
“I dashed at him, and before he could even react, I lunged into a tight embrace.” > If he hasn’t reacted, how is she in his embrace? She would be embracing him, not the other way around.
“My brother took a deep, heavy sigh.” > you could say “he took a deep breath” maybe, but you “let out” a sigh. This was also third in a chain of back to back sighs after a previous “deep breath” within maybe three paragraphs.
——
I had a hard time reading this and only got five chapters in before putting it down. The premise was really interesting, I liked how Rose’s personality was shown, and I love the cover art, but the execution was ultimately lacking.
I just couldn’t get over the fact that in the first two chapters, we’re supposed to believe that (as specified in the text) a singular male paramedic brought a 100% unconscious girl back to her dorm bedroom without waiting for her to sober up or taking her for medical care. It made everything that followed feel unnatural to me because there’s no way this would happen with absolutely no one acknowledging it.
Is this supposed to be a mysterious plot point that is solved later…? If so, I would expect that someone would point out it was inappropriate/bizarre, but neither the FMC nor the side characters acknowledge it, leading me to believe it’s not actually a plot point.
Instead of having Rose’s actual thoughts or trying to show her emotions about things, the narration frequently makes statements spelling things out as if this were a book for younger readers. It didn’t come across as Rose’s genuine POV.
The language used to describe the twin brother’s appearance is also used to describe the love interest when he shows up for the first time, which made me feel uncomfortable. Not every “good guy” has to be a super hot Adonis, especially when we are ostensibly in his sister’s POV.
Being very picky:
There were multiple grammatical/sentence structure errors that threw me out of the story.
For example, all in Chapter 2:
“As I left the dorm, I rushed down the marbles steps in Birdsong Park, the well maintained square green area between Nightingale and Lark.” > How is she already in a park if she is in the process of leaving the dorm building? Should say “After I left the dorm” or have an action she did while still in the building/act of physically leaving the premises.
“I dashed at him, and before he could even react, I lunged into a tight embrace.” > If he hasn’t reacted, how is she in his embrace? She would be embracing him, not the other way around.
“My brother took a deep, heavy sigh.” > you could say “he took a deep breath” maybe, but you “let out” a sigh. This was also third in a chain of back to back sighs after a previous “deep breath” within maybe three paragraphs.
February 10, 2026
this book was so fun! it was creepy, mysterious, kind of funny. I loved all the different elements of it.
I'm also super impressed that Ina was able to write a whole book that's not in her native tongue, that's incredible.
Our FMC Rose goes through her journey of self discovery that involves finding out about who she is, what she can do and why. Yes, there's a point in the book where she is kind of... annoying? I think that's intentional though, because it's basically her fears and doubts about herself manifesting so that she's able to overcome them.. and that is something I relate to a whole lot.
The side characters are amazing. Val, our MMC, is broody and mysterious. I like him but also a little suspicious 👀. He makes me mad and swoon at the same time, but I love it.
I think you'll enjoy this book if you like:
- urban fantasy
- the paranormal
- murder-mystery
- horror
- academy setting
- found friends/ family
I'm also super impressed that Ina was able to write a whole book that's not in her native tongue, that's incredible.
Our FMC Rose goes through her journey of self discovery that involves finding out about who she is, what she can do and why. Yes, there's a point in the book where she is kind of... annoying? I think that's intentional though, because it's basically her fears and doubts about herself manifesting so that she's able to overcome them.. and that is something I relate to a whole lot.
The side characters are amazing. Val, our MMC, is broody and mysterious. I like him but also a little suspicious 👀. He makes me mad and swoon at the same time, but I love it.
I think you'll enjoy this book if you like:
- urban fantasy
- the paranormal
- murder-mystery
- horror
- academy setting
- found friends/ family
September 10, 2025
had a really hard time rating this one 🥲 the story itself was so gripping, I could not put it down! however, I was not a fan of the author bringing in political issues with no relevance to the plot/world that was created (it definitely took away from the story, and made it very hard to get back into it). giving it a tentative 3.5 ⭐️
August 28, 2025
Great book, end is a little flat.
August 13, 2025
i saw someone on X and instagram talking about the author's husband (and supposed editor) ranting about how people who dislike the book are skim reading, so in curiosity, i bought the book on kindle unlimited and read the book (did not skim read btw) and it's worse than bad. if i could give a negative rating i would.
firstly, the grammar and sentence structure is horrible, so what did this husband edit? the way the characters speak doesn't come across as natural at all and the character stereotypes are so blatant and boring. i'm pretty sure val is just the author's badly hidden fetish. there is this one scene were the fmc doesn't want to watch porn and the mc bullies her and belittles her into doing it. i mean, what?! it's so strange.
the fmc is pretty boring. i mean, in all defence of this book, it has a really interesting premise that is not written well at all. she barely uses her powers aside from being a lie detector, and any time it gets cool or interesting, val is angry at her or she passes out! i hate when women are nerfed for their abilities as if they are weaker and can't handle it. cue sue storm nose bleed anyone?
and the way this author writes about england and the dorming situation is so absurd that i can't tell if it's intentionally unrealistic or they really think this is what england is like. there could be a cool moment where we delve into the twins backstory with their overreligious community and parents but it's never explained. instead, her brother is described as if he is the male love interest with his good looks and shoulders. what?! why would his sister say such things about him? once again... author's weirdly hidden fetish?
all in all, i think if you're going to spend your time complaining about the few negative reviews than focusing on the better ones and blaming other people for not understanding the book, maybe the book should be a little better! i wanted to dnf 20% in but god i wasted money and time on it already so... i never usually agree with online opinions but it seems they were right this time!
firstly, the grammar and sentence structure is horrible, so what did this husband edit? the way the characters speak doesn't come across as natural at all and the character stereotypes are so blatant and boring. i'm pretty sure val is just the author's badly hidden fetish. there is this one scene were the fmc doesn't want to watch porn and the mc bullies her and belittles her into doing it. i mean, what?! it's so strange.
the fmc is pretty boring. i mean, in all defence of this book, it has a really interesting premise that is not written well at all. she barely uses her powers aside from being a lie detector, and any time it gets cool or interesting, val is angry at her or she passes out! i hate when women are nerfed for their abilities as if they are weaker and can't handle it. cue sue storm nose bleed anyone?
and the way this author writes about england and the dorming situation is so absurd that i can't tell if it's intentionally unrealistic or they really think this is what england is like. there could be a cool moment where we delve into the twins backstory with their overreligious community and parents but it's never explained. instead, her brother is described as if he is the male love interest with his good looks and shoulders. what?! why would his sister say such things about him? once again... author's weirdly hidden fetish?
all in all, i think if you're going to spend your time complaining about the few negative reviews than focusing on the better ones and blaming other people for not understanding the book, maybe the book should be a little better! i wanted to dnf 20% in but god i wasted money and time on it already so... i never usually agree with online opinions but it seems they were right this time!
February 3, 2026
⚠️ Disclaimer
Books are subjective. I said what I said. You are free to disagree, argue with your cat about it, or scribble angry notes in the margins like a Victorian ghost hunter with opinions. None of that will change my mind. Or make me care. Read on, or don’t. The ghosts don’t need your permission.
🏃💨 The Quick and Dirty
A genuinely creepy urban fantasy/paranormal murder mystery that understands atmosphere, restraint, and character. Strong horror scenes, a mystery that actually holds water, a romance that behaves itself, and side characters worth loving. This book wants to unsettle you—and succeeds.
🕵️♀️ The Non-Spoilery Situation Report
Rose Walker is a college student with witchy abilities she doesn’t fully understand, which already puts her at a disadvantage because college alone is a scam wrapped in debt. When her roommate dies, Rose’s life takes a sharp left turn into “actively haunted.” Not the whimsical, floating-orb kind. The dangerous kind. The kind that escalates and does not respect personal boundaries.
The dead don’t want to be ignored, and for everyone’s safety—including her own—Rose has to uncover what really happened to her roommate so the haunting can be laid to rest. In the process, she’s pulled deeper into a supernatural world populated by mages, seekers, and cursed individuals, where rules exist whether she likes them or not. She’s paired with Val, a seeker with sharp edges and a very slow-burning connection, backed up by her twin brother Tyler and her best friend Dawn, who is frankly holding the emotional scaffolding together with duct tape and good vibes.
What follows is a paranormal murder mystery that blends urban fantasy with horror, grounded in grief, danger, and the increasingly uncomfortable realization that Rose’s powers may be far more complicated than she ever wanted.
🤔💭 The Review
Ghost stories are a minefield. One wrong step and you’re knee-deep in cheap tricks, predictable beats, and spooky aesthetics doing all the work while the story quietly collapses. Writing a ghost story that’s actually scary—not goofy, not corny, not reliant on nostalgia fumes—is like trying to parallel park in hell. Ina Harrington does it anyway. Smoothly. With confidence. Without scraping the bumper.
Death Becomes Her understands something crucial right out of the gate: horror lives in sensation. In atmosphere. In anticipation. The fear here doesn’t come from shouting “look, a ghost!” every five minutes. It comes from dread. From escalation. From the sense that whatever is happening is not content to stay at a manageable level. The hauntings don’t just exist—they intrude. They demand attention. They push boundaries. And that makes them terrifying in a quiet, sustained way that sticks to you like damp fog.
I felt immersed. Deeply. Not in a “this is fun spooky season vibes” way, but in a “why do I suddenly feel like my hallway is longer than it was before?” way. Harrington doesn’t over-explain the supernatural. She lets it breathe. She trusts the reader to sit with discomfort instead of rushing to defuse it. The result is horror that feels grounded and heavy, like gravity slowly increasing while you’re not paying attention.
The mystery itself is tightly wound. I was locked in, flipping pages with that specific brand of urgency usually reserved for late-night Wikipedia spirals. I needed answers. Not because the book was dangling shiny distractions, but because the questions mattered. I didn’t fully crack it ahead of time—which stung my ego—but the eventual unraveling felt earned rather than pulled out of a hat. Everything connects. Everything has weight. Nothing feels like filler masquerading as intrigue.
Rose, as a protagonist, is refreshingly human. She’s powerful, yes—but not in a way that absolves her from fear or uncertainty. Her powers complicate things rather than solving them neatly, and that tension is where the story lives. She reacts like a person would react: with frustration, denial, determination, and the occasional poor decision. She’s not a walking spellbook. She’s not reduced to her abilities. She’s allowed to be layered, anxious, brave, and overwhelmed all at once.
Val and Tyler fall into the same category of “refreshingly human,” which is to say: believable. They’re not polished archetypes. They have edges. They push back. They feel like people who existed before the plot showed up and will continue existing after it leaves. In a genre that sometimes treats characters like interchangeable action figures, that matters. A lot.
The romance subplot deserves special recognition for knowing when to shut up. It’s there, simmering quietly in the background, never hijacking the narrative or diluting the horror. This is not a story that panics and throws in romance as a distraction. It trusts the central conflict enough to let the connection between Rose and Val develop slowly, naturally, and without spectacle. No melodrama. No sudden tonal whiplash. Just tension, restraint, and patience. Honestly? A relief.
And then there’s Dawn. The kind of best friend character who doesn’t exist solely to dispense jokes or moral support on cue. She adds warmth, humor, and grounding without cheapening the darkness of the story. She feels like the person you’d want beside you when things go sideways—steady, sharp, and very much alive. Harrington knows how to write secondary characters who enhance the emotional texture of a story instead of cluttering it, and Dawn is proof.
One of the most striking things about Death Becomes Her is how cinematic the horror scenes feel. Not flashy—precise. I could sense how scenes would cut, how silence would be used, how tension would stretch just a second longer than comfortable. It reads like something storyboarded in the dark. That clarity made the paranormal moments feel disturbingly real, like watching a security camera feed you weren’t supposed to access.
The book excels at making the unreal feel tangible. Death isn’t abstract here. Haunting isn’t metaphor-only. The emotional weight of unfinished business, of violence, of unanswered questions presses down on the narrative. Harrington doesn’t flinch away from that heaviness, and the story is stronger for it. The chills aren’t accidental—they’re intentional, carefully built, and well-earned.
What I appreciated most is that the book doesn’t rush to explain everything. There are questions left open—about Rose’s past, her family’s connections, the broader structure of the supernatural world—but they feel like doors waiting to be opened, not holes left behind. I’m willing to trust the process. The foundation is solid. The world-building is intriguing without being overwhelming. And the promise of what’s next is genuinely exciting.
I love fantasy that respects character. I love mysteries that don’t insult the reader. I love horror that commits to being unsettling instead of cute. Death Becomes Her is an excellent blend of all three. The darker the story became, the more invested I was. The creepier it got, the more convinced I became that this book knew exactly what it was doing.
This wasn’t just a good read. It was a felt experience. And those don’t come along every day.
Books are subjective. I said what I said. You are free to disagree, argue with your cat about it, or scribble angry notes in the margins like a Victorian ghost hunter with opinions. None of that will change my mind. Or make me care. Read on, or don’t. The ghosts don’t need your permission.
🏃💨 The Quick and Dirty
A genuinely creepy urban fantasy/paranormal murder mystery that understands atmosphere, restraint, and character. Strong horror scenes, a mystery that actually holds water, a romance that behaves itself, and side characters worth loving. This book wants to unsettle you—and succeeds.
🕵️♀️ The Non-Spoilery Situation Report
Rose Walker is a college student with witchy abilities she doesn’t fully understand, which already puts her at a disadvantage because college alone is a scam wrapped in debt. When her roommate dies, Rose’s life takes a sharp left turn into “actively haunted.” Not the whimsical, floating-orb kind. The dangerous kind. The kind that escalates and does not respect personal boundaries.
The dead don’t want to be ignored, and for everyone’s safety—including her own—Rose has to uncover what really happened to her roommate so the haunting can be laid to rest. In the process, she’s pulled deeper into a supernatural world populated by mages, seekers, and cursed individuals, where rules exist whether she likes them or not. She’s paired with Val, a seeker with sharp edges and a very slow-burning connection, backed up by her twin brother Tyler and her best friend Dawn, who is frankly holding the emotional scaffolding together with duct tape and good vibes.
What follows is a paranormal murder mystery that blends urban fantasy with horror, grounded in grief, danger, and the increasingly uncomfortable realization that Rose’s powers may be far more complicated than she ever wanted.
🤔💭 The Review
Ghost stories are a minefield. One wrong step and you’re knee-deep in cheap tricks, predictable beats, and spooky aesthetics doing all the work while the story quietly collapses. Writing a ghost story that’s actually scary—not goofy, not corny, not reliant on nostalgia fumes—is like trying to parallel park in hell. Ina Harrington does it anyway. Smoothly. With confidence. Without scraping the bumper.
Death Becomes Her understands something crucial right out of the gate: horror lives in sensation. In atmosphere. In anticipation. The fear here doesn’t come from shouting “look, a ghost!” every five minutes. It comes from dread. From escalation. From the sense that whatever is happening is not content to stay at a manageable level. The hauntings don’t just exist—they intrude. They demand attention. They push boundaries. And that makes them terrifying in a quiet, sustained way that sticks to you like damp fog.
I felt immersed. Deeply. Not in a “this is fun spooky season vibes” way, but in a “why do I suddenly feel like my hallway is longer than it was before?” way. Harrington doesn’t over-explain the supernatural. She lets it breathe. She trusts the reader to sit with discomfort instead of rushing to defuse it. The result is horror that feels grounded and heavy, like gravity slowly increasing while you’re not paying attention.
The mystery itself is tightly wound. I was locked in, flipping pages with that specific brand of urgency usually reserved for late-night Wikipedia spirals. I needed answers. Not because the book was dangling shiny distractions, but because the questions mattered. I didn’t fully crack it ahead of time—which stung my ego—but the eventual unraveling felt earned rather than pulled out of a hat. Everything connects. Everything has weight. Nothing feels like filler masquerading as intrigue.
Rose, as a protagonist, is refreshingly human. She’s powerful, yes—but not in a way that absolves her from fear or uncertainty. Her powers complicate things rather than solving them neatly, and that tension is where the story lives. She reacts like a person would react: with frustration, denial, determination, and the occasional poor decision. She’s not a walking spellbook. She’s not reduced to her abilities. She’s allowed to be layered, anxious, brave, and overwhelmed all at once.
Val and Tyler fall into the same category of “refreshingly human,” which is to say: believable. They’re not polished archetypes. They have edges. They push back. They feel like people who existed before the plot showed up and will continue existing after it leaves. In a genre that sometimes treats characters like interchangeable action figures, that matters. A lot.
The romance subplot deserves special recognition for knowing when to shut up. It’s there, simmering quietly in the background, never hijacking the narrative or diluting the horror. This is not a story that panics and throws in romance as a distraction. It trusts the central conflict enough to let the connection between Rose and Val develop slowly, naturally, and without spectacle. No melodrama. No sudden tonal whiplash. Just tension, restraint, and patience. Honestly? A relief.
And then there’s Dawn. The kind of best friend character who doesn’t exist solely to dispense jokes or moral support on cue. She adds warmth, humor, and grounding without cheapening the darkness of the story. She feels like the person you’d want beside you when things go sideways—steady, sharp, and very much alive. Harrington knows how to write secondary characters who enhance the emotional texture of a story instead of cluttering it, and Dawn is proof.
One of the most striking things about Death Becomes Her is how cinematic the horror scenes feel. Not flashy—precise. I could sense how scenes would cut, how silence would be used, how tension would stretch just a second longer than comfortable. It reads like something storyboarded in the dark. That clarity made the paranormal moments feel disturbingly real, like watching a security camera feed you weren’t supposed to access.
The book excels at making the unreal feel tangible. Death isn’t abstract here. Haunting isn’t metaphor-only. The emotional weight of unfinished business, of violence, of unanswered questions presses down on the narrative. Harrington doesn’t flinch away from that heaviness, and the story is stronger for it. The chills aren’t accidental—they’re intentional, carefully built, and well-earned.
What I appreciated most is that the book doesn’t rush to explain everything. There are questions left open—about Rose’s past, her family’s connections, the broader structure of the supernatural world—but they feel like doors waiting to be opened, not holes left behind. I’m willing to trust the process. The foundation is solid. The world-building is intriguing without being overwhelming. And the promise of what’s next is genuinely exciting.
I love fantasy that respects character. I love mysteries that don’t insult the reader. I love horror that commits to being unsettling instead of cute. Death Becomes Her is an excellent blend of all three. The darker the story became, the more invested I was. The creepier it got, the more convinced I became that this book knew exactly what it was doing.
This wasn’t just a good read. It was a felt experience. And those don’t come along every day.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews