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Deathly Fates
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Expected 14 Apr 26A sweeping debut inspired by the Chinese folk practice of necromancy, Deathly Fates is perfect for fans of Descendant of the Crane, The Bone Shard Daughter, and A Magic Steeped in Poison.
As a priestess paid to guide the deceased home, Kang Siying has never feared death. However, when her beloved father collapses, Siying realizes that even she is not free from the cruel grasp of mortality. Desperate to provide her father with the medical aid he needs, Siying accepts a dangerous job that promises a generous commission, and travels to a hostile state to retrieve the corpse of a missing prince.
But the moment Siying places her reanimation talisman on the dead prince's head, rather than make the corpse obedient to Siying's commands, the talisman brings the prince back to life. Worse, he won't stay alive for long—not unless he absorbs enough qi, or life force, to keep his soul anchored to his body.
In return for a reward worth twice her original commission, Siying agrees to aid the frustratingly handsome prince in finding and purifying evil spirits for their qi. As they journey across the countryside, encountering vengeful ghosts and enemy spies alike, they gradually uncover dark secrets about the prince's death—secrets that could endanger both Siying's father and their entire kingdom.
As a priestess paid to guide the deceased home, Kang Siying has never feared death. However, when her beloved father collapses, Siying realizes that even she is not free from the cruel grasp of mortality. Desperate to provide her father with the medical aid he needs, Siying accepts a dangerous job that promises a generous commission, and travels to a hostile state to retrieve the corpse of a missing prince.
But the moment Siying places her reanimation talisman on the dead prince's head, rather than make the corpse obedient to Siying's commands, the talisman brings the prince back to life. Worse, he won't stay alive for long—not unless he absorbs enough qi, or life force, to keep his soul anchored to his body.
In return for a reward worth twice her original commission, Siying agrees to aid the frustratingly handsome prince in finding and purifying evil spirits for their qi. As they journey across the countryside, encountering vengeful ghosts and enemy spies alike, they gradually uncover dark secrets about the prince's death—secrets that could endanger both Siying's father and their entire kingdom.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 14, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
October 20, 2025
˙₊➴ ꒰ 3-stars★ ꒱ ꒷⊹࣪˖
📜┆ ARC ⤿ St. Martin's Press & NetGalley
✒️┆ Author ⤿ Tesia Tsai
💌┆ Pub Date ⤿ 04/14/26
With her father's health waning, Siying takes on any work she can find. So when she's offered a generous sum to escort the corpse of a fallen soldier to the capital of Sian, she accepts it without hesitation. But the supposed soldier wasn’t just any foot soldier. He’s a prince, trapped between life and death, and he needs Siying’s help to restore his qi.
As they travel through the troubled lands of Wen, Siying begins to uncover secrets about the prince, the war, and those who rule the kingdom. The more she learns, the more she begins to question her task and where her true loyalty lies.
⊹ ࣪ ˖ੈ Thoughts
‧˚ ꒰ 👻 ꒱ world & story ₊˚⋆
When I started this story, I thought I was in for a light-hearted tale of a priestess necromancer guiding/helping a prince home, with few ghostly encounters, hauntings, and catching along the way. But oh this wasn’t just that it turned out to be so much more! This wasn’t just a simple journey back to the capital, it was a path of understanding, growth, empathy, love, loss, and the quiet acceptance of what must be. An endearing story that shines not only through Siying and Renshu’s journey, but through every life and character they met along the way.🥹🤍
‧˚ ꒰ 🍑 ꒱ characters & romance ₊˚⋆
Following Kang Siying, our ganshi priestess who guides the dead, was already interesting to see, as I haven’t yet seen an occupation like hers. But what drew me to her was the way she carries herself with poise, strong sense of duty, and a calm, reserved exterior. But beneath that, we get glimpses of her inner struggles and the reasons behind her choices, making her all the more compelling! Then there’s Meng Renshu, the second prince of Sian, who is not your typical royal. Ren is someone who genuinely cares, who leads with empathy and refuses to turn away from the suffering of others (i know it should be the bare minimum, but being empathetic makes a character an instant favorite for me). Ren is my kind of Prince Charming as he is the kind, courageous person who is willing to fight for everyone, not just himself!
They were already compelling on their own, but watching them spend more time together slowly learning, understanding, and accepting how the other sees the world, made their connection truly special. I love love loved how Ren gently melted Siying’s walls, with his constant teasing, small acts of care, and simply by being unapologetically himself❗️Their bond wasn’t loud, it was soft and endearing. Despite their differences in personality, beliefs, and status, it was their shared compassion for others that truly brought them together. But what connected them most was their desire for peace, not just for themselves but for everyone. Their love might not have been the central focus of the story, but the way they stood by each other through everything made their relationship feel more rewarding💗
‧˚ ꒰ ꒱ concerns ₊˚⋆
One of my main concerns with this was its pacing. Siying and Renshu’s journey often felt rushed, which made it a bit hard to fully connect or dive into the emotional weight of it all (don’t get me wrong it did sway me but i just felt like it could’ve felt much more impactful). I just found myself wishing they had more time to linger and marinate everything that was happening. The pacing was already pretty fast and the addition of the abrupt transitions made the rushed feeling even more noticeable. That said, the story itself was still good and impactful I just believe everything could have been amplified tenfold with smoother transitions and pacing🙂↕️💯
‧˚ ꒰ 🍵 ꒱ final thoughts ₊˚⋆
You already know that I usually gravitate towards my high-stakes and action-packed reads cause of the thrill and emotional punch they deliver, but this story brought something different, and it didn’t disappoint!! Instead of the intensity, it offered its quiet strength. It was a reflection on life, loss, and peace, and how we, as humans, learn to embrace not only ourselves but those around us🫂🤍
It reminds us that grieving isn’t about forever letting go, it’s about honoring those we've lost and recognizing that their lives were already meaningful and that their absence doesn’t fully erase their memories, impact, and whole existence. A solid 3-star for this soft, thoughtful, and heartwarming read! This was an awesome debut, and I can’t wait to see what Tesia Tsai has in store for us!💌💫
➳ Huge thanks to the publisher & author—St. Martin's Press, Tesia Tsai & NetGalley—for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
˚₊ ⟢┊pre-read 🖇️┊⊹࣪⋆
Needed more asian rep and set books in my life + I just love me historical fantasy, so I got a bit giddy when I got this hihi!☁️✨
📜┆ ARC ⤿ St. Martin's Press & NetGalley
✒️┆ Author ⤿ Tesia Tsai
💌┆ Pub Date ⤿ 04/14/26
❝ These hands can do more than carry a staff or write talismans in blood. They can offer support and tend wounds, perhaps even save a life. You need only call upon the strength inside you to do so. ❞
With her father's health waning, Siying takes on any work she can find. So when she's offered a generous sum to escort the corpse of a fallen soldier to the capital of Sian, she accepts it without hesitation. But the supposed soldier wasn’t just any foot soldier. He’s a prince, trapped between life and death, and he needs Siying’s help to restore his qi.
As they travel through the troubled lands of Wen, Siying begins to uncover secrets about the prince, the war, and those who rule the kingdom. The more she learns, the more she begins to question her task and where her true loyalty lies.
⊹ ࣪ ˖ੈ Thoughts
‧˚ ꒰ 👻 ꒱ world & story ₊˚⋆
❝ Such a human thing, to want. To want safety. Freedom . Peace. To want for self and for others. ❞
When I started this story, I thought I was in for a light-hearted tale of a priestess necromancer guiding/helping a prince home, with few ghostly encounters, hauntings, and catching along the way. But oh this wasn’t just that it turned out to be so much more! This wasn’t just a simple journey back to the capital, it was a path of understanding, growth, empathy, love, loss, and the quiet acceptance of what must be. An endearing story that shines not only through Siying and Renshu’s journey, but through every life and character they met along the way.🥹🤍
‧˚ ꒰ 🍑 ꒱ characters & romance ₊˚⋆
❝ To care for another person was frightening, vulnerable. It meant another thing for my heart to lose. And now I’d gone and grown fond of someone challenging death itself. ❞
Following Kang Siying, our ganshi priestess who guides the dead, was already interesting to see, as I haven’t yet seen an occupation like hers. But what drew me to her was the way she carries herself with poise, strong sense of duty, and a calm, reserved exterior. But beneath that, we get glimpses of her inner struggles and the reasons behind her choices, making her all the more compelling! Then there’s Meng Renshu, the second prince of Sian, who is not your typical royal. Ren is someone who genuinely cares, who leads with empathy and refuses to turn away from the suffering of others (i know it should be the bare minimum, but being empathetic makes a character an instant favorite for me). Ren is my kind of Prince Charming as he is the kind, courageous person who is willing to fight for everyone, not just himself!
❝ You gave me a second chance once. This time, there’s no escaping it. But you still have a chance, Mistress Kang. Let me be a royal you can count on for once. Use my death to save yourself. ❞
They were already compelling on their own, but watching them spend more time together slowly learning, understanding, and accepting how the other sees the world, made their connection truly special. I love love loved how Ren gently melted Siying’s walls, with his constant teasing, small acts of care, and simply by being unapologetically himself❗️Their bond wasn’t loud, it was soft and endearing. Despite their differences in personality, beliefs, and status, it was their shared compassion for others that truly brought them together. But what connected them most was their desire for peace, not just for themselves but for everyone. Their love might not have been the central focus of the story, but the way they stood by each other through everything made their relationship feel more rewarding💗
‧˚ ꒰ ꒱ concerns ₊˚⋆
❝ What’s the point of living a human life if you forget your humanity? ❞
One of my main concerns with this was its pacing. Siying and Renshu’s journey often felt rushed, which made it a bit hard to fully connect or dive into the emotional weight of it all (don’t get me wrong it did sway me but i just felt like it could’ve felt much more impactful). I just found myself wishing they had more time to linger and marinate everything that was happening. The pacing was already pretty fast and the addition of the abrupt transitions made the rushed feeling even more noticeable. That said, the story itself was still good and impactful I just believe everything could have been amplified tenfold with smoother transitions and pacing🙂↕️💯
‧˚ ꒰ 🍵 ꒱ final thoughts ₊˚⋆
❝ But in all my years as a ganshi priestess, I’d learned that the dead— whether lost, embittered, or afraid— only truly wanted one thing. And that was peace. ❞
You already know that I usually gravitate towards my high-stakes and action-packed reads cause of the thrill and emotional punch they deliver, but this story brought something different, and it didn’t disappoint!! Instead of the intensity, it offered its quiet strength. It was a reflection on life, loss, and peace, and how we, as humans, learn to embrace not only ourselves but those around us🫂🤍
❝ It still hurt, that act of letting go, but I realized now that there was also freedom in doing it. Freedom to be my own person and discover new loves. Freedom to wander different paths , to experience more joy and struggle and growth. Freedom to hold on to other hands, regardless of who would leave and who would stay. ❞
It reminds us that grieving isn’t about forever letting go, it’s about honoring those we've lost and recognizing that their lives were already meaningful and that their absence doesn’t fully erase their memories, impact, and whole existence. A solid 3-star for this soft, thoughtful, and heartwarming read! This was an awesome debut, and I can’t wait to see what Tesia Tsai has in store for us!💌💫
➳ Huge thanks to the publisher & author—St. Martin's Press, Tesia Tsai & NetGalley—for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
˚₊ ⟢┊pre-read 🖇️┊⊹࣪⋆
Needed more asian rep and set books in my life + I just love me historical fantasy, so I got a bit giddy when I got this hihi!☁️✨
October 4, 2025
big thanks to the publisher for inviting me to read this book, all thoughts below are 100% my own
when i first got a cutesy little email in my inbox that i'd been invited to read this novel, i was shocked. because little ole me??? like yes i know im so amazing and wonderful (jo no one cares just write the review okay babes???)
lets get into it
maybe like dont say that again? alright, from the first chapter i was instantly feeling the vibes for this novel. i love our fmc siyang, she's the right amount of girlboss but also she knows what she can and can't do. and our love interest -- aka the dead prince -- is such a cutie pie. he doesn't deserve the world tbh.
i got all the cdrama vibes from this and i highly thing that if you are a fan of them you will greatly like this story.
i will note that it takes a minute to understand our character (which yes i was just saying i love her) and what i mean by that is i LOVED her once i UNDERSTOOD her. because babes has no emotion.
whatsoever.
like a brick wall had more emotion thatn siyang for the first few chapters of deathly fates. and once i understood why she's like that i was like okay queen slay. (do you think i'd get kicked out of a fantasy world for saying "u ate babes" or "slay queen"? real question, pls dont answer me
the plot was fun and had me going "OOOH" at like two am in the morning (don't reccomend btw, highly not a good idea) and kept turning the page. all the characters who were the bad guys i really wanted to like... toss into a haunted mansion??? and was so satisfied with that ending but in a good way.
and the romance was SLOW BURNING THE WAY SLOW BURN SHOULD BURN
to wrap up this review im going to try a new format that i made up about 2.4 seconds ago and if you've read this somewhere else no u haven't bc im delusional sometimes.
plot ────୨ৎ 4 stars, would read again
characters ────୨ৎ 3 stars,, only our princey boy and siyang ate
vibes ────୨ৎ 4 stars (i mean if u like dead things and cdramas !!!
─── all in all, a highly well written debut novel and i look forward to reading more by this author! i greatly enjoyed it and hope this review urges you to pick up this novel! again thank you so much to the publisher for inviting me to read this in exchange for an honest review< 3 also a note for my clean reader girlies this one passes the test!
xx
jo
when i first got a cutesy little email in my inbox that i'd been invited to read this novel, i was shocked. because little ole me??? like yes i know im so amazing and wonderful (jo no one cares just write the review okay babes???)
lets get into it
maybe like dont say that again? alright, from the first chapter i was instantly feeling the vibes for this novel. i love our fmc siyang, she's the right amount of girlboss but also she knows what she can and can't do. and our love interest -- aka the dead prince -- is such a cutie pie. he doesn't deserve the world tbh.
i got all the cdrama vibes from this and i highly thing that if you are a fan of them you will greatly like this story.
i will note that it takes a minute to understand our character (which yes i was just saying i love her) and what i mean by that is i LOVED her once i UNDERSTOOD her. because babes has no emotion.
whatsoever.
like a brick wall had more emotion thatn siyang for the first few chapters of deathly fates. and once i understood why she's like that i was like okay queen slay. (do you think i'd get kicked out of a fantasy world for saying "u ate babes" or "slay queen"? real question, pls dont answer me
the plot was fun and had me going "OOOH" at like two am in the morning (don't reccomend btw, highly not a good idea) and kept turning the page. all the characters who were the bad guys i really wanted to like... toss into a haunted mansion??? and was so satisfied with that ending but in a good way.
and the romance was SLOW BURNING THE WAY SLOW BURN SHOULD BURN
to wrap up this review im going to try a new format that i made up about 2.4 seconds ago and if you've read this somewhere else no u haven't bc im delusional sometimes.
plot ────୨ৎ 4 stars, would read again
characters ────୨ৎ 3 stars,, only our princey boy and siyang ate
vibes ────୨ৎ 4 stars (i mean if u like dead things and cdramas !!!
─── all in all, a highly well written debut novel and i look forward to reading more by this author! i greatly enjoyed it and hope this review urges you to pick up this novel! again thank you so much to the publisher for inviting me to read this in exchange for an honest review< 3 also a note for my clean reader girlies this one passes the test!
xx
jo
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
rtc!!
— # PRE-READ.
necromancer romantasy!! sign me up 🤭 buddy reading this with ml ishy <3
⤿ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
— # PRE-READ.
necromancer romantasy!! sign me up 🤭 buddy reading this with ml ishy <3
⤿ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
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Currently reading
January 25, 2026﹒ⵌ﹒🍥 ⟢
preread
ৎ ₊
so recently Ive been in a huge reading slump and this e-arc has been dying on my shelf so today is the day I read it in hopes my slump will be gone - update: buddy reading with my doppelganger (yes ishi and ishy buddy reading ik it's very funny🥹)
⊹ ࣪ ˖ thank you to netgalley for the earc <3
so recently Ive been in a huge reading slump and this e-arc has been dying on my shelf so today is the day I read it in hopes my slump will be gone - update: buddy reading with my doppelganger (yes ishi and ishy buddy reading ik it's very funny🥹)
⊹ ࣪ ˖ thank you to netgalley for the earc <3
October 12, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers & the author for a chance to review this ARC!
I’m in absolute awe… especially knowing this is a debut! I will read everything this author writes ; her writing flows incredibly beautifully.
Chinese mythology is my all time favourite. Therefore, this caught my attention right away.
Siying is a death priestess. She gets hired for a job… and the corpse starts talking to her. He’s not supposed to interact… why is this happening?
This sets them off on a journey, where nothing is easy. Siying is a grumpy FMC - which is pretty normal considering everything she has on her plate. She was forced to grow old too young.
Ren is a golden retriever type of man, living in a sunshine world. He is rather delusional, but he’s endearing.
The romance was a slow burn done right. I loved their interactions and how he kept irritating her to no ends. Their relationship really portrayed an eldest daughter with a youngest son.
The only thing that hindered my reading experience a bit was how the ending unfolded. Siying was a very reflective character ; but she became exceedingly impulsive towards the end. Some factors definitely weighed in ; but it felt out of character. I also disliked how her sister blamed her for her absence… especially considering she was the one paying the medical bills their father needed. I think this is all a matter of perception though.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. The writing flows beautifully and the plots & storyline were just so unique! I absolutely recommend this one.
I’m in absolute awe… especially knowing this is a debut! I will read everything this author writes ; her writing flows incredibly beautifully.
Chinese mythology is my all time favourite. Therefore, this caught my attention right away.
Siying is a death priestess. She gets hired for a job… and the corpse starts talking to her. He’s not supposed to interact… why is this happening?
This sets them off on a journey, where nothing is easy. Siying is a grumpy FMC - which is pretty normal considering everything she has on her plate. She was forced to grow old too young.
Ren is a golden retriever type of man, living in a sunshine world. He is rather delusional, but he’s endearing.
The romance was a slow burn done right. I loved their interactions and how he kept irritating her to no ends. Their relationship really portrayed an eldest daughter with a youngest son.
The only thing that hindered my reading experience a bit was how the ending unfolded. Siying was a very reflective character ; but she became exceedingly impulsive towards the end. Some factors definitely weighed in ; but it felt out of character. I also disliked how her sister blamed her for her absence… especially considering she was the one paying the medical bills their father needed. I think this is all a matter of perception though.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. The writing flows beautifully and the plots & storyline were just so unique! I absolutely recommend this one.
January 17, 2026
"we can't kill the big bad guy because that'll make us just as bad as they are" shut the fuck up and kill that psychopathic ugly clown you loser
September 21, 2025
ty Netgalley for the arc <3
🇵🇷🇪🇲🇮🇸🇪 💫
I loved the premise of the book. A priestess, Siying, works as a corpse-driver and guides the corpses to find peace. She accepts a rather high-stakes job in which her corpse turns out to be a not exactly dead prince, and together they journey to restore his qi, or his life through a series of "evil" spirits.
🇨🇭🇦🇷🇦🇨🇹🇪🇷🇸 💗
➛Siying. I loved her. Out of all the characters, she had to most depth. Her passion for her work and upholding her dad's legacy mixed with her empathy creates a fun dynamic between her and Ren.
➛Ren. Imma admit, his character was a bit two-dimensional. His character arc was very plain and predictable but he did grow on me as the book went on.
➛The "evil" spirits they encountered. I loved the backstory behind each of these spirits. It felt like journeying through the world and added so much depth to the world-building, characters, storyline, everything.
🇵🇱🇴🇹 🍑
➛I started for the romance, stayed for the plot. I loved the sort of quest-like story line mixed with the unpredictability thrown in by the side characters. The plot wasn't driven by the romance, the romance was driven by the plot which I LOVED.
🇫🇪🇪🇱🇮🇳🇬🇸 😌
➛Overall, it was an enjoyable read. With that said, it was a very simple book. Nothing complex, nothing mind-blowing, just some not so laid-back adventure with a touch of death lurking around the corner.
expected release date: Apr 14 2026
🇵🇷🇪🇲🇮🇸🇪 💫
I loved the premise of the book. A priestess, Siying, works as a corpse-driver and guides the corpses to find peace. She accepts a rather high-stakes job in which her corpse turns out to be a not exactly dead prince, and together they journey to restore his qi, or his life through a series of "evil" spirits.
🇨🇭🇦🇷🇦🇨🇹🇪🇷🇸 💗
➛Siying. I loved her. Out of all the characters, she had to most depth. Her passion for her work and upholding her dad's legacy mixed with her empathy creates a fun dynamic between her and Ren.
➛Ren. Imma admit, his character was a bit two-dimensional. His character arc was very plain and predictable but he did grow on me as the book went on.
➛The "evil" spirits they encountered. I loved the backstory behind each of these spirits. It felt like journeying through the world and added so much depth to the world-building, characters, storyline, everything.
🇵🇱🇴🇹 🍑
➛I started for the romance, stayed for the plot. I loved the sort of quest-like story line mixed with the unpredictability thrown in by the side characters. The plot wasn't driven by the romance, the romance was driven by the plot which I LOVED.
🇫🇪🇪🇱🇮🇳🇬🇸 😌
➛Overall, it was an enjoyable read. With that said, it was a very simple book. Nothing complex, nothing mind-blowing, just some not so laid-back adventure with a touch of death lurking around the corner.
expected release date: Apr 14 2026
August 12, 2025
I like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing it as a read.
For a debut novel, a YA one? I loved it. It reminded me of a cdrama reminiscent of Back from the Brink, Fangs of Fortune. Necromancer, cute undead prince, a mission, and a mystery of who killed him.
The plot was smooth, easy to understand. Girl's father was a necromancer, he became too old for the job and she has taken over. He is sick, and to heal him, she takes on his job of dealing with the dead. She is paid a huge sum to bring back a body from a nearby battle. Finding the body, she discovers the body is none other than the prince. Someone murdered him, but who? He can return from the dead, but they need the qi from evil spirits / demons to do so. Luckily for them there are rumored to be a few in the area.
I loved the prince. He is a perfect blend of funny, kindhearted, brave, but admitting that he lacks any sort of gumption to be a ruler. He wishes that his older brother is made king in his stead. Watching her go from wanting to get rid of him for sake of the job to wanting to not part with him was super sweet. Again, giving me those cdrama feels. I could tell what bits would get a 'slow mo' moment or a 'insert pop song here'. (That's why I can see Neo Hao in this role because he would be so cute with his teasing, banter, and kiss scenes.)
I loved our female lead because while she could oggle our main lead, she had a mission - or several by the end of it - that she needed to complete. She was tough, determined, and could oggle but not let the oggling distract from the missions. (Zhou Ye would be my choice if I could cast it - he gumption and her acceptance to romance reminded me of the character she played in Back from the Brink.)
Why one star less? While the story was simple, the romance good, I felt like the world could use more or another book. I want to see more necromancer problems, more time for romance and court / politics. I can understand the author one-and-done-ing this, but there is room for more if she so chooses.
I'm happy to find another Asian author to support and I can't wait for her next book!
For a debut novel, a YA one? I loved it. It reminded me of a cdrama reminiscent of Back from the Brink, Fangs of Fortune. Necromancer, cute undead prince, a mission, and a mystery of who killed him.
The plot was smooth, easy to understand. Girl's father was a necromancer, he became too old for the job and she has taken over. He is sick, and to heal him, she takes on his job of dealing with the dead. She is paid a huge sum to bring back a body from a nearby battle. Finding the body, she discovers the body is none other than the prince. Someone murdered him, but who? He can return from the dead, but they need the qi from evil spirits / demons to do so. Luckily for them there are rumored to be a few in the area.
I loved the prince. He is a perfect blend of funny, kindhearted, brave, but admitting that he lacks any sort of gumption to be a ruler. He wishes that his older brother is made king in his stead. Watching her go from wanting to get rid of him for sake of the job to wanting to not part with him was super sweet. Again, giving me those cdrama feels. I could tell what bits would get a 'slow mo' moment or a 'insert pop song here'. (That's why I can see Neo Hao in this role because he would be so cute with his teasing, banter, and kiss scenes.)
I loved our female lead because while she could oggle our main lead, she had a mission - or several by the end of it - that she needed to complete. She was tough, determined, and could oggle but not let the oggling distract from the missions. (Zhou Ye would be my choice if I could cast it - he gumption and her acceptance to romance reminded me of the character she played in Back from the Brink.)
Why one star less? While the story was simple, the romance good, I felt like the world could use more or another book. I want to see more necromancer problems, more time for romance and court / politics. I can understand the author one-and-done-ing this, but there is room for more if she so chooses.
I'm happy to find another Asian author to support and I can't wait for her next book!
did-not-finish
November 19, 2025DNF @ 57%
While I liked the blood and ghosts, the story and characterizations were too young YA, simplistic, and formulaic for me. It also felt more ghost story than necromancy.
Even though it wasn't for me, I think that this would be a great intro to (slightly dark) fantasy for young teens with a grumpy x sunshine type of romance.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this arc.
While I liked the blood and ghosts, the story and characterizations were too young YA, simplistic, and formulaic for me. It also felt more ghost story than necromancy.
Even though it wasn't for me, I think that this would be a great intro to (slightly dark) fantasy for young teens with a grumpy x sunshine type of romance.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this arc.
September 16, 2025
huge thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
this was really good first off - easy to stay along, hooks you.. so on.
i will say though... it took me a moment to get into it. the fmc (which is on first person POV) is very headstrong, controlling, and very family first but also, does not show emotion. once i realized, THIS was HER - and she chooses to hide emotions and so on, is when i realized how much she truly does feel. working with death regularly, you have so much empathy and so on, but if you get so wrapped in it, then it becomes hard to form the line between your own life and those around you...
also when i say i love slow-burn - THIS IS SLOW BURN. was i upset it took forever and when it happened? yes. was i still happy i got it? YES
the plot was great... i expected the twist that it took, but it was still amazing.
this was really good first off - easy to stay along, hooks you.. so on.
i will say though... it took me a moment to get into it. the fmc (which is on first person POV) is very headstrong, controlling, and very family first but also, does not show emotion. once i realized, THIS was HER - and she chooses to hide emotions and so on, is when i realized how much she truly does feel. working with death regularly, you have so much empathy and so on, but if you get so wrapped in it, then it becomes hard to form the line between your own life and those around you...
also when i say i love slow-burn - THIS IS SLOW BURN. was i upset it took forever and when it happened? yes. was i still happy i got it? YES
the plot was great... i expected the twist that it took, but it was still amazing.
Want to read
August 14, 2025Just received a Netgalley copy in exchange for an honest. Thank you to Austin from St. Martin's for the opportunity!
October 19, 2025
3.5 stars
Kang Siying is no stranger to death. As a ganshi, a priestess tasked with purifying troubled spirits and guiding the dead to the afterlife, she knows the weight of final goodbyes. But when her father falls gravely ill, love and duty drive her to accept a lucrative commission to retrieve a soldier’s corpse from the aftermath of a brutal ambush. What should have been a simple job takes a turn when her purification talisman unexpectedly revives the dead man. Even worse, the corpse is no ordinary soldier, but Prince Renshu, the missing second prince of Sian. But death is not so easily undone. Now, Siying is in a race against time to gather enough qi to keep the prince alive and deliver him to the palace so she can save her father.
The heart of this book is Kang Siying. She is quite possibly one of the best protagonists that I’ve had the pleasure of reading. From the beginning, Tsai establishes duty as Siying’s core. She is dedicated to her job as a priestess, she is a dutiful daughter, and a rock for her father and younger sister. She went through a lot at such a young age and, as a result, Siying is very no-nonsense and serious and one bad day away from a breakdown. Despite that, Siying is compassionate and empathetic, especially when it comes to the spirits that she has to purify.
Renshu, or Ren, is the complete opposite of Siying. As the second prince, he doesn’t really have any aspirations for the throne. He actually enlisted in the army to make it clear that he didn’t want his older brother’s position. He was essentially Siying’s foil—playful and lackadaisical, bereft of any desire to carry responsibility. He does get better towards the end, but he continues to have rose-colored glasses until the last 80% of the book. Compared to Siying, he was underdeveloped and less interesting, but I did like his character arc.
The romance wasn’t necessarily the focus of the book. I felt like the focus really was on Siying that Ren’s character was put in the background, thus the romance wasn’t developed too well. It was a slow burn, a little predictable, but still enjoyable. I did appreciate the fact that Siying acknowledged that they only knew each other for two weeks when Ren confessed to her.
The underlying conflict in Deathly Fates surrounds the civil war between the kingdom of Sian and the state of Wen. Wen is a territory composed of smallfolk who are tired of Sian’s exploitation of their land and resources. Their grievances center around the King’s inattention to the land and people outside of the palace, especially when it came to a deadly fever that killed many citizens, including Siying’s mother. Though Siying, as a ganshi, is meant to be impartial, she sympathizes with the Wen and makes her dissatisfaction with the King known to Ren, who doesn’t quite understand the hostility and goes as far as to defend his father and brother. Tsai works in this political subplot very well. There was a kind of monster-of-the-week structure to the ghosts that Siying and Ren encountered, but they all served to explore that political conflict. The ending was a little anticlimactic and there was such a sudden shift in tone and with Siying’s later actions, but I still really liked it.
Overall an incredibly solid debut! I’d love to read more from Tesia Tsai.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for providing me with a digital arc.
Kang Siying is no stranger to death. As a ganshi, a priestess tasked with purifying troubled spirits and guiding the dead to the afterlife, she knows the weight of final goodbyes. But when her father falls gravely ill, love and duty drive her to accept a lucrative commission to retrieve a soldier’s corpse from the aftermath of a brutal ambush. What should have been a simple job takes a turn when her purification talisman unexpectedly revives the dead man. Even worse, the corpse is no ordinary soldier, but Prince Renshu, the missing second prince of Sian. But death is not so easily undone. Now, Siying is in a race against time to gather enough qi to keep the prince alive and deliver him to the palace so she can save her father.
The heart of this book is Kang Siying. She is quite possibly one of the best protagonists that I’ve had the pleasure of reading. From the beginning, Tsai establishes duty as Siying’s core. She is dedicated to her job as a priestess, she is a dutiful daughter, and a rock for her father and younger sister. She went through a lot at such a young age and, as a result, Siying is very no-nonsense and serious and one bad day away from a breakdown. Despite that, Siying is compassionate and empathetic, especially when it comes to the spirits that she has to purify.
Renshu, or Ren, is the complete opposite of Siying. As the second prince, he doesn’t really have any aspirations for the throne. He actually enlisted in the army to make it clear that he didn’t want his older brother’s position. He was essentially Siying’s foil—playful and lackadaisical, bereft of any desire to carry responsibility. He does get better towards the end, but he continues to have rose-colored glasses until the last 80% of the book. Compared to Siying, he was underdeveloped and less interesting, but I did like his character arc.
The romance wasn’t necessarily the focus of the book. I felt like the focus really was on Siying that Ren’s character was put in the background, thus the romance wasn’t developed too well. It was a slow burn, a little predictable, but still enjoyable. I did appreciate the fact that Siying acknowledged that they only knew each other for two weeks when Ren confessed to her.
The underlying conflict in Deathly Fates surrounds the civil war between the kingdom of Sian and the state of Wen. Wen is a territory composed of smallfolk who are tired of Sian’s exploitation of their land and resources. Their grievances center around the King’s inattention to the land and people outside of the palace, especially when it came to a deadly fever that killed many citizens, including Siying’s mother. Though Siying, as a ganshi, is meant to be impartial, she sympathizes with the Wen and makes her dissatisfaction with the King known to Ren, who doesn’t quite understand the hostility and goes as far as to defend his father and brother. Tsai works in this political subplot very well. There was a kind of monster-of-the-week structure to the ghosts that Siying and Ren encountered, but they all served to explore that political conflict. The ending was a little anticlimactic and there was such a sudden shift in tone and with Siying’s later actions, but I still really liked it.
Overall an incredibly solid debut! I’d love to read more from Tesia Tsai.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for providing me with a digital arc.
August 19, 2025
ᯓ★3 Stars!!!
This book was an interesting read for sure! As far as asian fantasies go, this one was different from the others that I have read. In a good way! I enjoyed the book overall and would love to read the finalized copy as well.
I just have a few points to make. Siying's father has so little screen time for someone who haunts the narrative. He's brought up so many times and Siying's entire existence is built around trying to save her father, yet...we get so little time with him. I wish we had seen more of that relationship throughout the book in order to really feel the impact of his sacrifice. It would have made her crash out so much more impactful. The lack of substance regarding the relationship between her and her father made her crash out feel like it came out of nowhere.
The only other complaint I have is the pacing of the book. it felt very...fast and lacked transitions. One minute we're here and the next we're here and the plot thickens and thins at the same time. It just needs some fine tuning.
That being said, it didn't make this book not enjoyable. I devoured this book pretty quickly and would love to read another title by this author.
⊹ ࣪ ˖Thank you to netgalley for the advanced readers copy!!
This book was an interesting read for sure! As far as asian fantasies go, this one was different from the others that I have read. In a good way! I enjoyed the book overall and would love to read the finalized copy as well.
I just have a few points to make. Siying's father has so little screen time for someone who haunts the narrative. He's brought up so many times and Siying's entire existence is built around trying to save her father, yet...we get so little time with him. I wish we had seen more of that relationship throughout the book in order to really feel the impact of his sacrifice. It would have made her crash out so much more impactful. The lack of substance regarding the relationship between her and her father made her crash out feel like it came out of nowhere.
The only other complaint I have is the pacing of the book. it felt very...fast and lacked transitions. One minute we're here and the next we're here and the plot thickens and thins at the same time. It just needs some fine tuning.
That being said, it didn't make this book not enjoyable. I devoured this book pretty quickly and would love to read another title by this author.
August 24, 2025
I would like to thank Netgalley for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
You guys needdddd to read this book omg. Book like this are literally why I love to read. Everything about this book leaves you wanting more. In fact, my only criticism of this book is that I wish the ending was longer. Ren and Siyang were such interesting characters, and I loved watching their character arcs. The themes surrounding freedom, grief, and duty were also done so well, and all the side characters were so fun to read about, though I do wish they were a bit more developed. The romance was also so cute. I love slow burn, I love reluctant allies, I love grumpyxsunshine, and I love this book has these tropes without being about the tropes. When the final copy of the book is released, you better believe I’ll be rereading this. I don’t know how my next read is going to top this one.
You guys needdddd to read this book omg. Book like this are literally why I love to read. Everything about this book leaves you wanting more. In fact, my only criticism of this book is that I wish the ending was longer. Ren and Siyang were such interesting characters, and I loved watching their character arcs. The themes surrounding freedom, grief, and duty were also done so well, and all the side characters were so fun to read about, though I do wish they were a bit more developed. The romance was also so cute. I love slow burn, I love reluctant allies, I love grumpyxsunshine, and I love this book has these tropes without being about the tropes. When the final copy of the book is released, you better believe I’ll be rereading this. I don’t know how my next read is going to top this one.
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January 7, 2026
Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026:
This debut gives us a look at Chinese folklore from a bit of a different angle. In it, Kang Siying is a necromancy priestess who must take a dangerous job retrieving the corpse of a prince for a big commission to take care of her ailing father. But when she reanimates the dead prince, he doesn't respond to her like reanimated corpses usually do. Instead of obeying her commands, he comes back as himself, but he needs life force, or qi, to stay on the earthly plane. The two journey around the countryside, purifying evil spirits for qi for the prince, and uncovering secrets along the way—secrets that could threaten the entire kingdom. —Erica Ezeifedi
This debut gives us a look at Chinese folklore from a bit of a different angle. In it, Kang Siying is a necromancy priestess who must take a dangerous job retrieving the corpse of a prince for a big commission to take care of her ailing father. But when she reanimates the dead prince, he doesn't respond to her like reanimated corpses usually do. Instead of obeying her commands, he comes back as himself, but he needs life force, or qi, to stay on the earthly plane. The two journey around the countryside, purifying evil spirits for qi for the prince, and uncovering secrets along the way—secrets that could threaten the entire kingdom. —Erica Ezeifedi
Want to read
August 4, 2025here for more necromancy books, thank you
August 17, 2025
2.5 stars
This was a pretty okay debut. The story was interesting enough. However, it just failed to keep my attention because the characters were quite simple. I really wish I liked this more.
This was a pretty okay debut. The story was interesting enough. However, it just failed to keep my attention because the characters were quite simple. I really wish I liked this more.
Want to read
August 13, 2025I got approved for an ARC!! Very excited to get into this. Thank you to St Martin's Press!
October 18, 2025
Deathly Fates had such a promising premise: necromancy, ghosts, and a dangerous journey across kingdoms? I was ready for the haunting atmosphere and emotional depth. But sadly, this one fell flat for me.
The plot felt predictable, and I never found myself fully invested in the characters (except maybe the male lead, who was easily the most interesting part of the book). The worldbuilding had potential, but the execution just didn’t keep me hooked.
While the writing itself wasn’t bad, it didn’t bring the story to life in the way I hoped. Overall, Deathly Fates was a miss for me unfortunately.
The plot felt predictable, and I never found myself fully invested in the characters (except maybe the male lead, who was easily the most interesting part of the book). The worldbuilding had potential, but the execution just didn’t keep me hooked.
While the writing itself wasn’t bad, it didn’t bring the story to life in the way I hoped. Overall, Deathly Fates was a miss for me unfortunately.
November 18, 2025
I don’t know if Deathly Fates fully qualifies as cozy romantasy, but that’s where I would put it.
There is quite a bit of death in the book, as Siying is a priestess of death, but it isn’t of a particularly violent sort, and it does introduce her to Ren, the other protagonist and love interest.
Unfortunately for Siying, Ren is dead. Or mostly dead, anyway. And her mission ends up changing from bringing his body back home to helping him find enough qi to keep him alive.
As she soon finds out, this turns out to be pretty important because Ren is the younger prince of her kingdom, and as the two discover on their way back home, everything is not right in Sian.
To acquire qi for Ren, the pair must face evil spirits, and as they do so the reader sees people mistreated and how their anger can have far reaching consequences if a right isn’t committed. It also shows the commitment to family, sometimes deservedly so and sometimes on blind faith.
The book is more heavily focused on the adventure and journey of Siying and Ren, with really more a dash of romance thrown in. This worked well for me because world building for a fantasy story often seems to come more easily than creating an authentic relationship between the protagonists that the reader can get emotionally invested in, and Tsai created a world and adventure that was easy to dive into and enjoy, with fun characters falling in love as a bonus.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
There is quite a bit of death in the book, as Siying is a priestess of death, but it isn’t of a particularly violent sort, and it does introduce her to Ren, the other protagonist and love interest.
Unfortunately for Siying, Ren is dead. Or mostly dead, anyway. And her mission ends up changing from bringing his body back home to helping him find enough qi to keep him alive.
As she soon finds out, this turns out to be pretty important because Ren is the younger prince of her kingdom, and as the two discover on their way back home, everything is not right in Sian.
To acquire qi for Ren, the pair must face evil spirits, and as they do so the reader sees people mistreated and how their anger can have far reaching consequences if a right isn’t committed. It also shows the commitment to family, sometimes deservedly so and sometimes on blind faith.
The book is more heavily focused on the adventure and journey of Siying and Ren, with really more a dash of romance thrown in. This worked well for me because world building for a fantasy story often seems to come more easily than creating an authentic relationship between the protagonists that the reader can get emotionally invested in, and Tsai created a world and adventure that was easy to dive into and enjoy, with fun characters falling in love as a bonus.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 25, 2026
I had feared this would be more romance focused than it was (I’m honestly not sure where I got that impression; it’s probably just my default state in an era where romance is booming), but I really liked the focus on grief and vengeance and regret. This is a necromancy story, so it wouldn’t have been as good without those elements. But seeing them in the context of a budding war of secession and the battle for power vs autonomy just felt poignant.
I wish Anshi played a bigger role, though. She’s integral to the climax but I felt like we didn’t really “get” her - and I especially would have liked to see where she ended up at the end, but she just vanishes off the page…
Overall, solid
{Thank you Wednesday Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
I wish Anshi played a bigger role, though. She’s integral to the climax but I felt like we didn’t really “get” her - and I especially would have liked to see where she ended up at the end, but she just vanishes off the page…
Overall, solid
{Thank you Wednesday Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A lovely—if macabre!—debut from Tesia Tsai! A solid combo of heartfelt musings on life and death, goofy banter between our leads, and somber commentary on political injustice, Deathly Fates is an adventure story with some zest.
Necromancy is a really interesting form of magic, particularly when wielded to examine the stories of the dead. There are vengeful spirits fueled by their own anguish and reanimated corpses obeying the will of a ganshi priest, but there are also the living, who live each day burdened by the grief of the world around them. Tsai ties these themes of burden, action, and responsibility together through the quest that Kang Siying and Prince Renshu embark on, each of them learning something from the other along the way. And maybe, just maybe, they fall in love during the process. Those bits of banter and laughter were a welcome reprieve from all of the heaviness of the plot, but I appreciated that there were real conversations happening, as well.
But mostly, I enjoy watching a necromancer start enacting justice. That's the good stuff, right there! Plus the mention of nuomiji, one of my favorite dishes.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!
Necromancy is a really interesting form of magic, particularly when wielded to examine the stories of the dead. There are vengeful spirits fueled by their own anguish and reanimated corpses obeying the will of a ganshi priest, but there are also the living, who live each day burdened by the grief of the world around them. Tsai ties these themes of burden, action, and responsibility together through the quest that Kang Siying and Prince Renshu embark on, each of them learning something from the other along the way. And maybe, just maybe, they fall in love during the process. Those bits of banter and laughter were a welcome reprieve from all of the heaviness of the plot, but I appreciated that there were real conversations happening, as well.
But mostly, I enjoy watching a necromancer start enacting justice. That's the good stuff, right there! Plus the mention of nuomiji, one of my favorite dishes.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!
September 4, 2025
3.75 rounded up
A priestess with an ability to guide the dead into the afterlife comes across a fallen soldier with a hidden identity, accidentally bringing him back to life.
This was an interesting take on necromancy, and although it's not usually a theme I prefer to read about, I was pleasantly surprised by this book.
My biggest issue was that the writing felt a bit stiff at times, and the MMC needed saving a few too many times. It felt like he was on the brink of death every other page, so needless to say it just got a bit repetitive.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.
A priestess with an ability to guide the dead into the afterlife comes across a fallen soldier with a hidden identity, accidentally bringing him back to life.
This was an interesting take on necromancy, and although it's not usually a theme I prefer to read about, I was pleasantly surprised by this book.
My biggest issue was that the writing felt a bit stiff at times, and the MMC needed saving a few too many times. It felt like he was on the brink of death every other page, so needless to say it just got a bit repetitive.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.
September 27, 2025
Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for providing me an excerpt in exchange for my honest review.
This books starts with the main character, Siying who is a corpse-driving priestess: in short, she lets the dead be able to rest, able to transfer their Qi over to bodies, and raise the dead. The concept is incredibly interesting and reminds me deeply of a danmei novel known as MDZS. The main character of that novel is able to create a version of cultivation that focuses on talismans (Siying uses talismans for reanimation and keeping Ren alive), as well as he is able to raise the dead to fight along him. Sadly, this concept was the only thing I liked about the novel.
I have this as three stars because it's a novel with lots of potential, the biggest downfall is that I have read hundreds of books like this. I recognized where the plot was going, especially with the royal family and Siying's own personal story as well. Ren, the prince, follows every trope possible: dead mother, not wanting to be on the throne and more.
The characters themselves could be more fleshed out but this also could deal with the fact that because I have read many novels similar to this, I knew where things were going to go. The romance though, felt underdeveloped and couldn't grasp me.
I believe that if you have not read a lot of fantasy YA, you will fall in love hard and fast with this novel. Sadly, this was a it's not you, it's me for the most part.
This books starts with the main character, Siying who is a corpse-driving priestess: in short, she lets the dead be able to rest, able to transfer their Qi over to bodies, and raise the dead. The concept is incredibly interesting and reminds me deeply of a danmei novel known as MDZS. The main character of that novel is able to create a version of cultivation that focuses on talismans (Siying uses talismans for reanimation and keeping Ren alive), as well as he is able to raise the dead to fight along him. Sadly, this concept was the only thing I liked about the novel.
I have this as three stars because it's a novel with lots of potential, the biggest downfall is that I have read hundreds of books like this. I recognized where the plot was going, especially with the royal family and Siying's own personal story as well. Ren, the prince, follows every trope possible: dead mother, not wanting to be on the throne and more.
The characters themselves could be more fleshed out but this also could deal with the fact that because I have read many novels similar to this, I knew where things were going to go. The romance though, felt underdeveloped and couldn't grasp me.
I believe that if you have not read a lot of fantasy YA, you will fall in love hard and fast with this novel. Sadly, this was a it's not you, it's me for the most part.
August 31, 2025
And this is the author's debut? I cant wait to read their next book. Wow! I really enjoyed the story and the magic in this book. I'm going to put spoilers.
So first the plot:
The setting takes place in the kingdom of Sian and the country of Wen. Wen wants to become independent and so war and fighting is going on.
Siying is a ganshi priestess that can reanimate the dead. She takes jobs where she retrieves the dead for people. Her current job is to fetch a dead Sian soldier in Wen and bring them back to the palace. However, she finds out he isnt actually dead and that he is really the second prince of Sian, Ren. His brother, the first prince Liqin, is the one who orchestrated the fake message to get Ren killed. Siying must help Ren gain enough qi to become a real living human again. They must exorcise evil spirits to use their qi. Throughout the journey, Ren realizes that he should actually be the future king and take over after his father. Siying also starts to care about Ren too and worries about his qi. When they end up in Baimu, Siying's home, her ill father is poisoned by Liqin and so he gives Ren all of his qi so Ren can live and become the ruler Sian needs. Siying decides to take revenge and bring an undead army to the palace to kill Liqin, but Ren helps her realize that murder isnt the answer. Luckily, they succeed in removing Liqin from the throne. Ren follows through on promises and Siying opens up a ganshi priestess school. They finally kiss and I hope they live happily ever after.
Okay on to the things I didn't really like first:
They knew each other for less than 2 weeks and Ren said he was falling in love with her. He couldve just said he was starting to develop feelings. Didnt have to be instant love. Luckily 6 months go by before they kiss so it was kind of slow burn ish but not really.
I feel like some parts of the story were quite preditable. I knew Ren and Siying would end up liking each other. She would save him. Baba would give his qi to Ren. Ren decides to become the king. However, I do like the way the author wove the story to go about those things so it was still an enjoyable read.
What I liked
The magic! I think the reanimating of corpses is so interesting. Scary but cool.
We also get some horror in this book. Chanhua and Yuyan are depicted a bit horror-like. I could feel Siying's fear in the forest and the mansion. I really enjoyed this aspect a lot. Didnt expect it but loved it!
Just an overall fast paced story. Didn't feel bored at all.
100% recommend this book if you like Asian fantasy and even horror too!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
So first the plot:
The setting takes place in the kingdom of Sian and the country of Wen. Wen wants to become independent and so war and fighting is going on.
Siying is a ganshi priestess that can reanimate the dead. She takes jobs where she retrieves the dead for people. Her current job is to fetch a dead Sian soldier in Wen and bring them back to the palace. However, she finds out he isnt actually dead and that he is really the second prince of Sian, Ren. His brother, the first prince Liqin, is the one who orchestrated the fake message to get Ren killed. Siying must help Ren gain enough qi to become a real living human again. They must exorcise evil spirits to use their qi. Throughout the journey, Ren realizes that he should actually be the future king and take over after his father. Siying also starts to care about Ren too and worries about his qi. When they end up in Baimu, Siying's home, her ill father is poisoned by Liqin and so he gives Ren all of his qi so Ren can live and become the ruler Sian needs. Siying decides to take revenge and bring an undead army to the palace to kill Liqin, but Ren helps her realize that murder isnt the answer. Luckily, they succeed in removing Liqin from the throne. Ren follows through on promises and Siying opens up a ganshi priestess school. They finally kiss and I hope they live happily ever after.
Okay on to the things I didn't really like first:
They knew each other for less than 2 weeks and Ren said he was falling in love with her. He couldve just said he was starting to develop feelings. Didnt have to be instant love. Luckily 6 months go by before they kiss so it was kind of slow burn ish but not really.
I feel like some parts of the story were quite preditable. I knew Ren and Siying would end up liking each other. She would save him. Baba would give his qi to Ren. Ren decides to become the king. However, I do like the way the author wove the story to go about those things so it was still an enjoyable read.
What I liked
The magic! I think the reanimating of corpses is so interesting. Scary but cool.
We also get some horror in this book. Chanhua and Yuyan are depicted a bit horror-like. I could feel Siying's fear in the forest and the mansion. I really enjoyed this aspect a lot. Didnt expect it but loved it!
Just an overall fast paced story. Didn't feel bored at all.
100% recommend this book if you like Asian fantasy and even horror too!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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January 28, 2026Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai is first person-POV YA necromantasy set in an Imperial China-inspired world. Siying is a priestess who comes from a long line of priests who guide the dead. When her father falls ill, it's up to her to take the mantle and continue the family business. But when she finds a body whose soul is still lingering nearby, she gets wrapped up in an on-going political fight that could have disastrous consequences.
Necromantasy is a hot new buzz word I see being used in marketing and in some online spaces and I would say this fits the bill. It has necromancy, it's in a fantasy world, and it has a strong romance arc and all of that is important to the plot. I would maybe put this closer to a romantic fantasy rather than a fantasy romance, but, in this case, that might have more to do with it being single-POV rather than dual-POV. I don't know if I'd really call this dark or political fantasy though it does have elements of both given Prince Ren and his relationship with his family as well as the on-going political situation between Sian and Wen.
The romance between Siying and Ren is as slowburn as a romance arc can be in a standalone fantasy. It's very, very low on the spice and steam levels as well and the progression is almost entirely built on dialogue as Siying and Ren did not touch much at all, if I remember correctly. They veer sort of close to grumpy x sunshine with Ren as the sunshine, but aren't dead-on for the trope as it feels Siying’s pessimistic attitudes are way more about what is happening in the world rather than it being a personality trait.
The story sort of falls in three episodes as Siying and Ren journey to return Ren to the royal family. There are two missions involving Siying’s necromancy that push for thematic exploration having to deal with the war and the royal family's decisions. It's a bit C-drama/anime-ish in that regard, and it does all tie together, but it takes a bit of time to see how.
I would recommend this to fans of C-dramas and readers excited about necromantasy as a concept
Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai is first person-POV YA necromantasy set in an Imperial China-inspired world. Siying is a priestess who comes from a long line of priests who guide the dead. When her father falls ill, it's up to her to take the mantle and continue the family business. But when she finds a body whose soul is still lingering nearby, she gets wrapped up in an on-going political fight that could have disastrous consequences.
Necromantasy is a hot new buzz word I see being used in marketing and in some online spaces and I would say this fits the bill. It has necromancy, it's in a fantasy world, and it has a strong romance arc and all of that is important to the plot. I would maybe put this closer to a romantic fantasy rather than a fantasy romance, but, in this case, that might have more to do with it being single-POV rather than dual-POV. I don't know if I'd really call this dark or political fantasy though it does have elements of both given Prince Ren and his relationship with his family as well as the on-going political situation between Sian and Wen.
The romance between Siying and Ren is as slowburn as a romance arc can be in a standalone fantasy. It's very, very low on the spice and steam levels as well and the progression is almost entirely built on dialogue as Siying and Ren did not touch much at all, if I remember correctly. They veer sort of close to grumpy x sunshine with Ren as the sunshine, but aren't dead-on for the trope as it feels Siying’s pessimistic attitudes are way more about what is happening in the world rather than it being a personality trait.
The story sort of falls in three episodes as Siying and Ren journey to return Ren to the royal family. There are two missions involving Siying’s necromancy that push for thematic exploration having to deal with the war and the royal family's decisions. It's a bit C-drama/anime-ish in that regard, and it does all tie together, but it takes a bit of time to see how.
I would recommend this to fans of C-dramas and readers excited about necromantasy as a concept
October 12, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Tesia Tsai, and St. Martin's Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai brings a lovely mix of necromancy and slow-burn, young adult romantasy. The main characters, Kang Siying, was hired to smuggle a corpse from Wen to Sian, two war-time countries who've long been in conflict. That corpse, however, adds a unique twist that brings to an incredible journey of purifying spirits, learning about the various citizens of Wen and Sian, and falling in love.
I enjoyed this book in terms of concept and slow-burn friends to lovers sub-plot romance. I also enjoyed the culture building and lore behind the fantasy, but there are a few things I felt needed improvement to make this book blow me away. I felt the plot was simple and expected; however, I will admit certain parts of the ending thrilled me to read this book. It was the kind of pacing that I wish the whole book had, and I felt it was slower in the beginning and middle. The dialogue felt a tad unnatural, but this can be attributed to the older time frame this book appears to have and the cultural aspect to it.
Even though I rated this book a three out of five, I will say this book is excellent for new fantasy readers in the young adult realm (thirteen or older), who wants a simpler plot to be introduced to the genre. There's a romance sub-plot, which adds a nice taste to the fantasy. It has a unique take on necromancy due to the cultural ties. Additionally, this book could be read as either a standalone or as a series, so don't worry if you don't want to be left on a cliffhanger! This one won't pain you like that. If anyone were to ask for this specific recommendation, I would no doubt add this one to their TBR.
Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai brings a lovely mix of necromancy and slow-burn, young adult romantasy. The main characters, Kang Siying, was hired to smuggle a corpse from Wen to Sian, two war-time countries who've long been in conflict. That corpse, however, adds a unique twist that brings to an incredible journey of purifying spirits, learning about the various citizens of Wen and Sian, and falling in love.
I enjoyed this book in terms of concept and slow-burn friends to lovers sub-plot romance. I also enjoyed the culture building and lore behind the fantasy, but there are a few things I felt needed improvement to make this book blow me away. I felt the plot was simple and expected; however, I will admit certain parts of the ending thrilled me to read this book. It was the kind of pacing that I wish the whole book had, and I felt it was slower in the beginning and middle. The dialogue felt a tad unnatural, but this can be attributed to the older time frame this book appears to have and the cultural aspect to it.
Even though I rated this book a three out of five, I will say this book is excellent for new fantasy readers in the young adult realm (thirteen or older), who wants a simpler plot to be introduced to the genre. There's a romance sub-plot, which adds a nice taste to the fantasy. It has a unique take on necromancy due to the cultural ties. Additionally, this book could be read as either a standalone or as a series, so don't worry if you don't want to be left on a cliffhanger! This one won't pain you like that. If anyone were to ask for this specific recommendation, I would no doubt add this one to their TBR.
September 30, 2025
Huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an early copy of Deathly Fates. This debut novel is ridiculously sweet and has all of the vibes of a classic C-drama.
as
Siying Kang is a priestess who is able to reanimate the dead and guide their corpses back to their loved ones. Siying takes on a job that requires her to go into the neighboring country of Wen to retrieve the body of an unnamed soldier. When Siying Kang reanimates the body, his soul reattaches, thus brings him back to life. The corpse is not an unnamed soldier but is the second crown prince, Ren. Throughout the novel, Siying and Ren need to gather qi to make Ren's reanimated state permanent.
I really liked this one. Siying is a delightful protagonist. She believes in duty and her job as a priestess. Her main motivation is finishing the job that will take Ren home because the payment she was offered would be enough to treat her sick father. Ren is the perfect contrast to Siying. He is a bit carefree and silly compared to Siying's more serious nature.
The book is a standalone, which is refreshing. The plot is simple to follow and reaches a satisfying resolution. The romance is sweet. Ren and Siying make a cute pair. The confession feels deserved even though the plot takes place only over two weeks.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Definitely a nice fall read as necromancy and evil spirits play a big part in the plot. My only real complaint is I want to know what happens after the plot resolves between Wen and Sian. Other than that, this is a sweet debut for lovers of Asian fantasy!
as
Siying Kang is a priestess who is able to reanimate the dead and guide their corpses back to their loved ones. Siying takes on a job that requires her to go into the neighboring country of Wen to retrieve the body of an unnamed soldier. When Siying Kang reanimates the body, his soul reattaches, thus brings him back to life. The corpse is not an unnamed soldier but is the second crown prince, Ren. Throughout the novel, Siying and Ren need to gather qi to make Ren's reanimated state permanent.
I really liked this one. Siying is a delightful protagonist. She believes in duty and her job as a priestess. Her main motivation is finishing the job that will take Ren home because the payment she was offered would be enough to treat her sick father. Ren is the perfect contrast to Siying. He is a bit carefree and silly compared to Siying's more serious nature.
The book is a standalone, which is refreshing. The plot is simple to follow and reaches a satisfying resolution. The romance is sweet. Ren and Siying make a cute pair. The confession feels deserved even though the plot takes place only over two weeks.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Definitely a nice fall read as necromancy and evil spirits play a big part in the plot. My only real complaint is I want to know what happens after the plot resolves between Wen and Sian. Other than that, this is a sweet debut for lovers of Asian fantasy!
December 11, 2025
4.5 Stars
Asian inspired fantasies are my absolute favorite genre and Deathly Fates is a beautiful debut steeped in Chinese folklore with rich world building that immediately draws you in.
Siying is a young priestess who guides the dead to the afterlife. Her job is to retrieve the corpses of the deceased by re-animating them and return them to their final resting place. But things take a turn when one day, one of the corpses begins to act of its own accord instead of following behind her which will lead her on a journey and a path she never expected to be on,
I LOVED the magic system and necromancy. Tesia Tsai executes it in a way that makes it feel as if it were real. The world beautifully unfurls throughout the story as we follow the characters on what feels like mini quests along their main journey. The pacing was great, never feeling like the story was dragging. The romance builds organically between the characters and does not overpower the main plot but adds magnificently to it instead. Additionally, the twists and intrigue keep the reader on their toes and will haven them saying "just one more chapter," all night long.
While the writing does feel quite YA at times, it's not in a way that detracts from the book. The writing is simple in a way that makes the story and lore accessible to those who may be new to Chinese folklore fantasy.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.
Asian inspired fantasies are my absolute favorite genre and Deathly Fates is a beautiful debut steeped in Chinese folklore with rich world building that immediately draws you in.
Siying is a young priestess who guides the dead to the afterlife. Her job is to retrieve the corpses of the deceased by re-animating them and return them to their final resting place. But things take a turn when one day, one of the corpses begins to act of its own accord instead of following behind her which will lead her on a journey and a path she never expected to be on,
I LOVED the magic system and necromancy. Tesia Tsai executes it in a way that makes it feel as if it were real. The world beautifully unfurls throughout the story as we follow the characters on what feels like mini quests along their main journey. The pacing was great, never feeling like the story was dragging. The romance builds organically between the characters and does not overpower the main plot but adds magnificently to it instead. Additionally, the twists and intrigue keep the reader on their toes and will haven them saying "just one more chapter," all night long.
While the writing does feel quite YA at times, it's not in a way that detracts from the book. The writing is simple in a way that makes the story and lore accessible to those who may be new to Chinese folklore fantasy.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sweeping and action-packed, Deathly Fates is a lovely debut book that explores our relationships with death and responsibility. With a backdrop of adventure and romance, you have an emotional and engaging story that feels like it could be made into a Cdrama you would binge in one sitting.
I loved the representation of necromancy and death magic being portrayed as sacred and positive, rather than dark and twisted. Coming from a culture myself that doesn’t doesn’t have a negative relationship with death and ancestors, it’s refreshing to finally see a non-western/eurocentric view of it.
The romance was secondary to the story, more of a sub-plot, but still an important facet of the character development. It was an accessory to, rather than instrumental in, the changes they make to their beliefs and convictions. Love as a sprinkle topping, not the whole cake, if you will.
This book would be excellent for fans of The Ghost Bride, The Bone Shard Daughter, or dramas like Moon River or The Master’s Sun. The story takes off right away and I found myself very emotionally invested by the end of the book. Perfect for those looking for an unconventional adventure romance with an edge.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy, all opinions are my own.
I loved the representation of necromancy and death magic being portrayed as sacred and positive, rather than dark and twisted. Coming from a culture myself that doesn’t doesn’t have a negative relationship with death and ancestors, it’s refreshing to finally see a non-western/eurocentric view of it.
The romance was secondary to the story, more of a sub-plot, but still an important facet of the character development. It was an accessory to, rather than instrumental in, the changes they make to their beliefs and convictions. Love as a sprinkle topping, not the whole cake, if you will.
This book would be excellent for fans of The Ghost Bride, The Bone Shard Daughter, or dramas like Moon River or The Master’s Sun. The story takes off right away and I found myself very emotionally invested by the end of the book. Perfect for those looking for an unconventional adventure romance with an edge.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy, all opinions are my own.
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