Princess Jessamine and Elric’s story continues after she has brought him back to full physical form in this second book in a romantasy trilogy from USA TODAY bestselling author Emma Hamm, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas.
She won the heart of Death…now she must fight for the hearts of her people.
Jessamine never expected to be on the Deathless One’s side—let alone be in love with him. But now that Elric has returned to his corporeal form and Jessamine has joined the coven of witches that sustain his power, the two are stronger than ever.
But the kingdom is still in turmoil. Jessamine and Elric must prepare their coven of witches to meet the kingdom’s forces in battle—before the man who’s usurped her throne learns how to harness the power of Elric’s fellow gods. How can Jessamine accept that to fight for her kingdom, she might have to fight against it?
This read higher fantasy than I was expecting from this book. I enjoy more of the grim and atmospheric settings. Lots of witchy stuff going on. This book is written in third person and a bit ominous because I felt more distant from how things were described. It has got a lot of drama rolling, which works for the plot. I guess the one thing I couldn’t get over with this book was how things were done matter of the factly. I think it is the writing style, but I would have enjoyed to see the characters’ struggle/inner emotions more at the forefront.
Recommendable if you love solid fantasy, high fantasy, and maybe Orders structure? Think religious orders. The Deathless One is a God so there is that element of religion. The main witch is a princess. That is a unique interesting point.
loved this 2nd book in the series with elric and the gravesinger and taking back the kingdom and adding more witches to the coven. loved that romance between the deathless one and gravesinger. thanks edweiss
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I think it takes great skill to balance world building plot, characterization, and also the buildup of a relationship successfully in a way that manages to make each element wholly shine in their own way, but without distracting from any of them.
I’ve read a lot of books with inhuman protagonists before it became trendy so trust me when I say from experience, I think Emma does a fantastic job showing exactly how a relationship like that can work in a way that is utterly compelling, completely believable, and utterly romantic. It doesn’t feel like something where they like each other, because of circumstances (like life-threatening danger)or because they are intrigued by the differences, but rather because of who they are. Reading this, it is characters would always have been perfect together in any universe. That they mesh perfectly, the relationship is real, and that you can’t just substitute another character in and have it make no difference- unlike some books where the main character is just sort of a generic stand-in. Also people often grow attached to the male main characters, especially in books that are more of a monster romance, and it makes sense, especially since they are usually built up or a focus. However, Emma manages to have you grow extremely attached to the female characters where you want to both be them and also have them as a friend.
I have such a fondness for all her characters, they read like fully realized people with their own idiosyncrasies and quirks, where it is clear that they are developed with love and care and craft. Where is the clear the male main characters not just grow to love the protagonists, but also to respect them, which is so key and underrated. Where falling in love only enhances, showcases, and protects who they are, the same way a frame does for a painting. Adding to all that, sometimes plot or background is sacrificed for the development of the relationship in romance books, but Emma skillfully weaves in world-building without holding the reader’s hand like a child or lore-dumping in a way that overwhelms you.
It is a pleasure to have watch Emma develop her craft. She already had a knack from her first book of using the plot and setting as a vehicle for their relationship to grow and blossom rather than relying on tired tropes for conflict or development like miscommunication, but it has only grown stronger to complement her naturally fantastic grasp of characterization and relationship dynamics. I thoroughly enjoy Emma’s books, I first started reading Heart of The Fae but really jumped in with her mermaid series as it came out since it actually was the type of mermaid book I was looking for. Since then, I have only enjoyed them more and more and I applaud her for also taking creative risks and branching out into other worlds instead of playing it safe Ike she could have. That’s the mark of a true artist and someone who genuinely loves to tell stories.
Also, as someone who is part of her Patreon and Discord, it gives me great personal pleasure to say the artist is just as charming, if not more so, than her books- and that’s a very high bar. (Review to be finished)
This is an exciting second installment in the paranormal romantasy Gravesinger series. It should be read in order.
FMC Jessamine is beginning to come into her Gravesinger powers, with MMC Elric, the Deathless One, at her side. But as they gather their coven and try to reclaim Jessamine’s kingdom and throne, it often feels like one step forward and two (or three or four) steps back.
I enjoyed this second book, though probably not quite as much as the first. There were some delightful new characters introduced and plenty of political intrigue and plot development. There’s also a lot of spice, with the main characters exploring their new relationship and power dynamics.
I can’t wait to see what happens next in the series!
Spice 4/5 Plot: 4.5/5 Writing: 4.5/5 My Enjoyment: 4.5/5
*** I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
I absolutely loved the Deathless One. This continues from the first book. I felt like the Deathless One followed their journey and had some love interest. The Heartless One was kind of hard to follow at times. I liked the story itself but it felt like there were a lot of parts that kind of dragged on. It seemed to focus more on their relationship than the story itself. The FMC seemed like she was all over the place with how she felt and her personality. There were a few chapters where she got very frustrating to listen to because she was dragging out a fight simply because she didn’t want to communicate. However, I do love the bond the coven has. I love that they are trying to work together to solve the issues at hand (I don’t want to give away any spoilers). I enjoyed the first one more because it focused more on the story and what they were setting out to do. I hope in the last book they get back on track to taking the kingdom back.
In the follow up to The Deathless One, Jessamine and Elric continue their quest to save Jessamine's kingdom and take back her throne.
This was so good! I loved it even more than book one and I adored that one too! First off, the world building and magic in this series is amazing. There are a few scenes that really blew me away. In this book you see Elric building his coven so the found family story gets even better. I loved seeing all of the misfit women come together and really find this true friendship. All of them, while being side characters, are still developed and you become attached to them quickly. The main story, along side the taking back of the kingdom, is obviously the romance between Jessamine and Elric and I adored them. There is spice and even some groveling on his part.
This series just keeps getting better and I can't wait to read more! Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!
✨ A powerful continuation that deepens the romance while raising the stakes for crown, coven, and kingdom.
Jessamine has already done the impossible. She brought Death back into flesh and chose him anyway. Now, with Elric restored to his corporeal form and Jessamine bound to the coven that sustains his power, their bond is stronger and far more dangerous.
But love does not quiet a kingdom on the brink of collapse.
As forces gather and a usurper threatens to weaponize the power of the gods themselves, Jessamine and Elric must prepare their witches for war. Jessamine is no longer just fighting for her heart. She is fighting for her people, even if that means standing against the very kingdom she was born to rule.
This book leans hard into leadership, loyalty, and the cost of choosing a future that others fear.
What I Loved: 🖤 Jessamine stepping fully into her role as leader and protector 💀 Elric navigating humanity, power, and devotion after his return 🔮 Coven politics and magic systems that feel purposeful ⚔️ Rising political tension alongside looming war 💘 A romance that grows stronger under pressure rather than resolving it 👑 Questions of duty versus love handled with care 🌫️ A darker tone that reflects the cost of power and choice
Tropes & Elements: 💀 Death as a Love Interest 🧙♀️ Witch Coven 👑 Reclaimed Power 💘 Established Romance ⚔️ Preparing for War 🖤 Morally Complex Choices 🔥 Love Versus Duty
Vibe: dark, romantic, politically tense, character driven Spice: moderate with emotional focus For fans of: romantasy with established couples, witches and gods, slow building political conflict, and heroines who lead with conviction
💜 The Heartless One expands the world of The Gravesinger in meaningful ways, strengthening both its romance and its stakes. A compelling middle installment that sets the stage for an explosive conclusion.
3⭐️ 3🌶️ 📗 eARC Themes/Tropes: revenge plot, gods x witches, found family, feminine rage
Firstly, a big thank you to NetGalley, Emma Hamm, and Gallery Books for the opportunity to do an advanced e-read of The Heartless One. I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was thrilled to get approved for this read.
That being said, this book was a bit of a let down for me. This book felt laborious to me and probably could’ve been tackled in two chapters. The book focused a lot on the relationship of the grave singer and the Deathless one, but even that felt borderline cheesy and hollow. I think a big issue is that this book was all about the character development but the characters were inconsistent, a tad insufferable, and the whole thing felt a bit rushed. An example:
Elric/The Deathless One thinks to himself “He had played the role of a god perhaps a little too well, but to her, he never wanted to be that.” Then the literal next words out of his mouth to her are, “I am a God, Jessamine.” Pick a lane, sir.
Elric/The Deathless One: “ and yet he wouldn’t let her go. Even if she wanted to die, he knew he wouldn’t let her soul go to the afterlife. He would keep her here, no matter how much she begged, for he couldn’t imagine his existence without her.” - That isn’t love. That’s selfish obsession. Gross.
The Deathless One simping over Jessamine makes no sense. He gave off creepy stalker boyfriend vibes, but in the “I need a restraining order” kind of way. The intimate scenes were also very forced in the sense that they felt gratuitous and did not add to the plot.
Overall, I’m a bit bummed because I thought book one had a lot of promise and I adore Emma Hamm. Her Whispers of the Deep series is one of my favorites. Unfortunately, I just feel like this series has fallen flat for me and I’m not sure I’ll continue on in this world.
Quotes I ❤️:
“But he had learned a long time ago that age did not equal wisdom…”
Thank you to the author, publisher, and goodreads for the free ARC version! I read the first book in about a day to prepare for this one ^_^
✧ overall score: 4 stars ✧ TLDR: The Heartless One is a fun and exciting second installment of the Gravesinger series. Emma Hamm's unique and elegant writing style, as well as worldbuilding, was excellent. Oh, and Elric is hot!
✧ favorite quotes: ₊˚⊹ "How sacrilegious it was to see him kneel like that, worshipping at his own altar as if he had forgotten he was the god. ₊˚⊹"'There is no greater worship of a god than giving him your body.'" ₊˚⊹"'If you are going to say anything, it should be to grace this temple with the cries of your pleasure, Jessamine. Anything else I will punish you for.'" ₊˚⊹ "...and she saw stars behind her eyes that only a god could have birthed. No temple had ever been desecrated so thoroughly, and yet she found prayers still dripping from her lips."
࿐ ࿔*:・゚ Full review: may contain spoilers The sequel to the Deathless One was better than my expectations. While there might have been some pacing issues and plot blunders in the first book, this sequel is much better at solidifying the world-building and expanding upon Jessamine and Elric's relationship.
Although the suspence and thrill of Jessamine and Elric getting together is no longer a big plot point, their love grows stronger. The plot of this book was much more interesting, with more things for the characters to do. I also liked Jessamine a lot more in this one, because she was more confident in herself and her values. I felt I could relate a little bit more.
Like the first book, the romance scenes are steamy and hot. I wish there were more of them, but that would change the vibe of the whole book, and I'm glad it is where it's at. DEfinitely love this story, and the beautiful writing made it all the more better! The possessiveness of Elric, and their hot dynamic, is well worth the read.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the arc edition of this book!
This book picks up right where the first one left off. I definitely liked this one a bit more than the first in the series. I mostly really liked the inclusion of more side characters, and I really liked the idea of Jessamine ‘growing’ her coven.
Although the main relationship between Jessamine and Elric seemed a little more boring. It was a bit too “picture-perfect” for me. Even when they have conflicts, it felt too ideal and easy. They were so happy together that I kept waiting for something bad to happen.
Overall, I found the plot to be quite interesting. But I mainly had an issue with the pacing. It didn’t feel like much actually happened. It took a long time to build up to the climax, and then, immediately after the action, it stops entirely while the two main characters engage in a relationship fight. It made the pacing of the action completely stutter to a halt. And then when they make up, it jumps right back into the action. It was jarring and made the timeline a little confusing. Additionally, when the entire story wrapped up quickly with a clear setup for the next book, it left me feeling like nothing was actually accomplished in the end. The ending itself just didn’t feel terribly satisfying.
Although it was still entertaining to read. And I would recommend this to readers who want something simple yet enjoyable. I was able to get through it very quickly, and despite my annoyances with the relationship and the pacing, I still had fun with it.
All Elric has known through his thousands of years of existence with the gravesingers, is pain, death, and darkness—It is what he has grown to expect from every gravesinger. Jessamine has vowed to change that expectation. Elric holds a fragile hope she will hold to her vow, but fears it will only lead to her death. Together they set out to build a worthy new coven of witches—that will worship Elric, the Deathless One, without demanding his sacrifice—to help Jessamine retake her rightful place as Queen of her Kingdom.
The h-ē-double-hockey-sticks they go through is heart wrenching. Thankfully they have each other. But, boy, mind that BIG CLIFFHANGER!
*** Recommended ***
MMC: ✨Elric * aka - Deathless One FMC: ✨Jessamine HEA/Cliffhanger: ✨Cliffhanger Series: ✨Gravesinger series Book 2 Tropes: 👉dark fantasy romance 👉enemies to lovers 👉demon shadow daddy 👉feminine rage 👉MF Triggers: 💥18+ 💥sex 💥violence 💥blood/gore 💥murder 💥betrayal 💥manipulation 💥death Burn Speed: ✨slow Spice Level: ✨🌶️🌶️🌶️ 1/2
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Heartless One is a continuation of Jessamine and Elric's story of love and revenge. I enjoyed the continued development of their relationship from the first novel, as well as the shifted focus to the coven and the relationship between the witches.
My main issue with this novel (which carries over from the Deathless One) is the pacing. It has me wondering if this series could have been a duology. The plot progresses very slowly, and several chapters felt like filler, lacking any substantial character development or plot progression. It made it challenging to remain engaged in the story.
That being said, I did enjoy the ending and am intrigued by the direction the series is headed in, especially the setup for the final book. I'm hoping that now, since the foundation of this story has been set, the final book will focus more on plot-driven elements and the cementing of Jessamine and Elric's relationship.
Thank you to Emma Hamm and Gallery Books for an advanced copy via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
This was definitely an Elric book, I think he was more the focus vs Jessamine and I was so very glad. I don’t know why but even in book one we got great glimpses at both characters but Eldric now in his nee body feels more vulnerable. Especially since he fears being sacrificed again,it’s definitely his trauma. So I totally liked that we see more of his side and feelings. He definitely is head over heels for Jessamine and the moments it shows are very exciting. As for Jessamine, we still see her fighting for her kingdom and still figuring out what Leon is planning. I think the most important plot part in the book is the start of the coven. Eldric is skeptical about having a full coven but Jessamine needs one if she wants her throne back. So they both with Sybil go out there to search for lost witches. The most exciting part of this book is definitely uncovering more of the mystery but there is more to this conflict to come, so warning for you, there is a cliffhanger.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I definitely like Emma Hamm's Deep Waters series best. I just find myself caring more about those characters and that world.
But this world still has some really great and interesting lore. And it is definitely building on itself as the books go on. And I love when that happens.
This one did tend to drag a bit more than the previous book. This one had more lulls and slower moments. The Deathless One was much more fast-paced, with something always happening.
And the miscommunication/characters not wanting to communicate was annoying me.
I am interested to see where this story goes. I will gladly read anything from Emma Hamm.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
This is the sequel to the Deathless one. We are navigating through the relationship of Elric and Jessamine. She brought him back to life and working to reclaim her kingdom. Growing into her gravesinger powers, they recruit more witches into the coven. This was an awesome book and I can’t wait to read more in the future. -political intrigue - revenge -power -romance Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and share my thoughts.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
4.7 ⭐️ARC: Book 2 in the Gravesinger Series and wow, the plot thickens in the best way. I won’t spoil a single detail, especially since this installment doesn’t release until March 2026, but trust me when I say: the wait will be worth it!
Emma Hamm delivers an atmospheric, emotional, and utterly immersive continuation of this world, and I loved every second of being back in it. Dark, magical, and completely addictive.
This book focused more on Elric and I liked the change of pace. But I did have a hard time loving this book as much as other Hamm books. The characters struggle to make me care for them. I feel a disconnect with their struggle. There was a lot of miscommunication, that just seemed annoying and unnecessary. However, I enjoyed seeing what happens with the coven.
It ends in a cliffhanger. Which makes me hopeful for book three.
I enjoyed this book way more than The Deathless One (to be fair though, I think that’s how I feel in general with series). While it had a bit of a slower start, I loved the world building and watching the puzzles fall into place. I can’t wait for the next book to continue Jessamine and Elric’s story!
This is book 2 in the series, The Gravesinger, and I was a little disappointed. Elric and Jesamine are together and fighting to save the kingdom but they are battling witches, foreign fighters and some of the people they are trying to save.