In Death's Hands: The Threads of Fate: Book 1

by Laure Camail

What if the one who was meant to take your life chose instead to save it?
When Liv was four, Death broke every sacred rule to spare her life after a tragic accident. Ever since, she's been haunted by near-death experiences and hunted by shadowy forces desperate to "correct" her fate.
Now 24 and stuck in a purposeless life, she’s thrust into a dangerous world of immortal beings, forgotten gods, and an ancient order woven into the fabric of reality. Nathan, her enigmatic and impossibly handsome rescuer, hides secrets of his own, including his connection to the godlike Origins and the Fates that weave the world's destiny.
As Liv discovers her unique and unsettling place in their fractured world, she must uncover why she exists outside the Tapestry of Life—and why it might unravel everything if she survives. With her life in the balance, Liv must decide if she can trust Nathan to protect her heart as well as her soul—or if his dark past will doom them both.
In Death’s Hands is a romantasy filled with danger, forbidden love, and the ultimate can we defy fate without breaking the world?

Genres: Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy

358 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 8, 2025

Reviews

[edie-may ౨ৎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

ᯓ✩.ᐟ “I don’t care who you have to kill, love. You survive.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5)
‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ age rating: 13+
‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ spice: 1.5/5
‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ genres: fantasy, romance, mythology
‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ content warnings:
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⋆ violence & death
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⋆ minor sexual content
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⋆ language
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⋆ grief

‎ ‎ ‎ thank you to NetGalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review! (In Death's Hands: The Threads of Fate: Book 1 is out now!) ♡


⋆✴︎˚｡⋆


𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖ ┆ playlist:

‎ ‎ ‎ ↝ black out days, phantogram
‎ ‎ ‎ ↝ cherry, lana del rey
‎ ‎ ‎ ↝ cosmic love, florence & the machine
‎ ‎ ‎ ↝ love on the brain, rihanna
‎ ‎ ‎ ↝ true blue, boygenius


𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖ ┆ tropes:

‎ ‎ ‎ ↝ banter
‎ ‎ ‎ ↝ fast-burn
‎ ‎ ‎ ↝ forbidden romance
‎ ‎ ‎ ↝ insta-love
‎ ‎ ‎ ↝ mortal x immortal
‎ ‎ ‎ ↝ mythology
‎ ‎ ‎ ↝ protective mmc
‎ ‎ ‎ ↝ tall, mysterious shadow daddy™
‎ ‎ ‎ ↝ yearning


𖦹 ⋆｡°∿ plot:

‎ ‎ ‎ i really liked the concept of this book! whenever there is a character in media that represents death (or something akin to it), i start foaming at the mouth. ryuk from death note, the wolf from puss in boots, the grim reaper from the sims… what can i say, i’m a woman of taste. pretty happy to say that this interpretation did not disappoint!

‎ ‎ ‎ the plot was fast-paced and exciting. every time i thought i was safe, bam, something else happened and it would shock me that i hadn’t even made it a quarter of the way through. and the side characters? some of them were so endearing, i’m obsessed!

‎ ‎ ‎ i can’t figure out if the twist was supposed to be a twist or not. it was presented as a big reveal but there was not an atom in my body that was surprised. so i think it’s safe to assume that it wasn’t meant to be a shock? i’m genuinely confused. that being said, the last few pages had me hooked, so the sequel will be added to my basket when it comes out, please and thank you.


𖦹 ⋆｡°∿ world-building & writing style:

‎ ‎ ‎ i am confused as to the location of a lot of places in this book, to be honest. sometimes, the setting was explained in perfect detail, other times, not so much. the history-building, however, was really well done. i was as clueless as i was informed, which felt pretty accurate, and i liked the thought behind the book’s mythology.

‎ ‎ ‎ while the dialogue generally felt natural, some scenes lacked smoothness, and certain conversations became repetitive. but, overall, the writing style felt very relaxed and witty in a way i was not expecting, and it surprisingly suited the book’s theme really well.


𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖ ┆ characters:

‎ ‎ ‎ ↝ liv
‎ ‎ ‎ twenty years ago, she was involved in an accident that should’ve killed her. now, she’s being followed by near-death experiences and mountains of trauma.
‎ ‎ ‎ this girl was so funny, i can’t lie. her internal monologue is just so detached and horny and hysterical. it felt like i was reading someone’s diary, and that worked so well for me. i love her.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⤷ ♪ ‘hope is a dangerous thing’ by lana del rey

‎ ‎ ‎ ↝ nathan
‎ ‎ ‎ i love love love the ‘immortal character baffled by modern things’ microtrope. i think it’s one of the cutest things ever, especially when it’s a guy.
‎ ‎ ‎ the yearn, oh my goodness. and that scene? i fear i may have screamed. he did piss me off quite a bit at times, but that won me over so thoroughly that my brain is just full of white noise whenever i think of his wrongdoings. men that yearn are men that earn.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⤷ ♪ ‘the night we met’ by lord huron


┆ ⤿ 🖤 ⌗ first thoughts / pre-read:

‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ i stumbled upon a fantasy romance about the grim reaper and i knew i would sell my soul to read this. i’m so ready, it’s not even funny..


┆ ⤿ 🪡 ⌗ final thoughts / post-read:

‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ overall, i think this book was a super fun read. i think the side characters were as endearing as the mains, and it kept enough questions unanswered to keep me wanting the next book!


ᯓ✩.ᐟ i would recommend this to anyone looking for a fast-paced romantasy rooted in mythology!


⋆｡ﾟ☕️｡

[Caitlyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars
ARC review

In Death's Hands about Liv, who cheated death as a child and has felt him on her heels ever since. She finally learns more about her tenuous existence after a handsome stranger saves her from her latest near-death experience and he turns out to know much more than she could ever imagine.

This book is a romantasy which admittedly is VERY hit or miss for me, BUT synopsis gave me much stronger gothic fantasy vibes than your typical romantasy so I wanted to give it a try anyway. Sadly, it has the same problems as 95% of the romantasy market, and any point of difference is lost in the cliche of it all. The premise is very exciting and I ate up the prologue - then it jumps to present day and it is basically a contemporary romance with a weak system of gods and entities in the background. The FMC and MMC could be copy and pasted out of hundreds of other books, and it feels like the author really wanted to focus on writing a good romance - but chose not to just write a romance? The FMC is giving "I'm just a girl" and it's so tired. I also would not recommend this if you're specifically looking for a slow-burn as promised. The fantasy elements are unclear at times and the world-building is poorly integrated into the plot.

There were a few moments where I enjoyed the chemistry between the characters and, again, there's so much potential in this story!! The side characters were a fun addition and overall I thought the pacing was great.

[The Reading Ghost · Rating 5 out of 5]

I asked for an ARC copy of this book because after that many months of teasing on IG I couldn't wait anymore and boy I wasn't deceived.

In Death’s Hands is where love meets the edge of the unknown. It’s haunting, intense, and beautifully written. From the very first page, I was drawn into this strange, tender world where Death isn’t just a concept, but a character you might fall in love with.

The story is poetic and gripping: a slow descent into darkness, lit only by the light of one woman’s presence. And somewhere along the way, a heartbeat is caught between two worlds hers and his.

The morally gray MMC is impossibly hot and unforgettable. The tension drove me mad . There’s also a surprising dose of humor that caught me off guard in the best way.

All this to say I'll wait patiently (or not) for the second book !

[literarydelulu · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC review

I loved this book in the beginning it was really unique and interesting. After hundred pages I couldn’t get into it again and I don’t know why. I liked Nathan and Liv. Sometimes I struggled with the half truths and the communication between them. If you like adult paranormal romance this book is for you. 💕

3.5 stars ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for a chance at reviewing this book.

[Jessica Gregg · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars
in deaths hands. A very interesting concept for a book. one ive not seen done before and was quite excited to read it. The main female character is saved from death after a crash with her adoptive family, but pays the price afterwards, with many near death experiences after. then comes in the mysterious guy in the coffee shop, and he reveals his life to her.

There was a few places I struggled with, with the conversations in the middle, however the ending came out of nowhere?!

Fantastic world building, intrigued by book 2...

thanks netgallery for this ARC for an honest review

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Death’s Hands is a dark and atmospheric debut with a fresh take on fate, gods, and immortality. The writing is lyrical and eerie, and the world-building is creative and immersive.
I did find the pacing slow at times, with some repetitive dialogue and a predictable twist, but I enjoyed the side characters (especially Artys) and the haunting tone throughout. Overall, a promising debut for fans of slower-burn, moody fantasy.

[BloggingBooks& Banter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about a unique story. The cover was really what initially had drawn me in. The title was a bonus. I made the request and was approved to read. Now, we are here. A morally grey MMC with a touch her and die tendency meets found family, UGH! Chefs kiss. Absolute perfection. Every second of this book was perfectly executed. In Death’s Hands releases August 8th. If you want a quick easy read with a little angst, this is for you. As for me, I’ll impatiently wait for the next book. VERY IMPATIENTLY, MS. CAMAIL.

[Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

🧶 ‘She’s the flame in my shadow-ridden life. It pains me to think that flame and darkness are meant to coexist but never connect.’ 🧶

I would rate this book 4.5 ⭐️

This was a great read! The concept behind this book was really cool, unique and made for a very interesting story and equally as interesting characters! It was also such a humorous book- the characters, especially Liv, I found really funny! With her inner monologue and the way she interacts with the other characters makes it very easy to like and connect with her.

🧶 ‘𝘞𝘩𝘰’𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵? The thought barrels into me like Turan into a chocolate cake. Hungry and wild.’ 🧶

What if the one who was meant to take your life chose instead to save it? When Liv was four, she got into a tragic accident and died- but Death broke every sacred rule when he saved her. This might have been considered a lucky escape from death, if not for the near-death experiences she has every year since, and the shadowy forces that are hunting her down, desperate to “correct” her fate. Now 24 and stuck in a purposeless life, she’s thrust into a dangerous world of immortal beings, forgotten gods, and an ancient order woven into the fabric of reality. Nathan, her enigmatic and impossibly handsome rescuer, hides secrets of his own, including his connection to the godlike Origins and the Fates that weave the world's destiny. He knows more about her and her life than he is willing to let on.

Liv must uncover why Death decided to save her that day, and why now she exists outside of what fate had planned for her. She is desperate to put a stop to the near-death experiences that have haunted her for the past 20 years. With her life in the balance, Liv must decide if she can trust Nathan to protect her heart as well as her soul—or if his dark past will doom them both. 🖤

🧶 ‘It’s an uncomfortable balance to be glad of the change and yet grieve the past. Especially when that change brought so much chaos.’ 🧶

I really loved Liv’s character! Her chapters were written in a unique way to any books I have read- it feels so conversational, almost like you’re reading from her diary. She’s just an effortlessly funny character, her references to random things and the way she thinks is and talks to other characters is very entertaining. She is very easy to connect with- she has experienced a lot because of her accident and then all of the near-death experiences afterwards, and being plunged into the world of the fates and coming face to face with death (literally) sent her life into turmoil. As a reader I could connect with her coping mechanisms of how she tries to maintain some normality in her life, even when it is far from it at times, and how she is scared to bring people in to her life and circle. It is enjoyable seeing her trust Nathan and make friends with the other fates, and most of all learn to trust herself and her judgement.

Nathan was also a great MMC! I love how protective he becomes over Liv, making it his mission to ward off any attacks on her life. It was so endearing too the moments of him learning human things like tasting a mocha for the first time or using chopsticks, things that as an Origin he has never experienced before. These things make you love him even more, as well as the ending. 🥹 I also really enjoyed Atys as a character, he was one of my favourites in the book! I found him very funny and I loved his sarcastic comments. 🖤

🧶 ‘I don’t care who you have to kill, love. You survive.’ 🧶

Tropes:
✨ Protective MMC
✨ Mortal x immortal
✨ Fate vs free will
✨ Found family
✨ Insta-love
✨ Yearning
✨ A brush with Death- literally
✨ Forbidden love
✨ Banter

This is such an entertaining romantasy read, with funny characters and banter and a unique storyline of Death personified. I highly recommend!! 🖤

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for approving me to read this ARC, I loved it! 💛

[sydspages · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the young age of 4, Liv was involved in a deadly car crash but when Death came for her, he decided to save her instead. Trying to restore the balance of her being alive, she constantly has to dodge near death experiences. Now, 20 years later she’s just trying to find her place in this world when she meets a handsome stranger at a coffee shop. She is ushered into an unknown world of Fates & Origins trying to figure out why Death saved her & what is her purpose.

The prologue & this concept had me hooked from the beginning. I thought this was a really interesting premise & was excited to see where this story took us. The fast pace kept the plot moving & exciting, while the writing style was relaxed & witty.

Overall it was an enjoyable read & some parts did have my jaw on the ground, although I did find some things a bit predictable. I assumed the reader was supposed to be in the know about certain secrets due to hints throughout the story, so when it was presented as a plot twist at the end of the book I was a little confused. This secret was heavily hinted at & it felt like our fmc was just willingly ignorant to put the pieces together.

Maybe it was the fast pace or just me, but I felt like some of the characters flipped personalities constantly. I thought I’d have a good grasp on the characters then they’d say/do something that I felt wasn’t introduced to be a core personality trait or just randomly started. I wish there was more relationship development between fmc & the rest of our cast. There’s only so much you can do in a shorter book like this, but it felt like a lot of the relationships were almost instant connections.

I still enjoyed the read & the concept, it just didn’t click fully with me. However, I’d still be interested to see what happens next with these characters & recommend to anyone who likes fast paced, paranormal romance.

3.5★ rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the arc!!

[Kelsey Melton · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Death himself decides not to end your life at the very young age of four, all because you hugged him, what do you think will happen to you?
Liv is 24 when this book takes place. And she's been through many near-death experiences, many which should have killed her, but she never dies. She was supposed to one fateful night when she was 4, but Death had other plans. Then, a mysterious handsome man comes into the coffee shop she's been working at, and keeps coming daily for coffee for months. Until one day, she has yet another near-death experience, and he is in the right place at the right time and saves her. Nathan takes her back to his place and takes care of her. A few more bad things happen, and the story starts to unfold.
Told in first person POV, which is my favorite. Liv meets many non-human beings as she tries to figure out why Death didn't end her life that fateful night. Nathan, Death's assistant, is also trying to figure out the same thing.

There is so much world-building and way too much confusion around it for my taste. The FMC is so back and forth with her emotions, from being "woe-is-me feel sorry for me" to "I am tired of being near death and I'm not some pathetic little human let me participate in these super-human god-like things you do too." It was all too much for me. The last 50 pages were the best in my opinion. And it ends in a massive plot twist that is also a cliffhanger (in which I figured out about three chapters into meeting Nathan and his friends). This book is short, at 280 pages. It could be a quick read. But I was just left so confused by everything that had happened that I'm not sure if I'd be able to read the next book in the series.

[KK Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad I came across this book - what a read!

Liv is a bit of a black cat type - she'd be happiest if she was left to herself, or at least pretends she would be. As she's spent her whole life having near misses with death, she is convinced that anyone who gets close to her would be in danger. She's tough and witty, but she is out of her depth as she meets Nathan, Death's assistant, and his friends and frenemies, and is forced to accept his help to work out how to survive with an order of fanatics on her trail.

Nathan has spent his time doing Death's work, and as such, is far too literal, doesn't know what a mocha is! And clearly has a thing for Liv, despite his attempts to keep her at arms length. His touch her and die vibes are immaculate, he commands shadows as a member of the Unseen crown and he's tall, dark and handsome - the perfect combination.

I love found family and Turan and Atys absolutely deliver here, I just loved every scene Atys was in, he was so much fun! I feel like we've barely scratched the surface in terms of what is to come in this series, this book felt like a lovely introduction to our characters, not too info-dumpy and I think the next book will shake things up in even further in terms of plot and character motivation. I am looking forward to learning more about the Origin, the fabric of the world. I love the framework the author has used to describe the gods in this story, they feel familiar but unique and the characters are easy to understand and connect to what I know of their counterparts in traditional mythology depictions.

Also, while I'm here - I absolutely love that cover and for sure will need a copy to go on my shelf! Already counting down for book 2!

[Madi · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I initially read the synopsis for this book, I knew that I needed to get my hands on it as soon as possible. Now that I’ve finally finished my ARC copy, I’ll guess I’ll have to wait just as desperately for the sequel!

With all the new adult romantasy tropes that enthrall you and make you desperately wish men were more like their book counterparts, “In Deaths Hands” tells the story of Liv, a woman who was saved by Death from a car accident that took the lives of her adoptive parents. Since their deaths 20 years earlier, Liv has experienced a long string of unexplainable near-death experiences, culminating in her being pushed out of the way of an incoming car by a brooding, tall, dark and handsome man named Nathan. What follows is an adventure punctuated by Liv’s need to understand why she was saved as a child and whether or not her survival was a twist of fate or a horrid mistake.

The story is highly engaging and you cant help but love the eclectic band of characters that join the narrative as the story progresses. While the twist at the end of the book is not particularly shocking, as their is a chapter written from Nathan’s point of view that pretty much gives it away early on in the book, having this information definitely gives the reader a different understanding of his actions while reading from Liv’s POV.

Also shout out to my girl Liv! She is an independent and confident badass, and I really appreciated that she didn’t just let things happen to her, like many MC’s do in romantasy books.

All in all, this book is a definite “to read”, and I can’t wait for the sequel

Keywords: Gods, Fate, Death, HeFellFirst
ARC provided by NetGalley

[My Green Kindle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Laure Camail for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I fell in LOVE with the premise of this story and was super sucked in right away. I am all for forbidden romances with lots of yearning. I feel like the writing is a bit playful and silly (Hawaiian shirts and lots of pop-culture references) and I wish it had a gothic feel to it. Mostly because the beginning portrayed death and our FMC as such lonely creatures (understandably) and death itself is just such a dark thing. It was a faster read and had a lot of elements to it.

The idea of falling in love with death and making him super amiable is super fun, but it's wasn't my favorite idea the he saved her at 4 and then has presumably been part of her life since. Maybe if he saved her at an older age (over 20) and then for a few years she had a ton of near-death experiences, it wouldn't have felt so weird to me.

Aside from that, you can tell there is more to this story and it definitely ended with the reader yearning for the second book to find out what happens next! Can't wait to see what our FMC says in response to the last quote.

Props to the author for the acknowledgments in the back, it sounds like you went through so much to make this debut novel happen and I loved learning more about you.

[Marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was already hooked from the prologue! Olivia, our protagonist, tends to find herself in quite a lot of life-and-death situations. And she doesn’t really know why. Until one day, when she meets Nathan, and he seems to have some answers for her.

Liv is thrown in a world where Gods (and their assistants) are real; where there are people that believe in the natural order of things, and she seems to be a threat. But Liv doesn’t back down, she wants to understand what is happening to her, what her role is in all of this. Even if sometimes she’s left with more questions than answers.

I had so much fun reading this book: I was laughing, I was worried, I was cheering for Liv and Nathan, and I wanted Liv to find what she was looking for.

All the threads of the story are woven together in a way that creates an intriguing plot; it makes you want to keep reading to see what happens next. And you find yourself rooting for the protagonists. The secondary characters are fully fleshed out as well (Atys is my favorite). Some of the characters still hold some secrets, but we’ll definitely see more of them in the next book.

And there are still some mysteries to uncover. I can’t wait to see where the story goes!

[Lumie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ARC.

Plot 4/5
Characters 4/5
Ending 3.75/5
Interest 3.75/5

Overall 3.75/5

-I was very intrigued at first by this book. Things involving death and being saved by death gripped me. But reading it, I have to admit I got bored at some moments. It was intriguing as a whole but felt quite repetitive in the quests and dialogue.

-The characters were fine. It sometimes felt like Liv’s character wasn’t sure who she was being so that was a little irritating but in the end, she was still a good character. Nathan on the other hand was great as a whole but the lies and the deception were quite bothersome. Especially when he abandoned Liv in bed. But their relationship was quite sweet at time. I liked the side characters especially Artys.

-The big plot twist involving Nathan was very predictable unfortunately. I wished that there would be something else. But by the end of the book I was still really glad to discover more of the universe with the fates, the threads and all of that. I would read more, curious as to what could happen.

[DarkS · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Death’s Hands drags you into a world that’s equal parts haunting and mesmerizing. Laure Camail nails the vibe,immortal beings, forgotten gods, dangerous secrets, and wraps it all in writing that’s almost eerily lyrical. There were moments that legitimately gave me chills, the kind that make you look over your shoulder… even if you’re just on the couch. 🖤

It’s a slower burn than my usual speed, but if you’re craving something moody, introspective, and a little sinister, this hits the mark. Liv’s journey from ordinary life to tangled webs of destiny and danger is layered with mystery and tension that keeps you hooked.

Full honesty.. I didn’t fully click with it at firsttiming might’ve been off, and Liv sometimes felt a little too naive for my taste. But that didn’t stop me from appreciating the dark, immersive atmosphere.

This debut is promising, and I’m definitely keeping an eye on Camail. If you like your reads a little shadowed and a little unsettling, this one’s worth it.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by screaming at any and everyone around me! AAAAAAA!!!!

This book exceeded all my expectations!! I knew I was in for a good time, because the blurb and the previews promised that. But I was still mesmerised and absolutely thrilled about being part of Liv's journey of uncovering the secrets of what led to make her life the way it was (see my attempt to not spoil anything? haha)

First of all, Liv is such a lovely and relatable character! She's friendly, a ray of sunshine despite all the things she has to deal with. Then we have Nathan, the grumpy yet enigmatic MMC that we try to figure out along the way.

I enjoyed the writing, the plot, the banter. The unique world the author had created. It was such a delight to read this book and I was screaming at my e-reader when I reached the end. You did NOT end the story there! What a cliffhanger! I'm absolutely looking forward to the sequel!

Thank you to the author and to Netgalley for providing me with the digital ARC to this book.

[Fable · Rating 4 out of 5]

What in the fuck was that ending?! I mean that in the best possible way - because I freaking loved it, and now I need book two immediately.

The tension and slow burn in this story were utterly delicious. Laure Camail nailed that simmering, electric push-and-pull that keeps you hooked. I also adored the mythology and creation-lore woven throughout; it’s rich, unique, and so well executed. I have so many theories and I can’t wait to see which ones (if any) I actually got right.

Liv’s no-shits-given attitude was a highlight - she’s sharp, unapologetic, and insanely fun to follow. I’ll admit, the beginning was a bit slow for me, and I wasn’t a fan of the first-person POV at first… but it grew on me fast. The occasional POV switch to Nate added a great balance and gave just enough insight without breaking the flow.

Overall, this book pulled me in, surprised me, and left me obsessing. Bring on book two - I’m so ready.

Thank you to netgalley and publishers for the opportunity to read and review.

[Kassidy Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved the premise of this book. The idea is unique and had me super intrigued. Five stars for concept!

Where I struggled a bit, which had me knocking a couple of stars off, was with the writing style. I found the internal dialogue and external dialogue of both characters to be a little forced and preachy. The way they thought/talked gave me second hand embarrassment at times. Second, a big plot point revolved around the mystery of Death, who he is, and why he saved the FMC. As a reader, it was pretty obvious who Death was despite the FMC being, what felt like, willfully oblivious. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was more suspenseful for the reader regarding death’s identity. Overall, the writing felt a bit fanfic-y.

I bet this author will do amazing things as they grow in their career and I look forward to following along!

Thank you to NetGalley & Laure Camail for the ARC!

[therelinquishedrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Death’s Hands follows a girl named Liv, and let me tell you — this girl has not caught a break. We’re talking final destination-level near-death experiences. One second she’s existing, the next a brick nearly takes her out. Liv is STRUGGLING.

No spoilers, but I really loved the whole thing with the Origins and the Fates — that godly, high-stakes energy? Delicious. I think this series has serious potential.

That said, there were moments where it leaned really heavily into inner monologue. Like, I adore Liv’s brain — she’s witty, sharp, a little tragic — but sometimes I just wanted more actual conversation between characters, you know? I love the tension and the banter. The awkward, meaningful silences.

But plot-wise? Vibe-wise? Existential dread and unraveling your identity because maybe you were never supposed to be here in the first place? Heck yeah. Watching Liv wrestle with that was beautifully written and hit in all the right places.

[Ashley Bidon · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Death's hands was an incredible read and was easily a 5/5 star!

Liv died when she was four but was brought back by Death. Since then, she has strange encounters and near death experiences but isn't sure why. She meets Nathan and the two go on an adventure to figure out why the forgotten gods don't have their memory and find out who is trying to kill Liv over and over again.

This book had me hooked from page one and was absolutely enthralling. I loved the emotion that Liv showed and the strength that her character became. I loved the intimate moments between her and Nathan as well as the interactions with the supporting characters.

I was expecting this to be a cliffhanger book just due to the description and nature of it but I was not expecting the ending. WHEW! I am so anxiously waiting to see what happens next with this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Laure Camail for this arc read and allowing me to share my opinions on this book!

[Chronically Bookish Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had such a fun time reading this!

I’m slightly concerned by how attractive I found ”Death” to be honest!

The vibes in this were so on point, the tension and the banter were well done, and the storyline was really unique.

It did have slightly more swearing than I would normally read, or than I felt was necessary but that’s just a me issue and I’m sure won’t be a problem for most other readers. And the slight “spiciness” I’m afraid I skipped (I’m a spice skipper) but it didn’t seem overdone or gratuitous and I think it moved the mc’s relationship into a different dynamic which was interesting.

Overall, I just had a really good time with this book and I am very interested in seeing how the story moves forward in the next book.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this eARC.

[Tracy Myburgh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fantasy
Romance
Intrigue
Shadow Daddy


Death spares the life of Liv after a tragic accident that takes the life of her parents.
Liv’s entire life revolves around surviving a never-ending stream of near death experiences.
This string of unfortunate events is a result of fate trying to correct the balance but for some reason this mistake cannot be undone and leads to a hunt for answers with the help of Death’s handsome assistant.

I was intrigued at the very beginning of the book but as the story progressed I grew a little disinterested. It did pick up again near the end and I hope that the sequel will be filled with more excitement. Overall it’s a good book with a great concept I just wish there was more to it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
A huge thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing for this e-arc.

[Bel Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did it feel like reading the diary of a 16 year old girl? Yes. Was it entertaining? For sure!
I DESPISE with the burning passion of a thousand sun books written in first person (especially if they aren’t supposed to read by kids, AKA romantasy) but this was easy to get into it. And I’m a sucker for anything involved with the grim reaper teehee.
Will I read the second book when it comes out? Count me in! I really loved it and I’m enraged with the unfolding events of the ending. I want revenge.
I don’t give it five stares because of the first person narrator. It lowers the quality of a book so much, it makes it infinitely more childish.
It lost another star for saying Chileans have tamales. As a Chilean, I felt deeply offended the author didn’t use the right term “humitas,” and reading it in September felt even more offensive.
Otherwise it would’ve been a solid 4 stars for me.

[Kirstin ♡⚔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

*♥Thank you to Laure Camail, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Netgalley for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinion♥*
In Death's Hands is a darkly compelling story with a great atmosphere!
I’ll admit, I struggled a bit to fully connect with this one at first, but I really appreciated the haunting tone and immersive world Laure Camail created. The writing had a lyrical, almost eerie quality that fit the story perfectly, and there were moments that genuinely gave me chills (in the best way!). It’s a slower burn than I usually go for, but if you’re in the mood for something moody, introspective, and just a little bit sinister, this might be exactly your vibe. Definitely an author I’ll be watching!

[Dreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super captivating, very quick read - a wild ride with dual points of view, with narration by a kick-ass FMC and the MMC, Death himself. The three Fates spin Threads for all creatures, humans, animals, and those like Death and Love. Our FMC, Liv, exists outside of this after being saved by Death when she was young. After 20 years of near-death experiences, seemingly in attempt to 'correct' Death's actions, Liv joins his group of supernatural creatures in order to gain answers; what happened to her and what happen to them, and how to get the attempts on her life to stop. It's a wild ride and I enjoyed every moment of it - but beware that cliff-hanger ending! Looking forward to the next book in this series.

[Io Ash Misako · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such an incredible truth. For those that know—if you know, you know. It’s a rich tapestry of exquisitely crafted characters, subtle forms of magic, a thread of love, of restraint, of beauty. Every thread—the characters, the plot, the storyline, the prose—is masterfully woven into something so stunning, I felt it in my bones. There were moments I laughed out loud, moments I cried, moments I wanted to punch someone in the throat multiple times, and moments where I found myself rooting so hard for the strong girl who’s also still so vulnerable. I loved this book from the very first page to the very last, and I am so excited for book two. I’m beyond grateful this book exists. Very rarely does a story paint a world so clearly I could see it all like it was right in front of me.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for approving my ARC request!

I really wish NetGalley had half stars because I truly feel this was more of a 3.5/3.75. I read this book in perhaps a day and a half; it was definitely engaging even if it took me a while to get into it. I picked it up and put it down maybe three times, but it definitely picked up and hooked me around the halfway mark. This was, ultimately, a fun novel and a really unique concept. I really liked Liv and felt sorry for her and the absolute vendetta the "shadowy forces" have against her. Death is a character that you can't help but like, and the writing itself is engaging, suspenseful, and exciting.

[Bookish Journals · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Death's Hands is an enjoyable, fast-paced romantasy that has an enjoyable FMC, mysterious MMC and such a colourful cast of characters surrounding them. Liv is a great main character and the few glimpses given into Nathan's mind were so interesting as well.
Someone even more into romance in their fantasy books will probably be able to enjoy this book even more than I did.
Many of the elements in the book were done in a way I haven't seen in many other books and that was such a wonderful surprise when reading.
There's many elements in this first book that are such intriguing set-ups for future books in the series.

[Winnie Talks Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Laure M. Camail for approving this e- ARC.

Overall, I would say I quite enjoyed this book. It flows well, and even though it includes spiritual and mythical elements, the world building is kept relatively simple.

The prologue totally captured me, making me instantly curious to find out who the Death is and what happened all those years ago. And the story started really catchy with the background of Liv and the mundane setting. Nathan is such an interesting character and for him being the Death’s assistant? Amazing!

Unfortunately, I got a little lost at about 70%. It confused me, but it’s okay. The story was good, but it just wasn’t IT for me.