The Halls of the Dead

by S. M. Hallow

A queer, gothic horror romance set in a necromancy-tinged London, sure to entrance fans of The Death of Jane Lawrence and Mexican Gothic.

London, December 1849­

Irene Shallcross Haley has dedicated her life to necromancy, a forbidden, reviled art that is passed along through sentient grimoires bound in human skin. With her undead husband St. John—a marriage of kindred spirits and platonic convenience—she has been protecting the knowledge of generations of witches that came before her. Like any magic, it has come at a cost: her reputation, her relationship with her sister, and her soul. But when Irene’s love, Agnes, is hanged for witchcraft, Irene refuses to let Agnes be one more thing that is taken from her.

A true resurrection has not been achieved in two thousand years, but Irene is determined. With the help of St. John, Irene bangs on the doors of the Halls of the Dead, demanding the third part of their triumverate back…or did she? Because the Agnes that awakens comes with both a hunger for raw flesh and a malignant ghost tied to her soul.

Necromancy is the art of saying no—no, I won't let you go; no, I won't let you be destroyed—and Irene’s work is not yet done. She must find a way to bring Agnes back to her true self, she must navigate her feelings for her resurrected lover as well as St. John, and she must do all of this without catching the attention of Sir Silas Underhill, the man who sentenced Agnes to death.

Death is not the end of love. But Irene may realize it can actually be the beginning. 

Genres: Horror, Queer, Fantasy, Adult, Gothic, Romance, LGBT

352 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication August 18, 2026

Reviews

[Liana Gold]

Gothic horror romance set in a necromancy tinged London.

Sci-fi/Fantasy

Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and the author, S.M. Hallow for the early eARC!

Publication date: August 18, 2026

[Zana · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a fan of gore and guts and graves in your Gothic fiction, then this is the book to read.

I came here for the Gothic vibes and the necromancy, and this novel delivered 110% on both fronts. I didn't care much for the poly relationship (mostly because I don't care much for romance in the first place), but I'll live. It was an interesting dynamic to read about in a historical fantasy setting, especially since the social norms in this fictional historical London is very similar to the real historical London.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this novel, but this definitely had me seated the entire time. I couldn't stop reading. I loved that this novel treaded the fine line between serious and campy. At times, it was over the top, but the serious parts of the narrative (death, the afterlife, homophobia, misogyny, etc.) managed to reign the story in and keep readers focused on the heart of the story.

Don't get me wrong though, the story did go off the rails several times when it came to the topics of death and reincarnation, but this is Gothic fiction, so those parts were to be expected. And hell, I had so much fun with the soul eating, book eating, and the undead hungering for flesh. Jesus Christ was described as a necromancer, and I was sold on the story.

I would've rated this higher if there were less POVs. Since all three MCs' viewpoints were featured, there was no second guessing or subtlety with anyone's motives. But this is definitely a personal preference since I like a bit of mystery with my Gothic fiction.

Overall, I'm glad I picked up this book. It was dark. It was gross. It was silly. And it definitely satisfied my cravings for a Gothic fantasy.

Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this arc.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I keep seeing this book described as sapphic romance and I don’t think it does the story justice! The MFC is married to an undead male Saint and she’s got a girlfriend who has just been hanged for witchcraft as the novel opens. This was one of the more moving portrayals of queer polyamory in fantasy that I’ve read (do love the polys in Murderbot too). The relationship between all three is grounded in friendship, respect as well as attraction. I didn’t love all the seeing permission in each others eyes instead having a conversation before massively changing the nature of their triad. I understand that would have slowed things down so I won’t quibble.

Loved how committed the author was to her concepts. Decomposing bodies smell, have bugs, skin might be falling off, if you bring the dead back to life do those issues stay or not? What does eating a still living person smell & taste like? How do you dead with the trauma of remembering your own death?

Hallows writing is slow and contemplative. The flashbacks aren’t just information dumps. As the characters look back they emotionally grow in the present. Her writing shines most in those moments. The last 1/3 of the book as we shift into present events & the action picks up was weaker than the beginning.

Recommend if you don’t mind a slower more introspective read, love necromancy or non traditional relationships. If those don’t float your boat this isn’t for you!

Warning: There’s repeated graphic descriptions of maggots, spiders, centipedes, flies and other insects. There’s graphic cannibalism as well.

[Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was, for me, a very wobbly 2.5/5 stars.

The novel kicks off with a literal resurrection. Which hey, very cool, very bold. However, that scene drags on for literally the first quarter of the novel. It’s interspersed with flashbacks, sure, but the plot—as it stands in the book’s present day—does not begin to move forward until after the quarter mark. That, for me, is a bit of problem. In fact, the majority of the first quarter of this book is spent in flashbacks, and while they were interesting and offered context relevant to the present day plot, things still felt stagnant to me.

The characters, on the other hand, were a joy—especially St. John—though I sometimes found their actions a tad over the top. There were several instances of Irene shrieking her words out “like a banshee,” and contextually, those just didn’t feel natural to me.

The writing was mostly solid, if a bit navel-gazey. However, there were some turns of phrase that made no sense to me, such as Agnes being so hungry that “her teeth stung.” And for whatever reason, I found that the writing quality tended to degrade during the romantic scenes. Segues grew sloppy, there was ambiguity about who was where, etc. The gore was wonderfully written, though, and overall the prose made great use of the senses, which I always appreciate.

But the most horrifying thing in this book? That corpse we resurrected at the very start? One of the main characters is frenching it post-resurrection but pre-mouth-rinse. Like this person had been dead and buried, and we can’t even get them to chew some mint leaves before we swap spit? Seeing as the necromancer makes no mention of tasting the grave on her lover’s tongue, I’m assuming this makeout session wasn’t intended to be gross or edgy, and maybe was just not considered? Either way, I had a hard time suspending disbelief for that.

If you enjoy books that are vibe-heavy, introspective, navel-gazey, and full of ghoulish descriptions, highly recommend. It just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll never be able to hear God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman the same way again.

The Halls of the Dead puts the “romance” in necromancy. It’s a revenge story with incredible catharsis, a poly love story horrormance, a dark fantasy, and one of the best books I read in 2025. The prose is lyrical, gorgeous, absolutely aches with yearning, and the imagery is delightfully gruesome. Hallow clearly has great affection for and knowledge of classic gothic themes and motifs.

The bulk of the plot takes place in the Haley house over roughly six days with flashbacks to the trio’s past in three rotating POVs. In this version of early Victorian London, magic exists and is commonplace, though necromancy is forbidden. I enjoyed the magic system (the foreshadowing, payoff, and attention to detail with the necromancy lore and spellwork was fantastic) and felt like the worldbuilding was sketched out enough for a book with such a tight focus.
(I especially liked the way Hallow nods to faith and the afterlife through St. John’s backstory and the monks at St. Lazarus’s Abbey.) The thematic use of flashbacks to fill us in on the plot events prior to the opening chapter’s resurrection means it can feel a bit slow in the beginning if you’re not someone who enjoys a character-driven narrative, and I did have a bit of trouble keeping track of details and the timeline at times. But after a bit of a lull in the middle, things really heat up, and the gory payoff to the revenge plot does not disappoint.

I enjoyed all three POVs, but I especially loved Irene. I love that this woman failed to resurrect her sister, and rather than take the hint that maybe sometimes people die and we have to move on and let go, she said “no I can do it, for real this time though” and tries again with Agnes. I really appreciated the exploration of the way that depression and disability impact Irene’s life and the lives of her loved ones. And I loved the portrayal of the agony of grief and how it overwhelms and changes us, and can make us into someone we don’t recognize. The scenes between Irene and her sister Willa in the Halls were some of the most affecting for me, but I also loved St. John’s chapters reflecting on his abbot and the necromancers he lost over the years. And speaking of, special shout out to St. John, or as I like to think of him, if Oogie Boogie were a proper Victorian gentleman. His utter devotion to both Irene and Agnes in his narration is delightful.

I think your own relationship with death and loss may play into how hard this book hits for you. I’ve been dealing with prolonged grief from the death of my best friend, so this hit like a truck. Hallow’s observations on grief are poignant and devastating; early on, St. John remarks that he wishes he could make Irene a book after she dies and carry her with him forever, and I found myself in tears. This happened often throughout the book, and consequently I had to take my time with it because it weighed heavily on me. So many sentences stopped me in my tracks. It’s one of the best grief narratives I’ve read, and I’m so thankful I got to read it. 4.5 stars rounded up.

Would I re-read this: Yes

Who should read this:
fans of unlikable/flawed women
queer/poly romance enjoyers
anyone looking for genrebending unique books

If you’re a very visual reader and you like a vibey gothic, I think this will be right up your alley. If you can’t generate your own visuals (and therefore don’t care for beautiful, descriptive language) or you’re a very plot driven reader, you’ll likely bounce off this book. Additionally, while this book is deeply romantic, I think readers picking this up as a romance expecting a typical romance structure/beats might be disappointed.

For fans of: Caitlin Starling, Johanna van Veen, S. T. Gibson, Alix E. Harrow, Maggie Stiefvater

Thank you to S. M. Hallow, Avon/Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for the eARC.

[Sierra Hess · Rating 4 out of 5]

woah look an actual review. thanks netgalley

Deeply Gothic and romantic, gruesome and bloodsoaked. The mix of necromancy and religion was so captivating and I was obsessed with how Hallow never shied away from the brutality and gore associated with the dead. Corpses decay and rot, bugs and maggots crawl over everything. What does a bucket of blood smell like. What does a body taste like. What an honor it is to die, but also, what an honor it is to continue on and share everything you are for eternity. The prose was stunning and vivid, each character POV was unique and individual, I understood perfectly their desires and fears. My favorite was Irene, who through sheer force of will and strength carried this story even at her weakest points. I adored the way Hallow approached magic and spellwork, particularly the way Agnes and Irene were forced to come up with new spells on the spot.

I will say though, I wish this was a duology, even if I would have been so frustrated waiting for the sequel. There are elements to the world that felt a little unexplained - it's common to have magical households items and there are magical judges, yet magic is also frowned upon? How did St. John's transmutations work, if he could turn blood to water and bone to silver, could he not try something to protect the books? The events of the book happened so quickly (and at times, rather slow) that I feel maybe it would have been interesting to follow Irene, Agnes, and St. John just a little longer. I loved them, their tender dynamics and just how willing all three of them are willing to go for each other.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

** Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an early copy in exchange for an honest review. **

Be sure to check the trigger warnings book before reading! This book does not shy away from the darker aspects.

The halls of the dead is a vibes book. It follows three characters in England in the 1800s. It is full of deep descriptions, dark actions, and necromancy.

It does not shy away from including the uglier aspects of necromancy(smells, dirt, bugs, etc.) which I’m quite appreciative of. It speaks as an ode to it without glamorizing the process like I’ve seen previously.

The characters are the shining piece of the story. From Agnes trading one “prison” for another, to St. John’s devastating journey, to Irene’s determination they were an immense joy to follow.

But this is a slow book, and I really struggled with it in the beginning. So much time is spent on the descriptions, that the plot does not start to get moving until at least a third of the way into the book. Once it started to get going plot wise, I enjoyed it a lot more.

With that being said, there were times in the beginning of the book I felt like I was just dropped into this story with no explanations, to the point I thought this might be a sequel. I had to let it go in order to get further.

Overall I’m glad I read it, and think this brings a new perspective to necromancy.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
The beginning was a struggle. The writing felt odd and disorienting, almost like I’d accidentally started with a sequel. About halfway through, though, it improved significantly and really found its way. The gore and body horror was great, and I especially loved the relationship between the three characters and how it evolved over time. I’ll always love a throuple. I would’ve rated this higher if the opening hadn’t been so rough, but overall it was a fun, haunting read.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC.

[Abbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original, mesmerizing, and magical! Fed my soul (😉) with every page!

Thank you Netgalley and S.M. Hallow for allowing me to read this ARC

[Nenia Campbell]

Not a want but a NEED

[august · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley for the earc in exchange for the honest review.

as a “gideon the ninth” fan, i saw sapphic necromancy and religious imagery and simply stopped asking questions. “the halls of the dead” by s. m. hallow is a gothic horror romance that stabbed my heart repeatedly both a knife and my own ribcage.

i mean honestly if your checklist includes:
- sapphic necromancers
- poly relationships (f/f/m, and the women's relationship is the center)
- cannibalism that somehow reads like a tender embrace
- chussy and stussy (this will make sense later)
- bringing someone back from the dead wrong trope
- gore hearty enough to make a butcher blush
- making out, and then some, while absolutely covered in blood
- religious imagery and allegories that hit like a midnight sermon
- killing all of the men who have ever done you wrong

then buckle up. this book will make your heart its plaything. the only thing to not like is that if you expected that this is about lesbian necromancers and then this random ass man comes into their relationship.

this book follows irene, a grieving woman who makes the extremely reasonable decision to resurrect her dead lover, agnes, using necromancy that is very much not approved by god, society, or common sense. agnes comes back wrong—but not unlovable—and their reunion spirals into a blood-soaked tangle of devotion, hunger, guilt, and religious horror. enter st. john, an unsettlingly charming third presence whose connection to death, desire, and divinity complicates everything further. set in a world steeped in gothic faith and rot, the story becomes less about cheating death and more about what it costs to love someone so much you’re willing to damn yourself for it.

the prose? gorgeous. like someone stabbed a quill into my chest over and over to make my heart leap and bound with every chapter. the writing is lyrical and lush, but also doesn’t shy away from the grotesque. it’s so beautiful and grisly you’ll find yourself composing haikus about entrails without meaning to.

irene, agnes, and st. john are three of the loveliest, most compelling leads i’ve read since “gideon the ninth.” agnes is effortlessly charming — the kind of person you want to protect forever, even after she comes back with a terrifying hunger and the emotional range of a cathedral storm cloud. irene’s development is slow and steady in the best way; i literally wanted her to obliterate every man who ever wronged her (fictionally or otherwise). and st. john? dear lord. a delightful undead companion who i wanted to hold in my arms and whisper that everything would be okay. the poly dynamic here actually works and brings a beautiful depth no one expected.

the worldbuilding is excellent. nothing is dumped on you all at once—instead, tiny details stack up over time, and it’s incredibly satisfying to piece everything together, especially if you enjoy engaging with religious allegory. the way faith, guilt, devotion, and resurrection intertwine felt thoughtful and deliberate. i loved slowly realizing how much the book trusted the reader to connect the dots.

and the gore. oh, the gore. this book isn’t shy about showing you the bloody underbelly of its world, and it does it with flair. kissing while smeared in blood? yes. cannibalistic hunger mixed with tragic love? absolutely. resurrection gone terrifyingly sideways? chef’s kiss. it’s gruesome, yes, but always in service of the story and emotional stakes — not just shock for shock’s sake. i’ve never been happier to see people carved into strands.

overall, this was lush, brutal, tender, and deeply unsettling in the best way. a love story wrapped in blood and belief, with characters i cared about intensely and prose that refused to let me go. five stars, no notes—except maybe a warning that this book will crawl inside your ribcage and rearrange things.

[Kirsten · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Halls of the Dead by S. M. Hallow is a queer gothic horror romance story set in Victorian era London. Irene with the help of her undead husband St. John is determined to resurrect her lover Agnes. After attempting to resurrect her sister Willa, Irene hasn’t accomplished a true resurrection. Yet. Determination and the refusal to let true love die powers both the characters in The Halls of the Dead and the story in the book itself.

“I am the haunter of The Halls of the Dead.”

This book was very captivating. The content warnings included are definitely needed. Blasphemy and blood play (and other important tags) are necessary for the story and the world built but knowing about them before delving in can definitely help someone make the decision to continue forward.

The characters were very engaging. The determination and grit required to both learn an illegal magic system and use it to bring a loved one back from the dead is amazing. Irene, St. John and Agnes are all strong-willed in the face of persecution. St. John, especially. He has lived for so long and lost so many loved ones. Finding people to help him achieve his life purpose who also care for him deeply and teach him about love is written perfectly. Marriage is told as a deeper relationship than what’s traditionally done. I personally loved a love triangle that actually has three sides, where all three people involved are in love with both of the other people.

The primary setting of The Halls of the Dead is Victorian era London. S. M. Hallow obviously did her research and was able to write the city in a beautiful way. Since The Halls of the Dead is obviously focused on death and the control of death though necromancy, the afterlife is necessary to discuss. S. M. Hallow writes a celestial home for the spirits of the world. The Halls of the Dead is both a place and an entity. It exists for the souls of the dead and gives power to the necromancers who call on it.

The necromancy magic system is woven into the story. This way of presenting the rules of necromancy was a more engaging way than just telling through teaching. I was able to follow the characters through their exploration of the banned magic while also learning how it works. The libraries being made out of people through magic was a creative take on the traditional trope of flesh-bound books.

S. M. Hallow was able to merge the past and present together in a way that enhanced both the story and the characters. I was able to see how the characters met and how they slowly learned what exactly they all meant to each other. Since the book starts with Irene and Agnes as a couple, we already know there are feelings there. Reading the full story of how they met and the struggles they went through really helper to understand why Irene would risk so much for Agnes. St. John’s discovery of feelings he didn’t expect to have for both Irene and Agnes was a perfectly written. Learning how St. John came to be and viewing alongside Agnes and Irene how he gets remade was both enlightening and disgusting.



The main problem I have with this book doesn’t occur until maybe three-fourths of the way in the book. St. John the undead husband is a reanimated corpse that has been hallowed out and filled with grave dirt including bugs. Having seen himself as a servant not lover for most of the book, him going down on Agnes seemed too close to necrophilia for me. I would not recommend this book for that reason.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

All these years later, a sense of awe still blooms within me, unfurling like evening primrose under rich moonlight, as a book reveals the secrets I've paid for with the crimson essence of my life.

This is the gothic, queer novel of my dreams. It's blood, gory, full of ghosts and death, but also brimming with longing, love, and devotion. It is beautifully written, with necromancy described in the context of a world of magic users where all magic is permitted except for necromancy, which is a death sentence for anyone discovered to be using it.

I chant in the necromancer's tongue, the backward language of cutthroat murder and spiritual slaughter, that rough and hard-earned dialect of the dark. When I speak it, a snake slides up my throat and hisses with my mouth; the shadow behind my mangled soul wraps its raven wings around my ribs.

It is a homecoming.

It is the world of the dead welcoming me to the place where I belong.

Into this world, we meet Irene, genius necromancer platonically married to the Saint of the Crypt, the undying St. John, and desperate to bring back her lover, Agnes, recently hanged for necromantically murdering her brother. All three characters are a delight to read and see interact together; Irene is the brooding genius, broken from having part of her soul eaten by the inspector Underhill, but never ever giving up. St. John is the lovely helper to necromancers, always encouraging both Irene and Agnes to do their worst and taking care of them--but make no mistake, he's as vicious as his loves and he has lived thousands of years and has a long memory. And lastly, Agnes, vivacious but tormented by the new hunger that the Halls of the Dead have gifted her in her resurrection. The three of them are an unholy team, and they work together so well, while also growing ever closer; the yearning between all of them is palpable, and I was so happy for them to become a true throuple.

Besides that, the worldbuilding is also a delight, with the Halls of the Dead described in a flurry of bewilderingly eerie ways--but at the same time, the Halls are alive, and they will always have their due. The plot is delightfully gothic and satisfying and I loved that Irene and Agnes were the fulfillment of the prophecy that St. John has waited so long for, and although it was heartbreaking, it was also extremely fitting that Irene had to give up her magic to restore the books.

I read this book long into the night (only stymied by my e-reader running out of battery), and I think anyone who loves gothic novels will be as well. Definitely read this one!

[Rachel Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

TW: (taken from the front of the book, which I love) cannibalism, gore, murder, drowning, miscarriage, death in childbirth, self-harm-induced magic, depression, suicidal ideation, possession and loss of autonomy (added) bugs/pests, period typical misogyny, child abuse

So, this settled in my stomach, and wouldn't leave. I have a favorite type of book, and it's a book with queer adults engaging in sacred cannibalism.

First, the plot: In almost like our world Victorian London, Irene practices necromancy, a banned magic in her world. Together with St. John of the Crypt, her undead husband/servant/ mentor, they resolve to resurrect Irene's lover and wife Agnes who has been killed for practicing necromancy. They do succeed, but Agnes comes back with a devouring hunger, and the magistrate who killed her is prowling around the three, looking for a reason to send Irene to an asylum.

I love the characters so much. Irene is driven and damaged, and a true delight to read. I love the way that she cares about both Agnes and her magic with a fierce grasping love. St John is also great; I love his perspective as a man who's lived for centuries, and his affection for Irene and Agnes is understandable and appreciated.

The worldbuilding is subtle, but I love it. Magic exists in this world, and there are forbidden arts that people don't have access to. I love that necromancer's in particular can live on as soul-books. However, I was unclear if this magic was hereditary or could be learned; I assumed it was hereditary.

The language was vivid, and I do appreciate how descriptive it was; the novel is split into three POVs, so be aware (again, I'm not typical, I was able to keep all three in my head, but be prepared to track back if you need to).

The explicit sex scenes are lovely. There is both a threesome and a scene between Irene and Agnes which I will not go into for spoiler reasons, but suffice to say they were both well written and in character. I loved the way it was very woman-centric. The sex enhances the story, but can be glossed over if that is a deal breaker, this isn't a romantic, as all three of the protagonists have feelings for one another of some sort.

This book is incredibly gory and intense. Hunger as cannibalism is a central theme, along with the aftermath of violation and abuse. If you're into that catharsis like I am, you'll enjoy this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

See my drink paring and check out my other reviews at: https://theredreaderreviews.blogspot....

[Jheneille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC. I am truly speechless and fear I might be very much incapable of expressing the depth to which I adored this novel.

This tale follows Irene, her husband St. John and Agnes on their journey of survival through sheer devotion. After Agnes is hanged, Irene and St. John embark on the path of the impossible made manifest. They will be a family again, at any cost and if Agnes returns as a monster then so be it. She is worth any price.

I only have praise for The Halls Of The Dead. The prose is immaculate. The way S. M Hallow tells the tale, the way she dives into her characters and just how much they love each other it is beautiful and heartbreaking thing to read. The level of love, support, admiration and devotion between our characters left me speechless. Irene and St John have been married over a decade by the time our tale begins and yet, they yearn for each other still. Their love for each other is absolutely unconditional, it is unwavering and there is no hell either of them could go that the other would not follow. We come up on them already loving each other that way, and yet it feels brand new. I have no words for the beauty protrayed in that. That love, how easily and beautifully they pour it into Agnes, in their ease of forgiveness, their understanding of who she has become. And that is without acknowledging how fascinating this story was. I was enthralled the entire read. Bloody, gory and obsessive.

I applaud our author for how well I understood all our characters motivations. How their choices had such terrible consequences but knowing they were always doing the best they could with what they had. The lore explained throughout coupled with the history of our characters ensured I never felt like I was being hit with world dumping or too much at once. A fascinating tale. Questions that I didn't even think to ask were being answered. Seeds are planted early, watered slowly and the fruit of such labor is exceptionally tender and sweet. Hallow strings the past, present and convergence of her characters lives with such seamless ease, such intentionality that you think the pieces you've put together are of your own accord and not something delicately fed to you.

This novel won't be for everyone however, I know the audience for it, I am part of it after all. A spectacular read and I am jealous of everyone else that will get to read this for the very first time.

[Ariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this ARC!

The Halls of the Dead straddles the line between romance and horror and delivers on both. The book tells the story of necromancer Irene, her (initially platonic) undead husband St. John, and her recently deceased (also necromancer) girlfriend Agnes, whom she resurrects. The book alternates between POVs and time periods, showing how the characters got to the book's present, and what unfolds when Agnes's resurrection goes wrong. It's a love story between the two women and also the story of how they both come to love St. John. At the same time, it's a tale of blood-soaked revenge. We also see the troubled family relationships that led Irene and Agnes together. The author artfully weaves together yearning, compassion, violence, and righteous anger.

Given that this book is described as a queer romance and based on the first few chapters, I was expecting a sapphic romance. That's very much there! But, I was surprised when the real slowburn relationship turned out to be with Irene's husband of twelve years. The way all three characters came together was really beautiful, though could be off-putting if one were, as I was, just expecting sapphic romance. There are a few explicit scenes in the book, though even when St. John's involved they all focus on female pleasure and don't feature any reciprocation with St. John. There is one scene between St. John and another man that read as very sexual though it was not (Locked Tomb fans may be reminded of Ianthe's arm).

Throughout the book, the prose is vibrant and deliberate. There are visceral descriptions of carnage, bugs, and decay. There are also lush descriptions of domestic life that historical fans will appreciate. The author doesn't hesitate to stop and chew the scenery, but the scenery is beautiful. The at times slow pace lends to a claustrophobic atmosphere.

My favorite largely inconsequential detail about this book is that it takes place at Christmas. It's not super relevant that it takes place at Christmas, but it's used to comedic effect several times. I'd read it back-to-back with Victorian Psycho in December for troubled women in Victorian England relishing in yuletide carnage. I really enjoyed this one!

[Maranda M · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Halls of the Dead is a necromantic romantic book, which is basically all I ever wanted in a book. It begins with Irene Shallcross Haley, who has dedicated her life to necromancy. She lives with her undead husband, St. John, as they attempt to protect the knowledge of necromancy. During this time, Irene falls in love with Agnes, who is hanged for witchcraft. Using the knowledge that Irene has been protecting, Irene attempts to bring Agnes back in a ritual that hasn’t been completed in two thousand years. Agnes returns, but her body is not her own as she awakens with a hunger for raw flesh and a malignant ghost tied to her soul. Irene must now focus on getting Agnes back to her true self, without catching the attention of Sir Silas Underhill, the man who sentenced Agnes to death.

The description of this book was everything I could have hoped for in a necromantic romantic book however it fell flat in a few places. I found it hard to believe that the characters didn’t understand their own visions and prophecies when I did. It felt so obvious to me what the Hallow was laying out for us and when these characters (who are way smarter than me) couldn’t see it, it just felt frustrating. By the end of the book, I was not surprised with how everything turned out. I also felt the story began to drag in the middle. It surprised me how much had happened despite basically no time moving in the story. It was a little hard to keep up with the timeline but it was enjoyable nonetheless.

However, I loved the characters in this story. I loved the friendship between Irene and St. John, despite being married, and how they refused to give up on each other. I loved that St. John at no point felt threatened by the relationship between Agnes and Irene as he knew his role in their lives. I felt that each character grew into greater versions of themselves thanks to each other. I liked the way they worked together in their necromancy and how everyone seemed to have a place in every spell. I also loved the way necromancy worked here. I loved the fact that each spell began with the same phrase and how intentional every spell had to be. I would love to read anything else S.M. Hallow writes!

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short summary: A book I very much enjoyed, but one that will have a niche audience. If, like me, you fall into that niche, I highly recommend it. But for the majority of people this book will probably not be for you. Read the content warnings first.


This book is ultimately about the dark satisfaction we wish we could get on the abusers and bigots who make our lives pain. When we wish we could make those who force us to hide ourselves feel some amount of the pain they have caused. As well as those who bond through a shared understanding of that pain.

My first version of this review was scrapped after I realized I was talking much more about my thoughts after reading it than the actual book itself. That is a mark in its favor I believe, but in order to be more helpful as a review I have instead the following:

The specific combination of tags and genres this book advertised peaked my interest. I am not much of a romance reader in general, but a queer main relationship and the implication of a poly relationship developing had me intrigued.

A much darker story than I was expecting, but I was not disappointed by that. Many of the events and actions in this relate to, and involve, trauma. While the actions and repercussions of many of the events are fantastical, the events and the emotions (or lack there of) that they invoke feel rooted and relatable.

The world of the story is an alternate version of our own, set sometime in (if I remember correctly) the 1800s. However, in this version of our world it seems magic is a known and accepted thing in society. The little pieces we get of that world do a good enough job of getting us to understand the context behind the events of the book, but leave the actual structure and its differences from our world vague.

The pacing of the story is good, but a little fast, and made me wish the book was maybe 20-30 pages longer.

The biggest strength of this book in my opinion is in the main cast, which is good, as this is ultimately a romance book. I don't have much to say about them that won't spoil anything, but they felt both real in their emotions and reactions, as much as they felt fantastical in their abilities and knowledge.

[Kaitlyn Fiorante · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 Stars)

Release Date: August 18, 2026

First, a huge thank you to S.M. Hollow, Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book.

I’ll be honest: this book is definitely slower than what I am used to reading. However, there was something about the author’s deliberate, atmospheric pace that actually made me want to rush through the chapters. I was so desperate to see how the world expanded! The world-building is a slow burn, but it is absolutely worth the wait. The way Hollow builds the atmosphere of a necromancy-infused London is nothing short of immersive.

At its center, this book is a moving portrayal of queer polyamory set against a high-stakes fantasy backdrop. The relationship dynamics are complex and grounded in a way that feels very real despite the supernatural circumstances.

I absolutely fell in love with these characters. Irene is such a compelling lead. She is driven, damaged, and I loved her POV. I was particularly moved by the way she loves; she possesses a fierce, grasping devotion to both Agnes and her magic. St. John is equally wonderful. His perspective as a man who has lived for centuries brings so much depth to the story, and his deep, sincere affection for both Irene and Agnes is both understandable and deep.

The chemistry between the three MC's is amazing! And for those wondering...the spice was definitely there! It added a layer of intimacy that perfectly balanced out the darker, more macabre elements of the plot.

I don’t usually include content warnings in my reviews, but I feel it’s necessary here: this is not a sanitized version of the undead. S.M. Hollow dives headfirst into the grim reality of death. The descriptions are explicit and visceral, covering:

- Decomposing bodies and skin decay.
- Graphic insect activity (maggots, spiders, and more).
- Detailed experiences of cannibalism.
It is gritty, dark, and perfectly fitting for the necromantic themes of the story.

If you don't mind a slower, more introspective read and have a stomach for the "grittier" side of fantasy, Halls of the Dead is a must-read. It’s a beautiful exploration of love and death.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy from Harper Voyager via Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. Release date August 18th, 2026.

I was immediately intrigued by the queer gothic necromancy premise of this book. In The Halls of the Dead, Irene is an illegal necromancer practicing her craft with her undead husband of convenience, who has safekept necromantic secrets for hundreds of years. When Irene's lover Agnes is executed for necromancy, Irene brings her back--but Agnes is unmistakably changed by the unwise promises she made in the Halls of the Dead...

Fittingly for a book about necromancy, this is a novel that is fixated on that past. There's three point of view characters, and we get flashbacks from each of their perspectives. The sections set in the past include their youths, plus scenes from the substantial chunk of plot that happened before the opening of the book, like Irene's own trial and Agnes' execution. The heavy use of flashbacks is thematically appropriate for a book about refusing to let go of the past, but it does slow the story down significantly. However, it does help that the plot starts where most books would stop, amd skips pver most of the previous events. Instead of the fourth act of Irene learning to accept the tragic death of her lover by seeking revenge on the inquisitor who condemned her, we're beginning the story at that point with a Came Back Wrong narrative.

The plot is nominally set in an early Victorian version of London, where not only the reviled necromancy exists, but also transmutation and illusions. However, the story frame is very constrained, with almost all of the present-set plot occurring inside the same house. I didn't see much of the world or get a good feel for the worldbuilding. The Halls of the Dead is a book with an intensely personal focus. Hallow isn't interested in exploring the politics that empower the inquisitor or other characters in general--it's precisely concerned with just Irene, Agnes, and St John. Although the focus is limited, it's enlivened by a prose which lusciously describes the horrors of the body. St John is animated by thousands of insects, Irene can only use her necromantic book by stabbing herself through the hand, revivified Agnes insatiably craves flesh. Flashy stuff, and plenty of blood to go around.

A vivid bit of light gothic gore. The plot and themes reminded me most of Johanna van Veen's writing and Caitlin Starling's The Starving Saint, although it's respectfully not quite as good, since both of those titles are heavy hitters. Very solid for a debut novel, though. I like authors who aren't squeamish.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Halls of the Dead by @smhallowink is a "queer, gothic horror romance set in a necromancy-tinged London, sure to entrance fans of The Death of Jane Lawrence and Mexican Gothic" and is set in London, December 1849.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

📌 August 18, 2026
📚 HarperCollins
📝 352 pages

"The world is ours, now. We snatched it with broken fingers and ate it with kicked-in teeth. We’re never giving it back." 

"It’s a romance. It’s a dark fantasy. It’s a Christmas horror story. It’s a righteous fury revenge quest. It’s about love lasting longer than death. It’s got cannibalism, blood magic, a guy full of bugs, an unlikable female protagonist with chronic pain, and it’ll be here on shelves in 2026."

I haven't loved a guy full of bugs since Oogie Boogie! As soon as I picked this up, I was intrigued and engaged from the first page and really enjoyed the heavy gothic atmosphere. I could tell a lot of research went into the Victorian London way of life. I found this to be a suspension of disbelief read and immersed myself in the dark oppressive vibes. The writing and character voices were my favorite part, and I was enjoying the three distinct POV switches throughout the plot. You are thrown straight into their adventure and get backstory through inner dialogue along the way. Every page is a new hurdle for the characters, and I felt the weight of their dilemma as yet another challenge would arise just when they thought they could get a moment of triumph. And singing God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen while bloody gore is all around and cannibalism is being engaged in and simply making tea like it's all just a normal day is my kind of dark humor.

"My soul may be a wounded thing,” I say, “but it will always find yours. The distance between us is never a great divide. There is nothing in this world great enough to keep us apart. Not forever. Not even for a day."

Check trigger warnings! It does get quite dark with cannibalism and blood magic and death.

Thank you @netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC ✨

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley/the publisher/the author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review
✨
If I had a nickel for every time I read a story about a triad including a necromancer and someone who came back from the dead, I would have two nickels, which isn’t a lot but it’s weird it’s happened twice.
I love necromancers (in theory. IRL they’d probably scare me).
I love gothic horror.
I love gothic romance.
I love VICTORIAN gothic horroromance.
I wanted so much to love this book because it was all of that. But… I didn’t.
THOTD was about a woman who is hanged for witchcraft and brought back from the dead by her necromancer wife and her undead magician husband. But she comes back wrong. You’d think this book would be about the agony of loving someone to the point of resurrection, about the vile horrors of being dead and then being alive, but it fell short. This book was very intimate and I felt like I was flung into that intimacy with no explanation. It was confusing for most of the book. About halfway through I realized there was literal magic in this world and spells for everything. The book just started and you were expected to already know everything. I had to check at least three times that this wasn’t a sequel. It is a standalone (to my knowledge), too. But it didn’t feel like it should be. It felt like there should be more. More depth. More worldbuilding. More character exploration. The plot itself felt muddy at times, jumping from Agnes’s sudden hunger for raw meat to St. John’s longing to bring the Halls back to Irene having part of her soul eaten??? Nothing really wrapped up, either. Well, maybe it did. I did start skimming at the 60% mark because I just did not care for the plot or characters anymore. I guess I just felt neutral the whole time. The characters were interesting and I would have loved to see more development with them but that’s it.
If you like this kind of book, you would like The Familiar (Leigh Bardugo), Dark Rise (CS Pacat), and Frankenstein (2025) (I hated this movie though so take that with a grain of salt).

[Mostly Sapphic Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gothic horror. Polyamory. Necromancy. Justice.

If you’re looking for good gothic horror fantasy, this is it.

I was seriously impressed with this book’s world building. Mid-nineteenth century London with spirits and necromancy and magic and a tangible afterlife, and the book throws you straight into the thick of it and trusts you to come along for the ride as a necromancer and her Saint husband vow to resurrect the woman they both love and get revenge on the people who have harmed them.

This story has a unique history and magic system, and the book manages to convey it all clearly through the lens of only three characters over the course of merely a few days in their lives. The book utilizes flashbacks without killing the pace. It drip feeds you backstory at just the right times without ever infodumping. Its smaller details come full circle in ways that make you want to go back and reread certain passages with knowing eyes. You get a strong sense of character and atmosphere straight away. It’s really well-done from a craft perspective.

This book doesn’t shy away from the grosser side of necromancy, but it also knows that necromancy can be romantic in spite of – and sometimes because of – its gruesomeness. The macabre way these characters are devotionally bound to each other was exactly what I wanted out of a (nec)romantic gothic novel. These are strong characters who know what they want, forge their own paths, loyally fight for each other, and still unquestionably accept what roles they were destined to play. All three POV characters are so easy to love and follow and ship.

I was drawn to this book for the polyamorous storyline (and liked it even more than I thought I would! The dynamics of their relationship were totally different than what I expected out of a book set in the 1840s), but I ended up staying for the unique magic system and the story.

I was shocked to read the author’s note at the end of this and discover that this is a debut novel. Hallow has serious talent, and I look forward to reading more from them in the future.

[Xavier Whitman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Halls of the Dead is a story that does not go quietly into that good night. In a world where necromancy is considered an illegal magic, the book follows necromancer Irene Haley and her undead husband, St. John, after they resurrect Agnes, Irene’s lover and fellow necromancer, and she comes back with a righteous, neverending hunger for flesh.

I enjoyed this story for the most part. The three POV characters: Irene, Agnes, and St. John all had distinct voices that really allowed for all of them to shine, which can be difficult for multiple pov stories. The relationships between the characters were also really nice. They all had fairly good chemistry with each other. I will say to that end that I have seen this book be advertised as a sapphic read, and while Irene and Agnes do have a romantic relationship with each other, it does end up being more of a throuple situation with St. John by the end. I personally have no issue with this. I like bisexual (all the main POV characters are explicitly bisexual) and polyamorous stories. However, I could see someone reading this specifically wanting a sapphic read and not enjoying St. John also being there.

The magic system in this book was also quite well done. There was a looseness to the necromancy that really allowed it to go in some unique directions without it ever not feeling like necromancy. Additionally, I really enjoyed the chants/spells that accompanied the magic. There was a really solid cadence to them.

I did find the pace of the story a bit slow in places. It was not enough to ruin the book for me, but it did make it a slightly imperfect read.

I found this book to be particularly cathartic. There is something to be said about a book where the heroes are able to enact revenge in a bloody and satisfying way. This is especially potent when it is considered how Irene’s soul wound is presented in a way that mirrors sexual assault, so much so that I would personally consider that a trigger warning even if nothing ever explicitly happens in the story.

Overall, this book is a romantic gothic horror about those who chose to say “no, I no, I won't let you go; no, I won't let you be destroyed”.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an advanced copy.

[Lj · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Halls of the Dead feels like Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments in that there’s a hierarchy of magic and forbidden magics. I could kind of see this being set in the same universe.
Irene and St. John Haley are united in a single, obsessive goal- to rebuild the library of necromancy spell books, called “The Crypt”, despite their brand of magic being punishable by death. After an encounter with a dark magician leaves Irene missing part of herself, the only thing that makes life bearable is her romance with budding necromancer, Agnes. When Agnes is hanged for practicing the forbidden magic, Irene and St. John must work together to rediscover lost spells in an attempt to reanimate her. How will she be changed? How will their goals of rebuilding The Crypt, revenge, and having a future change them?

I enjoyed the world of the Necromancers’ London and found the lore of their magic original and fascinating. Irene is depression-coded and disabled, representation that I appreciated. There is heavy bi/pan representation as well which is fantastic.
My only three criticisms are these: the reader gets dropped straight into the story. Sometimes that’s nice, but here it felt like I was missing something. I even stopped to see if this was a sequel to another book. I eventually got a handle on the story but it took some time and confusion. I also found that some parts dragged. The characters are in the middle of an urgent action scene but they take the time to monologue about their feelings and insecurities. It could be just a problem for me alone, but I did think a few times “they’d be dead by now” with all the wasted time. Lastly, I think the final chapter and postlude weren’t needed.
That being said, I had fun reading this with all the gore and imaginative spells. The ending leaves an opening for a sequel and if that ever happens, I’ll gladly read it.
There is some definitely some spice but it’s fairly tame considering BookTok’s standards. Still, I wouldn’t want to be listening to the audiobook during those parts where others could hear.

[RachaelReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

🦋 "I am the haunter of the Halls of the Dead..."🪲

Set in 1849, London, Irene Shallcross Haley has just endured the loss of her beloved Agnes Driscoll, hung for the practice of witchcraft. But Irene, a powerful necromancer, is not ready to let her go, no matter the cost. With the help of her centuries old undead husband, St. John, they resurrect Agnes. Like in true Pet Sematary fashion, Agnes comes back a little different and a lot hungrier.

This queer, gothic horror romance written in Hallow's dark, poetic prose will have you immersed from the first page. The setting is true to the story: moody, atmospheric and unpredictable, with Victorian gothic vibes.

Irene made a wonderful female lead. Courageous and brave, she did not falter even when she had self-doubt. Irene had a physical and emotional soul wound, and I appreciated the way the author explored the themes of depression and anxiety.

We get to follow Irene, Agnes, and St. John through their own POV's, which I enjoyed. The backstory of each character was not just fluff, it had a purpose in making them feel relatable (even the undead ones). In understanding them intimately, it made their relationship more authentic as well.

Hallow, what a hell of a debut! I hope it isn't the last we see of this trio.

🪦🥀"-we choose this life, every hour of every day, in sickness and in health, and I will choose it for as long as I live. Even if faced with the opportunity to choose differently, to go back and start over and avoid all my hurts, I would choose this life, with him...a thousand times over."

🖤🥀"This is what it means to be married, isn’t it? To live your life alongside someone who cares about you enough to do right by you, body and blood and heart and soul."

A pretty cover and a painfully beautiful story within. Don't miss it. 🗓 Pub date: August 18, 2026

Thank you to Harper Voyager, S.M. Hallow and NetGalley for the eARC. Opinions are my own.

[Baz◇ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the author & publisher for the ARC!

This is such a fascinating book, with so many ideas that go deeper than I expect them to. It took a minute for me to get a feel for the characters, but once I did I got so attached to our trio. Necromancy is such a fascinating concept for me and this novel did it so well. The connections to Christ in terms of resurrection were so interesting, and the magic system in general is, while a little complicated, really interesting. Soul books as grimoires? Yes PLEASE. Also, I cannot get Aggie's initial afterlife interaction with her brother out of my mind; it was so chilling in an unexpected way.

I will say, for the sake of expectations, that the relationship between Irene, Agatha, and St. John is a core, central part of the story but not in a way that necessarily feels like a romance for most of the book; this is at its core a story about keeping dying traditions alive, exploring the meaning of death and what it means to live. That honestly makes their relationship feel even more meaningful, especially as the story progresses as the reader begins to see the push and pull between their love and the Halls.

The writing is overall great, but there are definitely places where it starts to feel a little unnecessarily dramatic and convoluted. At the same time, though, there's really beautiful description and really strong emotion. The horror scenes are stronger than the more "romantic" scenes, but nothing felt like a true turn off in terms of writing. A high point is the descriptions of St. John and his bugs, by the way - I LOVE the decision to constantly remind the reader that he is reanimated.

This is a lot of rambling, but in general: if you like cool magic systems, love that aches, and the idea of duty to something larger than yourself, you will love this book. I did.

[Julia Stark · Rating 4 out of 5]

To take means having to give something first. Irene Haley has experienced this in the worst way possible, when her soul was partially devoured as punishment for calling on the power of Necromancy. She failed to bring back her sister before - she cannot make that mistake again for her love and bride to be, Agnes.

With the aid of her undead husband, St John, who holds the secrets of the Crypt and necromancy, Irene will defy the laws of society, the wicked Silas Underhill, and the give and take of life and death to bring Agnes back. She will walk into the Halls of the Dead and claim her true power - but she may return with more than she asks for.

Ideal for fans of gothic horror, this is the opposite of the kill your darlings trope, in a refreshing and creepy way! The pace stays consistent all the way throughout, even at times you expect the characters to have a break from the persisting horrors there's more for them to deal with as a throuple! The characters don't change drastically as the main plot happens over barely a week, however through regular flash backs we see the people they were before with whole souls but unfulfilled lives.

The narrative draws you in with this doomed from the start love story, of cynical, traumatised Irene, hopeful survivor Agnes, and optimistic St John, who begins to yearn for more from undead life. It's focus is magic and the love story and it works well and explains any plot holes or questions you may have. Though, once we come to the end of their main story, the magic aspects feel slightly more complicated where they're being wrapped up as succinctly as possible. Gothic horror is back on the rise, much like the undead...

The Halls of the Dead is out on 18th August 2026!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the early ARC copy!

[Nimra Iqbal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the gifted e-ARC of The Halls of the Dead by S. M. Hallow!

This was such a dark and emotional read, and it really stayed with me after I finished.

This story centers around necromancy, grief, and the impossible choices people make when they refuse to let go of someone they love. Following Irene and her undead husband, St. John, as they attempt to bring back someone lost to death felt eerie, heartbreaking, and strangely beautiful all at once.

The atmosphere was one of my favorite parts of this book. Everything feels heavy with shadows, secrets, and decay in the best gothic way. The writing pulls you into this world slowly, and you can almost feel the chill of the halls and the weight of the magic being used. It’s unsettling at times, but also very emotional and thoughtful.

What really stood out to me was how character-focused this story is. The emotions felt complicated and real — grief, love, guilt, and hope are all tangled together. You can understand why the characters make the choices they do, even when those choices feel dangerous or morally gray.

The pacing is slower, especially in the beginning, but I personally liked that because it allowed the story and the relationships to build naturally. By the end, the emotional payoff felt worth it.

If you enjoy gothic fantasy, necromancy, and stories that explore love and loss in a dark and atmospheric way, I think this is a book you’ll really appreciate.

This was a haunting and beautifully written read, and I’m glad I picked it up.

[Smriti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow.

First, thank you to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really did enjoy this book. The Halls of the Dead is brilliantly gothic and has a creative take on the magic of necromancy. I really loved the characters (Irene, Agnes, and St John, you all are so dear to me), too, and their relationships with each other were a really really interesting thing to experience, especially given the setting of a magical but still Victorian London.

I do, however, have to say that it took quite a while to get into the book. The first 100 or so pages are slow and focused. The flashbacks weren't as interesting to me at the beginning because I was waiting to get back to the main plot line. Over time, though, I think you get to understand just how important the flashbacks are and how every character grows as they appear and look back. It's a really well-written, character-driven story.

The writing is detailed. There are vivid descriptions of insects, the dead, and cannibalism, so keep that in mind if you choose to read this novel. Whilst disturbing, it was deeply fascinating. We also get lovely descriptions of the life that the three main characters lived in such a real way, which was lovely as someone who needs well-written characters before a good plot.

I would recommend this to those who enjoy gothic literature, horror, and queer romance. And those who don't mind slow beginnings.