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 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, Fantasy, Gothic, Queer, Romance, LGBT, Adult

348 pages, Kindle Edition

First published 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 (Semi Hiatus) · 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.

[Katie (katieeatsbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

08/10/2026-08/12/2026

Thank you so much Harper Voyager for the gifted proof widget of “The Halls of the Dead” by S.M. Hallow 🦋

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(Coming August 18th, 2026)

That was a debut?!?! Holy shit.

I cannot begin to tell you how gorgeously written this one is! 🗡️

Occasionally I love a good read that makes me squeamish, nauseous and lightheaded. Especially when it also leaves me at the edge of my seat, gasping and eager for more. ☠️

This one in all its “gore”y was eerily good and disgustingly bingeable! 🪦

[witchy_book_babe · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most lush, creatively daring novels I have had the privilege to read in my lifetime! I am sated.


S. M. Hallow is an author that DESERVES her flowers for this incredible piece of work!


She is an author to watch, because if she's putting out a stand alone that is this magnificent??? In a time where it's quite common to see series after series being published. It's really quite nice to have a solid standalone that serves up: a visual masterpiece, gothic gore, love being celebrated in it's purest form, loyalty, devotion, suspense, spookiness, a plot that flows, and world building that is so incredibly constructed that I felt it's existence in my very bones.

If I have an opportunity to try to convince those interested in this book it would be: If you loved The Magicians and Penny Dreadful, then this book is about to become a new obsession! Buy it, borrow it, or listen to it. The Halls of the Dead exceeded all of my expectations.

🪲I will continue to praise The Halls of the Dead for being so bold in its original design. I literally want to send a bat signal to all my weirdo girls to go and get this book and let it devour them! It is worth it! 🦗


Thank you so, so much to Avon and Harper Voyager, Harper Voyager, NetGalley, and S.M. Hallow for providing me a digital arc of The Halls of the Dead! It was truly such an unforgettable journey that seared its characters into my heart.

[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.

[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!

[Daria · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 ⭐️

Thank you to the publisher, Harper Voyager, the author S.M. Hallow, and Book Huddle for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this glorious gothic gathering of the macabre.

If someone had told me that one of my favourite novels of the year would include gleeful and enthusiastic cannibalism, a man whose insides were composed of creepy crawlies, and more galleons of blood than I care to estimate, I would have been at least A LITTLE surprised. Not, like, shocked, since I am still a weirdo gothy kid at heart, but slightly taken aback. It is hard not to become wrapped up in this story, however. The writing is beautiful and haunting, with sentences and sentiments that repeat throughout, a steady beat to follow and be enchanted by. The worldbuilding is probably some of the best I have encountered in some time. While I can see how this can be a stand-alone, it feels like there is so much more to discover within the realm of necromancy.

Additional details I adored include the chronic pain representation, how dead spirits show multiple faces, one for each year of life, and the glimpses into the lives of other necromancers from times gone by. I really enjoyed reading the multiple POVs – something I know is not everyone’s cup of tea but personally I relish. It’s also undeniable that, besides the gothic, horror, and historical elements, this is an inherently queer book. Queer as in not-heterosexual, queer as in polyamorous, and queer as in subverting typical, heteronormative romance and gender roles. While the world-building and the magic are central to the story, at its core it is also very much a love story between three characters. We really don’t get enough throuples in literature.

My one drawback is that the pacing of the story was somewhat uneven. We got such wonderful, in-depth backstories for all three characters, as well as some of the side-necromancers, but the latter third of the book seemed to walk with a bit of a limping gait. Not slow, per se, but somewhat at odds with the first 2/3 of the novel.

Overall, a beautiful and horrifying (in the best way) debut novel. I am both satiated and starved for more.

[Casey Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

All you have to do is say necromancy, and I am sold. Set in a gothic Victorian London where dark magic and necromancy are forbidden, this book follows Irene as she attempts the impossible after the execution of the woman she loves. What follows is part horror, part romance, and part meditation on what happens when love refuses to let go. It's also told in a pretty campy tone, for lack of a better word, and I was not expecting that but did enjoy it! Described as sapphic, I wouldn't necessarily agree with that, as it's really a polyamorous relationship with Irene, her husband St. John and Agnes, the woman she is looking to bring back from death. Hallow doesn't shy away from the grotesque. There is body horror, blood, rot, and some genuinely disturbing imagery, but it never feels shocking just for the sake of it. The horror serves the story's larger questions about mortality, identity, and whether bringing someone back is truly an act of love or something more selfish. It is definitely a character-driven story where love is both salvation and ruin. 

Thank you to Harper Voyager for the e-ARC! Book releases 8/18/26.

[Magdalena (magdal21) · Rating 2 out of 5]

In theory, this book sounded exactly like the kind of thing I’d love. Victorian, gothic settings, morally questionable necromantic magic, the dead refusing to stay dead, and complicated queer relationships are all elements that usually work for me. Unfortunately, while all the ingredients were there, the story never quite came together in a way that fully engaged me.

The story follows three main characters: Irene, a necromancer, St. John, who is undead, and Agnes, a woman who has just been hanged and is being brought back to life. Their relationship forms a kind of polyamorous triangle. John and Irene are married, but their relationship is presented as largely platonic, while Irene and Agnes are clearly in love. This dynamic is further explored throughout the narrative, and because of that, I wouldn’t really call this book simply a sapphic story as some readers suggest.

One of my biggest issues with the book is how unevenly the characters were developed. Irene ends up being by far the strongest and most fleshed out of the three. The story relies on flashbacks, which isn’t inherently a bad thing, but the way they’re used creates an imbalance. We learn most of what we know about St. John through his past, while Agnes spends most of the book in the present with very little background. Irene is the only character who feels fully realized. Reading this book often felt like being dropped into the middle of an ongoing story, almost as if I’d accidentally started with the second book in a series.

The heavy use of flashbacks also hurts the pacing. The first half of the novel is packed with them, which means very little actually happens in the present timeline. As a result, it takes a long time before the story’s direction becomes clear. Agnes’s resurrection, something that’s revealed in the synopsis, occupies roughly the first third of the book, which means the story is slow to find its footing. The stakes don’t properly emerge until around the halfway mark, and things only started to become genuinely interesting for me in the final third. Even then, I wasn’t entirely sure what the characters were working toward or what their larger goal was supposed to be. Without a clear sense of direction, it was difficult to become fully invested in their journey, despite some intriguing developments later on.

That said, the worldbuilding and necromancy lore were interesting. I just didn’t find them compelling enough to carry the story when I was struggling to understand where it was all headed. The writing itself was accessible and easy to read, and honestly that’s what saved the book for me. Without that, I’m not sure I would’ve felt motivated to finish it.

Overall, I think the idea behind this book is great, but the execution didn’t fully live up to its potential. Still, readers who enjoy a bit of ambiguity and don’t mind feeling slightly lost at times may get a lot more out of it. The strong gothic atmosphere is definitely one of the book’s biggest strengths.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-Arc!

I am astounded, utterly flabbergasted, that there's no The Locked Tomb comps in this book's marketing. It's just as unhinged and undead, if not quite as clever and well-plotted. The story of The Halls of the Dead is about resurrection (emotional, physical, spiritual), and glorious retribution. I wish I had a wife who could swallow evil politicians whole. The reports of poor pacing are not exaggerated, but I was having such a good time with the characters that it didn't slow me down or mar my enjoyment of the book. This novel made me think hard about religion, about the where the line is between a miracle and a sin, and the ethics of raising the dead. The imagery is gorgeous (if you don't mind bugs or viscera), and while Irene is obviously the main character, Agnes and St. John complement her story perfectly. Overall, a meandering, weird novel that puts the romance in necromancer.

[Holi Maples · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a gothic horror romance set in Victorian time. TW: bugs LOTS OF BUGS. This was a very bloody story about necromancers, and contained different POVs as well as flashbacks. The flashbacks really messed with the pacing for me, and I had a hard time really getting into the flow of the story. The love between Irene, Agnes and St John was really well written (minus the freaking bugs!) but it took me a while to warm up to the story in general. Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

[Peyton Stich · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars) When this book is advertised as a gothic fantasy horror romance... they aren't kidding. S.M. Hallow has a unique ability to make disgusting things elegant and beautiful things terrifying. I wasn't able to stop reading because I was completely enraptured by her prose. The horror came to life in the descriptive narrative and imagery of the graphic scenes, sometimes making me want to vomit-in a good way (it felt real). I used to work in a hospital, so it takes a lot for that to happen. If someone were to ask for a "weird fantasy" recommendation, this is absolutely the book I would hand them.

Even though there are things to be absolutely celebrated, let me get to why I rated it 3.5 stars. I struggled with the logic behind some of the characterization and decision making. (No spoilers to follow, I promise.) Sometimes characters would respond with an irregular kind of empathy instead of genuine panic. Where there was pure acceptance, maybe there should have been an "Oh, shit," right? I'm talking specifically about some of the gory scenes. All I could think was, "What? Surely we panic more? Surely this isn't a 'love is blind' situation?" I'm not a big fan of those. With that being said, some people like that unpredictability and illogicalness. It's surprising and can be fun, so one can argue that maybe this book wasn't for me. I'm okay with that.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for sending me an eARC on NetGalley. This sure was a wild ride, and I'm happy to have been chosen for an ARC for this book!

[m&gs · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

this book had a lot of potential but ultimately the pacing of both the plot and overall book really hindered it. it starts off really strong with a resurrection and established relationships but instead of rewinding back to what led to the death and resurrection, we continue forward with the plot while also being given a lot of flashbacks. i’m really not a fan of being stuck in a sort of suspense mode in general but this dragged on for so long. it isn’t until about halfway in that the majority of the flashbacks end. and it makes perfect sense why the flashbacks are there because all three characters have really important backstories and it really influences how they react but because it’s both flashbacks and the current tense, it’s just really difficult to follow through.

and unfortunately, the focus of all the characters’ stories just isn’t evenly matched. st. john and irene both have strong backstories— but st. john’s is really lacking in the present tense, whereas irene’s is clearly the strongest and really the character the story revolves around the most. agnes on the other hand, has the weakest story despite being the one resurrected and has to deal with the repercussions of that. and on top of that, we also have the plot that leads up to the death and resurrection itself.

this really should’ve been a duology, book1 focusing on the past and book2 on the present. but i will say i did love the witchcraft, necromancy, and bloodlust parts. the world building was very intriguing, i just wish i cared about the characters.

[Nenia Campbell]

Literally counting down the days until this comes out because it's ticking all the boxes for me

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.75 stars

I really enjoy the possibilities of necromantic and blood magic, and The Halls of the Dead checked those boxes. Add a gothic overwrought situation, some wonderful characters, and an iron will that will command death before losing loved ones, and I am all in. Like the other magical disciplines, necromancy isn’t inherently evil; it’s simply powerful. Connection with the Halls is an access to knowledge and magic like no other, and people would rather forbid the magic and slaughter necromancers than be denied that access. Agnes’ resurrection doesn’t simply give new life to her, it touches everyone; it helps them find and accept the pieces they’ve needed. The triad relationship is V-shaped in the beginning, Irene being the hinge. Agnes’ alteration brings their complete interconnectedness slowly to the fore.

Read Jovan’s review in its entirety here.

[Karen Bullock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic reading that gives off historical fantasy with gruesome and skin crawling vibes.

Pages filled with surreal imagery of crypts and critters, death up close, dark magic, and skin covered grimoires and the urgency to resurrect a loved one.

Multiple POV’s from three main characters that blend effortlessly into the storyline, all set in the mid 1800’s London.

Graphically described scenery and action throughout that is both squeamish and unsettling and will make your skin itch, as more than one critter crawls across the pages within.

It is a story of the lengths one will go too, to save loved one, all while trying to remain undetected, for fear of being condemned.

Thanks to Harper Voyage for this stellar necromancer read!

[Lisa readandrepeet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pub Date: August 18, 2026

The gothic vibes and necromancy themes are what I came for, and this book certainly delivered those. The plot quickly stalled out due to pacing issues, and even the delicious ick factors got repetitive quickly. Our FMC is married to a dead saint and had a dead girlfriend to boot. The world in which events unfold has 𝗌𝗈 much potential. It‘s intricate and full of really cool concepts. I just longed for better pacing to keep the plot moving and less same-same.

𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴:
💀 the dead come back wrong
💀 sacrifice for love
💀 complex polyamorous dynamic
💀 bleak societal pressures
💀 secret magic

[Kayda Noelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
Well written with a very interesting plot. I’m a big fan of gothic horror. Love a Victorian times moment. Especially loved the sapphic addition. It’s been a while since I’ve read about necromancy, and I found this twist to be really cool…the whole “bring this person I love back from the dead, but they aren’t the same” vibe. It had some pretty gory moments! If you like body horror…this would be for you.

Big thanks to William Morrow and the Tastemaker program for the early copy!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pros:
- Queer
- Romantic vibes
- Necromancy
- Poly romance with an undead husband
- Multiple POVs
- No loose ends at the end of the book
Cons:
- Pacing (slow but the story also takes place through the duration of a single week?)
- Writing is somewhat cryptic at times, it felt like a lot of information was missing getting into the story
- Gore & bug/body horror (could be a pro for some!)

If you’re a fan of gothic romantic fiction, this book would be a good match.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC!

[Josephine Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5)

The perfect queer gothic horror. I won the ARC for this at my local bookstores book bingo and I couldn’t have made a better choice. St. John, Irene and Agnes’ relationship was mesmerizing and the way the story flowed was fantastic.

[mo • lesmotsdemo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up for Goodreads and Netgalley.
It was a solid read, overall. Its strength, for me, was in its well-crafted dark and gloomy atmosphere. The author truly built something grim and eerie. The plot was interesting but a little bit weak at times, its pace was steady. The horror elements were assuredly there but I feel like they could have been even more detailed. There was some work on the characters for sure, but I didn’t connect with any of them. In fact, the two female characters were more developed than the male character, and I feel like he was sometimes useless. I would have preferred a story with Irene and Agnes only, there was potential for a stronger story with these two. Also, when I read the synopsis I thought the romance was going to be sapphic and I was unfortunately wrong. It was a polyamorous relationship between the three characters, and I didn’t like it very much. There was a little bit of disappointment there but it was wholly my fault so it doesn’t have an impact on my overall enjoyment.
It was a nicely written and atmospheric gothic romantasy with touches of horror sprinkled in there, and I definitely recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.

[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.

[Fauwxx · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is a spectacular breakthrough in the tropes of gothic horror and horrormance! Marketed as a queer, gothic horror romance- this novel reads like a (high?) dark fantasy filled with beautiful prose and (historical) world building that pulls you in and won't let you go. This felt like reading an actual account of the history of necromancers. The author also weaves in subtle nods to Christianity/Christ (resurrection) in regards to the morality of raising the dead and those details gave the story extra depth that pulls you even deeper into this mystical and gothic world. The characters were phenomenal- I couldn't help falling in love with all of them. The romance in this novel is more of a polyamorous nature- and you will run into a few spicey scenes as well. If you like gothic horror like The Death of Jane Lawrence (5 star read for me) then you will absolutely love Halls of the Dead.

**Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager | Harper Voyager, S.M. Hallow and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of The Halls of the Dead in exchange for my honest review. Expected Pub Date: Aug 18 2026.**

[Madalyn S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Halls of the Dead is an interesting book and not my typical read, but it intrigued me. My main issues are the pacing and the writing style. For about 40-50% of the book, I had no idea where we were headed or what the plot was actually going to be. Everything was described within an inch of its life (including the gore) but I still didn’t understand what we were actually doing or where these characters were trying to go. I think for folks who like a dark, gothic romance book and don’t mind some gore, this is a solid read. Just not my cup of tea.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free advanced copy.

[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

[aud · Rating 4 out of 5]

the halls of the dead said we are soulmates please text me back (arc read - my in-depth review is available on netgalley!)

[Bbecca_marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Halls of the Dead 🥀✨review ✨ thank you @harpervoyagerus @librofm for the gifted copy + audiobook!

The Halls of the Dead
by S. M. Hallow
Narrated by Charlie Albers, Ella Lynch, James Meunier
out TODAY!

3.5 ⭐️ rounded ⬆️

In 1849 London, Irene Shallcross Haley practices forbidden necromancy, protecting generations of witches’ knowledge alongside her undead husband, St. John. But when Irene’s beloved Agnes is hanged for witchcraft, Irene refuses to accept her death.

Determined to resurrect Agnes, Irene succeeds—but Agnes returns with a hunger for flesh and a malignant spirit attached to her soul. Now Irene must find a way to bring Agnes back to herself while navigating her feelings for her resurrected lover and St. John, all while avoiding the man responsible for Agnes’s death.

Because for Irene, death isn’t the end of love—it may only be the beginning.

My thoughts 💭:

I decided to try another immersive read, and I’m so glad I picked this one! First, I absolutely LOVED the full cast of narrators. They added so much to the experience and made the jumps between timelines much easier to follow. It really helped pull me into the story. This story is dark, moody, and incredibly atmospheric. There is A LOT happening, but underneath all the necromancy, resurrection, soul eating, cannibalism, and… an impressive amount of bugs, there’s also a surprisingly meaningful takeaway about love, grief, and refusing to let go. This is definitely a slower paced story, so it may not be for everyone, but if you’re someone who loves a book that takes its time building a gnarly, gothic atmosphere, this is one you’ll want to pick up.Because who doesn’t love a little cannibalism and soul eating in their fantasy horror?

What to expect 👇🏽
🖤 Dark & gothic atmosphere
🥀 Polyamory
💀 Necromancy & resurrection
🪲 Bugs
🩸 Cannibalism & body horror
📖 Slow burn
🎧 Full cast audiobook
⏳ Multiple timelines
🌑 Fantasy horror

Happy reading 📖 🥀✨🩸