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Heaven's Graveyard
Not yet published
Expected 16 Jun 26From the Sunday Times-bestselling author of Floating Hotel and Idolfire comes a science fantasy tale of history and myth, magic and mystery, perfect for fans of Shelley Parker-Chan and A. K. Larkwood
Two thousand years after the events of Idolfire, the world is on the brink of war, and the discovery of the enchanted city of Nivela threatens to push it over the brink
"What do you want to know?"
It’s been 2,000 years since the events of Idolfire, and we’re in a whole new Kite-drawn cargo ships race across thoroughly chartered seas, hauling the latest innovations in convenience and slaughter. It is developed, learned, interconnected, and on the brink of catastrophic war.
Archeologist Cod couldn’t care less about the conflict brewing between neighboring powers. She spends her days in happy obscurity, cataloging relics in the Republic of Asha and searching for clues about her lifelong obsession, the mythical hero Aleya Ana-Ulai.
Then a letter arrives summoning her home. Cod’s old teacher has made the discovery of a lifetime. But her home is Palgaro, and the discovery—the ruins of the enchanted city of Nivela—is set to change the world. And not for the better…
Heaven's Graveyard is a sinister lesbian history mystery bringing the magic of Idolfire into a dangerous new century.
Two thousand years after the events of Idolfire, the world is on the brink of war, and the discovery of the enchanted city of Nivela threatens to push it over the brink
"What do you want to know?"
It’s been 2,000 years since the events of Idolfire, and we’re in a whole new Kite-drawn cargo ships race across thoroughly chartered seas, hauling the latest innovations in convenience and slaughter. It is developed, learned, interconnected, and on the brink of catastrophic war.
Archeologist Cod couldn’t care less about the conflict brewing between neighboring powers. She spends her days in happy obscurity, cataloging relics in the Republic of Asha and searching for clues about her lifelong obsession, the mythical hero Aleya Ana-Ulai.
Then a letter arrives summoning her home. Cod’s old teacher has made the discovery of a lifetime. But her home is Palgaro, and the discovery—the ruins of the enchanted city of Nivela—is set to change the world. And not for the better…
Heaven's Graveyard is a sinister lesbian history mystery bringing the magic of Idolfire into a dangerous new century.
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 16, 2026
2 people are currently reading
311 people want to read
About the author
Grace Curtis
5 books303 followersAuthor of FRONTIER, FLOATING HOTEL and IDOLFIRE. Up next: HEAVEN'S GRAVEYARD.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 5, 2025
I received a free copy from DAW via Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. Release date June 16th, 2026.
I liked both of Curtis' previous novels, and I thought the premise of her academia-based latest sounded intriguing. In Heaven's Graveyard, detached academic Coda is summoned back to her hometown with news of a massive archeological find--only to find that the beloved professor who sent the message has been murdered. Chasing stories of her beloved and probably mythical Aleya, Coda is about to be dragged into a plot that is far more than she bargained for.
With its obsessive academic fixated on stories of a dead woman while oblivious to her country's slow slide into war, Heaven's Graveyard sets up obvious comparisons with one of my standout reads of 2025, The Everlasting. Like Owen Mallory, Coda is spectacularly oblivious, paying so little attention to politics that she tries to leave the country without even realizing that her world is on the brink of effectively World War I. Unlike The Everlasting, Coda's indifference to modern events does not become a major thematic element--it just adds a layer of complication in the form of an unreliable narrator who doesn't pay attention to an important chunk of plot. Even if Coda doesn't bother to follow modern events, modern events are about to be deeply interested in her...
It was an interesting decision for Cutis to set a sequel to Idolfire thousands of years later, moving from the mythic past to a world of trains and movies. I liked the emphasis on history fading into legend. Compared to Idolfire, I liked the setting of Heaven's Graveyard better, with its recognizably modern empire teetering on the brink of sectarian violence. It's a fun world, and the book would have been far less compelling set in the usual medieval-generic rather than in the loud clatter of cities and trams and university politics.
Outside of the expansiveness of the world, the story itself was relatively small and compact. The cast is effectively just Coda, her tumultuous ex, her dead professor Marr, and the stiffly religious Thal, who gets dragged into the whole mess. The plot is vaguely murder mystery shaped in that Coda answers an urgent summons only to find a dead friend instead of the promised academic triumph. However, Coda does very little in the way of actual investigating . She's quickly dragged into the archaological find (and the resulting political implications) that Marr was murdered over, and doesn't really get into any Sherlock Holmes type business.
A slow sapphic novel about the perils of archaeology and difficult ex-lovers. Readable enough, but not quite up to the flash and bang of The Everlasting. Great concept though, and much stronger than the comparatively aimless Floating Hotel. I'm interested to see what Curtis writes next.
I liked both of Curtis' previous novels, and I thought the premise of her academia-based latest sounded intriguing. In Heaven's Graveyard, detached academic Coda is summoned back to her hometown with news of a massive archeological find--only to find that the beloved professor who sent the message has been murdered. Chasing stories of her beloved and probably mythical Aleya, Coda is about to be dragged into a plot that is far more than she bargained for.
With its obsessive academic fixated on stories of a dead woman while oblivious to her country's slow slide into war, Heaven's Graveyard sets up obvious comparisons with one of my standout reads of 2025, The Everlasting. Like Owen Mallory, Coda is spectacularly oblivious, paying so little attention to politics that she tries to leave the country without even realizing that her world is on the brink of effectively World War I. Unlike The Everlasting, Coda's indifference to modern events does not become a major thematic element--it just adds a layer of complication in the form of an unreliable narrator who doesn't pay attention to an important chunk of plot. Even if Coda doesn't bother to follow modern events, modern events are about to be deeply interested in her...
It was an interesting decision for Cutis to set a sequel to Idolfire thousands of years later, moving from the mythic past to a world of trains and movies. I liked the emphasis on history fading into legend. Compared to Idolfire, I liked the setting of Heaven's Graveyard better, with its recognizably modern empire teetering on the brink of sectarian violence. It's a fun world, and the book would have been far less compelling set in the usual medieval-generic rather than in the loud clatter of cities and trams and university politics.
Outside of the expansiveness of the world, the story itself was relatively small and compact. The cast is effectively just Coda, her tumultuous ex, her dead professor Marr, and the stiffly religious Thal, who gets dragged into the whole mess. The plot is vaguely murder mystery shaped in that Coda answers an urgent summons only to find a dead friend instead of the promised academic triumph. However, Coda does very little in the way of actual investigating . She's quickly dragged into the archaological find (and the resulting political implications) that Marr was murdered over, and doesn't really get into any Sherlock Holmes type business.
A slow sapphic novel about the perils of archaeology and difficult ex-lovers. Readable enough, but not quite up to the flash and bang of The Everlasting. Great concept though, and much stronger than the comparatively aimless Floating Hotel. I'm interested to see what Curtis writes next.
not-yet-released
November 4, 2025I loved Idolfire, so I am hyped for this
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to DAW Books and NetGalley for providing a free digital ARC in exchange for a fair review.
This was a delightful and very intriguing read, and my first outing with Grace Curtis' books. I was immediately interested in the premise of the book, especially from the description calling it a "sinister lesbian history mystery bringing old magic into a dangerous new century" in what might be a description made to appeal directly to me.
I will note that I have not read Idolfire, so my thoughts are focused solely on Heaven's Graveyard. Despite this being a far future sequel of sorts, I don't think you need to read one to understand the other. That being said, I did find myself wondering what it would be like to read this book with knowledge of Idolfire. With 2,000 years between Idolfire and Heaven's Graveyard, I imagine there are some interesting call backs and bonuses for a reader who has read both books given the focus on history, mythology and archaeology.
Heaven's Graveyard is a rather unique mix of murder mystery thriller and archaeological adventure blended into one. The story follows Coda, or "Cod", our protagonist. An academic fixated on the mythological tales of Aleya Ana-Ulai, Coda is drawn back to her hometown by her old professor, mentor and friend, Marr, with the promise of a grand discovery relating to their shared interest in Aleya. However, her homecoming takes a sad turn when she arrives only to find Marr was found dead in his office that very morning. From here the story shifts as Coda quickly realises there is something off about her mentor's death and she chooses to take up the research he left behind, only to slowly realise she may be in over her head. I found the plot to be strong and interesting. The first 10% was a little slow, but once Coda reaches Tessi it picks up and maintains a steady pace.
Mysteries thread through the heart of the story itself, from the obvious mystery of what happened to Coda's professor, to the slower burn mysteries of Aleya herself and why Coda left her hometown, breaking off relationships and friendships in the process. But there are plenty of other topics as well: warfare and religion, and how the two drive humanity makes up a large chunk of the story as well, with an underlying mystery for the reader regarding what is happening in the world, with whispers and rumours of war on the horizon. Curtis did a great job of making the wider world feel present even when the story was so focused on a few individuals.
Obsession and how it can drive and ruin someone crops up during the book as well. Coda's obsessive desire to know everything about Aleya Ana-Ulai and prove she was real is the driving force of the book, and was shared to a lesser extent by her professor Marr. There are a couple of other characters that have their own defining obsessions as well, but I will leave that for future readers to discover.
The cast were very strong. Coda is a very unique woman who reads as neurodivergent, but with a certain awareness of her behaviours and how much she struggles to "correctly" interact with people. It's subtle, but she does undergo a reasonable amount of growth without fundamentally changing who she is. Sparrow is a delightful contrast to Coda, being friendly, fun and personable where Coda isn't, while having many secrets of her own, and Thal's no nonsense attitude and blunt criticism of Coda's behaviour provides a lovely counterbalance in the story. My only complaint is that I wish we'd seen a bit more of Thal, but I still feel we were given plenty of reasons why she couldn't have been more involved.
Overall, I had a very enjoyable time with this book and am interested in picking up Curtis' other works in the future. If the 'sinister lesbian history mystery' tagline intrigues you, or if you love fantasy realism, and a story that balances tension, mystery and some good old sapphic yearning well, then keep your eyes out for the book when it releases in June 2026!
This was a delightful and very intriguing read, and my first outing with Grace Curtis' books. I was immediately interested in the premise of the book, especially from the description calling it a "sinister lesbian history mystery bringing old magic into a dangerous new century" in what might be a description made to appeal directly to me.
I will note that I have not read Idolfire, so my thoughts are focused solely on Heaven's Graveyard. Despite this being a far future sequel of sorts, I don't think you need to read one to understand the other. That being said, I did find myself wondering what it would be like to read this book with knowledge of Idolfire. With 2,000 years between Idolfire and Heaven's Graveyard, I imagine there are some interesting call backs and bonuses for a reader who has read both books given the focus on history, mythology and archaeology.
Heaven's Graveyard is a rather unique mix of murder mystery thriller and archaeological adventure blended into one. The story follows Coda, or "Cod", our protagonist. An academic fixated on the mythological tales of Aleya Ana-Ulai, Coda is drawn back to her hometown by her old professor, mentor and friend, Marr, with the promise of a grand discovery relating to their shared interest in Aleya. However, her homecoming takes a sad turn when she arrives only to find Marr was found dead in his office that very morning. From here the story shifts as Coda quickly realises there is something off about her mentor's death and she chooses to take up the research he left behind, only to slowly realise she may be in over her head. I found the plot to be strong and interesting. The first 10% was a little slow, but once Coda reaches Tessi it picks up and maintains a steady pace.
Mysteries thread through the heart of the story itself, from the obvious mystery of what happened to Coda's professor, to the slower burn mysteries of Aleya herself and why Coda left her hometown, breaking off relationships and friendships in the process. But there are plenty of other topics as well: warfare and religion, and how the two drive humanity makes up a large chunk of the story as well, with an underlying mystery for the reader regarding what is happening in the world, with whispers and rumours of war on the horizon. Curtis did a great job of making the wider world feel present even when the story was so focused on a few individuals.
Obsession and how it can drive and ruin someone crops up during the book as well. Coda's obsessive desire to know everything about Aleya Ana-Ulai and prove she was real is the driving force of the book, and was shared to a lesser extent by her professor Marr. There are a couple of other characters that have their own defining obsessions as well, but I will leave that for future readers to discover.
The cast were very strong. Coda is a very unique woman who reads as neurodivergent, but with a certain awareness of her behaviours and how much she struggles to "correctly" interact with people. It's subtle, but she does undergo a reasonable amount of growth without fundamentally changing who she is. Sparrow is a delightful contrast to Coda, being friendly, fun and personable where Coda isn't, while having many secrets of her own, and Thal's no nonsense attitude and blunt criticism of Coda's behaviour provides a lovely counterbalance in the story. My only complaint is that I wish we'd seen a bit more of Thal, but I still feel we were given plenty of reasons why she couldn't have been more involved.
Overall, I had a very enjoyable time with this book and am interested in picking up Curtis' other works in the future. If the 'sinister lesbian history mystery' tagline intrigues you, or if you love fantasy realism, and a story that balances tension, mystery and some good old sapphic yearning well, then keep your eyes out for the book when it releases in June 2026!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
This was my first Grace Curtis book, but I was immediately intrigued at the “sinister lesbian history mystery” description. I ended up really enjoying my time with it! Heaven’s Graveyard is an ambitious hybrid of a murder mystery and a National Treasure-esque archeological discovery adventure, set against a backdrop of a nation on the brink of war, but at the end of the day it’s a story about a workaholic academic just finding her way in life.
I really clicked with Grace Curtis’s writing - her characters are delightful and so fun to follow. I really liked Cod, our main character. She’s socially awkward and single-minded, but as we go on we find out so much about her backstory that makes it really easy to empathize with her. The supporting characters are equally as fun - I loved getting scenes with Marr and Sparrow, their more extroverted, charismatic personalities were a great contrast to Cod. I do wish we got more from Thal in the first half, given how much she grew on me by the end.
The world building was also well done, especially in her descriptions of the bustling city of Ash and Cod’s hometown of Tessi. You really get the sense very early on that this nation Cod lives in is quite polarizing in its views of progress, religion, etc. For a story that only focuses on a couple characters and is very zoomed-in in its narration, I think Curtis does a good job of insinuating larger-scale repercussions.
For the most part the plot was quite quick, but I think it did fumble a little bit in the middle. I found myself in a bit of disbelief that some development in the plot would happen so easily. That’s just me nitpicking, though. I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention the scene with animal violence that happens about halfway into the book - it’s brief but pretty graphic and feels a bit out of place in terms of tone.
Now that I’m reading through other reviews, apparently Heaven’s Graveyard is set in the same universe as Curtis’s other book Idolfire, just 2,000 years later. I imagine reading that one first would give you a better idea on the lore and magic system but I definitely think that this stands on its own just fine. I’m definitely intrigued to pick up Idolfire though!
This was my first Grace Curtis book, but I was immediately intrigued at the “sinister lesbian history mystery” description. I ended up really enjoying my time with it! Heaven’s Graveyard is an ambitious hybrid of a murder mystery and a National Treasure-esque archeological discovery adventure, set against a backdrop of a nation on the brink of war, but at the end of the day it’s a story about a workaholic academic just finding her way in life.
I really clicked with Grace Curtis’s writing - her characters are delightful and so fun to follow. I really liked Cod, our main character. She’s socially awkward and single-minded, but as we go on we find out so much about her backstory that makes it really easy to empathize with her. The supporting characters are equally as fun - I loved getting scenes with Marr and Sparrow, their more extroverted, charismatic personalities were a great contrast to Cod. I do wish we got more from Thal in the first half, given how much she grew on me by the end.
The world building was also well done, especially in her descriptions of the bustling city of Ash and Cod’s hometown of Tessi. You really get the sense very early on that this nation Cod lives in is quite polarizing in its views of progress, religion, etc. For a story that only focuses on a couple characters and is very zoomed-in in its narration, I think Curtis does a good job of insinuating larger-scale repercussions.
For the most part the plot was quite quick, but I think it did fumble a little bit in the middle. I found myself in a bit of disbelief that some development in the plot would happen so easily. That’s just me nitpicking, though. I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention the scene with animal violence that happens about halfway into the book - it’s brief but pretty graphic and feels a bit out of place in terms of tone.
Now that I’m reading through other reviews, apparently Heaven’s Graveyard is set in the same universe as Curtis’s other book Idolfire, just 2,000 years later. I imagine reading that one first would give you a better idea on the lore and magic system but I definitely think that this stands on its own just fine. I’m definitely intrigued to pick up Idolfire though!
November 28, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of Heaven's Graveyard! I'm rating it 4.5 stars.
I was sold on Heaven's Graveyard as soon as I saw it described as a "sinister lesbian history mystery" in a science fantasy world. It was somehow exactly as described and not at all what I expected, and I had so much fun reading it!
Heaven's Graveyard is part sapphic thriller novel, part archaeological mystery, and part a story about humanity's tendency towards war. And, it's a story about child-parent relationships, being neurodivergent, and whether we run away from or stay to confront difficult situations.
I haven't read Idolfire, which is set 2,000 years earlier, so my review will be entirely focused on Heaven's Graveyard.
This book makes a lot of chilling points about warfare and religion, and I loved that about it. At the same time, I found it sometimes frustratingly lacking in details — but that was because the protagonist didn't pay any attention to current affairs. She was constantly surprised by what was going on and never asked people questions about themselves or their backgrounds, so I also understand why us readers didn't get more information. All the same, I kind of wish someone had given the protagonist a talking-to and filled her in a bit on things so that we could have learned about it. For me, I think that would have been enough to make this a five-star read.
I also adored our queer, autistic-coded protagonist who is so passionate about the myth at the heart of this mystery, and who also cares so deeply despite others not seeing it. Cod's relationship with her mother and how that affects her sense of self made me cry.
Maybe it's because I'm also an archaeology geek, but I also loved the mythological aspects of this novel and the magic system.
I was sold on Heaven's Graveyard as soon as I saw it described as a "sinister lesbian history mystery" in a science fantasy world. It was somehow exactly as described and not at all what I expected, and I had so much fun reading it!
Heaven's Graveyard is part sapphic thriller novel, part archaeological mystery, and part a story about humanity's tendency towards war. And, it's a story about child-parent relationships, being neurodivergent, and whether we run away from or stay to confront difficult situations.
I haven't read Idolfire, which is set 2,000 years earlier, so my review will be entirely focused on Heaven's Graveyard.
This book makes a lot of chilling points about warfare and religion, and I loved that about it. At the same time, I found it sometimes frustratingly lacking in details — but that was because the protagonist didn't pay any attention to current affairs. She was constantly surprised by what was going on and never asked people questions about themselves or their backgrounds, so I also understand why us readers didn't get more information. All the same, I kind of wish someone had given the protagonist a talking-to and filled her in a bit on things so that we could have learned about it. For me, I think that would have been enough to make this a five-star read.
I also adored our queer, autistic-coded protagonist who is so passionate about the myth at the heart of this mystery, and who also cares so deeply despite others not seeing it. Cod's relationship with her mother and how that affects her sense of self made me cry.
Maybe it's because I'm also an archaeology geek, but I also loved the mythological aspects of this novel and the magic system.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75 starts.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder Books & Hodder Publicity for the arc of this book.
This review is based on this story alone as I have not read Idolfire (yet!). And do you know what, I am quite happy about that, as we got to figure out the magic and the mysteries with Cod, and not feel ahead of the story.
Coda gets pulled back to her hometown after hearing about a huge archaeological discovery, only to arrive and find that her wonderful professor who sent the message, has been murdered. As she chases down whispers of her favourite obsession - the maybe real, maybe not Aleya, Coda quickly realises she’s stepped straight into something massive, messy, and way more dangerous than she ever signed up for.
I don’t say this often, but from the get-go I knew I would enjoy this story. It has great storytelling pacing, and from about 30% I couldn’t put it down. The last 10% was completely inhaled. I could have perhaps done with this being a little bit longer to really build it out.
There is a great balance between the main plot and subplot. Mysteries in each, thrilling and some real edge of the seat stuff in the second half. I like the balance between fantasy and technology too – it’s a very easy to understand, but unique world.
Or main character, Cod (Coda), is interesting to say the least. Relatable to some, but not for me. Cod is very aware of her language and behaviours but throughout the story I don’t really pick up any willingness to do better – it’s more of a resignation to it, and that felt unusual to me.
Our supporting cast are really great. Marr is somehow immediately likeable. Thal is wonderful – her calling out Cod was very satisfying! And Sparrow… well.
Overall, this story is a fantastic concept and executed brilliantly. Right, time for Idolfire!
Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder Books & Hodder Publicity for the arc of this book.
This review is based on this story alone as I have not read Idolfire (yet!). And do you know what, I am quite happy about that, as we got to figure out the magic and the mysteries with Cod, and not feel ahead of the story.
Coda gets pulled back to her hometown after hearing about a huge archaeological discovery, only to arrive and find that her wonderful professor who sent the message, has been murdered. As she chases down whispers of her favourite obsession - the maybe real, maybe not Aleya, Coda quickly realises she’s stepped straight into something massive, messy, and way more dangerous than she ever signed up for.
I don’t say this often, but from the get-go I knew I would enjoy this story. It has great storytelling pacing, and from about 30% I couldn’t put it down. The last 10% was completely inhaled. I could have perhaps done with this being a little bit longer to really build it out.
There is a great balance between the main plot and subplot. Mysteries in each, thrilling and some real edge of the seat stuff in the second half. I like the balance between fantasy and technology too – it’s a very easy to understand, but unique world.
Or main character, Cod (Coda), is interesting to say the least. Relatable to some, but not for me. Cod is very aware of her language and behaviours but throughout the story I don’t really pick up any willingness to do better – it’s more of a resignation to it, and that felt unusual to me.
Our supporting cast are really great. Marr is somehow immediately likeable. Thal is wonderful – her calling out Cod was very satisfying! And Sparrow… well.
Overall, this story is a fantastic concept and executed brilliantly. Right, time for Idolfire!
November 30, 2025
I was intrigued by the premise behind this book and I must say it was better than I expected.
We follow Cod, an archaeologist who is searching for an idol, Aleya, from a book she read as a child. After she receives a message from her old teacher informing her of a discovery, she returns home to find him dead. However, Cod has suspicions it was not just an accident, and with the help of an old lover, Sparrow, they begin to investigate. Alongside this, Cod continues her old teachers studies in the hope it will lead her to proof that Aleya is real. However, when she finds out the truth behind her old teachers death, things spiral out of control.
This was a fantasy world with magic setting, with a sapphic love story, with a murder mystery. The plot was fast paced and there was multiple things going on which kept me entertained. I also did not see that twist coming when they discover the truth behind her old teachers death! And I liked that it picked up pace from here as they were on a time restraint to stop a disaster.
I liked the characters, our main fmc Cod was very likeable, especially as we had snippets into her past and her mother’s past.
The flashbacks were good, usually I’m not overly keen on sudden time jumps or switches, but this worked well with this story. I liked the inclusion of Sparrows letters to Cod as it added depth to their relationship and I had slight empathy for Sparrow despite how she turned out.
I read this in one sitting, I found it easy to read and I wasn’t bored. It’s also now made me want to pick up Idolfire, especially as it was mentioned in the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
We follow Cod, an archaeologist who is searching for an idol, Aleya, from a book she read as a child. After she receives a message from her old teacher informing her of a discovery, she returns home to find him dead. However, Cod has suspicions it was not just an accident, and with the help of an old lover, Sparrow, they begin to investigate. Alongside this, Cod continues her old teachers studies in the hope it will lead her to proof that Aleya is real. However, when she finds out the truth behind her old teachers death, things spiral out of control.
This was a fantasy world with magic setting, with a sapphic love story, with a murder mystery. The plot was fast paced and there was multiple things going on which kept me entertained. I also did not see that twist coming when they discover the truth behind her old teachers death! And I liked that it picked up pace from here as they were on a time restraint to stop a disaster.
I liked the characters, our main fmc Cod was very likeable, especially as we had snippets into her past and her mother’s past.
The flashbacks were good, usually I’m not overly keen on sudden time jumps or switches, but this worked well with this story. I liked the inclusion of Sparrows letters to Cod as it added depth to their relationship and I had slight empathy for Sparrow despite how she turned out.
I read this in one sitting, I found it easy to read and I wasn’t bored. It’s also now made me want to pick up Idolfire, especially as it was mentioned in the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
November 16, 2025
My thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for a free DRC of "Heaven's Graveyard" by Grace Curtis.
Murder Mystery in a Fantasy setting with a moraly gray female protagonist.
This was my first work by this author and I loved how many wonderful ellements were introduced such as archeology, artefacts, reading again your favorite book when you are down and the love for historical research.
The main character is so fascinating even if in some instances she crosses the line of moraly gray.
There were some aspects of her past that I could relate and those helped me understand why she behaved in certain ways. I loved her gradual growth trough the novel.
While there is another novel in this universe, "Idolfire" and maybe I would have had more insight of the long past of this world by reading that before, "Heaven's Graveyard" worked charmingly as a standalone for me.
I have to admit there was a point where I thought the focus on the Romance might be too much, I am so glad I continued as everything had a purpose and realy enjoyed my reading experience.
Normaly I don't add trigger warnings, but I'll make one exception here as I know animal death / abuse is a tough thing to read for most readers.
Highly recommended if you can stomach the above topic.
Murder Mystery in a Fantasy setting with a moraly gray female protagonist.
This was my first work by this author and I loved how many wonderful ellements were introduced such as archeology, artefacts, reading again your favorite book when you are down and the love for historical research.
The main character is so fascinating even if in some instances she crosses the line of moraly gray.
There were some aspects of her past that I could relate and those helped me understand why she behaved in certain ways. I loved her gradual growth trough the novel.
While there is another novel in this universe, "Idolfire" and maybe I would have had more insight of the long past of this world by reading that before, "Heaven's Graveyard" worked charmingly as a standalone for me.
I have to admit there was a point where I thought the focus on the Romance might be too much, I am so glad I continued as everything had a purpose and realy enjoyed my reading experience.
Normaly I don't add trigger warnings, but I'll make one exception here as I know animal death / abuse is a tough thing to read for most readers.
Highly recommended if you can stomach the above topic.
December 7, 2025
I received a digital ARC via Netgalley.
Heaven’s Graveyard is a sapphic fantasy with a touch of mystery. Coda is a doctor researching a mythological figure that she believes really existed, when she finds some evidence she rushes back to her home city, to show her mentor. Set amongst of backdrop of brewing war between church and state, this story packs a lot in.
I loved that the story revolved around mostly female characters, male characters only appear in supporting roles, it made my feminist heart happy. Cod is great, her character is autistic-coded, though no explicit diagnosis is given, but scenes where she fails to understand social nuance or respond in a way other people deemed appropriate felt authentic to me. I enjoyed the complex relationships between the characters, Cod and her ex, Sparrow, Cod and her academic rival Thal even Cod and her mother, though we mostly saw that through flashbacks.
The world-building was great, detailed without feeling too heavy or with large chunks of exposition. I enjoyed the mythology which was a key aspect of the plot.
Warning, there is an animal death. It was necessary for the plot but I still found it a tough read.
If you are interested in female-lead fantasy stories, I recommend giving this book a go!
December 10, 2025
It's quite hard to pin down what this book is.
There is a murder mystery. There is some sapphic yearning. There's magic and fantastical elements.
The main character is a nerdy archaeologist/museum curator obsessed with proving that a certain myth is real and actually happened. The world she inhabits feels lived in--there are tensions with a neighboring country and religious persecution that we get hints of, but not the full picture. This might frustrate some lorehounds, but I thought it gave just the right amount of flavor and tension to the world.
The stakes start small and keep escalating all the way to the end. There were twists and turns I didn't see coming and I couldn't wait to find out what happens next. The sapphic yearning was atypical and does not follow your common tropes. I do think the ending was a bit rushed, and I wish we just had a few more pages about the aftermath of the whole thing. I was invested in this world and I wanted to know about the implications of that ending...but it's hard to say much else about that without spoiling the story.
Would absolutely recommend this book for anyone wanting a grand archaeological adventure.
4.25 stars
There is a murder mystery. There is some sapphic yearning. There's magic and fantastical elements.
The main character is a nerdy archaeologist/museum curator obsessed with proving that a certain myth is real and actually happened. The world she inhabits feels lived in--there are tensions with a neighboring country and religious persecution that we get hints of, but not the full picture. This might frustrate some lorehounds, but I thought it gave just the right amount of flavor and tension to the world.
The stakes start small and keep escalating all the way to the end. There were twists and turns I didn't see coming and I couldn't wait to find out what happens next. The sapphic yearning was atypical and does not follow your common tropes. I do think the ending was a bit rushed, and I wish we just had a few more pages about the aftermath of the whole thing. I was invested in this world and I wanted to know about the implications of that ending...but it's hard to say much else about that without spoiling the story.
Would absolutely recommend this book for anyone wanting a grand archaeological adventure.
4.25 stars
December 3, 2025
4.5 ⭐
Questo libro è un mix sorprendente: parte thriller archeologico, parte mito queer, parte riflessione potente sulla guerra, sui traumi familiari e sull'essere neurodivergenti in un mondo che non sempre lascia spazio.
La protagonista è una ragazza che non cerca di essere l’eroina perfetta. È disorientata, a volte ignara del contesto che la circonda, e questo rende la narrazione molto intima. È completamente centrata su se stessa, sulle sue paure, sul dolore con cui cresce, e per questo il mondo esterno sembra un po' offuscato dalla sua stessa confusione.
Un libro difficile da incasellare ma che sorprende con un rapporto madre-figlia che spezza il cuore e un vero amore per la mitologia che arriva fino al lettore.
nota a parte: ho fatto la richiesta ARC sia per la copertina che per il titolo.
grazie a netgalley per l'ARC!
Questo libro è un mix sorprendente: parte thriller archeologico, parte mito queer, parte riflessione potente sulla guerra, sui traumi familiari e sull'essere neurodivergenti in un mondo che non sempre lascia spazio.
La protagonista è una ragazza che non cerca di essere l’eroina perfetta. È disorientata, a volte ignara del contesto che la circonda, e questo rende la narrazione molto intima. È completamente centrata su se stessa, sulle sue paure, sul dolore con cui cresce, e per questo il mondo esterno sembra un po' offuscato dalla sua stessa confusione.
Un libro difficile da incasellare ma che sorprende con un rapporto madre-figlia che spezza il cuore e un vero amore per la mitologia che arriva fino al lettore.
nota a parte: ho fatto la richiesta ARC sia per la copertina che per il titolo.
grazie a netgalley per l'ARC!
December 22, 2025
Cod our main character had a rough life, throughout the book, she finds out how much she has been liked to or "mislead" if you would like a less angry word - even by her own mother. And actually at the end you find out why and the wherefores' of what happened.
But when she was a child she found a book of fairy tales that she took to be of "real life" and the book is about her meeting the author of said book and then her work in archelogy and museums etc. "he calls her back home" but is dead when she gets there.
Turns out that the book wasn't about make believe, she finds out what true friendship means, she grows as a character and makes up with her mother in the end. Great story - it kept my interest.
But when she was a child she found a book of fairy tales that she took to be of "real life" and the book is about her meeting the author of said book and then her work in archelogy and museums etc. "he calls her back home" but is dead when she gets there.
Turns out that the book wasn't about make believe, she finds out what true friendship means, she grows as a character and makes up with her mother in the end. Great story - it kept my interest.
November 25, 2025
Loved the writing and the character work, but the plot felt a little stagnant in the middle despite the fact that things were technically happening. Hard to put my finger on why, but maybe it was because all of the conflict stayed contained among a small cast of characters, so it was harder to imagine how widespread the consequences could be. Still, a big fan of Grace Curtis, and I’ll be looking forward to see what she writes next.
January 3, 2026
If nothing else, I respect the fact that Curtis decided this stand alone could also techncially tie in to her previous novel by setting it in the same setting, just a millenium or so down the line, which is an absolutely ballsy choice. We get a fantasy world on the verge of war, and an archaeologist professor who is trying to find her missing professor, who is slowly drawn into an Indiana Jones esque conspiracy involving possible weapons of the gods, nation building mythos, and nations manuevering to try and come out on top. We also have a reveal of an arch nemesis whose epistolary forms a good part of the back of the novel, and gives us some A++ yearning letters. Also the imposition of the second person POV for the god adjacent POV is a really nice touch. Hell of a flex of a novel, and highly recommended when it comes out next summer.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An absolutely impeccable first fantasy book! I loved this book so much, the characters are so lovable and that plot twist genuinely had me jaw dropped for a solid 5 minutes, i can say that not many books are able to accomplish this. I was gobsmacked to find out that this author is a local to me too! Will definitely be keeping up with Grace's work.
November 29, 2025
Excellent adventure. Female lead and an action packed adventure that travels across archaeology, magic, and gay relationships in a fantasy setting. Really enjoyed this novel. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
November 19, 2025
Had no expectations going into this eARC and was very pleasantly surprised! A sweet and adventurous sapphic tale
January 12, 2026
I want more! What an excellent stand alone fantasy full of mystery and magic. The world building is great, I’d even argue that there could be even more. I do appreciate the pacing of this story overall, as some fantasy can become too muddled with details. The first half of the story is more of a slow build up with discoveries. The latter half, Act 2, ramps up and we see a satisfying flow of events. I enjoyed Cod as a character, but I wish we got even more relationship building with Thal and Sparrow.
Heaven’s Graveyard was a well written, fast paced fantasy with interesting lore.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this copy to review in return for my honest opinion.
Heaven’s Graveyard was a well written, fast paced fantasy with interesting lore.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this copy to review in return for my honest opinion.
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