To Conquer Death

by Richard H. Moon

In a world at the crossroads of myth and memory, the living and the dead are no longer bound to their proper places.

Koshei and Tyfon, brothers from Ancient Egypt, grow up in the shadow of war and loss, and swear to honor their fallen father and defend their homeland. Far to the north, a young girl named Doryah watches her mother’s funeral twist into a nightmare—one that convinces her that only fire can keep the dead from rising.

Twenty years later, the brothers, now soldiers in Pharaoh’s army, crush an invasion from across the Great Green Sea, but what they took to be invaders are refugees. Among the survivors, Doryah, hardened by flight and grief, bridges the divide of language and culture to give the brothers a the dead are restless, and something ancient is calling to them.

Charged by Pharaoh to trace the source of the rising dead, Tyfon, Koshei, and Doryah embark on a perilous journey from the sun-scorched banks of the Nile to the burned shores of Achaea. Together they uncover a truth older than empires, a game played by a god who has lost all mercy—where the cost of winning may be nothing less than their souls, their homelands, and the fragile balance of the world.--

"Richard H. Moon’s To Conquer Death is a striking historical fantasy that fuses meticulously researched ancient Egyptian culture with a layered, myth-infused world...From the first page, the novel immerses readers in a society where magic and spirituality are not just embellishments but integral to daily life, creating a world that feels lived-in and authentic...With characters who feel real, a world that feels lived-in, and a narrative that blends heart-pounding action with reflective depth, Richard H. Moon delivers a historical fantasy that resonates long after the final page.” – Elizabeth Stargiotti for Independent Book Review

"A riveting take on a ghoulish subgenre, featuring a well-crafted cast and vivid setting." – Kirkus Reviews

"Combining the scope of epic fantasy with intimate personal conflicts, Richard H. Moon’s To Conquer Death tells a timeless story of characters who face insurmountable trials, endure profound loss, and forge bonds that outlast even death itself." – Chanticleer Book Reviews

"To Conquer Death beautifully covers the themes of duty, spiritual balance, and the true cost of eternal peace. I recommend it to readers who enjoy historical fantasies and dark epics about brotherhood and the zeal to conquer death." – Isabella Harris for Readers’ Favorite

Genres: Fiction

380 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 18, 2025

Reviews

[Michael Culbertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

To Conquer Death is a zombie novel. I probably should have known from the blurb’s mention of watching a “funeral twist into a nightmare” demonstrating that “only fire can keep the dead from rising,” but I was so focused on the interesting historical setting that I guess I wasn’t paying close enough attention. It dawned on me when I read that funeral scene in the first chapter, “Oh, right, zombies.” Zombies aren’t exactly my favorite trope, but I wanted to see what Moon would do with it, so I pressed on.

Characterization was great: The narrative is from a close third-person perspective, rotating primarily between three primary protagonists, with occasional views from minor characters. Older brother and commander Koshei is responsible, duty-bound, and watches out for his younger brother Tyfon, who is fearless but impetuous. Foreigner Doryah is brilliant and a jaded survivor. The characters are multilayered with relevant histories, and their voices are well differentiated.

Battle action seemed pretty exciting—I’m not really in it for the action sequences, so I don’t pay as much attention to these, but they will likely satisfy those who enjoy these scenes. The fights can be a bit gruesome at times, but that’s probably to be expected for this genre.

The novel’s primary weakness is that so much of it is substantially over-described: The language is clear and vivid with strong word choice—there is just too much of it, with multiple appositives piled on all over the place where a single phrase or image would have sufficed. For example, “These barbarians, here, were not a people, not a nation. They were rats in the granary, flies drinking blood, locusts from the sea” (25). Or this:

Doryah kept running, thought, There has to be a way out. One that let her keep moving south, always south, away from the darkness that had chased them her entire life. Away from the darkness that filled the woods of her childhood, that stole the peace between the towering trees and pushed them all from the familiar lands of the dep North. The darkness more terrifying than any frontier of spears and shields and sickle-swords, that pushed them always south. Forever south. (32)

There is also the overuse of the formula “X and Y and Z”—we even get it twice in one sentence: “Strength and protection charms flickered blue and white and gold along bronze and filigree and seam” (187). None of this is bad on its own, but the immoderate usage makes for ponderous paragraphs that can feel rather tedious. After gritting my teeth through a few chapters, I eventually settled into a semi-skimming gait that allowed me to hop through the description from idea to idea.

In the end, I enjoyed the historical setting and the rich characters; I was less enthusiastic about the action sequences and the action-focused resolution, but readers who enjoy action-packed zombie adventures will likely be delighted.

Thanks to Atmosphere Press and NetGalley for providing a review copy.