Where Crows Find Death: A Dark Gothic Romantasy

by L.K. Reid

Even death couldn’t keep them apart.

Eleven months ago, Kaira survived the crash that killed her family.
She should have died with them. Some days, she wishes she had.

But grief isn’t the only thing haunting her.

Night after night, he finds her.
A man made of shadows.
A voice that whispers for her to remember.

She doesn’t know who he is.
But her soul does.

When Kaira discovers her mother’s hidden journals, everything she thought she knew begins to unravel.

A forbidden love.
A secret past.
A truth about her own blood.

An island erased from every map.
A place her mother fled.

Now something is pulling her towards it.

Kaira must
stay buried in grief or step into a world where love, death, and destiny are far more dangerous than she ever imagined.

Because some souls are bound long before they meet.
And some stories were never meant to end.


Where Crows Find Death is a dark gothic romantasy centered around Hades and Persephone, exploring themes of grief, loss, reincarnation, and soulmates, woven together with rich symbolism inspired by Greek mythology.

Due to its mature themes, this book is intended for readers 18+.

Genres: Dark, Fantasy

277 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2026

About the author

L.K. Reid is a dark romance author who hates slow walkers and people being mean for no reason.

In her opinion, Halloween should be a public holiday, and she also has a small obsession with all things historical—especially Greek mythology. During high school, she wanted to be an archaeologist, and ended up studying law, but obviously neither one of those professions worked out.

If she isn’t writing, she’s most probably watching horror movies, listening to music, reading, or plotting upcoming books.



Find her on other social media:

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3hIWR4w
Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3luuARa
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorlkreid

Reviews

[NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books} · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4,5 "Kore!!!" stars***



"I'll find you in another life..."

The veil is broken and I'm impatiently waiting to see what will happen next!!!
As a Greek woman, I adore our mythology very much and I am intrigued every time that someone is trying to write something with references in there...
Imagine Leila's writing combined with ancient Greek myths... Explosive!!!
I am very proud of this girl cause she treated our mythology with respect and she gave us other aspects that I would never thought about... and I had such a great time reading this dark, kind of gothic and full of mythological creatures, story!!! And I can not wait for the next part!!!

"I need you to remember."

Almost a year ago, Kaira lost her family in a tragic car accident...
The only survivor was her, but nowadays she was spending her days full of misery and grief, until the day she discovered her mother's journals....
From that moment, she is starting a wild goose chase to find an island that doesn't exist in the map...
And what will happen when she will discover the Nevermere Island and she will start to learn that her role in the future will be pivotal or that she is bound to the God of Underworld from millenials ago??? How she will react when her world will fall apart and ancient Gods are after her???

"Even death couldn't keep us apart, but it could keep destroying us. Lifetime after lifetime, sucking out the life from both of us."

I liked Kaira very much!!! The poor girl was thrown into an unknown world and everyone had huge expectations of her!!! So, her reactions from time to time were reckless, but the informations that they were bombarding her all the time were unbelievable!!!
And then there was Hades, this poor, tortured man who was lost without the love of his life!!!!
I loved the way Leila portrayed the God of the Underworld!!!
I liked everything about this story, even though at the end of the book, we hadn't even touched the tip of the iceberg!!!
I am only praying that the next book won't take very long!!!

"Who are you to me?... Who are you, truly?"
"A stranger in this life. But once upon a time, I was everything."

This was an epic story!!! A beautiful, but dark tale based on Greek Mythology!!!
If you love Romantasy books, this is one story that you don't want to miss!!!
You need to meet Kaira and Hades!!!
And you deserve to meet Elandra... She was amazing and Leila gave her justice in a way cause back in her days, she was a misunderstood creature!!!
Yes, you really need to meet all these beautiful and mythical creatures with their bright and dark sides!!!

"The first-born daughter of the first one shall rise
And Gods shall kneel where her shadow had passed..."

**I received and ARC for the exchange of an honest review**

[💜VGreedyReader🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

★ 4.5 ★

Leila sinks her teeth into gothic fantasy, you would never believe this is her first dabbing into this realm, she blends darkness, Greek mythology and fantasy, the result is nothing short of amazing.

The setting may be the fruit of her wonderful mind but the way she fuses Greek mythology and romance is unbelievably good. She paints the capricious Greek gods and their spoiled souls with such expertise it brought me back to those school days when I eagerly learned about myths and legends. This new turn she deliverers is a winner in my book.

The story begins with the main character, Kaira and her struggle with the immediate loss of her family. The story develops slowly and we need to be patient before we begin to understand and glean what’s behind Kaira’s events that make her story.

The narrative rhythm picks up once Kaira finds Nevermere island, a remote and hidden place separating life and death. Once she begins her new journey we also get to know other characters who plays a fundamental role in her development. This is where she also meets Hades, as she discovers their connection and the role she has in their story she also needs to accept who she is and what her actions unleash…

Although I acknowledge Kaira’s difficulties and her struggles I sometimes had a hard time understanding her actions, I felt she was too rushed and stubborn. In her defence, the people surrounding her didn’t always act helpfully, in an attempt to protect her they failed to avoid her behaviour from spiralling. I hope her evolution and growth will also bring more wisdom. A particular mention to my favourite character ever Elandra. She takes the crown and I’m so elated for her role in this story, the myth she represents has always been mistreated and unjustly portrayed by posterity, she deserves retribution. Thank you Leila for giving her the place she deserves.

The cliffhanger at the end of book one is as brutal as Kaira’s awakening! The veil is broken and I’m so eager to see what happens next…

[Ashlyn Boozenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! I have always been a huge fan of Greek mythology, especially the tale of Hades and Persephone so when I saw this book I immediately signed up for an arc! I cannot wait to see what happens next! (especially after that cliffhanger 😂)

[savage_book_review · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Please note, I was provided with an ARC of this book by the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review*

This book has all of the hallmarks of a great Hades and Persephone reimagining; a Hades that's dark but gentle for her, a Persephone that's learned to be strong, independent and how to fight back, yearning across the millenia and Cerberus the Very Good Dog. So on the surface, I'm a very happy reader. But, for me, there are just a few too many things that miss the mark for it to be up there with the best of them.

The overall tone of the book definitely leans darker; the descriptions make the whole work really atmospheric, and it’s incredibly easy to feel the damp, biting cold of the fog, the ominous rolls of thunder and the looming shadows. When you reach the island that is the main setting, in my head, I was imagining a gothic version of the island from 'Mamma Mia' with the beautiful Grecian buildings, but dark, black, covered in vines and almost derelict, but somehow still inhabitable. Likewise, the portrayal of grief means that you feel the weight and heartbreak of loss, and Kaira's year of being almost completely consumed by it is impressively powerful to read. It may not be a happy read, but it will absolutely give you goosebumps.

At the outset, I was really impressed with the way the story and world was being layered, with there being clear signposts as to what was to come but without it being clunky or feeling lazy. It kept things moving, and yet somehow managed to feel like it was slowly building towards something big. Keira's determination to break through the inertia, the discoveries she makes and the decision to follow the signs all felt like great foundations, and then her strange meetings really started to give the book that slightly horror-edged feel, which is not something I usually enjoy but it REALLY worked in this case!

However, it's once we meet our core cast that the pacing and precision of the writing seem to falter. The grounded feel disappears, and the reader is left with a narrative that just skims the surface, hitting beats with no real depth. And yet, nothing much seems to happen. There's a constant cycle of Kaira demanding to be told things, people starting to tell her things which she doesn't want to hear so she runs away. Only for her to get angry that noone is telling her anything the next time she sees someone. I honestly love the idea of her character, but she comes across as so immature in places that by the end I just couldn't care for her in the way that I wanted to.

While the "big secret" isn't really a secret to the reader due to the characters involved and the way the book is marketed, the finesse that was shown at the beginning with that layering also feels like it's disappeared. It feels like Hades and Kaira's learning abiut eachother should be a beautiful torment for the reader, but instead it just makes Kaira come across as pretty ignorant considering what we are told about her upbringing. There were moments where I wanted to scream at her 'if you know so much about Greek mythology, how come this isn't ringing ANY bells?!', and beg her to stop being so combative and just think for a moment. Unfortunately, this rather detracted from the absolutely stunning moment towards the end of the book, which was a real shame.

Hades, on the other hand... Yes, the Lord of the Underworld has his own subsection on my book boyfriend list. And this version of him fits the mould very well. I just needed MORE. I loved the visual of his broken soul, and all of the talk of his emerald green eyes means that's all I can see when I close mine. My only slight frustration was that, while he absolutely has that quiet strength I love, he seemed to lose it around Kaira. There are a few occasions where I just needed to see him gently take charge, tilt her chin up so he could look into her eyes and give her a warm but firm command to actually listen that she was powerless to ignore.

I liked the introduction of the larger pantheon of gods and creatures, but the wider story arc felt quite rushed. I understand why so much has been crammed into these pages, as the stopping off point to lead into the next book makes absolute sense, but it feels like the book needs to be longer to give the characters and plot the room to develop more slowly and broadly.

Overall, it may not have hit my sweet spot, but it was still a good read with a different feel.

[Sydney Ely · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a weakness for anything even remotely connected to Hades and Persephone, so Where Crows Find Death was basically guaranteed to end up on my radar. Dark gothic romantasy? Greek mythology inspiration? Soulmates, reincarnation, grief, and death themes? I was absolutely going to give this a shot.

Overall, I ended up really enjoying this, but it definitely took me a while to get there.

For a book under 300 pages, there is so much packed into this story. The first 70–80% honestly felt a little all over the place. There’s a ton happening at once - grief, family secrets, mythology, hidden journals, worldbuilding, lore reveals, magical bloodlines, prophecies, mysterious shadow men, lost islands... it is a lot. At times, it felt like the book was trying to cram the foundation of an entire fantasy series into a very limited page count, which made parts of the pacing feel disjointed and exposition-heavy.

There is definitely a decent amount of lore dumping, and for a while I wasn’t entirely sure where the story was trying to take me. It wasn’t until probably the last five chapters or so that all of the puzzle pieces really started clicking into place for me. Once that happened, though? The pacing finally picked up, the emotional stakes hit harder, and suddenly I was fully invested.

Knowing this is clearly setting up a much larger story (I’m guessing at least a trilogy, if not more) also makes a lot of my earlier frustrations make more sense in hindsight. This very much reads like a setup book. Not always in the smoothest way, but enough groundwork is being laid here that I can understand why the pacing felt the way it did.

My biggest issue, unfortunately, was Kaira.

For a 29-year-old FMC, she spent a lot of this book acting like a stubborn teenager. I understand that grief, trauma, and having your entire reality ripped apart can absolutely impact emotional regulation and decision-making, so I tried to extend some grace there. And to the book’s credit, this is eventually acknowledged—she does recognize later that she was behaving selfishly and stubbornly.

That self-awareness helped.

But wow, getting there was frustrating.

I also have a complicated relationship with chosen one narratives, particularly when the protagonist spends a huge chunk of the story insisting, “I’m not doing this just because some prophecy says I have to,” only for the plot to obviously continue pushing them toward exactly that outcome. It’s a common trope, but it can feel repetitive when not handled carefully. Some of Kaira’s resistance came across less as compelling inner conflict and more as emotional tantrums, which made it harder for me to connect with her at times.

That being said, once she finally starts stepping into herself, embracing her power, and actually moving with purpose? I liked her significantly more.

Seeing her come into her own was genuinely satisfying, and it gave me hope for her arc moving forward.

That said... girl. Without spoiling anything: some of her late-book decision making had me absolutely staring at the page in disbelief. She genuinely had a potential two-for-one outcome right in front of her and somehow chose the side quest first. A wild strategic choice. Respectfully.

And that ending genuinely got me.

I finished this book feeling surprisingly gutted, which tells me the emotional foundation absolutely worked. For all my pacing frustrations, by the end I was emotionally attached enough to care deeply about what happens next, and honestly, that counts for a lot.

Despite my frustrations, I’m intrigued.

This wasn’t a flawless read by any means, but the mythology elements, emotional weight, gothic atmosphere, and final act were strong enough that I’m very interested in continuing the series.

If you like Hades/Persephone inspired romantasy, heavier emotional themes, soulmate/reincarnation dynamics, and don’t mind a somewhat chaotic setup book that asks for patience, this may really work for you.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting twist to hades and Persephone

I enjoyed it.

[Rae’s Book Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been obsessed with the Hades and Persephone story so when I saw Where Crows Find Death was a retelling I knew I had to read it and I am so glad I did. This book was phenomenal!

* Warning to all who venture forth prepare thy tissues prior to reading page one as I cried from the very first page to the very last. Trust me you’ll be saving your sleeves from mascara stains. *

I am not an expert on Greek mythology so I cannot speak for accuracy, however I cannot imagine wanting anything in this book to change. L.K did a really good job of incorporating the well-known stories and characters while putting her own twist on them.

This book heavily talks about the pain that comes with grief and I honestly loved how it was written. Anyone that has experienced such deep grief will feel an emotional connection to Kiara the FMC. Her grief throughout the book was displayed in such a raw and realistic way. But her grief was not the only one that was shown, her aunt and our MMC Hades were also dealing with grief in different ways and for different reasons. It really showed how everyone processes things differently and I just really loved that detail in this.

I did get frustrated that Kiara wanted to go back to the place her mother gave up everything to get her away from but then I remembered that my toddler tends to do the very things I say not to and I realized.... that actually tracks for kids no matter the age.
Kiara was definitely relatable for me, of course I am not finding out the things she did about her past and herself but I’m pretty sure I would react similar if I did.
Now for our MMC, Hades. Once again. I loved him. The poor tortured soul that is Hades has my heart. I cried a lot over his chapters. He deserves to be put in bubble wrap and given a happy ending at some point, I’m manifesting a happy ending for him eventually.....pretty please with a pomegranate on top.
The duel POV’s in this were extremely easy to follow and added more depth to both Kiera and Hades individually as well as their story line together. Overall, I felt like this book was really good and did a great job setting things up for book 2, especially that brain spinning, heart wrenching last line!!
This series is going to be epic I can already tell!
I will be waiting not so patiently for book 2!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to L. K. Reid for sending me an ARC of Where Crows Find Death! This captivating fantasy romance series, the first book in the series, completely drew me in from the very beginning.

After losing her entire family in a tragic car accident, Kaira’s world crumbles. While sorting through her mother’s journals, she uncovers long-buried family secrets connected to a mysterious island called Nevermere—a place that seemingly shouldn’t exist. Upon arriving there, Kaira discovers an entirely new world filled with mythology, destiny, and danger. She also finally meets Hades, the man who has haunted her dreams for the past year, and with whom she shares an undeniable connection.

As a fan of Greek mythology, particularly stories inspired by Hades and Persephone, I knew I had to read this book, and it exceeded all my expectations. While drawing inspiration from the myth, the story feels fresh and unique, rather than a direct retelling, which makes it even more compelling. The beautifully crafted blend of grief, fate, romance, and mystery hits hard emotionally.

Hades and Kaira are incredible main characters. Their pain, longing, and emotional struggles feel so raw and real that my heart breaks for them repeatedly. This story is painful in the best way possible—dark, emotional, and utterly consuming. It breaks me, heals me, and then breaks me all over again. The intense chemistry between them leaves me eager to see where their story goes next.

I also loved the side characters and the mythology woven throughout the story. Every revelation keeps me on edge, and the hauntingly beautiful atmosphere is captivating. And that ending… absolutely diabolical! Even though I started suspecting what might happen, I still sat there in shock when the cliffhanger hit. I need book two immediately because there’s no way I can emotionally recover from that ending anytime soon.

Where Crows Find Death is a stunning dark romantasy filled with grief, love, mythology, and emotional intensity. It’s one of my favorite reads of 2026 so far, and this series has officially secured a permanent place in my heart. If you love mythology-inspired fantasy romances with devastating emotional stakes, I highly recommend picking this one up.

[Em Yardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into Where the Crows Find Death fully prepared for a cute little Greek mythology inspired romantasy and instead L.K. Reid grabbed me by the throat, whispered “good luck,” and emotionally drop-kicked me into the underworld.

As a certified Hades and Persephone addict, I knew this book already had me in a chokehold before I even opened it. But THIS? This was so much more than a retelling. It was dark, haunting, painful, beautiful, and somehow managed to make me feel like my soul had been personally attacked in the best possible way.

Kaira and Hades absolutely destroyed me. Every interaction had me giggling one second and staring at the wall questioning my existence the next. The grief in this story felt so raw and real that I genuinely wanted to crawl into the pages and hug everyone… while also yelling at them for emotionally ruining me. Their love spanning lifetimes? Sickening. Beautiful. Rude, honestly.

And the WRITING???

“She tasted like eternity…” EXCUSE ME??? I had to physically put the book down and recover because L.K. Reid was out here crafting sentences that belong in a museum. Every page felt atmospheric and heavy with symbolism, fate, loss, prophecy, and longing. It’s the kind of story that settles into your bones and refuses to leave.

The mythology twists were incredible and I loved that it wasn’t a straightforward retelling. The secrets, revelations, and emotional punches just kept coming and I was fully locked in from chapter one. Also shoutout to the side characters and gods because now I’m attached to all of them too.

But can we discuss that cliffhanger??? Because WHAT WAS THAT. I suspected something awful was coming and yet I still sat there in absolute horror like a Victorian woman receiving terrible news. I need book two immediately. This is not a want. This is a medical emergency.

This book broke me. Then healed me a little. Then broke me again for fun.

💚 Hades x Persephone
✨ Greek Mythology
💚 Fated Lovers
✨ Dark Gothic Romantasy
💚 Prophecies
✨ Emotional Damage

“I’ll find you in another life.” WELL NOW I’M CRYING AGAIN.

I received an ARC for my honest review.

[Mara Miniaci · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I say I felt lucky getting the ARC for ”Where Crows Find Death”, I’m not exagerating. Normally, I’m not the biggest fan of Greek mythology, but ever since reading a modern-day retelling of Hades & Persephone, I just can’t seem to get enough of the two of them. So when this finally landed in my inbox, I was genuinely excited to dive into it!

This book catapulted me all the way back to my youth, when I was absolutely obsessed with darker series such as The Vampire Diaries. The fog, crows & overall eeriness in the beginning instantly reminded me of that atmosphere, which only motivated me more to continue reading. It’s the perfect mythological story placed into a modern-day setting, which made everything feel both familiar & unsettling at the same time. An absolute delight!

Ah, Kaira… where do I even begin? Honestly, she reminds me so much of myself when I was 29. Thinking you have the entire world figured out, while in reality, you know absolutely nothing at all. At the same time, through moving on & everything she experiences, she slowly starts coming to terms with the parts of herself she feels she needs to change. She’s clearly running away from anything & anyone because she doesn’t even remotely understand what’s happening in her life right now. I felt deeply for her & connected with her in a way for which I can barely find the words to describe.

L.K. Reid truly has a way with words & it’s clear as day that this isn’t her first rodeo. I was completely swept away by how flawlessly she manages to bring this story to life through delicate phrasing & adequate vocabulary. The writing felt immersive, atmospheric & incredibly vivid throughout.

The tension throughout the story was absolutely perfect. I was never able to predict in which direction the next chapter would take me. It made my entire reading experience even more addictive.

But then… those final chapters… I genuinely did NOT expect this story to end on such a massive fricking cliffhanger. I was completely shook by all the revelations during the last two chapters & now… well, I desperately need the second book!

[Aleksandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much L. K. Reid for sending me this ARC!

Where Crows Find Death is the first book in a Fantasy Romance series and it was amazing, I loved Hades and Kaira’s story!

After her entire family died in a car accident Kaira’s life imploded, but while going through her mother’s journals, she finds out secrets about her family and their past and a mysterious island that seemingly doesn’t exist. When she gets to Nevermere she realizes there’s a whole world she had no idea about and finally meets Hades, the man she had been dreaming about for the past year and to whom she feels an inexplicable connection.

I love Greek myths retellings and Hades and Persephone is my favorite so I knew I had to read this book when I first saw it and the author really outdid herself here, it’s a beautiful story about grief and love spanning lifetimes and I absolutely loved it. It was a unique take on this myth and not exactly a retelling but that just made this story even more interesting and I was on the edge of my seat with all those secrets and revelations. Hades and Kaira were amazing MCs and my heart was breaking so many times for them, I could feel their pain and grief and sadness, I loved them so much and really hope they will get a HEA and I can’t wait to see more of them together. I also loved the other characters and some of the gods and hope we get to see more of them in the next books. And omg that cliffhanger is diabolical, I kind of started to expect that at some point but still screamed when it happened and I need the next book now!

Where Crows Find Death is a really great romantasy book, I loved it and recommend it to everyone. The next book can’t come soon enough!

[Giulilobooklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kaira ha passato tutta la vita a credere a una storia costruita sulle menzogne.
Poi sua madre è morta e con lei è scomparsa ogni certezza.
Non ha più nulla, se non il diario di sua madre…pagine consumate dal tempo, nomi che non le dicono nulla e storie impossibili che parlano di Nevermere, un’isola avvolta dal mistero.

Due occhi che la osservano nei sogni.
E ogni notte, la stessa voce continua a chiamarla.
Più Kaira si avvicina alla verità, più il confine tra realtà e soprannaturale si spezza.
Perché alcune famiglie custodiscono segreti… e la sua, li ha sepolti.

Non appena Kaira mette piede a Nevermere, capisce che il mondo in cui ha sempre vissuto era solo una parte della verità.
Lì incontra Ade, l’uomo che tormenta i suoi sogni da un anno.
L’uomo a cui la sua anima sembra appartenere ancora prima che il suo cuore possa comprenderlo.
Where Crows Find Death mescola magia, misteri e tensione, in una storia ispirata al mito di Ade e Persefone, ma con un’identità completamente propria. Leila ha fatto un lavoro pazzesco e leggerla in questa nuova veste mi ha fatto innamorare ancora di più della sua scrittura.

Ade e Kaira mi hanno spezzato il cuore più volte…ogni loro scena era intrisa di dolore, perdita e nostalgia di ciò che avevano un tempo e del destino che va contro di loro.
Ho sofferto e sperato con loro e ho bisogno disperatamente di sapere come andrà a finire. Anche i personaggi secondari mi sono piaciuti tantissimo, sopratutto gli Dei…aggiungono qualcosa a questa atmosfera misteriosa e affascinante di Nevermere e non vedo l’ora di scoprire di più nel prossimo libro.
E quel finale? Avevo inziato a sospettare qualcosa, ma mi ha lasciato a bocca aperta!
Grazie a Leila per la copia Arc.

[Booksbystarlightandshadows · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I didn't know my own happiness until I met my misery"

Kaira's grief journey hit really hard and I appreciated how well her initial mental state was depicted as well as her mission to the island not happening immediately after her family's death. The whole initial setup felt so atmospheric and I enjoyed the gothic twist on a Hades and Persephone retelling.

It lost a little steam for me though in the middle; I couldn't quite understand why no one would just tell Kaira what was going on. I understand the not overwhelming her part, but I was surprised Kaira didn't start putting the pieces together herself. Kaira even mentions Hades and Persephone being missing from her mother's book of stories at the beginning which was a massive red flag. That being said, when Kaira came into her own, I was all in. The scene with Lysander was compelling and the last few chapters really ramped things back up showing Persephone was more than the Goddess of Spring. I really enjoyed this take on Hades too; it was interesting to see him continually orbiting Kaira without the usual aloofness I associate with the character. He isn't quite warm and fuzzy but the yearning is real in this slow burn relationship!

I'm looking forward to book two and apart from hoping for the obvious after that ending, I really want to be there when Zeus finds out about Ares!

My interpretation of the star system;
3 stars - I enjoyed it; would read the author again
4 stars - I really liked it; I am invested and definitely want more from this author/series
5 stars - I loved it; I engaged with this book completely until I finished it and it is one I will re-read

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this haunting and gothic story! I loved the Greek gods aspect and the nod towards the retelling of Hades and Persephone. I absolutely loved the world building and the descriptions of the island. It almost felt like you were being enveloped in the fog while reading.

I admired Kaira's character for her resiliency and straight grit to get through each day after the accident. I thought her grief was portrayed well along with her desire for answers into her past. There were moments once she got to the island where she ran really hot and cold but I chocked that up to her frustration with the lack of answers.

I loved Hades. I mean he's got that whole mystical vibe and visits her dreams, what's not to love. Plus he has a cool dog, or three. I definitely felt a pull between them and a strong yearning from Hades. I could almost feel how much he loves Persephone.

I really loved the whole mystic astatic and how the gods were woven into the story. The emotional aspect was definitely there and helped me connect to the characters. The writing was almost otherworldly feeling. It was smooth and really captivated me. This story drew me in right away and I can’t wait for more! I would definitely recommend it!!

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited when I found out I was accepted to be an ARC reader for this book. So of course I dived right in once I got my copy. I’m leaving a voluntary review of this book.

I absolutely loved the storyline, the Hades/Persephone retelling in this magnificent and original way. It had wonderful description, and I found it to be so captivating. Kaira, let’s talk about her…she was a very immature and childish person. I had no love lost for her. She may have been the FMC but I could’ve done without her. Hades, absolute love. He played a really part in story. Obviously lol. While I loved reading this, it was a struggle at the same time. WAY too much was packed into so few pages. This could’ve easily been a 500 page book and flowed better. I understand if the author is wanting to break this into a series, which looks like that may be the case, this really needed more pages. It was almost an explosion of description and side stories being thrown at the reader. It was overwhelming. So that took away from the story for me. Closer to the end though, maybe 75%, it was perfection. That part of the story was done so beautifully. I wish the rest had been written that way. But with that ending, it totally made the read worthwhile, and I’m looking for another book to follow.

[D.E.Ranged D.E.Ranged · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Favourite quote - Hades, careful. Your grumpiness is showing.

Holy Sh!t - I need book two like, yesterday.

Did I devour this while on the bus to work and almost miss my stop? Yes I did, because what the hell! I LOVED this book, but that ending... It had me almost sobbing into my coffee. My heart broke thinking *he* (no spoilers) died only for the readers to find out he may still be alive and then the book ends...
This book had me all up in my feels, Kaira's grief for her family really showed throughout the story, the anger, the depression. It had my heart breaking for her. But when she found her aunt I was so happy for her finding someone who can help with her grief. Until the secrets of the island came out and woah. my mind was BLOWN!
Hades and Persephone's story has to be my favourite throughout the Greek Myths and this was a wonderful twist on their love story.

Little side note - Kaira apologising to Medusa for what she went through had to be one of the sweetest moments I've read in a while. Although it was a quick scene and not part of the main story, it will stick with me personally for reasons I can't say. <3

I cannot wait to see what happens in book two. <3

[Sara - The One with the TBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hades and Persephone retelling? Say less!

This book has all the elements to hook you from the beginning: a tragic event that shakes the FMC’s life, ominous dreams with something alluring hidden inside them, the discovery of a family secret that changes everything the FMC thought she knew about her life, a mysterious prophecy, and an inexplicable attraction towards a tall, dark stranger with green eyes...

During the first half of the book, L.K. Reid plants the seeds of a slow-burn plot that helps you truly get to know Kaira (FMC), from her grief to all the isolated dots of her life that suddenly begin weaving themselves into a bigger purpose. So I suggest you use this time to prepare yourself for what’s coming, because during the second half you’re going to be thrown into the ocean without floaties.

The story is captivating, blending together the old and the new, the known and the unknown, all under the umbrella of a Hades and Persephone retelling. And yes, the book ends on a cliffhanger, but lucky for us, book two is already in the works.

Overall, this first installment felt like the first time Phoebe and David (the scientist) said goodbye: sad, unfinished, and leaving you wanting more.

I received an ARC of this book and I'm giving my opinion freely.

[sinfullittleshelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑪𝒓𝒐𝒘 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉
ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴅ ɢᴏᴅs ʟɪᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ɪ

“𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥.
𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘺.”

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓
🐦‍⬛sᴛᴀʀ ᴄʀᴏssᴇᴅ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀs
👑ʜᴀᴅᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴇʀsᴇᴘʜᴏɴᴇ
🐦‍⬛ɢᴏᴅs ᴀs ᴠɪʟʟɪᴀɴs
👑ᴘʀᴏᴘʜᴇᴄɪᴇs
🐦‍⬛ɢʀɪᴇғ
👑sᴏᴜʟᴍᴀᴛᴇs
🐦‍⬛ᴅᴀʀᴋ ɢᴏᴛʜɪᴄ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ
👑ʀᴇᴠᴇɴɢᴇ
🐦‍⬛ғᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴍᴀᴛᴇs

“𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒂𝒎 𝑰 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒔?!.”
“𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙖𝙢 𝙄?!”
“𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔤!”

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

this author has officially destroyed my soul. this book is so painful yet so beautiful and I couldn’t get enough. I officially need book two because I can’t survive off that cliffhanger. this book will forever be etched into my soul. I love my fantasy romances and this.. this broke me. It healed me. broke me. and left me a sobbing mess. I won’t forgive you for doing this to my heart but in the end I absolutely loved every single word put into this. It may have broken me into pieces but it is still by far one of the best reads of 2026 so far and I cannot wait to see what the rest of this series brings. thank you so much for the arc.

“𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢, 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚗𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚒𝚛. 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚏𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚍𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚘 𝚖𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛.”

[Carrie R. B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give this 3.5⭐️ (rounded up to 4). I typically enjoy Greek mythology re-tellings, so I was looking forward to the is book. The beginning started off really strong. I was immediately intrigued by the mysteries surrounding the accident and all that comes to light when Kaira reads her mother’s journals. I also thought the foggy atmosphere added to the feeling of hidden identities and secrets.

Where the story lost me a little was once Kaira meets up with her core group of supporters. No one will give this poor woman a straight answer. They are constantly talking in circles and not really explaining things clearly to her. Then when they finally do give her a small piece of the puzzle, she either doesn’t believe it or panics and runs. And because the reader basically already knows what is going on, there was really no reason to draw it out for so long.

Despite that, this really was an interesting take on a Hades/Persephone re-telling. I thought the ending was well-done, and I would definitely consider continuing the series. I would recommend this to anyone who loves books themed around Greek mythology.

[Jamie Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A different take

I am a sucker for a Hades and Persephone retelling. Theres just something about Hades falling in love that tickles my fancy.

Kaira has been put through the ringer and just wants answers. She's still grieving but find the strength to want answers. She just wants the truth.

Hades has dealt with the death of Persephone multiple times and isn't ready to deal with it again. He just wants his love.

This is a truly whole different take on the story of Hades and Persephone. L.K. Reid not only blew me away with this one, she kept me on the edge of my seat in anticipation. She truly has a way with words.

I need the next book ASAP. Cause That ending?!?!

I highly recommend this one if you enjoy Hades and Persephone retellings. Or if your looking for a good book.

[Becci Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love anything to do with Greek mythology and adore anything Hades and Persephone so I had high hopes for this book.

This book definitely leans to the darker side of romantasy with atmospheric descriptions and scenes of grief which are very raw at times. All whilst being under 300 pages.

Kaira our fmc looses her family in an accident near the beginning of the story. She stumbles upon her mother’s journals which like in all good stories uncover all sorts of secrets. Kaira ends up on a journey of self discovery which discovery family, monsters and so much more.

Although Kaira was exceedingly frustrating at times the journey she embarks upon really help her grow as a person ( which she really needed to ).

This book drew me in right from the beginning with me not realising until I was near the end that I had become that engrossed I read it it one sitting

[Samantha Gagen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you L.K. Reid for sending this ARC. This review is voluntary; all opinions are my own.

Rating: 4.5/5

Where Crows Find Death is a dark gothic romantasy retelling of Hades and Persephone. Since I absolutely adore every single one of those descriptors, I knew I had to read this!

Admittedly, it was very slow to start. I found myself skipping quite a big of introspection, which began to feel a bit repetitive. Once we hit the foggy gothic atmosphere, it started to find its footing, and then when we finally got Hades, live and in action, I was hooked!

It was a unique take on the Hades and Persephone story, their chemistry was great, and they’re both so loyal, touch-them-and-die, and take absolutely no sh!t from anyone, which I’m obsessed with. The ending…I’m not okay. Cannot wait to see where the next book takes us!

[✧ Erin Lee ✧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

🐦‍⬛ 𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓡𝓔𝓥𝓘𝓔𝓦 🐦‍⬛

3.25 ⭐️

Where Crows Find Death, book 1 in the 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝑮𝒐𝒅𝒔 𝑳𝒊𝒆 series is a dark gothic romantasy by @authorlkreid.

After a tragic accident, Kaira discovers her mother’s journals, uncovering secrets that send her on a journey of discovery and reveal that the world she knows may not be what it seems. Alongside haunting dreams of a shadowed stranger with green eyes, she sets out on a journey filled with grief, mystery, and eerie gothic vibes.

What stood out most to me was the way grief was written in this story. The emotions felt incredibly raw and heavy, and you could truly feel the despair and heartbreak through each main character’s perspective. It was dark, sad, and emotionally intense, but still carried a small thread of hope as Kaira slowly begins discovering who she really is.

"𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘏𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘴?"
"𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨!” he roared. “𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦," he said slowly, containing his own anger, or at least trying to. "𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘔𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭, 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘐 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦."

I also loved the blend of the real world with Greek mythology. It felt like such a unique take on Hades and Persephone, and the atmospheric writing gave everything that eerie gothic feel I love in romantasy.

I found myself super invested in the mystery and curious about where the story is headed next. That ending definitely sets up the next book well, especially with that cliffhanger.

Thank you to the author for the eARC!

[Hannah E Ladd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really love the theme of this book, the character ideas and the layers of Greek mythology -- but there was just something about it that fell short for me.

While the beginning of the book caught my attention instantly and pulled me in easily, I felt that around 50%, the pacing changed and we started a big circle of nothing happening. I loved the characters, but there were times that I felt like they just existed on page without rhyme or reason. I loved the plot, but it went from being super interesting and gripping, to falling off a bit towards the end.

With that being said, I still think this book has great potential and I really loved the authors writing style and her ability to tell an amazing story!

[Caitlin Audet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Write a Greek mythology retelling and I'm absolutely there, no questions asked. I had a blast helping to tease and promote this book and when it came time to read, absolutely I jumped right in. L.K. Reid was brilliant with the world building and keeping the thrills coming. Spinning all the tales of the Gods was super cool and each new revelation kept me turning the pages. I do have to say the writing at times felt a bit repetitive, especially with Kaira wanting the truth and then running from it. The development of the characters seems to still be forming so I'm extremely happy there is more to come. After that ending I believe we have only just glimpsed the tip of the iceberg and I look forward to going on this dark, mythical journey, wherever it may lead.

[Nicole Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

"In this life and in the thousand other lives, you were always my everything”

ARC REVIEW INCOMING:
3.75/5 ⭐️
0/5 🌶️

First off, thank you for giving me the opportunity to be an ARC reader! So, I’m always a sucker for a good Hades x Persephone vibe. The FMC has already lost everything, only to discover a year later that her entire life has been wrapped in secrets and hidden truths. The story weaves together familiar Greek mythology figures with themes of reincarnation, fate, and lost love in such an atmospheric way. It felt haunting, romantic, and magical all at once. I would love to see where this series goes!!

[Janessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this book had my attention right from the start!! I LOVE a Hades and Persephone retelling and you can't go wrong with a dark Gothic Romantasy either! Kaira has survived immeasurable loss. She has no idea how she came out relatively unscathed. In going through her mother's journals she founds out about a whole other life her mother had and that the person she called her dad was not her biological father. She goes on a journey of discovery, finding family, God's, goddesses and monsters.
She discovers who her actual father is, past lives and the power hidden within herself.
I absolutely loved this book!

[Amy Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love me a Hades and Peresphone re-telling! This was no exception. This book has heavy grief, loss and longing. It was fast paced, a lot was jammed into under 300 pages. I enjoyed the story, and I will read the next book in the series, the cliffhanger left no choice!
My reason for 3.5 is the FMC drove me nuts, for most of the book. Even though I felt for her and understood some of her actions, I felt like she should have had more growth by the end. That being said, I think book 2 is set up for huge character development!!

Thank you to MTMC and L.K Reid for the advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review!

[Lurancy Venom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to L.K. Reid for gifting me an ARC copy of this book.

I went into this book expecting a standard Hades x Persephone retelling. Boy was I wrong…

We meet Kaira after the loss of her parents and sister, all but buried beneath her grief and their memories. When she finally gathers the strength to start sorting her family’s belongings, she finds her mother’s diaries, falling headfirst into the secrets they hold.

Within their pages, she finds clues to her mother’s past, and as Kaira attempts to learn more about her late mother, she also learns that nothing about her life is as it seems.

Really nicely written, and I am definitely looking forward to book 2!

[Baileyreadsnow · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of this book sounded amazing to me. What happens after Persephone and Hades find each other? And as a dark romance girly I see Dark Gothic Romantasy and have a certain expectation. Now I know this is a series, how many books is unknown but I just don’t feel like I got to the point where I cared enough about the characters to keep wanting to learn about the story. After I finished the book I was left wanted more from the FMC and didn’t feel the author delivered on the dark gothic Romantasy vibes. I feel like this is an interest plot and could have given more and I am sure many people did love and will love this one but I am opting out for the rest of the series.