A Grave Not Made For Mourning

The Fated Blood Trilogy #1.5

by Caroline Cusanelli

Set parallel to the events of A Liar’s Twisted Tongue, this companion novel follows Wendy as she fights to reclaim her identity—and her sanity—in a world ruled by other people’s emotions.

Wendy Estridon's life has been consumed by emotions, but never her own. Unable to quiet her empathic power, she’s left isolated from the world she longs to be part of.

Haunted by “the boy,” a mental embodiment of her darkest thoughts, Wendy searches for the connection she craves in him. But when Azaire—a quiet boy marked by unspoken burdens—enters her life, she sees just how far “the boy” is willing to take their imaginary bond.

As long-buried secrets about her mother’s death resurface, Wendy must confront not only the dangerous truths around her, but also the relentless presence of “the boy”: her constant companion and greatest adversary.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Romance, Fiction

394 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 4, 2025

About the author

Caroline has been writing since she was a child. What began as stories of fairies and frogs has since turned into something more sinister: beautiful worlds with dark underbellies. She loves creating deeply flawed characters and exploring their narratives. Caroline grew up in Southern California, where she cultivated a deep love of the sun and sea. When she isn’t writing, she’s probably reading, swimming, singing, or exploring. She now resides in Barcelona and hopes to stay immersed in literature for the rest of her life.

Reviews

[Vera Wittman]

I need this so freaking bad!!!

[archana · Rating 2 out of 5]

i did not enjoy this....
i saw a tiktok by the author that intrigued me enough for me to pick this up. it mentioned that this could be read as a standalone - there's a lot of world building that feels haphazard, which makes it feel less like a standalone, but i peeked at the reviews for book 1 and they said the world building isn't great there either, idk
i don't think any part of this book stood out to me as i read it, and i definitely don't feel compelled to read the main series. idk. this wasn't good, the characters weren't great, the setting felt rushed, the concepts of a plot were there but without much execution
that said i'm in finals week for the mph and the escapism did get me to read through the first half really quickly before a lot of the issues became big enough that i had to drag myself through the second half and for that alone we can give this 2 stars

[Sophia Ciccozzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMGGG I’ve honestly never felt more connected with a character before. The whole story was beautifully written and had me crying a lot. I’m an emotional person in general but I swear I’m pretty sure this made me 10 times more emotional. As someone who has lost a parent, I felt Wendy in my soul. Her character is so complex and so complicated but in all the best ways possible. Her character had me drawn in the first page.
Maybe it’s because I LOVEEE sad books, or maybe because of the incredible writing, but this was 5/5 for me.
So amazing 🙌

[TheMalerieverse · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 6 STARS
A Grave Not Made for Mourning by Caroline Cusanelli completely broke my heart and put it back together... only to break it all over again. 😭🖤

Caroline Cusanelli has a way of making you fall deeply in love with her characters, and this book was no exception.

Every chapter had me feeling something different—hope, heartbreak, fear, joy, grief, and love. I never knew what emotion was waiting for me on the next page.

The relationships, the sacrifices, the loyalty, and the longing made this story unforgettable. Every decision carried weight, and every moment had me holding my breath.

This wasn't just a fantasy—it was a story about love, family, grief, healing, and finding the strength to keep moving forward even when everything feels impossible.

By the time I reached the ending, I was completely emotionally wrecked. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to these characters, and I know they'll stay with me for a long time.

Caroline Cusanelli has officially become one of my favorite authors, and I already can't wait to see where this world goes next.

Caroline Cusanelli taught me that it's ok to grieve and to know that it's not my fault on what happened that I shouldn't blame myself for it and to stop thinking about the what ifs just let things be.

⭐ Rating: 6/6
💭 Mood: heartbroken • hopeful • emotional • speechless • obsessed
📖 This book reminded me why I love reading—it made me feel everything. 🖤

[Miriam Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was definitely on the fence about this book for much of the story, but the ending ultimately made it worth the read. The novel explores themes of identity, grief, and both internal and external pressures, which added depth to the characters and their struggles.

I chose to read this book before A Liar’s Twisted Tongue, and while it can technically stand on its own, I think reading the first book beforehand would provide a stronger understanding of the world’s lore, politics, and overall context.

Overall, I found the book fairly average, but it remained engaging enough to keep me turning the pages. The story truly came alive in the final portion, where it took a turn that elevated the entire experience. The ending was emotional, heartfelt, and left a lasting impression on me, making the journey feel worthwhile.

[Minty.Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my God. Just take my heart right out of my chest and stomp on it. This book was fantastic. Getting to know another character more indepth, while also continuing the intricate storytelling is just the best, it was phenomenal. Adore!!!!!

[Averybailey24 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly love when side characters have a backstory because you know it’s gonna HURT and this one did.
My Wendy deserves better and I’m gonna miss Azaire so much he was really the best. I can’t wait for the second book!!

[Dominiccusanelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ron you can’t!!

[Cierra G · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5🌟

[Zerneb Ahmad]

This would be nice to read if it didn’t actually contain my life story and that no one actually likes you when you have a mental illness . It’s just how people are

[silvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

a grave not made for mourning is set parallel to the events of a liar’s twisted tongue, following Wendy as she fights to reclaim her identity and her sanity in a world ruled by other people’s emotions.
Wendy Estridon's life has been consumed by emotions, but never her own. she is unable to quiet her empathic power, thus forcing her to isolate herself from the world she longs to be part of. Wendy is haunted by “the boy,” a mental embodiment of her darkest thoughts, and finding him the connection she craves. but when Azaire, a quiet boy marked by unspoken burdens, enters her life, she sees just how far “the boy” is willing to take their imaginary bond.
as long-buried secrets about her mother’s death resurface, Wendy must confront not only the dangerous truths around her, but also the relentless presence of “the boy”: her constant companion and greatest adversary.

i was lucky enough to beta read this and it was absolutely beautiful. i was hooked from the beginning and deeply connected to Wendy. i've already read a liar's twisted tongue so i was familiar with the world itself, but i loved how this stood out on its own and i think it can be read before a liar's twisted tongue if wanted to!! i adore the magic system and how we got to learn new things about it from Wendy's pov!!

Wendy easily became my favourite character and i loved watching her grow throughout the book. her relationship with Azaire was so sweet and wholesome, and their interactions made my heart soar.
i also loved "the boy" but don't want to go too much into it as i'm scared of accidentally spoiling something
also seeing Lucian and Desdemona as side characters was so interesting, especially from Wendy's perspective!!

i love this world and these characters sm and i was sobbing by the end of it