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The Children of the Old Ones #1
Death's daughter
Perfect for fans of
Ninth House
, Nightshade, and Neon Gods, Death's Daughter is a dark, grounded, and occasionally gruesome contemporary romantic fantasy in a dark academia setting, in which the only daughter of Death has been named his successor, and must navigate the treacherous world of the Old Gods and their powerful offspring, from USA Today bestselling author S.A. Barnes.
__________________________________
Time for her to join the family business
Jocasta's carved out a normal life at Beecher University―well, as normal as possible with a name like Jocasta and being the only child of Death.
She has good friends and a messy situationship with her former TA. But her friends, her crush, and her classmates don't know the truth about who - or what - she is. They would be horrified to discover Jo must feed to survive - and she feeds on them. But she refuses to take lives, feasting instead on their disappointments, failures, and rejections. It's not a perfect system, but it works.
Until a sexy stranger - and descendant of Lust - shows up on campus because Death just named Jo as his successor, making her a powerful ally and a massive target.
Jo's safe little bubble is about to burst, but she will do anything to protect the people she loves. Even if it means becoming what she hates...
__________________________________
Time for her to join the family business
Jocasta's carved out a normal life at Beecher University―well, as normal as possible with a name like Jocasta and being the only child of Death.
She has good friends and a messy situationship with her former TA. But her friends, her crush, and her classmates don't know the truth about who - or what - she is. They would be horrified to discover Jo must feed to survive - and she feeds on them. But she refuses to take lives, feasting instead on their disappointments, failures, and rejections. It's not a perfect system, but it works.
Until a sexy stranger - and descendant of Lust - shows up on campus because Death just named Jo as his successor, making her a powerful ally and a massive target.
Jo's safe little bubble is about to burst, but she will do anything to protect the people she loves. Even if it means becoming what she hates...
Paperback
First published May 5, 2026
About the author
S.A. Barnes
6 books2,320 followersS.A. BARNES works in a high school library by day, recommending reads, talking with students, and removing the occasional forgotten cheese stick as bookmark. Barnes has published numerous novels across different genres under the pen name Stacey Kade. She lives in Illinois with more dogs and books than is advisable and a very patient husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 653 reviews
Did Not Finish
April 27, 2026firstly, thank you to the publisher for a physical arc and an alc!
unfortunately dnf @ 28% because i could not tell you what this story was about. at all.
i could not give you the bare minimum plot description, the reason why the fmc and mmc had tension, or why the fmc was a vampire/succubus energy stealing thing?
as for the audio, the narrator wasn’t bad but i just couldn’t get into the audiobook either.
i’m sure this book will find its audience, but unfortunately it’s not me and i just realized that i cannot skip it for april’s fl romantasy box 💔
——
working through my arcs/alcs as you may well know... this is dark accademia with mythology in a contemporary setting; an interesting combination of genres soooo we'll see how i like it😬
unfortunately dnf @ 28% because i could not tell you what this story was about. at all.
i could not give you the bare minimum plot description, the reason why the fmc and mmc had tension, or why the fmc was a vampire/succubus energy stealing thing?
as for the audio, the narrator wasn’t bad but i just couldn’t get into the audiobook either.
i’m sure this book will find its audience, but unfortunately it’s not me and i just realized that i cannot skip it for april’s fl romantasy box 💔
——
working through my arcs/alcs as you may well know... this is dark accademia with mythology in a contemporary setting; an interesting combination of genres soooo we'll see how i like it😬
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ★— Being a descendant of Death should nab you things like a cool cloak and an impenetrable aura of menace, instead of constantly having to find a way to feed your supernatural half and having to deal with increasingly dangerous happenings. But that’s exactly what this book’s heroine Jocasta’s life has devolved into after a relatively calm existence as a college student.
This was entertaining, in the mindless, brain candy sort of way that made this an easy listen/read. If anything, this is Vampire Academy–level trashiness, just with more smut! Jocasta even has a relationship with her TA, so the vibes really were similar.
Did I think this book did particularly well with its world-building? Not really. Set against the background of Greek mythology-inspired deities, here called Old Ones, I actually thought that there was basically no context given for a lot of the story's background, with Jocasta’s own cluelessness as a way for the reader to slowly be introduced to this wider world, in which everything is left wide open to be explored for a sequel.
The romance was so-so. Next to the long-standing relationship with Carter, her TA, who is a man I found as boring as drywall, there’s another prospective love interest found in the bad boy character Devon. He comes into the picture like those types of boys usually do, by shaking things up with his own set of powers and teasing Jocasta with his own mysterious knowledge.
Devon and Jocasta end up working together throughout the story, trying to solve the mysteries and murders that occur, and the book follows a very typical setup for a longer-running urban fantasy series, obviously gearing up for a love triangle that will probably be explored more in the following sequels.
As to my investment in that love triangle? Both love interests are pretty plain white bread-like in the impression they have left on me, and I feel like the outcome of it will be obvious to anyone who's read anything in this genre.
All in all, pretty standard stuff, but as someone who’s a bit feral for anything Greek mythology-adjacent, I definitely don’t regret getting into this as it is, like I said, great brain candy.
🎧 Audiobook Notes
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo
⭐ Listener Rating: 4.25/5
While I liked the female narrator for a majority of this audiobook, I thought that the male voices during the intimate scenes were a little… much, which in turn made listening to those scenes a little awkward. I fully recognize that this might be my personal bias, as others might enjoy it, but for me the “sexy” male voice didn’t really work. Otherwise, this was a really smooth listening experience!
_____________
Thank you to Tor for the ARC and to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
This was entertaining, in the mindless, brain candy sort of way that made this an easy listen/read. If anything, this is Vampire Academy–level trashiness, just with more smut! Jocasta even has a relationship with her TA, so the vibes really were similar.
Did I think this book did particularly well with its world-building? Not really. Set against the background of Greek mythology-inspired deities, here called Old Ones, I actually thought that there was basically no context given for a lot of the story's background, with Jocasta’s own cluelessness as a way for the reader to slowly be introduced to this wider world, in which everything is left wide open to be explored for a sequel.
The romance was so-so. Next to the long-standing relationship with Carter, her TA, who is a man I found as boring as drywall, there’s another prospective love interest found in the bad boy character Devon. He comes into the picture like those types of boys usually do, by shaking things up with his own set of powers and teasing Jocasta with his own mysterious knowledge.
Devon and Jocasta end up working together throughout the story, trying to solve the mysteries and murders that occur, and the book follows a very typical setup for a longer-running urban fantasy series, obviously gearing up for a love triangle that will probably be explored more in the following sequels.
As to my investment in that love triangle? Both love interests are pretty plain white bread-like in the impression they have left on me, and I feel like the outcome of it will be obvious to anyone who's read anything in this genre.
All in all, pretty standard stuff, but as someone who’s a bit feral for anything Greek mythology-adjacent, I definitely don’t regret getting into this as it is, like I said, great brain candy.
🎧 Audiobook Notes
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo
⭐ Listener Rating: 4.25/5
While I liked the female narrator for a majority of this audiobook, I thought that the male voices during the intimate scenes were a little… much, which in turn made listening to those scenes a little awkward. I fully recognize that this might be my personal bias, as others might enjoy it, but for me the “sexy” male voice didn’t really work. Otherwise, this was a really smooth listening experience!
_____________
Thank you to Tor for the ARC and to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ★
”Sometimes it’s not about what you want to do, but what you’re willing to do when it’s necessary.”
occasionally, you just need a book to be mindless fun, and that’s exactly what this one was. i liked the fmc Jocasta, her dry, cynical sense of humor was actually taking me out in certain scenes. the magic system felt like a mix of Greek deities / the grim reaper. Jo is the daughter of death, but she does not want anything to do with any of it. instead of outright killing people, she sort of drains their emotions to sustain herself.
the world was interesting, but I’d like to get more information and detail about everything in the next books. the only thing i didn’t care for at all was the romance / love triangle. Carter was the stalest man to ever cross a page & I found his character arc pretty predictable. Devon was more useful and had a little more personality, I also just enjoyed his dynamic with Jo better than Carter. i thought the narrator did a good job voicing everyone in the audio, I’m down for book 2!
➥ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Macmillan audio for the alc, all opinions are my own.
”Sometimes it’s not about what you want to do, but what you’re willing to do when it’s necessary.”
occasionally, you just need a book to be mindless fun, and that’s exactly what this one was. i liked the fmc Jocasta, her dry, cynical sense of humor was actually taking me out in certain scenes. the magic system felt like a mix of Greek deities / the grim reaper. Jo is the daughter of death, but she does not want anything to do with any of it. instead of outright killing people, she sort of drains their emotions to sustain herself.
the world was interesting, but I’d like to get more information and detail about everything in the next books. the only thing i didn’t care for at all was the romance / love triangle. Carter was the stalest man to ever cross a page & I found his character arc pretty predictable. Devon was more useful and had a little more personality, I also just enjoyed his dynamic with Jo better than Carter. i thought the narrator did a good job voicing everyone in the audio, I’m down for book 2!
➥ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Macmillan audio for the alc, all opinions are my own.
April 26, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
The book immediately grabbed my attention and made me want to learn more. I loved the intro and the way the author slowly explained the details through Jocasta (the FMC). I assumed it was about vampires, and quickly learned I was wrong… and the story constantly left me wondering.
I pride myself on frequently being able to predict what’s going to happen, but EVERY SINGLE TIME I was surprised. I didn’t expect any of the twists. Granted, I felt confused most of the story, but I’ll still give it the credit.
There was some spice, I’d give it 🌶️🌶️/5. We got some at the start when we were learning the character’s history, as well as some towards the end. Uncharacteristically for me: I thought it felt out of place, and I actually wanted to get back to the story instead of the steamy scenes.
I felt like I didn’t know what was going on, which made me less engaged around the the middle to 3/4 through the book. I think it was purposeful though because Jocasta also isn’t sure of what’s happening or why.
But everything gets revealed eventually. I believe this will be a standalone, and while it wasn’t a cliffhanger, I am left wondering about the character she was romantically involved about.
This was my first exposure to S.A. Barnes and I definitely want to check out more of her work! I listened to an ALC of Death’s Daughter (thank you to Macmillan Audio). I would recommend this book, and I thought the narrator did a great job! The publish date is May 5th.
The book immediately grabbed my attention and made me want to learn more. I loved the intro and the way the author slowly explained the details through Jocasta (the FMC). I assumed it was about vampires, and quickly learned I was wrong… and the story constantly left me wondering.
I pride myself on frequently being able to predict what’s going to happen, but EVERY SINGLE TIME I was surprised. I didn’t expect any of the twists. Granted, I felt confused most of the story, but I’ll still give it the credit.
There was some spice, I’d give it 🌶️🌶️/5. We got some at the start when we were learning the character’s history, as well as some towards the end. Uncharacteristically for me: I thought it felt out of place, and I actually wanted to get back to the story instead of the steamy scenes.
I felt like I didn’t know what was going on, which made me less engaged around the the middle to 3/4 through the book. I think it was purposeful though because Jocasta also isn’t sure of what’s happening or why.
But everything gets revealed eventually. I believe this will be a standalone, and while it wasn’t a cliffhanger, I am left wondering about the character she was romantically involved about.
This was my first exposure to S.A. Barnes and I definitely want to check out more of her work! I listened to an ALC of Death’s Daughter (thank you to Macmillan Audio). I would recommend this book, and I thought the narrator did a great job! The publish date is May 5th.
Did Not Finish
May 26, 2026DNF'd 220 pages in. I just couldn't do it anymore. I'm struggling to connect to the characters, the world building isn't making a great deal of sense. I'm gutted though, I was really excited for this one.
January 22, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Headline for the early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I debated hard between 3 and 4 stars for this book - a friend let me know recently that my scale of “3 stars means alright, 4 is good but not amazing” was wrong and goodreads was a lot more positive in their interpretations of the ratings. So since this book was good but I’m not sure I’ll be driven to read the sequels, I thought 3. Then my pushover conscience got to me and I upped it to a 4. And then I let it fall back!
Don’t get me wrong, the power system and new take on gods and their children was very interesting and gave me Percy Jackson vibes. The characters were also individuals and generally felt real, and the pacing was pretty appropriate all the way through.
But the dialogue and decisions the characters made… could have been better for me. I didn’t feel like they always moved in a way that made sense, so some scenes kind of came out of the blue and not in a good way.
Also, the sex scene in the middle of the book felt right out of left field and it didn’t seem to fit the vibe of the rest of the book in my opinion. It was well written, but felt jarring. I couldn’t really get a grip on where the main character was leaning in terms of romantic partner, so the stakes didn’t seem real to me.
I did really enjoy the world building though, and I want to know so much more about the Old Ones and their children and how everything works together.
Who knows, I might pick up the sequel- and I bet with a bit more time spent in this universe I’ll enjoy it even more and the writing might settle into how it’s going to be in future too.
I debated hard between 3 and 4 stars for this book - a friend let me know recently that my scale of “3 stars means alright, 4 is good but not amazing” was wrong and goodreads was a lot more positive in their interpretations of the ratings. So since this book was good but I’m not sure I’ll be driven to read the sequels, I thought 3. Then my pushover conscience got to me and I upped it to a 4. And then I let it fall back!
Don’t get me wrong, the power system and new take on gods and their children was very interesting and gave me Percy Jackson vibes. The characters were also individuals and generally felt real, and the pacing was pretty appropriate all the way through.
But the dialogue and decisions the characters made… could have been better for me. I didn’t feel like they always moved in a way that made sense, so some scenes kind of came out of the blue and not in a good way.
Also, the sex scene in the middle of the book felt right out of left field and it didn’t seem to fit the vibe of the rest of the book in my opinion. It was well written, but felt jarring. I couldn’t really get a grip on where the main character was leaning in terms of romantic partner, so the stakes didn’t seem real to me.
I did really enjoy the world building though, and I want to know so much more about the Old Ones and their children and how everything works together.
Who knows, I might pick up the sequel- and I bet with a bit more time spent in this universe I’ll enjoy it even more and the writing might settle into how it’s going to be in future too.
Did Not Finish
June 8, 2026DNF
I do not like the writing style/ narration so goodbye lol
I do not like the writing style/ narration so goodbye lol
May 6, 2026
Death's daughter feels like a CW show in the best way possible. I was raised on the vampire diaries and teen wolf, and this book gave me a lot of joy reminiscing about that type of story. Especially the end, I could see it play out in my head exactly like the ending of a season.
We follow (you guessed it)death's daughter as she is named the next death and weird things start to happen because of it. I love the cast of characters, and I want to know so much more about Devin, I must admit he's my favorite. The pace is very fast, it's action packed so it appears shorter than it is, I couldn't believe it was almost 400 pages.
I know this is going to be a series but there's no cliffhanger and I would even say it kinda works like a standalone. I'm very interested to see where the story goes though.
We follow (you guessed it)death's daughter as she is named the next death and weird things start to happen because of it. I love the cast of characters, and I want to know so much more about Devin, I must admit he's my favorite. The pace is very fast, it's action packed so it appears shorter than it is, I couldn't believe it was almost 400 pages.
I know this is going to be a series but there's no cliffhanger and I would even say it kinda works like a standalone. I'm very interested to see where the story goes though.
June 20, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the advanced copy of the audiobook.
I was excited for this, honestly. I love SA Barnes' sci-fi horror, it's what I like to call "cozy space horror", because of how formulaic it is but that is why I love it! It's predictable and comfortable and I LOVE her skill with vibes and atmosphere.... all of which I missed here lol The setting of Beecher University could've used more oomph that's for sure. The author also ends the story open-ended for the inevitable sequels, which I don't know that I liked that lol
This is not a bad story. I get the Ninth House comparison, but Death's Daughter is more like dark academia-lite. A murder mystery with some supernatural romance, decent spice, but I didn't like or feel connected to any of the characters. I didn't care about who Jocasta is going to choose between her love triangle. I didn't care much about the conflict. Again, none of it is bad! It just left me feeling meh.
Then I was initially also excited because "child of the old ones", to me, indicated eldritch cosmic horror type of gods. I was thinking Cthulhu, Dagon, Nyarlathotep, etc (lol) but this is actually more like Sandman type of gods - Death, War, Lust, Life, etc Again, not something I dislike or wouldn't be into reading, but given Barnes' horror background, I was really hoping for scary old ones.
The narrator for the audiobook, Ava Lucas, wasn't my favorite either. I think I'd have maybe liked this a bit more if I'd just read it and not listened to it, because I could have imagined them a bit differently. Maybe I just didn't like how she did some of the voices and dialogue, I don't know. I just wasn't digging this like I hoped I would. I would recommend the print or ebook over the audiobook.
Perfectly adept contemporary romantasy, if you're in the mood for something like Ninth House or Sandman - just don't expect it to be as good.
It hurts me to give this 3 stars but that's just how I feel.
I was excited for this, honestly. I love SA Barnes' sci-fi horror, it's what I like to call "cozy space horror", because of how formulaic it is but that is why I love it! It's predictable and comfortable and I LOVE her skill with vibes and atmosphere.... all of which I missed here lol The setting of Beecher University could've used more oomph that's for sure. The author also ends the story open-ended for the inevitable sequels, which I don't know that I liked that lol
This is not a bad story. I get the Ninth House comparison, but Death's Daughter is more like dark academia-lite. A murder mystery with some supernatural romance, decent spice, but I didn't like or feel connected to any of the characters. I didn't care about who Jocasta is going to choose between her love triangle. I didn't care much about the conflict. Again, none of it is bad! It just left me feeling meh.
Then I was initially also excited because "child of the old ones", to me, indicated eldritch cosmic horror type of gods. I was thinking Cthulhu, Dagon, Nyarlathotep, etc (lol) but this is actually more like Sandman type of gods - Death, War, Lust, Life, etc Again, not something I dislike or wouldn't be into reading, but given Barnes' horror background, I was really hoping for scary old ones.
The narrator for the audiobook, Ava Lucas, wasn't my favorite either. I think I'd have maybe liked this a bit more if I'd just read it and not listened to it, because I could have imagined them a bit differently. Maybe I just didn't like how she did some of the voices and dialogue, I don't know. I just wasn't digging this like I hoped I would. I would recommend the print or ebook over the audiobook.
Perfectly adept contemporary romantasy, if you're in the mood for something like Ninth House or Sandman - just don't expect it to be as good.
It hurts me to give this 3 stars but that's just how I feel.
June 15, 2026
**𝔄ℜℭ ℜ𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴** 𝔇𝔢𝔞𝔱𝔥'𝔰 𝔇𝔞𝔲𝔤𝔥𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔟𝔶 𝔖.𝔄. 𝔅𝔞𝔯𝔫𝔢𝔰 (𝔗𝔥𝔢 ℭ𝔥𝔦𝔩𝔡𝔯𝔢𝔫 𝔬𝔣 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔒𝔩𝔡 𝔒𝔫𝔢𝔰 #1)
Release Day: May 5, 2026
4⭐️3🌶
This book is such an interesting Urban Fantasy in a college academia setting. Jocasta is Death's daughter literally. She feels off of other people's life force, and can take enough life to end their life. Being raised by a single mother, who is also in academia, she's trying to live as normal of a life as she can, until the other Demi-Gods find her.
Minor Spoilers Ahead:
Jocasta has been studying anthropology and human biology/behavior at Beecher University, and she has a core group of friends that keep her sane, and a relationship with her TA that is completely under wraps. Then students start turning up dead left and right, immediately after she runs into an other demi-god at her favorite local bar.
Devon, the offspring of Aphrodite and controller of people's lust, approaches Jocasta and asks her if they can form an alliance. An alliance for what? Jocasta has no idea. But from that moment onward, Jocasta is trying to figure out where she sits in the game of Gods and Demi-Gods.
This book was just a fun fast read, and sort of a mix between Urban Fantasy and Dark Academia. Highly recommend for all fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout.
Themes/Tropes:
🍁Urban Fantasy
🍁Dark Academia
🍁Children of a god aka Demi-gods
🍁Hidden Powers
🍁Serial Killer Murder Mystery
🍁Magic wielder trying to be "normal"
TW:
✨Language
✨Death by violence
✨Murder by magic
✨Abandonment/indifference by a parent
Thank you to @netgalley for this ARC copy for review!
#deathsdaughter #sabarnes #thechildrenoftheoldones
Release Day: May 5, 2026
4⭐️3🌶
This book is such an interesting Urban Fantasy in a college academia setting. Jocasta is Death's daughter literally. She feels off of other people's life force, and can take enough life to end their life. Being raised by a single mother, who is also in academia, she's trying to live as normal of a life as she can, until the other Demi-Gods find her.
Minor Spoilers Ahead:
Jocasta has been studying anthropology and human biology/behavior at Beecher University, and she has a core group of friends that keep her sane, and a relationship with her TA that is completely under wraps. Then students start turning up dead left and right, immediately after she runs into an other demi-god at her favorite local bar.
Devon, the offspring of Aphrodite and controller of people's lust, approaches Jocasta and asks her if they can form an alliance. An alliance for what? Jocasta has no idea. But from that moment onward, Jocasta is trying to figure out where she sits in the game of Gods and Demi-Gods.
This book was just a fun fast read, and sort of a mix between Urban Fantasy and Dark Academia. Highly recommend for all fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout.
Themes/Tropes:
🍁Urban Fantasy
🍁Dark Academia
🍁Children of a god aka Demi-gods
🍁Hidden Powers
🍁Serial Killer Murder Mystery
🍁Magic wielder trying to be "normal"
TW:
✨Language
✨Death by violence
✨Murder by magic
✨Abandonment/indifference by a parent
Thank you to @netgalley for this ARC copy for review!
#deathsdaughter #sabarnes #thechildrenoftheoldones
May 25, 2026
I was a bit hesitant going into this, seeing all the low ratings and DNFs. But the book was not as bad as the ratings made me think. It’s enjoyable and easy to get through.
But it’s not a masterpiece by any means. I liked the premise of the main character being Deah’s daughters and how the descendants’ powers worked. But I think the world building could’ve benefited from some more focus, because we get very little explanations and context.
I also didn’t quite connect to the romance. Reading the blurb and seeing the word “situationship” being used, I immediately thought that this relationship would quickly get dropped and the focus would lie on Devon, who’s a descendant of Lust. But instead, we got a drawn-out love triangle that I was quickly tired of.
But overall, it’s a decent read I your expectations aren’t too high. I might give the sequel a try.
But it’s not a masterpiece by any means. I liked the premise of the main character being Deah’s daughters and how the descendants’ powers worked. But I think the world building could’ve benefited from some more focus, because we get very little explanations and context.
I also didn’t quite connect to the romance. Reading the blurb and seeing the word “situationship” being used, I immediately thought that this relationship would quickly get dropped and the focus would lie on Devon, who’s a descendant of Lust. But instead, we got a drawn-out love triangle that I was quickly tired of.
But overall, it’s a decent read I your expectations aren’t too high. I might give the sequel a try.
May 22, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
So fast paced with almost every chapter ending on a cliff hanger.
It seemed pretty romance forward to start and then it takes a backseat for the majority of the book but loved the messiness of Carter & Jo. Would definitely continue with the series
So fast paced with almost every chapter ending on a cliff hanger.
It seemed pretty romance forward to start and then it takes a backseat for the majority of the book but loved the messiness of Carter & Jo. Would definitely continue with the series
May 11, 2026
Jocasta is trying to carve out her slice of happiness at Beecher University. It might be messy and complicated at times, but it is hers. Major life complication: No one knows she is the Spawn of Death himself and that she needs to feed on deaths around her to survive. Unexpectedly, other Spawn from the Old Ones are inserting themselves in her life as allies or make attempts to kill her as her carefully constructed world of normalcy crumbles away. Jocasta wants nothing to do with her father’s world of powerful, volatile, and bored Gods, so she tries not to kill and give in to her darker nature…but accidents have happened. When a sharp increase in violent deaths start happening around campus, Jocasta must quickly clear her name while unmasking who is responsible before the whole town drops dead.
Romantic fantasy is a brand new genre for me to experience from Barnes. Happily, I am excited about where Death’s Daughter could potentially take us as a series! Like pieces on a chess board, Barnes has set up an intriguing world with characters inspired by Greek mythology. So far we have Death, Lust, and War as Old Gods using their Spawn to wreak havoc in the world; by the end of the book, the tension and power dynamics between characters is a veritable powder keg of potential. This first book read like a coming of age novel for Jocasta’s journey to accepting her powers and deciding what she wants out of her life as a magical being without hiding behind normalcy. She seems like a powerful Spawn in Barnes’s world, so now that she is more comfortable with the responsibility of her powers of death, I wonder how she will put them to use…
At first I thought there was going to be a love triangle between Devin, Jocasta, and Carter, and honestly, that still may be the case. The spicy scenes were well written and an enjoyable aside to the main plot of hunting down the murderer. I did struggle to connect to Carter in the same way that I connected to Devin as a love interest and neither one of them have a particularly healthy love with Jocasta; however, they both seem to be dynamic characters with a lot of secrets and a lot of growth happening. With the way that she ended the book, I am still not decided on who she will pick, nor who I think she would be best with. The best love triangles in my opinion are ones that keep you guessing in that way! There is a nice balance between romance and plot that kept the momentum marching ahead while also leaving time to develop characters and cultivate the aforementioned love triangle. There were a few parts in the book where I was worried the pacing would stall out the story, but then a significant event or reveal or twist would alleviate that.
I specifically read the audiobook ARC narrated by Ava Lucas. The listening experience was smooth and I appreciated her ability to make the characters sound unique and memorable without trying too hard. She also did well with male voices and added believable emotion and personality to each character, which I loved as a listener. My only complaint is when she tried to convey a southern accent. Maybe it is because I am from the South and my ears are nuanced to it, but the character made me cringe each time I head her on the audio because it leaned toward sounding a bit overdone. In summation, I loved the audiobook performance and experience from her!
Barnes has whetted my appetite for more about her new series, and unlike Jocasta, I won’t resist the urge to satiate it!
**Shameless fangirl moment:
I also love SA Barnes’s sci-fi books. She is a master at her craft of building up suspense and dread in her stories before slamming you with unexpected, devastating plot twists that reveal a horrific reality looming over her characters. It is always a race to the survival line! Do NOT sleep on these books either—she is at the top tier for horror sci-fi!
February 14, 2026
This was so much better than I could’ve imagined from the blurb, I had such a good time reading this. I’m actually blown away, especially for the author’s first dip into romantasy.
Jo is Death’s daughter but really wants a normal life and is trying to fit in at her college and not draw too much attention to herself since she was raised as part of the mortal world. When Death makes her his successor, things rapidly go wrong and she faces so many difficult choices. People start hunting her, relationships go awry, etc etc.
The big thing that took this down for me to four stars is I feel like we were building up to this big show down and I almost feel like we barely scratched the surface until more than 80% in and even then, I wanted more. The ending left things a little vague on what conflict/things could even happen in a second book.
However, I loved the magic system and the world has SO much promise. I’m reaaaaally intrigued to know where this series is going. I would for sure read a second book. I’m so curious who our main MMC is gonna be too.
~I received a gifted physical ARC from Tor/Bramble. Thank you to the publisher and to S.A. Barnes for the early copy! My opinions are my own and voluntarily given~
Jo is Death’s daughter but really wants a normal life and is trying to fit in at her college and not draw too much attention to herself since she was raised as part of the mortal world. When Death makes her his successor, things rapidly go wrong and she faces so many difficult choices. People start hunting her, relationships go awry, etc etc.
The big thing that took this down for me to four stars is I feel like we were building up to this big show down and I almost feel like we barely scratched the surface until more than 80% in and even then, I wanted more. The ending left things a little vague on what conflict/things could even happen in a second book.
However, I loved the magic system and the world has SO much promise. I’m reaaaaally intrigued to know where this series is going. I would for sure read a second book. I’m so curious who our main MMC is gonna be too.
~I received a gifted physical ARC from Tor/Bramble. Thank you to the publisher and to S.A. Barnes for the early copy! My opinions are my own and voluntarily given~
May 5, 2026
I picked this up mainly because of the author. You might know her from her previous work, and although this is a shift in genre, I was curious to see what she would do with romantasy.
It starts strong and pulls me in quickly. At first, it feels like a fairly typical romantasy setup, just with darker undertones. I liked the university setting and expected a darker academia vibe, but that never really became the focus. The campus mostly acts as a backdrop for the story and the small friend group, who I thought would play a bigger role but ended up feeling more like side characters.
The tone and dialogue felt natural, especially the banter and more mature conversations, which suited the characters well. Jocasta herself is interesting, particularly her desire to live a normal life despite who she is. Around a third of the way through, we get the reveal already in the blurb: she has been named successor, but we never really get any clarity on what it actually means for her to become Death. Even then, the consequences feel more hinted at than fully explored.
The world-building is intriguing but uneven. The idea of the Old Ones and their powers is compelling, and I enjoyed it when those elements came into play. However, I wanted clearer explanations. How Jocasta became Death’s daughter is addressed, but not in a way that felt fully convincing. Also, when her secrets are revealed, other characters accept it surprisingly easily, which lowers the stakes.
The mystery aspect is one of the stronger parts. The attacks are gruesome, and there is a solid whodunnit element, but I never fully felt like Jocasta was in real danger. Some of the paranormal explanations were interesting at first, especially how they tied into urban legends, but that device was used a bit too often.
The romance was not a highlight for me. There is a spicy scene later that works well in the moment, but it isn't enough to carry that side of the story.
By the end, I was invested enough to see it through, though one character’s motivation reveal didn't feel very believable. Still, the final stretch was engaging and well set up for the next book.
Overall, a mixed but enjoyable read. Strong concept and mystery; weaker romance and world-building, but maybe enough to make me consider continuing the series.
It starts strong and pulls me in quickly. At first, it feels like a fairly typical romantasy setup, just with darker undertones. I liked the university setting and expected a darker academia vibe, but that never really became the focus. The campus mostly acts as a backdrop for the story and the small friend group, who I thought would play a bigger role but ended up feeling more like side characters.
The tone and dialogue felt natural, especially the banter and more mature conversations, which suited the characters well. Jocasta herself is interesting, particularly her desire to live a normal life despite who she is. Around a third of the way through, we get the reveal already in the blurb: she has been named successor, but we never really get any clarity on what it actually means for her to become Death. Even then, the consequences feel more hinted at than fully explored.
The world-building is intriguing but uneven. The idea of the Old Ones and their powers is compelling, and I enjoyed it when those elements came into play. However, I wanted clearer explanations. How Jocasta became Death’s daughter is addressed, but not in a way that felt fully convincing. Also, when her secrets are revealed, other characters accept it surprisingly easily, which lowers the stakes.
The mystery aspect is one of the stronger parts. The attacks are gruesome, and there is a solid whodunnit element, but I never fully felt like Jocasta was in real danger. Some of the paranormal explanations were interesting at first, especially how they tied into urban legends, but that device was used a bit too often.
The romance was not a highlight for me. There is a spicy scene later that works well in the moment, but it isn't enough to carry that side of the story.
By the end, I was invested enough to see it through, though one character’s motivation reveal didn't feel very believable. Still, the final stretch was engaging and well set up for the next book.
Overall, a mixed but enjoyable read. Strong concept and mystery; weaker romance and world-building, but maybe enough to make me consider continuing the series.
May 5, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for sending me this ALC in exchange for an honest review!
I went into this somewhat blind but I found the main premise quite interesting. Unfortunately, it wasn’t perfect.
It was refreshing to read something that was different than most fantasy books I’ve read tbh. There’s a lot of aspects relating to Greek Mythology which I’ll always LOVE in books. I do wish there had been something at the beginning explaining what each God and their children controlled. The characters would mention different Gods in passing, and I wish it was more.. organized, I guess.
Jocasta was an interesting main character. Her inner monologue made me laugh quite a few times, but some of the things she did also had me sighing so loud 😭 But it was interesting watching her mortal and immortal sides fight each other.
The romance was really disappointing. I’m not exactly the biggest fan of love triangles and this book didn’t help my feelings towards at all. Usually I feel something for at least one of them, but I just couldn’t bring myself to feel anything for either of the love interests.
The mystery plot was the highlight was the story in my opinion. It kept me really interested and I found myself wishing there was less romance and more scenes of her finding out information or even more about the Old Ones.
Overall, it could be a little bit messy but I still had fun reading it. I didn’t know it wasn’t a standalone when I started but I’ll be tuning in for the rest of the series!!
Thank you NetGalley for sending me this ALC in exchange for an honest review!
I went into this somewhat blind but I found the main premise quite interesting. Unfortunately, it wasn’t perfect.
It was refreshing to read something that was different than most fantasy books I’ve read tbh. There’s a lot of aspects relating to Greek Mythology which I’ll always LOVE in books. I do wish there had been something at the beginning explaining what each God and their children controlled. The characters would mention different Gods in passing, and I wish it was more.. organized, I guess.
Jocasta was an interesting main character. Her inner monologue made me laugh quite a few times, but some of the things she did also had me sighing so loud 😭 But it was interesting watching her mortal and immortal sides fight each other.
The romance was really disappointing. I’m not exactly the biggest fan of love triangles and this book didn’t help my feelings towards at all. Usually I feel something for at least one of them, but I just couldn’t bring myself to feel anything for either of the love interests.
The mystery plot was the highlight was the story in my opinion. It kept me really interested and I found myself wishing there was less romance and more scenes of her finding out information or even more about the Old Ones.
Overall, it could be a little bit messy but I still had fun reading it. I didn’t know it wasn’t a standalone when I started but I’ll be tuning in for the rest of the series!!
May 11, 2026
2,5/5 - It could have been good but not like that. The world building was hard to grasp because there was barely any. The pacing didn’t work and that made everything very weak. Even the big twists fell super flat. And the romance… I could see it with Carter but the steamy scene was randomly placed in the book and should have been cut. The other guy who had so much potential ended up just being… there.
In the end, my favorite character was Chessa, which says a lot about the main characters.
It was still entertaining but I kept waiting for it to pick up and it just never did. Won’t continue this series.
In the end, my favorite character was Chessa, which says a lot about the main characters.
It was still entertaining but I kept waiting for it to pick up and it just never did. Won’t continue this series.
Currently Reading
March 24, 2026🔥💀Death’s Daughter by S.A. Barnes 💀🔥
📖 Bookish Thoughts
I will read anything S.A. Barnes writes! Very excited for this one! I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
🖤 What to Expect
• Death’s daughter
• Mythology
• Dark academia
• Fatal magic
• Inheritance
_ _ _ _
🎧 Narration Style: Solo (Ava Lucas)
📅 Pub Date: May 5, 2026
📝 Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
I will read anything S.A. Barnes writes! Very excited for this one! I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
🖤 What to Expect
• Death’s daughter
• Mythology
• Dark academia
• Fatal magic
• Inheritance
_ _ _ _
🎧 Narration Style: Solo (Ava Lucas)
📅 Pub Date: May 5, 2026
📝 Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.
April 21, 2026
So this was a fun time! 💀
This is the story of Deaths Daughter and while she’s just trying to be a girl and have a normal life in college these mystery deaths keep happening but it’s not from her 🤔
I really liked the mystery, supernatural and the vibes were definitely giving for spooky fall which is always a good time!
Overall this is a fun read, easy to follow, fast paced with plenty of action, mystery and romance 🫶
This is the story of Deaths Daughter and while she’s just trying to be a girl and have a normal life in college these mystery deaths keep happening but it’s not from her 🤔
I really liked the mystery, supernatural and the vibes were definitely giving for spooky fall which is always a good time!
Overall this is a fun read, easy to follow, fast paced with plenty of action, mystery and romance 🫶
May 6, 2026
This immediately drew me in when I was in a bit of a slump — the real world with a bit of old magic and someone trying to hid it and be a human instead.
I immediately liked these characters, all of them. And while most of this was predictable (except one tiny detail), it was a fun time and I enjoyed the ride. This wasn’t a love triangle, it was just Death’s daughter teaming up with a spawn of lust, among her friends and others, to figure out what in the hell is going on in her supposedly magic-less little college town.
It’s not deeply world building, the magic isn’t hard to understand or grasp, there aren’t so many characters that you lose the plot and ability to keep track. It’s good, easy reading and a bit of tension and yearning, while also some lust and attraction in the midst of the chaos.
It will keep you on your toes and wanting to continue to read, that’s for sure! I was sat and had a good time because it was different from the norm of fantasies. Also, it’s not quite an HEA, a bit of a cliffy, and I still don’t know who the main mmc is 🤣🤣🤣🤷🏻♀️
But do I care? No. Because it was good and I liked it lmao.
I really can’t wait for the rest of these. Maybe more spawns? Continuation of what’s going on? Idk.
Overall,
4.25 ⭐️
1 🌶️
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor for the advanced copy!
I immediately liked these characters, all of them. And while most of this was predictable (except one tiny detail), it was a fun time and I enjoyed the ride. This wasn’t a love triangle, it was just Death’s daughter teaming up with a spawn of lust, among her friends and others, to figure out what in the hell is going on in her supposedly magic-less little college town.
It’s not deeply world building, the magic isn’t hard to understand or grasp, there aren’t so many characters that you lose the plot and ability to keep track. It’s good, easy reading and a bit of tension and yearning, while also some lust and attraction in the midst of the chaos.
It will keep you on your toes and wanting to continue to read, that’s for sure! I was sat and had a good time because it was different from the norm of fantasies. Also, it’s not quite an HEA, a bit of a cliffy, and I still don’t know who the main mmc is 🤣🤣🤣🤷🏻♀️
But do I care? No. Because it was good and I liked it lmao.
I really can’t wait for the rest of these. Maybe more spawns? Continuation of what’s going on? Idk.
Overall,
4.25 ⭐️
1 🌶️
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor for the advanced copy!
April 2, 2026
Advanced audiobook copy from netgalley
5/5
This is a fantasy novel with romance elements in an urban setting. Jo is a college girl who, in order to survive, has to draw on people’s failures and overall negative moods. She’s deaths daughter but wants to maintain her humanity
What I Loved:
* The possibility of a good love triangle
* Well paced story
* Main and Side characters are flushed out. You care for them
* A gripping story with a main character who makes good decisions.
I love S.A Barnes writing style and sci-fi horror stories. When she announced a fantasy book, it was very surprising but I was curious. I’m glad I gave this book a try because it’s very good. This book has great pacing and is well developed. It’s a world with different kinds of Gods or ‘Old Ones’ as they’re called in the book. They seem to range from the four horsemen of the apocalypse, the seven deadly sins and mentions of the other deities.
The lore or the hoe of this supernatural world was not well explored, but it leaves more for the second book to develop. The magic system seems to rely on who the sire of the person is. For example Jo is deaths daughter and so she can feed on sad emotions and the life force of people. A Lust spawn can feed on lust and make people feel list.
Overall, this was an amazing book and I’m excited for the sequel. I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves dark urban fantasy with gods and magic, as well as blood and gore.
5/5
This is a fantasy novel with romance elements in an urban setting. Jo is a college girl who, in order to survive, has to draw on people’s failures and overall negative moods. She’s deaths daughter but wants to maintain her humanity
What I Loved:
* The possibility of a good love triangle
* Well paced story
* Main and Side characters are flushed out. You care for them
* A gripping story with a main character who makes good decisions.
I love S.A Barnes writing style and sci-fi horror stories. When she announced a fantasy book, it was very surprising but I was curious. I’m glad I gave this book a try because it’s very good. This book has great pacing and is well developed. It’s a world with different kinds of Gods or ‘Old Ones’ as they’re called in the book. They seem to range from the four horsemen of the apocalypse, the seven deadly sins and mentions of the other deities.
The lore or the hoe of this supernatural world was not well explored, but it leaves more for the second book to develop. The magic system seems to rely on who the sire of the person is. For example Jo is deaths daughter and so she can feed on sad emotions and the life force of people. A Lust spawn can feed on lust and make people feel list.
Overall, this was an amazing book and I’m excited for the sequel. I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves dark urban fantasy with gods and magic, as well as blood and gore.
May 11, 2026
3.5 stars
The nitty-gritty: S.A. Barnes's fantasy debut is a solid series opener with dangerous characters, high stakes and plenty of romantic angst.
Despite my middle of the road rating, I really did enjoy Death’s Daughter, and I do plan to continue the series. Did I like it as much as S.A. Barnes’s space horror books? No, but I respect authors who want to try new genres, and this is completely different from her other books. Barnes’s world is inspired by Greek mythology and the gods, and I liked the way she incorporated these “children of the Old Ones” into a contemporary urban setting.
Jocasta is Death’s Daughter, but she wants nothing to do with her powers and is basically hiding from her birthright. She discovered a “magical dead zone” at a small Massachusetts college called Beecher, a place where she can’t detect anyone else like her, and she's made it her home. In order to survive, Jo has to feed on people’s fears and disappointments, but she only takes small “sips” so no one knows who she is or what she’s doing. So far it’s worked for her, and she’s settled in and made friends.
But one night as she’s unwinding at a local bar, she senses a strong magical presence, a man named Devon who turns out to be a spawn of Lust. Devon’s powers have captured the attention of everyone in the bar, but Jo is more interested in what’s he doing there, after all, Beecher is her territory. Devon finally reveals the big news that everyone but Jo seems to know about: Death has decided to step down, and he’s named Jo as his successor. This is shocking news to Jo, who hasn’t heard from her father in years. It’s also unwelcome news, since becoming Death is the last thing she wants.
Devon proposes an alliance—getting on the good side of a powerful spawn is his main reason, but he also tells Jo he can protect her against other spawn who might not see her succession as good news. But then people around Jo start to die in horrible ways, and she knows someone is trying to get her attention, someone who wants her dead as well.
I loved the college setting and the way Barnes slowly reveals Jo’s true nature. At first you think she’s just a normal student, pining after her psychology TA Carter and hanging with friends. But Jo isn’t normal at all. She’s been hiding the fact that she has the power to actually kill people with magic (when she absorbs people’s negative emotions, she can kill them if she takes too much of their essence.) And really, she just wants to be a normal girl, and who can blame her? It isn’t until Devon bursts onto the scene that she has to face reality.
I also enjoyed the mythological elements, like the different children of the Old Ones, who end up swarming Beecher looking for an alliance with Jo. There’s Lust, which is self explanatory😂and War, one of the most dangerous and deadly type of spawn. Jo ends up working with a few of them who seem to have her back, but others are just out for blood.
The story is narrated by Jo, and her personality comes across as brash and off-putting at times, although I personally didn’t mind it. She swears a lot, seems to be horny all the time, and she doesn’t always think before she acts. She’s also in college, and I feel like these traits are appropriate for that age group. However, not all readers will relate to her, so it was sort of a gamble on the author’s part to write her personality this way.
As for the romance, it felt very much like a love triangle (Jo/Carter/Devon), even though Jo is mostly focused on Carter. But Devon is hovering on the sidelines just waiting for his turn, and I suspect he’ll get it in the next book (wink wink). Because this is marketed as romantasy, I wasn’t surprised to see a couple of spicy sex scenes, so do be aware if that’s something you’re not into.
My biggest problem with Death’s Daughter, and the reason for my lower rating, is the pacing and the meandering plot. For a four hundred page book, not a whole lot happens. First, the whole story takes place on the Beecher campus, so it feels a bit claustrophobic. Jo spends a lot of time thinking about her relationship with Carter, which started as an illicit affair (technically as a TA, Carter is off limits to students) and fell to pieces when emotions got too high. Plus the reader is subjected to Jo’s internal monologue, which becomes repetitive after a while. When students start dying, the story becomes more of a murder mystery, as Jo and Devon try to figure out what’s happening. This mystery held my attention, but eventually the action stalled as the characters seemed to be going in circles. This lack of forward momentum made some sections a bit tedious to get through.
But overall, I’m very glad I read Death’s Daughter. Best of all, by the end of the story, I was dying to see what would happen next, especially after a few surprise reveals. There isn’t a cliffhanger, thankfully, but Barnes drops some hints about what might happen in book two, and I’m excited to read more!
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
The nitty-gritty: S.A. Barnes's fantasy debut is a solid series opener with dangerous characters, high stakes and plenty of romantic angst.
Despite my middle of the road rating, I really did enjoy Death’s Daughter, and I do plan to continue the series. Did I like it as much as S.A. Barnes’s space horror books? No, but I respect authors who want to try new genres, and this is completely different from her other books. Barnes’s world is inspired by Greek mythology and the gods, and I liked the way she incorporated these “children of the Old Ones” into a contemporary urban setting.
Jocasta is Death’s Daughter, but she wants nothing to do with her powers and is basically hiding from her birthright. She discovered a “magical dead zone” at a small Massachusetts college called Beecher, a place where she can’t detect anyone else like her, and she's made it her home. In order to survive, Jo has to feed on people’s fears and disappointments, but she only takes small “sips” so no one knows who she is or what she’s doing. So far it’s worked for her, and she’s settled in and made friends.
But one night as she’s unwinding at a local bar, she senses a strong magical presence, a man named Devon who turns out to be a spawn of Lust. Devon’s powers have captured the attention of everyone in the bar, but Jo is more interested in what’s he doing there, after all, Beecher is her territory. Devon finally reveals the big news that everyone but Jo seems to know about: Death has decided to step down, and he’s named Jo as his successor. This is shocking news to Jo, who hasn’t heard from her father in years. It’s also unwelcome news, since becoming Death is the last thing she wants.
Devon proposes an alliance—getting on the good side of a powerful spawn is his main reason, but he also tells Jo he can protect her against other spawn who might not see her succession as good news. But then people around Jo start to die in horrible ways, and she knows someone is trying to get her attention, someone who wants her dead as well.
I loved the college setting and the way Barnes slowly reveals Jo’s true nature. At first you think she’s just a normal student, pining after her psychology TA Carter and hanging with friends. But Jo isn’t normal at all. She’s been hiding the fact that she has the power to actually kill people with magic (when she absorbs people’s negative emotions, she can kill them if she takes too much of their essence.) And really, she just wants to be a normal girl, and who can blame her? It isn’t until Devon bursts onto the scene that she has to face reality.
I also enjoyed the mythological elements, like the different children of the Old Ones, who end up swarming Beecher looking for an alliance with Jo. There’s Lust, which is self explanatory😂and War, one of the most dangerous and deadly type of spawn. Jo ends up working with a few of them who seem to have her back, but others are just out for blood.
The story is narrated by Jo, and her personality comes across as brash and off-putting at times, although I personally didn’t mind it. She swears a lot, seems to be horny all the time, and she doesn’t always think before she acts. She’s also in college, and I feel like these traits are appropriate for that age group. However, not all readers will relate to her, so it was sort of a gamble on the author’s part to write her personality this way.
As for the romance, it felt very much like a love triangle (Jo/Carter/Devon), even though Jo is mostly focused on Carter. But Devon is hovering on the sidelines just waiting for his turn, and I suspect he’ll get it in the next book (wink wink). Because this is marketed as romantasy, I wasn’t surprised to see a couple of spicy sex scenes, so do be aware if that’s something you’re not into.
My biggest problem with Death’s Daughter, and the reason for my lower rating, is the pacing and the meandering plot. For a four hundred page book, not a whole lot happens. First, the whole story takes place on the Beecher campus, so it feels a bit claustrophobic. Jo spends a lot of time thinking about her relationship with Carter, which started as an illicit affair (technically as a TA, Carter is off limits to students) and fell to pieces when emotions got too high. Plus the reader is subjected to Jo’s internal monologue, which becomes repetitive after a while. When students start dying, the story becomes more of a murder mystery, as Jo and Devon try to figure out what’s happening. This mystery held my attention, but eventually the action stalled as the characters seemed to be going in circles. This lack of forward momentum made some sections a bit tedious to get through.
But overall, I’m very glad I read Death’s Daughter. Best of all, by the end of the story, I was dying to see what would happen next, especially after a few surprise reveals. There isn’t a cliffhanger, thankfully, but Barnes drops some hints about what might happen in book two, and I’m excited to read more!
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
June 15, 2026
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book!
I went into this reading experience with zero expectations. I had the audiobook, thought the cover looked interesting, and went with it. To my utter delight, this book was a lot of fun!
We follow a girl who we find out is the Daughter of Death (ha), and when one of her friends dies unexpectedly and she becomes the prime suspect, she must find out who the real murderer is before they strike again.
This story was so addictive, and I flew through it. I love a good murder mystery, but make it romantasy. The murder mystery plot was well constructed and really intriguing, while the romantasy aspect added more complexity to the story and the character relationships.
With romantasy books, the romance can either be hot or really cringe, and this definitely wasn't cringey. The relationship between Jo and Carter was so interesting to follow because it was part taboo romance, part second chance. There was a lot of "will they, won't they?" and I was like, HELLO. Don't even get me started on Devon... The setup for future books has me INTRIGUED, let me tell you.
I really liked Jo as a main character because she so desperately wants to be normal, yet for reasons outside of her control, she never can be. I found her relatable and someone I could empathize with.
I really enjoyed the audiobook. The narrators were playful and portrayed the characters really well.
This book didn't blow me away, but there was depth here that you don't always find in romantasy books. Definitely worth the read.
I went into this reading experience with zero expectations. I had the audiobook, thought the cover looked interesting, and went with it. To my utter delight, this book was a lot of fun!
We follow a girl who we find out is the Daughter of Death (ha), and when one of her friends dies unexpectedly and she becomes the prime suspect, she must find out who the real murderer is before they strike again.
This story was so addictive, and I flew through it. I love a good murder mystery, but make it romantasy. The murder mystery plot was well constructed and really intriguing, while the romantasy aspect added more complexity to the story and the character relationships.
With romantasy books, the romance can either be hot or really cringe, and this definitely wasn't cringey. The relationship between Jo and Carter was so interesting to follow because it was part taboo romance, part second chance. There was a lot of "will they, won't they?" and I was like, HELLO. Don't even get me started on Devon... The setup for future books has me INTRIGUED, let me tell you.
I really liked Jo as a main character because she so desperately wants to be normal, yet for reasons outside of her control, she never can be. I found her relatable and someone I could empathize with.
I really enjoyed the audiobook. The narrators were playful and portrayed the characters really well.
This book didn't blow me away, but there was depth here that you don't always find in romantasy books. Definitely worth the read.
May 19, 2026
Format: 🎧
Spice: 🌶️.5
When I found out S.A. Barnes was putting out a Dark Academia/Romantasy book, I knew I had to give it a try since so enjoy SAB’a horror style so much.
Jocasta as a heroine was your typical feisty, sarcastic FMC (which hey if it’s not broke, don’t fix it!). What would a dark academia be without a potential love triangle? Carter and Devon are sure to be the Gale/Peeta, Caleb/Darius, Callum/Blake dynamic we all know and love.
I love the premise of this story, the mythos and Death lore. However I really would have loved more world building to lay a more solid foundation. I found myself at times having to go back and re-read certain things for clarification. I’m hoping the set up for book 2 really expands on what book 1 built!
The audio— single narration; Ava Lucas did a really great job bringing strong emotional depth to the characters, in particular with Jocasta and her complex emotional turmoil when faced with the subject of her father and what it means to be the Heir Apparent.
Notable tropes & themes —
💀 Dark Academia
🐦⬛ Love Triangle
💀 Magical Realism
🐦⬛ Paranormal Romance
💀 Hidden Identities
🐦⬛ Morally Gray MCs
💀 Gods & Mythology
🐦⬛ Murder Mystery
I received this ALC from Macmillan Audio as an opportunity to listen and give my honest review.
Spice: 🌶️.5
When I found out S.A. Barnes was putting out a Dark Academia/Romantasy book, I knew I had to give it a try since so enjoy SAB’a horror style so much.
Jocasta as a heroine was your typical feisty, sarcastic FMC (which hey if it’s not broke, don’t fix it!). What would a dark academia be without a potential love triangle? Carter and Devon are sure to be the Gale/Peeta, Caleb/Darius, Callum/Blake dynamic we all know and love.
I love the premise of this story, the mythos and Death lore. However I really would have loved more world building to lay a more solid foundation. I found myself at times having to go back and re-read certain things for clarification. I’m hoping the set up for book 2 really expands on what book 1 built!
The audio— single narration; Ava Lucas did a really great job bringing strong emotional depth to the characters, in particular with Jocasta and her complex emotional turmoil when faced with the subject of her father and what it means to be the Heir Apparent.
Notable tropes & themes —
💀 Dark Academia
🐦⬛ Love Triangle
💀 Magical Realism
🐦⬛ Paranormal Romance
💀 Hidden Identities
🐦⬛ Morally Gray MCs
💀 Gods & Mythology
🐦⬛ Murder Mystery
I received this ALC from Macmillan Audio as an opportunity to listen and give my honest review.
May 29, 2026
This is absolutely cw show vibes lmaoo total rating is probably a 3.8 rounding up I had a blast regardless
June 11, 2026
I'm not usually one for urban fantasy type of books and that's what this felt like, but I did enjoy it. It felt very buffy the vampire slayer and i loved the attitude of the fmc.
April 15, 2026
So much self-loathing omg
Full rtc
3.75/5.
Full rtc
3.75/5.
March 27, 2026
Thank you so much to Hachette AUS for the ARC copy
⭐️ 2.5/5 (rounded up)
🌶️ 1.5/5
An urban fantasy with mystery and a hint of romance. I was very excited to read this one when I found the ARC but I’m afraid this just fell a little off the mark for me.
The story follows Jocasta (Jo), a college student at Beecher University and oh yea, she’s also Death’s daughter. She is just trying to live a normal life… well as normal as it gets when you have to feed on people’s negative emotions in order to survive. Her world unravels when she is named Death’s successor, attracting danger, other children of the ‘Old Ones’ and a supernatural conflict leaving dead bodies in its wake. The premise is intriguing and I went in with no expectations but for me the world and lore, although quite unique and creative, felt a little underexplored and brushed aside. This was to the point where I was a little confused and wanting to understand more of how everything worked.
The story was engaging enough that it kept me turning the pages, but I think it was just a little too fast-paced and I was slightly confused as to why everything was happening around Jo. This is also because the whole story moves very quickly, with the first body dropping and the killer being found all in less than two days. It had hints of a dark academia vibe, though it didn’t fully lean into it as much as I was hoping. Also, this book is marketed as a romantasy but I think it lacked a strong romance plot to categorise it as such. It is clearly meant to be an important part of the story but the chemistry just wasn’t there for me. There is a clear romantic history between Jo and Carter but it didn’t have that depth and emotional weight that usually reels me in and keeps me invested. In this case, it was very much the plot that kept me turning the pages.
The one aspect I really enjoyed was the mystery plot, where Jocasta is trying to figure out why people on campus and around her keep dying. There were definitely moments that felt exciting and tense, even though it felt a bit rushed. I honestly did not see many of the plot twists coming! Carter’s involvement, I had no idea and when Nova showed up, I was surprised, but because I wasn’t as invested in the story my level of shock and awe wasn’t as high as it usually is.
As an FMC, Jocasta is fierce, flawed and fighting a fate she refuses to accept. As death’s daughter she is desperately trying to hold onto her humanity whilst forced to survive off others pain. She was actually quite a compelling character and I really liked her, but it's a shame her story didn't really do her justice in my opinion. She’s not just battling threats, but her own nature, guilt and the terrifying possibility of becoming exactly what she fears. Relatable yet otherworldly, she is a standout character.
As a complete side note, when it says, “Welcome to final year at Beecher University” it's more like “Welcome to the last few days of Beecher University where classes are over and dead bodies are dropping like flies.”
Overall, it’s not a bad story at all but, in my opinion, rather just an average romantasy that ticks all the boxes. It is a good, fun and easy read with a unique concept but coming off the high of a couple other romantasies I have recently read, I fear this book just wasn’t for me.
⭐️ 2.5/5 (rounded up)
🌶️ 1.5/5
An urban fantasy with mystery and a hint of romance. I was very excited to read this one when I found the ARC but I’m afraid this just fell a little off the mark for me.
The story follows Jocasta (Jo), a college student at Beecher University and oh yea, she’s also Death’s daughter. She is just trying to live a normal life… well as normal as it gets when you have to feed on people’s negative emotions in order to survive. Her world unravels when she is named Death’s successor, attracting danger, other children of the ‘Old Ones’ and a supernatural conflict leaving dead bodies in its wake. The premise is intriguing and I went in with no expectations but for me the world and lore, although quite unique and creative, felt a little underexplored and brushed aside. This was to the point where I was a little confused and wanting to understand more of how everything worked.
The story was engaging enough that it kept me turning the pages, but I think it was just a little too fast-paced and I was slightly confused as to why everything was happening around Jo. This is also because the whole story moves very quickly, with the first body dropping and the killer being found all in less than two days. It had hints of a dark academia vibe, though it didn’t fully lean into it as much as I was hoping. Also, this book is marketed as a romantasy but I think it lacked a strong romance plot to categorise it as such. It is clearly meant to be an important part of the story but the chemistry just wasn’t there for me. There is a clear romantic history between Jo and Carter but it didn’t have that depth and emotional weight that usually reels me in and keeps me invested. In this case, it was very much the plot that kept me turning the pages.
The one aspect I really enjoyed was the mystery plot, where Jocasta is trying to figure out why people on campus and around her keep dying. There were definitely moments that felt exciting and tense, even though it felt a bit rushed. I honestly did not see many of the plot twists coming! Carter’s involvement, I had no idea and when Nova showed up, I was surprised, but because I wasn’t as invested in the story my level of shock and awe wasn’t as high as it usually is.
As an FMC, Jocasta is fierce, flawed and fighting a fate she refuses to accept. As death’s daughter she is desperately trying to hold onto her humanity whilst forced to survive off others pain. She was actually quite a compelling character and I really liked her, but it's a shame her story didn't really do her justice in my opinion. She’s not just battling threats, but her own nature, guilt and the terrifying possibility of becoming exactly what she fears. Relatable yet otherworldly, she is a standout character.
As a complete side note, when it says, “Welcome to final year at Beecher University” it's more like “Welcome to the last few days of Beecher University where classes are over and dead bodies are dropping like flies.”
Overall, it’s not a bad story at all but, in my opinion, rather just an average romantasy that ticks all the boxes. It is a good, fun and easy read with a unique concept but coming off the high of a couple other romantasies I have recently read, I fear this book just wasn’t for me.
May 20, 2026
oh this was DELIGHTFUL
February 16, 2026
Death’s Daughter by S.A. Barnes is a dark-academia romantasy that moves like a mystery. Jocasta, Death’s daughter, has carved out a mostly normal college life while hiding what she is and how she survives. When she’s named Death’s successor, her quiet balance shatters, drawing dangerous attention and forcing Jo into a reluctant-hero role as secrets surface and alliances shift.
I tore through this in just over two days… I was absolutely hooked. The pacing, twists, and investigative feel make sense once you know Barnes writes thrillers; the story reads like one, in the best way. It also gave me big Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibes…students with paranormal secrets, a campus setting, and blissfully oblivious authorities...except it’s set in fall in small-town, Massachusetts.
I gave this 4.5⭐️ and 2🌶️ (one on-page spicy scene plus a few remembered moments). It doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, but it’s clearly setting the table for more. If you’re a romantasy reader who also loves mysteries/thrillers, this one’s for you.
I tore through this in just over two days… I was absolutely hooked. The pacing, twists, and investigative feel make sense once you know Barnes writes thrillers; the story reads like one, in the best way. It also gave me big Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibes…students with paranormal secrets, a campus setting, and blissfully oblivious authorities...except it’s set in fall in small-town, Massachusetts.
I gave this 4.5⭐️ and 2🌶️ (one on-page spicy scene plus a few remembered moments). It doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, but it’s clearly setting the table for more. If you’re a romantasy reader who also loves mysteries/thrillers, this one’s for you.
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