To Dream in Darkness

by Ann Liang

Two gods strike a bargain that leads them on a journey with devastating consequences in this lush historical fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Ann Liang.

China in the age of brilliance, where gods freely wander the three realms. Amongst them is the cruel and beautiful Death God, who has never failed to collect a soul on time. Until now. For when he seeks out Rujia, the noble god of healing—and the only god he is fated to kill with his own hands—she makes him an offer he can’t she will help lift the excruciating, century-old curse placed upon him if he gives her a one-month reprieve.

Rujia knows she isn’t as noble as everyone believes. Her deal with Death is merely an excuse to buy herself time while she figures out an escape plan. But when her plan causes the Celestial Palace’s collapse and the beloved crown prince’s disappearance, she and Death are both held responsible. The only way to avoid the wrath of all the other gods is to travel across the realms and safely retrieve the crown prince themselves.

Yet the journey proves far more treacherous than expected. As the unlikely alliance between them blooms into more, and Death’s resolve to kill Rujia weakens by the day, neither can outrun their intertwined fate without devastating A mysterious plague. An empire-destroying flood. A thousand deaths—and rising—to restore the balance Rujia's disrupted. And if Rujia continues to live despite the will of the Heavens, this is only the beginning...

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Historical, Adult, Young Adult, Fantasy Romance

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 27, 2026

About the author

Ann Liang is the New York Times and Indie bestselling author of the critically acclaimed YA novels This Time It’s Real, If You Could See the Sun, and I Hope This Doesn't Find You. Her books have sold into over twenty foreign territories. Born in Beijing, she grew up traveling back and forth between China and Australia, but somehow ended up with an American accent. She now lives in Melbourne, where she can be found making overambitious to do lists and having profound conversations with her pet labradoodle about who’s a good dog.

Reviews

[Saranya [catching up slowly]]

I GOT THE ARC!
I GOT THE ARC!
I GOT THE ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with the arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Dawn Solaris]

RTC when my eyes stop sweating buckets

[ivy]

ann makes me SO proud of my culture 😭 i'm shaking with anticipation for this book 🤧.

[Nancy •͙͙✧⃝•͙͙✩ͯ · Rating 3 out of 5]

──⟡⋆˙✩ 3.5 stars ✩ ⋆˙⟡──

꧁ᬊᬁ “𝙇𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙥𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨,” 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙨. “𝙇𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣, 𝙞𝙛 𝙞𝙩 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩.”ᬊ᭄꧂ツ


I’m sorry did the laptop die down or did the printer go out of ink or did the TREES FUCKING GO EXTINCT CAUSING A SHORTAGE OF PAPER? Would it have SEVERELY NEGATIVELY impacted the world economy if we got ONE MORE chapter?

Just one more. Just one more.

I can’t do this anymore. I’m so THROUGH with abrupt endings.

“You already know me.”

OKAY AND?! AND THEN WHAT?! WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT YOU DUNDERHEAD? (to clarify, I’m calling the Death God a dunderhead, not the author)

I should calm down. I finished this hours ago and have had enough time to spiral and kill someone to vent my rage. Don’t worry I disposed of the body quite well. No one will find out as long as YOU ALL don’t tattle.

     𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ𐀔 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𓍯𓂃

This is a love story between the Healer God, Rujia, and the Death God, Keran, who must kill her. And I mean must. Because that is what the heavens have decreed, and one must always follow the path laid out by the heavens or there will be imbalance in the world, causing calamities and killing thousands of innocents.

But of course Rujia doesn’t want to die. She has spent years working for power and glory and it is finally within reach. How can she readily obey the will of heaven?

So she strikes a deal with Death: give her one month before he kills her, and in exchange she will cure him of his century-old curse.

     𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙜𝙤𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙞𝙗 𝙘𝙖𝙜𝙚.

I have to admit, I was bored for the first half of this book. Rujia and Keran, while great characters individually, seemed to have almost no chemistry together, and I had a difficult time becoming invested in their budding romance.

And romance is supposed to make you feel. You read it to giggle and blush and kick your feet like your soul has temporarily become a caffeinated hummingbird.

But none of those feelings made themselves known to me while reading this.

I didn’t hate it, no. But I lacked any kind of emotional connection to the story. I didn’t ache alongside them. I didn’t hold my breath as they got closer. Their romance felt more like watching candle smoke curl toward the ceiling than being burned by the flame itself.

     𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ𐀔 𝐁𝐮𝐭... 𓍯𓂃

𝙄𝙛 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢, 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙩.𝙄𝙛 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚, 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙖 𝙠𝙣𝙞𝙛𝙚.𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢, 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙛𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙝 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮.

The second half was much better. More entertaining. I even started anticipating their moments together.

Keran got softer and unexpectedly funny, and my heart genuinely went out to him. Meanwhile Rujia became more lovable the longer the story went on.

     The HIGHLIGHT of the book:

➽ She slaps him and he smiles at her
➽ She tucks a flower into his hair
➽ She calls him beautiful and he blushes
➽ He defies fate for her

Like YES. YES. Inject that directly into my bloodstream.

     (*ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)ꕤ*.ﾟ・Ꮖᥒ Ꮯꪮᥒᥴᥣᥙ᥉เꪮᥒ・

Basically, it was a good read.

But I kept waiting for it to become great. To become mindblowing. Which unfortunately never happened.

Maybe I’ve simply watched too many cdramas because a lot of the story beats felt familiar rather than exciting. The star-crossed immortals, the heavenly decrees, fate versus love, the doomed yearning. I’ve eaten this meal before. Delicious meal, yes. But I could already predict the seasoning.

Still, despite my complaints, I did enjoy myself by the end.

➽ I had a wonderful time buddy reading this with Dawn and Aivy

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[fadheela ♡ (finals hiatus)]

⤿🌹17/04/26
*screaming* OMG I'M FREAKING OUT HERE!! I might have scared my neighbours in my building with the scream I scrumpt 😭 I kept checking netgalley everyday to see if the book was available to request, and now what do you mean I got invited to read this???🥺 That too a day before my birthday?! Seriously the BEST EARLY BIRTHDAY GIFT EVER 🥹😭❤️ I love you so much Ann, I'm so ready to get wrecked by this book 🤧🫶🏻

[aira]

got the arc 🤭

[rina (hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

‎ ‎ ੭୧‎ ‎ 5 stars‎ ‎ . ۫

‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “ It is an honor to be ruined by you. ”

overall thoughts — To Dream in Darkness reminded me why I love mythology fantasy so much. As a major Asian mythology enthusiast, I can confirm this was everything!! Gods, fate, curses, yearning, devastating romance, gorgeous atmosphere - Ann Liang KNEW exactly what she was doing. Someone check in on her because she keeps releasing hit after hit.

The story follows Rujia, the god of healing, who is fated to die by the hand of the God of Death. She ends up in the Night Realm, where she makes a bargain with the Death God himself to heal him from his curse, and in return, he won't kill her for a month. As they grow closer, histories unravel, wounds reopen, and Rujia begins to learn that underneath the Death God's cruel exterior is a wounded, lonely soul carrying far more pain than anyone realizes.

If there is one thing I love, it is a tragic doomed love story, and this gave exactly that and more. The premise of Death falling in love with life had me in a chokehold, and Ann truly did not disappoint. "And suddenly, there was beauty in everything." Yes people I cried.

The relationship between Rujia and the God of Death was so beautiful and tender. They are such a red string theory couple <3 The God of Death was perfection incarnate. Bring back men who yearn. Bring back men who worship the ground their woman walks on. But most importantly, bring back men who can be VULNERABLE. I empathized so much with his grief and anger. It's quite ironic how he's viewed as monstrous, but to me, he felt the most human.

The atmosphere of this book alone deserves all the stars!! I absolutely adore how grief, vulnerability, and loss are woven into the story. I have no complaints about the ending!! It delivered the tragedy that was promised but also healed my fragile, broken heart 🥹

final thoughts — To Dream in Darkness is a stunning, atmospheric, and absolutely heart-wrenching read. I cannot wait for you guys to discover Rujia's and Keran's stories. Add this to your tbr asap!!

Thank you to Ann Liang, Amelia Beckerman, and St. Martin's Press for the ARC! To Dream in Darkness releases October 27, 2026.

CW: torture, death, murder

────

update: 04/20/26
the publisher just featured my review 😛😛😛 this is a big deal to ME!

────

finished: 04/18/26 𖥻𓈒 ꒱ ੭
my heart is in pieces 😭 i'll be crying myself to sleep now.

pre read: 04/17/26 𖥻𓈒 ꒱ ੭
currently hyperventilating and starting this asap!!! i will read anything ann liang writes, but this book especially was literally crafted for me. beyond grateful that i get to read one of my most anticipated reads from one of my fave authors 🥹 i am ready to be devastated 😖

[ishraq ⊹ (semi-ia) · Rating 3 out of 5]

well, surprisingly I have a lot to say about this book... rtc


ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ౿ 🪽 ⊹ ࣪ ˖ preread .ᐟ

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ I GOT THE FUCKING ARC. oh my god!! to believe there was a time i found ann liang’s books mid (well i still do, but she knows how to write a good fantasy and i LOVED a song to drown rivers). im sensing a five stars guys

೯ . . .thank you to author and netgalley for an eARC

[₊ ˚ ale ࿓ ♡ ⋆｡˚]

── 💌 ᝰ .ᐟ pre-read.
anything, and i mean ANYTHING, for you, Ann Liang mother

[ଘRory (Hiatus )]

I'm sold. The blurb is blurbbing😍.

[justine ⊹ ࣪ ˖]

˚˖𓍢ִ໋❀

pre-read: bless the girlies on Threads who post the latest 'Read Now' books! i was able to snag a copy 💙

[jo ୨୧]

huge gigantic thanks to netgalley and the publisher for inviting me to read this in advance for an honest review.

🌹💙 I GOT INVITED TO READ THIS !? HELLO !? no one talk to me im literally freaking out.


this cover is genuinely insanely stunning i have forgotten all words.

ann liang my queen 💗

[Ashley (permanent [?] semi-hiatus)]

is ann gonna redeem herself in the fantasy realm??

[Hamsa•͙͙*★,°]

☆*: .｡. 𝒑𝒓𝒆-𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 .｡.:*☆
It's been a while since I read a romantasy book, and I think it's time to get back into it
It’s my first book by Ann Liang, and the story looks so good. I hope it delivers.🤞🏼❤️

[vxmpslibrary [mental health break]]

lmao so should I just accept the fact that st martin press hates me and any other publisher that never gives me Ann Liang's arc while everyone else get it sigh just kill me.

.pre-release

a doomed love story...

ann liang be gentle to my heart.

[sarah سارة ꫂ᭪]

if ann liang keeps this consistency up shes gonna get kissed
THANK YOUU

[sama ୨୧]

how is life realllll actually???? 😭😭😭😭😭😭 i cried when i opened the email and saw ‘you’re invited to read “to dream in darkness” by ann liang’ I DAMN NEAR PASSED OUT. have read every single book of hers (except icgytm—soon) and loved every single book of hers so they must just know 🥹💝 i know this will EAT !

THANK YOU PUBLISHERS THANK U SM

[ishi ☆]

NEW ANN LIANG !! so so excited for this omg

[Freefall (inactive, find me on discord)]

why not

[yienne ౨ৎ (ia)]

꒰ঌpre-read📨໒꒱
if my roommate wasnt asleep when i opened the email that i had gotten sent the arc for this, i think i wouldve screamed so loudly the entire dorm would've heard me!!
so ready for this book to emotionally ruin me ‹𝟹

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc 💌

────୨ৎ────
THE SCREAM I SCRUMPT WHEN I FOUND THIS????
i think i might cry im going to be so unwell in october 2026 no further questions!!

[Isabel M]

edit: I WAS RIGHT I WAS RIGHT THE COVER IS *FAINTS* and DEATH falling in love with LIFE?? I FEAR OCTOBER WILL NOT COME SOON ENOUGH😆

JUST GIVE IT TO ME ALREADY QUEEN THE TITLE IS ABSOLUTE GOLD AND I ALREADY KNOW THE COVER WILL BE

[brontësaurus]

WAIT WHAT THE HELL

TAKE MY MONEY

[Annabella⁷ (henry li’s version)]

ANN SAID IN HER HUMBLE OPINION THIS MIGHT BE SADDER THAN ASTDR… GIRL BYE; WE ARE SO COOKED🫠
———
I'M SHAKING IS THIS REAL??

[Yusra ☾]

MY HEART MY HEART MY HEART I THINK IT STOPPED OMGOMGOMGOMG YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

ANDDD IS THIS ONE OF THE OTHER ONE OF THE FOUR CHINESE BEAUTY LEGENDS??? PLSPLSPLSPLSPLS BE YES, I NEED MORE ASTDR RELATED LIT

[hazel rae ᥫ᭡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⋆｡‧˚ʚ 4.5

how on earth am I supposed to write a review for this 😭

well. I typed out a whole review and it didn’t save so you get more random thoughts!!

🅡🅐🅝🅓🅞🅜 🅣🅗🅞🅤🅖🅗🅣🅢

───✩ the mythology themes were really well done!!

───✩ I lovedddd the writing style. I mean, ofc, it’s ann liang, what did you expect ??

───✩ it was a bit heavy + mature so i just skim read a few parts

───✩ for Keran, I have no words. he was just 🤌. and Rujia, she was awesome ofc ♡

───✩ the cover is absolutely gorg.

───✩ the ending was so so sad, it didn’t quite hit as hard as it could have, but it was still rlly sad. I did like the ending tho. so ig it was bittersweet?? but this was a tragedy. and was fated to end that way. don’t read this book if you want a story that ties up nicely with a little bow, but this isn’t a happily ever after story . . .

───✩ the slow burn romance + yearning was rlly well done 🙃

───✩ it also had some morally grey characters and themes.

───✩ overall it was a fun book to read, a little dark at times, and the plot wandered slightly, but the characters were deep, and the conflict was well done (: great job, you’ve done it again ann liang ♡

⊹ ࣪ ˖ !!! content warnings !!! ⊹ ࣪ ˖
themes of self-harm / suicidal actions & thoughts, mentions of a brothel, suggestive comments, romantic touch/tension, infrequent moderate language

╰┈➤ pre-read:
omw I got the arc!!! yesssssss
I can’t wait 🤭

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are looking for romance wrapped in c-drama fantasy vibes this is the one you want on your tbr.

[niyya نية]

TWO ANN LIANG RELEASES THIS YEAR

[sofi⋆ [happy pride !!&#x1f497;]]

*gasp* new ann liang book???
take my money ann take it all

[anzhelika ୨ৎ]

pre-read:
quite literally screamed when i saw the acceptance email. SO grateful!!

˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Ann Liang for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗