Mortal Things

by Marie Lu

Set in a world of insatiable immortals, their eternal rivalries, and the humans trapped between them, MORTAL THINGS is a cinematic and sweeping new fantasy from #1 New York Times-bestselling author Marie Lu, perfect for fans of Heartless Hunter and A Darker Shade of Magic.

Rose Lin Fairchild didn’t believe in gods, but one chose her anyway.

Rose despises Raven, the god of Death. His mysterious commands. His mercurial moods. His closed heart. But most of all, she loathes that she was forced to become his Harbinger, a human mercenary tasked to fulfil their god’s every want and whim. Still, she would do it again, because being a Harbinger is the only thing keeping her best friend alive.

When a murder rocks the world of the gods, Rose is suddenly thrust into the immortal realm's spotlight as Raven's heir. This is her chance to free her friend once and for all. But in order for her to ascend, she must first prove herself to the other gods—and the one person standing in her way is a fellow Harbinger.

Étienne Beauchard is notorious for his sly wit and charming good looks. Rose can’t stand that he is the one assigned to test her abilities, but as their initial hostility evolves into an intense attraction, they find that the gods’ secrets go deeper than they ever expected. Something is wrong in the immortal world, something that threatens to break their bond and engulf them all in war.

As Rose and Étienne fight to uncover the truth and trust each other with their hearts, they realize that everything hinges on the same How far would you go to save the person you love?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Mythology, Romantasy, Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

368 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication October 27, 2026

About the author

Hi there! I'm an author of mostly sci-fi/fantasy YA novels, like Legend, Warcross, The Young Elites, Skyhunter, and Stars & Smoke. My adult fantasy debut, Red City, releases this October 14, 2025.

I graduated from the University of Southern California and currently live in LA with my family. Before becoming a full-time writer, I was an Art Director at a video game company. Now I spend most of my time writing, trying to keep my plants alive, and getting stuck in traffic. I feel very honored that I get to tell you stories, and my deepest wish is always that my books can offer you some joy, solace, entertainment, and/or escape. With all my heart, thank you for reading.

Reviews

[❋Rushna❋]

I could read this woman’s grocery list and it would still be a 5/5 masterpiece

[Rayne]

If Marie Lu writes it, I will read it

[Noi (in & out)]

What's this?

[millena ★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ soooo this was my most anticipated book of the year (jk that was red city 2 but i had to settle for this one instead). i have to admit that for the first 50% i genuinely thought it was going to meet (maybe even exceed) my expectations but the second half kinda fell apart for me

the setting and the magic system were, as always, my favorite part, but i really missed having more memorable main characters, especially the male ones. i absolutely loved raven and étienne at first but i wasn’t a fan of how either of them developed as the story went on. rose and a few of the side characters i liked a lot tho!!!! (also omg there are SO many side characters, it took me forever to remember who everyone was)

i liked that there was a mystery running through the story but i felt like everything was a little too obvious. i think some of the clues could’ve been handled more subtly to make the reveal more shocking. on top of that, maybe it’s just my love (aka obsession) for red city but i felt like some of the character dynamics and even a few plotlines followed a very similar path so i kept thinking hmmm… i’ve read this before, just done better

anywayyyy, overall i did enjoy it but i definitely went in with too high expectations. even so, i’m excited for the next book bc i still think it has a lot of potential

[☕︎︎𝐋𝐞𝐱𝐢✞]

Pre-release ! ✨


Marie Lu…this better have a happy ending👹

I was not okay after Champion😰

[_literati_]

My birthday is October 15th, this will be my present

[Jenn]

DNF. I'm out. I got over halfway through, but to me this is boring and confusing. There are too many characters. Each god has a head...minion? (I forget already what they're called) and they have more people under them. And there's not a lot, personality-wise to distinguish them, so I keep forgetting who's who. Plus, I'm just bored.

[Caroline]

Uh yes I will be reading a forbidden academic rivals to lovers mythology fantasy especially since it’s written by the iconic Marie Lou who does not disappoint ever

[Simran K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the overall premise of the story was intriguing with the Harbingers and Regents working for each individual Gods. Predictable in the sense that it’s easy to figure out who the "bag guy" is here but still entertaining nonetheless. However, my biggest flaw with this book was the two characters with the same name. Laine and ... also Laine? Not sure if this is an issue with the advance bound manuscript that will be edited prior to official publication but its evident on several pages, especially towards the end of the book, that these are two separate characters. Throughout the story, we have the main character, Rose, interact with her best friend Laine, and be visibly upset and shaken every time. However, when she interacts with Regent Laine, there is absolutely zero emotion involved. Particularly on pages 267-268, 281, and 315, we see clear evidence that these are meant to be two separate characters. For example, Laine would be walking in with the group in one sentence and the next sentence would say she rushed towards the group to greet them. So which one is it? It was difficult to enjoy an otherwise fun story when I would constantly be having to backtrack and re-read things to make sure I was picturing the story in my head correctly. If they can fix the Laine issue, I think it would make the story flow smoothly and be a decent fantasy recommendation.

I received this book through a galley drop at BookCon. All views are my own.

[Gemma R.]

Jan 16, 2026

2026 is looking when brighter!!

[Jackson G]

Wait why does this sound so good? I don’t normally love fantasy blurbs (a lot of them just explain the world and not the plot) yet this sounds so good.

[Marie :)]

Oh my gosh I’m so excited for this!! Marie Lu is one of my favorite writers I can’t wait for October!

[Stefani Riker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marie Lu’s Mortal Things was an intriguing YA read that I enjoyed more than the other two books I’ve read by her. The story is set in an interesting world where mortals and immortals coexist, and Lu introduces a mythology that feels both fresh and completely her own.

One of the aspects I found most compelling was the central theme of love driving someone to become the exact opposite of their very nature. That juxtaposition created an emotional depth that elevated the story beyond its fantasy elements and made the characters’ choices feel meaningful and impactful.

Although the novel is told from a single perspective, Lu employs a unique narrative technique that periodically drops the reader into different scenes as a passive observer. I loved this approach because it seamlessly wove character backstories into the present-day narrative, making the connections feel natural rather than forced.

There are quite a few characters to keep track of, but that’s often the case with mythology. The mythology itself was one of the book’s greatest strengths. It reminded me somewhat of Moon Knight, where gods select avatars to carry out their will. However, Lu takes the concept in a completely different direction by establishing that these gods were once mortals themselves.

I also appreciated Lu’s use of wraiths. Rather than drawing from the traditional Scottish interpretation, they felt closer to Tolkien’s portrayal, adding an atmosphere of mystery and danger that lingered throughout the story.

As always, Lu demonstrates her talent for crafting vivid, powerful scenes. Her prose paints striking imagery and brings emotional moments to life. While Mortal Things works well as a standalone novel, the ending leaves enough unanswered questions and possibilities to make me eager for a sequel.

Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Step into a world full of immortals and gods where secrets are far deeper than you know. Harbingers tasked to fulfill their Gods wants and needs. Being introduced with two gods, two hunters stalking their prey.

This story will latch onto your soul where Marie gives you a story full of twists, bonds, trust, and questioning how far would you go to save the person that you love?

Mortal Things felt sweeping and a cold foggy day in London, really setting the scene where it shines in Marie’s writing from start to finish.

My heart went out to Rose in this book. Risking and protecting everyone around her that she loves. She’s a harbinger to the Death God, Raven. Forced to be his and tasked to claims souls. So much more to Rose than we know while she felt like a pawn to the Gods. All she wanted was to search for the reason of her existence. To never feel unwanted again.

Eti.. Étienne.. Hi, hello!? How are you!? You snuck right up on me! 👀 but Raven.. yes you! You snuck up on me as well! 🙂‍↔️ I love both of them, but I love a dark mysterious MMC 🖤

Étienne, is the Harbinger for the God of Lies and he was full of charm but holding secrets of his own. Every time he called Rose “ma fleur” my heart melted! However, I did want more of a built-up tension between him and Rose and maybe we will get more of that in the next possibly!? 👀

Raven screams death and mysterious but you feel a sadness for him. Every time he called Rose “my harbinger” or “steady, my harbinger” my cheeks were turning red! I need more of him! He may be claiming of what he wants but I can feel the pull and tension with him and Rose. Not a love triangle, but like I can see it being one maybe 👀

I desperately need the next book if we get one because I need this story to expand! Thank you so much Macmillan, Fierce reads, Farrar and Marie for the eARC! 💛

[Laura B · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a world where Gods play a part in mortals every day lives, and mortals can serve a God in return for their “lives”, Rose makes a deal with Raven, the God of death. She will become his harbinger in exchange for saving her best friend Laine’s life. Through this deal, however, Laine’s memory of Rose will be completely erased and Rose will lose her best friend. Once on a path to becoming a doctor, now Rose is tasked with taking lives. Living among mortals, her morals are continually tested and she often pushes back, questioning Raven’s decisions. Rose will have to determine just how far she is willing to go in exchange for Laine’s life; if Rose disobeys or dies, Laine will also die.

I’ve tended to prefer Lu’s science fiction to her fantasy, but I found myself enjoying Mortal Things. I appreciated that no character was without flaws, Gods included, and there was no fully good or fully evil. The moralistic dilemmas that characters dealt with also helped to further the plot and make the story more relatable. That being said, I found the beginning of the book to be a bit slow, and it took awhile for me to be fully immersed in the story. I also found some of the secondary Gods involvement in the end of the story to be a little abrupt, needing a bit more back story for why they would take such a personal approach to helping Rose, as the story emphasizes how the Gods did not get involved with other God’s harbingers/regents. Overall, it was a fast paced read once I got invested in the story, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

4 stars Ages 14+ Includes violence and emotional manipulation

[Kira Jatoft · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you bookcon & fierce reads for this galley giveaway!

chosen by death. driven by love.

I already knew I would love you but I’ll be damned, I LOVE YOU MORTAL THINGS 💛

what a concept!! what an idea!! this book was EXCEPTIONAL!! Marie Lu truly at her finest!!! you have the gods and their games and our two main characters are at the CENTER of it!! similar to all of Marie’s books, I was HEAD OVER HEELS for our MMC, Étienne—what a charming, charming man, I love him dearly 🥹 I was IMMERSED in the world—her descriptions alone have you turning and running to the next page!!

let’s list some of the best things, shall we?
*immortals v mortals
*STRONG female friendship
*touch her & die
*mystery (whodunnit)
*slow burn
*betrayals
*competition
*& THAT’S NOT EVEN EVERYTHING!!

my favorite question the book explores—how far would you go for love?! 🐦‍⬛

but what makes this book unique?? the way it was written. the TIMELINE!!! this is where Marie shines—this is how you are PLACED in the story (somewhat reminiscent of Red City but arguably different)!! it’s the string that ties everything together. it’s the devastating and exciting plot twists that keep you guessing and have you staying up until midnight, it’s the mayhem of Marie. there’s nothing like reading a new Lu novel and making it your entire personality. I couldn’t put this book down. I love the world, all the characters, the romance, the fantasy, everything was perfect.

I need October 27 like I need Étienne, like I need the next book, like I need Silver Dawn, like I need Marie Lu always writing 🥰

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC at BookCon NYC and was so excited! Unfortunately while this book ended up being somewhat enjoyable it was honestly a bit disappointing.

What I enjoyed about this book was the world building—it felt like a fresh take on the idea of how gods could interact with the mortal world. There were also large parts of the story that reeled me in and made me want to read more to find out what happens next.

Unfortunately though all that was largely ruined for me by the fact that two of the characters had the same name “Laine”. One of these characters was central to the story—Rose’s friend and her reason for being a harbinger. The other was a side character—one of the minor harbingers of another god who showed up just enough in the story to make it extremely confusing. At first I thought it was one character and I simply misunderstood who Laine was and her role/significance to the story. But as it kept happening and Laine was showing up in different scenarios with drastically different reactions and personality, I realized they were different characters. I dearly hope that some editor or someone else caught this before the book release.

Another thing that was a disappointment to me was the romance in this book felt quite rushed, it didn’t at all feel like Rose and Etienne actually had time to develop chemistry and love. All in all, my problems with this book make me question if I’d even bother reading the final draft of this book or any future installments to the series.

[Lisa Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Marie Lu has done it again. Mortal Things is an epic, twisty, and vividly imagined fantasy that completely swept me away from the very first page. With breathtaking world-building, high stakes, and a star-crossed love story that had me emotionally invested from start to finish, this was impossible to put down.

Every time I thought I had the story figured out, another twist sent me in a completely different direction. The pacing is relentless, balancing heart-pounding action with quieter, emotional moments that made the characters feel incredibly real. Marie Lu has a gift for creating morally complex heroes and villains, and I found myself questioning everyone’s motives until the very end.

The romance is beautifully woven into the story without overshadowing the larger conflict. It adds an emotional depth that makes every victory sweeter and every setback more devastating. The richly imagined setting and cinematic writing made it easy to picture every scene, and I never wanted to leave this world.

If you love epic fantasy filled with unforgettable characters, shocking twists, impossible choices, and a romance you’ll be rooting for until the final page, Mortal Things deserves a place at the very top of your TBR.

An easy five stars from me.

[Louise Karolina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Marie Lu's previous work, Red City, so I was ecstatic to recieve Mortal Things as an arc. I did enjoy it, it's a book many will love, but it just didn't captivate me as much as her previous work.

The world-building felt a bit flimsy, almost. While interesting, I found it a bit underdeveloped. I wish we had gotten the characters and the world fleshed out a bit more, as the many different gods, regents and harbingers all blended together and I kept getting them confused.

Despite this, I did enjoy the first 60% or so. I really liked the interactions between Étienne (who, in my opinion, is the best part of this story) and Rose, but I felt their relationship developed very quickly in the second half of the book; the careful yearning between them, the will they, won't they, in the first half was lovely and I wish we had gotten more of it.

While the ending dragged a little bit, I did it enjoy it and read it within a day. I did have my gripes with it but it was a novel I found hard to put down. If there is a sequel, I'll be here for it. 3 stars.

I’d like to thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this arc.

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rose Lin Fairchild is a human brought back from death to act as Death’s Harbringer. To claim her inheritance as heir and free her friend, Rose must prove herself to the gods - tested by a rival, the Regent of Lies with a cheeky grin.

This is addicting like Red City also by Marie Lu, but faster-paced for the YA genre and touching on the Divine. The world building is light, relying on the real world with a ‘something more’ invisible to most.

There are a few twists to make the otherwise predictable YA structure refreshing.

I read this in one-sitting and even though fleshing out the world and characters did take a backseat due to the shorter page count, you will still be very satisfied with this start to a series.

It does end on a heck of a cliffhanger which is sure to introduce a lot more magic to the next book, so be warned on both accounts!

Physical arc gifted by author.

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[Tracy Shouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! The notion of immortals controlling and manipulating mortals in a struggle for power is not a new one, but Lu brings a fresh and entertaining perspective. The world that she weaves is complex and full of imagery. Rose, the main female character is forced by the God of Death to become his harbinger to save the life of her best friend. She encounters Etienne, the harbinger for the God of Lies, as she begins a series of challenges to test her worthiness. Of course, a relationship forms between the two and they end up uniting to try to maintain the earthly balance that is needed to maintain order. The connections that people have to one another are intricately linked throughout the plot and work to make this a fascinating story. The twists are astounding and leave you in awe. Readers who love mythology will devour this book.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mortal Things is one of those books that grips the reader from the beginning and keeps the adrenaline pumping all the way through to the end. And the end is not the end!! Rose is a harbinger for the god of Death. She reluctantly does his bidding, but hates every minute of it. Etienne is the heir to the god of Lies and he is the romantic interest, with his clever flirtations and his grand heroics. There are betrayals EVERYWHERE in this book and heart thumping action. Will she save him, will she be saved? I cannot wait until the next book comes out. This book contains violence and death, but is appropriate for middle grades on up.

I received a free advance reader copy. All opinions are my own..

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lu's Mortal Things was a interesting take on gods walking among mortals, as they are not attched to any historical or mythology gods. Rose, the FMC, was an interesting mix of anayltical and emotional, and her love for the people in her life drove the story. She really worked to move th story on her own, yet, the MMC, did help. The MMC was selfless, yet still balanced what he was required to do. The plot also kept me guessing and what I thought was Rose's problems or silution did surprise me. Roses god Raven, was also an interesing mix of selfish or self-righteous yet was motives that come from the heart. I can't wait for the sequel.

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this arc! All opinions are my own and honest.
Guys wtf this book was TEAAAAAAAA the first 50% was good but then the second 50% was literally non stop action. Honestly im kind of annoyed I read this as an arc bc now I have to wait even longer for book two LOL maybe I’ll get that one early too 🤞🤞🤞🤞
Anyway Marie Lu is such a good author everyone knows that and HAS known that. After reading this and red city (SO GOOD OMG) it’s made me wanna go back and reread her backlog bc I never finished a few of her series and I know they’ll still hold up. Anyway go read this book when it comes out in October it’s so worth it
4/5⭐️

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book through a Goodreads giveaway and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. The book has great character development and plenty of twists and turns to always keep you guessing about where the plot will go next. This story had action and heart and everything you need to keep you hooked from the start. There was some early foreshadowing about Romeo and Juliet with clear parallels drawn between the two stories. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun book that takes on a story of the gods in a fresh, new way. 4.25/5 stars.

[Aniella Fields · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting to really like Marie Lou’s writing. I love stories about gods and their relationships with those who are not gods and this one did not disappoint. The backstories behind each character really made me invested in reading to the end. With that said, the transitions of scenes did feel a little choppy from scenes in the past back to scenes in present and switching various characters perspectives. Outside this, a very easy and great fantasy read, I’d highly recommend.

[Sophia Vecc · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank u goodreads for this arc! it also came on my birthday which was so exciting

i loved the characters in this and having read all of her books i would say this is one of the best! the world was super interesting and some of the plot twists i saw coming others totally surprised me so i def recommend and am so grateful i got to read this early!

4.5 just bc it didn't stick out to me as an all time fav but nothing i definitively didn't like

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC

Mortal Things was a fun YA read, it was very fast paced and I read it in a day. I liked the lore behind the Gods, Regents and Harbingers. The romance was just fine for me, I didn't really feel invested in it. But I did like the friendships our FMC has with other harbingers, it gave it a little found family vibe.

Overall, this was a great YA fantasy read and if you enjoy the genre and Marie Lu's writing then I definitely think you'll enjoy this.

[Sydney S · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was so surprising in so many ways! There was so many twists that I don’t even see coming. I loved how the story would go back and fourth in time to explain certain parts that connect to the story in real time. I would have loved if the readers were able to get to know Raven a bit more. This was a great book and I’m so glad I read it!

[Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marie Lu... You are in danger of becoming my favorite author! This storyline, about gods and mortals, is somehow so new and fresh and unique! I love the found family aspect and even though it was so sad in parts, I felt comforted the more I read. This is an absolute gem of a book!