Rely on Death

by Rinn Marrell

The Fates wrote her ending. Death offers to rewrite it.

Persephone Morgrave has always been a whispered warning in her small town, cursed to kill anyone who gets too close. It is only superstition until people start dying. And when Persephone learns the Fates are hunting her because of this curse, her only lead is a silver-haired stranger who seems to know more about her fate than she does.

Thanatos, the god of Death, is far from the skeletal figure she imagined—enigmatic, captivating, and shrouded in secrets. Persephone knows better than to trust the gods, yet in a world of dark prophecies and impending doom, he may be the only one capable of keeping her alive.

To survive, Persephone must make an impossible accept her fate or challenge it. Choosing Thanatos may end the harm she causes to those around her, but it demands her soul in return. Gods never give without taking, and trusting him may cost Persephone everything.

Book one of The Shadowed Pantheon series, a Greek-myth-inspired gothic dark fantasy. Perfect for fans of The Book of Azrael, One Dark Window, and Phantasma.

Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Romantasy

350 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 10, 2026

Reviews

[Kyle Modschiedler]

Okay I absolutely loved this book! I was drawn in from beginning to end and never once felt bored! I will say this is definitely a slower paced book focused on setting up the world so if you are looking for a fast moving plot this isn’t going to be the book for you. This book definitely set up what I think is going to be an amazing trilogy! My heart broke at the end with some of the loses and my mind was also blown with how it ended. I’m so excited to see where this story goes!

[exthen0917]

Persephone “Seph” is being followed by death. Little does she know that’s more true than she originally thought. Thanatos, god of peaceful death has his sight set on her and her soul.

I loved the story, I appreciate a book that feels like I’m learning something new every time I turn the page. As someone that doesn’t know a lot about Greek mythology, I still felt like I could read and understand what was happening. The spice, 🌶️🌶️ out of 5. Thanatos speaking to her in the different language 🥵

I appreciated Seph being so multilayered, to go through all she did and still have the strength to keep going is truly inspiring.

The ending was crazy and had me immediately wishing for the second book!

But RIP, iykyk. That was bull 😭

All in all I loved this book and can’t wait to see how to story continues.

[Tessa]

Review of advanced reader copy received from the author ✨✨

I wasn’t hooked the entire time… BUT DAMN DID SHE GET ME.
The world building took up a good bit of this book, but I think that’s to be expected. She’s setting up for the rest of the trilogy. With that said, the world building was good and the gothic vibes and extreme isolation Persephone was putting herself through came through very clearly.
By the looks of that ending.. this trilogy is going to be worth the read!!
This was a different take on the mythos than I’m used to seeing and it was refreshing.
It was crazy how easily Rinn was able to lull me into a sense of safety with the freaking God of Death. I was here for it. I found myself wondering why Seph would ever question Thanatos.
I loved the side characters like Frank, Billy, and Azrail. Billy especially, such a sweet soul.
And I LOVE a enemies to lovers read, so this was right in my wheel house.

THE ENDING HAD ME JUST 😳😳
I couldn’t predict where the story was headed at any point. I was walking blind through this story and loved it.

I can’t wait to see where the story goes!

[Michaela]

REVIEW OF ADVANCED COPY FROM AUTHOR !!


It only took me 3 days to read this book onlllly because I have a day job :( buttt….

I absolutely loved this book. If you like supernatural and greek mythology, enmies to lovers, this is an amazing read! I can not wait for the next book to come out! Seph is
"cursed" and she is followed by death. He wants her soul, she is determined to keep it. If you want to know what happens you will have to read it for yourself. I will warn that the ending will have you thinking
"Rinn... I need more!" This was my first ARC read, and l am so gratefull to be one of the first people to read it! I will be buying this book as soon as it is for sale!

[Jessika]

I’m not sure if it’s because I’m not used to reading from a screen, but it took me a while to be locked into this story (over halfway). But once I was, it was amazing and I didn’t want it to end. Though it had a rough and slow start for me, I still ended it with enjoyment and look forward to finding out exactly what’s going on, in book 2!!

[Analisia]

Rely on Death by Rinn Marrell ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨Review of ARC provided by the author✨


I absolutely devoured this book! Reading books with Greek gods is always my favorite, but sometimes they feel the same and they’re usually about Hades in some way. But, this book was all about Thanatos, the god of death and Persephone (not THE Persephone, just a girl named after the goddess lol) and I ate it up. Whenever reading books involving Hades and him finding love, I always found myself thinking, “but what about Thanatos?” And this book gave me everything that I wanted and more! Every page of this book felt like a series of unfortunate events in the best way, watching Persephone navigate it all was an absolute journey. Sometimes it felt like this poor girl just couldn’t catch a break. Rinn did an amazing job writing the feelings of grief and how someone navigates it. Her writing honestly is truly amazing and she told Persephone’s and Thanatos’s story so well. The amount of YEARNING that this man shows is just *chef’s kiss*. This book had me giggling and kicking my feet one moment, then the next crying my eyes out. Once I reached the ending I was so upset, why? Because I NEED book 2 in my hands. I loved every moment of this book and I cannot wait until you guys get a chance to read it.

✨Rely on Death releases November 10th, 2026! Get your preorders in!✨

[Lucy]

Advanced Reader Copy Review:
Persephone, an avid Greek Mythology enthusiast, a girl followed by Death so much so she was thought cursed. However, Death was not her curse, it was the god himself, Thanatos, that had his immortal sight set on Seph, and struck a bargain for her soul.

As a huge nerd for the greek mythos, I was definitely lured by the aspect of the book. And boy was it worth it.
The world building definitely took me the longest to visualize, but once I got the hang of it I was hooked. I inhaled this book in less than 12 hours and was immediately upset that I had to wait for the other two.
Everyone knows never to trust a god, never to strike a bargain with a god. Tell me WHY all these rules flew out the window with Thanatos? Because Rinn had me EATING UP everything he was dishing out, and frankly I would have folded a lot faster than Seph, so props to her for that strength.
Now onto our girl, Seph is such a real character that I was feeling everything she was feeling. She wasn't fearless, she wasn't flawless, and I appreciated the complexity of her human psychology, because in her shoes none of us would have behaved any more rationally.
The ending had my jaw ON THE FLOOR. Because I seriously should've known. Matter fact, I DID know, but I chose to un-know for Thanatos 3.
The spice level was perfect, especially for the material provided. The sexy scenes had me giggling, kicking my feet and the slow burn was eating me alive (even though I should not have been encouraging it).
The pace of the book made sense, the plot twists had me sitting up at every gut-punch and turn, and at no point did it feel like I was reading unnecessary fillers. The characters played their parts beautifully, and Rinn managed to really encompass how grief and guilt affect relationships.

Lastly, REALLY HAD ME AT KILLING MY BOY. I was doing just fine until you snuffed out that sweet innocent boy. Seriously, Seph caught 0 breaks throughout that book.

Overall, a really fun and captivating read! I can't wait for it to make it out into the world. Definitely a rec for mythos lovers, and those looking for a change of palate.

[Jenna Morris]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars

“They speak of curses when they do not understand resilience. You do not bring death. You walk through it and come back fighting. They look at you and see a girl who should have died. I look at you and see the one who made death hesitate.”

Rely on Death by Rinn Marrell is such an addictive beginning to The Shadowed Pantheon series. It exceeded my expectations for a Dark Romantasy: a dark, gothic atmosphere, emotional, Greek mythology, romantic, mysterious, morally black men, and filled with the kind of chaos I love.

One of my favorite things about this book was how Rinn Marrell took familiar pieces of Greek mythology and made them feel fresh. Instead of giving us another traditional Hades and Persephone retelling, we get Thanatos—the God of Death himself—and a mortal woman, Persephone whose connection to death is far more complicated than she realizes.

Persephone “Seph” Morgrave absolutely stole my heart 🖤

She carries so much grief, guilt, loneliness, and fear throughout this story. Death seems to follow her wherever she goes. Watching her isolate herself and not letting anyone get close to her because she genuinely believes loving people may put them in danger was heartbreaking. But what made me love her was that underneath all of that pain, she still has this stubborn little spark in her. She’s vulnerable without feeling weak, guarded without becoming emotionless, and resilient without magically overcoming everything she’s been through.

And then there’s Thanatos…Sir…Respectfully—What exactly was I supposed to do with a mysterious, silver-haired God of Death who is powerful, dangerous, secretive, protective, and clearly knows WAY more than he’s willing to tell us? There were moments when I was completely swooning over him and others where I wanted to grab Seph by the shoulders and remind her that GODS ARE NOT TO BE TRUSTED.

Did I take my own advice? HELL NO! I was right there with her 😂

The chemistry between Seph and Thanatos was one of my favorite parts of the entire book. Their relationship has this push-and-pull where you never completely knew whether Thanatos is her salvation, her destruction, or both.

Beyond the romance, though, there is so much happening underneath the surface of this story. The Fates, prophecies, curses, gods, death, souls, and the idea of whether our lives are predetermined or whether we’re capable of defying the path chosen for us all weave together into this increasingly tangled mystery. Every time I thought I understood where the story was going, another piece of information made me question everything again.

Rinn beautifully wrote such a strong undercurrent of grief throughout Seph’s story—the kind that changes how you see yourself and the world around you. Her loneliness and survivor’s guilt felt tangible, and there were moments where you could genuinely feel how exhausted she was from carrying everything by herself. That emotional layer gave the fantasy elements so much more weight because this wasn’t simply a story about escaping Death.

It was also about learning whether you can still choose to live when death has touched nearly every part of your life.

And THEN I GOT TO THE ENDING — RINN — You made my head spin 🤯

You cannot give me THAT and then expect me to calmly wait for another book 😩

…put this book in your TBR—enough said.

Thank you so much to Rinn Marrell for the opportunity to read Rely on Death. All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

Now please excuse me while I stare into the void and wait very impatiently for book two. 💀🖤

[Komal Shiwani]

📖 **Rely on Death by Rinn Marrell**
⭐️ **4/5**

Okay, I actually have *thoughts* about this one. 🖤

I went into **Rely on Death** because the whole *God of Death + dark fantasy romance + Greek mythology* combination sounded exactly like something I would enjoy… and honestly, it delivered in some ways I didn't expect.

The first thing I really liked was **Persephone**.

She’s grieving, confused, stubborn, sarcastic, and very much not interested in letting anyone tell her what to do. Even when things around her start getting increasingly supernatural and terrifying, she doesn't just become the helpless heroine waiting for someone to rescue her.

And I really appreciated that.

Then we have **Thanatos**.

Listen… this man is basically walking around with *“I am death and I know I'm attractive”* energy. 😭

He's powerful, arrogant, protective, possessive, and occasionally infuriating — which, unfortunately, is exactly why his character works so well in this kind of story.

The banter between him and Persephone was probably one of my favorite parts. I liked that she actually challenged him instead of immediately being intimidated by him. Their relationship starts with distrust and a whole lot of *“I don't need you”* energy, and watching that slowly become something more complicated was fun.

I also really enjoyed the **Greek mythology and supernatural elements**.

This isn't just a romance with Greek names thrown into the background. Gods, the Fates, death spirits, curses, powers and the whole idea of **fate vs. free will** actually matter to the story.

And the atmosphere? 🖤

Cemeteries. Darkness. Death. Ancient gods. Curses. Supernatural powers.

Very much my kind of aesthetic.

**BUT.**

I wouldn't say this was a perfect read for me.

There were definitely moments where the pacing felt a little uneven. Sometimes I wanted the story to *move* instead of stopping for another explanation or emotional conversation.

I also felt like some emotional moments were repeated a little too much, and there were times when I wanted the characters' feelings to develop more naturally instead of being explained to me.

And while I liked Persephone and Thanatos together, I sometimes wanted **more time for their emotional connection to develop**. The chemistry was there, but a few parts felt quicker than I personally would have preferred.

Still, somewhere along the way, I realized I was genuinely invested in finding out what was going to happen to Persephone.

And that's what ultimately worked for me.

This book isn't just *“hot Death God falls for a girl.”*

It's also about grief, power, curses, fate, free will, and what happens when you're forced to confront something inside yourself that you don't completely understand.

Would I recommend it?

**Yes — but especially if you're already a fan of dark fantasy romance.**

If you like:

🖤 Dark fantasy romance
💀 Death gods
🏛️ Greek mythology
🔥 Morally-grey/protective MMCs
🌑 Cursed heroines
⚔️ Strong & sarcastic FMCs
🫠 Possessive romantic tension
✨ Fate vs. free will

…I'd definitely give this one a try.

**My final verdict:**
I had a few issues with the pacing and wanted more emotional development in certain places, but the atmosphere, mythology, Persephone, and *that man called Thanatos* kept me invested.

**4/5 ⭐️**

Would I read another book by Rinn Marrell?
**Honestly… yes. 👀🖤**

[Anthony DAgostino]

Why I DNFed Rely On Death: I gave it 80 pages and here are the reasons for my DNF:

The prologue felt too rushed and used an in-medias-res style that I found confusing. I felt the narrative jumped around far too much without providing enough context.

During roughly the first 30 pages, the beginning could benefit from substantial restructuring. My biggest issue wasn't simply that the story was slow it was I didn't feel sufficiently grounded in what was happening.

Characters were introduced extremely quickly in the prologue and opening chapters without enough contextualization.

I specifically questioned:

Who is Azrail? Who is Frank? Who is Billy? Who is Nikolas?

I had major questions surrounding the mythology:

Why do the Fates hunger for blood?

Why are they hunting Persephone?

Why is Thanatos stalking the graveyard keeper?

Why is Persephone cursed?

Why is Thanatos looking for her?

I felt these were foundational questions rather than intriguing mysteries because I didn't yet understand enough about the story to contextualize them.

🔮 "Hexed Seph"

One of mybiggest examples was the introduction of the phrase "Hexed Seph."

My complaint was that the phrase was introduced without enough immediate context explaining what it meant.

That added another concept to an opening I already felt was overloaded with unexplained information.

💀 Chapter One really confused me

This was probably my strongest criticism.

The opening tells the reader that the FMC is dead and was pulled back from the void.

That's a massive revelation.

But after only a handful of sentences, the narrative moves into Frank showing her a bike he restored for her.

My reaction was essentially:

Wait you need to go back to that

I felt that if you're going to begin Chapter One by revealing that your protagonist died and was somehow pulled back from the void, that revelation needs room to breathe.

Instead, I felt the book introduced something enormously important and then immediately moved past it.

📖 Too many ideas without enough grounding

By page 81, I felt like the story had introduced a large number of characters, mythological concepts and mysteries without giving you enough reason to understand why they mattered.

I particularly struggled with the dialogue during the first 28 pages and beyond because I felt conversations jumped around and became difficult to follow.

And even after Thanatos reappeared around page 28, I still didn't feel the story had settled into a clear enough direction.

🔥 My original raw rant

My overall reaction was that the story felt vague, confusing, extremely slow and structurally disorganized.

I thought the opening would benefit from more developmental revision, particularly:

Better organization and transitions

More contextualization

Slower introduction of characters

Clearer dialogue

More development of Persephone before expanding the cast

More immediate grounding surrounding the curse, Thanatos and the Fates

Less description that doesn't advance the central story

[Roshni]

**ARC Review** ✨

From the very first chapter, I was hooked. *Rely on Death* throws you into a world where Greek mythology feels both familiar and completely fresh, blending gods, fate, curses, and mystery into a story I genuinely enjoyed.

Persephone is a heroine who's easy to root for. After surviving the accident that claimed her family's lives, she's forced to live with the guilt of being the only survivor while everyone around her treats her like she somehow cheated death. Watching her slowly uncover the truth behind her "curse" while refusing to let fate decide her future made her incredibly compelling. Some of her decisions made me want to strangle her but then again, girl was overwhelmed so I can't really blame her.

And then there's Thanatos. I fear this man (god) has officially joined the list of fictional men who I would let permanently ruin me. He isn't your typical brooding love interest. He's patient, protective, surprisingly gentle, and every interaction between him and Persephone had me kicking my feet. The slow burn was absolutely worth it, and their chemistry only got stronger as the story progressed.

Beyond the slow romance, I loved how much attention was given to the mythology. Seeing gods like Thanatos, Moros, Azrail, and the Fates woven into the story made the world feel rich without becoming overwhelming. Even the viewpoint on Medusa's story really caught me, since a lot of people do not know that specific story. The mystery surrounding Persephone's survival kept revealing new layers, and every answer only raised more questions.

The side characters also deserve their flowers. Frank quickly became one of my favorites, and Azrail plus Billy (istg let him come back please) completely stole my heart.

Just when I thought I had figured things out, the final chapters completely blindsided me. The ending left me staring at the page in complete disbelief, and now I'm desperately waiting to find out what happens next. Like, I am actually so shocked and I cannot believe that happened in the last few chapters.

If you enjoy Greek mythology, slow-burn romance, protective gods, curses, mystery, and jawdropping chapters to keep you thinking long after you finish the last page, I cannot recommend this enough.

Favorite quotes:

1) “I wasn’t a puppet. Thanatos might tug, but he would learn what happened when a mortal thread snapped back against the hand that tried to control it.”

2) “His eyes dropped to my lips. “Death has touched you, and still finds itself reaching.”

3) “For a god bound to death, he breathed life into me, and what answered was more than my body. It was my soul responding to him.”

4) “I am yours to command. Tell me what you need, and I will see it done. But you will not leave without me.”

[Gabi]

This was an Advanced Reader Copy

I’m marking this as having spoilers even though it’s still pretty vague. I just don’t want someone going into reading this review and feeling like I didn’t give a fair warning. So just in case this review has spoilers.


It’s been so long since I’ve sat down and read a romance novel let alone anything about Greek mythology. I took my time to read this because I felt like a lot of romance books have just become the same in terms of main characters personalities and tropes. It’s also the first book I’ve finished in months. (This is just explaining why I stopped reading romance)

I was pleasantly surprised to find myself completely immersed in this book. I thoroughly loved the writing and the depth of the Greek mythology.

I really liked Persephone in the beginning and for a bit I could relate to her struggle of losing her family and the grief that follows. I feel like her character didn’t have a lot of room to grow like I had hoped. There were times it felt like she was stagnant or regressing rather than growing. And I do hope to see more growth in book 2 for her because in my mind she deserves it after everything she’s been through. I’m rooting for her. And very excited for book 2 and the continuation of her story.

I want to see where the relationship between her and Thanatos goes especially after the ending of this book. It felt like a betrayal even I wasn’t prepared for but he got what he wanted in the end at her expense which really upset me. I had to take a minute and sit with that because I was really hoping it wouldn’t come to that for her. There were certain points where their relationship felt a little forced but I enjoyed it regardless of that feeling, it is also understandable due to everything happening around them.

I have suspicions of Thanatos after the end of the book. He feels fake and I’m trying to fight that feeling because I’m aware this isn’t the end. And I’m sure there’s reasons for why he did what he did and how he did it. But it still upset me and I’m angry for Persephone.

All in all I’m really glad I signed up to get this ARC book. It pulled me back into a genre I stepped away from for a long time. I’m invested in the story and the characters. I also learned about more Greek mythology in the process. I really think this is going to be a great series and I can’t wait to read more of it.

[Shelby Lukee]

✨🪽☠️ARC REVIEW!☠️🪽✨
*Review of an Advanced Reader Copy received from the author*

Title: “Rely on Death”
TBR: November 10, 2026 ♥️
Author: @rinnmarrell 🖤
Genre: Dark Romantasy

“Rely on Death” is the debut dark fantasy novel by Rinn Marrell, & the first in “The Shadowed Pantheon” series! It’s a tale of Persephone, a cursed & misunderstood girl…who’s lost her entire family in a tragic car accident. Death seems to follow her. Meanwhile, Death is ACTUALLY following her. The actual God of Death, Thanatos, has been lurking in the shadows… watching, waiting, & intrigued by this tragic girl. He can help remove her curse, but the cost would be detrimental. Does this seem like something you’d enjoy? Give it a try! It’s a gothic take on Greek Mythology, Fate, Death, & Curses…intertwined into a modern age romance.

✨ Tropes:
✦ Enemies to Lovers
✦ Found Family
✦ Prophecy & The Fates
✦ Morally Grey MMC
✦ Cursed FMC
✦ Slow- Burn Romance
✦ God x Mortal
✦ Chosen One
✦ Supernatural Stalking

✨ Trigger Warnings:
✦ Attempted gang 🍇
✦ Talk of child 6️⃣ual abuse (discussions about Medusa)
✦ PTSD and mental illness themes
✦ Violence and 🔫 use
✦ Car crash
✦ Drowning
✦ Discussions of him!c!de (massacres) and su!c!de
✦ Graphic death and repeated depictions of death
✦ Fire

This book gives a gothic feel to the mythological Gods we’re used to. It’s a must-read for any fan of Greek Mythology, curses, death….& all us creepy little weirdos who can relate to Persephone in more than one way. It is a slower-paced book, and gives time for the characters and setting to seep in. You’ll end up feeling a sense of security and safety with the friggin God of Death, all the while feeling sympathetic and empathetic for Persephone and all her trials in this tale. This is the first book in a planned 5-book series (!!), so keep your eye out! Several scenes in this book will tug at your hearts & have you all in the feels….

✨ This author is starting off this series with a stunning & beautifully told tale. More WILL be coming from her, so keep an eye out for the sequels!! ✨

#ARCBook #BookReview #Bookstagram #DarkFantasy #RomanticFantasyBooks

[Mira]

This is an ARC review so take it with a grain of salt. 3.5/5

This is also my first time being an ARC reviewer.

I wasn't totally on board with the story here, it was slow to start and some of the pacing was weird. As a reader I don't want to be hand held through the world, but sometimes the scene transitions were jarring.

An example, one point Seph is in her room, and then next scene was describing how the door was closing behind her and she was now outside. The whole 'show don't tell' saying comes into play here but I would have liked some sort of short sentence of the path she took to GET out there. Maybe that's just me being nit-picky.

Seph as a character is great, she shows resilience and tenacity that I like in my FMC's while still having that self-doubt for character growth. Now Thanatos...not sure what to say here. It almost seemed like she was talking to a robot the entire time. It's hard to explain, and it might be because he speaks like he's a textbook. It's stated in the book that he has ultimate control over his emotions but he has to have some emotions to have control over. It was almost like she was drawn to him be cause she saw him in the graveyard and then he turned into 'her hot professor' and that was it. Azrail had more character then him and he was more of like a sidekick/bro.

The spice was probably a 1/5, It wasn't crazy, and I wasn't blushing hardcore and trying to hide my book, but given that she was a virgin it's better that way, maybe it will ramp up in the second book.

I get that Rinn is world building, so I've given it some slack regarding that. Now that Seph is where she is at the end of the book the environment/world will be more interesting then then small town environment. The twist at the end made me raise a brow because as I stated before, Thanatos gave nothing away in motive other than he wanted her soul.

All-in-all I will probably read the next one, whether I'm chosen again as an ARC reader or not.

[KathrynAlyse]

4.5 rounded up ⭐️

A huge thank you to author Rinn Marrell for providing me with an ARC of Rely on Death, the first book in this series!

If you're a fan of Greek mythology-inspired fantasy/romances, this one offers a fresh and unique take on the Persephone myth. This isn't the familiar story of Persephone being abducted by Hades to rule the Underworld. Instead, Rinn Marrell puts an intriguing twist on the mythology that kept me wanting to know more. While you don't need to be an expert on Greek mythology to enjoy it, having some basic knowledge definitely enhances the reading experience.

Our FMC, Persephone, believes she's just an ordinary human woman. After losing her family, she's left grieving and is known throughout her small town as cursed—death seems to follow her everywhere...including the God of Death himself.

Enter Thanatos.

Our MMC is drawn to Persephone for reasons that seem equal parts sinister and irresistible. He wants her soul, but she resists- yet he also becomes her protector. He trains her, guides her, and is constantly at her side. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and every interaction had me wanting more. Their dynamic was easily one of my favorite parts of the story.

The ending left me with so many questions! Thanatos may have gotten what he wanted, but I have a feeling there's much more going on beneath the surface, and I cannot wait to see where this story goes in book two.

My only critique is that it took me a few chapters to fully settle into the story. Once everything started coming together, though, I was completely hooked.

Overall, this was a compelling start to the series, filled with mythology, mystery, slow-building romance, and plenty of intrigue. If you enjoy mythology retellings with a darker fantasy twist, I definitely recommend giving this one a try!

[Josipa]

ARC review!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! 🖤 The incorporation of Greek mythology was fascinating and added so much depth to the story.

This was my first time reading a book by Rinn Marrell, and all I can say is—wow. Her writing is absolutely beautiful, immersive, and captivating. 😍 You can truly see the incredible imagination and skill behind every page. The prose flowed effortlessly, and her vivid descriptions made the world feel rich, atmospheric, and alive. ✨

Persephone was such an interesting and compelling character. Despite being human, she was incredibly complex and layered, carrying both strengths and vulnerabilities that made her feel very real. ❤️‍🩹 Her mysterious “curse” and her gradual entanglement in the world of gods created a captivating storyline that kept me eager to discover more about her fate.

And then we have Thanatos, the god of Death himself. 🫠 What an incredible mmc. 😮‍💨🔥 The way he was drawn to Persephone, his curiosity slowly turning into something much deeper, was beautifully written. The yearning, the tension, the subtle emotions hidden beneath his exterior—it was everything I love in a romance. 🙂‍↕️

The chemistry between them was fantastic. Their relationship wasn’t rushed; instead, it developed naturally and was built with care, making every interaction feel meaningful. 🫶 I loved seeing the walls between them gradually crumble as their bond grew stronger and their feelings became impossible to ignore. 🤩

Mysterious, gothic, and utterly intriguing, this book perfectly balances mythology, romance, and atmospheric storytelling. 🙌 The enchanting prose, compelling characters, and beautifully developed relationship made this such a memorable read.

If you enjoy Greek mythology, yearning romance, and dark, immersive worlds filled with secrets and gods, then this book is definitely worth picking up! 💫

Also, I need a book two!! That ending… 👀

Thank you so much to the author, Rinn Marrell for sending me a free e-ARC copy in exchange for an honest review! ❤️

[Nikki Irvin]

My personal review after arc was sent by the author. 🖤 ✨

Oh how I’m always looking for reaper, death god style books. And believe it or not, there doesn’t seem to be many that have spice. I was so excited to receive this and immediately read in 1 day.

First I want to thank the author for bringing mythology into this modern day style book! I myself took 2 years of mythology into school so this was an exciting bonus!

The story had a well paced story. You’ll experience a curse(though not completely named or identified for a bit), mythology plots(mainly the ones you never want to tangle with), loyal friendships, slight spice towards the end but definitely not a focal point, a twist of enemies to lovers that aren’t what you think in the end, a fmc that you feel for as she didn’t deserve any of the stuff that happens to her throughout, and a mmc that you’ll somewhat enjoy until I myself wanted to punch! The side characters I enjoyed, though I wish more was explained on Billy. If anything him and Frank I wished for such a different story and ending!!! While this book is slowly paced, it kept me engaged, feeling a little sad, and at one point I wanted to scream “just trust death”!
But ohhh this author spins the very end to where you are screaming WTH!?! And the ending of the epilogue solidifies that you truly didn’t know the characters like you thought you did. And while I was hoping for more spice and a hea, I found I wasn’t disappointed with having very little spice, and an absolutely NOT hea.
Please say we can findout more about Billy in book 2? My heart at this point needs that closure because he was the ultimate tide or die bestie we didn’t know we needed at the beginning of this book.
As for our main characters…..book 2 needs to be released NOW please, because that twist and heart shattering cliffhanger hurt and had my brain reeling 🤯 😩 💔

[Sonderous Reads]

Persephone Bree Morgrave is haunted and hunted by a fate she never asked for. Worse of all the Fates she once studied are the very beings calling for her death. When the rumor of her being cursed becomes a terrifying fact of her existence, she meets Thanatos, god of Death. He promises to help her, but the cost is a price she is unwilling to pay. And who would when it is your soul?


I am a Greek Mythology nerd. Any story with an inkling of inspiration from the mythos is an insta-read for me. So, stumbling upon Rinn Marrell 's “Rely on Death” was (in a way) fated. In this dark romance, Seph is pursued relentlessly by beings she once thought were myths. Her fate is one of tragedy that she draws into the lives of those she cares for most, leaving her in isolation out of fear and protection. Her grief is inked in her skin, her words, and the very pages of the novel. Making her a fit match for the god of Death. Thanatos himself is an intriguing character that became an enigma; a god full of pomp and sass that waited on Seph. Their banter was fiery and, many times, swoonworthy. 


If you love Greek mythology, a Gothic atmosphere, darker romances with tragedy braided through, this book is for you. Seph reminds me of Gothic heroines whose vulnerabilities and isolation hide a power within. She is filled with grief and fear, but she also is far more powerful than any would give her credit for. Thanatos is that magnetic Byronic hero that both encompasses his domain and defies it. And the plot itself??? It kept me on the edge of my seat and reading well into the dark of night. Now, I await answers in a forthcoming book two. Until then, someone please join me in the wait! I have ✨theories✨.

[Ivory Wren]

OVERALL RATING: 3.5 STARS

In this book, we follow Seph, who is the only survivor of a car crash that killed her entire family.
I adored the premise, the character building of Seph and the side characters was lovely, and Frank is genuinely my favourite character in the entire book. He seems the only one who's truly on Seph's side throughout the whole thing.
Emotionally, I was very invested in this book. It was a bit slow to start, but once it got started, I was emotionally there through every roller coaster, and for every small win, like when she managed to make it to that party.
Seph's relationships with her friends were authentic, even in a college setting. I would have loved if there was a bit more of a deep dive into her relationship with them, but with all the curse malarky, I can't blame her for not spending so much time with them.
Now, "what about Thanatos?" I hear you ask.
But to talk about Thanatos, I need to go into detail about why I've knocked 1.5 stars off the book.
There is nothing particularly going for him. He's nice, and I get that he is brooding and has his emotions under ironclad control, the go to for immortal men, but we go from her meeting him in the graveyard to her lusting over him in her classroom. There is absolutely no element of the enemies to lovers trope that Marrell has put on the Amazon genre list. There is not a single moment in this entire book that I'm convinced Seph hates him. I don't know if this is to build up for book 2, but she doesn't trust him, and then she lusts for him in the next chapter.
Why? I have no idea.
Thanatos is genuinely my one and only gripe with this book, but with him being one of the main characters it had to take off more than one star.

[Brooke Hawkins]

Honest review of an advanced copy🌹✨️

"One cannot defy fate."

As someone who grew up obsessed with Greek Mythology. This book did me in, in all the best ways imaginable. I am so happy it was my first ARC Read.

The story follows Persephone "Seph" a girl who has been plagued by death every step of the way. Then to find out that Thanatos the God of Death has also followed her. every. step. of. the. way...

The book has wonderful world building, the spiciest tension among the MMC & FMC, a lot of inner turmoil for the FMC, and well a lot of death. The book is lower on the spice scale, but I am sure Miss Rinn plans to step that up in the next book. However, just because it may not be "spicy central," does not mean you should pass on the book. The tension between the MMC & FMC will leave you breathless and palpable. I mean he talks her through it, in another language...🌶

I read this arc as a buddy read with a friend of mine and we each finished it in the span of 2 days. Neither one of us could put the book down and we were constantly texting each other over every detail. We both plan to buy the books when they release and look forward to arc reading the rest!

Rinn, this book is beautifully written and I am so thankful with how well constricted you wrote about greek mythology. This book was even better than everything I hoped it would be as I waited for my arc acceptance. I am so excited for the rest of the series and I am now buying every frankincense candle that I can get my hands on :))))

Fav quote: "For a god bound to death, he breathed life into me, and what answered was more than my body. It was my soul responding to him."

[Shelby]

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the Author for free, but that will not influence my review in any way. I'm about to give you the honest truth on this book, because it was almost a DNF for me!

When I started this book, I was extremely irritated by the over-the-top use of flowery language and slow pace, which I really did not vibe with (at first). However, as the characters developed I realized that the language was in line with the main female lead's personality. The more I read about each character, the more I came to love them and found myself invested in their stories.

Despite the slow pace, by the middle of the book, I couldn't put it down. I literally finished it all in one night because it had everything a fantastic read needs: love, suspense, drama, humor, heartbreak, etc.

I will warn you: if you are not a fantasy fan or are someone who gets hung up on realism, this may not be the book for you. There are things going on that are not in line with reality, but it's nice to escape the real world sometimes, so I recommend giving it a chance.

If you are a spicy book lover, we'll have to wait and see what Rinn does with the following books to know for sure how this series lives up to BookTok spice hall of fame. This one is certainly the build up, but the spice was 1/5 for me as a spicy book connoisseur. I found myself more immersed in the world building than the two leads were in each other, if you feel me.

Since this is a series it does end on a cliffhanger, but I am exceptionally excited to read Rinn Marrell's continuation of the story!

[AJ Robertson]

I sat for a while, trying to figure out how to review this one. I loved the story. It captures you immediately from the beginning and doesn't let go. The world was done well. I always had an interest in Greek mythology, but this delved so much deeper into it. I felt for Persephone truly, but her strength and resilience were unmatched. Throughout it all, you just keep rooting for her. She truly tries to overcome every odd thrown her way. Yet, I still did not expect that ending and absolutely pissed me off. However, with that, it immediately makes you want the next book because those last few actions can not stand. Definitely look forward to reading what comes next.

“You call her a witch because you cannot fathom a spirit strong enough to survive what should have broken her..."

"Maybe curses weren’t a thing that clung to you, but a trail of your own choices and the consequences that never stopped.

‘To understand the strength of the other side is essential in knowing how to fight them.’”

“They speak of curses when they do not understand resilience. You do not bring death. You walk through it and come back fighting. They look at you and see a girl who should have died. I look at you and see the one who made death hesitate.”

"Wear the room before the room wears you.."


"That must have been the trick. Beauty as a mask. Gentleness as a lure. A sanctuary so false it mimicked safety, lulling you into surrender before the final breath left your body..."

“And I long for the sanctity of your soul. To guard it from any who would do you harm, and to cherish it for eternity.”

"...by defying destiny, you invite chaos to reign."

[Courtney]

4.5 stars

What happens when the only person who can save you is Death himself?

Rely on Death pulled me into a world of Greek mythology, soul bargains, forbidden romance, and a version of Death I absolutely should NOT have trusted… but did anyway.

Seph has already experienced more loss than anyone should, and now something is trying to kill her. Enter Thanatos, the god of peaceful death, who offers her protection in exchange for the one thing she refuses to give him: her soul.

I loved watching the relationship between Seph and Thanatos develop. This is definitely a slow burn, but the tension and gradual shift from distrust to something much more complicated kept me invested. And then there’s Azrail. His relationship with Seph added another layer that I really enjoyed, especially because she finds an unexpected sense of peace with him.

The Greek mythology woven throughout the story was one of my favorite parts. The symbolism, the references to death, and the little details made me stop more than once to look something up, which I LOVE when I’m reading.

And Thanatos saying:

“Νιώθεις θεϊκά… Κι όμως είσαι η αμαρτία μου. Ψυχή μου.”

You feel divine… and yet you are my sin. My soul.

EXCUSE ME?!

That ending completely changed the way I was looking at certain moments throughout the book. Suddenly I had questions about motives, promises, relationships, and things I thought I understood.

And finding out there is a second book after THAT ending?!

Rinn Marrell, respectfully, I would like my soul back too.

⭐️ 4.5/5
🖤 Greek mythology
🌹 Soul bargains
💀 Death himself
🔥 Slow-burn forbidden romance
👀 An ending that will make you question EVERYTHING

[Janee]

This book had me in a chokehold, and I think that's putting it lightly. It took me a little over 24 hours to finish because I *needed* to know how it ended—and wow, it did not disappoint.

The God of Death is our MMC, and every time he appeared on the page, I found myself wanting more. There was something so captivating about his presence that I couldn't get enough.

The author does an incredible job of putting her own unique spin on Greek mythology. She has created a world filled with darkness, mystery, and fantasy, and I was completely invested in all of it. Her writing is richly descriptive, making it easy to become fully immersed in the story. I wanted—no, *needed* answers because it felt like the FMC simply could not catch a break.

I will say that the ending was absolutely criminal (iykyk). Now I find myself impatiently waiting for book two, and book one hasn't even been released yet.

Overall, I thought this book was incredible and exactly what I needed. The chemistry between the two main characters is electric, and while the romance is undeniably present, I appreciated that there were even larger mysteries and storylines unfolding beneath the surface. I found myself rooting for them while simultaneously feeling desperate to figure out what the hell was actually going on.

As always, I encourage readers to check the content warnings before diving in, as this story covers some heavy topics. Take care of your heart and mind—and definitely give this book a try.

[Margie G]

Advanced reader copy -- Thank you, Rinn, for giving me my first opportunity as an ARC reader!!

This took me far too long to finish, but only because life kept getting in the way. Otherwise, I would have finished in days.

I have always been fascinated with Greek mythology, so I was very interested in this book. Loved the way Rinn gave it her own spin while still staying true to the mythology. Everyone always fears death. That's human nature. But she reminded us in this that death can be peaceful in the portrayal of him here. I also just love Thanatos in general. So it didn't take much for me to love this character.

It is slower paced like others have mentioned. But it's the first book with a lot of world-building. So, while slower paced, it still kept my attention. It is low spicy 🌶🌶, but there was one line that had me actually laugh out loud. "He unfastened his shirt, each button undone at a pace meant to test me." 😂

There were some details that I really appreciated. For example, Thanatos never used contractions. Never used words like 'would've' or 'don't.' It was always 'would have' and 'do not.' I appreciated that detail because it felt like that's how Thanatos would actually have spoken.

I absolutely did not expect the ending. And Rinn threw that curve ball at the very end, like in the last 15 pages or so. Some sad character deaths that I also didn't expect 😔.

I really hope book 2 redeems certain characters 🙏. If you know, you know. 😂 Can't wait to read the next one!!

[springstruckreader]

REVIEW OF ADVANCED COPY FROM AUTHOR

Book one of The Shadowed Pantheon series, a Greek-myth-inspired gothic dark fantasy that feels like Cassandra Clare meets Rachel Gillig. If you love romantic fantasy with a dark twist, mysterious worldbuilding, and a suspenseful plot, this one should definitely be on your radar.

It took me only two sittings to finish this because I was hooked. I’ve read a few myth-inspired romantic fantasy books, but this one felt like a breath of fresh air within the genre. I loved that the story is set in our own world and time, something I haven’t come across much in fantasy nowadays. It reminded me so much of fantasy that used to be popular maybe 10 years ago that I missed SO MUCH (tumblr would ate this book up).

The worldbuilding was great as well, the first book does a great job of introducing the world without sacrificing the plot, so there’s still plenty happening to keep you invested.

The writing was another highlight for me. The pacing is fast, the story keeps moving, and I ended up highlighting so many quotes along the way. And the ending? It definitely left me shocked a little. I’ll be eagerly anticipating book two for sure.

This series has serious potential to become the next big fantasy series, so I’d say get in early before everyone else discovers it.

I would like to thank Rinn for bringing me into the team and also bringing the characters alive!

Rely on Death comes out November 10, 2026.

[Maheen Jabran]

ARC Reader Review

Rely on Death has me questioning my own sanity in a very good way. The story took me on such wild turns, from happy to sad, to Ok, to tentively hoping to just plain shocked. I became as manipulated as Seph did by Thanatos and I can't wait to see what lies for the two of them next.

The characters were so complex I fell for each of them, and it broke my heart when they all died especially Frank and Billy, but I know its part of Seph's journey and I want to see how she'll overcome it.

I loved Azrail but he totally shocked me at the end with the way he treated Seph, I think it shows just how well Thanatos had her and me devieved, truly masterful writing to be able to pull something like that off. I totally thought Thanatos was going to do anythibg for Seph, and maybe he is because he does seem like a man obsessed.

The incorporation of Greek Mythology and the language was done beautifully, I especially loved how the stereotypes were challenged, with Medusa's story and even Thanatos, the Keres and Humans and what Prometheus gave them.

The message of hope was translated so well and its left me hoping that Seph overcomes everything and shows them who's boss.

The plot twist was shocking to say the least. The writing style trult led me to believe that Thanatos had no ulterioir motive, but I can't lie when I say I'm excited to see how Seph gets her revenge and how Thanatos plans to take over the Underworld in Run From Shadow.

[Mon]

𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 - 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿

4.5 ⭐️

ׂ╰┈➤ “𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘳𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 - 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺, 𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬.”

・・・・・⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺ ・・・・・

I am a sucker for a dark fantasy romance and anything Greek mythology related. Put those two things together and you get Rely on Death. I will say I feel for Seph in this book, being a college student and dealing with her family and friends the way she has too in the book can be hard for anyone but she has no choice. She’s a true fighter, like I’m inspired by her.

I will say around the 74% mark it really started picking up
for me where I couldn’t stop reading. I did cry one time, so thank you for that…

“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦, 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺.”

Thanatos is a “little” cocky man *wink* and I lived for their banter on the pages. He did have me kicking my feet and giggling. Can I say though, I might have a crush on Azrail like come home with me, I’ll treat you right.

“..𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵.”

I WILL PAY WHATEVER COST - take meeee home Thanatos and Azrail.

I must patiently wait for book 2 now… don’t make haste or anything Rinn. I am grateful truly… :)

・・・・・⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺ ・・・・・

Thank you so much for the honor of getting to read this book before release date. ♡

[Samantha Alejandro]

If you’ve followed my reviews for a while, you’ll know I have a few weaknesses.

One of them is anything involving Death, The Grim Reaper, and the mysteries surrounding what comes after.

The other? Greek Mythology.

So when you give me Thanatos, the God of Death, The Fates, prophecies, curses, morally grey gods, and a heroine named Persephone, I never stood a chance.

This book had everything I love. Greek mythology woven into a dark fantasy world, banter that kept me smiling, a cursed FMC, prophecy and fate, found family, and a God of Death who somehow managed to make me question all my life choices.

What I loved most was how effortlessly the mythology was incorporated into the story. It felt like stepping into a world where the Gods still walked among mortals and fate was something alive and dangerous.

And let’s not ignore one of my favorite tropes: Touch her and die.

Because when you add that to a God of Death, I am immediately invested.

The hardest part about reviewing this book is that the less you know going in, the better the experience.

So all I’m going to say is this:

Read it.

Devour it.

Let it live rent-free in your head the way it’s currently living in mine.

Thank you, Rinn Marrell, for trusting me with this ARC.

Now excuse me while I impatiently wait for book two because 2027 feels entirely too far away.

[Hecate]

ARC REVIEW 🖤

4/5 Rating.

Oh my god! This book was definitely a roller-coaster with every chapter making it more and more difficult to put an end to it to close my eyes.

Persophone (Seph) was brave, bold and an "imperfect" girl. She had a flame in herself that she refused to let off and that made her stand out. Whatever she faced she never became dependent on people and always thrived for what she wanted - never giving up.

Thanatos, he was an unexpected one, the death himself who was actually a mystery even at the end, the point you think you know him, a small twist or something else comes and now you don't know what to believe. He was patient, cocky and terribly handsome.

It's not only about the main leads, each character had their own story and their own stage - standing out on their own. I loved how every character got enough time to justify everything.

The ending really left me in a stage where I was just flipping the same page again and again as if the next book or few chapters would magically appear. That's how obsessed I was with the book.

But really I'm waiting for the second book with a lot of excitement and hope - hope to see the reasons for everything that's happening and happened.

I would definitely recommend this book for people who love gothic, greek mythology romantic book with lots of tension and suspense 🖤