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Flight of Souls
Not yet published
Expected 23 Jun 26Her heart to reap. Her soul to keep.
In the opulent halls of the temple to Olympus, Cyrie is both a holy priestess and an oracle who doesn't quite belong. Her prophetic vision has been stunted for years—until a chance meeting challenges the very nature of her gift.
As she confers the last rites of a dying nobleman, a god arrives to claim his Thanatos, the black-winged reaper of souls. He's terrifying and captivating and utterly confused as to why Cyrie, a living woman, can perceive his presence. At her beckoning, he's just intrigued enough to visit her again. And again. And again, until the novelty of her peculiar sight is eclipsed by attraction the two are helpless to resist.
But Cyrie is bound to the Olympians, and the favored gods are not wont to share. Her execution is assured should the temple, or the deities themselves, discover her indiscretions with Death incarnate. It doesn't matter how Thanatos makes her feel. When their secret crumbles, he'll steal her soul at their final meeting.
As prophecy unfolds and the temple closes in, Cyrie's choice may well be her to relinquish lovely Death…or succumb to him forever.
In the opulent halls of the temple to Olympus, Cyrie is both a holy priestess and an oracle who doesn't quite belong. Her prophetic vision has been stunted for years—until a chance meeting challenges the very nature of her gift.
As she confers the last rites of a dying nobleman, a god arrives to claim his Thanatos, the black-winged reaper of souls. He's terrifying and captivating and utterly confused as to why Cyrie, a living woman, can perceive his presence. At her beckoning, he's just intrigued enough to visit her again. And again. And again, until the novelty of her peculiar sight is eclipsed by attraction the two are helpless to resist.
But Cyrie is bound to the Olympians, and the favored gods are not wont to share. Her execution is assured should the temple, or the deities themselves, discover her indiscretions with Death incarnate. It doesn't matter how Thanatos makes her feel. When their secret crumbles, he'll steal her soul at their final meeting.
As prophecy unfolds and the temple closes in, Cyrie's choice may well be her to relinquish lovely Death…or succumb to him forever.
- GenresRomantasy
249 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 23, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I want to start with what this book has going for it. The premise — a priestess with Apollo-sent visions in a secret relationship with Thanatos — has potential. Greek mythology romance is a space with a built-in audience, and there’s something inherently compelling about a forbidden love between a mortal and the god of death. The moments between Cyrie and Thanatos have sweetness to them, and the ending wraps up on a decent note. Cyrie being one of four priestesses is an interesting setup, and her visions add a layer that could have been explored even further.
Now for the honest part.
The story centers almost entirely on Cyrie and Thanatos’s secret relationship, and that’s essentially it. For a book set in a world full of Greek gods and goddesses, very few of them are physically present. Apollo sends visions, Hades is a voice, Persephone gets a brief meeting — but the mythology feels like set dressing rather than a living, breathing world. These are gods. They should feel larger than life, unpredictable, dangerous. I wanted more presence from them. More weight, more consequence, more of the grandeur and chaos that Greek mythology naturally carries. The world exists, but it doesn’t feel majestic. It doesn’t pop in a way that makes you stop and take it in.
The chemistry between Cyrie and Thanatos is sweet but flat. For a secret forbidden romance to carry an entire book, it needs an edge — tension, longing, stakes that make the reader’s chest tight. The danger of being caught. The ache of stolen moments. The fear of losing each other. That urgency wasn’t there for me. Their relationship plays it safe when it needed to be electric. I wanted to feel the pull between what they want and what they’re risking, and instead it stayed on the surface. Sweet is fine, but sweet alone doesn’t sustain a romance for an entire book. It needs heat, it needs conflict, it needs moments where the reader holds their breath.
The pacing struggled, especially in the middle. There were stretches where the story felt like it was treading water — no twists, no escalation, no revelations, nothing to keep my pulse up or pull me forward. I nearly put the book down during this stretch, and that’s a hard position to come back from. The ending picked up and brought some energy back, but it didn’t rise to the level of a climax that the story needed. A good climax should feel like everything the book has been building toward finally erupting — this one felt more like a gentle incline when it should have been a peak.
The writing quality is okay but could be stronger. The descriptions are decent without being immersive. For a story rooted in Greek mythology — a world of marble temples, divine power, the underworld, death itself — the prose should make me feel the setting. I wanted rich, atmospheric writing that matched the scale of the world. Instead it read as functional, getting the job done without lingering in my mind after.
The dialogue is where things felt uneven. The cursing in particular threw me off — it didn’t feel natural within the world or the tone of the story. When characters in a mythology-inspired setting speak with modern profanity, it creates a jarring disconnect. Dialogue should feel like it belongs to the characters and the world they inhabit, and here it pulled me out instead of drawing me deeper in. Finding a voice that balances accessibility with the setting’s tone would go a long way.
The epilogue felt disconnected. If it was meant to be humorous, it didn’t land for me. Shifting the focus to characters who were barely mentioned or present throughout the story took away from what should have been a satisfying close centered on Cyrie and Thanatos. After spending an entire book with these two, the ending should belong to them. A happy ending works best when it stays grounded in the characters we’ve invested in, and pulling away from them in the final pages felt like a strange choice.
What would have earned 5 stars from me? Give the mythology real presence — let the gods be terrifying, awe-inspiring, felt in every scene they touch. Flesh out the other three priestesses and let them add dimension to Cyrie’s world. Sharpen the chemistry between Cyrie and Thanatos with genuine tension, higher stakes, and moments that make the forbidden nature of their love feel truly dangerous. Tighten the pacing in the middle so the story never loses its grip on the reader. Elevate the prose to match the grandeur of the world — make every description of the divine feel worthy of gods. Make the dialogue feel native to the setting. And keep the ending focused on the characters who earned it. The bones of something are here — a priestess, a death god, a forbidden love — but the execution needs more depth, more edge, and more of the emotional weight that makes mythology romance unforgettable.
I’m landing at 3 stars. I didn’t dislike this book, but it didn’t grab me either. The premise deserves a story that rises to meet it, and I hope future installments push further into the potential that’s clearly there.
I want to start with what this book has going for it. The premise — a priestess with Apollo-sent visions in a secret relationship with Thanatos — has potential. Greek mythology romance is a space with a built-in audience, and there’s something inherently compelling about a forbidden love between a mortal and the god of death. The moments between Cyrie and Thanatos have sweetness to them, and the ending wraps up on a decent note. Cyrie being one of four priestesses is an interesting setup, and her visions add a layer that could have been explored even further.
Now for the honest part.
The story centers almost entirely on Cyrie and Thanatos’s secret relationship, and that’s essentially it. For a book set in a world full of Greek gods and goddesses, very few of them are physically present. Apollo sends visions, Hades is a voice, Persephone gets a brief meeting — but the mythology feels like set dressing rather than a living, breathing world. These are gods. They should feel larger than life, unpredictable, dangerous. I wanted more presence from them. More weight, more consequence, more of the grandeur and chaos that Greek mythology naturally carries. The world exists, but it doesn’t feel majestic. It doesn’t pop in a way that makes you stop and take it in.
The chemistry between Cyrie and Thanatos is sweet but flat. For a secret forbidden romance to carry an entire book, it needs an edge — tension, longing, stakes that make the reader’s chest tight. The danger of being caught. The ache of stolen moments. The fear of losing each other. That urgency wasn’t there for me. Their relationship plays it safe when it needed to be electric. I wanted to feel the pull between what they want and what they’re risking, and instead it stayed on the surface. Sweet is fine, but sweet alone doesn’t sustain a romance for an entire book. It needs heat, it needs conflict, it needs moments where the reader holds their breath.
The pacing struggled, especially in the middle. There were stretches where the story felt like it was treading water — no twists, no escalation, no revelations, nothing to keep my pulse up or pull me forward. I nearly put the book down during this stretch, and that’s a hard position to come back from. The ending picked up and brought some energy back, but it didn’t rise to the level of a climax that the story needed. A good climax should feel like everything the book has been building toward finally erupting — this one felt more like a gentle incline when it should have been a peak.
The writing quality is okay but could be stronger. The descriptions are decent without being immersive. For a story rooted in Greek mythology — a world of marble temples, divine power, the underworld, death itself — the prose should make me feel the setting. I wanted rich, atmospheric writing that matched the scale of the world. Instead it read as functional, getting the job done without lingering in my mind after.
The dialogue is where things felt uneven. The cursing in particular threw me off — it didn’t feel natural within the world or the tone of the story. When characters in a mythology-inspired setting speak with modern profanity, it creates a jarring disconnect. Dialogue should feel like it belongs to the characters and the world they inhabit, and here it pulled me out instead of drawing me deeper in. Finding a voice that balances accessibility with the setting’s tone would go a long way.
The epilogue felt disconnected. If it was meant to be humorous, it didn’t land for me. Shifting the focus to characters who were barely mentioned or present throughout the story took away from what should have been a satisfying close centered on Cyrie and Thanatos. After spending an entire book with these two, the ending should belong to them. A happy ending works best when it stays grounded in the characters we’ve invested in, and pulling away from them in the final pages felt like a strange choice.
What would have earned 5 stars from me? Give the mythology real presence — let the gods be terrifying, awe-inspiring, felt in every scene they touch. Flesh out the other three priestesses and let them add dimension to Cyrie’s world. Sharpen the chemistry between Cyrie and Thanatos with genuine tension, higher stakes, and moments that make the forbidden nature of their love feel truly dangerous. Tighten the pacing in the middle so the story never loses its grip on the reader. Elevate the prose to match the grandeur of the world — make every description of the divine feel worthy of gods. Make the dialogue feel native to the setting. And keep the ending focused on the characters who earned it. The bones of something are here — a priestess, a death god, a forbidden love — but the execution needs more depth, more edge, and more of the emotional weight that makes mythology romance unforgettable.
I’m landing at 3 stars. I didn’t dislike this book, but it didn’t grab me either. The premise deserves a story that rises to meet it, and I hope future installments push further into the potential that’s clearly there.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Firstly, thank you to the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book in advance of its publication.
⭐: 3/5
🌶: 4 (explicit open door)
I'm a bit torn after reading this book, but I'll try to outline what I enjoyed (and what I didn't) in as much of a concise way as I can.
What I liked
First off, the writing itself was quite good. Going into reading indie published books is always a bit of a potluck, because you never know whether they'll actually be decently edited and proofread or not, but thankfully this was one of the winners. There wasn't anything to complain about with the writing in a technical sense, which is already a great start for not only an author's first book, but also an indie publication.
The premise is intriguing. After all, who doesn't like a bit of forbidden romance, with the god of death, nonetheless? The idea of an oracle for the gods falling for what could be considered very much the wrong one, and what that might entail was definitely a big selling point for me.
The spicy scenes. Oh lord. They were extremely well written and plentiful enough to satisfy the romantasy smut itch.
The prose. There were moments of absolute gems of writing within the prose, very well written, emotional, evocative, and definitely enjoyable to read. However, it was unfortunately not consistent throughout the entire narrative, which I'll touch on in a minute.
What I Didn't Enjoy
This one can either be good or bad depending on the reader, but much of the writing itself was rather juvenile. Not necessarily in a bad way, but without the explicitness of the steamy scenes it read more like a middle grade novel than one for adults. Not badly written, just not quite what I hoped for.
Much of the characterisation. The characters for the most part were very modern in their voice and actions, often speaking more like modern teenagers than characters in an ancient Greek based fantasy. I found myself rolling my eyes at most of the conversations between the characters, including the FMC and MMC. There were moments where they didn't sound so immature and modern though, and those parts I liked, but for the most part the dialogue felt like it was written by a different person to a lot of the better parts of the narrative itself.
The setting was quite bare. The synopsis and general story made it obvious what sort of setting this book has, but beyond that there wasn't much explored as far as the world it takes place in. It felt like it could have just as easily been set in a modern fantasy, or a future retrograde fantasy and the writing wouldn't have needed to change at all. I was hoping for a bit more immersion in the setting than we got.
It takes a long time for the plot to show up. The first almost two-thirds of the book, while not badly written, are quite slow in that the plot isn't there yet; most of the book is spent with the FMC and MMC talking to each other and meeting in secret, and that's about it, and then by the time the plot shows up . I would have enjoyed it more if there was more of the plot promised in the blurb from earlier on, with more suspense and intrigue. As a side-note, despite the plot taking a long time to get going, there was little to not introduction or any real opening for the story--the FMC meets the MMC on something like the fourth page. A bit too quick for me, personally.
This last one is again a more subjective point, but I personally would have liked there to be more of a struggle with the FMC and her faith after she is given irrefutable proof that the gods are indeed real. I understand that it's written in a way that shows that the people in this world truly already believe the gods to be very much real and a part of all of their lives, but I think that it would have been a great theme to explore characterisation with. However, everyone's response when seeing a literal god is basically "okay, cool beans", and I just couldn't get behind that.
The epilogue was sort of pointless? Like, , and it seemed to just be there for a bit of comedic effect, which is in contrast (not in a good way) to the tone of the rest of the book. Not a fan.
Overall this was a mostly well written, cute, generally low-stress fantasy romance, and definitely a very good debut work for this author. I can easily see that this author has a lot of potential, and I will be checking out future publications by them as well.
⭐: 3/5
🌶: 4 (explicit open door)
I'm a bit torn after reading this book, but I'll try to outline what I enjoyed (and what I didn't) in as much of a concise way as I can.
What I liked
First off, the writing itself was quite good. Going into reading indie published books is always a bit of a potluck, because you never know whether they'll actually be decently edited and proofread or not, but thankfully this was one of the winners. There wasn't anything to complain about with the writing in a technical sense, which is already a great start for not only an author's first book, but also an indie publication.
The premise is intriguing. After all, who doesn't like a bit of forbidden romance, with the god of death, nonetheless? The idea of an oracle for the gods falling for what could be considered very much the wrong one, and what that might entail was definitely a big selling point for me.
The spicy scenes. Oh lord. They were extremely well written and plentiful enough to satisfy the romantasy smut itch.
The prose. There were moments of absolute gems of writing within the prose, very well written, emotional, evocative, and definitely enjoyable to read. However, it was unfortunately not consistent throughout the entire narrative, which I'll touch on in a minute.
What I Didn't Enjoy
This one can either be good or bad depending on the reader, but much of the writing itself was rather juvenile. Not necessarily in a bad way, but without the explicitness of the steamy scenes it read more like a middle grade novel than one for adults. Not badly written, just not quite what I hoped for.
Much of the characterisation. The characters for the most part were very modern in their voice and actions, often speaking more like modern teenagers than characters in an ancient Greek based fantasy. I found myself rolling my eyes at most of the conversations between the characters, including the FMC and MMC. There were moments where they didn't sound so immature and modern though, and those parts I liked, but for the most part the dialogue felt like it was written by a different person to a lot of the better parts of the narrative itself.
The setting was quite bare. The synopsis and general story made it obvious what sort of setting this book has, but beyond that there wasn't much explored as far as the world it takes place in. It felt like it could have just as easily been set in a modern fantasy, or a future retrograde fantasy and the writing wouldn't have needed to change at all. I was hoping for a bit more immersion in the setting than we got.
It takes a long time for the plot to show up. The first almost two-thirds of the book, while not badly written, are quite slow in that the plot isn't there yet; most of the book is spent with the FMC and MMC talking to each other and meeting in secret, and that's about it, and then by the time the plot shows up . I would have enjoyed it more if there was more of the plot promised in the blurb from earlier on, with more suspense and intrigue. As a side-note, despite the plot taking a long time to get going, there was little to not introduction or any real opening for the story--the FMC meets the MMC on something like the fourth page. A bit too quick for me, personally.
This last one is again a more subjective point, but I personally would have liked there to be more of a struggle with the FMC and her faith after she is given irrefutable proof that the gods are indeed real. I understand that it's written in a way that shows that the people in this world truly already believe the gods to be very much real and a part of all of their lives, but I think that it would have been a great theme to explore characterisation with. However, everyone's response when seeing a literal god is basically "okay, cool beans", and I just couldn't get behind that.
The epilogue was sort of pointless? Like, , and it seemed to just be there for a bit of comedic effect, which is in contrast (not in a good way) to the tone of the rest of the book. Not a fan.
Overall this was a mostly well written, cute, generally low-stress fantasy romance, and definitely a very good debut work for this author. I can easily see that this author has a lot of potential, and I will be checking out future publications by them as well.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A big thank you to Valent for the ARC copy. I received a free ARC from the author via Booksirens.
An easy and quick read, Flight of Souls is not overly difficult to understand, and if you like spicy scenes, there are quite a few that are well done. If you like the god/mortal trope, this would be a very approachable and satisfying book for you.
Cyrie is a priestess/oracle/seer in a temple in the city of Halieis, one of four seers/oracles that live in this large tower and are basically cut off from the public except for city celebrations and other temple events. The book opens on a very nice and beautifully crafted scene of her basically performing last rights on a dying man, waiting for death to show up, and when he does (MMC Thanatos), Cyrie can actually see him, whereas no other mortal can. Curiosity strikes up a relationship between the two of them, and it eventually blossoms into more while Cyrie has to continue doing her priestess work (we get the sense that she is not allowed to do anything else and if she wanted to the temple would not allow it). With forbidden love, secret meetings, dangerous events, and more, this ends in a HEA.
My personal thoughts/feelings:
This book could have been longer, with more development of the relationship between Cyrie/Thanatos and more development around Halieis. For Cyrie/Thanatos, they seem to have five or six meetings and then by Chapter 6 he is in love with her. The book itself is only 251 pages, which for this genre seems very short - I would have liked to have seen more interactions between the two of them that help me understand better why Thanatos falls in love with her so quickly (other than the reason she’s the only human who can see him). We know there's high stakes if Cyrie gets caught, but I think they could have been more pronounced from what the reader got.
For Halieis, more development around the city, where it is, what year it is, how they view the gods, and then some backstory on the gods and demigods would help bolster later events in the book, so the reader can expect it and it doesn’t seem like it just comes out of nowhere. There's a hint to it in Chapter 3, but the reader may not remember the 'prophecy' later in the book.
The dialogue between the characters is modern when the story seems to take place in ancient times. There’s no indication we’re in modern times, but a lot of the dialogue was very much “Hey man!” “Yeah” and other phrases/slang that are not historically appropriate. For example, one of the sentences between two of the characters is, '"Shit, Alex, I…I don’t need birth control,” I stuttered.' This distracted me a lot and took me out of the world/book.
There is a lot of swearing. Swearing doesn’t bother me - I swear a lot in my own life, but it was excessive and many times not needed in the context of the sentence. If you’re not a fan of the f word, you may not like this.
One thing that irked me was that Thanatos saw Cyrie in her priestess makeup and remarked that it made her look better/prettier, and I’m not particularly a fan of men who think women look better with makeup. Like, we're already told that Cyrie is incredibly beautiful by regular standards, and then specifically, in one of the later chapters, Cyrie decides to put makeup on and Thanatos’ reaction is: “Dear gods, you’re gorgeous,” he sighed, squeezing me tight around my waist. “Absolutely perfect.”…Makeup, effective.’
The Epilogue was extremely underwhelming, and while it perhaps sets up some things for book 2, it just fell flat for me.
Many thanks to Valent for providing the ARC, and I think this would be good for those readers that enjoy Greek Gods/Goddesses and their interactions with mortals.
An easy and quick read, Flight of Souls is not overly difficult to understand, and if you like spicy scenes, there are quite a few that are well done. If you like the god/mortal trope, this would be a very approachable and satisfying book for you.
Cyrie is a priestess/oracle/seer in a temple in the city of Halieis, one of four seers/oracles that live in this large tower and are basically cut off from the public except for city celebrations and other temple events. The book opens on a very nice and beautifully crafted scene of her basically performing last rights on a dying man, waiting for death to show up, and when he does (MMC Thanatos), Cyrie can actually see him, whereas no other mortal can. Curiosity strikes up a relationship between the two of them, and it eventually blossoms into more while Cyrie has to continue doing her priestess work (we get the sense that she is not allowed to do anything else and if she wanted to the temple would not allow it). With forbidden love, secret meetings, dangerous events, and more, this ends in a HEA.
My personal thoughts/feelings:
This book could have been longer, with more development of the relationship between Cyrie/Thanatos and more development around Halieis. For Cyrie/Thanatos, they seem to have five or six meetings and then by Chapter 6 he is in love with her. The book itself is only 251 pages, which for this genre seems very short - I would have liked to have seen more interactions between the two of them that help me understand better why Thanatos falls in love with her so quickly (other than the reason she’s the only human who can see him). We know there's high stakes if Cyrie gets caught, but I think they could have been more pronounced from what the reader got.
For Halieis, more development around the city, where it is, what year it is, how they view the gods, and then some backstory on the gods and demigods would help bolster later events in the book, so the reader can expect it and it doesn’t seem like it just comes out of nowhere. There's a hint to it in Chapter 3, but the reader may not remember the 'prophecy' later in the book.
The dialogue between the characters is modern when the story seems to take place in ancient times. There’s no indication we’re in modern times, but a lot of the dialogue was very much “Hey man!” “Yeah” and other phrases/slang that are not historically appropriate. For example, one of the sentences between two of the characters is, '"Shit, Alex, I…I don’t need birth control,” I stuttered.' This distracted me a lot and took me out of the world/book.
There is a lot of swearing. Swearing doesn’t bother me - I swear a lot in my own life, but it was excessive and many times not needed in the context of the sentence. If you’re not a fan of the f word, you may not like this.
One thing that irked me was that Thanatos saw Cyrie in her priestess makeup and remarked that it made her look better/prettier, and I’m not particularly a fan of men who think women look better with makeup. Like, we're already told that Cyrie is incredibly beautiful by regular standards, and then specifically, in one of the later chapters, Cyrie decides to put makeup on and Thanatos’ reaction is: “Dear gods, you’re gorgeous,” he sighed, squeezing me tight around my waist. “Absolutely perfect.”…Makeup, effective.’
The Epilogue was extremely underwhelming, and while it perhaps sets up some things for book 2, it just fell flat for me.
Many thanks to Valent for providing the ARC, and I think this would be good for those readers that enjoy Greek Gods/Goddesses and their interactions with mortals.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review
Many thanks to Jade Valent for the ARC copy. I received a free ARC from the author via Booksirens and voluntarily writing this review.
I wanted to like this book because it sounded like an interesting idea (What if Death was a cinnamon roll**?) and the cover looked pretty. I didn't expect much, I just hoped it would be 'ok'. The first chapter was indeed, 'ok', but the longer I read, the more I liked the book, the writing, the characters and of course the story. By the end, I was loving it and feeling real emotion and attachment to the characters.
The feelings between the characters is beautifully described, I could really understand what they felt for each other. The spicy scenes were really well written, the pleasures, the sensations, it all painted a picture that I could almost feel. I was delightfully surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this. I devoured it in just a few days.
Here's a few quotes from the book that really sang to me:
"And you want me even so," he finished. "It is confounding. Exhilarating. And now I crave you so very much. Hades fair, what have you don't to me? I have never felt anything so consuming, not in all of my existence."
"I can never remember your beauty perfectly." he breathed. "I will think I have done it, that I have memorized you... and then you fall into my arms again, radiant, so much more than I could ever picture. And today, like this... you are stunning."
"You are worth more than centuries to me," he said quietly. "I have many lonely ones yet to live, and in all of them I will think of you."
If you want a light, sweet and beautiful fantasy romance to read, one that is standalone and won't leave you hanging with a cliffhanger or never-finished series, then you won't be disappointed.
I genuinely enjoyed this one, I expect I will read it again in the future whenever I want to read something that cheers me up when life is rough.
**(If you are like me and you didn't know what Cinnamon roll meant, aside from a tasty treat: A cinnamon roll hero in romance novels is a sweet, caring male character who is supportive and emotionally in touch, often contrasting with more aggressive "alpha" heroes. These characters are typically depicted as good guys who prioritize their partner's well-being and happiness.)
Many thanks to Jade Valent for the ARC copy. I received a free ARC from the author via Booksirens and voluntarily writing this review.
I wanted to like this book because it sounded like an interesting idea (What if Death was a cinnamon roll**?) and the cover looked pretty. I didn't expect much, I just hoped it would be 'ok'. The first chapter was indeed, 'ok', but the longer I read, the more I liked the book, the writing, the characters and of course the story. By the end, I was loving it and feeling real emotion and attachment to the characters.
The feelings between the characters is beautifully described, I could really understand what they felt for each other. The spicy scenes were really well written, the pleasures, the sensations, it all painted a picture that I could almost feel. I was delightfully surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this. I devoured it in just a few days.
Here's a few quotes from the book that really sang to me:
"And you want me even so," he finished. "It is confounding. Exhilarating. And now I crave you so very much. Hades fair, what have you don't to me? I have never felt anything so consuming, not in all of my existence."
"I can never remember your beauty perfectly." he breathed. "I will think I have done it, that I have memorized you... and then you fall into my arms again, radiant, so much more than I could ever picture. And today, like this... you are stunning."
"You are worth more than centuries to me," he said quietly. "I have many lonely ones yet to live, and in all of them I will think of you."
If you want a light, sweet and beautiful fantasy romance to read, one that is standalone and won't leave you hanging with a cliffhanger or never-finished series, then you won't be disappointed.
I genuinely enjoyed this one, I expect I will read it again in the future whenever I want to read something that cheers me up when life is rough.
**(If you are like me and you didn't know what Cinnamon roll meant, aside from a tasty treat: A cinnamon roll hero in romance novels is a sweet, caring male character who is supportive and emotionally in touch, often contrasting with more aggressive "alpha" heroes. These characters are typically depicted as good guys who prioritize their partner's well-being and happiness.)
Review of advance copy
I went into Flight of Souls fully expecting to be drawn in by the premise alone, and honestly, it didn’t take long for it to hook me. A forbidden romance with the god of death, paired with an oracle who is meant to serve the divine rather than fall for one of them? That setup alone carries a lot of weight, and the story leans into that tension from the start.
There’s a constant undercurrent of danger in the romance that I really liked. It doesn’t feel soft or safe at any point—more like something precarious, almost doomed in a way that makes you keep reading just to see how far it can go before it breaks. The dynamic between them sits in that uncomfortable space between devotion and destruction, and that’s where the story works best.
And yes—the spice is very much present. It’s bold, frequent enough to satisfy that romantasy craving, and written with a confidence that makes those scenes feel like part of the story’s power struggle rather than just decoration. It matches the tone well and doesn’t hold back.
That said, the emotional rhythm of the book does feel a little repetitive at times. The push and pull between the characters circles similar ground more than once, and there were moments where I wanted the plot to expand outward instead of staying locked so tightly in their dynamic.
The world-building is intriguing, especially around the divine structure and the role of the oracle, but it often feels like it’s kept slightly at arm’s length. There’s depth hinted at everywhere, but not always fully explored in a way that grounds the story beyond the romance.
Still, there’s something compelling about how heavy this book feels in its themes—fate, power, death, and what it means to want something you’re not meant to have. It lingers in a way that’s hard to shake.
Overall, it’s a dark, addictive romantasy with strong forbidden romance energy, plenty of heat, and a compelling god-of-death dynamic. It’s not quite a five-star read for me because of the repetitive emotional beats and slightly underdeveloped world-building, but it comfortably sits at four stars for its atmosphere, chemistry, and sheer intensity.
There’s a constant undercurrent of danger in the romance that I really liked. It doesn’t feel soft or safe at any point—more like something precarious, almost doomed in a way that makes you keep reading just to see how far it can go before it breaks. The dynamic between them sits in that uncomfortable space between devotion and destruction, and that’s where the story works best.
And yes—the spice is very much present. It’s bold, frequent enough to satisfy that romantasy craving, and written with a confidence that makes those scenes feel like part of the story’s power struggle rather than just decoration. It matches the tone well and doesn’t hold back.
That said, the emotional rhythm of the book does feel a little repetitive at times. The push and pull between the characters circles similar ground more than once, and there were moments where I wanted the plot to expand outward instead of staying locked so tightly in their dynamic.
The world-building is intriguing, especially around the divine structure and the role of the oracle, but it often feels like it’s kept slightly at arm’s length. There’s depth hinted at everywhere, but not always fully explored in a way that grounds the story beyond the romance.
Still, there’s something compelling about how heavy this book feels in its themes—fate, power, death, and what it means to want something you’re not meant to have. It lingers in a way that’s hard to shake.
Overall, it’s a dark, addictive romantasy with strong forbidden romance energy, plenty of heat, and a compelling god-of-death dynamic. It’s not quite a five-star read for me because of the repetitive emotional beats and slightly underdeveloped world-building, but it comfortably sits at four stars for its atmosphere, chemistry, and sheer intensity.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was a great “fast and fluffy” feel good read. Quick pacing, strong emotions, low conflict, and a perfect HAE.
The longing between the MCs is fantastic, and I love that for the most part it’s the biggest conflict in the book. Sometimes you don’t want to read a high stakes conflict, a love story set in a revolution, or characters who are facing huge stakes. So the primary challenge is finding a way to be together (and you just KNOW it will work out in the end) and it gives all the warm fuzzies.
I had two main struggles with this book, which I’m fully willing to admit are absolutely a “me problem!”
First issue was that the MCs attraction to each other was completely physical. They barely get to know each other before they fall into bed together, and it seems that their attraction is no deeper than “they’re incredibly beautiful.” There was SO much potential to build more of a backstory for an immortal or a struggling seer, and have that build into how they come to care for each other. Instead, it’s “you can see me and you’re blindingly beautiful” and that’s the extent of it.
My other challenge is that the author’s wording was semi formal, to fit the Ancient Greek setting. However, there were bits of modern slang thrown in, which really broke the immersion on a regular basis. It was so distracting that I ended up highlighting them in my kindle.
Overall, a solid 3.75 stars. I really enjoyed the characters’ journey, but the writing and lack of emotional connection had me struggling to keep reading up until around the 50% mark. I definitely look forward to reading more from this author in the future!
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from the author via Booksirens.
The longing between the MCs is fantastic, and I love that for the most part it’s the biggest conflict in the book. Sometimes you don’t want to read a high stakes conflict, a love story set in a revolution, or characters who are facing huge stakes. So the primary challenge is finding a way to be together (and you just KNOW it will work out in the end) and it gives all the warm fuzzies.
I had two main struggles with this book, which I’m fully willing to admit are absolutely a “me problem!”
First issue was that the MCs attraction to each other was completely physical. They barely get to know each other before they fall into bed together, and it seems that their attraction is no deeper than “they’re incredibly beautiful.” There was SO much potential to build more of a backstory for an immortal or a struggling seer, and have that build into how they come to care for each other. Instead, it’s “you can see me and you’re blindingly beautiful” and that’s the extent of it.
My other challenge is that the author’s wording was semi formal, to fit the Ancient Greek setting. However, there were bits of modern slang thrown in, which really broke the immersion on a regular basis. It was so distracting that I ended up highlighting them in my kindle.
Overall, a solid 3.75 stars. I really enjoyed the characters’ journey, but the writing and lack of emotional connection had me struggling to keep reading up until around the 50% mark. I definitely look forward to reading more from this author in the future!
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from the author via Booksirens.
April 29, 2026
2.5 ⭐️ | 2.5 🌶️
Thank you BookSirens and Jade Valent for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of the ARC team. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Greek and Roman mythology has always been a subject of interest to me, one of my favorite authors being Frankie Diane Mallis and her Drowned Empire series. As soon as I saw this on my BookSirens feed I jumped at the opportunity to read ahead of the June 23rd release date.
The story follows Cyrie, a dedicated acolyte of Apollo who has spent years waiting to invoke a new revelation. Her life takes a turn for the supernatural while she is ministering the last rites to a dying nobleman and comes face-to-face with the god of death himself, Thanatos. Thanatos, who has only ever known oblivion and the underworld, is taken aback that a mortal can see his true form. What starts as a forbidden, guileless friendship quickly evolves into a high-stakes struggle between duty and desire, especially since Cyrie’s soul is ultimately destined for Thanatos’s embrace when he will ultimately come to collect her soul.
Jade Valent has built a wonderful, whimsical world in Flight of Souls. Writing romantasy is such a feat—balancing magic systems, ancient politics, and a sizzling romance is no small endeavor! While the setting is lovely, I found myself hungry for even more of the rich mythological lore and deeper development of the gods themselves.
I also would have loved to see a bit more emotional "slow burn" and internal growth between Cyrie and Thanatos to balance their physical chemistry. At times, the dialogue felt a bit modern for the ancient setting, which occasionally pulled me out of the immersion, but the premise is undeniably strong.
Overall, it’s a creative take on the "forbidden love" trope with a unique, divine twist. If you love a lush, mythological backdrop, this is definitely one to keep on your radar!
Thank you BookSirens and Jade Valent for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of the ARC team. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Greek and Roman mythology has always been a subject of interest to me, one of my favorite authors being Frankie Diane Mallis and her Drowned Empire series. As soon as I saw this on my BookSirens feed I jumped at the opportunity to read ahead of the June 23rd release date.
The story follows Cyrie, a dedicated acolyte of Apollo who has spent years waiting to invoke a new revelation. Her life takes a turn for the supernatural while she is ministering the last rites to a dying nobleman and comes face-to-face with the god of death himself, Thanatos. Thanatos, who has only ever known oblivion and the underworld, is taken aback that a mortal can see his true form. What starts as a forbidden, guileless friendship quickly evolves into a high-stakes struggle between duty and desire, especially since Cyrie’s soul is ultimately destined for Thanatos’s embrace when he will ultimately come to collect her soul.
Jade Valent has built a wonderful, whimsical world in Flight of Souls. Writing romantasy is such a feat—balancing magic systems, ancient politics, and a sizzling romance is no small endeavor! While the setting is lovely, I found myself hungry for even more of the rich mythological lore and deeper development of the gods themselves.
I also would have loved to see a bit more emotional "slow burn" and internal growth between Cyrie and Thanatos to balance their physical chemistry. At times, the dialogue felt a bit modern for the ancient setting, which occasionally pulled me out of the immersion, but the premise is undeniably strong.
Overall, it’s a creative take on the "forbidden love" trope with a unique, divine twist. If you love a lush, mythological backdrop, this is definitely one to keep on your radar!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a solidly good story. I liked seeing a gentle version of a death god, and Thanatos was very respectful of Cyrie throughout the story. I felt that the two fell in love too fast, and their feelings for each other didn't have any foundation. She's the first mortal who has ever wanted to talk with him, and he's the first man she's ever had romantic feelings towards. I guess they like each other just because neither has ever had experience with anyone else?? My major criticism was that the tone of the story didn't match the plot. Cyrie is a priestess who was taken from her family when she was 7 because she had a vision. She's lived a very highly restricted life, against her will. If anyone discovers that she's had relations with a man, she'll be executed. Despite all that, she gleefully starts a relationship with a rival god. When her sister priestesses realize that she's seeing a man, one of them steals birth control for her and insists that she take it immediately, all while giggling about how fun the situation is. All of her sister priestesses seem much more concerned about gossiping about the relationship than protecting Cryie from execution. It just doesn't fit. With a penalty of death, everyone should be much more cautious. If the author wants to have a light tone, the stakes shouldn't be so high.
Review of advance copy
I love Greek mythology, and this was such an interesting take on some classic mythological characters and stories. It had an utterly unique and fascinating plot. There was a good amount of action and excitement while still focusing heavily on the character development. The storytelling was very immersive with gorgeous imagery. The dialogue was quite modern and didn't fit the time period, but I didn't mind it. It actually made the characters more down to earth and charming.
Thanatos was a fantastic hero. He was so protective of Cyrie, and I enjoyed how emotionally vulnerable and honest he was with her while still remaining a very strong, masculine character. I think the pacing of the book fell off a bit at the end, but the novel's conclusion was everything I could've hoped for. There was so much love, hope, and beauty, and I left the story excited to read more by this author.
Overall, this was a romantic, suspenseful, and mythology-focused book. I highly recommend it. *I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
Thanatos was a fantastic hero. He was so protective of Cyrie, and I enjoyed how emotionally vulnerable and honest he was with her while still remaining a very strong, masculine character. I think the pacing of the book fell off a bit at the end, but the novel's conclusion was everything I could've hoped for. There was so much love, hope, and beauty, and I left the story excited to read more by this author.
Overall, this was a romantic, suspenseful, and mythology-focused book. I highly recommend it. *I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thankyou to the author for my ARC copy and I leave this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed this book and thought the premise was very unique which drew me to this novel. I loved the idea of an Oracle falling in love with Death himself and absolutely loved the romance of the two MC. In particular the take of Death being a cinnamon roll! A lot of this novel is just them speaking, falling in love and it felt a very low stakes cute romance with no real threat to this forbidden love which I would have liked to see. I personally did enjoy this cosy feel romance however I feel that in a world of Greek mythology there is so much that could have been drawn upon to boost my rating of this book.
I felt the action picked up in the last few of chapters enough to make me intrigued for another book in this universe but it would have been amazing if this pace was kept the whole book and had a bit more threat and "almost caught" moments.
If youre looking for a low stakes romance with a mythological twist then I would give it a try!
I enjoyed this book and thought the premise was very unique which drew me to this novel. I loved the idea of an Oracle falling in love with Death himself and absolutely loved the romance of the two MC. In particular the take of Death being a cinnamon roll! A lot of this novel is just them speaking, falling in love and it felt a very low stakes cute romance with no real threat to this forbidden love which I would have liked to see. I personally did enjoy this cosy feel romance however I feel that in a world of Greek mythology there is so much that could have been drawn upon to boost my rating of this book.
I felt the action picked up in the last few of chapters enough to make me intrigued for another book in this universe but it would have been amazing if this pace was kept the whole book and had a bit more threat and "almost caught" moments.
If youre looking for a low stakes romance with a mythological twist then I would give it a try!
June 6, 2026
Thank you to the author for giving me the chance to read this before publishing.
**Spoilers ahead**
This books premise was fantastic! But… hollow. I wanted more!
Start with Leon’s birth at the start. Include Thanatos’ POV to chunk it up. The decision of the cheating later will be more weighty.
Cyrie’s life before she was an oracle, the telling of her story and her life will be more meaningful.
This just fell a little… flat.
I enjoyed Thanatos and his goofy golden retrieveresc vibe but I don’t know anything about him!
And the same with Cyrie, we know nothing of the world, the towns or the mythology it is set in.
It’s expected that you have a basic grasp of Greek myth.
This I feel would be better a novella. There just isn’t enough here for me. It’s missing so much.
What is here is fantastic! And the concept is good and the story is interesting but without the background, world building and lead up it feels empty and the pay off feels… meh? And the “shock points” feel like a cop out.
Look forward to reading more from Jade. But beef it up next time!
**Spoilers ahead**
This books premise was fantastic! But… hollow. I wanted more!
Start with Leon’s birth at the start. Include Thanatos’ POV to chunk it up. The decision of the cheating later will be more weighty.
Cyrie’s life before she was an oracle, the telling of her story and her life will be more meaningful.
This just fell a little… flat.
I enjoyed Thanatos and his goofy golden retrieveresc vibe but I don’t know anything about him!
And the same with Cyrie, we know nothing of the world, the towns or the mythology it is set in.
It’s expected that you have a basic grasp of Greek myth.
This I feel would be better a novella. There just isn’t enough here for me. It’s missing so much.
What is here is fantastic! And the concept is good and the story is interesting but without the background, world building and lead up it feels empty and the pay off feels… meh? And the “shock points” feel like a cop out.
Look forward to reading more from Jade. But beef it up next time!
Review of advance copy
Thank you so much to Jade Valent for an arc copy and the opportunity to read this early!
This was such a cute read. It was character driven in a Greek mythology setting, which I adore. There wasn't a lot of world building but there was enough to see the setting and understand what was happening. The plot picked up in the second half of the book and kept me hooked to see what would happen next!
I really enjoyed the relationship between Thanatos and Cyrie. The priestess/god forbidden love aspect was so good, I love the concept and their interactions were adorable. The God of Death is an absolute cinnamon roll but has the "who did this to you" mentality that I always enjoy. Cyrie is a very real character, flawed and trying to make the best of her life in a pretty cage. Seeing her gain self confidence and fall in love was beautiful.
Overall this was super cute and a quick, easy read. I would love to see more books in this world, and some glimpses into the future of our star crossed couple!
This was such a cute read. It was character driven in a Greek mythology setting, which I adore. There wasn't a lot of world building but there was enough to see the setting and understand what was happening. The plot picked up in the second half of the book and kept me hooked to see what would happen next!
I really enjoyed the relationship between Thanatos and Cyrie. The priestess/god forbidden love aspect was so good, I love the concept and their interactions were adorable. The God of Death is an absolute cinnamon roll but has the "who did this to you" mentality that I always enjoy. Cyrie is a very real character, flawed and trying to make the best of her life in a pretty cage. Seeing her gain self confidence and fall in love was beautiful.
Overall this was super cute and a quick, easy read. I would love to see more books in this world, and some glimpses into the future of our star crossed couple!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you Jade Valent for giving me a chance to read the ARC for Flight of souls.
I feel like the author has really good potential in the future. There are some really good moments in the book, beautiful scenes, good relationship aspects, especially good communication between the main couple without any miscommunication, and pretty prose. The one issue I have is that it's inconsistent, and some parts are a bit juvenile. Those inconsistence are a bit jarring.
Them doting on each other was really cute. I also love how Thanatos blushes a lot and isn't a stoic wall like many other primordial beings would be.
One thing I didn't like was the speech manner. It was hard to believe a priestess of some ancient time and an ancient being even think this modern way and talk the same.
But as I said before, I believe, Jade Valent has good potential and will give us other interesting and beautiful stories🩷
I feel like the author has really good potential in the future. There are some really good moments in the book, beautiful scenes, good relationship aspects, especially good communication between the main couple without any miscommunication, and pretty prose. The one issue I have is that it's inconsistent, and some parts are a bit juvenile. Those inconsistence are a bit jarring.
Them doting on each other was really cute. I also love how Thanatos blushes a lot and isn't a stoic wall like many other primordial beings would be.
One thing I didn't like was the speech manner. It was hard to believe a priestess of some ancient time and an ancient being even think this modern way and talk the same.
But as I said before, I believe, Jade Valent has good potential and will give us other interesting and beautiful stories🩷
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW
The story begins with Cyrie a priestess and an oracle. One day, as she's with a dying nobleman, a god appeared out of nowhere. He's Thanatos, the reaper. She sees him and he sees her but this shouldn't be happening. A living woman shouldn't be able to see him. To understand why he starts to visit her again and again. So, somewhere in between these visits, something unique blooms between them. Now, they should be careful. No one can find out that Cyrie has an affair with Thanatos.
Greek mythology is one of my favorite subjects, so when I saw that this book was about that subject, I had to read it. Also, the fact that the MMC is Thanatos made it better because I love the Underworld. It's a short read, only 251 pages, so you can read it fast.
To be honest, I believe that the relationship between the MCs should have started sooner. They didn't spend much time together as a couple, but their time together was intense. It had opened door intimate scenes, and they were 🔥
Life and Death. A pretty interesting couple.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story begins with Cyrie a priestess and an oracle. One day, as she's with a dying nobleman, a god appeared out of nowhere. He's Thanatos, the reaper. She sees him and he sees her but this shouldn't be happening. A living woman shouldn't be able to see him. To understand why he starts to visit her again and again. So, somewhere in between these visits, something unique blooms between them. Now, they should be careful. No one can find out that Cyrie has an affair with Thanatos.
Greek mythology is one of my favorite subjects, so when I saw that this book was about that subject, I had to read it. Also, the fact that the MMC is Thanatos made it better because I love the Underworld. It's a short read, only 251 pages, so you can read it fast.
To be honest, I believe that the relationship between the MCs should have started sooner. They didn't spend much time together as a couple, but their time together was intense. It had opened door intimate scenes, and they were 🔥
Life and Death. A pretty interesting couple.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
Flight of Souls is a very sweet romance with memorable characters. The love story is a bit too insta-love for my usual taste, but it’s very well done, and I liked how the story unfolded. Despite the power imbalance, the MMC is a total cinnamon roll.
The subplot about the prophecy felt a bit like an afterthought, but there’s a fantastic payoff in the epilogue. Honestly, my favorite part of the whole book.
The writing was generally good, although it felt a bit inconsistent in tone—at times formal and lyrical, and at others, very casual with a lot of swearing for a sheltered, virgin priestess. While the narrative was clear, it was sometimes hard to get a sense of the author’s (or FMC’s) voice.
Overall, it’s an adorable love story between two very likable characters, and I enjoyed reading it. I would recommend it for lovers of sweet romance and/or fans of Greek mythology.
I received an advance copy of this book for free, and am providing my honest review voluntarily.
The subplot about the prophecy felt a bit like an afterthought, but there’s a fantastic payoff in the epilogue. Honestly, my favorite part of the whole book.
The writing was generally good, although it felt a bit inconsistent in tone—at times formal and lyrical, and at others, very casual with a lot of swearing for a sheltered, virgin priestess. While the narrative was clear, it was sometimes hard to get a sense of the author’s (or FMC’s) voice.
Overall, it’s an adorable love story between two very likable characters, and I enjoyed reading it. I would recommend it for lovers of sweet romance and/or fans of Greek mythology.
I received an advance copy of this book for free, and am providing my honest review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to BookSirens and Jade Valent for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As someone who loves Greek mythology, I couldn't resist picking up Flight of Souls—and I'm so happy I did!
This story follows Cyrie, an acolyte of Apollo, and Thanatos, the god of death. What starts as an unexpected friendship slowly grows into a forbidden romance filled with longing, fate, and impossible choices.
I really enjoyed the mythology-inspired world and the unique premise. The chemistry between Cyrie and Thanatos kept me turning the pages, and I loved seeing their relationship develop. I do wish there had been a bit more mythological lore and a slower emotional build-up between the characters, as I wanted even more depth from both the world and the romance.
Overall, this was an enjoyable romantasy with a fresh take on forbidden love and Greek mythology. If you love gods, destiny, and star-crossed romance, this is definitely one to add to your TBR!
As someone who loves Greek mythology, I couldn't resist picking up Flight of Souls—and I'm so happy I did!
This story follows Cyrie, an acolyte of Apollo, and Thanatos, the god of death. What starts as an unexpected friendship slowly grows into a forbidden romance filled with longing, fate, and impossible choices.
I really enjoyed the mythology-inspired world and the unique premise. The chemistry between Cyrie and Thanatos kept me turning the pages, and I loved seeing their relationship develop. I do wish there had been a bit more mythological lore and a slower emotional build-up between the characters, as I wanted even more depth from both the world and the romance.
Overall, this was an enjoyable romantasy with a fresh take on forbidden love and Greek mythology. If you love gods, destiny, and star-crossed romance, this is definitely one to add to your TBR!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I adore the innocent curiosity of Thanatos and Cyrie. It warmed my heart to read their story. He is a cinnamon roll MMC, and displays vulnerability which I find endearing. I fell in love with Thanatos and his golden retriever personality.
I read this book so fast. I was interested in the story and where it would lead. It piqued my interest almost immediately. It was a lighter, refreshing read for me from my usual dark romance and fantasy novels. It was descriptive and it played out in my mind like a movie would. I could visualize the Greek inspired fashion of the characters as well.
My only criticism is that the characters bounce between using very eloquent language to then using colloquial terms and curse words. That was a little jarring and was a little inconsistent. Aside from that, though, the writing was great. I was able to easily move past it to enjoy the story.
I read this book so fast. I was interested in the story and where it would lead. It piqued my interest almost immediately. It was a lighter, refreshing read for me from my usual dark romance and fantasy novels. It was descriptive and it played out in my mind like a movie would. I could visualize the Greek inspired fashion of the characters as well.
My only criticism is that the characters bounce between using very eloquent language to then using colloquial terms and curse words. That was a little jarring and was a little inconsistent. Aside from that, though, the writing was great. I was able to easily move past it to enjoy the story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
_______
I’ll be honest, I really struggled to get into the book at first. The beginning felt a bit slow as the world of the temple and Cyrie’s life as an oracle were being established. I almost DNF. But, I decided to keep going.
If you find yourself feeling the same way, stick with it!
Once the story hits the halfway mark, especially when the stakes ramp up and Cyrie’s relationship with Thanatos moves beyond just nightly visits, the pace completely changes.
The second half is filled with much more action, including the intense attack on the temple and the fascinating transition into the Underworld. By the end, I was fully invested in their journey. It’s a slow-burn mythological romance that eventually catches fire, and a beautiful way to show Death (Thanatos) softer side.
_______
I’ll be honest, I really struggled to get into the book at first. The beginning felt a bit slow as the world of the temple and Cyrie’s life as an oracle were being established. I almost DNF. But, I decided to keep going.
If you find yourself feeling the same way, stick with it!
Once the story hits the halfway mark, especially when the stakes ramp up and Cyrie’s relationship with Thanatos moves beyond just nightly visits, the pace completely changes.
The second half is filled with much more action, including the intense attack on the temple and the fascinating transition into the Underworld. By the end, I was fully invested in their journey. It’s a slow-burn mythological romance that eventually catches fire, and a beautiful way to show Death (Thanatos) softer side.
Review of advance copy received from Author
My First ARC Review!
First, I love the concept of the book. A priestess that can see and interact with Thanatos, the reaper God, I'm in! However, the execution was a bit hard to get behind. The book is very much driven by dialogue. Thanatos is very formal with this speech, whereas Cryie speaks like we do today. There is something about that juxtaposition that makes the book difficult to follow a bit a forced. Also, at first you get the sense that he is a curious, mischievous God when meeting him. After initially noticing that Cyrie can see him, he comes back when others are around her and that interaction is a bit humerous with him seeming amused with her potentially talking to herself around the other priestess', but then he moves into formality. In addition, there is very little plot and instead it is a character focused book. You get told, rather than see a lot of what happens.
First, I love the concept of the book. A priestess that can see and interact with Thanatos, the reaper God, I'm in! However, the execution was a bit hard to get behind. The book is very much driven by dialogue. Thanatos is very formal with this speech, whereas Cryie speaks like we do today. There is something about that juxtaposition that makes the book difficult to follow a bit a forced. Also, at first you get the sense that he is a curious, mischievous God when meeting him. After initially noticing that Cyrie can see him, he comes back when others are around her and that interaction is a bit humerous with him seeming amused with her potentially talking to herself around the other priestess', but then he moves into formality. In addition, there is very little plot and instead it is a character focused book. You get told, rather than see a lot of what happens.
Review of advance copy received from Author
📣 I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily 📣
I saw the author call for ARC readers on a fantasy romantic reddit and thought: why not? This book was such a pleasant surprise. I found the writing to be good (no errors, descriptive), the characters believable, and the world building just enough. It's a short and sweet forbidden romance between Death and a priestess that doesn't worship him and shouldn't be able to see him…. something I really loved was that Death was nice from the beginning, cautious maybe, but always kind to the FMC and her sisters 🫶🏾 I did mentally block out the fact that he has long hair but it was still a solid read!
I saw the author call for ARC readers on a fantasy romantic reddit and thought: why not? This book was such a pleasant surprise. I found the writing to be good (no errors, descriptive), the characters believable, and the world building just enough. It's a short and sweet forbidden romance between Death and a priestess that doesn't worship him and shouldn't be able to see him…. something I really loved was that Death was nice from the beginning, cautious maybe, but always kind to the FMC and her sisters 🫶🏾 I did mentally block out the fact that he has long hair but it was still a solid read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
April 24, 2026I was able to read this book as ARC reader because the author herself, Jade Valent, was so kind to offer me a digital copy upon my request. Thank you Jade!
The book is fast-paced, the style is fluid which made the reading experience very enjoyable for me (i finished it in a week). I am giving it three stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️mainly because I felt there wasn't enough conflict to enjoy how things ended.
I did enjoy the action scenes though, they were well-described and dynamic. To be honest, this being the first novel of the author, I was really impressed by her writing style! Jade Valent is a very promising author in my opinion.
The book is fast-paced, the style is fluid which made the reading experience very enjoyable for me (i finished it in a week). I am giving it three stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️mainly because I felt there wasn't enough conflict to enjoy how things ended.
I did enjoy the action scenes though, they were well-described and dynamic. To be honest, this being the first novel of the author, I was really impressed by her writing style! Jade Valent is a very promising author in my opinion.
June 3, 2026
Thank you Jade for the advance copy of the book.
I think the book would have benefited far more if death was a new god rather than doing this for eternity. It would have made him a far more interesting character in terms of his duty, breaking the law, dealing with lost souls…
The writing itself was good but the pacing was off. It picked up for me around 70%. I think Jade has a lovely writing style and I hope she explores it more❤️
I think the book would have benefited far more if death was a new god rather than doing this for eternity. It would have made him a far more interesting character in terms of his duty, breaking the law, dealing with lost souls…
The writing itself was good but the pacing was off. It picked up for me around 70%. I think Jade has a lovely writing style and I hope she explores it more❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book starts out slow, but becomes more in time. It even has a, "who hurt you," scene. It's a sweet, cozy story with several spicy scenes. The story is basically, "What if Death were an absolute cinnamon roll, and fell in love?" There's some action, but it's short-lived.
I really liked this book! It was really sweet. I read it in a day. I would recommend it to my friends.
I really liked this book! It was really sweet. I read it in a day. I would recommend it to my friends.
Review of advance copy
Thank you BookSirens. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Romance is the main purpose of this book; it’s low stakes but infinitely cute. Both MCs are adorable and treat each other with such respect and yearning. It’s a beautiful palate cleanser and a quick read. If you just want to read about a healthy relationship, this is your book.
Romance is the main purpose of this book; it’s low stakes but infinitely cute. Both MCs are adorable and treat each other with such respect and yearning. It’s a beautiful palate cleanser and a quick read. If you just want to read about a healthy relationship, this is your book.
April 10, 2026
Very well written book. Storyline is definitely fantasy based and a little wicked in some respects but enjoyable. Would recommend reading it if you’re into this genre. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
It was a good book. I have never read a twisted mythology with a romance to Thanatos. It was thrilling and heart warming. The only thing is that it felt a little quick. I feel like the author should have put like a month of unseen relationship in there.
Review of advance copy
Thank you tonthe author for the ARC
I enjoyed this book!
Loved the slow burn.
And the general theme
I feel more setting description would've been beneficial also the introduction of Leon and the battle felt slightly rushed
Loved the spice!
I enjoyed this book!
Loved the slow burn.
And the general theme
I feel more setting description would've been beneficial also the introduction of Leon and the battle felt slightly rushed
Loved the spice!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What an amazing story. The love story is epic. The spicy scenes are giving. For those who love Greek mythology this is a must read.
Review of advance copy
I had an awesome time with this one! It’s highly engaging and I loved being in that world! I was HOOKED!
Read
May 26, 2026I love this look at a tale in a different light. This is a great story and keeps you in the moment and reading.
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