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Heartstring Duet #1
Crown Me Dead
Wed me. Bed me. Slit my throat.
Born in dirt, raised in rot, I dig graves for the dead, while the living decay around me.
When my brother coughs blood, he appears.
A man too polished for the graveyard, with a bargain too cruel for the light: Seduce the King. Become the Queen. Die. And my brother lives.
Kael is a nightmare of living ruin, the rotting ruler of a festering realm. And Vale is his shadow, the cold architect of my demise.
One man needs my heart to beat. The other plans to stop it forever.
They think I’m a pawn. But I’m the gravedigger's daughter. And I know exactly where to bury them.
Welcome to the funeral.
Born in dirt, raised in rot, I dig graves for the dead, while the living decay around me.
When my brother coughs blood, he appears.
A man too polished for the graveyard, with a bargain too cruel for the light: Seduce the King. Become the Queen. Die. And my brother lives.
Kael is a nightmare of living ruin, the rotting ruler of a festering realm. And Vale is his shadow, the cold architect of my demise.
One man needs my heart to beat. The other plans to stop it forever.
They think I’m a pawn. But I’m the gravedigger's daughter. And I know exactly where to bury them.
Welcome to the funeral.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,190 reviews
May 21, 2026
ELARA GIRL
Serves you damn right.
This was disgustingly good, and such a quick read too. I just hope it’s never adapted into a movie. For the first time in my life, I don’t want to see my imagination recreated on screen.
Disclaimer: do not read this while eating. Rot. Pus. Maggots. So many maggots. Once you get past the first half of the book, it gets a lot better.
The plot is pretty simple. A gravedigger’s daughter. A rotting kingdom plagued by disease and death. A cursed crown fused to the head of a king no one truly understands. And beneath it all, secrets that must be uncovered, and a kingdom to be saved.
This was crazy good for a book so short. I really thought I knew how the story would unfold but it blindsided me at every turn.
I was happy that I got a FMC I could root for - even though that was short lived. I have a love-hate relationship with Elara. On one hand, she is a great FMC. Brave, competent, and willing to do whatever it takes to save the people she loves. She does not blindly accept what people tell her either. She investigates, questions, and thinks for herself. I liked her for this.
On the other hand, this girl is sexually all over the place 😭 it starts to interfere with her decision-making skills. I was hoping this wouldn’t happen. Why does she have to become dumb once sex is involved? The love triangle between her, the king, and Vale made me so angry. I hated the way Elara was with Vale. Their relationship was already a little twisted, and then the way she would behave around Kael just made it worse for me. I felt so bad for him. I was so pissed I wanted to skim the rest of the book and rate it 2 stars. I am so glad I kept reading instead.
For safety readers: She fools around with both men till the end.
The King, Kael, is shrouded in secrets for most of the story, and because he is so angry, aloof, and difficult to read, I spent half the book desperate to understand him better.
Vale, the king’s steward, is far easier to understand. He is kindhearted, loyal, and clearly wants what is best for both the king and the kingdom. Unfortunately for me, his character felt a little predictable, or so I thought ‼️
I really didn’t know who to trust. Now I’m writing this review I’m reeling at how gripping the plot was even though it circled around just the three of them.
Between the maggots, the uncertainty and the love triangle, this was basically me the entire time:
I kept thinking seriously WHERE ARE WE HEADED??
What Liv Zander does brilliantly is atmosphere. The world is macabre, decaying, claustrophobic, and soaked in death. It is less “detailed worldbuilding” and more pure immersive atmosphere. Rotting flesh, crawling maggots, infected wounds, dark corridors, and buried secrets. It feels almost wrong for romance to exist in a setting like this, which honestly made me keep asking: how is she making this work?! 😭 I don’t know if I would call this a romance story because it’s a bit atypical.
So why did I give it five stars despite the rough journey?
THE TWISTS.
You just have to read it and find out.
Off to read the second book!
Serves you damn right.
This was disgustingly good, and such a quick read too. I just hope it’s never adapted into a movie. For the first time in my life, I don’t want to see my imagination recreated on screen.
Disclaimer: do not read this while eating. Rot. Pus. Maggots. So many maggots. Once you get past the first half of the book, it gets a lot better.
The plot is pretty simple. A gravedigger’s daughter. A rotting kingdom plagued by disease and death. A cursed crown fused to the head of a king no one truly understands. And beneath it all, secrets that must be uncovered, and a kingdom to be saved.
This was crazy good for a book so short. I really thought I knew how the story would unfold but it blindsided me at every turn.
I was happy that I got a FMC I could root for - even though that was short lived. I have a love-hate relationship with Elara. On one hand, she is a great FMC. Brave, competent, and willing to do whatever it takes to save the people she loves. She does not blindly accept what people tell her either. She investigates, questions, and thinks for herself. I liked her for this.
On the other hand, this girl is sexually all over the place 😭 it starts to interfere with her decision-making skills. I was hoping this wouldn’t happen. Why does she have to become dumb once sex is involved? The love triangle between her, the king, and Vale made me so angry. I hated the way Elara was with Vale. Their relationship was already a little twisted, and then the way she would behave around Kael just made it worse for me. I felt so bad for him. I was so pissed I wanted to skim the rest of the book and rate it 2 stars. I am so glad I kept reading instead.
For safety readers: She fools around with both men till the end.
The King, Kael, is shrouded in secrets for most of the story, and because he is so angry, aloof, and difficult to read, I spent half the book desperate to understand him better.
Vale, the king’s steward, is far easier to understand. He is kindhearted, loyal, and clearly wants what is best for both the king and the kingdom. Unfortunately for me, his character felt a little predictable, or so I thought ‼️
I really didn’t know who to trust. Now I’m writing this review I’m reeling at how gripping the plot was even though it circled around just the three of them.
Between the maggots, the uncertainty and the love triangle, this was basically me the entire time:
I kept thinking seriously WHERE ARE WE HEADED??
What Liv Zander does brilliantly is atmosphere. The world is macabre, decaying, claustrophobic, and soaked in death. It is less “detailed worldbuilding” and more pure immersive atmosphere. Rotting flesh, crawling maggots, infected wounds, dark corridors, and buried secrets. It feels almost wrong for romance to exist in a setting like this, which honestly made me keep asking: how is she making this work?! 😭 I don’t know if I would call this a romance story because it’s a bit atypical.
So why did I give it five stars despite the rough journey?
THE TWISTS.
You just have to read it and find out.
Off to read the second book!
May 20, 2026
Wow !!!! The ending !!!!!
“Crown me Dead”
I wasn’t expecting that ….
It took me a little to read this book that is literally ONLY 270 pages BUT the beginning is soooooooooooo gross and disgusting that I was forced to take some breaks because I wanted to vomit and I am a person with a very strong stomach, I don’t get grossed out easily… but this story was too interesting to pass up so I kept going.
This is the story of Elara and she is a gravedigger. They are in a kingdom dying from rot, everyone is dying in masses but not a regular death, no. They literally rotting from inside out and vice versa, hence the gross parts. There are wounds with maggots involved all kinds of excrements…. It’s DISGUSTING 🤢 but it’s only in the beginning of the book. After it’s better. So the kingdom is dying and Elara has a 15 years old brother she ADORES and he got rot, her father is already dying the kingdom is in complete poverty they have to eat bread that is already bad and green, soup that is only dirty water ! Elara only cares about her family and more then any about her brother 😭 so when she got an strange offer from a handsome man to go to the castle and take care of the King to help break the curse that is killing the kingdom and save her brother, she did no hesitated. In the palace she see herself in a very crazy situation and involved in many schemes. I wasn’t expecting the ending … and why Vale’s so hot when he isn’t supposed to be ? To the second book I go !
“Crown me Dead”
I wasn’t expecting that ….
It took me a little to read this book that is literally ONLY 270 pages BUT the beginning is soooooooooooo gross and disgusting that I was forced to take some breaks because I wanted to vomit and I am a person with a very strong stomach, I don’t get grossed out easily… but this story was too interesting to pass up so I kept going.
This is the story of Elara and she is a gravedigger. They are in a kingdom dying from rot, everyone is dying in masses but not a regular death, no. They literally rotting from inside out and vice versa, hence the gross parts. There are wounds with maggots involved all kinds of excrements…. It’s DISGUSTING 🤢 but it’s only in the beginning of the book. After it’s better. So the kingdom is dying and Elara has a 15 years old brother she ADORES and he got rot, her father is already dying the kingdom is in complete poverty they have to eat bread that is already bad and green, soup that is only dirty water ! Elara only cares about her family and more then any about her brother 😭 so when she got an strange offer from a handsome man to go to the castle and take care of the King to help break the curse that is killing the kingdom and save her brother, she did no hesitated. In the palace she see herself in a very crazy situation and involved in many schemes. I wasn’t expecting the ending … and why Vale’s so hot when he isn’t supposed to be ? To the second book I go !
April 17, 2026
6⭐️
And i’m not exaggerating.
I didn’t just read this. I consumed it.
This is the kind of book that rewires your brain while you’re reading it. The tension? Unbearable in the best way. Making you SQUIRM. The spice? Perfectly done. But what really got me was the way this story played me. I was so sure I knew what was happening… and I was so wrong.
I felt every twist, every shift, every moment of betrayal like it was happening to me.
I haven’t felt this way about a book in a long time.
And that ending? Absolutely unforgettable.
Starting book two immediately because there is no other option.
And i’m not exaggerating.
I didn’t just read this. I consumed it.
This is the kind of book that rewires your brain while you’re reading it. The tension? Unbearable in the best way. Making you SQUIRM. The spice? Perfectly done. But what really got me was the way this story played me. I was so sure I knew what was happening… and I was so wrong.
I felt every twist, every shift, every moment of betrayal like it was happening to me.
I haven’t felt this way about a book in a long time.
And that ending? Absolutely unforgettable.
Starting book two immediately because there is no other option.
May 3, 2026
I legit was prying my eyeballs open at 2am to finish reading this. then I immediately started book 2.
PHENOMENAL.
PHENOMENAL.
May 6, 2026
Did I drop every single book I planned to read to pick this up? I sure fucking did. Do I regret it? Not for one second.
I’m not gonna lie at the beginning, this book had me a little queasy. This land is infested with rot, and when I say rot, I mean people are literally rotting away from a horrific disease. There are maggots. A lot of them. I very quickly learned not to eat while reading this…
But I will say the writing is insanely immersive. It’s descriptive in a way that pulls you all the way in without ever feeling overdone. You’re not being spoon-fed every detail, but somehow you feel everything the atmosphere, the decay, the angst. It made it really easy to get invested fast.
So when our FMC, Elara, gets approached in a graveyard by a mysterious man with a proposition, of course she takes it because what could possibly go wrong? Everyone around her is dying, and she’s desperate to save her family.
But let’s just say… everything is not what it seems.
The second she gets to the castle, the story really ramps up. I love a nosy FMC who refuses to just sit there and accept things she’s digging, questioning, trying to piece everything together, and I was living for it. There’s a curse on the kingdom, and she’s tasked with lifting it.
And then things start to unravel.
There was even a moment where I was getting absolute whiplash like the story kept shifting just enough that it started making me doubt my own predictions. I was like AM I CRAZY?? I was nowhere near as confident in what I thought was going on as I was in the beginning, and I started second-guessing everything.
I’m actually gonna give myself a pat on the back because I did clock the direction it was heading with Vale which almost never happens for me but even knowing that? I was still hanging onto every single fucking word. And somehow, my jaw still hit the ground by the end.
I just know there’s so much more to this story that I don’t know yet, and I have a feeling it’s going to absolutely fucking wreck me. I don’t want to say too much and spoil anything, but this was an incredible read. Especially for how short it is, it had me hooked from the first page to the last.
I’m starting book two immediately tonight. I’ve seen people crying over it so… wish me luck
I’m not gonna lie at the beginning, this book had me a little queasy. This land is infested with rot, and when I say rot, I mean people are literally rotting away from a horrific disease. There are maggots. A lot of them. I very quickly learned not to eat while reading this…
But I will say the writing is insanely immersive. It’s descriptive in a way that pulls you all the way in without ever feeling overdone. You’re not being spoon-fed every detail, but somehow you feel everything the atmosphere, the decay, the angst. It made it really easy to get invested fast.
So when our FMC, Elara, gets approached in a graveyard by a mysterious man with a proposition, of course she takes it because what could possibly go wrong? Everyone around her is dying, and she’s desperate to save her family.
But let’s just say… everything is not what it seems.
The second she gets to the castle, the story really ramps up. I love a nosy FMC who refuses to just sit there and accept things she’s digging, questioning, trying to piece everything together, and I was living for it. There’s a curse on the kingdom, and she’s tasked with lifting it.
And then things start to unravel.
There was even a moment where I was getting absolute whiplash like the story kept shifting just enough that it started making me doubt my own predictions. I was like AM I CRAZY?? I was nowhere near as confident in what I thought was going on as I was in the beginning, and I started second-guessing everything.
I’m actually gonna give myself a pat on the back because I did clock the direction it was heading with Vale which almost never happens for me but even knowing that? I was still hanging onto every single fucking word. And somehow, my jaw still hit the ground by the end.
I just know there’s so much more to this story that I don’t know yet, and I have a feeling it’s going to absolutely fucking wreck me. I don’t want to say too much and spoil anything, but this was an incredible read. Especially for how short it is, it had me hooked from the first page to the last.
I’m starting book two immediately tonight. I’ve seen people crying over it so… wish me luck
May 17, 2026
WOW. Straight to the second book.
Want to Read
May 20, 2026i get easily convinced. let’s see what it’s giving.
April 18, 2026
Writing: BEAUTIFUL. Cozy darkness!!! 🥀
Contents: Gross 🤗 like do not even think about having a cute snack plate with this read ✨💀
Yeah the amount of rot, death and maggots was BLOODY DISTURBING.… but it’s so necessary for the plot so just trust…haaa
I don’t even want to leave a long review bc I don’t want to spoil ONE BIT. This is the type of book where the plot just keeps slowly unraveling and keeps you guessing until the very end! I seriously enjoyed this a lot!!!! I love being tortured about which man is end game 🤭
Who do we even trust now!!??? What is happening!!? Book 2 is open as we speak🔥
Contents: Gross 🤗 like do not even think about having a cute snack plate with this read ✨💀
Yeah the amount of rot, death and maggots was BLOODY DISTURBING.… but it’s so necessary for the plot so just trust…haaa
I don’t even want to leave a long review bc I don’t want to spoil ONE BIT. This is the type of book where the plot just keeps slowly unraveling and keeps you guessing until the very end! I seriously enjoyed this a lot!!!! I love being tortured about which man is end game 🤭
Who do we even trust now!!??? What is happening!!? Book 2 is open as we speak🔥
May 22, 2026
I am a bit unsure with this one. I definitely didn't hate it but I can't say I absolutely loved it either. I do think I liked more than I disliked though so I am intrigued to see where this goes?
I will say I loved the atmosphere and unique plot! It's nice reading something that isn't completely copied which is so hard with Romantasy these days. BUT, it did feel a bit predictable to be honest.
Idk... I shall continue! 🫡
I will say I loved the atmosphere and unique plot! It's nice reading something that isn't completely copied which is so hard with Romantasy these days. BUT, it did feel a bit predictable to be honest.
Idk... I shall continue! 🫡
May 13, 2026
SHUTTTTT UP?! This was sooooo freaking good!? I don’t even like yucky stuff so ngl, I was a little worried in the first couple chapters but I am never going to stop talking about this?! Immediately downloading Crown Me Yours 😜
April 10, 2026
Infinity stars. No notes. Just vibes and a little emotional damage.
This book is not soft. It’s sharp, addictive, and full of that “this is a bad idea… do it anyway” energy from the very first page.
The vibe? Rot, power, and inevitability. Everything feels slightly decayed in a way that makes it more dangerous, not less. The world is gritty and lived-in, like something beautiful that’s been left too long and turned into something darker.
The characters are messy in the best way. No clean choices. No easy paths. Every decision feels layered with consequence, and you’re right there with them, understanding it even when you probably shouldn’t.
The MMC carries this quiet, controlled presence that feels like he already knows how things end. There’s a hunger under the surface that you can’t ignore. And the FMC is not here to be saved. She’s navigating impossible choices, standing in the middle of it all, and paying for every step forward.
Their dynamic is where it really locks you in. Tension, power, resentment, pull… that constant undercurrent of “this won’t end well” but you don’t want it to. It just keeps tightening the deeper you go.
The writing hits that perfect balance. Dark and immersive without being heavy. And there are lines that just sit with you after you read them.
If you like:
dark fantasy romance that actually commits
morally gray everything
tension that feels like a slow tightening noose
and stories that feel a little bit dangerous
you’ll eat this up.
Just don’t expect to come out untouched. This one leans into the rot… and makes you love it anyway!
This book is not soft. It’s sharp, addictive, and full of that “this is a bad idea… do it anyway” energy from the very first page.
The vibe? Rot, power, and inevitability. Everything feels slightly decayed in a way that makes it more dangerous, not less. The world is gritty and lived-in, like something beautiful that’s been left too long and turned into something darker.
The characters are messy in the best way. No clean choices. No easy paths. Every decision feels layered with consequence, and you’re right there with them, understanding it even when you probably shouldn’t.
The MMC carries this quiet, controlled presence that feels like he already knows how things end. There’s a hunger under the surface that you can’t ignore. And the FMC is not here to be saved. She’s navigating impossible choices, standing in the middle of it all, and paying for every step forward.
Their dynamic is where it really locks you in. Tension, power, resentment, pull… that constant undercurrent of “this won’t end well” but you don’t want it to. It just keeps tightening the deeper you go.
The writing hits that perfect balance. Dark and immersive without being heavy. And there are lines that just sit with you after you read them.
If you like:
dark fantasy romance that actually commits
morally gray everything
tension that feels like a slow tightening noose
and stories that feel a little bit dangerous
you’ll eat this up.
Just don’t expect to come out untouched. This one leans into the rot… and makes you love it anyway!
May 17, 2026
Seeing everyone’s reactions to this duet was too enticing to stay away. 😏
I devoured this. I’m actually stunned by how captivating it was—a visceral, beautifully ruinous story. The characters were so compelling; Vale and Kael were particularly interesting… and the writing’s just amazing—so immersive and detailed. I’m also a sucker for a big sister risking it all for her little brother.
From what I’ve seen the next book is even more devastating so let’s goo. 😩
I devoured this. I’m actually stunned by how captivating it was—a visceral, beautifully ruinous story. The characters were so compelling; Vale and Kael were particularly interesting… and the writing’s just amazing—so immersive and detailed. I’m also a sucker for a big sister risking it all for her little brother.
From what I’ve seen the next book is even more devastating so let’s goo. 😩
May 7, 2026
4 stars
I was hesitant to start this because the summary is pretty vague but I was seeing a lot of glowing reviews, and when I noticed it was under 300 pages I figured why not. The atmosphere of this one is super dark/depressing; the entire kingdom is dealing with the Rot, which is basically a plague that kills most people slowly and there's no cure. When our FMC learns the reason behind it is actually a curse tied to the King's crown, she takes the opportunity to try to feed it and save her family.
I liked Elara a lot. She wasn't weak or timid; she always had some type of retort ready to go, but at the same time she wasn't stupid. Her interactions with others were intentional and smart. She's still a young woman so she's not perfect but relatable. Zander's writing style is lyrical and easy to follow. It definitely made me want to check out her other work.
The romance was interesting because for a while I wasn't sure what direction it was going to go in. Elara's basically supposed to seduce the King but she's also got a thing going with his steward. Both of them are keeping secrets and acting shady. The chemistry and the drama was quite entertaining. Which one is telling the truth?
The plot moves you in a certain direction and then there's a twist I didn't see coming towards the end. For being so short, it easily kept my attention and packed a punch. I do kind of wonder why the author chose to split this into two novels instead of one ... but that's neither here nor there. If you can, I would go into this book as blind as possible because I think you'll get the most enjoyment out of it that way. Onto the sequel!
I was hesitant to start this because the summary is pretty vague but I was seeing a lot of glowing reviews, and when I noticed it was under 300 pages I figured why not. The atmosphere of this one is super dark/depressing; the entire kingdom is dealing with the Rot, which is basically a plague that kills most people slowly and there's no cure. When our FMC learns the reason behind it is actually a curse tied to the King's crown, she takes the opportunity to try to feed it and save her family.
I liked Elara a lot. She wasn't weak or timid; she always had some type of retort ready to go, but at the same time she wasn't stupid. Her interactions with others were intentional and smart. She's still a young woman so she's not perfect but relatable. Zander's writing style is lyrical and easy to follow. It definitely made me want to check out her other work.
The romance was interesting because for a while I wasn't sure what direction it was going to go in. Elara's basically supposed to seduce the King but she's also got a thing going with his steward. Both of them are keeping secrets and acting shady. The chemistry and the drama was quite entertaining. Which one is telling the truth?
The plot moves you in a certain direction and then there's a twist I didn't see coming towards the end. For being so short, it easily kept my attention and packed a punch. I do kind of wonder why the author chose to split this into two novels instead of one ... but that's neither here nor there. If you can, I would go into this book as blind as possible because I think you'll get the most enjoyment out of it that way. Onto the sequel!
May 9, 2026
3.5⭐️
The last chapter gained half a star.
I had way higher expectations and I guess that's my own fault.
The plot was intriguing, but I felt that it lacked depth and something else that I couldn't pinpoint.
I didn't connect with the characters very much and felt the chemistry between the FMC and MMC(s?) was sparse.
The cliffhanger makes me want to read the next book, but I'm still undecided if I'll continue.
The last chapter gained half a star.
I had way higher expectations and I guess that's my own fault.
The plot was intriguing, but I felt that it lacked depth and something else that I couldn't pinpoint.
I didn't connect with the characters very much and felt the chemistry between the FMC and MMC(s?) was sparse.
The cliffhanger makes me want to read the next book, but I'm still undecided if I'll continue.
Want to Read
May 16, 2026uuuugh fine, i'll read it
April 21, 2026
This was entertaining but not really all that dark, to be honest. It had rather graphic imagery of the rot, but it was not dark like her Ravens duet.
I will say I knew who Vale was right off the bat. The twist was definitely not a twist because it was so obvious from the beginning, but I still had a good time. Reaaaally don't know where the story is going from here, so at least there's that element of suspense.
I will say I knew who Vale was right off the bat. The twist was definitely not a twist because it was so obvious from the beginning, but I still had a good time. Reaaaally don't know where the story is going from here, so at least there's that element of suspense.
April 10, 2026
Liv Zander's prose is as captivating as always.
It should be no surprise I had to finish this within a day.
I'm both eager to read the conclusion and feeling spoiled that it's just around the corner.
It should be no surprise I had to finish this within a day.
I'm both eager to read the conclusion and feeling spoiled that it's just around the corner.
May 18, 2026
Tikriausiai retai kada knyga gali kelt šleikštulį, tai jei nori išbandyt jegas - imk knygą😆 Bet šiaip ji tokia trumpa, bet visko kiek reikia, nebuvo kažkokio sudėtingo buildingo, bet visko užteko. Kažkaip nuo pradžių atspėjau +- kaip ir gali baigtis, bet vistiek buvo labai įdomu ir sakyčiau gana orginalus siužetas. Tikiu, kad antra patiks dar labiau ir ties čia nebeįsivaizduoju, kur čia kas pasisuks.
May 15, 2026
Crown Me Dead by Liv Zander
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
✔️Dark Romantasy
✔️Cursed Crown
✔️Secrets and Lies
Wow what a book! It stuck its hooks in me immediately and it didn't let go. Straight to book two tonight! I really done want to spoil this in any way for anyone wanting to read it but if you're looking for a short dark romantasy this is the one to do, it has less than 300 pages and you will be hooked!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
✔️Dark Romantasy
✔️Cursed Crown
✔️Secrets and Lies
Wow what a book! It stuck its hooks in me immediately and it didn't let go. Straight to book two tonight! I really done want to spoil this in any way for anyone wanting to read it but if you're looking for a short dark romantasy this is the one to do, it has less than 300 pages and you will be hooked!
May 25, 2026
Wtf was that ending!!
WHATTTTTT still in shock 😮
I devoured this book..
“ Crown me dead “ whatttttt Elara bbg you you huh
This book was so good and loved it every minute of it..
Elara is a grave digger the people are dying of a curse that leads them to rot and die when her brother starts coughing blood because of the rot she ends up getting a offer from the king steward Vale if she can bed and wed the king it can help save her brothers life but not only those king have to bed and wed her he also has to slit her throat and bleed on crown in order for rot to stop spreading,Elara takes the offer to save her brothers life.
This book had twist after twist after twist like damn wth..
The book took a turn I wasn’t expecting 😮
Vale is hiding secrets
Kale wants to stop the curse
Elara wants to seduce the king so her brother can live
On to the second book because what..
WHATTTTTT still in shock 😮
I devoured this book..
“ Crown me dead “ whatttttt Elara bbg you you huh
This book was so good and loved it every minute of it..
Elara is a grave digger the people are dying of a curse that leads them to rot and die when her brother starts coughing blood because of the rot she ends up getting a offer from the king steward Vale if she can bed and wed the king it can help save her brothers life but not only those king have to bed and wed her he also has to slit her throat and bleed on crown in order for rot to stop spreading,Elara takes the offer to save her brothers life.
This book had twist after twist after twist like damn wth..
The book took a turn I wasn’t expecting 😮
Vale is hiding secrets
Kale wants to stop the curse
Elara wants to seduce the king so her brother can live
On to the second book because what..
April 26, 2026
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˖⁺‧₊♡ pre-read review ⋙
liv zander is one of my favourite authors of all things dark and fantasy; of horrific twists and villainous characters. a gravedigger. a kingdom consumed by rot. i have not felt this excited to read a book in such a long time. consider me consumed.
follow me on: instagram
˖⁺‧₊♡ pre-read review ⋙
liv zander is one of my favourite authors of all things dark and fantasy; of horrific twists and villainous characters. a gravedigger. a kingdom consumed by rot. i have not felt this excited to read a book in such a long time. consider me consumed.
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May 18, 2026
This book.... This book. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🤏🏼🤏🏼🤏🏼🤏🏼🤏🏼🤏🏼🤏🏼🤏🏼
Look it ia definitely not one for the squeamish that I will tell you. There is puss, there is rot, there is death, there are maggots, there are smells.
But it does get better... It's only the first 30% or so of the book.
But the story.... Wow just wow. This story... The twists and turns I never knew what was coming next.
The plotting.... The scheming...
I absolutely loved it.
For such a short book it sure hit hard
Read it if you are not squeamish definitely recommend.
"Vale is a means, an accomplice to my ending - nothing more- and I just kissed him like I'm allowed to live."
Look it ia definitely not one for the squeamish that I will tell you. There is puss, there is rot, there is death, there are maggots, there are smells.
But it does get better... It's only the first 30% or so of the book.
But the story.... Wow just wow. This story... The twists and turns I never knew what was coming next.
The plotting.... The scheming...
I absolutely loved it.
For such a short book it sure hit hard
Read it if you are not squeamish definitely recommend.
"Vale is a means, an accomplice to my ending - nothing more- and I just kissed him like I'm allowed to live."
May 24, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
May 13, 2026
I don't even know how to review this! I don't want to give a single thing away, so its hard to be vague when I just want to talk about everything that happened! The writing is absolutely amazing and oh boy, is it descriptive. It paints a picture, and for the first 30%, that picture is a very disgustingly gross picture. Seriously, don't eat while reading this.
Ok, so what I can tell you: The very badass, strong FMC is Elara and she is a gravediggers daughter in the time of a plague. There is rot spreading across the land, and her and her family are starting to feel the effects. She is willing to do anything to save her family from the Rot, so when a stranger... a very clean and handsome stranger, comes to her with a deal to help her family, she feels the need to take it. Regardless of what it costs her.
There are two men at play here, a lot of secrets that will make you question everything. At first I thought I had it figured out early, then I decided I was completely wrong, only to find out I was pretty much right... my brain was all over the place. This plays out like a beautifully dark fairytale, and I absolutely devoured it. Just amazing, and its not something I will be forgetting any time soon.
MF Dark Romantasy
Body Horror
Cursed Kingdom
Very Mysterious
Virgin MCs
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥
Ok, so what I can tell you: The very badass, strong FMC is Elara and she is a gravediggers daughter in the time of a plague. There is rot spreading across the land, and her and her family are starting to feel the effects. She is willing to do anything to save her family from the Rot, so when a stranger... a very clean and handsome stranger, comes to her with a deal to help her family, she feels the need to take it. Regardless of what it costs her.
There are two men at play here, a lot of secrets that will make you question everything. At first I thought I had it figured out early, then I decided I was completely wrong, only to find out I was pretty much right... my brain was all over the place. This plays out like a beautifully dark fairytale, and I absolutely devoured it. Just amazing, and its not something I will be forgetting any time soon.
MF Dark Romantasy
Body Horror
Cursed Kingdom
Very Mysterious
Virgin MCs
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥
May 25, 2026
I truly enjoyed the book, though it was a total rollercoaster. First of all, that Liv's fantasy medieval vibe is something else. Very atmospheric.
Elara really won me over. She’s just a regular girl, but she’s wise beyond her years because life’s been hard and she matured very early.
She smart and strong , Sometimes fragile, sometimes rebellious.
But what really hooked me was the investigation into how to break the curse. My god, I changed my mind and my suspicions so many times! And even though I predicted a few things, others just left me speechless and blow my mind.
The author is so good at misleading you, and you just let her do it because everything finally makes sense by her words and you finally found all the puzzle peaces. But then it turns out that piece you found was from a different puzzle altogether.
Elara really won me over. She’s just a regular girl, but she’s wise beyond her years because life’s been hard and she matured very early.
She smart and strong , Sometimes fragile, sometimes rebellious.
But what really hooked me was the investigation into how to break the curse. My god, I changed my mind and my suspicions so many times! And even though I predicted a few things, others just left me speechless and blow my mind.
The author is so good at misleading you, and you just let her do it because everything finally makes sense by her words and you finally found all the puzzle peaces. But then it turns out that piece you found was from a different puzzle altogether.
May 23, 2026
A goofy story about a goofier curse that is ultimately the root cause of human rot. One sought-after-gravedigger chick who may be the salvation but only through self-sacrifice. She must seduce the king, get him to make her queen, & then cut her throat, bleed her dry to feed the cursed crown, thereby saving everyone else in the land.🙄 Although that’s not what happens. But whatever.
• If you’re looking for a book about big fat boils that bust open with gobs of puss & maggots, this one’s for you.
• If you’re looking for a story with a dump truck full of cheesy af similes, pick this up. Here’s a little sampler out of the 7654 I highlighted:
~ his tongue falling out like a slab of rotten eel.
~ The graveyard fence crouches like a rib cage
~ The city lies to itself like a lovesick drunk.
~ Now it smells more like secrets
~ His words are like a blade pressed against a wound already weeping.
~ A maggot hits the back of my throat like a flick of rice.
~ The rose is red, like my blood.
~ I put my mouth to his like a stitch to a seam
~ devouring the kiss I’m feeding him like a starving man offered a banquet
~ pain descends on me like a collapsing roof
~ A lick of his tongue at my lobe, along my cheek, toward my mouth—patient as a thief at a lock.
~ sharp, metallic, rancid. Like meat left in milk and forgotten.
~ a wet, gurgling sound rises from the back of her throat, thick and frothy, like a child blowing bubbles in milk.
~ Every clever sentence I brought dies in my mouth like a fly in milk.
~ like the sound of cartilage trying to remember humor
~ like polished boots striding around secrets and lies
Ugh. Yea.
K. Bye.
• If you’re looking for a book about big fat boils that bust open with gobs of puss & maggots, this one’s for you.
• If you’re looking for a story with a dump truck full of cheesy af similes, pick this up. Here’s a little sampler out of the 7654 I highlighted:
~ his tongue falling out like a slab of rotten eel.
~ The graveyard fence crouches like a rib cage
~ The city lies to itself like a lovesick drunk.
~ Now it smells more like secrets
~ His words are like a blade pressed against a wound already weeping.
~ A maggot hits the back of my throat like a flick of rice.
~ The rose is red, like my blood.
~ I put my mouth to his like a stitch to a seam
~ devouring the kiss I’m feeding him like a starving man offered a banquet
~ pain descends on me like a collapsing roof
~ A lick of his tongue at my lobe, along my cheek, toward my mouth—patient as a thief at a lock.
~ sharp, metallic, rancid. Like meat left in milk and forgotten.
~ a wet, gurgling sound rises from the back of her throat, thick and frothy, like a child blowing bubbles in milk.
~ Every clever sentence I brought dies in my mouth like a fly in milk.
~ like the sound of cartilage trying to remember humor
~ like polished boots striding around secrets and lies
Ugh. Yea.
K. Bye.
April 10, 2026
The Queen writes again!! Prepare yourselves! This is her best ride yet! 5/5 story, 5/5 romance, 5/5 ick…So. Many. Maggots. 😬
Elara might just be the strongest FMC I’ve ever read. She’s not weak in any sense, body/mind/spirit/heart-i feel it’s especially important to note the last. She lives in a world where rot takes everything and everyone. Including her little brother’s fingers. But she finds a way to make light in the dark, bringing humor to the family gravedigging business-always keeping him laughing.
She keeps that same spunk throughout the story, even after her entire reality is upended as she tries to unravel cold truths from slippery lies. As if that’s not enough, we’ve got an unexpected love triangle with 2 men who love to hide everything in the dark, including themselves.
Elara must figure out a way to end the rot if she wants to save what’s most precious to her, as well as the rest of the realm. No pressure.
An alluring mysterious stranger approaches Elara with a deal she just can’t refuse. Win over the undying king that never emerges from the castle. And he makes it sound so easy. But the king isn’t so approachable, he might be undying but he’s a massive jerk with rage problems. Is there someone worth saving under all of that? He doesn’t make it easy, never wanting company. As she tries to unravel the mysterious king, she upends a deeper, darker secret. One that might lead down a different path to end the rot forever. But, the alluring stranger that offered her the deal is still lurking around. He’s so handsome and is the only one willing to help Elara. Is he the key to ending the cursed rot? She can’t let her heart get in the way of what must be done. As a gravedigger, she’s not squeamish with death and she’s not about to start running from it now.
Prepare your reading area. Maybe no snacks, seriously 5/5 ick factor, and lots of tissues. Settle in to buckle up for Liv’s most beautiful ride yet! I’ve been lucky enough to receive ARCS for both books in the duology and finished both in 4 days. Could not put it down!! She’s incorporated a mystery so thick in the plot, you just can’t stop reading until you know what’s the truth! It’s gross, tragic, and so very beautiful.
Amazing work, Liv! I didn’t know quite what to expect, but as always you never disappoint! Elara is hands down my favorite FMC. Thank you for all the emotional damage I asked for, delivered masterfully ❤️
Elara might just be the strongest FMC I’ve ever read. She’s not weak in any sense, body/mind/spirit/heart-i feel it’s especially important to note the last. She lives in a world where rot takes everything and everyone. Including her little brother’s fingers. But she finds a way to make light in the dark, bringing humor to the family gravedigging business-always keeping him laughing.
She keeps that same spunk throughout the story, even after her entire reality is upended as she tries to unravel cold truths from slippery lies. As if that’s not enough, we’ve got an unexpected love triangle with 2 men who love to hide everything in the dark, including themselves.
Elara must figure out a way to end the rot if she wants to save what’s most precious to her, as well as the rest of the realm. No pressure.
An alluring mysterious stranger approaches Elara with a deal she just can’t refuse. Win over the undying king that never emerges from the castle. And he makes it sound so easy. But the king isn’t so approachable, he might be undying but he’s a massive jerk with rage problems. Is there someone worth saving under all of that? He doesn’t make it easy, never wanting company. As she tries to unravel the mysterious king, she upends a deeper, darker secret. One that might lead down a different path to end the rot forever. But, the alluring stranger that offered her the deal is still lurking around. He’s so handsome and is the only one willing to help Elara. Is he the key to ending the cursed rot? She can’t let her heart get in the way of what must be done. As a gravedigger, she’s not squeamish with death and she’s not about to start running from it now.
Prepare your reading area. Maybe no snacks, seriously 5/5 ick factor, and lots of tissues. Settle in to buckle up for Liv’s most beautiful ride yet! I’ve been lucky enough to receive ARCS for both books in the duology and finished both in 4 days. Could not put it down!! She’s incorporated a mystery so thick in the plot, you just can’t stop reading until you know what’s the truth! It’s gross, tragic, and so very beautiful.
Amazing work, Liv! I didn’t know quite what to expect, but as always you never disappoint! Elara is hands down my favorite FMC. Thank you for all the emotional damage I asked for, delivered masterfully ❤️
May 22, 2026
I ate this up. The most beautifully written book on rot, duty, death and sacrifice. I did not see that plot twist coming, so good!
April 27, 2026
I loved Feathers so Vicious so I had high hopes, but this one wasn’t for me.
May 8, 2026
Reading a 5 ⭐️ book on my birthday is a peak experience 🤝
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