Deathsworn

by Meg Smitherman

DEEP IN THE UNDERWORLD, WILL LOVE BLOOM WHERE IT SHOULD NOT SURVIVE?

PRE-ORDER your new necromantasy obsession. . .

"Utterly spellbinding." - Lyndall Clipstone, critically acclaimed author of Tenderly, I am Devoured

The Knight and the Moth meets Phantasma in this spellbinding gothic, enemies-to-lovers tale of life, death and the dangerous bond between two sworn rivals.

--

Jonquil Foye wields the power of Life.

Her sworn enemy, Edmund Blackburn, wields the power of Death.

On the battlefield, they clash in a deadly duel meant to decide the fate of their warring cities—until their magics entwine and create a volatile being so powerful it drags them both deep into Death itself.

Forced into a reluctant truce, Jonquil and Edmund must navigate the treacherous underworld and confront the horrifying consequences of their own creation.

As time runs out, their alliance sparks a deeper attraction. But truces are fragile, and Death seems determined to ensure they never return to the land of the living. . .


Brutal, gorgeous, and heart-stopping, this gothic dark fantasy romance is perfect for readers who crave high-stakes tension, lushly dark atmospheres, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance with a touch of horror.


🫀 True enemies to lovers
💀 Yearning
🫀 Forced proximity
💀 Gothic Victorian setting
🫀 Reylo vibes
💀 Masked MMC
🫀 Life & Death magic

--

Praise for Deathsworn:

'Sexy and enthrallingly dangerous, Deathsworn is a true gift to fans of enemies-to-lovers romantasy.' —De Elizabeth, author of She Haunts Me Still and This Raging Sea

'DEATHSWORN is a breathtaking plunge into obsession and survival. . .a gothic, perilous read brimming with magic, monsters, and scorching desire. Utterly magnificent.'— Logan Karlie, NYT bestselling author of Dream by the Shadows

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Gothic, Enemies To Lovers, Adult, Fantasy Romance

Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 12, 2027

About the author

Meg Smitherman writes science fiction, fantasy, and horror books (all of which involve kissing). She studied Creative Writing at Brunel University London, where she obtained both her MA and a staggering amount of student loan debt. When not writing, Meg spends her time playing video games, reading fan fiction, and couch rotting. Based in Los Angeles, she shares her life with a chihuahua, a cat, and a handsome Englishman.

Follow Meg on social media!

Instagram: @megsmitherman
TikTok: @megsmitherman

Reviews

[My.bookish.diaries]

4.25 ⭐️

What a unique magic system… I really liked how the magic system worked and all the history behind it. How there are two kinds of magic in this world.. life based and death based .. we learn a lot about how both systems work.

The feeling of death is throughout the book… I really enjoyed the lore behind everything and how we also had footnotes like a journal expanding the world building and creating a whole unique system and history to learn about.

One of the footnotes references a scene from a book they liked, The Darkest Path - birthday death story… it was built into story very well and one of my fav parts just for the reference and why it was added to the book…

This is def an enemies to lovers slow burn that had me wanting them together from the start. The chemistry and how their relationship developed was done really well. The freckles …. 🫶🏽💕 cuteee

Other things I liked about the world/lore were how the sky gets more red every year.. would have liked that incorporated into the story more but def thought it was a cool detail. Overall, def got the gothic deathly vibe in the story.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the ending.. I mean I liked everything involved the in the last few pages it was def intense how everything went down in the end … was so good !! the only thing I did not enjoy was the final decision … because why?? lol

Would def recommend this read for lovers of a more deathly vibe with their fantasy reads!

[Nenia Campbell]

I'm sure nobody will see this but I am on my knees PLEADING, SCREAMING, THROWING UP for the chance to have an early copy of this book

[Amelia]

“She was driven by something headier, darker, and far more personal: Revenge.”

As a Scorpio, yes. And right off the bat, I want to mention that I am an absolute sucker for life versus death magic and the concept of animancers versus necromancers and the way it made me think immediately of Alchemised. Not that they’re very alike, on the contrary, but since both use the same base concept I got a feeling of nostalgia instantly. Cue the MMC being a masked death mage, instant Kaine Ferron vibes. This, however is just my brain taking me to my comfort story and characters, Deathsworn is very much its own original tale and MCs.

“War is petty. War is unsporting. The rules exist when they suit me. And just now? They don’t.”

“I might be able to summon a little floating light, if I try very hard. Do you want a little floating light?”

This book smacked me in the face. I did not know your game, miss Meg but I am absolutely paying attention now. The chemistry, banter and tension between the characters was so unexpected, I was experiencing whiplash. In under 400 pages, Deathsworn managed to deliver a full high stakes plot coupled with a very slow burn romance that developed in such a natural and satisfying way. I adored Jonquil, the FMC. I absolutely hated her name and ended up calling her Nyquil in my head 🫣🫣 I am not proud of it, but despite the name, she managed to leave such an impact. As much as I enjoyed the romance, the complicated relationship with her mother and the way it was navigated and explored under unusual circumstances were my main motivators for reading.

This is, amazingly, a standalone that had an ending both so satisfying and bittersweet that I was genuinely shedding tears at the last phrase. I absolutely adored the writing, very witty and accessible. The storytelling, very fluid and it complemented the romance. The world building was small, but I didn’t find it lacking. The best way I can describe Deathsworn is delightful, funny and heartwarming, but make it high stakes and high action instead of cozy.

[ivanareadsalot]

✨L I V I N G for a magic wielder named Jonquil Foye
because it's 5 stars to lose if I have to hit up
🪄www.etymonline.com/word/jonquil✨

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Saturday Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

[Demi Winters]

Deathsworn is a fresh take on the fantasy romance genre--it's macabre yet romantic, and absolutely stunning! I ate up the dynamics between bookish Jonquil and the enigmatic Duke of Death as they are forced to team up to save mankind from the grotesque amalgamation of their magics. The classic battle of life versus death in an immersive, gothic world.

[Mac (bookwyrm_mac)]

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early eARC of this book!

Deathsworn was my first novel of Meg Smitherman’s, and I plan to read more ASAP! In its blurb, Deathsworn is described as The Knight and the Moth meets Phantasma, but there aren’t magical trials and it felt different than both of those to me. If I were to compare it to anything I’ve read, I would say it’s more the war and necromancy of Alchemised meets the journey and realizations of The Everlasting.

I really enjoyed the life and death magic aspect of this, and the exploration of how those aren’t opposites so much as intertwined. The journey these characters go on is dark, and the atmosphere that was created was impeccable! I also loved the chemistry and the development of the relationship between Jonquil and Edmund, as well as their personal developments over the course of the story.

This is a very fast-paced read, that somehow still manages to deftly explore themes of grief and guilt. I would definitely recommend it!

[Ciara Kate]

First off thank you to NetGalley & SMP for the ARC!

Deathsworn is a fantastic read, it touches a lot on grief and guilt in such a beautiful way. The atmosphere was so cool and the slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romance and humor were top-notch. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[millena]

3.25 ⭐️ Dark and fun, but also… confusing??? This definitely had more plot holes than I consider acceptable, and the overall purpose of the story felt pretty unclear and almost nonexistent at times. I did really like the characters and their romance, tho. It was a slow burn as much as it could be, considering this is a standalone, but I felt like the switch from falling for each other to being fully in love happened way too quickly and almost out of nowhere. I’ll admit it didn’t bother me too much in this particular case bc I really liked them, but it’s definitely something I wish had been handled differently.

The ending also felt a little anticlimactic and even somewhat rushed to me. I feel like there was something being slowly built up throughout the story that could have been wrapped up in a completely different and much more interesting way. Unfortunately, this wasn’t a favorite for me, but I can definitely see readers who enjoy books with a more gothic vibe absolutely loving this one.

[Selene]

Thanks to the author and publisher for my arc. The opinions are my own.


I ABSOLUTELY loved this. Deathsworn is now my second book I’ve read from Meg and I plan on devouring them all. This has some Rylo vibes (dark vs light) that I really loved and each character had their own personality and vibe. The atmosphere is PERFECT, dark , gothic… a death forest! The city of the dead?! Perfect. Pacing… perfect. Slow burn with banter and angst and just the right amount of “we shouldn’t/ we can’t /nwe are supposed to hate each other.” Loved this , also really loved that it’s a stand alone with a satisfying ending. Also the little foot notes added to the immersion so well.

[Sarah]

5 ⭐️ I was blessed with a bound manuscript and YA’LL. ABSOLUTELY IMPECCABLE. I have so many (screaming) notes in the margins, and so many drafts of this review saved, but I need a keyboard & I need to carefully review my giddy thoughts to make sure there are no spoilers, so full review to come but just know I LOVED EVERY BIT OF IT.

[Gianmccall •(Kaz Brekker's Version)•]

𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐬𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐧 by Meg Smitherman Review!

★𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲: January 12, 2027.

Believe me when I say I was not prepared at all for how addictive this book would be. I absolutely DEVOURED IT.

It was dark, immensely interesting and fascinating. I was intrigued basically all the time and I just couldn't stop reading.

Deathsworn introduced me to a new world with a very rich lore, a solid magic system (where life and death are the most important elements), and I really enjoyed following Jonquil and the ominous Duke Of Death in this, let's say, macabre adventure through an even more ominous forest, plagued by spirit-like monsters who were constantly trying to eat them. There's a very ancient war between these two kingdoms, and at some point our main characters are forced to team up and work together to figure out how to destroy a new dangerous evil threatening their homes.

That's a classic that never fails to amaze me 🙂‍↕️

There's a lot of action too, epic battle scenes and the gothic settings are so beautifully, well described you literally feel like you're right there with the characters. The atmosphere in general was powerful and kinda tangible.

I especially LOVED the whole system the author created for the magic. There's a mechanical process involved in the way they wield that magic and it adapts to whatever purposes the animancers (those who possess life based abilities) and necromancers (with death based abilities) may have for it. Complex but not incomprehensible, which is AWESOME.

This was my first book of Meg Smitherman and I just know I'll be reading more of her stories!

Thank you so much @megsmitherman and @stmartinspress for the digital galley through #netgalley!

"𝑯𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉, 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒆 𝒋𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒆 . 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒔, 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒌 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒅. 𝑯𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒖𝒏𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒓."

[Cara Harp]

Thank you Saturday Books for an advanced copy via NetGalley!

This was my first book by Meg Smitherman, and while not what I expected, I still enjoyed it! What I’d anticipated and my own preferences definitely caught me off guard but that’s absolutely not a reflection of the book.

The magic & political system (necromancers, animancers- war over whose power is “right”), and my interpretation of the theming (judgment, acceptance, does anyone actually win in war?) were the highlights!

The majority of this story is character driven, with a ton of action and plot development placed at the tail end of the book. If you enjoy gothic settings with internal growth/battles, I think you’d really love it!

[Samantha Sturtz]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Rating 4.25

When I say I want a necromancy novel this is what I mean! I was hooked from the beginning - the immersive atmosphere, the talk about death & the FMC’s sass!

And then add in the slow burn enemies to lovers between the FMC and MMC…. Ugh their banter & chemistry had me grinning, giggling & swinging my legs. I love a MMC who’s mysterious and dramatic lol

Overall, this was a very good story that I really enjoyed.


For fans of:
Necromancy obsession
Gothic Victorian setting
High stakes tension
Slow burn enemies to lovers
Touch of horror

[Jerrika Barnett]

This reminded me exactly why I love a well-written enemies-to-lovers story.

I received an ARC through NetGalley during a special 48-hour download window, and I’m so glad I grabbed it! This felt like a true enemies-to-lovers romance—the rivalry and distrust felt genuine rather than manufactured for the sake of the trope. I especially loved having a competent FMC who was intelligent, capable, and witty. She was someone I genuinely wanted to root for, and I found myself completely sucked into her story.

The magic system was a breath of fresh air. I loved the contrast between the two rival towns, with one practicing life magic and the other death magic. Although the two forms of magic were presented as opposing forces, they also complemented each other beautifully. It was such a creative concept, and it was executed incredibly well.

I also loved the small moments of lightheartedness that came from her friendship with Dag. Their dynamic added warmth and humor without taking away from the story’s darker themes. This book had everything I wanted: an engaging plot, romance, humor, memorable characters, and a refreshing magic system.

It was easy to fall in love with the characters and root for them throughout their journey. Beneath the magic and romance, this was ultimately a story about two people learning to move through grief, find forgiveness, and fall in love along the way. I even shed a few tears at the ending and I genuinely did not predict parts of the ending.

[Sue Ng]

On paper, Deathsworn has all of the components I seek out in a fantasy romance: a bit of darkness, a touch of death and a magic system that society abides by with mysterious, skillful main characters to boot.

I simply could not bring myself to care how or what happened to these characters. Deathsworn was well-written in the sense that I could tell Smitherman is an intelligent, educated author who knows how to craft syntax, but Smitherman's characters are not set up for success - I had no attachment to them or their context. The language is flowery, but the emotion isn't there at all. Their internal struggles felt contrived, their dialogue and conversation very superficial. The banter was not good, it was childish. At one point, Jonquil, our FMC, insults her non-love interest, boorish sexual partner by calling him a "pumpkin" and I thought, "Well, now that's just insulting to pumpkins." Any one character could say or feel the things Jonquil and Edmund felt, and not in a "they're so relatable" kind of way.

I'm also not entirely sure of the moment our main characters fell in love, but the only opportunity Smitherman found for closeness to be built between the two was for them to be removed from the context of their everyday via a forced proximity trope, melting away the world they know that reinforced their ideas of each other. Almost like falling in love while away on a secret mission. I can't tell if I appreciate Smitherman's attempt at the forced proximity, but it was disappointing when they had to re-enter their society and I couldn't buy the relationship past its weak start. I was struck with how frequently I found myself thinking, "I don't know why I should care about this war, their cities being saved or not, any of it." The book really started to lose me about 50% of the way through, but much like Edmund and Jonquil trekking through Death, I bore onward.

Now this one is petty, but if I have to read a sentence that started with "Jonquil didn't fear" or about any of the things that Jonquil wasn't afraid of one more time...

With that being said, Jonquil is a talented FMC, I admired that and her quick thinking.

Thank you to NetGalley and the team at St. Martin Press for the ARC.

[Celin Elisabeth]

The perfect gothic fantasy vibes. I loved the necro and animancer magic system. It was so interesting, and I really enjoyed the writing and pacing overall (although at times a little repetitive).

The enemies-to-lovers and slow burn between Jonquil and Edmund was well done in my opinion, especially for a standalone.

I did find the ending a little anticlimactic and rushed, and there were a few plot holes, but overall a great and spooky read.

[Molly Haniszewski]

I was insanely fortunate to receive a very early copy of this book and I could not put it down. This is the very definition of “necromantasy.” We get genuine enemies-to-lovers here and the hate is so real. There are whispers of dark academia in the vein of Destroyer, with The Frost Queen’s Blade-esque romance. Jonquil and the Duke of Death’s travels through the forest of Death serves as the perfect backdrop—just unsettling enough to keep you on your toes as you watch them fall for each other. Magnificent.

[Jensen McCorkel]

A dark fantasy that pits opposing Life and Death magic systems against each other, blending intriguing world-building, dangerous magic, and a compelling struggle for survival.

One of the most fascinating aspects of Deathsworn is its Life and Death magic system. The concept of two opposing forms of magic with one tied to life and the other to death, is original and gives the story a strong foundation. Jonquil and Edmund aren’t simply enemies caught on opposite sides of a conflict; their abilities themselves represent these opposing forces, which makes their relationship and eventual connection even more compelling. I especially liked the suggestion that Life and Death may not be as separate or incompatible as they initially seem. Their magic hints at a deeper relationship between the two forces, and I found that idea genuinely intriguing.

The Life/Death magic system is easily one of the book’s most original ideas, but it also left me wanting more. There was so much potential in the concept that I often wished the story had explored it in greater depth. I wanted to understand more about how the magic works, its limitations and costs, and what it truly means to those who wield it. The more I learned about these opposing forces, the more curious I became about what might be possible if the story pushed the concept even further.

The world-building was another highlight for me. There are some imaginative ideas here, particularly the different realms, the history surrounding Life and Death magic, and the supernatural elements woven throughout the story. The setting has a dark, almost gothic quality that fits the story well and creates an atmosphere that feels distinct and immersive.

At the same time, I sometimes felt like I was only getting glimpses of a much larger and potentially fascinating world. I wanted more history, more context, and a deeper understanding of how these societies developed around their opposing forms of magic. The mythology and world-building introduce several intriguing concepts, but some of them felt like they were only beginning to be explored. I often found myself wishing the story would slow down and give these ideas more room to develop.

Overall, Deathsworn is a book where the ideas really captured my attention. The Life and Death magic, gothic atmosphere, and imaginative world-building gave me plenty to enjoy, and I especially appreciated the originality behind the opposing magic systems. My biggest criticism is simply that I wanted more depth. There were so many moments when I found myself thinking, Tell me more. Show me more. Take this idea further. For me, the book’s greatest strength is also what left me wanting more! The potential of its world and magic system felt much bigger than what the story ultimately explored.

[Mischa (misch_is_bookish)]

This book had all the makings of a favorite for me, but it lost me on the execution!

Lets start with the writing. It felt very repetitive at times. There would be chunks of the book where I'd feel such intense deja vu because the characters have had a pretty similar conversation or thought process previously. It made me get frustrated at the characters far too often. This also affected the pacing which in general lagged for me a bit in the middle. There was just a lot of walking at one point with the same conversations and events happening again and again.

The magic system is extremely unique and cool but it's also pretty complex and I don't feel like it was fleshed out enough for me to get a good feel on it, however its really interesting and holds so much potential! I would've also loved more world building. Why is there a war? How's it been going? I just wanted more. At times the magic system and world building just didn’t make sense and it felt like it would change depending on the context but I wouldn’t understand why, but maybe I'm just dumb!

As for the characters. There was so much potential. I actually really like the banter. But as individuals, they just weren't strong enough. Just telling us about their issues isnt enough for them to feel like they have depth. We need to feeeeel it and I just didn’t. It's like things would just happen almost as if to say "hey look they have complexity" but it didn’t help me connect with them. I also feel like at times for me, Jonquil read younger and more immature than she was which threw me a bit.

As for the romance, I just wish authors would realize that proximity alone and learning that someone isn’t just pure evil and is complex does not equate to falling in love. The enemies of this enemies to lovers was definitely there, but then they go from enemies to lovers with no real connection. No real reason. They just love each other all of a sudden.

I just did not like the last 15% of this book at all. Things go so easily, and then things happen that make no freaking sense with what we were taught about the magic system and theres the weirdest timed intimate scene that feels so misplaced, and then its all just one big lesson for them or something and then they just cop out? What BS is that? It also just went way too quickly and the pacing was off.

Overall, this had so much potential and there were things I enjoyed on a surface level, but it just missed the mark for me on being great!

[lola]

What an incredible read. Deathsworn was everything I had hoped for and more; an intriguing magic system, strong world building and complex characters that I felt so emotionally connected to!

This book hardly felt like a debut, primarily because of the structure and plot of the book. Despite all the complex lore and history about necromancers, animacers, Lux City, etc etc, the storytelling had such a solid foundation and by the 25% point, I was able to have a really strong understanding of it! This was super helpful as the plot only begins to thicken and complicate from then on!

The relationship between Jonquil and Edmund was strong enemies to lovers and I loved the bickering and passive aggressive comments/threats thrown between them whilst they were stuck in the Forest of Death. The romance built up naturally and whilst the plot itself was pretty fast paced, their relationship had a satisfying slow burn that developed around the hectic things happening to them. Chapter 30 will be permanently stuck in my head!!!

+ in terms of them as separate characters, I enjoyed the self growth that Jonquil and Edmund both went through and the fears and emotions that they had to overcome in order to progress. Seeing the way they developed from the beginning to the end was so satisfying and THE ENDING. I loved it for them!!!! (even if I did cry a little for them)

I adored the plot, you’ll always catch me searching for books that balance the chemistry of the characters in a way that compliments the plot and this was done PERFECTLY. The different challenges and twists that surfaced during their journey through the Forest, City of Death and even when they returned back to Umbra were so gripping and naturally, I had to finish this book in one sitting. I connected with Meg’s writing style easily and so whilst reading through, it felt so fantastical and brilliantly realistic at the same time.


I’d say that my only *and minor* critique is the pacing and development of the book for the first 20% - in comparison to the rest of the story it did feel quite slow, as well as the fact that there’s so much information to understand, so you really have to invest into it to be able to get to when the fun part starts (the 25% mark)


Thank you endlessly to Saturday Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Jackie]

Shout out to generational trauma!

In a centuries long war between Animancers and Necromancers, Jonquil is determined to avenge her mother and kill the infamous Duke of Death. When circumstances lead her to a duel she gets an opportunity to right this wrong but when a spell goes array she finds that the two of them have created a monster hellbent on destroying everything in its path and worse landing them in the world of the dead.

I first found this book via fanart that the author posted back in the spring and I knew I had to get my hands on a copy and I’m so glad I did! The world building and magic system is so fascinating and ultimately we have this sort of Buffy - esque like lesson of taking something real that everyone in some way can connect to and make that the monster and I enjoyed every second of it.

Jonquil is a force to be reckoned with and her stubbornness is evident from the first page as she works to prove herself. She throws herself headfirst into everything she does and has the wits and knowledge backing her up so she almost never fails and I loved her forced to work with the Duke. Edmond too has been shaped by this war and where she is headstrong he is hardened by the losses and his cockiness at being so good at what he does makes his unwillingness to lean on someone else all the more fun when you see those barriers broken down and with some of the best banter I’ve read in recent works.

This is a story that I wish we got more of and I think would have been perfect as a duology but credit to the author for making me want! It’s unique in its way and without spoilers I love that this story is focused on their individual journey and the partnership they build through that and the ending never strays from them being the central focus. I simply cannot wait for you all to read and I can’t see where this writer takes us next!

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

[Jess Stadler]

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC 🖤

YES, this is exactly what I wanted when I said I wanted a necromancy read! 👏 I loved the way the characters wielded their magic. Jonquil, the FMC, is a badass who knows she’s smart and can conjure up spells, but she gets in her own way sometimes. She’s competent as hell, but she is a little bit broken inside from various happenings in her life, particularly with her mother. She’s hard around the edges, but soft on the inside. I liked her as an FMC; I would love to get a more in-depth look at her backstory!

I loved the footnotes! Those were fun to read. Something unique that I haven’t seen in many fantasy books. Animancers vs Necromancers makes for a fun dance of life and death… literally.

Jonquil and Edmund had great banter. I like the humorous moments thrown in - they fit perfectly in the dialogue and didn’t take me out of the story. They eased some of the tension. The romance moves really quickly… I think it could have used more time to develop. I like them together; I’m not mad at it, but everything happened so quickly. I feel like they could have gotten to know each other just a littleeee bit more. It definitely hits the enemies-to-lovers trope well.

I feel like this was an easy, digestible fantasy read. The world-building and magic system isn’t overly complex. It had my imagination going crazy. It was atmospheric, and I could see the different cities and environments in my head while reading. If you’re new to necromancy, I think this is a good one to pick up.

I personally enjoyed the ending. But now I’m going to need more of that…

This book wasn't totally perfect, BUT it was satisfying, and I really had to pace myself cause I couldn't put it down!

[WhatTayReads]

DEATHSWORN by Meg Smitherman

4.25 ⭐️

I love love love Meg's writing and I am so happy I came across her books this year. I was delighted to hear she was publishing a full length novel and was so curious to read it! I absolutely adore her novellas and I am so so happy I had to chance to read an early copy of Deathsworn.

Meg's writing/ stories are just so different in the best way. It's sometimes not what you are expecting but I always love the journey she takes us on. Deathsworn was no exception. How she mixes horror and romance just tickles my brain. I will say, it is lighter on the romance side but you still see their relationship build throughout the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I think reading her novella's first got me familiar with her writing style and that might have helped me enjoy this book more. Her endings are different in that the characters don't always make decisions you agree with or they leave you thinking "what the heck did I just read" but that is something I love about her books. But if you haven't read them before, the endings may seem to leave things unfinished or you might disagree with the characters choices but UGH I LOVE IT.

Thank you to Meg and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of Deathsworn in exchange for my honest review.

[Amanda]

Thank you St. Martin's Press for sending me this ARC of Deathsworn. This is my first time reading an ARC and I fear it has set the bar terribly high.

This book was absolutely delicious. I wanted to savor it as I read and live in this cozy fantasy world. Is it weird that a fantasy book that revolves mainly around death made me feel cozy? Maybe.

First, Jonquil....we love a competent FMC. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I loved Jonquil. She is an adult woman who knows her mind and what she wants. She is relatable, loveable, imperfect, and everything else I am looking for in a FMC.
I really enjoyed the fact that our two main characters were both intelligent, competent, and deeply flawed.
The magic system is unique and interesting. And I absolutely adore the fact that we get footnotes with little history lessons of the world. It's one of my favorite ways that authors supplement their world building. Because they are explaining things that I wouldn't even think to stop and ask a question about but I'm so happy to have learned at the end of the footnote.

Highly recommend!

[Alexa]

4.5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2/5 🌶️🌶️

This was exactly what I needed to kick off spooky season!!! Deathsworn was one on my most anticipated reads and I'm so happy I got my hands on an eARC!!

She's an animancer, he's the infamous necromancer who's responsible for her mother's death...during an unexpected dual, they get thrown into another realm and are forced to work together to escape and save their kingdoms from a monster they accidentally created. To say the tension and the banter are off the charts is the understatement of the YEAR 😮‍💨 My obsession with these two knows no bounds and I'm so excited to start reading all of Meg Smitherman's books because it they're all like this...PHEW

Tropes:
🖤animancers and necromancers
🖤true enemies to lovers
🖤forced proximity
🖤he begs 🥵
🖤dark magical creatures
🖤grief and trauma bonding 🥲
🖤dark fantasy romance

[Simran K]

3.5 stars. This was a fun, gothic fantasy perfect for reading in the fall months. I do feel that it tried to do a lot for being a standalone so some things did not work out in my opinion. Such as the pacing felt rushed in the middle-end, the overall plot was relatively weak and simple, and the ending was fairly predictable and anticlimactic. I also did not understand the purpose of the footnotes because they did not add anything to the story. The Duke of Death started off brooding and dark but by the halfway point he was written like a soft hearted teddy bear. Overall, a quick and fun read but left me wishing the story had more complexity and plot to it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Evie Taylor]

3.5 stars. I’m not a porn connoisseur but I doubt you’d find a hole as gaping as this plot on any 18+ site.

Ed didn’t have to bring Jonny to Umbra, unless I entirely missed a huge component of this story. Aside from this little oopsie, a quite enjoyable story.

Not every book needs to be a masterpiece. It’s acceptable to simply be a fun read, which is what this is. The ending - perfect, if you ask me.

[NoBuddy]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

If you are looking for a soft enemies-to-lovers, with light plot, and quality writing than this is for you. However, I don't recommend for readers such as myself that enjoy darker, plot heavy reads.

I really enjoyed and was excited for the story portrait that Deathsworn initially promised; however, to be completely honest, I am disappointed. I love an enemies-to-lovers trope and given the shared past of our two protagonists, It had the potential to truly be a HARD enemies-to-lovers, the set up was there, but unfortunately it was kind of tossed aside the second the forced proximity kicked in. I saw no enemies-to-lovers, just adolescent banter, which for characters in their late 20s and 30s was increasingly tedious. I love banter, but it didn't really do anything for me as a reader here.

The plot did not stick with me either. The first few chapters were promising, but the moment we are launched into the forest of Death, it felt to me the plot was lost and we were on a YA side quest. This book was not for me personally, but can be a solid read for the right reader!

[Kristina Nichole]

super excited for this ARC...

[Bevany]

3.5 stars rounded up. I liked the characters in this book but i wasn't captivated by the story. There were highs and lows but it's a book that overall wasn't memorable for me.