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Death Wish: A Supernatural Love Story
Not yet published
Expected 26 Jan 27A jaded reaper falls for the soul who got away—a vampire dying for something new—in this supernatural sapphic romance filled with yearning, fated love, and hope for the future.
It’s been over a century since Amory Ng woke up in an office with no memory of her life (or death). Now she’s the reigning Best West Coast Reaper, floating through the veil and ferrying souls to . . . whatever comes next.
When Amory is granted two nights a week in the mortal world, she decides to take a pottery class. She feels alive being around humans and creating something with her hands—even if her bowls are a little lopsided.
Then Amory comes face to face with Clementine Lim, the only soul she failed to reap, and somehow, Clem can see through the veil and Amory's facade.
Clem has lived a full life as a vampire, but now she’s ready to move on. Which is exactly why she tracked down the reaper who didn’t finish the job.
Tempted to erase the one mistake hanging over her head, Amory agrees to help, but killing a vampire isn’t easy—especially when she starts to enjoy Clem’s company.
The pull between them only grows stronger as Clem shows Amory how to live her afterlife to the fullest while they search for answers. But when they learn that Clem’s maker, a murderous vampire, is running rampant, it’s up to them to stop him.
It’s been over a century since Amory Ng woke up in an office with no memory of her life (or death). Now she’s the reigning Best West Coast Reaper, floating through the veil and ferrying souls to . . . whatever comes next.
When Amory is granted two nights a week in the mortal world, she decides to take a pottery class. She feels alive being around humans and creating something with her hands—even if her bowls are a little lopsided.
Then Amory comes face to face with Clementine Lim, the only soul she failed to reap, and somehow, Clem can see through the veil and Amory's facade.
Clem has lived a full life as a vampire, but now she’s ready to move on. Which is exactly why she tracked down the reaper who didn’t finish the job.
Tempted to erase the one mistake hanging over her head, Amory agrees to help, but killing a vampire isn’t easy—especially when she starts to enjoy Clem’s company.
The pull between them only grows stronger as Clem shows Amory how to live her afterlife to the fullest while they search for answers. But when they learn that Clem’s maker, a murderous vampire, is running rampant, it’s up to them to stop him.
400 pages, Paperback
Expected publication January 26, 2027
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
2027
August 18, 2026ANHPI TBR
Pride TBR
Valentine's Day TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Dell
Pride TBR
Valentine's Day TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Dell
Want to Read
August 28, 2026I don't need to know anything other than it's sapphic and has a vampire
Did Not Finish
September 17, 2026DNF. I was excited for this read given the premise, but this book fell flat for me. The writing felt superficial, the worldbuilding was pretty flimsy (a supernatural organization that hinges on discretion allows one of their members to room with a human because…she needed a place to store her pottery…???), and the romance didn’t feel at all compelling.
Want to Read
July 13, 2026Hi yes wow wonderful GIMME!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
SUPERNATURAL SAPPHIC ROMANCE!!! REAPER X VAMPIRE!!! THANK YOU FOR THE ARC!!!
paranormal cantonese american sapphics in OC.....
Amory is a reaper who is also enduring depression regarding her role and purpose. spends some time with pottery to recover. and learns what GL shows are LMAO
Clem wanted to be an actress. Now she's a vampire who wants to die. She has Magnetism. I love their dynamic. "Thanks, angel." AAAAAAAAAA
Some light moments that still make a statement. Amory shows up to reap and one of the souls is racist af and goes "You're Asian?" HELP MEE
lots of more examples. addressing the fetishization of asian (specifically japanese in this age) culture
the flashbacks were great pieces to accompany the main narrative. a parallel between historical social dynamics and how they persist. haunting and tragic
but yes. cw racism. but it's a part of our reality and the book explores social commentary and is expressly "anti racist", the intersectionality of being an asian woman, the whole villain and the pain inflicted on generations
with regards to the reapers, very discworld death vibes and a cozy approach to soul reaping, though not without darker moments and as an example of frustrating work structures
the writing is very contemporary and fun, a paranormal romance at its core and witty with its social commentary
a tale of fate and revenge, two characters filling in each other's gaps, an emotional ride with a bittersweet end...
⚰️ reaper x vampire sapphics
💋 feminine rage and revenge
🥀 depression and rediscovering meaning in life
♥️ discussion and exploration of queer identities
📢 social commentary
paranormal cantonese american sapphics in OC.....
Amory is a reaper who is also enduring depression regarding her role and purpose. spends some time with pottery to recover. and learns what GL shows are LMAO
Clem wanted to be an actress. Now she's a vampire who wants to die. She has Magnetism. I love their dynamic. "Thanks, angel." AAAAAAAAAA
Some light moments that still make a statement. Amory shows up to reap and one of the souls is racist af and goes "You're Asian?" HELP MEE
lots of more examples. addressing the fetishization of asian (specifically japanese in this age) culture
the flashbacks were great pieces to accompany the main narrative. a parallel between historical social dynamics and how they persist. haunting and tragic
but yes. cw racism. but it's a part of our reality and the book explores social commentary and is expressly "anti racist", the intersectionality of being an asian woman, the whole villain and the pain inflicted on generations
with regards to the reapers, very discworld death vibes and a cozy approach to soul reaping, though not without darker moments and as an example of frustrating work structures
the writing is very contemporary and fun, a paranormal romance at its core and witty with its social commentary
a tale of fate and revenge, two characters filling in each other's gaps, an emotional ride with a bittersweet end...
⚰️ reaper x vampire sapphics
💋 feminine rage and revenge
🥀 depression and rediscovering meaning in life
♥️ discussion and exploration of queer identities
📢 social commentary
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This Truly is one of the Epics, one of the big books, one of the books you remember forever, one of the books you turn around to whenever you hear the title in public.
the writing in this book is beautiful, each character has a life and is easily recognizable from the rest, the characters are understandable- like if a song came on I could say “oh yeah this is so ____ vibes” for each and every one of them, they were literally all so perfect. And the story itself is just everything, it’s got dark undertones but it is also just so full of light and fun and laughter annd friendship and love. Literally every single part is perfection, the story, the characters, the romance. THE ROMANCE!!! Although a slow ish burn it’s there throughout because of a certain characters flirtatious personality and basically instantaneous love for another.
Amory Ng is a reaper, like the grim reaper, but really reapers aren’t like that at all, Amory likes pink dresses and wears her scythe as a flowery umbrella, real reapers dislike the term ‘grim’ even though some of them truly are. Amory abides by the rules of The Book Of Reaping, holds the hands of those she reaps to comfort them, she’s only ever messed up a reaping once.
Bring in vampire Clem, Clem is ready to move on, she’s lived long enough, so who better than super gorgeous reaper Amory to help her move on? Well it’s not so simple, there are rules for reapers, a whole book, a whole democracy, its a very corporate world being a reaper, and one of the rules is to not interact with or interfere with the supernatural- aka vampires, aka Clem. And Amory always listens to the rules, super bad terrible things will happen if she breaks them, obviously.
I LOVED this book. It’s magnificent, it’s a journey, it’s an experience, it’s a whole world.
There’s so much going on but never at one point is it too much, it’s smooth, calm, a relaxed read for a rainy day. I also appreciate the queer representation in this book which is effortlessly included and never a big deal. For one- I don’t even think the word ‘nonbinary’ is even in the book but when referring to human roommate Simone, they/them pronouns are always used.
I was obsessed with the flirtation between Clem and Amory, Amory is a slower burner- being demisexual and all, but Clem was immediately obsessed it was literally adorable, I loved how she called Amory an angel, I wish someone appreciated me the way Clem appreciates Amory.
I have some THOUGHTS on the ending and really need to discuss with everyone, I think Amory should have chosen the other option, I think her and Clem could have had a real say and fixed problems both of them feel are important, they could have done so much. But I did love their real ending, truly. I am incredibly grateful for this book, thank you so so so much for its beauty.
the writing in this book is beautiful, each character has a life and is easily recognizable from the rest, the characters are understandable- like if a song came on I could say “oh yeah this is so ____ vibes” for each and every one of them, they were literally all so perfect. And the story itself is just everything, it’s got dark undertones but it is also just so full of light and fun and laughter annd friendship and love. Literally every single part is perfection, the story, the characters, the romance. THE ROMANCE!!! Although a slow ish burn it’s there throughout because of a certain characters flirtatious personality and basically instantaneous love for another.
Amory Ng is a reaper, like the grim reaper, but really reapers aren’t like that at all, Amory likes pink dresses and wears her scythe as a flowery umbrella, real reapers dislike the term ‘grim’ even though some of them truly are. Amory abides by the rules of The Book Of Reaping, holds the hands of those she reaps to comfort them, she’s only ever messed up a reaping once.
Bring in vampire Clem, Clem is ready to move on, she’s lived long enough, so who better than super gorgeous reaper Amory to help her move on? Well it’s not so simple, there are rules for reapers, a whole book, a whole democracy, its a very corporate world being a reaper, and one of the rules is to not interact with or interfere with the supernatural- aka vampires, aka Clem. And Amory always listens to the rules, super bad terrible things will happen if she breaks them, obviously.
I LOVED this book. It’s magnificent, it’s a journey, it’s an experience, it’s a whole world.
There’s so much going on but never at one point is it too much, it’s smooth, calm, a relaxed read for a rainy day. I also appreciate the queer representation in this book which is effortlessly included and never a big deal. For one- I don’t even think the word ‘nonbinary’ is even in the book but when referring to human roommate Simone, they/them pronouns are always used.
I was obsessed with the flirtation between Clem and Amory, Amory is a slower burner- being demisexual and all, but Clem was immediately obsessed it was literally adorable, I loved how she called Amory an angel, I wish someone appreciated me the way Clem appreciates Amory.
I have some THOUGHTS on the ending and really need to discuss with everyone, I think Amory should have chosen the other option, I think her and Clem could have had a real say and fixed problems both of them feel are important, they could have done so much. But I did love their real ending, truly. I am incredibly grateful for this book, thank you so so so much for its beauty.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Death Wish is such a wonderfully strange, romantic, and bittersweet take on the supernatural romance. Give me a jaded reaper, a vampire with a death wish, a little Gothic atmosphere, and two women who absolutely should not be falling in love and I am IN.
What I loved most was the way Lilly Lu plays with the idea of death. Amory has spent more than a century reaping souls and has become completely disconnected from what it means to actually live. Then she encounters Clementine the vampire whose soul she failed to reap all those years ago. Clem is tired of immortality and wants to finally move on, while Amory is slowly discovering that maybe there is still something worth living for, even in an afterlife.
Their relationship is the heart of this book. The romance has that delicious slow-burn yearning that makes you want to scream at the characters to JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER, but it also feels tender and emotionally grounded. I especially loved the contrast between Amory, who has technically been dead for a century but is learning how to live again, and Clem, who is alive in the technical sense but desperately wants an ending.
There is also a really fun mystery/adventure woven through the romance as they try to figure out how to deal with Clem's murderous vampire maker. I loved that the supernatural elements weren't just window dressing—they actually gave the story room to explore grief, identity, purpose, mortality, and what it means to choose your own future.
And honestly, the Gothic + sapphic + vampire combination is exactly the kind of weirdness I want more of.
Death Wish feels like a story about choosing life when you've forgotten why you wanted it in the first place. It's romantic, quirky, heartfelt, and wonderfully atmospheric, with characters who made me genuinely want to see them find their happy ending.
Lilly Lu has absolutely made me want more of this world and I will happily follow wherever these vampires and reapers take us next. 🖤🧛♀️⚰️
Thank you to the author/publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
What I loved most was the way Lilly Lu plays with the idea of death. Amory has spent more than a century reaping souls and has become completely disconnected from what it means to actually live. Then she encounters Clementine the vampire whose soul she failed to reap all those years ago. Clem is tired of immortality and wants to finally move on, while Amory is slowly discovering that maybe there is still something worth living for, even in an afterlife.
Their relationship is the heart of this book. The romance has that delicious slow-burn yearning that makes you want to scream at the characters to JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER, but it also feels tender and emotionally grounded. I especially loved the contrast between Amory, who has technically been dead for a century but is learning how to live again, and Clem, who is alive in the technical sense but desperately wants an ending.
There is also a really fun mystery/adventure woven through the romance as they try to figure out how to deal with Clem's murderous vampire maker. I loved that the supernatural elements weren't just window dressing—they actually gave the story room to explore grief, identity, purpose, mortality, and what it means to choose your own future.
And honestly, the Gothic + sapphic + vampire combination is exactly the kind of weirdness I want more of.
Death Wish feels like a story about choosing life when you've forgotten why you wanted it in the first place. It's romantic, quirky, heartfelt, and wonderfully atmospheric, with characters who made me genuinely want to see them find their happy ending.
Lilly Lu has absolutely made me want more of this world and I will happily follow wherever these vampires and reapers take us next. 🖤🧛♀️⚰️
Thank you to the author/publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I think this might just be my favorite read of the year.
Holy moly. I need this book nominated for awards. I need a physical copy on my shelf STAT.
Very few books make me cry, and I can count on one hand the amount of media that has made me cry like Death Wish has. It made me cry so hard I had to reread a paragraph four times so that I could understand what it meant through my tears.
Death Wish is possibly one of the most loving and beautiful books I've read in a long time. The writing is excellent, well polished, and evocative. The world is well built, and the characters are so well fleshed -- I fell in love with nearly every one of them.
The plot was perfectly paced; I kept glancing at the page count, sure I would be further in the book and scared of it, only to be assured I had plenty left to read. It kept me on tenterhooks, unsure of what would happen next, fearful for the characters -- and joyous when they were, too.
Clementine and Amory's relationship was perfectly written, with pacing that felt realistic, and that satisfied me wholly. Simone was an unexpected and much adored addition, and they might just be one of the coolest characters I've seen in a while.
The ending was perfect. I cannot say much, as I do not want to spoil it, however it left my heart raw and bleeding, and I thank Death Wish for it.
I am instantly following author Lilly Lu, and reading anything else she has up at the moment. Death Wish has singlehandedly made me a lifelong follower of her career, and I hope to see many more stories to come. I also hope to get the absolute privilege of reading their ARC'S, as I did today.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for this ARC. Thank you Lilly Lu, for the emotional journey it took me on. I want to forget it and read this book all over again.
Holy moly. I need this book nominated for awards. I need a physical copy on my shelf STAT.
Very few books make me cry, and I can count on one hand the amount of media that has made me cry like Death Wish has. It made me cry so hard I had to reread a paragraph four times so that I could understand what it meant through my tears.
Death Wish is possibly one of the most loving and beautiful books I've read in a long time. The writing is excellent, well polished, and evocative. The world is well built, and the characters are so well fleshed -- I fell in love with nearly every one of them.
The plot was perfectly paced; I kept glancing at the page count, sure I would be further in the book and scared of it, only to be assured I had plenty left to read. It kept me on tenterhooks, unsure of what would happen next, fearful for the characters -- and joyous when they were, too.
Clementine and Amory's relationship was perfectly written, with pacing that felt realistic, and that satisfied me wholly. Simone was an unexpected and much adored addition, and they might just be one of the coolest characters I've seen in a while.
The ending was perfect. I cannot say much, as I do not want to spoil it, however it left my heart raw and bleeding, and I thank Death Wish for it.
I am instantly following author Lilly Lu, and reading anything else she has up at the moment. Death Wish has singlehandedly made me a lifelong follower of her career, and I hope to see many more stories to come. I also hope to get the absolute privilege of reading their ARC'S, as I did today.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for this ARC. Thank you Lilly Lu, for the emotional journey it took me on. I want to forget it and read this book all over again.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An achingly sweet and heartbreakingly hopeful story about love and one's humanity, Death Wish is all about surviving.
Contemplating human existence/desire with all its pain and happiness is something that endless fascinates me, as this is very much half of the core of this story, I instantly fell in love with it as it blended so way with the supernatural aspect of the story.
The romance between Clem and Amory is the other half of what moves this book and they had me downright giggling as their love for each other grew and evolved; as they were the spark to brighten each other's darkness, the both of them together was what made the most heavy parts of this story lighter.
I loved how they still had agency over their individuality, that's so important to me in a romance, to keep those characters distinguishable even though they're now together and Lilly Lu really that really well.
My only real grapple here was that I felt like the conclusion happened a little too fast while the middle was a bit too slow in comparison, I still loved their time together even then, but I think we could've managed that better and have a more seamless end.
Overall, though, I loved this book and it's definitely a recommendation for those who want a medium passed read and enjoy a diverse cast (e.g non-binary, demisexual) and the fantasy genre with fated love sapphics.
Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was so fascinating, especially because this isn’t usually my cup of tea! I really loved the sci-fi/fantasy elements and the paranormal aspect, and of course I love a good sapphic romance. There was so much representation and culture in this, which I really appreciated. I love a good supernatural love story though and I think this was amazing!
There is a lot of commentary throughout the book, covering so many polarizing topics and hot button issues, and I actually really loved that. There is some romance, but it isn’t the main focus, so much as the other aspects are. It’s much more about Amory and Clem individually and together, their stories, their backgrounds, the issues they face, and how they navigate the world around them and the challenges they face.
This was just so unique and different and it tackled some really heavy topics, especially when it comes to mental health, but I thought it did so really well. It was a real eye opener and felt genuinely important.
And I cannot believe this is a debut! It was wonderfully written, thoughtful, and so different from anything I’ve read before. Really loved this one and I encourage others to read it because I know it will not disappoint. One of my favorite reads of the year!
Thank you to NetGalley, Lilly Lu, and Ballantine/Dell for the eARC of this book.
There is a lot of commentary throughout the book, covering so many polarizing topics and hot button issues, and I actually really loved that. There is some romance, but it isn’t the main focus, so much as the other aspects are. It’s much more about Amory and Clem individually and together, their stories, their backgrounds, the issues they face, and how they navigate the world around them and the challenges they face.
This was just so unique and different and it tackled some really heavy topics, especially when it comes to mental health, but I thought it did so really well. It was a real eye opener and felt genuinely important.
And I cannot believe this is a debut! It was wonderfully written, thoughtful, and so different from anything I’ve read before. Really loved this one and I encourage others to read it because I know it will not disappoint. One of my favorite reads of the year!
Thank you to NetGalley, Lilly Lu, and Ballantine/Dell for the eARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this ebook ARC from the publisher via Netgalley.
I'm going to do my best not to gush incoherently about Lilly Lu's debut novel, but I may not succeed. It is honestly both beautiful and brilliant in its storytelling and characters, and I wish I could forget about it and re-read it all again for the first time so it was all new once more.
Despite Amory being a Reaper, this story was deeply about life. What does it mean to live, to love, to inhabit oneself? Lu deftly weaves these questions throughout a narrative that was alternatively terrifying, while an antagonist who has targeted Asian women for decades comes after Amory, and romantic, as Amory and Clem heal from their loneliness and find one another. Simone as their friend and roommate and researcher extraordinaire is a wonderful foil to Amory and Clem as they track down the man who sent the two of them (Amory and Clem) into immortality as Reaper and vampire.
The ending nearly brought me to tears, but it was absolutely perfect. It couldn't have ended any other way. And the epilogue was *chef's kiss* - perfection.
I'm going to do my best not to gush incoherently about Lilly Lu's debut novel, but I may not succeed. It is honestly both beautiful and brilliant in its storytelling and characters, and I wish I could forget about it and re-read it all again for the first time so it was all new once more.
Despite Amory being a Reaper, this story was deeply about life. What does it mean to live, to love, to inhabit oneself? Lu deftly weaves these questions throughout a narrative that was alternatively terrifying, while an antagonist who has targeted Asian women for decades comes after Amory, and romantic, as Amory and Clem heal from their loneliness and find one another. Simone as their friend and roommate and researcher extraordinaire is a wonderful foil to Amory and Clem as they track down the man who sent the two of them (Amory and Clem) into immortality as Reaper and vampire.
The ending nearly brought me to tears, but it was absolutely perfect. It couldn't have ended any other way. And the epilogue was *chef's kiss* - perfection.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The concept of a Reaper coming to Earth to make pottery is such a silly one, and yet this book is far from silly. While it does have a lot of humor at times to lighten the mood, the book explores heavy topics like death, racism, and sexism. There are many parts of the book where I found myself contemplating these topics along with the characters, and feeling emotional.
As well, our main characters are so easy to root for. They both have tragic pasts, and are very relatable in wanting to experience love and life, and to protect people from a truly bad soul. Getting glimpses into the pasts of Amory and Clem is necessary for the story, but I found myself so excited to understand a little more about them each time.
While I did feel some scenes towards the end felt a little rushed, it was still a great reading experience.The romance was very adorable (Clem's flirting was peak) and the ending of the book does ultimately wrap everything up in a satisfying way.
Overall, this is a very solid debut and I would love to read more from this author in the future. 4.2/5 stars.
The concept of a Reaper coming to Earth to make pottery is such a silly one, and yet this book is far from silly. While it does have a lot of humor at times to lighten the mood, the book explores heavy topics like death, racism, and sexism. There are many parts of the book where I found myself contemplating these topics along with the characters, and feeling emotional.
As well, our main characters are so easy to root for. They both have tragic pasts, and are very relatable in wanting to experience love and life, and to protect people from a truly bad soul. Getting glimpses into the pasts of Amory and Clem is necessary for the story, but I found myself so excited to understand a little more about them each time.
While I did feel some scenes towards the end felt a little rushed, it was still a great reading experience.The romance was very adorable (Clem's flirting was peak) and the ending of the book does ultimately wrap everything up in a satisfying way.
Overall, this is a very solid debut and I would love to read more from this author in the future. 4.2/5 stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A stunning debut full-to-brimming with heart, grief, paranormal thrills, criticism of capitalism/ systemic oppression, and wielding a golden core of hope—Death Wish has already earned a spot as one of my favorite novels of 2027.
The pacing is expert, the romance savory, and the way the worldbuilding blends Chinese and western folklore and practice is undeniably cool. Meridians and wooden stakes? Sign me up!
Both Amory and Clem feel fleshed out, and only grow more so as the story draws them closer together and to themselves. Their attraction is immediate, but the romance takes a while to simmer into sensuality. I found the exploration of Amory's demisexuality narratively organic and personally resonant. The way they bond over lost pasts makes my chest hurt.
If you are looking for a gorgeous sapphic paranormal romance mystery that probes some big existential questions, the ceaseless grind of capitalism, and the marginalization of Asian women— you are in the right place. I can't wait to see what Lilly Lu writes next.
The pacing is expert, the romance savory, and the way the worldbuilding blends Chinese and western folklore and practice is undeniably cool. Meridians and wooden stakes? Sign me up!
Both Amory and Clem feel fleshed out, and only grow more so as the story draws them closer together and to themselves. Their attraction is immediate, but the romance takes a while to simmer into sensuality. I found the exploration of Amory's demisexuality narratively organic and personally resonant. The way they bond over lost pasts makes my chest hurt.
If you are looking for a gorgeous sapphic paranormal romance mystery that probes some big existential questions, the ceaseless grind of capitalism, and the marginalization of Asian women— you are in the right place. I can't wait to see what Lilly Lu writes next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What an interesting premise for a sapphic romance! I was pleasantly surprised to relate to the characters so much. Both Amory and Clem are beautiful, wounded souls who find the thing they never expected in each other. I really enjoyed the world building, and the feelings Amory has about her role as a soul reaper. Clem is pretty much instantly likable, and roommate Simone rounds out the friend group perfectly. There’s so much going on in this book that it feels a little disjointed at times… sometimes I got confused on which time period or which world - physical or spiritual. Overall though, this book is a thriller/romance that builds in intensity until the extremely satisfying ending. My absolute favorite part is this book features strong Asian women! Besides the unique storyline, the emphasis on Asian stereotyping and the challenges Asian immigrants have had to face historically is what makes this book really special
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺!
Let me start by saying I haven't cried this much from a book in a long time. This book may be about death, but it's about the beauty of life, too, and that topic's executed so magnificently, with scenes that will have you laughing out loud or, like me, sobbing. Yes, much of this crying stems from the book's focus of AAPI violence, especially against women, but tears came about because of Clem and Amory's connection as well as they navigated the good and bad.
Speaking of our characters, there isn't a character I didn't love (excluding the antagonist). Clem and Amory were phenomenal FMCs — together and independently — while our side characters were fun, engaging, and memorable. There has been a trend in these "afterlife administration" style books lately, but Death Wish takes the cake as my absolute favorite 𝘢𝘯𝘥 as an all-time favorite. This is a book I will be thinking about for a long time, and I absolutely cannot wait for more people to meet Clem and Amory.
Let me start by saying I haven't cried this much from a book in a long time. This book may be about death, but it's about the beauty of life, too, and that topic's executed so magnificently, with scenes that will have you laughing out loud or, like me, sobbing. Yes, much of this crying stems from the book's focus of AAPI violence, especially against women, but tears came about because of Clem and Amory's connection as well as they navigated the good and bad.
Speaking of our characters, there isn't a character I didn't love (excluding the antagonist). Clem and Amory were phenomenal FMCs — together and independently — while our side characters were fun, engaging, and memorable. There has been a trend in these "afterlife administration" style books lately, but Death Wish takes the cake as my absolute favorite 𝘢𝘯𝘥 as an all-time favorite. This is a book I will be thinking about for a long time, and I absolutely cannot wait for more people to meet Clem and Amory.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a debut!
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC!
A demisexual, depressed reaper and a vibrant, queer vampire fall in love and seek vengeance and justice for fellow Asian-American women who have been murdered throughout history in Southern California.
Say less?
This was so thoroughly original. The representation of both Asian and Asian-American women, sapphic romance, non-binary folx, and mental health was really fresh, respectful, and multi-faceted.
This is a supernatural romance. And yet it’s so much more as it pulls from folklore, history, art, and religion.
It was somehow cozy and dark in a perfect balance.
I would recommend this if a reader is tired of the same old love story in romance and fantasy. I’m curious what Lilly Lu will do next!
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC!
A demisexual, depressed reaper and a vibrant, queer vampire fall in love and seek vengeance and justice for fellow Asian-American women who have been murdered throughout history in Southern California.
Say less?
This was so thoroughly original. The representation of both Asian and Asian-American women, sapphic romance, non-binary folx, and mental health was really fresh, respectful, and multi-faceted.
This is a supernatural romance. And yet it’s so much more as it pulls from folklore, history, art, and religion.
It was somehow cozy and dark in a perfect balance.
I would recommend this if a reader is tired of the same old love story in romance and fantasy. I’m curious what Lilly Lu will do next!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I absolutely loved this one. The sapphic romance is beautifully done,lots of yearning and slow-burn tension that felt really earned. The writing is sharp and emotional, and the pacing kept me hooked the whole way through. The search for Clem's maker adds a good amount of action without overshadowing the romance. Honestly just a really satisfying read from start to finish.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It’s ethereal. It feels like home. I also use Big Letters for things I have named and the ™️ for others. The genderqueer rep too, is glorious and so casual. It tastes like vanilla ice cream 🍨 very cozy and lovely. The sapphic joy and love is so precious to me; I really needed this read. It will stay with me for a long time.
Review of advance copy received from Author
this book ripped my heart out and stuffed it back into my ribcage in a slightly different shape, y'all are in for a treat
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Full ARC Review to come!
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