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Ubojita ljubav, uzvišena smrt
Kad Liana dozna za smrt svoga voljenog muža princa Amrona, odluči sklopiti nagodbu koristeći se svojim polubožanskom krvlju: bogovi ju vraćaju u prošlost i daju joj tri dana da se Amron ponovno zaljubi u nju. Ako joj to pođe za rukom, bogovi će joj vratiti Amrona. Ako ne uspije u svom naumu, gubi i njega i svoje božanske moći zauvijek.
Sedamnaest godina prije Meliju njezin autoritarni otac prisili da se uda za Amrona nadomak najvećem primirju u povijesti. Ali Melia ima druge planove – uništiti primirje i stvoriti novu budućnost sa svojom buntovnom ljubavnicom Ferisom. Kad Melijina izdaja zapali iskru krvavog sukoba, Liana shvaća da su ju bogovi obmanuli. Mora pomoći Amronu da zadobije Melijino povjerenje, čak i pod cijenu da ga izgubi, kako bi budućnost uopće postojala. A Melia mora odlučiti hoće li razotkriti istinu znajući da će time izgubiti sve – ili dopustiti da kraljevstvo izgori do pepela.
Ubojita ljubav, uzvišena smrt mračna je fantastična priča o ljubavi i osveti koja spaja povijest istočnog Jadrana i slavenski folklor, smještena u isti svijet kao Tamna šuma, duboka voda i Nasljeđe krvi.
Sedamnaest godina prije Meliju njezin autoritarni otac prisili da se uda za Amrona nadomak najvećem primirju u povijesti. Ali Melia ima druge planove – uništiti primirje i stvoriti novu budućnost sa svojom buntovnom ljubavnicom Ferisom. Kad Melijina izdaja zapali iskru krvavog sukoba, Liana shvaća da su ju bogovi obmanuli. Mora pomoći Amronu da zadobije Melijino povjerenje, čak i pod cijenu da ga izgubi, kako bi budućnost uopće postojala. A Melia mora odlučiti hoće li razotkriti istinu znajući da će time izgubiti sve – ili dopustiti da kraljevstvo izgori do pepela.
Ubojita ljubav, uzvišena smrt mračna je fantastična priča o ljubavi i osveti koja spaja povijest istočnog Jadrana i slavenski folklor, smještena u isti svijet kao Tamna šuma, duboka voda i Nasljeđe krvi.
279 pages, Paperback
First published April 7, 2026
About the author
Jelena Dunato
25 books147 followersJelena Dunato is an art historian, curator, speculative fiction writer and lover of all things ancient. She grew up in Croatia on a steady diet of adventure novels and then wandered the world for a decade, building a career in the arts.
Jelena’s stories have been published in Beneath Ceaseless Skies, The Dark, Future SF and Mermaids Monthly, among others. She is a member of SFWA and Codex.
Jelena’s stories have been published in Beneath Ceaseless Skies, The Dark, Future SF and Mermaids Monthly, among others. She is a member of SFWA and Codex.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
February 15, 2026
This book is...excellent. We follow two FMCs, both the complete opposite of each other, one who's soft, and the other one with such fire and determination. Both are connected by the same MMC. One of them married to him out of political obligation, and one who travels back in time for a 3 day count down to reclaim what she has lost. And the three-day ticking clock layered on top of the time warp gives everything this constant sense of urgency where you can't put the book down. The two FMC's perspectives, choices, and emotional arcs are what really drives the narrative. And the writing flowed so nicely. Only problem I had was that the style of the dialogue was inconsistent. It felt too modern at times and then it transformed itself back to the language of the era the book is set in. It would take me out of my trance whenever I caught it, but continued reading because the plot was just so interesting.
Thank you to NetGallery and Publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGallery and Publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
June 6, 2026
Jelena Dunato never misses. Dark Woods, Deep Water? Banger. Ghost Apparent? Banger. Love Lethal, Death Divine? Banger, banger, banger. It's safe to say I'm obsessed with the world she has created.
You don't have to read Dark Woods, Deep Water (or Ghost Apparent to enjoy this, you can comfortably start here, and then work your way back when you end up loving it (which you will, it's inevitable).
I read the whole thing during two separate flights (to Greece and on the way back from it), and I was enchanted from the very first page.
If you're from this region, you can tell exactly what was inspired by which historical event. For example, that discussion Melia had about the Seragians & Elmarrans, and the women telling her that they have family on both sides, one was born on the other side, another had a sister married there...tell me this isn't Balkan politics in a nutshell.
Honestly, that hit me hard, as someone who has family in Croatia (the other side of the border, if you will), I don't know if others were just as affected while reading, but it resonated with me.
On a lighter note, Love Lethal, Death Divine asks the question, how far are you willing to go for love? For Liana, it's a no-brainer, she's willing to sacrifice everything, her own existence included, for just three days in the past with the one she loves (whom she also has to convince that they're meant to be together, fun!!).
She was definitely my favourite character, I could relate to her, because I also give my all when I love somebody. She was a woman on a mission, and nothing (and no one, Gods included) would stand in her way. But, there were some unexpected surprises, Melia (Amron's first wife) being one of them.
I'm still not sure if I like Melia, I appreciate her complexities as a character, and her necessity to the story, but Liana's PoV was much more interesting to read. I did warm up to her in the second half, as she goes from a more passive character to an active one. I think I'll like her more upon reread, knowing everything I do now.
As for Amron, he's the main crossover character from Dark Woods, Deep Water, so I already knew what to expect, but I loved getting to know him better, he's exactly who everyone thinks he is, noble and kind. Would I risk everything to save him? Well...yes!!
Romance wise, there wasn't a lot, but everything we got, I ate up. Personally, I thought there was a good balance of romantic scenes and plot, but I was invested long before I actually started reading, so if this is your first foray into the universe, don't expect a full-blown romantasy.
One of the endings was a happy one, the other...not so much, but I truly loved both. I also love the fact that both Liana and Melia were allowed to be selfish. Sure, the selfless hero trope is fine and good (and actually present here too), but sometimes it's nice to read about characters who are unapologetically after their own interests.
Read this masterpiece if you like Slavic folklore/mytholgy, fairytale vibes, meddling Gods, fantasy politics, brilliant characters, and white stags named Snijeg.
*Huge thank you to the amazing author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
You don't have to read Dark Woods, Deep Water (or Ghost Apparent to enjoy this, you can comfortably start here, and then work your way back when you end up loving it (which you will, it's inevitable).
I read the whole thing during two separate flights (to Greece and on the way back from it), and I was enchanted from the very first page.
If you're from this region, you can tell exactly what was inspired by which historical event. For example, that discussion Melia had about the Seragians & Elmarrans, and the women telling her that they have family on both sides, one was born on the other side, another had a sister married there...tell me this isn't Balkan politics in a nutshell.
Honestly, that hit me hard, as someone who has family in Croatia (the other side of the border, if you will), I don't know if others were just as affected while reading, but it resonated with me.
On a lighter note, Love Lethal, Death Divine asks the question, how far are you willing to go for love? For Liana, it's a no-brainer, she's willing to sacrifice everything, her own existence included, for just three days in the past with the one she loves (whom she also has to convince that they're meant to be together, fun!!).
She was definitely my favourite character, I could relate to her, because I also give my all when I love somebody. She was a woman on a mission, and nothing (and no one, Gods included) would stand in her way. But, there were some unexpected surprises, Melia (Amron's first wife) being one of them.
I'm still not sure if I like Melia, I appreciate her complexities as a character, and her necessity to the story, but Liana's PoV was much more interesting to read. I did warm up to her in the second half, as she goes from a more passive character to an active one. I think I'll like her more upon reread, knowing everything I do now.
As for Amron, he's the main crossover character from Dark Woods, Deep Water, so I already knew what to expect, but I loved getting to know him better, he's exactly who everyone thinks he is, noble and kind. Would I risk everything to save him? Well...yes!!
Romance wise, there wasn't a lot, but everything we got, I ate up. Personally, I thought there was a good balance of romantic scenes and plot, but I was invested long before I actually started reading, so if this is your first foray into the universe, don't expect a full-blown romantasy.
One of the endings was a happy one, the other...not so much, but I truly loved both. I also love the fact that both Liana and Melia were allowed to be selfish. Sure, the selfless hero trope is fine and good (and actually present here too), but sometimes it's nice to read about characters who are unapologetically after their own interests.
Read this masterpiece if you like Slavic folklore/mytholgy, fairytale vibes, meddling Gods, fantasy politics, brilliant characters, and white stags named Snijeg.
*Huge thank you to the amazing author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Read
October 9, 2025Love Lethal, Death Divine is a dark fantasy love story about two women fighting for everything they hold dear in a world on the brink of war. It is a story about doomed choices, generational trauma and wounds which cannot heal. It has angry, unapologetic, queer heroines, trickster gods and political turmoil. It's inspired by history of the Eastern Adriatic and Slavic folklore.
Love Lethal, Death Divine is a standalone sequel to my novel Dark Woods, Deep Water which doesn't require any previous knowledge about the world or the characters, but the readers who have read my previous works will find a few familiar characters and settings.
CW: violence, murder, abuse, death (parent, spouse, sibling)
Love Lethal, Death Divine is a standalone sequel to my novel Dark Woods, Deep Water which doesn't require any previous knowledge about the world or the characters, but the readers who have read my previous works will find a few familiar characters and settings.
CW: violence, murder, abuse, death (parent, spouse, sibling)
November 8, 2025
As soon as I read the blurb, I wanted to read this book. I was fortunate to receive an ARC from the author, and it did not disappoint. The premise, the deceiving gods, the two alternating points of view, and Liana's three days in the past-now-present, everything flowed seamlessly and captivated me from beginning to end. A great read!
October 9, 2025
Love Lethal, Death Divine is about two women in two separate pieces of time that are fighting against all odds to do one thing: save him, them and stop the turmoil barreling towards their timelines. With notes of queer love, battle, loss, sacrifice, the elements of Gods and their roles in the life of these characters and the story in which it plays out. It is a powerful story of devotion and love that makes you feel what the character is, beautifully detailed and immersive.
Liana and Melia are from different parts of the world and time and yet their paths cross in the most unexpected ways as they are both working to stop a war and at the center is Amron. A husband, prince and lover. But that is where love becomes lethal and the death to save that love divine. What wouldn't you do for love and Liana is the first jump head first to save it; an expert hunter with ties to the Gods themselves utilizes her worth and weighs the choices ahead to save her love. Melia the past, torn and too late to realize she wanted more than to be a pawn to a game set by her father, her own blood. She helped set things in motion with a blindfold over her eyes, but when she claims back her choices and rips the blind away - she has work to do and that is the biggest obstacle and challenge of all.
Amron, always doing his best and never good enough. The center of the past, present and future colliding on a massive scale. Duty first but there's a pull, a tether, his anchor but he doesn't know or who until he sees her. But things aren't easily undone and unveiling the true nature of her random appearance can disrupt more of the balance she's willingly teetering on for him. All he knows is his heart is isnt the woman with him in this time, but one from another; and he has no idea how or why.
This book was phenomenal and wonderful in all the ways a dark fantasy, folklore story should be with time travel and love that knows no bounds, that doesn't follow the laws of time and place. Highlighting the price of duty, the price to love and the toll it takes to protect not just your heart beating inside your chest, but the one outside of your body and the sacrifices we will accept to preserve even a piece of it.
I thoroughly loved this so much, I'm rereading it because I am without words and this review deserves more!!
Thank you to the author for the chance to advance read this for you. I loved it.
Liana and Melia are from different parts of the world and time and yet their paths cross in the most unexpected ways as they are both working to stop a war and at the center is Amron. A husband, prince and lover. But that is where love becomes lethal and the death to save that love divine. What wouldn't you do for love and Liana is the first jump head first to save it; an expert hunter with ties to the Gods themselves utilizes her worth and weighs the choices ahead to save her love. Melia the past, torn and too late to realize she wanted more than to be a pawn to a game set by her father, her own blood. She helped set things in motion with a blindfold over her eyes, but when she claims back her choices and rips the blind away - she has work to do and that is the biggest obstacle and challenge of all.
Amron, always doing his best and never good enough. The center of the past, present and future colliding on a massive scale. Duty first but there's a pull, a tether, his anchor but he doesn't know or who until he sees her. But things aren't easily undone and unveiling the true nature of her random appearance can disrupt more of the balance she's willingly teetering on for him. All he knows is his heart is isnt the woman with him in this time, but one from another; and he has no idea how or why.
This book was phenomenal and wonderful in all the ways a dark fantasy, folklore story should be with time travel and love that knows no bounds, that doesn't follow the laws of time and place. Highlighting the price of duty, the price to love and the toll it takes to protect not just your heart beating inside your chest, but the one outside of your body and the sacrifices we will accept to preserve even a piece of it.
I thoroughly loved this so much, I'm rereading it because I am without words and this review deserves more!!
Thank you to the author for the chance to advance read this for you. I loved it.
February 5, 2026
A story about love and revenge and the lengths we’d go in the name of either.
There’s something so deeply satisfying about finishing a book that achieved everything it set out to do. I had a great time reading this, and I felt serenely fulfilled when it was over. Often, I’ll finish a book wishing for more or noting where things were lacking in some capacity, but this wasn’t the case here. I think readers should go in knowing that this is a standalone fantasy; you’re not going to get the sweeping detail that you would in a series. Dunato does a wonderful job giving you just enough of everything to carry a compelling story.
My favorite aspect of the book was how utterly human and nuanced the FMCs were. Melia and Liana weren’t extraordinarily unique in a sense that they “aren’t like other girls” that you often get in a fantasy FMC. They read like two girls doing the best they could in the circumstances they were given and I loved watching how their choices, selfish and flawed and sometimes noble, influenced the chain of events.
I also thought the pacing was fantastic. Liana going back in time to change the course of the future made the stakes really high, where every choice was impactful. Her deadline of having three days brought about a sense of urgency that was great in maintaining suspense and momentum.
And that climax? You’re riding it for the last 30% of the book. SO much fun.
Overall, absolutely loved this one. It’s evident that Ms Jelena Dunato can WRITEEEE. I will be reading all her other works now thank youuu.
Thanks so much to Victory Editing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.
5 stars
There’s something so deeply satisfying about finishing a book that achieved everything it set out to do. I had a great time reading this, and I felt serenely fulfilled when it was over. Often, I’ll finish a book wishing for more or noting where things were lacking in some capacity, but this wasn’t the case here. I think readers should go in knowing that this is a standalone fantasy; you’re not going to get the sweeping detail that you would in a series. Dunato does a wonderful job giving you just enough of everything to carry a compelling story.
My favorite aspect of the book was how utterly human and nuanced the FMCs were. Melia and Liana weren’t extraordinarily unique in a sense that they “aren’t like other girls” that you often get in a fantasy FMC. They read like two girls doing the best they could in the circumstances they were given and I loved watching how their choices, selfish and flawed and sometimes noble, influenced the chain of events.
I also thought the pacing was fantastic. Liana going back in time to change the course of the future made the stakes really high, where every choice was impactful. Her deadline of having three days brought about a sense of urgency that was great in maintaining suspense and momentum.
And that climax? You’re riding it for the last 30% of the book. SO much fun.
Overall, absolutely loved this one. It’s evident that Ms Jelena Dunato can WRITEEEE. I will be reading all her other works now thank youuu.
Thanks so much to Victory Editing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.
5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Victory Editing por providing an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
This book has a very intriguing plot specially with the time travel element, I liked the distinction between the two main characters even though Melia was quite frustrating to read from because of how naive she was. The pacing was very urgent because of the three days time limit and I felt like that also limited the exploration of the side characters. Overall I wanted this book to be longer and surprisingly I wish there was more romance, I felt like I needed more scenes between Liana and Amron, I know between the three days frame it could be hard in terms of timeline but, I would've liked more flashbacks.
I was a good read.
This book has a very intriguing plot specially with the time travel element, I liked the distinction between the two main characters even though Melia was quite frustrating to read from because of how naive she was. The pacing was very urgent because of the three days time limit and I felt like that also limited the exploration of the side characters. Overall I wanted this book to be longer and surprisingly I wish there was more romance, I felt like I needed more scenes between Liana and Amron, I know between the three days frame it could be hard in terms of timeline but, I would've liked more flashbacks.
I was a good read.
October 20, 2025
I read this as an ARC - and devoured it in one day, pretty much.
Some of the key elements that made this enjoyable to me:
1) The suspense and the ticking clock that keeps the pacing tight as you wait with bated breath to see whether things will work out as promised. The story essentially stretches over a couple of days, which can easily end up feeling like a slog to read 300+ pages of, but that's definitely not the case here. Dunato weaves in some good foreshadowing with matching plot twists towards the end that really help keep the pacing at a solid run.
2) The romance. I loved how mature and realistic the romance and the love story was between Prince Amron and the half-divine Liana in particular. This isn't a fresh romance, so to speak, but a lasting romance that is suddenly put at threat... and Dunato absolutely nails those emotional beats and inner worlds. Even across two timelines, their relationship had me 100% immersed.
3) Melia. I loved how Melia is an example of a character that is forced into a passive position and then does her very best to work with what she's got. Despite appearances, I found her quietly resourceful. This isn't as typical of a character to find in a story such as this, but I'm all here for more of that, please!
4) The way that they book ties in with the world and the cast of Dunato's other two books (DWDP and GA). You don't need to read them all to understand this one, but I had a lot of fun piecing things together across all three books when I was reading this one.
5) The prose. Dunato has such an excellent grasp on prose that flows and captures you and just doesn't really let you go. It has lyrical elements to it, yes, but it also just flows really well. There's a reason I read this book in one day, m'kay?
All in all, I was very much not disappointed by this book and will remain faithful to anything that Dunato writes in the future (whether set in the same world or not)!
Some of the key elements that made this enjoyable to me:
1) The suspense and the ticking clock that keeps the pacing tight as you wait with bated breath to see whether things will work out as promised. The story essentially stretches over a couple of days, which can easily end up feeling like a slog to read 300+ pages of, but that's definitely not the case here. Dunato weaves in some good foreshadowing with matching plot twists towards the end that really help keep the pacing at a solid run.
2) The romance. I loved how mature and realistic the romance and the love story was between Prince Amron and the half-divine Liana in particular. This isn't a fresh romance, so to speak, but a lasting romance that is suddenly put at threat... and Dunato absolutely nails those emotional beats and inner worlds. Even across two timelines, their relationship had me 100% immersed.
3) Melia. I loved how Melia is an example of a character that is forced into a passive position and then does her very best to work with what she's got. Despite appearances, I found her quietly resourceful. This isn't as typical of a character to find in a story such as this, but I'm all here for more of that, please!
4) The way that they book ties in with the world and the cast of Dunato's other two books (DWDP and GA). You don't need to read them all to understand this one, but I had a lot of fun piecing things together across all three books when I was reading this one.
5) The prose. Dunato has such an excellent grasp on prose that flows and captures you and just doesn't really let you go. It has lyrical elements to it, yes, but it also just flows really well. There's a reason I read this book in one day, m'kay?
All in all, I was very much not disappointed by this book and will remain faithful to anything that Dunato writes in the future (whether set in the same world or not)!
Want to Read
March 6, 2026~pre-read~ Received an ARC and I LOVEEE anything dark fantasy! The blurb immediately caught my attention and it’s unlike anything I’ve come across before. A woman bargains with the gods for three days in the past to make her dead husband fall in love with her again..
Want to Read
January 9, 2026If a book has my name in it and Eastern Adriatic / Slavic Folklore.. you betcha I’m reading it.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Dark Matter Ink and the author, Jelena Dunato for the early eARC.
Publication date: April 7, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley, Dark Matter Ink and the author, Jelena Dunato for the early eARC.
Publication date: April 7, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
How far would you go in the name of love?
This book had everything. It got me with the cover and description, and the story delivered so satisfyingly.
Love Lethal, Death Divine is a story that centers around two women, Liana and Melia, who are following their set paths. Liana, a woman of divine blood upon hearing of Amron's death, is sent back 17 years in the past in order to save her beloved husband from his demise. Melia, from the same past timeline, is forced into a marriage with Amron by her father, who has greater plans. In order to stop a war and save the prince, what lengths would these two women go to?
This book was nothing short of captivating. I was fully engaged and invested from the very first page. This was emotionally complex. This was intense, and this was beautifully told. This story perfectly fulfilled what it set out to do. This was deeply emotionally impactful, with political intrigue, Gods, an imminent war, a marriage for peace.
Driven by love, there's nothing Liana wouldn't do to save her husband. She is of divine blood but never has a 'goddess complex'. She is strong and fearless, and her determination is what drives her. She is a phenomenal female protagonist who has you gripping to see her achieve her goal.
Melia is naive and forced into poor decision-making as she follows what she is told to do, instead of deciding for herself what she believes is the right thing to do. Her story was very engaging, and you see the conflict within her and do not know where her story will go.
I highly enjoyed how contrastingly different the two women are and seeing where their journey took them.
Amron is the centre piece of this story. He is kind and compassionate. It is easy to see how Liana is so deeply in love with him.
The story is captivating. The tension of not knowing where it will go keeps you yearning for more and more. The way the political intrigue and romance moulded together worked so effortlessly.
The characters, the plot, the pacing, the imagery, the worldbuilding, and the storytelling were all 10/10. Every scene felt like I was watching a movie. I haven't felt this way about a book in such a while, and this truly is so far one of my top 2026 reads. I will genuinely be raving about this book all year!
We have love, death, revenge, Slavic mythology, political intrigue, grief, and characters with depth. This story was rich and profound. This deserves 5 stars wholeheartedly, and not only will this book live with me, but I can not wait to see what else Jelena Dunato comes out with. Her storytelling is so rich and fulfilling.
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Xpresso Book Tours, and Jelena Dunato for the incredible opportunity to read this arc and provide an early review.
This book had everything. It got me with the cover and description, and the story delivered so satisfyingly.
Love Lethal, Death Divine is a story that centers around two women, Liana and Melia, who are following their set paths. Liana, a woman of divine blood upon hearing of Amron's death, is sent back 17 years in the past in order to save her beloved husband from his demise. Melia, from the same past timeline, is forced into a marriage with Amron by her father, who has greater plans. In order to stop a war and save the prince, what lengths would these two women go to?
This book was nothing short of captivating. I was fully engaged and invested from the very first page. This was emotionally complex. This was intense, and this was beautifully told. This story perfectly fulfilled what it set out to do. This was deeply emotionally impactful, with political intrigue, Gods, an imminent war, a marriage for peace.
Driven by love, there's nothing Liana wouldn't do to save her husband. She is of divine blood but never has a 'goddess complex'. She is strong and fearless, and her determination is what drives her. She is a phenomenal female protagonist who has you gripping to see her achieve her goal.
Melia is naive and forced into poor decision-making as she follows what she is told to do, instead of deciding for herself what she believes is the right thing to do. Her story was very engaging, and you see the conflict within her and do not know where her story will go.
I highly enjoyed how contrastingly different the two women are and seeing where their journey took them.
Amron is the centre piece of this story. He is kind and compassionate. It is easy to see how Liana is so deeply in love with him.
The story is captivating. The tension of not knowing where it will go keeps you yearning for more and more. The way the political intrigue and romance moulded together worked so effortlessly.
The characters, the plot, the pacing, the imagery, the worldbuilding, and the storytelling were all 10/10. Every scene felt like I was watching a movie. I haven't felt this way about a book in such a while, and this truly is so far one of my top 2026 reads. I will genuinely be raving about this book all year!
We have love, death, revenge, Slavic mythology, political intrigue, grief, and characters with depth. This story was rich and profound. This deserves 5 stars wholeheartedly, and not only will this book live with me, but I can not wait to see what else Jelena Dunato comes out with. Her storytelling is so rich and fulfilling.
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Xpresso Book Tours, and Jelena Dunato for the incredible opportunity to read this arc and provide an early review.
July 25, 2026
I approached Love Lethal, Death Divine with a certain degree of caution because I knew that love would be at the heart of the story. Jelena Dunato’s previous novel, Dark Woods, Deep Water, had left such a strong impression on me that I did not want to judge the new book solely through the lens of the old one.
In the end, both novels earned five stars from me for very different reasons. Dark Woods, Deep Water drew me in primarily through its atmosphere - its horror, its sense of the unknown, and my first encounter with Dunato’s world of Slavic gods. Love Lethal, Death Divine feels larger and more ambitious, not because it is longer, but because its vision is broader. It expands the world, explores the dynamics of an entire kingdom, gives more characters room to develop, and delves deeper into the histories, desires, and conflicting loyalties that drive them.
After her husband, Amron, dies, the demigoddess Liana strikes a bargain with the gods. They will send her three days into the past, during which she must make him fall in love with her again. What the gods neglect to mention is that she will return to a time when the kingdom stood on the brink of war - and when Amron was married to another woman.
“This was a game set by the gods, and she had stumbled clumsily straight into its centre.”
What follows is therefore not simply a quest to recover a lost love, but a race against time in which several characters try to save both their present and their future while the kingdom simmers like a powder keg.
Dunato draws her world with remarkable thoroughness and an almost merciless eye. Through rich personification and sensory detail, she makes the landscape, the court, and even sorrow itself feel tangible. The mortal world is steeped in apathy and melancholy, its inhabitants seemingly resigned to the destinies prepared for them. Above them stand the gods: eternally young, careless, and largely unmoved by the suffering of the humans they treat as pets, playthings, and pieces in their games. The divine realm and the strange passage between the two worlds are among the novel’s most memorable creations.
That atmosphere depends as much on the novel’s imagery as it does on its worldbuilding. I particularly enjoyed the recurring use of broken glass and its shards as a metaphor for painful emotions - something fragile, dangerous, and impossible to handle without being cut. Sanda Dominković’s Croatian translation preserves the sensory richness of Dunato’s writing, along with its slightly archaic and occasionally darkly humorous expressions.
The book is equally unsparing in its depiction of women’s lives, particularly along the war-torn borders of the kingdom:
“Men go to war; women follow them and bury them, and find new husbands to take care of them.”
Yet the women in this story are anything but powerless. On the contrary, they are its strongest and most compelling characters.
The narrative alternates primarily between Liana and Melia, two women connected to Amron and initially presented as opposites. Liana is wild, defiant, and touched by the divine; Melia is withdrawn, insecure, and painfully constrained by mortal expectations. Beneath those differences, however, both are profoundly lonely women shaped by abandonment, trauma, and the fear of losing the little love they have been allowed.
Liana, the daughter of Lela, the goddess of the hunt, can see beyond the mortal world and is prepared to defy the gods themselves to save the man she loves. She is also selfish, stubborn, and inflexible, particularly when confronted with Amron’s devotion to people and responsibilities she has never fully understood:
“Her circle of people was a single point - Amron. His circle of people encompassed half the kingdom.”
The line perfectly captures both the strength and the limitation of Liana’s love. Her devotion is absolute, but so narrow that it sometimes leaves little room for the person Amron is beyond their relationship. Her return to the past also gives her an unexpected opportunity to meet the father she never knew, whose absence cast a long shadow over her youth.
Amron is more than the man connecting these two women. As the principal returning character from Dark Woods, Deep Water, he becomes the gravitational centre of this novel: a man who once dared to defy the gods and set in motion consequences that continue to echo across the kingdom. Quiet and self-effacing beside his privileged elder brother, he carries a deep need for his father’s attention and approval. His relationship with Liana works because she allows him to step outside those expectations and see himself without the distortions imposed by his family and position:
“You see me as I truly am. I have no better mirror than your eyes.”
The romantic element worked for me, even though it was neither what drew me to the book nor the part in which I became most emotionally invested. I wanted Liana and Amron to find their way back to one another, but my experience of the story did not depend on that outcome. My strongest emotional investment remained in Melia.
I loved Melia from her very first page. Perhaps this is partly because I naturally root for underdogs, but her story also felt more layered and emotionally complex. She is a lonely young woman, still grieving for her mother and brother, forced into an arranged marriage while her heart belongs elsewhere. Provincial and ill-equipped for the cruelty of courtly life, she becomes an easy target for ridicule and manipulation - a doll moved according to her father’s whims.
In Ferisa, a priestess of Morana, Melia finds someone with whom she can share the pain, darkness, and fascination with death that she cannot reveal to anyone else:
“All she wanted was for the pain to stop, and she did not know how to make it happen.”
The image of the dead horse becomes a powerful symbol of Melia’s childhood trauma - the point from which her grief, fear, and self-destruction seem to spread. Her father has hollowed her out and sharpened what remains into a weapon aimed at the heart of the royal court. Yet Melia never completely surrenders to the fate prepared for her. She remains torn between her loyalty to her father and homeland, her feelings for Amron, and her desire to escape the death and sorrow that have followed her throughout her life.
Her belief that “the world is full of people, and every one of them has the power to change the course of events” becomes central to her development. It holds out the fragile possibility that she does not have to remain the person others have made her. Hers was the character arc in which I was most deeply invested, and I found its conclusion particularly satisfying. After being treated as someone else’s daughter, bride, pawn, and weapon, she ultimately chooses to remain faithful to herself.
Love Lethal, Death Divine does not recreate what I loved about Dark Woods, Deep Water, nor does it need to. Instead, it widens the lens, offering a more complex kingdom, richer political and personal conflicts, and more fully developed characters. Its love story may provide the novel’s premise, but its exploration of identity, loyalty, trauma, and the struggle against roles imposed by others gave the story its real emotional weight for me.
An ambitious, layered, and deeply satisfying return to Dunato’s world, and unquestionably a five-star read.
In the end, both novels earned five stars from me for very different reasons. Dark Woods, Deep Water drew me in primarily through its atmosphere - its horror, its sense of the unknown, and my first encounter with Dunato’s world of Slavic gods. Love Lethal, Death Divine feels larger and more ambitious, not because it is longer, but because its vision is broader. It expands the world, explores the dynamics of an entire kingdom, gives more characters room to develop, and delves deeper into the histories, desires, and conflicting loyalties that drive them.
After her husband, Amron, dies, the demigoddess Liana strikes a bargain with the gods. They will send her three days into the past, during which she must make him fall in love with her again. What the gods neglect to mention is that she will return to a time when the kingdom stood on the brink of war - and when Amron was married to another woman.
“This was a game set by the gods, and she had stumbled clumsily straight into its centre.”
What follows is therefore not simply a quest to recover a lost love, but a race against time in which several characters try to save both their present and their future while the kingdom simmers like a powder keg.
Dunato draws her world with remarkable thoroughness and an almost merciless eye. Through rich personification and sensory detail, she makes the landscape, the court, and even sorrow itself feel tangible. The mortal world is steeped in apathy and melancholy, its inhabitants seemingly resigned to the destinies prepared for them. Above them stand the gods: eternally young, careless, and largely unmoved by the suffering of the humans they treat as pets, playthings, and pieces in their games. The divine realm and the strange passage between the two worlds are among the novel’s most memorable creations.
That atmosphere depends as much on the novel’s imagery as it does on its worldbuilding. I particularly enjoyed the recurring use of broken glass and its shards as a metaphor for painful emotions - something fragile, dangerous, and impossible to handle without being cut. Sanda Dominković’s Croatian translation preserves the sensory richness of Dunato’s writing, along with its slightly archaic and occasionally darkly humorous expressions.
The book is equally unsparing in its depiction of women’s lives, particularly along the war-torn borders of the kingdom:
“Men go to war; women follow them and bury them, and find new husbands to take care of them.”
Yet the women in this story are anything but powerless. On the contrary, they are its strongest and most compelling characters.
The narrative alternates primarily between Liana and Melia, two women connected to Amron and initially presented as opposites. Liana is wild, defiant, and touched by the divine; Melia is withdrawn, insecure, and painfully constrained by mortal expectations. Beneath those differences, however, both are profoundly lonely women shaped by abandonment, trauma, and the fear of losing the little love they have been allowed.
Liana, the daughter of Lela, the goddess of the hunt, can see beyond the mortal world and is prepared to defy the gods themselves to save the man she loves. She is also selfish, stubborn, and inflexible, particularly when confronted with Amron’s devotion to people and responsibilities she has never fully understood:
“Her circle of people was a single point - Amron. His circle of people encompassed half the kingdom.”
The line perfectly captures both the strength and the limitation of Liana’s love. Her devotion is absolute, but so narrow that it sometimes leaves little room for the person Amron is beyond their relationship. Her return to the past also gives her an unexpected opportunity to meet the father she never knew, whose absence cast a long shadow over her youth.
Amron is more than the man connecting these two women. As the principal returning character from Dark Woods, Deep Water, he becomes the gravitational centre of this novel: a man who once dared to defy the gods and set in motion consequences that continue to echo across the kingdom. Quiet and self-effacing beside his privileged elder brother, he carries a deep need for his father’s attention and approval. His relationship with Liana works because she allows him to step outside those expectations and see himself without the distortions imposed by his family and position:
“You see me as I truly am. I have no better mirror than your eyes.”
The romantic element worked for me, even though it was neither what drew me to the book nor the part in which I became most emotionally invested. I wanted Liana and Amron to find their way back to one another, but my experience of the story did not depend on that outcome. My strongest emotional investment remained in Melia.
I loved Melia from her very first page. Perhaps this is partly because I naturally root for underdogs, but her story also felt more layered and emotionally complex. She is a lonely young woman, still grieving for her mother and brother, forced into an arranged marriage while her heart belongs elsewhere. Provincial and ill-equipped for the cruelty of courtly life, she becomes an easy target for ridicule and manipulation - a doll moved according to her father’s whims.
In Ferisa, a priestess of Morana, Melia finds someone with whom she can share the pain, darkness, and fascination with death that she cannot reveal to anyone else:
“All she wanted was for the pain to stop, and she did not know how to make it happen.”
The image of the dead horse becomes a powerful symbol of Melia’s childhood trauma - the point from which her grief, fear, and self-destruction seem to spread. Her father has hollowed her out and sharpened what remains into a weapon aimed at the heart of the royal court. Yet Melia never completely surrenders to the fate prepared for her. She remains torn between her loyalty to her father and homeland, her feelings for Amron, and her desire to escape the death and sorrow that have followed her throughout her life.
Her belief that “the world is full of people, and every one of them has the power to change the course of events” becomes central to her development. It holds out the fragile possibility that she does not have to remain the person others have made her. Hers was the character arc in which I was most deeply invested, and I found its conclusion particularly satisfying. After being treated as someone else’s daughter, bride, pawn, and weapon, she ultimately chooses to remain faithful to herself.
Love Lethal, Death Divine does not recreate what I loved about Dark Woods, Deep Water, nor does it need to. Instead, it widens the lens, offering a more complex kingdom, richer political and personal conflicts, and more fully developed characters. Its love story may provide the novel’s premise, but its exploration of identity, loyalty, trauma, and the struggle against roles imposed by others gave the story its real emotional weight for me.
An ambitious, layered, and deeply satisfying return to Dunato’s world, and unquestionably a five-star read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Slavic folklore and political intrigue combine in Love Lethal, Death Divine, a tightly paced standalone sequel to Dark Woods, Deep Water.
I listened to the audiobook of Dark Woods, Deep Water about a year and a half ago, and although I couldn't initially recall all the details about the characters in that book, it did come back to me as I read Love Lethal, Death Divine. I definitely think you could read this book without reading the previous one though, although personally I'm glad I did read it, just for the extra impact and context!
I really got into the story about 30% of the way through, when Liana met Amron in the past. Their love story really grabbed me, and I was so rooting for them! At that point, my eagerness to see how their story would end compensated for Melia's chapters, which I was less into. But at a certain point in the story, everything went wild and chaotic and I wasn't sure that anyone was safe! I was just along for the ride at that point, hoping for the best for these characters, even Melia!
Love Lethal, Death Divine has politics, battles, fantasy, romance and character development in spades! And now that I've realised that there's actually a prequel novella in this world, Ghost Apparent, I'll be checking that one out too!
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.
I listened to the audiobook of Dark Woods, Deep Water about a year and a half ago, and although I couldn't initially recall all the details about the characters in that book, it did come back to me as I read Love Lethal, Death Divine. I definitely think you could read this book without reading the previous one though, although personally I'm glad I did read it, just for the extra impact and context!
I really got into the story about 30% of the way through, when Liana met Amron in the past. Their love story really grabbed me, and I was so rooting for them! At that point, my eagerness to see how their story would end compensated for Melia's chapters, which I was less into. But at a certain point in the story, everything went wild and chaotic and I wasn't sure that anyone was safe! I was just along for the ride at that point, hoping for the best for these characters, even Melia!
Love Lethal, Death Divine has politics, battles, fantasy, romance and character development in spades! And now that I've realised that there's actually a prequel novella in this world, Ghost Apparent, I'll be checking that one out too!
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.
April 7, 2026
LOVE LETHAL, DEATH DIVINE is an absorbing dark fantasy, full of unforgettable settings, vicious gods, and the ugly realities of war. What I admire about this book is that everything in it feels true, even though it’s fiction. Dunato’s characters bewitched me, especially Liana and Melia, whose jealousy and loneliness, though so much alike, felt absolutely distinct. Reoccurring characters from other books, such as Queen Orsiana, continued to shape and add depth to this gorgeous and perilous world that Dunato has created, though LLDD was entirely able to stand alone. I also couldn’t help but slow down and savor the tightly written prose and creative descriptions throughout the book. Dunato has crafted something beautiful and challenging here, both a thoughtful commentary on war and violence and a clear-eyed examination of what it means to love another person. It was suspenseful, intelligent, and unflinching in its verity. I absolutely adored it.
Thank you to Jelena and Dark Matter Ink for the advance reader’s copy of the book.
Thank you to Jelena and Dark Matter Ink for the advance reader’s copy of the book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and the author for the ARC!
Love Lethal, Death Divine by Jelena Dunato completely captivated me. This book isn’t just a five-star read for me; it’s a story that stayed with me long after I turned the last page.
While I was especially excited knowing the author is Croatian (as am I), what truly made this book phenomenal was the story itself. The use of Slavic mythology was breathtaking. We so rarely see gods like Morana, Perun, and others from Slavic folklore take center stage in fantasy, and here they felt powerful, eerie, and integral to the world rather than decorative.
I was fully invested from beginning to end. Even in the final chapters, I genuinely didn’t know how the story would conclude, which made every page feel tense and meaningful. I loved the dual timeline at the start and the dual perspectives, which added layers of emotional complexity and moral ambiguity.
The characters were wonderfully written and distinct. Liana is fierce, brave, and driven by love and grief, while Melia, though more naïve at first, grows into clarity and strength when it matters most. Their contrasting journeys made the story richer and more emotionally grounded.
Dark, myth-infused, emotionally intense, and impossible to predict, Love Lethal, Death Divine is a stunning blend of love, sacrifice, fate, and revenge. It’s a book I adored wholeheartedly and one I would recommend to anyone looking for fantasy that dares to do something different, and does it beautifully.
Love Lethal, Death Divine by Jelena Dunato completely captivated me. This book isn’t just a five-star read for me; it’s a story that stayed with me long after I turned the last page.
While I was especially excited knowing the author is Croatian (as am I), what truly made this book phenomenal was the story itself. The use of Slavic mythology was breathtaking. We so rarely see gods like Morana, Perun, and others from Slavic folklore take center stage in fantasy, and here they felt powerful, eerie, and integral to the world rather than decorative.
I was fully invested from beginning to end. Even in the final chapters, I genuinely didn’t know how the story would conclude, which made every page feel tense and meaningful. I loved the dual timeline at the start and the dual perspectives, which added layers of emotional complexity and moral ambiguity.
The characters were wonderfully written and distinct. Liana is fierce, brave, and driven by love and grief, while Melia, though more naïve at first, grows into clarity and strength when it matters most. Their contrasting journeys made the story richer and more emotionally grounded.
Dark, myth-infused, emotionally intense, and impossible to predict, Love Lethal, Death Divine is a stunning blend of love, sacrifice, fate, and revenge. It’s a book I adored wholeheartedly and one I would recommend to anyone looking for fantasy that dares to do something different, and does it beautifully.
February 14, 2026
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
Oh, I love me some political intrigue.
Love Lethal, Death Divine is a darkly compelling fantasy centered around two women attempting to fight their fates, told expertly through Dunato’s lush prose. Liana has traveled back in time to save the man she loves, while Melia is using the same man to upend a fragile peace treaty and restart a bloody war. Both heroines have their own desires and moral codes, and the resulting clash makes for a spellbinding plot.
Liana’s divine blood gives her that magical edge I adore in fantasy protagonists, and love being her driving force - almost to the point of destruction - is one of my favorite character traits. I definitely prefer her to Melia, since she has both a stronger backbone and the moral high ground. Her determination to change the past raises the question of if the individual actions we take matter in the grand scheme of things, and her ending made me grin ear-to-ear.
I don’t hate Melia, but she is possessed of a certain naïveté she claims to be impervious to, and that makes her vulnerable to poor decisions. Although her ending was equally deserved, the complications of her character meant I didn’t know which direction her story would take until the climax, and that kept me engaged and hoping she’d make the right choice up to the very end.
Love Lethal, Death Divine is a story of love, loss, and the power to choose. I can’t wait to see what Dunato writes next.
Oh, I love me some political intrigue.
Love Lethal, Death Divine is a darkly compelling fantasy centered around two women attempting to fight their fates, told expertly through Dunato’s lush prose. Liana has traveled back in time to save the man she loves, while Melia is using the same man to upend a fragile peace treaty and restart a bloody war. Both heroines have their own desires and moral codes, and the resulting clash makes for a spellbinding plot.
Liana’s divine blood gives her that magical edge I adore in fantasy protagonists, and love being her driving force - almost to the point of destruction - is one of my favorite character traits. I definitely prefer her to Melia, since she has both a stronger backbone and the moral high ground. Her determination to change the past raises the question of if the individual actions we take matter in the grand scheme of things, and her ending made me grin ear-to-ear.
I don’t hate Melia, but she is possessed of a certain naïveté she claims to be impervious to, and that makes her vulnerable to poor decisions. Although her ending was equally deserved, the complications of her character meant I didn’t know which direction her story would take until the climax, and that kept me engaged and hoping she’d make the right choice up to the very end.
Love Lethal, Death Divine is a story of love, loss, and the power to choose. I can’t wait to see what Dunato writes next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review to come when my buddy read finishes! Initial thoughts, slightly chaotic but I loved it. 😈
(FINAL REVIEW:)
This was a wonderful return to the Adriatic-inspired world that Dunato has created. The characters are both new and old (though I will admit it took some time to remember who was who again 😅), and the plot filled in a question that had always lingered with me since the end of Dark Woods, Deep Water. I would like to preface this review by stating that I received an early advanced ebook from the author and that my enjoyment of this book was not based on this factor. Now on to the review! 😊
The story follows Gospara Liana of Abia and Princess Melia of Elmar in a super tense point of history for their kingdom. Both women are resilient in their own ways, but I did find myself favoring one over the other. 🫣
Liana is reeling from the fresh loss of her great love and will basically do anything to bring him back. I liked that she was selfish and overall a rather standoffish and uncouth character. I’m a firm believer that not all characters regardless of gender should be liked, but they should be understood and I got this with Liana. The development from doing things she wanted to accepting and respecting the decisions and wants of her partner was very refreshing in a sea of literature where one bends to the will of another. ❤️🩹
Melia, hmm. What can I saw after I just said I love unlikable characters. She’s socially awkward, blunt, and skittish but mixed with her complete lack of awareness in local politics and biased views of life were something that I just couldn’t get past at times. Her development, while achingly slow, was probably the best of the two because she finally grows a spine and does what she believes is best, not what others have told/fed to her. 😮💨
All in all, I had a wonderful time being back in this Southern Slavic/Adriatic-inspired world. The gods are creepy as Slavic gods are, and the political turmoil was the right mix to feel both urgent as well as well thought out. I also want to state that the other book and novella set in the same world can be read in any order, but my recommendation is Ghost Apparent (novella), Dark Woods, Deep Water, and then this book. ⚔️
Thank you again to Dunato for reaching out and offering this in exchange for an honest review. I had a blast getting to know Liana and Melia and have high hopes you’ll continue expanding with more stories in this world (maybe a novella about why Amron knows with a certain god so well 👀)! 🤞🏼
And again a thank you goes out to lookma.i.read for being the best reading buddy ever! ❤️
Publication date: April 7!
Overall: 4.5/5 ⭐️
(FINAL REVIEW:)
This was a wonderful return to the Adriatic-inspired world that Dunato has created. The characters are both new and old (though I will admit it took some time to remember who was who again 😅), and the plot filled in a question that had always lingered with me since the end of Dark Woods, Deep Water. I would like to preface this review by stating that I received an early advanced ebook from the author and that my enjoyment of this book was not based on this factor. Now on to the review! 😊
The story follows Gospara Liana of Abia and Princess Melia of Elmar in a super tense point of history for their kingdom. Both women are resilient in their own ways, but I did find myself favoring one over the other. 🫣
Liana is reeling from the fresh loss of her great love and will basically do anything to bring him back. I liked that she was selfish and overall a rather standoffish and uncouth character. I’m a firm believer that not all characters regardless of gender should be liked, but they should be understood and I got this with Liana. The development from doing things she wanted to accepting and respecting the decisions and wants of her partner was very refreshing in a sea of literature where one bends to the will of another. ❤️🩹
Melia, hmm. What can I saw after I just said I love unlikable characters. She’s socially awkward, blunt, and skittish but mixed with her complete lack of awareness in local politics and biased views of life were something that I just couldn’t get past at times. Her development, while achingly slow, was probably the best of the two because she finally grows a spine and does what she believes is best, not what others have told/fed to her. 😮💨
All in all, I had a wonderful time being back in this Southern Slavic/Adriatic-inspired world. The gods are creepy as Slavic gods are, and the political turmoil was the right mix to feel both urgent as well as well thought out. I also want to state that the other book and novella set in the same world can be read in any order, but my recommendation is Ghost Apparent (novella), Dark Woods, Deep Water, and then this book. ⚔️
Thank you again to Dunato for reaching out and offering this in exchange for an honest review. I had a blast getting to know Liana and Melia and have high hopes you’ll continue expanding with more stories in this world (maybe a novella about why Amron knows with a certain god so well 👀)! 🤞🏼
And again a thank you goes out to lookma.i.read for being the best reading buddy ever! ❤️
Publication date: April 7!
Overall: 4.5/5 ⭐️
August 17, 2026
I'm kicking myself for not reading this one sooner, because Love Lethal, Death Divine is amazing!! Combine The Everlasting with Slavic folklore and mix in heaps of yearning, chained by duty vibes, and a powder keg ready to go off at any time to get this unique dark fantasy that will absolutely blow you away. Liana and Melia were both such different characters and I loved that the author included both their POVs so we could experience this conflict from the defender's and scheming aggressor's side. I had such a fun time devouring this story and genuinely loved every aspect. Liana is SO FREAKING COOL while Melia maintained a softness despite her complexity and tendency to freeze with her fear. I would've loved the read an entire, lengthy, epic fantasy series based in this world with these characters. Jelena Dunato's writing style is seemingly effortless in its flow, yet brings a fantastical element that elevates the mystery of this world and the gods' and goddesses' meddling. I genuinely have zero notes, Love Lethal, Death Divine is a must read for anyone who enjoys fantasy with a romantic subplot - I literally cannot recommend this one enough! I will now be picking up this author's entire backlist to chase the same high I experienced reading Love Lethal, Death Divine for the first time
Thank you to Dark Matter INK, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early copy!
Thank you to Dark Matter INK, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early copy!
March 1, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
May 31, 2026
DNF @ 20%, the book just didn’t capture my attention in the first 20% and so it’s been like 2ish weeks since I picked it up.
Thank you to NetGalley & the Publisher for the eARC.
Thank you to NetGalley & the Publisher for the eARC.
February 25, 2026
3.75/4⭐️s
A story with time travel and mythological world building? Yes!
Pros: This story was different from others I’ve read; overall it was good and interesting! I liked how the author made both FMCs different from one another and it was a well paced slow burn.
Cons: There were a few times I felt slightly confused and I felt certain topics were under explored.
Overall I would recommend this book to anyone who loves dark fantasy and Slavic folklore.
Huge thank you to NetGalley for this Advance Copy!
A story with time travel and mythological world building? Yes!
Pros: This story was different from others I’ve read; overall it was good and interesting! I liked how the author made both FMCs different from one another and it was a well paced slow burn.
Cons: There were a few times I felt slightly confused and I felt certain topics were under explored.
Overall I would recommend this book to anyone who loves dark fantasy and Slavic folklore.
Huge thank you to NetGalley for this Advance Copy!
July 3, 2026
2.5/5
I struggled with this for most of the book, and what frustrated me most was that I couldn't immediately pinpoint why. On paper, this has so many elements that should have worked for me: a dark fantasy world steeped in political intrigue, a premise centered around traveling back in time to make your soulmate fall in love with you again within three days or he'll die, two female protagonists, and Slavic-inspired folklore and religion. That's the kind of setup I usually devour.
Yet I found myself surprisingly bored.
It wasn't because the book lacked action; there's plenty happening. The problem was that I never felt emotionally connected to the story or its characters. I kept waiting for that moment where everything would click, but it never quite did.
The biggest disappointment was the Slavic folklore. Every time the story hinted at its mythology or religious traditions, I was hooked and eager to learn more. Unfortunately, those moments were brief, and I consistently found myself wishing the book had leaned much harder into the cultural and folkloric elements that made its premise feel so unique.
The other issue that slowly dawned on me was the characterization of the two protagonists. They're introduced so quickly and thrown headfirst into the plot that they never really have the chance to exist as fully realized individuals. Their identities often felt defined by the men around them (their relationships, political machinations, and the consequences of those men's actions) rather than by their own desires, personalities, or growth. I kept waiting for both women to step into the spotlight as characters in their own right, but they never quite got there for me.
Then there's the sapphic representation, which ultimately ended up being the final disappointment. Without spoiling too much, I found the relationship unsettling in a way that felt more groom-y than compelling, and the dynamic was built around betrayal in a way that left me unsatisfied rather than emotionally invested.
That's what makes this book such a frustrating read for me. There are genuine flashes of brilliance here. The world has intriguing foundations, the premise is excellent, and the folklore hints at something truly special. I just don't think the execution ever lived up to the promise. In the end, I walked away feeling more underwhelmed than disappointed, wondering what this story could have been with stronger character work and a deeper commitment to the mythology that initially drew me in.
I struggled with this for most of the book, and what frustrated me most was that I couldn't immediately pinpoint why. On paper, this has so many elements that should have worked for me: a dark fantasy world steeped in political intrigue, a premise centered around traveling back in time to make your soulmate fall in love with you again within three days or he'll die, two female protagonists, and Slavic-inspired folklore and religion. That's the kind of setup I usually devour.
Yet I found myself surprisingly bored.
It wasn't because the book lacked action; there's plenty happening. The problem was that I never felt emotionally connected to the story or its characters. I kept waiting for that moment where everything would click, but it never quite did.
The biggest disappointment was the Slavic folklore. Every time the story hinted at its mythology or religious traditions, I was hooked and eager to learn more. Unfortunately, those moments were brief, and I consistently found myself wishing the book had leaned much harder into the cultural and folkloric elements that made its premise feel so unique.
The other issue that slowly dawned on me was the characterization of the two protagonists. They're introduced so quickly and thrown headfirst into the plot that they never really have the chance to exist as fully realized individuals. Their identities often felt defined by the men around them (their relationships, political machinations, and the consequences of those men's actions) rather than by their own desires, personalities, or growth. I kept waiting for both women to step into the spotlight as characters in their own right, but they never quite got there for me.
Then there's the sapphic representation, which ultimately ended up being the final disappointment. Without spoiling too much, I found the relationship unsettling in a way that felt more groom-y than compelling, and the dynamic was built around betrayal in a way that left me unsatisfied rather than emotionally invested.
That's what makes this book such a frustrating read for me. There are genuine flashes of brilliance here. The world has intriguing foundations, the premise is excellent, and the folklore hints at something truly special. I just don't think the execution ever lived up to the promise. In the end, I walked away feeling more underwhelmed than disappointed, wondering what this story could have been with stronger character work and a deeper commitment to the mythology that initially drew me in.
February 16, 2026
Love Lethal, Death Divine is a dark fantasy that follows the lives of two women - Liana and Melia who are both faced with a difficult decision and one that will shape the future for everyone. One wrong choice and the future could burn.
The storyline is one of love and sacrifice. This standalone book takes place within a three day time period so when I say it was action packed, I’m not kidding. There were no “filler” chapters and every one served to add depth to the plot or the characters.
It took me about 4 chapters to understand what was happening (due to the time travelling concept) but as soon as this clicked, I had the book finished in 2 days 🙃. The constant countdown to the three days had me hooked and demanding to know more.
Love lethal, death divine is definitely worth adding to your TBR, it doesn’t follow a traditional fantasy love story plot and the blending of Eastern Adriatic and Slavic Folklore truly makes it a book that stands out from the rest.
So if you love a book that has;
Political Intrigue
Time travel
I would love you in every lifetime
Slavic Folklore
Add this to your TBR. Thank you to Net Galley and Dark Matter Ink for this ARC. Love Lethal, Death Divine comes out April 7th 2026 🖤♥️
The storyline is one of love and sacrifice. This standalone book takes place within a three day time period so when I say it was action packed, I’m not kidding. There were no “filler” chapters and every one served to add depth to the plot or the characters.
It took me about 4 chapters to understand what was happening (due to the time travelling concept) but as soon as this clicked, I had the book finished in 2 days 🙃. The constant countdown to the three days had me hooked and demanding to know more.
Love lethal, death divine is definitely worth adding to your TBR, it doesn’t follow a traditional fantasy love story plot and the blending of Eastern Adriatic and Slavic Folklore truly makes it a book that stands out from the rest.
So if you love a book that has;
Political Intrigue
Time travel
I would love you in every lifetime
Slavic Folklore
Add this to your TBR. Thank you to Net Galley and Dark Matter Ink for this ARC. Love Lethal, Death Divine comes out April 7th 2026 🖤♥️
May 12, 2026
I was excited to pick up this book because the blurb promised high stakes intrigue and fated romance, but unfortunately it didn't quite deliver.
I've seen a lot of blurbs highlighting themes of feminine rage, and while, yes, all men are portrayed as stinky, lecherous brutes (except Amron of course), it also inexplicably frames every non-POV woman as a frigid shrew or vapid thot. Like Liana, I felt that I, too, had been transported back 17 years, straight into the peak of 2000's-era postfeminism.
Strange gendered generalizations aside, I think this book mainly struggled with weak characterization. Both Melia and Liana were frustratingly passive. To make both of your protagonists explicitly disinterested in politics in a book whose plot revolves around a coup attempt is a hard sell. To then also rely solely on a few flashbacks to justify the romance (and therefore the entire conceit of the book) was a bridge too far for me.
I really wanted to like this one, but ultimately it just wasn't for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for this honest review.
I've seen a lot of blurbs highlighting themes of feminine rage, and while, yes, all men are portrayed as stinky, lecherous brutes (except Amron of course), it also inexplicably frames every non-POV woman as a frigid shrew or vapid thot. Like Liana, I felt that I, too, had been transported back 17 years, straight into the peak of 2000's-era postfeminism.
Strange gendered generalizations aside, I think this book mainly struggled with weak characterization. Both Melia and Liana were frustratingly passive. To make both of your protagonists explicitly disinterested in politics in a book whose plot revolves around a coup attempt is a hard sell. To then also rely solely on a few flashbacks to justify the romance (and therefore the entire conceit of the book) was a bridge too far for me.
I really wanted to like this one, but ultimately it just wasn't for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for this honest review.
May 23, 2026
“You, on the other hand, want nothing from me, but everything of me, and I’m happy to give it. Every breath, every heartbeat, every last drop of blood, for as long as I live. And once when I’m gone, it won’t diminish you in any way. You’ll still be your beautiful, fearless, unadulterated self.”
4.75⭐️
I know this just came out a little over a month ago, but damn this book deserves way more attention. I think this book showed up for me as an ad on social media and the blurb captured my interest so much that I decided to pick it up—and damn did it not disappoint!
This was such a riveting, emotionally impactful tale of love and vengeance, and how far one would go in pursuit of each. Everything in this book—the writing, the characters, the world building, and the plot—was fantastic.
With three days to fulfill a divine bargain to bring back a dead lover and a catastrophic war looming on the horizon, the story is tightly paced, with every moment carrying a sense of urgency that keeps you glued to the pages. Add in the time warp aspect and even the smallest actions felt like they had dire consequences for the future. There was heaps of political intrigue and scheming, creating a myriad of plots and subplots that had me constantly on edge, trying to guess what would happen next. There was absolutely no point where I felt like I could predict how things would turn out and I was continuously worried for everyone's safety. I was so afraid for the ending, but I think the author tied it all up in a satisfying way!
All the characters were wonderfully complex and felt believable in their behaviors and motivations. The two FMCs, Liana and Melia, are remarkably different from each other in nearly every way; Liana is headstrong and coarse, while Melia is naïve and awkward. The contrast between them made it interesting to go back and forth with their POVs, to see how their paths collided and how they reacted to each other and to the political chaos going on around them. I really love how flawed and human they both were. They were selfish and prejudiced sometimes. Other times, jealous and full of rage. They go through a whole wide range of intense emotions, but at the end of it all, they're just two women trying to survive, doing the best with the hand they were dealt and trying to save the people that they love. I definitely preferred Liana as a character by a long shot because I found her personality and arc more intriguing, but Melia undergoes some decent growth and has a satisfying arc herself. Despite my preferences, I found it easy to empathize with both of them :)
The romance, even though there wasn't much of it, was great! I adored how Liana and Amron's relationship in particular actually felt like a mature love between two adults who understand each other on a profound level. Their devotion to each other was incredibly heartwarming and had me getting emotional multiple times 😭 The situation Liana found herself in broke my heart and I was rooting for her and Amron so hard throughout the entire plot! Soul mates come up a lot in many other fantasy books (and the concept of soul mates doesn't come up in this book at all), but damn this is one of the few where they actually feel like it. They deserve to be together in every lifetime :')
I suppose if I had to nitpick something, I guess I'd say that the geopolitics was kind of confusing for much of the book, at least for me. I remember pausing for a few minutes while reading just to sit and think, trying to map out who hated who, who was from where, and which side everyone was on lmao. There was a map, but it was just barely useful. Would've been nice to have a more detailed map or even an appendix of the different kingdoms, loyalties, and royal/noble families.
Definitely going to check out this author's other books and follow their future releases closely! :D
🔖 Quotes
“But he didn’t want her opinion, he wanted her approval.”
“It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t know who I am, because I know who he is. I love him. And I can make him love me again and again and again, as many times as necessary.”
"But you’re irrelevant, a tool too dumb to see how it’s being used. Nobody cares if you live or die."
"I’ve had you a thousand times and I want you a thousand more."
“Every noblewoman knew from the earliest age that her body was not her own.”
“How weird it was, this readiness to kill a complete stranger for no reason other than following orders.”
“I am terrified, but what would be the point of showing it? I’m not mad, I don’t want to die, I don’t want the mob to break into this house and tear it down. If they attack, we’ll defend ourselves. But I came here understanding the risk, understanding this is a savage, bloodthirsty place that will probably see me as an enemy. I walked into it just like my brothers walk into battle—out of duty, seeking glory, ready for sacrifice.”
“There was no glory in death, no honor. There wasn’t even any dignity in it. Just pain and gore and nothingness.”
“I’m done with waiting. You believe the world revolves around your father—I used to think the same about mine. They’re so powerful, the masters of life and death, so huge they fill your whole horizon. But that’s a deception. The world is full of people, and every one of them has the power to change the course of events.”
“It was, in all measurable ways, a victory. And yet, it tasted like ash in her mouth.”
“She’d given all she had to give, and it wasn’t enough to get her what she wanted the most.”
“I have no better mirror than your eyes.”
4.75⭐️
I know this just came out a little over a month ago, but damn this book deserves way more attention. I think this book showed up for me as an ad on social media and the blurb captured my interest so much that I decided to pick it up—and damn did it not disappoint!
This was such a riveting, emotionally impactful tale of love and vengeance, and how far one would go in pursuit of each. Everything in this book—the writing, the characters, the world building, and the plot—was fantastic.
With three days to fulfill a divine bargain to bring back a dead lover and a catastrophic war looming on the horizon, the story is tightly paced, with every moment carrying a sense of urgency that keeps you glued to the pages. Add in the time warp aspect and even the smallest actions felt like they had dire consequences for the future. There was heaps of political intrigue and scheming, creating a myriad of plots and subplots that had me constantly on edge, trying to guess what would happen next. There was absolutely no point where I felt like I could predict how things would turn out and I was continuously worried for everyone's safety. I was so afraid for the ending, but I think the author tied it all up in a satisfying way!
All the characters were wonderfully complex and felt believable in their behaviors and motivations. The two FMCs, Liana and Melia, are remarkably different from each other in nearly every way; Liana is headstrong and coarse, while Melia is naïve and awkward. The contrast between them made it interesting to go back and forth with their POVs, to see how their paths collided and how they reacted to each other and to the political chaos going on around them. I really love how flawed and human they both were. They were selfish and prejudiced sometimes. Other times, jealous and full of rage. They go through a whole wide range of intense emotions, but at the end of it all, they're just two women trying to survive, doing the best with the hand they were dealt and trying to save the people that they love. I definitely preferred Liana as a character by a long shot because I found her personality and arc more intriguing, but Melia undergoes some decent growth and has a satisfying arc herself. Despite my preferences, I found it easy to empathize with both of them :)
The romance, even though there wasn't much of it, was great! I adored how Liana and Amron's relationship in particular actually felt like a mature love between two adults who understand each other on a profound level. Their devotion to each other was incredibly heartwarming and had me getting emotional multiple times 😭 The situation Liana found herself in broke my heart and I was rooting for her and Amron so hard throughout the entire plot! Soul mates come up a lot in many other fantasy books (and the concept of soul mates doesn't come up in this book at all), but damn this is one of the few where they actually feel like it. They deserve to be together in every lifetime :')
I suppose if I had to nitpick something, I guess I'd say that the geopolitics was kind of confusing for much of the book, at least for me. I remember pausing for a few minutes while reading just to sit and think, trying to map out who hated who, who was from where, and which side everyone was on lmao. There was a map, but it was just barely useful. Would've been nice to have a more detailed map or even an appendix of the different kingdoms, loyalties, and royal/noble families.
Definitely going to check out this author's other books and follow their future releases closely! :D
🔖 Quotes
“But he didn’t want her opinion, he wanted her approval.”
“It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t know who I am, because I know who he is. I love him. And I can make him love me again and again and again, as many times as necessary.”
"But you’re irrelevant, a tool too dumb to see how it’s being used. Nobody cares if you live or die."
"I’ve had you a thousand times and I want you a thousand more."
“Every noblewoman knew from the earliest age that her body was not her own.”
“How weird it was, this readiness to kill a complete stranger for no reason other than following orders.”
“I am terrified, but what would be the point of showing it? I’m not mad, I don’t want to die, I don’t want the mob to break into this house and tear it down. If they attack, we’ll defend ourselves. But I came here understanding the risk, understanding this is a savage, bloodthirsty place that will probably see me as an enemy. I walked into it just like my brothers walk into battle—out of duty, seeking glory, ready for sacrifice.”
“There was no glory in death, no honor. There wasn’t even any dignity in it. Just pain and gore and nothingness.”
“I’m done with waiting. You believe the world revolves around your father—I used to think the same about mine. They’re so powerful, the masters of life and death, so huge they fill your whole horizon. But that’s a deception. The world is full of people, and every one of them has the power to change the course of events.”
“It was, in all measurable ways, a victory. And yet, it tasted like ash in her mouth.”
“She’d given all she had to give, and it wasn’t enough to get her what she wanted the most.”
“I have no better mirror than your eyes.”
December 23, 2025
“Love Lethal, Death Divine” is a fascinating read, one that I found to be a well-written mix of thrills and twists with an interesting theme. Add in strong character work to make for a story that was truly a joy to read.
I was able to read this story early, but already had it on my list anyway and the review’s my honest opinion.
I was able to read this story early, but already had it on my list anyway and the review’s my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this from the author as an arc reader. I willingly leave a review.
I absolutely devoured this book!! The heartbreak, the loss, the character development and the writing flowed so beautifully.
This is a perfect blend of everything you need in a book!
I absolutely devoured this book!! The heartbreak, the loss, the character development and the writing flowed so beautifully.
This is a perfect blend of everything you need in a book!
April 21, 2026
4,5 ⭐️
Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was very intrigued when I read the plot summary of Love Lethal, Death Divine !
We follow the POVs of two FMCs who are very different, but whose destinies are intertwined: Liana, a half-divine huntress who is the lover of Prince Amron in a country that has endured a long war with a neighboring empire, and Melia, a noble daughter who is forced to marry Prince Amron 17 years earlier. When Amron dies in Liana’s timeline, she bargains with the gods to go back in time: back to when he was married to Melia, right before the war. To save him, she has to make him fall in love with her again and prevent the war from ever happening.
I loved the plot, which felt unlike anything I’ve read before. I found it really interesting to read the POVs of the two women who are so important in Amron’s life across different timelines and to witness their interactions. I also found the main characters very likable.
First, we have Liana, who is fierce, strong, and doesn’t fit into society’s mold. Her love story with Amron is beautiful and sincere, but their happiness is restrained by the consequences of the war and Amron’s duties. Liana has divine blood, which grants her certain abilities and an unnatural long life, but her feelings are deeply human.
Melia starts as a shy and lonely girl, grieving her mother and brother, and reduced to a pawn by her manipulative and abusive father, who is secretly plotting against the king. She’s forced into an arranged marriage with Amron and sent away to a court where she isn’t welcomed. She’s such a gentle soul, and watching her navigate this hostile environment, surrounded by people trying to use her, was quite unsettling. Her relationship with Amron, while forced at first, blooms into something more complex and respectful. Her character development was amazing to witness. By the end of the book, she was my favorite character.
And finally, we have Amron, the prince both FMCs are trying to save. He’s a good man, but he tends to choose duty above everything else.
The ending of the story got me a bit emotional, if I’m honest. Overall, I really loved this book and Jelena Donato’s writing, her prose is beautiful.
Love Lethal, Death Divine is now available
Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was very intrigued when I read the plot summary of Love Lethal, Death Divine !
We follow the POVs of two FMCs who are very different, but whose destinies are intertwined: Liana, a half-divine huntress who is the lover of Prince Amron in a country that has endured a long war with a neighboring empire, and Melia, a noble daughter who is forced to marry Prince Amron 17 years earlier. When Amron dies in Liana’s timeline, she bargains with the gods to go back in time: back to when he was married to Melia, right before the war. To save him, she has to make him fall in love with her again and prevent the war from ever happening.
I loved the plot, which felt unlike anything I’ve read before. I found it really interesting to read the POVs of the two women who are so important in Amron’s life across different timelines and to witness their interactions. I also found the main characters very likable.
First, we have Liana, who is fierce, strong, and doesn’t fit into society’s mold. Her love story with Amron is beautiful and sincere, but their happiness is restrained by the consequences of the war and Amron’s duties. Liana has divine blood, which grants her certain abilities and an unnatural long life, but her feelings are deeply human.
Melia starts as a shy and lonely girl, grieving her mother and brother, and reduced to a pawn by her manipulative and abusive father, who is secretly plotting against the king. She’s forced into an arranged marriage with Amron and sent away to a court where she isn’t welcomed. She’s such a gentle soul, and watching her navigate this hostile environment, surrounded by people trying to use her, was quite unsettling. Her relationship with Amron, while forced at first, blooms into something more complex and respectful. Her character development was amazing to witness. By the end of the book, she was my favorite character.
And finally, we have Amron, the prince both FMCs are trying to save. He’s a good man, but he tends to choose duty above everything else.
The ending of the story got me a bit emotional, if I’m honest. Overall, I really loved this book and Jelena Donato’s writing, her prose is beautiful.
Love Lethal, Death Divine is now available
April 5, 2026
Love Lethal, Death Divine is the story of Liana, the daughter of a human and the goddess of the hunt, as she makes a bargain with the gods to save the love of her life, Prince Amron. The bargain of course takes a dangerous turn as she’s forced to travel back in time 17 years before Amron knows her, and try to get him to kiss her before 3 days pass. Amron is also still married 17 years in the past, to the daughter of another nation, Melia, who doesn’t seem to be able to get close to him.
Initially, the pacing of this book threw me off a little bit, it felt like it took a while for things to start happening, but once they did, it was impossible to stop reading. Liana is such an interesting character, doing whatever she has to to save the love of her life. Melia is also an interesting character, just trying to make her way in a world that she doesn’t feel like she belongs in, and trying to figure out how to love a husband who doesn’t love her. All of the political intrigue and drama was also so fun, all of the different betrayals and schemes that came into play were very fun and enthralling.
I also really enjoyed that this was rooted in mythology from the Balkans, which I feel like you don’t see very often!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dark Matter Ink for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Initially, the pacing of this book threw me off a little bit, it felt like it took a while for things to start happening, but once they did, it was impossible to stop reading. Liana is such an interesting character, doing whatever she has to to save the love of her life. Melia is also an interesting character, just trying to make her way in a world that she doesn’t feel like she belongs in, and trying to figure out how to love a husband who doesn’t love her. All of the political intrigue and drama was also so fun, all of the different betrayals and schemes that came into play were very fun and enthralling.
I also really enjoyed that this was rooted in mythology from the Balkans, which I feel like you don’t see very often!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dark Matter Ink for the opportunity to read this ARC!
July 22, 2026
This is another great book by Jelena Dunato, and another standalone novel set in her fantasy world inspired by Slavic folklore.
I really enjoy her writing because she pairs poetic metaphors with vivid imagery, truly bringing the characters and their emotional journeys to life. At the same time, her prose never feels dense or demanding; it just flows naturally.
I listened to the audio version, and the two narrators—one for each POV—were fantastic. They used distinct accents for different cultures and managed convincing, deeper tones for the male characters (something not all female narrators can pull off successfully). They also perfectly mirrored the protagonists' emotional states. If you get the chance, I highly recommend giving the audiobook a try. There is also a Croatian translation available, though I haven't checked that version out yet.
Because the author has a background in history, you can expect highly accurate descriptions of clothing, food, and the daily lives of medieval people, which adds a wonderful layer of depth to this amazing novel.
I really enjoy her writing because she pairs poetic metaphors with vivid imagery, truly bringing the characters and their emotional journeys to life. At the same time, her prose never feels dense or demanding; it just flows naturally.
I listened to the audio version, and the two narrators—one for each POV—were fantastic. They used distinct accents for different cultures and managed convincing, deeper tones for the male characters (something not all female narrators can pull off successfully). They also perfectly mirrored the protagonists' emotional states. If you get the chance, I highly recommend giving the audiobook a try. There is also a Croatian translation available, though I haven't checked that version out yet.
Because the author has a background in history, you can expect highly accurate descriptions of clothing, food, and the daily lives of medieval people, which adds a wonderful layer of depth to this amazing novel.
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