Flowers Are For The Dead

by Rachel Pendley

One man sent her to the grave, while another rose her from it…

Socialite Lillian Pine is madly in love; with her life, her family, and her soon to be fiancé. Everything is a fairytale, until a brutal incident sends it all spiraling into chaos.
After waking up in a strange cabin, surrounded by decaying creatures, Lillian is separated from her picturesque world. Suddenly bound to a necromancer with a secretive past, she must navigate a new kind of existence and find a way back to her family before it’s too late.

Genres: Romance

Paperback

Published October 27, 2026

About the author

Rachel Pendley (she/her) is an American author from the rural south, who loves to blend together her favorite genres. Most of her work has a horror flare, having grown up on the works of Stephen King, Charles Grant, S.D. Perry and Dean Koontz.

Reviews

[Summer Seeds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely devoured this book! It starts with a bang and doesn't let up. With Halloween right around the corner, what better time to read a cozy horror romance about murder, love, and reanimated corpses? It's such an odd mix of genres, but it works oh so well.

The characters are to die for. Lillian is feisty, sexy, and confident. She is lush and curvy and everything I wish I was. It's impossible not to be taken by her. Honestly, I'm not sure if I have a bigger crush on her or Arthur, the necromancer. Never would I have thought that a practitioner of the dark arts would end up being the greenest of flags. This man is such a gentlemen and just so swoon-worthy. I don't care that his skin is grey and that his eyes glow green. And don't get me started on the fiends. They may be partially decomposed undead animal companions, but they may also be my favorite part of the book. How can creatures meant to be empty vessels have so much personality?

It really is such a fun and twisted story. It's a quick read, and I'm worried if I say too much I'm going to give the story away, but just know that I loved every morbid second of this book. It ticked all my boxes with just the right amount of horror, romance, mystery, and humor. I cannot wait to continue the story in book two!

Thank you to the author for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

[Kate Brasington · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨✨ARC REVIEW✨✨

The amount of times I crashed out on Rachel while reading this book is insane I think I lost count after 3. I cried so incredible hard 3 seperate times reading this book and made sure Rachel knew each time she had me fucked up.
I loved this book so much, I cannot wait for my physical copy to be here so I can just hold it???
The world building is so insanely beautiful!! Flowers are for the Dead can be categorized and a fantasy horror romance with historical elements? That’s as good as I can summarize it!
Lillian and Arthur are absolutely perfect for each other, their romance is such a devastating slow burn but let me tell ya, when they finally kiss and everything that comes after??? I was SCREAMING!
Go get yourself this book! Thank you Rachel for sending me this book early, for writing it and just for existing.

[Michelle Leask · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book as a ARC read from the author in exchange for a honest review. THIS BOOK WAS INCREDIBLE!! It has horror and some gore and zombie love?? ❤️ I loved every minute of this fun book! I laughed out loud! I swooned! I loved Arthur the MMC he was so sweet and kind and dashing! Lillian was such a badass MFC she was smart and loved her plus size curves ( shout out to body positivity) I also loved the fact that she had a extensive wardrobe that she was missing bcs if I was a zombie? I would also miss my extensive wardrobe as well 😂
This was the perfect read up to Halloween!🎃 I could not put this book down! The plot kept plotting and the spice was off the charts awesome! I can’t wait for a continuation in the story! 10/10 well done author you have a fan for life!

[Teahlyn Seeger · Rating 5 out of 5]

How does Rachel Pendley write baddies so well??? I was truly enraged by this character and was rooting for his imminent demise. Like this fictional man had personally wronged me 😅

I related so much to both Lillian and Helena. I’m a lover girl at heart but I’m also full of rage. And their relationship?? 🥹 sisterhood will get me every single time. There’s really no love like that between sisters.

For a horror writer, Pendley sure wrote the hell out of this romance! The only men I like are those written by women and she nailed it. Arthur is a yearner and I love that for both him and Lillian.

And the fiends?? How do I love these characters that don’t talk?? That are just (supposed to be) vessels! To avoid spoilers, I’ll stop there!! Rachel, I NEED PART TWO!!!

[Fiona Fenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sensuous and decadent and with a diverse cast of characters as enchanting as they are strange, Flowers are for the Dead charms like a spell. Pendley teases out the beautiful from the grotesque with a masterful hand, crafting a story that puts a wholly fresh spin on the cozy romantasy genre without ever pulling its teeth--or its thorns.

[Kimberly Pinzon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to write a review as pretty as this story is, but the words fail me. I ate this up, eagerly turning pages to see what would come next. Just the right amount of gore, romance, and intrigue for a horrormantasy.

You're going to fall in love with these characters; Rachel doesn't give you a choice.

[Amber Toro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly charming, this necromantic romance blossoms with beautiful prose and dark whimsy, taking you on a journey of betrayal, murder, and healing.

[Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about this book other than "Holy crap, this book is so good, go read it now"?

Because thats truly how I feel. Theres so much in this book.
- Third person multiple POV is so fun and sucks you in and leaves you thinking "my god, what in the chicken nuggets is going to happen next".
- a big sexy necromancer who is practicing his craft on animals but then saves the sex kitten socialite
- an incredibly sassy raven with mushrooms for one eye
- banter
- oh and a bear thing that really just wants to snuggle
- wait can't forget the coyote thing that also wants to snuggle

Theres murder, mystery, intrigue, chaos, spice, magic, and gore. What more could a witch ask for?

[Chelsey Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay first of all OH MY! I talked about this book with my husband i told him that while I normally stick to 1st POV that this was intriguing. I told him about how I so would watch a film on this book. Even a comic drawn from this would be something i would read. The descriptions of the animals Arthur created were so whimsical i really wish to see those visually. Lillian was so refreshing especially when she came to terms with what happened. She didn't even remotely try to play off what happened and she was worried about her family more than anything. Arthur's story was sad and he had so much shame and guilt. This gave me from one chapter to the next a Rollercoaster of emotions.

The villians Ellis, Honey tongue, and the others in the criminal ring definitely got what was coming to them. There were cool powers and with that came this pretty and sometimes gory imagery. We are left with the ending hinting at Helena getting a book. This story had mystery, romance, and amazing characters.

Thank you for a fun beautiful story that I am very thankful to have got to read in advance!

[Kristen Coar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ate this up. Another banger from this author, though this might be my favorite. A mix of cozy, steamy, revenge oh so sweet. I loved the way everything came together. Like every character was perfect. String willing murderous sister, green flag, attentive MMC, feisty self confident FMC, sassy talking animals, villains that need to die... And did. Loved it.