The Deathless One by Emma Hamm
Series: Book 1 of 2: The Gravesinger
on August 5, 2025
Published by Gallery Books, Simon and Schuster Genres: Fiction / Fantasy / Epic, Fiction / Fantasy / Romance, Fiction / Romance / Fantasy
Format: ARC
Pages: 336 
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Source: NetGalley and the PublisherThe Premise:
A princess murdered at the altar.
A deal struck with a god of death.
A mission for vengeance... and maybe something more.Sounds like the setup for a hauntingly good read, right?
Jessamine makes a literal deal with Death to return from the grave and take back what was stolen from her. She’s fierce, angry, and determined, and the vibe is very much dark fairytale meets slow burn romantasy, with gods, witches, and secrets thick in the air.
What Worked:
Right out the gate, the story hooked me. That opening? Deliciously brutal. The world is misty and lyrical, soaked in folklore and magic. And Elric (the Deathless One himself) has the whole brooding god thing down pat. The tension between him and Jessamine simmers just under the surface for most of the book, which I usually love when done right.
The writing is poetic and haunting, giving the story a kind of eerie grace. There's a strong atmosphere here, dark, moody, and immersive. Definitely points for vibes.
What Didn’t:
Unfortunately, somewhere around the halfway mark, the story lost its grip. The pacing started to drag, and I found myself losing focus. It felt like the plot kept circling the same emotional ground without pushing forward.
And as much as I wanted to love the dynamic between Jessamine and Elric, their chemistry never quite sparked for me. It was more of a promise than a payoff. The emotional beats didn’t hit as hard as I wanted, and the story as a whole just didn’t pack the punch I expected based on that killer setup.
Final Thoughts:
The Deathless One has all the right ingredients
.. an original concept, promising writing, and a world full of shadows and secrets, but the execution just didn’t fully land for me. That said, I’ll probably pick up the next book. There’s enough potential here to warrant a second chance, especially if future books sharpen the pacing and bring more emotional heat.Would I recommend it? Yes, but with a caveat, it’s for the reader who values tone and atmosphere over action and intensity. Think slow and broody, not intense and fiery.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating:
⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️.5🫶🏼 - Ali
This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.
I received this book for free from NetGalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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