August 30, 2026

Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa has been raised by a string of guardians, each one more interested in her wealth than her well-being―and each has met an untimely end. Her remaining relatives are the elusive Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at Thorn Grove, an estate both glittering and gloomy. Its patriarch mourns his late wife through wild parties, while his son grapples for control of the family’s waning reputation, and his daughter suffers from a mysterious illness. But when their mother’s restless spirit appears claiming she was poisoned, Signa realizes that the family she depends on could be in grave danger, and enlists the help of a surly stable boy to hunt down the killer.

However, Signa’s best chance of uncovering the murderer is an alliance with Death himself, a fascinating, dangerous shadow who has never been far from her side. Though he’s made her life a living hell, Death shows Signa that their growing connection may be more powerful―and more irresistible―than she ever dared imagine.

Violence, Murder/death

This was such a good read! It blends gothic fantasy, the supernatural, murder mystery, historical romance, and just a touch of the macabre. Death is the MMC, which immediately makes the romance feel unique, but the story never becomes overly dark, grotesque, or disturbing.

I usually don’t read much about a book before diving in because I want to be surprised, so I didn’t even realize this was a historical romance when I started it. It begins a little slowly, but it is absolutely worth sticking with. Once the mystery started unfolding, I was completely invested.

What I enjoyed most was trying to solve the puzzle. I kept jumping from one suspect to another as relationships developed and new pieces of information came to light. I’m often able to figure out mysteries early, but this one had me second-guessing myself right up until the end. I had my hopes about certain things, followed by plenty of doubts, and I was genuinely surprised when all the pieces finally clicked into place. The added twist made it even better.

This isn’t a huge smut book, but it doesn’t need to be. The engaging plot, wonderful characters, suspense, romance, supernatural elements, and strong character development give the story plenty of substance. It has touching moments, sinister moments, a little violence, and enough intrigue to keep the plot moving without making the mystery the only thing happening.

Overall, this story offers a little bit of everything while still feeling cohesive and original. I loved that it kept me guessing, and I’m very glad I stuck with it. It was absolutely worth the read!