cover image The Deathless One

The Deathless One

Emma Hamm. Gallery, $19.99 trade paper (336p) ISBN 978-1-66806-312-5

Hamm (A Darkness So Sweet) launches a trilogy with this rocky romantasy. When a terrible plague threatens Princess Jessamine Harmsworth’s kingdom, she agrees to marry the heir to a neighboring kingdom who promises a cure. But tragedy strikes on her wedding day: Jessamine and her family are brutally murdered by her new husband, who seizes their thrones. In the “realm for the dead,” Jessamine meets the Deathless One, or Elric, a death god who was once worshipped by witches but whose followers have dwindled and who is now trapped in the underworld. Recognizing Jessamine as a Gravesinger, a rare and powerful type of witch, Elric offers her a deal: he’ll restore her to life if she will resurrect him. But to reclaim her throne, Jessamine must learn to fully embrace her magic and its dark consequences. Hamm’s writing shines in Jessamine and Elric’s electric chemistry but their slow-burning relationship far overshadows the fantasy elements, leaving the worldbuilding vague and the magic system frequently confusing. Despite a strong opening, the story drags in the middle, and the lackluster ending rushes through too many revelations. Romantasy fans will be taken with the leads but will hope for tighter plotting in the next installment. Agent: Rachel Brooks, BookEnd Literary. (Aug.)