Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in return for an honest review.

This was very bittersweet to read. The overall vibe is very romantic, full of hope, but also with the pain of teenage heartbreak. I loved the characters, and although the page count would suggest so it was a rather short read. The story is about trust, about trusting yourself as much as you trust the one closest to you. It is a story about redemption, about growing as a person, and how important it is to recognize yourself.

The formatting was a little jarring at times and while it helped with visualization, it was more times than not distracting me from the actual plot. I was overthinking the choices of why the sentences were structured the way they are, if they had a plot-relevant meaning or were just for aesthetics. It was an interesting choice, however, I'm not sure if it was the best.

I will say, that was my biggest issue with the book. I really liked this story, it was lighthearted in a way that I never doubted it would have a happy ending. I saw these young people trying to find love in each other, and how they fight for their happiness, and it gave me hope. I loved the language the author used. Each word seemed to have been chosen deliberately and with purpose. The story flowed so nicely and it was very easy to read. The pacing was perfect, I never felt it was too slow or too fast.
Another thing I really liked was the portrayal of the land of the dead, of "Death's Country" and Death herself. It made a lot of sense to me, and I could easily imagine what my own soul might encounter were I to visit the underworld. It was unlike anything I've read so far, but also very clearly with a set idea behind it.
The main characters as well as everyone they meet are very diverse. Our main character Andres I felt was the most fleshed out, with Renee and Liora closely following behind. Sometimes I just wished, some of the characters had a little bit more depth to them. Especially with Renee and Liora the characterisation seemed a little selective at times. I loved everyone they met in the land of the dead, but the living felt almost bland in comparison. But since I assume that this was done on purpose I can't be too mad about it.

To sum it up, I really enjoyed reading "Death's Country". It is a well-written story with a diverse cast and a hopeful message. I would recommend this to anyone who needs a story with a good happy ending - which, in these times we live in, I feel almost anyone can enjoy.

Death's Country is a masterful exploration of love, loss, and the power of redemption. Romero's lyrical writing and imaginative storytelling make this a captivating read from start to finish. Highly recommended for fans of magical realism and heartfelt storytelling.

Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC!

When I first saw this cover and read the blurb, I got super excited because it is something that is right up my alley.

While the premise is an amazing one, it is written in poem form. I won’t knock anyone’s preferences, but this is not what I was looking for, and it kind of made it hard for me to continue. However, I did give it 4 stars for the premise; just because I didn’t like the writing style doesn’t mean it’s terrible!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Overall a very well written story about self-determination, loss, and second chances, among numerous other themes. The writing is strong and clear and the ending is incredibly meaningful and a perfect way to finish this story. I thought I knew Orpheus and Eurydice, but this book offered an entirely new perspective on such an old story. It was original, and sometimes I find that retellings aren't. This was a fresh take on a well known myth that is perfect for our time and my generation. Overall, 4 stars because the pacing around the middle felt a little off to me, but it was an objectively well done book with a clear message and resonant themes. R.M Romero has masterfully crafted a story for our time, and I will look forward to reading more of their work.

In this captivating read, the author masterfully weaves a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Through a blend of richly developed characters and a meticulously crafted plot, the book offers a unique exploration of its central themes, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the story's depth and complexity. The narrative is paced perfectly, balancing moments of intense action with thoughtful reflection, ensuring that readers are hooked from the first page to the last. The author's ability to evoke emotion and create a vivid, immersive world is truly remarkable, making this book a must-read for anyone looking for an exceptional literary experience.

Beyond its compelling storyline, the book stands out for its insightful commentary on the human condition, weaving philosophical questions into the fabric of its narrative. The author's skillful use of language not only enriches the text but also elevates the reader's experience, offering new perspectives on familiar themes. Whether it's the intricate dynamics of relationships, the exploration of identity, or the confrontation with ethical dilemmas, this book tackles complex issues with sensitivity and intelligence. It's a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the nuances of life, making it a valuable addition to any book lover's collection. Regardless of genre, this is a work that resonates on multiple levels, affirming the enduring impact of well-crafted literature.

The first thing to mention about ‘Death’s country’ is that it is written in free verse. The writing is very lyrical and dramatic in a way and it does keep you intrigued. It makes you fly through the book because of how it is written. (I literally read it in one sitting)

The cover of this book is also so stunning ! I do think the writing was beautiful. I just think that I couldn’t quite get into the complexities of the characters because of the way this is written.

Unfortunately I don’t think this particular book was for me. But I do know so many people who will love it and that I will continue to recommend it too!!

I love RM Romeo's writing so much. This was a really beautiful book and the imagery evoked through descriptions of music and nature is so moving. I really appreciated the way the three characters were really multifaceted and the ways in which those details came to light slowly. I also really liked the way the three characters were very realistic teenagers - angsty, slightly immature, and resilient despite all odds. I think my main critique is that the book, while split into cantos like many italian and greek myth, is a little unbalanced. We see a lot of what led up to them walking into the underworld and even the beginning of their journey but we don't get to see a lot of the later part of the quest, how they plan to deal with their pain, or a lot of deep, extended communication between the three. However, I would still very much recommend reading if you're looking for a moving story that will make you really reflect on the meaning of truth and love.

A lovely and moving novel-in-verse that explored themes like death and grief, but also sexuality and identity in such a nuanced way. I really enjoyed the characters in this and the relationships between them, and Romero's prose was a joy to read.

This book was beautifully written and not at all what I expected. Written in the style of an epic poem rather than a traditional novel, the prose (I will still call it that even though it was very poem-like) was poetic and ethereal— truly a fit for the story it was telling.

The story itself, however, felt like a skeleton. For a story about death maybe that is fitting, but this story was much more about living than it was dying, and I never really felt the story come alive. We moved with the characters swiftly from one moment to the next, one difficulty to the next— but every issue was solved within pages of it being introduced. There never really felt as though there were any stakes to speak of. I was rooting for the characters, sure, but I wasn’t worried for them. I wasn’t ever worried for their safety, or that they’d fail in their quest, because they were set up for success from the very beginning.

All in all, I wish there had been more to this book. I wish we could have spent more time learning the characters and their dynamics, learning the world, learning why Death would have made a bargain with Andres in the first place. I feel like there was so much left unexplored that would have added a lot to the story.

As I write this review, I fall more in love with Death's Country. Earlier this month, I called out into the void for more polyamory representation in young adult literature, and R.M. Romero heard me. Or at least that's what I tell myself...

I have always been drawn to tragic stories. There is something so beautiful about them. For that exact reason, Death's Country stood out to me. I am pleased to say that this book does not disappoint.

The poetry is everything I did not know I needed. Going in, I was skeptical about the style. I typically have a hard time with poetry, but this narrative prose is perfect. Considering the connection between this book and The Divine Comedy, the poetry fits so well. Plus, the writing is easy to understand. This is the first I have ever said this: I loved the poetry.

Each member of the triad has a special place in my heart. They are all so relatable; it is easy to love imperfect characters. When Andres got angry, Renee was wronged, or Liora started to walk away, I wanted to reach into the pages and help them.

In a book with so much sadness, I was mentally preparing myself for more heartbreak. But the ending is the complete opposite of everything else. This is not a criticism, but the resolution is what is expected of the genre. This book already pushes on the limits of traditional young adult stories, so why is the ending so ordinary?

Death's Country is an emotional story about love and the length we will go for the ones who mean the most to us. I wholeheartedly recommend this.

Bottom line: I am prepared to make this book my entire personality.

"You have to hit rock bottom
before you can climb
up to something better."

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Well, first of all... my heart. 🥹

Death's Country reminded me a little of Stray Gods (the videogame), the way poetry and music were combined. Beautiful, ache-y, mythology infused with modern-world horrors. I really, really loved it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book*

"Death's Country" is a queer Orpheus and Euridyce retelling with a strong focus on Latinx folklore and a love for David Bowie, it is also written in verse. The story is somewhat predictable but the various references to music, to Dante, to literature, to modern politics (in the Underworld they meet a soul from Kyiv, for example) made this a really interesting read. As I said, it was a bit predictable and it really annoyed me that the characters are supposed to be teenagers but behaved much more maturely (I always want to add 10 years to their in-story age!), but otherwise quite the nice retelling. I enjoyed it!

4 stars

Loved this! Great representation of a polyamorous relationship. The characters were likable and all perfectly flawed. The writing and setting were beautiful too. RM Romero did an excellent job with this, and I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy for my collection. Only thing knocking down from a five was the fact that it was written in verse (but I am not known to like those, so this is personal preference only). Despite that, that book was very good!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the premise of this book and how it was written entirely in prose – it had been a long time since I last read something like this and it made the experience be something unique. The writing is beautiful and it flows quickly, and even though there’s more plot than I first thought it’d have, it ends up being a quick read. Overall I had a good experience with this book and I’d definitely recommend it!

CW: Death, war, drowning, self-harm, eating disorder, emotional abuse

First things first: This is written in verse and that is super fucking cool. I adore the prose: It's beautiful and flows easily.

The book is a rather quick read and given that, I found it impressive how much plot there is and how well we get to know the characters. It also deals with a lot of heavy topics and it handles them well enough but I think it might have been better with one or two less.

And even though the story is predictable, that didn't take away too much from my reading experience.

"Love doesn't need to be divided
between two people.
There's enough of it
to go around."

Firstly, I must say that the cover is beautiful. It gives such strong bisexual vibes, and all the blues, purples, and pinks are striking. I just adore it.

As for the story, it was good for what it was. I have wildly different opinions on Romero's previous novels-in-verse (I didn't like The Ghosts of Rose Hill, but I loved A Warning About Swans), but this one sits comfortably in the middle between those extremes.

The writing is very flowery and flowed well for the most part, but it felt odd at some points. The pretty and lyrical metaphors was contrasted against the contemporary setting of Miami, and it sounded even weirder coming out of the mouths of modern day 15/16-year-olds. It made sense when in Swans because it was pure fantasy in a historical setting, but in this book, it was just too much. Additionally, there were a lot of on-the-nose references to myths like Dante, Odysseus, and Eurydice, the very tale this story is based on. Having the characters be too self aware of the stories while actively participating in one just like those felt way out of place.

Other than that, the story as a whole is good. I like the relationship between the three. Poly rep has become more visible in lit recently, and I think it's portrayed positively here. The love between Andres, Liora, and Renee is sweet with the lengths they go to support each other.

Overall, this was another good novel-in-verse book from Romero. I'd recommend this to anyone who's looking for good poly rep and exploring themes of trauma through lyricism.

"There were no road signs in that place; it would never be on any map.
But I felt what it was— a flagging pulse, a clock winding down, the final page in the last book ever written. I was in Death’s country,
where the path ends for everyone."
- R. M. Romero

They say to never judge a book by its cover, but we´re all guilty of doing it anyway. Well, when I first saw the cover for Death´s Country, it did a really good job of drawing me in. What kept me interested, however, was the description. I mean, “Hadestown meets “Orpheus and Eurydice” when two Miami teens travel to the underworld to retrieve their girlfriend’s soul” is one hell of a premise! I quickly placed it on my Most Anticipated Books Of 2024 list along with all the other great books coming out this year.
So, when I got the opportunity to read and review it early, I couldn’t even believe it. Safe to say my expectations were pretty high, but to my surprise, this book was more than I ever expected it to be.

“-And so did I. I prayed to whatever god would have me: Let me be a whisper of music, the calm inside the storm. Let me be someone better.
But that night, no spirits heard my pleas, and I stayed a snarl of thorns playacting
at being a boy.”
- R. M. Romero

The writing style has an almost soothing flow to it, the type that makes you forget everything else in the world because you just need to finish reading all of it. The characters, while a bit flawed at times, will grow on you almost immediately. And if you´re a mythology fan like me, you will love all the references, big and small alike.
Not only is it a beautifully written tale of love, it´s also about fury, grief, and about second chances.
There´s also a lot of interesting themes of anger, music, family, letting go, and, of course, death.

" I leaned into their hope, a sigh easing from my lips. I didn’t care if my music ever reached the ears of monsters, presidents, the men who
were both.
I had a sanctuary at the beach, solace in two girls."
-R. M. Romero

I can honestly say this is the most unique book I have ever read! A classic Greek tale reimagined as a polyamorous triad in Miami… and the underworld. I was skeptical of the novel being written in verse, but like others review mention it reads like a story, less like poetry.

This is a quick, beautiful and intelligent book, strongly recommend!

I enjoyed Death's Country!
It's a modern retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice written in verse.
I'm really starting to like books written in verse and this one is especially good!
The writing was also absolutely beautiful.

I really liked the characters and I was so happy to see poly rep in this book!
I definitely highly recommend this book especially if you are a fan of mythology retellings!
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review.

★★★☆☆

"If I'm to worship anything, let it
be love."

This book was heavier than I thought! So, here are some trigger warnings;
Toxic domestic environment, emotional abuse, divorce, suicide, eating disorder, self-harm, gore.

We are witnessing the story from Andres' point of view, as he is struggling to cope with the burden of his parents' problems that they project onto him and the domestic hell they put him through.
He is overcome by his anger, and as the Tietê River pulls him under to the underworld, he makes a deal with Death to take his anger away and, in return, take away something he loves most. But soon, he meets two girls, and the three become a polyamorous couple. One of them is taken too soon to the underworld, so we follow two teens as they try to retrieve their girlfriend's soul, but secrets, mysteries, and danger are waiting for them.

Again, I was shocked by the heaviness of the book. It was not that I expected a light and fluffy read with that premise, but this was heavy! I loved the writing in verse and the polyamorous love story in the centre of everything that was happening. I also adored the way the underworld was portrayed in here, it was very unique with elements that added a lot to the world building and the immersive experience of reading this book.

We also met different characters in the underworld and their stories were heart-wrenching, so if you want something that makes you ✨feel✨, this is your book!

What fell flat for me was the flow of the writing; I found the brackets "()" often times interrupted my reading flow, and I figured some things out before they were revealed.

I liked the retelling part of this, but it was more intertwined into the book rather than being a retelling itself. For example, the characters were aware of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.

I certainly recommend this book!! If you like books written in verse and mythology, mixed with depth and queer characters, don't hesitate to read it! :)