This is a well written YA that will keep teens engaged. Sadly the cover is unoriginal and will likely make the book be passed over after the name is no longer on TikTok.

I started this one a while back and set it down to pick up when the mood struck me. Somehow I never picked it back up again I might in the future, but for now it’s a DNF.

I was so excited when I read the description of this book, as it sounded exactly like what I love!

Unfortunately, this is one of those cases of "awesome premise, subpar execution." It read like an early draft that hadn't been polished yet, particularly with the highly uneven pacing and frequently cringeworthy narration. (Sometimes, first person POV can really detract from a story, and this is one of those cases, sadly.) I also would have really loved more exploration of the different magics in this book, as it kind of fell flat when it became obvious that the entire magical system was just a plot device and not really developed beyond the bare details that were necessary to make events happen.


***Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book to review.***

3.75
I would have been happier if the magic system was fleshed out just, like, 10% more. It would've prevented the problem of the conclusion being like : "Oh, THAT'S how that works." But, a good time overall.

"Once a prophecy is made, it belongs to the world. I ask only that you handle our fates- and yours- with care. So shall it be."

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for an ARC of These Deadly Prophecies in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts that follow are my own.

These Deadly Prophecies follows a seventeen-year-old sorcerer's apprentice named Tabatha Zeng who suddenly finds herself caught in the brutal crosshairs of the powerful Solomon family after the patriarch predicts his own death- and the prediction comes true. In order to prove her innocence, Tabatha has to solve the murder of her boss alongside two of the family's sons, Callum and Felix. But solving a murder isn't as easy as Tabatha initially believes- especially when her suspect list mostly consists of powerful and connected family members. She will have to risk it all to protect herself and those she loves.

After reading some of the other reviews for this book before diving into the story, I honestly wasn't expecting very much. At the very least, I was expecting a typical run-of-the-mill murder mystery with a little bit of magic thrown in. I couldn't have been happier to be wrong. This book was such a fun ride! Especially towards the end when everything started to come together; I was on the edge of my seat the last 30% of the novel. Callum and Tabatha's dynamic was so much fun because he not only encouraged her to break outside of her comfort zone, he also protected her while allowing her to stand on her own. I also loved the dynamic between Felix and Tabatha because he was almost like the older brother she never had. The dynamics within the Solomon family and between siblings was a lot of fun to read as well. It gave me Hawthorne brother vibes from The Inheritance Games.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery but also loves magic and the occult. 4/5 stars!

This was an interesting book. I don’t normally read this genre but I actually really enjoyed it. The magic aspect of it was fun to me and easy to follow.

A murder mystery with some magic involved.
I think if you’re looking for a fast paced book then this is the one.

I went into this book expecting a high fantasy, but it's actually a contemporary fantasy effused with subtle humor and thriller elements. These Deadly Prophecies follows a typical-teenage-girl coded young sorcerer named Tabatha in the aftermath of the mysterious death of her mentor, Sorcerer Solomon. This story is understandably pretty dramatic, but I liked how Tang took the time to show us Tabatha's personality through the in-your-face narration that's rife with sarcasm. When all signs in Sorcerer Solomon's death point to murder, Tabatha has no choice but to team up with and trust his son Callum (who also happens to be her classmate) to figure out what actually happened. I really liked the relationship between Tabatha and Callum, in particular how Tabatha works through her assumptions about Callum and actually ends up developing feelings for him.
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As this book does have thriller elements, various characters are cast in suspicious lights, and the reader is left to theorize about who committed the murder. Magic also plays a pretty big role as well, but since this is a low fantasy the magic system is really easy to understand, which would make this a great read for those just getting started in the fantasy genre. These Deadly Prophecies is also much more concise and fast-paced than most YA fantasy books.

It started out good, then it lost me. I liked the mystery, but the conclusion was SO dumb. I hated that it was not a real conclusion, it wasn't a real murder mystery. So much about this book did not make sense and I can't wrap my head around it. The relationships felt off, and the prophecies just don't make too much sense either. I like that everyone gets therapy at the end, but that may be one of the few good things I can say about this book. It just all felt super shallow and nonsensical and there were not any real answers.

These Deadly Prophecies by Andrea Tang is an exciting blend of fantasy, mystery, and a touch of romance that kept me hooked from start to finish. The story follows Tabatha, an apprentice to a sorcerer, who teams up with the sorcerer’s youngest son after his death to uncover the truth behind the mysterious circumstances. As they investigate, they quickly find themselves playing the role of amateur detectives, reminiscent of Nancy Drew and Joe Hardy.

The plot is fast-paced, intriguing, and full of twists, with the murder mystery at the heart of the story being a standout element. The fantasy world-building adds a rich layer to the narrative, enhancing the mystery without overshadowing it. The characters are engaging and dynamic, and I loved the subtle romance woven into the story.

At a relatively short length, These Deadly Prophecies was the perfect book to get me out of a reading slump—it’s quick, captivating, and incredibly fun. If you’re a fan of murder mysteries with a dash of fantasy and a small romance subplot, I highly recommend giving this one a read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it.

Thanks so much to Penguin Teen for my arc of this book! All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this magical murder mystery, and felt like it was really reminiscent of the Truly Devious days. There were so many little clues and twists, you truly weren’t sure where things would go and just had to keep reading.

Would definitely recommend!

It was an easy read that hooks you in with the Knives Out-style murder mystery.

The narration came across as authentic for a teenager, although a bit repetitive and at some points incredibly cheesy.

The ending seemed to wrap up very quickly; I wish it had been handled differently.

I liked this a lot! It archived before I was finished reading it, but the beginning was pretty solid and made me laugh a couple times.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!!

With snappy pacing, fun characters, and concise urban fantasy-esque worldbuilding, the majority of this book absolutely delivered on its pitch of Inheritances Games meets Knives Out. The writing was easy to read with just the right amount of teenage snark, and while the romance unfolded a bit too quick to be believable, it was still fun to read banter with just the right amount of undercutting social commentary. These Deadly Prophecies was easily heading for a 4-4.5 star rating, but unfortunately, all of my enjoyment dissipated in a wispy, barely-foreshadowed final 20 pages.

I was initially wary of this book’s short length, especially considering that this is a magic-mystery, and while it worked surprisingly well for a majority of the story, I think the page count was its ultimate undoing. The mystery was intriguing and complicated by juicy family scandals and fickle magic, but the resolution and reveal of the murder seemed to come out of nowhere, and not in a satisfying “I didn’t see that coming” way. Frustratingly, I saw this as easily preventable–just a few more scenes with the culprit leading up to the reveal would have helped me better understand their motives and appreciated the prophetic twist. I was so disappointed that an intriguing genre-blending murder-mystery had to be soured by a hasty and unsatisfying ending.

Despite my misgivings, I’d still recommend this book to readers interested by the pitch, albeit with a caveat about the ending. These Deadly Prophecies was a fun and quick read, but unfortunately not something I’ll find myself rereading.

(a very solid) 3/5 stars
Many thanks to Razorbill (via Penguin Teen) for the physical ARC!

I went in blind. I loved the mashup of the genre bending. Highly recommend for my murder mystery folks. If you are looking for just Romantasy like I was I wouldn't recommend unless you do like some sleuthing.

I really loved These Deadly Prophecies, and found it really hard to put the book down while reading. I loved the murder mystery aspect and found it difficult to decide who I thought was guilty because they ALL had me questioning them. This was absolutely wonderful and definitely delivered on the knives out vibes I was promised!

I was pretty into this one until the end. I still like it as a solid fantasy/mystery option, especially for our younger readers leveling up from "Percy Jackson" and "So You Want to Be a Wizard." It's pretty PG and I like the focus of the friendship, mystery solving aspects and the pacing of the story was nice and quick. The end wrapped up a little too neat and quick for me with several very clunky metaphors and some unresolved family issues on Callum's side of things.

I loved this one. I did not want to stop reading. I wanted to know who had killed Sorcerer Solomon. Everyone had motive. I love a fantasy murder mystery. Tabatha has to prove her innocence when she becomes a top suspect in her boss's murder. Solving a murder is very challenging when the main suspects are mostly his family. Can she trust anyone? I will definitely be reading more my this author. Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Sorcerer Solomon dies leaving the only clue as to what happened in a note that says, "I shall die at the hands of my best beloved." Tabatha, Sorcerer Solomon's apprentice teams up with one of his sons, Callum, to solve his murder.

We also have the drama between the sorcerer's first and second wives plus his other children. They all want to be the one to inherit his legacy and sorcery.

I enjoyed the fantasy elements while still be grounded in the "real world." The magic system was easy to follow and the murder investigation had me guessing until the end. We even get a hint of romance in this fun YA read.

Loved this and recommend it!

2.5 stars!

For reference, I absolutely love Knives Out. If I see Knives Out as a comp I'm immediately reading the book. Unfortunately, this really just didn't work for me. The murder mystery plot really lacked, and I felt like I knew immediately who it was to the point where I was like why don't you know who it is Tabitha??? I also felt like the ending was jarring and there was really no world building.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!