This was actually a decent fantasy read with a lot of elements I enjoyed- the magic systems and found family were decent, I liked our cast and it gave me Mulan type vibes with the war and what not which I enjoyed.

One of my main reasons for the lower rating is that it didn't feel as deep as I thought it should be. I had hoped to be way more attached to our characters than I was after all the hardships. I usually can find myself very emotionally invested if done well. This story does have some serious trigger warnings even if a lot of it was off page but I feel like in quite a few instances where these were brought up, it was breezed over rather quickly in a non serious way when I feel like it should have been deeper. It is hard to explain but it should have made me more invested in the character to which it was occurring and it didn’t really do that. I feel like I needed more.

I’m going to give this a solid 3.5 overall though. ⭐️ Thank you for the gifted ebook in exchange for a review!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing my digital ARC of "The Witch Who Trades with Death" by C.M. Alongi!!!

I love standalone fantasy novels, and this one was particularly powerful. The characters were incredibly well-developed, and Alongi's lyrical, descriptive storytelling beautifully wove the narrative together—one of the many reasons I enjoyed this book.

Though the story tackles difficult themes, especially regarding death, the author handles these elements with remarkable grace. The novel introduces several unique concepts that, combined with a satisfying romance subplot, resulted in a truly solid read for me.

I'm eagerly looking forward to exploring more of this author's work in the future!

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Witch who Trades with Death by C.M. Alongi is a third person multi-POV fantasy set in a tundra-inspired setting. Khana is the concubine of the immortal Emperor Yamueto and wants to get as far away from him as possible. When she finally learns the secret behind his power, she might actually have a chance to truly be free.

One thing I wasn’t expecting was that Khana is technically a descendant of Yamueto, with about eight generations between them. Yamueto has been taking his descendants as concubines for a long time (though not all of them) in order to create more witches and night creatures, to give him more power and control over his empire. It’s a single detail that adds an entire dimension to the abuse Khana faces and explores a reality of immortal emperor’s that few books do. There’s more discussion around Khana’s situation instead of showing it, but it is definitely present. Domestic abuse by a woman towards her male partner is also discussed but not shown in great detail.

The magic system involves healing, stealing the life force of others, and making trades with death (often a life or healing for memories or emotions). Khana is shown to be caring towards those who help her find a new life once she runs from Yamueto, giving up her memories not only for herself but also for others. Yamueto gave up his compassion for immortality, which makes sense for someone who cares more about having power over others than in making a better world for others.

While the premise is on the darker side, the plot itself has a more hopeful tone and there is humor threaded throughout, especially with Death and a friend, Haz, who has his own experiences with abuse from a partner. Khana also finds love with a partner, Sava, and he lets her dictate the pace of their relationship when they finally open up about their feelings. The lighter moments really do a lot to keep the book from being a dark fantasy for me, but I can see how someone else might consider it to be one.

Content warning for sexual abuse, domestic abuse, incest, and gore

I would recommend this to readers who want darker themes in their fantasy that also has humor and a hopeful tone and fans of books that involve pacts with Death

This book was really enjoyable! The worldbuilding was well-done, the magic system was unique, and sensitive topics were handled well. Having Death "personified" is always fun, but this doesn't have THAT kind of romance. The romance that it did have was sweet, and of course the found family is a fan favorite and this one was great. The emphasis on healing was really nice. I also appreciated the side characters a lot, and the little extra POVs were a great touch.

The Witch Who Trades with Death is one of those books that I finish and still don’t know how I feel about it. I enjoyed the world building and especially the magic system. I thought the overall concept of the plot was interesting and was the main draw for me. I do feel that the plot pacing needed work though. This beginning of the story is fast paced and wild. It then drags in the middle before picking back up again towards the end. I just needed something more to happen during the middle of the story to keep me interested. Another element I loved, though, was Alongi’s ability to create incredible side characters. There were plenty of points during this story where the side characters stole the show. The other part of the story that I really loved was the concepts surrounding healing. I thought Alongi did incredibly well with that. Overall, while I didn’t love this story, I’m also not mad that I read it.

A Spellbinding and Unforgettable Fantasy ★★★★★

The Witch Who Trades with Death by C.M. Alongi is a mesmerizing blend of fantasy, dark magic, and rich world-building that completely captivated me. From the very first page, the story pulls you into a world where death is not just an end but a force to be reckoned with, and the protagonist—a fiercely compelling witch—navigates the dangerous balance between power and fate.

Alongi’s writing is immersive, with vivid descriptions that bring the world to life and characters that feel deeply real. The protagonist’s journey is gripping, full of tension, moral dilemmas, and unexpected twists. The magic system is unique and well thought out, adding depth to the story rather than just serving as a plot device.

What truly makes this book stand out is its emotional depth. Alongi weaves themes of sacrifice, destiny, and resilience seamlessly into the narrative, making it not just an exciting read but a thought-provoking one as well.

I couldn’t put this book down, and I already know I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. If you love dark, immersive fantasy with strong character development and high stakes, The Witch Who Trades with Death is an absolute must-read!

The Witch who Trades with Death is gritty, dark and magical. The portrayal of difficult times, trauma and recovery are all impactful.
I had very strong feelings about the Emperor and have never wanted a character to die more (him being immortal makes that a challenge). I will say no more on him to avoid spoilers, but I absolutely love to hate a character. The journey for Khana (the witch) is full of highs and lows. I absolutely rooted for her. Her friendships and relationships all read very naturally and are heartwarming. There is definitely a good balance between the emotional turmoil and some more pleasing moments.
Also, the scenes with Death are amazing, the way the characters interact and how bargains are made is riveting. Along with the Death scenes, I especially loved the creatures that are created and these make for some cool animal companions.
This is an emotional political fantasy that’s filled with magic and hope.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

A Breathtaking book filled with gut-punch emotions and the gritty reality of dealing with, and overcoming trauma, with an amazing magic system that flows so seamlessly into the worldbuilding, and a cast of diverse and fantastic characters, this is going to easily be in my top ten for twenty twenty five. I LOVED, this book, and i especially loved how the author didn't shy away or water down the truth of war, abuse, and recovery. with a found family that feels like a comforting hug, and a romance that will make the butterflies in your stomach go wild, this is a story of recovery, vengeance, and finding the strength within yourself to not only fight back, but defend those that you love.

i LOVED, the main character. i loved the struggles she and her friends go through to overcome their families, their pasts, and their fears. i love how no matter how many times the world knocks them down, they get up, again. and again, and again. Khana starts off skittish, meek, terrified of her shadow, and at the end of the book, she's grown into an amazing, powerful woman, who can handle her nightmares, no matter how often they might come.

This was a beautiful, nuanced look at grief, loss and finding a family that is not blood but so much the stronger for it.

The main character is a witch, capable of drawing life from one and pushing it into another. For those that are wounded or near death from illness, it can heal them. For those that are already dead, it creates a monster, a zombie like creature with no mind of its own. Khana is not the only witch, all with this power are forced to serve the Immortal Emperor, a cruel and sadistic ruler who cares only for conquest. When she manages to escape, she finds herself in a small town and before long finds herself having to confront all she had hoped to leave behind.

Watching Khana heal, letting others in, was a joy to behold, as was watching those friends she made open up in turn. Every character that becomes friend, family, is wounded in some way, and feels like a real person, with flaws and all.

There are some highly triggering topics within this book, such as forced sexual acts, domestic violence, toxic relationships, mistreating refugees and of course, death. Personally (and with personal experience of some of these triggers) I found they were treated with respect and compassion, although personal feelings will vary. They are skilfully handled and all the moments feel as if they are part of the plot, there is a real reason for each horrible moment to be there, rather than any gratuitous scenes.

My only complaint was having to leave this world so soon after discovering it. I hope the author returns one day to this fascinating world and gives us another glimpse into part of it.

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

Thank you to Netgalley, Angry Robot Books and C.M. Alongi for the ARC.

A young witch forced to play concubine for her empirical captor, finally breaks free to find a life of her own, but even those with the power to call Death cannot outrun their past…

I have mixed feelings about this book.

I loved the beginning. You're thrust into Khana's world straightaway, learning about her circumstances and certain situations that she has found herself in.

I thought that the magic source, Áji, was such an interesting concept. I can't imagine how terrifying it must be to be at the whim of a tyrannical emperor who has such control over everyone's life source.

The beginning of the book has to be my favourite. It's action-packed, intense and harrowing.

The middle of the book dragged a little too much for me and I found myself skimming sentences and having to go back and reread them. Some parts were also predictable and everything seemed to be fixable with Áji. There weren't any consequences to any of the characters' actions because you had Khana fixing everything by finding every loophole under the sun.

Also, when I first read the synopsis, it made it sound like Khana would have Death be the love interest. It could just be me, but that's how I interpreted it and it's what initially drew me to the book.

The beginning started interesting, I like how the there was flashback to the past/ started in media res. I feel like the descriptions and details could have gone further. Terms like birth control just don't click in a fantasy book in a unknown age for me. Also why does Khanna have to be related to the emperor and be one of his wives, this is so weird. The writing flows but not really that a fan of the substance. She has been with the emperor for 6 years is wild, how old was she when she first became his wife??? The setting was also confusing, made it seem like the were villagers in a jungle and then in a metropolitan city. I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I got about a third of the way through before I had to put it down. It felt like nothing was happening, even after reading so much, which left me defeated. I realized I didn’t even care to find out what happens next.

I absolutely adored this story. C. M. Alongi has created an emotional and political story of dealing with abuse and trauma. I adored the wide cast of characters and their complex personalty and life before they met the story’s MC.

This story features a lot of talk of abusive relationships and the trauma they cause. We get this from both the perspective of our MC Khana who was the emperors concubine and with Haz who suffered abuse at the hands of his girlfriend. I think the author handled this well, there was lots of support for both characters and we got to see the importance of them healing in their own way. I will admit that when I read the blurb and saw the title, I thought Death would be a main character and they weren't. This story follows Khana running away, finding refuge, then joining the fight to save the village. I loved the magic system, aji (life force) is needed to do magic and think it was really interesting. Alongi wrote characters that will warm your heart, the relationships/friendships that formed are so tender and beautiful. This is a really great story.

I loved the concept and the snappy dialogue between the characters, which was definitely a highlight. Alongi's writing style is crisp and witty, particularly in the banter. The plot itself and the twist are fairly predictable. I found myself wanting more depth, especially concerning the world-building, which felt underdeveloped (some side characters felt a bit like plot devices). Ultimately, it's a light, entertaining read with a clever premise and sparkling dialogue.

Unique magic system. Diverse characters. Found family. Serious topics. Overcoming trauma. This book is beautiful. I truly enjoyed it. I was worried about the trigger warnings, but I went ahead and I'm glad I did. This book will grip your heart.

I was super excited to receive this ARC. I will say it took a few chapters for me to get into the story, but after, I was hooked.

This is an addictive and powerful fantasy novel. There is plenty of world building and history packed inside. The magic system felt unique. Truly a well-rounded novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for this ARC. This is an honest review.

Thank you Angry Robot Books @angryrobotbooks and C.M. Alongi @c.m.alongi for this free ebook!
“The Witch Who Trades with Death” by C.M. Alongi ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Dark Fantasy with a touch of romance.

Khana (20) is a witch forced to be a concubine of the cruel, immortal Emperor Yamueto. After 4 years of abuse, she kills one of his favorite courtiers with magic she doesn’t fully understand, and discovers Yamueto’s secret- he makes deals with Death. Khana flees to the small mountainside town of Pahuuda. She’s ostracized for being a witch, even as she heals their sick and injured. Now it’s her turn to make deals with Death. But every deal she makes takes another piece of her soul. And there’s only so much Khana can give before she turns into the very monster she’s trying to destroy.

Author Alongi has written a lovely book about friendship, found family, and war. Her diverse found-family characters include the former witch concubine, the old whore, the troublesome criminal, the cowardly rebel, the Tlapharian boy, the Cituva bastard outsider, and the Chief’s son. Her themes include thoughtful magical versions of modern issues: trauma from child abuse and domestic violence; women searching for underground sources because birth control is illegal in the empire; women and men fighting equally against injustice; discrimination against refugees. She adds in a sweet, slow-simmering, power-imbalance romance trope. Alongi is known for her delightful CaFae Latte series on TIkTok (I’m obsessed with it). If you’ve watched it, you’ll recognize her casual style-the book reads just like she talks. It’s 5 stars from me🌵📚👩🏼‍🦳🎀#thewitchwhotradeswithdeath

I'm not really sure how I feel about this book. While the magic system of consuming 'Aji' or life force from others was fascinating, it often felt like plot armor, making high-stakes situations feel less intense.

The pacing was another issue for me—the beginning was captivating, but the rest of the story didn't hold my attention as much. The action scenes felt repetitive and dragged on longer than necessary.

The characters were well-written, but I struggled to connect with our MC, Khana. Whether it was intentional to represent her trauma or not, there was a certain distance to her character. I found myself connecting more with the side characters—Haz and Sava, I’m looking at you! And Sava’s parents? Total badasses. The romance was sweet and wholesome, though a little unexpected. (Yes, I was under the impression that Death was the love interest, but I actually appreciated the direction it took!)

One of the strongest aspects of this book was the found family dynamic—chaotic misfits and underdogs healing each other always gets me.

So, if you're looking for a standalone fantasy without heavy world-building, this might be worth checking out.

*Thank you, Netgalley, Angry Robot, and the author, for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.*

A gripping, emotionally raw novel that weaves together magic, trauma, and resilience in a world where death is a currency to be bargained with.

Khana escapes cruel Emperor Yamueto, who has kept her as a concubine for years. After discovering his secret - he's been making deals with Death to maintain his immortality - Khana uses her own magic to escape and flee the empire. She finds refuge in a mountain town, but her powers make her a target. As she fights to survive and stop the emperor, Khana must confront the consequences of each deal she makes with Death, knowing that each one takes a piece of her soul.

At the heart of the novel is a unique and fascinating take on magic. Magic isn’t just a mystical force confined to witches, it's woven into the very fabric of all living things. This interconnectedness of magic and life is beautifully explored, especially in the ways it can be manipulated, abused, and traded with Death itself. The story delves into how corruption seeps in when people exploit others for power, and it skillfully shows the duality of magic: it can both destroy and bring peace.

The portrayal of Khana’s struggle to adjust to a new life as a refugee feels incredibly authentic. The clear depiction of racism - how refugees, who heal the wounded and aid in wars, are still ostracized and abused for their appearance, language, and heritage - rings all too true and prevalent today.

The book doesn’t shy away from depicting trauma, abuse, and PTSD. The inclusion of these difficult topics - rape, manipulation, and domestic violence - could be overwhelming for some, but the way they’re handled is both respectful and empowering. (Especially since, this has one of the most considerate and informative trigger warnings I’ve ever come across). Khana and other characters, despite their horrific pasts, are given the agency to fight back, reclaim their power, and heal. This is a story of survival and strength, and it’s deeply inspiring to see the characters’ journeys toward overcoming their scars.

Amidst the darkness, the relationship between Khana and Sava offers a glimmer of hope and tenderness. Their slow-burn romance is one of the most rewarding aspects of the book, built on mutual healing as Sava works through his grief and Khana confronts her trauma. Their connection is not only romantic but also deeply emotional, as they find solace in each other’s company. Equally important is Khana’s relationship with Haz, a character who brings humor and lightness to the otherwise grim world. Haz’ sass and warmth offer the emotional balance Khana so desperately needs, and their found family dynamic is heartwarming and vital to the overall message of the story.

Overall, is an extraordinary tale of magic, survival, and human connection. It challenges readers to confront hard truths about trauma, racism, and the consequences of abusing power, while also celebrating the transformative power of love, healing, and community.