3,25 ⭐

The Deathless One was a really interesting read. While I liked the dark fairy tale vibe and the way Emma built the atmosphere, it was hard for me to connect with the characters as much as I wanted to, and some parts of the plot felt a bit rushed or a little confusing.

It felt unique and a little haunting, which I loved, the atmosphere was dark and enchanting, but at the same time it's like I was reading behind a veil and not everything was clear. The idea behind the story was great though and kept me curious the whole time. I wish the characters were a bit more developed, not as them alone, but as them together.

Overall, I’m glad I read it, even if it didn’t completely blow me away.

DNF. I gave up by the end of chapter 3. I tried to be invested but by the end of the week, I was only three chapters in and knew it was no use. I’ll try again in a few weeks.

The Deathless One was such an interesting read! I feel like it really sucked me into the universe and held me there until the last page! Very much looking forward to the next book in this series!

I loved Emma’s Whispers of the Deep and plan on continuing her Deep Waters series, so this one got me so excited to read something new from her! Reading the blurb, I LOVED the premise - a princess murdered by her husband, meets a god of death and makes a deal with him? Yes, please!

I will say that I did enjoy the book overall, but the writing just did not feel the same as what I’ve read from her previously. It got off to a good start; I was interested enough through the beginning to continue, but I found I wasn’t totally engaged until about 40% in. But then once I was in it, it started to feel choppy, and I noticed that I really didn’t care for the dialogue - it was at times a bit cheesy. I also didn’t feel much attachment to the characters, which in turn made their attraction to each other feel less believable.

That being said, I love the concept of this series so much; I just wish the execution was much more solid. I do think this would be great in audiobook format, so I will do a re-read if/when it releases and decide if I want to continue the series, because as of now I’m on the fence.

Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Emma Hamm for this ARC!

DNF at 51%

I've loved all of Emma Hamm's other books, but this one was so boring for me. It took me weeks to hit 48% and then three more days to hit 51%.

The characters were bland and hardly anything has happened yet. I just couldn't keep going. The attraction between the characters also made zero sense and was coming out of the blue.

The Deathless One is definitely a romantasy for the romance lovers. While there was still a strong and unique fantasy plot, the romance and characters were absolutely the star of the show in my opinion. This is the first installment in a planned trilogy. And it was AMAZING!

We have Jessamine, a princess of a dying kingdom, sacrificed and killed at her own wedding to a cruel man. She is brought back to life by the deathless one, the God of death, so that she might help resurrect him and bring him back into the human realm.

I absolutely LOVED this book. Loved loved loved. The romance was so sweet and a super slow burn. It was absolutely delightful to watch the two main characters slowly fall for each other, and watch the MMC reveal the more vulnerable sides of himself to Jessamine. Considering he is a literal God he is kind of awkward and goofy and insecure which made me love him so much! He yearns for so deeply that I felt it in my soul.

The banter was amazing, the romance was amazing, I thought the pacing was great as well. There were some slower parts plot wise but I didn’t mind at all because I just loved every interaction between the characters. I think my only complaint would be that there was a few info dumpy parts towards the beginning but that’s about it.

This was my first Emma Hamm novel but I absolutely plan on reading her other books now!
Thank you so much for the ARC!

Thank you to Emma Hamm and NetGalley for providing me with an arc! I am leaving this review voluntarily.

What to expect:
- Shadow daddy
- Revengeful fmc
- Witches (love you Sybil 😘)
- Betrayal
- Gods/Goddesses
- Interesting world/plot
- Spice 3/5 🥵

Wow, how did it take me this long to start this book! Clearly I didn’t realize what a banger I had on my shelf!

What I liked:
Honestly I really enjoyed everything about this book. I personally didn’t find much to complain about. Though the main highlights would be the relationship and characters… call me a character driven plot girlie I don’t care 🤷‍♀️

First off, a shadow daddy GOD who had previous relationship trauma… did this author write him for me? I swear he was pulled right out of my dreams. I absolutely adored Elric, he had the broody bad boy exterior but such a soft cinnamon roll interior, especially when it came to Jessa! I constantly found myself swooning over him… I mean come on he’s a god AND a shadow daddy, what more could a girl as for? One thing that personally stood out to me was his trauma. So often in books the fmc is the one who is afraid of betrayal and heartbreak but not in this one! Finally, we got a mmc who was vulnerable, trust me Emma, it does not go unnoticed!

Okay, enough fangirling, onto the plot. Wow! What a roller coaster! Immediately we are thrust (😏) into the action with Jessa and her family being murdered. Now I will say that a good portion of the book was character driven, personally that didn’t bother me but I could see how some people would easily find that to be annoying. After about the 70% things really start to pick back up again action wise. There were so many reveals and revelations in the last couple chapters I swear I got whiplash! The amount of gasps I let out should be illegal. But hey, that’s what being a reader is all about so I can’t complain.

Honestly loved this book and can’t wait until the second book releases!

10/10 would recommend!

A massive massive thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. This book is going to be at the top of my list of books I loved in 2025 - it was EVERYTHING! I can be kind of picky with slow burns, but this one was *chefs kiss*. This book was dark, it was witchy, it was emotional, and it was written so well that I couldn't stop reading once I started. I desperately need the next addition, I am not done reading about Jessamine and Elric and the havoc they will unleash!

3/5 stars – Gorgeous Atmosphere, Uneven Execution

The Deathless One has a hauntingly beautiful setting and a concept steeped in folklore that immediately caught my attention. Emma Hamm’s writing is undeniably lyrical, and she has a real talent for building an eerie, otherworldly mood. If you’re someone who enjoys dark fairytales and atmospheric world-building, there’s definitely something here to appreciate.

But while the world is rich, the story itself felt thin. The pacing is slow to the point of losing momentum, and the plot meanders more than it progresses. The characters, particularly the leads, never quite came alive for me—they lacked the emotional complexity to make their journey feel urgent or meaningful. The romance, which should have been the heart of the story, felt undercooked and more told than shown.

There are glimpses of brilliance, and I can see why some readers are drawn to Hamm’s style. But for me, The Deathless One was more style than substance. A beautiful read on the surface, but it left me wanting more depth, tension, and character development

4.5⭐
SO GOOD.
Feminine rage, black magic, and a slow-burn romance that hurts in the best way—this book had me hooked from the brutal first chapter to the final page.

Jessamine is murdered on her wedding day, only to be resurrected by the Deathless One—the last living god with his own dark agenda. What follows is a beautifully written, witchy gothic fantasy filled with revenge, power struggles, and a romance that simmers with tension. Their connection builds slowly but intensely, fueled by shared trauma and dangerous attraction.

While the pacing dips in the middle and the magic system can be a little confusing, the writing flows effortlessly and the vibes are immaculate. Elric (the Deathless One) is everything a dark love interest should be: tormented, powerful, and completely enthralled by the FMC’s rise.

Perfect for fans of morally gray characters, rich worldbuilding, and stories where love doesn’t soften—it sharpens.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. The Deathless One started off strong, pulling me in with its eerie atmosphere and the promise of a dark, folklore inspired journey. The opening chapters had me genuinely intrigued. I was curious about the characters, the world, and the mysterious tone that hung over everything like mist.But as the story went on, that early spark began to fade. The pacing slowed down, and the plot started to feel a bit meandering. While the writing remained beautiful, the emotional momentum just wasn’t there for me. I found myself drifting, waiting for something to reignite my interest, but that moment never really came.

It had me from the cover, and I have never met a god of death I didn't love, so I was the perfect target audience for this amazing book.

I was a little skeptical going into this one. The beginning was confusing for me, and the pacing felt very slow. However, after the 60% mark, things really picked up, and I found myself much more engaged. There wasn’t a lot of world-building, but I got the gist of it.

What really stood out to me was the concept—the resurrection of the FMC, a god-like MMC, and her revenge story. I loved the overall plot and ideas. The female rage element was present but didn’t feel as strong until the end, which I wish had been more consistent throughout. That said, I’m really glad I stuck with it. I’m definitely looking forward to the second book and can’t wait to see where the story goes next!

I really enjoyed this book! I haven't read anything like it before, and it kept me intrigued from beginning to end. The characters are suspenseful, and the twists and turns of the story are well thought-out. I can't wait to read the second book when it comes out to continue with the characters.

After dying at the altar to a marriage she didn’t even want, Jessamine is revived by The Deathless One. She needs his help though to take back her kingdom, but he wants more than just to help her. He needs her so he can live again in her realm. Will Jessamine be able to take back her kingdom, resist the Deathless One’s pull and stop the plague?

This was an interesting story. I like the cover, it definitely suits the book! I enjoyed the Deathless One a lot as a character, he and his past kept me hooked into the story.

I liked the growth in Jessamine, from the murdered innocent princess we see in the beginning, to a queen ready to take back a throne.

It did take me a bit to fully immerse myself in the story, but once I did, the adventure was worth it. Definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys books with slow burn romance, magic, witches and a little spice!

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for the chance to read the arc!

Heat Index: 7/10

—god/witch

—in love with your carnage

—she wants revenge

—corruption arc bliss

The Basics:

To save her dying kingdom, Princess Jessamine agrees to marry a foreign king; but on her wedding day, he slashes her throat and sends her tumbling off a cliff. In the realm between worlds, she's discovered by the Deathless One, the only god still living—albeit without a mortal form. The Deathless One recognizes something in Jessamine, and he makes her a deal; if she summons him back to full power, he'll help her get the revenge she seeks. But the more she learns from the Deathless One, the more Jessamine is intrigued by what he represents—and what he offers.

The Review:

This! Is how you do a dark fantasy romance.

We get right into the action here with a visceral murder, a shadowy (literally and figuratively) hero whose goal is really to rule the world in blood... But he loves fierce, vengeful women, so he's better than Jessamine's husband, right?

One of the things I often struggle with in a fantasy romance is that the bad boys aren't really that bad, and the "morally gray" heroines aren't really that morally gray. In fact, they don't even seem to really enjoy their revenge that much. The Deathless One gives me what I've always wanted. Jessamine does struggle at points with how far she wants to go, it's true; but her doubts are contextually understandable, and in the end, her arc is wonderfully satisfying and one I don't see very often.

And the Deathless One? He really, really wants to get his hands on that ultimate power. And he doesn't even have Jessamine's flexible scruples. This is a death god who feels like a death god—not without his own vulnerabilities, with a ruthless streak a mile wide. A ruthless streak that, of course, folds a bit for Jessamine.

But it's the "why" of the Deathless One's regard for her that's so... refreshing. This isn't a "mating bond" type book (no shade intended, I obviously can enjoy that quite a bit!). It takes a good while for the Deathless One and Jessamine to warm up to each other, and even as their attraction builds, trust is a lot more complicated. However, they're connected through power, and frankly, he's drawn to her darker impulses. He stokes her rage. When she doubts her own pain, he validates it. When she questions her desire for not only vengeance but domination, he praises her.

I mean... Give me a man who calls me "his little nightmare", "his feral thing", etc.

This is the type of romance I want right now. The Deathless one is not a good guy, and he doesn't want a good girl. Jessamine is not a sweet woman, and she doesn't want a sweet man. These two ultimately delight in each other's carnage, revel in one another's power. The Deathless One does have a long history of being drawn to powerful, shall we say "complicated" women, but he's not easily controlled; which makes the way Jessamine ultimately does rule him all the more compelling.

A lot of books say they're about "female rage", but are they? Not really. This one is. And their only ally is a cool old lady, so you kind of have to love it.

The Sex:

This is a slower burn, and that goes for the physicality as well. But what we build to is so excellent. Perfect sexual tension. Absolute worship. (I mean, the Deathless One spends a lot of time on his knees.) And a consummation that is suitably insane for this novel. I cannot wait for more.

Also—really love that Jessamine isn't a virgin.

Conclusion:

As a heads up, this doesn't end on a cliffhanger, exactly, but there's definitely more story be told. And I really can't wait for the next installment, personally. Waiting with bated breath!

This book has a good beginning and a good ending but the middle is an absolute slog. It took me over a month to get through when I typically read books in a couple days. The characters were flat and the worldbuilding was severely lacking. While there were many flowery words used, they didn't really say much. This will be a good read for people who aren't interested in plot-heavy reads and more interested in the romance of romantasy.

This book starts off with lots of world building. It moves extremely slow the first 60%. Not slow enough that it isnt enjoyable there just isn't a lot that happens. The final part of the book is amazing. Things start falling into place and then there is finally some progress! It does end on a cliff hanger that makes me want book 2 asap.

I really wanted to love this one! I loved how dark this was and the premise was unique enough to stand apart from a lot of the same books in this genre. I do think I would have enjoyed this more had the romance been a little bit more prominent. I think the feminine range aspect was done very well, and Jessamine was a very easy character to root for!

4.5⭐What a book!! The first chapter gave me goosebumps! 😱 This is a book about feminine rage where the FMC sets out for revenge and finds love. I devoured this book and completely loved both Jessamine and the Deathless One. Their built-up romance is just exhilarating! As soon as I saw the cover, I knew this book would be for me.

This book starts with Jessamine, a princess who marries to bring a new King and save her people. However, her new King betrays her and slaughters her at the altar, which makes everything turn to havoc. Upon her death, she is revived by non other than the Deathless One who is the God of Death. She comes back with a vengeful thirst, where she finds out secrets about herself and what led to her death.

You will love this book if you love:

🔮 Feminine rage
🔮 Badass FMC
🔮 Magic
🔮 Slow Burn ❤️‍🔥
🔮 Dark Queen

The writing style was beautiful and easy to read. The plot was very well developed except the middle where it kind of slowed down, but the end picked up quickly.

Thank you, NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Emma Hamm, for this Advance Reader Copy of The Deathless One.