This atmospheric, surreal coming-of-age tale with rich folkloric undertones thoroughly charmed me. While I expected more focus on the titular night market, what lingered most were the haunting tales of the night itself.

Oriana, a young creator, yearns to stand equal to her male counterparts and challenges her twin brother for the right of first apprenticeship. Her defiance, however, leads to scorn and sabotage. As her city dreams, Oriana ventures into the shifting, dangerous realm of night—filled with saints, servants, and shadowy bargains—to hone her craft and reclaim her chance.

In her desperation, she uses others for her gain, aided by willing night and day denizens. When the final challenge proves unwinnable, she invokes the night duke’s boon to create the impossible. Yet time slips strangely in this world, and Oriana returns to find she no longer belongs to the day. Her story itself becomes folklore.

I adored the dreamy, immersive descriptions. Though I felt the title promised more of the market than delivered, if future books build on this world, all will be forgiven. Readers who crave lush, ever-shifting tales where coming-of-age blurs into myth will find much to love here.

Secret Market of the Dead releases July 8,2025. Thanks to Saga Press for the Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I fell under the spell of De Feo's "The Secret Market of the Dead" from the moment I stepped into his borderlands of 18th-century Naples—a world split between mundane Day and magical Night that functioned as both tangible reality and perfect metaphor for societal constraints. This liminal space transformed familiar historical fiction into something far more potent for me, especially when inhabited by seven immortals and powered by Moira, a fate-altering magic that exacted devastating personal costs from those desperate enough to wield it.

What enthralled me most was the relationship between twins Oriana and Oriano, their competition for their father's forge transcending simple sibling rivalry. Through their increasingly fractured bond, I watched De Feo examine how gender expectations can poison even the closest relationships. Oriana's determination to claim her rightful place despite society's—and her own family's—opposition drew me deeply into her struggle. I found myself championing her resilience at every turn, my emotional investment building even as the magical elements grew more complex.

De Feo seamlessly wove supernatural elements into his period setting. The Secret Market didn't feel like an intrusion into history but rather a shadowy truth existing just beneath accepted reality. I appreciated how the immortals governing this nocturnal realm emerged organically from the cultural tapestry rather than feeling imposed upon it.

Oriana's journey from curious outsider to determined competitor broke my heart because her defiance felt so necessary—making the devastating conclusion both shocking and somehow inevitable. I admired how the narrative honored fantasy traditions while reconfiguring them through a distinctly Italian lens, creating something that felt both comfortingly familiar and startlingly new. In the increasingly crowded field of historical fantasy, De Feo's voice stands refreshingly apart.

Special thanks to Saga Press and NetGalley for providing the advance review copy, though all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

The Secret Market of the Dead by Giovanni De Feo is a third person-POV historical fantasy/fabulism set in a small Italian town. Twins Oriana and Oriano are the children of a smithy and believe that they will share it when they come of age. But when Oriano is given chances Oriana isn’t, she starts to find her own chances among the Night instead of the Day.

I thought it was very cool how the worldbuilding is really focused on Night vs Day and how they are very different parts of the same city. Day is bound by the rules of our world but Night is more fantastical and operates closer to a fairy tale. Statues can move and foxes can talk and other aspects of Italian folklore that I would love to explore further in my own research. They really do feel like separate worlds in a lot of ways.

Oriana and Oriano are very different characters with very different experiences. Oriana is held back by her gender in ways Oriano never has to contend with but Oriano is not as intelligent as Oriana and people do try to manipulate him because of this. Of the two, I did prefer Oriana but I never felt like I truly disliked Oriano even though he does sometimes feed into the sexist ideas of the culture around him and I can understand why Oriana is resentful of his relationship with their mother and the opportunities given to him. Oriana does receive benefits of her own because she spends time in Night, a chance Oriano is never, to our knowledge, even presented.

The book moves at a fairly slow pace and is mostly focused on Oriana and Oriano’s childhood and the expectations placed on tweens at the time in this city. Getting prepared to work at fourteen and marriage contracts to be finalized later both show up as do questions around succession. The pacing helps let the world breathe and for us to see what limitations are being put onto Oriana without stalling the story for pages and pages. It’s all handled quite well.

Content warning for depictions of sexism and mentions of child brides

I would recommend this to fans of fabulist literature and readers who like books with lots of folklore

“𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞.”

𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌: The Secret Market of the Dead
𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓: Giovanni De Feo
𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
𝑽𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒔: 🎼 🕯️ 🗡️ 🪬 💍🐈‍⬛✨

Ah to be swept away into a world of magical mystery where dreams come alive! Not just the dreams of humans, but those of cats, buildings, and rivers too! The Secret Market of the Dead was entirely inspired and enthralling. Every page riffled with magic and mystery in a quaint but magical town in Italy. I felt as though I was in something all together new but reminiscent. De Feo’s writing transported me and it felt as if I was in a lucid dream. There are talking cats, handkerchiefs that unfold to reveal mansions, and rings made of water from the beginning of time. If you are not thoroughly intrigued right now, I’m not sure what else I can tempt you with!

This book has prompted a sense of nostalgia within me- like remembering some diluted dream or a faint childhood memory that was laced with magic! We follow a young girl through a journey of self-discovery. She is bold, persistent, and self-made! I loved every minute of the story and I was swept away. The pages flowed so smoothly because it felt like I opened and closed the book in an instant! Left with the feeling of magic!!

For fans of Caraval, The Night Circus, and Pan’s Labrinth! It was one enthralling journey into The Secret Market of the Dead✨🖤 A beautiful tale of growth, magic, and discovery!!

Characters: 3.50⭐️
Setting: 4.00⭐️
Plot: 3.25⭐️
Themes: 3.75⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 3.25⭐️
Emotional Impact: 3.00⭐️
Overall rating: 3.50⭐️

A modern day fairytale is what The Secret Market of the Dead is, but the story is not centered around the titled market. The story is mainly about Oriana who is a young girl who challenges her birthright. She is a feminist character in late 1700s Italy where she wants to become an apprentice to a blacksmith. There was definitely some whimsy to this story, but overall, I found it diverted from the original path of Oriana travelling to this market.

I understand the need for character growth and how it is an important story to tell, but I felt I slogged through the last 50 pages, pushing for it to be over. I didn't have much connection to the characters, even though the world building of Luceria was fantastic. I wanted more of the market and less of the forge apprenticeship challenges.

This Italian-inspired historical fantasy is a dark and wondrous coming-of-age story. A young girl in 18th century Lucería enters the nocturnal realm and is changed forever. The atmosphere is perfect! I love this strange, tantalizing realm where reality bends and cats talk and dreamers trade away their futures. The wonder and the sense of danger combine to make a truly compelling setting. I loved the MC's strength and determination to not bend to society's expectations as she grows up. However, the majority of the book focuses on her life several years after visiting the market of the dead. I really wish the book had included more time in the nocturnal realm, as that’s where the author’s world building really shines.

Thank you to the author for a copy of this ARC. All opinions in this review are mine and are freely given.

Can somebody say slay? Slay!

Anyway ~ I throughly enjoyed this book! One of the initial things that intrigued me was that it was a gothic historical fantasy because come on sounds horrifyingly amazing (ahaha)! And I loved how it kind of read like a fairytale!

I wish we got to explore the Secret Market more … yeah….

Oriana’s story had me captivated from the first chapter. The dream world has never been as interesting as it is in Luceria! Emotion is perfectly blended with suspense and darkness in such a memorable way. The trials, the secrets and the adventure create such a magical and enthralling world that I found myself not wanting to leave.

Very interesting and kept my attention. I was intrigued and kept wanting to turn the page and know more about the story.

A gothic historical fantasy set on the border between Day and Night, this atmospheric tale blends the whimsy of films like Spirited Away with the haunting depth of Pan’s Labyrinth. In a town steeped in secrets, Oriana dreams of forging her own path. When her brother is chosen to inherit their father's forge, she challenges him in a series of trials that lead her deep into a world of strange night markets, dream realms, and secret cat societies. To claim her destiny, she'll have to face the shadows—and pay their price. I really enjoyed this story—it carried a cozy and nostalgic feeling, reminiscent of my favorite Miyazaki films. It’s filled with dark, fantastical imagery, strange and unique creatures, and a compelling main character who makes the journey even more immersive! That said, our main characters age—8 and later 14—felt somewhat inconsistent with her voice and actions, in my opinion, she easily could have been a few years older without losing the impact of her story. The exploration of family dynamics, especially between Oriana and her twin brother Oriono, and the complicated relationship with their parents, added a lot of emotional depth. I appreciated how the novel touched on themes like legacy, societal expectations, and the quiet, often painful, distance that can exist between parents and their children. While the story delivered on atmosphere and imagination, the ending felt a bit too abrupt for my taste. So many major plot threads were tied up quickly, and I would’ve loved a bit more time to sit with the resolution. Still, I had a great time with this one, I’m really glad I picked it up!

Thank you NetGalley and Saga Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a charming fairy tale-esque story! I went in not entirely sure what to expect, but the promise of an Italian-inspired gothic historical fantasy was too good to pass up. The writing quality really helped created the atmosphere and I thought Oriana’s story was compelling and interesting, even if it was a familiar. De Feo did a good job at blending the fantastic with the mundane, and I really liked all the parts that took place in the Night. This is, at its heart, a coming of age story, and while I personally would have preferred more time spent in the Night and at the titular market, I was thoroughly swept away.

This was actually really, really good. Oriana and Oriano are twins, but despite her skill and desire to master the forge being stronger than his, he is set to inherit it, only because he is a man. As Oriana learns and trains, everything is against her, until she calls on the Night to help her.

With the help of creatures of the Night, Oriana can accomplish her greatest and deepest dreams. But dreams are not always as they seem, and the fruition of them can leave much to be desired. The Night Market holds both secrets and answers, and for Oriana, the two are often one and the same.

This was a magical book. Something I needed at this time in our society. In wanting more for her in all areas. Looking for answers. Wanting the life we are wanting for ourselves. I might be mirroring because of today's society but fighting for yourself and believing in yourself is important.

I was sold on this book when I read the summary. It’s an interesting concept to write in a novel. Compared to the title of this book and what is actually written, the concepts are way off. I wish more time was spent in the market of the dead.

I wanted to like this one a lot more than I did; the beginning was amazing but the story quickly petered off into a vague what-is-the-plot, I-don’t-know-but-here’s-a-lot-of-boring-exposition slogfest for me, once we left the market of the dead, I got bored and annoyed with the direction of the story but I stuck with it…unfortunately the payoff just was not there for me. A good book and well-written, but not what I expected.

Thank you to Saga Says Press for giving me the opportunity to read this novel.

The Secret Market of the Dead reads like a darker Studio Ghibli film. The story and the character are whimsical yet deep and dark. Oriana is our protagonist and all she wants to be is a smithy. When both her and her twin come of age, she had to challenge for her right to become an apprentice. While this storyline is developing we see a whole different side during the night with talking cats, different mythical creatures and more.

This book just isn't for me. I have been trying and trying to get into it but something just isn't clicking. I got to the 25% mark and couldn't do it anymore. I don't feel connected to the main character and it felt like chore to pick up the book.

The Secret Market of the Dead - it sounds so cool and up our alley.
Unfortunately, this book was not for us. At least not all of it.

The good:
We really enjoyed learning about the Nocturnals and The Secret Market of the Dead. So many interesting creatures and worldbuilding. We wish we had gotten more of it. The whimsical horror kept us reading. Some of the character relationships were great and we really felt the weight of them.

The not-so-good:
To keep it short, most of what didn't work for us were the character work and telling more than showing. The character work felt uneven - sometimes we get a lot of insight into a character and other times their motivations were glossed over. At times the characters actions and impact seemed in conflict with how the character was set up. Several of the characters felt flat in part because we were told what the characters were doing / their motivations rather than being shown.

There's a lot of potential for this to have been a great book. It probably would work better as a play or an animated movie.
We'll have a more extensive review of the book in an upcoming episode.

Thank you to Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for a free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.75 ⭐️ The Secret Market of the Dead is a gothic historical fantasy that feels a touch like a gothic version of Spirited Away mixed with a dark historical fairytale. The world building and writing were so atmospheric, I was immediately pulled back in time and into this world that De Feo has created and I absolutely loved the world. The character work was good, I really enjoyed most of the characters and felt really connected to Oriana. The only thing is that she's 8 and 14 in this book and to be honest, she did not feel 8 years old at all. I don't mean that in a bad way, I just think she could have been aged up because I'm not sure any 8 year old that acts the way she does. So I had no trouble connecting with her just because I never actually considered her to be that young.

It was really interesting to see the family dynamics between Oriana and her twin, Oriono, along with her mother and father. I like that this book explores the complexities of the parent-child relationship and how that comes into play with societal norms, expectations, and legacy. I loved the shadow market, secret society of cats, and dream realm. I found it to be so fun to read about, while also giving a very eerie, gothic fairytale feel to the story, especially with the gods sending Oriana on a seemingly impossible quest.

I do feel like this wrapped up a little too quickly so I was left wanting in terms of the ending. I really wish the end was drawn out more just since it felt like it wrapped up so many big plot points in a short amount of time.

Overall, I had a good time with this book and I love anything that gives me a good gothic atmosphere. I'm so glad I got the chance to read this book!

The Secret Market of the Dead is a dark fantasy that reminds me of Guillermo Del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth and the fairy market of Hellboy: The Golden Army. 

The story may follow a child but its themes are dark and twisted. Monsterous creatures, vicious curses, and malicious magic line every page. Giovanni De Feo's writing creates a vivid picture of the world around our central characters.

That being said, we jump right into the story with very little understanding of the magic system or a direct understanding of the way things function within that beautiful world with so much happening all at once. It was a jarring experience to see various creatures and magic so early in the story, within the first few pages, with terminology being thrown out yet no understanding of what any of those terms mean or how much weight to put behind the meaning of those terms. 

While it was a fun gothic tale there were points throughout the book where I considered putting it down or found myself having to reread passages to understand if I'd missed something. While I'll look out for more from this author, I didn't connect with the story as much as I'd hoped.