This just wasn't for me. There's a lot of exposition but it doesn't add up to rich world building. We don't get to know the MC enough to root for her or be intetested in her before she does magic involving animal death (yeah, you might have wanted to add that to your list of trigger warnings since you believe so strongly in them). Overall, I just wasn't interested in the characters or the plot. There was nothing I hadn't seen in fantasy before.

Thank you for providing me with a copy of The Witch Who Trades With Death.

This was a great fantasy with a bit of romance on the side that covers a wide range of complex themes and unique concepts.

I loved the idea that magic comes with a cost as too often it is the ‘easy’ way out in a fantasy novel so this provided a unique perspective, especially with the beautiful execution of Death as a character within this.

The found family feel to this book was amazing and I loved the growth that all of the characters are able to experience. The personality of each character is executed so well that they jump off the page and I loved that the darker themes in the book were balanced out by the hope and camaraderie of the group which was really effective in the exploration of the range of darker themes.

I would say that the pacing is a little slow to begin with but is worth sticking with as this definitely picks up and is worth the wait.

I loved the narration of this book and thought it perfectly excecuted the writing style and enhanced the experience of the story!

While I liked the premise of "The Witch Who Trades With Death", the actual novel fell somewhat flat for me. While I liked the characters and the build-up of the first half of the novel, the second half felt rather unrealistic with the protagonist being vastly overpowered and the ending being way too convenient and saccharine for my tastes.

The messaging of the book is very important, but I think it could have been a lot more subtle.

Trigger warnings for The Witch Who Trades With Death include: sexual assault, domestic violence, explicit war scenes, explicit scenes of death (violent & peaceful), racism & xenophobia, and explicit consensual sex.
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“How did we get from me teasing you about your obvious crush to you both making me feel feelings?"
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I am loving the storytelling. I loved everything about this novel. It made me laugh. It made me smile. It made me cry. Several times.
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"You don’t want to conquer this kingdom – it gets so cold your tiny balls would freeze off!”
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I really liked the relationship between Haz and Khana. I always enjoy books where the main relationship isn't romance. I love books where romance and relationships aren't the focus. There aren't nearly enough of them for my liking. I also really enjoyed the relationship between Khana and Sava. The way Sava always gave Khana space and time, didn't push her and let Khana take the lead with everything.
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I also thought that the representation of the traumas that various characters went through was done really well. I fell in love with these characters and I'll be sad to leave them behind now.
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Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC copy of this book.

CW: war, death, torture, gore, sexual assault

I enjoyed this book! My teen told me to read it, so I got an ARC, and really liked it. I found it a little bit confusing at parts, because it goes from almost a solely single POV to more POVs, and that was a bit tricky when I was listening to the audio. But once I figured it out I was all set.

I really loved the found family in this story, how Khana escapes her imprisonment and finds a home in a small mountain town. Not everyone in the town warms to her, as they don't trust her being a witch, despite taking advantage of her powers to heal their sick and wounded.

I also loved how Khana's found family really comes together for her, during her biggest battle.

The ending was kind of abrupt, so I do hope there is a sequel or some sort of follow up, so that I can see how everyone is doing.

What a deliciously clever, witchy little fantasy! This book cast a slow, subtle spell and I was here for it. The premise alone had me hooked: a witch who can trade with Death itself? Come on. That’s catnip for fantasy lovers. The whole concept of magic being life-based and bartered? So good. Slightly haunting. Definitely fresh.

And don’t even get me started on the romance. Slow burn? Yes. Satisfying? Double yes.

Tropes & Vibes:
Witchy vibes with a sprinkle of darkness
Literal deals with Death
Slow burn romance
Found family, but make it magical

Would I Recommend?
Absolutely. This is a must-read for fans of unique magic systems, thoughtful world building, and witches who don’t just stir the pot—they own it. If you like your fantasy to feel cozy, a little creepy, and emotionally layered, you’ll love this one.

Thank you to Bolinda and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to enjoy this ALC review.

4.75 stars for The Witch who Trades with Death by C.M. Alongi

"𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘴.”

Thank you for an ARC copy of this audiobook.

The Witch who Trades with Death is a unique standalone romantasy about a witch named Khana who had lost everything in life except her love for music thanks to the immortal king ruling over many lands.

Definitely read the trigger warnings on this one because Khana has it rough. Some events unfold leading to her escape to avoid death at the hands of the king. She ends up in a small town where she finds friends, community, family and herself.

Something about this story just absolutely resonated with me. Khana as the timid and scared witch, finding people who accept her for who she is and what she is able to bring to the table, growing into a strong woman who can confront the demons from her past.
It all seems so cliche but this book is such a fresh take on this story.

This world and the magic system is so unique to other's I've read. The way everything interconnects, the way people have lost part of the art of their magic because of the king, and the way Khana accidentally stumbled upon death within it all.

All the characters are absolutely amazing and I can't say that I didn't love a single one. The romance between Khana and Sava is slow and timid and there is a singular spicy scene, although it's not what you'd expect. The intimacy and growth between them mean so much more than the spice.

Overall, this book just gave me all the good feels while reading it and I highly recommend people read it if you like the premise.

𝕿𝖗𝖔𝖕𝖊𝖘:
Found Family
Consequences of Magic
DV rep
Disability rep

Dark bargains, deadly magic, and one witch who’s finally had enough! The Witch Who Trades with Death by C.M. Alongi, is a wild, emotional ride through a world where every spell costs a piece of your soul.
After escaping a cruel emperor, Khana finds herself caught up in deals with Death itself and hiding in a mountain village full of wary warriors. But what starts as survival slowly turns into something more… healing, hope, and a new kind of family.

I wasn’t sure this would be my thing, but I flew through it and really enjoyed it. A mix of magic with consequences, reluctant hero vibes, and a slow-build found family makes this a solid read.

Also, I have to give a shoutout to Lucy Walker-Evans, who absolutely smashed the narration. She brought Khana’s emotions to life with such clarity and nailed the darker, more intense moments without ever overdoing it. Her pacing, tone shifts, and distinct voices made the entire audio experience a pleasure; especially Death, who had just the right mix of menace and charm. Honestly, a great choice if you’re after a well-produced audiobook!

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

Khana is free and finds how to trade with actual death....and it leads to all sorts!

Read this book if you like:
~ Cozy read!
~ Lyrical writing
~ Unique magic system
~ Witchy powers
~ Little bit of romance/spice

I really enjoyed this read and look forward to reading more from this author.

The most wonderful found family story that had me SOBBING.

The way that this book handled non consensual/dubious consent and the recovery after it was so touching.

The friendships turned to family was heartwarming and a joy to be part of. The road from stranger to worker to friends to family was amazing.

It was an enjoyable time overall. I liked the characters and their journey, I thought that was quite well executed. The plot was also quite interesting but the pacing made everything a bit shaky. The ideas were there and the way some points unravelled were honestly very good and well thought out.

I enjoyed listening to this fantasy story audiobook, a story for all fantasy lovers. Living for the Immortal Emperor’s pleasure brings absolutely none for Khana. Forced to flee she kills the Emperor’s favourite concubine, but in so doing Khana learns a secret which will either get her killed or save her. Some of the themes within the story are dark, but a lot happens off page, and humour romance keeps light for the reader. Thank you to Belinda audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

I really enjoyed this more than I thought when I first started it.
Khana is a concubine for the emperor, enforced sex slave more like, as all the witches he finds are because only witches can give birth to witches and he really likes to have a palace full of witches by his side to use and abuse to make more monsters.
Well Khana ha had enough and when one of the Emperor's sickest wives skins her best friend just for fun, she kills her and takes her head so she cannot be resurrected. She flees on foot after buying a disguise and a guide with some stolen jewels. She sets up home with a pub that is known for taking in refugees. The sweetest family who befriends her and trusts her no questions asked. But when the emperor discovers Khana has fled, he will stop at nothing to get her back.
Now, I didn't think there was a lot of dealing with Death in this book. I did expect a little more but the story won me over enough to make this a 4* book

"The Witch who Trades with Death" is a really engaging book with a strong female lead and a unique storyline. It tells the fascinating tale of Khana, a witch who meets Death and trades parts of her soul for magical powers. Watching Khana's personality change with each trade she makes is truly intriguing. This original concept kept me hooked.

The romance subplot wasn't the main draw for me, but it added a nice slow-burn element that brought some positivity and light to the story as it got darker. Overall, the book's originality and Khana's compelling journey make it a great read.

The narration was good, but some of the dialects threw me off a little bit.

A fantasy standalone with high staked, an amazing set of characters and great world building.
This book was absolutely a gem to read! I truly loved the plot and the characters so much.

The magic was so interesting and the found family was so heartwarming 😭 you should all go run to buy this book and LOOK AT THAT COVER!!!

This was an interesting take on this kind of genre, an escaped concubine who is also a Witch who can communicate with Death!

The story starts off with a bang and you get sucked into Khana's world pretty quickly, however I did feel that once she settled in the Town things slowed down and pacing felt stilted at times.
The narrator did an incredible job, especially with the accents! A good mix of characters and easily distinguishable while listening.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the chance to read and review this book.

I really enjoyed this audiobook, I love it when a narrator uses multiple voices for different characters, and I love a good accent! The only one that threw me off was death - I'm used to death being dark and mysterious, and this was voiced as more lighthearted and kind.

What would you trade to heal a stranger? Would you sacrifice more for your family, your friends? How much can you give before you lose who you are?

I was cheering Khana on from the first chapter. Witnessing her growth and healing was everything, and a great example of how those who care for you are willing to help you, not push you too far, too fast. It is rare to see both men & women suffering from abuse, so it was nice to see both represented here and how recovery can look for some.

I'm such a sucker for found family, and this book did such a wonderful job of pulling these characters together. The world-building and magic system were unique and intriguing.

I think this is an excellent fantasy to transition from YA to NA, however, please be cautious of the trigger warnings

"Boundaries are important. Everyone has lines that others don't get to cross. And only we get to decide where those lines are. After all, if you give up too much, you'll eventually destroy yourself. Then you'll be no help to anybody,"

✨New Adult
✨Found Family
✨Misfit Battle Squad
✨Witchy Magic System
✨Healing from Trauma
✨Minimal Deaf/HoH/Sign Language Rep

**Check trigger warnings

3.5 Stars

Loved it! I adored this book and it was a fantastic story! The characters were so enjoyable to read especially the bond they have created.

The narrator was really good in making the characters of the story more interesting.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher Bolinda Audio for the ARC-audio.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this story, the narrator was brilliant, great world building. Good amount of spice with the main strength of the book being it's plot for me.

I'd for sure read the next book. Thanks again. :)

Always nice to see a new magic system that’s unique, a rare thing to see.
Well paced and flowed really easily.
Narrator/audiobook was a good listen and will be looking into the authors other books.
4/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy, all opinions are my own.