Since I loved Book 1 (The Goddess Of) when I saw this audio was available too I had to request it. I wanted more of this world. So yes, that means that if I am able to get an advanced audio for Book 3 (Ache of Chaos) I will be running, not walking, to request that one. I said it before and I’ll say it again, I’m a graphic designer, so I shamelessly judge books by their covers. This cover designer hasn’t missed yet. (my eyes are peeled for the next cover)

Finnian is imprisoned in the Land of the Dead by Cassian, the High God of Death and Curses. He’s the brother we all wish we had, he offers himself up to be imprisoned in place of his sister Naia. This one did take me a little longer to get through because it is more of a slower burn than book one. I did find my mind wandering off a little, to no fault of the book at all, but the MMC narrator’s voices were so soothing that I was losing focus. I listened in small pieces so that I could fully enjoy the book.

This book has a dual timeline and dual pov so you get a bit of everything. You get to be in both of the MMC’s heads in the current timeline and their pasts. You learn what led them to this point. Finnian in captivity, his motivations getting him through it, the torture he endures. Slowly losing his mind, but also how he falls for the mysterious Cassian. Cassian is ruthless, a truly morally gray character, honestly so morally gray he seems impossible to redeem. His restraint with Finnian but his eventual and inevitable urge to give in. These two represent a true enemies to lovers, opposites attract love story. “I loathe you. I long for you.” SIRS, excuse me. They are able to accept each other for who they are, see past the surface and mistakes.

Just like Book 1, the last few chapters had me getting choked up…
”Even in death, Finnian, love is the only thing truly immortal.” It’s okay, just stab me in the heart Randi, I’ll be fine, I promise.

The content is pretty heavy at times, some triggers are captivity, torture, death, etc. Please check trigger warnings for yourself before reading.

I was given the honor of receiving an Advanced Listener Copy of this book through NetGalley & Dreamscape Media. Thank you to Randi Garner for allowing me to listen to this. All opinions are my own.




Disclaimer: This review will also be on my Goodreads and Instagram

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

“Love is death. But death is love again.”

Even In Death is a world-class masterpiece and I love everything about this beautiful story! 🥹💕 It tore my heart into a million pieces and had me ugly crying so hard and then it managed to put my heart back together only to have my heart broken all over again! 💔 It was such a rollercoaster ride of emotions and I loved every second of this beautiful ride! 😱😭🥰🤭🖤 It is incredibly rare that I love the sequel to a book better than the first one but this one is my favorite and if you haven’t read this series yet consider reading this review a sign that you should start reading it because it’s everything! ❤️

I fell in love with Finnian and Cassian’s story! 🥹 The world-building, the complexity of the dual timelines, and reading about their stories truly tugged at my heartstrings! 🥰

Finnian and Cassian’s connection with each other is chef’s kiss! 👨‍🍳💋 It gave me goosebumps up and down my arms and I loved their chemistry, tension, and banter! 🤭🔥

If you love morally grey MMC, cinnamon roll MMC, slow burn, dual timelines, psychological horror, enemies to lovers, mental health representation, and a book that will capture your whole heart and soul then this is the book for you! 🫶

“𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶.”

Are you ready for a tumultuous ride and to have your heart ripped out repeatedly? Buckle in as Finn, mage and necromancer, and Cassian, High God of Death and Curses, take on centuries of angst, disappointments, and grief. They love/hate each other, fight fate, search for ways to break curses, and outwit other deities. All in hopes of finding a way back to one another. Talk about opposites attract!

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 takes self-sacrifice, and suffering to a new level. The two timelines were confusing initially regarding the status of Finn and Cassian’s relationship. Loving or loathing; it’s back and forth like the most perverse game of tennis. It clears up about 40% of the way in (at least it did for me), and that’s when I had a better grip on the story.

Highlights:
🧪 Dual timeline, dual POV, dark romance, opposites attract, enemies-to-lovers, spice, open door
🧪 Morally grey characters
🧪 Magic, potions, fate, curses, vengeful/jealous deities

Be aware of: torture (graphic); triggers are listed at the beginning of the novel

The narrators in this were excellent! They were perfectly cast for their roles. We’re talking about tortured, broken characters here, and their moving emotional deliveries elevated my listening experience.

I guess I love some some dark romance? I find this series spellbinding. I’m so addicted to its insane levels of passion and depravity. I don’t think it’s something I would’ve considered had I not been in the mood for something so twisted from my usual picks. Check it out if you’re so inclined!

Thanks to @dreamscape_media for my ALC in exchange for an honest review. I think I’m fully recovered now 😂

Randi Garner is a genius who writes purely traumatizing, gripping masterpieces. From start to end, this book will have you on your toes, and whether you try or not, you will be yearning and guessing what is to happen next. This is also more than just enemies to lovers; these characters have deep, intricate, perfectly developed histories, and Randi knows how she can use that in tandem with her poetic writing to make you more than just feel these characters. You will yearn with them and hurt with them. No matter how hard you try to hate one character, you will know too much to truly hate them. All of them have the most beautifully complex backstories that you don't just read—you live through them. This book will not just break your heart with the main characters—it will twist and torment it. It will also nurture and feed it. And in the end, all the plot lines and things that happen all tie together to make a purpose with a heart-wrenching, perfectly executed ending. You could call these characters morally gray, but when you look at them, you see all they are and all they have done—you feel the hurt they know. They have morals; they have just been through so much that the pain makes the characters who they are. This book is also extremely magical. The power and history of the world are incredibly real. There is a history to this world that makes it feel so whimsical, and the magic system based on mythology is one of my favorites because the way it really fleshes out makes the characters who they are, adding a beautiful layer of definition. If you want the worst book hangover ever and characters so beautifully written and understandable, then I would recommend this novel. And if you want amazing voice acting that really makes you feel the trauma, then I would definitely get the audiobook too. The voice actors do an amazing job at showing the pain through their voices and making you feel the passion in the characters. It makes you feel their tension and own their anger. In the end this book will leave a mark on your heart that will make you feal it long after the final page.

I just finished reading this for the second time, and as with the first book in this series, I feel like there are no words to do Even in Death justice.

Randi Garner's writing is so poetically beautiful. These are dark, gothic romantasy books with the most soul-altering, TRULY ROMANTIC stories of all time. Both our MMCs in EiD go through lifetimes worth of yearning and torment and my heart ached reading through this again. I cried both times. Yes, even knowing what was coming the second time around.

That being said, the HEA is clearly hard-won, and the author knows how to wrap up a story so I'm left feeling whole and somehow better than I was when I started. Then there's just enough sprinkled throughout to have me looking forward to what's coming next. I'll never stop rereading and recommending these books.

Thanks to the author and Dreamscape for access to an early listener copy so I could jump back into this story so soon after my first read. The narration brought these characters to life and only further elevated the story.

“Death is peace, Finnian, and pain is just a sign of loves presence” I cried ugly tears, this was emotional, this was a true dark enemies to lovers, and I was obsessed! Randi is a beautiful writer that lets you feel the depth of grief. I truly enjoyed this story and I’m so excited to find a new author I’m obsessed with!

I don't have the words to convey how much I love this book. It's heartbreakingly beautiful! Hauntingly so. Finnian's dimples may be the actual death of me. And Cassian 😭 I just want to hug him tight for enduring all he was put through. This will definitely be one of my top reads of 2025!

This book is so beautiful 😍 Inside and out! The audiobook narrators did a phenomenal job! Now I need to reread it so I can save some of the amazing quotes.

This book was sublime! Can I give more than 5 stars?
There is not a single thing that I did not like about this story. I requested access to the audiobook because one of my favourite narrators was on the list. After being approved, I realized that I had to read book 1 first - best accident ever. I really enjoyed it and then swiftly devoured this one. Cassian might as well take my soul now, because he owns it and Finnian captured my heart forever. Randi wrote Cassian with so much emotion that I felt it like a sirens call coming through my headphones. I can’t remember the last time that I felt so much pain and longing, and love while reading - or maybe ever, even in real life.
The story alternates between Cassian and Finnian’s past and present together. This paints the clearest picture possible of their deep connection. If you want to hear more of my praise, just listen for yourself and you’ll get it, just trust me. I didn’t want it to end and I cannot wait for more of this series!
The narration had me longing for more of those whispers in my ear. The narrators did a fine job indeed.
Many thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for granting me access to an early listening copy of the book. The opinions expressed are given freely, honest and my own.

I want to start off by saying this was a reread, because this was my favorite book of the year and I needed to listen to it. This audiobook is such a masterpiece. The narrators are so talented and brought Finnian and Cassian to life perfectly. I didn’t think this story could be anymore emotional but listening to it made it so much more. The narrators were the perfect perfect choice. I didn’t want it to ever end.

Randi has a way with her writing to make you feel so deeply connected and invested in her characters. I teared up and cried multiple times, and if you know me you know I don’t cry easily. Finny and Cassian were truly so special.

The duel timeline aspect of her stories truly makes such a HUGE emotional impact on the story. Getting to see Finnian and Cassian in the future and the past made their story so much more complex.

I resonated with this book so deeply. Finnian is a god that can resurrect the dead, and his main dilemma is that he does not understand death, so he raises souls from the dead so he doesn’t have to let them go. He is so afraid to lose the ones he loves. He lets it rule him. With having severe health and death anxiety getting to read a story of how death isn’t always the end was so beautiful. Finnian is a new soul character for me.. and him and Cassian journey is a love story for the ages. I sobbed, I cried, I kicked my feet and giggled and felt all the emotions of this story. This story has a lot of trauma, a lot of healing and a lot self discovery. But they do get their hea. This book was an ♾️ star book for me and I will truly never stop shouting about it. Make sure you read book one before this one! It’s just as good 💖

Audiobook Review – 5 Stars
“Even In Death” by Randi Garner – A Hauntingly Beautiful Masterpiece

I received this audiobook via NetGalley—huge thanks to Randi Garner for sharing this absolute emotional gut-punch of a story with me. I’m not being dramatic when I say: this book wrecked me. And I would gladly let it do so again.

From the very first line to the soul-shattering final chapter, “Even In Death” is dark romantasy perfection. It’s the kind of story that consumes you—where the world fades away and all that exists are Finnian and Cassian, pain and passion, death and devotion.

Set in a mythology-inspired, gothic world full of gods, curses, and necromantic horror, this book is a brutal, beautiful descent into the rawest depths of love and sacrifice. It picks up where The Goddess Of left off, and from the opening moment—Finnian’s brutal captivity—you’re thrown into high stakes, impossible choices, and aching tension. The dual timelines and dual POV add rich emotional layers that make every revelation more poignant.

The romance? Devastating. Tender. Utterly unforgettable. Cassian and Finnian are complete opposites—one cold and haunted, the other fierce and full of fire—and watching them slowly unravel and rebuild each other is a journey I’ll never forget. The “enemies-to-lovers” dynamic is executed flawlessly, with moments of loathing, yearning, and soul-deep love that left me breathless. Their chemistry burns. Their love heals. And their pain? It’s palpable.

Narration-wise, this audiobook is flawless. Benjamin Crow and Will Watt embody these characters. They captured every tremble of grief, every whisper of longing, every gasp of rage. Their performances elevated the already incredible writing to another level. I’ve never felt so immersed—so wrecked—by an audiobook before.

Trigger warnings apply (graphic torture, murder, death, and more), but if you’re a fan of dark romantasy with gothic flair, slow-burn tension, and soul-crushing emotional depth, this series is a must. If Manacled left you gutted, Even In Death will finish the job—and you’ll thank it for every painful second.

This is the best book I’ve read or listened to all year.

♾️ ⭐ BEST BOOK OF 2025!

“I loath you. And I long for you."

WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ dark romantasy
✨ MM enemies to lover
✨ captive x captor
✨ morally grey mmc
✨ cinnamon roll mmc
✨ slow burn
✨ opposites attract
✨ angst and yearning
✨ “I loathe you.”
✨ SPICY
✨ witchcraft and magic
✨ psychological horror elements
✨ gothic and macabre undertones
✨ hearing impaired rep
✨ dual timelines
✨ dual POV
✨ HEA
✨ TW: graphic torture, murder, death, necromancy, and more so be sure to read the authors trigger warnings beforehand.

My Thoughts:

Audiobook rating: 5⭐️ Absolutely perfect!
Story rating: 5⭐️ So good that I fear I will never recover.

When I tell you this book had me sobbing, I mean it. Blotchy face, snot coming out of my nose, tears blurring my eyes, weeping. I was an emotional mess, and I enjoyed every minute of it!

Even In Death is a breathtaking story about the lengths you are willing to go to for love that will simultaneously make your stomach flutter and break your heart. It's been two weeks since I listened to this audiobook and I honestly still cannot think about anything else. . . I haven't felt this way about a book in so long!

Finnian and Cassian’s story starts right in the middle of chaos. The Goddess Of ends with Finnian offering himself up to Cassian, the High God of Death and Curses, in place of his sister. And the present day storyline starts with Finnian's torture. Right away, we're thrown into this brutal, high-stakes situation. Finnian’s dealing with so much: surviving captivity, protecting Naia and his nephew, trying to free his father, and on top of all that, he’s fighting to keep his mind intact against a curse. And then there’s Cassian, who seems like this cold, merciless god at first. But really he's misunderstood, deeply wounded, and desperate for revenge. And as the story shifts between past and present, you really understand his character so much more.

I'm not going to lie, I honestly wondered how on earth we were going to move past the enemies part of the romance. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that their connection is something far more powerful. Their history? Complicated. Their chemistry? Off the charts. Their love? Painful, raw, and true. They’re like two souls caught in a storm, constantly pulled back to each other no matter how hard they try to stay apart. It's the kind of love that makes your chest ache in the best way. Cassian and Finnian would do anything for one another, even if it means hurting themselves. Their story is intense, emotional, devastating, and full of yearning - the best kind (at least to read about).

I truly loved Cassian and Finnian as a couple, but also as individual characters. Finnian is commanding, fierce, and impossible not to respect. But underneath all that strength, he’s kind, just, and fiercely loyal. Once he cares about someone, that’s it, he’ll protect them with everything he has. I admired and respected his unwavering devotion to the people he loves. And the way he wrestles with guilt and grief? It felt so honest and relatable. He’s a badass on the outside and all heart on the inside. And then, there's Cassian. My heart. 🥹🫶 Beneath the title of High God and all that cold, sharp exterior is the softest, most cinnamon-roll sweetheart you’ll ever meet. He’s spent so long closing himself off from love (because he’s had to) but the moment he opens his heart to Finnian, it’s over. He loves with his whole soul. He’s attentive, gentle, and would give up everything for Finnian. He completely wrecked me with how deeply and purely he loves.

The dual POV added so much to the emotional depth of this story. You get to live inside both of their heads - feel their conflict, guilt, and longing. Watching their love grow out of pain and mistrust into something so pure and selfless was one of the most satisfying reading experiences I’ve had in a long time. Their devotion to one another made me want to cry out in joy and agony all at once. I honestly can say that I am forever changed by them and their love. 😭

I also really appreciated how the story wove past and present together. Just like in The Goddess Of, the dual timeline allowed us to experience the full scope of their history. The way the pieces of their connection were slowly revealed, the way certain interactions hit harder once you understood their context...it was masterfully done. 👏

The continued world-building was also impressive. This story expanded on the mythology introduced in book one by exploring different realms (realm of the dead), meeting new Gods, and providing a more complete history of the Gods. I also loved that Naia, Ronin, and their little family had an active role in this story.

The ending absolutely destroyed me. I really can't even get into it without spoiling things, but so much happens romance and plot-wise. I probably aged 1o years just from the amount of anxiety and worry I had for these characters. And then . . . I was sobbing. Uncontrollably. I'm tearing up just thinking about it now. Don't worry, there is a happy ending. But, damn, did Randi Garner put us through hell to get to it. And the epilogue! 👀 I am foaming at the mouth for the next book, which will follow a different couple.

Benjamin Crow and Will Watt were PHENOMENAL audiobook narrators! They brought Finnian and Cassian to life so vividly, capturing every emotion with care and depth. I was completely immersed, and could genuinely listen to both of them speak for hours.

Overall, Even In Death is a masterpiece. It's everything I want in a romantasy: angsty, tender, emotional, heartbreaking, and hopeful. Randi Garner continues to blow me away with her ability to craft such deeply human stories in the midst of divine chaos. This book is now permanently etched in my soul.

I normally really enjoy a dark, enemies to lovers, Romantasy. There was just something about this book that never truly pulled me. I loved the narration and thought both narrators did an excellent job.

The romance in any enemies to lovers, specifically dark romance, is always to be suspenseful and tense. This one fell short of the angst for me. It softer than I was expecting. The characters lacked chemistry and depth. It was almost like Cassian was supposed to be this grump. All the while, Finnian was supposed to be his opposite. It just missed the grumpy x sunshine plot.

Needless to say, it left me disappointed.

I couldn’t be more in love with Even In Death. This was a worthwhile lyrical and emotional journey that stripped me down wholly. Written in such a beautiful, raw, emotional way. I was torn apart and knit back together—forever changed. I haven’t been able to stop thinking or talking about this book. Randi’s writing is a salve for the aching soul. My heart is full to bursting. We should all be so lucky to claim this experience.

Using the darker themes of separation and sacrifice; trauma, guilt and death, we are given characters with real depth struggling to make sense of how to forge their own destinies. Told across dual timelines; this mythologically-inspired, high-stakes love story takes place in a cruel and complex urban world with elements of magic, necromancy and witchcraft.

Gods and goddesses are born with divine power, but Finnian was also born a mage. As a young god, his magic is discovered, and he is banished from his mother’s kingdom, forced to leave behind everything he has ever known. In the Mortal Land he becomes known as the High God of Witchcraft and Sorcery. For centuries he has been stealing souls from Cassian, the High God of Death and Curses, who threatens punishment if the souls are not returned. Through an intense game of cat and mouse, the paths of the gods intersect and become more entwined.

In an attempt to stay one step ahead of his nemesis, Finnian forfeits his soul, and is imprisoned in Moros, Death’s kingdom, where he endeavors to right a wrong made centuries ago—he must find his father and together, escape the awful land. Equipped to bargain for their freedom, Finnian offers Cassian a rare weapon—one that is deadly to deities.

Tormented for millennia by the High Goddess of Fate, Cassian is desperate to put an end to it, but cannot accept the terms of the exchange presented by Finnian. Instead, Cassian must extract the location of the hidden weapon from Finnian—even if it means imparting a curse that will unravel his mind.

After years of torture deep in the Land of the Dead, Finnian comes face-to-face with the consequences of his past—a curse nibbling at his mind, eroding his sanity. He must work quickly to outsmart his longtime-enemy and formulate a plan to escape before his mind is lost forever to madness.

As the threads of fate weave tightly together and confusion mounts, Finnian finds that he is now completely at the mercy of Cassian, and cannot stray too far from him. Unable to trust his mind or his feelings, we witness the true fragility that accompanies their divinity. The rivalry, filled with loathing, unfolds into curiosity and tolerance, giving way playful banter and yearning that spans hundreds of years, highlighting that affection needs intention, courage and vulnerability to evolve into a deep, passionate—I want FOREVER kind of love. Fates be damned.

The voice acting was phenomenal, and I couldn’t help but fall in love with these characters.

I absolutely loved everything about this story. I already loved the series after reading The Goddess Of, and this book cemented it as my top favorite series. The character development, flow of the story, heartbreak and love all crushed and rebuilt my soul. I will cherish these characters for the rest of my life.

Book one in the series didn’t quite hook me at first—I found myself struggling to get into the story. But by the end, something about it clicked just enough to convince me to pick up book two and give it another shot. I had hope that maybe things would pick up now that I was more familiar with the characters and the world. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case.

I’ve tried a few times now to get into book two, but it’s just not working for me. The story feels like it’s taking place almost entirely inside the heads of the two main characters, and while I understand the importance of internal growth and personal reflection, I personally prefer more external action and interaction between characters. This one feels a bit too heavy on introspection, memories, and emotional monologues, and not enough on connection or meaningful dialogue. It’s not that the book is written badly—it’s just giving off a vibe that doesn’t match what I usually enjoy, and that’s made it tough for me to stay engaged.

I was so excited to start this book after just having finished The Goddess Of which is the sister to Finnian, the MMC in this story. I love the world that Randi built and think these books are so well done but at times they can feel a bit long and drawn out. I liked this one but I do think I liked book 1 a bit better. I am excited for the next one to release!

I was already a fan of this book but the audio took it to the next level!

Finnian's voice was exactly like I imagined it, it was so spot on that I couldn't help but picture him in my head every time he spoke. Cassian's voice was not what I expected but I very quickly became obsessed with it! The two of them together were just *chef's kiss*.
The narrators did such an amazing job with this story; you could feel the angst, the pain, the longing and yearning. I love Finny and Cassian so much and their love story is one for the ages, spanning over lifetimes, filled with all the emotions.

Even in Death is a fantastical story full of god schemes, revenge, curses and magic that will captivate you all the way through and make you long for more once it's over!

Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and Randi Garner for the opportunity to listen to and review this ALC!

I will say that this book is definitely better than the first. I loved the dynamic between Cassian and Finnian! The amount of times my heart was hurting for both of them!! Ugh I can’t. Not only was this twisty, but there was a lot of scheming going on! I feel like Randi’s work gets better the more that she does and I’m truly excited for the next book!!

Randi writes the most beautiful well well-planned out romantasy books. This series is emotional; these characters go through a lot of trauma before reaching their happy endings, but it is worth it!

Even in Death is the second book in the Fragile Divine series, you must read the first book, The Goddess of, first! It’s hard to review the second book in a fantasy series without giving anything away, but I’ll say that this is a devastatingly beautiful story of love and healing in a brutal world of deities, witches, and magic.

Cassian and Finnian have the most angsty, enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romance. Their story spans over centuries, and you get a dual timeline that tells their story before and after the events of the first book of the Fragile Divine series.

The author does such a wonderful job making Even in Death feel different from the first book, yet the beautiful writing and deeply emotional story feel very distinct and unique. Randi has become one of my favourite authors, and I will read anything she writes!

The audiobook is so well done! The narrators are truly perfect for these characters, and their performances make the audiobook a subversive experience. The way they narrate the story makes it clear when they are speaking versus when they are saying dialogue, which makes it so easy to follow along. I also love that the epilogue, which introduces a new character perspective, has its own brand-new narrator. This really elevates the story and shows that Randi is creating such a detailed universe!