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!

Randi Garner has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Her writing is amazing and the narrators did such a wonderful job bringing her story to life. It was a beautiful, amazing story about separation and the only eternal thing in life, love. The way this book broke my heart and then pieced it back together. Finnian and Cassian's relationship was absolutely everything and watching it develop throughout the book was breathtaking. I don't even have the words to describe how obsessed I am with these characters and this world. I love a gut wrenching book, a book that makes me FEEL, and Even in Death delivered!! Definitely a book I'd recommend to everyone, and if you decide to listen to the audiobook you won't regret it..

The way I loved Cassian and Phinny so much !!! Seriously an auto buy author!!

I was obsessed with the goddess just as much as as even in death

The plot twist was amazing and I didn’t expect it one bit

Thank you so much for the opportunity

Title: Even in Death
Where I Read: ALC provided by @netgalley @dreamscape_media and @randimgarner
.
The RayView: ✨✨✨✨✨
The HeatRay: 💥
How It Be Spicin’?: 🌶️🌶️
.
TW: Schmurder. Self-unaliving.
.
Bargaining his life for his sister, Finnian is imprisoned within the Land of the Dead. Doomed to suffer through extreme torture, he’s determined to outwit the lands ruler, Cassian, in order to right the wrongs he’s committed. He finds that his past is far more complicated than he remembered. Chaos is unavoidable and only one thing is certain - death.
.
The way I say FERAL is an understatement. I was absolutely feral to finally read book two. Finnian and Cassian make me swoon. I hope the epilogue alludes to a book three because I’m not ready to give up this world and the characters yet. The way Randi Garner writes is so eloquent and paced so naturally I always devour up the whole thing far too fast. The narrators - Benjamin Crow, Will Watt, and Shane East - knocked the audiobook out of the park. This series is hands down one of my all time faves.

This book was stunning. I genuinely don’t know how Randi Garner does it, but The Fragile Divine series is heartbreakingly beautiful—in all the best ways. It’s emotional, lyrical, and criminally underrated.

Even in Death is a gorgeous LGBTQ+ love story, overflowing with yearning, tension, and that kind of aching, soul-deep connection that stays with you long after the final page. Ugh. My heart.

Please, please read this series. You won’t regret it.

Both books in The Fragile Divine are now available as audiobooks!
Thank you, thank you @dreamscape_media!

Both are outstanding representations of books that I deeply loved as is, so for me to say that the audiobooks are WORTH is huuugggee. These are incredible, epic, multi-century stories that redefine the 'slow-burn, emotional, dark romantasy' in profound, deeply human, ways.

You will fall madly in love with these characters.
You will want to create a shrine to them... like I have... on your bookshelf.
These books will raise your bar on romantasy and dark fantasy.

And while each book is technically its own standalone within the greater story, they are interconnected in very meaningful ways and still must be read in order. I can't say much without spoilers, but their interconnectivity is wickedly clever.

This audiobook exceeded all of my expectations for a series that I was naturally inclined to be VERY picky about. 10/10