While I didn’t connect with every aspect of the story, there were elements that really stood out and kept me engaged. One of the strongest aspects of this book was the worldbuilding. The concept of the afterlife having multiple layers, meaning when you die, you reach the first layer, but your spirit can die again and move to the second, and so on was really original and interesting. It made the world feel unique and imaginative in a way that really stood out.

Where the story was a bit weaker for me was in the relationships. The dynamic with the first love interest didn’t fully work for me since it was based on very limited interaction (there were a few moments at the beginning, another in the middle, and a reunion at the end). So there honestly wasn’t enough between them for me to really be rooting for them even though I liked the parts we did see. I think even slightly longer or more emotional/deep scenes could have helped establish things between them more convincingly.

The second love interest seemed to be where the story was inspired by Wuthering Heights, aiming for a Cathy and Heathcliff-type relationship. It had the potential to be complex, since it was aiming to show both characters being damaged and drawn to those mirrored flaws in each other. But the problem was it felt more told than shown. Since they had a shared history before the events of the book, I wanted to feel that connection, not just be told it was there. With more depth, especially in how their “messed up” parts were reflected one another, I think their dynamic could have been much more impactful.

That leads into my broader issue with the characters: they needed more depth overall. At one point, the main character mentions that both she and the second love interest are narcissistic. That really caught me off guard, because I hadn’t seen any real signs of that in her behavior up to that point, and honestly even by the end I still don’t get it. As for him, again I don’t see how that fits, and I honestly had a really hard time figuring out what a single personality trait of his was overall. If their relationship is meant to be based on those shared traits, we needed to actually see them reflected in how they act and treat each other and other people, not just be told that’s the way it is and be expected to believe it. That said, I will admit the obsessive nature of their relationship was believable, even if some of the other parts were a bit shaky.

As for the ending, I’m not sure if a sequel is planned, but I hope there is. There were a few too many threads that were left unresolved for the ending to feel satisfying on its own. If this is part of a larger story, I’d be curious to see where it goes, but if it’s meant to stand alone, it didn’t quite deliver the closure I was hoping for.


~🅞🅥🅔🅡🅐🅛🅛 🅡🅐🅣🅘🅝🅖: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ . 25~

This was a really compelling story to read!

There was so much to love here—the world, the magic, the characters, the writing! I really found myself sucked into the story from the very first chapter!

One of my favorite parts about this story was the world building. I loved the Asian culture that was woven into the story so seamlessly. I also loved the mythology of the world, both in the living realm and the death realms. I especially loved the many levels of death, and how that worked in regards to ghosts being able to die again (and again…).

The characters were all really interesting! The love triangle was really compelling for the most part, and I was happy with how it worked out. I do feel like both sides of the love triangle could have been fleshed out a bit more, just in terms of how each of the boys came to fall for Jia in their own ways. But I still loved what we got of their dynamics.

The writing was easy to read, and also simply beautiful. So I enjoyed that a lot!

In terms of the plot, there were so many twists and turns! I do wish that less information had been withheld from our protagonist, but other than that, I thought the plot was well done too.

I would absolutely recommend this novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to read the digital ARC!

This book might be responsible for sending me back into my necromancy obsession from last fall...

For No Mortal Creature is a YA fantasy novel that features a young girl and a journey through the afterlife. I'm not sure if it's a standalone; it definitely read like one until the end, but I'm leaning toward thinking the author doesn't have plans to follow up on this story. And honestly? I think I liked it just fine as a standalone. The worldbuilding reminded me a bit of what little I know about Dante's Divine Comedy, as there are "layers" to the afterlife, and you can die as a ghost. It definitely created some interesting dynamics because the main character is able to resurrect herself, so death has no true hold on her. I haven't read many books that take place predominantly in the afterlife, so this was a unique read for me.

Jia grew up believing she was powerless, unlike the rest of her family, but after she finds herself alive again after a fatal stab wound, she realizes she has a rare type of magic that allows her to resurrect herself. And, as if becoming a necromancer isn't enough of a shock, Jia's grandmother is dying from mysterious circumstances, there's an enemy prince who wants to make a deal with her, and her ex is also haunting her. I would say this book is about 65% "adventure" in terms of plot, and the pace is well-balanced. The stakes do feel a bit lower because Jia's powers prevent her from dying completely, but there's still a good amount of action and tension to keep the reader interested. There are a ton of plot twists, none of which are too crazy. I didn't really call any of them (some of them I missed because I just assumed characters knew things they didn't), but I wasn't super surprised by them either. I think the biggest issue most readers will have is the ending, as it can come across as a bit ambiguous. I didn't like it at first, and I still have my hesitations about it, but it's growing on me as I write this now. Overall, this book is very enticing, and I probably would've read it faster had I had the time.

This is, like, the third book I've read in the past few weeks with a major love triangle, and all I have to say is that I don't hate the trope as much as I used to (still don't love it though, but it can be fun to mess around with). I liked Jia as a protagonist; she was a good mix of curiosity, stubbornness, and fire, so she was enjoyable to follow. I wouldn't necessarily consider her the strongest character in the world, as she tends to get dragged around by the plot and other characters, but I think that made her realistic. I didn't like Lin at first, though I grew to appreciate him by the end. He's angsty and secretive, but he's also a simp, so...pick your poison. Essien was probably my favorite character, which is unfortunate considering I felt like he didn't have a ton of page time compared to the others. He's sweet and I'm a sucker for his kind of backstory. Jia's family dynamics between her grandmother, her sister, and her sibling were all complex and intriguing. I liked seeing the development of their reactions to her as they realized who she was. The cast of characters is, in general, a nice mix of personalities and dynamics.

For No Mortal Creature is the perfect YA fantasy to add to your spooky reads list (which is perfect because it releases in October), and I think fans of Nicki Pau Preto's Bonesmith should check out this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!

4/5

For No Mortal Creature by Keshe Chow is a gothic, romantic fever dream that is haunting, immersive, and utterly impossible to put down. Set in a death realm as beautiful as it is brutal, this story blends betrayal, longing, and unearthly magic into a tale that lingers long after the final page.

Jia Yi is a fierce, grieving heroine with the power to traverse life and death, but nothing prepares her for the secrets and dangers of the afterlife or the emotional minefield of reuniting with her first love and her sworn enemy. The tension between Jia, Lin, and Prince Essien is electric, tangled with old wounds, suspicion, and desire. Every relationship is steeped in mystery, and the question of who she can trust adds an aching tension throughout.

Chow’s worldbuilding is rich and atmospheric, full of ghosts, forgotten gods, and decaying grandeur. The prose is sharp and lyrical, the themes deeply emotional: love, grief, sacrifice, and the haunting weight of the past. This is Wuthering Heights reimagined through an East Asian gothic lens, and it’s every bit as obsessive and unforgettable.

A must-read for fans of romantic angst, morally complex characters, and stories that feel like whispered secrets in the dark.

I absolutely loved this book. It had me hooked pretty much from the start. I pretty much flew through the book and couldn’t wait to find out how it all resolved. My favorite parts were the MC going deeper into the realms. This is a book you just have to experience for yourself to get the full impact. I definitely recommend everyone check it out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

I rated this 3.5 stars and rounded up to 4.

For No Mortal Creature is about Jia, a woman who is caught on the enemy's side of the forest while foraging for medicinal herbs for her dying grandmother. One of the soldiers kills her and she revives minutes later. When enemy Prince Essien finds out she can revive, he sends her on a mission to the underworld to find a legendary sword that gives him the power of life and death.

I really liked the magic and the different levels of the underworld. The added conflict with General Hong added the perfect amount of tension and immediacy the story needed. I wish Jia spent a little time trying to test the limits of her powers. Also, the lack of communication with Lin was a bit frustrating.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For No Mortal Creature by Keshe Chow is a gorgeously written dark fantasy steeped in Gothic atmosphere, court intrigue, and aching romantic tension. With its lyrical prose and slow-burning emotional undercurrents, the novel reads like a dark fairytale that lingers long after the final page.

The story follows a mortal girl caught in the dangerous world of fae politics and ancient pacts, and Chow excels at blending myth and emotional depth. The world-building is rich, with an ethereal beauty that’s both enchanting and ominous. Every detail—from the haunting forests to the ruthless fae courts—feels purposeful and immersive.

At the heart of the story is a complex, slow-building romance full of longing, sharp edges, and emotional restraint. It doesn’t rush toward resolution, and that tension is one of the book’s strongest assets. The heroine is strong in quiet, unyielding ways, and the love interest is layered beneath an icy, enigmatic exterior.

Some plot elements and character arcs could have been more deeply developed—particularly toward the climax, where pacing becomes slightly rushed. A few twists feel familiar to seasoned fantasy readers, but Chow’s elegant style and emotional precision still make them feel fresh.

Overall, For No Mortal Creature is a beautifully crafted, emotionally charged fantasy perfect for fans of slow-burn romance, fae lore, and Gothic storytelling. A strong debut that promises even more to come.

This was my first Keshe Chow book as I was lucky enough to be part of her street team. The Wuthering Heights concept was done incredible world and she was able to build a gothic atmosphere with Chinese folklore elements intertwined really well. I found Jia to be a really likeable main character and her powers being super cool + the entire after life and its unique lore with there being levels to the afterlife I really enjoyed. Essian was by far my favourite character and honestly I wish he had a larger role because his character could've added so much depth to both the world and the story. I quite liked the way it was written with certain flashbacks and the going back between the present and the past because it was done super seamlessly so that was really good.

However, the ending felt INSANELY rushed. Like I was super hooked until the 80% mark when an unexpected romance plot line kind of came out that wasn't really necessary especially where there was being buildup with a different character. Plus the tying of all the loose ends felt really rushed and loose especially with the complexity of the afterlife.

I was lucky enough to receive an early version of "For No Mortal Creature"! It's tightly-plotted, immediately gripping, and the concept is fabulous!

This book had me at Inception meets Wuthering Heights, a love triangle, that beautiful cover, and a girl who can cheat death with resurrection magic, but ultimately it failed in its execution for my taste.

Jia has grown up thinking she was Untouched and the only one in her village who does not have a magical ability. Her village has been hunted by the neighboring kingdom, which has a prejudice against magic and has oppressive laws outlawing magic. Her only solace is her best friend Lin, an orphan her grandmother took in who also doesn't have magic.

I am told rather than shown about their childhood first love, but it plays out as a situationship and I never believed Lin was a viable contender in the love triangle. Love triangles work best for me when you're constantly guessing about whom the FMC will choose and the stakes are high for both picks. I didn't mind the betrayals in their arc but Lin and his grandmother kept so many secrets from Jia that I could never believe he truly cared about her. They just seemed obsessed with each other for no reason. Jia spends most of the book loathing Lin without any heat or evidence of attraction; how is this romantic?

Lin's grandmother dies and beset by grief, Jia is captured by the enemy kingdom, where she is drawn to the kindhearted idealist, Prince Essian. Here again too there is more telling than showing of their romance and they had no heat together. I did think the book did an excellent job examining grief and using that as a strong motivator.

Prince Essian secretly has the magical ability of healing, and Jia falls for his lost puppy act. But she is still torn up by Lin, who keeps kissing her and confusing her in the death realm. Essian wants her to find a sword in the death realm that has the ability to win any battle when he learns of her powers of resurrection. But most of the book is spent in the death realm instead of on building their romance. They hardly spend any time together. I also never believed that Essian would fight for their forbidden love given the oppressive laws of his land against magic. He was too weak as a leader except for a little gumption at the end.

The other plot device I found confusing was the flashbacks. I was never confused about what time we found ourselves in, but the chapters would jump between "present day" and "three years ago" and the present day chapters would always reference the flashbacks, which muddled the timeline and became annoying.

And don't get me started on Jia, our leading lady. Normally I don't like to call FMCs bratty and unlikable because people always say this about teenage girls in YA, especially YA written by diverse authors. Teenage girls are unlikable, hello! They can't help it, it's puberty. Anyway, I found Jia annoying because she was just so stupid. She asked obvious questions, took too long to reach obvious conclusions, she had no curiosity, she was selfish the whole way through aside from her love for her grandmother, and mostly she was just the opposite of whip smart. She didn't have a personality or interests other than being obsessed with two boys and her grief, and she was generally a flat character whom I did not emotionally connect to. I frequently wanted to yell at her for being so stupid.

But I also wanted to yell at everyone in her life for not trusting her enough and keeping too much from her. She didn't have support or love from her family and that became hard to root for. They claimed to care for her well being but they rarely acted in her best interest.

So sadly this was pretty underwhelming to me despite some intriguing elements. I am sure this will find appreciative readers though who enjoy surface-level, Asian-inspired, tropey YA fantasy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Chow’s depiction of the afterlife was fascinating, and the cover so beautifully captures the romantic, folkloric, but haunting atmosphere of this book. The romance was fun and propulsive, and will definitely appeal to this audience. It read a touch younger than I was expecting—there could be more surprises here, and the emotional arcs get a tad repetitive toward the end—but I enjoyed my journey through the ghost realm with Jia. Will definitely look out for Chow’s forthcoming projects!

- gothic ya high fantasy
- wholesome golden retriever mmc
- afterlife, grief, death & ghosts
- love triangle ft. ghost situationship
- 1st person limited POV
- chinese folklore x western elements
- halloween/autumn reads
- wuthering heights vibes
- love, sacrifice & duty
- forbidden love & yearning
- resurrection magic

I will never recover from "For No Mortal Creature", and it needs to be on everyone's summerween & autumn reading lists, this it the gothic asian literature we have been clamouring about.
I am obsessed with Jia and Essien, the YEARNING was RIGHT THERE and it was so wholesome and oh my gosh Essien Lancaster is so book boyfriend coded like LISTEN I USUALLY DON'T END UP SAYING THAT, but this is the only book I have read this year that had me blushing over an MMC like this, he is the greenest leaf in the whole goddamn forest. This is going to an increasingly incoherent review because Keshe Chow is my new fav autobuy author and this will sound like a weird pitch but if you enjoyed Six of Crows and wonder what it would be like if Ines was traversing the realms of afterlives and reincarnations and what not, pick For No Mortal Creature.

Jia is such a beautifully written protagonist, you can't help but root for her, she has strong morals, she knows what she's fighting for, she's so layered and fierce and brutal and she deserves the world and you can't help but root for her, the QUEEN she is. I WILL BE NEEDING THE SEQUEL ASAP @penguinrandomhouse I need to read more about this decadent journey exploring life, death, magic and every realm in between.

Also there's a very wholesome grandma in this book just saying. And an irritating sibling if y'all find that relatableeeee.

Lin and Jia give toxic situationship omg actually I am only realising this typing this review they reminded me of Malina from Shadow&Bone T-T

I want Essien Lancaster (he is actually so Peeta Mellark coded y'all if that doesn't convince you to read this book idek what will) All the characters are so well-developed and like AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

This is a decent Young Adult book. There were aspects to it that I didn’t quite enjoy as much as a younger reader would have. One example is the romance, which is a love triangle. I felt like neither of the love interests were particularly interesting or compelling. It felt like their romance and love were there as a convenient way to move things forward and to create some tension. But I felt like it was very instant-lovey.

Also, I felt like the writing style was more telling, not showing. In a similar vein, there were parts where the author would info dump instead of spreading out the information. This is fine for a younger reader.

In terms of the world, I was interesting in this idea of multiple levels of afterlife. I don’t know if that is strictly a Chinese culture thing, but that was something new. Magic is a part of this world, and it’s normalized but not quite explained how it works.

There were some other minor things that I had questions about, but overall, an okay read.

It's interesting how Asian and Western elements come together here, but I think I would have liked it better if the world-building was more Asian-inspired.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

A romantasy that will thrill fans of Sarah J Mass and Jennifer Armintrout, but a story that ultimately fell flat for me. The tone and dialogue were juvenile even for a YA novel, and I struggled to connect with the characters who felt like shallow archetypes of their Wuthering Heights counterparts. The plot twists were satisfying in that they were unpredictable, but unsatisfying in that they didn't always make sense. A lot of the tension in the story is deflated by an unclear sense of urgency and ill-defined antagonists. I'm also very tired books marketed as "enemies to lovers" when they are really just "medium dislike to instantly obsessed with each other".

First of all, the cover of this book is gorgeous- kudos to everyone involved with that, it’s exceptional.

As for the story itself, I really enjoyed the world building with this one. I was really fascinated by the different levels of the afterlife and the Inception-esque elements.

I didn’t really care about any of the romantic plots with this one though, or about her family’s connections to the main conflict. There was too much indecision from the main character for my own tastes - I think I just like my heroes to be more decisive.

I really wanted to love this and thought the concept was so great! But the last act definitely lost me.

I received this ARC from NetGalley.

It was such a great story, and I could really feel the rage and yearning between the toxic soul mates Jia and Lin. Them traveling deeper into death realms really reminded me of Inception, and I was glad it was mentioned in the Acknowledgements.

The ending was satisfying and open-ended. It makes me wonder if this is a standalone or the beginning of a series as it could go either way.

I like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me a read.

Oh boy. Keshe Chow's writing was a lot more fluid in the previous book she wrote. For this, I have no idea where the plot is going and there isn't a lot of explanation going on in terms of magic powers and the backstory / chemistry with her and her friend / lover? from the past (now dead).

The prince also doesn't scream a valid love interest either. He is too vague with his demands of why he wants her to travel into the beyond.

Then, the world building was starting to make sense (location, the royalty in terms to everything) but it feels like some strange mix of Asian and Eurocentric that kind of takes me out of it all. Then mixed with the vague magic lore, it just seems a simple "magic is bad, don't get caught having magic or then you die" stuff that I read in tons of other books.

I made it 20% and I had to bounce.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was everything I want from fantasy—lush worldbuilding, fierce characters, and tension so thick it practically crackles off the page. Keshe Chow’s prose is cinematic and emotionally grounded, and the relationships (especially the fraught ones) hit hard. There’s a grounded intimacy in the stakes, even when the magic roars loud. I was fully immersed and didn’t want it to end. A standout debut that’s both epic and deeply personal. I’ll read anything Chow writes next.

This book is like a dark Disney princess story. Girl sets out to help someone, finds some trouble and falls in love with a guy she just met.

Jia is on a mission to help her sick grandmother, when she inadvertently gets killed and discovers her secret power. The power of resurrection. Jia is able to move between the living world and the many levels of the ghost world. This makes for in interesting world building experience. The worlds are lacking a little bit in the depth and description area though. I enjoy a book that sets up scenes so that I can picture even the smallest blades of grass. I was having a hard time with this one.

I also thought the characters were underdeveloped and I didn't connect with any of them. Their relationships were bland and I didn't really cared what happened to them.

Overall it's an interesting story with some ghosts and adventure. The end is a little bit of a cliffhanger and it could easily be a standalone book or the first of many.

Thanks to NetGalley for this "Read Now" book!