4.75 / 5 ⭐

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for my advanced reader copy.

I have no doubt that Tesia Tsai will become a new fan favorite. This book had all the elements, action, good plot, great magic, and a little love story.

Siyang is a priestess of the dead, she reanimates lost soldiers to reunite their bodies with their families for proper burial and she also exorcises spirits to help them move on. Siyang is sent on a job to return the corpse of an unidentified soldier but when she places her talisman on the soldier he comes back to life….

This story was engaging and I found myself enjoying the action sequences without getting bored. The typical war scenes and fights are enhanced by reanimated corpses and Tsai’s warm prose.

I particularly enjoyed how real the characters felt. Siyang and Ren were both so sweet but very distinct. I felt they were good examples for young readers to look up to. Everything in the story seemed well planned and was executed well, I never felt like last minute world-building was thrown in. The conflict was strong and well developed.

This story explores grief and anxiety in a way that young readers will connect with. Even as an adult, I felt this story helped me cope with my own grief in such a positive light.

This book is medium paced with a good amount of mood and plot development, a great story to sink your teeth into on a rainy afternoon. The world-building was simple and effective. I was never questioning what Siyang’s abilities were and I was never confused.
Overall, this was exactly my taste. I love a good YA fantasy. This will be perfect for fans of The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco and younger YA readers as there is only one kiss scene, and minimal blood.

3.75⭐️

I really liked this book! If you ever wanted to know about a fantasy hearse driver then look no further, it is a priestess who uses magic to reanimate the dead for transportation. Siying is surrounded by death on a daily basis and yet does not deal with her grief in a healthy way. This just goes to show how much death can affect people even when they think they know all there is to know about coping with death.

Renshu was such a nice MMC. I really enjoyed reading about him and how he learns more about himself through the novel. He goes from being scared of responsibility to achieving everything he could have ever wanted.

I liked how the main characters were not all powerful and the MMC even died showing just how fallible they are. It makes the characters more believable and human.

I look hopefully forward to more novels by Tesia Tsai. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Tesia Tsai for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

I love chinese inspired stories so was excited to dive in. This was a fun story with a fun plot. My only gripe is it's quite rudimentary and is better suited for an younger audience. It reads like an Saturday morning cartoon - like The Last Airbender.

2.5 stars for me.

My thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books and Tesia Tsai for the eARC of this book in exchange for a review.

The title is what first snared my attention. Followed quickly by the eye-catching cover. So with my interest sufficiently piqued, I read the synopsis and all the pieces fell into place. I wanted to read about Kang Siying and her work as a priestess that can make the dead walk. I will say my initial impression was that this would be something akin to a romantasy story, focused on the developing relationship between Siying and Prince Ren. I'm happy to say this was secondary to the main plot of court intrigue and the precarious balance between two countries on the brink of war. Never judge a book by its pretty cover. Let it snare you but then stick around for the unexpected story. You won't regret it.

Deathly Fates is about Kang Siying, a priestess taught by her father to raise the dead and help guide them home. When her beloved father falls ill, Siying takes a job that leads her across the border and into Wen, where the people are displeased with the King of Sian. Her task is to find a particular dead soldier and bring him back to Sian. Except, when Siying places her talisman on him, the soldier returns to a state of living. He also turns out to be the missing prince of Sian, younger son of the King. Prince Ren is living on borrowed time though and now Siying and Ren have to find ways to gather qi, or life force, to bring Ren fully back to life. Together they begin a journey back to Sian, working to restore Prince Ren's qi by purifying evil spirits along their path. As they travel, they start to uncover the truth about the state of the country and that there may have been more to Ren's death than what is seems.

I loved Kang Siying. This is the no-nonsense, level-headed priestess of my dreams. She's cool and collected, working hard to keep her family safe and to provide everything she can for them with enough of a sardonic edge to her that had me squarely in her corner from page one. Prince Renshu, Ren, is the perfect opposite of Siying, hopeful and teasing and loyal to a fault. Together they make quite the pair, working together to save Ren's life and learning to trust each other more and more with every new obstacle that comes their way. I was rooting for them together within pages of their meeting. They are the kind of couple that make hearts sing. I loved their banter, their conflicts and their hope as they came together to be a force that could change the fate of the kingdom.

One unexpected aspect of the book was the actual work that Siying does as a priestess. I understood that she could raise the dead in order to return them to their families but the actual act of it on the page was thrilling to see. The vengeful spirits needing to be exorcised for Ren were tragic and terrifying in equal measure, and the addition of these characters and their backstories helped to fill in pieces of this world. I enjoyed the vibe of mixing romance with murderous ghosts. All in a day's work for our heroes.

The only complaint I have is with the pacing. In stories like these, a lot of the time spent on the actual act of journeying from location to location does not make it into the book. Understandable of course, as I'm sure it would make for dull reading and make the story drag if the journey is not the focus of the plot. Still, in this book it felt like the characters are here and then quickly end up there, making scene changes feel like more of a snap of your fingers type of move instead of a smoother transition. As a result, some things felt a little rushed with the development in the middle of the book. It doesn't detract too much from the story and I still loved where the characters ended up. If this is where the story leaves them for good, then I'm okay with that.

Rating on my scale: I'm going with 9 stars. The pacing just irks me a little, enough that I feel like the stars I give this should reflect that. Read this if you like romance and women who can make skeletons do their bidding. It's a surprising combination but the payoff is worth it.


This review will be published simultaneously on my blog, Goodreads and Storygraph on 9/6/25. A smaller review will be posted on Instagram within the next week followed by another post/review just before the book is published.

4.25 ⭐️

Thank you, NetGalley, St Martin’s Press, and Wednesday Books, for sharing this ARC! ✨

I simply adored the storyline in Deathly Fates! With elements rooted in Chinese culture and the practice of necromancy, it felt unique, interesting, and fresh. I thought the character growth throughout the book was well-paced and the romance was *chef’s kiss* — like the frosting on a cake: it complemented and enhanced but did not detract from the overall story. I also thoroughly enjoyed the spooky elements present throughout. In terms of readability, I thought this was an easy read with just the right amount of illustrative “fluff” (ie. sunsets described in two sentences instead of two pages). Overall, I’d recommend this book, especially to fans of YA / clean romance / Asian culture and folklore / semi-spooky reads!

Now, what I would’ve loved more of from this story: Siying’s background / childhood (ie. her mother) and political tension with an emphasis on the state of the Sian kingdom (ie. the king, the mother, Liqing). Finally, from a reader who enjoys fast paced stories, I could see the events surrounding Ren’s qi being condensed and, instead, fleshing out the content in the last ~1/3 of the book because it was GREAT! 😉

DNF REVIEW

Thank you for this review copy!

DNF @ 45%

I unfortunately did not complete this book because I requested it when I was in the mood for reading more YA, which I am no longer. Also I wasn't able to get to it in a very timely manner to fully dive in.

I really enjoyed what I did read and I would recommend this to someone who is in the mood for a ya with romance, necromancy and adventure!

I typically love YA, and while I did enjoy this story it didn’t blow me away.
I honestly was left wanting more. More court politics, more of the problems of necromancies.
The romance was done well, and the writing was lovely! But I just wanted more

This was a really fun, sort of cozy/spooky read. Necromancy and ghost stories mixed with a YA romance. In a lot of ways it felt like watching an anime/donghua; straight-forward character work, great visualization, but sometimes overly explainy dialogue, predictable romance, and quite episodic in pacing.

My favorite parts were the necromancy and the theme of parental love. Even though the trope of a dead/dying parent is so common, I thought that Tsai's take on it was increasingly refreshing as the plot progressed. And the concept of benevolent folk necromancy is a mindworm for real. I'd love a whole other book about life as a gangshi priestess. 🖤

4.5⭐️

Beautiful story!

In some places I would get confused about how the characters were positioned. At one point, it said that one of them sat on the ground, then the other would turn around and in the next sentence would also be sitting. Idk if I missing when the second character sat down, but that moment got me really confused.

Overall, a great book. The writing is easy to get into, not overly descriptive, but enough that you get a good picture of what is happening and what the setting looks like. I loved the world-building, the magic, the characters, all of it. There was so much tension and angst throughout omg, a true slowburn❤️‍🔥

Deathly Fates is an incredible debut with a female protagonist you'll not only root for, but want to emulate, and a cinnamon-roll of a prince you sincerely hope will not stay dead. I loved being immersed in this rich world full of lively settings (even where the dead are concerned) and vibrant side characters. Shiying's quest was stressful and horrifying at times, but also hopeful and ultimately a catalyst for meaningful change in her world. I highly recommend this book and can't wait to read more of Tesia Tsai's work!

3.75 rounded up

A priestess with an ability to guide the dead into the afterlife comes across a fallen soldier with a hidden identity, accidentally bringing him back to life.

This was an interesting take on necromancy, and although it's not usually a theme I prefer to read about, I was pleasantly surprised by this book.

My biggest issue was that the writing felt a bit stiff at times, and the MMC needed saving a few too many times. It felt like he was on the brink of death every other page, so needless to say it just got a bit repetitive.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.

This was a cute and quick read! I appreciated that the story brought something new to the genre in following a ganshi priestess and her not-so-undead princely companion. The story was relatively straightforward and easily predictable, but that didn't make it any less enjoyable. I found the pacing to be a smidge too fast in the beginning, but found its groove about a third of the way in. The characters were a bit flat and rather one-dimensional, so I never grew that attached to them nor their struggles. Nonetheless, Deathly Fates was a fun read and I'd recommend it to anyone looking to dip their toes into Asian-inspired fantasy.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the eARC via NetGalley! ⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅

This is a fantastic debut book!

The characters are engaging, the magic used in it is quite unique to read about, and there are heartfelt emotions which I’m always drawn to.

The narrative revolves around Kang Siying who is a priestess who has the ability to control corpses, also thought of as a “corpse driver”. She has the ability to channel energy, raise the corpse, and the usual intent is to return them to their family to allow for their soul to have proper passage into the next world.

Her newest assignment is a soldier to retrieve (come to find out he’s a prince☺️) that has a mysterious background, and questions surrounding his death. Her retrieval of his corpse basically goes awry and he not only reanimates, but returns to life, but needing further Qi (energy) to sustain him.

The authors use of a magic system involving energy, Qi, to move the corpses, and in this case sustain life for the prince, is quite enjoyable to read about. Kang, Prince Ren, and readers meet a few souls on their journey, still tethered to the living through anger or sadness, who have not passed onto the next realm yet. These souls hold valuable Qi for Ren, for when they pass, their Qi can be absorbed by him for further life sustenance.

I also enjoyed the investment of our hearts into Kang’s relationship with her family, namely her father who was also a “shepherd” . You are able to appreciate as the reader how close she and her father are, and how life and aging questions not only are leading Kang’s decisions, but give us the ability to reflect on our own journey through life with our parents.

It’s a very enjoyable book, beautifully written, and I’ll be recommending it along the way to other readers and fans of YA.

**Post note: If you enjoyed Sabriel by Garth Nix many years ago this one will be for you! There are similar elements and themes, and you’ll love the characters just as much.

Plot-5
Enjoyment-4
Artistry/writing-4
Characters-4
Heart-3.5
=4.1 stars

Thank you Tesia Tsai, Wednesday Books Publishing, and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read Deathly Fates as an ARC for my honest opinion.

It is beautifully written and the way death and grief are portrayed in this book is very telling. I’ve always loved watching cdramas and reading cnovels which is what compelled me to read this book. I also loved Ren and his carefree nature and how he complements Siying’s character.

This is a very stand out YA fantasy with an exciting story to tell and a fresh voice. The characters feel believably young and brash, and they have a lot of personality and heart. I think the pacing was a bit too quick, and I would have liked a bit more time to really stew in the story before quickly moving on to the next event. There was a lot of information constantly being thrown at the reader without enough breathing space to truly process, and I think the characters would have also been stronger if they had that time to breathe.

Overall this was a wonderful read and I would love more YA books like this one.

This YA fantasy was beautiful, haunting, and full of potential. The relationship between Siying and her father, though present throughout the book, felt underdeveloped. He appeared often, but without much depth or purpose, which left me wishing for more.

After her father’s fate was revealed, Siying’s actions didn’t take the direction I was expecting or the one I think would have carried the most impact. While still engaging, the choices felt either too much or slightly misaligned with the story’s emotional weight.

That said, the novel was still a compelling read. Its storyline, which often bordered on horror, was breathtaking in moments. I couldn’t help but think how incredible it would have been as an adult fantasy. If given more room for depth, darkness, and complexity, this could have been absolute chef’s kiss perfection.

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s press, and the author for an eARC of this in exchange for my honest opinions.

Deathly Fates is what I would consider cozy fantasy. This is a very plot driven story, and I honestly love it for that.

Kang Siyang, a young priestess, ends up with a deal she can’t resist. Enough money to save her father (twice over), and a mystery that’s begging to be solved. Who could pass that up?

Despite her serious persona and somewhat abrasive personality, Siyang begins to soften as she gets to know her Undead Companion. Between learning more about him as a person (and not just what she’s heard) and exorcising spirits, she’s more than got her hands full.

I would dock this a star because the pacing felt pretty brusque at times and not necessarily in a good way. It was very much a roller coaster. Slow to start, then bam, bam, bam. A ton of plot and information.

4.25 ⭐️

as someone whose favorite niche genre are books that read like c-dramas, this book certainly did the job for me

this story follows siying, a ganshi priestess, who is initially tasked with retrieving a corpse so she can earn enough money to cure her father's illness. however, when the corpse, ren, is not actually fully dead, siying finds herself on a journey to help replenish enough qi to save ren's life. and ren happens to be the second prince of the kingdom.

this was an incredibly fast-paced read, i read the last 2/3 of it in one sitting. while the first 1/3 is good, i think the last 2/3 is where it really shines, as you get a lot more character development and elements of the story coming together to form the entire puzzle. the pacing also gets better as the book continues and truly keeps you on the edge of your seat.

siying is a strong, female lead, and a typical eldest daughter bearing the weight of supporting her family. this helps explain her hyper-independence and emotional distance from a lot of people, which i could relate to also as an eldest daughter in an asian family. despite the very few scenes we see of siying actually with her family, i thought these were truly highlights of this novel and had me extremely emotional. ren was also a likeable character, often using comedic relief to hide his true emotions or insecurities, which made you feel for him. i thought that his characterization was slightly weaker, though this made sense considering the story is meant to focus mainly on siying.

while reading this book i could vividly picture it as a c-drama, especially in the chapters where they are replenishing ren's qi. and i ate it up!!! truly just a lot of fun, but still a lot of emotional weight and more serious themes. there was a good balance of the two.

my main critiques surrounding this book would be the pacing at the beginning. i thought that it was impressive what this story was able to do considering how short this book is and the fact that it's a standalone, but i found in the beginning that a lot of things were simply told to us instead of shown, and it felt rushed, such as the woman who revealed immediately that ren's mother was poisoned and did not actually die from illness (this is not a spoiler as it is told to us in literally the second chapter or so). i also thought there was a rather dramatic jump in siying and ren's relationship between the second and third qi-replenishing endeavors, and wished there had been a little more time spent on developing their relationship. i also just wish there was more time spent on the qi-replenishing endeavors and the backstory of each one, as at times they felt a little rushed. lastly, this story was pretty predictable, which is not necessarily a bad thing and could also be a product of me watching many c-dramas, but none of the twists were surprises to me. the story did slightly veer in a direction that i didn't expect, which was refreshing.

the last chapter was soooo last episode of a c-drama coded. loved the way it wrapped up and was satisfying to me. overall a very strong standalone novel that kept me reading and also had me crying at times!

thanks to netgalley for this e-arc!

The Deathly Fates is an engaging, fast-paced adventure that I thoroughly enjoyed. Tesia Tsai's story follows an unexpected pair—a priestess and a prince—on a journey that is full of action and heart. The plot moves at a steady, exciting pace that keeps you turning pages, eager for what comes next.

What truly makes this book special is how its unique narrative style is woven directly into the main quest. As the prince and priestess journey to gather qi, they encounter spirits with their own poignant backstories. These episodic layers add a rich emotional depth that speaks to themes of loss, grief, and finding one's purpose, all of which are central to the characters' journeys—individually and together. It all works in perfect harmony with a captivating slow-burn romance.

This blend of action, meaningful themes, and a compelling romance makes The Deathly Fates a great fantasy read. I would definitely recommend it!

This story immediately pulls you in and keeps you captivated by the relationships, the world, and the corpse driving. While the notion of states fighting for its independence from a ruling king may not be the most unique backdrop, a woman doing everything to protect and save her family by corpse driving a no longer dead prince across their kingdom, facing vengeful spirits was truly special. The dynamic between the prince and the priestess Was very entertaining due to its familiar and at times combative nature. The duo facing off against vengeful spirits was enthralling with the goal of collecting qi to sustain the prince’s life. Through their travels, the Prince learns about his family and himself while the priestess learns that she’s held on so tightly to her beliefs of protecting her family that she has lost parts of herself. The last quarter of the book left me in awe and tears. I thoroughly enjoyed this and it’s a definite must read.