This was such a fun read!
There was a beautiful setting, the world building done well, and the magic system was easy to follow. It had a great pace and really solid character growth.
All of these things made for a very pleasant reading experience for their journey.
I love Chinese fantasy and this is a great YA option to add to your collection or to introduce someone to the genre.
Thank you to NetGalley for the early copy!

from the very first sentence to the very last one, i was HOOKED😫😩 Every aspect and every moment in the book was so perfectly balanced and beautifully described, it was all i could've asked for😂😂 and it'll be safe to say that this book's going to be my new personality form today onwards!!!🤭🤭

full review near the release date(i'll try my best to to hold on to my tongue until then lol)

This book was fun adventure with death and spirits. I really enjoyed the story and the characters it was nice easy enjoyable read.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I wholeheartedly enjoyed this! I think for a debut novel, this was absolutely great. I loved both of our leads - Siying was strong, determined, and courageous, and I loved her internal monologues while slowly falling for Ren, but also determined to complete her job (and save his life in the process). Ren was adorable, funny, and charming, and I loved his honesty about his feelings towards his family/royal duty and how he grew throughout the course of the story.

I loved the world building and setting description as well - I felt like I could envision where Siying and Ren were at each stop along their journey, which is something that's really important to me, especially in fantasy novels. I also felt like the magic system / Siying's role as a priestess was quite clear and overall, everything was easy to understand.

I rounded this down from 5 stars only because at times, the plot felt a little repetitive, and while I loved Siying's determination and courage, I also found myself thinking a couple of times that trouble that she and Ren found themselves in could have been avoided, or at least easier, if she had slowed down and thought a little more instead of rushing in.

Overall, I really enjoyed this read! The world was interesting, and while I don't know if the author has any plans for this to be a series or just a standalone, I think there's SO much potential for a sequel, or more. I'd love to read more about Siying and Ren, especially with Ren's growth in this book.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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

For a debut novel, a YA one? I loved it. It reminded me of a cdrama reminiscent of Back from the Brink, Fangs of Fortune. Necromancer, cute undead prince, a mission, and a mystery of who killed him.

The plot was smooth, easy to understand. Girl's father was a necromancer, he became too old for the job and she has taken over. He is sick, and to heal him, she takes on his job of dealing with the dead. She is paid a huge sum to bring back a body from a nearby battle. Finding the body, she discovers the body is none other than the prince. Someone murdered him, but who? He can return from the dead, but they need the qi from evil spirits / demons to do so. Luckily for them there are rumored to be a few in the area.

I loved the prince. He is a perfect blend of funny, kindhearted, brave, but admitting that he lacks any sort of gumption to be a ruler. He wishes that his older brother is made king in his stead. Watching her go from wanting to get rid of him for sake of the job to wanting to not part with him was super sweet. Again, giving me those cdrama feels. I could tell what bits would get a 'slow mo' moment or a 'insert pop song here'. (That's why I can see Neo Hao in this role because he would be so cute with his teasing, banter, and kiss scenes.)

I loved our female lead because while she could oggle our main lead, she had a mission - or several by the end of it - that she needed to complete. She was tough, determined, and could oggle but not let the oggling distract from the missions. (Zhou Ye would be my choice if I could cast it - he gumption and her acceptance to romance reminded me of the character she played in Back from the Brink.)

Why one star less? While the story was simple, the romance good, I felt like the world could use more or another book. I want to see more necromancer problems, more time for romance and court / politics. I can understand the author one-and-done-ing this, but there is room for more if she so chooses.

I'm happy to find another Asian author to support and I can't wait for her next book!

𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐋𝐘 𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒 𝐛𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐓𝐬𝐚𝐢
⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒔

𝗔 𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗸 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘆, 𝘿𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙡𝙮 𝙁𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘿𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙚, 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝘿𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘼 𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙋𝙤𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣.

This was such an amazing debut! I found out about this book through book discussions and recommendations and I am so glad that I read it! I knew that it was a debut novel but nowhere while reading this book did it feel like one.

Tsai's craft is beautiful and easy to follow. Poetic at times required and descriptive for lush landscapes and nature. The writing flow was very well managed — along with the pacing which made it very easy to read and imagine along the narrative.

The magic system is based on the Chinese folk practice of necromancy. The book gave out immense xianxia vibes and I was here for it! The world-building is rich and layered, with an atmospheric presence. The magic system blended and fit right into the story — with any need of plot armour or justification which made no sense. Every detail of the story was believable because of the cultural roots to setting, which made the story feel more unforgettable.

The FMC, Kang Siying, is a priestess with the ability to reanimate corpses and purify souls. She's compassionate and fierce, willing to protect her family for anything.

Renshu is the Second Prince who — unlike the rest of his family — was playful, sweet and cheeky. He's too sweet-tempered and trusts easily. He comes of as coward and lived a life of privilege but seeing his character development pay off at the end was wonderful.

Deathly Fates is a beautiful crafted and running novel for fans of Chinese folklore, xianxia, necromancy and soft romance, with a headstrong FMC who carries rage and grief like an armour and compassion like a gift to all.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!

I was immediately drawn into this world and book. I loved the whole thing. The characters, story and the romance! I NEED a physical copy of this book for my home library!

Deathly Fates is the kind of debut that slips past your defenses—you forget you’re reading an author’s first published work because it feels so assured, so steeped in its own world. Tesia Tsai draws on necromancy not as a shock factor, but as an act of compassion, rooted in Chinese folk traditions that feel both reverent and alive. The result is a magic system that’s not just clever, but deeply moving: the raising of the dead is not a tool for horror here, but a means to help lost souls find peace.

At the heart of it all is Siying, a heroine who balances quiet compassion with fierce protectiveness. She isn’t the kind of protagonist who demands the spotlight—she earns it, one thoughtful choice at a time. I could happily spend several more books walking beside her. Around her, the supporting cast feels no less alive than the spirits she guides—each with their own texture, quirks, and histories that make them linger in the mind long after the final chapter.

Tsai’s writing carries a steady confidence, blending the intimacy of character work with the sweep of a richly imagined world. There’s an immediacy to the way she renders grief, duty, and loyalty—real emotions grounded in realistic reactions, even when magic is at play. The pacing never rushes, yet it never stalls, allowing the story’s quiet beauty to unfurl at its own rhythm.

The world itself is a layered, atmospheric place, where every ritual feels purposeful and every act of magic carries weight. You can almost feel the smoke of incense curling through the air, the heavy stillness before a spirit’s release. Tsai’s respect for the cultural roots of her story shines through in every detail, making the necromancy not just believable, but unforgettable.

For readers who like:
-Immersive, atmospheric worlds
-Rich cultural heritage
-Magic rooted in empathy and tradition

Final Verdict
Beautifully crafted, emotionally resonant, and brimming with heart, Deathly Fates marks Tesia Tsai as a storyteller who already feels like a master of her craft. I can’t wait to see where she goes next.

Grateful to NetGalley, Wednesday Books and Tesia Tsai for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

I'm delighted to have found a new Chinese fantasy that I enjoyed reading. I loved the worldbuilding around ganshi priests/priestesses and the talismans they use (it felt very adjacent to Chinese cultivation, if not exactly a cultivation-based magic system), and Siying and Renshu's encounters with evil spirits reminded me in the best way of the creepiest Chinese ghost stories. The pacing moved at a brisk clip, and I flew through the pages. Siying and Renshu's relationship was also fun; I always enjoy a grumpy girl x sunshine boy dynamic. The only part that fell short for me was that while Siying and Renshu's personalities complemented each other, there was something missing for me to completely buy their romantic chemistry, though I can't quite put my finger on what it was.

Overall, though, I loved this and definitely recommend!

This uses necromancy perfectly and thought was a beautifully done Chinese folk practice respectfully. The overall feel was everything that I wanted and enjoyed getting into this world. The overall feel worked well and enjoyed how realistic the characters were during this. The characters had that charm that I was wanting and enjoyed the overall feel of this. Tesia Tsai has a strong writing style and was glad I was able to get to read this, the characters and world were everything that I wanted.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tesia Tsai, and St. Martin's Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

This was such a great debut. I had no idea while reading it that it was a debut. The magic system was interesting. The fact that she can raise the dead and help them pass over. I thought it was explained well. The characters were flushed out. I enjoyed some of the side characters as well as the main characters. Siying was a great FMC, with her compassion and protectiveness. I could read more books with her as the main character. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I would highly recommend it!

I live for debut novels and authors, and this did not fall short. I cannot wait to see what else this author does and it if this book becomes a series, the characters had depth and the plot was enticing.

Thank you St. Martins Publishing and Netgalley for this advance reader copy! This was my first book by this author and I'll say it won't be my last. I had no idea what I was getting myself into with this one but the journey started immediately! Rooting for the priestess all the way. This book was like nothing I had read before and I appreciate the story so much!