Well, there is not much to say to this book sadly. It’s nicely written and easy to read but otherwise I felt like it took a bit from every popular Romantasy available and merged it into a book. I predicted everything, which made me feel bored even tho I enjoyed the writing style very much.

Also I thought reading the synopsis that the book would give me more gothic vibes, but I didn’t get the feeling at all.

So for me it was neither good nor bad- just one of many very similar romantasy books right now

Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for giving me this e-book in exchange for an honest review*

It was a good book but why did I have the feeling that I've read this again? The world building, the characters felt all the same with the next romantasy. It felt a little too predictable and the characters one-dimensional than most. Overall it was a fine read, but not something unique,

In Death's Hands about Liv, who cheated death as a child and has felt him on her heels ever since. She finally learns more about her tenuous existence after a handsome stranger saves her from her latest near-death experience and he turns out to know much more than she could ever imagine.

This book is a romantasy which admittedly is VERY hit or miss for me, BUT synopsis gave me much stronger gothic fantasy vibes than your typical romantasy so I wanted to give it a try anyway. Sadly, it has the same problems as 95% of the romantasy market, and any point of difference is lost in the cliche of it all. The premise is very exciting and I ate up the prologue - then it jumps to present day and it is basically a contemporary romance with a weak system of gods and entities in the background. The FMC and MMC could be copy and pasted out of hundreds of other books, and it feels like the author really wanted to focus on writing a good romance - but chose not to just write a romance? The FMC is giving "I'm just a girl" and it's so tired. I also would not recommend this if you're specifically looking for a slow-burn as promised. The fantasy elements are unclear at times and the world-building is poorly integrated into the plot.

There were a few moments where I enjoyed the chemistry between the characters and, again, there's so much potential in this story!! The side characters were a fun addition and overall I thought the pacing was great.

thank you to NetGalley and this author for an ebook in exchange for an honest review!

rating: 5/5 stars

this was so beautifully written! it was my first book written by this author, and i was blown away. this definitely gripped me, and i did not want to stop until the was finished, totally binged it.

In Death’s Hands is a dark and atmospheric debut with a fresh take on fate, gods, and immortality. The writing is lyrical and eerie, and the world-building is creative and immersive.
I did find the pacing slow at times, with some repetitive dialogue and a predictable twist, but I enjoyed the side characters (especially Artys) and the haunting tone throughout. Overall, a promising debut for fans of slower-burn, moody fantasy.

While this book had a ton of potential, for me it didn’t work. I am a true romantasy lover but I hate when I don’t feel like I have time to learn the “lay of the land” so the pacing was off for me since it moved so quickly. Additionally, the geography had me scratching my head. I don’t typically put much stock in book geography but I really didn’t ever feel like I knew where things were. There were definitely enough plot points to keep me intrigued and all of the characters were really well written. The mythology pieces were great. Ultimately this one just wasn’t for me but I know lots of people will eat it up!

After a tragic accident claims the lives of her parents, Liv is mysteriously spared by Death itself. But survival comes at a cost.
From that moment on, Liv's life becomes a constant battle against fate, as she faces one near-death experience after another. It’s as if the universe is trying to fix a mistake—one it can’t seem to undo. Desperate for answers, Liv teams up with Death’s enigmatic and undeniably charming assistant, uncovering a deeper mystery that challenges the rules of life and death.
I was hooked at the start—the premise is original and gripping. However, my interest dipped midway through as the pacing slowed. Fortunately, the story regained momentum near the end, leaving me hopeful that the sequel will deliver even more action and depth. Overall, it’s a solid read with a compelling concept—I just wished it had gone a bit further.

I enjoyed this book, so don’t take my 3 stars as a negative!
The plot in this intrigued me so much and had me hooked to start with but I found it very confusing at times, this could just be me though but it meant it took a lot from me to pick up and read again! Overall an enjoyable read and the ending has left me really keen to read the next book!

It started off promising but lagged at 50% . I tried putting it down and coming back to it but the fmc was insufferable and death was so one note I grew bored with him .This one was not for me .

3/5 stars
in deaths hands. A very interesting concept for a book. one ive not seen done before and was quite excited to read it. The main female character is saved from death after a crash with her adoptive family, but pays the price afterwards, with many near death experiences after. then comes in the mysterious guy in the coffee shop, and he reveals his life to her.

There was a few places I struggled with, with the conversations in the middle, however the ending came out of nowhere?!

Fantastic world building, intrigued by book 2...

thanks netgallery for this ARC for an honest review

Fantasy
Romance
Intrigue
Shadow Daddy


Death spares the life of Liv after a tragic accident that takes the life of her parents.
Liv’s entire life revolves around surviving a never-ending stream of near death experiences.
This string of unfortunate events is a result of fate trying to correct the balance but for some reason this mistake cannot be undone and leads to a hunt for answers with the help of Death’s handsome assistant.

I was intrigued at the very beginning of the book but as the story progressed I grew a little disinterested. It did pick up again near the end and I hope that the sequel will be filled with more excitement. Overall it’s a good book with a great concept I just wish there was more to it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
A huge thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing for this e-arc.

Romantic. Dark. Atmospheric.
This debut novel was everything that I imagined would be perfect for autumn season. For the dark evenings. The cold weather.
There is always a thin line between life and death, but what if death themselves brought you back to life? What happens when fates get entwined. When a person walks that one thin line all their life?
It was such a good read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Laure Camail for the ARC!

In Death’s Hands is a dark, moody debut that immediately drew me in with its unique premise, death, fate, and a world of immortal beings, forgotten gods, and tangled threads of destiny. The atmosphere was haunting and at times beautifully eerie, with lyrical writing that gave me chills in places. The concept alone is fresh and fascinating, and I loved the creativity behind it.

That said, I did struggle with certain aspects. The pacing sometimes dragged and felt repetitive in the quests and dialogue, which made it harder to stay fully engaged. The big plot twist involving Nathan was unfortunately quite predictable, and Liv’s character occasionally came across as inconsistent or a little naive. The dialogue between characters also felt forced at times, which pulled me out of the story. Still, I really enjoyed the side characters (Artys especially) and thought Liv and Nathan’s relationship had some sweet moments alongside the more frustrating ones.

Despite these drawbacks, this is an incredibly promising debut. The world-building was immersive and left me curious to explore more of this universe. Camail clearly has the vision and creativity to carve out a strong voice in dark fantasy, and I’m excited to see how their writing continues to grow.

If you enjoy slower-burn, atmospheric fantasy with a haunting edge, In Death’s Hands is worth picking up.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of In Death’s Hands in exchange for my honest review.
In Death’s Hands by Laure M. Camail is a darkly romantic and imaginative tale that weaves fate, forbidden love, and ancient power into an atmospheric romantasy. Liv’s life has been marked by tragedy ever since Death spared her as a child, and her journey into a hidden world of forgotten gods and immortal beings is both gripping and emotionally charged. Her connection with Nathan adds an irresistible layer of tension, balancing trust, secrets, and the pull of a love that feels as dangerous as it is inevitable.
Camail’s worldbuilding is lush and layered, filled with shadowy forces, divine beings, and a sense of destiny pressing in at every turn. The mix of high stakes, slow-burn romance, and questions about fate versus free will keeps the pages turning. Equal parts thrilling and tender, this story is perfect for readers who love a blend of mythology, magic, and heart-stopping romance.

A wonderfully crafted romantasy by this debut novelist! This is a story surrounded by the belief of mixing life & death, interconnecting fate & threads of life & suspense all mixed with an intense attraction between the main characters. This is a book I found myself devouring, loving & looking for solutions to every mystery. I read it once & I am sure to read it again. Give this book a read!

In Death’s Hands drags you into a world that’s equal parts haunting and mesmerizing. Laure Camail nails the vibe,immortal beings, forgotten gods, dangerous secrets, and wraps it all in writing that’s almost eerily lyrical. There were moments that legitimately gave me chills, the kind that make you look over your shoulder… even if you’re just on the couch. 🖤

It’s a slower burn than my usual speed, but if you’re craving something moody, introspective, and a little sinister, this hits the mark. Liv’s journey from ordinary life to tangled webs of destiny and danger is layered with mystery and tension that keeps you hooked.

Full honesty.. I didn’t fully click with it at firsttiming might’ve been off, and Liv sometimes felt a little too naive for my taste. But that didn’t stop me from appreciating the dark, immersive atmosphere.

This debut is promising, and I’m definitely keeping an eye on Camail. If you like your reads a little shadowed and a little unsettling, this one’s worth it.

In Death's hands was an incredible read and was easily a 5/5 star!

Goodreads review posted on: 08/21/2025

Liv died when she was four but was brought back by Death. Since then, she has strange encounters and near death experiences but isn't sure why. She meets Nathan and the two go on an adventure to figure out why the forgotten gods don't have their memory and find out who is trying to kill Liv over and over again.

This book had me hooked from page one and was absolutely enthralling. I loved the emotion that Liv showed and the strength that her character became. I loved the intimate moments between her and Nathan as well as the interactions with the supporting characters.

I was expecting this to be a cliffhanger book just due to the description and nature of it but I was not expecting the ending. WHEW! I am so anxiously waiting to see what happens next with this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Laure Camail for this arc read and allowing me to share my opinions on this book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A dark and romantic twist on fate and destiny, In Death’s Hands delivers a gripping blend of mythology, danger, and slow-burn tension. The premise hooked me instantly—Death breaking the rules to save a child is such a compelling setup, and watching how that choice ripples into Liv’s adult life kept me turning the pages.

The world-building is rich, weaving in forgotten gods, immortal beings, and the mysterious Tapestry of Life in a way that feels both epic and intimate. I especially loved the concept of Liv existing outside fate itself—it gave the story an urgency and weight that made her choices feel significant.

Nathan is the quintessential brooding, enigmatic love interest, and his chemistry with Liv adds plenty of swoony tension. The “can I trust him or not?” thread worked really well alongside the action and lore.

My only quibble is that sometimes the world-building and mythology came at the expense of pacing—the information dumps could be a little heavy, and I wanted a few more quiet, emotional beats between Liv and Nathan to balance the danger.

Still, it’s a fast, atmospheric romantasy with high stakes, forbidden love, and the kind of twisty mythology fans of From Blood and Ash or Once Upon a Broken Heart will love.

Thanks to NetGalley and ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I did not finished In Death's Hands and I'm sad about it.

When I first read the blurb on Netgalley, I was very excited to get an eARC and read it, but unfortunately it didn't end very well. The whole concept of a girl being spared from death had me excited: what would her life be like after that? Would she feel any different? How would her relationships develop, and how would she face the world around her? All interesting questions, knowing that a MMC would eventually show up and help us learn more about it and resolve different aspects.

However, I always try to read up to 100 pages to decide whether or not to put down a book, and I put In Death's Hands down around chapter 11 (page 81, about 28%). I found several things that didn't work for me as a reader, even though I thought the premise of the book was wonderful.

The FMC, Liv, is a tad confusing. She likes this, but then she feels totally uncomfortable with it, only to feel safe again a second later. It didn't make much sense to me; it seemed like she didn't know what she wanted or how to act like a proper adult. The concussion was another detail that confused me. It is described as a serious situation, but she feels fine enough to take the tube to go to work, only to arrive there and still be in pain (although the tube route is not described, we deduce this because Nathan had to take it to get to her work). Then two men attack her while she is trying to recover, and she is unable to react immediately, but then she fights back — but how? She had suffered a concussion a few hours earlier and was attacked, she was dizzy, and suddenly she was ready to fight. I know these are very specific details, but it's right at the beginning of the book, where we're learning everything for the first time, and having these confusing acts is a little bit out of place.

So Nathan, the MMC, is Death's assistant? I'm not sure if he would be Death himself and he didn't want to admit it, but in any case, he would know how to act in society and wouldn't feel so out of place. We understand that his eyes widened and were really dark.

The book being advertised as enemies to lovers makes no sense at all, literally none. They don't hate each other, Nathan saves Liv several times and Liv had a crush on Nathan, so how are they enemies? Where does that come from? As it is a relatively short book, less than 300 pages, I wouldn't say it's slow burn either.

The writing itself was good, I didn't have much trouble understanding what was going on, considering that English is not my native language (although I only read in English), but I must point out that Liv's thoughts and words sometimes didn't fit together very well and seemed a little rushed.

Overall, I really wanted to like this book because, once again, I was very curious about the whole premise and what was going to happen, but it didn't live up to my expectations.

Okay so Death himself yeets into a toddler’s life, breaks all the rules, and just decides she’s too cute to die. That toddler grows up into Liv, who now has the world’s worst case of Final Destination syndrome. Every near-death experience is basically the universe screaming “UM you weren’t supposed to be here??” and honestly, relatable.

Fast forward 20 years and Liv is vibing with no direction in life (same, girl), until mysterious hot guy Nathan swoops in with dark secrets and an even darker connection to Fate, gods, and some cosmic Tapestry business. He’s basically “I can’t tell you anything for your safety” while also brooding in corners, which is chef’s kiss peak romantasy nonsense.

The vibes? ✨ Forbidden love. Ancient immortal drama. Shadowy enemies lurking like they’re auditioning for a CW show. ✨

The execution? Sometimes giving YA love triangle energy but without the triangle. The pacing does drag in the middle, but when it hits, it hits like the existential dread of “what if Fate just yeeted me out of existence” but make it romantic.

Liv herself? Equal parts “please girl, THINK” and “ugh, yes queen, defy destiny!” Chaotic but endearing.
Nathan? Giving “dark and mysterious but secretly soft”

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 - Not life-changing, but fun, dramatic, and messy in the exact way you want a romantasy about Death breaking rules to be. If you like Fate drama, forbidden love angst, and yelling “JUST KISS ALREADY” at your Kindle, this one’s for you.