This book did grab my attention. I was bored and a little confused. I ened up DNFing this one. The cover is really pretty though.

I really enjoyed getting to read this book, it had that adult element that I was wanting and enjoyed the romance of this. I enjoyed the friends to lovers and how this uses the mythology that I was wanting in this type of book. Acacia Warmerdam was able to weave a strong storyline and was glad I was able to read this.

This book had a lot of missed potential in terms of the story and world building. Upon reading the first few chapters, I noticed that the author spent more time developing the romantic tension between the leads , or rather, repeating it so much it became irritating after a few chapters, and they seemingly only remembered the plot of the book after 6 chapters of painfully reading sexual tension that could have been several chapters shorter. I am aware that this is erotica, something that the synopsis did a horrible job at portraying together with the fact that this is a high fantasy story (the thing that drew me to this book was the synopsis and the promise of a story that wove through the past and the present, (well, as present as you can get in the 1950s) but is difficult to reconcile when for some reason the two leads are always talking about how they want to jump each other but it's forbidden) and I was rather intrigued at how the author would incorporate the story and erotica in the same breath, but I should've known 😔. I may give this a proper full read later on after the book releases but in the meantime, it's probably 1 star for me.


EDIT: In the few hours since I came up with this review, I noticed that the publisher changed the cover from the original one to one most likely generated by AI. As a result, I will not be publishing any reviews of the book online, even after release.

Spoiler-Free
Death Is Only the Beginning by Acacia Warmerdam

Erotica/Romance/Sci-Fantasy


I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Death Is Only the Beginning is an engaging fantasy romance that delves into themes of rebirth, destiny, and the intertwining of mortal and divine realms. I loved the parallels between two different forbidden romances—it added depth and tension to the story while highlighting the characters’ struggles and growth.

Warmerdam's writing is immersive, blending elements of mythology with contemporary settings to create a world that feels both familiar and otherworldly. The character development is compelling, with the protagonist's journey of self-discovery and empowerment at the forefront. The narrative is paced well, balancing moments of introspection with action and intrigue.

While the book introduces complex concepts and a rich backstory, it remains accessible to readers new to the genre. I would personally have preferred the story without certain triggers, though they do make sense within the narrative. The romance elements are thoughtfully integrated, adding depth to the characters’ relationships without overshadowing the central plot.

Overall Takeaway: Death Is Only the Beginning is a promising start to the Goddesses in the Moon series. It offers a captivating blend of fantasy and romance, with a strong female lead, engaging forbidden romances, and a plot that keeps readers invested.

I was unsure what to expect with this book, but I’m genuinely surprised. I loved the parallels of two different forbidden romances going hand and hand. It led to foreshadowing and a dynamic read. At the start Emmy and Dawson lowkey were driving me insane. The constant alternating between hate and love felt never ending, however that’s probably just a me thing. The writer did amazing keeping high sexual tension, desire, yearning, and a slow burn going for all to enjoy.

Her magic was by far one of the most intriguing journeys to unravel. Each time I was sure I figured out the situation another layer peeled back shocking me more. Everyone knows there is a perfect balancing act between good/evil and life/death. To use her magic it always comes at a price. Who knows how detrimental that price might be.

I’m stoked for the next book to see where this continues. I was genuinely saddened by the ending and wanted it to end on high note. This for sure has me hooked to read the second book.

P.S- Please read the trigger warnings. There were multiple moments this book could become a bit much for some readers.

First of all, I love the premise of this book. It's definitely interesting and flows beautifully. I really enjoyed the characters and the tension and emotions between them, especially Emilia and Dawson. I'm not usually a fan of friends to lovers, but their yearning gripped me. Right off the bat, there were so pretty triggering scenes in the book, so I would definitely recommend that everyone who wants to read it looks at the trigger warnings first. Despite initially loving the book, I decided the triggers were too much for me and ultimately will not be finishing. However, I don't want that to reflect poorly on this book. If you like the premise, I would highly suggest you give it a try!

This book had such an intriguing premise dual timelines, a dash of mythology, a forbidden romance, and plenty of emotional weight. I really liked how the author wove together the 1950s socialite setting with ancient myth and reincarnation themes. The emotional pull between the characters, especially the forbidden love element, was compelling, and I appreciated how the story explored grief, memory, and destiny.

That said, I struggled with the pacing. While the premise hooked me early on, the middle dragged quite a bit, and I found myself losing momentum. Some scenes felt stretched out more than necessary, and the overall length made it harder to stay fully invested. I think the impact of the story would have been stronger if it had been a little more tightly edited.

It’s still a beautiful, haunting concept with some genuinely moving moments I just wish it had been delivered in a way that kept the tension and energy consistent throughout.

"With life comes death. With pain comes healing. A balance in power... there must be a take to be able to give."

This book takes you on two separate journeys of very powerful women, learning to become comfortable in their own skin, of which is not just ordinary human skin. It is a tale of love, greed, deire, loss, grief, power and sacrifice. We get two timelines, one in the past involving a King and his forbidden love interest, and another with our female main character and HER forbidden love interest. Both stories intertwine and connect perfectly, making up the perfect plot for this book. This book will leave you questioning, unable to put it down. You will believe that you know everything there is to know, but will be hit with more and more as the story gets crazier and the stakes get higher.

Our main character has never felt comfortable with herself, she's always had more questions than answers until she stumbles upon a black book, which she can only read while asleep. This book explains everything. With a new found purpose, she seeks Dawson Knight, her childhood best friend/ex step-brother to assist her in training as she prepares for a life-altering and life-threatening battle.
This was such a fun read. I was just as curious about Nathaniel and Liza as Emilia was. This book gives and gives, leaving you speechless by the end. Highly recommend this one! It's almost like a dark, adult fairytale.