This book was absolutely stunning. Gorgeous prose. This is my absolute favorite necromancer romance I’ve read to date.

I’ll never be able to hear God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman the same way again.

The Halls of the Dead puts the “romance” in necromancy. It’s a revenge story with incredible catharsis, a poly love story horrormance, a dark fantasy, and one of the best books I read in 2025. The prose is lyrical, gorgeous, absolutely aches with yearning, and the imagery is delightfully gruesome. Hallow clearly has great affection for and knowledge of classic gothic themes and motifs.

The bulk of the plot takes place in the Haley house over roughly six days with flashbacks to the trio’s past in three rotating POVs. In this version of early Victorian London, magic exists and is commonplace, though necromancy is forbidden. I enjoyed the magic system (the foreshadowing, payoff, and attention to detail with the necromancy lore and spellwork was fantastic) and felt like the worldbuilding was sketched out enough for a book with such a tight focus.
(I especially liked the way Hallow nods to faith and the afterlife through St. John’s backstory and the monks at St. Lazarus’s Abbey.) The thematic use of flashbacks to fill us in on the plot events prior to the opening chapter’s resurrection means it can feel a bit slow in the beginning if you’re not someone who enjoys a character-driven narrative, and I did have a bit of trouble keeping track of details and the timeline at times. But after a bit of a lull in the middle, things really heat up, and the gory payoff to the revenge plot does not disappoint.

I enjoyed all three POVs, but I especially loved Irene. I love that this woman failed to resurrect her sister, and rather than take the hint that maybe sometimes people die and we have to move on and let go, she said “no I can do it, for real this time though” and tries again with Agnes. I really appreciated the exploration of the way that depression and disability impact Irene’s life and the lives of her loved ones. And I loved the portrayal of the agony of grief and how it overwhelms and changes us, and can make us into someone we don’t recognize. The scenes between Irene and her sister Willa in the Halls were some of the most affecting for me, but I also loved St. John’s chapters reflecting on his abbot and the necromancers he lost over the years. And speaking of, special shout out to St. John, or as I like to think of him, if Oogie Boogie were a proper Victorian gentleman. His utter devotion to both Irene and Agnes in his narration is delightful.

I think your own relationship with death and loss may play into how hard this book hits for you. I’ve been dealing with prolonged grief from the death of my best friend, so this hit like a truck. Hallow’s observations on grief are poignant and devastating; early on, St. John remarks that he wishes he could make Irene a book after she dies and carry her with him forever, and I found myself in tears. This happened often throughout the book, and consequently I had to take my time with it because it weighed heavily on me. So many sentences stopped me in my tracks. It’s one of the best grief narratives I’ve read, and I’m so thankful I got to read it. 4.5 stars rounded up.

Would I re-read this: Yes

Who should read this:
fans of unlikable/flawed women
queer/poly romance enjoyers
anyone looking for genrebending unique books

If you’re a very visual reader and you like a vibey gothic, I think this will be right up your alley. If you can’t generate your own visuals (and therefore don’t care for beautiful, descriptive language) or you’re a very plot driven reader, you’ll likely bounce off this book. Additionally, while this book is deeply romantic, I think readers picking this up as a romance expecting a typical romance structure might be disappointed.

For fans of: Caitlin Starling, Johanna van Veen, S. T. Gibson, Alix E. Harrow, Maggie Stiefvater

Thank you to S. M. Hallow, Avon/Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for the eARC.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Halls of the Dead by S. M. Hallow is a masterful, gothic, necromantic romance that completely captivated me. Set in a vividly imagined early Victorian London, the story follows Irene Shallcross Haley, a necromancer who refuses to let death have the final word. When her beloved Agnes is executed for witchcraft, Irene brings her back, but not without consequences. Alongside her undead husband of convenience, St. John, this trio navigates forbidden magic, horrifying rituals, and the dangerous allure of resurrection.

The prose is lyrical, lush, and haunting, perfectly capturing the gothic atmosphere of the Haley house and the dark streets of London. Hallow blends grief, obsession, and forbidden love into a story that is as emotionally powerful as it is gruesomely thrilling. Each POV, especially Irene’s, feels deeply human, layered, and intensely compelling. The dynamic between Irene, Agnes, and St. John is both tender and complex, creating one of the most unique and affecting poly romances I’ve ever read.

The worldbuilding is tight but immersive. Necromancy is forbidden and deadly, yet Hallow grounds the magic in rules and rituals that make every spell feel consequential. The horror elements are gorgeously grisly without feeling gratuitous, making every dark twist and bloody scene land with maximum impact. Flashbacks are used elegantly, revealing character backstory while underscoring themes of grief, loss, and the refusal to let go.

If you love gothic horror, queer or poly romance, morally complex characters, and a story that lingers long after the last page, The Halls of the Dead is unmissable. Dark, beautiful, romantic, horrifying, and ultimately cathartic,this book is a triumph.

Thank you so much NetGalley for providing me with this awesome book!

This the Necromancer book of 2026!
So much to love here but I will keep it short because it's best to go in blind. If you've been waiting for an authentic and original spin on Necromancy. The Halls of the Dead is the best one yet. I hope we get more books from this world.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC. I am truly speechless and fear I might be very much incapable of expressing the depth to which I adored this novel.

This tale follows Irene, her husband St. John and Agnes on their journey of survival through sheer devotion. After Agnes is hanged, Irene and St. John embark on the path of the impossible made manifest. They will be a family again, at any cost and if Agnes returns as a monster then so be it. She is worth any price.

I only have praise for The Halls Of The Dead. The prose is immaculate. The way S. M Hallow tells the tale, the way she dives into her characters and just how much they love each other it is beautiful and heartbreaking thing to read. The level of love, support, admiration and devotion between our characters left me speechless. Irene and St John have been married over a decade by the time our tale begins and yet, they yearn for each other still. Their love for each other is absolutely unconditional, it is unwavering and there is no hell either of them could go that the other would not follow. We come up on them already loving each other that way, and yet it feels brand new. I have no words for the beauty protrayed in that. That love, how easily and beautifully they pour it into Agnes, in their ease of forgiveness, their understanding of who she has become. And that is without acknowledging how fascinating this story was. I was enthralled the entire read. Bloody, gory and obsessive.

I applaud our author for how well I understood all our characters motivations. How their choices had such terrible consequences but knowing they were always doing the best they could with what they had. The lore explained throughout coupled with the history of our characters ensured I never felt like I was being hit with world dumping or too much at once. A fascinating tale. Questions that I didn't even think to ask were being answered. Seeds are planted early, watered slowly and the fruit of such labor is exceptionally tender and sweet. Hallow strings the past, present and convergence of her characters lives with such seamless ease, such intentionality that you think the pieces you've put together are of your own accord and not something delicately fed to you.

This novel won't be for everyone however, I know the audience for it, I am part of it after all. A spectacular read and I am jealous of everyone else that will get to read this for the very first time.