The Deathless One
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4.0 • 3 Ratings
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- $1.99
Publisher Description
Instant USA TODAY bestseller!
A princess murdered at the altar makes a deal with the god of death for vengeance and to save her people in this first in a unique romantasy trilogy from USA TODAY bestselling author Emma Hamm.
Jessamine was raised to be a leader for her people, but when the land is overrun by an incurable plague, she must enter a political marriage to save them all. A union that should have brought hope only brings death as her new husband murders her at the wedding altar and seizes the throne.
But her death is just the beginning. Her spirit is met by the Deathless One, a god of death yearning to return to the mortal plane, and he needs her help. The two of them make a deal—her life and the return of her kingdom in exchange for his resurrection. But the Deathless One is a known trickster, and a deal with him is one made in blood.
Jessamine knows the Deathless One is a dangerous ally, but the longer they work together, the more she wants him and the less she can stay away. As their connection deepens, soon she wonders if she even wants this contract to end. Perhaps the more appealing throne is the one by his side, but she’d have to turn her back on her people to get it.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Hamm (A Darkness So Sweet) launches a trilogy with this rocky romantasy. When a terrible plague threatens Princess Jessamine Harmsworth's kingdom, she agrees to marry the heir to a neighboring kingdom who promises a cure. But tragedy strikes on her wedding day: Jessamine and her family are brutally murdered by her new husband, who seizes their thrones. In the "realm for the dead," Jessamine meets the Deathless One, or Elric, a death god who was once worshipped by witches but whose followers have dwindled and who is now trapped in the underworld. Recognizing Jessamine as a Gravesinger, a rare and powerful type of witch, Elric offers her a deal: he'll restore her to life if she will resurrect him. But to reclaim her throne, Jessamine must learn to fully embrace her magic and its dark consequences. Hamm's writing shines in Jessamine and Elric's electric chemistry but their slow-burning relationship far overshadows the fantasy elements, leaving the worldbuilding vague and the magic system frequently confusing. Despite a strong opening, the story drags in the middle, and the lackluster ending rushes through too many revelations. Romantasy fans will be taken with the leads but will hope for tighter plotting in the next installment.
