* I got this book for review from the publisher*
I loved this book and found it to be a super unque read and one that a flew though. This read as def higher Ya to me. It also screamed regency romance and brigerton to me with a magic twist. This story had some many gohtic elemetns that captured me from page one. I also loved the death magic element and how that was crafted throuhgout this novel. I also really loved how this book built a found family element it and also was super captured by the mystery at the heart of the read!! I did not predict the ending and so excited for book 2!!

Merged review:

* I got this book for review from the publisher*
I loved this book and found it to be a super unque read and one that a flew though. This read as def higher Ya to me. It also screamed regency romance and brigerton to me with a magic twist. This story had some many gohtic elemetns that captured me from page one. I also loved the death magic element and how that was crafted throuhgout this novel. I also really loved how this book built a found family element it and also was super captured by the mystery at the heart of the read!! I did not predict the ending and so excited for book 2!! ( )

* I got this book for review from the publisher*
I loved this book and found it to be a super unque read and one that a flew though. This read as def higher Ya to me. It also screamed regency romance and brigerton to me with a magic twist. This story had some many gohtic elemetns that captured me from page one. I also loved the death magic element and how that was crafted throuhgout this novel. I also really loved how this book built a found family element it and also was super captured by the mystery at the heart of the read!! I did not predict the ending and so excited for book 2!!

Merged review:

* I got this book for review from the publisher*
I loved this book and found it to be a super unque read and one that a flew though. This read as def higher Ya to me. It also screamed regency romance and brigerton to me with a magic twist. This story had some many gohtic elemetns that captured me from page one. I also loved the death magic element and how that was crafted throuhgout this novel. I also really loved how this book built a found family element it and also was super captured by the mystery at the heart of the read!! I did not predict the ending and so excited for book 2!! ( )

Already my favorite for October 🥰
The beginning was a little slow paced for me but at the same time it had me hooked. Anyone that knows me well knows I love a good Persephone and Hades vibe and though NO, this isn't a retelling of them nor is it in anyway a Greek mythology it just gave me those same kind of vibes and dark gothic feel.
I absolutely love Death (well in this book, LOL). I love the mystery though a bit predictable at some points but it was still very much fun to read and listen to. I listened to the audiobook while I read and man that is a whole different vibe. Well done, I can't wait to read the next book in this series, my fairyloot special edition of Foxglove is already on it's way and I am super excited to read what else Signa and Death go through.

There are things though that were a bit off for me and I think me getting into really breaking down to review books more and more kind of sucks in a way but here goes before I ramble on. The way Death is portrayed it seems as if he is supposed to be somewhat of a spirit or ghost which is fine except in the "love scenes" with him and Signa it seems a bit confusing or did I miss something on the rationality of how this is supposed to occur, meaning how is he corporeal if he is defined as a spirit or ghost. My other dislike is the somewhat world building or era where this book takes place, the explanation of debuting and eligibility of the bachelor's fell a bit flat for me and a bit boring. I feel like it was not connecting to the mystery of her trying to solve a murder. And my final dislike was and ultimate peeve was every time Signa figured something new (a clue) it was written as "another puzzle piece" give us readers a little credit, this isn't scooby doo where we need an announcement everytime.🙄🤦
Overall I did enjoy the book and I love when all the pieces finally connected - LOL you know what I mean. The last few chapters were my favorite and everytime Death called Signa "little bird" my heart melted.🥰🥰 and why I gave it a 4 star rating
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“Do not change the parts of yourself that you like to make others comfortable. Do not try to mold yourself to fit the standards someone else has set for us.”
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“Your name is no curse, Little Bird. I just like the taste of it”
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“Don't resent me when I've only just gotten you, please, for I am what makes this world beautiful.” ( )

The Secret Garden meets Wuthering Heights in a Victorian murder-mystery featuring a young woman who has no choice but to team up with Death to save the only family members she has left. In the midst of scandal, romance akin to Phantom of the Opera takes shape--and I couldn't put this book down! ( )

3.5 ⭐️
I think I would have enjoyed this more as an adult novel, but overall it's a solid book with pretty good writing. It was good to read a ya book that only focused on one character and her romantic interest rather than 3 or 4 with all the little "diverse" checkboxes ticked off. Very refreshing in this new era of writing that is either too explicit for the ya genre or is just checking boxes to please the woke crowd. ( )