When real estate agent & newly turned vampire, Viola Marek, is unable to sell a house due to a ghost with unfinished business, she seeks out local medium, Fox D’Mora (who also happens to be the godson of Death) to help the ghost solve his murder and “pass on.” This unlikely group of allies find their fates linked when Death goes missing and the only way to solve all their problems and set thing right is to win an immortal gambling tournament, where the stakes are impossibly high.
The book “Masters of Death” is deliciously blasphemous. Sharp, witty, and full of irreverent humor, it’s perfect for anyone with a dry, dark sense of humor. It’s also a great novel for LGBTQIA+ representation (no queerbaiting! Huzzah!). Despite all of the characters being drawn from mythology, various religions, and folklore, it’s first and foremost, a story about humanity. It was really refreshing to read a novel that does something different with its supernatural characters, as opposed to just giving everyone super powers (because being “super” is the only way to be interesting in a fantasy novel, it would seem). Although many of the characters are supernatural, they’re all longing for that lost bit of mortality: the ability to feel, the impermanence of time, human connection, etc. It’s a really beautiful book, although some of the dialogue can feel a bit frenetic at times, but ultimately, I felt it really easy to relate to and found myself laughing out loud at times.
I’d highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun summer read. It’s definitely going to be one of those that I learn something new every time I read it.
Three words that describe this book: Supernatural, irreverent, humanity
You might want to pick this book up if: You have a dark sense of humor and enjoy a bit of blasphemy. If you’ve read Olivie Blake’s “The Atlas Six” & “The Atlas Paradox” and enjoyed those, you’ll definitely like this. If you’re looking for LGBTQIA+ representation or you’re looking for a sharp, well-written novel that’s both clever and “laugh out loud” funny, this one’s for you.
-Olivia
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.
