Masters of Death by Olivie Blake is a captivating read that balances dark fantasy with profound philosophical musings. The world-building is intricate
and immersive, with a rich, atmospheric setting that pulls you in. Blake's writing style is lyrical, making the story feel both haunting and beautiful.

The characters are complex, and their relationships are layered with tension and depth. I found myself really connecting with the protagonist's journey and the internal struggles they face. The exploration of death, immortality, and the afterlife is handled with a thoughtful approach, making it more than just a typical fantasy novel

What I particularly appreciated was how the story doesn't shy away from darker themes while also offering moments of beauty and hope. That balance kept me engaged, even if the pacing could feel slow at times. Some parts of the plot had me eagerly turning the pages, but others dragged just a little, which is why I gave it 4 stars.

Overall, Masters of Death is thought-provoking, emotionally resonant book that I'd recommend to fans of fantasy with a philosophical edge.

This story has so many different elements, and they all brought the book to life in a way I didn’t expect. With the way it jumps around from each character and different times, I was a bit confused for most of the story. Though it did come together well in the end!

I did enjoy the banter between characters. Especially Raphael and Gabriel’s dynamic, it was so good.

I didn’t like that so much of the book revolved around the game, and even when it was being played you still didn’t really know what was going on. While I understand it’s only for immortals and the only rule is not to lose, I feel like it could have been explained more once we got to the tables.

Overall, I liked this book. The prose is lovely and while it isn’t exactly a quick read, it was worth the time it took to get through it!

Masters of Death by Olivie Blake is a complex and immersive fantasy novel that follows a group of immortals united in their mission to save humanity and put an end to The Game. The novel's premise is both intriguing and original, with a rich world that blends themes of fate, power, and sacrifice. Although the middle section of the book can feel a bit slow at times, the momentum builds steadily as the group’s journey unfolds. The dynamic between the characters is one of the story’s strongest elements, with each immortal bringing their own perspective and expertise to the table as they navigate the high stakes of their shared mission. Despite the slower pace in parts, the ideas and conclusion make this a rewarding read for fans of intricate, character-driven fantasy.

I can not say this enough, this authors writing style is like no other. I really get lost in the worlds Olivie creates.

This is such a unique, quirky, and irreverent book. The whole premise is so clever, the characters are well-developed, and the interactions between such a silly cast made this a very engaging story. I think this is another of Blake's books that was written before the Atlas Six trilogy, and I think I may like her earlier books better? I hope she writes more of these. I will read every one of them.

Campy and fun with a great narrator, I really enjoyed listening to this book. The narrator especially made it clear who was speaking, and this wasn't something that I had ever read before, so that was lovely. I loved the idea that even paranormal individuals need to have day jobs (so to speak) and a vampire real estate agent was so much fun. Campy and fun, with a more serious heart, great to read from beginning to end.

I love Olivie Blake, her books are just unique! We have a whole slew of paranormal characters in this one, including Death himself. The idea that Death raised a human baby after the death of its parents is quite funny, especially when we discover that Fox ends up getting into all sorts of shenanigans. Death is quite exasperated with Fox and those parts were quite funny especially cause it's obvious Death cares about him. The plot is honestly just fun, in what world would Death get kidnapped haha! Well this one and the fact the rest of the characters have to go through a bunch of trials to try to get things back to normal is just entertaining especially given the love of Fox's life ends up in the middle of it all. I wouldn't class this as a romance but it definitely has a romantic subplot and I'm not mad! I'm very happy I listened to this as an audiobook because the narrator was just excellent and really brought these characters to life.

A big thanks to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

This is a very atmospheric read perfect for fall. I loved how it was a haunted house story without feeling like a haunted house story. However, Blake has a very specific and somewhat purpley prose writing that takes a while to get to the point. It lost me a little on the way to the point. I think this one just dragged and didn't have enough vampires or haunted house for my liking. I do think it was quirky and fun and may appeal to T Kingfisher fans

Interesting set up, great premise, okay execution. Olivie Blake is probably not for me, but I couldn't resist giving this a try. If this sounds interesting to someone, they will probably love it.

"Masters of Death" by Olivie Blake is a supernatural adventure featuring Viola Marek, a vampire struggling to sell a haunted house where a stubborn ghost refuses to move on until his murder is solved. Enter Fox D’Mora, a charismatic medium with dubious credentials but a connection to Death himself. Reluctantly drawn into unraveling the ghost's mystery, Viola and Fox find themselves navigating a quirky team of supernatural allies, including a poltergeist, a demonic trainer, a sharp-tongued angel, and a lovesick reaper. As they delve deeper, they uncover unexpected connections between lost loves and lingering spirits, blending mystery, humor, and the paranormal in a tale that defies expectations.

I normally really love Steve West’s narration, he really does a wonderful job, but this book just didn’t work for me in audio there’s to many character and to much dialog, which wasn’t really working for me, for it to really work with a single narrator for me.

Viola is a realtor trying to sell a house with one problem: it’s haunted by its last owner. Oh, and viola is an aswang. Follow Viola as she works with various other supernatural creatures to solve the mystery of Tom’s (the ghost) death and ends up helping to save the world at the same time. Honestly I loved that Blake brought in such a variety of of creatures into this story, but really brought everything back to love and human connection. When the only rule in a game played by immortals is don’t lose, it really does take a human willing to risk everything to win. And what human would do that without have connections, friends and love? Not only that, but the narrator for this audiobook was incredible. When sometimes the story itself was a little slow, the narration kept me engaged until the plot picked up again.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian Audio!
This is such an anticipated read, and I am so excited it lived up to expectations. Olivie Blake is an absolutely amazing author, and I am so glad that I got to check out her work early. This might be one of my new favorite books by her. The premise of this book was fantastic and the execution was flawless. I could read multiple books in this world!

Where have I been? Under a rock? How is it that I’ve never read anything by this author?

I loved everything about it. I loved the world-building, the characters (who doesn’t like a good gaggle of misfits?), the squirrel-brain pacing, and the impertinent dialogue (oh, the impertinent dialogue!).

My only real criticism was that it could have been an entire series. I would have loved three books in this world, instead of the one crammed to bursting.

Now, if everyone is to be believed – that this book, while good, isn’t Blake’s best – I’m going to have a grand time with her back catalogue.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this magical ARC.

I think this time, when I say I'm throwing in the towel on Olivia Blake, I have to mean it. I either love her books or I have less than zero clue what is going on. There's no reliability for me and unfortunately this was in the latter camp. Literal definition of all vibes no plot.

I could not finish listening to this. The narration was so irking to me. The way the narrator voiced the females had me wanting to rip my ears off. I am interested in the story and will try to read a physical copy in the future when I've gotten over this, so I'll give it two stars for that.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC! ♥

Olivie Blake has a beautiful way of writing. Sh manages to bring an eclectic cast of characters into an engaging story.

I loved the prose, but this did drag a little for me. The interactions between the different types of supernatural beings was interesting. This is a thought provoking book that is still fun to read.

I found the audiobook really difficult to follow and kept loosing interest. So maybe just not for me or that time.

Whoever chose this narrator for this audiobook knew what they were doing. They were absolutely amazing and I can’t wait to hear more books from the narrator but as far as the Book for Olivie Blake, she’s a queen and I love anything she makes.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the Advance Listener Copy of Masters of Death.

I loved the dramatized adaptation of Atlas Six by Olivie Blake so when I saw this one I requested it immediately. This is a very different book than Atlas Six. My biggest issue with this book is that the plot is moved forward entirely by dialogue by about 20 different characters which would be difficult for a great audiobook narrator. Steve West isn't my favorite narrator but major props to him for doing this one. I did have to abandon the audio version about halfway through as I had no idea which character was talking. I finished reading a physical copy and enjoyed it a little more but it still was not my favorite.