Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook!

Final Rating: 3.75/5 Stars

After finishing this book, I am left with one word: fascinating. Although I am not a stranger to Olivie Blake's beautiful prose and complex, captivating worlds, she continues to keep me guessing in all her novels. Masters of Death follows a motley crew of deities ranging from demons, angels, ghosts, reapers, vampires, werewolves, sirens, demigods, and, most notably, the charismatic godson of Death himself. The story kicks off with a vampire turned relator named Vi who is trying to sell a house that is unfortunately haunted by an insufferable spirit. From here she hires Fox, aforementioned godson of Death and shameless fraud, to try to help. From there, they are swept up in this world where the stakes are impossibly high as various characters foolishly play an immortal’s game in an attempt to win their greatest desires.

Told in meandering prose, flashing between the past and present, this story felt like walking in a dreamscape. I truly had no idea what twists were coming up and enjoyed not being able to guess the ending. Although I normally prefer a more linear style of storytelling, Olivie Blake still managed to keep me engaged and thirsting for more.

All that being said, I don't think this book will appeal to everyone. It's dreamy and hard to grasp at points, which can lead to confusion and possibly frustration as not all questions are answered readily. The game component itself is particularly confusing and, having finished the book, I still could not explain to you how someone wins or loses it. However, if you trust the process and if you love annoyingly endearing characters who yearn to find love and their place in the world, I'm sure you'll grow to love this story. Even better if you like more open ended stories where the end goals are not entirely clear.

The audiobook itself was particularly well done and Tom West's narration was vibrant and gave real life to our main characters. I do suggest reading a physical copy along with the audiobook if you are able due to the often unclear storyline. The audiobook would give little to no indication when it was changing between the past and the present, which at times made it confusing to know what was happening and when.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time in this world. Although not my favorite Olivie Blake book, her writing is nearly unmatched and I cannot wait to consume anything else she writes.

Thank you, Macmillan Audio, for an Advanced Listeners Copy.

Rating: 3.25 stars

The best way to experience Olivie Blake’s books is on audio, and that is a hill I am willing to die on.

Filled with witty vampires, ghosts, the supernatural and real estate agents, Masters of Death follows multiple characters in their pursuit of the truth. Viola Marek, a vampire and real estate agent, finds herself in a sticky situation when the dead owner of the house she’s trying to sell won’t leave until he finds out how he died. On the other hand, Fox is the godson of Death and a Medium (or so he says) who is also looking for a couple of answers.

I always enjoy Blake’s cinematic writing style; the audio narration brings out each character’s distinct personality. But, as much as I love Olivie Blake and her books, I had a very middling experience with this one. Blake has a very atmospheric style of writing that is usually slower-paced as you follow along with each character's journey. And while I’m no stranger to a slow-paced book, I wasn’t invested in the journey and found myself underwhelmed with the end. I hoped it would pack a bigger punch to feel like the 15-hour audiobook was memorable.


That being said, I recommend this one to readers who enjoyed ‘One for My Enemy’ and ‘The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.’

I was excited for this book but the narration was hard to follow . Will try to read it again because I did like the book overall .

Thank you for the audiobook!

I have to start by saying after listening to Masters of Death I would listen to anything Steve West narrates, and I will be seeking out more of his audiobooks. There are a lot of characters in this story, each vastly unique, and Steve was able to capture the essence of each beautifully. I was drawn into the story and extremely entertained, which was in large part due to the fantastic narration.

While I was entertained to the point of laughing out loud on many occasions, I am still torn about my feelings on the story. I loved the characters (Death, Death's godson, a vampire / cat shifter, a poltergeist, a few demons, some angels.... a hot demi-god who gives out adorable nicknames.), but I wish they had more screentime. I honestly felt like each individual grouping of characters could have had their own book, which left me feeling a big unsatisfied as I loved them so much.

The story isn't exactly linear, which was fine with me, but at times it felt chaotic and confusing. This could be because I was listening to the story instead of reading a physical copy, but I felt some scenes dragged on while some went by too fast and others changed location almost mid-sentence. The pacing and story line jumping caused a bit of disorientation for me.

HOWEVER, I love Fox. I love reflecting on love, loss, death and friendship. That the potential end is worth the fight. I love Olivie Blake's writing style. Her prose is witty and so intelligent. I love sassy characters and hilarious banter.

I enjoyed myself, and I'm so thankful for the audiobook arc! A fun, intelligent read.

#MastersOfDeath:

Thank you @macmillan @tor for my gifted copies.

Me: “IDK what journey you’re taking me on but let’s go!” (Does a Wizard of Oz skip)
Olivie Blake: “Watch this”

This book was something y’all. I really didn’t know where we were gonna go or how, but I just went with it. Every character sucked me in and I would follow them to the depths of the Earth just to say hey. Thankfully, Olivie Blake made it a wonderful journey and I’m so pleased by all the characters in Masters of Death.

I don’t know why, but the characters all reminded me of Monty Python (which is a huge compliment) They were witty and sharp, but all had this great depth. At first, I thought it was almost an anthology of different people, different chapters, then I realized it’s just a big journey with lots of fun side characters to help along the way.

I truly believe the only way to read Masters of Death is through audio. Steve West is king, and he hits each mark effortlessly. You don’t have to convince me twice if he’s reading, I’m listening. The wit was delivered with perfection.

I’m not done talking about this treat of an audiobook, I could gush all day. I own several of Olivie Blake’s books on audio, but this is actually my first listen. It was absolute perfection. Releasing 8/8, I’m so thrilled to have listened to this beautiful story.

This book is widely amusing. I found myself smiling and laughing out loud several times. Viola is trying hard to sell a ghost infested mansion but the ghost isn't making it easy. He can't seem to leave the house. Viola can see him since she is a vampire. With her friend is a demon she goes to see Fox D'Mora the godson of Death.

Fox doesn't like doing jobs for creatures he says every time he does it he winds up getting him involved in something he doesn't want to be a part of. Against his better wishes he agrees to help her.

When he gets to the Mansion with a Reaper, and an Angel in tow he finds that his god-father is missing and the other angels think that he is the only one who can save the world. In order to do that he has to win an unwinable game where the only rule is not to lose.

Wildly entertaining and unique this is a great read. The narration is fantastic and sucks you in.

"Masters of Death" by Olivie Blake is undeniably an enjoyable read, though it does have its shortcomings. The large cast of characters in a relatively short book leaves some feeling underdeveloped by the end of the story, and the pacing can be a bit erratic, with some parts feeling rushed while others drag on.

However, Olivie Blake's writing style is undeniably captivating and works exceptionally well for me. Despite the issues with pacing, the story flows effortlessly, drawing readers into its imaginative world. I found myself forgiving the pacing woes, thanks to the sheer strength of Blake's prose.

One of the highlights of the book is the likable characters, who possess unique qualities that make them endearing. It's disappointing that they didn't have enough time or pages to be fully explored and developed, as it could have elevated the story to even greater heights.

If Steve West narrates it, I'm likely to love it. I enjoyed the cast of characters: we've got a vampire, demons, angels, demi-gods, the god of death, ghosts and mortals. There is a wild game with dire consequences if you lose.

This story is not told in a linear fashion, so if that is something you don't like this is probably not the book for you. I did get a little lost every once in a while, but I quickly got back on track.

What a seriously fun read. These characters were written so well and their interactions with each other always made me laugh or smirk. I would read another 1000 pages of their ridiculous conversations.
This was a very unique premise and so well executed. I loved the less than linear timeline and how we were kept in the dark about some things making it a fun mystery.

One of my favorite microtropes is Death characterized. So I knew I’d love this one just from that. But this one was so much more. I love a non linear plot with a lot of well written in-depth characters.

Viola is a new vampire and real estate agent trying to sell a mansion but it is being haunted by a ghost who doesn’t want her to sell so she visits a medium- Fox D’Mura, the godson of Death. They get entangled in a quest to save Death and humanity.

I really enjoyed this one and liked the narrator.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listening copy.

The narration of this book is excellent! And this book is really funny and fun. It has all of the things that I should enjoy, but something didn't quite hit right for me. There were a lot of characters, and I struggled to keep up with them and care about them. That could have been a "It's not you its me" thing.

A woman who is not entirely alive gets pulled into a reality far from what she knows. She and her demon friend enlist the help of a median to exercise a ghost from the property she is trying to sell. Before the ritual even begins they are all pulled into a web of lies and half truths. This ghost is not teathered by coincidence and holds answers to questions that none of them would think to ask. This group of beings have to work alongside angels, reapers and immortals to win a game that has been played for centuries.

This book had many great characters with their own hidden pasts and it kept me reading wanting to know more about each of their interesting lives. All of the intermingled life lines came together in the end but it still left a little to be desired, as if the climax did not hold enough power to carry it all.

Sarcastic and out there story , with an entire otherworldly cast of weirdos! While I did like some characters story lines (vi and tom) better than others (fox) , I did enjoy listening to this book.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023. Unfortunately, Olivie Blake may be slowly becoming a hit-or-miss author for me. I must admit that Alone With You in the Ether is one of my favorite books of all time, but, while I vastly enjoyed The Atlas Six and One for My Enemy, I did not share the same enjoyment while reading The Atlas Paradox or this one, Masters of Death.

I have to hand it to Blake: she has an incredibly unique voice and writing style. It is beyond recognizable (you'd be able to spot in under a pseudonym any day). I love how philosophical, intelligent, and poetic her prose are. While that academic tone of her writing was certainly present in this book, it unfortunately did not work for me in this particular setting.

Before I go on, the audiobook narrator, Steve West, is no stranger to narrating Olive Blake's books and was a welcome returner to her universe, in my mind. His narration is well suited to Blake's academic tone.

I enjoy an urban fantasy-paranormal backdrop, and the idea of a vampire and a medium at the forefront of the story sounded intriguing. However, I found myself extremely irritated attempting to piece together the story, suffering from floating head syndrome. I was neither invested in the characters, nor their nonexistent struggles and complexities. I even swung back and forth between the audiobook and the ebook to see if either reading method would correct my attitude towards the story.

Unfortunately, I believe that the disconnect between the book's contents and the synopsis gave me different expectations entering this read -- to the point of no return. It was also marketed, via the Goodreads genres selected, as a fantasy romance, which was grossly inaccurate.

All in all, I believe this started out as a fun thought experiment for Blake, but it was not fully fleshed out and simply fell short to me.

1.5-2 stars

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I love love love Olivie Blake and I loved this story. She is a fantastic writer and comes up with plots that keep me on the edge of my seat and leave me begging for more every time. She is also so so so so marvelous at writing witty banter and dialogue, and she's just so. dang. funny.

All of the characters in this book are exciting and different, and I think you really get to see the personalities and thoughts of each throughout the story. I loved all of them. Tom, admittedly is pretty high up there on the list of favorites because that's just the kind of guy I think I fall for. But, everyone is so so great and even people I didn't like off the bat, I ended up falling for as well.

The plot just grips you; my favorite thing is its move from vague details to specifics and that you are kept guessing but can go back and look at different parts from the beginning and already start to better understand what is happening at the part you are reading. I think this was just such a fun read with awesome characters and a compelling plot, written by one of my all-time favorite authors.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio & Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this early audiobook

This is an interesting story.

The narration is performed by Steve West and his voice is enthralling. With his phenomenal performance, West kept me engaged throughout the journey, adding a layer of enchantment to the tale.
There is a multitude of characters that are all very unique and different. The story unfolds at a deliberate pace. The story isn't linear but I found it to be an interesting story and liked the reveal at the end. I must admit my favorite character is Death.

A very special thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the complimentary copy.

Viola Marek is a real estate agent and a vampire but she has one problem. The house she is trying to sell is currently occupied by the ghost of the former owner who refuses to move on. Fox D’Mora is a medium who Viola seeks out to help with her ghost problem. Fox may be a fraud but he is quite useful as the God son of Death. However, getting rid of this ghost might require more than anyone could have thought possible.

I received an audio copy of this book and it seems like it has the same narrator as most of Blake’s other books. The narrators voice is just so calming but also captivating. If you have read any of Blake’s books, this books gives the same kind of feel of her other books. It’s got a lot of twist and turns, multiple characters with different POVs, and and constantly has the reader questioning what will happen next. While I personally struggle following some of the writing, I found this book quite interesting and enjoyed the ride. I think that those who are fans of The Atlas series will love this book.

I’ve never read anything by Olivie Blake before so I had nothing to go off of but the title and synopsis sounded interesting.

I chose the audiobook because I really enjoy having audiobooks to keep me entertained during car rides, house cleaning and work. The narrator, Steve West, has a very sexy rich voice. I could listen to him read anything.

The audiobook is 15 hours long. That’s a longgg book. And I’ve listened to books longer but this one felt so daunting due to the subject matter.

I think this book has too much going on. I liked the original storyline of Death’s godson. I liked Viola and her ghost storyline. But it felt like even in the first couple hours so many side storylines were happening. And it was getting confusing to tell what was what.

I think the book is verging on fantasy more than I care for. Not really my kind of book.

Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to read. I have written this review voluntarily.

Thank you Olivie Blake, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for this advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review.

I truly love Olivie Blake's writing style. It always leaves me in awe of the stories she weaves together. This book is no different. Macmillan Audio did a fantastic job with casting this audiobook. "Masters of Death" relies a lot on conversational dialogue to progress the plot. So I can see why some would have a harder time reading this book. However, I really enjoyed the intricate storytelling of this book. It was very much a "trust the process" type of book and well worth it.

I loved the narrator! I enjoyed the banter, it was highly amusing in moments. Somewhere along the way it lost me. It lost my Interest, I’m unsure why as I said it was funny and the narration was good. The story just wasn’t for me. Her writing is also amazing though, so I did finish it.