Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read this novel. I really appreciated this novel from the perspective of someone who enjoys "obscure" (from a Western standpoint) folklore. Asia Minor is a deeply underrepresented region in both the fantasy and historical fiction genres in the English speaking world, and I'm always thrilled when I have the opportunity to read this type of setting. The author treated the region and its folklore with care, and that is something I care about.

Aside from this, the plot, pacing, and characters were well done. I was invested in the main character's story, and curious about her romantic interest. The author captures the atmosphere of folklore in her prose and choices. I think the comparisons between "Uprooted" and "The Bear and the Nightingale" are apt. I hope that this book manages to achieve a wider audience and bring interest to the history and folklore of Asia Minor!

A story like this is an interesting blend of... well, a lot of things. I just don't think it was for me.

3 ⭐

This story was not as I expected.
The world building was fantastic and the fairytale/folklore aspect was really good. However it wasn't consistent - it seemed to mix various folklore together, which I did not enjoy. It felt chaotic.

The main character, Zerryn, is wonderful, caring and morally strong. The actual story had a great premise, but I do not believe it was written very well. I spent a lot of time confused.

I'm sad I did not like this book more.

THE BRIDE OF DEATH was a up-and-down read for me which I think ultimately ended more positive than negative, but which I really hoped would grab me more.
It’s comped to The Bear and the Nightingale, and in the early chapters--where we see Zerryn grow from a baby to her adult self in an isolated, superstitious village--I can really see that connection. However, this section of the book felt very slow to me, and while I can appreciate the atmosphere Aden was trying to build, there just wasn’t enough going on to really pull me through. I do think the comp is doing THE BRIDE OF DEATH a slight disservice. Some of the story elements are actually too similar, and the comp makes that stick out as you’re reading. Aden’s writing is pretty, but she doesn’t quite manage to reach the same level of atmosphere and vibes (as I mentioned regarding that Act 1 set-up) that flows through TBANTN.
The pace picks up once we get to the meat of the story – Zerryn’s trails in the Underworld. The first two trials felt exciting and full of danger, and I was really immersed throughout the second act. The action and adventure, and fantastical world-building here was great! However, with the third trial, and then the third act finale/resolution, I felt the ball was sort of dropped again, and Zerryn’s story ended with a bit of a fizzle.
There were elements of THE BRIDE OF DEATH I really enjoyed, especially the Turkish setting and the way the mythology was tied into the tale. There were shades of an overall Hades and Persephone vibe to story, but mixed in with characters from Turkish mythology, namely Erlik Khan. There was also the idea of Christian vs old word religion butting up against one another (again, The Bear and the Nightingale) but which I thought might’ve been interesting to explore more.
I liked Zerryn’s character – her moral arc/journey is incredibly compelling and not one I’ve seen often. Aden makes some brave choices that make for a truly memorable protagonist.
I think how well reader enjoy THE BRIDE OF DEATH will hinge largely on how they react to the romance plotline and the love interest. While I had no real problems with it, the romance didn’t sing for me. I think regular fans of romantasy or fantasy romance will get more out of that plot element and, ultimately, more enjoyment from the book overall.

So, i had to force myself to finish reading this book so i don’t necessarily have a cohesive review, more so a bunch of bullet points and notes that i made throughout the excruciatingly long journey of reading this book. fyi, the biggest reason that i had to force myself to finish reading this title, and by default didn’t enjoy it as much, is because it is confusing to read as it is almost entirely in third person. This made it really confusing at times, and honestly just made it seem a lot longer that it actually was.

Anyway into the notes that i made;
- This is a tale of love, sacrifice and the pursuit of power.
- Uses a really interesting mix of folklore and fantasy to weave an incredibly complex world together.
- There is a range of really interesting characters.
- This title will definitely appeal to those that enjoy darker fantasy
- The writing style was very lyrical and beautifully written (if a bit confusing)
- I personally wasn’t a fan of the love triangle. It felt a little bit forced and was just annoying to read about at times.
- I really enjoyed all of the trials. They were probably the most interesting part.
- While the writing style is beautiful, there is a lot of disconnect at the beginning of the book. Lots of time skipping which made things more confusing than they already were.
- It was very refreshing to have a book steeped in folklore other than the usual Greek. Not that there is anything wrong with Greek mythology retellings, i just think that they have become a bit overdone now.

Overall this was an ok story with some really interesting elements, but I don’t think it was entirely fleshed out in all areas. I think for me it would have easily been a 5 star read if it hadn’t been wrote in third person (just my preference) and if there had been more time spent perfecting certain characters and plot points…

A big thanks to NetGalley and Northern Light Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A book that combines Uprooted and The Bear and the Nightingale? Yes please!

The Bride of Death by F.M. Aden is a fantasy novel about a women who seeks to defeat death and save her village in the process. As a young child, Zerryn grew up on tales of the Lord of Death, Erlik Khan, and his penchant for stealing wild girls. In her small village, she keeps to herself and tends to the temple gardens, spending her days with her best friend Çelik. But when Çelik begins to act strangely and removes himself to live on a crumbling estate atop Mount Ida, the rumors of him becoming possessed by a demon begin to swiftly arise. Each month that passes the demon within him grows stronger, his demands of the villagers growing oddly disjointed and nonsensical. Her chances of saving him become all but impossible once Zerryn learns that it is no lesser demon that has a hold of him but Erlik Khan—a demon of untold power who lords over the dead. It isn’t long before word spreads that he is in search of a bride, and creatures of untold power come before him to rule by his side. Zerryn knows that she cannot take down Erlik without power and she cannot gain power without becoming his bride. But becoming Erlik’s wife is nothing as simple as an offer for his hand. To become the queen of the Underworld, she must complete three impossible tasks or risk losing everything she holds dear.

Hands down, this is a beautifully written novel that is indeed reminiscence of Novik and Arden's works. But at the same time, some of the execution of the idea was a bit lackluster. I just wanted more from this novel. More like, Where the Dark Stands Still more. But maybe that's just me.

In this story, we actually have the heroine being the one competing for the man this time. That was different. Lol.

This was an enthralling book based on Turkish mythology. The world building was excellent. I also loved the introduction to different mythological characters.
I did not like Celik. Not even a little bit. And my opinion remained unchanged throughout the book.

This book would be best for fans of dark fantasy and romance. Readers who enjoy mythology should also give it a try

Thank you to NetGalley and Northern Light Press for the opportunity to review this book!

I received an ARC of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review.

DNF @ 50%. The first 25% of this book really caught my attention and I was enjoying the gothic fairy tale vibes. But when the main character meets Erlik Khan, the god of death and king of the underworld in Turkish mythology, the story quickly degraded for me. His character is all over the place. There's a super strong insta-love on his side for the heroine and there's no apparent reason foundation for his feelings. He's also very obnoxious and is a "pick me guy" to the level of being pathetic. It also doesn't help that he's going to be part of a love triangle for the heroine and he's described as having 4 eyes and 4 arms. It's just a little too weird for me.

"The Bride of Death" by F.M. Aden is a mesmerizing tale of love, sacrifice, and the pursuit of power set against a backdrop of ancient legends and supernatural forces.

Aden masterfully weaves together elements of folklore and fantasy, creating a rich and immersive world that is both enchanting and perilous. Each setting is vividly depicted, adding depth and atmosphere to the narrative.

At its heart, "The Bride of Death" is a story about the choices we make and the sacrifices we are willing to endure for the ones we love. Overall, "The Bride of Death" is a captivating and evocative tale that will appeal to fans of dark fantasy and mythological fiction. Aden's lyrical prose, intricate world-building, and compelling characters make this a must-read for anyone seeking an immersive and enchanting literary escape.

I would highly recommend this for fans of Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse! This was lushly written and rooted in folk fantasy--things I absolutely love. The love triangle aspect in this book did have me wondering a bit as to who she would ultimately choose, but it was so well done in that her home was at the heart of her quest which drove her to find her own inner strength and ultimately her fate. I'm not a fan of monster romance but I absolutely loved the trials rooted in folklore and the characters and their personalities.

Atmosphere was nice enough, though I don't feel like I truly got anything out of the Turkic folklore element because it wasn't super developed. I am constantly on the hunt for a Winternight readalike because I loved it so much and I fall for the publisher blurbs saying For Fans Of time and time again and I just keep getting disappointed. Nothing special and not particularly engagingly written.

Sorry for the delay in posting a review, I completely missed this one when writing the others.

I did struggle a little with this one and found it took a little to get into. Whilst I did finish the book it took several weeks as I just wasn’t hooked unfortunately.

Thank you to Netgalley, the Author and the Publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I received this book as an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 / 5

The Bride of Death is a retelling of the Persephone and Hades tale with some YA tropes woven in (although I was pleased to see the main character, Zerryn, was in her early 20s rather than 17 as is often the preference). I enjoyed the brief window we had into Zerryn’s childhood, which was haunted by loss and the shadow of death, and the transition into young woman grounded her for me. However after this the pacing began to rapidly descend into unevenness. Some evens came upon us in moments, others built up with painstaking slowness.

The central romance was a triangle but for the most part I found this fine (and I usually hate love triangles) - mostly because one point of the triangle is largely forgotten for most of the book. Erlik and Zerryn unfortunately have little chemistry - their tenuous connection and Erlik’s strange obsession with Zerryn never seemed to be based in anything substantial. They have some light hearted banter, some steamy kisses and suddenly are infatuated.

I enjoyed the trials and this was perhaps my favourite part of the book - the dynamic between Erlik’s suitors (in particular Beyza) was interesting and fun whilst also forwarding the plot.

The ending, for me, was deeply unsatisfying and is what brings this from a 3 to a 2.5 star read. If you’re looking for something based on Hades & Persephone and love YA (I’m thinking particularly if you’re after a one-shot, ACoTaR-esque read) you may enjoy The Bride of Death.

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's already out, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. It is an enjoyable, atmospheric dark fairytale romance with a feisty heroine. Although I found the beginning of the book slightly jarring (too much skipping of time for me) and found it hard to suspend my disbelief to fall for a romantic interest with multiple eyes and appendages, I did get sucked into the story and loved the Gothic myth feel.

If you like Pan's Labyrinth and David Bowie's Labyrinth I think that you will enjoy this story. It didn't immerse me as much as I would have liked, but definitely worth a read - 3.5/5.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I think the comp titles for this are very well chosen because while I enjoyed the book overall, I had the same issues with it that I also had with The Bear and the Nightingale. While the story was well-written and I did like it for the most part, I really struggled to get into it.
The writing style made me feel a bit disconnected and considering how much the synopsis of this book drew me in, I felt like the execution didn't quite live up to it.

The romance was fine, it definitely relied on some tropes (which was to be expected from the synopsis) and it wasn't groundbreaking, but I liked it.
I also mostly enjoyed the FMC, though I felt like she acted quite of character at the end.

I can't speak much on if the Turkish folklore in this book was well-represented, but I liked the setting and the worldbuilding.

Overall, it's a decent book and I'm sure others will enjoy it more, I just didn't fully connect with it.

I really enjoyed this book, though I don't think it's perfect. There were times this book seemed to care more about fulfilling a "trope" despite not making much sense to the story. Ex. It felt out of nowhere when Elerik put a knife to Zerryn's throat, until I realized that it's a popular "booktok trope."

As an educator, it's a little too spicy to directly incorporate into curriculum, however I would not be against recommending it to an older high school student, especially if the reading assignment was related to folklore, Anatolia, myths, etc. Especially because most books on the market focus on Greek myths, so I enjoy how this is Turkish.

Thank you NetGalley and author F.M. Aden for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

"As a young child, Zerryn grew up on tales of the Lord of Death, Erlik Khan, and his penchant for stealing wild girls. In her small village, she keeps to herself and tends to the temple gardens, spending her days with her best friend Çelik. But when Çelik begins to act strangely and removes himself to live on a crumbling estate atop Mount Ida, the rumors of him becoming possessed by a demon begin to swiftly arise. Each month that passes the demon within him grows stronger, his demands of the villagers growing oddly disjointed and nonsensical.

Her chances of saving him become all but impossible once Zerryn learns that it is no lesser demon that has a hold of him but Erlik Khan—a demon of untold power who lords over the dead. It isn’t long before word spreads that he is in search of a bride, and creatures of untold power come before him to rule by his side. Zerryn knows that she cannot take down Erlik without power and she cannot gain power without becoming his bride.

But becoming Erlik’s wife is nothing as simple as an offer for his hand. To become the queen of the Underworld, she must complete three impossible tasks or risk losing everything she holds dear."

I enjoy reading this book. I devoured it in one sitting.

When the Lord of the Underworld, Erlik Khan, possesses Zerryn’s childhood friend, the two strike a bargain. If she can win a series of trials and Erlik’s hand in marriage, he’ll release her friend or else her friend will die before winter.

The Bride of Death by F.M. Aden weaves a flawed but enthralling tale inspired by Turkish folklore.

Let's start with what I liked about the book. I think this is actually the first fantasy book I’ve read that includes Turkish folklore and mythological creatures, so it was a refreshing departure from all the Nordic and Greek-inspired fantasies that are so prolific.

The romance itself is deliciously swoonworthy. That part was great! I mean, the main love interest has extra arms ... for hugging, and I’m sure it’ll delight fans of Death and the Maiden trope, I-offer-the-world-at-your-feet dynamics.

However, there were certain rushed plot developments towards the end that I felt undid so many of the themes the story had built up, and, for me to dive into that, I’ll have to get into major plot spoilers. For instance, I found it baffling that Erlik completely destroys Zerryn’s magic, she forgives him over the course of a chapter, and he ends up saving her from the villagers.

What happened? Throughout the story, we’re told over and over again that Zerryn has the power to save herself:

“You must never wait for someone to save you,’ her magic whispered. ‘Only you can save yourself.’”

And

“No, it was not Erlik who saved her. It was her own magic, bright and fervent. Zerryn knew that now. It had never been Erlik. It had always been her.”

I thought Zerryn’s magic was supposed to be inherent to her. Why must she lose the power that she had spent the majority of the novel trying to regain only for it to be casually tossed aside and not addressed again? This is the same issue I had with Alina losing her sun summoner powers at the end of Ruin and Rising, and maybe it’s partly a matter of preference, but it frustrated me to no end and quite frankly soured the book for me.

I would give this book 2.5/5 stars but am rounding up to 3 because I loved the first part of this book. The highlight for me was the way it wove together Turkic folklore, paganism, and Christianity.

I really liked a lot of the secondary characters. I thought they helped flesh out the lore and made for some interesting relationships with the protagonist. However, I thought some of these side characters deserved more wrapping up. Instead they fell by the wayside and their existence was never mentioned again. A few of them seemed like they should have had bigger roles to play and could have been put to better use in the end.

Overall I would say this was a decent romantasy, but the ending felt like a huge misfire. It seemed like the author spent so much of the book building to something different, so it just did not feel like the natural conclusion. The way Zerryn ended up did not seem to make sense with her character arc and left a lot of threads hanging. I really wanted to root for this book because of how much I enjoyed the first two parts, but in the end it was middling.