I wanted to like this - it somehow gave me Tim Burton vibes. However, I just really couldn't get past the way it was written. The beginning felt disjointed, rushed and weird and I barely made it through that part. I also just didn't love the main character nor could I understand her being drawn to the male main character.

As a fan of Naomi Novak and Katherine Arden, I love to read now and then fantasies written in a way told in the old ways- that is nostalgic of when I used to sit around the fire in winter listening to my grand-grandmother telling of monsters, maidens and adventure.
So, the premise of this book was very appealing to me. And to be honest, I enjoyed most of it. ⚜Genre: Cultural Retelling Romance Fantasy
⚜Theme: Hades/Persephone Paranormal romance
⚜Targeted audience: New Adult
⚜Characters: witches (Zerryn), devils (Elrik Khan), demons
⚜Representation: POC
⚜TW: cults - kidnapping - beheading - body possession
⚜ tropes: slow-burn, love-triangle
⚜ POV: one side third POV - Zerryn's
⚜ spice 🌶
⚜ rating 🌟🌟🌟
⚜standalone: yes
⚜Ending: resolved HEA

Zerryn is cursed with magic. she is somehow shunned by her village. Moving to her grandmother's village, she develops a relationship with Celik who is later becomes possessed by the Dark UnderKing. To save him, Zerryn had to die to travel to the Underworld and defeat the Dark Lord Elrik. To do that she had to undergo a trial with three tasks.

During these trials, Zerryn is faced with the dilemma of being torn between her life in the Above and her dark desires in the Underworld. She has to make a choice "Whom would she choose?"
a normal life with a pridful farmer or eternity with a cruel lustful demon

finishing her trials, she forms a friendship with Beyza, a vampiric huntress, and Yuxa, a serpent Queen.

The book is well written, though needs editing, and the story rises and falls in tempo. It is short for a fantasy, 370-something pages, yet some parts come off as very slow to read because of the heavy description, repetitive events, and internal monologues. And then the story picks up again so fast you get whiplash.

What I loved about the book:
1- The cultural references. I do not know from where is the author. I think somewhere around Turkey/Russia cause the names and some characters appeared like that. Also, there were familiar names to me like Kaftan, Borek, Darbukas, Jinn...to make me think it is Turkish.

2- most of the time, Zerryn was not a pushover. She is not this ALL-HOLLY female lead. She has her flaws and darkness even though she wants to do the right thing and save the village people who drove her away and the boy she loved.

3- The banter and comebacks between Zerryn and Elrik were really enjoyable
"Whoever lies shall have to remove an article of clothing." "You are a child in the body of a man "
"I have four eyes. It was safe to assume I also had four arms"
"any other limbs I have yet to see?"
"Not any a gentleman can name"

4- the feminist voice
"How like a man to take credit for the actions of a woman"
Rarely were women hailed as heroes or were ballads sung for them. Rarely were they written of in epic. Nobody ever looked at the wives who raised families while men fought wars.

5- The deep feelings Elric has for Zerryn
"You are not nothing," he whispered. "It is I who come to you crawling, a rabid dog hungry for your attention"

6- The friendship between Zerryn, Beyza and Yuxa. Girl Power all the way.

Things I did not like

1- How long it felt. I understand that descriptions are important, but do we need to know the description of every single thing?
some plot stories were dragged also. The first trial was pages and pages long, while others just... happened

2- some characters were suddenly introduced to advance the plot and then they disappeared.

3- I did not understand when Zerryn fell in love with Celik! I know they were friends but when did they form connections?!

4- but what I was frustraited most about was the how Zerryn's arc turned out to be. All the time she was presented as this strong smart witch who was coming to accept her powers and that she doesnt need anyone but her faith in herself. Only for her to end up needing the help of a man to save her in the end. The sleeping beauty theme right at that moment did not sit well with me.
I am not saying that she should have rejected love! not at all! but all that begging and heartache and defeat towards the end destroyed her character for me. I was rooting for a different end

5- as I mentioned up, the book do need editing and not just for the structure mistakes but the plot holes and storylines.

As a debute novel, this was quite good. I wish all the best for the author
Thank you for NetGalley and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review

This was an interesting book. Not what i was expecting and honestly, I don't know how I feel. It was worth the read but it wasn't as good as I was hoping it would be. It was just ok. OK chracters, ok plot... I can see the genius in the writing but for some reason, it just didn't grab me.

I picked this up because it was marketed as being similar to two of my favourite books -- The Bear & the Nightingale, and Uprooted -- and while I could definitely see similarities and the essence of folklore-inspired romance (however, much spicier than the two comps) it just did not deliver the way those two did. I think this needed a bit more editing, some more fleshing out of the characters and their relationship, and it would be wonderful. As it is currently, it is not the best thing I've read with this sort of premise, although the Turkish mythology was refreshing and new to me.

This was really slow for me, so I didn't finish it. It was good lore in the beginning and am interesting enough story, but it just wasn't for me.

I was pretty excited about the premise here. Who doesn’t love a good gothic folklore-inspired fairy tale?

Unfortunately the execution was not what I had hoped. It seemed like the author used this book to figure out how to write, and I really feel like some serious editing would have benefited everyone.

The worldbuilding was sketchy, the pacing inconsistent, and I didn’t feel any semblance of connection to Zerryn, our FMC. I didn’t understand her motivations, and that was a real issue for me throughout the book.

I’m actually a bit sad to be giving such a bad review, because the story definitely had potential, and the atmosphere of the book was great. There were just too many issues with writing, plot and characters for my liking.

Almost a 4 star read for me!
I love that this book gave gothic vibes crossed with Turkish mythology. The cover is absolutely beautiful and so was the author's style of writing.
In this book we follow Zerryn, a young woman who was said to be touched by Death itself as a child and as a result was pretty much alienated from her neighbors. When the God of Death, Elick, possesses Zerryn's best friend/ "love of her life", Celik, Zerryn decides to go down to the Underworld and complete 3 trials in hopes of becoming Elick's wife and saving Celik and her village.

The start of the book was great, however it seemed to fall a bit flat once the trials began. I felt the competition could have been more entertaining, and I did find the whole romance between Zerryn and Elick to be a little odd. There didn't seem to be much buildup to it and many parts throughout the remainder of the book felt rushed. The story itself, however, was a great one and the author's writing was wonderful.

Thank you NetGalley and F.M. Aden for this read!

The Bride of Death is an overall good novel. I struggled a little bit with the worldbuilding, because I felt that more could be done. I wanted a more lush background full of information. It still gave me a good setting, I'd have just liked more.

I don't love or hate love triangles, but we can't pretend that each is equal to the other. In any love triangle, you're going to have the classic Edward/Jacob camps and The Bride of Death was no exception. I have to say I like a reverse harem/throuple before I enjoy the whole "which one will they choose".

While this was entertaining and easy to read, I had hoped the story would go in an other direction. The writing could have been edited a bit more as well.

"The Bride of Death" is a beautifully written adult standalone that initially drew me in with its fascinating title and bewitching cover. While the author's writing style evolves throughout the story, the rich tapestry of mythology and Turkic folklore adds depth to the narrative. However, the worldbuilding felt lacking, and I couldn't help but wish for a map to navigate the underworld.

The romance, featuring elements of Hades x Persephone, felt somewhat forced, with unnecessary smut scenes. Despite this, tropes like love triangles and enemies-to-lovers arcs are present, with standout characters like Beyza and Yuxa adding intrigue.

While some characters felt derivative, the novel excels in creating a gothic and dark atmosphere. Would I recommend it? Perhaps not to those who prefer more fantasy-driven plots, but for fans of character-driven narratives with a touch of romance, "The Bride of Death" is worth exploring.

A bit of a slow start, but once this story got going, I was absolute hooked! The first few chapters are setting up the backstory for our heroine, Zerryn, who was taken away from her father to be raised by her grandmother at a young age, following her mother's passing. Growing up, she was thought to be touched by death with her different-colored eyes, and she found friendship and eventually love with a young man who cared nothing for how others felt about her. But when he is threatened, she confronts the immortal who has declared her as his - Erlik Khan. Ruler of the underworld, he needs a queen, and he wants Zerryn desperately. First, she faces a trial of challenges alongside her competitors, competing for his hand while at the same time wanting to return home to her beloved. With all of this being said, it was a mixture of Hades/Persephone vibes alongside a host of other themes found in other books, but it was all uniquely done. I did see other reviews saying the folklore from various cultures was not blended well. However, I found it all fantastical and in my ignorance of most of the folklore was able to enjoy it as a whole.

It was an extremely slow burn, with a tension and chemistry that wasn't immediately apparent until Zerryn and Erlik spent more time together. Erlik wasn't a classically beautiful man, having inhuman features and a coldness to his personality. Zerryn had grown up a strong woman given her circumstances, and she was used to doing for herself and standing up to others who would otherwise intimidate her. She held her own against the secondary characters, and in her quest to keep distance between her and Erlik, she actually intrigued him even more. As they kept finding themselves in each other's company, it was clear that they both had an initially unwelcome fascination with each other. And then once they gave in, it was such a tender sort of love. I couldn't help but sigh a little at the first love scene. Of course, given that her intention was to return home, Zerryn had betrayal up her sleeve for Erlik, so by the time she realized she had fallen in love with him, she was in too deep to fully pull her plan back. It was so sad to see the heartbreak that came from it, but from that heartbreak came the inevitable healing and a love that was genuinely beautiful.

I definitely hope to read more by this author in the future! Her storytelling skills were wondrous, reminded me a little of Charlie N. Holmberg, who also enjoys writing folklore retellings. Keeps me in suspense and always wanting more, in the best way.

The Bride of Death is a beautifully crafted adult standalone that initially captivated me with its intriguing title and enchanting cover. Following Zerryn as she competes in three impossible trials to win the hand of the devil himself and save her village and the boy she loves, the novel is steeped in mythology and Turkic folklore. While the author's writing style initially felt uncertain, the intricate worldbuilding and captivating atmosphere soon drew me in. However, I found the worldbuilding lacking and wished for more explanations. The romance, featuring a love triangle and an enemies-to-lovers arc, was engaging but marred by unnecessary smut scenes and an unhealthy dynamic between the main characters. The characters, particularly Zerryn and Erlik, bore resemblances to other literary figures, and while some side characters like Beyza and Yuxa shone, others lacked depth and closure to their stories. Despite its flaws, the novel excels in creating a gothic and dark atmosphere, making it a worthwhile read for fans of romantasy with a penchant for atmospheric storytelling.

Sadly, this book disappointed for the most part. I was really into the premise of Erlik Khan and three tasks to win his hand, it's dark, twisted, and gothic, but what could have been great was merely ok. The world building lacked details, the main character Zerryn is super naive and annoying after some time; Aden's writing was patchy, overly descriptive and flowery at some points, then skipping past important parts of the story at others. Overall, this didn't meet expectations.

I really wanted to like this book but I just did not connect to it. There was no connection I had with the characters. Also, the writing style was not my favorite.

Well this book wasn't for me, I could see others who like this genre could enjoy it.

This book was both enrapturing and messily done at the same time. It definitely had some issues that I couldn't really get past, but I still found myself unable to put it down.

Zerryn, who lives in a small village, was touched by Death as a child, and as a result has become alienated from her neighbours. When her best friend, Celik, gets possessed by Erlik, the lord of the Underworld, Zerryn finds herself making a deal with him - if she enters a competition to become his bride, he will leave Celik and her village alone.

This novel is less so about fighting darkness, and more about succumbing to it. Zerryn finds herself becoming more and more enraptured with Erlik and the Underworld, and drifting away from the Above and the world she knew.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The banter and the romance were fun, and I was really intrigued by the prose. However, a lot of things felt really rushed and unbelievable - how did Zerryn get her magic to begin with? Why is Erlik so obsessed with her, when she is literally just a human with no idea of her own power? The love triangle between Zerryn, Erlik, and Celik reminds me of the love triangles that I absolutely hate - when there is a clear choice on who she should be with, but for some reason can't seem to make a decision. In this case, however, both Erlik and Celik are horrible choices. Erlik cannot accept who she once was, and makes every attempt to change her throughout the book, whereas Celik despises who she has become. They both claim that their love is unconditional, but that is obviously not the case.

The setting of this novel was very interesting. This is a Hades x Persephone retelling, with elements of Turkish folklore and mythology, and I found myself really enjoying that aspect of it. However, aspects of the worldbuilding felt quite messy. I could not explain the magic system if I wanted to, and I have no idea about the rules of the Underworld or how it functions precisely.

All in all, most of this book felt completely out of left field, and the way the protagonist kept relying on Erlik to help her get through the competition took away a lot of her agency and idenpendency. This was a very entertaining book, but I think it could have used a couple more rounds of editing.

The Bride of Death is a literary gem that captivated my heart with its poetic elegance from the very beginning. It's a rare treasure that I simply couldn't set aside. This enchanting fantasy is crafted with such finesse and flavor that it leaves one yearning for more tales of such caliber. The plot unfolds with stunning originality, and the characters are so endearing that they've etched a permanent place in my heart. I'm filled with anticipation to add this masterpiece to my print collection, as it rekindles the pure, unadulterated joy of immersing oneself in fairy tales during childhood. A heartfelt expression of gratitude to the publisher and Netgalley for this delightful journey. This book is not just a read; it's an experience that warms the soul and brings forth the sweet nostalgia of yesteryears.

"The Bride of Death" started out so strong, with such lyrical prose, that once I started it I could not put it down! Why can't all fantasy be as delicious and well-written as this? It had an amazing original plot and I adored the characters. I cannot wait to own this in print. It reminded me of the wonderful feeling I used to get when young and reading fairy tales - it had the same sort of feel to it. Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley! I really enjoyed this!

The first quarter of this book was a struggle for me. I think there was a failure to adequately establish both the setting and Zarryn’s character. There were two competing religious systems as well as two warring powers, but they weren’t explained well enough for me to know who was on what side most of the time. The flowery language often did not make sense and distracted from what was happening. I think there was an effort to make the story sound like a detached fairytale in the beginning, but it just made it hard to connect with Zerryn. It was difficult to feel invested in rescuing Celik when we barely saw him and Zerryn interact before his possession. I feel like this section suffered from a lack of editing.
Things became much more interesting once Zerryn arrived in the underworld and started interacting with people. I was honestly surprised by her sass as she held her own with other characters because I saw none of that personality in the first section. I particularly enjoyed her relationships with Minay, Beyza, and Vasily, but I was disappointed that they were mostly forgotten about as Zerryn moved forward in her quest (which I think was a missed opportunity). I was very interested in how Zerryn would balance her softening feelings toward Erlik with her personal morals and hatred of living in the world of the dead. There was a lot of emphasis placed on Zerryn and Erlik being equals, but I think that was undermined by the ending. I was waiting for there to be a higher purpose for her having magic that perfectly opposed Erlik, but that got glossed over. I was disappointed by how things resolved after the build up in the second and third act. The book was a three star book overall, but the middle was pretty entertaining (4 stars for the middle section)

Brilliantly written book with the feel of being inside traditional folklore. This story takes place in Asia Minor and uses the mythology of that area to good effect. The characters are vibrant and deep and the plot itself is fraught with challenges as well as decisions that twist the heart as well as emotions. We are presented with a supposedly simple story of a girl who journeys into the underworld to free her betrothed and save her village by marrying it's king. But there is so much more to this story. The woman herself learning to rely on her own power instead of the men around her. The charm of the King of the dead himself. Her personal magic vs the magic of death. What will she choose and are those she's fighting for actually worth the price she is paying. This is a fantastically written book with a complex world based off mythology of the region. I got this as a free book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you To F.M. Aden and NetGalley!

A dark and twisty Hades & Persephone retelling. The storylines about Zerryn's trials and her budding friendships with other contestants are the most entertaining, and I wish they would have been explored more. Unfortunately, the romance falls a bit short. It feels more like lust than true love. But if you enjoy romantic fantasy reads with a dark, gothic atmosphere, this one is certainly worth checking out.

I got this arc in exchange for an honest review.