R.M. Romero stuns again with another lush, exciting novel-in-verse. Romero wields language with unique skill in this loose retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice. A fresh take on the myth that incorporates queer characters and explorations of trauma.

Thank you for the ARC!

First I would like to thank NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. The first thing that attracted me to this book was the cover and title followed by the summary of an Orpheus and Eurydice retelling. However, behind its cover, there was a bit of a surprise waiting for me, which was the fact that this book is a free-verse epic poem. Now, I have reread the description and have seen where it mentions "verse" but it just didn't compute in my brain the first time. At first, I thought it was just a long prologue poem and then it clicked, no this is the book, but once I got into the rhythm, I enjoyed it. It wouldn't be something I would've picked out if I was flipping through it in a bookstore, so I appreciate this opportunity to try something different.

Now onto my pros and cons. I'll start with the negative and end with the positive. I only have one, but it personally bothers me so much, that it drove me into a week-long reading slump. This is odd for a book that has such a short read time (many pages but in prose so a quick read). This fatal flaw is the manic pixie dream girl trope. I am deadly allergic to it as I hate the idea that a woman has to be quirky and different because being a "typical" woman is so darn bad. Not to mention that Andres fits the typical sad loner personality that accompanies the manic pixie dream girl(s), and unfortunately, with prose, it was hard to feel the depth of their romance. It all seemed to spark from the quirky way they met and their quirky hobbies. That's why when I hit the big event with Liora I just stopped reading for a bit.

However, I'm happy to say that when I came back to the book, it blossomed for me. The prose of the book is great. The author has some great, vivid descriptions and turns of phrases. I'd be reading along and then I would get to a verse that was so beautifully put I'd stop and reread it a couple of times, imprinting it in my brain. When you add that to the events of Death's Country the book picked up speed for me. It was nice to focus more on character development, because, yes, their relationship was the main motivator for their journey, but transversing the land required the characters to confront and bare their hurt. This made the characters more likable to me and I finally saw how each member of the throuple fit together.

In summary, it was nice to explore a genre I typically wouldn't and I do enjoy the author's style. It wasn't a complete hit for me but I'm glad I read it.

(Thank you to R.M Romero, Holiday House, Peachtree Teen and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC)

“Death’s country” is a beautiful book written in verse about Andres and his girlfriend Renee trying to find and guide their other girlfriend Liora back to the living world again by entering death’s country.

It is very beautifully and poetically written and u really liked how the author had written the characters and their stories. However, I did feel like some parts of the story was very fast paced and/or confusing to read because of the poetic writing. But that could also be my own interpretation of the story.

And I also really liked that there were polyamorous representation in the book and also how it took up a few mental health issues and just overall showed that life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows and how we have to embrace our flaws and past in order to move forward.

But I feel like some parts of the book left out a whole lot, sure there were a good plot line but it also felt like it was a tiny bit all over the place. And sometimes the characters felt a little bland in some chapters and then in others they seemed to bloom.

I did however feel like I connected somewhat with the characters but I also felt like they were more acquaintances to me as a reader than they were someone we have been getting to know throughout the book and at one point the book and the characters felt a little boring to me because they felt like they were just strangers to the reader.

But I would still recommend this book to anyone who likes poetry, LGBTQIA+ representation and anything written in verse because then you have a spot on book for that. And maybe this book wasn’t really for me but might be someone else’s favourite book. So I highly recommend reading it and see!

"Death's Country" was an experience to read. It feels like a fever dream in some parts and trying to catch your breath in a raging river in others. I use that imagery not just to be dramatic, but to give you a sense of the kinds of language and plot that this novel has. We follow our main character who as a young teen finds himself owing Death an unspecified debt. Time passes and the boy moves countries and becomes part of a loving relationship with two girls. Death comes to collect her debt and the main character tries to find a way to reverse what has been lost. This journey takes him to the Underworld where he fights to stay alive and restore the love he once knew.

Though the blurb of the book shares more info than that, and if you know the story this book is based on you will know the plot, I don't want to say much more about the plot. I think Romero does a lovely job of spinning a timeless and heartbreaking story into something with its own uniqueness. Unfortunately, the novel fell apart for me the last 20%. The plot got very confusing and wrapped up too quickly. Maybe others won't be confused by the twist, but for me, it decreased my enjoyment a bit.

Lovers of lyrical writing and the Broadway musical Hadestown will eat this novel up. Although it is technically a young adult novel, I think that adults will also enjoy reading this book. Please check trigger warnings for this one if you are a sensitive reader.

“If I'm to worship anything, let it be love.”

This book literally broke me out of my months long reading slump?? It’s that good, y’all (but look up content warnings before you read it, maybe — nothing is described in detail or is a large part of the plot, except death, but some things came up that weren’t what I expected. They were well-written and thoughtfully dealt with, just — if you’re the kind of person who wants to know exactly what you’re getting into maybe look up the TWs).

It definitely lives up to the plot description — the prose is exquisite, the characters remarkably rendered, the story aching and lovely in all the right places. Truly, despite its prosaic poetry style (‘despite’ because it’s not one often seen in YA fiction, at least to me, not because it wasn’t wonderfully executed), I would honestly shelve this book away as one of those books that you recommend to everyone. It’s bittersweet and warm and sharp but not cliche. The characters are all remarkably different and similar in ways that they don’t want to be admit — but to the reader, either convey relatability or understanding very well.

I have so many screenshots in my camera roll because I couldn’t stop savouring the poetry — it really is that vivid and beautifully-written, or at least it was to me. This book felt like a perfect little gem that encapsulates so many things: first love, queerness, the trials and joys of being a teenager, learning, loving, and losing. As someone who’s struggled with some of what the characters have struggled with as well, I appreciated the fact that their stories felt more honest and thought out than romanticised. It’s just… so very good, you guys. You know those books where you read them all in one sitting but also never want them to end? This is one of those.

I REALLY wanted to like this one. In fact, on some level, I did. There was interesting images, an engaging storyline, and some great poetic moments. I think the poetry struggles a bit to get beyond melodrama at some points, and feels more like instagram poetry than tangible, inventive poetry. I think having this in physical form would have helped me see the poet's vision a little more clearly. Similarly, it's an incredibly ambitious project to tell a story like this through the lyrical mode, and as such, I absolutely respect and appreciate what Romero has done. I would more often than not feel mildly confused and have to go back and reread sections, which wasn't rereading for the joy of the poetry, but for the lack of understanding. I will pick up another work from Romero, as I'd like to see what happens as her writing improves. Also noting that her previous works were middle grade, that does become incredibly evident throughout this ambitious project. Everything just feels slightly held back. But I think for younger readers who are comfortable with slight mature themes, this will be a wonderful introduction to the fun that poetry can be.

An interesting, ambitious novel, Romero helps you root for her flawed and struggling main character, as well as wrapping you up in her poetic language and mythological world.

i thoroughly enjoyed the representation in this book as well as the overall concept and vibes to it. there aren't many books that have poly representation and i appreciate when they do. i am also a sucker for anything ghosts or demons so that was also fun. a fun little read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Peachtree for this ARC.

This book should come with a warning that it is written in a funky, poem-like style. Which would have been an instant "no" from me, so I will try and leave my feelings about the style out of this review, and pretend that it was written in a comprehensible format.

The main character is Andres, a violent teenage boy who drowned, and made a deal with Death to take away his anger, and send him back to live. Soon after, he falls in love with two girls, and enters in a polyamorous relationship with them. When one of the girls suffers an accident and falls into a coma, Andres thinks Death took the girl's life as payment for the favour he was given earlier. Motivated by his guilt, he reluctantly agrees to accompany the other girl to retrieve their partner's soul from the underworld.

I was very excited about this plot, and based on the blurb I expected a Percy Jackson-esque adventure. Unfortunately I could not root for the adventure's success I hated the characters so much. In the exposition we learned that Andres is an ungrateful, aggressive, hot-headed boy who is not very smart seeing as he made an open-ended deal with Death itself. (Cool. Instead of processing his feelings, just magic it away. Real modern.) And his parents did not notice this personality change at all. The two girls are depicted as stereotypical teenagers who try to be as "unique" as possible, so obviously there is nothing interesting about them. That is, until one of them reveals that "oh, yeah, i can do witchy magic, of course."

Andres and Renee go on this adventure during which they meet creatures and people and sideplots that add nothing to the story and are not very interesting, so you might as well skip them. The side-stories try to very obviously push eternal morals down your throat in a way that made me cringe.

Anyway, they go on, and find their girlfriend, who is smart, funny, and beautiful, and for some reason loves these losers. I don't know whether this is considered a spoiler, (because it was pretty much obvious from the beginning) but in order to save the girl, Andres has to process his anger issues - finally. And this is told in a very artistic, metaphorical way. The end.

My opinion, in short is that this book is not aimed at the audience it claims, as it represents everything a young adult, or YA reader would hate:
1) It's difficult to read because of the format. (Dialogues are not marked as such; sentences are grammatically incorrect; we jump from stray thoughts to actual happenings without indication.)
2) It forces moral conclusions on the reader. (Did you ever try to suggest anything to a tween?! Yeah. They hate advices.)
3) There are no exciting challenges the characters need to face, no mysteries they need to solve, nor a clear antagonist they need to defeat.

Overall Rating: 3.75 / 5

“Death’s Country” is a stunning queer reimagining of the classic tale of Orpheus and Eurydice that beautifully blends Latine heritage with the already well known Greek tales and mythology.

My favorite parts of this book were the characters and the way that Romero was able to handle such heavy themes with care. Through only short vignettes or quick interactions between characters I found myself able to quickly grasp who each person was or what they represented in the City of the dead. Along with getting to know these characters, we got to know their pasts and, although many of their stories were quite heavy, they were told in very respectful ways.

The pacing of the story seemed to follow the feelings of the main character, Andres, slow and intentional in moments of joy but rushing to the finish line in uncomfortable situations. In some ways this helped me get a sense of what being inside of his head was like, however I do think it made for the beginning of this story to feel rushed. Especially since the time spent in the City of the dead was given so much world-building and in-depth moments. If the beginning was given as much detail I think it would have really helped the reader feel more invested in the triad’s relationship and make the stakes feel even higher.

While it took me a bit of time to find the rhythm within Romero’s style of verse, I found I really enjoyed their linguistic choices and their beautifully laid out metaphors. There were so many passages I found myself highlighting, as the raw emotion or dreamy imagery just exuded off of the page. The most disjointing thing to me was how on the nose some references were. Although a wonderful love letter to classic epic poems, it did feel off that characters would almost self-insert themselves, stating exactly who they were representative of during the journey. Along with that, there were some formatting choices in the ARC edition that I found myself constantly stumbling through to catch the rhythm again. The biggest issues I ran into were the choices of bold text that I could not discern if they were meant to be read with emphasis or a new section of the story and that the chapter headers were not separated out onto new pages.

Overall I would recommend this to someone who either loves novels in verse or someone who loves the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice. The themes and messages this novel focused on were handled very well, there were some really strong quotes that will sit with me for some time, and the journey of Andres growing to learn what it means to love and be loved is such an important message for YA readers.

A book like this the only way to properly express my appreciation is in verse.

Precious is the love that is held between a trio

The mirror of each others hearts unbounded by societal trappings

The way each twists to see themselves so they can give their brightest parts to the others

It’s a dance of lovers that lays bear every truth that lays inside

Andres the incomplete gave away his shadow to bring light unto himself

Untethered himself to give himself another chance

Met his mermaid lovers who he feared to lose

He buried his dark mist of himself far away from them

Gave them only the best of himself

Liora the ballet mermaid pirouetted and enchanted him

Renee captured the truth which each picture she snapped

The brightness in all three called to the other and together they formed a triangle the strongest shape

This story is love unbound and laid bear it’s truths

No two loves are equal and we must all decide the truth of ours for ourselves

When Andres must face his shadow to return his love to himself

Fear hot and biting lives under his skin

Yet Renee’s bold love sings to him and encouraged his own song

Together to the underworld they went

What is more beautiful then unraveling yourself for love?

All in All:

I adored Death’s Country. It has rhythm and beauty. It takes you on this ethereal journey where love is always at its core. This book spoke to my heart. I hope that it’ll speak truth into your hearts as well. What would you sacrifice for love?

I am appreciative to the publisher, author, and Netgalley for the chance to read this digital arc. I wish I could say I enjoyed this book more. I was not a fan of the prose style and reading an arc where the formatting was incomplete, made following the flow a bit difficult at time. I felt the story felt too long at times and others not long enough. Too much detail but not enough simultaneously. I fully acknowledge that a lot of this had to do with the style of the book. I did enjoy the character growth, and the messages told.
A sidebar to note that my official rating does not take into account the format not being complete. Only my enjoyment of the story as a whole accounted for the rating

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Death's Country is a fabulous novel in verse. First, I love seeing YA polyamory rep. Second, this was a great execution of mythical retellings while also folding in current events. I felt the pain of the characters, living and otherwise, and was invested in their growth. I can't say too much else without heading into spoiler territory. Add this to your TBR!

I’m sorry to say I couldn’t get into this book even though the synopsis sounded amazing. I made it 11% before I DNF’d.

I couldn’t get into the writing style. Pardon my ignorance, but it was very poetic and very difficult for me to pick apart information prevalent to the story. It might work great for some people but I just couldn’t get into the writing style.

2024 reads:43/124

not as good as i had hoped:
I wanted to read it mostly because of the orpheus and Eurydice retelling part of it, but it was kinda weird...
i don't know, maybe it just wasn't my cup of tea?
the poetry format was really cool though!
not terrible, just not what I was hoping for!

Thank you Netgalley and Peachtree Teen for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Death's Country" by R.M. Romero is a captivating and emotionally resonant retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, infused with Latin folklore, queer themes, and a love for David Bowie. Written in verse, this novel offers a fresh take on a classic tale while exploring themes of love, loss, redemption, and self-discovery. This book was a lot of fun, and I definitely recommend this book to fans of poetry as well as Greek retellings.

The story follows Andres, a troubled teenager who, after striking a deal with Death herself, is given a second chance at life. Alongside his girlfriends, Liora and Renee, Andres embarks on a daring journey to rescue Liora's soul after she is taken to the underworld. As they navigate the treacherous landscape of Death's Country, their bond is tested, and they must confront their deepest fears and insecurities.

Romero's poetic prose effortlessly captures the raw emotions and complexities of teenage love and heartbreak. The relationship between Andres, Liora, and Renee is portrayed with sensitivity and depth, drawing you into their passionate and tumultuous relationship. I really enjoyed how their relationship grew, especially since polyamorous relationships aren’t normally depicted in literature, especially YA literature. For those wanting more representation of those relationships, this book definitely explores that in a realistic way.

While the story follows a somewhat predictable trajectory, Romero infuses it with rich cultural references, including nods to Latin folklore, music, literature, and modern politics. These elements add depth and nuance to the narrative, which really helps this book stand out from other retellings of the same story. Not only that, but the poetry aspect also really helps the book stand out; I really enjoyed the beauty of the prose Romero created throughout the book.

Also, the book's exploration of the underworld, or "Death's Country," is particularly striking, offering a vivid and imaginative portrayal of the afterlife. Romero's world-building is immersive, and her descriptions of the underworld are both haunting and mesmerizing. I love the world that Romero created. Worldbuilding is often a struggle in traditional YA books, but with a novel-in-verse, I would imagine it’s even more difficult to fully develop the setting/world, but Romero was able to do so beautifully through the language that is beautifully crafted. The pacing is well-executed, keeping you engaged from start to finish.

Overall, "Death's Country" is a story full of hope that celebrates the power of love, friendship, and resilience in the face of adversity.

Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

When I say this book's premise immediately caught my eye, I mean it. Queer retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice woven within Latino folklore AND written in verse? Sign me up.

Quick Summary: In "Death's Country" two queer teens from Miami are travelling to the City of the Dead to retrieve their girlfriend's soul before she's gone forever.

This book was honestly such an enjoyable read and I thought that the writing style would be distracting but it added so much life and imagery to the story. I found the characters loveable and the writing was well-paced without being too formulaic.

Due to the nature of a retelling, the book could at times be predictable but this didn't do a disservice to the story. Romero did a great job at taking an increasingly popular myth and turning it into something special. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in getting their feet wet in the realm of retellings and verse-based fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in return for an honest review.

This was very bittersweet to read. The overall vibe is very romantic, full of hope, but also with the pain of teenage heartbreak. I loved the characters, and although the page count would suggest so it was a rather short read. The story is about trust, about trusting yourself as much as you trust the one closest to you. It is a story about redemption, about growing as a person, and how important it is to recognize yourself.

The formatting was a little jarring at times and while it helped with visualization, it was more times than not distracting me from the actual plot. I was overthinking the choices of why the sentences were structured the way they are, if they had a plot-relevant meaning or were just for aesthetics. It was an interesting choice, however, I'm not sure if it was the best.

I will say, that was my biggest issue with the book. I really liked this story, it was lighthearted in a way that I never doubted it would have a happy ending. I saw these young people trying to find love in each other, and how they fight for their happiness, and it gave me hope. I loved the language the author used. Each word seemed to have been chosen deliberately and with purpose. The story flowed so nicely and it was very easy to read. The pacing was perfect, I never felt it was too slow or too fast.
Another thing I really liked was the portrayal of the land of the dead, of "Death's Country" and Death herself. It made a lot of sense to me, and I could easily imagine what my own soul might encounter were I to visit the underworld. It was unlike anything I've read so far, but also very clearly with a set idea behind it.
The main characters as well as everyone they meet are very diverse. Our main character Andres I felt was the most fleshed out, with Renee and Liora closely following behind. Sometimes I just wished, some of the characters had a little bit more depth to them. Especially with Renee and Liora the characterisation seemed a little selective at times. I loved everyone they met in the land of the dead, but the living felt almost bland in comparison. But since I assume that this was done on purpose I can't be too mad about it.

To sum it up, I really enjoyed reading "Death's Country". It is a well-written story with a diverse cast and a hopeful message. I would recommend this to anyone who needs a story with a good happy ending - which, in these times we live in, I feel almost anyone can enjoy.

Death's Country is a masterful exploration of love, loss, and the power of redemption. Romero's lyrical writing and imaginative storytelling make this a captivating read from start to finish. Highly recommended for fans of magical realism and heartfelt storytelling.

Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC!

When I first saw this cover and read the blurb, I got super excited because it is something that is right up my alley.

While the premise is an amazing one, it is written in poem form. I won’t knock anyone’s preferences, but this is not what I was looking for, and it kind of made it hard for me to continue. However, I did give it 4 stars for the premise; just because I didn’t like the writing style doesn’t mean it’s terrible!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

In this captivating read, the author masterfully weaves a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Through a blend of richly developed characters and a meticulously crafted plot, the book offers a unique exploration of its central themes, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the story's depth and complexity. The narrative is paced perfectly, balancing moments of intense action with thoughtful reflection, ensuring that readers are hooked from the first page to the last. The author's ability to evoke emotion and create a vivid, immersive world is truly remarkable, making this book a must-read for anyone looking for an exceptional literary experience.

Beyond its compelling storyline, the book stands out for its insightful commentary on the human condition, weaving philosophical questions into the fabric of its narrative. The author's skillful use of language not only enriches the text but also elevates the reader's experience, offering new perspectives on familiar themes. Whether it's the intricate dynamics of relationships, the exploration of identity, or the confrontation with ethical dilemmas, this book tackles complex issues with sensitivity and intelligence. It's a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the nuances of life, making it a valuable addition to any book lover's collection. Regardless of genre, this is a work that resonates on multiple levels, affirming the enduring impact of well-crafted literature.