The first thing to mention about ‘Death’s country’ is that it is written in free verse. The writing is very lyrical and dramatic in a way and it does keep you intrigued. It makes you fly through the book because of how it is written. (I literally read it in one sitting)

The cover of this book is also so stunning ! I do think the writing was beautiful. I just think that I couldn’t quite get into the complexities of the characters because of the way this is written.

Unfortunately I don’t think this particular book was for me. But I do know so many people who will love it and that I will continue to recommend it too!!

I love RM Romeo's writing so much. This was a really beautiful book and the imagery evoked through descriptions of music and nature is so moving. I really appreciated the way the three characters were really multifaceted and the ways in which those details came to light slowly. I also really liked the way the three characters were very realistic teenagers - angsty, slightly immature, and resilient despite all odds. I think my main critique is that the book, while split into cantos like many italian and greek myth, is a little unbalanced. We see a lot of what led up to them walking into the underworld and even the beginning of their journey but we don't get to see a lot of the later part of the quest, how they plan to deal with their pain, or a lot of deep, extended communication between the three. However, I would still very much recommend reading if you're looking for a moving story that will make you really reflect on the meaning of truth and love.

A lovely and moving novel-in-verse that explored themes like death and grief, but also sexuality and identity in such a nuanced way. I really enjoyed the characters in this and the relationships between them, and Romero's prose was a joy to read.

This book was beautifully written and not at all what I expected. Written in the style of an epic poem rather than a traditional novel, the prose (I will still call it that even though it was very poem-like) was poetic and ethereal— truly a fit for the story it was telling.

The story itself, however, felt like a skeleton. For a story about death maybe that is fitting, but this story was much more about living than it was dying, and I never really felt the story come alive. We moved with the characters swiftly from one moment to the next, one difficulty to the next— but every issue was solved within pages of it being introduced. There never really felt as though there were any stakes to speak of. I was rooting for the characters, sure, but I wasn’t worried for them. I wasn’t ever worried for their safety, or that they’d fail in their quest, because they were set up for success from the very beginning.

All in all, I wish there had been more to this book. I wish we could have spent more time learning the characters and their dynamics, learning the world, learning why Death would have made a bargain with Andres in the first place. I feel like there was so much left unexplored that would have added a lot to the story.

As I write this review, I fall more in love with Death's Country. Earlier this month, I called out into the void for more polyamory representation in young adult literature, and R.M. Romero heard me. Or at least that's what I tell myself...

I have always been drawn to tragic stories. There is something so beautiful about them. For that exact reason, Death's Country stood out to me. I am pleased to say that this book does not disappoint.

The poetry is everything I did not know I needed. Going in, I was skeptical about the style. I typically have a hard time with poetry, but this narrative prose is perfect. Considering the connection between this book and The Divine Comedy, the poetry fits so well. Plus, the writing is easy to understand. This is the first I have ever said this: I loved the poetry.

Each member of the triad has a special place in my heart. They are all so relatable; it is easy to love imperfect characters. When Andres got angry, Renee was wronged, or Liora started to walk away, I wanted to reach into the pages and help them.

In a book with so much sadness, I was mentally preparing myself for more heartbreak. But the ending is the complete opposite of everything else. This is not a criticism, but the resolution is what is expected of the genre. This book already pushes on the limits of traditional young adult stories, so why is the ending so ordinary?

Death's Country is an emotional story about love and the length we will go for the ones who mean the most to us. I wholeheartedly recommend this.

Bottom line: I am prepared to make this book my entire personality.

"You have to hit rock bottom
before you can climb
up to something better."

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Well, first of all... my heart. 🥹

Death's Country reminded me a little of Stray Gods (the videogame), the way poetry and music were combined. Beautiful, ache-y, mythology infused with modern-world horrors. I really, really loved it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book*

"Death's Country" is a queer Orpheus and Euridyce retelling with a strong focus on Latinx folklore and a love for David Bowie, it is also written in verse. The story is somewhat predictable but the various references to music, to Dante, to literature, to modern politics (in the Underworld they meet a soul from Kyiv, for example) made this a really interesting read. As I said, it was a bit predictable and it really annoyed me that the characters are supposed to be teenagers but behaved much more maturely (I always want to add 10 years to their in-story age!), but otherwise quite the nice retelling. I enjoyed it!

4 stars

Loved this! Great representation of a polyamorous relationship. The characters were likable and all perfectly flawed. The writing and setting were beautiful too. RM Romero did an excellent job with this, and I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy for my collection. Only thing knocking down from a five was the fact that it was written in verse (but I am not known to like those, so this is personal preference only). Despite that, that book was very good!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the premise of this book and how it was written entirely in prose – it had been a long time since I last read something like this and it made the experience be something unique. The writing is beautiful and it flows quickly, and even though there’s more plot than I first thought it’d have, it ends up being a quick read. Overall I had a good experience with this book and I’d definitely recommend it!

CW: Death, war, drowning, self-harm, eating disorder, emotional abuse

First things first: This is written in verse and that is super fucking cool. I adore the prose: It's beautiful and flows easily.

The book is a rather quick read and given that, I found it impressive how much plot there is and how well we get to know the characters. It also deals with a lot of heavy topics and it handles them well enough but I think it might have been better with one or two less.

And even though the story is predictable, that didn't take away too much from my reading experience.

"Love doesn't need to be divided
between two people.
There's enough of it
to go around."

Firstly, I must say that the cover is beautiful. It gives such strong bisexual vibes, and all the blues, purples, and pinks are striking. I just adore it.

As for the story, it was good for what it was. I have wildly different opinions on Romero's previous novels-in-verse (I didn't like The Ghosts of Rose Hill, but I loved A Warning About Swans), but this one sits comfortably in the middle between those extremes.

The writing is very flowery and flowed well for the most part, but it felt odd at some points. The pretty and lyrical metaphors was contrasted against the contemporary setting of Miami, and it sounded even weirder coming out of the mouths of modern day 15/16-year-olds. It made sense when in Swans because it was pure fantasy in a historical setting, but in this book, it was just too much. Additionally, there were a lot of on-the-nose references to myths like Dante, Odysseus, and Eurydice, the very tale this story is based on. Having the characters be too self aware of the stories while actively participating in one just like those felt way out of place.

Other than that, the story as a whole is good. I like the relationship between the three. Poly rep has become more visible in lit recently, and I think it's portrayed positively here. The love between Andres, Liora, and Renee is sweet with the lengths they go to support each other.

Overall, this was another good novel-in-verse book from Romero. I'd recommend this to anyone who's looking for good poly rep and exploring themes of trauma through lyricism.

"There were no road signs in that place; it would never be on any map.
But I felt what it was— a flagging pulse, a clock winding down, the final page in the last book ever written. I was in Death’s country,
where the path ends for everyone."
- R. M. Romero

They say to never judge a book by its cover, but we´re all guilty of doing it anyway. Well, when I first saw the cover for Death´s Country, it did a really good job of drawing me in. What kept me interested, however, was the description. I mean, “Hadestown meets “Orpheus and Eurydice” when two Miami teens travel to the underworld to retrieve their girlfriend’s soul” is one hell of a premise! I quickly placed it on my Most Anticipated Books Of 2024 list along with all the other great books coming out this year.
So, when I got the opportunity to read and review it early, I couldn’t even believe it. Safe to say my expectations were pretty high, but to my surprise, this book was more than I ever expected it to be.

“-And so did I. I prayed to whatever god would have me: Let me be a whisper of music, the calm inside the storm. Let me be someone better.
But that night, no spirits heard my pleas, and I stayed a snarl of thorns playacting
at being a boy.”
- R. M. Romero

The writing style has an almost soothing flow to it, the type that makes you forget everything else in the world because you just need to finish reading all of it. The characters, while a bit flawed at times, will grow on you almost immediately. And if you´re a mythology fan like me, you will love all the references, big and small alike.
Not only is it a beautifully written tale of love, it´s also about fury, grief, and about second chances.
There´s also a lot of interesting themes of anger, music, family, letting go, and, of course, death.

" I leaned into their hope, a sigh easing from my lips. I didn’t care if my music ever reached the ears of monsters, presidents, the men who
were both.
I had a sanctuary at the beach, solace in two girls."
-R. M. Romero

I can honestly say this is the most unique book I have ever read! A classic Greek tale reimagined as a polyamorous triad in Miami… and the underworld. I was skeptical of the novel being written in verse, but like others review mention it reads like a story, less like poetry.

This is a quick, beautiful and intelligent book, strongly recommend!

I enjoyed Death's Country!
It's a modern retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice written in verse.
I'm really starting to like books written in verse and this one is especially good!
The writing was also absolutely beautiful.

I really liked the characters and I was so happy to see poly rep in this book!
I definitely highly recommend this book especially if you are a fan of mythology retellings!
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review.

★★★☆☆

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

This book was heavier than I thought! So, here are some trigger warnings;
Toxic domestic environment, emotional abuse, divorce, suicide, eating disorder, self-harm, gore.

We are witnessing the story from Andres' point of view, as he is struggling to cope with the burden of his parents' problems that they project onto him and the domestic hell they put him through.
He is overcome by his anger, and as the Tietê River pulls him under to the underworld, he makes a deal with Death to take his anger away and, in return, take away something he loves most. But soon, he meets two girls, and the three become a polyamorous couple. One of them is taken too soon to the underworld, so we follow two teens as they try to retrieve their girlfriend's soul, but secrets, mysteries, and danger are waiting for them.

Again, I was shocked by the heaviness of the book. It was not that I expected a light and fluffy read with that premise, but this was heavy! I loved the writing in verse and the polyamorous love story in the centre of everything that was happening. I also adored the way the underworld was portrayed in here, it was very unique with elements that added a lot to the world building and the immersive experience of reading this book.

We also met different characters in the underworld and their stories were heart-wrenching, so if you want something that makes you ✨feel✨, this is your book!

What fell flat for me was the flow of the writing; I found the brackets "()" often times interrupted my reading flow, and I figured some things out before they were revealed.

I liked the retelling part of this, but it was more intertwined into the book rather than being a retelling itself. For example, the characters were aware of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.

I certainly recommend this book!! If you like books written in verse and mythology, mixed with depth and queer characters, don't hesitate to read it! :)

I’m always intrigued by a retelling of the myth of Orpheus Eurydice, and R.M. Romero has succeeded in putting an entirely new twist on the tale while also echoing the classic heart of the story (and giving off some Hadestown vibes in the process). The book is told through the perspective of Andres Santos, who starts off angry and leaves his rage behind after a trip to meet Death. When he moves to Miami he meets two girls and they become an inseparable couple until one of the girls gets in an accident and the other two must travel to Death’s Country to get her back. Partially because it’s in verse, this book feels like so much while you’re reading it and it’s almost astonishing how quickly it goes by. Romero’s writing is beautiful and so vivid as always, and she continues to have a beautiful grasp on the intersections of love and grief. It’s a lovely retelling and makes a story that feels so queer distinctly so. I would definitely recommend it!

This book is nothing short of beautiful while also feeling incredibly human. It’s absolutely a story of feelings, both trying to escape them and trying to deal with them. The story it’s retelling is one that feels as old as time (and a personal favourite of mine), and I truly think it captures the tumultuous yearning, and centers Orpheus’ telling of the tale in a way that slightly differs from what we usually see. That said, there are already so many great retellings of this tale that it’s not ever truly able to break from them (see: Hadestown), so it’s absolutely a great read while also feeling more reminiscent of great things than truly original at times.

World-wise, I think Romero has created an intriguing view of the Underworld and the afterlife, a different kind of haunting than expected. The story is fast-paced and holds you inside of it while you’re reading, and I’m still a little bit surprised at everything that I read in the time that I did. Still, I think it does some great things in telling a polyamorous Orpheus & Eurydice with the sheen of Miami and current strife and longing.

First thank you for the early copy.
I give this 3 stars, I got some reasons for it. It is kinda written like a poem, I do not like Poems. But. I did enjoy this! It was very creative in my opinion how it was written. Sadly that it was kinda like a poem ( how the sentences was like in a poem form) but i give some points to it because how sometimes it was written it was very creative i will give you that. I do not hate this book, i like it. This is also my first book by this author. No hate to this author of course. If i like poem then i was then the right audience.
No hate to others who really enjoy it!

“Love doesn’t need to be divided between only two people. There’s enough of it to go around.”

If you like mythology and Elizabeth Acevedo you will like this book. A nice modern twist on Orpheus and Eurydice that doesn’t make you want to rip your hair out at the end. How far would you go for love and are you able to let others see your cracks, scars, shadows, and your past?

I think the writing is beautiful. I didn’t realize this book was written in prose. I don’t mind prose but I know it is not everyone’s cup of tea. I would make sure it is more prevalent in the book description so that people know what they are getting.

Thank you to Netgalley and Holiday House/Peachtree/Pixel+Ink for the arc.
The most important thing to mention about Death's Country is that it's written in free verse. The style is very flowery and dramatic and full of metaphors and similes and nearly homeric epithets. This style isn't for everyone but it worked for me because it makes me feel like I'm reading an ancient Greek epic poem.
This is not just unusual and refreshing. The novel is about katabais, a descent into the underworld. Andres drowned and struck a deal with Death before moving to Miami, where he falls in love with Renee and Liora. When Liora falls into a coma, Andres and Renee have to save their girlfriend. The story draws heavily on not only Orpheus and Eurydice but also the Divine Comedy and the Odyssey.
The verse style makes it a very quick read (I read it in one sitting) and you definitely have to accept it as a verse novel with all the limitation that brings. The characters feel complex but of course you can't expect the same complexity as a prose novel.
I think the mythological comparisons were sometimes a little too much (Orpheus plus Odysseus plus Dante plus Persephone plus occasional comparisons like Peter Pan or the Wizard of Oz) but I quite enjoyed the world building surrounding the actual City. Some of the writing was also incredibly beautiful and stuck with me while some of it felt like geared towards a slightly younger audience, which isn't bad, it's just making me think about how I'm growing out of certain things.
3.5/5 ⭐