I enjoyed the beginning and the very end like last 15 pages of this, but the middle was meh 🫤 and a lot of it I felt could have been cut out nothing happened and it went nowhere and didn't make me like the characters. It started off pretty good with the death magic and the God of Death coming back to deal with the prophecy, but then the plot fizzled out once we reach the island. I feel like the author may have been inspired by hunger games at this point, but it didn’t have that fear and thrill factor like it. I was getting a little bored with this until 90% of the way when we finally see some chemistry though that came out of nowhere and the sex scene was kinda cringy and secrets unravel. The excitement I felt in the first 30% of this came back and it was good to watch everything unravel and truths reveal… but did they really???

Thoughts:
Night of Death and Flowers is an enemies to lovers dark fantasy romance that appears to be the first in a series (based on the ending). It gives Hunger game vibes with witchy elements that make the fight scenes very interesting. The concept of this book was so promising, and the plot was interesting. However, I found that this read fell a little short in execution, character development, and dialogue. The transition from enemies to lovers was quite abrupt, and the ending felt rushed. A little info dumpy in the beginning chapters. The sentence structure was weird at times, which led to a bit of a clunky read, and the pace was a little inconsistent. Overall, though, it's an okay book with an interesting storyline and magic system. I think there is potential for this to be a really good series, and with the world-building/intro out of the way, I think the second book may read more smoothly.

P.S: While reading this book, I found out that there is another version as well. The version I read and what this review is based on is 317 pages (slightly longer than the other one that has 280 some pages).

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of Night of Death and Flowers by, Rebecca L. Garcia. This book felt like a magical Hunger Games, where witches, magic, and the Gods came together in a tournament to the death.

It is the year of the Harvest, a tradition where young are sent to Tenenocti island where they must fight with their power to the death, each contestant gaining the powers of those they kill until only one is left. Azkiel, the God of death, who has taken his human form for the first time in 150 years, has returned to stop a prophecy that would mean the end of his domain. Calista is the only witch to ever be born with Azkiel’s affinity to kill with one touch. She has grown up hating this affinity which she must keep a secret and hating Azkiel.

It took me a while to warm up to Calista. I wished that the romance had more build to it but that’s only because when the two main leads came together it really worked. I also really felt the development of Calista’s sister and their friend Drake worked well. I loved where the book left off with them in a totally devastating way. I’m excited to read the next book and see where it goes.

Thank you Rebecca Garcia and NetGalley for an eARC of this book!

Y’all, I flewwwwww through this book! I couldn’t put it down! It was so haunting and poetic and deeply fascinating that I didn’t want to stop reading. It has:

⚔️Enemies to lovers
🏛️Vengeful gods
🔮Witches
🔥Feminine rage
☠️Deadly tournaments
✨Starcrossed lovers
🌬️Forgotten memories

The world-building of this book is very unique and I enjoyed learning as I went. Rebecca does a great job explaining things in little chunks so as not to overwhelm the reader.

Calista is a fiery FMC who struggles with the growing darkness inside her. Fiercely protective of her sister, Arabella, she does whatever she can throughout to ensure she’s okay. Her guiding morals push her to lash out against The Harvest, a ritualistic sacrifice in the form of a fight-to-the-death tournament on Death’s Tenenocti Island.

Azkiel, our leading MMC and God of Death, is incredibly tortured and frustrated by Calista and a prophecy that haunts his every waking moment. He spends his time lamenting his family’s betrayal (the other gods that rule over Dahryst) and seeking ways to ensure they stay away for good.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching Cali and Azkiel’s relationship transform and blossom into something absolutely heartbreaking towards the end.

I can’t wait to see where this story goes and I’m already looking forward to the next book!!

I LOOOOVED this book! The story was great, the mystery was great, the reveal was great, the pacing was great. Very much my style of book and I can't waittttt for the sequel!!! There were a few typos throughout and the pronunciation guide at the beginning of the book had 1 inconsistency but other than that, absolutely amazing. Loved it. Thank you!

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and @RebeccaGarciabooks for the ARC of Night of Death and Flowers. Below is my RAVING review.

Don’t walk. Don’t stroll. Definitely don’t meander. Run! Run. Now!! This book comes out on June 27th in just three days!

When I tell you this book was amazing, that doesn’t even begin to describe it. This is absolutely one of my favorite reads of the year and undoubtedly a 5⭐️ read for me!

There were Hunger Games vibes mixed with a little of The Originals and Crescent City vibes! I also think you’ll love this if you love Kingdom of the Wicked. There’s magic, meddling gods, forbidden romance, a deadly tournament, and epic world building. This book has it all! I love the characters and the relationships involved.

This was a dark fantasy romance and the writing is wonderfully detailed and made me feel like I was there. The author is great at giving you an immersive experience. I couldn’t help but love the characters and their stories.

This book has just made Rebecca L. Garcia an auto-buy author for me! I can’t wait to read more of her work especially book two in this fantastic duet!

Tropes include:
- He falls first
- Villain gets the girl
- Deadly tournament
- Betrayal
- Epic world-building
- Gods and goddesses
- Softens only for her
- Sacrifice and rebellion

I enjoyed this book, the plot and story were intriguing and I was invested in the story. There was world building and character development, I can not get enough of this story!

OK so imagine Hunger Games but witches, forced to compete for the spot of the newest Elder of their town with a sprinkle of gore, blood magic, smut and insane power. Calista is a mortal born witch with a dark secret that even she doesn't know yet, her father is the elder of their town posessing powerful magic so her and her siblings are 'protected' from certain fates that befall others, or so they are told. When the God of Death returns from a 150 year slumber, everything changes for Calista.

Garcia is up there with Maas, St Clair and Broadbent. I'm calling it now, this book is going to be a huge success! The characters felt so real and I could imagine every scene playing out in my head. The attention to detail was outstanding, the characters felt their age and that always seems to shock me when we're dealing with teens/adolescents but even though they're magical beings that are capable of so much, there's still a vulnerability about each character which would relate to different readers so well. Although there was a lot of lore and history to process, it was so easy to comprehend because the writing just flowed so well.

I really enjoyed the tense scenes when emotions were high and big decisions needed to me made, I was almost sat gritting my teeth and wondering which way it was going to go. I couldn't put this down, coming back to it every change I got! The only thing I can critique would be that some of the scenes did seem to overlap where sentences were included twice but in different ways or information was almost muddled with some odd grammar choices but I'm sure once it goes to the editor all of those things will be tweaked, it didn't have any effect on my review of this ARC.

I would recommend this to everyone, I also told all of my group chat girlies to buy it immediately on release day. I can't wait to see where this story goes and I will be the first in line to get the 2nd book.

This book had me hooked until the last 1/3. It’s a magical hunger games esque setting where everyone has powers related to certain elements and gods. When a defiant woman aims to dismantle the entire system the creator of the games, the God of Death returns to the mortal realm to stop a prophecy from occurring.

This book was really exciting and unique and it had high hopes for it. But when I got closer to the end it just all fell apart. There are way too many things going on and side plots that it made it a distracting read. FMC hates MMC and then all the sudden within a day she’s having sex with him? 🤨 and then she’s not really herself but a reincarnated version? And the gods are all in a huge fight to restore balance to the world? It was just like pick a single story and get on with it. Could have been a great ending if it wasn’t for all the extra stuff.

This is an incredible story that’s giving Acotar/ Hunger games vibes. I was so intrigued throughout. I felt the writing was a little clunky and had a hard time staying engaged despite being so interested. I wish it had flowed better but going off straight vibes, I loved it. Another weird thing, my bestie and I were both approved for this arc and decided to buddy read it but our books were completely different, different parts in our books, chapters were off and different, like one of us got a later edit. It was bizarre.

"Night of Death and Flowers" is a like that didn't quite make it to love for me. The beginning was good, the middle dragged, and the ending - setting up for the next story in the duet - was great. Garcia does a decent job with her world-building, and with establishing the relationships between Calista and Arabella and Calista and Drake. The introduction of Azkiel is a bit rough but still adds tension. However the initial arrival and few days on the island could have been very much condensed. And while it was obvious that Calista and Azkiel were going to be each other's love interest, there is little indication of what causes Calista to change in her emotions towards the God of Death, even just to explain her sudden lust for him.

That said, the various twists and reveals at the end, while not all entirely surprising, were fairly well done and pulled me back into the story to the point I plan on picking up the next book in this duo. 3 stars. Thank you to NetGalley for a complimentary ARC of this book. These opinions are my own.

This was like a witchy hunger games mixed with the power of gods. I loved that Calista held onto her light so tightly, despite the darkness she was thrown into by the situation unfolding around her.

Characters surprised me, alliances shifted, and betrayals made my jaw drop. I couldn't believe how easily some were swayed by the lies of others. The bond between sisters is strong, but when the gods are involved, anything is possible.

Of course, Azkiel can't keep away from Calista once he recognizes his magic in her and the fact that he can actually touch her without turning her to ash. He will struggle greatly with his priorities, and his actions shocked me!

I was gripped with this story right from the start with the witch covens and the Harvest and it sounded right up my alley. The description of the night markets was so vivid that I felt like I was there myself. Calistas character is my favourite with her strong sense of self and determination for what she thinks is right. Deaths POV did feel slightly repetitive and I didn’t understand why he hated Drake so much for being a traitor and destroying his statue but not Calista? I felt the story dropped off once they hit the island but the twists of the prophecy had me shocked and the ending came so suddenly I wanted more. I felt like there needed to be more of a connection between Calista and Death throughout and felt a bit insta-love for myself which I’m not a fan of. I really enjoyed the premise of the story and definitely want to see how it unfolds in the second one.

I really enjoyed the idea of this book.

It follows a witch named Calista cursed with death magic that has the power to destroy anyone she touches. But she shouldn’t have been born with this type of magic, since the only other person who is supposed to be able to wield such power is the death god himself, Azkiel. He must kill her or risk a prophecy coming to pass that will destroy the witch covens and leave them vulnerable to the outside world.

I thought the characters started off pretty strong and the writing style was easy to get into. It has one of my favorite tropes-enemies to lovers-and it’s a darker fantasy, so I loved that the witchcraft was gritty and not whimsical.

That being said, this book suffers from very strange pacing, and it made it extremely difficult to stay interested. To give some context, this is supposed to be a romance, but Calista and Azkiel don’t even meet each other until about 35% into the book. I don’t think I would have minded so much if something was happening in that time, but the catalyst for the plot happens within the first few chapters, and at that 35% mark, it’s only been about two days in the story. There’s a lot of backstory and world building done through dual POV, and while it offered more insight into the characters, it also felt meandering at times. The MCs kept thinking about things they had already explained—to the point of it being extremely repetitive.

Overall I liked a lot about the book. But the pacing was just off for me and I found it difficult to stay interested for long periods of time, even though I loved the subject matter and story idea.

I would like to thank the publisher and author for allowing me to read an early copy of this book.

This story was exciting and full of action from the beginning. It sucked me in right away. The writing is beautiful, the plot is interesting, the characters are full of life, and the setting and world building were descriptive. I loved this book and am looking forward to the next!

First of all I really liked the concept of this story.

I love how we are given a vivid picture and description from each of the POVS from start to finish.
I really liked the MCS they were very well written and I didn’t find them boring at all (always a bonus)

I feel we were given a lot of world building & background but sometimes I felt like we were given too much, that we were overloaded with it which at times did bore me.

Half way through i felt like the story went on for too long although i did like the story itself it just could have been shorter.

I would say i don’t feel the connection between the MCS romantically as strong as other similar stories although i did like the characters individually just not together.

Overall a 3.5 star read for me x

This book had a lot of potential and it was all seen at the end. I like when authors include a glossary, and I’m happy this one had it at the beginning rather than the end like most books do it feels. The beginning was interesting, the middle was kind of a drag, but the end had SO much excitement. I can definitely tell that some of this was inspired by the Hunger Games arena, and that was arguably the most entertaining part of the book. A few fun, yet predictable, twists and reveals at the end to help set up the end of this duology. I wish there was a bit more spice and romance, so hopefully there’s more in the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

I LOVE a dual POV story and the tropes in this are exactly my cup of tea:
Touch Her and Die
Gods/Goddesses
Witches
Enemies to Lovers
Memory Loss
Slow Burn
Reincarnation
Tournament to the Death
& More

I had big hopes for this story, and it had ALL of the potential, but it fell a little short. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy it though.

We follow Calista, a witch, and Azkiel, the God of Death. Azkiel has returned to stop the prophesized human witch from fulfilling their duty and releasing his siblings from the binding sleep that he previously placed them under but cannot seem to remember why. Calista carries the God of Deaths ethereal magic – decay magic – something no human should be able to possess. Is she the prophesized witch? Every ten years eleven young witches *voluntarily* enter their names in the Harvest to complete a sacrifice and determine their next Elder - all in the name of the Death of God on Tenenocti (hello, word play on all things 10) where the gods are sleeping. Ten will die and the remaining witch will be able to wield the power of the 10 dearly departed witches. Unbeknownst to the witches, their deaths also strengthen the protections in place keeping people away from the island. For some petty and some prophesized reasons Calista’s sister, Aribella, and her best friend Drake are called into the Harvest. Calista of course is having none of it and finds a way to throw herself into the mix, setting off the prophecy, and ensuring death and destruction are soon to come.

The prophecy twist got me. I figured it out maybe two paragraphs before Calista does. My mind had gone fully into the bucket of another theory I was spinning from the second they got to Tenenocti. The plot and story are GOOD. There is a TON of potential particularly with the second book. My biggest issue is that the characters kind of circle the drain repeatedly with their thoughts and feelings. A lot of things are repetitive – “the Harvest is inhumane” – “I need to stop my siblings from waking up” – talking about Azkiel’s ring – “I must protect Ari/Drake”…it bogs everything down. Another issue is the polishing, but this was an ARC so I’m sure this will be cleaned in the released version, but there were many incorrect he/she’s and there/their/they’re which caused a little bit of confusion because I had to re-read thinking “who said/did what now”? The writing as a whole is beautiful in its descriptions and paints a nice picture for the reader. I also enjoyed the world building. I don’t read glossary’s before reading the story and instead use it as a reference in the event that something becomes confusing, but this was done well enough that I did not need to cross reference. I love a slow burn romance but when Azkiel and Calista finally collide it happens VERY fast and it was shocking how Calista is unphased by how far they g when it seems like all she has previously done is kiss. I wish they kissed earlier when Azkiel tries to kill her and then we had an insane slow burn of agonizing lingering touches and “I hate you what am I feeling” before that big moment with the two of them toward the end. The sister bond was great with Ari and Calista, but I wish we had some Ari POV chapters given how important she ends up being.

All in all, I became invested in Calista and Azkiel as well as their relationship and where the story is heading. I will definitely read book two!


Review will be posted on Goodreads! I will post on Amazon and B&N on release day as well as my bookstagram and will update this feedback with links!

ARC provided by NetGalley and Victory Editing. I absolutely loved the concept and the beginning had me hooked. A true enemies to lovers plot line, and a prophecy to add a twist! Calista and a friend attempt to halt the Offering of villagers and enrages a death god in the process, hiding a critical secret that threatens everything this God knows about his powers. I found myself looking up from the book and could only read it in shorter chunks than usual, but a very solid plot line with well-woven writing and an engaging story!

Thank you for the ARC.
I loved the premise of the book and I feel that the world that has been created has so much potential (it's refreshing and well built). I give it 4/5 stars because I also found some inner dialogue and explanations repetitive. His feelings about not being able to remember and the pain, for example, were being shown in multiple paragraphs in each of his chapters without adding further or new information about it. Apart from that, I found the book really interesting and I would have loved to read more in-depth descriptions about how their world works.