“Maybe I’m trying to remember what it feels like to live too.”

Reading At The End Of The River Styx was pure marvel, and another “if I could give more than 5* I would” book. It was –of course– dark, as the main themes are death, grief, depression and (metaphorically) suicidal thoughts. Yet, it was also a story full of hope and magic, that left my heart light and fluttering.
The idea of exploring static memories, like a life left hanging –how relevant in the in-between that represents Styx, is one of the best images of depression I saw until now. But it is also a sparkle of joy because at the same time, in that frozen space, Bastien and Zan build their own memories together, and slowly return to life. They experience life together as other people are losing it. Zan guides Bastian, but in a different way than what he was supposed to do. Both characters’ trajectories, cursed and hopeful all at once, are also such a poetic representation of grief. Culpabilise. Move forward. Live and let go. Choosing the little prince as a recurring motif was such a great idea in that context, as that book deals with the exact same themes (the fact that it is one of my favorite books ever has nothing to do with it…).
The story is written like Styx. It flows but is full of turbulences that trigger so many feelings from dread to awe, from laugh to tears. I loved my journey through these pages, and I know this will haunt me for long. In the end, this book is about how Love makes you feel alive again, no matter the outcome. Hope.
I can’t wait to read this author’s next book.

Thank you Michelle Kulwicki NetGalley, Colored Pages BT, Page Street Publishing for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

more contemporary than fantasy.... this book is a wonderful journey through grief... It's a beautiful story, well-written. It was much more emotional than I expected it to be.

*Thank you to NetGalley, TBRAndBeyondTours and Page Street Publishing | Page Street YA for providing me with this book in exchange fot an honest review.*

This was a really good book yet it read a lot like middle than YA. It was beautifully written but I would love to see some themes explored more.

I loved this retelling of the Ferryman/River Styx myth. The imagery alone was captivating, but the storyline around survivors' guilt and the metaphors for depression and finding the will to live will stick with me until it's my turn to cross. I enjoyed the subtle queer representation in a way that felt natural and realistic. This story additionally acts as a reminder that everyone grieves in different ways and yours is not necessary the most or least healthy. I will say, however, the ending was not for me. I felt robbed of significant closure for all characters, in a way that almost feels like a punishment.

Zan has served the Ferryman for 499 years and with only one more year left before he is freed he'd do anything to make sure he succeeded.... but if he fails to bring back this new soul then he'll lose his chance at freedom. Zan was a boy from ancient Greece who in a bid to save his mother's life made a bargain with the Ferryman, a god who eats souls.... in exchange for 500 years of service. Zan has managed to be get through 499 years and is so close to his freedom... until he meets Bastian. Bastian is grieving the car accident that killed his mother and has been ignoring his brother and using his own life insurance money to buy a crumbling bookstore. Bastian may have survived the crash but now in his sleep he finds himself facing death again... by entering into Zan's office where he collects the souls of the dying for processing for the Ferryman to consume. It should just be another processing job but for some reason Zan finds himself growing attached to Bastian and not ready to let him die... but if the ferryman finds out then it'll cost Zan his one chance at freedom but if he doesn't find a way to get the Ferryman off Bastian's back then it might spell the end for him. This was definitely a unique take on a Greek mythology story, blending present day with mythology. It's a unique story and while it missed the mark for me I think it would be an interesting one for other readers to enjoy. The pacing is fairly slow and the story arc feels a bit dragged on, but I would say for lovers of unique Greek mythologies, you should give it a try.

Release Date: September 24,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Page Street Publishing | Page Street YA for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This was definitely Bastian healing journey and I’m glad Zan was there to show him that his life was worth living after the car accident. I especially loved that we saw the process of Bash renovating and opening up the bookstore with the help of his friends who were his support system throughout everything 🥹.

As someone who reads sooo many mythology inspired books, this definitely peaked my interest & I stayed for the fresh take on how the underworld works.
I felt the author truly captured the message of
'everyone grieves differently', by having twins (Bastian and Dorian) as the main characters dealing with life after the tragic loss of their mother in completely opposite ways. I think this was approached so well, and definitely felt every bit of pain, guilt & anger both boys were experiencing through the pages...meaning I was emotional for a large portion of this book (be warned).
I've always enjoyed the Greek myths behind what comes after life & this version did not disappoint. Filled with all the darkness I wanted. However, I feel the transitions from Bastian in the living world, to the Styx could be a little confusing to begin with.
This one slightly reminded me of 'They Both Die at the End' with two boys forming a relationship with the pressure of death following them (or in this case the Ferryman chasing them!).

DNF at 22%
I went into this knowing there was greek mythology elements and it was gay and that was enough for me. However the greek mythology was pretty minimal, and it was VERY young adult, which is really hit or miss for me. I appreciated the themes of grief that were in this book, however the therapist giving breathing techniques for panic attacks was what finally made me stop. I can see why having a bad therapist was useful to drive home how much Bastian was struggling and that feeling of being alone. However, I would argue that having this portrayal reaffirms very prevalant and harmful myths that exist around mental health. As someone whose historically struggled with panic attacks, oh my god please do not tell him to breathe??? There's so many great coping mechanisms out there, and I think especially given the heavy themes and that it's meant for young folks, this was a missed opportunity to challenge the myths and show actually helpful ways to cope. Again, it's possible this was addressed later, but it frustrated me way too much, along with the very young tone, to continue on

Thanks to @pagestreetya and @netgalley for the ARC copy of At the End of the River Styx. As a fan of the romance genre and contemporary Greek mythology retellings, I was very interested in the premise of an Achillean paranormal romance between two teenage boys, one who is struggling with the guilt and grief of the recent loss of his mother and the other who is in the final year of his 500-year curse of working for the Ferryman of the River Styx. I found Bastian’s character to be compelling as he struggles to relate to his friends, schoolmates, and surviving family members, and Kulwiki handled his experiences with panic attacks and PTSD with sensitivity and care. I also appreciated how she showed how two people can experience the same life-altering experience as Bastian and his twin brother, Dorian, do and not process grief the same way. I loved the connection between Bastian and Zan and how they could not fight the pull they felt toward each other despite all the drawbacks and consequences. This book was an emotional and poignant read. I only wish the ending had been fairer to Zan, as my heart broke for him.

A boy who's involved in a car accident, that causes the d3ath of his mother.
Another boy who decides to completely give up his own life in order to save his mother.
Living in different worlds, but linked by strong feelings.
They will meet on the banks of the river Styx.

Witnessing something terrible, and try, in some way to find the strength to overcome it.
Giving up your whole life for your loved ones and living with this hardest choice you've ever made.

A tale of life and d3ath, survival, love and sacrifice,
about finding the strength to open up to someone else, the privilege to finally meet someone you can share your pain with, knowing that it will be understood, since you've been through similar experiences.
The sorrow you feel when you see everyone going on with their lives, while you're stuck in the past, you're considered the weird one because of this, and no one truly helps.
The acceptance that comes with finally opening up; loving someone, even knowing your relationship may be potentially doomed.
And finding the strength to go on again, despite your life not being where you wanted or thought it was supposed to be, the importance to find your own goals even if they're uncommon, not socially accepted, not conform to "the mass", and so they're considered poorly, and constantly brought into doubt.

I loved this book. The first half was an amazing, heartfelt, well-executed introduction to all the characters involved; afterwards, things progressed nicely.
The plot is quite simple, with lots of unforeseeable moments, cliffhangers and plot twists.

Do prepare a pack of tissues because there are a lot of feelings. I could easily put myself in the main characters' shoes; the topics touched are so heavy and important, well described, and well written, and not spoken lightly of.

The first thing I wondered about while reading, was what has the author gone through, to be able to deal with such sensitive topics so respectfully and faithfully. I think you must have lived through a lot of pain and sorrow to reach this point; and so, I saw myself in the main characters quite a lot, while rightly criticizing those who kept judging and not helping, pretended not to see pain and didn't truly act upon it, since it was surely more convenient not to do so. (In the end we get some change of pace: the character concerned attempts to redeem himself, but only after his brother finds strength on his own - and thanks to his love - so it's all pretty convenient.)

Writing's not simple, not easy to read, and that's perfectly fine, otherwise I feel it would have dimmed the heaviness of the plot.
There is nothing banal about this book.

I thank the author and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this amazing book!

This is one of those rare books that lingers long after you’ve finished. It’s not just a story you read; it’s an experience that resonates on a deep emotional level. For anyone who has grappled with grief and loss, like myself, this book becomes more than a story—it feels like a reflection of those emotions, even if the characters' journeys aren’t identical to our own.

Zan is bound to process lost souls for 500 years and Bastian is a young man drowning in grief. These two cross paths in soul purgatory. They form an unexpected connection, hiding in the memories of the dead to evade the Ferryman and trying to find a way to escape their respective fates.

Zan and Bastian's relationship is the heart of the novel, and Kulwicki does an incredible job of balancing supernatural elements with very human emotions. Zan’s longing for redemption and Bastian’s battle with survivor’s guilt are handled with such nuance. The bond is both tender and bittersweet, and as it deepens, you can’t help but feel every moment of tension, hope, and fear with them. This story doesn’t shy away from the rawness of loss but also offers moments of beauty and happiness. There’s a constant push and pull between life and death, love and loss, and it all builds toward a heart-wrenching choice that will leave you emotionally drained—in the best way possible.

The narrative feels grounded by the rawness of human emotion. I cried multiple times, both out of sadness and from the glimpses of hope that peek through. It’s a book that makes you feel deeply, and it’s impossible not to become invested.

This is a powerful exploration of what it means to survive grief, to hold on when it feels impossible, and the ways that love—whether romantic or familial—can be a lifeline. The themes of loss, survival, and the importance of connection make this book an intense, unforgettable read.

Highly recommend for those ready to feel deeply and reflect on the fragility and beauty of life.

Thanks to TBR and Beyond Tours and the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

\\\\\ 4.5 \\\\\

Listen... sometimes books resonate with you and this one was just that for me. I cannot express how much I loved it. It broached so many deep things and it also made me cry (note that I can count on the fingers of one hand the books that made me cry this year... so it's not that often that it happens). Anyways, I just recommend you grab this one and let yourself be swept away by the River Styx.

Read if you like:
LGBTQ+
YA Fantasy
Mythology
Hurt/Comfort
Deeply atmospheric
Emotional reads

I got hooked instantly by the unique world building of this one. From the first page I was pulled in and looking forward to knowing more about this fascinating story with a hint of mythology. The struggles Bastian was going through were breaking my heart but also made me feel seen. He is a powerful character and I was really invested in his story and hoping so damn hard he'll manage to get himself out of this darkness he was stuck in.

If you have ever experienced some anxiety or grief, you will for sure relate to parts of this story. It isn't easy subjects, but they are broached with care and thoughtfulness and it makes for a very enthralling read. It is a story about healing, about struggling to help others, but most of all, it's a story about love and hope. Bastian's friends and brother were there for him and truly part of this story, trying their best and not knowing how to help through this difficult situation. You could feel their helplessness deeply.

I love how Zan and Bastian's relationship was slowly developing and I was always looking forward to more of it. They found a love of living again and all of that through frozen memories of people that passed away. There was something deeply atmospheric about it and sadly beautiful as well. The switches between the two worlds was a very agreeable way to navigate this story. I feel like this book will stay with me for a long time.

Thanks to the author, PageStreetYA and ColoredPagesBookTour for my copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

Once upon a time, a boy named Alexander, Zan for short, made a deal with the old gods, the ones his mother believed in. He would take her place, if only they saved her life. One god, the Ferryman, answered Zan’s prayer, but required Zan to act as a guide for the dead for the next 500 years as payment, something no one else has ever come close to achieving.

Zan has spent the past 499 years escorting soul after soul across the River Styx and into the afterlife, and now is almost at the end of his term of service. There is one particular soul, already marked for death, that Zan needs to escort before he finally fulfills his obligation and gets to live again. The thing is, that one soul belongs to a boy named Sebastian “Bastian” Barnes. When Bastion appears in Zan’s office, he is wholly unlike any soul Zan has met before. Not just because Bastian is still alive–albeit marked for death–but because Bastion makes Zan feel human for the first time in nearly 500 years.

Six months ago, a traffic accident left Bastion’s world completely changed. He is still haunted by the loss of his mother, the smell of gasoline, and anything to do with motor vehicles. His twin brother, Dorian, and best friends, Riley and Mathias, tirelessly remind him that he is still alive, and yet Bastion struggles. On a whim, Bastion invests his portion of the insurance money from his mother’s death in an abandoned used bookstore. As he struggles to figure out what it means to be alive, he works on renovating the bookstore. At the same time, Bastion begins having extraordinarily vivid dreams. These dreams all revolve around a teenager named Zan who initially only wants to know Bastian’s name and location of death. Bastion eventually realizes these are lucid dreams where he can interact with Zan. Then Bastion wakes up in the real world holding an artifact from Zan’s dream world and, suddenly, Bastion is convinced Zan is very real. As the strange bruise Bastian’s had since the accident begins to grow, Bastion begins to realize his time on Earth is starting to dwindle. But after months of not caring about anything, Bastion also comes to realize that spending time with Zan is the one thing that makes life worth living. With the Ferryman’s demands for Bastion’s soul getting ever more insistent, Bastian and Zan will have to be extremely careful if they want to survive.

At the End of the River Styx is a contemporary urban fantasy set in Portland, Oregon. After a short prologue that establishes Zan’s deal with the Ferryman, the main story switches between Zan and Bastion as narrators. The two main characters and the worlds they inhabit are well established in the prose and, much like the characters they envelope, go through a transformation as the story goes on. Zan’s apparent reality is limited to the tiny office where he awaits the arrival of newly dead souls. He can escort them to and through their favorite memories en route to the Ferryman. The caveat is that the memories are only “alive” when the soul is traversing them, otherwise Zan only has access to static versions of these memories. I thought this was a deeply engrossing effect and when Bastion arrives–because Bastion is not actually dead yet–his memories are the only ones where things are never frozen.

Similarly, Bastion’s world of a prestigious prep school is largely gray and lifeless to him; Bastion cannot understand how he is supposed to fit in that world when he’s so overwhelmed with living. I thought it took longer for Bastian’s world to come to life, but it was all the sweeter for it…though also bittersweet, as Bastian comes to learn that his ever growing bruise is actually the Ferryman’s mark and, once it reaches his heart, his time will be up. The closer Bastian gets to Zan and the more their friendship grows, the more Bastian makes an effort at living, prodded in part by Zan encouraging him not to waste precious life.

I loved the tension present in the story. The End of the River Styx is a long, carefully and thoughtfully planned out exploration of an “either/or” trope, where either Bastion survives or Zan does. The problem is that I liked Zan and Bastion both. The action unfolds in a way that had me guessing who might purposefully (or accidentally…or accidentally on purpose) sacrifice himself for the other. Even as the ending came into focus during the last few pages, I loved being on my toes for all possible outcomes.

The romance that develops between Bastion and Zan is very subtle, but very sweet. I like the “no one but you” vibe Bastion has; he is, after all, the only not-dead-yet guest to ever visit Styx in 499 years, at least. Zan’s also an interesting love interest because he’s 516 years old; he knows a lot and has seen a lot. He also gets to contend with the reality that he’s not like any 17-year old. He knows too much of how Styx and the Ferryman operate and fears he’s become just like them. Their romance felt very friends-to-lovers, but shifts towards star-crossed lovers for me as the book nears the end.

Overall, I thought this was a marvelously imaginative read. I loved how the main characters and their worlds felt like such sharp contrasts, but contained so many parallels. As dissimilar as Bastion and Zan seem at first, the mystery around why Bastion is still alive brings and keeps them together. Through their relationship, both Bastion and Zan go on a journey of self-discovery and basically learn to be human again. If you enjoy emotional stories that blend the real world and mythology, impossible romance, and how deeply bittersweet life can be, I think you’ll enjoy The End of the River Styx.

Zan and Bastian's love swept me up and then destroyed me so hard; it was perfect and I'm here for everything Michelle writes forever!

It was a beautiful story of overcoming grief (and the survivor guilt and getting life back together) and I enjoyed it a lot! It's bittersweet and angsty and nicely written too.

Actual rating: 3.5/5

I very much want to highlight that this might simply be just the wrong book for me. A strong theme of this book is grief and dealing with post traumatic stress - I have not experienced either, so I cannot say how authentic it is. However, as far as I am able to judge, it does feel well presented and I think this story can resonate with readers who are looking for these themes in a story.

This is a very strong debut book - the writing is well done and it's largely well paced. There are times where I did find that it dragged a bit, but at the same time it was also adding to the atmosphere and how death slowly creeps in. Or main characters Bastian and Zan are well rounded, but I want to argue that this is more Bastian's than Zan's story. I honestly didn't always find Bastian likeable - he is very much stuck in his grief and is more often than not unpleasant to those around him. That being said, I did find it believable and I don't necessarily mean this as criticism; it is his way of dealing with grief, it just doesn't mean it's going to endear him to me. Zan has his own share of grief and I found him the more likeable of the two.

Speaking of likeable characters, I could never decide whether I liked Bastian's circle of friends or not. Some of them felt surplus, the others were important for Bastian's environment and story to unfold, but that also doesn't mean that I necessarily liked them. His brother Dorian is probably the one I liked most and I wish we had seen more of him rather than him just being pushed away over and over again. I also wasn't a fan of the drinking and drug usage, although it wasn't overly explicit. All the above is very much subjective to my personal reading taste - others may very well like these characters more than I did and will find the partying and consumption realistic. Non of this is meant to throw a poor light on this book, it's merely highlighting why it perhaps wasn't the right book for me.

However, what did ultimately not work for me in a way that I'd consider it criticism is the romance. I confess that I went into this expecting a tad more of it, and while there's definitely a love story at the heard of the story, this is very much first and foremost about Bastian's journey of healing. That it didn't have as much romance as I expected isn't the problem - I'll happily read a well thought out story without any romance whatsoever. But I found it a little hard to buy into - this could have been a very interesting and bittersweet romance, and yet I just did not feel any chemistry between the two. It took a long time before they were trying to get to know each other and after that it just seemed quite rushed and I just did not feel when things started to grow between them. I also felt there was a certain imbalance, as in, did they truly like each other or was it circumstances pushing them together? For example, Zan misses life as a human - he craves for someone to talk to. Enter Bastian, the first person in 499 years who he can have a proper conversation with. Now does he like Bastian for Bastian's sake or because he happens to be the first person he can talk to? Had there been more chemistry, I could have glanced over that but something about it just felt off to me.

And then there's the ending - it felt incomplete and and unsatisfying. I was stumped when I read The End and just found myself wondering - wait, that's it? I felt that there was no climax, neither for the romance nor any form of showdown that could have led to a satisfying conclusion. Many things felt left unresolved and while an ending doesn't always need to fit neatly together like a puzzle, I just found that something was lacking.

I would still recommend people to give this book a try - once again, this is by no means a bad book and a lot of what I Noted above is simply things not living up to my personal taste. I would still be willing to try more works by this author in the future, but I won't be revisiting this particular book.

“𝘼𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧?” 𝘽𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙡𝙮.
𝙕𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙨𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙯𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩. “𝙄’𝙙 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙚,” 𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙.

I don’t read much YA, but this one was perfectly written! I stumbled upon this book through NetGalley and so glad to have the chance to ARC read it!

“At The End of the River Styx” is the story of Bastian and Zan. Zan, oh the sweet boy. I just love him. He’s got such a big heart, loyal, loves life, and just the guy Bastian needs in his life. He made a sacrifice years ago and is now an assistant to the Ferryman. He’s the one people meet before going to the afterlife. The one who Bastian keeps hearing in his nightmares for the past year.

Bastian has been through a lot in the past year. He doesn’t feel worthy of life after escaping death, and slowly going off the deep end. That is until he meets Zan. The more Bastian dreams, the closer he gets to Zan. Together, they live a thousand lives. But all good things must come to an end, and Zan has the ultimate choice to make that’ll affect both their lives.

This book was a ride and so good. This book deals with loss of a loved one, how beautiful life can be, and love. I would say this book ends with a HFN. I truly love this book for everything it is. The story was so unique and well written. Highly recommend if you’re looking for something different with all the feels!

3.5/5
"Bastian, you need to live. You have your bookstore, and your cat. You have people who love you. You can't give that up, not for me, not for anyone."

Bastian is struggling with survivor's guilt after coming out alive in a car crash that killed his mother. In his turmoil of grief and trauma of the accident he impulse buys a bookstore with the life insurance money hoping it will give him something to live for. But ever since the accident he's been having weird vivid dreams of being in an office and another boy talking to him.
"Name and location of death?"

499 years ago Zan made a deal with the Ferryman to save his own mother - process souls for the monstrous being for 500 years and then he's free. There's a boy though who keeps appearing then disappearing. A soul that was meant to not have lived but is still holding on. Each time they meet Zan learns more about Bastian and realizes that he is not ready for Bastian to die just yet.

This was a really emotional read and most of the story centered around Bastian and his grief. It was interesting the way grief was portrayed and I appreciated the author not holding back with showing that. Bastian was the prime example of someone with self-destructive behavior and as a reader you really have to step back and try to understand. There are moments when Bastian really frustrates you in how he treats his friends and most importantly his twin brother who is constantly reaching out. There is even a scene in which a friend snaps at him and delivers some hurtful words in retaliation.
With a friend like Bastian who struggles with ptsd and relies on impulsive behaviors and risky relationships you see that and want to knock some sense into him.

As someone who has seen this in person it was very powerful and I'm happy this was written as YA because teens are at times overlooked with this type of behavior as just being "rebellious" and being young/dumb.

While I can appreciate the story and themes this had taken on I was unfortunately not that gripped by the execution of it all. This felt like a long book and at times I was bored/wanting to skim some parts. This could just not have been for me since I can see this book is well loved from early reviews. Zan and Bastian's relationship was very sweet but it started off later in the book which had me wishing they could have met earlier to really get that established better throughout the story instead of later on towards the end. Oh the end... the ending was a miss for me as well which is why I had this docked lower. It really felt random and...unfair for a certain character. I'm hoping maybe a sequel could wrap it up nicer? But I can also see why the author chose to end it how they did. Maybe that also was just not for me haha.

Overall this was a bittersweet book and it did a great job with handling grief and survivor's guilt for younger audiences. I also loved the friendships here and the community Bastian had to help him through it all.

Sooo I like this but I’m not in the right mental space for a book with this much grief. We’re in present day but it’s set in two different worlds, Portland and The Styx. The boy in Portland just lost his family less than a year ago and is having trouble moving past that. He’s a senior in high school and barely scraping by. He’s having nightmares of a river every night and it’s a very lucid dream where he can interact with the surroundings but no one ever hears him and it’s spooky. Then in The Styx we have our other MC who sells his soul to the ferryman in the prologue to save his mom and he’s been there for 499 years. He’s only indebted for 500 so he’s about to be freed soon but he has his own demons and sadness from the path his life took based on the decisions he made in the prologue and he’s so lonely. He can feel the Portland boy’s presence every time he dreams but they haven’t been able to interact. Technically that means that the Portland boy has to be teetering on death because the Styx is where souls in limbo go before they die. The Styx MC entertains himself by living in people’s memories but they are like still pictures and he can just look but never actually interact with the people in them.

I find this story really interesting so far and it’s definitely kept my attention but I am struggling because of how sad both main characters lives are and I am not in the right mood for something like this. I also assume before release day all the formatting errors will be taken care of but they are really distracting right now and making it even harder for me to want to keep reading another 300 pages of this.

At the End of the River Styx follows Bastian, a high school senior who lost his mother in a car accident he walked away from, and Zan, the Ferryman’s indebted assistant who traded his life for his mother’s. Their paths cross when Bastian begins showing up in Zan’s office, meaning he has been marked for death by the Ferryman. After 499 years of his 500 year service, if Zan can’t lead Bastian’s soul to the Styx, he’ll never get his life back—but Bastian just might end up being worth the sacrifice.

I’ve seen this book marketed as a romance—and it definitely has one—but at its core, I think, is a story about grief. I’ll avoid spoilers, but it touches on survivor’s guilt especially hard, as well as how the loss of the same mother affects siblings differently. That aspect was much more prevalent in my experience reading the book. I didn’t find the characters had too much chemistry as lovers, but it didn’t really bother me as it didn’t read (in my experience) as the main point of the story. In addition to heavy loss and grief, sacrifice is a big topic from Zan’s side of things. I think these two themes were done very well and meshed cohesively together.

As you could guess, the novel is an interpretation of Charon (the Ferryman). It is a loose one in my opinion. I found it inspired by the (majority Greek) mythos rather than based directly on it. It’s even mentioned in the text that there are many different interpretations of Charon across cultures and time. To me, the Styx elements were just an intriguing background for a story centered around the aforementioned grief.

The side characters were charming enough. I felt repeatedly bad for Dorian, Bastian’s twin brother who consistently makes attempts to reach out to Bastian and share their grief in a realistic way. He isn’t mentioned in the blurb, but he’s so important to Bastian’s story that I couldn’t leave him out.

Overall I think this is definitely worth checking out if you like bittersweet, character-driven stories!