Okay this was GOOD. The world building was absolutely stunning, the characters were a blast. I really didn’t know what to expect, but this completely hooked me. It was very fast paced, easy to get lost in and a blast to read.

A vampire gets a necromancers out of jail so the two of them can go on a road trip because, somewhere in an evil land where the only roses that grow are made of fungi, the vampire’s girlfriend has been taken prisoner by an evil queen. There are goblins and spiders, undead horses pulling wagons and boltguns; it’s steampunk meets D&D in a very fast little adventure.

There were parts of this book I very much enjoyed — the chemistry between Volentus the Necromancer and Dragain the Vampire dragging him along on the mission. The two men don’t exactly get along, but they’re very similar in how they see the world; it’s just that one of them prefers to deal with living humans while the other finds the dead to be more pleasant company. By the end of the book they understand one another more, but they are still very much themselves.

There are some darker moments here involving Allicent, the woman the two men are trying to rescue, who has endured months of torture, and while it’s not graphic — the story doesn't go into graphic detail — it may be uncomfortable for some readers. The focus, however, is on the pluck group of heroes and anti heroes saving the day by taking down the plague priestess rather than a focus on morality or a deep dive into trauma.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC!

“Death or Volentus” is a riveting dark fantasy with amazing world building.

A psychic vampire and necromancer team up to save a branded hero (branded in this world means magically gifted) from a cursed place. Into the Land of Wilted Roses they delve, fighting giant spiders, undead nemeses, evil scientists and more.

“They say the Land of Wilted Roses is the physical representation of God’s abandonment. But when you’re in it, roaming around in that barren hell all you want to do is run back out into the sun – under the night sky of stars, anything but stay there another moment longer. God may not have left us, but He definitely left that place.”

With a combination of steampunk and supernatural elements, the people and places within this tale are quite a surprise.
I was totally caught up in the narrative and thrilling action. The end, after returning to Apparatus, did drag on a little bit, but overall the majority was fast paced.

“If death is the end of friendship, then we are woefully fickle people.”

I would definitely read more stories in the astounding lands Mammina has created. Thank you to NetGalley & the author for a copy.

I was intrigued by the premise of this book - it really sounds fun! But sadly it's a DNF for me, as it just seems unfinished. Another pass from an editor might help, as I kept finding myself pulled out of the story by poor or confusing phrasing, with action jumping about as if a scene was missing. Tremendous potential, it just needs a bit of a polish.

Death or Volentus is a dark fantasy adventure that takes readers on a wild ride with a necromancer named Volentus. After being imprisoned, Volentus is reluctantly tasked with rescuing his nemesis, Alicent Vale, from a dangerous cult in a forbidden land. The blend of dark magic, intense action, and unexpected alliances makes for an great addictive read.

Ready for a dark and thrilling adventure? Death or Volentus is your next obsession! 😈 Volentus, the necromancer with a talent for raising the dead, is stuck in prison but gets a chance to escape when he’s asked to save his rival from a creepy cult. With a powerful vampire sidekick and a terrifying Plague Priestess to face, this book is a rollercoaster of chills and thrills. If you’re into epic battles and sneaky necromancers, you’ll love this book—trust me, it's a blast! 🖤📚