A good standalone fantasy.

This had a strong FMC and I really enjoyed exploring how her magic worked and what it could be used for.
The beginning was my favourite part but then I could feel my attention waning.

I enjoyed Death personified too.

Khana is a witch and a concubine to the Immortal Emperor forced to become part of his harem at fourteen Khana has known nothing but fear and cruelty since. Princess Sita one of the Emperor's numerous grandchildren is one of the few people within the Palace that Khana not only calls friend but looks up to and admires because she has spent decades disobeying her grandfather by smuggling the concubines birth control. Unfortunately in a kingdom controlled by a man supposedly chosen by the gods Sita is finally discovered and tortured to death. Khana is enraged by this discovery and murders the fellow concubine that killed her friend, knowing her own life is now on the line she escapes to a Shrine devoted to Death and one no one is allowed to enter where she learns the Immortal Emperor's secrets and takes his power for herself.


Oh my heart! This was such a wonderful story and it is absolutely nothing like I thought it would be. Genuinely assumed this was going to be your run of the mill YA novel with some badass heroine who stands up against the evil emperor and makes all sorts of stupid decisions along the way but it wasn't even close. Oh sure she does stand up against the evil emperor make no mistake but she does it because she found community, healing, and herself.

Normally, Id start with characters and they are all absolutely delightful, but they aren't what makes this story stand out. It is the absolutely beautiful representation of healing from trauma. The focus in this story is 100% on the victims, not their abusers, we rarely if ever hear from them and when we do it is to demonstrate their narcissism. And when I say focuses on the victims I don't mean its on their trauma in a way where we hash it out over and over again it is about them coming to terms with it, finding what works for them in terms of boundaries and healing. For Khana especially this really ends up being her telling her story in parts because her friends *let* her. They don't push her to talk about it they point blank tell her that it takes *time* and thats okay. They give her space to become comfortable with them, they never force themselves on her in any capacity and the few times one of them does they apologize, immediately. This is what friendship and community should look like. I spent 3 days roughly reading this and as all of these horrible things were happening I found myself smiling repeatedly because in the midst of that there was genuine hope because these characters, this community believed in and respected each other. Tell ya what if half the world acted like this the world would be a much better place.

Now.

Onto the characters.

Khana is wonderful, absolutely, truly beautifully wonderful. The way this is told you can see her grow so much even when she doesn't realize she has. You can also see how much courage she has from the start that she saw simply as survival. I think this is truly demonstrated when she meets Haz's abuser for the first time. She immediately sees something wrong and not knowing what she finds a clever way to distract the abuser and get Haz out of a situation she knows far too well. Watching her come out of her shell and begin to trust those around her was glorious as well. It was healthy, dear gods I can't stress that enough. And again I feel Khana doesn't even fully realize its happening until significantly later in the book. She has this internal strength that just shines, she also ridiculously clever which means she had this lighthearted side that really rounded out her character.

Haz is my favorite hands down. First of all you just don't see male abuse victims in writing and Im sorry this needs to be talked about far more than it is. There's a point where he's explaining how he let his abuser, this tiny obnoxious woman, who lets be honest was absolutely freaking evil, hurt him and he's just like "she terrified me." and gods it hurt a lot reading that because it was just so real. I have a couple of male friends who have been in similar situations and I mean like this was almost verbatim to conversations I've had with them. What makes this really amazing and I think helps shape Haz into this extremely open and accepting person is with the exception of a handful of people the village stood behind him against his abuser. As the son of a refugee in a pretty xenophobic community (more on this later) it truly nice to see that Haz leaned on his community for strength and he became that for Khana.

There are about seven more characters that Id love to write detailed descriptions of that I simply dont have the time.

Now, we are going to loop back to the community conversation because while yes Khana finds a place with Haz and his family and later in her militia unit the Poison Dart Frogs, the village itself is less than welcoming. While they openly accept refugees fleeing from the Empire they are hardly nice to them and Khana and Haz's militia unit is constantly forced to work longer hours, are harassed, beaten, and even stabbed. You have a very common theme here that while is not as extreme as real life its still very bad. Khana especially is expected to heal people after it is discovered that she is a witch but it less of a request and more of a she should be grateful to do it because they allow her to live among them. There's politics at play too where instead of putting her foot down the village chief permits it as long as its not too bad. She sacrifices her refugees, those who need the most protection, to the rich and influential families. It's pretty freaking gross.

Finally, I want to point out there's a whole ass war that happens here. The Emperor's and in turn the entire Empire's magic is a twisted abuse of powers given to him by Death itself, etc. etc. But the thing is I did not focus on any of this while I was reading. There is so much hope and faith between the members of the Poison Dart Frogs that no matter how bleak it got at no point did I think they'd fail. This was like a cozy book that just happened to have a war in it and I'm really glad the focus wasn't there. There's no glorification of attached to the war, but there is attached to those that realize they have to stop the Emperor at all costs and I think we really need to see this in books more often.

I am so glad I picked this book to read this week, picking it up after work everyday was such a bright light, in a book that really could have gone the exact opposite direction. Alongi could have chosen to make Haz's and Khan's abusers more prominent, they could have decided to give them much louder voices and the fact that there a clear conscience effort to not do that makes this easily a top ten read this year. I genuinely hope more authors take a page from well this book and stop giving voices to people who don't deserve them, even in fiction.

I generally enjoy books where Death is personified, but there were just too many other elements that didn't make me want to read the book. Life is too short to be hanging on to books that you don't feel like picking up.

The Witch Who Trades in Death is a fun yet dark fantasy novel with a side of romance and a major found family and refreshing featured character limited third-person POVs mixed in. Khana's opening chapters are harrowing and difficult to read. Her escape from servitude is incredible. The found family was charming and interesting, though Haz swayed dangerously close to being a stereotypical class clown despite his complex backstory. Sava was a perfect book boyfriend, but a tiny bit boring. It hurts me to criticize him at all, as he is the most patient, kind man ever. Neta was my favorite character overall with her grit, loyalty, and generally fierce female warrior attitude. I really wish we had gotten a Yamueto POV chapter later in the book to show how he evolved over time. That felt missing for me. This book is also very inclusive and representative of the LGBTQIA community.
Often in this book, things happened that stretched my understanding of the magic system a little too thin. While I enjoyed the novel, I felt the rules were rewritten too many times to fit the plot, and I'm not a huge fan of using magic in that way.
Overall, this is meant to be positive. The story is engaging, and I really enjoyed the read!
Thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot for this ARC!

C. M. Alongi is rapidly heading onto my “buy immediately” list, which is a good thing.

“The Witch Who Trades With Death” is a compelling read that at the heart is about standing up to tyrants – perhaps something we all need to hear right now. There are trigger warnings at the beginning of the book, something I am firmly in favour of. Issues of consent and found family also weave throughout the book.

Recommended for older teens and up (one spicy scene), this is a sensitive exploration of trauma and healing. Also a cracking good story with intricate world building!

**⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Darkly Enchanting and Original**

*The Witch Who Trades with Death* is a hauntingly beautiful tale with a fresh magical concept at its core. The worldbuilding is rich and atmospheric, blending eerie folklore with emotional depth. The dynamic between the witch and Death is both tense and tender, offering a unique take on power, sacrifice, and connection.

Some pacing hiccups and minor character development gaps keep it from being perfect, but the story’s originality and moody charm more than make up for it.

A must-read for fans of dark fantasy with a lyrical edge and a touch of the macabre.

So there's a young witch stuck playing dress-up concubine for the world's worst emperor (seriously, this guy makes Joffrey look like a saint), finally says "nope" and makes her great escape. But here's the kicker—even when you can literally phone Death for favors, your past has a way of sliding into your DMs.

Meet Khana, who's spent four hellish years under Emperor Yacatl's thumb. This dude's not just your garden-variety tyrant—he's immortal AND has Death on speed dial. But our girl's had enough. She goes full murder-mode on one of his favorite lackeys and discovers his dirty little secret about making deals with the Grim Reaper. And guess what? She's about to start wheeling and dealing too.

Armed with magic she's basically winging (aren't we all?), Khana books it to this adorable mountain village full of badass warriors who are like "ew, witch" but also "wait, can you heal my broken arm?" Talk about mixed signals! The whole place becomes her battleground when Mr. Immortal Emperor comes knocking.

Here's where it gets juicy—every time Khana makes a deal with Death, she loses a piece of her soul. It's like emotional cryptocurrency, and she's running dangerously low on her spiritual savings account.

The writing? Chef's kiss Pure poetry without being pretentious. The world-building feels so real you'll want to pack your bags for this mountain village (minus the whole war thing). And can we talk about Khana and her warrior? Their romance is the perfect slow burn—believable, swoon-worthy, and packed with enough tension to power a small city.

What really got me was how the author shows the night-and-day difference between life under the empire versus village life. It's basically a masterclass in "what happens when people aren't constantly looking over their shoulders for the thought police." The anti-imperialism message hits hard but never feels preachy—it just lets you connect the dots yourself.

Overall, this book grabbed me by the throat and didn't let go. It's got magic, romance, political intrigue, and a heroine who's fighting to save her soul (literally). Perfect for anyone who loves their fantasy with a side of "burn it all down" energy.

dnf.

this book held such promise, but as I drove through the story, I found myself really not caring at all. there were moments that came across super shallow that could have been delved into, and truthfully, I was bored. I hate to say it, as the premise sounded amazing, but the decision the author made for the book wasn't for me.

this is strong standalone fantasy with a lovely protagonist and found family. the worldbuilding isn't anything crazy, which is to this novel's benefit as you get much more time to focus on all of the characters and a side slow-burn romance that kept me reading to see the next time they were together. i lovedddd death as a character in this, perfectly cynical and funny as i wish that death would be if they were personified. this would have been five stars for me, but it got a little slow in the middle which could have been edited down to move the plot along a bit more.

I went into this expecting a slow-burn high fantasy—but wow, was I wrong in the best way. This story moves, and I couldn’t stop reading even when the action slowed because the emotional stakes stayed razor-sharp.

Khana is a powerful, resilient witch who finally escapes her life as a concubine to the cruel, immortal Emperor Yacatl. What follows is a dark, gripping journey of revenge, survival, and power—especially when Khana starts making deals with Death himself. The world is rich, the magic is compelling, and the pacing is perfect for readers who love high fantasy but want it to hit hard and fast.

Absolutely worth the read—and a must for fans of morally complex heroines and deathly bargains.

I love standalone fantasies, and really wish more of them existed. It feels like most books nowadays have at least two others. But not The Witch Who Trades with Death. This was a fantastic standalone that I really enjoyed. It has everything I like: found family, unique magic systems, and strong world-building. I found myself going back to pick up the book frequently and I suddenly found myself making more time in the day to read.

The magic systems were very unique and enjoyable; I was constantly intrigued to figure out the balance of what could happen next and how aji could be used. Something else I love: Death personified. This is such a unique piece of the book, and I love when authors take the risk to do this. It paid off so well.

My one dislike was the pacing. I felt like it was not thoroughly even, but it wasn't a massive issue for me, just a hinderence.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Angry Robot for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

This was a DNF for me, I really loved the idea and liked the main character but there's certain aspects that made me feel deeply uncomfortable and like I couldn't continue reading.

Alongi’s writing is immersive, with vivid descriptions that bring the world to life and characters that feel deeply real. The protagonist’s journey is gripping, full of tension, moral dilemmas, and unexpected twists. The magic system is unique and well thought out, adding depth to the story rather than just serving as a plot device.

What truly makes this book stand out is its emotional depth. Alongi weaves themes of sacrifice, destiny, and resilience seamlessly into the narrative, making it not just an exciting read but a thought-provoking one as well.

I couldn’t put this book down, and I already know I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. If you love dark, immersive fantasy with strong character development and high stakes, The Witch Who Trades with Death is an absolute must-read

I wanted to love this one so bad, the premise was so promising. The things that i did like were first and foremost the world building. The writing was beautifully done and the world building was a true testament to the authors love of detail and ability to bring the scene to life. I really enjoyed the characters and thought that they felt fleshed out and written with a good growth arc throughout the book. The magic system was interesting, i would have liked to see it more expanded on and explained a little more, but the concept was great. My issue with this one was a hundred percent the pacing. This is a slow slow burn and there were times where it seemed like it was going to pick up only to bog back down. I don't know if it was because it was so dialogue dense or if there was another reason for my continuing to become distracted and setting it down. This is one that I will absolutely still recommend as I know a lot of readers are going to fall in love with this story.

Thank you Angry Robot and Netgalley for the ARC!

This was a beautiful story about healing and moving forward, but also needing to confront the demons of your past. I loved the magic system in this one, the concept of life force and moving it from one person to another. I also really loved the deals with death and how it impacts a person. I do wish we could have seen more of how the FMC changed from losing parts of her memory. But overall, I couldn't put this book down and I would so read another book set in this world.

Khana, a witch and former concubine, escapes the emperor after learning how he obtains power. She finds refuge in a quiet village, where she bonds with an innkeeper’s son and joins the military to protect him. Her unit of lovable misfits gave Mulan vibes with their banter and bond. Although the story explores some pretty heavy themes, Khana’s journey of growth and healing is handled really well.

Loved how author C. M. Alongi explored healing, found family, and inclusivity in The Witch Who Trades with Death! I really started to care for the characters and enjoyed the ending. The magic also was simple but convincing, and added depth to the story.

Refreshingly different fantasy world, set up in the cold mountains and grumpy villagers. The heroine is a magic-user but that doesn't bring as many blessings as you might think, and the whole fight to get the approval of the tribe AND then help them defend against a mighty empire is enchanting to read.

This is a good found family romantasy with an emotional core and a strong lead in Khana. I don’t usually reach for this genre, but the cover and synopsis drew me in. The story had moments of real impact, especially as Khana tried to find her place after escaping the empire. However, the pacing felt uneven—it dragged in places and rushed through others, which affected my overall engagement.

The characters were easy to root for, and the ending wrapped things up in a satisfying way.

Thank you NetGalley and Angry Robot for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

There were things I really liked about this one, but overall it just didn’t quite land for me. The writing is super pretty, and there are definitely lines that feel made for annotating. But the pacing was all over the place. The beginning hooked me, and the ending felt strong, but the middle dragged with way too much sitting around and training scenes that didn’t feel like they were leading anywhere.

I really liked how it handled physical touch and trauma. That part felt real and made me care more about how the love interest. Sava, was so patient and gentle with Khana, and I appreciated that. That said, I was kind of expecting something bolder? The synopsis made me think she’d be falling in love with Death or something like that, which would’ve been way more interesting. Sava was sweet, but the choice felt like the safe option.

My biggest struggle was feeling distant from the main characters. Khana and Haz just never fully clicked with me emotionally, and I honestly found the side characters more compelling. The worldbuilding also felt uneven with the way things were sometimes underexplained, other times way overexplained. And the stakes didn’t always feel real. Too many things just worked out too easily, which made the story lose some of its weight.

Also, yes, we know Khana is small. You don’t have to remind us every chapter. We couldn’t forget.