I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and were not affected by the free copy.

I have been eagerly awaiting this book for MONTHS, so when I discovered that it was available on NetGalley, I knew I was going to drop everything to read it. First things first, make sure you read the trigger warning list. The main character is healing from long-term abuse and trauma, and it is a huge part of the storyline. I personally think the author handled the healing really well, especially when two of the characters discussed how different people handle it. It made Khana's journey feel very realistic to me.

The found family in this were exactly what I needed. A ragtag team of misfits that the community was intentionally trying to get rid of, but managed to band together, despite the odds? Count me in. I also really enjoyed the magic system; I'm a huge fan of the healers that can also kill premise, so I found this fascinating. I also LOVED that this was a standalone fantasy. Would I be open to another story told in the same world? Yes, absolutely, but if this is all we get, I will be a very happy camper.

I personally enjoyed this book, but if you are a vibe reader, I imagine it's a lot harder to get into. The pacing was a bit odd. We started in the present, but with a few chapters, we jumped backwards a year and got all of the backstory, before jumping back to the present. It was an interesting way of presenting it, but for me, it impacted how long it took me to get into the story. In addition, the world building was a little rough. There was a lot of hatred between different groups of people, but the ARC didn't include a map (I assume there will be one in the book), so I was left unsure if the different groups of people were cultural, racial, geographical, or some collection of some/all.

All in all, I definitely enjoyed this book and will likely purchase it.

A concubine with magical gifts decides to escape the immortal emperor who has been abusing her for years in search of a way to destroy him and make a bargain with death. The story revolves around Khana, a witch who is also a concubine to a ruthless emperor... an immortal emperor who happens to be her great-great-great-great-great grandfather. Everyday, every month, every year he tries to breed her to get a heir, amongst his 200+ concubines, who are all also witches. He is determined to create an army of gifted witches to do his bidding. Khana has been keeping her powers a secret and has been taking birth control to try and stop it from happening but when another concubine finds out and kills Khana's friend and is going to torture Khana and tell the emperor... Khana kills her and discovers that she can also contact the god of Death and make a bargain. Every bargain has a cost but Khana will do anything to escape... so when she does the emperor is now hell bent on getting her back. Khana has no money, no friends, and is being hunted but finds new friends and a home in a small village.. and even a new love. But with an emperor hunting her down, and putting everyone she loves at risk, she'll have to bargain with death again if she even wants a chance at escape.. but it just might cost her her very soul. This book was just not for me sadly. I really wish I could have liked it more but I kind of just didn't really feel that the story moved me in a way and I just didn't really vibe with the characters as much as I would have liked. It might just be a me thing, but I just didn't really find myself vibing with this book as much as I would have liked but I do think maybe other fantasy readers might have a better time with it than I did.

Release Date: March 11, 2025

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

*Thanks Netgalley and Angry Robot for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This book was just not for me. I made it about 70% and ended up putting it down. I think it's an important and hard hitting story, but I just could not get into the writing. It was totally a me problem and not the books problem. I think that a LOT of readers will absolutely LOVE this book and story.

2.5stars. I hate when a fantasy book harps endlessly on how small the main female is. Like get over it already, she's tiny and mighty we get it. Sava felt like the safe choice for to be with given its supposed to be dark romance so that left me a little bummed. I liked alm the other characters in the book though and they helped make the story better for sure thankfully cause I struggled to get through it around 50% and fought the need to dnf it.

The title first caught my attention, I normally love picking up books with witches and with themes of death and the underworld. The magic system and world was quite intriguing and different. Character development was evident, Khana was interesting, she also faced personal tragedy and was able to become a strong FMC. I personally struggled to read this book, however, I do want to note that it wasn’t the writing or themes within the story. I think that it was just not the right fit for me and/or was not something that interested me at the time. I definitely would try this book again when I was in a different reading mood, as I think that potentially I could enjoy it a bit more. Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for giving me the ARC to review.

Thank you Netgalley, and C.M. Alongi for sending me this advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book was fantastic in every way, and I enjoyed every minute of it!

The story ran deep with trauma, hope, healing, and even a little bit of love. It shows us it's possible to fight through our fear and survive. There comes a point where running away again, won't solve our problems and we have to face them.

What is there to live for if all our empathy, compassion, memories and passions are surgically cut away to grant us immortality? I can't imagine a worse way to stay alive.

I love how diverse the characters are, and how the author went the extra mile to research, and have sensitivity readers check over the content. The found family elements really hit a deep part of my soul, and reminds me so much of my own strange little found family.

Be sure to check the TW list. There were a LOT of moments in this book that can be hard to deal with. There is a whole boatload of trauma, processing it, and healing happening.

The cruel and immortal Emperor Yamueto controls all witches in his empire. When Khana kills one of his favorite courtiers with magic and discovers the secret to his immortality, she makes a deal with Death herself. She flees the empire for a small mountain town filled with warriors. Though she heals the sick and injured, the people ostracize her because of that magic. Khana fights back against the emperor, but every deal with Death takes another piece of her soul. The more she gives away, the more she turns into the very monster she’s trying to destroy.

Witches have all kinds of skills, but first among them is the ability to manipulate life force or âji. It can prolong life or heal, and the Emperor can even use it to manipulate bodies into night creatures, misshapen combinations of people or animals to do his dirty work. At over three hundred years of rule, the emperor cares about nothing but conquest. He collects wives and concubines out of the witches of his conquered lands, killing any who try to escape, refuse to bear a child, or refuse his whims. Children and grandchildren are not exempt from his rule, and the ones that excel in his court are those with cruelty, casual racism, and the capacity for torture like him. This is what Khana escaped, going into the mountains where it's difficult for him to invade. A year after her escape, there are signs of his impending army.

Khana deals with ostracism due to mistrust of witchcraft and casual racism, taking it initially because she feels it's all she deserves. It's the mentality of the abused, which slowly fades as the novel progresses. She bonds with the family that took her in, her army unit, and the crush that likes her back. The horrible past is still there, especially when war comes to the village, but is never dismissed as irrelevant by those who care for her. It's a restorative experience, helping her grow and become more of the woman she would have been otherwise. The final quarter is the most tense and emotionally driven part, and I was just as fearful as she was. Seeing her and the war from other perspective chapters helps to flesh out the story, characters, and the world. The story really grabbed me and refused to let go.

By far one of my favorite reads and have plans to purchase this book the moment it is released. C.M. Alongi knows how to tell a story and make you crave for more. This is perfect for people needing a slow burn romance and found family.

The Witch Who Trades with Death is a lot of fun for a grim fantasy book!

It's got a lot of the things I love, a great cast of lovable side characters, an action packed battles, and a great underdog story. The battle training scenes reminded me of Mulan which was a lot of fun.

This story centers on a witch named Khana. In her world, witches are taken from their families to serve the emperor and either become a concubine or be married off to nobles. Their gifts are used to keep the immortal emperor in power and it's a life of slavery. When Khana escapes she finds that she has the ability to have her own sort of power.

Definitely a lot of found family vibes and I loved how the author handled consent and past trauma. Although it is a little long and dialogue heavy, I do think that the dialogue added to the connection you feel with all the side characters and allowed this standalone to really feel like a full story.

This was a thick read, but I really enjoyed it! The high fantasy elements, unique magic system and found family vibes had me wanting to keep reading until the very end.
The characters were vibrant and different, though the main female character didn’t have enough for me to care a lot about her fate. The prose flowed well and I really liked how the village was created and as I read I could imagine everything that was happening.

I realized very early on this wasn’t gonna work for me. I was really excited to read this because the synopsis sounds like it would be right up my alley. However after a few chapters and still not having a grasp on the world building I realized this wasn’t gonna help with my reading slump. I might come back to this book when I’m in a better headspace but a vast political world just isn’t in the cards for me right now. I am still excited to hear what people think of this though as I’m pretty sure it’s me not the book.

Thank you, Angry Robot and C M Alongi, for sending me physical proof of The Witch Who Trades With Death. I’m absolutely thrilled to be part of the Online Book Tour today in celebration of the release date for this stunning book on 11 March 2025!

The Witch Who Trades With Death is a dark, haunting, and gripping story of survival, sacrifice, and healing from loss, trauma, and finding inner strength. Action-packed from start to finish, full of high stakes – my heart was either pounding or plummeting throughout this story because of the dark and brutal plot themes that made this raw and emotional reading (please check trigger warnings before reading). C M Alongi’s writing is immersive and easy to devour in one sitting. The worldbuilding is magnificent, full of beautifully crafted visual landscapes, vibrant cultures, horrifying creatures, and a unique magic system that has chilling consequences

Khana is a unique and unforgettable protagonist who struggles to survive through terrible cruelty, abuse, and trauma as she’s forced to become an unwilling concubine because of her powers as a witch. She delicately transforms through the course of the story - healing from her trauma to open her heart and finding her inner strength to protect those she loves, even at great personal sacrifice. Her character journey is empowering, and I love she’s not afraid to embrace her inner morally-grey self to protect those who give her love and a safe harbour.

A phenomenal, potent fantasy with dark twists, high-stakes consequences in death and freedom, and an incredible misfit cast of characters who will steal your heart with their loving found family. In the middle of so many series being published at the moment, it’s refreshing to get a standalone fantasy to get your teeth into. If you love dark-themed fantasy with a light-touch romance subplot, a story where villains get their comeuppance and a heroine who finds their inner stabby-self, then The Witch Who Trades With Death is one fantasy read you won’t want to miss in 2025.

The Witch Who Trades With Death quickly shot to being one of my favourite reads of the year so far, within a couple of opening chapters. Khana's story instantly drew me in.

In this world, witches are people who have the ability to draw life force from living things and redirect it - either for healing, for advanced physical stamina or for resurrection. Anyone who develops the power must be sent to serve the Emperor, with him taking lots of the women as concubines and forcing the men into arranged marriages. And this Emperor - he lives forever. A master of aji (lifeforce), he has lived 400 years, can create warped creatures from body parts and has conquered a big chunk of the world. Displaying little emotion, passion or warmth, he lives only to conquer.

Honestly, he's actually a really terrifying villain - one that lacks any sort of conscience or emotion. Gaining very little pleasure from his Empire, his many wives and children, you really have to question what the point in living is!

When Khana (one of his young concubines) is forced to flee from him, she accidentally discovers the secret to his power, and it adds a moral question to a large chunk of the book - if you had the ability to trade with Death itself, what price is to high? For freedom, to heal people...to resurrect somebody you love? It's a question that Khana grapples with a bit - which parts of yourself are tradable, and which are intrinsic to the person you are. How much has the Emperor actually traded away, and is there a point where you have nothing left to give?

With found family, slow burn romance, healing and hope it was a fantastic read! And may I say, it's always a joy to find a standalone fantasy book!

A witch on the run. A deal with Death. A past that refuses to stay buried… 🖤✨

A witch on the run. A deal with Death. A past that refuses to stay buried… 🖤✨

This book was a rich and immersive standalone that hooked me from the first page! The worldbuilding is infused with folklore and mythology, making the universe feel vibrant and alive. The magic system is as much a strength as a danger, forcing Khana to walk a fine line between power and self-destruction.

At its heart, this is a story of healing—both for Khana and for others who have suffered under the cruelty of Emperor Yamueto. I really appreciated the dual perspective on trauma, as we see both male and female survivors navigate their pain in different ways, something not often explored in fantasy.

The found family vibes? Absolutely top-tier. Khana may be feared as a witch, but she slowly finds a place among warriors who become more than just allies—they become her home (cheers to the Poison Darts Frogs). And of course, there’s romance! A slow-burn, forbidden connection with a touch of spice, adding just the right amount of tension to the story. 👀🔥

If you love dark fantasy with deep emotional stakes, magic that comes at a cost, and a heroine fighting to reclaim her fate, this one is definitely worth picking up!

Instagram post coming up Tuesday 11th.

Usually, I most enjoy romance as a subplot if I enjoy it at all, but it was my favorite thing about The Witch Who Trades With Death. As someone who’s been through years of SA and has a lot of trauma, Khana isn’t ready to jump into a romantic relationship with anyone, and the kind and gentle understanding of Sava gave me butterflies in the way hot MMCs with muscles never do (though to be clear: I’m pretty sure Sava is hot as well). I loved Khana and Sava’s interactions, that they weren’t always flirty but I still knew that it was going somewhere. Khana’s inner turmoil was well-written and Sava’s willingness let her lead was sweet and endearing. When a Khana/Sava scene began, I was always excited.

I felt that while Khana’s friends/found family were a fun bunch, they were a bit one-dimensional. They had more personality when they started training for battle and then sort of faded into background characters that I couldn’t really tell apart. For example, when the unit first got together, one of them was grumpy and unfriendly. Once the unit bonded and everyone became friends, the grump was basically never grumpy again and I confused him with other members of the unit several times because his biggest character trait was gone now that he liked everyone. Most of the others were also defined by one or two simple traits: the married one who likes animals, the young shy one, etc., and I wish that as Khana’s besties who were integral to the story, they’d had a little more depth.

When I started the book, I didn’t realize there would be war and battle scenes. There’s quite a bit of them between training for battle and going to war with the emperor who forced Khana to be his concubine. I’m not a big fan of long battle scenes and luckily for me, Khana and her unit spent their downtime back home rather than at a camp or something, but I found myself less interested in the action scenes even though they did include some exciting moments.

The magic system, âji, was interesting. I like the idea of witches who draw life force from one living thing to transfer to another as a way to heal them, it’s very cool. I’m a bit torn on it though as there were other parts of the magic that were conveniently mentioned only when they were needed in the moment, like suddenly Khana could do something with the âji that she hadn’t brought up or done a single time before.

So while my overall enjoyment of the book was a bit lopsided, I think it would be a good match for anyone who likes a lot of tense fighting scenes on a grand(ish) scale alongside stories of found family and a bit of slow burn romance.

I received an ARC of this book from Angry Robot via Netgalley.

My second five star read of the year!!!!
I ADORED this book. I went in blind and it was such a pleasant surprise of how good this story is. It follows Khana, a witch who escapes serving her immortal emperor and attempts to escape. She finds herself in a small mountain town where people fear her for her magic but still signs up for war against the emperor. Found family? Yes. Magic? Yes. Sweet MMC? Yes. Hilarious side characters? Yes. It actually had everything that I look for in a fantasy book. Can’t wait to buy a physical copy and I want to read more books by the author. Thank you NetGalley and Angry Robot for the arc!!

I loved this story.

The beginning hits you in the face with a lot of confronting images and scenes, but then as the story evolves it turns into a gorgeous story of camaraderie, self discovery and healing from trauma. With a whole lotta training, politics and war thrown in 👌

The magic system is a terrifying thought! Being able to take life with just a breath, but the way to make trades with death was so intriguing.

And Sava. Oh Sava 🫶

This was a really good book, but it did take a little while for me to get into. I think I was thrown off by going immediately into the past after the first chapter, then slowly catching back up to the present timeline. The ending was also a little flat, I think because all the action just sort of ended and I was waiting for something else to come up. But overall an enjoyable read.

The Witch Who Trades With Death was a captivating high fantasy novel. I really like how the author illustrates Khana, initially, as timid and weak only to have her show just how clever and fierce she is. She learns the emperor's secrets about bargaining with Death for power, and then utilizes this knowledge for herself to escape a forced marriage and then to try to stop the emperor. The emperor is a typical tyrant in this story, which some readers may find triggering unless they're used to fantasy novels. As someone who loves high fantasy, I was beyond happy that this book had some really good action scenes, especially because they were well-written and created balance with the pacing. The world building is excellent and I loved the author's development of magic within this world.

A gripping and emotional journey that will captivate readers who crave stories of found family, romance, and self-discovery, particularly those who enjoy fantasy tales of strong, complex heroines navigating the darker aspects of life, trauma, and the struggle for identity.