I really wanted to love this one! I loved how dark this was and the premise was unique enough to stand apart from a lot of the same books in this genre. I do think I would have enjoyed this more had the romance been a little bit more prominent. I think the feminine range aspect was done very well, and Jessamine was a very easy character to root for!

4.5⭐What a book!! The first chapter gave me goosebumps! 😱 This is a book about feminine rage where the FMC sets out for revenge and finds love. I devoured this book and completely loved both Jessamine and the Deathless One. Their built-up romance is just exhilarating! As soon as I saw the cover, I knew this book would be for me.

This book starts with Jessamine, a princess who marries to bring a new King and save her people. However, her new King betrays her and slaughters her at the altar, which makes everything turn to havoc. Upon her death, she is revived by non other than the Deathless One who is the God of Death. She comes back with a vengeful thirst, where she finds out secrets about herself and what led to her death.

You will love this book if you love:

🔮 Feminine rage
🔮 Badass FMC
🔮 Magic
🔮 Slow Burn ❤️‍🔥
🔮 Dark Queen

The writing style was beautiful and easy to read. The plot was very well developed except the middle where it kind of slowed down, but the end picked up quickly.

Thank you, NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Emma Hamm, for this Advance Reader Copy of The Deathless One.

The premise of this book was incredibly intriguing, and I even found the first few chapters to be really engaging! However, the story began to seriously lose me pretty soon after Jessamine was so quickly resurrected. I think Emma Hamm could have done so much more with this story, but instead it felt meandering, boring, and a little lost.

I think this was a really neat concept for a series, but unfortunately I don’t think it was executed very well. The fmc was a bit wishy washy going back and forth between confidence and bashfulness and honestly the same with the mmc. Despite this, I still enjoyed the book!

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!
3.75 ⭐️

Well-written, great pacing, and unique interesting characters in a genre that is saturated with tropes. This book was a breath of fresh air. Highly recommend. 4 stars.

The Deathless One is a captivating and darkly romantic tale that blends political intrigue with a compelling supernatural twist. Jessamine, a princess burdened with the responsibility of her people's survival, is a fascinating protagonist. She's strong, resourceful, and driven, yet her vulnerability shines through, particularly in the face of betrayal and loss. The premise of Jessamine's deal with the Deathless One is incredibly compelling. The allure of a second chance, coupled with the danger of bargaining with a known trickster god, creates a potent conflict.
Hamm masterfully portrays the Deathless One as both terrifying and alluring. He's a powerful, ancient being with motives that remain shrouded in mystery, yet he displays a surprising tenderness and understanding towards Jessamine. The slow-burn romance between Jessamine and the Deathless One is a highlight of the book. Hamm expertly builds the tension and chemistry between them, drawing the reader into their complex relationship. Their interactions are filled with witty banter, intriguing secrets, and undeniable longing. The moral dilemma Jessamine faces – choosing between her duty to her people and her growing affection for the Deathless One – adds another layer of depth and complexity to the narrative.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to fans of dark fantasy, fantasy romance, and morally grey characters.

The plot and ending were really good! I did think it was a slow start, but that’s fair for most fantasy. I liked the romance aspect, but it did take time to really get started.

This one started so strong! Sadly, I think I've seen this particular romance one too many times. The part of the story that stood out was the commitment to the witchy vibe, which I found unique and promising. It's maintained throughout the story, but it's not enough to hold it together.

You can never quite ground yourself in the story--there are very few descriptions of the actual world. We get... the Factory District, where there are factories. We get an old broken down mansion, somewhere outside of the city, which is an old broken down mansion. The fish market smells like fish. But the sky is never once described. It is said to be raining at a couple of points but this is never described as weather, as scent, as anything the reader can imagine.

It sounds like I'm nitpicking but this is an example of what I'm talking about: you can't ground yourself in what you're reading because there's so little to hold onto. I found it frustrating. The romance romances. It's fine. There are a couple truly egregious lines and points that made me clutch my non-existent pearls a bit, but it's whatever.

All that said, the biggest issue with this book is that it simply lacks plot. The romance would hit harder if it came in between action, in between plot movement. Very little happens in this story. Late in the book, the male lead says something to the effect of "the world has never seen a woman like you" but at no point is this shown. (Her main power seems to be dying by accident.) And really, at no point is the romance something other than told to us, either. We get about fifty of the: gods, help him, he couldn't stop himself from being attracted to her! But show that. Please, show that to me.

It's fine. The writing is technically solid even if it lacks in other areas. It was a fast read. If you enjoy this type of romance, you'll probably enjoy this. I was expecting a little more.

Thank you to Gallery Books & NetGalley for a chance to read this ARC!

I'm a huge fan of Emma Hamm's 'Deep Waters' series, so when I saw this ARC listed, I RAN.

I'll be fully honest - I didn't understand a lot about the way magic/witchcraft works in this book until way over halfway through (and even by the end.. I'm still a little lost?), but maybe this is purposeful as this seems to be the 1st book in a series that I assume will continue to follow Jessamine/Elric.

I didn't really care for Jessamine as the FMC; not in a bad way, I just felt like I knew nothing about her or her personality by the end of this book.

I (as a surprise to no one) LOVED Elric. I didn't really get why he was so attracted to Jessamine at first but you do YOU!

The Callum plotline felt a little weak to me given his reasoning so I was relieved once it was over (haha).

Despite all this, I enjoyed the book & I do like Ms. Hamm, so I'll probably want to continue the series!

The Deathless One by Emma Hamm
3.75 stars rounded up

Thanks to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. the following thoughts are all my own.
The story follows Jessamine Harmsworth, a princess ready to sacrifice herself on the altar of marriage to save her people from a terrible plague currently making its way through the kingdom. Her new husband to be murders her on the day of the wedding, but Jessamine is greeted by The Deathless God on the other side. They strike a deal that will bring both of them back and unleash their fury on the world.
Overall I really enjoyed this story and cannot wait for book 2 to see where Jessamine and Elric go. I absolutely loved Elrics character and thought the plot of the story was very intriguing.
I liked that it explored areas like female rage, because who doesn't need more of that these days? My lower rating comes from the fact that I had a harder time connecting with Jessamine's character for about 70% of the book. I didn't like the constant back and forth between deciding to resurrect Elric or not and felt like it was a little repetitive. However, I also recognized that I am a mood reader and started this book at a time when I don't think I was ready to so it took me longer to become invested in the characters stories. This fault is completely my own. I did enjoy seeing Jessamine come into her power towards the end though and it makes me excited to see more from her in the next book. My lower rating also stems from the fact that the magic system was a bit confusing at times and I felt like the logistics of how the deathless one (Elric) and Jessamine interacted wasn't as clear as it could have been.
Elric was so interesting to me and you feel so bad for him throughout the book as you get to know him. Like Jessamine I'm excited to see more from him in the future.

MUST read.

This was everything I expected and more! I died inside like FOUR times!!!!!!!!

Must read!!

The Deathless One by Emma Hamm is a hauntingly tale filled with witches, magic, a mysterious illness, and an enthralling slow-burn romance. Hamm weaves a world that feels dark and eerie, drawing readers into a realm where witches are in hiding and danger lurks in the shadows.

The story follows Jessamine, a strong-willed princess who finds herself suddenly in a unexpected situation where she has to turn to forbidden magic. In addition, the slow-burn romance is one of the novel’s strongest elements, allowing emotions to simmer beneath the surface and had me hanging on every interaction.

Hamm’s writing is beautifully immersive, painting a world that is both grim and dark, making The Deathless One a compelling read for fans of fantasy romance. If you enjoy stories with witches, spells, and slow-burning love stories, this book is definitely worth picking up.

4.5/5 Wow, that was hot!! The Deathless One has
- princess who practices black magic x shadow daddy god with tormented past
- Ambitious fmc
- Slow burn
- Forced proximity
- Magic (very interesting system!)

First off, I loved that this wasn’t an insta-love story. There was a real build-up toward the attraction, and it’s definitely a slow burn. I’d say there’s only one "real" spicy scene, but honestly, the wait was totally worth it.

The premise starts with Jessamine being betrayed on her wedding day, losing everything. What I appreciated most was that Jessamine wasn’t immediately saved. She struggles and learns how to adapt to her new reality. While it was marketed as an enemies-to-lovers story, I wouldn’t say Jessamine and Elric were truly enemies. There’s tension due to their differing views, but over time, Jessamine really shines through. Her growth from being a bit clueless to becoming this vengeance-driven badass was amazing to read.

Another thing I really enjoyed was the magic system. From dark magic to patrons, witches, and the nature of power exchange—it was interesting because there's a delicate balance. Now there's only one god left, but he isn't OP, raising the stakes. The Deathless One is the first book in a trilogy, so there’s a lot of scheming and plotting going on. I’m really excited to see what’s going to happen in the next book!

Thank you Netgalley and Gallery Books for providing the arc in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.

Jessamine, una princesa que sacrifica su vida por su reino, es traicionada y asesinada por su prometido el día de su boda. Sin embargo, la muerte no es el final para ella, sino el comienzo de una peligrosa alianza con un dios inmortal, quien la resucita a cambio de su ayuda para regresar al mundo mortal.

La novela se despliega en un mundo plagado de intrigas, traiciones y decisiones imposibles, donde Jessamine lucha no solo por vengarse, sino también por salvar su reino. La relación entre ella y el dios de la muerte es tensa, cargada de misterio, y se desarrolla lentamente, creando una atmósfera de deseo y peligro. La historia no solo ofrece acción y drama, sino que también explora temas de poder, sacrificio y el enojo femenino, todo mientras Jessamine se enfrenta a la difícil decisión de seguir su venganza o sucumbir a la tentadora oferta del inmortal.


Disfrute de la lectura, al final decae un poco, pero nada grave.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Deathless One by Emma Hamm is a gripping and emotionally charged start to a romantasy trilogy, and I absolutely loved it! From the very first page, I was hooked by the intense premise—Princess Jessamine, betrayed and murdered by her husband, strikes a dangerous deal with the god of death himself, the Deathless One, to seek vengeance and save her kingdom. The premise alone promises drama, mystery, and high stakes, and this book delivers on all fronts.

Jessamine is such a strong and compelling character. Her resilience in the face of betrayal and death makes her journey feel even more personal and powerful. And the Deathless One? He’s everything you’d want in a morally gray love interest—mysterious, dangerous, and completely captivating. Their dynamic is so electric, and watching their relationship evolve from wary allies to something much deeper was a true highlight of the book. The slow-burn romance had me eagerly turning pages, and the tension between them was palpable.

The world-building is fantastic, with rich descriptions and a plot that kept me on the edge of my seat. The stakes are high, with Jessamine fighting not only for vengeance but for the future of her people. The book is full of twists and emotional moments that left me thinking about the characters long after I finished reading.

Overall, The Deathless One is a fantastic blend of romance, fantasy, and mystery with a fascinating, morally complex love story at its heart. It’s perfect for fans of dark fantasy, forbidden love, and complex characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in advance! I can't wait to see what happens next in this thrilling trilogy!

DNF at 33%, 97 pages

Before sharing my thoughts on this book, I want to make it clear that I don’t think I am the right reader for this book. The cover and premise drew me in initially, but upon starting this, I quickly realized this is not a style of writing or genre that I enjoy. Because of this, I want to write this review from my perspective, with the caveat that I am not the intended audience and others may enjoy this much more than I did.

With that said, I did not enjoy this. This reads as unpolished amateur writing that could be found anywhere on Wattpad. I always want to push through review copies and make sure I give the fairest review I can, but when this started veering into AO3 territory, I knew I had to give up. I mean, he peers into her memories to tease her about her “sex magic” book? And the chapter I gave up on read like a shitty porn intro where she gets stuck in her clothes and of course the love interest has to help her out of her clothes while ogling her body.

The characters are so simplistic and near impossible to root for. “The Deathless One” reads more like an overly angsty teenager than an immortal god, and Jessamine, the main character, felt somewhat flat, serving more as a blank slate for the plot and side characters to revolve around. Also, her sudden shift from sweet and bubbly to vengeful killer in just a few pages was jarring rather than compelling.

Finally, the writing is just bland and lacking any substance. There were info dumps on top of info dumps, none of which were seamlessly integrated, just tossed in wherever. I think if you enjoy any and all romantasy this might be more your thing, but if your taste is similar to mine, this one is a hard pass.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

The premise of this was very intriguing but overall, this fell short for me as it progressed. It was confusing at times to follow. Jessamine was okay as a character but I was largely indifferent to her. I would have liked to have seen more growth from her. I did enjoy Deathless One as character though as more was revealed about him. Though I could have used more of a build up to their relationship.

Not a bad read per se, I just don't think it was a good one for me. Others may enjoy it more.

The perfect touches of tension, spicy moments, and longing desire made this book exceptional. The backstory reveals and the witches/deathless one dynamic throughout the book kept me highly engaged. The "villain" could have had more backstory or a challenging lead up to the encounter, but I am eager to read book 2!!!

I absolutely love Emma’s Deep Waters series so when I heard she was publishing a romantasy about a princess murdered at the alter I was sold.

Emma does such a good job with slow burn so it’s no surprise that the tension and burn between the MMC and FMC was there. I think both of the main characters have great backstory and it helps understand their actions and motivations, especially the MMC.

I especially loved the backstory that the gods were once mortals and gifted magic to their followers.

My biggest gripe with the book is that I felt it moved so slowly and the magic system was a bit confusing in the sense I didn’t feel there where any “rules” to the MMCs magic.

“He was the end and beginning of all things in her life.”

This book is truly unique and full of surprises. It kept me engaged from start to finish and I appreciated the detailed world-building. The revenge plot was EVERYTHING. I absolutely LIVE for feminine rage and this book delivered. The slow-burn romance between Jessamine and The Deathless One was passionate and steamy, adding significant depth and tension to the story. The tragic backstory of the MMC draws you in and makes you root for him. The infected were frightening, which added to the suspense of the story. The writing was melodic and flowed effortlessly. I am excited for the next book!

𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓥𝓲𝓫𝓮𝓼:
☠️ Arranged Marriage Gone Wrong
☠️ Dark Gothic Fantasy
☠️ Enemies to Lovers
☠️ Shadow Daddy
☠️ Black Magic & Witchcraft
☠️ Vengeful Gods
☠️ Political Intrigue
☠️ Schemes & Betrayal
☠️ Slow Burn
☠️ Feminine Rage
☠️ Bada$s FMC

“We are chaos and blood. Wetness and rage. Howling at the moon that we will not be silenced or forgotten. We are everything that they fear and covet.”