A passionate, heartfelt story of a tragic love. It was a slow burn for me, but I’m so glad I stuck with it. I became deeply caught up in the story of Jehan and Joe. There’s bawdiness and tenderness, humour and hardship. An evocative story of a love that transcends every cruelty of life.

I'd give this 3.5 stars – a perfectly good read but one that didn't hugely grab me! It's a love story set in 17th century France and although the framing device of using the author as the scribe felt a bit unnecessary and distracting for me, the writing and historical setting are very sumptuous.

Such a beautiful book - sensual, moving, yearning. A fascinating setting and really compelling characters, with rich writing. Such an immersive, transportive read. Highly recommend!

Great characters, engaging setting, and the insertion of the author as the scribe is clever. This is a quick, enjoyable read,

I absolutely loved this book! Conveying Jehan's POV as though he was narrating his tale to the author was so interesting and added great moments of humour and levity to what was such a sad, harrowing and romantic piece of historical fiction. The world building of mid-Renaissance France was rich and evocative and the characters were fully realised. Hortense was my favourite side character by far, her relationship with Jehan as his twin was so satisfying and complex. Can't wait to pick up my own copy on pub pay!

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Publishing for the early review copy!

This book hooked me right away with its witty tone and short chapters, exactly my jam. The historical flair was intriguing too, and I had high hopes for an immersive story. But somewhere along the way, my enjoyment decreased. About a third of the way in, it started to feel like a chore to finish. The main issue? The heavy focus on the central relationship. I wasn’t drawn to it, and that lack of connection made it hard to keep my enthusiasm up. I wanted more of the historical setting, more of the rich details of the time period. Instead, the book felt like a tightly encapsulated story with only a few characters and the primary conflict

The narration style didn’t land for me. The story is told as if Jehan, is in conversation with the author, Fiona Melrose. I usually enjoy this kind of meta storytelling when it feels natural, but here, it didn’t quite work. The scribe’s behaviour became overly emotional toward the end, which was meant to be heart-wrenching but just left me feeling indifferent. I couldn’t connect with the characters or feel the weight of their struggles, so the dramatic moments fell flat for me.

As a bit of a side note, I’m always picky about the portrayal of Dutch characters and cultural details (this is my thing), and the nickname Jonathan gets, which is Joe, really threw me. Jonathan is perfectly fine in Dutch, and “Joe” makes no sense phonetically or culturally, especially in the historical period this book is set in. I get it, creative liberties and all that, but small details like this can make a difference. It’s especially surprising given the author’s ties to South Africa and, by extension, Afrikaans, which evolved from Dutch. A little more historical and cultural accuracy here would have gone a long way.

That said, I can see this book finding its audience. If you’re looking for an introspective story about a relationship and don’t mind the historical backdrop taking a backseat, this might be for you. Personally, I want my historical fiction to focus more on the environment and time period rather than the romance at its core.

Marquis Jehan Beaudelaire needs a wife. in 1657 Avignon, that shouldn't be hard. after all, he's handsome, rich, and excellent at tennis. so why is he so distracted by his valet?

i ADORED this novel. it's narrated by the Marquis, who is at times conceited, shallow, and silly, but is always deeply lovable and sharply witty. his love story is so moving and the repeated tragedies he faces are genuinely devastating. this book broke my heart and yet left me feeling charmed and delighted, all at once. how? it's a mystery.

thank you NetGalley for the review copy!

Silver lining of shivering in bed with flu? Getting to read a proof of @fionamelrosewriting’s ‘Even Beyond Death’: a witty, charming, beautiful and tragic celebration of the glories of love.

Set in increasingly pious southern French Avignon in 1657, it follows aspiring writer Jehan, Marquis de Baudelaire, as he discovers the true beauty and power of love when a good looking Dutch valet arrives in search of a job. If I’ve made that sound too schmaltzy it’s because I’m still recovering from the ending (and because flu).

Outwardly, Jehan is naughty, sexy, witty, vain, and feckless, and his voice as a narrator dictating to his C21st scribe as she writes and weeps in coffee shops, is fun and compelling from the first page in a world of real tennis, musketeers, scheming clerics, and Moliere. Inwardly, as only his sister and his scribe know, things are very different.

The writing is gorgeous, full of sweetspot descriptions that conjure up a pool on hot summer’s day, the heat of impossible desire, and the contrast between the potential shame of being caught cheating at tennis and of breaking the law for the one he loves so they might be together even if only in eternal sleep like his inspiration shepherd boy Endymion, lover of the moon.

Physical and platonic love are depicted beautifully, and if graphic desperations of the former aren’t your thing, writerly debates between Baudelaire and his scribe act as neat warnings to skip. (I particularly loved the wry, writerly bickering and presentation of a character working with - or against - an author as her work takes shape).

You might need a handkerchief though, preferably soaked in rose water and neroli (not just for any seasonal ague you might be suffering from).

NB these comps might be influenced by a raging fever: It reminded me at various points of the film ‘Ridicule’, AJ West’s ‘Thomas True’, and Alice Wynn’s ‘In Memoriam’. I think it ought to have reminded me of some glorious French lit too, but I shamefully haven’t read enough.

Thanks for @littlebrownbookgroup_uk and @netgalley for the advanced copy. It’s out on 6th Feb.

An interesting concept.
The main character was a 17th century Marquis in Avignon who fell in love with his valet.
The author also appears in the book, as does the Marquis as he is today.
Today's readers often fail to appreciate what life was like a few years ago, never mind hundreds of years ago. This book certainly gives some insights into life in 17th century France.
Sensitively written, while trying to push the boundaries of what can be written just a little, I think that the story worked.
The story was written with some humour on a delicate subject.
The end was a little disappointing, probably the only part of the book that wasn't 'punchy'.
I liked it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Set in 1657, Even Beyond Death is a lavish, steamy, and deeply romantic tale of forbidden love that immerses readers in the dramatic life of Marquis Jehan Beaudelaire. At 24, Jehan, Avignon’s most eligible bachelor, is under intense pressure to marry, secure an heir, and maintain his social standing. Yet, his heart is captivated by someone entirely off-limits—his breathtakingly beautiful new valet, Jonathan Kryk.

Jehan's story unfolds against the backdrop of a society riddled with strict social hierarchies, religious surveillance, and ever-present spies. Trapped by the weight of his era, his yearning for Jonathan becomes a dangerous and impossible dream. Every glance and touch is fraught with peril, as the law and the eyes of God threaten to destroy any chance of happiness.

What sets this book apart is its unique approach to storytelling. Jehan, with the reluctant help of his disapproving scribe, narrates his tale as a "catalogue of desire," a memoir of love and longing rather than one of war or political ambition. This witty, stylised narration makes Jehan both genuinely funny and utterly charming, despite his glaring flaws.

The result is a story that feels both juicy and engaging, yet hopelessly romantic and uplifting. It avoids tired tropes, instead offering a fresh and captivating exploration of love, identity, and defiance in the face of societal constraints. The richly drawn characters, particularly Jehan, will linger with readers long after the final page.

Even Beyond Death is a masterpiece of wit, drama, and tender romance—a must-read for those who crave historical fiction with heart and flair.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

I know the word romantic gets thrown around a lot when it comes to fiction, but this book is Romantic with a capital R. It’s both humorous and tragic but the undercurrent is pure love and devotion. It’s giving Achilles and Patroclus, Ed and Stede, etc. What an incredible book!

Good gosh where to begin - Even Beyond Death is primarily a love story told as though the main character is recounting his life through a scribe. It was a really interesting and unique writing structure that I found myself really enjoying, especially as the story progressed. The writing itself is quite flamboyant and over the top so I do think it may end up being a little divisive but it worked for me especially once I'd gotten into it.

I do think the plot took a little while to find it's feet, and at first I wasn't sure how I vibed with Jehan, the MMC. I found him frustratingly self absorbed and his lack of consideration for those around him was infuriating at points. That being said, he did warm on me as the book went on.

I really loved Hortense as a side character, she was so brilliant and I would have loved to have seen how her life progressed after the events of the book.

Whilst at its heart, this is a love story, it is a very sad one, so be prepared for that going in!

Overall a really great historical love story.

This was unlike any other historical fiction I have ever read. The prose felt appropriate to the time period, and the narration style made me laugh a lot (particularly the opening chapter which gave me period drama Challengers vibes). The pacing is quite slow, but it is steady story telling that slowly enevelops you in Jehan and Joe's romance.

Jehan was flawed, but lovable. I'm glad the author didn't shy away from what would have been obvious snags in their relationship (behind the illegality of it all of course) - the differences in their station, the power dynamic, Jehans inherent selfishness due to the way he was brought up, Joe's popularity amongst his peers, Joe's past experiences. Every time Jehan was thoughtless towards Joe I cursed him, but it didn't take long for me to forgive him. Their relationship was genuinely sweet and loving, but as the title and description of the book suggest, it was ultimately heartbreaking. I loved all of Jehan's relationships - with his sister, with his staff, with the comtesse.

The unique narration style stopped the ending from feeling clichéd, but it didn't stop me from being devastated. It's been a while since a book made me this sad, though the running theme of love, and privilege of having loved and been loved in return, kept it overall uplifting.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Group UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The book is all voice and I loved it. Witty, stylised narration that completely immersed me, Jehan was genuinely funny and - despite his obvious, glaring flaws - utterly charming. The meta insertion of the writer was a genius stroke to both acknowledge the melodramatic flair while keeping a vibe of historical accuracy to the characters' actions. In fact, until I finished and looked it up, I was sure it was a story based on historical record instead of entirely fictional.

The end result was a story that managed to be juicy and engaging, while also hopelessly romantic and uplifting, without falling back on tropes or mawkishness. Everything is delicately and expertly balanced and the ending was extremely satisfying despite the tragedy, a tough feat to pull off.

A really beautiful historical fiction novel throbbing with emotion, very funny in places and so tragic in others, I’m not sure I’ve ever read anything else that can quite compare to it. The protagonist and narrator is the dramatic Jehan Baudelaire, an extravagant French Marquis who lives a life of luxury and beauty - charismatic, witty, passionate but oh so lonely, and quite the star of the novel. Jehan recounts, via his scribe (the author) what happened in his short life - according to his own insistence, it is ‘a catalog of desire’, it is the account of a love affair which was scandalous and utterly forbidden by the society of the time, but completely devoted. Jehan falls in love unexpectedly yet in a single instant, with his valet, a Dutch man by the name of Jonathan Kryk, who had only recently arrived in his household. When he eventually finds out that his love is returned, he is ecstatic- but when the pair of lovers are later found out, all threatens to turn to ruin. Jehan finds an unknown strength within himself as he fights to save his great love, Mr Kryk, and himself from death at the hands of those who would condemn them. It’s gorgeously written and really humorous in the way it is written at certain moments, yet also overflowing with compassion and tenderness for a really quite horrible set of circumstances and events as the novel concludes. Despite containing some rough events, the overall tone is one of triumph and optimism for all love. It’s beautiful.

My thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher, Corsair (Little, Brown), for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Oh goodness I loved this book soooo much! It is 1657, and 24-year-old Marquis Jehan Beaudelaire - Avignon's most striking and sought-after bachelor - is in desperate need of a wife, an heir, and, most urgently, a new valet. Enter Jonathan Kryk, a vision of breath-taking beauty.……,
Very well written, with relatable characters and well-constructed dialogue resulting in a very disturbing — but also satisfying — storyline ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A rattling good tale so moving!

This is one of the most enjoyable and unique historical fiction books I’ve read for a long time.
The writing is immersive, fast paced and humorous, plunging the reader directly into the ridiculous world of 1657’s Avignon and Jehan Baudelaire. The amusingly hyperbolic Jehan is somewhat of an unreliable narrator, but we are also provided with the scribe who acts as a pleasant injecting presence to undercut the flamboyance of the narration. However, even without the scribe’s counterpoint, you cannot help but love the whimsical and earnest Jehan and his love story with Mister Kryk. Jehan is ridiculous but the novel provides revealing moments of such genuine emotion that you root for him and his grand, tragic love. The book’s progress is heartbreaking and beautiful, and a thoroughly good book.

Review posted on TikTok and Storygraph also.

A novel set in seventeenth century France, which is one of my favourite periods and places, so I requested it, and I am glad that I did. The attitudes of people generally towards masculine love, are well explained, and when a marquis falls in love with his servant, a valet, the consequences of discovery are brutal, especially for the servant.
The atmosphere in those days is portrayed very well, although there is little historical research compared to some novels, there is enough to describe what was a repressive society at that time. I enjoyed the novel and would recommend it for anyone wishing for a good read.

Good prose and high literary stakes. The characters could have been more entertaining but it was a pleasant book.