I liked this story in the beginning, but around halfway through it really started to go downhill for me. I don't think this magic system was thought out too much; it just felt way too simplistic and without any real rules. It allowed the characters to do crazy things that didn't feel realistic to the story. Starting around halfway through, it just felt like Alongi gave up with the writing and just kept throwing the weirdest things out into the story. There's a scene where Khana is literally running through an army by walking on the soldiers' shoulders and there is another scene where the whole town is chanting "fuck off" to the emperor.

I also felt like Alongi's dialogue from the characters who sign was disrespectful to the deaf and signing community. I know that in signing, there are a lot of smaller words that are just not signed and grammar is different in sign, but when someone is interpreting, they are able to add those words in to make a cohesive English sentence with proper grammar. The way it was written, to me, felt like these characters were almost being portrayed as less intelligent. I have worked with ASL interpreters and they would never interpret something the way it is written in this book from my experience.

I can't really recommend this book because it just didn't feel fleshed out to me. I like the concepts Alongi was trying to tackle here, but the world and the magic system were not well thought out and the book really fell flat for me at the end.

Review goes live March 17

I unfortunately have to DNF this. I personally can't handle reading about SA, and it starts off by revealing that the main character has been enduring this for YEARS. It's too much for me. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

I’m so sad but I had to DNF 25% in - there wasn’t much going on and I couldn’t really see where the story was going. I’m hoping it’s a case of right book wrong time and so I will try again in the future and it won’t be an end to reading Alongi

I loved the concept and the snappy dialogue between them was definitely a highlight. Alongi's writing style is crisp and witty, particularly in the banter. The plot itself and the twist are fairly predictable. I found myself wanting more depth, especially concerning the world-building, which felt underdeveloped (some side characters felt a bit like plot devices). Ultimately, it's a light, entertaining read with a clever premise and sparkling dialogue.

The Witch who Trades with Death follows the story of Khana, a young witch concubine of a ruthless emperor, who fled into a secluded country town to escape her tormentor.

When I first picked up this book's ARC, I thought it'll be one of those dark fantasy books where there's more romance than fantasy. Don't get me wrong, I'm impartial towards that spectrum of the genre, but I feel like this was pretty misleading when I finally finished it. With the blurb mentioning the protagonist making trades with Death itself, you'd think they'd fall in love right? Honestly I wasn't disappointed when I found out that there was none of that shadow daddy, enemies-to-lovers business going on. Instead, I read about a girl finding family in a dysfunctional but wholesome unit of misfits, healing from trauma, tackling heavy themes like war, colonialism, and even abuse, and somehow all of it just worked out perfectly.

I loved going through the story through the lens of not just Khana, but also the other characters. Somehow their POVs, despite being short and seemingly insignificant, made the storytelling richer. The magic system is pretty unique and interesting (at least for me), especially since it plays a large part in Khana's character. I wish the 'science' of it gets explained in the story, but it's understandable since (1) duh, it's magic and (2) that's not the focus of the story.

The story also has lots of minority representation going on. There's the they/them or nonbinary rep, like when Death is referred to as a they, as well as bisexual and lesbian reps; and also a deaf rep through a side character. For me personally I'm all good with those since I assume it's part of the worldbuilding, but it felt a little too much at times. I don't know if it's the fact that it felt like there were too many side characters at times that contributed to this (which made me kinda confused about who's who for a sec there), or maybe it's because it's not tackled much in the story. I kinda wish Khana got to ask about this while she was still new in Pahuuda, because it seems like it's part of the Ghuran or some other culture that's incorporated in the town.

Overall, this story is like a gift that I got from a distant relative, not expecting much of it, but got something surprisingly good. While it's not for everyone because of some of the themes I've mentioned earlier, it's a decent read for those who can swallow those anyway.

Thank you NetGalley and Angry Robot Books for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the e-book arc in exchange for an honest review!

A tactfully done fantasy tackling some heavy topics and a bitter sweet end.

Check your trigger warnings at the door!

Themes of:
💜Found Family
💔Grief/ healing
💕Sweet Romance
🖤Deals
💙Politics
💚Unique worldbuilding
💛Multi POV
💞LGBTQ+ Friendly

I have a feeling this book will be very polarizing as it does have some heavy topics in them, chief among them sexual trauma and some animal sacrifice that might be upsetting for some. But I think C.M. Alongi handled these themes with tact and they, though heavy, fit with the world and it was nice to root for Khana on her healing journey.

I loved the interactions with Death and selfishly wish there were more/ that he was our MC. This is a beautifully written story with some lyrical prose and interesting magic/ world building. I would have loved a little more detail on the world building to see it further fleshed, but again that could just be personal taste and would have loved a little higher stakes.

This is a great book for anyone that wants a character driven story in a fantasy setting focused on the healing journey. A solid read and beautifully written! :)

The story follows Khana, a witch enslaved by the cruel Emperor Yamueto, who discovers the horrifying source of his power – deals with Death itself. This revelation, coupled with her desperate act of rebellion, launches Khana on a perilous journey. Alongi crafts a protagonist in Khana who is both relatable and fiercely determined. Having endured four years of terror, her initial act of defiance is understandable, and her subsequent flight is driven by a primal need for survival.
The core concept of trading with Death is brilliantly executed. The narrative quickly establishes that this magic comes with a terrible cost – the slow erosion of Khana's soul. This creates a ticking clock scenario that adds tension and raises the stakes with every use of her power. It's a fascinating exploration of the morality of using dark power to fight for justice.
While the premise is familiar within the fantasy genre, Alongi effectively gives it a unique spin through the concept of transactional magic with Death. The ever-present threat of moral decay adds an extra layer to the standard hero's journey, making it feel fresh and engaging.
This book is a compelling read that will appeal to fans of dark fantasy with morally complex characters and high-stakes plots. It's a story about survival, sacrifice, and the difficult choices one must make when faced with overwhelming odds. Alongi crafts a dark and engaging narrative. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading a thought-provoking and action-packed fantasy with a unique twist.

The Witch who Trades with Death is a story about a young girl who escapes her abusive situation and learns to fight back and move forward with support from her found family. The MC is ridiculously plot armored and her friends are perfectly supportive with no real personality flaws, but this can either be a pro or con depending on if you're in the mood for a feel-good story about healing from trauma and moving forward.

The pros:
CM Alongi crafts a beautifully realistic depiction of the psychological effects of sexual abuse and what the path to healing looks like, complete with all of its painful triggers and mental shutdowns. I really appreciated how the main character is not your stereotypical YA hot-headed tomboy type, but instead a timid and shy girl who learns how to fight back once she hits rock bottom and faces the possibility of losing everything she's built and learned to love. I find that it makes her more realistic and relatable. The plot and pacing are not bad: I never felt so excited that I couldn't resist turning to the next page, but I also never felt that drag that makes me question whether I should DNF it.

The cons:
There is only one VERY SMALL thing I actively did not like: I felt like there was a little bit of token diversity going on with one minor character, Athicha. This character is mentioned by they/them pronouns, but the concept of third genders is otherwise never mentioned throughout the book. Are nonbinary people common in their culture? No idea. Do they have their own gender roles and expectations in this society (i.e. some real-life cultures view third genders as more spiritual, while others view them as people who've sinned in a past life). No idea. Are they rare and discriminated against? No idea. Are third genders assigned at birth in this society or self-assigned? No idea. Frankly it feels like the author wrote a traditionally masculine character, Ctrl+F replaced all the pronouns, then haphazardly slapped a twist at the end that they have a vagina. They also made this character mute and threw in that 1/30th of the village is born deaf, and that's why everybody knows sign language. But how do deaf people work in this militaristic society when half the story is about going to war and commanders are shouting orders on the battlefield? Again, no idea.

All in all, I would give this book 3/5 stars. It wasn't my favorite type of story, but it was an enjoyable enough read that I don't regret the time I spent on it. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

I loved this book. The magic system, the character development, the discussions surrounding trauma and healing for several of the characters. Khana is complex and terrified but that makes her so relatable. I loved Sava and his patience as Khana figures herself out. Haz was funny and loveable and simply too fun on most of the pages he's on. Watching as Khana goes from this scared, trapped girl, to a reluctantly welcomed stranger, to the town witch, to a hero, and all that she sacrificed was incredible to read.

This book had me hooked from the start! The premise / magic system is such a unique concept, and Khana's journey was full of twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat. I adored the found family element, and the romance? Chef's kiss. The slow burn made my heart ache in the best way. It’s the perfect balance of heartwarming moments, suspense, and just a touch of spice. If you’re looking for a fantasy that mixes healing with some delicious tension, this is it!

Thank you NetGalley and Angry Robot for the arc.

This book left a bad taste in my mouth for several reasons.

Regarding the structure of the book, the pacing was so inconsistent, it was dialogue heavy to the point where I got bored, and the multiple POVs were actually unnecessary because they didn’t offer much insight. They didn’t offer much insight because the chapters ended so abruptly. Every chapter felt like a balloon inflating with the tension building, but then the chapter suddenly ends so the balloon deflates - not pops - but just deflates, and there is no satisfaction in that. The tiniest amount of tension that was established in the chapter comes to a screeching stop.

Regarding the story itself, the world building was lack luster because it was so dialogue heavy. I didn’t get to experience the world through whoever’s POV it was because they were too busy chatting all the time. The FMC herself is also overpowered. Yes, she does trade her memories with Death for power but I didn’t feel the effects of trading her humanity enough, if at all. Khana is not depicted as losing enough of her soul and becoming the monster she hates that the summary promises. She revived people she cared for just as easily as she killed the people she didn’t, so there were no real consequences that she faced. She also constantly compares herself to not wanting to become like Yamueto but has no problem killing people and animals (not an effect of bartering her memories btw, she’s just like that from beginning to end). All the characters were so black and white. There was no grey area and therefore they had no depth.

Because she had the amazing fantastic power of reviving people with the help of her new friends and Death willing to accept all of her barters, everything worked out. For a story that was also somehow really gory and graphic, it read like a children’s book.

I’m sad that this book didn’t live up to the high hopes I had after reading the summary. Still, kudos to the author for the creative premise, putting ideas to paper, writing an actual book, and getting it published.

Interesting premise and a nice world building. I loved the way death had a role in the story. I would love to read more from Alongi. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to review a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The title itself Intrigued me. The story follows a young woman (20 y/o) that has the ability of witchcraft in the form of necromancy. The first part of the story she's running from her oppressor (immortal emperor that forced her to be concubine) only to be found and ends up in a war. There were characters that I felt I could be friends with, that I understood. I appreciate the relationship building and the found family aspect. While it does have a HEA, I spent most of the story confused. I had painted this picture in my head of it taking place in a land much like ancient Japan, only to find out it was more Peruvian in reference. Which is totally fine except that my brain wouldn't accept the change. The names were difficult to pronounce and since the story was in 3rd person POV, it was harder to follow. It seems to me that the whole reason why she was pursued wasn't reason enough. Overall, it was a fun read..

This is beautiful and poignant and witty and such an amazing story.

We follow Khana on her journey, starting as the immortal emperor's witch concubine and ending as a happy war veteran embraced for her entire self. I almost cried at parts and was overjoyed at others - I won't forget the Poison Dart Frogs, Amati, Sava, or Heimili any time soon.

I'll be honest - I wasn't expecting or necessarily prepared for a high fantasy book (learning the layout of a new world, learning new cultures, etc) so I almost didn't finish it. I am so glad I didn't let my laziness get the best of me - I absolutely LOVED this book. The story is so beautiful and important - and while elements are definitely within the fantasy genre, there are other extremely realistic aspects that are handled in such a great way. I also really loved seeing casual nonbinary and queer representation - these traits aren't made in a big deal or even a plot point, it's just a part of the story and is so wonderful to see.

I can't wait until this book comes out and I get to see more people fall in love with Pahuuda and the Ghura!

A wonderful tale of love, friendship, and overcoming one’s dark past. While the book deals with some heavy themes (abuse, abuse of power, discrimination) at its core it’s a story about finding your inner strength and healing. Khana has suffered a lot, and watching her journey is at times heartbreaking but also incredibly heartwarming. Her character is well fleshed out and it’s impossible to not root for her: she goes from a scared girl to an empowered woman willing to fight for herself and her found family. The side character are also fun and loveable, each one with their own defined personality.
This was my first book by the author, but it won’t be the last: the storytelling, how the action was constant but not overwhelming, the character growth, the magic system and the world the author created make this my first 5 star read of the year. I absolutely loved it and can’t recommend it enough! (but be mindful of the trigger warnings)

Thank you to Netgalley, Angry Robot and the author for this review copy!

This is a truly powerful and moving story that delves into themes of misogyny, race, abuse, and the abuse of power. While it explores very dark and heavy subjects, the overarching narrative is one of healing, inner strength, the importance of chosen family, and discovering the power within yourself.

The story follows Khana, a witch with the extraordinary ability to take life and give strength to others. After being forced into servitude as one of the immortal conqueror Yamueto’s concubines at the age of 14, she finally escapes his clutches. However, her freedom is short-lived when she discovers Yamueto plans to invade the town she’s fled to, determined to reclaim her. In her fight for freedom—both her own and that of others—Khana strikes deals with death, making sacrifices to help free others from their ailments.

Khana’s journey is both heartbreaking and empowering. She evolves from someone focused solely on escaping and securing her own freedom to someone who fights to protect her found family and their futures. Her growth is remarkable, as she learns to heal from her trauma and even finds love along the way.

While the story does have a few slower moments that slightly affected my overall rating, the plot is primarily intense, emotional, and deeply engaging.

The side characters are wonderfully crafted—relatable, lovable, and full of depth. Watching their individual journeys unfold alongside Khana’s was equally compelling and motivational, adding richness to the narrative.

In conclusion, I loved this story. It addresses challenging topics with sensitivity and grace, leaving a lasting impact. It’s a beautifully written tale of resilience, healing, and love, and I highly recommend it.

It felt so good to get lost in a story. To get so excited for the plot that you want to squeal and kick your feet. It’s been a minute since I’ve done that.

A lot of high fantasy can be intimidating. Complex political machinations, character names and relations so complex you need a diagram, purple prose, geography so perplexing you beg for a map. Alongi doesn’t do any of that.

The prose was accessible, the magic made sense, the world and ethnic groups felt plausible, the geography wasn’t needlessly complicated.

If you know Alongi’s web series Cafae Latte, it won’t surprise you to know this book is quietly queer and has good trauma representation. I think it’s very well done. The asexual representation made me laugh. She opens with trigger warnings if you need them and they’re easy to skip if you don’t.

If you want a fantasy story that has depth, high stakes, heart, and humor, get this on your TBR. 5/5

I picked this ARC due to the title and the description of the book. This is a new author for me and I was intrigued by the premise of the book which was described. It had all the elements of fantasy that I look for in a book.

The writing style was really enjoyable to read and flowed really well. I enjoyed the plot points throughout the book and I thoroughly enjoyed all of the characters in the book - even the villains.

The character development in the book was phenomenal, the action scenes were enjoyable and I loved the learnings from the characters. It was so good. I really felt like I had an emotional connection to the characters of the book and I did feel like I wanted so much more.

Overall, it was a fantastic fantasy read and I look forward to other works by this author.

I thoroughly enjoyed C.M. Congi’s storytelling in this addictive, action-packed fantasy novel. The story follows Khana, a young witch and concubine to a cruel, immortal emperor. She escapes his oppressive rule only after striking a bargain with death. Finding refuge in a new kingdom, Khana must navigate the harsh judgment she faces due to her race and her magical abilities.

While working at an inn to save enough coins for a dangerous trek across the tundra—hoping to flee even further from the emperor—Khana is unexpectedly drawn into a battle alongside a group of rebels she grows close to when the callous emperor tracks her down and sets to destroy the kingdom she has been staying in, endangering the people she has come to endear.

The novel has more action-packed scenes than romance, with the latter developing more toward the end. I particularly enjoyed the diversity among the characters, which added depth to the story. Overall, it’s an engaging and well-paced tale that kept me hooked from start to finish.

This book is out March 10, 2025. Thank you to the publisher, Angry Robot, the author, and Net Galley for a copy of this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.