A Spellbinding and Unforgettable Fantasy ★★★★★

The Witch Who Trades with Death by C.M. Alongi is a mesmerizing blend of fantasy, dark magic, and rich world-building that completely captivated me. From the very first page, the story pulls you into a world where death is not just an end but a force to be reckoned with, and the protagonist—a fiercely compelling witch—navigates the dangerous balance between power and fate.

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!

The Witch who Trades with Death is gritty, dark and magical. The portrayal of difficult times, trauma and recovery are all impactful.
I had very strong feelings about the Emperor and have never wanted a character to die more (him being immortal makes that a challenge). I will say no more on him to avoid spoilers, but I absolutely love to hate a character. The journey for Khana (the witch) is full of highs and lows. I absolutely rooted for her. Her friendships and relationships all read very naturally and are heartwarming. There is definitely a good balance between the emotional turmoil and some more pleasing moments.
Also, the scenes with Death are amazing, the way the characters interact and how bargains are made is riveting. Along with the Death scenes, I especially loved the creatures that are created and these make for some cool animal companions.
This is an emotional political fantasy that’s filled with magic and hope.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

A Breathtaking book filled with gut-punch emotions and the gritty reality of dealing with, and overcoming trauma, with an amazing magic system that flows so seamlessly into the worldbuilding, and a cast of diverse and fantastic characters, this is going to easily be in my top ten for twenty twenty five. I LOVED, this book, and i especially loved how the author didn't shy away or water down the truth of war, abuse, and recovery. with a found family that feels like a comforting hug, and a romance that will make the butterflies in your stomach go wild, this is a story of recovery, vengeance, and finding the strength within yourself to not only fight back, but defend those that you love.

i LOVED, the main character. i loved the struggles she and her friends go through to overcome their families, their pasts, and their fears. i love how no matter how many times the world knocks them down, they get up, again. and again, and again. Khana starts off skittish, meek, terrified of her shadow, and at the end of the book, she's grown into an amazing, powerful woman, who can handle her nightmares, no matter how often they might come.

This was a beautiful, nuanced look at grief, loss and finding a family that is not blood but so much the stronger for it.

The main character is a witch, capable of drawing life from one and pushing it into another. For those that are wounded or near death from illness, it can heal them. For those that are already dead, it creates a monster, a zombie like creature with no mind of its own. Khana is not the only witch, all with this power are forced to serve the Immortal Emperor, a cruel and sadistic ruler who cares only for conquest. When she manages to escape, she finds herself in a small town and before long finds herself having to confront all she had hoped to leave behind.

Watching Khana heal, letting others in, was a joy to behold, as was watching those friends she made open up in turn. Every character that becomes friend, family, is wounded in some way, and feels like a real person, with flaws and all.

There are some highly triggering topics within this book, such as forced sexual acts, domestic violence, toxic relationships, mistreating refugees and of course, death. Personally (and with personal experience of some of these triggers) I found they were treated with respect and compassion, although personal feelings will vary. They are skilfully handled and all the moments feel as if they are part of the plot, there is a real reason for each horrible moment to be there, rather than any gratuitous scenes.

My only complaint was having to leave this world so soon after discovering it. I hope the author returns one day to this fascinating world and gives us another glimpse into part of it.

~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~

Thank you to Netgalley, Angry Robot Books and C.M. Alongi for the ARC.

A young witch forced to play concubine for her empirical captor, finally breaks free to find a life of her own, but even those with the power to call Death cannot outrun their past…

I have mixed feelings about this book.

I loved the beginning. You're thrust into Khana's world straightaway, learning about her circumstances and certain situations that she has found herself in.

I thought that the magic source, Áji, was such an interesting concept. I can't imagine how terrifying it must be to be at the whim of a tyrannical emperor who has such control over everyone's life source.

The beginning of the book has to be my favourite. It's action-packed, intense and harrowing.

The middle of the book dragged a little too much for me and I found myself skimming sentences and having to go back and reread them. Some parts were also predictable and everything seemed to be fixable with Áji. There weren't any consequences to any of the characters' actions because you had Khana fixing everything by finding every loophole under the sun.

Also, when I first read the synopsis, it made it sound like Khana would have Death be the love interest. It could just be me, but that's how I interpreted it and it's what initially drew me to the book.

The beginning started interesting, I like how the there was flashback to the past/ started in media res. I feel like the descriptions and details could have gone further. Terms like birth control just don't click in a fantasy book in a unknown age for me. Also why does Khanna have to be related to the emperor and be one of his wives, this is so weird. The writing flows but not really that a fan of the substance. She has been with the emperor for 6 years is wild, how old was she when she first became his wife??? The setting was also confusing, made it seem like the were villagers in a jungle and then in a metropolitan city. I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I got about a third of the way through before I had to put it down. It felt like nothing was happening, even after reading so much, which left me defeated. I realized I didn’t even care to find out what happens next.

I absolutely adored this story. C. M. Alongi has created an emotional and political story of dealing with abuse and trauma. I adored the wide cast of characters and their complex personalty and life before they met the story’s MC.

This story features a lot of talk of abusive relationships and the trauma they cause. We get this from both the perspective of our MC Khana who was the emperors concubine and with Haz who suffered abuse at the hands of his girlfriend. I think the author handled this well, there was lots of support for both characters and we got to see the importance of them healing in their own way. I will admit that when I read the blurb and saw the title, I thought Death would be a main character and they weren't. This story follows Khana running away, finding refuge, then joining the fight to save the village. I loved the magic system, aji (life force) is needed to do magic and think it was really interesting. Alongi wrote characters that will warm your heart, the relationships/friendships that formed are so tender and beautiful. This is a really great story.

I loved the concept and the snappy dialogue between the characters, which 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.

Unique magic system. Diverse characters. Found family. Serious topics. Overcoming trauma. This book is beautiful. I truly enjoyed it. I was worried about the trigger warnings, but I went ahead and I'm glad I did. This book will grip your heart.

I was super excited to receive this ARC. I will say it took a few chapters for me to get into the story, but after, I was hooked.

This is an addictive and powerful fantasy novel. There is plenty of world building and history packed inside. The magic system felt unique. Truly a well-rounded novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for this ARC. This is an honest review.

Thank you Angry Robot Books @angryrobotbooks and C.M. Alongi @c.m.alongi for this free ebook!
“The Witch Who Trades with Death” by C.M. Alongi ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Dark Fantasy with a touch of romance.

Khana (20) is a witch forced to be a concubine of the cruel, immortal Emperor Yamueto. After 4 years of abuse, she kills one of his favorite courtiers with magic she doesn’t fully understand, and discovers Yamueto’s secret- he makes deals with Death. Khana flees to the small mountainside town of Pahuuda. She’s ostracized for being a witch, even as she heals their sick and injured. Now it’s her turn to make deals with Death. But every deal she makes takes another piece of her soul. And there’s only so much Khana can give before she turns into the very monster she’s trying to destroy.

Author Alongi has written a lovely book about friendship, found family, and war. Her diverse found-family characters include the former witch concubine, the old whore, the troublesome criminal, the cowardly rebel, the Tlapharian boy, the Cituva bastard outsider, and the Chief’s son. Her themes include thoughtful magical versions of modern issues: trauma from child abuse and domestic violence; women searching for underground sources because birth control is illegal in the empire; women and men fighting equally against injustice; discrimination against refugees. She adds in a sweet, slow-simmering, power-imbalance romance trope. Alongi is known for her delightful CaFae Latte series on TIkTok (I’m obsessed with it). If you’ve watched it, you’ll recognize her casual style-the book reads just like she talks. It’s 5 stars from me🌵📚👩🏼‍🦳🎀#thewitchwhotradeswithdeath

I'm not really sure how I feel about this book. While the magic system of consuming 'Aji' or life force from others was fascinating, it often felt like plot armor, making high-stakes situations feel less intense.

The pacing was another issue for me—the beginning was captivating, but the rest of the story didn't hold my attention as much. The action scenes felt repetitive and dragged on longer than necessary.

The characters were well-written, but I struggled to connect with our MC, Khana. Whether it was intentional to represent her trauma or not, there was a certain distance to her character. I found myself connecting more with the side characters—Haz and Sava, I’m looking at you! And Sava’s parents? Total badasses. The romance was sweet and wholesome, though a little unexpected. (Yes, I was under the impression that Death was the love interest, but I actually appreciated the direction it took!)

One of the strongest aspects of this book was the found family dynamic—chaotic misfits and underdogs healing each other always gets me.

So, if you're looking for a standalone fantasy without heavy world-building, this might be worth checking out.

*Thank you, Netgalley, Angry Robot, and the author, for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.*

A gripping, emotionally raw novel that weaves together magic, trauma, and resilience in a world where death is a currency to be bargained with.

Khana escapes cruel Emperor Yamueto, who has kept her as a concubine for years. After discovering his secret - he's been making deals with Death to maintain his immortality - Khana uses her own magic to escape and flee the empire. She finds refuge in a mountain town, but her powers make her a target. As she fights to survive and stop the emperor, Khana must confront the consequences of each deal she makes with Death, knowing that each one takes a piece of her soul.

At the heart of the novel is a unique and fascinating take on magic. Magic isn’t just a mystical force confined to witches, it's woven into the very fabric of all living things. This interconnectedness of magic and life is beautifully explored, especially in the ways it can be manipulated, abused, and traded with Death itself. The story delves into how corruption seeps in when people exploit others for power, and it skillfully shows the duality of magic: it can both destroy and bring peace.

The portrayal of Khana’s struggle to adjust to a new life as a refugee feels incredibly authentic. The clear depiction of racism - how refugees, who heal the wounded and aid in wars, are still ostracized and abused for their appearance, language, and heritage - rings all too true and prevalent today.

The book doesn’t shy away from depicting trauma, abuse, and PTSD. The inclusion of these difficult topics - rape, manipulation, and domestic violence - could be overwhelming for some, but the way they’re handled is both respectful and empowering. (Especially since, this has one of the most considerate and informative trigger warnings I’ve ever come across). Khana and other characters, despite their horrific pasts, are given the agency to fight back, reclaim their power, and heal. This is a story of survival and strength, and it’s deeply inspiring to see the characters’ journeys toward overcoming their scars.

Amidst the darkness, the relationship between Khana and Sava offers a glimmer of hope and tenderness. Their slow-burn romance is one of the most rewarding aspects of the book, built on mutual healing as Sava works through his grief and Khana confronts her trauma. Their connection is not only romantic but also deeply emotional, as they find solace in each other’s company. Equally important is Khana’s relationship with Haz, a character who brings humor and lightness to the otherwise grim world. Haz’ sass and warmth offer the emotional balance Khana so desperately needs, and their found family dynamic is heartwarming and vital to the overall message of the story.

Overall, is an extraordinary tale of magic, survival, and human connection. It challenges readers to confront hard truths about trauma, racism, and the consequences of abusing power, while also celebrating the transformative power of love, healing, and community.

"The Witch who Trades with Death" is a refreshing standalone fantasy that manages to tackle heavy themes while still delivering a heartwarming found family narrative. Alongi crafts a unique magic system around Death that had me absolutely hooked - what witch doesn't love making questionable deals with supernatural entities? Khana's journey from abused concubine to powerful witch defending her chosen home hits all the right emotional notes, and the supporting cast of misfits made me want to curl up in their mountain town and never leave.

While the pacing occasionally stumbles in the latter half and some of the representation feels a bit forced, these minor issues don't detract from what is ultimately a compelling story about healing, belonging, and fighting back against those who would take your power. If you're looking for a fantasy that balances darkness with hope and features a dash of sweet romance (though sadly not with Death itself - I was a bit disappointed there), this one's definitely worth picking up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am so glad I didn't give up on this book. Given the trigger warnings, I almost set it down right then and there, and again when I almost threw up reading some of said triggers after deciding they weren't that bad. But once I got past the initial first few chapters, I found myself enjoying the book more and more. The cast of diverse characters all held importance to the book and were loveable underdogs, each and every one of them. And despite the heavy triggers and topics, Alongi handled them incredibly respectfully, and I appreciated mention of charities involving victims of assault. It really made it feel like the author cared about the readers and victims alike, and I think made it a bit easier to stomach the heavy contents of the book. I cried multiple times for this sweet little found family, and I'm so happy to have gotten an ARC of this book. It may take some time for me to get around to rereading it, but I can safely say I'll be back for more with this one, and I'd be more than happy to read any other books Alongi puts out in the future. She's got a fan for life for sure.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2y98S3M/

I really loved this book! The characters were so lovely and the found family aspect was fluffy and warm. This book can really help some people overcome trauma and heal (provided they abide by the trigger warnings in the beginning). I'd highly recommend this book to people for that alone but with a unique magic system, that's the cherry on top. Lgbtqia+ characters and a swooney romance is just an added bonus <3

The Witch Who Trades with Death is a well written, well paced, standalone fantasy that has definitely become a new fave to rave about. There was strong character development and a good chunk of world building.
Khana is an exceptionally strong character, she worries about those around her, even though she has been shown very little care.
Despite all the trauma she's faced she manages to cultivate a family all of her own which she draws to her with her kind actions. Khanas trauma is dealt with in a very realistic way and the supporting characters, a bunch of unruly misfits with huge hearts, are as supportive as they can be.

This discovery brings clarity to this devilishly creative magic system – death magic that Khana can perform enables her to draw life force (aji,) from animals and humans to transfer it to those in need of healing or dying, however, as she has discovered there is more to this power. Witches can trade memories, emotions and parts of their soul with death for greater reward but, ultimately this will result in the total loss of their soul.

There is so much more to this story than fighting a terrible enemy, and I accept that it may be polarising for some as there are some seriously strong triggers including trauma, rape, control and abuse referred to on and off page but, it’s also a story about misfits, the underdog, recovery, found family and there is no lack of minority representation.

This a book full of love, hope, action, heart, and ultimately family – most definitely found family, and I was really impressed with the author’s approach to healing and recovery. There was no instant bounce back from the trauma that Khana was carrying and there was recognition that everyone recovers in their own way and on their own timeline. I have to admit that I also adored the found family theme, particularly the relationship that developed between Khana and Haz, their relationship was almost sibling like with the bickering, humour and honestly, total love that encompassed them as family, plus Haz is just adorable, you can’t help but love him.

If you’re looking for a story that stands out amongst all the cosy fantasy and romantasy books this spring, then you won’t go wrong with The Witch Who Trades with Death. Alongi has delivered a standalone book that truly takes you on a journey with Khana and isn’t just about fighting an evil foe but, about discovering yourself and finding hope and happiness.
4.5 stars