The Witch Who Trades with Death was an intriguing read, though I must admit it wasn't ultimately to my taste. I went into it with high expectations, drawn in by its unique premise, and while there were aspects I appreciated, I found it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story.

The world-building stood out as one of the book's strengths and weaknesses in equal measure. On one hand, it was incredibly rich and well-developed, showcasing the author's meticulous attention to detail and creativity. The world felt alive, with layers of history, culture, and magic that added depth. However, for me, this level of intricacy made the story feel sluggish at times. I often found myself wishing for less exposition and more forward momentum in the plot. It felt as though the vivid descriptions and backstory sometimes overshadowed the pacing of the narrative.

That said, the characters were undeniably well-crafted. I appreciated how even the supporting characters were given depth and individuality, making the world feel populated with real, multifaceted personalities. The protagonist was compelling in her own way, and her journey was one I wanted to care about. Yet, despite the strong character work, I struggled to connect with them on an emotional level. For reasons I can't quite put my finger on, I found it hard to fully invest in their struggles and triumphs, which left me feeling somewhat detached from the story as a whole.

On the positive side, the plot was intriguing, with twists and turns that kept me curious enough to keep going. It had moments of brilliance where the stakes were high, and the narrative felt gripping. Still, the combination of my lack of emotional connection to the characters and the slower pacing made it a challenge to fully engage with the book.

The audiobook narration was, for the most part, enjoyable. The narrator's voice was clear and upbeat, adding energy and enthusiasm to the storytelling. I thought the voice chosen for the protagonist was particularly well-suited and enhanced my experience of her character. However, a few of the voices used for other characters felt slightly mismatched to me, which occasionally pulled me out of the story. It wasn't a dealbreaker, but it was enough to notice.

Overall, while I can see the merits of The Witch Who Trades with Death and understand why it might appeal to other readers, it just wasn't the right fit for me. It had elements that I admired, but ultimately, I found myself struggling to stay connected and fully invested. For those who enjoy deeply immersive world-building and intricate plots, this book might be a perfect match—it just wasn't mine.

This was a fun read, with some of the best found family I’ve read in a while! The magic was unique, with only “witches” having power, which is only used for healing, killing, or making night creatures (basically zombie animals). The slow burn romance was sweet, with one spicy scene. I enjoyed the exchanges with Death and honestly would have loved to know more about Death. Overall I thought it was an enjoyable fantasy with a unique premise!

The whole forced concubine to the emperor part was pretty gross and I could have done without that tbh. But it did help support the severe trauma that our FMC was dealing with. Trigger warning for SA.

I could not stop listening to this book, I’m obsessed! Such a heartwarming fantasy adventure with found family, overcoming trauma, slow burn (as slow as you can get in a standalone!) and interesting life based magic system. The author deals with complex and traumatic issues so sensitively and satisfyingly in the book, this whole read felt cathartic whilst still delivering an adventure.

The narrative performance by Lucy Walker-Evans was superb, and the best single actor performance I’ve heard in a while. She brought the characters to life seamlessly, not just through accents but whole fleshed out patterns of speech and tone. Her performance complimented the authors work beautifully, and meant that the light-hearted (and sometimes dark, it is about death after all!) humour landed, and that I was even more invested in the points of tension and tragedy.

Thank you so much to the author C.M Alongi and Bolinda Audio for allowing me to enjoy this ARC audiobook in return for an honest review. I’m going to relisten to Citadel to stretch out this post 5* read high for as long as possible!

A tale of healing, found family, and deals with Death.

Khana was stolen from her home and made the immortal Emperor’s concubine when it is discovered she is a witch. On learning his secret to power and killing his favourite courtier, she flees the empire and ends up in a snowy, cold mountain town.
There, she faces prejudice, but also a home with a group of other misfits where she slowly learns to heal from her trauma and feel happy and safe. But the Emperor won’t leave someone alive who knows his secrets….

This was so wholesome, but it also had a tiny amount of delicious spice that still managed to feel soft and slow.

The characters were heart-warming, the dynamics were hilarious, and the journey of self-worth and recovery was tender. I liked that it showed this abuse from both man and woman and the recovery from both genders too!

<b>"Give yourself the kindness of healing on your own terms.”
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The world-building was also pulled off well for a standalone and I was left feeling satisfied with a well-rounded story. This isn’t even that long of a book, yet I felt fully immersed in the culture, the town, and the small joys one can find working with friends at an inn.

Another thing I loved about- there is incredible friendship AND burgeoning romance. Yet, the plot was still enticing? This is rarely pulled off so well!!

<b>"Exactly, You're Khana's closest friend here," Sava stressed. "She doesn't strike me as the type of person to take that lightly." 
Haz scratched the back of his neck. "No, she isn't. That's part of what makes her so adorable." 
Sava almost choked. "Adorable?!" 
“Like a baby bear. One of these days she's going to be deadly, but until then she's just... cute." Haz grinned. "I can't wait.”
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Thank you to Angry Robot for sending me the physical arc in exchange for a review!