F.M. Aden’s The Bride of Death is a unique and intriguing blend of dark romance and suspense. Aden’s writing is atmospheric and rich, creating a compelling backdrop for a story filled with tension and intrigue. The characters are well-crafted, and their journeys offer a mix of mystery and emotional depth. While the novel's intricate plot and gothic elements are engaging, I found that it took a while for the story to fully captivate my attention. Despite this, Aden’s skillful prose and imaginative world-building make The Bride of Death a worthwhile read for fans of the genre.

Overall, The Bride of Death showcases Aden’s talent for weaving a darkly enchanting tale, offering a satisfying experience for those who enjoy a blend of romance and suspense.

This felt like it was trying to take from too many different stories and lore and it didn’t mesh well together. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood to read this one but it just didn’t work for me.

I really enjoyed all the twists in this book but the love triangle was irking me (hence the four stars) and I think it it was an amazing book with that exception of the love triangle. I would highly recommend reading this book. It is definitely worth the read.

This was an ARC read for Netgalley. Thank you to the Author and Netgalley for allowing me to be a part of this journey. This is my honest review and I was not paid for it.

F.M. Aden's The Bride of Death is a dark and captivating fantasy story that is similar to Katherine Arden's The Bear and the Nightingale and Naomi Novik's Uprooted. There are many supernatural obstacles and great risks in Zerryn's attempt to vanquish the formidable monster Erlik Khan. Although the world-building and idea are complex, there were moments when the pacing felt erratic, and several character developments lacked the impact I had hoped for. Zerryn's bravery is commendable, and the stakes are high, yet there were certain aspects of the story that I found tedious. Overall, a good book with a compelling subject, however there is still space for development.

It wasn't until I was immersed in the world, that I realised just how much I was going to adore this book. It is all the things I love, The dark gothic fairytale setting for one, from the very beginning I loved spending time getting lost in the bone forest among the dark creatures and spirits. It's also filled with mentions of folklore, such as the irshi, jinn, ubir and uylak. The main characters are very reminiscent of Hades & Persephone, with their warring magical energies of life and death, light and dark.

I really liked this book, just didn't love it. Think it was more the fact I was in a slump rather than the story. I would still recommend it to friends.

Meh. I found this entire tale a collection of unnecessary scenes. The romance induced eye-rolls. I wanted to enjoy the stylistic choices and writing, however, I found it felt uninspired. I'm sure some new to fantasy, new to retellings new to gothic style lit will find what they enjoy within, I personally found it too bland for enjoyment... sorry...

The cover is stunning. Loved the retelling, Although it had my attention in the begging then it was a bit more slow paced for my liking. Overall, decent read.

I really enjoyed this book, the tasks, the world and the relationships. A mix of For The Wolf, Spinning Silver and ACOTAR vibes for me, Interested to see what Aden writes next!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC reading for an honest review.

"The Bride of Death" by F.M. Aden is a gripping dark fantasy novel that weaves together elements of mythology, romance, and adventure. The story follows Zerryn, a determined young woman on a mission to save her best friend, Celik, from the clutches of Erlik Khan, the formidable Lord of Death.

Zerryn’s journey is fraught with danger and challenges as she ventures into the Underworld. To save Celik, she must complete three seemingly impossible tasks set by Erlik. These tasks are not only physically demanding but also test Zerryn's resolve and cunning. The portrayal of the Underworld is vivid and imaginative, adding a rich, immersive layer to the narrative.

Erlik Khan is a compelling antagonist, depicted with a complex blend of power and malevolence. His interactions with Zerryn are charged with tension, creating a dynamic that is both captivating and unsettling. The romance that develops between them is subtle and intricate, providing a nuanced exploration of their evolving relationship.

The novel excels in its character development. Zerryn is a strong, resourceful heroine whose growth throughout the story is both believable and inspiring. Her determination and courage in the face of overwhelming odds make her a character to root for. The side characters, including the charming vampire Beyza, add depth and diversity to the story, enriching the overall narrative.

While the plot occasionally slows, the climactic final chapters are filled with intense action and surprising twists that keep the reader engaged. The mythology woven into the story is fascinating, offering a fresh perspective on traditional themes of death and the afterlife.

In conclusion, "The Bride of Death" is a compelling read for fans of dark fantasy and mythology. F.M. Aden's storytelling is rich and evocative, creating a world that is both darkly enchanting and deeply engaging. The blend of adventure, romance, and myth makes this novel a standout in its genre. If you enjoy stories with strong female leads, complex villains, and richly imagined worlds, this book is a must-read.

I love a hades and Persephone retelling however I just really struggled to get into this one so at this time it was a DNF, however I hope to try again with it in the future.

I am yet to find a Hades and Persephone retelling that blows it out of the water. While I appreciated The Bride of Death for its attempt to revamp and refresh a tale as old as time, I felt more time should have been spent on developing this world so that it wouldn't be overshadowed by the story it was attempting to retell. Zerryn is a compelling character but soooo frustrating. I admired her tenacity as she put herself on the line to save her best friend and love; but her character development felt too sudden and I didn't feel satisfied.

This was a fairly good addition to the world of retellings. I enjoyed the story overall, but it took about 1/3 of the book to really grip me and suck me in to the story. The slower pace may work for some, as I think it was a “me” problem, having just come off of reading some intense thrillers.

The story is atmospheric and the world-building is really great in this one. I really liked the characters and the romance between them. It’s a slow-burn romance, which fit perfectly with the slower pace, and it allowed me as the reader time to get invested in their relationship.

The story gets dark at times, but there’s a whimsical quality that runs throughout the story. I originally was going to rate this one a 3 because of how long it took for me to get sucked in, but I’m rounding up to 4 because of how much I enjoyed the story by the end. Will definitely pick up anything else by this author.

I really wanted to love F.M. Aden’s THE BRIDE OF DEATH because who doesn’t love a Hades and Persephone-esque story, but this is just not it. Based on the premise and character names, I assumed that this novel pulled from Turkish folklore and mythology….and it does, but not well. It feels like a very western sanitized and appropriated version of these stories, which was incredibly disappointing. Additionally, while the story has its moments, the novel felt like it really needed another developmental edit. It was a struggle to get through the first quarter, and if this hadn’t been a NetGalley e-ARC, I would not have finished the novel. The plot development and pacing in proved later on, but it still felt like some parts were rushed, some motivations, etc. didn’t make sense or just didn’t feel true. I mostly felt frustrated as I read.

I didn’t love it. I didn’t hate it. It did take me a long time to get through. The story had promise, but in the end, fell a little flat. The pace es da bit slow.

I loved these world it was set it but the world building could have been better. I liked the mix of folklore and myths. I’d have to call this “good not great.”

This book was an OK enough read for me. I personally wanted more world building and development to the plot. I did enjoy reading a retelling that was based on Turkic myths as its not something I would usually see.

I think this book suffers from too high of expectations due to comparisons. This book was pitched as comparable to The Bear and the Nightingale trilogy and Uprooted, to well established books/series. That being said, I went into this with way too high of expectations.
This book was... fine.
It didn't feel memorable, or notable.
I was not a fan of the love triangle. Nor was I impressed with the world, it felt under developed.
I feel if I went into this with lower expectations than maybe I would have liked it more.

This book had lots of potential. The cover was gorgeous, I was intrigued by the premise and the first few chapters had me hooked! However as it went on I felt the story and pace slowed down and I found myself forcing myself to pick up the book.

In “The Bride of Death” by F.M. Aden, reminiscent of Naomi Novik’s “Uprooted” and Katherine Arden’s “The Bear and the Nightingale,” we follow Zerryn’s perilous journey to save her village from the torment of Erlik Khan, the Lord of Death. Growing up with tales of Erlik’s penchant for stealing wild girls, Zerryn leads a quiet life until her best friend Çelik succumbs to demonic possession and withdraws to a crumbling estate atop Mount Ida. As Erlik Khan’s grip tightens and the threat of him seeking a bride looms, Zerryn realizes she must become his bride to gain the power needed to defeat him. To save her friend and village, she must complete three impossible tasks, risking everything she holds dear. This spellbinding tale of courage and sacrifice will keep readers captivated from beginning to end.

There were many fascinating characters in this thrilling drama. Furthermore, the majority of the incidents caught me off guard because they don’t happen very often. Reading about Zerryn’s struggles was interesting to me. I particularly appreciated how she made friends with Beyza the Ubir and other opponents. The primary romance was pretty dull, in my opinion. I’m over the purportedly wicked person who, while the main character complained about his being a meanie, was blindly fascinated with her.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this! I found the environment to be fantastic to explore, and the language to be rich and captivating. Each destination along the voyage added new life to the tale through magic, folklore, and traditions, which gave distinctiveness to the story and kept me interested until the very end, even though the storyline or themes themselves weren’t very innovative. While I thought this book might have needed a few more rounds of editing, it was still exciting.

This book intertwined myths and folklore within the narrative of a courageous girl determined to vanquish darkness itself. The story fluidly navigates through a spectrum of emotions, capturing each fleeting thought and passing feeling, presenting them to the reader in fragments. There were issues with the pacing and overall setup of the plot. The gothic elements in this were done well and representation was finely diverse. The characters were unique and the development was good however 'I' didn't feel any stark emotions while reading this and at times was quite bored. Overall, not my cup of tea but a good book for others.

thank you Netgalley for the arc!