Thank you for this arc! World building and magic were enchanting with found family and trauma was handled well. Well executed in writing character development and plot.

I found this to be not for me. I didn’t connect with any characters and found it just feels like it kept dragging.

TW: SA/sexual trauma; partner abuse

This is probably one of the best depictions of sexual trauma I have ever read.

The Witch Who Trades With Death follows Khana, a witch who unwillingly serves as one of the immortal Emperor Yamueto’s concubines, as she escapes her prison and ends up in a different country over the Empire’s border. While facing the scars of her trauma and prejudice from other townsfolks, she forges bonds with other misfits and creates her own family. But she knows the secrets of Emperor Yamueto, and he won’t let her live to ruin him.

This is one of those books that personally is hard for me to read, but I kept reading it and was fully engrossed. There are brief depictions of SA but I think it is outweighed by the fact that Alongi creates such a hopeful narrative at the end of the day without ignoring the ways trauma manifests (for men and women, which was refreshing to see). It ends up being a tale of perseverance and triumph over personal demons accompanied by wonderful world-building and characters.

Khana is extremely traumatized but still is resilient (even if she doesn’t always know it) and cares deeply about her friends despite her trauma and fear holding her back. It was extremely heartwarming to me personally and is the type of inspiring character that I always am a sucker for. The characters around her that become her found family are also super compelling and well-rounded which adds really well to the narrative.

The plot was paced pretty well - this is a standalone novel but the plot kept proceeding at a good pace. The world-building was really well done: it made sense, it was clear but wasn’t too overwhelming for the standalone story. The burgeoning romance also was paced super well which added to the enticement.

Overall, I really loved this story for my own personal reasons, and if the triggers are not an issue for you, I highly recommend!

Thank you Angry Robot for the e-ARC in exchange for this review!

The premise sounded really good about a girl that can make deals with death, but it wasn’t my personal taste. I made to 60% and didn’t really feel a connection to the characters. I also wasn’t very invested in the romance and it fell flat for me. Also there was quite a bit of animal death which, while very relevant to the story, I’m not a fan of. I do think other people might really like this.

Wow what a ride and what a book. Something completely different and unique to what I have read before.

I have also been fascinated by death magic and how it works (just general curiosity mind!) as is normally the way with magic nothing comes for free and what it gives you with one hand it takes away with the other, so our main mc has to be careful and selective.

There is a lot of manipulation and exploitation which is explored throughout the book and how the characters deal with it.

Overall a great read and one I would highly recommend!

What an incredibly crafted story this is! It’s got some of my favorite things in it: found family, witchcraft, and healing.

“You still think you’re alone, but I assure you, you’re not. When you face this fear, you’ll have an entire army with you.”

The worldbuilding is first class and I love the magic of this world. In addition, the deals with death are phenomenal ways to move the plot and deal with some plot conundrums. Trading memories and core parts of your being with death to make deals to save lives was an interesting concept.

This book handles healing from trauma so well. Better than any book I’ve ever read. After years of abuse and terror from Emperor Yamueto, Khana is finally free from him and struggling to be free from his influence.

“It’s not cruelty to want something for yourself, even if you think you don’t deserve it.”

I love the friendships the develop and grow throughout the story as well as the love story that is told throughout.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @angryrobotbooks for my ARC of the book and for having me on the tour! All thoughts are my own.

On one hand, I really liked the ideas behind this book. Khana's abilities to drain aji were very interesting, especially with the variations of ways it could be used. All too often, you'd only see the life draining side of things, but I liked the way it was also used for healing and such. I also enjoyed Khana as a character. She had a complicated past, and I appreciated the careful way the romance played out, with time and space given for her to work through the challenges of her experiences as she finds love.

That said, I did struggle with some aspects of the writing itself. The pacing was rather uneven, with the beginning and end moving quite quickly, while the plot seemed to bottom out throughout the middle portion. There was also some strange word choices and use of metaphor that had me scratching my head as to what the author was actually trying to say. I also really dislike modern language in my high fantasy. Authors don't need to use medieval speech patterns or anything, but the avoidance of modern lingo that almost always ages poorly can only be an improvement.

Overall, this was a perfectly fine romantasy story. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed portions of it. However, the weaknesses of the writing and pacing left me struggling to continue in other parts.

The premise of this book pulled me in and it didn't disappoint. I love the plot and admire the author's ability to explore sensitive topics in a respectful and meaningful way without using shock tactics. Overall, a great standalone fantasy story.

C.M. Alongi’s The Witch Who Trades with Death explores deep and relevant themes, including trauma, healing, xenophobia, and the contrast between toxic and healthy relationships. The novel also emphasizes the power of chosen family and friendship, adding emotional weight to the story. While these themes are handled with care, at times, they feel more like statements rather than elements naturally woven into the narrative.

The worldbuilding is inclusive and detailed, the character development is strong, with complex and multidimensional figures. However, some relationships and emotional arcs could have been deepened.

While the novel offers a satisfying resolution, I felt that certain aspects, could have been explored in more depth. It’s a well-crafted book with a solid foundation, but I didn’t find it as immersive or emotionally gripping as I had hoped.

***The trigger warnings for this one are important to read***

"WARNING: This book contains references to violence, war, racism, xenophobia, sexual assault and domestic violence."

This book took an incredibly sensitive topic, rape and healing from it, and handled it in the most tasteful and real way I have ever encountered in a novel. This book follows Khana and her flight from life as a concubine, through her growth and establishment of self, and into the arms of the found family she surrounds herself with and takes a stand to protect.

I absolutely adored the Poison Dart Frogs, and loved getting to dig into their unique backstories and see how their lived experiences shaped them. Their bonds with each other made my heart happy and having a group of oddballs and outcasts pull off the impossible makes for a great story. They also gave another avanue for gaining a better picture of the wider world and setting up the stakes for allowing Yamueto to continue his conquest.

My only real complaint was the pacing near the end of the book. It seemed to speed up in the last quarter and wrap up the main conflict far too quickly when compared to the other trials Khana faced early on. However, I am glad this was all resolved within this book and that it did what it set out to do while maintaining it's status as a standalone book. It was refreshing to experience a standalone fantasy that tied up its loose ends while still having a developed enough world where I wasn't left feeling like I was missing out.

Forced to play concubine for her powers, Khana flees when she kills using her magic one of his favourites.
I really struggled with this one. The synopsis was great but fell flat in the book. Whilst there is plenty of descriptive world building, for me there was not much plot substance. For my liking the balance between the plot and character development/world building was not there and as such I lost interest in the characters.

this was a good story when it came to the found family elements and the arc of a survivor slowly healing from what was done to her— but i found it to be a little… contrived? especially by the end and with the fantasy elements. however, i adored the depiction of death here and the depravity of immortality.

All the aspects of the perfect fantasy book!! A little spice, unique magic system, incredible character development, and an original plot! I hope this author writes more because I am an instant fan!!

Slightly spicy, 3rd person multiple point of view, paranormal romance. Well thought out and written plot and characters. Dealt with serious situations and topics without being too upsetting. I really appreciate that it was a standalone book with a satisfying ending.

Thank you to Angry Robot as always for this arc copy.

I DNF'ed this at 47% but I am giving it 3 stars because the NetGalley reviewing system won't accept no stars and I don't want to give it any less and give people the wrong impression about the book itself.

Now, this is a case of excellent concept but bad execution for me. There is so much going for this book, from the important themes and tactful reps of trauma, to the cool concept of trading with literal Death.
That said I simply couldn't not keep reading because I just kept pushing myself to like it and could not get into it. It may be a me thing based on other reviews I've seen and that's fine, but unfortunately I could not connect to the characters in any significant way to want to keep going. A lot of tropes are in use and while good, they did telegraph so much of the story and the individual arcs. It's not a list of clichès per se, but unfortunately too much a case of a archetypes put all toghether without bringing something fresh to the table.
Also practically halfway through and the reader keeps getting new names and characters to keep track of with every new chapter to the point where I lost said track and stopped being able to care about the ones I was supposed to because I wasn't sure who they were anymore. And I'm no fantasy newb, I have read and keep reading my fair share of *dense* fantasy.
I think the author has a good thing going here, they certainly show an imaginative enough narrative and solid worldbuilding, but they got carried away perhaps, trying to fit everything in their first book.
Maybe one day I'll finish reading this, if nothing else to satisfy some curiosities I have left.

Until next time,
Eleni A.E.

This was a great standalone fantasy that really felt unique. The found family, magic system, and how this book handles some tough topics had me completely pulled in.

This standalone novel follows Khana on her bid to freedom, away from her abusive Emperor and all while asking for Death's help along the way...

First of all, that cover is gorgeous. I was utterly over the moon when I received this in the post, and having seen what the hardback looks like, I think it looks fabulous!

This is a very different kind of story and something that I haven't come across before.

We met Khana, and I immediately loved her and her strength. She is forced to be the Emperor's concubine along with many other witches. There is a massive twisted family backstory there that shocked me when I read about it.

She flees to a mountain town, and even there, she is met with suspicion.

The Emperor is absolutely vile!

His sole purpose in his life is to conquer kingdoms and to impregnate his concubine to continue his line. He lacks compassion, kindness, and anything good after giving so much to Death over the years in deals.

He repulsed me.

The story is a mixture of strength, hope, and pure determination as Khana struggles to break free, make new friends, and ultimately prove herself to her non-so-friendly neighbours!

C.M. Alongi's writing style is brilliant. It is a fantasy novel, so there are plenty of new names and places to get your head around, though given how the story takes, but you really do remember these quite easily.

The story itself is quite dad for Khana, and I found myself being Khana's cheerleader as she tries to may her own way in life.

I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to see what else C.M. Alongi has in store for us in future!

Forced to make a deal with Death, Khana fights to survive as she hides from the emperor who has traumatized her for years. She's finally in a place where she feels she's contributing to the fight against the immortal empire, and she's learning to protect herself in the process. She's made friends and is healing as much as she can while fearing for her life.

I love the healing that happens with Khana. She finally has people to lean on and to give her advice, and share thoughts and plans with. She can save them, despite the fact that most want her dead. Her entire unit seems to be in a similar position, and they end up being a wonderful found family in the midst of war and chaos.

Thank you so much netgalley and angry robot books for the arc!! I enjoyed reading it. 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.

This book is a slow... everything. There is so much details in this book to build up the story of why she is who she is and what makes her do what she does that it really takes a while to build this world. Then there is also the romance build up, which takes forever due to how she was treated.

It does immediately start up with some action, but then slows down again to paint the whole picture. I actually enjoyed Khana's character and how much she grew in this book. By the end she is no longer the scarred witch who was unsure of her powers.

I do think that the difficult names each of them had is where I really had to slow down and make sure I was reading it right (for example, Haz and his father have similar full names). That and how slow the book was did make it harder to focus, or even want to continue reading. You knew it was building to something great, but it just took too long to get there.