Synopsis
Two gods strike a bargain that leads them on a journey with devastating consequences in this lush historical fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Ann Liang.
China in the age of brilliance, where gods freely wander the three realms. Amongst them is the cruel and beautiful Death God, who has never failed to collect a soul on time. Until now. For when he seeks out Rujia, the noble god of healing—she makes him an offer he can’t refuse: she will help lift the excruciating curse placed upon him if he gives her a one-month reprieve.
Rujia's deal with Death is merely an excuse to buy herself time. But when her plan causes the Celestial Palace’s collapse and the beloved crown prince’s disappearance, she and Death are both held responsible. The only way to avoid the wrath of all the other gods is to travel across the realms and safely retrieve the crown prince themselves.
As the unlikely alliance between them blooms into more, and Death’s resolve to kill Rujia weakens by the day, neither can outrun their intertwined fate without devastating consequences . . .
Details
29 October 2026
9781035050444Reviews
Lyrical, heart-wrenching and gloriously romantic. I luxuriated in every beautiful sentence and every twist and turn of emotion. Hades and Persephone meet Romeo and Juliet to give us the ultimate in star-crossed lovers who must defy the heavens to be together
This book will be your next obsession . . . This heroine has a heart of gold, but she’s a delightful blend of scrappy and snarky, and one of the most memorable romantic fantasy protagonists I’ve encountered in a very long time. Fans of Liang’s poignant love stories will be enthralled
Exquisite and devastating. It won’t fail to move you
An elegant historical epic . . . Impeccable pacing, evocative prose and a romance that had my heart in a vice
