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The Fragile Divine #2
Even in Death
Imprisoned in the Land of the Dead, Finnian must figure out how to outwit the High God of Death and Curses and right his wrongs—however, the more their fates tangle, the more old feelings ignite. Chaos is inevitable.
EVEN IN DEATH is the second book in the Fragile Divine, an interconnected dark fantasy romance series about the frailty of gods and goddesses. You can expect high stakes, all the emotions, a mythology-inspired world, urban settings, mental health rep, and a little horror. The series must be read in order.
EVEN IN DEATH is the second book in the Fragile Divine, an interconnected dark fantasy romance series about the frailty of gods and goddesses. You can expect high stakes, all the emotions, a mythology-inspired world, urban settings, mental health rep, and a little horror. The series must be read in order.
416 pages, Paperback
Published March 5, 2025
43 people are currently reading
1,511 people want to read
About the author
Randi Garner
3books139followersRandi is a lover of evocative words. She aspires to create characters that live on with her readers. When she’s not daydreaming about her next story, you can find her staying up too late, immersed in a book or webtoon with coffee in hand, or enjoying the company of her husband and their three dogs.
You can find her on Instagram (@randimgarner) where you can sign up for her newsletter and stay up to date with her upcoming releases.
You can find her on Instagram (@randimgarner) where you can sign up for her newsletter and stay up to date with her upcoming releases.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
May 9, 2025
♾️ � I haven't felt this way about a book since Manacled! READ THIS ASAP!!!!
“I loathe you. And I long for you."
WHAT TO EXPECT:
� dark romantasy
� MM enemies to lover
� captive x captor
� morally grey mmc
� cinnamon roll mmc
� slow burn
� opposites attract
� angst and yearning
� “I loath you�
� SPICY
� dual timelines
� HEA
� witchcraft and magic
� psychological horror elements
� gothic and macabre undertones
� TW: graphic torture, murder, death, necromancy, and more so be sure to read the authors trigger warnings beforehand. Shit get's dark.
My Thoughts:
When I tell you this book had me sobbing, I mean it. Blotchy face, snot coming out of my nose, tears blurring my eyes, weeping. I was an emotional mess, and I enjoyed every minute of it!
Even In Death is a breathtaking story about the lengths you are willing to go to for love that will simultaneously make your stomach flutter and break your heart.
Out of the 50 books I’ve read this year, both traditional and indie, this is hands down the best book I've read/listened to all year!!!! I loved EVERYTHING about it! From the wonderful MCs, Finnian and Cassian, to their heart-wrenchingly beautiful romance, from the intriguing world building to the high-stakes plot, this is a story that I'll never forget. It's been two weeks since I listened to this audiobook and I honestly still cannot think about anything else. . . I haven't felt this way about a book in so long! And the epilogue!!!!!! I cannot wait for the next book!
Trust me and add this book (this series) to your TBR! But start with book one, “The Goddess Of�, to get introduced to this world.
PS: The actual audiobook was FANTASTIC! The narrators did a perfect job bringing Cassian and Finnian to life. I truly loved every second listening to this story and I know it's partially because of them. Bravo!
Full review to come. I'm just still not quite able to fully put into words how much I loved this story and why.
Thank you Randi Garner for sending me the audiobook on NetGalley! As always, all opinions are my own.
Favorite Quotes:
“Even in death you belong to me.�
_______
“Who do you loathe most?�
Ԩdz.�
_______
"You are mine to chase, to fight with," Cassian snapped. "Nobody else's."
A spiteful smile broke apart his lips, flashing his teeth, "Who knew the High God of Death and Curses to be so possessive.?
_______
“I loath you," he said through curled lips.
“I loath you just as much," Cassian whispered.
I long for you, is what he wanted to say instead.
_______
"I should not have come, but I ache when I am not in your presence."
_______
“You cannot care about me.�
“A but it is far too late for that.�
_______
"Death is peace, Finnian, and pain is simply a sign of love's presence."
_______
“There is no such thing as finality.�
“Even in death, love is the only thing truly immortal.�
_______
"Love is death. But death is love again."
_______
“I loathe you. And I long for you."
WHAT TO EXPECT:
� dark romantasy
� MM enemies to lover
� captive x captor
� morally grey mmc
� cinnamon roll mmc
� slow burn
� opposites attract
� angst and yearning
� “I loath you�
� SPICY
� dual timelines
� HEA
� witchcraft and magic
� psychological horror elements
� gothic and macabre undertones
� TW: graphic torture, murder, death, necromancy, and more so be sure to read the authors trigger warnings beforehand. Shit get's dark.
My Thoughts:
When I tell you this book had me sobbing, I mean it. Blotchy face, snot coming out of my nose, tears blurring my eyes, weeping. I was an emotional mess, and I enjoyed every minute of it!
Even In Death is a breathtaking story about the lengths you are willing to go to for love that will simultaneously make your stomach flutter and break your heart.
Out of the 50 books I’ve read this year, both traditional and indie, this is hands down the best book I've read/listened to all year!!!! I loved EVERYTHING about it! From the wonderful MCs, Finnian and Cassian, to their heart-wrenchingly beautiful romance, from the intriguing world building to the high-stakes plot, this is a story that I'll never forget. It's been two weeks since I listened to this audiobook and I honestly still cannot think about anything else. . . I haven't felt this way about a book in so long! And the epilogue!!!!!! I cannot wait for the next book!
Trust me and add this book (this series) to your TBR! But start with book one, “The Goddess Of�, to get introduced to this world.
PS: The actual audiobook was FANTASTIC! The narrators did a perfect job bringing Cassian and Finnian to life. I truly loved every second listening to this story and I know it's partially because of them. Bravo!
Full review to come. I'm just still not quite able to fully put into words how much I loved this story and why.
Thank you Randi Garner for sending me the audiobook on NetGalley! As always, all opinions are my own.
Favorite Quotes:
“Even in death you belong to me.�
_______
“Who do you loathe most?�
Ԩdz.�
_______
"You are mine to chase, to fight with," Cassian snapped. "Nobody else's."
A spiteful smile broke apart his lips, flashing his teeth, "Who knew the High God of Death and Curses to be so possessive.?
_______
“I loath you," he said through curled lips.
“I loath you just as much," Cassian whispered.
I long for you, is what he wanted to say instead.
_______
"I should not have come, but I ache when I am not in your presence."
_______
“You cannot care about me.�
“A but it is far too late for that.�
_______
"Death is peace, Finnian, and pain is simply a sign of love's presence."
_______
“There is no such thing as finality.�
“Even in death, love is the only thing truly immortal.�
_______
"Love is death. But death is love again."
_______
April 21, 2025
All this book brought me was a cascade of disappointment, one after another. I was initially filled with excitement; the premise, the couple, and everything about it sounded so promising and captivating. In hindsight, I should have recognized the warning signs after the first book, which I didn't enjoy at all.
I deeply regret reading this series.
This particular installment left me feeling intensely frustrated and enraged. I entered with the understanding that it was a dark romance, set within the confines of the enemies-to-lovers trope. I was fully aware of this going in. However, for that trope to truly resonate with me, I believe both characters need to challenge each other equally. Sadly, this was not the case here.
The opening scenes of the book were nearly unforgivable, and no amount of subsequent revelations could redeem them for me. Their relationship felt undeniably toxic, but not in a way that engaged me; rather, it left me feeling queasy and disheartened. To make matters worse, the pacing was excruciatingly slow, and the dual timeline aspect only detracted further from the story, making it feel like an endless slog.
The romance, which was meant to be breathtaking and profound, instead struck me as utterly awful. Firstly, there was a glaring lack of chemistry between the characters, and secondly, the way their relationship unfolded was off-putting. I anticipated dark romance, but the author's approach to transforming their animosity into affection felt poorly executed and lacking depth.
Cassian was utterly repulsive, and Finnian was a fool.
In conclusion, I am left with a profound sense of disappointment and anger regarding this book. Even as I attempt to articulate my feelings in this review, I find myself too exhausted to express everything I’d like to say, even though I know there's so much more to convey.
I deeply regret reading this series.
This particular installment left me feeling intensely frustrated and enraged. I entered with the understanding that it was a dark romance, set within the confines of the enemies-to-lovers trope. I was fully aware of this going in. However, for that trope to truly resonate with me, I believe both characters need to challenge each other equally. Sadly, this was not the case here.
The opening scenes of the book were nearly unforgivable, and no amount of subsequent revelations could redeem them for me. Their relationship felt undeniably toxic, but not in a way that engaged me; rather, it left me feeling queasy and disheartened. To make matters worse, the pacing was excruciatingly slow, and the dual timeline aspect only detracted further from the story, making it feel like an endless slog.
The romance, which was meant to be breathtaking and profound, instead struck me as utterly awful. Firstly, there was a glaring lack of chemistry between the characters, and secondly, the way their relationship unfolded was off-putting. I anticipated dark romance, but the author's approach to transforming their animosity into affection felt poorly executed and lacking depth.
Cassian was utterly repulsive, and Finnian was a fool.
In conclusion, I am left with a profound sense of disappointment and anger regarding this book. Even as I attempt to articulate my feelings in this review, I find myself too exhausted to express everything I’d like to say, even though I know there's so much more to convey.
March 7, 2025
FINNIAN AND CASSIAN� YOU TWO ARE A MENACE. 😭🔥
This book was like a slow-burning curse—beautiful, painful, and completely unhinged in the best way. We’re back in the Land of the Dead, and let me tell you, the tension?? Off. The. Charts. Finnian, the stubborn necromancer with a past full of secrets, is locked in a deadly game with Cassian, the brooding High God of Death. And when I say these two HATE each other� I mean, hate with a capital H—except, do they really? 👀 The chemistry was pure chaos, and I was LIVING for it.
The dual timelines?? A MIND-BENDER. One second, I was rooting for Cassian’s downfall; the next, I was crying over his devotion. The way Randi Garner weaves past and present together had me questioning EVERYTHING. Was Finnian really the villain? Was Cassian?? Was I just being emotionally manipulated the whole time?! Probably. And I loved every second. 😭
Now, let’s talk pacing. The first 100 pages felt more like a revenge story than a romance, and I was lowkey impatient. But once the curse kicked in and Finnian started losing his grip on reality? BOOM—obsessed. The unraveling of their history, the betrayals, the longing?? Pure torture (and I ate it up).
Final thoughts? This was a DARK, gut-wrenching ride with gods, curses, and a romance that felt both inevitable and impossible at the same time. The world-building? Gorgeous. The angst? PAINFUL. The romance? A Greek tragedy waiting to happen. If you love warring deities, morally grey disasters, and enemies-to-lovers with a side of existential crisis, this one’s for you. 📖✨
This book was like a slow-burning curse—beautiful, painful, and completely unhinged in the best way. We’re back in the Land of the Dead, and let me tell you, the tension?? Off. The. Charts. Finnian, the stubborn necromancer with a past full of secrets, is locked in a deadly game with Cassian, the brooding High God of Death. And when I say these two HATE each other� I mean, hate with a capital H—except, do they really? 👀 The chemistry was pure chaos, and I was LIVING for it.
The dual timelines?? A MIND-BENDER. One second, I was rooting for Cassian’s downfall; the next, I was crying over his devotion. The way Randi Garner weaves past and present together had me questioning EVERYTHING. Was Finnian really the villain? Was Cassian?? Was I just being emotionally manipulated the whole time?! Probably. And I loved every second. 😭
Now, let’s talk pacing. The first 100 pages felt more like a revenge story than a romance, and I was lowkey impatient. But once the curse kicked in and Finnian started losing his grip on reality? BOOM—obsessed. The unraveling of their history, the betrayals, the longing?? Pure torture (and I ate it up).
Final thoughts? This was a DARK, gut-wrenching ride with gods, curses, and a romance that felt both inevitable and impossible at the same time. The world-building? Gorgeous. The angst? PAINFUL. The romance? A Greek tragedy waiting to happen. If you love warring deities, morally grey disasters, and enemies-to-lovers with a side of existential crisis, this one’s for you. 📖✨
April 17, 2025
6/5 stars
“I loathe you. I long for you� 😭
Randi was out for TEARS with this one. These last 100 pages were just tissue after tissue.
“Love is death. But death is love again�
“Even in death. Love is the only thing truly immortal�
“I loathe you. I long for you� 😭
Randi was out for TEARS with this one. These last 100 pages were just tissue after tissue.
“Love is death. But death is love again�
“Even in death. Love is the only thing truly immortal�
February 26, 2025
Randi Garner just became an auto buy author for me! I am not a very emotional person and books very very rarely make me cry, but she got me good with both books in this series.
There is a deep exploration of grief, the unbidden quest to right wrongs and the parallels between the people with power and the ones that are next to invisible in the same world is drawn so well by the author.
It was almost a 5 star but I was little frustrated with the pacing in the middle for a few chapters. It got a little slow for me after a twist was shared, but it quickly picked back up and I was flipping thru pages at lightning speed!
Can we also talk about the covers of the books in this series, HOLY they are breathtaking!
Randi Garner, I don't know where you have been but PLEASE keep writing, I have an unquenchable thirst for your writing!
There is a deep exploration of grief, the unbidden quest to right wrongs and the parallels between the people with power and the ones that are next to invisible in the same world is drawn so well by the author.
It was almost a 5 star but I was little frustrated with the pacing in the middle for a few chapters. It got a little slow for me after a twist was shared, but it quickly picked back up and I was flipping thru pages at lightning speed!
Can we also talk about the covers of the books in this series, HOLY they are breathtaking!
Randi Garner, I don't know where you have been but PLEASE keep writing, I have an unquenchable thirst for your writing!
April 13, 2025
Honestly, it's almost embarrassing, how often it made me cry ugly tears.
Am I going to continue with the series? Absolutely.
4.5/5
Am I going to continue with the series? Absolutely.
4.5/5
February 5, 2025
Thank you so much Randi for allowing me to beta read this absolutely phenomenal novel. I feel so honored to be a part of this process and am very much looking forward to everything the future holds with this series. 🥹
January 17, 2025
This is the best book I have read so far this year. Nothing I say will be eloquent enough to describe how much I love this story and these characters. To say I was highly anticipating Even in Death after the gem that was The Goddess Of would be an understatement. I already loved Finnian and the ending of book one made me absolutely ecstatic for Cassian and Finnian’s story. This book went above and beyond my expectations. The first book had a ton of jaw dropping moments and plot twists, but I think Randi Garner definitely outdid herself with this one. I was absolutely hooked on this book and couldn’t have put it down if I tried. I already knew the vibes were gonna be immaculate because the main characters are a necromancer and the god of death. But I wasn’t anticipating the heartbreakingly beautiful story between these two, woven into their lifelong feud. This had amazing disability and mental health rep and was handled so well. I don’t have enough time in the world to tell you how much I loved the romance, but just know this is one of my new all time favorite couples. I can’t wait to read more from this series and this author. I will be on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book (especially after the foreshadowing epilogue).
February 8, 2025
I love this series!! I had no idea what to expect going into the first book and ended up LOVING it - and the author was kind enough to give me an ARC of Even in Death.
…And it exceeded expectations! Finnian is one of the most relatable characters I’ve ever read and I loved every moment of his story. The magic and mythos of this world are incredibly built too.
…And it exceeded expectations! Finnian is one of the most relatable characters I’ve ever read and I loved every moment of his story. The magic and mythos of this world are incredibly built too.
March 9, 2025
First off I need to say how incredibly thankful I am to have read this ARC. I also got to read with my besties @bookchisme + @bookishwanahi. To say we loved this series is and understatement. We found our new auto buy author 🖤
Even in Death is book 2 of The Fragile Divine series. The Goddess Of is book 1 and it is just as spectacular as book 2.
Even in Death follows Finnian in Cassian’s Land of the Dead. Throughout the story Finnian is trying to break his curse & right some wrongs. This book embodies the true Enemies to lovers. It’s dark, deep and done to perfection. Finnian & Cassian are beautiful 🖤
The vibes & tropes you get in Even In Death:
🥀High Gods + Goddesses
🍃Enemies to Lovers
🥀Witchcraft + curses
🍃MM Romance (chefs kiss btw)
🥀Morally Grey MMC
🍃Cinnamon Roll MMC
🥀Dual POV + Dual Timelines
🍃Slow Burn
🥀Hearing impaired representation
Again thank you, thank you Randi!! 🖤🥀
Even in Death is book 2 of The Fragile Divine series. The Goddess Of is book 1 and it is just as spectacular as book 2.
Even in Death follows Finnian in Cassian’s Land of the Dead. Throughout the story Finnian is trying to break his curse & right some wrongs. This book embodies the true Enemies to lovers. It’s dark, deep and done to perfection. Finnian & Cassian are beautiful 🖤
The vibes & tropes you get in Even In Death:
🥀High Gods + Goddesses
🍃Enemies to Lovers
🥀Witchcraft + curses
🍃MM Romance (chefs kiss btw)
🥀Morally Grey MMC
🍃Cinnamon Roll MMC
🥀Dual POV + Dual Timelines
🍃Slow Burn
🥀Hearing impaired representation
Again thank you, thank you Randi!! 🖤🥀
April 3, 2025
This book change my whole view on death I am no longer afraid and that it is apart of life. and I know it's just a story but damn.
Some of my favorite quotes
"Death is not about separation. Finnian smiled to himself. Death is about peace."
"“Love is death,� Cassian whispered, holding him close. “But death is love again.�"
"uncaring of those caught in its wake. “You do not have to understand it,� Cassian said. “You just have to find a way to make peace with it.�
Trust him. Like you always have."
"“Wherever you go, I am with you. Always.�"
"“Death is peace, Finnian, and pain is simply a sign of love’s presence.�"
“I am not strong enough to face you when you despise me. Even if it is only temporary.� “You have before.� “Not after knowing what it is like to love you.�
Some of my favorite quotes
"Death is not about separation. Finnian smiled to himself. Death is about peace."
"“Love is death,� Cassian whispered, holding him close. “But death is love again.�"
"uncaring of those caught in its wake. “You do not have to understand it,� Cassian said. “You just have to find a way to make peace with it.�
Trust him. Like you always have."
"“Wherever you go, I am with you. Always.�"
"“Death is peace, Finnian, and pain is simply a sign of love’s presence.�"
“I am not strong enough to face you when you despise me. Even if it is only temporary.� “You have before.� “Not after knowing what it is like to love you.�
March 8, 2025
Holy gods and goddesses I am blown away…this book is IMMACULATE! ♾️⭐️s!! It does a deep dive into grief, power imbalances, righting wrongs, deep and meaningful love, family bonds, death, life & finding joy in the small moments. Randi’s writing speaks to my soul…it’s poetic, dark and freaking beautiful. The disability and mental health rep is written with such care. The opposites attract, true enemies to lovers but with a twist of time and fate was so unique and fun to read. A necromancer who steals souls from a god of death…what a combo! The plot twists absolutely had me reeling and my jaw on the floor. Words cannot describe how much I enjoyed this book and Randi is absolutely a top tier author for me now!
January 26, 2025
** I was provided with an ARC by the author, thank you so much for the opportunity! **
Finnian has traded places with his sister to be imprisoned by the High God, Cassian, as a punishment. Everything we think we know about the cruel God will be questioned while we travel between the past and the present to learn of a love that has been tested and tortured. Finnian fights his captor while struggling to keep control of his mind being riddled by a Curse. He seeks to free his Father while protecting Naia and his nephew.
An unveiled history between Cassian and Finnian will make you rethink every action and interaction between the two. We get to meet other Gods and Goddesses, learn where the first Gods and Goddess came from, and what led to the current events from The Goddess Of and Even in Death. Bring tissues!
I loved seeing Naia and her family again, and just like The Goddess Of: the pain and journey is worth it in the end!
REPRESENTATION: I am hearing impaired and have hearing aids. I have about 40% loss on the left, 90% on the right, and a prosthetic that didnt work. I was shocked and amazed at the great representation of a hearing impaired character that doesn't/can't use magic to heal himself, but creates a hearing aid that still shows the struggle of using one. Every time I read where Finnian could only hear/understand parts of a sentence or the background noise was too loud and distracting to stay in his conversation, I felt seen! He talks about the crystal hearing aid taking an adjustment period to be comfortable and manageable. He talks about feedback and discomfort and how the device isn't perfect. I absolutely LOVED being represented this way! Too many disabled characters are healed by magic, or a hearing impaired character is just straight deaf with no loss of hearing shown. This is the first time I've ever seen or read a hearing impaired character that felt so right. I immediately called my sister to gush over how cool it was! Great job!
Finnian has traded places with his sister to be imprisoned by the High God, Cassian, as a punishment. Everything we think we know about the cruel God will be questioned while we travel between the past and the present to learn of a love that has been tested and tortured. Finnian fights his captor while struggling to keep control of his mind being riddled by a Curse. He seeks to free his Father while protecting Naia and his nephew.
An unveiled history between Cassian and Finnian will make you rethink every action and interaction between the two. We get to meet other Gods and Goddesses, learn where the first Gods and Goddess came from, and what led to the current events from The Goddess Of and Even in Death. Bring tissues!
I loved seeing Naia and her family again, and just like The Goddess Of: the pain and journey is worth it in the end!
REPRESENTATION: I am hearing impaired and have hearing aids. I have about 40% loss on the left, 90% on the right, and a prosthetic that didnt work. I was shocked and amazed at the great representation of a hearing impaired character that doesn't/can't use magic to heal himself, but creates a hearing aid that still shows the struggle of using one. Every time I read where Finnian could only hear/understand parts of a sentence or the background noise was too loud and distracting to stay in his conversation, I felt seen! He talks about the crystal hearing aid taking an adjustment period to be comfortable and manageable. He talks about feedback and discomfort and how the device isn't perfect. I absolutely LOVED being represented this way! Too many disabled characters are healed by magic, or a hearing impaired character is just straight deaf with no loss of hearing shown. This is the first time I've ever seen or read a hearing impaired character that felt so right. I immediately called my sister to gush over how cool it was! Great job!
March 19, 2025
Aus der Kategorie „Bücher, die ich noch einmal zum ersten Mal lesen möchte.�: „Even In Death� ist Band 2 der „The Fragile Divine� Reihe von Randi Garner und handelt von Finnian, dem Gott der Hexerei und Zauberei, und Cassian, dem Gott des Todes und der Flüche - und einer der wohl schönsten Liebesgeschichten, die ich je gelesen habe.
Finnian, der neben vielen anderen magischen Fähigkeiten und Zaubertränken die Macht der Totenbeschwörung beherrscht, fällt durch das Stehlen zahlreicher Seelen aus dem Reich des Todes Cassian, dem Herren des Landes, ins Auge. Finnian’s Nekromantie bringt das Gleichgewicht des Universums durcheinander und Cassian ist gezwungen, zu handeln - eine „Katz & Maus� - Jagd über Jahrzehnte/-hunderte hinweg beginnt�
„Enemies to lovers� in jeder einzelnen Zeile, zwei Protagonisten, die mir von der ersten Seite an (eigentlich bereits in Band 1) das Herz gestohlen haben, und eine Liebe, die im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes Raum & Zeit überdauert. Dialoge, die in jede Faser meines Seins gedrungen sind, sowie wechselnde Erzählperspektiven und Zeitsprünge.
DIESES BUCH IST ALLES, EINFACH ALLES! ❤️�
Beide Charaktere kommen bereits in Band 1 vor, es ist also empfehlenswert/notwendig, den Vorgänger zu lesen, bevor man sich in Finnian‘s & Cassian‘s Abenteuer stürzt. Auch hier gilt es, unbedingt die Triggerwarnungen zu beachten!
Finnian, der neben vielen anderen magischen Fähigkeiten und Zaubertränken die Macht der Totenbeschwörung beherrscht, fällt durch das Stehlen zahlreicher Seelen aus dem Reich des Todes Cassian, dem Herren des Landes, ins Auge. Finnian’s Nekromantie bringt das Gleichgewicht des Universums durcheinander und Cassian ist gezwungen, zu handeln - eine „Katz & Maus� - Jagd über Jahrzehnte/-hunderte hinweg beginnt�
„Enemies to lovers� in jeder einzelnen Zeile, zwei Protagonisten, die mir von der ersten Seite an (eigentlich bereits in Band 1) das Herz gestohlen haben, und eine Liebe, die im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes Raum & Zeit überdauert. Dialoge, die in jede Faser meines Seins gedrungen sind, sowie wechselnde Erzählperspektiven und Zeitsprünge.
DIESES BUCH IST ALLES, EINFACH ALLES! ❤️�
Beide Charaktere kommen bereits in Band 1 vor, es ist also empfehlenswert/notwendig, den Vorgänger zu lesen, bevor man sich in Finnian‘s & Cassian‘s Abenteuer stürzt. Auch hier gilt es, unbedingt die Triggerwarnungen zu beachten!
February 28, 2025
It's been 3 days since I finished Even in Death and I simply cannot. I'm terrible at writing reviews; I can never find the right words when all that is in my head when I finish a book is "holy fcking shit that was amazing" (Which btw is 100% how I feel about this book, but times 1000) I'm not the kind of person who will give a recap or overview, because that's why we have blurbs, but I will say that The Fragile Divine series is DEFINITELY making my top reads of the year.
Even in Death was a beautiful, amazing story about separation and the only eternal thing in life, love. The way this book broke my heart and then pieced it back together. Finnian and Cassian's relationship was absolutely everything and watching it develop throughout the story was breathtaking. Randi Garner is a wonderful writer and I don't even have the words to describe how obsessed I am with these characters and this world. I love a gut wrenching book, a book that makes me FEEL, and Even in Death delivered!!
"There is impact," Cassian whispered in his ear. "Impact on those who touch our lives. You came into mine and I haven’t been the same since. The time we were apart, you remained etched deep in my soul, Finny. That is what it means to live, to love."
Suffice to say I loved the first one, I LOVED the second one, and I can't wait for whatever's next. If you enjoy dual POV; dual timelines, witchy/gothic/magical vibes, extremely interesting world building and pantheon, slow burn, and beautiful love stories then I highly HIGHLY recommend Even in Death, and the Fragile Divine series in general.
Please check TWs before reading, your mental health is important <3
Even in Death was a beautiful, amazing story about separation and the only eternal thing in life, love. The way this book broke my heart and then pieced it back together. Finnian and Cassian's relationship was absolutely everything and watching it develop throughout the story was breathtaking. Randi Garner is a wonderful writer and I don't even have the words to describe how obsessed I am with these characters and this world. I love a gut wrenching book, a book that makes me FEEL, and Even in Death delivered!!
"There is impact," Cassian whispered in his ear. "Impact on those who touch our lives. You came into mine and I haven’t been the same since. The time we were apart, you remained etched deep in my soul, Finny. That is what it means to live, to love."
Suffice to say I loved the first one, I LOVED the second one, and I can't wait for whatever's next. If you enjoy dual POV; dual timelines, witchy/gothic/magical vibes, extremely interesting world building and pantheon, slow burn, and beautiful love stories then I highly HIGHLY recommend Even in Death, and the Fragile Divine series in general.
Please check TWs before reading, your mental health is important <3
January 16, 2025
I had the pleasure of being able to beta read EiD as a sensitivity reader. (Finnian has one-sided hearing loss like me!)
And let me tell you, I ate it up! I was so excited for this book because I really liked The Goddess Of - I thought it was such a unique world of gods/mortals- And I particularly like Cassian, so, I was excited to get his story. And can emphatically say that it exceeded my expectations! It was so beautifully written. Cassian and Finnian’s journeys were agonizingly emotional (I mean that as the very best compliment). And the way it wrapped up took me by surprise, but was so satisfying.
I loved the dual timelines in this book. Cassian continues to be my favorite. And of course, Finny will always hold a special place in my heart ❤️ it really was so impactful to see my condition represented in a character in this way.
If you haven’t read The Goddess Of yet, you need to read that first before you read this one. But if you like brutal gods, high stakes, deep love and devotion, and a morally grey MC who is a secret cinnamon roll, then you will love Even in Death!
And let me tell you, I ate it up! I was so excited for this book because I really liked The Goddess Of - I thought it was such a unique world of gods/mortals- And I particularly like Cassian, so, I was excited to get his story. And can emphatically say that it exceeded my expectations! It was so beautifully written. Cassian and Finnian’s journeys were agonizingly emotional (I mean that as the very best compliment). And the way it wrapped up took me by surprise, but was so satisfying.
I loved the dual timelines in this book. Cassian continues to be my favorite. And of course, Finny will always hold a special place in my heart ❤️ it really was so impactful to see my condition represented in a character in this way.
If you haven’t read The Goddess Of yet, you need to read that first before you read this one. But if you like brutal gods, high stakes, deep love and devotion, and a morally grey MC who is a secret cinnamon roll, then you will love Even in Death!
April 20, 2025
AUDIOBOOK VERSION (APRIL 2025)
I knew this audiobook was going to put me out of commission for a while... and I was right! ALL THE FEELINGS! There is just something about having the auditory experience of one of your favorite books. I laughed, I cried, I gasped a lot. Randi's writing is absolutely incredible, and to hear it with the wonderful vocal talent we were blessed with was out of this world. I could so perfectly see the characters with their voices; the switches between accents and the dual narration was phenomenally well done. I will absolutely cherish this audiobook and am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to have an early listen! Thank you to Dreamscape Media, Randi Garner and Netgalley!
•ĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢ�
KINDLE VERSION (FEBRUARY 2025)
5/5⭐️
1/5🌶�
When we last left him, Finnian had offered himself in place of his sister, Naia, to be Cassian’s prisoner. Stuck in Moros, Cassian’s prison, for the foreseeable future, we witness the torment Cassian has in store for Finnian. Simultaneously, we are thrown into the past, seeing how Cassian and Finnian have interacted throughout the story told in The Goddess Of, but this time through Cassian and Finnian’s POVs. As we witness two stories unfold over different times, in the present Finnian’s time is running short. Having been cursed by Cassian he seems to slowly be losing his grasp on reality. Coupled with a giant hole in his memories, Finnian fears he may not be able to save Naia and her child from being hunted.
I’m almost speechless after finishing this story. Randi is one of the most gifted authors I have had the pleasure of reading, winding together an overarching heartbreaking story with beautiful descriptors and characters. I’m shattered! But she still managed to piece me back together! Cassian is my baby� what he went through during this story absolutely obliterated me. I just want to hold him! And Finny’s journey with his family and with love were also gut-wrenching, yet absolutely beautiful! I absolutely adore this series and will highly recommend to everyone. I can’t wait to see what Randi comes up with next!
What I Loved About This Story:
✨Hate & animosity; enemies to lovers� to enemies?
✨High gods & goddesses and mortals
✨Witchcraft, spells and curses
✨Dual POV and dual timeline
✨MM romance that was absolute perfection
✨Interwoven story with the previous book in the series, The Goddess of
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book via the author, but my review is all my own.
I knew this audiobook was going to put me out of commission for a while... and I was right! ALL THE FEELINGS! There is just something about having the auditory experience of one of your favorite books. I laughed, I cried, I gasped a lot. Randi's writing is absolutely incredible, and to hear it with the wonderful vocal talent we were blessed with was out of this world. I could so perfectly see the characters with their voices; the switches between accents and the dual narration was phenomenally well done. I will absolutely cherish this audiobook and am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to have an early listen! Thank you to Dreamscape Media, Randi Garner and Netgalley!
•ĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢ�
KINDLE VERSION (FEBRUARY 2025)
5/5⭐️
1/5🌶�
When we last left him, Finnian had offered himself in place of his sister, Naia, to be Cassian’s prisoner. Stuck in Moros, Cassian’s prison, for the foreseeable future, we witness the torment Cassian has in store for Finnian. Simultaneously, we are thrown into the past, seeing how Cassian and Finnian have interacted throughout the story told in The Goddess Of, but this time through Cassian and Finnian’s POVs. As we witness two stories unfold over different times, in the present Finnian’s time is running short. Having been cursed by Cassian he seems to slowly be losing his grasp on reality. Coupled with a giant hole in his memories, Finnian fears he may not be able to save Naia and her child from being hunted.
I’m almost speechless after finishing this story. Randi is one of the most gifted authors I have had the pleasure of reading, winding together an overarching heartbreaking story with beautiful descriptors and characters. I’m shattered! But she still managed to piece me back together! Cassian is my baby� what he went through during this story absolutely obliterated me. I just want to hold him! And Finny’s journey with his family and with love were also gut-wrenching, yet absolutely beautiful! I absolutely adore this series and will highly recommend to everyone. I can’t wait to see what Randi comes up with next!
What I Loved About This Story:
✨Hate & animosity; enemies to lovers� to enemies?
✨High gods & goddesses and mortals
✨Witchcraft, spells and curses
✨Dual POV and dual timeline
✨MM romance that was absolute perfection
✨Interwoven story with the previous book in the series, The Goddess of
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book via the author, but my review is all my own.
April 19, 2025
I fear there will never be a day where a book written by Randi Garner doesn’t make me sob uncontrollably over its depth and beauty. Even In Death was both breathtaking and heart-wrenching � Cassian and Finnian’s story was absolutely everything. ✨�
From the start, I just knew Cassian’s perspective was misunderstood� and my goodness, “misunderstood� doesn’t even scratch the surface. His story shattered me in the most beautiful way.
Finnian’s healing arc was so genuine, raw, and real. The love he had for his people ran so deep, and the desperation he felt at their losses � his willingness to sacrifice himself � cut me to the core. He was such a complex soul who finally got the ending he deserved, and watching that unfold was devastating in the best way.
Garner’s narrative structure was so cleverly woven � beginning in the present and slowly unraveling the past through carefully placed glimpses. It deepened my connection to these characters in a way that felt effortless and intentional. The ending? That’s where I completely fell apart. It was stunning. I had to physically pause and collect myself � breathing through the ache in my chest. Garner’s descriptive writing placed me right there beside them, grieving and ugly crying.
But what truly wrecked me was the symbolism � what she built through the layers of grief, healing, and love left me in awe. It was powerful and unforgettable.
The writing is evocative and poetic in all the best ways. Garner has a gift for making you feel everything right alongside the characters. I was completely immersed from the first page to the last. This story will forever be embedded in my heart and mind. It was everything a book should be. Bravo, Randi. Bravo.
A huge thank you to Randi, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media for this ALC.
From the start, I just knew Cassian’s perspective was misunderstood� and my goodness, “misunderstood� doesn’t even scratch the surface. His story shattered me in the most beautiful way.
Finnian’s healing arc was so genuine, raw, and real. The love he had for his people ran so deep, and the desperation he felt at their losses � his willingness to sacrifice himself � cut me to the core. He was such a complex soul who finally got the ending he deserved, and watching that unfold was devastating in the best way.
Garner’s narrative structure was so cleverly woven � beginning in the present and slowly unraveling the past through carefully placed glimpses. It deepened my connection to these characters in a way that felt effortless and intentional. The ending? That’s where I completely fell apart. It was stunning. I had to physically pause and collect myself � breathing through the ache in my chest. Garner’s descriptive writing placed me right there beside them, grieving and ugly crying.
But what truly wrecked me was the symbolism � what she built through the layers of grief, healing, and love left me in awe. It was powerful and unforgettable.
The writing is evocative and poetic in all the best ways. Garner has a gift for making you feel everything right alongside the characters. I was completely immersed from the first page to the last. This story will forever be embedded in my heart and mind. It was everything a book should be. Bravo, Randi. Bravo.
A huge thank you to Randi, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media for this ALC.
March 6, 2025
✨𝒜𝑅� 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌�
📖: Even in Death (The Fragile Divine Book 2)
“� 𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶.�
Even in Death follows Finnian in the time before and during his imprisonment. With centuries of planning, curses, and intertwined threads of fate, Finnian must not lose sight of his ultimate goals. And no one will stand in his way, including the High God of Death and Curses.
Tropes:
⚠️Ա-ٴ-DZ
🔥Slow burn
🩶Morally gray MMC
🥖Cinnamon roll MMC
😮AԲ
⏳Dual timelines
🧙🏻♂️Wٳڳ/
🥀Gothic/macabre undertones
“𝘓𝘰𝘷� 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯.�
From Book 1, I knew Cassian and Finnian were deeply complex characters. Throughout the book, we witness their encounters over the years and how the time in between has shaped them.
The narrative poignantly explores concepts of sacrifice, redemption, death, and the burden of immortality. Amidst the intense yearning, devastating reveals, and painful losses is a soul-stirring love story.
With lush prose, heart wrenching romance, and hope of new beginnings, Even in Death is a story that is captivating and devastating in the best way.
Thank you to the author for the ARC opportunity. This is my honest and voluntary review.
📖: Even in Death (The Fragile Divine Book 2)
“� 𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶.�
Even in Death follows Finnian in the time before and during his imprisonment. With centuries of planning, curses, and intertwined threads of fate, Finnian must not lose sight of his ultimate goals. And no one will stand in his way, including the High God of Death and Curses.
Tropes:
⚠️Ա-ٴ-DZ
🔥Slow burn
🩶Morally gray MMC
🥖Cinnamon roll MMC
😮AԲ
⏳Dual timelines
🧙🏻♂️Wٳڳ/
🥀Gothic/macabre undertones
“𝘓𝘰𝘷� 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯.�
From Book 1, I knew Cassian and Finnian were deeply complex characters. Throughout the book, we witness their encounters over the years and how the time in between has shaped them.
The narrative poignantly explores concepts of sacrifice, redemption, death, and the burden of immortality. Amidst the intense yearning, devastating reveals, and painful losses is a soul-stirring love story.
With lush prose, heart wrenching romance, and hope of new beginnings, Even in Death is a story that is captivating and devastating in the best way.
Thank you to the author for the ARC opportunity. This is my honest and voluntary review.
February 12, 2025
You know the kind of book that you love so much that you’re afraid to keep going because you love the characters and story so much? This is this book.
“𝐘𝐞�. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞.� 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫-𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦. “𝐓𝐡𝐞� 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭.�
Randi has a way with her writing to make you feel so deeply connected and invested in her characters. I teared up and cried multiple times, and if you know me you know I don’t cry easily. Finny and Cassian were truly so special.
“𝐘𝐨� 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞, 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡,� 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝. “𝐍𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐝� 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞’�.� 𝐀 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬, 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐡. “𝐖𝐡� 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞?�
The duel timeline aspect of her stories truly makes such a HUGE emotional impact on the story. Getting to see Finnian and Cassian in the future and the past made their story so much more complex.
“� 𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮.� “𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮.�
I resonated with this book so deeply. Finnian is a god that can resurrect the dead, and his main dilemma is that he does not understand death, so he raises souls from the dead so he doesn’t have to let them go. He is so afraid to lose the ones he loves. He lets it rule him. With having severe health and death anxiety getting to read a story of how death isn’t always the end was so beautiful. Finnian is a new soul character for me.. and him and Cassian journey is a love story for the ages. I sobbed, I cried, I kicked my feet and giggled and felt all the emotions of this story. This story has a lot of trauma, a lot of healing and a lot self discovery. But they do get their hea. This book was an ♾️ star book for me and I will truly never stop shouting about it. Make sure you read book one before this one! It’s just as good 💖
“𝐘𝐞�. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞.� 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫-𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦. “𝐓𝐡𝐞� 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭.�
Randi has a way with her writing to make you feel so deeply connected and invested in her characters. I teared up and cried multiple times, and if you know me you know I don’t cry easily. Finny and Cassian were truly so special.
“𝐘𝐨� 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞, 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡,� 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝. “𝐍𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐝� 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞’�.� 𝐀 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬, 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐡. “𝐖𝐡� 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞?�
The duel timeline aspect of her stories truly makes such a HUGE emotional impact on the story. Getting to see Finnian and Cassian in the future and the past made their story so much more complex.
“� 𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮.� “𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮.�
I resonated with this book so deeply. Finnian is a god that can resurrect the dead, and his main dilemma is that he does not understand death, so he raises souls from the dead so he doesn’t have to let them go. He is so afraid to lose the ones he loves. He lets it rule him. With having severe health and death anxiety getting to read a story of how death isn’t always the end was so beautiful. Finnian is a new soul character for me.. and him and Cassian journey is a love story for the ages. I sobbed, I cried, I kicked my feet and giggled and felt all the emotions of this story. This story has a lot of trauma, a lot of healing and a lot self discovery. But they do get their hea. This book was an ♾️ star book for me and I will truly never stop shouting about it. Make sure you read book one before this one! It’s just as good 💖
April 7, 2025
This book, like the first, is spectacular.
I will never understand why some romantasy books are so popular, when there are far superior books out there that easily surpass them.
Everything about this is brilliant: the weaving of the plot, the world building, the mythology and lore, as well as the characters are their relationships.
If you want a deep, beautifully written, non-tropey romantasy read, pick this up!
I will never understand why some romantasy books are so popular, when there are far superior books out there that easily surpass them.
Everything about this is brilliant: the weaving of the plot, the world building, the mythology and lore, as well as the characters are their relationships.
If you want a deep, beautifully written, non-tropey romantasy read, pick this up!
April 21, 2025
𝙀𝘿𝙄𝙏: 𝘼𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙤𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬
"𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪."
When I say I don't listen to audiobooks, I mean that I have never in my life been able to get 100% through one. They have just never been for me, could never keep my interest, etc. But Even in Death is one of my favourite books and so I wanted to give this a try to support Randi Garner and Dreamscape Media. The narrators speak EXACTLY as I imagine Finnian and Cassian to. The raw emotions in their voices, emphasizing certain words to highlight the importance of the dialogue or actions, and the accent for Cassian's narrator?! I really did enjoy listening to this, imagining the scenery all over again and being able to transport myself back into this story.
It's no surprise how much I love this story and the main characters. Randi Garner truly outdid herself with Finnian and Cassian's book, creating a tragic love story between a necromancer and the god of death. Their lifelong feud becoming a journey towards lovers, switching the POV's between the two MC's from past to present... the way this story was written, where all of the pieces fall into place as you read on, is just heartbreakingly beautiful. Both times reading this I've ugly cried. I also really appreciate the representation in this book too, the hearing impairment and struggles of grief.
Randi Garner is definitely an auto-buy author for me, and I cannot recommend her books enough. It's so hard to write a review and try to find the words to describe how much I love this book.
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾!
I loved The Goddess Of and knew Even In Death was going to be just as good, if not better. And I was right <3 I ate up every word, every sentence, every paragraph, of Finnian and Cassian's story. Their love story was heartbreaking, beautiful, agonizingly romantic, and it introduced us to vulnerable sides of them we didn't see in The Goddess Of.
The history between the two deep dived into their beginning, their tragedy, and the journey to defy fate. The emotionally heavy obstacles, draining psychological decisions; they overcame so much for their love. I loved the POV's switching between past and present, it felt like we could connect more with Finnian and Cassian. Also LOVED the hearing-impaired representation the author included. I think Randi Garner did a great job at showing how a hearing aid doesn't magically solve the ability to hear again, and that it can be so troublesome to hear in large crowds with one.
It's been a while since I got emotional while reading, but this book had me in tears. It was just so beautifully written, and I seriously cannot recommend this series enough to people!
"𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪."
When I say I don't listen to audiobooks, I mean that I have never in my life been able to get 100% through one. They have just never been for me, could never keep my interest, etc. But Even in Death is one of my favourite books and so I wanted to give this a try to support Randi Garner and Dreamscape Media. The narrators speak EXACTLY as I imagine Finnian and Cassian to. The raw emotions in their voices, emphasizing certain words to highlight the importance of the dialogue or actions, and the accent for Cassian's narrator?! I really did enjoy listening to this, imagining the scenery all over again and being able to transport myself back into this story.
It's no surprise how much I love this story and the main characters. Randi Garner truly outdid herself with Finnian and Cassian's book, creating a tragic love story between a necromancer and the god of death. Their lifelong feud becoming a journey towards lovers, switching the POV's between the two MC's from past to present... the way this story was written, where all of the pieces fall into place as you read on, is just heartbreakingly beautiful. Both times reading this I've ugly cried. I also really appreciate the representation in this book too, the hearing impairment and struggles of grief.
Randi Garner is definitely an auto-buy author for me, and I cannot recommend her books enough. It's so hard to write a review and try to find the words to describe how much I love this book.
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾!
I loved The Goddess Of and knew Even In Death was going to be just as good, if not better. And I was right <3 I ate up every word, every sentence, every paragraph, of Finnian and Cassian's story. Their love story was heartbreaking, beautiful, agonizingly romantic, and it introduced us to vulnerable sides of them we didn't see in The Goddess Of.
The history between the two deep dived into their beginning, their tragedy, and the journey to defy fate. The emotionally heavy obstacles, draining psychological decisions; they overcame so much for their love. I loved the POV's switching between past and present, it felt like we could connect more with Finnian and Cassian. Also LOVED the hearing-impaired representation the author included. I think Randi Garner did a great job at showing how a hearing aid doesn't magically solve the ability to hear again, and that it can be so troublesome to hear in large crowds with one.
It's been a while since I got emotional while reading, but this book had me in tears. It was just so beautifully written, and I seriously cannot recommend this series enough to people!
February 20, 2025
I'M SO GLAD I GOT TO BE PART OF THE ARC TEAM!!! Goodness this book was even better than the first one and I was enthralled the whole way through! The mind games the writing used helped the mind games the characters were dealing with and I spent the whole book trying to piece together memories and figure out what was real!
February 9, 2025
ARC Review!!
So thankful to Randi for allowing me to be a beta reader!!
This was my most anticipated read of 2025 after reading The Goddess Of (my final read of 2024, also my favorite read of last year).
Even in Death was so beautifully written, I cannot express how much I love Randi’s writing. The entire book flowed so smoothly and had me hooked from the first line.
I loved the dual point of view. I felt as if I was experiencing what both Cassian and Finnian were going through right along with them. Their story and bond is one of the best I have ever read. The emotional impact this book/ series had on me is indescribable.
The way Even in Death connected to The Goddess Of was brilliant. Seeing how everything came to be after Cassian and Finnian did the things they did and the choices they made was beautiful. Going back to their pasts and seeing them grow throughout their journey together/ getting back together was just phenomenal.
This is without a doubt one of my favorite series EVER. Randi is one of my favorite authors and I cannot wait to read the next book she comes out with.
So thankful to Randi for allowing me to be a beta reader!!
This was my most anticipated read of 2025 after reading The Goddess Of (my final read of 2024, also my favorite read of last year).
Even in Death was so beautifully written, I cannot express how much I love Randi’s writing. The entire book flowed so smoothly and had me hooked from the first line.
I loved the dual point of view. I felt as if I was experiencing what both Cassian and Finnian were going through right along with them. Their story and bond is one of the best I have ever read. The emotional impact this book/ series had on me is indescribable.
The way Even in Death connected to The Goddess Of was brilliant. Seeing how everything came to be after Cassian and Finnian did the things they did and the choices they made was beautiful. Going back to their pasts and seeing them grow throughout their journey together/ getting back together was just phenomenal.
This is without a doubt one of my favorite series EVER. Randi is one of my favorite authors and I cannot wait to read the next book she comes out with.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2025
Absolutely beautiful and gut wrenching. Such an incredible read. It was an honor to observe the story of Finnian and Cassian.
To write trauma as a point of character development and plot twists is used by so many authors, but understood by so few. The pain and resulting actions in Even in Death felt so authentic. I felt connected to their stories. To be able understand and effectively express the emotions felt by Finnian and Cassian, Randi has mastered the complexity of tragedy.
Randi has shown yet again how she can put the reader into a perfect construct of the world she has built, where every sound (or lack thereof) is audible, every every drip of blood rolling down the arm causing a tickling sensation is felt and each beautiful/horrific moment is seen.
I would recommend this book to everyone with the caveat that they should first read the trigger warnings to ensure they protect their own peace, but as so beautifully demonstrated sometimes healing comes only after going back through it.
Thank you Randi for me with an ARC to review.
To write trauma as a point of character development and plot twists is used by so many authors, but understood by so few. The pain and resulting actions in Even in Death felt so authentic. I felt connected to their stories. To be able understand and effectively express the emotions felt by Finnian and Cassian, Randi has mastered the complexity of tragedy.
Randi has shown yet again how she can put the reader into a perfect construct of the world she has built, where every sound (or lack thereof) is audible, every every drip of blood rolling down the arm causing a tickling sensation is felt and each beautiful/horrific moment is seen.
I would recommend this book to everyone with the caveat that they should first read the trigger warnings to ensure they protect their own peace, but as so beautifully demonstrated sometimes healing comes only after going back through it.
Thank you Randi for me with an ARC to review.
May 12, 2025
There's something refreshingly original about how this author does both urban fantasy and Romantasy, both sub-genres that aren't my usual go-tos. While the first book did dip into some overdone tropes, the worldbuilding was quite original, as was the internal life of the protagonist who is a survivor of deep parental abuse. This one very much feels like the second half of that story of liberation from the trauma of that abuse, but also tackles other deep and dark and true elements that I've rarely read in a way that actually moves me. Specifically about death, immortality, love, and grief. Finnian is driven by the effects of the same parental abuse as Naya, with the added mixture of deep grief and rage and a knack for necromancy, which puts him squarely in the path of the High God of Death, Cassian. In Naya's story, Cassian comes off as dispassionate and indifferent as pretty much all the other deities, and even Finnian seemed too broken to be compassionate right up until the very end. Finnian's POV picks up pretty much where the last book left off, where he takes Naya's place in Cassian 's realm to have your run of the mill underworld demon torturing sessions. But, to my delight, that is where the tropes end. For one thing, this story thankfully has both Finnian and Cassian as POVs, and in a VERY smart dual timeline structure. While Finnian is on a journey whose motivation is familiar to the reader from the last book, Cassian's is from a much earlier timeline of his first meeting with Finnian and how their relationship developed prior to the events of Naya's story. There is a fascinating back and forth of both POVs and timelines as various pieces of the puzzle are introduced and explained alternately, until the timelines converge about 3/4th of the way through the book. This is where things get super action packed and almost too rushed for a final battle of sorts, with little to no time spent on processing Finnian's reconciling of almost a century and a half worth of events, including more recent traumas. I feel like better pacing to merge the timelines earlier in the book may have given me less whiplash or feel like a large amount of toxic dynamics shown on page were not suddenly swept under the rug. Even Naya's return to the story was suspiciously missing all the accountability Finnian owes her for some pretty unforgivable things he did to her in the last book. So I had to knock off a star for all that. That said, the writing does a good job of turning your gaze to the thesis statement mentioned above -- a journey of making peace with the idea of death being a necessary part of life and love, even for immortals. If you're someone that has grappled with long and deep grief of losing loved ones, this may soothe or validate, but proceed with caution. Personally, it really moved me. I would've been happy if the series ended here, but there was a clear sequel bait with characters I actively loathed in the first two books, so unsure if I'll continue. But this series keeps surprising me.
March 2, 2025
Amazing. Beautiful. Devastating. If I only could describe this book in a few words, those would be it.
“I loathe you. And I long for you�. 😭😭😭
I adored the first book. Like it was my favorite read the previous year, it was also beautiful and devastating. And now…this one is my favorite.
Randi is an auto-buy author of mine ever since I read The Goddess Of. And, again, it’s because of the way Randi writes is so detailed, but in a way that makes you feel like you are there. Experiencing what the characters are experiencing, whether that would be their emotions, or pain, or suffering, it’s like you’re there. I get so sucked into Randi’s books in the best possible way and I will never get sick of these books. I will always reread these and always look forward to seeing what she’ll write next.
This book destroyed me. I cannot get enough of the devastating and beautiful romance these two have. The way everything came full circle and how everything was connected…was so well done and twisty that even I didn’t see the twist coming.
You do need to read the first book in order to truly understand what happens in this book. And I just don’t want to spoil anything because you need to go into this book practically blind to fully appreciate how beautiful and devastating the story is.
I adored Finnian in the first book, and I loved Cassian in the first book. Both so different, and yet both such intriguing characters.
I love how much Finnian loves his sister Naia. Their relationship is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever read in a book. Finnian also has a lot of trauma that he has to cope with, and learn to understand that people love him, that he’s not alone, and learn to love himself despite the wrongs he’s done. Because in the end, despite being a rather petty and sassy God, he is a very deeply caring person with a heart of gold.
Which is why this romance with Cassian is so beautiful because Cassian is not what you expect and the two together make such a beautiful couple. Oh how I adored these two 😭
I can’t stop saying beautiful 😭🥹
Much like the first book, this book shows their past and current lives to really grasp the scope of their story and truly understand the emotions that are running rampant throughout and why something seems off the entire time.
Ahhhh it was just so wonderfully written and every time I think about how everything came about, it hurts my heart and also fills me with such happiness in the end.
And that ending! That ending! I don’t know how my heart is still beating.
So so good. I can’t recommend this series enough. I can hardly wait for the next one!
Thank you so much to the author for the e-ARC ♥️ All thoughts and opinions are my own.
“I loathe you. And I long for you�. 😭😭😭
I adored the first book. Like it was my favorite read the previous year, it was also beautiful and devastating. And now…this one is my favorite.
Randi is an auto-buy author of mine ever since I read The Goddess Of. And, again, it’s because of the way Randi writes is so detailed, but in a way that makes you feel like you are there. Experiencing what the characters are experiencing, whether that would be their emotions, or pain, or suffering, it’s like you’re there. I get so sucked into Randi’s books in the best possible way and I will never get sick of these books. I will always reread these and always look forward to seeing what she’ll write next.
This book destroyed me. I cannot get enough of the devastating and beautiful romance these two have. The way everything came full circle and how everything was connected…was so well done and twisty that even I didn’t see the twist coming.
You do need to read the first book in order to truly understand what happens in this book. And I just don’t want to spoil anything because you need to go into this book practically blind to fully appreciate how beautiful and devastating the story is.
I adored Finnian in the first book, and I loved Cassian in the first book. Both so different, and yet both such intriguing characters.
I love how much Finnian loves his sister Naia. Their relationship is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever read in a book. Finnian also has a lot of trauma that he has to cope with, and learn to understand that people love him, that he’s not alone, and learn to love himself despite the wrongs he’s done. Because in the end, despite being a rather petty and sassy God, he is a very deeply caring person with a heart of gold.
Which is why this romance with Cassian is so beautiful because Cassian is not what you expect and the two together make such a beautiful couple. Oh how I adored these two 😭
I can’t stop saying beautiful 😭🥹
Much like the first book, this book shows their past and current lives to really grasp the scope of their story and truly understand the emotions that are running rampant throughout and why something seems off the entire time.
Ahhhh it was just so wonderfully written and every time I think about how everything came about, it hurts my heart and also fills me with such happiness in the end.
And that ending! That ending! I don’t know how my heart is still beating.
So so good. I can’t recommend this series enough. I can hardly wait for the next one!
Thank you so much to the author for the e-ARC ♥️ All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 8, 2025
"I loathe you." Finnian stroked, slow and languid. A shiver blew through Cassian and his hips jerked. Finnian nipped at his earlobe, the side of his neck, his clavicle. "And I long for you."
Okay, look- I'll have to confess something. I blatantly ignored that little sentence there that says 'This series must be read in order.' Why, you ask? I guess it really comes down to two things:
1) I don't usually enjoy reading MF romance, especially so if there's pregnancy involved.
2) I absolutely fell in love with the premise of this book and just had to find out if this could be read as a standalone.
So, if you're like me and would like to read this book for the queer romance but aren't sure if you want to commit to the whole series- honestly, just go for it! It can be read as a standalone without a problem. Sure, I might have missed some things, but even if so, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of Finnian and Cassian's story.
And let me tell you, those two are absolutely everything. Splitting the narrative into past and present timelines worked out so incredibly well. It's funny, because during the first half of the book I got the feeling that the characters (I'm looking at you, Finnian) were... kind of off in the present timeline, if you compared them to their past selves. And yeah, that was intentional. Over the course of the story they had to go through so much, my heart just broke for them. They really had to fight for their One Day (clapping myself on the shoulder) where they could finally just be together. Their vulnerability and the affection they held for each other was so beautiful.
That being said, the only issue I had with this book was that the pacing was a little bit too slow at times, particularly during fighting scenes. Don't get me wrong, I loved the writing, but this made me wonder several times during the first half of the book if this was really for me. But whatever you do- do not. Stop. Before the 57% mark. The payoff is more than worth it.
In conclusion:
If you've read the first book in the series, you should definitely pick this one up.
If you haven't read the first book and are interested in this one, there's no reason you shouldn't read it! In fact, I'm begging you to give this one a try. And who knows, maybe it'll make you want to catch up on the whole series?
Okay, look- I'll have to confess something. I blatantly ignored that little sentence there that says 'This series must be read in order.' Why, you ask? I guess it really comes down to two things:
1) I don't usually enjoy reading MF romance, especially so if there's pregnancy involved.
2) I absolutely fell in love with the premise of this book and just had to find out if this could be read as a standalone.
So, if you're like me and would like to read this book for the queer romance but aren't sure if you want to commit to the whole series- honestly, just go for it! It can be read as a standalone without a problem. Sure, I might have missed some things, but even if so, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of Finnian and Cassian's story.
And let me tell you, those two are absolutely everything. Splitting the narrative into past and present timelines worked out so incredibly well. It's funny, because during the first half of the book I got the feeling that the characters (I'm looking at you, Finnian) were... kind of off in the present timeline, if you compared them to their past selves. And yeah, that was intentional. Over the course of the story they had to go through so much, my heart just broke for them. They really had to fight for their One Day (clapping myself on the shoulder) where they could finally just be together. Their vulnerability and the affection they held for each other was so beautiful.
That being said, the only issue I had with this book was that the pacing was a little bit too slow at times, particularly during fighting scenes. Don't get me wrong, I loved the writing, but this made me wonder several times during the first half of the book if this was really for me. But whatever you do- do not. Stop. Before the 57% mark. The payoff is more than worth it.
In conclusion:
If you've read the first book in the series, you should definitely pick this one up.
If you haven't read the first book and are interested in this one, there's no reason you shouldn't read it! In fact, I'm begging you to give this one a try. And who knows, maybe it'll make you want to catch up on the whole series?
March 6, 2025
Thank you Randi Garner for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this book just as much as the first. Again, Randi has written a beautiful, heart wrenching love story. You can expect the same rollercoaster of emotions, plot twists, more world building, and of course more trickery. She has become an auto-buy for me. Her characters while set in fantasy are so vividly relatable and you just can’t help but become invested in them.
In book two the focus is on Finnian and Cassian which were two of my favourite characters in The Goddess Of. I was so intrigued by them, especially by that last chapter in book 1.
Even In Death picks up right where The Goddess Of ends and jumps back and forth between the past and the present as did book 1. I continue to love this form of storytelling as instead of the character just info dumping on you, you as the reader are reading these moments during that period of time adding context to the characters current frame of mind in the present. Adding in the dual POVs was fantastic and makes me wish we had Ronin chapters from TGO.
I thought the hearing impaired representation was so incredibly well done. Garner’s use of mixing modern day technology in a fantasy world in the form of hearing aids was so well done. She captures the struggle and frustration that those who are hearing impaired truly deal with. Reading the moments where Finnian could only hear parts of a conversation or when other noises became too distracting to focus showed true authenticity.
I loved how the world building continued to evolve and expand along with learning more about the Gods and Goddesses. This is such a unique world and I can’t wait to see where the story leads next.
Finally, I was so happy that we revisited Naia and Ronin again. I loved these two and was really happy we were able to see their family again.
Absolute 5 stars across the board.
MM romance
Enemies to lovers
Dual POV & Dual Timelines
Gods & Goddesses
Hearing Impairment Representation
I absolutely loved this book just as much as the first. Again, Randi has written a beautiful, heart wrenching love story. You can expect the same rollercoaster of emotions, plot twists, more world building, and of course more trickery. She has become an auto-buy for me. Her characters while set in fantasy are so vividly relatable and you just can’t help but become invested in them.
In book two the focus is on Finnian and Cassian which were two of my favourite characters in The Goddess Of. I was so intrigued by them, especially by that last chapter in book 1.
Even In Death picks up right where The Goddess Of ends and jumps back and forth between the past and the present as did book 1. I continue to love this form of storytelling as instead of the character just info dumping on you, you as the reader are reading these moments during that period of time adding context to the characters current frame of mind in the present. Adding in the dual POVs was fantastic and makes me wish we had Ronin chapters from TGO.
I thought the hearing impaired representation was so incredibly well done. Garner’s use of mixing modern day technology in a fantasy world in the form of hearing aids was so well done. She captures the struggle and frustration that those who are hearing impaired truly deal with. Reading the moments where Finnian could only hear parts of a conversation or when other noises became too distracting to focus showed true authenticity.
I loved how the world building continued to evolve and expand along with learning more about the Gods and Goddesses. This is such a unique world and I can’t wait to see where the story leads next.
Finally, I was so happy that we revisited Naia and Ronin again. I loved these two and was really happy we were able to see their family again.
Absolute 5 stars across the board.
MM romance
Enemies to lovers
Dual POV & Dual Timelines
Gods & Goddesses
Hearing Impairment Representation
February 11, 2025
Randi has set the bar high for romantasy.
4.5 �
“You are mine to chase, to fight with. Nobody else’s�
“Who knew the High God of Death and Curses to be so possessive?�
The way this book came together was everything. Although, I was not prepared for the emotional toll it would take on me. Which is outright insanity after reading book one, right? I should’ve known better. I can only blame myself and take full responsibility for my actions. 😭
This book was so PURE. It was raw and heartbreakingly beautiful. I’ll be carrying Finnian & Cassian with me for a long time. Their banter, personalities, individual stories and sacrifices were so well written. And the cat and mouse between the two? 😮�
I will admit, I was so excited to read their story that the beginning of the book was a little slow for me. Every time I wanted to stay in the present, a flashback would occur. But when I got to *that point* everything made sense and I realized how perfectly it was written.
I’ve formed such an attachment to the characters from both books. To get a glimpse of everyone at the end was the icing on the cake. (or whatever sweet treat Naia is currently eating) I feel like I’m part of the family 🥹
Thank you so much for sharing this story with me Randi! What an absolute pleasure it was to receive this arc! 🫶🏼🥰
4.5 �
“You are mine to chase, to fight with. Nobody else’s�
“Who knew the High God of Death and Curses to be so possessive?�
The way this book came together was everything. Although, I was not prepared for the emotional toll it would take on me. Which is outright insanity after reading book one, right? I should’ve known better. I can only blame myself and take full responsibility for my actions. 😭
This book was so PURE. It was raw and heartbreakingly beautiful. I’ll be carrying Finnian & Cassian with me for a long time. Their banter, personalities, individual stories and sacrifices were so well written. And the cat and mouse between the two? 😮�
I will admit, I was so excited to read their story that the beginning of the book was a little slow for me. Every time I wanted to stay in the present, a flashback would occur. But when I got to *that point* everything made sense and I realized how perfectly it was written.
I’ve formed such an attachment to the characters from both books. To get a glimpse of everyone at the end was the icing on the cake. (or whatever sweet treat Naia is currently eating) I feel like I’m part of the family 🥹
Thank you so much for sharing this story with me Randi! What an absolute pleasure it was to receive this arc! 🫶🏼🥰
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