"Deathly Fates" by Tesia Tsai

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 






"Deathly Fates" by Tesia Tsai is a debut YA fantasy inspired by Chinese folklore of necromancy. I love mythology — especially Chinese mythology — and necromancy, so the premise grabbed me instantly. And what a ride it was!

The book follows Kang Siying, a ganshi priestess — a shepherd of the dead — following in her father’s footsteps. When her father falls ill, she accepts a dangerous job to secure medical aid for him: she is hired to retrieve a body from Wen, an enemy territory. There is a political conflict between Siam and Wen, so the road is perilous. Siying uses talismans to reanimate the dead or purify them, as needed, and she will need all her strength for the mission to succeed.

The mission goes sideways when the body she was sent to retrieve — that of Prince Renshu — comes back to life the minute she slaps a reanimation talisman on him. However, he won’t stay alive for long unless he absorbs enough qi, or life force, to keep his soul anchored to his body. To gain qi, they must tackle evil spirits — jiangshi — and transfer their life forces to him. Their journey is full of danger, not least because of an enemy soldier hot on their trail.

Thus starts an exciting adventure chock-full of magic, secrets, love, a haunted mansion, vengeful ghosts, political intrigue, conspiracies, and enemy spies. With themes of grief, sisterly relationships, friendship, betrayal, trust, revenge, duty, familial responsibility, corruption of power, and moral conflict, the author has woven a tale I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I especially loved the concept of a priestess guiding the dead home using talismans.

I was especially moved by Siying’s sense of duty toward her father and family, and her grief touched me deeply. Siying is a strong heroine — stubborn yet compassionate. She cares deeply for her family and tries to keep herself aloft from the dead she handles, or she would not survive her job. At times, her actions were hasty and made me want to shake her back to her senses, but I rooted for her every step of the way.

I loved the contrast between grumpy Siying and sunny Renshu, their characterizations, and their conduct. While she acts out of duty and is versed in political affairs, he cares little about the royal family business and tries to stay out of politics. He is lonely, insecure, and her opposite in many ways, and I liked the changes he went through because of her. As it is YA, there is no spice, which I appreciated.

Crisp and evocative world-building, an original magic system, richly drawn characters, and deeply felt friendships made this a very good read, with strong writing and steady pacing. I loved the obstacles they faced, the banter between Siying and Renshu, and the way their relationship developed. There were a few twists along the way, though not all of them were entirely surprising.

It is a standalone novel, but I would love to read more books set in this world. Overall, I loved the book and recommend it to readers who enjoy folklore-inspired fantasy with strong heroines. It is a beautifully woven tale of life, death, and the space in between, and for a debut, it is an impressive and immersive read. Full stars!

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "Deathly Fates" by Tesia Tsai