Between Life and Death

Between Life and Death Series, Book 1

De: Jaclyn Kot

Narrado por: Nikki Grey, Connor Brannigan

"His eyes returned to mine, that invisible tether between us strung too tight. That magnetic pull, it was unbreakable, unyielding. Eternal. And it demanded that we collide."

On the secluded continent of Edenvale, possessing magic is a death sentence. Those who have it are labeled Cursed, and by order of the king, they are Cleansed—a horrific event utilizing a hot, hungry pyre and an iron collar. Enemy to the king, a group known as the Cursed rebels defend their lands from his reach, creating an ongoing bloodthirsty war.

When Sage's brother is conscripted for the war, she is forced to trade in her cozy, peaceful cottage life and join the Cursed rebels to get him back. Her mission seems straightforward, but Von, the leader of the Cursed rebels, comes riddled with dark secrets. With his otherworldly eyes, black as a starless night, and a taste for juicy thigh—ahem—red apples, Sage knows better than to get involved with a guy like him. But knowing and doing are two very different things.

Together with the Cursed rebels and Von, the king of inky deals and sexy, stolen moments, Sage embarks on the quest of a lifetime. Little does she know that fate is at work and the gods are watching her every move.

Between Life and Death is for ACOTAR fans looking to scratch that insatiable itch.

©2023 Jaclyn Kot (P)2023 Podium Audio

Good, but

I enjoyed this book, however without giving anything away, there are so many moments when the FL gets told or witnesses something and instead of questioning it, she kinda just excepts it. Which leaves the readers with so many unanswered questions and confusion.

darker undertone but heavy on the characters

Between Life and Death by Jaclyn Kot is the first book in the Between Life and Death series. This is a dark romantic fantasy about a Cursed woman, Sage, in a world where the Cursed must be Cleansed if they are discovered. Her brother is taken and she embarks on a quest to save him with Cursed rebels and the mysterious Von. Tropes include touch her and die vibes, found family, shadow daddy, angst, fated mates, gods & goddesses, and who did this to you. Please check the content warnings before reading as there are some dark topics/themes in this book.

The Lovely: By far, these characters, main and otherwise, were my favorite part of this book. Sage is wonderfully complex (and funny) while Von is morally dark dark gray. Their relationship is full of questions and trying to resist temptation, and morphs over the course of the book. Ezra cracks me up - how has she not managed to poison anyone yet? Even the villain is ambiguous and it’s tough to decide if he really is that bad, or not. Just be careful who you get attached to because the last 100 or so pages will rip your heart out - more than once.

Also Lovely: I also loved the plot and the tension. You never really know what is coming next or how the characters are going to reach their goals (or what their goals really even are). To be fair, the reader spends a lot of the book trying to piece together what is going on and how the things learned fit together. It’s surprisingly complex and I already want ot go back and re-read the book to understand more of what happened.

The Mundane: I would have liked to have seen a bit more world building in terms of the magic system. While we kind of understand the “Cursed”, the lore, the Gods, etc. isn’t really fully explained (to maintain the mystery). But, we don’t really understand the rules around the magic (system), which be confusing.

Rating: 5/5 Stars 2/5 Flames

Recommendation: I entirely selected this book because it was dark and promised a shadow daddy. Then I was gifted a copy of the book (thanks Melissa) so it jumped up my TBR. And I am in LOVE with this book. I’m normally more into fae fantasies than Gods and curses, but this book was so beautifully written it hit all the right spots. And it made me FEEL - I cried, I laughed, I wanted to strangle a few people and I was worried. I’m glad it’s “only” a three month wait until book 2 releases in late February 2024, but even that might be too long If you like romantasy books with a darker undertone but heavy on the characters and their relationships, you would like this.

Loved this story! I even cried.

Such a good read, worth using my last two credits on. Love the story of the gods.

Excellent!!!

Tropes:
⭐ Morally Black Shadow Daddy
⭐ Stabby Hero FMC
⭐ Gods with Vampire Tendencies
⭐ Enemies to Lovers
⭐ Touch her and 💀
⭐ Fated Mates
⭐ Found Family
⭐ Hidden Identity
⭐ "Kitten" pet name

"Between Life and Death" by Jaclyn Kot is a captivating fantasy romance set in a world where being born with magic (or 'cursed') is a crime punishable by death. The vicious king's decree mandates the cleansing of those with magical abilities, subjecting them to a gruesome fate via pyres and iron collars to block said magic. In the face of this tyrannical rule, a group of rebels known as the Cursed stands defiant. Sage, one of the cursed, finds the rebellion when her brother is conscripted for the war. She is compelled to abandon her peaceful life and join the Cursed rebels to rescue him. The mission, seemingly straightforward, takes an unexpected turn as Sage encounters Von, the enigmatic leader of the rebels, whose dark secrets and otherworldly presence make him both intriguing and dangerous. There is a pull between them that just won't leave her alone.

This is the perfect blend of fantasy, romance, and adventure. I have to admit that the romance is the best part. Sage and Von's chemistry is palpable, adding a layer of tension and passion to every scene they're in together. The secondary characters are also easy to like and I eagerly anticipate the potential development of them in the next book.

Kot's world-building is commendable, revealing a rich tapestry of history and intrigue lurking in the background. The information about these mysterious rebels and Von slowly trickles out as Sage learns more. The plot's twists and turns kept me engaged and eager for more. The seamless blend of romance and fantasy elements, coupled with well-drawn characters, makes "Between Life and Death" a delightful and immersive read. I cried, and that's the highest recommendation that I can make because it means that I care deeply about these characters.

I am quite eagerly anticipating the next installment to delve deeper into the captivating world Kot has crafted. I am sure that I will devour the next as quickly as I did this one. I do want to note that I also purchased the audiobook and DEEPLY enjoyed the dual narration. Highly recommend the audio; the narrators are top-notch.

Audio lovers dream

Narrators did a fantastic job!! Absolutely loved this book and can’t wait for the next audio to come out. Now the story itself is a little predictable but is exciting and keeps you interested. Plus you can’t beat the level of spice it has. 5/5 totally recommend to someone who is tired of YA romantasy and likes some spice