I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Deathly Fates
by Tesia Tsai
Published by Wednesday Books on April 14, 2026
Genres: Cozy Culinary Mystery
Pages: 357
Format: Audible Audiobook, Hardcover, Kindle
Source: NetGalley
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon
A sweeping debut inspired by the Chinese folk practice of necromancy, Deathly Fates is perfect for fans of Descendant of the Crane, The Bone Shard Daughter, and A Magic Steeped in Poison.
As a corpse-driving priestess, a holy servant paid to guide the deceased home, Kang Siying has never feared death. But when her beloved father collapses due to his declining health, Siying realizes that even she is not free from the cruel grasp of mortality. Desperate to provide her father with the medical aid he needs, Siying accepts a dangerous job that promises a generous commission, and travels to a hostile state to retrieve the corpse of a missing prince.
But the moment Siying places her reanimation talisman on the dead prince's head, rather than make the corpse obedient to Siying's commands, the talisman brings the prince back to life. Worse, he won't stay alive for long―not unless he absorbs enough qi, or life force, to keep his soul anchored to his body.
In return for a reward worth twice her original commission, Siying agrees to aid the frustratingly handsome prince in finding and purifying evil spirits for their qi. But as they journey across the countryside, encountering vengeful ghosts and enemy spies alike, they gradually uncover dark secrets about the prince's death―secrets that could endanger both Siying's father and their entire kingdom.
Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai is a tale of a young death priestess and a half-deceased prince falling in love while doing the impossible.
Will Siying get enough qi for the prince to stay alive?
Kang Siying
Kang Siying is a death priestess who learned the craft from her father. Siying has been trying to earn enough money to get her father the help he needs. The reason for this is that she can’t lose him. This latest assignment she took led her on an adventure that she wasn’t quite sure she wanted to take. Siying is a great character who has grown into a wonderful character. I think she needed this experience not only to realize her potential, but also to learn how to manage it. Along with seeing that there is more to life than just shepherding the dead.
The Story
Kang Siying got a job offer to get a deceased soldier from enemy territory to bring back home to be laid to rest. Siying thought this would be like any other assignment until the deceased soldier actually came back to life, unlike how the reanimation talisman usually works. Now, Siying and the prince, the soldier she was tasked to get, have to travel around to grab qi for him. I have to say this story was excellent and kept me guessing until I figured out something that came to fruition.
Four Stars
My rating for Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai is four stars. Ms. Tsai did an excellent job writing this story. I actually felt like I was experiencing all of these things with Siying. One can tell that this story came from a place of love for Ms. Tsai. I can’t wait to see what else she brings forth.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
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About Tesia Tsai
Tesia Tsai was born in Los Angeles to immigrant parents from Taiwan. She grew up listening to stories told by her mother and quickly fell in love with books when she learned how to read. That love eventually led her to pursue degrees in English and creative writing. After many years of dreaming and writing, her debut novel, Deathly Fates, will be releasing winter 2026 with Wednesday Books. Currently, Tesia teaches first-year composition at Brigham Young University, and lives in Provo with her husband, dog, and two very orange cats. While writing (and reading) is her first love, she also enjoys playing video games, traveling, finding the best boba and cacao teas, and watching Asian dramas.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2026 Goodreads RC
- 2026 Romance Book Reading Challenge
- 2026 Young Adult Book RC
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