Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai

Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai 
Publisher:  St. Martin's Press
Format Read:  E-ARC via NetGalley
Number of pages:   368 pages
Publishing:  April 14th, 2026
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Opening Lines: The high-pitched chime reached the village gate, death's waves ringing toward the shores of the living."

At just ten years old, Kang Siying began helping her father with his necromancy work.  As a ganshi priestess, she possesses the ability to use a reanimation talisman on the deceased to guide them back to their homes.  Now, with her father being gravely ill, Siying is compelled to take on a more active role in continuing his necromantic work.  Driven by not only duty, but also by the urgent need to pay for his mounting medical expenses.

In desperation, she accepts a perilous job to retrieve a corpse from Wen, a region deep within enemy territory, in exchange for 40,000 silver.  Unbeknownst to Siying, the body she is tasked with recovering belongs to none other than Prince Renshu of Sian.  What was meant to be a routine reanimation then takes an unexpected turn.  As Siying places the talisman upon prince Renshu, he begins to show the unmistakable signs of life.  But his life force also appears to be fleeting, and unless Siying can acquire the qi of powerful ghosts or evil spirts and purify their qi for him to absorb, the prince will not survive for long.

Determined to keep his soul anchored to his body, prince Renshu strikes a bargain with Siying.  Renshu will pay her double her original commission in exchange for her help in keeping him alive.  Their journey leads them through abandoned battlegrounds and eerie forests haunted by vengeful ghosts, in the pursuit of the vital qi needed for Renshu to survive.  Meanwhile, enemy patrols are scouring the land, intent upon capturing the prince.   As Renshu and Siying press deeper into hostile territory, unsettling truths begin to surface.  Dark secrets surrounding Renshu’s death, and revelations that can bring devastating consequences to the entire kingdom of Sian.

The Deathly Fates felt like a serious of mini stories within a larger narrative.  As Renshu and Siying confront the vengeful ghosts, we uncover the personal histories behind each spirit.  How they died, why they linger and how their fates intertwine with the broader political tensions across the kingdom.   It reveals fractures in Sian's and Wen's relationship.  How Sian appears to only be interested in what Wen can offer, while neglecting Wen's struggles.  After a long history of not receiving assistance from Sian, Wen's rebellion emerges not as a choice, but as a necessity for their survival.

I really enjoyed the chemistry that was developing between Renshu and Siying.  His playful banter and selfless acts and her growing attachment to his presence.  While Renshu comes off as detached from the political turmoil within his father's kingdom, he is really aloof, insecure and lonely.  Siying views this indifference as a sign of privilege and selfishness.  Why won't he engage, if only to help the people who are suffering within their kingdom?   Renshu admires Siying's strength, sense of responsibility, relentless drive and sharp instincts.  Together they balance each other and form a wonderful pair.

 Overall, this was a well written debut highlighting Chinese necromancy.  I enjoyed the world building, the sense of family, duty, the engaging plot, the characters slow developing relationship and the power struggles that were occurring in the backdrop.  I'm pleased to see that there are also plans for another book in the series. 

 **A huge thank you to St. Martin's Press for the E-ARC via NetGalley** 

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