Devi Nair
š§ Listened in audio š¢ Narrated by Chiara Goldsmith ā± Duration: 9 hours š·ļø Publisher: Sourcebooks & Poisoned Pen Press
What happens when Death gets fed up with her job? What happens when Death gets fed up with her job? This is a debut. A debut. And honestly? That makes what Veronika Dapunt pulled off here even more impressive.
Veronika Dapunt gives us a young, slightly exasperated, deeply competent Death who is frankly over the black potato sack aesthetic. She wants to be known for her bright color wearing fascination, and for the fact that she's a woman, thank you very much! This book leans into satire but never forgets the emotional thread that runs through its chaos. Death's irritation with humans is hilarious, and her eventual understanding of them is unexpectedly tender.
The sibling rivalry that Death has with her sister, Life, is the divine-level drama that I didn't know I needed. The relationship between Death and Life was the beating heart of this story. Yes, they are cosmic entities and yes, they manage the grand balance of existence. But at the end of the day, they are sisters, and their bickering was immaculate. Chiara Goldsmith absolutely nailed Life's subtle superiority complex as the elder sibling. Goldsmith's tonal shifts between Death and Life were distinct, and delightful, and I'm still thinking about Jesus with an Australian accent. That was not on my 2026 bingo card, but I'm not mad about it.
The verbal sparring with the Devil added another sharp layer to the story. Not fists flying, but egos clashing. The mystery itself unfolds in a way that keeps you engaged, and that ending? Genuinely unexpected, but satisfyingly wrapped up.
Now, I do have one emotional caveat. The death of the dog. I simply cannot. I understand stakes. I understand narrative impact. But if you hurt the dog, I will hold a grudge. Itās the only reason this didnāt tip into five-star obsession territory for me.
Would I recommend it? If you love dark humor, celestial office politics, sibling rivalries of mythic proportions, and a murder mystery with speculative flair, this is absolutely worth your time. This oneās clever, imaginative, and occasionally profound beneath all the jokes. Fans of quirky paranormal mysteries and audiobooks with standout narration, like Good Omens, The Sandman, or Lucifer, will especially enjoy it. Justā¦ maybe brace yourself emotionally if youāre sensitive about animals.
š§ Listened in audio š¢ Narrated by Chiara Goldsmith ā± Duration: 9 hours š·ļø Publisher: Sourcebooks & Poisoned Pen Press
What happens when Death gets fed up with her job? What happens when Death gets fed up with her job? This is a debut. A debut. And honestly? That makes what Veronika Dapunt pulled off here even more impressive.
Veronika Dapunt gives us a young, slightly exasperated, deeply competent Death who is frankly over the black potato sack aesthetic. She wants to be known for her bright color wearing fascination, and for the fact that she's a woman, thank you very much! This book leans into satire but never forgets the emotional thread that runs through its chaos. Death's irritation with humans is hilarious, and her eventual understanding of them is unexpectedly tender.
The sibling rivalry that Death has with her sister, Life, is the divine-level drama that I didn't know I needed. The relationship between Death and Life was the beating heart of this story. Yes, they are cosmic entities and yes, they manage the grand balance of existence. But at the end of the day, they are sisters, and their bickering was immaculate. Chiara Goldsmith absolutely nailed Life's subtle superiority complex as the elder sibling. Goldsmith's tonal shifts between Death and Life were distinct, and delightful, and I'm still thinking about Jesus with an Australian accent. That was not on my 2026 bingo card, but I'm not mad about it.
The verbal sparring with the Devil added another sharp layer to the story. Not fists flying, but egos clashing. The mystery itself unfolds in a way that keeps you engaged, and that ending? Genuinely unexpected, but satisfyingly wrapped up.
Now, I do have one emotional caveat. The death of the dog. I simply cannot. I understand stakes. I understand narrative impact. But if you hurt the dog, I will hold a grudge. Itās the only reason this didnāt tip into five-star obsession territory for me.
Would I recommend it? If you love dark humor, celestial office politics, sibling rivalries of mythic proportions, and a murder mystery with speculative flair, this is absolutely worth your time. This oneās clever, imaginative, and occasionally profound beneath all the jokes. Fans of quirky paranormal mysteries and audiobooks with standout narration, like Good Omens, The Sandman, or Lucifer, will especially enjoy it. Justā¦ maybe brace yourself emotionally if youāre sensitive about animals.