Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - How to Marry a Lich

I love it. I love it. I freaking love it!! Lizzie is a master of all things chaos, sexy, spooky but not scary, and delicious characters. I LOVED every single character and I loved the friendships and the sexy scenes and ughhhhhhhhh everything! So much freakin fun. I’m mad its over. But I also love how the author ropes in characters from all over Kings Fall so you never truly feel like you won’t be without them as you finish her books. So fun :D

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melissat's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Dahlia is a an outcast in the city of King's Fall. After her mother's death, her stepfather forcibly tries to gain control of the family legacy by pushing Dahlia into marriages she doesn't want. She flees, right into the arms of the necromancer (lich) lord who, unbeknownst to her, has been nursing an obsession with her from afar. He immediately welcomes her into the protection of his household, and they quickly realize that more nightmarish forces are at play. As they fall in love, they have to figure out how to defeat the monstrous forces together, along with the eclectic inhabitants of the Manor.

This book was overall such a fun romp! I read the synopsis and was immediately drawn into the concept of gothic horror romance with Eldritch monsters.

I love monster romance, so if you've never read any, be prepared for tentacles and extra limbs in places where you might not normally think to find them. This book has explicit sex scenes, which are very spicy and a little zany.

The found family element was my absolute favourite part. The secondary characters were so loveable and provided a much needed sense of humour to the story because the horror moments were genuinely scary, so if that's your jam, get excited about a truly villainous antagonist.

The timeline felt slightly chaotic, and the prologue really throws you into the world without much exposition but I was really just along for the ride. Lizzie writes with a lot of joy and I'll be digging into her backlist. So excited for this one to release and see what the author does next!

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feralsarah's review

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funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I enjoyed this book. I'm rating it under a 4 because it was a tad long-- there were some plot points that got a little convoluted and confusing around the 75% mark.... to the point I had to take a break for a couple of days then come back to finish it.

However I loved the FMC's and MMC's personalities and their relationship and watching them grow independently and with each other.

The cast of characters in this story were also entertaining and so fun, and provided comic relief when needed. I personally would like a Kevin for my own garden.

All in all this was a book that was out of my comfort zone and I did enjoy it a lot and I am glad I read it! If you

Ultimately what took this story from a 4+ star rating down to a 3 was this (and if these are not bothersome to you then I would definitely recommend this book to you! And a 3 star rating in my world is still worthwhile) - I would like to see some additional world building and stronger vocabulary use in such a long book. I not ding indie authors on editing, but what I do find irksome are world plot holes and words that are over used to the point that I wish they used a thesaurus (on the same spectrum some authors need to put it away, it's a fine balance). The world this story took place in was seemingly a mix of modern and Gothic but we only got glimpses and it was a bit confusing at times - and I'm not sure if that was intended or not, but it left me with a lot of questions in the end.

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thiscryptidreads's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

This was such a cute read. It had Addams family meets Howls Moving Castle vibes.

I really enjoyed this haunted house full of lovable creatures. Sebastion's infatuation and adoration of his bride is so very sweet, he says he'd die for her and means it despite being an undead Lich. All the side characters have their own stories how they came to the manor, and it was fun getting little tidbits of information about them as we follow our FMC Dahlia through the story.
The author put their trigger warnings at the beginning of the chapter it was going to happen in which was so very helpful, I appreciated that a ton. So thoughtful.

Pros - Really loved that they had the FMC figure things out and win, she wasn't very damsel in distress though she does get saved in the beginning from a difficult situation she never backs down and does all she can to fight and win to save her family.

Cons - The sprinkling of modern details in the story like having phones and cars alongside magic orbs and portals felt a little distracting for me. This world is described as very magical with monsters very widely accepted in society and gowns and top hats aren't out of place. They weren't mentioned much at all so really, I feel they could have been left out altogether. Dahlia is also the only one to mention missing these modern conveniences like leggings and tech for the most part, so it almost gave her a "from another world" feel which isn't the case. This is a very minor issue and did not ruin the book for me at all.

3 chili peppers 🌶️ on the spice scale.
Genre: romantasy/monster romance
POV: Dual
Ending: HEA

I think this wins fanciest peen award for the month. Sebastion's equipment had so many details and features it was almost hard to wrap my mind around at times and that is saying something.

sexy tropes - knotting? tentacles, suction, size difference, roleplay, begging, power exchange, exhibitionism, punishment, "buckets of cum"

My Spice Rating - 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
1 🌶️- May include hands, more kissing, "fade to black" scenes. No open door spice.
2 🌶️🌶️ - Spice happens, but it isn't often. May include open door scenes but they're infrequent or rare.
3 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Spice happens more often and it is more detailed, Spice is part of the plot, or the book is 50/50 spice to plot.
4 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ - More spice than plot, may contain kinky themes.
5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Absolute smut. Very little plot, sex heavy. The spicy scenes are very explicit, may contain triggering or dangerous themes, Dark romances and erotica.

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wyntrrose's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

To me, this came off as a great romantic comedy with monsters and the macabre story. I was smiling to myself a whole bunch. Just happy giddy smiling through most of it. I loved all the characters in the house in the home and how they all work together. Definitely had a slight d&d feel to it with a characters and in the storytelling. It definitely kept me on my toes and I could not put it down. Felt like I wanted more from the side characters, facts, stories. I just didn't want it to end. I loved it. Sebastian and Dahlia's love story is definitely there. I love their chemistry. Love to their friendship. Spice was definitely there with some monster spice to it. Definitely highly recommend this was an advanced reader copy that I read.

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krisreads_'s review

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5.0

A beautiful gothic macabre of a story... While the book has graphic and dark scenes it offers a wonderful color of comedic relief - and one of the most beautiful fucking love stories ive ever read.

Sebastian Rosemont was many things... A brilliant scientist. An accomplished bookworm. A powerful sorcerer, and a possessive motherfucker that monologues far too often (though I thoroughly enjoyed every one of them), from page one he knows what he wants and he goes out to get it. Soft and tender but a powerful Lich, and protector of Kings Fall for a reason.

Dahlia is stubborn, loud and proud of it. Her loyalty and fierce protectiveness of the ones she loves is inspiring. Her character is loveable and kind, as the reader I found myself rooting for her from the minute we meet her.

When Dahlia all but falls into Sebastian's lap, he does the one thing he does with all lost things that find their way to him. Keeps her. But Dahlia's past is more than her estranged step father - intent on her inheritance or the weird journal that's been passed down her family for generations.

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katvou's review against another edition

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dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

Gothic & dark fantasy romance

Monsters

Death

Mystery & mayhem

Spice

Found family

Touch her and die

“For the last five years, Dahlia Grayskull has sought solace in the shadows of the decrepit, and supposedly abandoned, Rosemont Manor.”

“Unbeknownst to her, Lord Sebastian Rosemont has been watching her traipse through his deadly garden and read books to the graves in his yard. The Lich Lord is very protective over what he considers his, and Dahlia is his now...whether she knows it or not.”

How to Marry a Lich is a dark, gothic

monster romance with interesting, diverse characters and mysterious plot. The book had some really funny moments but also dark themes. I really liked both the FMC & MMC and how they interacted. The supporting characters were funny and lovable.

The storyline was mysterious and full of surprises that I didn’t expect or see coming. Quirky and bizarre story in a interesting way.

Definitely 18+ read because of the spicy scenes.

Overall a fun and fast read. Not for you if you’re looking for a super serious story, but a fun read for those who want to laugh and have a good time. Perfect if you like Addam’s family with spice.

I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.

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neens2019's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

My first ARC! This story sucks you in and capitivates you. In some parts felt a little drawn out, but soon after sweeps you off into an adventure, spicy scene or battle. The emphasis and clear need for community and friendship really holds this found family of misfits together.
A great read if you need something on cozy days that you are avoiding responsibilities.

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