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A review by rougesreads
How to Marry a Lich by Lizzie Strong
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-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
5.0
I have jokingly described this book as being made specifically for me. It has all of my weaknesses: a plague doctor mask, tentacles, gothic vibes, found family, bondage, mystery, a haunted house, a badass plus sized FMC, and a book loving, doting, and "kinda scary" MMC.
It's been really hard for me to write this review because of how much I love it, it feels like there's too much to go over, and I don't want to spoil anything. It's a 5 course meal of friends to lovers in a heart warming slow burn romance. It has a super spooky mystery. It has a huge cast of unique characters that I love dearly with all my heart, and I never once went "wait, who's that guy?" because of how well they were all characterized. Once I was done with this book I hadn't just fallen in love with Sebastian and Dahlia, I had fallen in love with Rosemont Manor, its inhabitants, and a few of the people in the city of King's Fall (I added Hauntings & Company to my reading list to get more Ophelia and Markus action).
One thing I do want to mention: the setting is modern with some fantasy quirks. After seeing the cover art, I got a little confused when in the first few pages a cell phone was mentioned, so I wanted to let others know ahead of time. It reminds me of The Ancient Magus bride, where the time it takes place is clearly modern but there's this holdover of old things. Sebastian helpfully explains that technology just doesn't play nice with his magic, so his house is like stepping into a period drama. It gives the book a bit of extra whimsy, but I can understand why it could be jarring for some people if they didn't expect it.
Overall I really, really, loved this book. It's a contender for my book of the year already, and I really encourage anyone interested in the tropes mentioned to check it out!
It's been really hard for me to write this review because of how much I love it, it feels like there's too much to go over, and I don't want to spoil anything. It's a 5 course meal of friends to lovers in a heart warming slow burn romance. It has a super spooky mystery. It has a huge cast of unique characters that I love dearly with all my heart, and I never once went "wait, who's that guy?" because of how well they were all characterized. Once I was done with this book I hadn't just fallen in love with Sebastian and Dahlia, I had fallen in love with Rosemont Manor, its inhabitants, and a few of the people in the city of King's Fall (I added Hauntings & Company to my reading list to get more Ophelia and Markus action).
One thing I do want to mention: the setting is modern with some fantasy quirks. After seeing the cover art, I got a little confused when in the first few pages a cell phone was mentioned, so I wanted to let others know ahead of time. It reminds me of The Ancient Magus bride, where the time it takes place is clearly modern but there's this holdover of old things. Sebastian helpfully explains that technology just doesn't play nice with his magic, so his house is like stepping into a period drama. It gives the book a bit of extra whimsy, but I can understand why it could be jarring for some people if they didn't expect it.
Overall I really, really, loved this book. It's a contender for my book of the year already, and I really encourage anyone interested in the tropes mentioned to check it out!