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A review by rowan_reviews
How to Marry a Lich by Lizzie Strong
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This is not your average fantasy monster smut. I received an ARC from the author for a review.
Dahlia Grayskull has been grieving her mother for 5 years, taking solace in a haunted manor in the midst of the forbidden forest, reading stories to the gravestones, tending the overgrown garden and swimming in an enchanted cave. On her way home one day, a suitor approaches her in the forest with a proposal - which doesn't go well. She laughs in his face, he tries to murder her. In her desperate flight to survive, she heads to the only refuge she has: the manor. Which.... It turns out is owned by a lich who has watched her and fallen for her through his windows these past 5 years.
And thus, Dahlia and Sebastian meet and things get even more interesting.
This is a CHONK of a book at almost 550 pages. Some authors/publishers would have split it into two, so imagine my surprise halfway through at what would have been a natural break for that to notice that I still had half the book left! Best. Moment.
There's plenty of plot in here with the romance ramping up between Dahlia and Sebastian, who is extremely shy about his body so things take a while to build (but paces well, IMO). Turns out Dahlia's family is cursed - surprise! - and her stepfather desperately wants her inheritance, locked away in a vault at the bank with strict orders to only open upon her marriage (and to be burned in its entirety if she were to die).
It does have a slow lull around 75% or so in & then picks back up in the last 10% or so.
The author went above & beyond with TWs, which is greatly appreciated!
The juxtaposition of a haunted, low-tech manor with a high-tech, essentially modern city was very jarring at first, I think because the city wasn't set up first. This could probably benefit from a short prologue in the city to set that up - maybe a scene with Dahlia and her mom? This also would help set up a bit more context for Dahlia's grief. Given how long the book already is I understand the choice not to set that up beforehand, but it did affect my enjoyment in the beginning.
Some of the world building is also strange - references to golden retrievers and doberman dog breeds; W-2 forms; rock, paper, scissors; prickly pear cactus and raccoons. It doesn't feel very elf/magic/lich/fantasy world at times. Oh and she gets compared to putty... Like a LOT. That did get old.
There's a bit of formatting weirdness with italics that sometimes seem like thoughts and sometimes not.
Overall very enjoyable, could use a bit more editing IMO but a very solid fantasy monster romance.
Dahlia Grayskull has been grieving her mother for 5 years, taking solace in a haunted manor in the midst of the forbidden forest, reading stories to the gravestones, tending the overgrown garden and swimming in an enchanted cave. On her way home one day, a suitor approaches her in the forest with a proposal - which doesn't go well. She laughs in his face, he tries to murder her. In her desperate flight to survive, she heads to the only refuge she has: the manor. Which.... It turns out is owned by a lich who has watched her and fallen for her through his windows these past 5 years.
And thus, Dahlia and Sebastian meet and things get even more interesting.
This is a CHONK of a book at almost 550 pages. Some authors/publishers would have split it into two, so imagine my surprise halfway through at what would have been a natural break for that to notice that I still had half the book left! Best. Moment.
There's plenty of plot in here with the romance ramping up between Dahlia and Sebastian, who is extremely shy about his body so things take a while to build (but paces well, IMO). Turns out Dahlia's family is cursed - surprise! - and her stepfather desperately wants her inheritance, locked away in a vault at the bank with strict orders to only open upon her marriage (and to be burned in its entirety if she were to die).
It does have a slow lull around 75% or so in & then picks back up in the last 10% or so.
The author went above & beyond with TWs, which is greatly appreciated!
The juxtaposition of a haunted, low-tech manor with a high-tech, essentially modern city was very jarring at first, I think because the city wasn't set up first. This could probably benefit from a short prologue in the city to set that up - maybe a scene with Dahlia and her mom? This also would help set up a bit more context for Dahlia's grief. Given how long the book already is I understand the choice not to set that up beforehand, but it did affect my enjoyment in the beginning.
Some of the world building is also strange - references to golden retrievers and doberman dog breeds; W-2 forms; rock, paper, scissors; prickly pear cactus and raccoons. It doesn't feel very elf/magic/lich/fantasy world at times. Oh and she gets compared to putty... Like a LOT. That did get old.
There's a bit of formatting weirdness with italics that sometimes seem like thoughts and sometimes not.
Overall very enjoyable, could use a bit more editing IMO but a very solid fantasy monster romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence