Masters of Death: A witty and queer found family fantasy from the internationally bestselling author of The Atlas Six

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This novel is full of interesting characters and ridiculous situations, a classic Blake romp of dry humor and urban fantasy that plays around with our world and tells relationship-driven stories in a swirl of fantastical world building." — Booklist The funny thing is how simple it all actually is. Do you know what it really takes to make someone immortal? Rid them of fear. If they no longer fear pain, they no longer fear death, and before long they fear nothing, and in their minds they live eternal—but I’m told my philosophizing does little to ease the mind. Lethally smart. Filled with a cast of brilliantly realized characters, each entangled with one another in torturously delicious ways, The Atlas Six will grip you by the throat and refuse to let go. Olivie Blake is a mind-blowing talent." — Chloe Gong, author of NYT Bestselling These Violent Delights

Fox D’Mora is a medium, and though he is also most-definitely a shameless fraud, he isn’t entirely without his uses—seeing as he’s actually the godson of Death.This book was phenomenal! With every book I read of hers, I fall more and more deeply in love with Olivie's writing and her prowess as an author. Once upon a time, there was a couple in poor health, cursed by poverty, who were fool enough to have a child. Now, knowing that neither husband nor wife had much time on earth left to spare—and rather than simply enjoy it—whatever enjoyment is to be taken from mortality, that is—I’ve never been totally clear on the details—the husband took the baby from his ailing wife’s arms and began to travel the nearby path through the woods, searching for someone who might care for his child. i think that this book promised a very different story, but i’m surprisingly pleased with the story we got? Popularity aside, though, I have to confess that humanity’s fixation with me is astonishing. Flattering, to be sure, but alarming, and relentless, and generally diabolical, and if it did not manifest so often in spectacular failure I would make more of an effort to combat it—but, as it is, people spend the duration of their time on earth trying to skirt me only to end up chasing me instead.

also no spoilers but i love a delicious, sudden betrayal it just does something for me that no other twist can. and the ending actually brought a little warmth to my cold, dead heart (thanks ACFTL - you still aren’t forgiven [not a spoiler, i am in no way discussing the plot, i just didn’t like it, it was my most anticipated read of the year, and that bums me out hence the cold dead heart comment - i promise]) 😌 I think of Masters of Death as a weird book because it comes from a place of play,” says Olivie Blake of her next fantasy novel. She’s speaking over Zoom from her home in Los Angeles while her two-year-old son Henry watches “Up”, in between appearing on-screen for snuggles and juice Each character is forced to face their deepest regrets, but—perhaps, more torturously—they are also made to reconcile with their deepest desires. It is a game that has only one rule: Don't lose! Maybe that was the entire secret, and therefore the whole thing was actually astonishingly simple. That over and over, he was presented with the same impossible decision—live and suffer, love and grieve—but still, every time, with all his being, his answer was and would always be yes. Well, he’s a mortal, put it that way. And not one I would recommend as a friend, or a counselor, or a lover, or basically anything of consequence unless you wish to rob a bank, or commit a heist.I love him, but he’s a right little shit, and unfortunately, this is the story of how he bested me. Fox D’Mora is a medium, and though is also most-definitely a shameless fraud, he isn’t entirely without his uses—seeing as he’s actually the godson of Death. We have a lively bunch of characters that are a hysterical motley crew if you will - including a cranky ghost, a well-meaning vampire, a pair of annoying angels, a sly demigod and the godson of Death. Death with a capital D. While the characters are all supernatural and for the most part immortal, the book is really about humanity. They re all longing for feeling and human connection and the sensitivity of time. There is a game that the immortals play. The stakes are impossibly high, and yet laughably low. There is only one secret: The more you have to lose, the harder it is to win. There is only one rule: Don't lose.