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Death's Country
Hadestown meets “Orpheus and Eurydice” when two Miami teens travel to the underworld to retrieve their girlfriend’s soul.
Andres Santos of São Paulo was all swinging fists and firecracker fury, a foot soldier in the war between his parents. Until he drowned in the Tietê River… and made a bargain with Death for a new life. A year later, his parents have relocated the family to Miami, but their promises of a fresh start quickly dissolve in the summer heat.
Instead of fists, Andres now uses music to escape his parents’ battles. While wandering Miami Beach, he meets two photographer Renee, a blaze of fire, and dancer Liora, a ray of sunshine. The three become a polyamorous triad, happy, despite how no one understands their relationship. But when a car accident leaves Liora in a coma, Andres and Renee are shattered.
Then Renee proposes a radical solution: She and Andres must go into the underworld to retrieve their girlfriend’s spirit and reunite it with her body—before it’s too late. Their search takes them to the City of the dead, where painters bleed color, songs grow flowers, and regretful souls will do anything to forget their lives on earth. But finding Liora’s spirit is only the first step in returning to the living world. Because when Andres drowned, he left a part of himself in the underworld—a part he’s in no hurry to meet again. But it is eager to be reunited with him...
In verse as vibrant as the Miami skyline, critically acclaimed author R.M. Romero has crafted a masterpiece of magical realism and an openhearted ode to the nature of healing.
Andres Santos of São Paulo was all swinging fists and firecracker fury, a foot soldier in the war between his parents. Until he drowned in the Tietê River… and made a bargain with Death for a new life. A year later, his parents have relocated the family to Miami, but their promises of a fresh start quickly dissolve in the summer heat.
Instead of fists, Andres now uses music to escape his parents’ battles. While wandering Miami Beach, he meets two photographer Renee, a blaze of fire, and dancer Liora, a ray of sunshine. The three become a polyamorous triad, happy, despite how no one understands their relationship. But when a car accident leaves Liora in a coma, Andres and Renee are shattered.
Then Renee proposes a radical solution: She and Andres must go into the underworld to retrieve their girlfriend’s spirit and reunite it with her body—before it’s too late. Their search takes them to the City of the dead, where painters bleed color, songs grow flowers, and regretful souls will do anything to forget their lives on earth. But finding Liora’s spirit is only the first step in returning to the living world. Because when Andres drowned, he left a part of himself in the underworld—a part he’s in no hurry to meet again. But it is eager to be reunited with him...
In verse as vibrant as the Miami skyline, critically acclaimed author R.M. Romero has crafted a masterpiece of magical realism and an openhearted ode to the nature of healing.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published May 7, 2024
About the author
R.M. Romero
6 books378 followersR. M. Romero is a Jewish Latina and author of fairy tales for children and adults. She lives in Miami Beach with her cat Henry VIII and spends her summers helping to maintain Jewish cemeteries in Poland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
June 6, 2024
I'm not sure what to make of this book. It's my first time reading R.M. Romero and I think I picked a pretty intense title. It was dark, yet romantic and powerful. CW: death, self-harm, drowning, disordered eating, parental figures who create a toxic housewold.
Death's Country caught my attention because of it's centering of a polyamorous relationship. This isn't something that I've seen much in young adult and I was curious on how R.M. Romero was going to craft a darker fantasy romance around teenagers attempting to figure out themselves and their relationship. This is a queer retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice (I've never read the original) that follows main character Andres who is attempting to navigate a chaotic home life. He ends up drowning in the Tietê River and makes a bargain with death at a second life. During this "second" chance, he meets two other characters Renee and Liora. The three fall in love with each other and enjoy the many nuances of their relationship. Unfortunately, Liora gets into a car accident and ends up in a coma. Renee and Andres make the decision to travel to the underworld to retrieve her soul to save the one they love.
What Worked: While the writing in verse doesn't give much space for the development of their relationship, I liked Andres, Renee, and Liora together. Romero does a wonderful job giving each character a distinct personality that balances out their relationship. It is evident that the three care about each other beyond the confines of their relationship. The world building was also interesting. The underworld ending up being a lot more complex that what I anticipated. The mentioning of certain people and the interaction that Renee and Andres share with a soldier who fought in the Ukrainian War was extremely interesting. This is not to say that books written in verse can't have thorough world building and character development; however, I do think that Romero did such an excellent job slowing building up to and breaking the expectations that even Renee and Andres had for death and the underworld.
What Didn't Work: There is a "twist" at the end of the book that was pretty apparent early on. Granted, it tied nicely into the character development and messaging about self-acceptance; however, I think that it lacked the punch that Romero was anticipating for readers. While I enjoyed the character development, world building, and plot development, the writing did feel like it struggled in some areas. I didn't read this physically so my critique is mainly based on the interpretation of the text by the audiobook narrator. While poetic in some areas, it felt disjointed in others. This led for a reading experience that took away from the overall flow of the novel.
This is definitely an interesting read. Once I get some time, I think that I'll take a moment to work through Romero's back list.
Death's Country caught my attention because of it's centering of a polyamorous relationship. This isn't something that I've seen much in young adult and I was curious on how R.M. Romero was going to craft a darker fantasy romance around teenagers attempting to figure out themselves and their relationship. This is a queer retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice (I've never read the original) that follows main character Andres who is attempting to navigate a chaotic home life. He ends up drowning in the Tietê River and makes a bargain with death at a second life. During this "second" chance, he meets two other characters Renee and Liora. The three fall in love with each other and enjoy the many nuances of their relationship. Unfortunately, Liora gets into a car accident and ends up in a coma. Renee and Andres make the decision to travel to the underworld to retrieve her soul to save the one they love.
What Worked: While the writing in verse doesn't give much space for the development of their relationship, I liked Andres, Renee, and Liora together. Romero does a wonderful job giving each character a distinct personality that balances out their relationship. It is evident that the three care about each other beyond the confines of their relationship. The world building was also interesting. The underworld ending up being a lot more complex that what I anticipated. The mentioning of certain people and the interaction that Renee and Andres share with a soldier who fought in the Ukrainian War was extremely interesting. This is not to say that books written in verse can't have thorough world building and character development; however, I do think that Romero did such an excellent job slowing building up to and breaking the expectations that even Renee and Andres had for death and the underworld.
What Didn't Work: There is a "twist" at the end of the book that was pretty apparent early on. Granted, it tied nicely into the character development and messaging about self-acceptance; however, I think that it lacked the punch that Romero was anticipating for readers. While I enjoyed the character development, world building, and plot development, the writing did feel like it struggled in some areas. I didn't read this physically so my critique is mainly based on the interpretation of the text by the audiobook narrator. While poetic in some areas, it felt disjointed in others. This led for a reading experience that took away from the overall flow of the novel.
This is definitely an interesting read. Once I get some time, I think that I'll take a moment to work through Romero's back list.
Want to read
March 12, 2024IT'S A YA POLYAMOROUS STORY ABOUT TWO TEENS WHO TRAVEL TO THE UNDERWORLD TO RETREIVE THEIR GIRLFRIEND'S SOUL?!
July 1, 2024
I'm a little disappointed that the book about "two Miami teens traveling to the underworld to retrieve their girlfriend's soul" is not my new favorite thing ever, but this just did nothing for me. I was excited for descriptions of the underworld and for the exploration of a polyamorous relationship, but somehow all that fell flat for me while reading. I think a novel in prose would have been more to my liking in this case, although I usually love books written in verse.
June 18, 2024
Magic isn’t fuck around.
Magic is find out.
a queer polyamorous retelling of orpheus and eurydice with some other mythology thrown in set to the backdrop of miami.
unfortunately i'm not very familiar w the source material, so i think it was less impactful for me that way. however, i still enjoyed reading it. the lush, tropical settings and imaginative verse made this a vivid read; i think it could actually be a really cool as a stage adaptation because of the dance, music, and photography elements.
it deals w some heavier topics for teens but i think appropriately so for a YA book. overall i preferred my other read from this author (the ghosts of rose hill) but i'm excited to read more from them.
My name is Andres Santos, and I believe I have more love than darkness to give.
Magic is find out.
a queer polyamorous retelling of orpheus and eurydice with some other mythology thrown in set to the backdrop of miami.
unfortunately i'm not very familiar w the source material, so i think it was less impactful for me that way. however, i still enjoyed reading it. the lush, tropical settings and imaginative verse made this a vivid read; i think it could actually be a really cool as a stage adaptation because of the dance, music, and photography elements.
it deals w some heavier topics for teens but i think appropriately so for a YA book. overall i preferred my other read from this author (the ghosts of rose hill) but i'm excited to read more from them.
My name is Andres Santos, and I believe I have more love than darkness to give.
Read
January 31, 2024
"There were no road signs in that place; it would
never be on any map.
But I felt what it was—
a flagging pulse, a clock winding down,
the final page in the last book ever written.
I was in Death’s country,
where the path ends for everyone."
- R. M. Romero
They say to never judge a book by its cover, but we´re all guilty of doing it anyway. Well, when I first saw the cover for Death´s Country, it did a really good job of drawing me in. What kept me interested, however, was the description. I mean, “Hadestown meets “Orpheus and Eurydice” when two Miami teens travel to the underworld to retrieve their girlfriend’s soul” is one hell of a premise! I quickly placed it on my Most Anticipated Books Of 2024 list along with all the other great books coming out this year.
So, when I got the opportunity to read and review it early, I couldn’t even believe it. Safe to say my expectations were pretty high, but to my surprise, this book was more than I ever expected it to be.
“-And so did I.
I prayed
to whatever god would have me:
Let me be a whisper of music, the calm inside the storm.
Let me be someone better.
But that night, no spirits
heard my pleas, and I stayed a snarl of thorns
playacting
at being a boy.”
- R. M. Romero
The writing style has an almost soothing flow to it, the type that makes you forget everything else in the world because you just need to finish reading all of it. The characters, while a bit flawed at times, will grow on you almost immediately. And if you´re a mythology fan like me, you will love all the references, big and small alike.
Not only is it a beautifully written tale of love, it´s a story about fury, grief, and about second chances. There´s also a lot of interesting themes of anger, music, family, letting go, and, of course, death. It´s basically, in all honesty, everything I could ask for in a book.
"I leaned into their hope,
a sigh
easing from my lips.
I didn’t care if my music ever reached
the ears of monsters, presidents, the men who
were both.
I had a sanctuary at the beach,
solace in two girls."
-R. M. Romero
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC copy I received in exchange for my honest review!
never be on any map.
But I felt what it was—
a flagging pulse, a clock winding down,
the final page in the last book ever written.
I was in Death’s country,
where the path ends for everyone."
- R. M. Romero
They say to never judge a book by its cover, but we´re all guilty of doing it anyway. Well, when I first saw the cover for Death´s Country, it did a really good job of drawing me in. What kept me interested, however, was the description. I mean, “Hadestown meets “Orpheus and Eurydice” when two Miami teens travel to the underworld to retrieve their girlfriend’s soul” is one hell of a premise! I quickly placed it on my Most Anticipated Books Of 2024 list along with all the other great books coming out this year.
So, when I got the opportunity to read and review it early, I couldn’t even believe it. Safe to say my expectations were pretty high, but to my surprise, this book was more than I ever expected it to be.
“-And so did I.
I prayed
to whatever god would have me:
Let me be a whisper of music, the calm inside the storm.
Let me be someone better.
But that night, no spirits
heard my pleas, and I stayed a snarl of thorns
playacting
at being a boy.”
- R. M. Romero
The writing style has an almost soothing flow to it, the type that makes you forget everything else in the world because you just need to finish reading all of it. The characters, while a bit flawed at times, will grow on you almost immediately. And if you´re a mythology fan like me, you will love all the references, big and small alike.
Not only is it a beautifully written tale of love, it´s a story about fury, grief, and about second chances. There´s also a lot of interesting themes of anger, music, family, letting go, and, of course, death. It´s basically, in all honesty, everything I could ask for in a book.
"I leaned into their hope,
a sigh
easing from my lips.
I didn’t care if my music ever reached
the ears of monsters, presidents, the men who
were both.
I had a sanctuary at the beach,
solace in two girls."
-R. M. Romero
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC copy I received in exchange for my honest review!
April 22, 2024
Ground Control to Major Tom; I have just read one of the best books I have ever read in my whole life.
Death's Country is a queer retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice - one of my favorite tales of Greek mythology!! It's polyamorous - two Miami teens travel to the underworld to retrieve their girlfriend’s soul! It's told in verse!! R.M. Romero really took all of my favorite things and wrote them into a book. There are real tears in my eyes as I am writing this. Not because the book was sad - which it actually was - but because I am just so happy. I loved this book. I am going to be insufferable about this book.
Andres was all swinging fists... until he drowned in the Tietê River… and made a bargain with Death for a new life. Now uses music to escape. He meets Renee, a photographer, and Liora, a dancer. And they fall in love. And I am in love with them. I also want it on the record that I too use music to escape, I love photography and I used to be a dancer. It felt like I found a piece of my soul in each of these characters. Then a car accident leaves Liora in a coma, and Renee and Andres head to the underworld to bring her back. But finding Liora’s spirit is only the first step in returning to the living world.
The verse in this book is some of the most beautiful I have ever read. I try to not be impulsive with my tattoo decisions, for the sake of my wallet but also because I am built like a stick figure and I don't have much space to make hasty decisions. BUT I am very much considering messaging my tattoo artist because I need this whole book tattooed on me. Or at least a line because;
- "If I'm to worship anything, let it be love."
- "The newspaper boy was right: the best is yet to come. The newspaper boy was right: the worst is yet to come."
- "My true self wasn't a hero, but I guess he had a lot of love to give."
- "Maybe her secrets haunted her to her grave."
- "God. God, what grave you two have dug with your own personal Beatrice."
- "Ground Control to Major Tom-
okay yes, I will stop now. I just really love David Bowie and Space Oddity is one of my favorite songs. I used to ask my dad to play it to me before going to bed all the time when I was a kid. The song just tickles my brain in the perfect way.
Okay, back to the book; I do think the characters act a lot older than what they are supposed to be. Good for me that I have ADHD so I completely forgot how old they were actually supposed to be. And even though I knew it is written in verse, it did take a moment to get used to it. But once I did, I absolutely adored it.
The way Romero writes makes me feel the same as I felt when I was a young child and my grandma told me bedtime stories. It feels like laying in the bed under the softest blanket under the glow of the plastic glow-in-the-dark stars and listening a story told by someone you love. I am going to be eternally sad about the fact that my grandma does not know English and thus I cannot ask her to read this book to me. Shoutout to my grandma, thank you for making me fall in love with stories.
Ground Control to Major Tom; to sum up; I love this book. I don't know how to but it into words. I need to get my hands on a physical copy asap. And I might be getting a new tattoo in the near future!
Content warnings: death, war, drowning, self-harm, disordered eating
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Death's Country is a queer retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice - one of my favorite tales of Greek mythology!! It's polyamorous - two Miami teens travel to the underworld to retrieve their girlfriend’s soul! It's told in verse!! R.M. Romero really took all of my favorite things and wrote them into a book. There are real tears in my eyes as I am writing this. Not because the book was sad - which it actually was - but because I am just so happy. I loved this book. I am going to be insufferable about this book.
Andres was all swinging fists... until he drowned in the Tietê River… and made a bargain with Death for a new life. Now uses music to escape. He meets Renee, a photographer, and Liora, a dancer. And they fall in love. And I am in love with them. I also want it on the record that I too use music to escape, I love photography and I used to be a dancer. It felt like I found a piece of my soul in each of these characters. Then a car accident leaves Liora in a coma, and Renee and Andres head to the underworld to bring her back. But finding Liora’s spirit is only the first step in returning to the living world.
The verse in this book is some of the most beautiful I have ever read. I try to not be impulsive with my tattoo decisions, for the sake of my wallet but also because I am built like a stick figure and I don't have much space to make hasty decisions. BUT I am very much considering messaging my tattoo artist because I need this whole book tattooed on me. Or at least a line because;
- "If I'm to worship anything, let it be love."
- "The newspaper boy was right: the best is yet to come. The newspaper boy was right: the worst is yet to come."
- "My true self wasn't a hero, but I guess he had a lot of love to give."
- "Maybe her secrets haunted her to her grave."
- "God. God, what grave you two have dug with your own personal Beatrice."
- "Ground Control to Major Tom-
okay yes, I will stop now. I just really love David Bowie and Space Oddity is one of my favorite songs. I used to ask my dad to play it to me before going to bed all the time when I was a kid. The song just tickles my brain in the perfect way.
Okay, back to the book; I do think the characters act a lot older than what they are supposed to be. Good for me that I have ADHD so I completely forgot how old they were actually supposed to be. And even though I knew it is written in verse, it did take a moment to get used to it. But once I did, I absolutely adored it.
The way Romero writes makes me feel the same as I felt when I was a young child and my grandma told me bedtime stories. It feels like laying in the bed under the softest blanket under the glow of the plastic glow-in-the-dark stars and listening a story told by someone you love. I am going to be eternally sad about the fact that my grandma does not know English and thus I cannot ask her to read this book to me. Shoutout to my grandma, thank you for making me fall in love with stories.
Ground Control to Major Tom; to sum up; I love this book. I don't know how to but it into words. I need to get my hands on a physical copy asap. And I might be getting a new tattoo in the near future!
Content warnings: death, war, drowning, self-harm, disordered eating
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Read
June 11, 2024R.M. Romero is an absolute wizard with words and this book is no exception.
There are so many beautiful and hopeful messages in here that I think will really make a major impact on so many young people who think the path to being loved involves sacrificing and hiding away the scary parts of yourself.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
CW: death, grief, drowning, car accident, hospitalization, suicide, eating disorder, violence, war (past), sibling loss (past), gun violence (mention), infidelity
There are so many beautiful and hopeful messages in here that I think will really make a major impact on so many young people who think the path to being loved involves sacrificing and hiding away the scary parts of yourself.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
CW: death, grief, drowning, car accident, hospitalization, suicide, eating disorder, violence, war (past), sibling loss (past), gun violence (mention), infidelity
May 19, 2024
I received an ARC from Edelweiss
TW: dysfunctional parents, drowning, philophobia, mentioned suicide attempt
3.5
I do like the concept of this, and I always like to see polyamorous representation, as there still isn't much out there. I was also excited to read another R.M. Romero book, as I know how easy it is to get sucked into her writing.
The writing is, of course, still very good, and it's an easy read because of it. I feel like it's good for regular readers of verse novels, but also for those, like me, who don't tend to prefer them.
This doesn't really read well, however, as a "modern Orpheus & Eurydice"- it's not a true retelling, it's inspired by the myth, and thinking it's retelling sets you up for comparisons that it can't live up to. This story lacks the weight of the myth and instead leaves you feeling you're reading something very surface level story with a thin arc and ending.
There are also a few unfortunate moments in the text, where repetition makes the rhythm stumble, just enough to break up the flow and become a less enjoyable read. I do wonder if this would be better in audio, or if it just needed another pass in editing.
Pre-review comments below
"a queer Orpheus and Eurydice retelling in verse, with a polyamorous triad, following two Miami teens who travel to the underworld to retrieve their girlfriend's soul, so they can reunite it with her body before it's too late."
Polyam Orpheus & Eurydice in verse????????????? PEACH TREE.
TW: dysfunctional parents, drowning, philophobia, mentioned suicide attempt
3.5
I do like the concept of this, and I always like to see polyamorous representation, as there still isn't much out there. I was also excited to read another R.M. Romero book, as I know how easy it is to get sucked into her writing.
The writing is, of course, still very good, and it's an easy read because of it. I feel like it's good for regular readers of verse novels, but also for those, like me, who don't tend to prefer them.
This doesn't really read well, however, as a "modern Orpheus & Eurydice"- it's not a true retelling, it's inspired by the myth, and thinking it's retelling sets you up for comparisons that it can't live up to. This story lacks the weight of the myth and instead leaves you feeling you're reading something very surface level story with a thin arc and ending.
There are also a few unfortunate moments in the text, where repetition makes the rhythm stumble, just enough to break up the flow and become a less enjoyable read. I do wonder if this would be better in audio, or if it just needed another pass in editing.
Pre-review comments below
"a queer Orpheus and Eurydice retelling in verse, with a polyamorous triad, following two Miami teens who travel to the underworld to retrieve their girlfriend's soul, so they can reunite it with her body before it's too late."
Polyam Orpheus & Eurydice in verse????????????? PEACH TREE.
April 28, 2024
Got an arc from ABA
This is definitely my favorite of Romero’s books so far I think! It definitely resonates hard with me as someone who dealt with really horrible people in my life and how much it hits when you realize you’ve found someone (or someones) you can just BE with who love you no matter what
This is definitely my favorite of Romero’s books so far I think! It definitely resonates hard with me as someone who dealt with really horrible people in my life and how much it hits when you realize you’ve found someone (or someones) you can just BE with who love you no matter what
April 28, 2024
2.5 ✨️
Good: premise, poly rep in YA, we love to see it
Bad: the execution - I think the format (novel in verse) impeded connecting with the characters and made the flow of the story lackluster at times
Good: premise, poly rep in YA, we love to see it
Bad: the execution - I think the format (novel in verse) impeded connecting with the characters and made the flow of the story lackluster at times
May 16, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I adored this Orpheus/Eurydice retelling! I love this story in all its forms, and this was no exception. In no way did the characters' labels (queer, poly, Latinx) feel added just for the sake of representation because all of these labels were essential to the story, which was wonderful. The verse was also beautiful, particularly the imagery of the City. It is cliche to say, but I felt as if I were there!
I have added some of R. M. Romero's other works to my TBR list because I loved this one so much. I am looking forward to exploring more of Romero's body of work! If it's anything like Death's Country, I have a lot to look forward to.
Publication Date: 7 May 2024
I adored this Orpheus/Eurydice retelling! I love this story in all its forms, and this was no exception. In no way did the characters' labels (queer, poly, Latinx) feel added just for the sake of representation because all of these labels were essential to the story, which was wonderful. The verse was also beautiful, particularly the imagery of the City. It is cliche to say, but I felt as if I were there!
I have added some of R. M. Romero's other works to my TBR list because I loved this one so much. I am looking forward to exploring more of Romero's body of work! If it's anything like Death's Country, I have a lot to look forward to.
Publication Date: 7 May 2024
June 24, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
While I usually enjoy books written in verse, and usually can get through them very quickly, this one I struggled with and found myself not wanting to pick up. It's also not so much an "Orpheus and Eurydice" retelling as it is inspired by that myth - I actually think if this had been more of a retelling, it would have been far more compelling. The story didn't flow particularly well, and I struggled to connect to the characters. I did like the polyamorous love story at the heart of the story, and the author's take on the underworld was certainly unique, which I appreciated! This book will work for some people, unfortunately it just wasn't what I was wanting from it.
While I usually enjoy books written in verse, and usually can get through them very quickly, this one I struggled with and found myself not wanting to pick up. It's also not so much an "Orpheus and Eurydice" retelling as it is inspired by that myth - I actually think if this had been more of a retelling, it would have been far more compelling. The story didn't flow particularly well, and I struggled to connect to the characters. I did like the polyamorous love story at the heart of the story, and the author's take on the underworld was certainly unique, which I appreciated! This book will work for some people, unfortunately it just wasn't what I was wanting from it.
January 21, 2024
THANK YOU NETGALLEY FOR THE E-ARC 😭🙌✨
★★★☆☆
"If I'm to worship anything, let it
be love."
This book was heavier than I thought! so Here are some trigger warnings;
Toxic domestic environment, emotional abuse, divorce, suicide, eating disorder, self-harm, gore.
We are witnessing the story from Andres' point of view, as he is struggling to cope with the burden of his parents' problems that they project onto him and the domestic hell they put him through.
He is overcome by his anger, and as the Tietê River pulls him under to the underworld, he makes a deal with Death to take his anger away and, in return, take away something he loves most. But soon, he meets two girls, and the three become a polyamorous couple. One of them is taken too soon to the underworld, so we follow two teens as they try to retrieve their girlfriend's soul, but secrets, mysteries, and danger are waiting for them.
Again, I was shocked by the heaviness of the book. It was not that I expected a light and fluffy read with that premise, but this was heavy! I loved the writing in verse and the polyamorous love story in the centre of everything that was happening. I also adored the way the underworld was portrayed in here, it was very unique with elements that added a lot to the world building and the immersive experience of reading this book.
We also met different characters in the underworld and their stories were heartwrenching, so if you want something that makes you ✨feel✨, this is your book!
What fell flat for me was the flow of the writing; I found the brackets "()" often times interrupted my reading flow, and I figured some things out before they were revealed.
I liked the retelling part of this, but it was more intertwined into the book rather than being a retelling itself. For example, the characters were aware of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.
I certainly recommend this book!! If you like books written in verse and mythology, mixed with depth and queer characters, don't hesitate to read it! :)
★★★☆☆
"If I'm to worship anything, let it
be love."
This book was heavier than I thought! so Here are some trigger warnings;
Toxic domestic environment, emotional abuse, divorce, suicide, eating disorder, self-harm, gore.
We are witnessing the story from Andres' point of view, as he is struggling to cope with the burden of his parents' problems that they project onto him and the domestic hell they put him through.
He is overcome by his anger, and as the Tietê River pulls him under to the underworld, he makes a deal with Death to take his anger away and, in return, take away something he loves most. But soon, he meets two girls, and the three become a polyamorous couple. One of them is taken too soon to the underworld, so we follow two teens as they try to retrieve their girlfriend's soul, but secrets, mysteries, and danger are waiting for them.
Again, I was shocked by the heaviness of the book. It was not that I expected a light and fluffy read with that premise, but this was heavy! I loved the writing in verse and the polyamorous love story in the centre of everything that was happening. I also adored the way the underworld was portrayed in here, it was very unique with elements that added a lot to the world building and the immersive experience of reading this book.
We also met different characters in the underworld and their stories were heartwrenching, so if you want something that makes you ✨feel✨, this is your book!
What fell flat for me was the flow of the writing; I found the brackets "()" often times interrupted my reading flow, and I figured some things out before they were revealed.
I liked the retelling part of this, but it was more intertwined into the book rather than being a retelling itself. For example, the characters were aware of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.
I certainly recommend this book!! If you like books written in verse and mythology, mixed with depth and queer characters, don't hesitate to read it! :)
May 10, 2024
This is easily one of my top reads of the year. It was haunting, beautiful, and tender. This grabbed me from the first page and I devoured it. The writing is so incredibly lovely! The book is written in verse but accessible for people who may not be familiar with that style of writing. The love between the characters was so sweet and their journey was so magical. The whole concept is so unique and it read like a fairytale the entire time. R.M. Romero is an auto buy author for me and this book proves it.
April 18, 2024
This is a lovely YA verse novel retelling the Orpheus and Eurydice myth in a contemporary Miami setting. The main character, Andres, feels constantly angry in the wake of his parents' bitter separation and constant fighting. When he drowns on a dare, he makes a deal with Death—he'll give her something he loves if she removes his anger and lets him live. She agrees to this bargain and returns him without the shadow of his anger to Miami, where he meets and falls in love with two girls, Renee and Liora. When Liora is in a car crash, she's hospitalized and in a coma. Andres and Renee are crushed, and Andres blames his deal with Death on what has happened. He and Renee travel to Death's Country to rescue Liora, but they'll have to confront and reveal their secrets if they hope to complete their quest.
I really enjoyed this! It reminded me of therapy and 'parts' work. I also really appreciate the polyamory, which is rare to find.
I really enjoyed this! It reminded me of therapy and 'parts' work. I also really appreciate the polyamory, which is rare to find.
June 26, 2024
3,75⭐️
First of all, thank you NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for the ARC.
Death's Country by M. Romero is a YA polyamorous Orpheus and Eurydice's retelling in verse.
It's the first book that I read by this author, but it's likely not going to be my last.
From the start, "Death's Country" caught my attention due to its cover and the idea of a queer polyamorous retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice's tale.
The only thing that stopped me from reading this book before was the fact that it's written in verse, something that I'm not used to but that in reality didn't bother me during the reading.
I loved Andres as the main character and his relationship with Renee and Liora.
I also liked all the references to Dante and Greek mythology.
First of all, thank you NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for the ARC.
Death's Country by M. Romero is a YA polyamorous Orpheus and Eurydice's retelling in verse.
It's the first book that I read by this author, but it's likely not going to be my last.
From the start, "Death's Country" caught my attention due to its cover and the idea of a queer polyamorous retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice's tale.
The only thing that stopped me from reading this book before was the fact that it's written in verse, something that I'm not used to but that in reality didn't bother me during the reading.
I loved Andres as the main character and his relationship with Renee and Liora.
I also liked all the references to Dante and Greek mythology.
July 3, 2024
hated this. just listen to hadestown instead
January 12, 2024
When I say this story danced in my mind like a song the whole way through- I mean I could feel the sorrow and torment like it was mine!
This queer reimagining of Orpheus and Eurydice also features a poly trio and it’s LATINE! Set in Miami this verse writing style will drop you right into those humid tropical beach nights in full spectrum!
Summary:
Andres Santos, a young Brazilian boy is full of anger and angst over his turbulent home life. One fated day the mighty Tietê River pulls him under and takes him all the way to the underworld where he makes a deal with death. He wishes for his shadow to be taken, and with it his anger is stripped away. He wishes for a new version of himself, one that is not full of the hate he’s held on to for so long. In exchange Death declares that she will take what he loves most.
Soon Andres moves away from his home in Brazil, to the shores of Miami. This new version of himself is lighter and uses music to cope through his troubles. He meets two girls, two mermaids on the beach, Renee and Liora. One is like night, mysterious and magical, the other like day, a ballerina sweet and soft. In love for the first time, Death comes to collect. Renee determined to save their girlfriend Liora, insists to Andres that they must travel to the underworld to find her soul. The only problem is Andres has been there before, and Liora will not be the only one that he will reunite with in the city of the dead.
Written in Verse
Magical Realism
Latine Rep
Polyamorous
Greek Retelling
Latine Folklore
⚠️Trigger Warnings⚠️
Suicide
Eating Disorder
Emotional Abuse
Infidelity
Divorce
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC copy I received in exchange for my honest review!
This queer reimagining of Orpheus and Eurydice also features a poly trio and it’s LATINE! Set in Miami this verse writing style will drop you right into those humid tropical beach nights in full spectrum!
Summary:
Andres Santos, a young Brazilian boy is full of anger and angst over his turbulent home life. One fated day the mighty Tietê River pulls him under and takes him all the way to the underworld where he makes a deal with death. He wishes for his shadow to be taken, and with it his anger is stripped away. He wishes for a new version of himself, one that is not full of the hate he’s held on to for so long. In exchange Death declares that she will take what he loves most.
Soon Andres moves away from his home in Brazil, to the shores of Miami. This new version of himself is lighter and uses music to cope through his troubles. He meets two girls, two mermaids on the beach, Renee and Liora. One is like night, mysterious and magical, the other like day, a ballerina sweet and soft. In love for the first time, Death comes to collect. Renee determined to save their girlfriend Liora, insists to Andres that they must travel to the underworld to find her soul. The only problem is Andres has been there before, and Liora will not be the only one that he will reunite with in the city of the dead.
Written in Verse
Magical Realism
Latine Rep
Polyamorous
Greek Retelling
Latine Folklore
⚠️Trigger Warnings⚠️
Suicide
Eating Disorder
Emotional Abuse
Infidelity
Divorce
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC copy I received in exchange for my honest review!
January 31, 2024
*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book*
"Death's Country" is a queer Orpheus and Euridyce retelling with a strong focus on Latinx folklore and a love for David Bowie, it is also written in verse. The story is somewhat predictable but the various references to music, to Dante, to literature, to modern politics (in the Underworld they meet a soul from Kyiv, for example) made this a really interesting read. As I said, it was a bit predictable and it really annoyed me that the characters are supposed to be teenagers but behaved much more maturely (I always want to add 10 years to their in-story age!), but otherwise quite the nice retelling. I enjoyed it!
4 stars
"Death's Country" is a queer Orpheus and Euridyce retelling with a strong focus on Latinx folklore and a love for David Bowie, it is also written in verse. The story is somewhat predictable but the various references to music, to Dante, to literature, to modern politics (in the Underworld they meet a soul from Kyiv, for example) made this a really interesting read. As I said, it was a bit predictable and it really annoyed me that the characters are supposed to be teenagers but behaved much more maturely (I always want to add 10 years to their in-story age!), but otherwise quite the nice retelling. I enjoyed it!
4 stars
August 29, 2023
Inspired by Latinx folklore, the music of David Bowie, and Dante, DEATH’S COUNTRY is a queer poly “Orpheus and Eurydice” retelling that follows two Miami teens as they travel to the gray City of the Dead to retrieve their girlfriend’s soul…before they lose her forever.
Content warnings: Death, war, drowning, self-harm, disordered eating
Content warnings: Death, war, drowning, self-harm, disordered eating
Want to read
December 14, 2023"Hadestown meets "Orpheus and Eurydice" I'M SORRY? Is this the PERFECT book for me?! I'm freaking out
May 28, 2024
R.M. Romero does such an incredible job blending magical realism with a realistic world. This is my second of her works and I now know I will read anything she writes. I adored this story so much and could not stop reading it last night. Novels written in verse always draw me in and I am so glad I found Romero's A Warning About Swans last year, which led me to picking up this beauty.
As soon as I saw this being comped as part Hadestown and the myth of "Orpheus and Eurydice”, I knew I had to read it. Many of my favorite myths deal with the Underworld. Romero takes the myth and breathes new life into it with Andres, Renee, and Liora. It follows Andres and Renee as they travel into the Underworld to try and save their girlfriend, Liora from Death.
A beautiful poly romance which touched my heart from the first chapter. Andres comes alive in Romero's very first stanza. He is depicted vividly on every page, his voice as distinct as his story. The story begins with him making a bargain with Death to take his anger away in exchange for something he will love in the future. When one of his girlfriends, Liora goes into a coma, he believes Death is taking who he loves.
Andres is one of the Orpheuses of this story, who not only has to go on a physical journey, but also an emotional one. One of his girlfriends, Renee also takes on the role of Orpheus. She is the one who first suggests saving Liora and uses her magic to help get them into the Underworld. Liora is our Eurydice who gets a much more active role in the plot. I loved the journey all three had to go on.
Along with the characters, the world is just as striking. The Underworld depicted in this story reminded me a bit of Coco but it is very much its own entity. I thought the idea of not only having ghosts of people, but also places, was intriguing. It's one of the most interesting takes I have found of the Underworld. Also, we meet many famous faces and get multiple references to mythology throughout the course of the story. The love of music was a beautiful part of this story.
"Ground control to Major Tom"
I highly recommend Death's Country. Romero is an incredible storyteller, whose writing is a masterpiece. I adored this young adult story about healing and love. A modern-day take on "Orpheus and Eurydice" that is definitely one of my favorite books of the year.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
As soon as I saw this being comped as part Hadestown and the myth of "Orpheus and Eurydice”, I knew I had to read it. Many of my favorite myths deal with the Underworld. Romero takes the myth and breathes new life into it with Andres, Renee, and Liora. It follows Andres and Renee as they travel into the Underworld to try and save their girlfriend, Liora from Death.
A beautiful poly romance which touched my heart from the first chapter. Andres comes alive in Romero's very first stanza. He is depicted vividly on every page, his voice as distinct as his story. The story begins with him making a bargain with Death to take his anger away in exchange for something he will love in the future. When one of his girlfriends, Liora goes into a coma, he believes Death is taking who he loves.
Andres is one of the Orpheuses of this story, who not only has to go on a physical journey, but also an emotional one. One of his girlfriends, Renee also takes on the role of Orpheus. She is the one who first suggests saving Liora and uses her magic to help get them into the Underworld. Liora is our Eurydice who gets a much more active role in the plot. I loved the journey all three had to go on.
Along with the characters, the world is just as striking. The Underworld depicted in this story reminded me a bit of Coco but it is very much its own entity. I thought the idea of not only having ghosts of people, but also places, was intriguing. It's one of the most interesting takes I have found of the Underworld. Also, we meet many famous faces and get multiple references to mythology throughout the course of the story. The love of music was a beautiful part of this story.
"Ground control to Major Tom"
I highly recommend Death's Country. Romero is an incredible storyteller, whose writing is a masterpiece. I adored this young adult story about healing and love. A modern-day take on "Orpheus and Eurydice" that is definitely one of my favorite books of the year.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
May 6, 2024
3.5/5 ⭐️
"Death's Country" is a modern retelling of the classic Orpheus and Eurydice mythology with a polyamorous love triad set in Miami. It's written in verses, much like Romero's other works, and reads more like a story rather than poetry. I enjoyed this but didn't like it as much as her other book I've read, "The Ghosts of Rose Hill." I think there was just a bit too much going on plot wise. The relationship between Andres, Renee, and Liora moved too quickly and didn't feel fully developed. Romero does do a nice job of tackling some darker themes that are important, especially for YA readers (check the TW's). The ideas in this are interesting and meaningful, but the execution just didn't quite hit the mark for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, R.M. Romero and Peachtree Teen for my early access to this.
"Death's Country" is a modern retelling of the classic Orpheus and Eurydice mythology with a polyamorous love triad set in Miami. It's written in verses, much like Romero's other works, and reads more like a story rather than poetry. I enjoyed this but didn't like it as much as her other book I've read, "The Ghosts of Rose Hill." I think there was just a bit too much going on plot wise. The relationship between Andres, Renee, and Liora moved too quickly and didn't feel fully developed. Romero does do a nice job of tackling some darker themes that are important, especially for YA readers (check the TW's). The ideas in this are interesting and meaningful, but the execution just didn't quite hit the mark for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, R.M. Romero and Peachtree Teen for my early access to this.
January 15, 2024
"We can wipe our minds clean...but we can't scrub our experiences out of our souls." - "Death's Country"
MANNNNN. What a great first read for 2024. An ode to Eurydice and Orpheus told in a polyamorous and queer way and told in the form of novel-in-verse...what a beautiful and captivating experience. Reading this book was beyond reading, it was finding things within oneself, it was thinking about what it truly means to love, and it was such a beautiful experience. Andres, Liora and Renee will live in my mind rent free for the rest of forever.
Romero has such a way with words and descriptions and novel in verse has always been one of my favorite ways of reading a novel. Ever since reading Ellen Hopkins when I was a teenager, it has always been such a beautiful form, and Romero really takes the idea here and RUNS with it. I am very honored to have gotten an ARC of this, and highly recommend it to anyone searching in their own darkness for a shred of light.
MANNNNN. What a great first read for 2024. An ode to Eurydice and Orpheus told in a polyamorous and queer way and told in the form of novel-in-verse...what a beautiful and captivating experience. Reading this book was beyond reading, it was finding things within oneself, it was thinking about what it truly means to love, and it was such a beautiful experience. Andres, Liora and Renee will live in my mind rent free for the rest of forever.
Romero has such a way with words and descriptions and novel in verse has always been one of my favorite ways of reading a novel. Ever since reading Ellen Hopkins when I was a teenager, it has always been such a beautiful form, and Romero really takes the idea here and RUNS with it. I am very honored to have gotten an ARC of this, and highly recommend it to anyone searching in their own darkness for a shred of light.
April 25, 2024
When I originally picked this up, I had absolutely no idea that it was a novel in verse, but honestly that was so welcome and the poetic style really shines the whole time Andres and Renee are in the City. The lyricism highlights the fantastical elements, whether beautiful or terrible or both, and it made me wish I was listening to the audiobook. Also we love polyamory rep!
Where this falls short is that I honestly felt like we knew very little about Liora and Renee - they were metaphors more than they were girls, which made it hard to fit them in the very well-defined spaces created by Andres. I think I needed a little bit more grounding in reality outside of our trips to the underworld.
{Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review}
Where this falls short is that I honestly felt like we knew very little about Liora and Renee - they were metaphors more than they were girls, which made it hard to fit them in the very well-defined spaces created by Andres. I think I needed a little bit more grounding in reality outside of our trips to the underworld.
{Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review}
May 4, 2024
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really do like a verse novel. This one was no exception. It was very interesting and I really liked the whole death's world thing. But I was a little confused at times and I had trouble really connecting with any of the characters, everything flowed a little too fast and I didn't form any true connections with them. It kept me from truly caring about the whole thing. Like I cared but in a more surface level way. I can't explain. Overall, I did enjoy it though. It was an interesting, original and very fast read. I will definitely look into more books by R.M. Romero.
I really do like a verse novel. This one was no exception. It was very interesting and I really liked the whole death's world thing. But I was a little confused at times and I had trouble really connecting with any of the characters, everything flowed a little too fast and I didn't form any true connections with them. It kept me from truly caring about the whole thing. Like I cared but in a more surface level way. I can't explain. Overall, I did enjoy it though. It was an interesting, original and very fast read. I will definitely look into more books by R.M. Romero.
May 16, 2024
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for access to an eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Andres Santos is offered a second chance at life as he kneels at Death's feet and begs that Death take away his anger--at his parents, at the world, at himself--so that he can be better in his new life. Death agrees to his terms, but with the knowledge that she will one day take from him something that he loves, and Andres jumps at the chance to separate himself from his darker side. His family relocates soon after from São Paulo to Miami, Florida for a new start all around, and his parents give him a new guitar to help him channel his feelings into music. And even as his parents' fighting picks up again soon after the move, he plays and plays on his guitar, agonizing over what her name will be.
It isn't until he meets two girls named Renee and Liora--mermaid girls and daughters of Yemaya, he calls them in his thoughts--and plays his first song for them that he finally learns his guitar's name and is pulled into a friendship with the mermaid girls that quickly blossoms into something more, something soft and tender and full of real, true love.
But the news of an accident that has left Liora in the hospital dangling between life and death drags Renee and Andres on a journey that neither of them expects to come back from unscathed. A journey into the heart of Death's Country to find and rescue the soul of the girl they love, much like Orpheus's mythically doomed quest to save Eurydice. And Andres can't help but wonder and fear--is Liora the 'thing he loves' that Death swore once to take back from him? Is their quest as doomed as Orpheus's was from the start? And will his anger catch back up to him when he returns to Death's Country. You'll learn this and so much more in the pages of Death's Country.
Full of stunningly crafted prose and incredibly accurate, heart breaking metaphors and references, Death's Country is a love letter to mythology, to our collected history both tragic and wondrous, to music, and to the way that we view Death from one culture to the next. The beautifully represented poly relationship at the core of Death's Country is full of so much support and tender affection between all three of the lovers as they find solace in one another from their myriad struggles away from the safe haven of their collective, and the amount of love and respect that R.M. Romero pays to multiple diverse cultures as well as to her trio of diverse queer main characters was such an honor to get to read.
This was my third R.M. Romero book now this year, and I didn't think I could love anything more than The Ghosts of Rose Hill. But honestly? Death's Country takes some of my all time favorite topics and blends them together with the incredible poetry I've come to know and love from Romero and ends up being what I'm not afraid to call a perfect story. Honestly, If I didn't already know that R.M. Romero was an auto buy author for me, I definitely would have after this one.
I only have one more thing to say other that please read this book, and that is: Ground control to Major Tom. <3
Andres Santos is offered a second chance at life as he kneels at Death's feet and begs that Death take away his anger--at his parents, at the world, at himself--so that he can be better in his new life. Death agrees to his terms, but with the knowledge that she will one day take from him something that he loves, and Andres jumps at the chance to separate himself from his darker side. His family relocates soon after from São Paulo to Miami, Florida for a new start all around, and his parents give him a new guitar to help him channel his feelings into music. And even as his parents' fighting picks up again soon after the move, he plays and plays on his guitar, agonizing over what her name will be.
It isn't until he meets two girls named Renee and Liora--mermaid girls and daughters of Yemaya, he calls them in his thoughts--and plays his first song for them that he finally learns his guitar's name and is pulled into a friendship with the mermaid girls that quickly blossoms into something more, something soft and tender and full of real, true love.
But the news of an accident that has left Liora in the hospital dangling between life and death drags Renee and Andres on a journey that neither of them expects to come back from unscathed. A journey into the heart of Death's Country to find and rescue the soul of the girl they love, much like Orpheus's mythically doomed quest to save Eurydice. And Andres can't help but wonder and fear--is Liora the 'thing he loves' that Death swore once to take back from him? Is their quest as doomed as Orpheus's was from the start? And will his anger catch back up to him when he returns to Death's Country. You'll learn this and so much more in the pages of Death's Country.
Full of stunningly crafted prose and incredibly accurate, heart breaking metaphors and references, Death's Country is a love letter to mythology, to our collected history both tragic and wondrous, to music, and to the way that we view Death from one culture to the next. The beautifully represented poly relationship at the core of Death's Country is full of so much support and tender affection between all three of the lovers as they find solace in one another from their myriad struggles away from the safe haven of their collective, and the amount of love and respect that R.M. Romero pays to multiple diverse cultures as well as to her trio of diverse queer main characters was such an honor to get to read.
This was my third R.M. Romero book now this year, and I didn't think I could love anything more than The Ghosts of Rose Hill. But honestly? Death's Country takes some of my all time favorite topics and blends them together with the incredible poetry I've come to know and love from Romero and ends up being what I'm not afraid to call a perfect story. Honestly, If I didn't already know that R.M. Romero was an auto buy author for me, I definitely would have after this one.
I only have one more thing to say other that please read this book, and that is: Ground control to Major Tom. <3
April 10, 2024
Thank you to the Peachtree Teen for providing this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
Overall Rating: 3.75 / 5
Warnings: Death, War, Injury Detail, Drowning, Emotional Abuse, Self-Harm, Disordered Eating, Toxic Relationship
“Death’s Country” is a stunning queer reimagining of the classic tale of Orpheus and Eurydice that beautifully blends Latine heritage with the already well known Greek tales and mythology.
My favorite parts of this book were the characters and the way that Romero was able to handle such heavy themes with care. Through only short vignettes or quick interactions between characters I found myself able to quickly grasp who each person was or what they represented in the City of the dead. Along with getting to know these characters, we got to know their pasts and, although many of their stories were quite heavy, they were told in very respectful ways.
The pacing of the story seemed to follow the feelings of the main character, Andres, slow and intentional in moments of joy but rushing to the finish line in uncomfortable situations. In some ways this helped me get a sense of what being inside of his head was like, however I do think it made for the beginning of this story to feel rushed. Especially since the time spent in the City of the dead was given so much world-building and in-depth moments. If the beginning was given as much detail I think it would have really helped the reader feel more invested in the triad’s relationship and make the stakes feel even higher.
While it took me a bit of time to find the rhythm within Romero’s style of verse, I found I really enjoyed their linguistic choices and their beautifully laid out metaphors. There were so many passages I found myself highlighting, as the raw emotion or dreamy imagery just exuded off of the page. The most disjointing thing to me was how on the nose some references were. Although a wonderful love letter to classic epic poems, it did feel off that characters would almost self-insert themselves, stating exactly who they were representative of during the journey. Along with that, there were some formatting choices in the ARC edition that I found myself constantly stumbling through to catch the rhythm again. The biggest issues I ran into were the choices of bold text that I could not discern if they were meant to be read with emphasis or a new section of the story and that the chapter headers were not separated out onto new pages.
Overall I would recommend this to someone who either loves novels in verse or someone who loves the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice. The themes and messages this novel focused on were handled very well, there were some really strong quotes that will sit with me for some time, and the journey of Andres growing to learn what it means to love and be loved is such an important message for YA readers.
Overall Rating: 3.75 / 5
Warnings: Death, War, Injury Detail, Drowning, Emotional Abuse, Self-Harm, Disordered Eating, Toxic Relationship
“Death’s Country” is a stunning queer reimagining of the classic tale of Orpheus and Eurydice that beautifully blends Latine heritage with the already well known Greek tales and mythology.
My favorite parts of this book were the characters and the way that Romero was able to handle such heavy themes with care. Through only short vignettes or quick interactions between characters I found myself able to quickly grasp who each person was or what they represented in the City of the dead. Along with getting to know these characters, we got to know their pasts and, although many of their stories were quite heavy, they were told in very respectful ways.
The pacing of the story seemed to follow the feelings of the main character, Andres, slow and intentional in moments of joy but rushing to the finish line in uncomfortable situations. In some ways this helped me get a sense of what being inside of his head was like, however I do think it made for the beginning of this story to feel rushed. Especially since the time spent in the City of the dead was given so much world-building and in-depth moments. If the beginning was given as much detail I think it would have really helped the reader feel more invested in the triad’s relationship and make the stakes feel even higher.
While it took me a bit of time to find the rhythm within Romero’s style of verse, I found I really enjoyed their linguistic choices and their beautifully laid out metaphors. There were so many passages I found myself highlighting, as the raw emotion or dreamy imagery just exuded off of the page. The most disjointing thing to me was how on the nose some references were. Although a wonderful love letter to classic epic poems, it did feel off that characters would almost self-insert themselves, stating exactly who they were representative of during the journey. Along with that, there were some formatting choices in the ARC edition that I found myself constantly stumbling through to catch the rhythm again. The biggest issues I ran into were the choices of bold text that I could not discern if they were meant to be read with emphasis or a new section of the story and that the chapter headers were not separated out onto new pages.
Overall I would recommend this to someone who either loves novels in verse or someone who loves the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice. The themes and messages this novel focused on were handled very well, there were some really strong quotes that will sit with me for some time, and the journey of Andres growing to learn what it means to love and be loved is such an important message for YA readers.
![Profile Image for Lee [Bibliophile Tings*].](https://cdn.statically.io/img/i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1714421530i/162596364._UY200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
May 8, 2024
Thank you so much to Peachtree Teen for sending me an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
As I write this review, I fall more in love with Death’s Country. I called out into the void for more polyamory representation in young adult literature, and R.M. Romero heard me. Or at least that’s what I tell myself…
I have always been drawn to tragic stories. There is something so beautiful about them. For that exact reason, Death’s Country stood out to me. I am pleased to say that this book does not disappoint.
The poetry is everything I did not know I needed. Going in, I was skeptical about the style. I typically have a hard time with poetry, but this narrative prose is perfect. Considering the connection between this book and The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, the poetry fits so well. Plus, the writing is easy to understand.
This is the first I have ever said this: I loved the poetry.
Each member of the triad has a special place in my heart. They are all so relatable; it is easy to love imperfect characters. When Andres got angry, Renee was wronged, or Liora started to walk away, I wanted to reach into the pages and help them.
Death’s Country is an emotional story about love and the lengths we will go for the ones who mean the most to us. I wholeheartedly recommend this.
Bottom line: I am prepared to make this book my entire personality.
──✒ pre review initial thoughts
what a young adult ending though
⸻ᥫ᭡
my blog!
As I write this review, I fall more in love with Death’s Country. I called out into the void for more polyamory representation in young adult literature, and R.M. Romero heard me. Or at least that’s what I tell myself…
I have always been drawn to tragic stories. There is something so beautiful about them. For that exact reason, Death’s Country stood out to me. I am pleased to say that this book does not disappoint.
The poetry is everything I did not know I needed. Going in, I was skeptical about the style. I typically have a hard time with poetry, but this narrative prose is perfect. Considering the connection between this book and The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, the poetry fits so well. Plus, the writing is easy to understand.
This is the first I have ever said this: I loved the poetry.
Each member of the triad has a special place in my heart. They are all so relatable; it is easy to love imperfect characters. When Andres got angry, Renee was wronged, or Liora started to walk away, I wanted to reach into the pages and help them.
Death’s Country is an emotional story about love and the lengths we will go for the ones who mean the most to us. I wholeheartedly recommend this.
Bottom line: I am prepared to make this book my entire personality.
──✒ pre review initial thoughts
what a young adult ending though
⸻ᥫ᭡
my blog!
January 14, 2024
“You lived, Death replied. That was no waste. And you will continue to live. You’re not done yet, little prince.”
I’m not usually a fan of many retellings, I think that they are a hit or miss. When I read a retelling I want something that is unique and new and something that that the author took and really made their own. I what the original inspiration to be there, but not necessarily in your face. (Albeit there are some exceptions to this, but I always look forward to seeing what the author really turns on its head and adds their own personal touch to the stories). I think that Romero did a great job at taking a known myth that is becoming increasingly popular (especially with mythology constantly being used as a base for story retellings - I’m looking at you Hades and Persephone) and putting her own creative spin onto it that makes it her own. Romero remade it into a story about polyamorous teens (which I personally think we need more poly romance stories) in Miami trying to save their girlfriend’s soul. While it is very clear what Romero is retelling, I don’t actually mind it. It’s a story that is easy and straightforward, but also written is a poetic form that makes it very romantic and emotional and compelling in a way that an Orpheus and Eurydice retelling should be. I’m not a big fan of poetry, however I actually enjoyed the written prose way more than I thought.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick mythological retelling, as long as they don’t mind poetry.
Read with: NetGalley
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