Review: Masters Of Death by Olivie Blake

Rating: Genre fans will lose their minds 

What is it? Fiction 

Ideal for fans of: Once There Was by Kiyash Monsef; David Mogo: Godhunter by Suyi Davies Okungbowa.

What makes it special? It puts a whole new spin on mythology, and good vs evil

Get it in South Africa from: Pan Macmillan South Africa 

Viola has a problem. It's not that she is a vampire who takes the form of a cat. It's actually work-related. Viola's trying to make a name for herself in real estate, but no one is interested in her newest property, as it's haunted by the ghost of the former owner. 

Luckily, with a network of demon friends, Vi comes up with a plan: hire a medium to exorcise the ghost. 

Enter Fox D'Mora. A surprisingly successful medium with a dark secret. He communes with the dead via an unexpected middleman - Death himself. You see, through a series of rather strange events, Death was named Fox's godfather, and ever since, he's been begrudgingly helping his mortal charge. 

But when Fox tries to enlist Death's help for Viola's haunted house, he discovers another problem. Death isn't answering. 

So what happens when Death goes missing from his post? All hell breaks loose, somewhat literally, as competitors vie for his throne, and the power that comes with being the master of Death. Unless, that is, Fox can save him.

If you’re a fan of paranormal fiction, this book will be the brightest gem in your collection. We’ve got gods, demigods, angels, demons, creatures, cryptids, shapeshifters, and then some (cough cough, Santa Claus). There’s also romance, intrigue, drama, humour and death - so much death. 

What may initially seem an overemphasis on the mythological and supernatural is in fact a clever device to illustrate the complexities of our own mortality; of love, loss, and longing. Blake essentially reminds us that virtue and vice don’t need wings or horns to exist. And yet, with a good sprinkling of humour, romance, and some well-choses cusses, Blake does not allow the narrative to become too heavy or depressing.  

Masters Of Death is as inventive as it is enjoyable, reminding us to embrace our humanity and we yearn for more. And all that leads us to the ultimate question: what would you give up to master Death?

Masters Of Death by Olivie Blake is published by Tor, an imprint of Pan MacMillan,