Genre: Young Adult Horror
Publishing Date: May 13, 2025
Synopsis:
A trans teen who steals and ransoms body parts with magic investigates a string of missing girls—falling in love with one of them from afar.
Wielding a magic that allows him to pop off limbs, con artist Phyllis steals body parts and his partner Lucent ransoms them. Everyone who knows about Phyllis’s magic is afraid of him—except for Lucent. But his partner’s love comes with one condition: Phyllis must keep stealing. But when a mark can’t afford ransom for his missing nose, Phyllis loses his resolve. The man claims his sister, Adeline, was taken, and without her money he can’t pay until she’s found.
Intrigued, Phyllis investigates Adeline’s disappearance, but she is not the only missing girl in their seedy city. To gain answers from the nobility, Phyllis masquerades as a duke—Lord Phillip of Rabbiton—and begins to fall in love with both stories of Adeline and the man he’s becoming to try and find her. Soon, he’s not sure he ever wants to return to Lucent and their life of crime together.
When he finally finds Adeline with another missing girl, it turns out they’re not dead—but undead.
To win Adeline’s heart and break from his toxic past, Phillip will have to scheme to keep his title and master his evolving magic.
My Review:
I haven’t read many books with trans rep. The one I have read is Cemetery Boys, and honestly, it’s still my favorite. I felt like this story mainly focuses on how Phyllis transforms into Phillip, a trans boy who learns to accept and embrace himself completely on his own.
Phillip’s journey of self-discovery was beautiful. The way he chooses himself and grows into his identity felt so real. Normally, I love books with multiple POVs. It’s like getting a peek into everyone’s head. But here, it didn’t work for me. The constant switch between first-person and third-person narration kind of ruined the reading experience.
Lucent’s character had so much potential. I mean, he’s an immortal who’s 400 years old that alone sounds like a complex character waiting to be explored. But unfortunately, it didn’t executed well. He didn’t feel like someone who’s lived for centuries, and by the end, he gives up on his lifelong goal so easily that it made the plot feel a little weak.
I did like Adeline’s character, even though she wasn’t in the story as much as I hoped. I really liked how the author differentiated two types of love. Phillip’s relationship with Lucent was toxic and controlling. Then there’s Phillip and Adeline, and their bond felt healthy and right.
The concept of near-death experience people gaining powers was so unique and I love that in the book. I just wish the powers were explained a bit more. Overall, this felt like a one-time read for me. I did like some parts, especially the main character’s journey, but I just wish some things were explained better.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐ / 5
Thank you TBR and Beyond Tours for providing me with the arc of this book.
Click here for Tour schedule to see more reviews.
Book links:
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
About the author:
Elias cold (they/them) is a speculative fiction writer, editor, and former medical geneticist, based in rural Australia with their two cats. Their work aims to centre queer and neurodivergent characters.
They are registered with the Institute of Professional Editors (Australia and New Zealand). Eli Snow also writes under the names Elias Cold (YA) and Elijah Winter (Adult Thriller).
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