DEADLY EVER AFTER

Two dead princesses seek true love and a second chance at life.

Princess Amala has spent her entire life trying to be perfect—docile, obedient, and above all, faithful to the god Ados. She sees her upcoming marriage as the only way to escape her abusive father and her sheltered life. But on her wedding day, she’s murdered—but she doesn’t know why or by whom. After the death of her beloved brother, Damien, the bold and brave warrior princess Kha’dasia has become angry and bitter. She didn’t get to say a final farewell to Damien, and she’s determined to make it up to him by visiting every one of the 34 places on the bucket list they created. But as she nears the final destination, she gets sick and dies. The princesses, who are Black, are visited by an Elder, who promises to bring them back to life if they complete a treacherous journey across The Garden to find true love’s kiss. While the quest is central, it doesn’t overshadow the book’s exploration of love and gender roles as Amala and Kha’dasia fall for each other. The pacing is strong, with new challenges cropping up in each chapter, contributing to the nonstop action, and the intensity is leavened by lighter moments. Johnson’s debut novel features strong worldbuilding and character development and will remain with readers long after they’ve finished reading.

A queer romance with a winning combination of humor and magical adventure.