Masters of Death by Olivie Blake is about a Vampire real estate agent trying to sell a haunted house. Except, not at all, really. It’s actually layers and layers of what it means to be mortal, what makes life worth living, and the human condition as seen through the eyes of humans and celestial beings alike. 

I loved this book. But I can see why it’s not for everyone. While there is an overarching plot, it is the characters ultimately that drive the story forward, which usually is not my cup of tea! But these characters? Their morals and motivations and interpersonal dynamics? I couldn’t get enough. 

The writing felt very Shakespearean, with lyrical banter and descriptions. It’s very theme focused, so at times it was a little tricky to follow along, and I found myself having to re-read a passage or two to try and decipher all the subtext. Like a lot of fantasy, there are certain elements that you just have to know will click at some point if you keep going - which in a weird inception / breaking the 4th wall kind of way ties back to her reoccurring theme of what it means to be mortal in an immortal world. 

This was my first Olivie Blake book, so I don’t know if that style is consistent across the board with her, but I’ll find out soon.