Masters of death by Olivie Blake

Olivie Blake is back with another one of her previously self-published novels, Masters of Death. Following her viral social media success in 2021, this relatively unknown author has been steadily re-releasing revised and edited editions of her work. First published in 2018, Masters of Death is a standalone fantastical mystery with a dash of romance.

Viola Marek is a college dropout turned real estate agent who is having a hard time selling a mansion belonging to a wealthy and prominent local family. Viola has two main problems. Firstly, Viola is a newly turned vampire who is still learning how to survive as a reluctant undead. Secondly, the house she is trying to sell is haunted by the previous owner, an angry and vengeful ghost who refuses to vacate until Viola discovers who murdered him.

In desperation Viola turns to medium Fox D’Mora to help her solve the mystery. However, what Viola doesn’t know and what Fox hasn’t told her, is that Fox’s psychic abilities are non-existent. His success only comes from being the godson of Death (yes, that Death) who he has tricked into supplying him with information no mortal could ever divine.

Unfortunately for the story, this is not the only plot line or grouping of protagonists that readers are expected to care about and keep track of. Blake is known for non-linear storylines and large casts of secondary characters but in the case of Masters of Death, it is just all a bit too complicated. While beautifully written as Blake’s books inevitably are, Masters of Death would have benefitted from further editing, with a more streamlined and succinct plot.

Themes: Fantasy, Mystery, Love, LGBTQIA+, Death, Mortality, Vampires, Ghosts, Demons.

Rose Tabeni