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Two dead princesses must find true love's kiss to bring them back to life in this heart-stopping romantic fantasy debut. For fans of Cinderella Is Dead and Girl, Serpent, Thorn.
Amala has spent her whole life trying to be the perfect princess: delicate, quiet, obedient. But when she's murdered on the night of her wedding, her story is cut short before it begins.
Kha'dasia has been told her whole life that she is too rough, too loud, too much. She's no ordinary princess but a ruthless warrior on a quest to fulfill her late brother's dying wish. Except she dies before reaching her destination.
When both girls wake up in a cursed forest, the gods offer them a second chance at life-if they can find true love's kiss. But there's a catch, the gods warn. While the right kiss will save you, the wrong kiss will kill you.
On their journey, the princesses must overcome challenges that force them to face the truth of their lives…and their deaths. And as Amala and Kha'dasia grow closer, they can't help but wonder if true love has been standing right in front of them all along. Brittany Johnson is a contributor in the YA anthology We Mostly Come Out at Night (Running Press Teen/Hachette, 2024). She has also published articles with The Mighty, Autostraddle, and Medium on the intersections of race, mental health, gender, and sexuality. Deadly Ever After is her debut novel, and it's a love letter to soft Black girls who rarely get to see themselves in media. Khari,
Once upon a time, I thought "happily ever after" was nothing but make-believe, just like the stories read to me when I was a child, but my betrothal to your brother has calmed my doubts. Dear friend, I wish you could be with me today-
"Keep a stiff neck, Your Highness," one of my ladies-in-waiting reminds me. I drop my pen and straighten my posture as another lady sighs, nimbly braiding a strand of my kinky tresses.
"So much hair," she mumbles under her breath.
"Thank you." I smile, shifting toward her, but two hands grip my forehead to force it forward. My smile turns apologetic, but no one says anything else as they continue to prepare me for today's event: my wedding.
Glancing down at the cursive print before me, my stomach teems with butterflies. My beloved, Vincent, has been finalizing the details of our nuptials. He couldn't sneak any food from the tastings for me to try, but he told me of the succulent roasted ducks they've been fattening up just for today, the lobsters by the barrel, and the freshest greens that the kingdoms could produce. Pangs of hunger replace my jitters, but only for a moment.
Far off, violins hum and horns blare, signifying that the guests from our two kingdoms must be entering the Azalea Courtyard. Only used for weddings and funerals, it's home to fuchsia blooms that defied all logic and sprouted up between the thick slabs of concrete that blanket the rest of Iman. I've spent countless nights dreaming of what it'll be like to share our first kiss there.
It's embarrassing, but I've been practicing with my fist to make sure I'll do it right. I even tried with a mirror once. And again with a plum. I've been overthinking this kiss; I swear it'll be the death of me. But it'll be worth it. Stars will collide and the world will stop the second our lips meet.
A sigh escapes me as the silver chain around my necklace catches my eye in the mirror. Vincent gave it to me the first night of our betrothal to promise that, even though our marriage is political, it would also be full of love. This little moonstone rose has helped me keep sight of the future amongst all the chaos of the wedding. Multicolor specks twinkle in the light, reminding me of how grateful I am to be here.
There's just one other thing that could make today flawless, but Ados isn't in the business of listening to prayers.
A knock on the door startles me. One of the braiders sucks her teeth
Amala has spent her whole life trying to be the perfect princess: delicate, quiet, obedient. But when she's murdered on the night of her wedding, her story is cut short before it begins.
Kha'dasia has been told her whole life that she is too rough, too loud, too much. She's no ordinary princess but a ruthless warrior on a quest to fulfill her late brother's dying wish. Except she dies before reaching her destination.
When both girls wake up in a cursed forest, the gods offer them a second chance at life-if they can find true love's kiss. But there's a catch, the gods warn. While the right kiss will save you, the wrong kiss will kill you.
On their journey, the princesses must overcome challenges that force them to face the truth of their lives…and their deaths. And as Amala and Kha'dasia grow closer, they can't help but wonder if true love has been standing right in front of them all along. Brittany Johnson is a contributor in the YA anthology We Mostly Come Out at Night (Running Press Teen/Hachette, 2024). She has also published articles with The Mighty, Autostraddle, and Medium on the intersections of race, mental health, gender, and sexuality. Deadly Ever After is her debut novel, and it's a love letter to soft Black girls who rarely get to see themselves in media. Khari,
Once upon a time, I thought "happily ever after" was nothing but make-believe, just like the stories read to me when I was a child, but my betrothal to your brother has calmed my doubts. Dear friend, I wish you could be with me today-
"Keep a stiff neck, Your Highness," one of my ladies-in-waiting reminds me. I drop my pen and straighten my posture as another lady sighs, nimbly braiding a strand of my kinky tresses.
"So much hair," she mumbles under her breath.
"Thank you." I smile, shifting toward her, but two hands grip my forehead to force it forward. My smile turns apologetic, but no one says anything else as they continue to prepare me for today's event: my wedding.
Glancing down at the cursive print before me, my stomach teems with butterflies. My beloved, Vincent, has been finalizing the details of our nuptials. He couldn't sneak any food from the tastings for me to try, but he told me of the succulent roasted ducks they've been fattening up just for today, the lobsters by the barrel, and the freshest greens that the kingdoms could produce. Pangs of hunger replace my jitters, but only for a moment.
Far off, violins hum and horns blare, signifying that the guests from our two kingdoms must be entering the Azalea Courtyard. Only used for weddings and funerals, it's home to fuchsia blooms that defied all logic and sprouted up between the thick slabs of concrete that blanket the rest of Iman. I've spent countless nights dreaming of what it'll be like to share our first kiss there.
It's embarrassing, but I've been practicing with my fist to make sure I'll do it right. I even tried with a mirror once. And again with a plum. I've been overthinking this kiss; I swear it'll be the death of me. But it'll be worth it. Stars will collide and the world will stop the second our lips meet.
A sigh escapes me as the silver chain around my necklace catches my eye in the mirror. Vincent gave it to me the first night of our betrothal to promise that, even though our marriage is political, it would also be full of love. This little moonstone rose has helped me keep sight of the future amongst all the chaos of the wedding. Multicolor specks twinkle in the light, reminding me of how grateful I am to be here.
There's just one other thing that could make today flawless, but Ados isn't in the business of listening to prayers.
A knock on the door startles me. One of the braiders sucks her teeth