Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Absorbing fantasy explores belief, mortality; some violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
MORTAL THINGS tells the story of Rose, who made a bargain with Raven, the god of death, to become one of his Harbingers and collect souls for him in exchange for allowing her best friend Laine to live. Now, a year later, Rose hates what she does, but knows that if she breaks her deal with Raven, Laine will die. And now Raven's decided he wants to make Rose his Regent, meaning she'll be in charge of all of his Harbingers, and be his heiress, one day becoming the goddess of death herself when Raven's time has passed. But first she'll have to prove herself in a series of trials that will reveal truths about her past she could never have imagined. And during the trials she'll be both helped and thwarted by the handsome, mischievous Etienne, Regent to the god of lies. So how can she believe anything he says?
Is It Any Good?
This is an absorbing, intriguing, and highly detailed fantasy with lots of food for thought about themes like belief, mortality, knowing your worth, questioning authority, and more. In Mortal Things, veteran author Marie Lu shows her talent for building an immersive world and putting a lot of people and creatures in it without being bloated and overblown. Although there's not a lot of concerning content, it'll mainly appeal to mature readers ready to think about big issues like life, death, choices, immortality, and keeping the universe in balance. The ending is satisfying but makes it clear that the story continues, and fans will eagerly await the sequel.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Mortal Things. Is it too much? Does it matter if it's fantasy or in the real world?
Rose shows courage, perseverance, and empathy. How do these character traits help them to achieve their goals? Can you think of times you've used any of these in real life?
How does Rose compare to other women in fantasy books, movies, and other media? Does she fall into any stereotypes? Is she portrayed as smart and strong, as a victim, or both? Why do you think the author write her this way?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Empathy , Integrity , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Farrar, Straus and Giroux
- Publication date : October 27, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 368
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : November 6, 2026
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