A chaotic, dark-edged drama of magic and romance, A.K. Hayat’s The Final Steep is a master class in the creation of truly original fantasy.

Over the years, Teyra has run a necromantic tea shop that specializes in helping dead people with their problems. When a flickering soul named Ash crosses the threshold, Teyra tethers him with a magical anchor to prevent any monstrous transformations, but that only gives her seven days to unravel the mystery of this half-dead man wearing a deceased king’s signet ring. As the man’s memory slowly returns, Teyra and her “intangibly challenged” companion seek answers about the double life and vicious murder of this apparent heir to the crown.

While racing the clock to expose a murderous conspiracy two generations deep, they also draw the attention of a legendary crime lord and the new ruling family of the realm of Athergard, who are desperate to retain their power and avert a disaster promised in prophecy.

The prose is lavish and lyrical, with brilliant world-building and a forceful narrative voice that matches the dauntlessness of the protagonist. There’s a confident playfulness to the writing that’s sorely lacking in contemporary fantasy, coupled with serious exploration of ideas of intimacy, self-preservation, betrayal and desire. The dialogue is razor sharp, without becoming a convenient vehicle for exposition or plot progression.

The framework of the magical system is neatly linked to nuanced themes as Teyra’s skills grant her visceral access to the dead’s memories and emotions, but she rebelliously uses Resonance and a much older power of empathy to achieve her necromantic connections, rather than the detached, Academy-approved method. This through-line emphasis on authentic connection supports one of the book’s core questions: “Where’s the line between compassion and self-destruction?”

Fantasy worlds capable of stimulating both imagination and introspection are rare, wondrous things; here, Hayat lays the foundation for a spell-binding new saga that transcends genre tropes and promises to carry readers breathlessly to the final page.

Also available as an ebook.