The Next Big Fantasy Duology Begins Here: Read an Exclusive Excerpt from Mortal Things
Marie Lu is returning to young adult fantasy with Mortal Things, the first book in a new duology, set for release on October 27, 2026. The novel follows Rose, a human mercenary who serves Raven, the god of Death, as one of his Harbingers. In this world, Harbingers carry out the bidding of the gods in the mortal realm, taking on dangerous missions that can involve retrieving objects, influencing people, or killing targets. Rose has spent a year in this role, using a fragment of Death’s power to drain the life from those she touches, even though she never wanted this fate.
The story begins with Rose on a mission in a crowded train station during the week before Christmas. Guided by a mysterious ring that reacts to her intended target, she searches the crowd for the man named in her black-envelope assignment. After spotting him, she realizes he is the mark she has been sent to eliminate. But this killing is only the start of a much larger conflict. Rose is also investigating a murder with potentially catastrophic consequences, one that may have uncovered secrets some gods are desperate to hide.
Although Rose despises Raven, the god has chosen her to become his Harbinger and wants her to inherit his power. That decision pulls her deeper into the immortal world, where divine rivalries, hidden agendas, and deadly tests shape her future. She is soon forced to confront Étienne Beauchard, another person she cannot stand, and the two will have to work together if they want to uncover the truth behind the gods’ long-buried secrets.
Mortal Things is being positioned as a dark, twist-filled fantasy with strong romantic tension, making it appealing to both fantasy readers and romantasy fans. The novel has already drawn praise from major names in the genre. Victoria Aveyard calls it “a dark dream of a book,” while Rebecca Ross describes it as “a riveting, magical read” that is hard to put down.
An excerpt from the novel introduces Rose’s conflicted inner life and the harsh reality of her role. She sees Harbingers as the unseen force behind chaos, war, disaster, and even moments of joy and progress in the mortal world. Yet despite the power and purpose her position offers, she remains bitterly angry at Raven for choosing her and trapping her in a life she never desired. Her resentment, combined with the scale of the divine conflict surrounding her, sets the tone for a high-stakes story filled with danger, mystery, and emotional tension.
Because Mortal Things is only the first half of a duology, readers should expect a cliffhanger ending that will lead into the next installment.
