For No Mortal Creature by Keshe Chow Review

 Title: For No Mortal Creature

Author: Keshe Chow

Age Group: Teen/Young Adult

Genre: Fantasy/Romance

Series: Standalone

Star Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars

I received this advanced reader’s copy from the publisher through Netgalley.

Keshe Chow is one of my favorite authors; I loved her debut novel, The Girl With No Reflection. So when I applied for the book from Netgalley, I was absolutely tickled when I was approved! This book is one of my favorites of Fall 2025, I loved it so much. The closest thing I can think of to pitch it is Inception meets Wuthering Heights. I was very excited by the concept, and I was totally riveted by Jia Yi’s journey through the afterlife, rife with secrets and shared history.

Jia Yi has always lived her life believing she is Untouched, or powerless. In a family of powerful magic users, she alone is ungifted. But when she dies at the hands of her old flame, Lin, she realizes she has a power that could change the world: the ability to move between life and death. Reluctant to use her power but eager to find out the circumstances under which her grandmother, Wai Po, has died, Jia is forced to team up with Lin, and she is soon torn between him and a prince who is hiding secrets of his own. When a mysterious prophecy comes to light, Jia Yi must use her new ability to find the truth about Lin, Prince Essien, and herself. But Jia won’t just lose her life, she could also lose her heart…

This book was such a thrilling adventure! I really loved it. I enjoyed all of the characters, but Jia, stubborn, fierce, and desperate to find answers, swept me away. The pacing was breakneck and Chow pulls no punches; you are immediately thrust into the action, and the book hits the ground running. I loved the magic system, the political tension, the forbidden romance. But what really got me about this was Jia’s journey through the afterlife, full of secrets and danger, and the way she ruthlessly fights for those she loves. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, and I was trying to draw it out, because I didn’t want it to end! It was a little confusing, switching timelines at first, but once I was used to it, it was really easy to follow. I loved how Jia was a morally ambiguous character, how she was focused on survival for herself as much as her family. Yay for complex female characters! The ending was great, and I really hope for more! Chow has hit a home run, and I have no doubt that Jia Yi will make a home in many hearts, not just mine! A wonderful, magical feast for the senses, this book! The bottom line: Original, thrilling, and a new fantasy twist on a classic, I loved For No Mortal Creature!