
Jaclyn Kot's "Between Life and Death" exploded on BookTok, captivating 7,800+ romantasy readers with its enemies-to-lovers magic. What began as a decade-long creative journey now rivals Sarah J. Maas with its irresistible "touch her and die" dynamics and addictive plot twists.
Jaclyn Kot is the bestselling author of Between Life and Death, a dark fantasy romance series that has captivated romantasy readers seeking intricate world-building and morally grey characters. A Canadian writer living on a farm in Saskatchewan, Kot specializes in high fantasy fiction featuring fated mates, forced proximity, and Hades-and-Persephone-inspired mythology with vampiric twists. She spent over a decade developing the Between Life and Death series, culminating in a complete rewrite that introduced readers to the cursed world of Edenvale and the unforgettable romance between Sage and Von.
Her sequel, Between Sun and Moon, achieved Amazon Top 100 Category Best Seller status and reached nearly 1,000,000 Kindle Unlimited pages read within its first month.
The series prequel, Between the Moon and Her Night, debuted as a #1 Best Seller in multiple categories. Known for her "plot twists, spice, and shadow daddy" appeal, Kot's books are published in dual-narration audiobook format by Podium and have earned over 12,000 ratings on Goodreads, solidifying her place as a rising voice in contemporary romantasy.
Between Life and Death is a dark fantasy romance set on the continent of Edenvale, where possessing magic is punishable by death. The story follows Sage, who joins the Cursed rebels to rescue her conscripted brother and encounters Von, the mysterious rebel leader with otherworldly black eyes. This fated mates tale blends high fantasy with steamy romance, inspired by Hades and Persephone mythology with gods who have vampire-like tendencies.
Jaclyn Kot is a Canadian author from Saskatchewan who writes high fantasy fiction with morally grey characters and strong romantic elements. She lives on a farm with her husband and various animals, and began working on Between Life and Death ten years ago before completely rewriting it in 2021. Kot describes her writing style as featuring plot twists, spice, and morally grey males paired with strong-willed females.
Between Life and Death is perfect for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses seeking similar fantasy romance content. Readers who enjoy fated mates, forced proximity, elemental magic systems, and morally grey protagonists will find this book appealing. The novel features spicy content, fast-paced action, and found family dynamics, making it ideal for adult fantasy romance enthusiasts who appreciate darker themes with emotionally complex characters.
Between Life and Death achieved Amazon Top 100 Category Best Seller status and garnered strong reader engagement with nearly 1,000,000 Kindle Unlimited pages read in the first month of the sequel's release. The book delivers on its promise for ACOTAR fans with fated mates, political intrigue, and a swoonworthy "shadow daddy" protagonist. Readers praise its addictive pacing, short chapters, and blend of fantasy worldbuilding with steamy romance scenes.
Between Life and Death explores themes of persecution and prejudice through its premise of magic-users facing execution. The novel examines fate versus free will through the magnetic connection between Sage and Von, while also addressing sacrifice, family loyalty, and the cost of war. Additional themes include found family, political corruption, religious oppression, and the grey areas between heroism and villainy in morally complex characters.
Sage is the protagonist who leaves her peaceful cottage life to join the Cursed rebels and rescue her brother from conscription. Von is the enigmatic leader of the Cursed rebels, described as a 6'8" morally grey character with black, starless eyes who harbors dark secrets. Their relationship features an "invisible tether" and magnetic pull that drives the fated mates storyline, with Von being characterized as a shadow daddy willing to burn the world for Sage.
Between Life and Death contains what author Jaclyn Kot describes as "an appropriate amount" of spice for the plot. The romance features steamy moments between Sage and Von, including forced proximity situations and one-bed tropes. The sequel Between Sun and Moon is described as "darker and steamier," while the prequel Between the Moon and Her Night is noted as more spice-heavy, catering to readers seeking adult fantasy romance content.
Between Life and Death is marketed specifically for A Court of Thorns and Roses fans "looking to scratch that insatiable itch." Both series feature fated mates, morally complex love interests, elemental magic systems, and blend high fantasy with romance. Like ACOTAR, Jaclyn Kot's series includes political intrigue, dangerous missions, and strong female protagonists navigating magical worlds. The Hades and Persephone inspiration parallels ACOTAR's mythological influences.
The Between Life and Death series reading order is: Between Life and Death (Book 1), Between Sun and Moon (Book 2), and Between the Moon and Her Night (Book 2.5). Although Between the Moon and Her Night is technically a prequel, it's intended to be read third for maximum enjoyment. Between Soul and Vessel released September 23, 2025, with a fifth and final book planned for 2026.
In Between Life and Death, "Cursed" is the label given to people who possess magic on the continent of Edenvale. By order of the king, Cursed individuals face "Cleansing"—execution by burning at the stake with an iron collar. The Cursed rebels are a group fighting against this persecution, defending their lands from the king's reach in an ongoing, bloodthirsty war that forms the central conflict of the series.
Between Life and Death features an elemental fantasy magic system where certain individuals possess magical abilities that mark them as Cursed. The story incorporates gods and goddesses with vampire-like tendencies, creating a unique supernatural framework. Iron collars are used to suppress magical powers, as seen when Sage is cut off from her abilities in the sequel. The magic intertwines with the Hades and Persephone-inspired mythology underlying the series.
Between Life and Death is available as an audiobook published by Podium Entertainment with duet narration by Nikki Grey and Connor Brannigan.
All three books in the series currently have audiobook versions available on Audible.
Ressentez le livre à travers la voix de l'auteur
Transformez les connaissances en idées captivantes et riches en exemples
Capturez les idées clés en un éclair pour un apprentissage rapide
Profitez du livre de manière ludique et engageante
Being different is not a curse. It is a gift. You are a gift.
Décomposez les idées clés de Between Life and Death en points faciles à comprendre pour découvrir comment les équipes innovantes créent, collaborent et grandissent.
Condensez Between Life and Death en indices de mémoire rapides mettant en évidence les principes clés de franchise, de travail d'équipe et de résilience créative.

Découvrez Between Life and Death à travers des récits vivants qui transforment les leçons d'innovation en moments mémorables et applicables.
Posez n'importe quelle question, choisissez la voix et co-créez des idées qui résonnent vraiment avec vous.

Cree par des anciens de Columbia University a San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
Cree par des anciens de Columbia University a San Francisco

Obtenez le resume de Between Life and Death en PDF ou EPUB gratuit. Imprimez-le ou lisez-le hors ligne a tout moment.
In the village of Meristone, a fair-haired girl is dragged to a pyre, accused of bearing "the Curse." This haunting scene introduces us to Sage, a young woman with secrets of her own, and her brother-in-everything-but-blood, Kaleb. In Edenvale, magic - once celebrated as "Gifts" - is now condemned as a Curse punishable by death. Those with Air once guided lost fishermen home; Fire-Cursed kept villages warm in winter; Earth-Cursed ensured forests remained full of game; Water-Cursed aided farmers with rain; Mind-Cursed healed mental illnesses. But centuries ago, when mystical Demi Gods arrived, everything changed. As locals abandoned the royal family's New Religion for the Old Religion, the Crown declared the latter illegal, branded the Demi Gods evil, and began the Cleansings - discovering their weakness to fire and iron. Every morning before dawn, Sage sneaks to a secluded glade to practice combat movements taught by her blind caretaker Ezra, then bathes in a lake where she can freely use her water magic, creating swirling hurricanes around herself. This daily ritual reveals both her determination and the constant fear of discovery that shapes her existence. Imagine living in a world where your very nature is criminalized, where architecture itself - like in Norwood, a town once predominantly Cursed - bears witness to generations of persecution.