Predestined

I’ll admit, I side-eyed the premise at first: a teen dating Death sounds like a metaphor stretched too thin. But *Predestined* surprised me by leaning into the weirdness with such commitment that it works. The story picks up right after the first book’s infernal cliffhanger, and Glines wastes no time throwing our heroine into fresh chaos—this time, involving soul contracts, divine politics, and a love interest who’s literally the embodiment of mortality. The pacing is relentless, almost breathless, which works in the audiobook’s favor. Ashley Litz’s narration keeps up beautifully, her timing impeccable during the protagonist’s snarky asides and the more melancholic moments when the weight of her abilities (and her boyfriend’s *job*) hits hard. That said, the worldbuilding occasionally feels uneven. The rules of this universe—who can interfere with souls, how the afterlife’s hierarchy functions—are explained in bursts, and I found myself rewinding a few times to catch the logic. And while the romance is steamy and fun, the central conflict sometimes hinges on miscommunication that drags out longer than necessary. Still, Litz sells even the clunkier dialogue with such conviction that it’s easy to overlook. The production itself is polished, with no jarring edits or volume shifts, though I’d have loved a touch more atmospheric sound design during the Hell-adjacent scenes. If you’re after a paranormal romance that balances snark with genuine stakes—and a narrator who makes every eye-roll and whispered confession land—this is a solid pick. Just don’t expect deep lore; the charm is in the chaos.