So, a priest, a necromancer, and a prince walk into a fighting ring...

This is an eerie, gothic fantasy featuring tons of courtly/political intrigue, the blurring lines of theocracy and monarchy  — which is frankly more terrifying than the risen dead  —  and a sprinkle of a slow, forbidden romance. 

If you prefer more romance to your plot, this may not be as enthralling as it once sounded. Believe me, I saw "forbidden romance" and was immediately onboard. Like I said though, it's a slow-burn! We're getting sooo angsty and I'll eat it up every time.
Regardless, don't let the lack of romantic content keep you from reading a potentially intriguing plotline! All that slow-burn has to lead us somewhere, right?

There's a great cast of characters here, our three main ones having such different personalities that they're dynamic feels like a game of tug-of-war. Between the tension and the banter, I don't know which I liked more. 
Lore has all the points of a strong woman lead while still maintaining personality and not diminishing herself for the sake of the male characters.
Gabe and Bastian are near-complete opposites; one being an absolute brooding yearner and the other a charismatic trouble seeker. Again, make-up for a fun dynamic! 

While the start was slow, the finish was strong. It's left me wondering who's really the villain here? Or maybe there's more than one?