The Secret Market of the Dead

By: Giovanni De Feo

Narrated by: Carlotta Brentan

An “enthralling” (Genevieve Cogman, author of The Invisible Library and Elusive) Italian-inspired gothic historical fantasy about a young woman who finds her power in the nocturnal realm that lurks beneath her town.

Just beyond the waking edges of Lucerìa, an 18th-century town in the kingdom of Naples, lies the Night: an enigmatic fiefdom governed by seven immortals and fueled by Moira, the power to reshape one’s destiny.

On this porous border separating Day from Night, Oriana spends her time fantasizing about becoming a smith in her father’s forge and eavesdropping on whispered tales of beasts and men who roam the nocturnal realm. But in the Night, these stories come alive, as Oriana saw for herself after she inadvertently trespassed into the Secret Market of the Dead, where vendors hawk Moira to those desperate enough to accept its immeasurably steep price.

Years later, when her father chooses her twin brother to succeed him, Oriana challenges her sibling to a series of trials to determine the forge’s true heir. But as the twins’ fierce competition escalates, with the town and her own family set firmly against her, Oriana realizes that to break free from the stifling confines of Day, she must once again embrace the Night—and, as always, everything comes with a cost.

Critic reviews

"Carlotta Brentan rivets listeners with her bewitching voice as she spins the tale of Oriana, a girl who lives in magical Luceria, Italy, in the eighteenth century. As Brentan brings Oriana to life, listeners will find themselves whisked into a world where saints are nocturnal, girls dream of being blacksmiths, and men wear powdered wigs at court. Using an individualized voice for each character, Brentan creates personalities that go beyond the text. Her role is crucial, but listeners are so captivated that they forget she’s acting. For those looking to immerse themselves in a story, this narration checks every box."

Whimsical & Gothic - FANTASTIC!

Giovanni DeFeo’s The Secret Market of the Dead is an enchanting tale that feels like a bedtime story spun from moonlight and shadow. I listened to this as an audiobook and narrator Carlotta Brentan perfectly captured the mesmerizing world-building, weaving an ethereal, faintly ominous tapestry that binds the rustic charm of an 18th-century Italian village to a dreamscape steeped in folklore. This nocturnal realm, alive with Creatures of the Night, is both wondrous and treacherous, where every shimmering promise cloaks a perilous cost. The story whispers a timeless warning: beware what comes too easily, for its price may be steeper than you imagine.

We follow Oriana, a young woman navigating her life in a historical Italian town, into the mystical landscape of dreams. Her journey is a vibrant exploration of power and control, destiny versus free will, and the raw pull of human desire. These universal themes make the story resonate deeply, inviting readers to reflect on their own aspirations and sacrifices. At its heart, the narrative probes a haunting question: how far would you go to seize what you want? Would you reshape your very essence or risk the fates of those you love?

Oriana’s defies the social norm to in pursuit her dream of becoming a blacksmith in her father’s forge, anchoring the story with a fierce, relatable struggle. This thread of ambition weaves through the broader narrative, illuminating the tension between personal desire and the consequences of chasing it through secondary characters as well. The interplay of characters like Giovanna’s mother—whose well-intentioned actions wreak unintended harm—adds a poignant layer, highlighting the moral ambiguity of trying to do right in a world where outcomes are unpredictable. This juxtaposition of noble intentions and devastating results, set against the idea that we can forge our own paths, is utterly compelling.

The Gothic aesthetic infuses the tale with a heady blend of Catholicism and mysticism, rendering the dreamscape both breathtaking and foreboding. The Secret Market itself stands out, whimsical yet eerie, a place where the fantastical feels tantalizingly real. I think it would improve the story to lingered longer in this captivating market, delving deeper into its mysteries. The pacing, deliberate and immersive, builds to a thrilling third act, culminating in an ending that is both heartbreaking and hopeful; its emotional resonance lingers.

The characters are richly developed, their relationships evolving with nuance—particularly the dynamic between Oriana and her twin brother Oriano, which grows as they do. This vivid cast and atmospheric world have burrowed into my heart, making it difficult to dive into another book while this one continues to settle. The Secret Market of the Dead is a haunting, beautiful journey that I won’t soon forget.

A gothic Italian folklore inspired story that had so much potential

I wanted to love this book so much. My Great grandparents immigrated from Italy and I was excited to experience some of the folklore and some of the family traditions that were passed down to us. I also love a good coming of age story. Especially one that is steeped in politics and feminism. Add a gothic nature to it… I thought it would be a win. However, no matter how hard I tried I just couldn’t get into this book. I found myself drifting off and not listening to the narration. It never captured my attention. So, unfortunately this book was not for me.