The Witch Who Trades with Death

By: C.M. Alongi

Narrated by: Lucy Walker-Evans

A young witch forced to play concubine for her empirical captor, finally breaks free to find a life of her own, but even those with the power to call Death cannot outrun their past…

All witches must serve the cruel and immortal Emperor Yamueto. Upon discovery of her powers, Khana was ripped away from her desert home at fourteen years old and enslaved as a concubine. After years in service, her only friend in the palace is brutally murdered for supplying her forbidden birth-control, and Khana must make her escape. But not before accidentally discovering the secret of Yamueto’s power and immortality – he has been making deals with Death. And now, thanks to a twist of fate, so is she.

Armed with new magic that she doesn’t fully understand, Khana flees to a small mountain town. Although she tries to keep her identity a secret, Khana’s powers are soon discovered after rescuing a dying soldier. News of her abilities starts to spread, putting a giant target on her back. And Yamueto is not the forgiving kind.

Khana’s magic and courage are put to the ultimate test when she is finally forced to stop running and fight back. But every deal she makes with Death takes another piece of her soul, and there’s only so much that Khana can give before turning into the very monster she’s trying to destroy.

WARNING: This book contains references to violence, war, racism, xenophobia, sexual assault and domestic violence.

©2025 C.M. Alongi (P)2025 Bolinda Publishing

Critic reviews

'I fell into The Witch who Trades with Death like a knife through butter – it gripped me from the very beginning and I was desperate to know when Khana would finally catch a break.' (Gemma Creffield, Senior Commissioning Editor at Angry Robot)

'C.M. Alongi’s The Witch who Trades with Death is tightly plotted and utterly immersive with characters and conflict that jump right off the page from the very first chapter. I couldn’t get enough of this book and Alongi’s cinematic storytelling.' (Lesley Sabga, The Seymour Agency)

Love it!

I found this author on TikTok through her Cafe Latte series. She is an awesome story teller. She does her research on any topic that might cause discomfort with people. She consults and has sensitivity readers. This author is awesome. Now for this book. I loved the story line She delved into many current social issues and her characters overcame many issues. I am horrible at reviews, but this book held me captivated. Just FYI, I am 56 yr old woman with varied tastes in literature. C.M. Along is great!!! Keep up the good work. Now, onto Citadel!

Everything

The detail and the way Khana’s trauma was portrayed was perfect. The story was amazing and the subplots were equally interesting. I had a lot of fun listening to this, feeling a lot for the characters. Perfect first listen.

Throws you into the world

The way this book is written pulls you in so completely, it feels like you’ve stepped right into its world. The unique names and vivid places keep you engaged and curious, while the characters are so well-crafted that you feel every emotion right alongside them. It’s a beautiful blend of heartfelt, funny, and even a little heartbreaking at times, a true emotional journey. I absolutely recommend giving it a read; it’s one of those stories that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

amazing story. wrapped up in one book

love CM Alongis world building. you really start to care for the main characters from the very beginning, and they flesh out the world and the characters so organically.

The story & inclusion in character types is perfection

The story reached into my heart and healed a part of me. It’s hard to find a book that has everything this does, from the vast array of character types to the realistic feelings and thoughts each have. This is a story of found family, survival & honest healing of traumas, and depth that makes the reader consider topics outside of the book. The performance is well done and lends to the world and character building.