When I Was Death

Alexis Henderson

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Paperback

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English

Penguin Books Ltd
12 March 2026

Final Destination meets House of Hollow in this haunting and lyrical speculative horror about a group of girls doing Death's bidding in exchange for preserving their own lives.

Final Destination meets House of Hollow in this haunting and lyrical speculative horror about a group of girls doing Death's bidding in exchange for preserving their own lives.

When a life is saved . . . Death must be paid.

Roslyn Volk isn't herself any more. It's been a year since her older sister, Adeline, died under mysterious circumstances, and she's still shackled by grief. When six mysterious girls appear in town one morning, Roslyn finds herself inexplicably drawn to them, soon learning that Adeline spent her last summer with the group.

Desperate to find out what really happened to her sister, Roslyn agrees to accompany the girls on their road trip. But this strange sisterhood share an inconceivable secret. All of them have been spared from Death's clutches and now must pay for the privilege. Gifted with Death's touch, the girls travel the country reaping souls in return for preserving their own lives.

As Roslyn becomes more entangled with the girls, in particular the group's leader Shiloh who she gravitates towards, she must decide if finding closure is worth the price of striking a deal with Death.

By: Alexis Henderson
Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 129mm, Spine: 35mm
Weight: 500g
ISBN: 9780241716274
ISBN 10: 0241716276
Pages: 320
Publication Date: 12 March 2026
Recommended Age: From 12 years
Audience: Children/juvenile , Young adult , English as a second language , Preschool (0-5)
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Alexis Henderson is a speculative fiction writer with a penchant for dark fantasy, witchcraft and cosmic horror. Growing up in one of America's most haunted cities, Savannah, Georgia, instilled in her a life-long love of ghost stories. When she doesn't have her nose buried in a book, you can find her painting or watching horror movies with her feline familiar. Her acclaimed adult books include The Year of the Witching, House of Hunger and An Academy for Liars. Her debut YA novel, When I Was Death, publishes in March 2026.