Deadly Ever After -- Brittany Johnson, Hardcover

Two dead princesses must find true love's kiss to be brought back to life in this heart-stopping romantic fantasy debut.

"A captivating blend of suspense, romance, and fantasy." --Kalynn Bayron, New York Times bestselling author of Cinderella Is Dead

Amala has spent her whole life trying to be the perfect princess: delicate, quiet, obedient. But when she's murdered on the night of her wedding, her story is cut short before it begins.

Kha'dasia has been told her whole life that she is too rough, too loud, too much. She's no ordinary princess but a ruthless warrior on a quest to fulfill her late brother's dying wish. Except she dies before reaching her destination.

When both girls wake up in a cursed forest, the gods offer them a second chance at life--if they can find true love's kiss. But there's a catch, the gods warn. While the right kiss will save you, the wrong kiss will kill you.

On their journey, the princesses must overcome challenges that force them to face the truth of their lives...and their deaths. And as Amala and Kha'dasia grow closer, they can't help but wonder if true love has been standing right in front of them all along.

Author: Brittany Johnson
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Published: 11/04/2025
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.25lbs
ISBN: 9780593859537
Age Range: 12-UP

Review Citation(s):
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 09/01/2025
Publishers Weekly 08/11/2025

About the Author
Brittany Johnson is a contributor in the YA anthology We Mostly Come Out at Night (Running Press Teen/Hachette, 2024). She has also published articles with The Mighty, Autostraddle, and Medium on the intersections of race, mental health, gender, and sexuality. Deadly Ever After is her debut novel, and it's a love letter to soft Black girls who rarely get to see themselves in media.