
When I Was Death
Alexis Henderson(Author)
Penguin Books Ltd (Publisher)
Published on 12. March 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-0-241-71627-4 (ISBN)
Description
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 suspicious 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 her own deal with Death.
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 suspicious 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 her own deal with Death.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Penguin Random House Children's UK
Target group
Children/juvenile
Young adult
Interest Age: From 12 years
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 199 mm
Width: 131 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
204 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-241-71627-4 (9780241716274)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Alexis Henderson
When I Was Death
The new haunting speculative horror from the author of The Year of the Witching
E-Book
03/2026
Penguin Books Ltd
€9.99
Available for download
Person
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.