This series came out after the first book in the universe, The Goblin Emperor, which I also love. Instead of being about a sudden king out of his depth, this is about a Speaker for the Dead, a kind of sort of post-death doula that assists the souls of the dead to pass on quietly. In Addison’s fascinating world, the dead who aren’t properly buried can return as terrible undead creatures. I really love the main character, a man named Thara Celehar — he is a dedicated servant of his god, shepherding souls to the afterlife, and he’s also very nervous and careful. The whole series is delightful, and the world building is second to none.