New Twist for a Reaper

This audible box set given to me for my honest review.

I enjoyed this box set. I thought the narration was fluid and strong and the characters were built nicely. I am use to a more paranormal feel to my books, but I think Jen L Grey wrote this series nicely.

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One big adventure!

Think this is one of those few stories that are even better when listened to than by reading it yourself, merely because the great fit of the narrator.
This one really made this story come to life, she truly did a great job.

In this story there are more kinds of supernaturals but it really focuses on the Reapers. The main character seems to have a different sort of power than other reapers do. At age 10, on her first job, she finds her subject in a totally different way than normal reapers. They don’t just “find” their subject, they need to track them down. So her parents, ever so eager to please the counsil and fearing their daughter’s unnatural power being used against them, lowering their status umongst the reaper society, forbade her to use that power ever again. Furthermore, they demand she reaps souls just the way they -and all other reapers- do. But this doesn’t feel natural to her and she keeps struggling to reap souls.

So much so, that each time (during Those 7, nearly 8 years,) she is out with her family training to reap souls, her father needed to help, to do the actual reaping.
I love that it describes how that happens. When a reaper reaps, they need to make physical contact and pull the soul into their own body. Not to consume them or anything like that, their body just act like a conduit to bring the soul to the proper place in their afterlife. Interesting concept.

Since she hasn’t succeeded in reaping even just one soul completely alone it isn’t a far stretch that things would go wrong on her first solo mission.
Her assignment turns out to be almost an exact copy of her belated best friend Beth, whom she lost a few years back. Dumbstruck she can only look at the girl for a minute. When another reaper shows up to reap the girl’s soul, Christina -Chris- does what comes natural to her and she brings the soul back to the girl that ought to be dead. Of course, this doesn’t go unnoticed and that’s when all things go south.

To redeem not just herself but save her parents as well -whom’s lives are in jeopardy just because they failed to teach her properly -the Reaper Council is not generous nor kind- she has to find an artifact. 4 artifacts in fact.

When Christina accepts the deal (not that she had much choice), she couldn’t possibly know what she would set in motion but there is no going back.

This is a captivating story, roughly one book per artifact, the speed of what is revealed about the (in hindsight ominous) artifacts is pleasant.
Throughout the four books the main character Christina has the mental growth from being a teenager that isn’t seeing the repercussions that certain actions or agreements might have, to someone who learns from their mistakes and can factor in the consequences of certain actions she might take... or won’t.

Interesting worldbuilding and some hilarious interactions make for a story that has enthralled me from start to finish.
And some might have problems with the way this series ends but I think it is the best possible outcome that doesn’t seem too convenient or farstretched. I needed to let this story cultivate for a bit before writing this and I have thought of this series a lot, every time with the same fondness as before. This is one I’ll gladly listen to again. Like I said, the narrator really does bring the MC and the story to life!

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1 person found this helpful

Awesome series

I really loved this series. It was an easy listen filler with magic, reapers, demons fighting and love. I am obsessed with books that create alternate worlds or realms that are different from earth and this had 3!!! Our main character was not your typical heroine but her growth through the book was special and I think as women we can relate to that moment you decide to stop letting other people manipulate you or dictate your life. I think this series could’ve been another 5-6 hours and I would not have been bored with it but everything wrapped up nicely! Really fun series!

Per my request I was given a free review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are solely my own and were not influenced in any way.

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Ok if you want a mindless listen

I can't think of a character that has driven me crazier in a novel recently than Christina. If her age weren't stated early in the novel I easily would have thought she was fifteen or sixteen because she is the perfect whiny teenager for a YA novel. She flip flops more in her characterization even more than she does in her decision making. One moment she's a strong female character I could get behind and the next she's saying sorry three times in the same sentence. The book is good if you want a mindless listen for background noise, but I found that there were too many details in places I didn't want and not enough in the places I did want. Maybe if I were a bit younger I would have been able to relate to the main character more, but I just found her confusing and flighty. The premise and take on mythology was interesting, but unfortunately I couldn't get get past the writing and characterization.

I received this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

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great for teens

This is a good series for teens. The story line was new for me which made it interesting and entertaining. The narrator killed it for me (personally) so I recommend reading the series if you are an avid audible listener.

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good novels

slow starting but, gets you hooked and wanting more! the action picks up about 5 chapters and never stops from tgere.

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Great series!

This a great YA magical book that includes reapers and some of the other supernaturals too. We follow Christine, and honestly I couldn’t help but wanna coddle her some. In her young life she has witnessed death of a loved one and has difficult parents as well.
As the series continued the main character grew with each installment. It was nice seeing her character grow. There is a bit of action, and a slow burn romance in this series which I appreciated. I’d recommend this series to anyone who enjoys reading YA with supernatural elements.

I thought the narrator, Shelley Reece was a good fit for the MC. She portrayed all the characters well and used a variety of inflections.

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Intriguing

The narration was great and snooth,the storyline intriguing, action packed with twist and turns. It kept me engaged in the story and plot.

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Amazing story

I liked everything about this series. It ended on a good note, but it has a way for a spin off. lol at least I'd like to see what happens with the characters, and where they end up. jmo but I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story with reapers and magic

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Great Read

The story line was enthralling and captivating. Will definitely reread the series! It moves along quick preventing you from getting bored from filler.

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1 person found this helpful