Final Rating:
Date of Completion: 19/09/2025
Published by: Del Rey
ISBN: 978I529907193
I had high hopes for ‘The Reaper’ because of its fascinating premise and world, but sadly, the story’s delivery failed to hold my interest.
Cover:
Writing:
Storyline:
Main character(s):
Secondary characters:
I’ll start with the positives. The creative world, filled with various supernatural beings from a hidden world beneath ours, stands out as a highlight of this book. It’s a rich backdrop that adds an exciting layer to the story. I also appreciated the serious themes, such as grooming, justice, and social inequality, which add much-needed depth to what otherwise feels like a Young Adult fantasy. Plus, the story wraps up nicely, with a surprising reveal that I didn’t see coming.
Stranger things have happened.
However, between the underwhelming opening scene and the storyline not gaining momentum until about halfway through, I struggled to stay invested in this book. It didn’t help that the writing style leaned heavily towards telling rather than showing, and some parts were overloaded with unnecessary details, while others could have used more.
You can only get better by trying again.
The main characters, Amy and Gerald, have some depth through their tragic backstories and shared feelings of loneliness. I wasn’t convinced by their growth or able to form a strong connection to them, though, as they seemed somewhat generic. The points of view from several supporting characters also added little to the story, making the cast largely forgettable, despite a few cute dynamics.
Discussion Questions (Contains spoilers!):
Q: Do you have any similar book recommendations?
For similar reads, check out The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le and Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody. Both books have similar character dynamics to those in this story and interesting fantasy-mystery elements.
Q: Which part of the story surprised you most?
The scene where Gerald casually killed four of Bane’s associates during an interrogation. The first death, delivered with a slap, had my attention immediately! The remaining deaths followed in rapid succession and left me reeling. This scene was even more shocking because it greatly clashed with Gerald’s usual charming and playful nature.
Q: Did you have a prom, and did you go?
I did! I remember being excited to dress up and taking lots of pictures. The event itself was decent – I had fun dancing with friends, but the food was disappointing. Still, I’m glad I went. It’s a memory I look back on fondly.
Q: Would you rather have Gerald’s deadly touch or Amy’s empathy power?
Q: Would you have reacted differently to Amy if you had woken up to find Gerald in your house?
Q: Which character dynamics did you love most?
Q: Have you been to any of the London locations mentioned in this book?
Q: Did your impression of Gerald’s parents change over the course of the story?
Q: Would you have accepted Gerald’s offer to be his partner, like Amy did?
Q: Which part of the worldbuilding did you find most fascinating?
Q: Did you figure out who had been helping Tyrell and Melanie before it was revealed?
Q: How did Gerald’s and Amy’s backstories influence your feelings towards them?
Q: Did the reveals about Melanie change how you viewed her character?
Q: Were you satisfied with how things turned out for Melanie and Tyrell?
Q: Did you enjoy the mystery and political intrigue in the story?
Q: Which themes from the story resonated most with you?
Do you agree or disagree with anything mentioned above? Let us know in the comments below.
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