Scan barcode
nicheinterests's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Pedophilia
roxanamalinachirila's review against another edition
2.0
Creative, but didactic. Occasionally funny, but often just boring. The plot drags on, although it sometimes moves in jolts.
I think the worst part is that it starts off sounding so *neat*: Zane walks into a shop full of magic stones and can't afford any of them. You truly feel the atmosphere, the way magic works, the way this universe functions.
And then, later on, after wanting to kill himself and ending up as Death, it seems to lose some of its charm. The discovery of his office is exciting at first, but you're starting to feel like Piers Anthony is preaching in supposedly fictional prose (but what he's saying didn't really interest me). There are a few disjointed episodes of dying that I can understand the purpose of, but which didn't really catch me.
I initially cared about the romantic plot with Luna, possibly because she seemed to promise so much as a character. By the end, however, she'd ended up as the damsel in distress falling in love with the main character without much else going on for her.
And the ending was the biggest disappointment and the reason the rating is at 2 stars, not 3: it's the cheesiest thing ever.
George Guidall's audio version is pretty neat, however, making what I feel is the best of not very good prose.
I think the worst part is that it starts off sounding so *neat*: Zane walks into a shop full of magic stones and can't afford any of them. You truly feel the atmosphere, the way magic works, the way this universe functions.
And then, later on, after wanting to kill himself and ending up as Death, it seems to lose some of its charm. The discovery of his office is exciting at first, but you're starting to feel like Piers Anthony is preaching in supposedly fictional prose (but what he's saying didn't really interest me). There are a few disjointed episodes of dying that I can understand the purpose of, but which didn't really catch me.
I initially cared about the romantic plot with Luna, possibly because she seemed to promise so much as a character. By the end, however, she'd ended up as the damsel in distress falling in love with the main character without much else going on for her.
And the ending was the biggest disappointment and the reason the rating is at 2 stars, not 3: it's the cheesiest thing ever.
George Guidall's audio version is pretty neat, however, making what I feel is the best of not very good prose.
wynter's review against another edition
3.0
The writing is terrible and action scenes are as corny as they can get. But... I am giving an extra star for original concept (Death as an office assumed by a mortal) and unique world (blend of science fiction and fantasy), as well as another star for the first few gripping chapters. If the writing didn't go downhill from there, this book would be an instant favorite. Anthony introduced too many loopholes to make his character get out of unbelievable situations that after a while it began to look ridiculous.
chrisshorb's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting premise. That said, Neil Gaiman did it better with Sandman.
Lots of really dated stuff around gender, sexuality and race that hasn’t really aged well.
I have the first five volumes though that I got at a thrift store, so I guess I’ll be reading the rest eventually.
Lots of really dated stuff around gender, sexuality and race that hasn’t really aged well.
I have the first five volumes though that I got at a thrift store, so I guess I’ll be reading the rest eventually.
bekahsoyster's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
mohawkmary's review against another edition
5.0
An interesting take on the office of Death in a thought provoking point of view.
blumbergler's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
rachelelizabethlee's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5