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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was fine, but... I guess it wasn't quite my type of story.
I liked the way the afterlife was set up, and how the strength of the gods is dependent on the living or on the soul of the recently deceased.
It was an interesting world, with well written characters, but when the big twist arrived and the villain was revealed I didn't actually realize how important it was. I didn't realize that the big plot had been foiled and he world had been saved.
And I guess I missed a point where a big secret was revealed because it was hinted at later and I wasn't sure exactly what it was that was being hinted at, like there was something more important to the heroes than everyone has been told, but I honestly don't know exactly what it was that was so important.
I still enjoyed it, but it didn't really hook me the way I was hoping it would.
I liked the way the afterlife was set up, and how the strength of the gods is dependent on the living or on the soul of the recently deceased.
It was an interesting world, with well written characters, but when the big twist arrived and the villain was revealed I didn't actually realize how important it was. I didn't realize that the big plot had been foiled and he world had been saved.
And I guess I missed a point where a big secret was revealed because it was hinted at later and I wasn't sure exactly what it was that was being hinted at, like there was something more important to the heroes than everyone has been told, but I honestly don't know exactly what it was that was so important.
I still enjoyed it, but it didn't really hook me the way I was hoping it would.
Lana works for the Grimm Reaper and she reaps the minimum amount of souls. She rather be doing other things.....
"A reaper and an archangel walked out of a bar."
* Lana is up for promotion and has to try to not break any rules.
* Lucifer is taking a vacation from Hell.
* Gabriel the Angel is mostly always drunk.
* Josie is Lana friend and also a reaper.
* Maalik is a Angel who likes Lana.
I gave it 3 stars because I felt like at some parts the book could have need more going on and some parts just drag a bit for me.
"A reaper and an archangel walked out of a bar."
* Lana is up for promotion and has to try to not break any rules.
* Lucifer is taking a vacation from Hell.
* Gabriel the Angel is mostly always drunk.
* Josie is Lana friend and also a reaper.
* Maalik is a Angel who likes Lana.
I gave it 3 stars because I felt like at some parts the book could have need more going on and some parts just drag a bit for me.
I love this series. A full, rich (other) world beautifully imagined and developed. The characters are too. Each one is easily identifiable, and they continue to grow as the series goes on.
I'm not done reading the series, but I'm dying for Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, or a cable channel like HBO to develop this. I could see it made for other people's viewing pleasure.
In my opinion, a fast ride of a read. One that anyone could enjoy.
I'm not done reading the series, but I'm dying for Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, or a cable channel like HBO to develop this. I could see it made for other people's viewing pleasure.
In my opinion, a fast ride of a read. One that anyone could enjoy.
I love things that are clever - song lyrics, puns, literature featuring mash-ups of death deities - and so this novel was just completely up my alley.
Lana is a reaper with no ambition and not-quite-too-much disregard for authority. In her case, this means sometimes not taking the souls she collects where they're actually supposed to go: Hell, Heaven, Summerland, Duat, or the Sea of Eternity, depending on what the latest human incarnation of that soul believed, and how strongly, before they died. But unbeknownst to most, this realm of the dead is in trouble.
But there is someone! A deity, or similar (I'll admit I didn't totally catch who/what; I will be re-reading this book and will edit my review at that time) who would rather the afterlives dissolve into chaos, and so they are ALSO hunting super-soul #2 to ensure that end. Drama! Fighting! A scythe may not be the world's most efficient weapon!
It all works out in the end, and Lana enjoys a bit of dating with the Muslim demon Maalik (who I had a hard time NOT picturing as the ugly fleshy monstrosity from the Sleepy Hollow TV series.... just me? and) who, despite being a thousand years old, knows very little about anything. Also cute.
I got this one for free (thanks, bookbub!); library doesn't have anything; I will be buying at least the next one in this series.
Lana is a reaper with no ambition and not-quite-too-much disregard for authority. In her case, this means sometimes not taking the souls she collects where they're actually supposed to go: Hell, Heaven, Summerland, Duat, or the Sea of Eternity, depending on what the latest human incarnation of that soul believed, and how strongly, before they died. But unbeknownst to most, this realm of the dead is in trouble.
Spoiler
When Grim Reaper started putting all kinds of systems in place to organize the souls he was responsible for (one system being the creation of his minion reapers, like Lana), he accepted the help of a single soul to sit around and hold his whole world together. This soul is rapidly losing power, and another soul with the same capabilities needs to be found from the number of people dying every day to take over. Or: chaos in the afterlives. The original super-soul also creates the reaper minions out of "soul matter" and created Lana with the unique ability to empathize with the recently deceased so as to eventually locate the replacement super-soul. (It is, of course, this unique ability which also inspires Lana to periodically disobey her deposit directives).But there is someone! A deity, or similar (I'll admit I didn't totally catch who/what; I will be re-reading this book and will edit my review at that time) who would rather the afterlives dissolve into chaos, and so they are ALSO hunting super-soul #2 to ensure that end. Drama! Fighting! A scythe may not be the world's most efficient weapon!
It all works out in the end, and Lana enjoys a bit of dating with the Muslim demon Maalik (who I had a hard time NOT picturing as the ugly fleshy monstrosity from the Sleepy Hollow TV series.... just me? and) who, despite being a thousand years old, knows very little about anything. Also cute.
I got this one for free (thanks, bookbub!); library doesn't have anything; I will be buying at least the next one in this series.
Graveyard Shift was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I lived the creation of the multi denominational afterlife, with all its politics and curious people. Can't wait to start the next in the series.
Picked this up for free and it was a real treat. I loved the whole idea of eternity being this business of sorts.
Main reason I knocked a few stars off is by about 60% I was feeling bogged down with the book. Things were becoming repetitive.
Overall interesting concept and great freebie!
Main reason I knocked a few stars off is by about 60% I was feeling bogged down with the book. Things were becoming repetitive.
Overall interesting concept and great freebie!
Loved the premise with all the religions working, playing and plotting in the afterlife.
Not bad, but a little confusing
As I was reading I found myself wondering if the idea for Graveyard Shift sounded better in the author's head, like there was some headcanon I was not privy to. A few too many characters and inside jokes. But the premise is interesting and I like Lana, so I might give the sequel a go.
As I was reading I found myself wondering if the idea for Graveyard Shift sounded better in the author's head, like there was some headcanon I was not privy to. A few too many characters and inside jokes. But the premise is interesting and I like Lana, so I might give the sequel a go.