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readreadreadbby's review against another edition
3.0
Just finished it... and I slightly read it because I was forced and I wanted to see what all the hype was all about, plus the authors coming to my school. The plot twist were expected.I totally saw the villain from 1000,000 miles away, but it was pretty witty and morbidly funny in only the way a teenage narration can do.
bookwormreflections's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sjj169's review against another edition
3.0
This book was hard for me to rate.
Lex has been acting out. Her Uncle Mort agrees to take her in for the summer on his "farm". Ends up he is a Grim. He helps people die. Lex is perfect for the job.
I did not like the main character. I know she was supposed to be snarky and all. But she just served the purpose of pissing me off. I did like her somewhat better by the end of the book. It could be the fact that she is a teenage girl. Yep. Don't like those.
The land of Croak. Yeah ok. There just wasn't enough world building on it for me.
The keeping of the secrets. I hate when characters keep things to themselves. That may just be my nosey self but some things never were explained.
The Grim teenagers working 10 hours a day? I can't get mine off the couch for 10 min. I just don't see it.
Then there was some good:
I did laugh out loud several times.
Grim Reapers..frigging love the idea of the book.
Edgar Allan Poe. He is the star of the whole book. He got a star on the rating all by himself.
Did I like this book enough to continue with the series? Probably not unless they just jumped in my hand.
Anne You were right
Lex has been acting out. Her Uncle Mort agrees to take her in for the summer on his "farm". Ends up he is a Grim. He helps people die. Lex is perfect for the job.
I did not like the main character. I know she was supposed to be snarky and all. But she just served the purpose of pissing me off. I did like her somewhat better by the end of the book. It could be the fact that she is a teenage girl. Yep. Don't like those.
The land of Croak. Yeah ok. There just wasn't enough world building on it for me.
The keeping of the secrets. I hate when characters keep things to themselves. That may just be my nosey self but some things never were explained.
The Grim teenagers working 10 hours a day? I can't get mine off the couch for 10 min. I just don't see it.
Then there was some good:
I did laugh out loud several times.
Grim Reapers..frigging love the idea of the book.
Edgar Allan Poe. He is the star of the whole book. He got a star on the rating all by himself.
Did I like this book enough to continue with the series? Probably not unless they just jumped in my hand.
Anne You were right
novelheartbeat's review against another edition
2.0
From my blog Auntie Spinelli Reads
How did I feel about this book? Meh. That about covers it.
I couldn't connect with Lex at all, and I didn't particularly like her. It seemed like Gina was going for kick-ass heroine, but it didn't work for Lex. She was unnecessarily violent to the point of being a bully. I didn't find her 'cool' at all, I just felt like she tried to hard. Aside from being a bully, she was childish and selfish. While I did like her sarcasm, sometimes even that felt forced. I guess her badass attitude was supposed to be charming and endearing? It certainly wasn't to me. Which is why I liked it at first when she went to Croak, because her bullying had no effect on Uncle Mort (who actually succeeded in being bad-ass without trying), and she didn't get her way anymore.
As for the other characters, there were way too many of them. I could hardly tell the difference from one character to the next because they seemed all alike to me. They were uninspiring and lacked individual personalities. The names were all a blur of just that: names. Elysia, Ferbus, Kilda, Pandora, Corpp, Kloo, Sofi, Ayjay, Zara...there were just too many. And before you start to be proud of me for remember that many, don't - I had to highlight them just to remember them all, ha.
There were also a lot of terms (most of which weren't explained very well). Cull, Smacks, Crasher, Etceteras, Gammas. I got most of them eventually, but I still have no idea what Etceteras were. Honestly, I don't think I was paying enough attention in the parts where it explained. I skimmed through some parts out of extreme boredom.
When it comes to paranormal books, I like it with the protag slowly comes into his/her abilities and realizing what they are. This one threw it all at you at once and it happened so fast I just ended up feeling detached. She has no idea about the world of Grims (Gamma Removal and Immigration Managers), then it's all 'Oh, BTW you're a Grim! Congratulations!!'
There were still a few things I did like. Some of the word usage - like referring to the family jewels as 'yarbles,' Lex's nickname 'Tyrannosaurus Lex,' Grimsphere, and Necropolis, and the menu items: Mad Cow Burger, E. Coli Cola, Salmo-Nilla Ice Cream. Tee hee! I did find the sarcastic humor amusing in most parts.
Jellyfish being able to detect fish was interesting. Really, the whole take on Grims was new and refreshing. I just didn't like the delivery or any of the characters. I found it hard to care about anything, even the death of someone important in the end and the "twist" of the killer. Which frankly wasn't shocking like it should have been.
My feelings toward it aren't hate, just mild disinterest and boredom. Honestly, the only reaction the book got from me besides a snicker here and there was my disgusted outburst at the spider part. EEEK!!!! Nuh-uh. NUH-UH. Yeah. That was about it.
Quotes that made me giggle:
Maybe this was one of those things that people should keep to themselves, like a hatred of baby pandas or a passion for polka music.
"You have no intention of befriending, do you?"
"I'd rather take a bath with a toaster."
Lex sucked in a breath. Then she screamed. Then she swore very loudly. Seven hundred miles away, her mother unwittingly glanced at the money-filled jar in her kitchen for reasons she would never be able to ascertain.
Favorite character: Driggs I guess. Not because I liked him as a character but for the simple fact that he had hetorochromia. :)
ASSESSMENT
Plot: 4/5
Writing style: 2.5/5
Characters: 1/5
World-building: 2/5
Pace: 2/5
Cover: 4/5
How did I feel about this book? Meh. That about covers it.
I couldn't connect with Lex at all, and I didn't particularly like her. It seemed like Gina was going for kick-ass heroine, but it didn't work for Lex. She was unnecessarily violent to the point of being a bully. I didn't find her 'cool' at all, I just felt like she tried to hard. Aside from being a bully, she was childish and selfish. While I did like her sarcasm, sometimes even that felt forced. I guess her badass attitude was supposed to be charming and endearing? It certainly wasn't to me. Which is why I liked it at first when she went to Croak, because her bullying had no effect on Uncle Mort (who actually succeeded in being bad-ass without trying), and she didn't get her way anymore.
As for the other characters, there were way too many of them. I could hardly tell the difference from one character to the next because they seemed all alike to me. They were uninspiring and lacked individual personalities. The names were all a blur of just that: names. Elysia, Ferbus, Kilda, Pandora, Corpp, Kloo, Sofi, Ayjay, Zara...there were just too many. And before you start to be proud of me for remember that many, don't - I had to highlight them just to remember them all, ha.
There were also a lot of terms (most of which weren't explained very well). Cull, Smacks, Crasher, Etceteras, Gammas. I got most of them eventually, but I still have no idea what Etceteras were. Honestly, I don't think I was paying enough attention in the parts where it explained. I skimmed through some parts out of extreme boredom.
When it comes to paranormal books, I like it with the protag slowly comes into his/her abilities and realizing what they are. This one threw it all at you at once and it happened so fast I just ended up feeling detached. She has no idea about the world of Grims (Gamma Removal and Immigration Managers), then it's all 'Oh, BTW you're a Grim! Congratulations!!'
There were still a few things I did like. Some of the word usage - like referring to the family jewels as 'yarbles,' Lex's nickname 'Tyrannosaurus Lex,' Grimsphere, and Necropolis, and the menu items: Mad Cow Burger, E. Coli Cola, Salmo-Nilla Ice Cream. Tee hee! I did find the sarcastic humor amusing in most parts.
Jellyfish being able to detect fish was interesting. Really, the whole take on Grims was new and refreshing. I just didn't like the delivery or any of the characters. I found it hard to care about anything, even the death of someone important in the end and the "twist" of the killer. Which frankly wasn't shocking like it should have been.
My feelings toward it aren't hate, just mild disinterest and boredom. Honestly, the only reaction the book got from me besides a snicker here and there was my disgusted outburst at the spider part. EEEK!!!! Nuh-uh. NUH-UH. Yeah. That was about it.
Quotes that made me giggle:
Maybe this was one of those things that people should keep to themselves, like a hatred of baby pandas or a passion for polka music.
"You have no intention of befriending, do you?"
"I'd rather take a bath with a toaster."
Lex sucked in a breath. Then she screamed. Then she swore very loudly. Seven hundred miles away, her mother unwittingly glanced at the money-filled jar in her kitchen for reasons she would never be able to ascertain.
Favorite character: Driggs I guess. Not because I liked him as a character but for the simple fact that he had hetorochromia. :)
ASSESSMENT
Plot: 4/5
Writing style: 2.5/5
Characters: 1/5
World-building: 2/5
Pace: 2/5
Cover: 4/5
sammy234's review against another edition
1.0
Honestly , I hate to turn my nose up at this book , because the cover's freaking amazing. LOOK AT IT.
Don't you wanna just , like eat it?
OMIGOSH SO SO SO SO PRETTY MY EYYYYES. Anyway, moving on.
I liked the premise , I DID , but this book read like some person trying too hard to bring a joke home.
That's totally never happened to me . Pssshh.
I tried to look past the cheesiness , I did. I tried to look past the whole full house while reaping people's souls vibe this whole book had going.
Edgar Allen Poe chilling in heaven almost made me give this book three stars.
You know , by default.
But the conclusion , when a tragedy was supposed to have wrecked the life of the protagonist gave me little in the way of emotion and the idea of parents letting their child hunt down a murderer without knowing she has supernatural powers is just stupid.
It's like Spider-man casually telling Aunt Mae that he's off to catch a killer when she doesn't KNOW he's Spider-man.
Dumb. I'm sorry.
Unless you are the WORST parent in the world , you don't let your overly aggressive sixteen year old get caught up in a life of high crime when they have no experience and are just climbing out of the first dark horrendous pit that is the beginning stages of puberty.
The dad was literally like , " You have my blessing. Go and kill a man. I wish you the best. Cops are not a thing. It's abundantly clear that only YOU , my only living child , can kill this homicidal maniac. Love you tons !"
Ugh. God help me.
I did NOT like this at all.
Don't you wanna just , like eat it?
OMIGOSH SO SO SO SO PRETTY MY EYYYYES. Anyway, moving on.
I liked the premise , I DID , but this book read like some person trying too hard to bring a joke home.
That's totally never happened to me . Pssshh.
I tried to look past the cheesiness , I did. I tried to look past the whole full house while reaping people's souls vibe this whole book had going.
Edgar Allen Poe chilling in heaven almost made me give this book three stars.
You know , by default.
But the conclusion , when a tragedy was supposed to have wrecked the life of the protagonist gave me little in the way of emotion and the idea of parents letting their child hunt down a murderer without knowing she has supernatural powers is just stupid.
It's like Spider-man casually telling Aunt Mae that he's off to catch a killer when she doesn't KNOW he's Spider-man.
Dumb. I'm sorry.
Unless you are the WORST parent in the world , you don't let your overly aggressive sixteen year old get caught up in a life of high crime when they have no experience and are just climbing out of the first dark horrendous pit that is the beginning stages of puberty.
The dad was literally like , " You have my blessing. Go and kill a man. I wish you the best. Cops are not a thing. It's abundantly clear that only YOU , my only living child , can kill this homicidal maniac. Love you tons !"
Ugh. God help me.
I did NOT like this at all.
trudilibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
Anyone remember Dead Like Me? I flipping LOVED that show, and was so profoundly irate and indignant when dull-witted, moronic executives ripped it off the airwaves after its second season, with so much story left to tell. I will always remember it as an outstanding piece of television where young Georgia Lass is killed quite spectacularly one spring afternoon by an auspicious toilet seat that careens out of the sky after falling from the Russian space station. Smartmouth, antisocial George doesn't "pass over" into any recognizable afterlife however. Instead, she is recruited (against her will) to be a bonafide Grim Reaper. Her job is to "reap" the souls from dead bodies and send them on their merry way across a barrier she isn't allowed to cross. Sound morbid? It isn't. It's deliciously dark, shot through with potent humor, sharp observations, genuine emotion and a brilliant cast. I miss it still.
When I read the premise of Croak it immediately made me think of Dead Like Me. But I knew better than to hold this little book up against that show's richly developed canvas. That doesn't mean Croak is a bad book, because it isn't. It's sweet and funny and fun. Unlike Georgia Lass, Lex doesn't have to die to become a reaper. Instead, having gotten in trouble one too many times in her adolescent life, she is shipped off for the summer to stay with her eccentric, unknowable Uncle Mort who just happens to live in a tiny speck of a town known as Croak. When angry, violent, sarcastic Lex shows up in Croak she's in for the surprise of her life. Rather than milking cows and shoveling pig shit all summer long, her Uncle is going to teach her all about reaping the souls of the dead. She'll even get her own scythe.
I liked the world-building here. There are some nice details about reaping and death and souls and what happens after, though many of those details fall on the side of fluffy and superficial. Still, it is interesting finding out about "the rules". The set-up is gradual and natural and doesn't feel like a big info-dump. Uncle Mort is suitably crazy and charming and kept reminding me of Woody Harrelson in Zombieland. The "romantic interest" (c'mon, you knew there'd be one of those, right?) is actually a winner. This isn't insta-love (well, yes and no) but I didn't care because Driggs (I swear that's his name) is actually pretty funny. I really warmed up to his character. Some of the dialogue he and Lex share reminded me of my favorite screwball comedies from the 30's and 40's. And this made me giggle:
What happened next was an odd conglomeration of each of them moving in to give the other a hug, each thinking that the other was moving in to do something more, a subsequent dual retreat in the form of an awkward, octopus-like limb flailing, and a grand finale of something that could only be described as a clumsy, platonic chest bump. It wasn't pretty.Snicker. For a breezy summer read to make you smile and keep the pages turning, you could do a lot worse than this little book. I've already added Book 2 - [b:Scorch|13316241|Scorch (Croak, #2)|Gina Damico|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1343996586s/13316241.jpg|18522327] to my to-read pile. Interested to see where the story goes next.
As for Dead Like Me -- still one of the best opening credits ever. Reapers on treadmills? C'mon! That's totally awesome.
revengelyne's review against another edition
3.0
Much like most of the people here, this book was a bit hard for me to rate. There were some parts of the book I really enjoyed and made it hard to put the book down and there were some parts that made me put the book down and walk away from it until I felt I could come back.
Lex is a teenager who is going through a stage of feeling angry at everything and everyone. She was not always like this. It just happened. In hopes of changing her attitude, her parents send her to her her Uncle Mort, where she later discovers he is a Grim Reaper and she is about to join the business.
I absolutely adored Uncle Mort and wished there had been more of him in the book. He was an absolute awesome character and the type of Uncle I wish I had.
Lex was another matter. I liked her in some areas and then there were some areas I wanted to just smack her. I also enjoyed the snark between she and Driggs. These two are like cats and dogs always hissing and growling at each other and ready to tear each other apart. Yet they can work together so well that they seemed to be each other's half.
This book does have its potential and can be an enjoyable read to many but for now, I am on the fence with this one. Maybe the second book will change my opinion on it.
Lex is a teenager who is going through a stage of feeling angry at everything and everyone. She was not always like this. It just happened. In hopes of changing her attitude, her parents send her to her her Uncle Mort, where she later discovers he is a Grim Reaper and she is about to join the business.
I absolutely adored Uncle Mort and wished there had been more of him in the book. He was an absolute awesome character and the type of Uncle I wish I had.
Lex was another matter. I liked her in some areas and then there were some areas I wanted to just smack her. I also enjoyed the snark between she and Driggs. These two are like cats and dogs always hissing and growling at each other and ready to tear each other apart. Yet they can work together so well that they seemed to be each other's half.
This book does have its potential and can be an enjoyable read to many but for now, I am on the fence with this one. Maybe the second book will change my opinion on it.