A review by katewantstoread
A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

This book disappointed me very much. After the first two I had high hopes for this one but it seems it was written as the worst kind of a filler book. So much happens and yet there's emotion missing. You read 10 chapters from different POVs and when it finally gets intriguing, it switches to the slowest chapters ever. Yes, a lot does happen but it is all but a filler book. The MCs - Laia and Elias - that we've followed through the first 2 books have turned into secondary characters, just there to move the plot. To service the plot, but the plot should be servicing them. No positive change in characters and it's hidden so well in action packed chapters. Action that just brings no solutions and no emotion and no connections. It is very disappointing to use the third book of 4book series as a filler one.

The only resemblance of emotion/connection/relationship is what Helene and Harper have and even that feels empty.

It is very hard to read and find anything good about this book. There's nothing wrong about a plot driven story but it is wrong when it lacks the essence of the characters. Which this book does so disappointingly. Overall, though, the book does follow good plot and has an amazing and emotional ending (yes, I was surprised).