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The Reluctant Reaper #2
Scythe Does Matter
Kirsty’s afterlife gets even more Hellish in this second installment of The Reluctant Reaper series when her soul-stealing ex-boss targets her beloved aunt. Her only chance to stop him? Becoming a Reaper herself. Fortunately, her hunky new boyfriend, Italian-poet-turned-Reaper Dante Alighieri, is there to help.Still trapped in the bureaucratic inferno known as Hell, Kirsty d’Arc redoubles her efforts to escape back to the Mortal Coil when she learns Conrad is after the soul of her beloved aunt. To save Aunt Carey, Kirsty must enroll at the Reaper Academy and earn a scythe of her own. Studying topics like Exor-scything 101, Riding the Death Cycle, and Reincarnation for Dummies is strange. But then, so are her classmates: a fallen angel, the Death Valley girls, and Kali—the ancient god of death, destruction, and those little earring backs that always go missing.
Now time is running out thanks to a temporal crisis she may have accidentally created. Can she graduate, rescue her aunt, take down Conrad, and save Hell and every other dimension—before the clock stops ticking?
As the saying goes in Hell, “Be careful what you wish for; it just might get you!”
Now time is running out thanks to a temporal crisis she may have accidentally created. Can she graduate, rescue her aunt, take down Conrad, and save Hell and every other dimension—before the clock stops ticking?
As the saying goes in Hell, “Be careful what you wish for; it just might get you!”
- GenresUrban FantasyYoung Adult
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2013
2 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Gina X. Grant
17 books52 followersGINA X. GRANT writes multi-genre fiction that leans more light than dark, blending humor, heart, and just a hint of mischief. She lives just north of Toronto, Canada, where she shares her home with Canoli, a rescued Mexican street dog who runs the place with quiet authority.
Her latest series, THE UNLIKELY MURDER CLUB, is a sharp, witty cozy mystery featuring a senior sleuth, found family, and crimes that refuse to stay neatly solved.
New to Gina’s world? Start with the FREE prequel novella, Agatha’s First Murder, available via her website.
Her latest series, THE UNLIKELY MURDER CLUB, is a sharp, witty cozy mystery featuring a senior sleuth, found family, and crimes that refuse to stay neatly solved.
New to Gina’s world? Start with the FREE prequel novella, Agatha’s First Murder, available via her website.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 25, 2013
"Scythe Does Matter," the second book in the Reluctant Reaper series, is where the book and it's author find their feet.
The laughs this time around are allowed to occur naturally and never seem forced or over done.
Kirsty comes into her own and takes an active role in her after-life. This allows her to become the heroine that she has to be to make the story work.
Dante, on the other hand, plays a more secondary role in this read. Thankfully without all of the "thee and thou" of the first book.
The setting of the story is also a lot tighter than the first time around. This means that there are not tons of new characters drifting in and out of scenes, and there are fewer scene changes. This paring down of details helps to make this a wonderful novella.
This is a great second book and an awesome progression for the author and the series.
- See more at: http://www.wtfareyoureading.com/#stha...
The laughs this time around are allowed to occur naturally and never seem forced or over done.
Kirsty comes into her own and takes an active role in her after-life. This allows her to become the heroine that she has to be to make the story work.
Dante, on the other hand, plays a more secondary role in this read. Thankfully without all of the "thee and thou" of the first book.
The setting of the story is also a lot tighter than the first time around. This means that there are not tons of new characters drifting in and out of scenes, and there are fewer scene changes. This paring down of details helps to make this a wonderful novella.
This is a great second book and an awesome progression for the author and the series.
- See more at: http://www.wtfareyoureading.com/#stha...
July 17, 2013
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
SCYTHE DOES MATTER was exactly what I was hoping for in the second book of The Reluctant Reaper series. Hell remained quirky, and Kristy developed a personality! I also felt that unlike THE RELUCTANT REAPER, a lot more actually happened in this book. Though short, SCYTHE DOES MATTER has a general story arc with a conclusion that exists within the larger plot line that spans multiple books. Kristy trying to make it through Reaper School so she has the skills to save her aunt is the biggest focus, but there is a smaller victory near the end that makes for a satisfying conclusion to this individual installment.
One disappointment is that we didn’t see much of the characters we met previously. Obviously Dante played a part, but some of Kristy’s new friends from THE RELUCTANT REAPER were somewhat MIA. Luckily, Grant made up for it with some fun new friends for Kristy, especially Kali, who we all know as the goddess of death and chaos, but also, apparently, lost earring backs. And, depending on your sense of humor, you may be happy to hear that SCYTHE DOES MATTER contains far less puns than THE RELUCTANT REAPER (I for one was very pleased about this- they had started to get distracting).
SCYTHE DOES MATTER does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, with considerably more punch than the ending to THE RELUCTANT REAPER, and therefore far more motivation to pick up the third book in The Reluctant Reaper Series. The short length of these installments makes them a perfect afternoon summer read, and fortunately for us, there isn’t much time to wait in between. ESPRIT DE CORPSE comes out on August 19th- I’m anxious to see what Kristy gets herself into next!
Sexual content: Mentions of sex
SCYTHE DOES MATTER was exactly what I was hoping for in the second book of The Reluctant Reaper series. Hell remained quirky, and Kristy developed a personality! I also felt that unlike THE RELUCTANT REAPER, a lot more actually happened in this book. Though short, SCYTHE DOES MATTER has a general story arc with a conclusion that exists within the larger plot line that spans multiple books. Kristy trying to make it through Reaper School so she has the skills to save her aunt is the biggest focus, but there is a smaller victory near the end that makes for a satisfying conclusion to this individual installment.
One disappointment is that we didn’t see much of the characters we met previously. Obviously Dante played a part, but some of Kristy’s new friends from THE RELUCTANT REAPER were somewhat MIA. Luckily, Grant made up for it with some fun new friends for Kristy, especially Kali, who we all know as the goddess of death and chaos, but also, apparently, lost earring backs. And, depending on your sense of humor, you may be happy to hear that SCYTHE DOES MATTER contains far less puns than THE RELUCTANT REAPER (I for one was very pleased about this- they had started to get distracting).
SCYTHE DOES MATTER does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, with considerably more punch than the ending to THE RELUCTANT REAPER, and therefore far more motivation to pick up the third book in The Reluctant Reaper Series. The short length of these installments makes them a perfect afternoon summer read, and fortunately for us, there isn’t much time to wait in between. ESPRIT DE CORPSE comes out on August 19th- I’m anxious to see what Kristy gets herself into next!
Sexual content: Mentions of sex
July 7, 2013
*Genre* Fantasy
*Rating* 3.0
*Thoughts*
Picking up right where The Reluctant Reaper left off, having lost her appeal due to a lack of evidence (ensorcelled stapler), Kirsty D'Arc is stuck in Hell trying to figure out a way to get back to the Mortal Coil and her body.
Ex-boss Conrad appears headed towards getting his 25-year life extension that he's nefariously worked hard to get at the expense of Kirsty's own life and it would take a modern miracle for Kirsty to figure out a way to stop Conrad before it is too late.
The usual hijinks and off cut humor are very much in play when Kirsty decides that the only way she can return to the Mortal Coil and stop Conrad from taking someone close to her is to somehow become a Reaper like her lover Dante Alighieri. The only problem is that Kirsty is under a strict time regime and she needs to work fast or else she won't be able to return to her body which still lies in a coma. One wrong move in Reaper training, and it will bring everything she's worked hard for crashing down on her head.
Some new characters like Kali and Ira are among her fellow Reaper trainees she has to compete with and make alliances with. While others like Charon, Claire Voyant, Sue Sayer, and Sybil make brief appearances or are mentioned in passing. I think Kali is my favorite. After all, she's the Goddess of Death and Destruction who wants to be a Reaper.
Scythe Does Matter has a doozy of a cliffhanger ending that obviously leads directly into Esprit de Corpse the third and apparently last book in this series? You must read these books in order, and not skip or skim through them. Each book is relatively short (200 Pages) and I was able to get through them in less than a day.
*Recvd via Edelweiss 04/12/2013* Expected publication: July 15th 2013 by Pocket Star
*Rating* 3.0
*Thoughts*
Picking up right where The Reluctant Reaper left off, having lost her appeal due to a lack of evidence (ensorcelled stapler), Kirsty D'Arc is stuck in Hell trying to figure out a way to get back to the Mortal Coil and her body.
Ex-boss Conrad appears headed towards getting his 25-year life extension that he's nefariously worked hard to get at the expense of Kirsty's own life and it would take a modern miracle for Kirsty to figure out a way to stop Conrad before it is too late.
The usual hijinks and off cut humor are very much in play when Kirsty decides that the only way she can return to the Mortal Coil and stop Conrad from taking someone close to her is to somehow become a Reaper like her lover Dante Alighieri. The only problem is that Kirsty is under a strict time regime and she needs to work fast or else she won't be able to return to her body which still lies in a coma. One wrong move in Reaper training, and it will bring everything she's worked hard for crashing down on her head.
Some new characters like Kali and Ira are among her fellow Reaper trainees she has to compete with and make alliances with. While others like Charon, Claire Voyant, Sue Sayer, and Sybil make brief appearances or are mentioned in passing. I think Kali is my favorite. After all, she's the Goddess of Death and Destruction who wants to be a Reaper.
Scythe Does Matter has a doozy of a cliffhanger ending that obviously leads directly into Esprit de Corpse the third and apparently last book in this series? You must read these books in order, and not skip or skim through them. Each book is relatively short (200 Pages) and I was able to get through them in less than a day.
*Recvd via Edelweiss 04/12/2013* Expected publication: July 15th 2013 by Pocket Star
July 24, 2013
I read the first 50 pages the day it came out and then I got distracted.
Today I finished the last 127 pages in a little over two hours.
It was a quick and fun read with characters I've grown attached to.
In the first book the main character Kristy was just getting into the grove when the book ended. In the sequel she is all in and ready to do.
I highly recommend this book as well as the previous one. My only complaint is that it isn't long enough. I would have gladly slogged through another hundred pages or more.
The third book can't get here fast enough.
Today I finished the last 127 pages in a little over two hours.
It was a quick and fun read with characters I've grown attached to.
In the first book the main character Kristy was just getting into the grove when the book ended. In the sequel she is all in and ready to do.
I highly recommend this book as well as the previous one. My only complaint is that it isn't long enough. I would have gladly slogged through another hundred pages or more.
The third book can't get here fast enough.
September 15, 2014
*I received a free ARC of Scythe Does Matter from the author in exchange of an honest and unbiased review*
Hilarious and filled with silly puns, Scythe Does Matter made me laugh out loud so often and sometimes with tears.
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
Hilarious and filled with silly puns, Scythe Does Matter made me laugh out loud so often and sometimes with tears.
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
November 14, 2013
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.
Quick & Dirty: Trapped in Hell, not living and not dead, Kirsty discovers that her aunt up in the Mortal Coil is in danger. What’s an undead girl to do? It’s time to go back to school – Reaper school that is – and save her aunt before it’s too late!
Opening Sentence: Dante hugged me hard.
The Review:
This is going to be a hard review for me to write. I absolutely hate writing negative reviews, but if I’m being honest, this book really didn’t do anything for me.
This is the second book in The Reluctant Reaper series. This book starts immediately after the first one ends. Kirsty has just lost her court case. She has one chance to appeal. If she loses that as well, she’s stuck in Hell forever. While that wouldn’t be all bad because of her newfound friends and boyfriend, Dante, Kirsty wants the life that was stolen from her. Once she’s lived the years she’s due, she’ll gladly come back and live out her afterlife in Hell.
Conrad – the guy responsible for Kirsty being in Hell – has other plans. Kirsty discovers he’s planning to do to her aunt the same thing he did to Kirsty so that he can stay alive. Kirsty will not let that happen, so she enrolls in Reaper school so she can earn her own scythe to use to drag Conrad to Hell. Will she be able to graduate in time?
I honestly wasn’t a huge fan of Kirsty. She struck me as being very self-centered, not taking into consideration whether her actions would have a negative effect on others. Going hand in hand with that was the fact that she seemed really immature. I was shocked when I realized she was 26. She seems much younger.
I didn’t really get to see enough of Dante to form an opinion on him. He’s on the sidelines for most of the book. He seems like a good guy, and I thought it was cool that he was the Dante (of Dante’s Inferno fame). Other than that, I couldn’t really form an impression of him.
I think my biggest problem was that it felt like the book was trying too hard to be funny. This really served to disrupt the flow of the plot for me, and I found myself rolling my eyes more often than laughing. An example of this would be Kirsty referring to a character as having an emotion “written all over their face” and then say, “No, not literally.” It just really threw me out of the action.
As I said before, this is the second book in a series. While I for the most part had no trouble following what was happening, I still feel it would be best to read The Reluctant Reaper first, mainly in order to meet characters who Kirsty mentions in book 2, but doesn’t give us back story on. I really wish I could have liked it more, but in the end, this just wasn’t my cup of tea.
Notable Scene:
I checked out the reading list. While there were a couple of actual textbooks, I was relieved to find that the required reading consisted mainly of photocopies of the relevant sections of the major religious tomes: the Bible, the Koran, the Tibetan Book of the Dead, the Torah, and a novel titled Good Omens. Go figure.
FTC Advisory: Pocket Books provided me with a copy of Scythe Does Matter. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Trapped in Hell, not living and not dead, Kirsty discovers that her aunt up in the Mortal Coil is in danger. What’s an undead girl to do? It’s time to go back to school – Reaper school that is – and save her aunt before it’s too late!
Opening Sentence: Dante hugged me hard.
The Review:
This is going to be a hard review for me to write. I absolutely hate writing negative reviews, but if I’m being honest, this book really didn’t do anything for me.
This is the second book in The Reluctant Reaper series. This book starts immediately after the first one ends. Kirsty has just lost her court case. She has one chance to appeal. If she loses that as well, she’s stuck in Hell forever. While that wouldn’t be all bad because of her newfound friends and boyfriend, Dante, Kirsty wants the life that was stolen from her. Once she’s lived the years she’s due, she’ll gladly come back and live out her afterlife in Hell.
Conrad – the guy responsible for Kirsty being in Hell – has other plans. Kirsty discovers he’s planning to do to her aunt the same thing he did to Kirsty so that he can stay alive. Kirsty will not let that happen, so she enrolls in Reaper school so she can earn her own scythe to use to drag Conrad to Hell. Will she be able to graduate in time?
I honestly wasn’t a huge fan of Kirsty. She struck me as being very self-centered, not taking into consideration whether her actions would have a negative effect on others. Going hand in hand with that was the fact that she seemed really immature. I was shocked when I realized she was 26. She seems much younger.
I didn’t really get to see enough of Dante to form an opinion on him. He’s on the sidelines for most of the book. He seems like a good guy, and I thought it was cool that he was the Dante (of Dante’s Inferno fame). Other than that, I couldn’t really form an impression of him.
I think my biggest problem was that it felt like the book was trying too hard to be funny. This really served to disrupt the flow of the plot for me, and I found myself rolling my eyes more often than laughing. An example of this would be Kirsty referring to a character as having an emotion “written all over their face” and then say, “No, not literally.” It just really threw me out of the action.
As I said before, this is the second book in a series. While I for the most part had no trouble following what was happening, I still feel it would be best to read The Reluctant Reaper first, mainly in order to meet characters who Kirsty mentions in book 2, but doesn’t give us back story on. I really wish I could have liked it more, but in the end, this just wasn’t my cup of tea.
Notable Scene:
I checked out the reading list. While there were a couple of actual textbooks, I was relieved to find that the required reading consisted mainly of photocopies of the relevant sections of the major religious tomes: the Bible, the Koran, the Tibetan Book of the Dead, the Torah, and a novel titled Good Omens. Go figure.
FTC Advisory: Pocket Books provided me with a copy of Scythe Does Matter. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
July 15, 2013
Scythe Does Matter is sequel to Gina X. Grant's wacky urban fantasy debut The Reluctant Reaper. It can not be read as a standalone and you need to be familiar with events in The Reluctant Reaper to be able to follow what happens. I know that some people do not mind reading series out of order but I think here it's simply not possible, especially since the book is short and there is no time to get to know characters who were previously introduced.
In The Reluctant Reaper we explored hell together with Kirsty as she get to know the rules of afterlife. Now in Scythe Does Matter Kirsty decides that she will deal with Conrad (her evil boss who set her up) personally by becoming the member of Hell's SWAT team, Swiss Guard, customs agents and bounty hunters. In other words, Kirsty enrolls at the Reaper Academy.
When I found out that Scythe Does Matter is going to be about Kirsty attending school for Grim Reapers. I was super excited. The nerd in me was delighted to read about various classes she will be attending and I could not wait to learn what ideas Gina X. Grant had about reaper's education. Kirsty's first glance at the curriculum was promising:
• Reap What You Sew: Styling your robe.
• Stick Handling: You and your scythe.
• Death Coaching: Don't be the rude of all evil.
• etc.
But when classes actually started the description was pretty boring (like actual school). Almost all events happened at class held by one teacher and other fun classes and wacky subjects were neglected and not described. New fellow students appeared as side characters, but even though we had Indian goddess Kali and fallen angel, I missed Char, Claire Voyant and others.
With romance between Dante and Kirsty still without a spark for me and a little bit dull classes at the Reaper Academy, Scythe Does Matter was a lot less wacky and funny than The Reluctant Reaper. Still it resolved some issues and Kirsty's problems with Conrad also developed in an unexpected way. I am hoping that the big finale in Esprit de Corpse will make it worth my while.
In The End...
If you have read and liked The Reluctant Reaper, you probably can't wait to find out what happens next so there is no need to recommend Scythe Does Matter to you.
For those who like urban fantasy about afterlife set in hell with a lot of grim reapers, demons and heroine who likes to talk in puns, The Reluctant Reaper series might prove to be quick, light and fun read for you.
My rating: 3 stars
Disclaimer: I was given a free eBook by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for a honest review. This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.
In The Reluctant Reaper we explored hell together with Kirsty as she get to know the rules of afterlife. Now in Scythe Does Matter Kirsty decides that she will deal with Conrad (her evil boss who set her up) personally by becoming the member of Hell's SWAT team, Swiss Guard, customs agents and bounty hunters. In other words, Kirsty enrolls at the Reaper Academy.
When I found out that Scythe Does Matter is going to be about Kirsty attending school for Grim Reapers. I was super excited. The nerd in me was delighted to read about various classes she will be attending and I could not wait to learn what ideas Gina X. Grant had about reaper's education. Kirsty's first glance at the curriculum was promising:
• Reap What You Sew: Styling your robe.
• Stick Handling: You and your scythe.
• Death Coaching: Don't be the rude of all evil.
• etc.
But when classes actually started the description was pretty boring (like actual school). Almost all events happened at class held by one teacher and other fun classes and wacky subjects were neglected and not described. New fellow students appeared as side characters, but even though we had Indian goddess Kali and fallen angel, I missed Char, Claire Voyant and others.
With romance between Dante and Kirsty still without a spark for me and a little bit dull classes at the Reaper Academy, Scythe Does Matter was a lot less wacky and funny than The Reluctant Reaper. Still it resolved some issues and Kirsty's problems with Conrad also developed in an unexpected way. I am hoping that the big finale in Esprit de Corpse will make it worth my while.
In The End...
If you have read and liked The Reluctant Reaper, you probably can't wait to find out what happens next so there is no need to recommend Scythe Does Matter to you.
For those who like urban fantasy about afterlife set in hell with a lot of grim reapers, demons and heroine who likes to talk in puns, The Reluctant Reaper series might prove to be quick, light and fun read for you.
My rating: 3 stars
Disclaimer: I was given a free eBook by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for a honest review. This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.
August 2, 2013
Kristy is torn – she can stay in hell with Dante, or she can fight to return to her mortal life, see her friend and loved ones but possibly never have a relationship with Dante again. It’s a hard choice
But one becomes much clearer when her boss, who already schemed to claim her soul, is now plotting another extension and back up plan; he’s going after her aunt. Her aunt will do anything for Kirsty – even if it means sacrificing her soul thinking it will bring her out of her coma.
Her mission is now clear – especially after how little Kirsty appreciated her aunt when she was alive. She has to return to the mortal coil, she has to get her life back and save her aunt. And to do that, she needs to become a Reaper, with the power to travel on the coil and affect the people there
And it’s past time her boss was scythed. But first she has to go to university and pass the course.
On the plus side, this book manages to be more amusing than the last one because it doesn’t try so hard. It’s amusing because the characters are kind of fun, the world is a little quirky the whole thing is silly in a good way. The puns are still there but they are much much more restrained and it’s generally lost the whole sense of trying to FORCE the humour that the first book had.
We also had a more coherent story. Kirsty wasn’t just wandering around while random stuff randomly happened randomly around her with much randomness. Nor was she just following people around. She had a plan – admittedly not a good or decent one – was motivated and decided to act. It wasn’t a complicated plan, completely failed to take various things into account, was far from sensible and there were definitely more sensible routes she could have taken. But it was her plan, it was a goal and it was something she set out to do and eventually succeeded in (kind of).
There was also a suggestion of character growth in this book and a definite forward push in her character. She learned, she adapted she accepted her capabilities or lack thereof. It wasn’t huge, but she did work to become more of a character than a passive actor. She even assumes some elements of leadership and a driving force not just in her own life but in the characters around her. She takes charge of her life, she forms new relationships and even shows courage and dedication that is surprising after the first book
Read More
But one becomes much clearer when her boss, who already schemed to claim her soul, is now plotting another extension and back up plan; he’s going after her aunt. Her aunt will do anything for Kirsty – even if it means sacrificing her soul thinking it will bring her out of her coma.
Her mission is now clear – especially after how little Kirsty appreciated her aunt when she was alive. She has to return to the mortal coil, she has to get her life back and save her aunt. And to do that, she needs to become a Reaper, with the power to travel on the coil and affect the people there
And it’s past time her boss was scythed. But first she has to go to university and pass the course.
On the plus side, this book manages to be more amusing than the last one because it doesn’t try so hard. It’s amusing because the characters are kind of fun, the world is a little quirky the whole thing is silly in a good way. The puns are still there but they are much much more restrained and it’s generally lost the whole sense of trying to FORCE the humour that the first book had.
We also had a more coherent story. Kirsty wasn’t just wandering around while random stuff randomly happened randomly around her with much randomness. Nor was she just following people around. She had a plan – admittedly not a good or decent one – was motivated and decided to act. It wasn’t a complicated plan, completely failed to take various things into account, was far from sensible and there were definitely more sensible routes she could have taken. But it was her plan, it was a goal and it was something she set out to do and eventually succeeded in (kind of).
There was also a suggestion of character growth in this book and a definite forward push in her character. She learned, she adapted she accepted her capabilities or lack thereof. It wasn’t huge, but she did work to become more of a character than a passive actor. She even assumes some elements of leadership and a driving force not just in her own life but in the characters around her. She takes charge of her life, she forms new relationships and even shows courage and dedication that is surprising after the first book
Read More
September 10, 2013
SCYTHE DOES MATTER
is the second book in Gina X. Grant's
RELUCTANT REAPER
paranormal series. In this story, twenty-five-year-old Kirsty d'Arc tries to make something of her afterlife while waiting to appeal her denied wrongful reaping appeal. She decides to attend the Reaper Academy, so she can return to the Mortal Coil and bring back the bewitched stapler that started her fall to the Underworld and proves Conrad Iver, her unscrupulous boss, tricked her into literally signing her life away.
I've thoroughly enjoyed this book in the series. Kirsty achieves tremendous growth and discovers an afterlife in which she can provide a useful service that makes her happy. She gains new, quirky friends in reaper school and saves the day when a time sync catastrophe strikes the Underworld.
Kirsty and Dante continue their supporting and sometimes rocky relationship, and Kirsty finds her calling as a reaper. The puns don't overwhelm the story in SCYTHE DOES MATTER as they did in the first book, and I laughed out loud at the witty banter between Kirsty and her classmates.
Will Kirsty graduate from reaper school? Will she ever get back to her Earthly body and come out of her coma? And will she ever find that elusive, tricky stapler? You'll just have to read SCYTHE DOES MATTER to find out. It's great for the beach, perfect for a study break, and just lots of fun to read.
-- Don't miss the next book in the series, ESPRIT DE CORPSE , released in August 2013.--
If You Like This, You May Also Like: --- THE RELUCTANT REAPER and ESPRIT DE CORPSE by Gina X. Grant, HOW TO DISCIPLINE YOUR VAMPIRE by Mina Vaughn, CHARLEY DAVIDSON SERIES by Darynda Jones, DARKLIGHT SERIES by Darynda Jones, UNDERWORLD DETECTION AGENCY SERIES by Hannah Jayne, F.R.E.A.K.S. SQUAD INVESTIGATION SERIES by Jennifer Harlow
* Read my other reviews on the Blue Moon Mystery Saloon blog.
** An ARC was provided by Simon & Schuster/Pocket Star Books and Edelweiss for an honest review.
I've thoroughly enjoyed this book in the series. Kirsty achieves tremendous growth and discovers an afterlife in which she can provide a useful service that makes her happy. She gains new, quirky friends in reaper school and saves the day when a time sync catastrophe strikes the Underworld.
Kirsty and Dante continue their supporting and sometimes rocky relationship, and Kirsty finds her calling as a reaper. The puns don't overwhelm the story in SCYTHE DOES MATTER as they did in the first book, and I laughed out loud at the witty banter between Kirsty and her classmates.
Will Kirsty graduate from reaper school? Will she ever get back to her Earthly body and come out of her coma? And will she ever find that elusive, tricky stapler? You'll just have to read SCYTHE DOES MATTER to find out. It's great for the beach, perfect for a study break, and just lots of fun to read.
-- Don't miss the next book in the series, ESPRIT DE CORPSE , released in August 2013.--
If You Like This, You May Also Like: --- THE RELUCTANT REAPER and ESPRIT DE CORPSE by Gina X. Grant, HOW TO DISCIPLINE YOUR VAMPIRE by Mina Vaughn, CHARLEY DAVIDSON SERIES by Darynda Jones, DARKLIGHT SERIES by Darynda Jones, UNDERWORLD DETECTION AGENCY SERIES by Hannah Jayne, F.R.E.A.K.S. SQUAD INVESTIGATION SERIES by Jennifer Harlow
* Read my other reviews on the Blue Moon Mystery Saloon blog.
** An ARC was provided by Simon & Schuster/Pocket Star Books and Edelweiss for an honest review.
July 15, 2013
Review from Backchatting Books
At the beginning we have a quick recap of what has happened so far. Kirsty D’Arc lost her appeal to be returned to her body because the wrong stapler was used as evidence. Kirsty discovers her evil ex-boss Conrad’s latest plot and decides to become a reaper in order to thwart him.
I connected with Kirsty v2.0 much more this time round as she finally has a purpose. Seeing the sacrifices that her family has gone through on her behalf is enough to jolt her into action. Along the way she makes friends, the most notable of which is Kali, the goddess of “death, destruction, chaos and those earring backs that always go missing”. Kirsty is capable of great things but she needs to watch her impulsive tendencies as she is just as likely to create chaos. Dante Alighieri is a delight as usual and his desire to reinvent his poetry had me chuckling.
Much like the first novel, puns and one-liners litter the pages. At times it felt like we jumped from one joke to the next but a university setting within Hell is obviously prime fodder for humour. Grant’s world has been well thought out structurally even though we don’t get a massive amount of descriptive text. Despite the length of the novel, she provides lots of little details about life in Hell which help to flesh it out. Plot wise, I thought this was again an improvement to the first, simply because we have a series of complications, a climax and semi-resolution leading into another cliff-hanger. I was more emotionally invested in Kirsty’s fate so I got great satisfaction when she took charge.
"Scythe Does Matter" is a light and very humorous read. You simply must read the first one though so that you appreciate Kirsty’s situation fully and get more insight into this crazy world.
At the beginning we have a quick recap of what has happened so far. Kirsty D’Arc lost her appeal to be returned to her body because the wrong stapler was used as evidence. Kirsty discovers her evil ex-boss Conrad’s latest plot and decides to become a reaper in order to thwart him.
I connected with Kirsty v2.0 much more this time round as she finally has a purpose. Seeing the sacrifices that her family has gone through on her behalf is enough to jolt her into action. Along the way she makes friends, the most notable of which is Kali, the goddess of “death, destruction, chaos and those earring backs that always go missing”. Kirsty is capable of great things but she needs to watch her impulsive tendencies as she is just as likely to create chaos. Dante Alighieri is a delight as usual and his desire to reinvent his poetry had me chuckling.
Much like the first novel, puns and one-liners litter the pages. At times it felt like we jumped from one joke to the next but a university setting within Hell is obviously prime fodder for humour. Grant’s world has been well thought out structurally even though we don’t get a massive amount of descriptive text. Despite the length of the novel, she provides lots of little details about life in Hell which help to flesh it out. Plot wise, I thought this was again an improvement to the first, simply because we have a series of complications, a climax and semi-resolution leading into another cliff-hanger. I was more emotionally invested in Kirsty’s fate so I got great satisfaction when she took charge.
"Scythe Does Matter" is a light and very humorous read. You simply must read the first one though so that you appreciate Kirsty’s situation fully and get more insight into this crazy world.
July 16, 2013
Mon avis en Français
My English review
I admit that I had a rather mixed opinion about the first novel and finally my feeling is still the same with this one.
Kirsty has lost her trial and even if it means she can now stay with Dante, the bitterness wins her immediately. Also, she has no choice and can not refuse the formation to become a reaper like her companion as he asked her to do that since the beginning of the story. It will therefore be an obstacle course to get to become the person she wants and thus regain her life. Our young heroine will be able to discover some new people, all more extraordinary than the others. But nothing will happen as planned.
The story is interesting and I am always curious to see how hell really is. We learn a little more with each book, and it’s true that it’s different from what we might imagine. I confess that I did not expect either to have so many trials to become prepared reaper. And I wondered how Kirsty was able to achieve anything. Of course, we also have many discoveries about Conrad, the man who sent her where she is. And I enjoyed all the revelations.
For what is actually the characters, I still have a little trouble to relate to our heroine or even her couple, and finally I stayed a little back from it. I was missing a little something that would have really made me appreciate the book. I think now after two volumes, I’ll wait to see the opinions about the third one before going on to see if it’s still a bit the same.
This is an interesting novel, but perhaps not really a series for me.
My English review
I admit that I had a rather mixed opinion about the first novel and finally my feeling is still the same with this one.
Kirsty has lost her trial and even if it means she can now stay with Dante, the bitterness wins her immediately. Also, she has no choice and can not refuse the formation to become a reaper like her companion as he asked her to do that since the beginning of the story. It will therefore be an obstacle course to get to become the person she wants and thus regain her life. Our young heroine will be able to discover some new people, all more extraordinary than the others. But nothing will happen as planned.
The story is interesting and I am always curious to see how hell really is. We learn a little more with each book, and it’s true that it’s different from what we might imagine. I confess that I did not expect either to have so many trials to become prepared reaper. And I wondered how Kirsty was able to achieve anything. Of course, we also have many discoveries about Conrad, the man who sent her where she is. And I enjoyed all the revelations.
For what is actually the characters, I still have a little trouble to relate to our heroine or even her couple, and finally I stayed a little back from it. I was missing a little something that would have really made me appreciate the book. I think now after two volumes, I’ll wait to see the opinions about the third one before going on to see if it’s still a bit the same.
This is an interesting novel, but perhaps not really a series for me.
September 18, 2013
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
These books are so silly and fun to read! They are jam packed with puns and wordplay enough to make even the most serious of readers chuckle. How can you not love an author that works so hard at weaving in a million and one adorable references?
This book picks up immediately where Book 1 left off. Poor Kirsty is still trying to get her life back, while at the same time working on her "life" in Hell with Dante. Dante continues to be yummy and awesome, though not a true Reaper anymore. After how the first book ended, Kirsty finally decides to take control of her afterlife and makes real plans.
There are a lot of antics and famous faces, as well as some familiar faces from Kirsty's original life that swing by for this installment. I'm completely in love with these books and cannot wait to see where they take me. If you at all enjoy a good pun every now and then (or more often than that) -- check this series out! You won't regret it.
These books are so silly and fun to read! They are jam packed with puns and wordplay enough to make even the most serious of readers chuckle. How can you not love an author that works so hard at weaving in a million and one adorable references?
This book picks up immediately where Book 1 left off. Poor Kirsty is still trying to get her life back, while at the same time working on her "life" in Hell with Dante. Dante continues to be yummy and awesome, though not a true Reaper anymore. After how the first book ended, Kirsty finally decides to take control of her afterlife and makes real plans.
There are a lot of antics and famous faces, as well as some familiar faces from Kirsty's original life that swing by for this installment. I'm completely in love with these books and cannot wait to see where they take me. If you at all enjoy a good pun every now and then (or more often than that) -- check this series out! You won't regret it.
July 18, 2013
Sequel to The Reluctant Reaper, which I do think can be read as a stand alone novella because the author included sufficient back-story to understand the sequel. It also contains new characters and has left old ones behind in the first installment.
Kirsty and Dante could do with a little more spark from a romantic point of view. The interaction between Kirsty and her new Reapers in spe was often more entertaining than the two supposed lovebirds.
The author has a witty sense of humour although I would be careful not to go overboard or wade into the category of superfluous jokes. This one had just the right amount of quips.
I think with a little more depth to story, characters and an extra eye to detail that Grant could make this series more popular.
I received a free copy of this book via Edelweiss & publisher.
Kirsty and Dante could do with a little more spark from a romantic point of view. The interaction between Kirsty and her new Reapers in spe was often more entertaining than the two supposed lovebirds.
The author has a witty sense of humour although I would be careful not to go overboard or wade into the category of superfluous jokes. This one had just the right amount of quips.
I think with a little more depth to story, characters and an extra eye to detail that Grant could make this series more popular.
I received a free copy of this book via Edelweiss & publisher.
August 25, 2015
And in the world of Kristy, we have- more drama, more laughs, more school? This continues the series of a woman having a "cough" out of body experience. She's finally making friends, enemies and good grades. Her and Dante are officially living together. Happy as a couple in hell can. I really enjoyed this book, can't wait to read the third.
September 7, 2016
3.5 stars - I actually liked this a bit better than the first book. Yes it was still shamelessly (and eye-rolling-ly) pun ridden. I liked the Reaper school, I thought it was a fun idea. The girl needs to learn to respect her man's scythe though.
September 12, 2013
I always wondered what training you would need to be a reaper. Now I know. I love all the cool people Kirsty meets this time. I must now read the 3rd book!
Want to read
September 1, 2013The first one was so bad I am not going to bother to read this one even though I purchased it.
June 5, 2014
So. Many. Puns.
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