I was never one of those people who wondered what happened after we died…but now I know.
I didn’t anticipate it being spent going back to school, but here I am. I don’t remember much of my life, though it’s slowly coming back to me, and I have no idea how I died. What I do know is that it was violently and before my time—aka, I was murdered. That’s the reason I’ve found myself at Scythe Academy in hell, training to become a reaper.
That’s where my focus is meant to be, but I can’t seem to let go of the life I don’t remember. Something inside of me is telling me that I have to remember how I died; that there’s something important about what happened. I keep being told that our lives from before don’t matter anymore, but they’re wrong. My death was about more than just me.
Now, I just have to remember what happened and figure out what I’m supposed to do about it. Should be easy enough, right?
On Death’s Door is the first book in a why-choose paranormal academy romance trilogy and will end on a cliffhanger. Our main female character will not have to choose between her love interests, which will not all be met in the first book, and there is MM within the harem. This book is intended for readers 18+ due to language and content.
Audrey is having a really bad day. First, she wakes up dead, then she finds out she is scheduled to go through reaper academy. One wrong move and poof, she's off to somewhere else. She's a badass, though, and finds a way to to overcome any obstacle that she encounters. Oh, and a way to collect every sexy man she encounters. Be warned, there is one heck of a cliffhanger; I can't wait for Book 2.
I love all of the characters, there's just the right amount of spice and I love the banter and nicknames between the characters. I have suspicions about some things that could be happening, but I'll still want to read to make sure (lol).
As you might gather from my trend of books, I love a good academy setting. This one included!! Academy and reapers are a fairly popular book combo but this still felt unique to me. The premise of becoming a reaper was interesting and I only wish they touched more on the logistics of it. There were parts of school that were discussed, but it felt that most detail we got was with the harnessing of magic. I’m hopeful as the story progresses so will the details. The plot otherwise felt smooth to me. I liked the speed of progression and the twists we came across. I can’t believe I’m actually saying this but I enjoyed the cliffhanger 😂. It’s expected but not as maddening as almost all of them are. The spice was so good!!! I loved the medium burn and the fact that there is an already established relationship. The dynamics are top tier and I loved how much heart the spice had, and wasn’t just mindless.
Loved this book. Anything paranormal and reverse harem I love and this is exactly that. I like the author's take on how the underworld works. I enjoyed the characters and the love between them. I can't wait to read book 2 after the ending. Hopefully it will answer some of the unanswered questions.
I went into this book expecting to like it. I'm not a huge fantasy/paranormal lover that isn't werewolves. But fated mates and RH YES, please. What I didn't expect was to love this book so much. Nothing like I expected when I read the blurb, it passed every expectation. I was hooked from the beginning. I loved the friendships Audrey made and her relationship with the guys. It was well written and left me hanging on an amazing cliffhanger. I can't wait to see what comes next and see the friendships and relationships grow.
Dnf 76% I actually was enjoying this book, however the smut took center stage from the relationship building. I went along for a while but at 76% it just took over the story. Nothing wrong with that, it just isn't what I'm looking for.
May has done it again, and she managed to hold me captivated from the very first chapter. We dive straight into the narrative, as confused about things as Audrey is, which is a clever writing choice. I found it helped connect to the character more as you felt as out of it as she does in that opening chapter. Trying to write this review without giving away spoilers is actually kind of tricky.
Audrey, our FMC. She's feisty, strong. Full of sass and sarcasm and a character that you just want to know where her afterlife goes, and hope that we get to follow her for a while (spoiler alert - this is book one of a trilogy). There's definitely more to her than we think, with all these hints being dropped through the narrative. So many questions we need to know the answers to, and I cannot wait to see how May answers them all.
Wraith. Blunt as fuck, but strangely endearing at the same time. His speech is slightly info-dump-y, but also works in a way to set up the premise of Scythe Academy. And the reveal of who he is? Damn. Getting to know him as the plot progresses, seeing what's truly inside; I loved it, especially the relationship he has with Donovan.
Donovan. He's this fantastic mix of golden retriever energy, but also a heart as big as the underworld itself. I love his relationship with Wraith, as well as how he connects with Audrey and becomes someone for her to rely on.
Brenden. I always love the "unhinged" love interest, and May delivered it with this character. Every little bit you learn about him makes me want to know more, and I enjoyed his personal journey through the story, not just that of his relationship with Audrey.
This is definitely a mythology driven world with a side of supernatural/paranormal. May delivers us a wide variety of supes- witch, banshee, angels, Reapers, hellhounds, gods and demi gods. Valkyrie, fairy, vampires and shifters, elves and mermaids. Basically if you think it's mystical/mythical/supernatural, you can find them at the Academy. I love how wide the concept of supernatural is in this world, and I really hope that it's going to get touched on more in the rest of the series
There is also phenomenal world building - I can picture exactly how the Academy looks and the nuances of the visual of the underworld. I also really loved the take on Scythe Academy, how its teaching is structured and the rules that come along with being at the Academy - it's so hard to explain this without giving spoilers. May has created a truly rich world, where she's thought through the set up so wonderfully, and I cannot wait to see where it expands.
The mystery of the story keeps you hooked on the edge of your seat, wondering what is going to happen next. It truly was a page turner - I was so sad I had to step away from reading it to attend to reality.
Honestly, my only real gripe with this one is that at times, Audrey didn't sound like the 28-year-old she was supposed to be, more like a woman in her early 20's.
Bar that, this was another phenomenal read from May, and I'm waiting on the edge of my seat for the next book in the series, because that cliffhanger? I'm dead. (Heh, terrible pun I know).
Miranda May's "On Death's Door" casts a spell with an enchanting blend of mystery and supernatural allure.
The plot revolves around Audrey who awakens in a large room with no memories except her name and the knowledge that she is a witch. When she encounters one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, Audrey discovers she's not only dead but that she has been murdered and is offered a unique opportunity—to train as a reaper.
Character development shines brightly. Miranda May excels in bringing the characters to life. The world building is generally good. While the supernatural elements and the realm of reapers are intriguing, some areas feel visually underdeveloped while others seem overly detailed. This is a issue seen in the communications between characters as well. At times things can seem repetitive and over stated while others can leave you with more questions than are comfortable.
In regards to the cliffy it's the kind of ending that will definitely leave you eagerly awaiting the next installment of Audrey's adventure.
In summary, "On Death's Door" by Miranda May is a delightful gem in the PNR genre. It has a compelling protagonist and an enticing storyline. Despite minor world building quirks and a cliffhanger that leaves you wanting the next book immediately, the narrative's strength lies in Audrey's captivating character development, making it a delightful 5-star journey for fans of supernatural romance and mysteries.
How Many Surprises Can The Afterlife Really Have…🤔
Believe me…you’d be surprised lol. An amazing new story from Miranda that you’re gonna want to grab if you love PNR, academy, whychoose (with ⚔️😍) stories with multiple POVs! If the storyline hadn’t hooked me, then the characters would’ve definitely would’ve pulled me in. Thankfully, both parts were on point, and I couldn’t have pulled myself away even if I had wanted to lol. The storyline had a nice original & unique spin on it that I was so thrilled to see, and it surpassed all my expectations. Audrey was a strong willed FMC that I found myself instantly drawn to, and her sassiness was just what I needed in my life. With all the secrets, mysteries & lost memories surrounding her, you never knew what you might find out from one chapter to another. That perfect blend of excitement & anticipation is so difficult to find mixed in with the right balance of plot & romance as well, but this has it, especially with guys like Brenden, Donovan & Wraith for Audrey to interact with in her new reality (as well as her future possibilities 👀😈) (although I’m considering licking Donovan so that I can claim him for myself…just FYI so you don’t get too attached 😝😂). I’m almost ok (almost 😉) with having to wait 2 more books to see the HEA, and even that crazy (WHYYYYYY 😭🤯) cliffhanger was almost worth it to get more from these amazing characters. Miranda never fails to give us the whole package, and I’m already patiently (sort of lol) waiting for the next part 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
I think this book proves that anything this author writes is going to be good. I loved Audrey from the very beginning. Her personality was amazingggg. I loved how fiesty, sarcastic and honest she was. She wasn't afraid to ask questions or speak her mind. Need to see her use her powers a lot more in the next book.
The plot of the book was very interesting and had me hooked. The entire book I was a nervous wreck cause I was worried someone important was gonna be sent away (read the book and you'll understand 😉)😭😭. I really liked that she had no memories at the beginning of the book cause we just learned about everything right along with her. The mystery of it all definitely made it hard for me to stop reading. We also get left with a couple of unanswered questions which is why I cannot wait to read the next book.
The guys that she meets are everything. They are so protective and possessive over her. I do feel like their relationship moved fast but that's what happens when you meet ur mates so 🤷.
I LOVEE the friendship she made with her roommates. They all stayed really close throughout the entire book. Once Audreys story is complete it would be amazing to get books on her friends just to see how their journey in this new world was.
THAT CLIFFHANGER OMG. I have a pretty good idea on who that was but I'm super excited to be proven right and see how this is going to affect Audrey and journey.
First and foremost BRAVO to Miranda May for creating another world that just sucks you in and makes you not want to stop reading!!! This book was absolutely freaking amazing and amazing! I can't say enough good things about it even with the cliffy!!!
How would you feel about waking up in an unknown place just to find out you were murdered?? That's what happened to Audrey! She is now enrolled in the Reapers Academy and she plans to make it her mission to make it through with her besties Diana and Celeste whom she met on day 1 of the academy.
Along the way she meets 3 of 5, yes 5 of her mates Brendan (our favorite stalker vampire), Donovan (adorable hellhound), and Wraith (also known as Death one of the four horsemen)! She freaks out at first because let's face it who wouldn't! But eventually she makes the decision that she wants to be with them!
She finally gets her memory back as to how she died and now she wants revenge! She also wants to protect her twin sister whom she remembers as well! First she has to make it through school, can she do it? Read the book to find out!!!
This author has done it again. I've found it doesn't matter what genre she writes she pulls you into the story right from the beginning. This is her first academy book, and it's very interesting. The concept of going to a school for reapers and having to make it through six months before you can pass. Audrey finds herself in this school with no memory of how she died or who she was. Her memories come back slowly, but when they do, they make her want vengeance. She's also special because she finds herself with mates in the afterlife, two of which are very powerful at the school. I love how Donovan introduced himself to her without really saying who he was. Then Brenden, the golden retriever character who has psychopathic tendencies. We can't forget Wraith's/Death who gives off Daddy vibes. I loved how she formed friendships right away with Diana and Celeste, and they set up a check-in system. I don't want to give too much away. I'm looking forward to the next book after the cliffhanger of this book.
OMG! This story is crazy good. I love Audrey and her sassy attitude. She is definitely a strong character that really has the story flowing beautifully. Then we have Brenden, Donovan, and Wraith. These guys are amazing. I love their attitudes and their possessive tendencies. Once I started this book I was completely unable to put it down. The story drew me in and kept me captive. There are so many questions I have regarding Audrey and her magic. Who is she? Is she ever going to learn everything she needs to learn? These are just a couple of my questions. I absolutely loved this new world that Miranda May has created. I love all the mixed supernaturals in the story. It really adds to the story. It is a fast paced story but so beautifully written. Then we have that evil major cliffhanger at the end. Oh but it has me super excited for the next book. I absolutely need to find what happens. Absolutely pick up this one as you will not be disappointed.
What a great introduction to a new series! I’m always looking forward to reading Miranda's books because she always comes up with something unique. And she didn't disappoint. A university thrope is so popular these days but most of the books are the same “in term one, term two, year one, year two etc.” But not Miranda, we got a special kind of university and it was so refreshing how things were done. And the beginning of the book? That we got right into the storyline with a blast? That was just amazing. I can't wait to read the next book and see what happens. Not to mention the guys? I loved the psycho puppy dog nickname so much! The only thing I have to mention (that's also mentioned in the foreword) is that the FMC may seem more like a queen b!tch from the start, but since I trust Miranda to have me fall in love with the characters she wants us to love, I kept going and it was worth it!
After waking up in the afterlife with no memories of her past, Audrey has a choice, try to make it through Scythe Academy or face judgement. She expected to be trying to navigate classes and avoid getting sent to judgement, she didn't expect to be mates with more than one man and Death himself. With parts of her memory coming back, and her powers coming back to her, she is in for an afterlife she never expected.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this story. I am already a HUGE Miranda May fan, but her writing my utter fav type of book (RH in school setting) was amazing. I had very high expectations going into this book and was thrilled that Miranda met all of them. This book was devoured in one sitting and I kept changing my mind which MMC I liked more with each interaction. I love how the reader is as much in the dark as Audrey is during the book and we are finding out things with her. Love the supernatural settings that exist and cannot wait for the next book!
This is a super hard book to review without spoilers, but I'm going to give it my best shot! Audrey, the FMC, is shocked to wake in the afterlife and to be training to be a Reaper. Memories of her life come to her slowly, but she definitely still has unsettled matters to attend to, maybe she can once she makes it through her studies. There are three FMC's so far, they are each powerful in their own right and the magic they all make together is amazing to read. The world building is awesome, different pantheons of belief are muddled together to make this amazing afterworld. The characters are vivid and its clear to see there is definitely going to be more characters and development coming with further books. The cliffhanger is perfect and leaves you wanting more and making wild guesses! This is a really exciting new series and a brilliant start.
Another smash from one of my favorite authors. I’m not sure what she puts in her books, but I always find it difficult to put her stories down; this one is no exception. From page one I was hooked and didn’t want to put it down.
I absolutely loved the characters. I love the story and the premise and the pacing was excellent. The only time I had to put it down was when I was afraid of what was about to happen next.
I don’t know if you’re like me, but if I’m afraid something tragic will happen, I tend to stop reading and try to brace myself. Anyway, once I gained enough courage to read, I was rewarded with a great finish to the book. Mind you there is a cliffy, but it’s so worth it.
Overall I LOVED this book and I cannot wait for the next one in this trilogy. Miranda does it again!
Welp, nothing like waking up deceased, finding yourself at a school that you might or might not finish. Others go poof, so who knows when you may or may not be next. Well there's a little background into the new series Shadow of Death. It is reverse harem, so our FMC won't need to choose from all the yummy she is surrounded by. I don't think she will complete her harem by the end of this one either. Warning, there is quite the cliffy and it can kick you in the teeth.
I loved every minute of this new read. The characters are just like you, well except they are in the afterlife, fun, have feelings, heart, and just want to be loved too. MMCs are broody, a little unbalanced, but so lovable. Come join Audrey our FMC as she navigates the academy and what led her to being there.. You won't great it!
Honestly it’s been a while since I’ve read anything other than omegaverse, but this was a good dip into PNR and it was good. I loved Audrey and her personality she wasn’t afraid to ask questions or speak her mind. I really hope she uses her powers a little more in the next book because I loved when she did.
It was interesting take where she had lost her memories so we learned about her right along with the character. I really enjoyed that. We are so left with questions but I think that comes with stories that have more than one book lol. I will definitely be reading book 2 when it comes out!
Her mates!!! They are everything, so protective and loving! I loved how they moved the pace for with them so well! And her roommates I couldn’t get enough of lol! Loved them!
Overall, good story! Can’t wait for the next one! I look forward to reading it. I did feel in a couple of parts it could have gone a little more in depth but I feel like we could also learn more about those in book 2. Throughly enjoyed and I do recommend!
We've all thought about it at one stage or another, what happens when you die, not Audrey. Miranda May's engaging story, On Death's Door explores what happens when a young woman wakes after a brutal attack and finds herself in school. As a student at Death's school to become a reaper, a unique story develops through intense relationships and challenges, with an engaging plot that has twists and turns to the very end. The writing style from Miranda always captures my imagination and attention with her well-crafted characters and intriguing plot. This is a must-read for fans of supernatural fiction. WARNING, massive cliffhanger that had me stalking the author to figure out when the next installment is due because it is a doozy!!
All I know is that if I could have mates like hers, I would also want to die and come back as a reaper too. This story has twists and turns. It’s kept me on my toes and kept me making guesses. I really like Aubrey’s character for the most part. I’m super interested and seeing how the dynamic between her, Wraith, Donovan and Brennen grow and change. I’m really looking forward to seeing who her potential other two mates are and how their presence affects the other dynamics. There’s so much going on, so quickly, I have soooooo many questions. That cliffy is for sure keeping me on the edge of my seat and counting down the days until I can find out what happens next. Solid start to this new series.
Full disclosure, chapter one had me questioning if I'd stick with finishing the book. To me, chapter one was a little awkward? It was kind of choppy? But then I got to chapter 2. And let me tell you, when it hit? IT FUCKING HIT! I'm so glad that first chapter didn't turn me off. Because this is not a book you want to miss. Supernatural? Check. Incredible plot? Double check. Spicy scenes including MM? All the checks! Now, this book does end on a cliffhanger and it is HUGE. I know some people can't stand that especially when the whole series isn't available. But I still highly recommend you read this. It's so worth it. This book will keep you guessing and you'll end up with a handful of half guesses and two handfuls of you have no idea where this is going. And it's magnificent.
Audrey is so confused when she wakes up. She has no idea what is happening. She also has no memory but her name. As she looks around, she’s in a room and there’s other people on the ground too. What’s happening? Where are they? Why are all of the people here? Why does she have no memories?
This was a fun paranormal romance that has a lot of mystery elements to it as well. Audrey is a strong main female character who knows when she’s supposed to go with the flow and when she’s supposed to buck the system. This book does end on a cliffhanger and I can’t wait for the next book to come out so I can see what happens next.
Isn’t it interesting when a character wakes up dead and has no recollection of even dying? This is a very intriguing premise for what turns out to be a must-flip-the-pages-quickly novel by Miranda May. Audrey wakes up after dying with no recollection of much more than her name and finds out she’s going back to school of all things. Along the way, she’s learning what it’s going to be like. She’s meeting professors and other souls that are learning to potentially become reapers. Oh, and she’s starting to remember her life before she died. Miranda really knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat and rooting for her characters. What an awesome start to another page-flipping worthy series! Book 2 is coming! I also love the witty banter from Audrey and all the "oh no!" moments in between.
This read is a solid 4.5 for me. I love having all the different supernatural creatures going to school to try and become reapers. Having to relearn your magic, who you were and even how you died in a unique way. I love that they tell you what happens if you don't succeed.
Plus adding in the fated mates. Usually mates happen before death and that bond is severed upon death. However, in the case here we are finding mates in the underworld.
I can't wait to read more about these characters and to get more answers. The cliff hanger is rude and I need answers.
On Death‘s Door by Miranda May is a why choose paranormal romance. This book is so delicious. From page 1 I knew I was going to love this book and hopefully series. Audrey is an independent, feisty female character. She has some of my favorite traits sarcssm and sass. Since this is in the blurb basically the book starts with her first day at Scythe Academy the underworld school. There is a ton to learn and the world building is fantastic. We also meet Wraith, Brenden and Donovan oh my is all I can say. Finger licking good! So if you like fantasy books jump in this has it all and really was a good start to what I think is going to be a great series!
I love when you open a book to the first page and start to read and you instantly know that you are going to really enjoy this book.
What I can say is that the blurb does not do this book justice as it is so much more. We have a strong female character who has the right amount of sass and is strong willed, what more can you want. Then what else can we add to the mix, are very yummy male characters. Miranda May does what she does best and that is bring us excitement and anticipation with all that spice.
If you enjoy paranormal and why choose and a start of a new series then why not jump on in. This book will honestly pull you in and leave you wanting more. Ends on a cliffhanger.
OMG she has done it again. Miranda has quickly become an auto buy author for me, this book is no exception to the beauty that comes from her!
I greatly enjoyed Audrey and her men. I loved that she was standing up to people in her first day, and her take no nonsense attitude. When she wanted something she went for it.
I can’t wait to see what the next book holds, this one had me itching to turn the next page and just know what’s next.
Plot: 5/5 beautiful balance of plot and spice Spice: 5/5 It’s got to be an interesting place in Miranda mind with some of the beautiful scenes depicted Overall Rating 10/10 - Highly recommend not missing out on this!
On Death's Door is book 1 in the Shadow of Death series.I love the world that Miranda May created in this book! Having a school after death was very unique. Audrey's back story was interesting and I can't wait to learn more about what happened before her death and after. There are super hot spicy scenes that include MM! This book is perfect if you like RH, MM, fated & chosen mates, PNR, academy, and a silver fox. This book does end on a major cliffhanger, but I am excited to see what happens next for Audrey, Brenden, Donovan, & Wraith.
Imagine you wake up and realize that you have no idea where you are and anything about your life. Now imagine Wraith, one of the four horsemen, tells you that you'd died and are at an academy to become a reaper. Well this is exactly what happens to Audrey maddox, our lovely heroine. This is fast paced, hot af and we have fated mates! Not only that, but we also have a poly situation with two of her mates. And omg that cliffhanger! I feel like I know who it is but we shall see if I'm right in the next one.