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The Reapers Trilogy #1
Reapers: The Reapers Trilogy, Book 1
Reapers, the first book in The Reapers Trilogy, is a dystopian tale with a supernatural twist. Taking place in a futuristic, urban setting, this first book in a planned trilogy will appeal to fans of The Hunger Games and similar fast-paced stories for young adults. Along with a blend of real life and imagination, it delivers action, danger, and suspense through the adventures of three teenagers, Phoenix, Singapore, and Shanghai, Reapers who collect the souls of the dying or already dead and transport them to the Gateway where they will travel to their final destination ... or so they are told.
Audible Audio
First published March 18, 2014
About the author
Bryan Davis
82 books1,035 followersBryan Davis is the author several speculative-fiction series, including Dragons in Our Midst, Oracles of Fire, Children of the Bard, Dragons of Camelot, The Reapers Trilogy, The Time Echoes Trilogy, Tales of Starlight, Dragons of Starlight, the Oculus Gate, Not So Famous Dog Tales, Astral Alliance, and Wanted: Superheroes.
Bryan and his wife, Susie, have homeschooled their four girls and three boys.
Bryan was born in 1958 and grew up in the eastern U.S. From the time he taught himself how to read before school age, through his seminary years and beyond, he has demonstrated a passion for the written word, reading and writing in many disciplines and genres, including fantasy, theology, fiction, devotionals, poetry, and humor.
Bryan and his wife, Susie, have homeschooled their four girls and three boys.
Bryan was born in 1958 and grew up in the eastern U.S. From the time he taught himself how to read before school age, through his seminary years and beyond, he has demonstrated a passion for the written word, reading and writing in many disciplines and genres, including fantasy, theology, fiction, devotionals, poetry, and humor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
August 27, 2017
Reapers. The word conjures images of hoods, scythes, and shadows. Death, ghosts, and the veil between here and eternity.
This book delivered on pretty much all of the above, minus the scythes. We've got an urban setting, wandering souls, dark alleyways, grit, ethical dilemmas, futuristic tech, and the big dystopian staple: untrustworthy power figures.
Reapers started out super interesting! We get an engaging first look into Phoenix's everyday world--a mostly solitary life of watching over his Chicago district, collecting souls, and smuggling medicine to the sick and dying in his neighborhood.
But after the first bit, it felt like the story slowed down. We spend four or five chapters following Phoenix, Singapore, and two other Reapers all the way to a Gateway depot and back. Which isn't all bad, because although it was thoroughly detailed, it was necessary detail. Without getting the process of reaping clear in my mind, I think I would've floundered later on in the story. But because everything was meticulously laid out right away, big explanations weren't needed later. So really, I have just a small quibble with that pacing issue.
Once I hit the midway point, the pace really picked up! Big plans, sneaking around, action, danger--yes! I positively sped through the second half of the book. The stakes keep rising, trust issues between characters get shakier, and the tension just all-around builds.
And can we just talk about the concept of reaping for a minute? Because it's a really sad job to have. I wouldn't want to be the one called to every deathbed, the one to sweet-talk confused and wandering ghosts into trusting me, the one to carry the burden of all these souls to the Gateway. Some of these Reapers are pretty epic heroes for doing all that!
Going into this book, I was interested to see how a Christian author would deal with the element of "Grim Reapers" and the afterlife. Bryan Davis handled it really well! Reapers lands in mainstream territory, so God isn't talked about, but everything was written tastefully. One question this book asks is, "What if souls didn't go to their eternal destination immediately, but had to be delivered there?" That's the role of the Reapers, but as the plot unfolds, we get the sense that this Gateway the souls go through is not what it seems. That perhaps the public is being fed lies, and perhaps the Gatekeeper is not as virtuous as he makes himself out to be. So now I'm even more curious to see where the next two books take that idea!
In the meantime, this book offers solid themes on the value of human life, defending the defenseless, trust, honesty, and the kind of teamwork I've come to expect from a cast of Bryan Davis characters. Again, I sense that this novel is setting things up for fantastic character arcs in the rest of the trilogy! And unlike many dystopians, this narrative had a thread of hope woven throughout.
In conclusion, Reapers is a shadowy tale uncovering the dark underbelly of a once-trusted institution. It's a tale of risk, a tale of taking a stand when all around everyone else is turning a blind eye. It's got humor, it's got heart, and once you get going, it's a hold-your-breath, edge-of-your-seat kind of ride!
Full review on my blog: http://traceydyck.blogspot.ca/2017/08...
This book delivered on pretty much all of the above, minus the scythes. We've got an urban setting, wandering souls, dark alleyways, grit, ethical dilemmas, futuristic tech, and the big dystopian staple: untrustworthy power figures.
Reapers started out super interesting! We get an engaging first look into Phoenix's everyday world--a mostly solitary life of watching over his Chicago district, collecting souls, and smuggling medicine to the sick and dying in his neighborhood.
But after the first bit, it felt like the story slowed down. We spend four or five chapters following Phoenix, Singapore, and two other Reapers all the way to a Gateway depot and back. Which isn't all bad, because although it was thoroughly detailed, it was necessary detail. Without getting the process of reaping clear in my mind, I think I would've floundered later on in the story. But because everything was meticulously laid out right away, big explanations weren't needed later. So really, I have just a small quibble with that pacing issue.
Once I hit the midway point, the pace really picked up! Big plans, sneaking around, action, danger--yes! I positively sped through the second half of the book. The stakes keep rising, trust issues between characters get shakier, and the tension just all-around builds.
And can we just talk about the concept of reaping for a minute? Because it's a really sad job to have. I wouldn't want to be the one called to every deathbed, the one to sweet-talk confused and wandering ghosts into trusting me, the one to carry the burden of all these souls to the Gateway. Some of these Reapers are pretty epic heroes for doing all that!
Going into this book, I was interested to see how a Christian author would deal with the element of "Grim Reapers" and the afterlife. Bryan Davis handled it really well! Reapers lands in mainstream territory, so God isn't talked about, but everything was written tastefully. One question this book asks is, "What if souls didn't go to their eternal destination immediately, but had to be delivered there?" That's the role of the Reapers, but as the plot unfolds, we get the sense that this Gateway the souls go through is not what it seems. That perhaps the public is being fed lies, and perhaps the Gatekeeper is not as virtuous as he makes himself out to be. So now I'm even more curious to see where the next two books take that idea!
In the meantime, this book offers solid themes on the value of human life, defending the defenseless, trust, honesty, and the kind of teamwork I've come to expect from a cast of Bryan Davis characters. Again, I sense that this novel is setting things up for fantastic character arcs in the rest of the trilogy! And unlike many dystopians, this narrative had a thread of hope woven throughout.
In conclusion, Reapers is a shadowy tale uncovering the dark underbelly of a once-trusted institution. It's a tale of risk, a tale of taking a stand when all around everyone else is turning a blind eye. It's got humor, it's got heart, and once you get going, it's a hold-your-breath, edge-of-your-seat kind of ride!
Full review on my blog: http://traceydyck.blogspot.ca/2017/08...
January 12, 2018
This is truly an amazing novel. The pacing is lightning-fast and there were so many unexpected twists I could barely keep up. The author uses the unique premise to its full potential. I loved the world-building, loved the characters, and the entire idea was just amazing.
There are more darker and more mature elements in here than in Bryan Davis' other novels, so I'd recommend for 15+.
The one thing I wished there was more of is the theme. However, since this was meant to be a face-paced, action-packed dystopian, and that was just what it was, I'm not complaining ;)
I would highly recommend this book to every dystopian reader!
There are more darker and more mature elements in here than in Bryan Davis' other novels, so I'd recommend for 15+.
The one thing I wished there was more of is the theme. However, since this was meant to be a face-paced, action-packed dystopian, and that was just what it was, I'm not complaining ;)
I would highly recommend this book to every dystopian reader!
November 2, 2016
What I thought:
I loved this book! Because of Reapers, I now love the genre dytopian. I wasn’t sure I’d like it since I’m not usually one for supernatural books (reapers, zombies, vampires, and the like, but there have been some great exceptions), but I didn’t mind it at all in this book!
Anyways, Bryan Davis is my all time favorite author. I’ve loved every book of his, and this was no exception.
This book was great and well written. I was captivated from the start, and I loved it all throughout. It had an interesting concept that was great!
I’ve only read Bryan Davis write in third-person, so when I began and found out that this was in the first-person, I was surprised and impressed at how well he wrote the story.
Characters:
I loved Phoenix. And Mex. And Noah (who’s name is changed later).
I think my favorite was Mex. I can’t quite place what I like about him, but I just did.
I did like Shanghai and Singapore (man, aren’t these all great names??), but they’re two girls with a nice, cute boy living right next to them… So you get the idea. ;)
Plot:
This book had a great plot! I was instantly drawn into the book, not wanting to put it down.
I loved the idea that the reapers, those who take souls to their final resting place (ish), are actually trying to find out where exactly those dead souls go, not just dumping them carelessly aside. Gives a little feeling to the stereotypical reaper.
Problems:
I didn’t really have any problems with this book. No writing errors or plot holes or anything like that. :)
Other:
While this was a great book, I’m not sure I would let Trevor (my brother) read this yet. There’s nothing inappropriate or anything, just I don’t know about interest level and understanding and the sort.
I would definitely recommend this book to some pre-teens (as said above, interest, understanding level, and romance-y stuff). But definitely to teenagers, and adults!
I loved this book! Because of Reapers, I now love the genre dytopian. I wasn’t sure I’d like it since I’m not usually one for supernatural books (reapers, zombies, vampires, and the like, but there have been some great exceptions), but I didn’t mind it at all in this book!
Anyways, Bryan Davis is my all time favorite author. I’ve loved every book of his, and this was no exception.
This book was great and well written. I was captivated from the start, and I loved it all throughout. It had an interesting concept that was great!
I’ve only read Bryan Davis write in third-person, so when I began and found out that this was in the first-person, I was surprised and impressed at how well he wrote the story.
Characters:
I loved Phoenix. And Mex. And Noah (who’s name is changed later).
I think my favorite was Mex. I can’t quite place what I like about him, but I just did.
I did like Shanghai and Singapore (man, aren’t these all great names??), but they’re two girls with a nice, cute boy living right next to them… So you get the idea. ;)
Plot:
This book had a great plot! I was instantly drawn into the book, not wanting to put it down.
I loved the idea that the reapers, those who take souls to their final resting place (ish), are actually trying to find out where exactly those dead souls go, not just dumping them carelessly aside. Gives a little feeling to the stereotypical reaper.
Problems:
I didn’t really have any problems with this book. No writing errors or plot holes or anything like that. :)
Other:
While this was a great book, I’m not sure I would let Trevor (my brother) read this yet. There’s nothing inappropriate or anything, just I don’t know about interest level and understanding and the sort.
I would definitely recommend this book to some pre-teens (as said above, interest, understanding level, and romance-y stuff). But definitely to teenagers, and adults!
March 30, 2023
I enjoyed the characters and plot. But the reason I'm giving 3 stars is, the Author uses food to describe his Poc characters, specifically the Women. Using food to describe anyone's skin color is very strange. Also the Author who is a male, uses pregnancy to describe a pain in his book. Which is very odd, especially for a man to write that. Still not sure if I want to continue this trilogy or not.
May 26, 2025
I can’t find the words to explain how shook I am by this book. I love Al of the twists and turns and unexpected scenes that literally made my jaw drop to the floor and had me on the edge of my seat.
Phoenix is an amazing main character, smart, funny, and wise beyond his years.
I loved Sing and my heart broke when she died so brutally.
Even Shanghai, who I despised at first, had some good moments that give me hope for future character development.
Definitely a must read!
Phoenix is an amazing main character, smart, funny, and wise beyond his years.
I loved Sing and my heart broke when she died so brutally.
Even Shanghai, who I despised at first, had some good moments that give me hope for future character development.
Definitely a must read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2018
Reapers is dark, seductive, and exhilarating! Davis delivers thrills, chills, and a thought provoking world surrounding death. Brace yourself for a fast-paced story full of danger, emotion, and surprising twists!
This one was intensely powerful and I loved every minute of it! It touched on facets of life, love and loss, and sparked deep seated thoughts and emotions regarding death and the beyond. It was a beautifully heartbreaking story surrounding the age-old question of “what happens when we die?”
So, what came to mind when reading the title Reapers? I bet you thought of black hoods, scythes, death, lack of emotion, and/or skeletal figures. Bryan Davis definitely included the hoods and death, but he also created an emotional story with dynamic (human) characters and a sense of hope for humanity.
It was engaging, refreshing, and unique. I loved the premise of the plot involving the reaping of souls in an urban dystopian setting, and I felt the immense sentimentality of fearing death and hoping for a pleasant afterlife. I was in awe of the world Davis created and the personalities he developed for the Reapers whom you would assume would be jaded from dealing with death so often.
Phoenix was such an endearing character! He was strong, brave, and moral. He also had a vulnerable side which drove his choices and motivated him to go on in a hopeless world.
Singapore was mysterious and intriguing. She added a little humor to the story and a touch of passion. I loved her role in the story and the way she changed Phoenix and Shanghai.
Shanghai was so interesting to read. She just flew off the page with intensity and spunk. She was strong and fierce with a touch of vulnerability.
What a page turner this was! I enjoyed the action and the inclusion of the ghosts and the soul reaping. I consistently found myself deep in thought about spirits, souls, death, and the afterlife. The plot was fascinating and full of surprises, and I fell in love with the intensity and emotion behind it! I decided about halfway through that I am in need of books 2 and 3, now!
This one was intensely powerful and I loved every minute of it! It touched on facets of life, love and loss, and sparked deep seated thoughts and emotions regarding death and the beyond. It was a beautifully heartbreaking story surrounding the age-old question of “what happens when we die?”
So, what came to mind when reading the title Reapers? I bet you thought of black hoods, scythes, death, lack of emotion, and/or skeletal figures. Bryan Davis definitely included the hoods and death, but he also created an emotional story with dynamic (human) characters and a sense of hope for humanity.
It was engaging, refreshing, and unique. I loved the premise of the plot involving the reaping of souls in an urban dystopian setting, and I felt the immense sentimentality of fearing death and hoping for a pleasant afterlife. I was in awe of the world Davis created and the personalities he developed for the Reapers whom you would assume would be jaded from dealing with death so often.
Phoenix was such an endearing character! He was strong, brave, and moral. He also had a vulnerable side which drove his choices and motivated him to go on in a hopeless world.
Singapore was mysterious and intriguing. She added a little humor to the story and a touch of passion. I loved her role in the story and the way she changed Phoenix and Shanghai.
Shanghai was so interesting to read. She just flew off the page with intensity and spunk. She was strong and fierce with a touch of vulnerability.
What a page turner this was! I enjoyed the action and the inclusion of the ghosts and the soul reaping. I consistently found myself deep in thought about spirits, souls, death, and the afterlife. The plot was fascinating and full of surprises, and I fell in love with the intensity and emotion behind it! I decided about halfway through that I am in need of books 2 and 3, now!
January 6, 2019
I finished reading this at 2:00 in the morning... So I need some time to process. xP Full review coming later.
April 9, 2018
Reapers is the first book in an action-packed sci-fi/fantasy series by Bryan Davis. In an almost post-apocalyptic world the hero Phoenix attempts to serve his reaper sentence. However, problems thwart him from every angle and force him to either stay true to his morals or abandon them all together.
When first reading the synopsis for Reapers I thought it was a really interesting and unique idea. I think a lot of people, including myself, are fascinated with the idea of what comes after death and this novel explores that. Well, at least it explores how your soul gets from your body to its final resting place.
Davis took a spin on the typical reaper tale and made the Reapers in his book a staple in society. They weren’t imaginary symbols of death that children were scared of in the dark. They were mythical creatures of death who had once been regular people, forced to serve the reaper sentence.
The character dynamic was something I really enjoyed in the book. I fell in love with our hero, Phoenix right away (how could I not with such a great name?). The other characters sprinkled in through out the chapters. Davis developed each character in such a way that was illuminating as well as intriguing. Little details would be spread out here and there about each character, similar to a treasure map, where the ‘X’ marked the spot when you finally, satisfyingly understood the character.
The plot in Reapers flowed well with actions at the beginning of the novel coming back to haunt the characters at the end. The story had fast-paced scenes and steadier ones that allowed my heart beat to slow and rest. All in all, the plot of Reapers was a true moving story with a hundred different pieces that could have fallen apart if they weren’t so expertly crafted. The plot tied the novel together nicely and created an ending while also leaving things unanswered for the rest of the series.
I would recommend this novel to anyone who is fascinated with life and death, the future, or reapers as themselves. This book might just become one of your favorites.
Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
December 7, 2017
I've always loved Bryan Davis's books. They're exciting, they're intense, they're complicated, and they're really weird. So when the first book in his Reapers trilogy was free for a couple days, I jumped at the chance to get it. Surprisingly, I was less than impressed with this book. It did not live up to the writing standard I had come to expect from Bryan Davis's books.
Writing: 3/5
I never thought I would get bored reading a Bryan Davis book. However, many times while reading this book, I wanted to put it down and had to force myself to keep reading. part of the reason I was incredibly bored was the very low stakes for the protagonist Phoenix. Nothing was at stake if anything went wrong, which brings me to the other thing that contributed to my boredom: hardly anything went wrong for the characters. It was ridiculous! They wound up just wandering around the concentration camp with a couple ghosts making useless plans that got destroyed in the climax.
Setting: 4/5
The world is actually pretty well-built. The settings were pretty vibrant, the descriptions were more than adequate. I could envision the world perfectly. (I left this review in the middle of this section and came back to it days later after being sick, so I honestly don't remember the exact reason I took away a point, though I know the reason was a good one.)
Plot: 2/5
Um...what plot? I...don't remember there being much of one. I feel really bad giving it such a low rating, but it honestly just didn't have much of a plot, and what was there was not made clear.
Character Development: 3/5
The main characters had no clear goals, and I'm not sure if Phoenix had any at all. They were flat, especially Phoenix, because absolutely nothing happened to stretch his character. He honestly didn't grow at all, he just changed his loyalties (and gosh it took one long boring book to do it!) The antagonist was pretty well done, though, and Mex. Honestly, Mex was more developed as a side character than Phoenix was as a main character.
I probably wouldn't read the next book in the series if the opportunity arose, nor would I recommend this book. It just wasn't well-written, though maybe some other people would still enjoy it. I have always loved (most of) Bryan Davis's books, and I had expected to like this one as well, but it just wasn't good.
Writing: 3/5
I never thought I would get bored reading a Bryan Davis book. However, many times while reading this book, I wanted to put it down and had to force myself to keep reading. part of the reason I was incredibly bored was the very low stakes for the protagonist Phoenix. Nothing was at stake if anything went wrong, which brings me to the other thing that contributed to my boredom: hardly anything went wrong for the characters. It was ridiculous! They wound up just wandering around the concentration camp with a couple ghosts making useless plans that got destroyed in the climax.
Setting: 4/5
The world is actually pretty well-built. The settings were pretty vibrant, the descriptions were more than adequate. I could envision the world perfectly. (I left this review in the middle of this section and came back to it days later after being sick, so I honestly don't remember the exact reason I took away a point, though I know the reason was a good one.)
Plot: 2/5
Um...what plot? I...don't remember there being much of one. I feel really bad giving it such a low rating, but it honestly just didn't have much of a plot, and what was there was not made clear.
Character Development: 3/5
The main characters had no clear goals, and I'm not sure if Phoenix had any at all. They were flat, especially Phoenix, because absolutely nothing happened to stretch his character. He honestly didn't grow at all, he just changed his loyalties (and gosh it took one long boring book to do it!) The antagonist was pretty well done, though, and Mex. Honestly, Mex was more developed as a side character than Phoenix was as a main character.
I probably wouldn't read the next book in the series if the opportunity arose, nor would I recommend this book. It just wasn't well-written, though maybe some other people would still enjoy it. I have always loved (most of) Bryan Davis's books, and I had expected to like this one as well, but it just wasn't good.
April 14, 2014
Reapers
By Bryan Davis
Without Reapers the dead are trapped on earth, something is keeping them from moving on to the afterlife. They wander in a state of confusion looking for those they have lost.
Reapers are a select group of people who have been trained to gather the souls of the dead and the dying, providing transport to the Gateway. For the last 3 years Phoenix has been a Reaper collecting the souls within his district. But Phoenix has been smuggling contraband to the poor, hoping to stave off death another day. But someone has discovered Phoenix's secret - the only question is who knows?
Phoenix has come to the attention of the Gatekeeper and the Resistance and finds himself caught between these factions. But why a teenage Reaper with just 3 years of service would be of importance has Phoenix baffled. And of even greater concern anyone who means anything to him suddenly becomes leverage against him.
Discovering the truth about the Gateway and the Gatekeeper is imperative, but whom can he trust? Several fellow Reapers are willing to aid Phoenix in his mission, but can he trust them? And how can he determine the truth?
This is an intense and riveting story that just captures your attention, much as a Reaper collects a soul - it pulls you in. And I really, really want to read book 2 to find out what happens next. What is the truth about the Gateway? Have the Reapers been mislead about the true purpose of their soul collection? Or is the Resistance the true deceiver? And the Gatekeeper is really creepy, but who is he?
Anyone who has read Bryan Davis's previous books won't be disappointed, unless you want dragons. Fans of Jill Williamson's Safe Lands series or Krista McGee's Anomaly series will want to pick up this series as well.
I was provided a copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review.
By Bryan Davis
Without Reapers the dead are trapped on earth, something is keeping them from moving on to the afterlife. They wander in a state of confusion looking for those they have lost.
Reapers are a select group of people who have been trained to gather the souls of the dead and the dying, providing transport to the Gateway. For the last 3 years Phoenix has been a Reaper collecting the souls within his district. But Phoenix has been smuggling contraband to the poor, hoping to stave off death another day. But someone has discovered Phoenix's secret - the only question is who knows?
Phoenix has come to the attention of the Gatekeeper and the Resistance and finds himself caught between these factions. But why a teenage Reaper with just 3 years of service would be of importance has Phoenix baffled. And of even greater concern anyone who means anything to him suddenly becomes leverage against him.
Discovering the truth about the Gateway and the Gatekeeper is imperative, but whom can he trust? Several fellow Reapers are willing to aid Phoenix in his mission, but can he trust them? And how can he determine the truth?
This is an intense and riveting story that just captures your attention, much as a Reaper collects a soul - it pulls you in. And I really, really want to read book 2 to find out what happens next. What is the truth about the Gateway? Have the Reapers been mislead about the true purpose of their soul collection? Or is the Resistance the true deceiver? And the Gatekeeper is really creepy, but who is he?
Anyone who has read Bryan Davis's previous books won't be disappointed, unless you want dragons. Fans of Jill Williamson's Safe Lands series or Krista McGee's Anomaly series will want to pick up this series as well.
I was provided a copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review.
May 20, 2014
Once again Bryan Davis blows away his readers with this exciting new novel! With a fresh concept, fascinating characters, and excellent pacing this may be one of his best stories yet.
Death is a common thing and, when it comes, a Reaper is nearby to make it easier. Unless the soul is extracted immediately after death, it will wander, lost, frightened, unable to enter the Gateway into eternity. That is where the Reapers, highly trained individuals with the genetic ability to collect and transport souls, come in. But what truly lies beyond the Gateway? Is it the heaven that the Gatekeeper claims --that a Reaper desperately believes it is? Or is it an unfair Hell, as the Resistance freakishly decries? It's up to a band of suspicious and suspect Reapers to find out once and for all.
The collection of protagonists, one very, very evil villain, and some completely unpredictable allies, Reapers has a fascinating character set.
1) Phoenix, our main character, is a lonely young Reaper with high standards and firm beliefs. He smuggles medicine to the sick and dying in his district, hoping to hold off death just a bit longer and give people a chance to survive in the Chicago slums. He is loyal to a literal fault, but doesn't quite know whom to trust as he struggles to find hope and the truth behind the Gateway.
2) Singapore is a new Reaper with a shady past. Her mother, Tokyo, was the greatest Reaper the world has known. But what is she hiding? And more importantly whose side is she on?
3) Shanghai is a Reaper Phoenix has known since childhood. Well on her way to being the next Tokyo, why has she suddenly appeared in his life again?
4)Alex is the most heinous villain that Bryan Davis has ever created to date. She really is pure evil.
This book will capture you quickly and will not turn loose until long after the final page!
Death is a common thing and, when it comes, a Reaper is nearby to make it easier. Unless the soul is extracted immediately after death, it will wander, lost, frightened, unable to enter the Gateway into eternity. That is where the Reapers, highly trained individuals with the genetic ability to collect and transport souls, come in. But what truly lies beyond the Gateway? Is it the heaven that the Gatekeeper claims --that a Reaper desperately believes it is? Or is it an unfair Hell, as the Resistance freakishly decries? It's up to a band of suspicious and suspect Reapers to find out once and for all.
The collection of protagonists, one very, very evil villain, and some completely unpredictable allies, Reapers has a fascinating character set.
1) Phoenix, our main character, is a lonely young Reaper with high standards and firm beliefs. He smuggles medicine to the sick and dying in his district, hoping to hold off death just a bit longer and give people a chance to survive in the Chicago slums. He is loyal to a literal fault, but doesn't quite know whom to trust as he struggles to find hope and the truth behind the Gateway.
2) Singapore is a new Reaper with a shady past. Her mother, Tokyo, was the greatest Reaper the world has known. But what is she hiding? And more importantly whose side is she on?
3) Shanghai is a Reaper Phoenix has known since childhood. Well on her way to being the next Tokyo, why has she suddenly appeared in his life again?
4)Alex is the most heinous villain that Bryan Davis has ever created to date. She really is pure evil.
This book will capture you quickly and will not turn loose until long after the final page!
September 7, 2017
In a post-apocolyptic Chicago, Phoenix is a sixteen-year-old reaper, gifted with the genetic ability to transport souls of the dead to the Gateway and to a better life. But he doesn't welcome death. Instead, he tries to prevent death at all costs by administering illegal medicine to the dying. When he is caught by the authorities giving pills to a dying little girl, the girl's family is thrown into a prison camp. Phoenix teams up with fellow teen reapers Shanghai and Singapore to try and rescue the family from their unjust punishment. But along the way, he and his friends begin to suspect that the Gateway is not a perfect resting place for the dead. And time is running out to free the prisoners as ruthless Death Officer Alex furiously tries to stop Phoenix at all costs.
This book started off slow and confusing to me, and I almost put it down. But about a third into it, I became intrigued. The world came alive in my head and the story started to click. I think I just needed to get a feel of the world, since I am not used to reading about ghosts and reapers (though it was pretty fun!) The book is marketed as appealing to fans of the Hunger Games, and I have to say the two series share some similarities, such as teens having to grow up prematurely, corrupt leaders, and a love triangle. Oh, and I liked reading the 1st person POV of a male protagonist for a change.
Reapers has some Christian elements to it but I think that paralell will be explored more as the series progresses.
A solid 3 stars!
This book started off slow and confusing to me, and I almost put it down. But about a third into it, I became intrigued. The world came alive in my head and the story started to click. I think I just needed to get a feel of the world, since I am not used to reading about ghosts and reapers (though it was pretty fun!) The book is marketed as appealing to fans of the Hunger Games, and I have to say the two series share some similarities, such as teens having to grow up prematurely, corrupt leaders, and a love triangle. Oh, and I liked reading the 1st person POV of a male protagonist for a change.
Reapers has some Christian elements to it but I think that paralell will be explored more as the series progresses.
A solid 3 stars!
April 29, 2014
From the Christain young-adult fantasy writer who is best known for Dragons In Our Midst, this is a brand new series that was just released last month. It's a dystopian/supernatural tale set in a time when chosen teenagers are trained to "reap" souls upon death and transport them to everlasting peace at the Gateway...except that they's been lied to and the Gatekeeper is a tyrannical beast and the souls delivered are not safe but betrayed. How I don't know yet, since this is only book 1, but man does Bryan Davis paint a great start to a new kind of story!!
Likely to read rest of series: YES
Likely to read rest of series: YES
February 23, 2025
Awful. I started and in 5 minutes I found: people reaping souls (which freaked me out) and a reference to strippers
(I love many of his other books but these were unlike his others)
(I love many of his other books but these were unlike his others)
May 26, 2018
"Reapers" by Bryan Davis is a refreshing, dystopian novel that dives into the enthralling supernatural tale of two teenage reapers.
Seeing the first book for the first time, I immediately got thrilled because the blurb has a one of a kind concept.
World Building:
The world building is an important part, especially for science fiction, dystopian and fantasy. Fortunately, the author did a good job crafting it superbly. The setting was vividly described and the concepts introduced were well-detailed. Even the small ones, such as how reapers' cloaks are, how reapers were determined and trained, and the valve attached to each reaper, made the world real. The only thing that lacked in details was what happened in the past. For me, it would have been more interesting if the author put more details why they ended up in that situation. Maybe he just wanted to focus more on the present time rather than dwelling on the past.
Writing:
The writing style was simple and very easy to understand. The story was told by Phoenix's POV which made the story more engaging. Also, the author also used foreshadowing many times which gave hints and reasons for what might actually happen. I like how these things built both mystery and suspense that made the book hard to put down. The dialogues and interactions of the characters were all very serious. It was totally understandable and expected given the situation they were in. However, a little sense of humor wouldn't hurt, right?
Plot:
I haven't read any books where the main characters are reapers because usually, their characters reflect darkness or sometimes they are associated with the bad guys. So reading a book where they are the main characters is both refreshing and compelling. The plot moved quickly, the action was always present, and the conflicts would keep you on the edge. I enjoyed how the small, bizarre details were unfolded as the story went. Also, there is a lot of violence due to its theme of death. I really enjoyed reading most of the book except for the last few chapters. Mainly because I was a little confused about what was happening and everything just happened too fast. I really hope the second book would give light to what happened at the end of the first book.
Characters:
Okay, let's start with the main protagonist. Phoenix was a loyal reaper who wanted what was best for his district even when he had to break some protocols against the Council. Being lonely for quite some time, he was easily distracted and absorbed in thoughts when he was with her two female companions, who were both interested in him. To be fair, it was mentioned that it was Phoenix's flaw which he inherited from his grandfather. Next is Singapore, Sing for short. She was a new reaper who was assigned next to Phoenix's district. She easily connected with Phoenix and eventually, became one of his love interest. She hid a lot of mysteries about herself which made her character intriguing. The third one is Shanghai, a badass reaper who was Phoenix's childhood friend. She's straightforward, and always do what she thought was right. Lastly, Alex is the main antagonist in this book. She's heartless, manipulative and did vicious things just to get what she wanted. There isn't much character development in the story since there was no conflict presented that would challenge their characters.
Overall, Reapers is a quick, gripping novel that readers would love to read. I recommend it to everyone, especially dystopian book lovers. If you are looking for a new, remarkable story, you should grab a copy of this book.
Thank you, Bryan Davis, for giving me an opportunity to review your book in exchange for an honest review.
Seeing the first book for the first time, I immediately got thrilled because the blurb has a one of a kind concept.
World Building:
The world building is an important part, especially for science fiction, dystopian and fantasy. Fortunately, the author did a good job crafting it superbly. The setting was vividly described and the concepts introduced were well-detailed. Even the small ones, such as how reapers' cloaks are, how reapers were determined and trained, and the valve attached to each reaper, made the world real. The only thing that lacked in details was what happened in the past. For me, it would have been more interesting if the author put more details why they ended up in that situation. Maybe he just wanted to focus more on the present time rather than dwelling on the past.
Writing:
The writing style was simple and very easy to understand. The story was told by Phoenix's POV which made the story more engaging. Also, the author also used foreshadowing many times which gave hints and reasons for what might actually happen. I like how these things built both mystery and suspense that made the book hard to put down. The dialogues and interactions of the characters were all very serious. It was totally understandable and expected given the situation they were in. However, a little sense of humor wouldn't hurt, right?
Plot:
I haven't read any books where the main characters are reapers because usually, their characters reflect darkness or sometimes they are associated with the bad guys. So reading a book where they are the main characters is both refreshing and compelling. The plot moved quickly, the action was always present, and the conflicts would keep you on the edge. I enjoyed how the small, bizarre details were unfolded as the story went. Also, there is a lot of violence due to its theme of death. I really enjoyed reading most of the book except for the last few chapters. Mainly because I was a little confused about what was happening and everything just happened too fast. I really hope the second book would give light to what happened at the end of the first book.
Characters:
Okay, let's start with the main protagonist. Phoenix was a loyal reaper who wanted what was best for his district even when he had to break some protocols against the Council. Being lonely for quite some time, he was easily distracted and absorbed in thoughts when he was with her two female companions, who were both interested in him. To be fair, it was mentioned that it was Phoenix's flaw which he inherited from his grandfather. Next is Singapore, Sing for short. She was a new reaper who was assigned next to Phoenix's district. She easily connected with Phoenix and eventually, became one of his love interest. She hid a lot of mysteries about herself which made her character intriguing. The third one is Shanghai, a badass reaper who was Phoenix's childhood friend. She's straightforward, and always do what she thought was right. Lastly, Alex is the main antagonist in this book. She's heartless, manipulative and did vicious things just to get what she wanted. There isn't much character development in the story since there was no conflict presented that would challenge their characters.
Overall, Reapers is a quick, gripping novel that readers would love to read. I recommend it to everyone, especially dystopian book lovers. If you are looking for a new, remarkable story, you should grab a copy of this book.
Thank you, Bryan Davis, for giving me an opportunity to review your book in exchange for an honest review.
March 21, 2018
“Death didn’t care about the late hour. Reapers like me always stayed on call.”
What if souls of the dead were unable to leave the world of the living?
The Reapers Trilogy is a dystopian tale with a supernatural twist that takes place in a futuristic, urban setting. Two teenagers, Phoenix and Singapore, male and female Reapers, collect the souls of the dead and transport them to the Gateway where they will travel to their final destination...or so they are told.
I found this concept extremely unique and quiet the tale as you as indulge into a world of death and sorrow but also captivated by creativity and poise. Davis’ tale gave me chills and I loved reading every chapter that included twists and turns behind every turn as the story continued.
The characters were very intriguing to read about as their characters developed throughout the novel and truly gave a raw feel to the novel.
“First lesson. The sooner you detach your emotions, the better off you’ll be.”
I loved the way Davis expressed his characters emotions throughout the storyline of the novel as the unique plot twists gave the characters raw emotions and a creative aspect to the story as a whole. I loved how this book came across very poetic and edgy and gave me chills with the descriptions of the settings and what the characters were feeling.
“ As long as Phoenix lives, you will never be rid of that monster within. If you don’t attack and destroy Phoenix, he will destroy you. Look at his eyes. See the hunger? See the torture? He will unleash that fury on you unless you strike first. It’s the only way you can survive!”
I loved being able to feel the tension between the characters as everything began to go downhill from the start and the entire story was incredibly moving as you see a different perspective of death in this creative piece. I would recommend Reapers by Bryan Davis for those who love an adventurous story with a thrilling compilation of science fiction and religion.
What if souls of the dead were unable to leave the world of the living?
The Reapers Trilogy is a dystopian tale with a supernatural twist that takes place in a futuristic, urban setting. Two teenagers, Phoenix and Singapore, male and female Reapers, collect the souls of the dead and transport them to the Gateway where they will travel to their final destination...or so they are told.
I found this concept extremely unique and quiet the tale as you as indulge into a world of death and sorrow but also captivated by creativity and poise. Davis’ tale gave me chills and I loved reading every chapter that included twists and turns behind every turn as the story continued.
The characters were very intriguing to read about as their characters developed throughout the novel and truly gave a raw feel to the novel.
“First lesson. The sooner you detach your emotions, the better off you’ll be.”
I loved the way Davis expressed his characters emotions throughout the storyline of the novel as the unique plot twists gave the characters raw emotions and a creative aspect to the story as a whole. I loved how this book came across very poetic and edgy and gave me chills with the descriptions of the settings and what the characters were feeling.
“ As long as Phoenix lives, you will never be rid of that monster within. If you don’t attack and destroy Phoenix, he will destroy you. Look at his eyes. See the hunger? See the torture? He will unleash that fury on you unless you strike first. It’s the only way you can survive!”
I loved being able to feel the tension between the characters as everything began to go downhill from the start and the entire story was incredibly moving as you see a different perspective of death in this creative piece. I would recommend Reapers by Bryan Davis for those who love an adventurous story with a thrilling compilation of science fiction and religion.
June 22, 2020
Now this is just one weird story. When a child, with a special mark, reaches the age of 13 they become a reaper. They are given a cloak that has been spun from their own hair (it has to have their DNA so it is only their cape). They also have a port put into their necks through which they are give energy after they transport the souls of the dead to the Gateway. They can also talk to those sheltered in the fibers of their capes by connecting the cape to this port. Pulling souls into the cape drains their energy. Then there are the ghosts. Those are the souls that didn't get reaped and are just wandering around the world. There are three levels they go through and the higher they go the harder they become to reap. Each of the reapers takes the name of a city that was destroyed, so our main character is Phoenix. His friends are Singapore and Shanghai. Sing has secrets and she's on her own mission, but not everything goes as she had planned.
In the background there is a very evil woman who is always one step ahead of our heros, and she is determined to get Phoenix under her power, you see, he has a special gift, but we aren't sure what that gift is other than he can resist the pull of The Gatekeeper.
There are questions in the story about whether the Gate truly sends people to their "reward" or to the abyss, but no one has been able to get beyond the Gate to find out what is really happening. There is a rare mention of a true God in the story, but that's the only Christian thing about the story.
I do have a problem with the story though. When a body dies it's soul is immediately taken to heaven or to hell, it doesn't linger to be collected into a cape, and there are definitely no ghosts wandering about. How the author is going to bring this story around to being biblical, I have no idea, but I will keep reading, hoping he can somehow do that.
This is a clean read.
In the background there is a very evil woman who is always one step ahead of our heros, and she is determined to get Phoenix under her power, you see, he has a special gift, but we aren't sure what that gift is other than he can resist the pull of The Gatekeeper.
There are questions in the story about whether the Gate truly sends people to their "reward" or to the abyss, but no one has been able to get beyond the Gate to find out what is really happening. There is a rare mention of a true God in the story, but that's the only Christian thing about the story.
I do have a problem with the story though. When a body dies it's soul is immediately taken to heaven or to hell, it doesn't linger to be collected into a cape, and there are definitely no ghosts wandering about. How the author is going to bring this story around to being biblical, I have no idea, but I will keep reading, hoping he can somehow do that.
This is a clean read.
Did Not Finish
March 13, 2026DNF at 23%.
I picked up Reapers as a thrift store find and gave it a fair shot, but it just wasn’t clicking for me. The writing style and dialogue didn’t really work for me and kept pulling me out of the story.
One scene in particular on the train really lost me. Out of nowhere one character kisses the main character and then says something along the lines of “there’s more where that came from.” The whole moment felt really abrupt and awkward, and instead of adding tension it just came across as kind of cringey.
I also struggled a bit with the premise of teenagers being trusted with something as serious as reaping souls. I think that’s something I personally find harder to buy into now when reading YA dystopian stories.
This might work better for readers firmly in the YA target audience, but for me it just wasn’t the right fit right now
I picked up Reapers as a thrift store find and gave it a fair shot, but it just wasn’t clicking for me. The writing style and dialogue didn’t really work for me and kept pulling me out of the story.
One scene in particular on the train really lost me. Out of nowhere one character kisses the main character and then says something along the lines of “there’s more where that came from.” The whole moment felt really abrupt and awkward, and instead of adding tension it just came across as kind of cringey.
I also struggled a bit with the premise of teenagers being trusted with something as serious as reaping souls. I think that’s something I personally find harder to buy into now when reading YA dystopian stories.
This might work better for readers firmly in the YA target audience, but for me it just wasn’t the right fit right now
June 9, 2026
This is a good read for young adults that would love to be thrown into a supernatural world with good vs evil and one's free will. This is also book one of the Reapers Trilogy.
This book is set following Phoenix who is a reaper and collects souls. Phoenix also encounters two other Reapers Singapore and Shanghai. They are all on their journeys to learn how to collect souls and take them to the gateway for judgement. But they begin to wonder what happens after the souls are handed over. Will they discover what the gatekeeper is doing with the souls? Will the three of them stick together or separate? What will happen when they get close to the truth? Will they choose to save themselves or the souls they carry? Is it possible that Reapers are passed down a family line?
This book is set following Phoenix who is a reaper and collects souls. Phoenix also encounters two other Reapers Singapore and Shanghai. They are all on their journeys to learn how to collect souls and take them to the gateway for judgement. But they begin to wonder what happens after the souls are handed over. Will they discover what the gatekeeper is doing with the souls? Will the three of them stick together or separate? What will happen when they get close to the truth? Will they choose to save themselves or the souls they carry? Is it possible that Reapers are passed down a family line?
March 9, 2018
Reapers is book, written by Bryan Davis, about the story of one Reaper named Phoenix is going about his life normally but also in secret rebelling against the system. What he does is he gives medicine to the sick which is outlawed in the society. But his system and everything comes crashing down when he meets a girl named Singapore.
This book is about the adventure of two Reapers named Phoenix and Singapore, they are recruited by a member of the Gatekeepers council, the Gatekeeper is the ruler of the world right now and the member, named Alex, wants to overthrow him. I really liked this book and would recommend it to teenagers that like fantasy action books.
This book is about the adventure of two Reapers named Phoenix and Singapore, they are recruited by a member of the Gatekeepers council, the Gatekeeper is the ruler of the world right now and the member, named Alex, wants to overthrow him. I really liked this book and would recommend it to teenagers that like fantasy action books.
July 16, 2021
I wanted to REALLY like this one. My daughter is such a fan-girl of Davis and loves everything he writes, so I bought the whole series at a convention. This book was just not as compelling as I had hoped and expected. It really takes a while for the story to develop, the main character needs some growth and the slow plot is just... there. I feel like the next book may be better and improve on the story line, so I am going to continue on with my reading of the series. I truly wanted to love this book.
June 20, 2026
Hoopla bonus borrow. It seemed like a cool concept at first but then it kind of started to drag with the intrigue and what not. The kind of love triangle stuff and whatever love curse is going on were also meh, I’d rather have had some adventures in reaping ghosts and trying to save people with illegal medicine to eventually lead to trying to destroy the system rather than almost immediately getting into duplicitous plots hidden in layers and layers of characters.
July 21, 2018
Whilst reading this book, many things were happening. The ending left me (as kids today would say) "shooketh". I'm not one for writing reviews, but this was a great book. If you're seeking action and adventure with a bit of romance, this is the book for you. If you read the 'The Hunger Games' and loved it, you'll probably really enjoy this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
June 9, 2026audio - 2.5 stars
Can an author simultaneously spend a whole book world building, yet also make the reader feel like they're missing context? Because that's how it felt. By the time I stopped being so confused, I didn't care much about what was happening. I'm not sure I'll bother with the other two books in the trilogy.
Can an author simultaneously spend a whole book world building, yet also make the reader feel like they're missing context? Because that's how it felt. By the time I stopped being so confused, I didn't care much about what was happening. I'm not sure I'll bother with the other two books in the trilogy.
June 17, 2026
The premise had promise, but the writing felt too basic. The narrator for the audio sounded far too old to be a teenager. The descriptors for POC characters were frustrating. Muscles as dark as upholstery? Calling one a darkie mutt?
Will not read anymore in the series.
Will not read anymore in the series.
May 4, 2017
I love the dystopian genre!
June 14, 2019
Fantastic! Definitely an interesting perspective on death.
May 26, 2021
Amazing ! I was hooked from the first page. Definitely recommend !
November 28, 2022
Great dystopian book!
January 1, 2023
This was an easy to follow, well written book. It maintained action and kept interest. Will read second book in series.
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