The Reaper's Daughter

by K.M. Randall

I’ve always felt like an average girl ... except for my strange relationship with death. You could say I like to court it. Whether I’m soaring through the air as a flyer for Specter University’s cheer squad, or speeding down the steepest mountain with only grace and balance keeping me from an icy end, I’ve always needed to feel a rush. But now Death is courting me―in more ways than one. First, there’s Rishi, a rogue death deity who has a penchant for annoying me nearly to my grave and whose intense gaze has the power to see right through me. Then there’s Hades, who I’d rather had stayed just a myth. Now that he knows I exist, he’s not going to leave me alone until I meet the same end as my mother.

Oh yeah, did I forget to mention her? I spent my whole life thinking she had died when I was a baby, but now I’ve found out she’s much more than dead. Fifty years ago, Hades banished my mother from the underworld and took away her ability to cross over souls―souls that have wandered lost through the world ever since. Now she wants me to clean up the mess. You may have​ heard of her before ...

They call her the Grim Reaper.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Ebooks, Fiction, Mythology, Young Adult, Supernatural

Unknown Binding

First published February 1, 2015

About the author

As a girl, K.M. always wished she’d suddenly come into magical powers or cross over into a Faerie circle. Although that has yet to happen, she instead lives vicariously through the characters she creates writing fantasy and paranormal. She is the author of Fractured Dream (The Dreamer Saga) and The Reaper's Daughter. When K.M. is not busy writing her next novel, she serves as a freelance editor and writer. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree in English-Lit from Nazareth College of Rochester. K.M. lives in Upstate New York’s Finger Lakes region with her husband, her extremely energetic little boy, and their crazy goldendoodle Luna (short for Lunatic). K.M. is currently busy at work on the second book in The Dreamer Saga trilogy, called Shattered World. Learn more at http://www.kmrandallauthor.com.

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great Release Giveaway From KM Randall

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For eighteen years Blake has been the girl who liked to “live life on the edge on planet Thriller.” If there are chances to take, she is the go to girl, the one who dared to defy Death. Little did she know she has been on Death’s radar and the moment is right for her to come face to face with the Grim Reaper, and holy deities of the underworld, Grim is her very own Mommy Dearest, who supposedly died when she was a baby! Mom has a little problem and it is wreaking havoc on the souls of the dearly departed and she wants Blake to clean up the mess, take on the mantle of death and help her regain her powers and rights taken away by that little devil, Hades. Of course, Hades is now gunning for Blake, and if he catches her, it won’t be pretty.

With the aid of an annoying rogue death deity Rishi who, as hot as he is, is a little disconcerting to Blake. Can she trust him? One thing Blake cannot do is ignore the departed souls she can now see as they wander, lost, begging for safe passage to the otherworld. What if someone she cares deeply for needs to be delivered? Can she do it? Has the once hard as nails teen in over her head? Will her mouth and her attitude put her in a world of hurt or will the daredevil in her start the wheels in motion for big changes in the Death Delivery System?

K. M. Randall’s The Reaper’s Daughter puts the myths and mysteries beyond the grave into a whole new level of perception. The chaotic world K. M. Randall has created is nothing short of brilliant! Who knew death could be so feisty? Heck, who knew Death wasn’t a skeletal, smelly, robe-wearing guy with a scythe to be feared? I laughed, I fist-pumped the air, I wanted to cry and I want to believe that when my “time” comes, Blake will make it a journey to remember! She is a force to be reckoned with and her sidekick and best friend is just priceless in the comedic relief and best friend ever department.

Every new story is a secret surprise waiting to be unveiled, and K.M. Randall’s The Reaper’s Daughter is one of the best surprises yet!

I received this ARC edition from the author in exchange for my honest review.

Expected publication: May 9th 2015
Publisher: Booktrope
ISBN: 9781620158418
Genre: YA Paranormal
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[❀Aimee❀ Just one more page... · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author definitely has a creative imagination. I think she needs a good editor for content shaping, honing, and flow. I was excited about the story concept - death's daughter coming into her powers and finding out that powers have shifted and the transfer of souls is not going as it should. There were moments I really enjoyed the characters and scenes. However, a lot of the time I was not IN the story and was aware I was reading. Also, as another reviewer noted, the word "soft" and all it's forms were overused in the book (87 times - per the kindle count). As I said, a talented editor can make all the difference.

I can see how the author tried to get the best friend in on the action by giving her her own special power, but it seemed unlikely that two best friends would have two separate paranormal abilities. Yeah, yeah I know, it's already an "unbelievable" plot, but you know what I mean.

One pet peeve in the book is they don't catch the difference between wretch (unfortunate person) and retch (gag/heave).

I was frustrated with Blake's constant inner dialogue about how her mind and body couldn't think straight around Rishi. Even when I've felt that way, I never felt I was out of control. Oh, (and this sentence, "I swallowed thickly, trying to find my voice around his desire that smelled like musk and car leather." o.O

Overall, just OK for me, but I think the author has a lot of promise.

[Viking Jam · Rating 2 out of 5]

https://koeur.wordpress.com/2015/05/0...

Publisher: Booktrope
Publishing Date: may 2015
ISBN: 9781620158418
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 2.3/5

Publisher Description: Fifty years ago, Hades banished my mother from the underworld and took away her ability to cross over souls―souls that have wandered lost through the world ever since. Now she wants me to clean up the mess. You may have​ heard of her before …They call her the Grim Reaper.

Review: “DUN, DUN, DUN!!!!!….”. Take a look at that cover art. Besides being really bad I think her head is slightly compressed or elongated.

So Blake is a cheerleader attending Specter University (with an ‘E’), only this is not an alternate reality novel. So I assumed the University was named in honor of Phil Spector. Blake is head strong, independent and incredibly self-absorbed. So much so, that pages and pages of inner dialogue were written in her honor. She soon learns that on her 18th birthday she sees dead people, one of which is her boy crush recently deceased in a car accident. Besides getting over him in about an hour (as she is getting the hot’s for Rishi), she meets her mother in a cemetery crypt and soon learns that she is The Grim Reaper “DUN ,DUN, DUN!!!…..”. So blah blah, denial, blah, not going to do it, blah, reality bites, blah, wah, wah, Rishi hot, blah, crows suck, blah, flicker this, flicker that, Hades blows, get the scythe, wah, grrrrr, hiss, pfffffft!!

The reviews for this were pretty bipolar and I think I know why. For the first 50% of the novel Blake’s character is beautifully constructed and expressed within the movement. She is not in insta-love with anyone. She is real in her feelings and expresses them if warranted. She don’t take shit from a-holes and demons yet loves her Dad and friends. Almost loyal to a fault which is sadly lacking in the real world. The novel is well written, and although the story line has been done before, the author puts her own brand of creativeness into the world building.

At the 51% mark, the novel goes downhill, quickly. Almost is if it were written by someone else. Blake goes from interesting, to petulant and mired in her own hormones. Sniffing “musk” off of men and constantly whining about her mom. The writing also takes a turn for the worse where phrasing is used to expedite dialogue and scene development. For instance, after every sentence someone is “Speaking softly” or “flashing /glimmer in their eyes”. Real juvenile writing. The word “soft” or “softly” was used well over a 100x.

This was profoundly disappointing as initially I found myself caught up in the story with Blake and was constantly rooting for her. Then for no reason it turns into this slow narcissistic boat to China that never makes it to shore. The dialogue also seemed to get heavier along with the phrasing and what was once creative quickly turned pedantic.

Get this with your favorite opiate.

[Sophia Sardothien · Rating 1 out of 5]

This. Book. Is. Extremely. Boring.

It's just your typical everything :(

Just no.

NETGALLEY provided me this book in exchange of an honest review.

[Iva Kenaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Reaper’s Daughter’s prologue introduces the main character, Blake when she’s about to reap a soul of a girl who had committed a suicide. That’s just the beginning though and there’s still a lot more to learn about Blake’s past and how she became part of the death deities team.

At the beginning, Blake is an ordinary teenage girl with a down-to-earth attitude as opposed to her friend, Shelby, who is a big fan of the New Age. One day the two girls visit a New Age bookstore, where a psychic taps into their destinies and sees death aligned with both of them, just in a different way.
Soon after, Blake begins to notice a mysterious boy, Rishi, following her and feels compelled to know more about him. The enigma unravels after Rishi introduces her to Blake’s supposedly dead mother, who in fact turns out to be the Grim Reaper herself. Though reluctant to follow in her mother’s footsteps at first, Blake eventually learns to embrace her heritage.

The book reads so well that I could hardly put it down. I found the main plot very entertaining and also appreciated the underlining themes such as the family bonds, ancestral spiritual heritage and following one’s life purpose.
Blake’s memorable witty personality and her relationship with Shelby and Rishi make the novel even more enjoyable. The book was only the first part, so I suppose there is still a lot more to learn about the characters and more adventure on their paths yet to come.

Having read K.M.Randall’s previous work, I can feel that she truly develops a specific style of writing and is very creative in the fantasy realms. I admire her rich imagination, sense of humour and cleaver use of language. I look forward to reading the next part as well as other novels she writes in the future.

[Eureca Laurice · Rating 3 out of 5]

The scythe's voice was like music in my head, and I knew beyond all doubt that it was mine.

This reminds me a lot of Master Sun, a Korean drama with the same concept. I love that drama; it’s one of my A-List. It's one of the books that many people wouldn't hate, it’s a matter of hit and miss, and I fall most likely on the latter one. I have been contemplating for too long, (still contemplating until I finished this review) on what was wrong with me and this book.

It has:
1. Strong-willed heroine.
2. Strong female friendship.
3. Girl power.
4. No insta-love.
5. No stupid or dumb act.
6. It did tug my heart because of some pain that kept resurfacing from fresh memories.
7. A good natured boyfriend.
8. A cool dad.
9. Extreme adventure feels.

The seemingly ok part:
1. World building is not its strong point, as it's time table is same with ours but since it involves another world like the Abaddon, I wanted more of the flowery world of it. But come to think of it, when I'm recalling the story and it's settings, it all come back to me. I kinda imagine the Abaddon, the forest, the graves, all of it.

And it's weakest part:
1. After some evaluation and analyzing on what was the lost between us; The heroine connection to myself. When I'm reading, I always imagined myself as the heroine/hero. I'll be able to feel her pain, her lost, her adventure, all of it. I did not felt it, I just seen it.

2. Hades has some involvement in the story, but faraway in the Hades I always knew. I wanted my usual Hades that comes in the silver platter with sweet strawberry on top.

3. Pluto was also mentioned but then in this story they are two different entities. They were sort of twins, like duh.

I wanted our connection to work, because you know, she's the perfect girl; she's always what I wanted on my heroine. But I guess, the perfect girl never works for me. I mean she's not that perfect in this story, but I guess not all perfect works with thyself.

Overall, the story is really interesting. I never heard or read much story about Grim Reaper. It may be has a lot of movies or shows about the Grim but then, Grim Reaper is a woman and has a daughter? Interesting indeed, just never mind the cover, it was sort of meh, has indie vibe, and will keep you off.

Up until this sentence, I am still contemplating on my rating. It’s between 3 and 4, like I really wanted to rate it 4 because this is my first awesome NG reads. It exceeds my expectation, you know galley disappoint me a lot. But then amongst it awesome feel there’s always this nagging voice in my head that kept saying to me that it’s a three because 4 is a reserve number for those books the come short to its awesomeness. And I always know that the nagging voice always wins.

The connection factor really is important for me, along with the world building, still I wanted to continue the series and see more for its better judgment.

"When you stand alone and sell yourself, you can't please everyone. But when you're different, you can last."
- Don Rickles

Overall rating: 3.5/5
Thanks Net Galley/Booktrope for providing me this awesome (that fall short a little) ARC.

[Kariny · Rating 5 out of 5]

*NETGALLEY ARC*

MY REVIEW

Blake is an adrenaline junkie in the eyes of everyone. Her dad is constantly trying to get her to pipe down her death wish but nothing seems to be working. Everything is going great in life, she's in the cheer leading squad, has an amazing best friend and is seriously in love with her boyfriend and he with her. But everything changes one night when she cheers for a school game and she meets the eyes of a smoldering young man staring back at her from the bleachers. Blake is thrust into the world of death where she learns that she is the daughter of THE Grim Reaper. According to one's belief, you are allocated a reaper. For example a Hindu's soul is for the Hindu death deity to reap-which also happens to be Rishi's father,

But Grim has been banished from the underworld and her scythe-her source of power-has been taken by Hades, Her sister is also his captive and has hidden the second scythe. If Hades gets his hands on both well let's just say unicorns won't be flying around anytime soon. Grim's souls have not been reaped and they've accumulated because Grim can't reap them anymore-leaving the job to Blake. She will have to cross souls over, find the scythes, rescue her aunt, deal with the infuriating Rishi all while trying to keep the remnants of her mother's humanity intact.

If the synopsis hasn't drawn you in then i don't know what will. This was a completely original tale full of adventure. Blake was smart and funny. I liked the idea of Grim loosing her humanity making her cold and inhumane as Death should be. I loved the side characters like her best friend, she was so unique and completely loyal. Blake herself was funny and strong.

The romance i guess you could say was alright. I just didn't fangirl over them as a couple even though Rishi is hot!! Sometimes i felt like i liked Geoff better!

This book has it all, a feisty heroine with mother problems, a funny but loyal best friend, a little romance, some action, various types of mythology and-come on guys this is a book about the reaper's daughter-GO GET IT!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review via Lovers of the Paranormal Goodreads book group by the author.

This author brings you into such a different world of unstoppable action, love, friendship, and family with an awesome paranormal twist. The Reapers Daughter will keep you flipping pages up until the very last page. K.M. Randall does not disappoint!

I really loved how this book started out in the present, and then goes back to how it really all started, it gave you a reason to stay entertained, because you got to know the whole story, and want more. From that very first page I was completely hooked. So much magic, and action, that there was no way I could even think about trying to put this book down. I fought migraines just so I could keep reading this book, and well I of coarse also fought sleep until I could no longer keep my eyes open. When I had to put the book down I felt like I lost a limb, because I was so engrossed in the book, that it pained me to have to put it down.

Blake is a very strong character, and so is her best friend Shelby. They are exactly the sheer vision of a friendship I long to have. It is not easy to find this kind of friendship, where you can live so close to each other, and spend most of your time with each other, and yet be so open to paranormal possibilities, and other unexpected things.

As I went through this book, it was no longer just a book to me, it became and extension to me, because I was so totally in sync with this book, that no matter what I did, I kept thinking about it, and I even raved about to my boyfriend, and I will definitely tell others just how amazing I think this book is.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deliciously addictive page turner is what I've found in K. M. Randall's The Reaper's Daughter. Blake is the Grim Reaper's daughter and had no idea she was half deity until her 18th birthday where a guy appears to be stalking her. We learn the stalker is named Rishi and is another half deity who was raised by Blake's mother. The two struggle to deal with one another because Blake doesn't feel like she can trust Rishi, but it doesn't stop her from becoming attracted to him.
The story weaves Greek mythology with a different view on deities, death, and the structure of death. There's adventure, sadness, humor, flirtation, and confusion. Randall throws curveballs and change ups to keep the reader engaged. This is the first novel in the series so it ends with a cliffhanger. My overall rating for content, characters, and writing is a solid 5 stars.

[Biate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who knew the Grim Reaper is a woman. And she has a daughter.

I was exited about the concept of the story and I loved the idea of this book.

Rating the book was hard. I was going back and forward between 3 and 4 stars. So I decided to settle for a 3.5 rating.

The reason:
I didn’t fall completely in love with this story.

I liked Blake, her bff Shelby, and her boyfriend Geoff, but Rishi just worked on my nerves right from the start.

However, the author definitely has a creative imagination and the story weaves Greek mythology with a different view on deities, death, and the structure of death. There's adventure, sadness, humor, flirtation, and confusion.

And just to make sure you stay engaged and keep turning the pages the author throws in a few curve balls.

Therefore I will be keeping an eye out for the next book. I still have many questions that need awnsers.

[Kimberly Vanderbloom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novel. It has a very interesting concept. I have never read a story about the Grim and to add the legacy of a daughter was mind blowing. I felt like I was Blake. It was well written. I am going to recommend this book to all my friends. Thank you for sharing it with me.

[deilann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog, SpecFic Junkie. I received this ARC from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Blake just turned 18 and found out her mom's not dead—her mom's actually Death. And needs her help. Seemingly self-aware and not taking itself too seriously, The Reaper's Daughter could have been a rather good book. Unfortunately, it suffers from plot holes, cardboard characters, and writing that just kept getting on my nerves.

All-in-all it's pretty stock-standard fare for its genre, so if you really like paranormal urban fantasy, you still might enjoy it. I personally couldn't take the light purple prose strewn throughout the book (the protagonist has unearthly blue eyes and you'll know it by the end) or how the characters seemed to just be high school stereotypes thrown into college without any regard for the fact that they're in college.

There's also a few discrepancies. Things like how she mentions being a sophomore in college this year (they never explain why she's in college early, despite eagerly explaining how she's special in every other way) but then mentions this is her first year in college later. It honestly felt like originally Blake was supposed to be a high school student, but this got changed at the last minute. The characters are written like they're in high school, with strict adherence to cliques and blushing about "getting to third base."

Sometimes a lantern is hung on some of the gaping plot holes, which is appreciated, but just makes the unaddressed ones stand out more. The book also seems to be aware of its own tropiness at times, which I like. If this book were trying to take itself super seriously, I would have one-starred it so fast. The plot also seems to pull whatever the fuck it needs out of its ass to fit the situation. Sometimes it feels like it's planned ahead by a little bit, but it's still eyeroll-worthy.

The writing also suffers beyond the purple prose. They mention at one point that six months have passed and I basically went, "Really? Really?" There was almost no sensation of time passing at all in the book.

At the same time, though, every once in a while the writing will actually get a bit clever. I also really liked the idea that death deities are non-human in some ways, though I feel like that wasn't expanded on and used to its full potential. Oh, and the evil characters are so obviously Evil in so many ways. Gag me with a spoon. There's no room for grey in this book, which is a pity because again, there was room for it.

Again, though, if I knew someone was looking for a paranormal urban fantasy book, especially with a female protagonist, I might suggest it to them. It's not nearly as super sexist as a lot of others in the genre and it's set up for a sequel. Which, who knows? Maybe it'll be even better.

[Ally · Rating 2 out of 5]

NetGalley. Thanks for the copy.

YA Paranormal, The Reaper's Daughter is the first of a potential series (I haven't found out the exact details). The synopsis is definitely interesting, and I find myself drawn to the book. I can't pinpoint the exact feeling and reaction to this book, but let's go digging. Maybe I can find what I think about this book.

Blake, our narrator (who remains nameless in the synopsis), is our heroine. She is thrown into the "Grim Reaper" madness and business when her mother (along with Rishi, who acts like a complete stalker) comes for her on her eighteenth birthday. (Happy birthday, Blake!) Blake is completely shocked the second she realizes she is the daughter of the Grim Reaper. From there, things go into a downward spiral. Her newfound powers tick me off, because she hasn't really learned the skill. It is all mostly innate (mostly).

There is a "sort of" love triangle here. This is simply a warning to those who don't like love triangles. But let me tell you that this isn't a typical love triangle. That is all. That is all I will say. But I do have to point out that Rishi and Blake doesn't have much chemistry. Which is a shame, because they could had been an awesome couple. They have some great pieces of dialogue.

The Reaper's Daughter is a quest for a legendary scepter. It is an interesting quest, but there are some problems with the pacing. It is off, and it starts off slowly, which I honestly didn't mind at first until it starts annoying me towards the halfway point of the book. Some of the plot holes irritate me, and I find myself asking questions instead of rolling with it. (I probably should had, because the story is definitely more like "No questions, just read.")

The plot is slow, as I said before. It does flow smoothly, so the ride isn't that bad. I think the best part of the storyline is when Blake gets into the Underworld and meets Hades. There are some great moments in The Reaper's Daughter, but a rewrite would definitely make it legendary.

The ending leaves room for a sequel, and I find the ending to be very satisfying despite the loose ends. It is great. The ending is strong and well-written despite its disappointing and long beginning.

Overall, The Reaper's Daughter has some great potential that is diminished by the slow beginning and annoying plot holes. However, it is an incredibly interesting read that keeps me reading from start to finish. I'll only recommend this to those who like reading about death.

Rating: Two out of Five

-ofpaperandwords.blogspot.com

[Becki · Rating 5 out of 5]

(free copy for review)

Blake lives with her single father and loves her life with her handsome boyfriend. But that all changes when tragedy strikes and she discovers she's the daughter of the Grim Reaper. Thrust into a world she doesn't know or want, Blake must come to terms with her loss and her new responsibilities.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story from start to finish. It has strong characters and world-building. Blake is a very strong female character without being a “bad-ass”. I love how she doesn't give in to her mother or her budding new relationship with Rishi quickly. She doesn't embrace her new life and, in fact, fights it until the end.

There are heart-wrenching scenes that had me bawling like a baby, actually, multiple times. It was also sweet and funny. Nothing in this book seems forced or contrived. It has a well-developed plot and it flows as though Randall didn't come up with the story as she wrote.

There's a great jumping off point for the sequel and the ending doesn't leave you throwing the book against the wall because you have to wait for book two. Overall, it was a fantastic start to a new series from new author K. M. Randall, and I look forward to continuing on with Blake, Rishi and company in the (hopefully!) near future.

[Anika · Rating 5 out of 5]

-I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review-

Wow, what great book. The concept for this book is great, I mean I don't think I have ever seen a book about the Grim Reaper's daughter. Besides that, this book was wonderfully written and had a wonderfully developed world.

One of my favorite things about this book is the main character, Blake's friendship with Shelby. In books nowadays I've noticed that the protagonist almost always ditches their old friends for either their, boyfriend/girlfriend or friends from their new life. This has always bothered me. I like how in this Blake and Shelby stick together even though Shelby has just found out Blake's connection to "death".

Another thing I liked about this book is the pace, it wasn't too slow or too fast. Everything seemed to happen at the perfect time. Also, the way the underworld was portrayed in this book was very unusual compared to other books, but I found it nice and refreshing.

I would reccomend this book to anyone looking for a new and interesting story in the YA/supernatural genres.

[Pallavi Sareen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to netgalley for a copy of this book.
Firstly, let me just say this. This book was completely awesome. From the beginning to end, it had me intrigued. No dull moment at all. It was fast-paced yet detailed and the story was great.
The Grim Reaper's daughter has a normal life till now. As normal as it is for a girl who seeks adrenaline rush from time to time. She has a boyfriend, a best friend and a loving father. But as soon as she turns eighteen, things begin changing. Her life is turned upside down but with the help of her best friend, she hopes to make it through.
There was adventure and fun moments but a lot of emotions too.
I like Blake's character. She was fun, nice and yeah a little sarcastic. But Shelby was my favorite character. She was funny and sweet and I loved the character so much.
The last two chapters were most exciting. I would totally recommend this.
I'll be posting a copy of this on my blog too.
http://alextheshadowgirl.wordpress.com

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read about a girl thrown into a destiny she wants nothing to do with.

Blake's whole world is turned upside down beginning with one fateful day. There is nothing she can do to change it although she tries to find a way. She fights the rules at every turn and does what she feels she should, not necessarily what others think she should.

Shelby was an awesome friend through all of it in so SO many ways and Rishi, my goodness...the tension, the smolder, the support...yes please!

The story is full of little twists and turns which will keep the reader stampeding ahead.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the author and am so glad to have been given the opportunity to read this prior to its publication date. However, it just means a longer wait now until the sequel...

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

*** POSTED ON KEEP TALKING NERDY BLOG***


When I first saw the title The Reaper’s Daughter, my hopes soared that this was going to be an awesome book. I saw several four and five star reviews on Goodreads with only a small amount of anything less. The star count wasn’t that high, but I didn’t think anything of it since this book hasn’t officially been published yet. However, my hopes were soon dashed once I started reading.

Blake, an 18-year-old from New York, is an adrenaline junkie cheerleader with a hot punk rock boyfriend and a fashion trendy friend, who after an incident with death figures out her mother is the Grim Reaper. She’s quickly caught up in her mother’s battle with Hades who wants them both long gone. Along with her trusty sidekick, Shelby and Rishi, a fellow deity hybrid, Blake fights to help her mother gain back the powers she lost fifty years ago.

Unfortunately, I was unable to finish this story. I couldn’t get past 52% and thus my review is only based on what I have read and not the whole story itself so please bare that in mind. However, I have very few things I actually liked about the book even with only having read half. I think I’ll start with what I liked first about this book to maybe lessen the blow of how much I disliked it, but I doubt it’s going to make much of a difference since it’s not really that long. What I enjoyed about this book is that it could have been such an amazing story if done right. The concept of the MC, Blake, being a daughter of the Grim Reaper/Death (who is a female and not the stereotypical male, which is something I also enjoyed) seems like such a unique concept that there are endless possibilities to be run with it.

What I disliked about this book was the grammar in this story felt like I was reading something a high school student wrote and they hadn’t quite learned how to expand their vocabulary well enough. I can’t count how many times I highlighted the word ‘like’ in a character’s’ dialogue. It makes them sound like an airhead in my opinion. The sentence structure, at times, seemed off as well and every once in a while I’d come across a line that seemed like it shouldn’t end where it had, as if it needed more or could have been rearranged to flow better. Describing nouns was something else the author seemed to struggle with. They would have moments where they’d actually write really well for a small segment and then somehow it’d become botched with an odd word placement or lack of description. I came across several descriptions that just made me cringe, question why they choose that word, or both. What I mean is, it seemed as if they author choose random words every once in a while and swapped it with one from a thesaurus because they just seemed so out of place with the surrounding words being not of the same calabar.

The characters themselves were so clique it pained me to read them sometimes. Blake is a cheerleader but to make it even better, she’s not your average cheerleader, she’s a Flyer and she like’s to claim she’s a daredevil who loves to brush death but you’re showed pretty much zero signs of it the book (at least in what I’d read). She has a hipster best friend (I don’t care what you say) named Shelby, a punk rock 6’2 hot boyfriend, Geoff, and the cliche hatred from the head cheerleader, who I honestly can’t even remember the name of, who hates Blake simply because Blake is dating Geoff, her ex. In my opinion, there was literally no point to this character at all. She serves no purpose for the story as far as I can tell.

But let’s get back to Blake. As the MC, she has the possibility to be this strong, fearless girl who when thrust into this new life of hers, could become someone reliable on and yet she just came across as pathetic, selfish in some of her actions and just overall annoyingly bland. You could see at points the author tried to make Blake and her friends be snarky, funny, and have an I-Don’t-Care attitude about their surroundings and situations but it didn’t always come across that way. A lot of the time it simply came across as trying too hard. Blake, who denied, whined and overall ignored the fact of what she was for a better part of a few chapters, suddenly decides she’s got this down and is okay with everything. I swear she struck me as bipolar at times because even into part two she’s would still complain about sending souls over and why it has to be her. Her self pity got old super fast.

Overall, this books just wasn’t for me in the slightest and I’m crushed that after reading such high reviews about the book, I was left feeling disappointment, annoyance and the overall feeling of being lied too. This book was nothing like the reviews as I had imagined. I feel if maybe given another try and a total revamp the author could come out with a totally better book, but as of right now, I felt like I was pulling teeth while trying to finish this book.

[Holly Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I so enjoyed THE REAPER'S DAUGHTER by K.M. Randall! What a fun read it was! I mean, it wasn't all fun and games - there were tears, I cannot lie - but overall it was a blast. I'm so glad I read the book and can't wait to read more of Blake's adventure.

Blake is a sophomore at the local college, an adrenaline-junkie who joined the cheerleading team just so she could be a "flyer" (you know, the one who goes all the way to the top of the human pyramid and then jumps or is thrown down). She has an awesome best friend, Shelby - whose character I absolutely loved - and an amazing, hot, adorable boyfriend, Geoff. She was raised by a single father, having been told all her life that her mother was dead. She is generally quite happy with her life... that is, until it all changes in an instant.

Blake comes to find out that her mother is NOT dead; she is, in fact, DEATH herself! Yes, she is one of the original death deities - Grim, as in, the Grim Reaper. She has reappeared in her daughter's life because, as it turns out, Blake gains certain powers on her 18th birthday - namely, the ability to cross over souls into Abaddon, from where they are then sent on to... well, no one really seems to know. Heaven? Hell? It doesn't really matter, for purposes of the story, anyway. Abaddon is ruled by Hades, although it is rightfully Grim's duty to rule - however, Hades banished Grim from Abaddon 50 years prior to our story, and she has been unable to cross over the souls she is responsible for ever since. Once Blake comes into her powers, it becomes her responsibility to cross over the souls her mother would normally take care of.

Surprisingly, Blake does not want this duty! (I kid, of course - who wants to BE death?!) Yet, at the same time, she feels compelled to help the wandering souls, who are stuck here in our world when they should rightfully be moving on to Abaddon. To assist them, though, she probably needs a little training, right? Luckily, another death deity, Rishi (yum), is there to help. Like Blake, he is a hybrid - ie, the child of a death deity and a human. Turns out Rishi is one of the children of Yama, the Hindu death god. He has basically been raised by Grim, which you can imagine causes all kinds of angst for Blake, since she had been told her mother was dead her entire life and, of course, feels abandoned by her. Turns out Blake will learn quite a few more things about her mother - and a family she never knew she had - throughout the course of the story.

I so enjoyed the adventure in this story, the quest on which Rishi and Blake, and Shelby, even though she's "only human," are sent. I also greatly enjoyed the dialogue, especially the banter between Blake and Shelby. I absolutely adored their friendship, and it was so refreshing to see such a true loving friendship between two young women in a YA/NA story!! There was no underhanded backstabbing, no secret hatred disguised with a fake smile, none of that mess that we often see in young adult stories. Although I admit I do enjoy a good "Mean Girls" story every once in a while, I crave depictions of true female friendships, and Blake and Shelby epitomize that. Thank you to the author for this refreshing take! I loved it.

I also loved the mythology that Randall used / created / expanded on in this story. There is so much to sink your teeth into; her world-building is amazing, though it's less to do with the actual world around them and more to do with the mythology of the death deities and the fight between Hades and Grim. We are left with one quest fulfilled but a new one discovered, and I definitely can't wait to see what happens next for Blake, Shelby, and Rishi. I highly recommend this book, especially if you love urban fantasy, mythology, paranormal, etc. The book reads so easily, not because it's short or shallow, but because the writing is masterful. I cannot say enough good things about THE REAPER'S DAUGHTER - and in fact cannot say anything bad about it! - and I hope you will give it a try. Happy reading!

**Thanks so much to NetGalley and Booktrope for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.**

[Danni Dicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the record, this book is a 4.5 for me, not a 4.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review (LoP or Lovers of Paranormal)

Incredible, this book was actually incredible. Instantly, this book made it into my top 10 favourite books of all time and I’d read only 20 pages of it, I was enthralled, mesmerized, intrigued and sucked in to this amazing world that K.M. Randall created. It was unique and incredibly original, I was quite literally in awe of this story, the characters, the plot twists and the imagery created.

Up until Blake’s 18th birthday, her life had been pretty normal, the absence of her mother made her a little tougher than most and when something horrific changes her life, she’s quite literally opened to a world that always existed just beyond her. Blake finds out exactly what it means to feel the deepest of pain, and with the sudden and unexpected return of her dead mother, Blake learns what legacy awaits her. Plagued with a heavy responsibility, the company of an annoying death deity who somehow manages to charm her and a mother with so many secrets that Blake can barely keep up, but that’s the least of her problems when she finds out that a certain Greek God called Hades comes into play. His ultimate goal; to make sure Grim and her line can never rule again.

Don’t be alarmed, I know that was a lot to take in.

So besides the fantastically written characters, I have to mention that at one point around the halfway mark of this book, I found myself wanting to throw my tablet at the nearest wall, scream, cry and then write an emotional and detailed letter to the author describing my sincerest grievance towards the choices that had been made. I was upset. But then I got my shit together and I read onwards, not being able to put it down at all other than my brief tantrum. Seriously, my body would not let me put it down, it didn’t matter what time of the morning it was… *cough* 3am.

Abbadon. I wanted this to be a completely horrific contrast to normal life, not everyone will imagine ‘the next life’ to be the same and maybe not everyone thinks of it to be some gungy cesspool of decaying souls but should it really be some awesome paradise that people can just chill in, maybe have a few mojito’s, sing Kumbaya and talk about what they did that day? Yes! No. Well at least my brain didn’t think so. It wasn’t wow, it wasn’t different and unique, it was meh. I just wanted something other than what I got. Hades rules after all, and if Hades’ ruling world doesn’t have burning things, people being tortured and/or a dungeon full of tormented souls, then maybe Hades is having a mid-life crisis.

I cannot recommend this book enough to you, I can almost guarantee that if you love the paranormal, you’re looking for something completely fresh and you want to maybe cry a little bit, then you need to read this book, I’m not even kidding.

For a full review please follow my link

[Danielle (Danniegurl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

When the book first started out I had a lot of difficulty getting into it. It starts off with a scene in "present day" then we go back 6 months and for some reason I was annoyed with the backward timeline. I just wanted to jump into the story. The main character Blake annoyed me, she was supposed to be in college yet she acted like someone in high school. Then I found out that she is 17 (almost 18) in college. I wish she was more mature. A series of events happen and she finds out she is the Grim Reaper's daughter. It comes with lots of interesting tasks, but the main one is that Grim lost her ability to reap souls and send them on to the next phase of life due to Hades another Death Deity who "stole" Grim's scythe and closed her soul door, so she can no longer reap at all. Because of this she basically is using Blake to get her scythe back and so she can go about what she needs to do. The overall story is interesting, but I found some of the parts monotonous where as the parts I was looking forward to, retrieving the scythe didn't seem to take nearly as long for all that build up we had in the beginning. The world though finally gets set up half way through the book once we get back to present day. I found myself more engaged once we were done with the past. I did find some of the characters like Grim and Seba to be annoying. Annoying in the sense they had the I know better than you attitude but I am still going to rely upon your abilities even though I feel you are below me. Yea, I didn't like that attitude and it seems neither did Blake so I was right on the same page with her. Now her ant Rishi, Grim's protege so to speak is an interesting character and I can't figure him out. There is a pull between him and Blake, but he is super loyal to Grim and that's causing them problems. There was a lot of push and pull between them in a do they have feelings for each other sort of way. That I found myself more and more interested in. Why are they so drawn to each other? Are they soul mates? Will he betray her later on? Etc. Where the story ended I was a bit put out, it didn't feel like the best place to leave it, though they did accomplish some of their goal, they laid out new ones and I guess that sets us up for a new book, but it didn't end the book at all. The problems are still present they are just going onto their next mission.

Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy via Net Galley all opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

[C.J. Anaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an intriguing take on the subject of the Grim Reaper. I found the author's voice easy to connect with. Her characters are well developed and the plot is original, adding elements of Greek and Roman mythology into the mix which is definitely a clever twist. It opens up so many possibilities for the plot and the characters.

Blake is an awesome protagonist. I really enjoyed the fact that she was such an adrenaline junky. The tight situations she and her friends found themselves in was more enjoyable for me simply because of Blake's daredevil attitude. She's not a pushover, and she values loyalty, honesty and family. There's a strong sense of right and wrong embedded within her moral code, and she is more than easy to like.

The narrative takes off right from the beginning, and there is no love triangle, but you can't help loving her exboyfriend-I refuse to spoil the book by telling you why he's her ex-and Rishi, a guy who has more in common with her than the reader is at first led to believe. The reaping scenes are engrossing, the dialogue is witty, and the conflict within this book is heavy. Stealing a scythe from an intimidating figure like Hades is bound to be full of tense scenes, and crossing over souls who are going insane makes for some interesting reading.

The romance in the book develops at a slower pace than most, which I felt was more believable considering the type of person Blake is. Despite her impulsiveness when it comes to thrill seeking, she is calculated in other more vulnerable areas of her life. It is one hundred percent appropriate for any age group.

Some things I enjoyed about this book are the strong connections between the characters. A great example of this is the friendship between Blake and Shelby, and the differences that bring them closer together. Another item would be the lack of dead spaces (no pun intended) since there is always something happening on every page.

I think Randall is a talented author capable of weaving a story so enthralling her readers won't have any desire to put it down. Unless of course they want to take their reading to that next level and add some serious chocolate binging to the mix. I may or may not have indulged while enjoying this most excellent read.

I truly look forward to reading the next installment in the series and highly recommend it to anyone interested in Grim Reaper tales, paranormal romances, and awesome New Adult fiction.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect by feelings towards the book.

My Impressions:

I really didn't expect to like this one as much, thinking it would end up to be another YA romance pretending to be a Fantasy/Paranormal but surprise! It's actually a new adult and while there is something romantic happening, it's only in the background.

Plot:
They were secrets and plot twists that I couldn't see coming. There were times that I really felt emotional over what was happening between Blake and her boyfriend Geoff.

When she turns 18, Blake starts to see dead people, and at the same time, the mysterious Rishi comes into her life telling her that her mother is still alive and wants to meet her. But when Blake does meet her mother, she isn't what she expected and the two cannot form the bond she needs. Then she discovers the real reason her mother is there to see her. When she was banished from the underworld, Hades also took away her scythe. Now since the council doesn't yet know of her, Blake can sneak in and retrieve it. Through everything you realise that Grim is just using Blake to get what she wants. And it's sad. Blake realises this, but continues to help because of the greater good.

Characters:
I really liked Blake and her friend Shelby. Their closeness and understanding of each other is a bond that every girl has known if they have a sister or life long best friend.

Grim is just so cold. Even if she's not human, she should at least know what it's like to be one, having lived with Blake's father.

Rishi is a complicated mess. He was raised by Grim and doesn't really have any family. I'd be envious if I were Blake. But Rishi just kind of rubs this relationship and bond with Grim in Blake's face. You realise that he isn't doing it intentionally. But he is always following what Grim says without question, and agrees with her, without putting much thought into what is best for everyone else.

Geoff is just too sweet. He is a picture-perfect boyfriend except for his impatience, but he just melted my heart.

Writing:
I liked the pacing of the story but didn't realize it was part of a series until I was getting to the end and still didn't have closure. I love to read series but lately, it's hard to find just a good stand-alone book. Nevertheless, I'll definitely be reading part 2 when it drops :)

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. On her eighteenth birthday, Blake gets a few big surprises, and none of them are particularly good. Surprise number one: Her dead mom? Yeah, not dead - she's the Grim Reaper and she needs Blake to help move souls over to the other side. Surprise two through ten? Well, I don't want to spoil anything. Dead Like Me made me a big fan of Grim Reapers, so I jumped at the chance to read this book. It offers a unique perspective on reapers and death deities and pulls in ideas from a multitude of cultures, something I haven't seen often. The atmosphere was a lot lighter than I expected because, well, Death. It was a nice change to see an andrenaline junkie cheerleader instead of a sullen introvert take up the scythe, and, though there were a few graveyard scenes, I otherwise found it a much more realistic and bright approach to the business of death. I enjoyed the secondary characters most. I liked Blake's best friend, and I think it would be fun to let her narrate the next book - her fashion sense made her distinct, and her loyalty was a big draw for me. I also wanted more of Blake's dad - he seemed like such an awesome character, and I really wanted Blake to spend some more time with him. I was rather meh about both Blake and the romantic interest. They were nice enough, but nothing about them really struck me as memorable beyond their unique lineage. This book had a pretty slow start for me, and it picked up the pace along the way, but it still seemed to be hurry up and wait while we explain things. That is expected when introducing a mythology and building a world for readers, but it did interrupt the action, especially in the last third of the book where there was maybe too much information at once. Overall, I liked the book, but I got frustrated by the fact that the urgency of certain situations was delayed by explanations. I would be interested to see where the next book leads, and the ending did indicate that there was more in store for readers in the future. Language and situations are appropriate for high school readers.

[Ruth B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Reaper's Daughter presents us a girl who could be described as an adrenaline junkie, a sweet college girl, a loyal friend or a good girlfriend. However, none of those labels could really do justice to her heritage because Blake is Death's daughter.

There’s not much introduction or preambule because Blake discovers this new world just a few chapters after the story begins. The general picture is quickly described and from then on we join Blake in this new life.

At first the book takes a dark tone, the atmosphere is kind of depressing and the pain is too much. I mean, something happens in the story that justifies what's going on but it makes it sad nevertheless. But don't worry the dark mood last a couple chapters because once the action begins and Blake discovers everything that comes by being related to the reaper, the book becomes more exciting, faster and enjoyable.

This is a story with a good paranormal argument, the plot is solid and the author provides a believable story where she has taken care of all the details. The writing style is really good and the dialogues have humor and drama as well. I think the souls are a strong element and their descriptions make the book even better.

Blake is a likeable character. For moments I was mad at her because I felt like she was moving on too fast but when she explains why she behaves the way she does everything makes sense. I love her BFF, Shelby is the friend we all need. She is an amazing girl. I have to mention Rishi, I can't wait to read more about him. He is mysterious and intriguing.

Overall, The Reaper’s Daughter is a really good paranormal book that could be labeled as YA or New Adult, the main character is an eighteen-years-old college girl so it's up to you to decide the genre.

I have to mention that I really liked that the romance wasn't the main topic here, it plays a secondary role and there are moments of tension between Blake and the boy but the story is about her and Death, and all that comes with the underworld.

*** I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. ***

[~JustMel~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

~~ I received this book in exchange for an honest review (LoP)~~

Oh my GOODNESS!!!! This book was incredibly good! It was so well written, to the point that I almost cried at one point. It had me worried, and laughing and aching right along with the characters. Even though this is a bit of a paranormal romance with LOADS of romantic tension, it is also filled with action.

So quick summary:
The story pretty much begins with college cheerleader Blake a few days before her 18th birthday. She lost her mom when she was a baby, and loves her "Mr. Mom" dad. However, she and her dad are like night and day in that she's an adrenaline junkie, while he's more calm and not much of a risk-taker. She has a best friend who is more like a sister, and a loving boyfriend with whom she was great friends before they became romantically involved. Her life was as close to perfect as she could hope for, until she sees him in the crowd staring at her during one of her routines. His name is Rishi, and she can't explain the connection she immediately feels with this strange guy. From that point on, her life changes completely. She loses her boyfriend (read it to find out how), learns that her mother is actually very much alive and is actually THE Grim Reaper, and Blake herself is actually Death. And so is Rishi.

I love how strong Blake was throughout the entire book, although she did piss me off with her selfishness in the beginning, but it was understandable why she did what she did.
The story is told in two parts: the first giving the backstory, and the second picking up shortly after the prologue. The plot flows extremely well, and the descriptions make it very easy to "see" the story unfold. This take on death personified, was completely new to me and I loved it. Bringing Greek, Hindu, Mexican and American/English versions of Death personified into the story just made for an even more incredible plot.

While it is a slight cliffhanger, I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the second part.

[Jennifer Reposh-Krieger · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a hard review to write since I have mixed feelings about this book. I got the book from Netgalley and kt sounded interesting......Blake is the daughter of the Grim Reaper and after finding this out, she goes on an adventure to help restore the passing of souls into the underworld (trying not to spoil too much here).

The first few chapters I was really into the book....I liked Blake, her bff Shelby, and her boyfriend Geoff. After the first main tragedy in this book, I am not sure what happened but I lost interest. I can't pinpoint why, it just started to become very boring and frankly I was annoyed with Blake and never really felt much about the new boy, Rishi. I liked the concept of it and felt like the author had a good storyline, but somewhere along the way, the story got lost. In my opinion, I would have liked more of Grim and Blake and less of Rishi. I felt like they liked each other because they had to based on who they were...like all of a sudden, bam, we like each other after like an hour and arguing with each other. That is another issue with this book....the time frame. It felt like this was taking place over a really long time span but that could be because I was bored with it.

The ending chapters got quite interesting and I would have liked more of that portion of the book...felt like A LOT happened really quickly, a lot of new characters were introduced, and I was interested in knowing more about that part of the story. I was intrigued with Maeve and Ambrose and that peaked my interest but nope....left without a lot of answers in this book.

And then the ending.....another series. I just don't think I can do it.....I read so many series and this story had so much potential, but unfortunately, the author got lost in the middle.....it is too bad because I think with some help, this could have been a great new series.

[Ana Beatriz Esteves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blake is just a normal girl with a normal dad, a normal best friend and a normal boyfriend going to a normal university except that she isn't normal at all! She's an adrenaline junkie that has never met her mother... until recently..
She discovers that her mother is a death deity and just not any death deity, she's the Grim Reaper and she's one of the most ancient and most powerful death deities!
Blake has to deal with the 90 degree turn that happened with her life and learn to live as the Grim Reaper's daughter and even save her mother's dominion of Hell because Hades is taking control of it!
I have to say that I love this book! The blend of mythologies present in this book and the main characther, Blake, made me fall in love with it!
The fact that the book not only talked about love interests but also about friendship and family with lots of paranormal and extraordinary elements made the perfect recipe for this exact story.
Through the story you can feel really connected to these characthers and sometimes you even feel that you're in their shoes, doing what they're doing and fighting with them against evil.
This book made me laugh and crie out loud and scream to the skies to please give me the next one because the story is so addicting and so evolving that you wont put down until you're finished!
If you like paranormal with friendship and family values, and also really hot and steamy death deities, you'll certainly love this book!

http://addictedbookslover.blogspot.pt...

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

**First of all I would like to thank netgallery and the author / publisher for allowing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My review is as follows...**

This book was a pretty good, easy read, with great characters and a storyline that gripped me from the start. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will look out for this author again in the future.

The main character is Blake, a normal girl who has been living her life in the dark until her boyfriend dies and she learns that her mother who she thought was dead is actually the grim reaper. She meets a guy (of course) who is also a deity of death and a potential love interest. And the newly formed band plan to break into hell to steal back Blake's mothers scythe.

The most noteworthy secondary characters include Shelby and Rishi. Shelby is Blake's best friend who continues to stand by her and her task even once she finds out about Blake's powers; she is a true best friend and an excellent character. Rishi is the death deity who is the potential love interest for Blake, he teaches her what her role is to be but withholds important information that damages his relationship with Blake.

The storyline is pretty original and it is well written and keeps readers interested all the way through. The pacing is good building the story all the way through although I do think the end mission was a bit rushed it was clearly just gearing up for another book in the series. I look forward to reading more by this author and in this series.

4 stars a good read.

[Ernesto I. Ramirez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting take on death and the story is good... a little too much young adult for my general tastes, but its not that bad. Damn Harry Potter and all its school variations.

The things that hurt my sensitivities are 2, first: the fact that the book needed a bit more research in death deities... Hades is NOT the greek god of death... is the RULER of the underworld... the true god of death is Thanos, and not to fond of the option for the mexican goddess of death, while in mdoern times, yes, she is called Santa Muerte, Santa Sebastiana, and a myriad of other names, below that hides one or more of the aztec goddeses like "Coatlicue, goddess of fertility, patron of life and death, guide of the rebirth." (which would be a good match for Randall's Reaper), or Mictecacihuatl (queen of the underworld and wife of Mictlantecutli, god of the dead)... we mexican have a lot of gods of death and death related.

Second: The author should get someone who actually speaks spanish... or spanglish to check on her modisms when using the mixed language, it hurts a lot to see a mexican death deity trying to speak spanglish and doing it like a gringo... In spanish pronouns have gender, so when using a verb it does using the gender.

"turn me loco" as in turn me crazy would be for a male, in spanish refering to a woman we would use "loca!.... and there are a dozen expressions used wrong in a similar way.