Organ Reapers

by Shay West

Detective Elliott “Eli” Robinson and his new partner, Ava Aguilar, are baffled by a series of brutal murders happening in their fair city.

No evidence, no eyewitnesses...only mutilated corpses with missing internal organs.

When Eli and Ava stumble upon evidence of similar gruesome crimes around the globe, they realize there is more to the murders, but the answers continue to elude them. In a race against time, Eli and Ava must figure out who is behind the killings and stop them before more people die.

But the answers will take them out of their comfort zone and into the realm of the fantastic: another world with a different set of rules, and a leader who has no qualms about killing.

Genres: Ebooks, Mystery, Fiction

264 pages, Paperback

First published October 23, 2014

About the author

Shay West was born in Longmont, CO and earned a doctorate degree in Human Medical Genetics from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical. Dr. West currently lives in Grand Junction, CO with her cat (Oreo), packrat (Rose Tyler), and bearded dragon (Madame Vastra). When not writing novels, she plays with plushie microbes and teaches biology classes at Colorado Mesa University. She is the author of the Portals of Destiny series, the Adventures of Alexis Davenport series, Soul Reapers, and Organ Reapers. She has also been published in several anthologies: Battlespace (military scifi), Orange Karen: Tribute to a Warrior (fundraiser), Ancient New (steampunk/fantasy), and Horror in Bloom.

You can find Dr. West and more of her work at Shay-West.com.

Reviews

[Olivia-Savannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review can originally be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...

Although the title does make it sound super gory, I can assure you that this book is not. In fact, it is a pretty clean book, with a murder case where people end up missing their organs. However, what the cops don’t know is that the perpetrators are from another land. I was okay with the whole fantasy element mixing in with the mystery, but I did want a bit more mystery in this. Instead the fantasy elements kind of won over here.

And the fantasy wasn’t too amazing :/ Yes, Tani and Keena, the characters who came from the fantasy land were awesome. I loved how they were so surprised about everything new at earth, and how they were the first to stand up against their leaders. I liked that they were so close and cute as well, and the budding romance was sweet. What I didn’t like was that there was not enough world building when it came to the actual realm they lived in. I also felt like their fantasy world wasn’t different enough from earth. I didn’t even know in what ways it was different until halfway through the book…

I really liked Ava’s character! She’s a female cop, and a feisty one at that. She has her own connections, is not afraid of running with them men and at the same time manages to stay feminine all the way through. I loved her character and the way she was unafraid of anything and willing to believe. Eli was the main character we get to hear the most of, per se, and I think he was pretty cool too. He had his own problems, as in getting over his divorce. But it was good to see his character develop in the novel.

The ending was liked and disliked. I felt like we didn’t get enough of an epilogue to Ava and Eli’s story, and I really wanted to have a bit more closure there! Especially on the romance side of their story. But when it came to Tani and Keena we had a lovely epilogue that left me satisfied, hence feeling tied up there.

[Matt Ely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original review posted at JC's Book Haven

"I'm not saying that this is a fantasy come to life." She leaned forward. "Have you ever heard of those guys that play Dungeons and Dragons?"
"Yeah."
"What if we're dealing with a group that is playing their own made up version of a Dungeons and Dragons? Maybe they even have a King and Queen or something they take orders from."

The Good
I enjoyed the setting quite a bit with this story. The concept was fun and fresh for me as well. Eli and Ava were very believable as detectives for me and I loved Tani and Keena as Harvesters. Master Kelhar was a total douche which works since he was the villain in the book. I liked that the two worlds were at different levels technology wise and that the one with the harvesters was at a lower level...hence their need to harvest organs in such a desperate way.


The Bad
My only complaint is that they never explain where the machine came from that allowed them to travel between worlds. Though I guess that leaves the door open for a second novel.

The Romance
Let’s see, there's tension between Eli and Ava and Tani and Keena. So if you like romantic tension there is plenty of it here. Some is innocent and light and then some you could cut with a knife.

Conclusion
I really liked this book. I was able to get into it right away and it held my interest. The story was fresh and the characters were fun and believable. Some you couldn't help but root for while the villain was able to earn your disdain with little effort. I totally recommend it.

[Rich Weatherly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Urban Fantasy featuring a murder mystery

Author Shay West’s Organ Reapers features a first-rate homicide detective Eli Robinson and his new, attractive Latino partner, Ava Aguilar, as they attempt to solve the mystery of brutal murders. The mystery starts with a single case involving blunt force trauma and the surgical removal of internal organs. The intensity of the urban fantasy novel escalates as a single, local case, but mushrooms into 70 cases on a global scale with no clues left behind.

The author alternates between the protagonist’s point of view and scenes with antagonists in an unknown world where the ruthless Master Kelhar has assembled his team of Organ Harvesters. Readers learn of his creation of a steam-powered machine that when used in a certain way in combination with 5 stones carried by each pair of harvesters, allows them to be transported almost instantaneously to earth in a burst of energy manifested by a bright burst of light. Among the Harvesters are teens Tani and Keena. Kelhar recruited them through enticing rewards personally and to their families for their service.

Kelhar built his power by using organs from humans to perform lifesaving, transplant surgery on the citizens of his world. His efforts to control those of his world lead to the rash of killings faced by Robinson and Aguilar.

We see Robinson and Aguilar using all the tools of their trade, working closely with the medical examiner and crime lab. Through news stories and computer research, they discover crimes are occurring at almost the same time throughout the world. Eventually, one of the Harvester’s is captured. The case proves more baffling when investigators are unable to match DNA with any known human DNA sequences.

The first clue is discovered when a harvester leaves one of the mysterious stones behind. Later, Tani and Keena have second thoughts about their work as Harvesters and decide to come to earth and reveal the secrets behind the killings. After they arrive and attempt to explain their actions, Eli and other officers find Tani and Keena’s story incredulous, delaying the progress of the investigation.

Shay West does an excellent job of placing the reader at the scene for protagonists and antagonists by developing believable and in most cases, likeable characters. She shows contrasts between a large urban city in the US and the ‘other world’ of the antagonists. The place harkens back to a time before modern transportation, one that is largely rural. Tani & Keena grew up in a seaside village, and we learn about their family life in that world. Organ Reapers is a fast paced, highly imaginative story that I recommend.

My review is based on an advance copy from the author.

[C.p. Bialois · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a world with medieval steam technology, a machine is discovered by the head priest of the ministry that allows them to send teams to Earth to harvest the organs their own people need to survive. The catch? Their Gods preach against defiling a corpse, so they kill the people for their organs.

Despite the honor and opulent lifestyle being a Harvest gives them and their families, a few of their people don’t agree with the idea of killing others to save their own. This thought process comes to a head for Tani and Keena when they’re assigned to travel to Earth to kill a child. Wishing to find a way to stop future killings, they travel to Earth through their gateway to find help.

Murders are a fact of daily life for Detective Eli (He hates Elliot) Robins, but when people are found struck over the head and their organs expertly removed he finds even his excellent skills aren’t able to find the killer. Enter his new partner, Ava, who is his equal in every way and help to balance and bring him from the edge of despair.

Okay, I’m a sucker for anything with a fantasy angle and when you add in police procedural thriller there’s little hope I won’t read it. With that being said, is it any wonder I loved this book? The characters and story were well done and flowed smoothly.

The author captured the frustration of the police detectives perfectly, especially Eli Robins. There were times I honestly thought he would have an aneurism. Following a divorce from his unfaithful wife, he crawled into a bottle and only came out when he needed to work.

Ava has a dark side that only comes out in glimpses and made me wonder if there’s more to her story that needs to be told in another novel. While she’s Eli’s equal in many ways, she’s superior to him in her self-control and serves to ground him when he flails about in frustration. It’s fun to see their relationship grow from one of mistrust and anger to complete faith in one another.

As is often the case in life, Tani and Keena often seemed more than the teenagers they were, but the author did a phenomenal job of reminding us of their age by having their fears and weakness become evident when confronted with the unknown or people of authority.

The story itself was woven together seamlessly between the two worlds. The differences between the worlds were drastic and subtle at the same time. It’s like disappearing from one book and into another.

[Nick S · Rating 3 out of 5]

An engaging novel with a interesting premise, a dreadful protagonist, and a bizarre undercurrent of sexism.

[Eclectic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theme Song: How Far We've Come by Matchbox Twenty

Things I Liked:

1. The first thing I really liked about this book is the premise! The lines of good and evil in reality is not as black and white as in theory, but it's like precariously balancing on a very thin rope dangling in an abyss. The story explores that concept in a subtly dark way, so props for that!

2. The characters! I really, really liked the characters, they were realistic and I cared & connected with them. Tani and Keena were really sweet! But, two in particular, Eli and Ava, I just LOVED them. They were an effective pair! Especially Eli, who is really a badass, he reminded me of Samuel L. Jackson in Snakes on a Plane (Yes, I LOVE that movie!)



Who can argue the epicness of that line?! JUST BADASS AS HELL...Just replace snakes and plane with Murders and City! I really would love it if the author continued this book as a series with Eli and Ava, with their detective adventures! Ms. Shay, you have a definite reader right here with me! Also, there were some unanswered questions which demands for a sequel, so fingers crossed :D


3. It was well written! I liked the Multiple POVs and I enjoyed & cared about every one of them. I'm usually not a fan of Multiple POVs, because it's very hard to balance and have the attention of the readers for each one of the POV, but I think the author did it very good and I like her writing style, so props to the author Shay West.

4. It's ultimately a detective story! C'mon guys, anyone loves a good detective book! It's also very realistic..I could believe that this was how it was behind-the-scenes in an investigation! It's not as glamorous as we think and the author portrayed well how it really takes a toll on everyone!

5. There is humor in the book, but not so much that it just distracts you from the story. I think it was well balanced with the dark tone of the plot. At the same time the story is not like punch you in the face depressing and dark, regardless of how the title makes you think.

6. It's basically a Sci-fi/Fantasy and I loved it! I'm a huge fan of Sci-fi/Fantasy books and this is a solid book from my experience with the genre.

7. The books wasn't as predictable as I thought it would be and it was refreshing. There were action sequences and they were pretty sweet, having me on the edge of my seat!! :D

Things I Didn't Like:

1. The main problem I had with this book is that it lacked the amount of tension this sort of book should have. The prominent reason for that is that it lacked a strong antagonist. I understand that this book tried to send the message that the Good vs Evil is not as set in stone as it seems, but at the same time from my experience you can have a grey character who is pretty menacing. I didn't really feel that much tension, especially during the last 70 pages of the books, where there should've been a climax just filled with enormous conflict.

2. This maybe a minor problem, but the book felt short, I was just getting comfortable with the characters and then snap, The End. I would've loved if the book was 20 pages or so longer and I know it's a mark of a good book to want you craving more, but it felt incomplete in this situation..Just a few more pages to wrap it up slowly would've been good, because the ending felt a little bit rushed and I was like "It's over?! Um..okay". Granted, I was satisfied with the ending, but like I said just 20 more.

Side Note:

It's the perfect balance of light and dark, it also doesn't have jarring amount of storyline, it eases into the story, so if you have a friend or you're new to Sci-fi or Fantasy, I think this would be a great book to get introduced with the Genre.. It's a short read, it took like 3 days at most for me to finish, so if you're a hardcore fan of the genre, but don't have the time to read a series or a big book, this would be the perfect fit for an afternoon read. I had a huge smile after reading it, it was such a feel good book and brought back the nostalgia of watching my first ever sci-fi movie :)

Organ Reapers is:


You can read this review and others @ Flickering Lights

Thank you for reading :)

[Carrie Slager · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Full disclosure: I received a free ebook from the author’s agent in exchange for an honest review.]

When I saw the blurb for this book, I just knew that I had to read it. The whole ‘detectives must solve mysterious murders that are increasing’ trope is nothing new to me but when I saw that the murderers are not human at all, but instead come from another world, I thought Organ Reapers would be a winner.

And you know what? I wasn’t wrong; I ended up loving this book more than I thought I would.

You see, at first you have the typical “I don’t need a partner” detective in Eli but when Ava comes onto the scene things change. Eli cleans up his act a bit and eventually Ava grows on him as she provides such a handy contrast to his brooding excesses. And when the murders become more frequent and they discover that they’re happening worldwide, Eli is pretty happy to have a partner that can connect the dots like Ava.

Likewise, Tani and Keena’s partnership in the other world, the one that butchers humans to steal their organs, start out pretty typically. They are believers in a cause, become disillusioned and start a de facto rebellion to overthrow the established order. Only things are not so simple because they’re the only ones openly rebelling and once they travel to Earth to try to set things right, they have a huge price on their heads. And when the two accidental rebels cross paths with the two detectives things get interesting.

The characterization was very, very good through the entire story. All of the characters grew as people by the end of the book and I felt like their conflicts were resolved realistically, if not completely resolved. It leaves room for a sequel but at the same time, I wasn’t mad at Shay West for leaving her readers completely dangling. It was an excellent medium.

What I really thought was interesting was the world-building of Tani and Keena’s world. It’s sort of like an alternate world but is in many ways similar to Medieval Europe. Now that sounds like a recipe for extreme boredom, but what’s interesting is the technology of the gateway to Earth as well as the fact that they can (and frequently do) do organ transplants. So you have advanced medical technology and portal technology combined with a very feudal way of life for a very interesting contrast. I personally would have liked a bit of a better explanation for the portal and how it came to be, but it wasn’t a major issue because it didn’t detract from the world-building or the plot.

As for the plot, not only was it fast-paced (while being largely character-driven) it was also very interesting. There were lots of twists and turns and although I did predict the ending, it was still very satisfying. I didn’t really get bored and what really interested me was the fact that at different points in the novel, I was rooting for different protagonists. At first I was firmly on the side of Eli and Ava, but then I began to feel a little more sympathetic toward Tani and Keena. I won’t give out any spoilers, but by the end your preconceived notions about who the good guys are and who the bad guys are will probably be destroyed.

I really have no complaints about Organ Reapers. It’s an exceptionally well thought-out book with realistic and easy to relate to characters combined with a great plot and pacing. You can’t really ask for much more, can you?

I give this book 5/5 stars.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Eli Robinson starts his day as any newly divorced cop would. Hung over, dragging himself to work. His day begins with a murder investigation and a new partner, Ava Aguilar. The two combined will forever change the way he lives.
When bodies start piling up. The MO; A blow to the back of the head, missing organs, and a weird flash of light being reported within the same vicinity of the body. Leaving detectives Eli and Ava stumped and frustrated. One crime scene finally gives them a small piece of evidence that has them looking outside their jurisdiction. What do they find? More cases…a lot more cases, and worldwide. The time lines between murder victims make the thought of having only one serial killer on their hands physically impossible. NO one can commit a murder in the USA then travel around the world and commit another murder just minutes later. Eli and Ava are scrambling for anything, digging into every possible probability. From a sacrificial cult full of crazies to a black market organ smuggler. Nothing adds up! When a suspect is finally caught and brought in for questioning. His demeanor itself is in need of investigating. The lack of information the suspect is willing to give and the international status of all the murders combined has caught the attention of the FBI. Eli makes one last attempt to question the suspect before the Feds take him into custody. He approaches the suspects cell only to hear him talking in his sleep. Giving Eli enough information to wake him and fish out a few leads. Before he can get more from the strange man two more suspects are brought in. The information given to Eli and Ava by these new suspects changes the rest of their lives.
This is a unique complex story. Full of intricacies it kept my “need to know” going. I often found myself trying to grasp what Eli and Ava were experiencing. With an emotional plot that kept me flip flopping on who I was rooting for= The detectives? Or the suspects? The ending was a little disappointing. I felt as if it crescendo-ed then just never fully gave me the end, leaving me with remaining questions on what happened with some characters. The relationship between the main characters was fun and kept me smirking. Even in the midst of a serious subject such as multiple serial killers & mutilated bodies. It’s definitely a fun read.

[Ashley Tomlinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

 Organ Reapers is a very interesting urban fantasy book, it's like nothing I have ever read before. Shay West is a talented wordsmith. This is the first book I've ever read by her but I look forward to checking out her other works. 

I'm not going to lie I was a little worried that I wasn't going to like this book. I don't usually read books that follow detectives because it reminds me too much of Law and Order but Organ Reapers was actually refreshing. I ended up loving the detectives and enjoyed seeing the other side of the law. 

It followed two sets of people and even though sometimes that can be very confusing, it was very easy to follow. Eli usually works alone but just got assigned a new partner, Ava. He starts to fall for her but of course since they are both detectives he can't pursue her. I really liked their partnership, they complimented each other well. Tani and Keena are also work partners in a way but it's cute how much you can tell they like each other. In their world you can't show affection unless you are married (which they are not) so it's even cuter when they sneak a hand hold. 

Eli and Ava are detectives that are trying to solve a string of murders. Tani and Keena are organ harvesters, in their world that is a sacred job. (They use magic to travel to this world to kill and steal the organs of innocent people, to save the people in their world.) When Ava and Eli start working these organ harvesting murders, things get weird because how can you catch someone that can travel to another world? After Tani and Keena get a job that involves the murder of a child they decide they can't do it anymore and they run away. After having visions from their Gods they know what they have to do. They end up teaming up with Eli and Ava so they can forever close the gates connecting the two worlds.

I loved Tani and Keena, especially when they came to this world to help Eli and Ava because their world is in the olden days. They still lived in the renaissance times, so it was cute when they tried to figure things out. I think the two worlds were blended together nicely. I've read books that tried to do something like this but it didn't work as well for them. This was a very good book and I'm so glad I gave it a chance.  

[Diane Coto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Without the help of two of the killers, the deaths would have continued to rise and Detective Eli Robinson and partner, Ava Aguilar, would have continued to be baffled. Tani and Keena from another world are Harvesters. Their job is to transport themselves to earth and extract organs that are needed for sick people in their world. The job is well-respected in their world providing their family members a much easier life. When they are told to extract the heart and lungs from a thirteen year old girl, they can’t do it. They’d been having doubts before this, but now they feel they must reach out to the Enforcers on earth to help them stop the deaths.

As Eli and Ava continue to compile evidence, they realize that the killings are worldwide – over 70 people have been killed and their vital organs removed. In fact, by comparing a few of the very rare photos, the same person is responsible for two deaths, one in Delhi and one in London, only hours apart. Witnesses can only report having seen a bright light near or around where the person was killed. While Eli gave aliens a passing thought, he wasn’t really serious about it. Then, Tani and Keena were brought to the station. Eli and Ava interrogated them. Once the pair managed to prove they were from another world, Eli and Ava came up with a plan to destroy the machine in their world to prevent any further entries from their people. But, will it work?

I felt very comfortable with this book even though Science Fiction is not my preferred genre. As gruesome as it sounds, the brutal killings were not described in detail. I liked Eli and Ava and their distinctive personalities and how they related to each other. I also liked Tani and Keena. Even though they’d been killing people, they were innocents of a sort believing the priests in the monastery from their own world. Their world was not what I expected. You’d think that in order to travel from one world to another, they’d be very technologically advanced. They weren’t. Other than the ability to transport, their world was actually quite medieval. The author takes the reader on a roller coaster of emotions throughout. Organ Reapers earned a solid 4 out of 5.

[Dorothy Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my very first fantasy/crime drama/sci-fi extravaganza as far as books go. It was actually one of the reasons I wanted to read this book. (I usually stick to my favorite genres for the most part.) But, this really caught my eye. Fantastic cover and the synopsis pulls you in and makes you want to know what the heck is going on. What is this other world? Is it another planet? Another realm? Another plane of existence? So yes, the package definitely pigued my interest.
With a long list of murders to investigate, Eli and Ava set out to find a killer who is removing internal organs and leaving bodies practically butchered. Methodical crime drama stuff ensues, then BAM! The DNA is not from Earth! Fantastic! Loved it.
Organ Reapers was a fun read. It’s the collision of two worlds and their boundaries concerning ethics and humanity. It wasn’t a “sleep with one eye open” thriller, but it wasn’t mundane by any means. I did feel like I saw a few things coming, but so much more that I didn’t. West did a great job at building the story and describing all the scenes to make you feel like you were there and West certainly doesn’t fall short in the creativity department. West also brought some interesting questions to light in terms of the meaning of life and how far you would go to save one person’s life over another’s.
In my opinion the book was entertaining, well written, pretty suspenseful and actually funny. (I know “funny” isn’t usually a way to describe a book like this, but I liked her descriptions of younger characters, Tani and Keena, adapting to a modern world.) Also, West moved seamlessly between the two worlds, so I never got whiplash between scenes or wondered where we had gone next.
Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely. I would recommend it to others and look forward to seeing more from West.
*I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Alyxandria Ang · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think going inside a detective's mind and helping them figure out the mystery is the best point a view a book could ever present! Eli and Ava, two very ingenious detectives, work together on the same case to find the answer to a string of murders. What the author did well in writing this book was definitely making the characters believable and their present situation. It's either Shay West had a very in-depth life in forensics science, or just has a very vivid imagination. And probably even, say, a background in the police department (wink, wink). The story was believable without being too unreal.

From the gestalt (just by looking at the cover!), I expected a very subtle and dark piece about murder, however I didn't quite get that. And because of that I feel like this book leaned more on the science of it rather than the story, which is totally fine, but I would've liked to see more development of the story and plot throughout.

It was pretty fantastic that this book just so happened to come with a twist! We are sent to kind of another dimension and the crime scene follows us there! It was unique and definitely a big step up from shows like Criminal Minds and CSI: Miami. Like all other homicidal mystery novels, we see a build in the intensity of the cases and the murders. In this story, they just got wilder and really much more a pain to solve. You could literally feel the sweat dripping off the detective's foreheads!!

After reading this book, I feel educated enough to apply for a job as a detective! It's kind of like sitting in the backseat of a real life crime scene, in which you're helping to solve. We're up close and personal to a real detective. If forensics science and mystery is something that appeals to you, this book is a close match and a true simulation to what it's really like!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hey there! I was given this book for free to read, in return for an honest review so here's what I got:
I have been away from reading for a while (busy life and all) and this was a good book to get me back in the swing of it. It was an easy, quick read. Nothing complicated, nothing hot and heavy, great way to spend my time. It's a mix of crime novel with a dash of sci-fi. It's quite clear who the killers are throughout the book and why they are doing it; there was no real "edge of my seat" suspense but it had a good story. There were a few things that I "saw coming", but a few that I did not, so that was nice. The characters are likable (or not likable if it's the "bad guy") and I was never bored with the story's progression. I'm not going to be one of those reviewers that tells you exactly what happens in the book, that's what reading the book is for but, I will tell you that if you like a cop procedural, and you like a bit of sci-fi (this story more renaissance fair meets Stargate tech than "pew, pew" fly through the galaxy in a space ship), then you will like this book.
It's currently only 99c for the Kindle Edition, and I would have gladly paid that. I think the highest cost I would spend on this would be a Mass Market Paperback, to be honest, the price for a Hardcover or Trade Paperback isn't worth it for this story...it's just not that gripping. In other words, if it were a visual, I'd watch it on Netflix but I wouldn't go to the theater to see it.

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy to help facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

No one does time travel/portal travel like Shay West. We meet Tai and Keena who are young and definitely not from our world. They are harvesters. What are harvester? They harvest the organs needed on their world from humans on earth. Being a harvester is not only considered an honor, but comes with perks for the whole family. Their religious beliefs don't allow them to take organs from their own deceased, and that is why they come to earth. One assignment is just too much for them so they decided there must be a way to stop all of the killings.

Eli and Ava are the two detectives stuck with this mystery. These detectives have very realistic flaws. Eli drinks too much, having caught his wife with the neighbor and then divorcing her. Ava is a good balance to Eli.

Master Kelhar is the one sending out the harvesters. But, is he just pure evil? Is there a way to stop him? Find out what happens when Eli and Ave join forces with Tai and Keena. As always Shay West does an excellent job of story telling. I would recommend all of her books. She did an excellent job of keeping the pace so that the reader sits on the edge of their seat waiting for the next event.

[Kathryn Placer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can also be found on my blog, here!:
http://kimpossiblebyday.tumblr.com/po...

Full disclosure: I received this book for free in exchange of a review.

First of all, what a cool concept! It's a sci-fi/fantasy/crime book that really does have the best of all worlds.

The characters were fully three-dimensional and were way more than just two detectives and two alien-type-people. I didn't love them all from the beginning, but they grew on me after a while (much like they grew on each other) and I really enjoyed the parallel between the two worlds. The first fifty or so pages moved by pretty slow, but once it picked up, I could not stop reading it!

Overall, I give this book high praise for marrying together some of my favorite genres and combining two stories that would have been interesting enough on their own into an even cooler one.

If you're a lover of crime or modern fantasy genre, and are looking to test the water of another, this book is the way to go!

[Loren Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Organ Reapers by Shay West is a fantasy/sci fi mixed adventure across two worlds following two sets of partners, Tani and Keena from a mysterious other world, and Eli and Ava from earth.

Tani and Keena are Harvesters. They jump worlds to retrieve organs for dying people on their own world. But Tani and Keena are tired of brutally slaughtering innocents and cutting out their organs. Eli and Ava are police detectives on Earth tasked with finding the 'Butcher' and bringing him to justice, until they realize that this case is a lot bigger than they thought.

When Eli and Ava come face to face with Tani and Keena and learn the truth, there's decisions to be made. How to stop the killings?

I liked this book because it was suspenseful, well written, and thrilling all at once. Tani and Keena are so cute when they come to Earth and are faced with technology they do not understand. Eli and Ava must accept something alien, and that's not easy.

[Amy Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ecopy to review. Normally I am not into scifi and fantasy books but I was completely drawn into the plot! I was fascinated that one world needed another worlds organs to survive.... totally cool concept!

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Organ Reapers. This is my honest opinion of the book.

Tani and Keena are given the rights and responsibilities that few are privy to in their society. Master Kelhar doles out the assignments and the reapers must travel through a gateway to seek out the sacrifice. Will a crisis of conscience change the team forever?

Detective Elliot (Eli) Robins is called to the scene of a murder, as the victim is missing multiple internal organs. Saddled with a new partner, Ava Aguilar, to go along with the new case, Eli has to fight his own personal demons while trying to solve the case. When it becomes apparent that they are not dealing with an ordinary killer or killers, will Eli and Ava be able to put the pieces of their investigations together before it is too late?

Organ Reapers was just not the book for me, as the plot, the characters, and the story never came together in a meaningful way. Too much of the story must be taken on faith and I grew tired of the repetitive nature of the book. For example, the author hammers home the point multiple times in regards to Eli's drinking problem and his anger about his name. There really was no element of surprise, as readers are given the perpetrators and their identities from the outset. With their motivations being one of the only surprises, the book dragged and kept me from fully enjoying it. Because of these reasons, I would not recommend Organ Reapers to others.

[J.B. Garner · Rating 3 out of 5]

From jbgarner58.wordpress.com:

The life of a Starving Reviewer is one of chance and charity. We rely on the kindness of others to fill our literary bellies and we never know what we may find on our plates. Sometimes, though, fortune favors the hungry, dishing out what looks to be a delightful blending of mystery and urban fantasy, a fusion of flavors that promises delights a plenty. Such a treat was plopped before me with Organ Reapers. Did it happily fill my belly or feel like a load of lead in my gut?

Before we find that out, let’s review the Starving Review rules:

I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre.
I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible.

To answer that critical question, let’s pick apart this cake and look at its components. As a fusion recipe of urban fantasy and mystery, we’ll begin with the genre ingredients before we tackle the critical foundations of any good literary recipe: characters and pacing. However, before we can even look at the genre fusion, we need to tackle one fundamental aspect of the book: the plot structure.

Organ Reapers is, for the first half or more of the book, two parallel plots running course side-by-side, touching but never merging. Each plot follows the activities of each pair of protagonists, one in modern Earth, one in a fantasy world (the tagline talks about other worlds so it’s not a Spoiler!). Now, each plotline is paced and structured well enough (we’ll talk about the actual ingredients of each plot later), creamily sliding from plot to plot with little issue.

There is a small problem though and that comes in regards to the first genre flavor, mystery. You see, the second plotline reveals every critical aspect of the first plotline (the one with the real mystery) well before the mystery itself is solved. In essence, the big thing the cover and book blurb hints at, the whole mystery of these Organ Reapers (TITLE DROP!), is a total give away. There is no mystery at all and this … this is not good.

On the urban fantasy side of things, Shay West’s writing fares much better. The alien world is fairly interesting and the fantasy elements are, on the whole handled decently. The biggest issue that is encountered is world-building. The technology, magic, and cosmology of this world are inconsistently described and lead to many logical quirks that continue to strain the suspension of disbelief. We’ll talk about those little packets of quirky ingredients later but I will say the fantasy aspects are much better handled than the mystery.

How about characters, those vital ingredients for any good book? These are probably Organ Reaper‘s best elements. Though some classic tropes are touched on, they are used lovingly and properly fleshed out, letting the major characters shine. Even some of the minor characters are well-rounded and interesting. I’m loathe to find faults here but there are two things that went sour in my gut. One is pretty minor and I won’t quibble with in this review. One is strange and mildly offensive. In the last act, Ms. West introduces a stereotypical Asian old lady/busybody who talks in broken English, just there in one or two scenes that are pointless save for, I assume, an attempt at comedy relief. The scenes are out of nowhere, discordant, and, well, could be very easily considered offensive to anyone of that ethnicity. It’s certainly an innocent mistake, considering how well the author handles other ethnicities in the book, but it is a mistake none the less.

The plot. The plot is where things get a little under-baked. This is another case, one of many I have tasted, where the core plot structure is sound but things go sour at the scene level. Outside of the issue of the mystery being spoiled so early, most events make sense in the context of the world. Unfortunately, there are many logical inconsistencies that crop up, both in character actions and especially in the lack of fantasy world-building. Having these logical issues might be acceptable in smaller numbers but there were rare chapters after the first act where I wasn’t finding myself questioning how or why events were happening. Waiting patiently to have some of these things cleared up or explained through the fantasy elements bore little to no fruit. Some later facts even caused logical gaps to grow wider. To give examples would lead us heavy into Spoilerville, so let me try to put it like this:

It’s like eating a delicious cake that was mixed with a batch of just-slightly-overdate-blueberries in it. A bite may be quite good or you might just bite into an off-tasting bit of fruit. You can ignore some of those nasty bites but, eventually, you’ll eat enough of them that you just lose your love of the cake and won’t want another slice.

One last twist on things before we wrap up: The climax and denouement. These deserve a quick mention. The climax is very logical and went down exactly as I thought it might but there’s a last minute reveal that … goes nowhere. It could have turned into an impressive event that explained so much of the plot but just went flat almost immediately. The denouement was very well done, however, well, for one of the two pairs of protagonists. One set was basically ignored after a brief mention. I thought it might have been a set up for further books but there’s no mention of a series involved. Very puzzling.

Now, to sum this up, you might think that this Starving Reviewer was wanting to spit this piece of cake out all over the table. That’s not true. There are many solid elements to this book. Even with its logical yuck bombs of sour, Organ Reapers remains a fairly decent urban fantasy book with some excellent characters and a great core premise. The problem is that it fails to take its premise to the heights of flavor it could reach, letting it remain a tasty but unfulfilling bit of creme fluff.

FINAL VERDICT: *** (The promise of fascinating flavors trips over underdone plot points to become tasty but unfulilling.)

[Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original review posted at Crazy Cat Reads.

Disclaimer: I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.

Crime mystery meets fantasy in Organ Reapers and this mash-up was a very enjoyable read! When you look at the title, you might think this story is full of blood and guts and gore, but to be honest, the descriptions of said guts (or lack there of) are actually quite minimal.

First we meet Tani and Keena, who end up being from another world and are called "Harvesters". They are sent to Earth to collect organs to bring back to their home world, which we never truly learn the name of. It turns out that in some weird, almost twisted way, everyone on Earth has a person in this fantasy land that has matching genetics or something that will allow them to accept their organs for a life saving procedure. Unfortunately, this always happens to be a very important organ - a heart or lung, or BOTH kidneys, for example. So the Harvesters are tasked with the job of retrieving these organs in order to save their people's lives in their home world. Poor Earth people!

We also meet Eli and his new, attractive partner, Ava Aguilar. The two of them happen to be the two detectives that get wrapped up in this bizarre case after investigating one of the murdered victims left behind by Tani and Keena. If you can't tell, these poor guys end up with a very frustrating case on their hands, given that their murderers aren't even FROM THIS WORLD. They also don't leave behind any evidence ... Most of the time.

I won't give anymore of the story away. You'll have to read it yourself to get the rest of what happens from there.

I liked the developments of the relationships for both Eli and Ava as well as Tani and Keena. However, my inner hopeless romantic also found herself extremely frustrated at times. Not in a bad way, per se. More often than not, as Eli dwelled on his thoughts of both his current situation and his previous situation I ended up usually shaking my Kindle and inwardly yelling something along the lines of "C'MON MAN, YOU DESERVE IT!" ... If I had yelled at my Kindle out loud, I'm certain I would have gotten strange looks from both the boyfriend and my cats.

Tani and Keena's relationship development was extremely slow throughout the book and I honestly thought they were incredibly adorable the entire time. They totally had a puppy love sort of relationship going on for almost the entire book. And yes, I am definitely calling murderers adorable, but you'll just have to read it to see why. Seriously. They're adorable.

Moving on from the romance aspect, I did find the main antagonist was pretty well developed and had just the right amount of batshit crazy to get under your skin somewhat early on in the book. I also loved that the author was able to portray Tani and Keena's confusion about Earth and how everything worked, including toilets. There was a fair amount of humor in the book that got a few chuckles out of me, but not enough that would distract from the story as a whole.

However, there were still a few shortcomings. I certainly would have liked to have learned MORE about Tani and Keena's world. I couldn't really decide on whether this was just an alternate universe of Earth that happened to be set in a sort of older time (with steampunk elements), or if Tani and Keena's people were even human. Apparently they appeared human enough since throughout a good portion of the book, Eli and Ava thought their perps were ON Earth, but were they actually human? I wish there would have been more explanations about this other world.

The ending also felt somewhat rushed to me. The suspense leading up to the final confrontation between everyone and the main antagonist was executed very well, but the actual defeat of the antagonist seemed too quick to me. However, at the same time I still enjoyed seeing that glimpse of his true character right at the end. It also got me thinking about how religion can affect - maybe even corrupt - an individual and twist their morals around so much that what they think they are doing right is actually evil in itself. It certainly reminded me of current events! The mention of these "dark gods" made me curious and I would have liked for that to have been expanded on as well as all of the other religious aspects of the fantasy world.

There were also some grammatical errors that I came across throughout the book that did bother me and bring me out of the story for a moment or two. But that's just my personal pet peeve. It happens.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. If you want something that definitely has a unique twist and an easy read to boot, I'd recommend this one!

[Kim Pruitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Book was provided by the author for an honest review**
This interesting book is about two sets of partners, on two different planets, but both face life altering decisions that intermingle with one another. The story follows Tani and Keena from another planet far, far away, and Detective Elliott Robinson and Detective Ava Aguilar from planet Earth. Tani and Keena are "Harvesters", and this duty is a highly regarded station on their world. Their job is to travel through the "Gateway" to earth and retrieve organs from a human in order for a person on their world to survive. And of course Detectives Eli and Ava are working the "Butchers" case, the murdered victims with missing organs. That is the short version of what the book is about!

The characters in the book are very easily sympathized with, despite the fact that their beliefs seem ass backwards and bat shit crazy! Tani and Kenna grew up believing that Master Kelhar, the priest of the monastary, has been gifted visions by their "God", which is how the harvesting began. It seems that on this other planet, ignorance is prevalent, and a con-artist can get away with murder, by simply leading the idiots to believe "God" told him to. So one day Kenna reveals to Tani that she can not bring herself to take another life. She feels that it is wrong, even though it does save a life on her world. Tani agrees with her, but is more unwilling than Keena to do something about it at first. Since Harvesters are high stations, their families reap the benefits as well, and indulge in the finer things in life, which was far from their poor status in society previously. Keena is scared to death that the monastary will kick her family out if she defects, well duh! Ya think!! Now, I never said these two kids were the brightest! When Tani and Keena get on the same page and run together, where is the first place you think they go? Once guess is all you need...

They ran to their family's home, and of course they are gone already and the house is being watched. Even though they know that the monastery will be tracking them to their families, they are determined to find them and let them know why they ran. The fact that these two simpletons even questioned the all and powerful monastery's beliefs and actions about harvesting is the only reason I allowed myself empathy for them, and continued curiosity for the rest of their story.

On earth, Eli is the lonely alcoholic divorcee detective that is working the case. His Captain, Dean Platt, partners him with a female knock out by the name of Ava Aguilar. The two are absolutely stumped with the "Butcher" case, because none of the witnesses actually see or hear anyone, except for a brief flash of light right before discovering the bodies. As the body count rises, the tension between the partners grows, as well as Eli's attraction towards Ava. I would have appreciated some naked slap and tickle scenes with Eli and Ava, but...

When the next victim's cell phone reveals a selfie that caught the killer's image behind her, the detectives seek the help from the FBI. The FBI's recognition search discovers the same man in a surveillance photo in another country, where the same type of murder took place. This new discovery only opens more questions for the partners, and leads them to wild and crazy accusations.

The moral of the story is, never give ONE person that much power over the people! The story was good, but not gripping. At times I found myself rolling my eyes, and wanting parts to be done, because they just seem to drag on with mundane tasks and chatter. When I got down to the nitty gritty at the end of the story, I was expecting something spectacular and outlandish for the big reveal that the story led up to, but was slightly disappointed when it fell short. Only slightly because I should have seen it coming, especially the way the characters Tani and Keena were written, with them being so naive, ignorant, and simple, etc...

The story had so much potential as far as Master Kelhar was concerned, and also about the "Gateway" machine that allowed them to transport to earth, but instead I was left with many unanswered questions. So I give a letter grade of A for storyline but a C for follow-thru, and that is how I came to a 3 Fang Rating. Since this story voids sexual content, and actual detailed descriptions of the murders, I would recommend this book for ages 13 and up.

[Clarice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eli gets up most mornings hung over and grouchy. He gets his coffee to keep him going and makes his way to work. His outlook on life is a little cynical these days every since he and his wife divorced. She was a cheater and he hadn't hesitated to file for divorce. Now he was just married to his job as a detective. No more fighting with her about him not putting her first. When Ava comes into his life, things change. They start chasing after the ghost of some crazed killer going around taking other's internal organs. The thing is that they have no evidence and no leads. As the bodies pile up, people get nervous and the chief is wanting answers. But there are just none to give. That is until Tani and Keena show up in jail. They look like they are dressed for medieval times, and their food looks the same. It seems that they know nothing of modern conveniences, but they say they know everything about the killings and how to stop it. The only thing is that the ones murdering people are from a different world, and they used to be some of these killers. Eli just can't wrap his head around the idea and thinks it's some kind of cult. Ava is a little easier to convince.
Tani and Keena were Harvesters in their world. They went to Earth and killed people, taking their internal organs for whomever needed them in their world. If someone's heart was failing them, then they would go retrieve a new heart that fit the person needing it. The job was a very prestigious one and afforded both of their families a life of luxury that they never would have had otherwise. After a while though, the job starts to wear on them and they no longer wish to be Harvesters. But quitting isn't really an option so they run. They end up finding Eli and Ava and hope that the two will help them stop Master Kehlar, the man behind it all. To stop him they must destroy the machines that make the gateways to Earth. First they have to convince Eli and Ava that they're telling the truth. Then they must all come up with a good plan. Two things that seem like an impossibility.


The title of this book had me a little on edge about reading it. It sounded like one of those super gory and bloody books about sadistic crimes. Well it wasn't like that. I actually really enjoyed reading the book and found in rather fascinating. It is a convergence of two worlds in a way. Tani and Keena are from a world that, although seems so different, is more like a less advanced version of our own when the steam engines were still around. A time when it was inappropriate for a man and woman to be alone together if they weren't married. Things in this world are much simpler. It's quieter without cars and such passing by all of the time. The people take the authority's word at face value no matter what he says almost always. Tani and Keena's defection was unheard of and an act of treason. Should they get caught, they would hang from the gallows for their crimes. Master Kehlar is a prideful man who will do whatever he must to stop them. An evil and darkness has seeped into him. Pride is one of the big downfalls of man, even if they are from another world.

My questions about the book?
-Are there actually gods, demons, and such in Tani and Keena's world that were behind the visions and Master Kehlar's obsession with the gateways?
-Where did the modernized medical equipment come from in Tani and Keena's world?
-What happened to Satrick?
-Do Eli and Ava ever have a relationship?
-Who was now ruling Tani and Keena's world?

4.5 out of 5 stars!!

[S.J. Cairns · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the synopsis tells us, ORGAN REAPERS is a mash of two worlds. For the reader this means the grit of real life we drive by and rubberneck at, and the fantasy world equipped with steam powered technology we imagine when we can’t sneak a peek at the gore past the police tape.

Detectives Eli and Ava are faced with too many mutilated bodies with similar causes of death, and zero evidence of their murderers, to leave the case alone. It consumes them and takes their mind off some of the not so glamorous consequences of being married to the job.

First thing, I love these two. A good crime drama needs it’s archetypal heroes and Eli and Ava filled out the roles and made me want to know more about their private lives than what Shay West shared. Plus, every good story needs an ample smattering of eye candy equipped with a keen intuition for the nasty side of life. Secondly, Shay West made me grit my teeth along with Eli’s impatience at lacking answers, never immediately convinced of anything without proof, and feel giddy and alive with Ava’s anticipation to delve into the otherworldly explanation behind these murders. This keeping me stabbing my e-reader to find out what happened next.

While allowing us to tag along with Eli and Ava, Shay West also brings us into the lives of two young and naive idealists, Keena and Tani, who skip into our world with a purpose they question. A mission considered of the near highest importance in their world and handed down by someone you don’t say no to. Besides being truly entertained by them navigating the modern world, I found myself cursing their actions and then rooting for their cause, attempting to wrap my mind around their decisions and question if I would have made the same.

Alongside driving the plot with characters I rooted for, Shay West brought about a continuing theme I couldn’t ignore. How do you choose one life over another? How do you decided how far is too far when considering saving a life? Should you blindly follow leaders without question regardless of the higher power they speak for? In Keena and Tani’s world these answers is easy, but since Eli and Ava’s world is the one suffering, they won’t stand idly by without intervention. Shay West ensures I never got lost between worlds, yet also challenged me to think deeper into the lengths at which is appropriate to explore when considering the stakes involved.

I was left with many questions. Not ones that diminished the ending or I’d be pulling my hair out and giving it a lower rating, but ones I was curious about enough to give me a reading hangover as I contemplated the possibilities. HOWEVER, I’m fan-girling after hearing Shay West is releasing a sequel called SOUL REAPERS on October 31, 2015. One that promises to step things up a notch and (I’m hoping) answer some of those mind-boggling questions I was left hanging with.

If you enjoy genre crossing stories that hit you with compelling characters, and moral quandaries which question your corner of the world, than ORGAN REAPERS is worth picking up and binge reading as I had, having finished it in 6.5 hours.

Sacrificing sleep was worth the payout.

[audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Eli Robbins is trying to adjust to having Ava Aguilar as a new partner after months of relying only on himself. Their first case together is bizarre and perplexing. Bodies are being discovered with their organs missing. The only leads are eye witness accounts of a bright flash of light. Similar cases are being reported internationally and the death count continues to rise but the only possible explanation is bordering on science fiction.

Organ Reapers is an urban fantasy with a portal murder mystery. The story wasn't as dark as I expected it to be. I enjoyed reading it because it was somewhat reminiscent of the crime dramas I enjoy watching. The portal element gave it a refreshing and unique twist that was fun and added a different form of suspense.

I immediately liked Eli and Ava's characters. As the lead detectives on the case it was interesting seeing how they tried to make sense of the situation. Their frustration was palpable and I loved how they utilized modern technology receiving questionable results in return. I liked the partnership they established and their witty interplay was fun to read. Though there was attraction between them I liked that it remained subtle and didn't interfere with the story. They made a good team and shared similar values which made me wish there were more cases for them to solve so I could continue reading about them.

Keena and Tani were young and idealistic characters that offer a different perspective on the situation. Though I didn't want to like them, I eventually ended up caring for them as well. I liked that their narrative portions had a distinctly different voice in comparison to Eli and Ava. It was more youthful and their attraction to each other was given more focus. It was fun and amusing seeing them react to the modern world as their world resembles the medieval era with steam technology. I thought their world's political structure, culture, and need for organ harvesters was interesting. I really wanted to see more of their world but a majority of the book is spent in Eli and Ava's world.

Through the course of the story all the characters face difficult moral dilemmas with often harsh consequences. At times it even made me question my own thoughts and values. As a result I was nervous for everyone involved and worried about the outcome. The ending plays on this drama nicely and wraps up the story without any loose ends.

[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.]

[Jocelyn Khor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange of an honest review.

I was a bit disappointed of this book, honestly, but still have thoroughly enjoyed it. Not the best book ever written, but good enough to keep me reading.

This is a urban fantasy/thriller/mystery novel. It's more focused on the fantasy elements rather than the mystery. If you're looking for some whodunit mysteries, then you'll be left disappointed. If you're someone who enjoys fantasy, then you probably might like it.

The premise and concept of the story did fascinate me at first, however, the plot wasn't well executed enough in my opinion. It isn't to say that it's poor but I think it's just not being used to its full potential. Despite that, the two worlds (the real world and the magical land) was portrayed very well and I was able to picture them in my head as I was reading.

I certainly have enjoyed reading about the characters especially Eli who's a detective. He gets irritated easily by trivial things but also a kind person who fights for justice. Ava, the pretty detective, gets paired up with him. And, oh gosh, whenever I read about them, I wished that I could be the matchmaker and be like: why don't you two just get together already!

On the other hand, Tani and Keena from the other world are also fun characters to read. The chemistry between them was so cute! I had quite a fun time reading about them when they were trying to escape their world. This other world which the author created is very well done and I very much enjoyed learning about it while reading.

Besides the plot, one thing that I'd complain is that it kinda dragged in some parts where I got a bit annoyed and frustrated. Other than that, the pacing was great and easy to follow.

A solid 3 stars for me. Honestly, a little disappointed as I set my expectations too high as well as some things that were left unexplored. Even so, awesome and likeable characters that you can relate to and can't help but love. Recommend it to fantasy lovers.

[Jason Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review originally posted at my blog, http://curtainofreality.blogspot.com/

Today, I am reviewing the paranormal/sci-fi/I’m not sure exactly what story Organ Reapers by Shay West. This is a story set in the modern day AND in a parallel world. In this parallel world, people known as Harvesters cross the dimensional boundary using a “mystical” machine in order to kill humans and take their organs back to their homeland, where their high priest uses them to save the lives of their subjects. Obviously, this doesn’t sit well with everyone.

I give this book a 4.5/5. Here is my breakdown.

Characters: 4.5/5. Really solid. The characters from both worlds were believable and interesting. The culture clashes between the worlds drew me in and appealed to me, while Eli’s struggle with the fact that there was a world other than his own felt real. I wish that we had seen more of Eli’s budding feelings for his partner, though; that particular arc never really seemed to come to fruition, in any sense.

Plot/Storyline: 5/5. This was unique and interesting. Extra-dimensional terrorists on a divine mission to save their own people by killing OUR people and taking their organs? Awesome. The language conveyed the imagery and intensity of the plot very well. I loved the ending and the final reveal.

Flow: 5/5. Great. The story moved on at an excellent pace. I was never bored or feeling rushed by the flow of the novel. I also thought the cross-cutting of scenes between our protagonists was executed perfectly. Well done!
Spelling/Grammar: 4.5/5. I noted a very few spelling and/or grammar errors in this book, but nothing that I would write home about. It in no way detracted from the story.

Overall: 4.5/5. A fantastic story that I really enjoyed. I love the contrast between the worlds and how the characters in each are both very different and very similar. Thank you so much for the read!

[Janis Hill]

I would like to thank Booktrope for providing me with a free ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an open and honest review.

Sadly this is a DNF book as I couldn't get past the first few chapters. I found the writing style a little too basic for me, more suited to a YA audience than the adult market it seemed to be trying for. I also didn’t feel the attempt to meld the two worlds together worked that well. The sloppy, far too casually written gumshoe style cop story mixing with a highly detailed and thought out - to the finest definition - fantasy world just didn’t work for me.

I know other people will give a book a bad/low mark for being a DNF, but as an author myself I know how bad that feels. So I hope my no score is less painful. I’m not going to score this book as I don’t want to give it a bad score - as I don’t feel it deserves one. Nor do I want to give it a high score for the same reason.

Basically, this book was not for me. There is nothing wrong with the writing or the story; I just couldn’t get into it. From other reviews I have read, people have loved this book. I couldn’t get past the 5th chapter.

This does not make it a bad book, and I really want to emphasise this. Despite not liking it and not being able to get into it, I did see potential. I, the reader, and this book just weren’t matched and I refuse to mark it down because of my own faults. :-)

[Josselyn Radillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Thoughts:
I received an ARC of this book by Booktrope Publishing in exchange of an honest review. Thanks so much for consider me for this opportunity.
Organ Reaper is Shay West fun and fresh concept with an enjoyable setting. The characters, the story and the pulse pounding action make thrilling read. The characters are easily to compare with real detectives Eli and Ava are amazing at what they do and you are going to love Tani and Keena as much as I did they are the Harvesters.
I loved how they were so surprised about everything new at earth. When the romance comes into the scene you can feel the tension between the characters there is plenty of it you can almost feel the energy LOL otherwise it was cute for me. For the villain of this book guest what you’ll totally hate it from the very beginning. Shay West really developed very well these two worlds with different levels of technology and the harvesters at a lower in which they will do anything for organs because they desperately need them.
So you will find a lot of murder cases where the victims are left without organs.
The title of the book sounds super gory, but I can assure you this isn’t the case, and the fantasy isn’t over the top is really easy. However just give it a try.

[Jennifer Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book by the author for an honest review.
ORGAN REAPERS a well-developed story line and characters. It has great world building also. When Ava and Eli are brought in on a series of murders where the victims are missing organs, like the heart, kidneys, and lungs, they check to see if there was murders in other areas. There are over seventy murders total. There is some murders at the same time and nights on different continents. Eli and Ava are puzzled, because there is no way one person can be in two places at one. When DNA results show that the DNA is not from earth, they are completely baffled. Now in another world where the organs are taken, we have a group of people called the Harvesters. They are led by Master Kelhar, the head of the monastery. Tani and Keena two Harvesters who want to leave the monastery, take the gateway to get Eli and Ava to help them destroy the machine that brings them to their world to harvest organs. ORGAN REAPERS is a wonderful book. It pulled me into the story and had me rooting for Tani and Keena to destroy the gateway. I give ORGAN REAPERS 4/5 stars. I recommend this novel to everyone.

[Kel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was provided a free copy of this eBook in exchange for an honest review.

Organ Reapers by Shay West – West marries the two worlds of Law and Order and Sliders. That is to say investigation and police work and a parallel universe. Eli is a Detective that is tasked with solving the mystery of who is killing and butchering the bodies found on his beat. People are turning up all over the world missing organs, but no suspects have been located. Meanwhile in a parallel universe a society is living their lives by sending people (Tani and Keena) through a gate to harvest the organs to save their own. But is this right? Killing one to save another? Surely there has to be another way?

I liked this book, I didn’t love it but I enjoyed reading it. It had all the elements… Drama, mystery, tension between the characters (romantic and otherwise) even some humor. My only gripe is that it felt like it dragged a bit in areas. The unions between Eli and Ava, and Tani and Keena were great. You watched and felt the bonds between each couple grow and blossom from coworkers to something more. The premise of this was also great.