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Limbo.
This is a story of a man who accidentally becomes Grim the Reaper, the most highly revered killer in Limbo. A place beyond time and space as we know it where psychopaths compete for perverse honour and status as they carry out their deathly duties.
As Grim struggles to hold onto the memories of the life he’s lost, he discovers that the insane being who shaped him (and the course of existence itself) may have sinister plans for the one thing he values most.
In Limbo, the end is only the beginning.
As Grim struggles to hold onto the memories of the life he’s lost, he discovers that the insane being who shaped him (and the course of existence itself) may have sinister plans for the one thing he values most.
In Limbo, the end is only the beginning.
278 pages, Paperback
First published April 20, 2016
85 people are currently reading
12322 people want to read
About the author
Marko Pandza
3 books533 followersOh hello. I'm Marko. No, not Polo. I'm really good at building IKEA furniture and waiting exactly where the subway doors open.
I'm the author of Limbo: the story of Grim the Reaper and Brief, Horrible Moments: A collection of one sentence horror stories.
____
NOW AVAILABLE IN KINDLE, PAPERBACK & HARDCOVER
Brief, Horrible Moments 2: A collection of two sentence horror stories
https://amzn.to/2Nz8q3W
I'm the author of Limbo: the story of Grim the Reaper and Brief, Horrible Moments: A collection of one sentence horror stories.
____
NOW AVAILABLE IN KINDLE, PAPERBACK & HARDCOVER
Brief, Horrible Moments 2: A collection of two sentence horror stories
https://amzn.to/2Nz8q3W
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
December 23, 2017
I won the book in a giveaway.
First, there was Nothing. A Nothing void of reason or substance, want or will, with no name, no place, and no time. Only an incomprehensible emptiness, stretched across eternity and indifferent to all, even Itself.
Then, from that Nothing, came two Somethings. One, a force of light, the other, a force of darkness, separated by a sprawling distance but connected by the same desire: to be complete. They searched the space between them for an end to their dissatisfaction, slowly growing closer until there was no space left. They collided, and the two Somethings gave birth to Everything.
With a beginning like this, I felt that the book is going to be enjoyable. Thankfully, the story did not disappoint me.
Allow me to welcome you to the Limbo. It is the land of the Reapers and a few other entities. I am not going to describe the place. You need to read it to appreciate its nuances. But, I will say that the author’s detailed descriptions will help you visualize this place.
The Limbo has its own hierarchy – at the helm is It alias Mr. Rotten, followed by the Reapers – Elites and the Grunts, and then the Eyes – the lowest beings in the totem pole. Even the below the eyes, there are the Engravers.
Oh! Did I say that the Reapers have their award ceremonies where these psychopaths compete for the most devious “reaps”. Here we meet John Grim the Reaper, the most revered killer in the Limbo. He is master in his art – he takes pride in it. But, at the same time a part of him also resents this. Once he was a normal man who lived with the love of his life – Dora. He struggles to hold on to the memories of his life as a human and pines for Dora. A meeting with Caitlin, an Engraver, would make him do the unthinkable. And now is the time when hell literally breaks loose – in Limbo and our world as well.
You will be rooting for John Grim who turns out to be a decent chap after all. Pursued by vengeful cops and maniac Reapers (do I need to add homicidal!), John struggles to be united with Dora.
Dora was also a well fleshed out character. Another character I want to mention is Rambo – John’s Eye. I felt so bad for him.
I want to write a lot –manipulative Elite Reapers, Grunts gone berserk, the attack on our world and the list goes on. But, I must refrain.
The ending was nice but a bit predictable. Nevertheless satisfying!
I liked the setting, the spooky and ambience of the Limbo, the dark humour and of course the thrills the book provided. I had never read any book like this before and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I found the book bizarre – hats off to the author’s imagination and his skill as a wordsmith!
The book is pretty dark and full of gore. So it might not be for everybody. But, if you do not mind the gore and all – then please go ahead and give the novel a try. I highly recommend this book to fans of fantasy and horror.
First, there was Nothing. A Nothing void of reason or substance, want or will, with no name, no place, and no time. Only an incomprehensible emptiness, stretched across eternity and indifferent to all, even Itself.
Then, from that Nothing, came two Somethings. One, a force of light, the other, a force of darkness, separated by a sprawling distance but connected by the same desire: to be complete. They searched the space between them for an end to their dissatisfaction, slowly growing closer until there was no space left. They collided, and the two Somethings gave birth to Everything.
With a beginning like this, I felt that the book is going to be enjoyable. Thankfully, the story did not disappoint me.
Allow me to welcome you to the Limbo. It is the land of the Reapers and a few other entities. I am not going to describe the place. You need to read it to appreciate its nuances. But, I will say that the author’s detailed descriptions will help you visualize this place.
The Limbo has its own hierarchy – at the helm is It alias Mr. Rotten, followed by the Reapers – Elites and the Grunts, and then the Eyes – the lowest beings in the totem pole. Even the below the eyes, there are the Engravers.
Oh! Did I say that the Reapers have their award ceremonies where these psychopaths compete for the most devious “reaps”. Here we meet John Grim the Reaper, the most revered killer in the Limbo. He is master in his art – he takes pride in it. But, at the same time a part of him also resents this. Once he was a normal man who lived with the love of his life – Dora. He struggles to hold on to the memories of his life as a human and pines for Dora. A meeting with Caitlin, an Engraver, would make him do the unthinkable. And now is the time when hell literally breaks loose – in Limbo and our world as well.
You will be rooting for John Grim who turns out to be a decent chap after all. Pursued by vengeful cops and maniac Reapers (do I need to add homicidal!), John struggles to be united with Dora.
Dora was also a well fleshed out character. Another character I want to mention is Rambo – John’s Eye. I felt so bad for him.
I want to write a lot –manipulative Elite Reapers, Grunts gone berserk, the attack on our world and the list goes on. But, I must refrain.
The ending was nice but a bit predictable. Nevertheless satisfying!
I liked the setting, the spooky and ambience of the Limbo, the dark humour and of course the thrills the book provided. I had never read any book like this before and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I found the book bizarre – hats off to the author’s imagination and his skill as a wordsmith!
The book is pretty dark and full of gore. So it might not be for everybody. But, if you do not mind the gore and all – then please go ahead and give the novel a try. I highly recommend this book to fans of fantasy and horror.
June 23, 2017
Brilliant.
Grotesque and gaudy this book sure as hell delivered.
A story about soul-mates (the word more literal than you would expect), gore and witty banter, following John Grim, a writer who accidentally kills the love of his life and becomes –you guessed it- a reaper, the best there is in Limbo a place where sense goes to die and psychos gloat about their perfect kill. With that Grim finds himself struggling to keep a hold of what is left of his humanity along with a lust for a life long gone and trying to escape the barely conscious and twisted being that is Limbo
If one thing is to be said about the author besides nailing multiple POVS is that he has a Killer imagination; and the right words to make it present in our mind’s eye, the descriptions throughout the book were amazing despite the unlikelihood of the scenarios in it.
Especially the one about of the insides of Limbo, I reveled in it, it was a rich setting to be lost in. tho a bit too detailed at times for some tastes, enough so that I don’t think this book was made for everyone
The idea of this book was original and perfectly executed, so much so that you find yourself cheering for the villains, salivating for the next kill, next to this was the fact that I couldn’t for the life of me predict what was to happen next, the story didn’t seem to follow any apparent path and had surprise and mischief hidden at every corner!
with an amazing writing style that was rather poetic at times I can’t but recommend this book that had me in a death grip since the moment I laid eyes on it’s pages, the story will suck you into the depths of Limbo and you will not regret it.
Grotesque and gaudy this book sure as hell delivered.
A story about soul-mates (the word more literal than you would expect), gore and witty banter, following John Grim, a writer who accidentally kills the love of his life and becomes –you guessed it- a reaper, the best there is in Limbo a place where sense goes to die and psychos gloat about their perfect kill. With that Grim finds himself struggling to keep a hold of what is left of his humanity along with a lust for a life long gone and trying to escape the barely conscious and twisted being that is Limbo
If one thing is to be said about the author besides nailing multiple POVS is that he has a Killer imagination; and the right words to make it present in our mind’s eye, the descriptions throughout the book were amazing despite the unlikelihood of the scenarios in it.
Especially the one about of the insides of Limbo, I reveled in it, it was a rich setting to be lost in. tho a bit too detailed at times for some tastes, enough so that I don’t think this book was made for everyone
The idea of this book was original and perfectly executed, so much so that you find yourself cheering for the villains, salivating for the next kill, next to this was the fact that I couldn’t for the life of me predict what was to happen next, the story didn’t seem to follow any apparent path and had surprise and mischief hidden at every corner!
with an amazing writing style that was rather poetic at times I can’t but recommend this book that had me in a death grip since the moment I laid eyes on it’s pages, the story will suck you into the depths of Limbo and you will not regret it.
May 1, 2018
I had a really hard time with this book. I felt like I was reading a B rated movie, it was really unrealistic and almost comical. I would have much rather it been more realistically scary than comically scary.
I usually read a book a week or more and it took me months to pound through this book. I was not at all interested in any thing that was happening.
I usually read a book a week or more and it took me months to pound through this book. I was not at all interested in any thing that was happening.
October 17, 2019
Rating: 3.5
“So, what you’re telling me is there’s a being in another universe that created everything, trying to control us through our souls, who decided to make you kill my former self and con you into becoming a magic repo man. And you, not reading the fine print, agreed because you’d get to see me alive again, only to find out it would always be from a distance, or to kill me, over and over, until you forgot who I was entirely. That about sum it up?” - Yup and you can read the perfectly worded Goodreads synopsis as well. I won't bore you with more of those details here.
I was pretty damn thrilled when I received this e-book from a Goodreads giveaway. I purposely saved it for my October reads list. When a book is claimed to be in the category of 'John Dies at the End' I am immediately drawn in. I will forewarn you that if you do not like dark, comical, descriptive "horror" novels with weird otherworldly creatures and beyond crazy scenarios; this book isn't for you. I liked this book immensely, however it was a good 40% into the novel before I felt that way. Once I reached a certain point I could not put it down. There are instances where things come together almost too quickly and easily without satisfaction and their are areas of description that dragged on a bit too long. I struggled in the imaginative aspect with Mr. Rotten. Envisioning mass amounts of flesh/fluids/tissue/decomposition and specific body parts moving and shaping into the hive minded master being took a bit more effort on my part (funny how now explaining it seems easier).
For fans of David Wong I would definitely recommend reading this one for a renewed taste of that genre. I rated this the way I did for the purposes mentioned above but am thrilled I have this in my possession to re-read in the future.
“So, what you’re telling me is there’s a being in another universe that created everything, trying to control us through our souls, who decided to make you kill my former self and con you into becoming a magic repo man. And you, not reading the fine print, agreed because you’d get to see me alive again, only to find out it would always be from a distance, or to kill me, over and over, until you forgot who I was entirely. That about sum it up?” - Yup and you can read the perfectly worded Goodreads synopsis as well. I won't bore you with more of those details here.
I was pretty damn thrilled when I received this e-book from a Goodreads giveaway. I purposely saved it for my October reads list. When a book is claimed to be in the category of 'John Dies at the End' I am immediately drawn in. I will forewarn you that if you do not like dark, comical, descriptive "horror" novels with weird otherworldly creatures and beyond crazy scenarios; this book isn't for you. I liked this book immensely, however it was a good 40% into the novel before I felt that way. Once I reached a certain point I could not put it down. There are instances where things come together almost too quickly and easily without satisfaction and their are areas of description that dragged on a bit too long. I struggled in the imaginative aspect with Mr. Rotten. Envisioning mass amounts of flesh/fluids/tissue/decomposition and specific body parts moving and shaping into the hive minded master being took a bit more effort on my part (funny how now explaining it seems easier).
For fans of David Wong I would definitely recommend reading this one for a renewed taste of that genre. I rated this the way I did for the purposes mentioned above but am thrilled I have this in my possession to re-read in the future.
October 9, 2017
Limbo by Marko Pandza is a unique and original take on Limbo and the Grim Reaper which had me working hard to visualize the setting, yet laughing at the grisly Reaper rewards, and what happens when someone escapes, when no one reigns in Limbo and it is allowed to ravage humans and Earth, totally out of control, leaving me queasy and asking the question What If.
fundinmental
fundinmental
October 26, 2018
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
The Grim Reaper kills people and reflects upon his regrets in life and the afterlife. Some people might like it, but it isn't for me.
The Grim Reaper kills people and reflects upon his regrets in life and the afterlife. Some people might like it, but it isn't for me.
April 24, 2019
4.5 Stars!!!
This was one of the first books that I won in a Goodreads Giveaway! And*Mickey Mouse voice*BOY, OH BOY was it good! The only reason why the .5 was honestly just because I found some very minor errors with punctuation.
This was a really cool idea, and I honestly can't form how much I really liked John and Dora (and even some of the Reapers).
This was one of the first books that I won in a Goodreads Giveaway! And
This was a really cool idea, and I honestly can't form how much I really liked John and Dora (and even some of the Reapers).
Want to read
March 6, 2020*I obtained this for free by using the Amazon Kindle credit and Amazon Day credit.*
November 27, 2018
Unfotunately, I was unable to finish Limbo. I was excited to win a copy through Goodreads. I was intrigued about the idea of someone accidently becoming the Grim Reaper and was excited to explore the world of Limbo. But I don't think I had the proper expectations. I read about a quarter of the book but it didn't really peak my interest. The world of Limbo was as broing as the chracters was worried it was. Then their was the odd dash of violence that I think will tie in at some point.
I have a stack of other books to read so I'm moving on. I'll revisit Limbo later and see if i find it to fit my mood and finish it.
I have a stack of other books to read so I'm moving on. I'll revisit Limbo later and see if i find it to fit my mood and finish it.
July 4, 2017
If Limbo were a movie, it would easily be rated 18. So gruesome in parts. Definitely not a book for everyone.
August 15, 2020
This was a pretty decent take on a character that has hundreds, maybe thousands of books out there, The Grim Reaper. Very unique story. Well done.
Thank you goodreads and Marko Pandza/Blurb for giving me the chance to win this in a giveaway.
Thank you goodreads and Marko Pandza/Blurb for giving me the chance to win this in a giveaway.
August 20, 2019
1 star
i was debating between one and two stars, but figured with the number of times i almost DNFed this, i went with 1 star.
this was excessively gory. it is listed as horror, but it is not. it is gross. and in it's grossness i guess attempting to be scary? (kind of like the saw movies where it's just gore, but don't hold me to that because i've never actually watched the saw movies.) also i don't understand how you plan to be scary when they have reaper award ceremonies. congrats you get a trophy, terrifying.
it might have been a bit better if i cared about any of the characters, but honestly i either couldn't care less or i hated them. they were either flat or just completely unlikeable.
and the plot just seemed to drag on and on. much of it probably could have been skipped over (especially if john grim had any semblance of intelligence), but was probably also only there to add more gore. because there wasn't enough.
also can we talk about the name? john grim. grim the reaper. because you couldn't just own it and say the grim reaper.
if you love gore and bodies being ripped open in detail and graphic mutations, then you've found the perfect book. if not, avoid. (okay there were other things happening other than just gore, but honestly i had no idea what was happening half the time other than a guy trying to re-find the love of his life and causing the end of the world while doing it. that basically sums up the book.)
i was debating between one and two stars, but figured with the number of times i almost DNFed this, i went with 1 star.
this was excessively gory. it is listed as horror, but it is not. it is gross. and in it's grossness i guess attempting to be scary? (kind of like the saw movies where it's just gore, but don't hold me to that because i've never actually watched the saw movies.) also i don't understand how you plan to be scary when they have reaper award ceremonies. congrats you get a trophy, terrifying.
it might have been a bit better if i cared about any of the characters, but honestly i either couldn't care less or i hated them. they were either flat or just completely unlikeable.
and the plot just seemed to drag on and on. much of it probably could have been skipped over (especially if john grim had any semblance of intelligence), but was probably also only there to add more gore. because there wasn't enough.
also can we talk about the name? john grim. grim the reaper. because you couldn't just own it and say the grim reaper.
if you love gore and bodies being ripped open in detail and graphic mutations, then you've found the perfect book. if not, avoid. (okay there were other things happening other than just gore, but honestly i had no idea what was happening half the time other than a guy trying to re-find the love of his life and causing the end of the world while doing it. that basically sums up the book.)
April 3, 2021
I must tell you that I am not a fan of the genre so the way I saw this book maybe different from the ones who love horror. I decided to get it when I read the description because the story seemed really interesting.
It took me a while to get into it. I was struggling until the Death part. Couldn't really get into the Limbo world created in the book. After that the story picked up a bit but whenever we were going back to the limbo I had hard time again. Still was an original idea.
The book isn't as scary as it is gory. Felt like one of those B horror movies where someone's head gets ripped off and the blood comes pulsating out like from a fountain. I know there are people who love such things so the book may be more for them.
It took me a while to get into it. I was struggling until the Death part. Couldn't really get into the Limbo world created in the book. After that the story picked up a bit but whenever we were going back to the limbo I had hard time again. Still was an original idea.
The book isn't as scary as it is gory. Felt like one of those B horror movies where someone's head gets ripped off and the blood comes pulsating out like from a fountain. I know there are people who love such things so the book may be more for them.
December 10, 2020
I won a copy of this on Goodreads. I am not one to not finish something I start, especially a book. I tried rather hard to love it. I didn’t. I didn’t even like it. Confusing, peculiar (and not in a good way), jumping around. I just couldn’t follow it in all its bizarrity. Sorry Mr. Pandza.
January 4, 2022
Speculative and slightly disturbing. A quick read!!
did-not-finish
January 6, 2024I loved the idea of this book but the writing style wasn't for me.
May 3, 2020
4.5 ⭐️s.
June 9, 2020
Incomplete storytelling
Disclaimer: I won this ebook in a Goodreads giveaway
Originally, the concept is what appealed to me about this book. However, that's where my interest ended. The plotting was tropey, the characters were underdeveloped, and there was unnecessary gore.
The plot was so bad and carried every trope you could possibly think of. A cop who is hinting a primordial being, soul mates destined to meet again, and characters who show up to help out of the blue. And none of it was well done. Rush, rush, rush, and little description when it's needed. Like, tell me more. Make me care why you're doing this. The worldbuilding was so bad and all over the place. Just so messy and unnecessary.
The development of characters could also have been greatly improved. I didnt care about literally any of the characters or even the love story. So many scenes felt random and, I'll admit I skimmed, scenes were sloppy and made no sense. Everything was so rushed. It's a shame, too, because the author's writing wasn't even that bad.
Also, it definitely could've used a bit more red marker when being edited. I'm not the most educated in grammar, but the amount of comma splices.
Lastly, the gore. It was too much because entire scenes seemed to be centered around gore. They literally could've been skipped over because it added nothing. I don't mind gore, and can even enjoy it when warranted, but this book so heavily relied on it that it completely took me out of the scene and prevented me from being present.
Overall, interesting concept but needed to focus more on character relationships and worldbuilding. Plus, it could've been quite a bit longer. This story is not one that can successfully pulled off in less than 300 pages.
Disclaimer: I won this ebook in a Goodreads giveaway
Originally, the concept is what appealed to me about this book. However, that's where my interest ended. The plotting was tropey, the characters were underdeveloped, and there was unnecessary gore.
The plot was so bad and carried every trope you could possibly think of. A cop who is hinting a primordial being, soul mates destined to meet again, and characters who show up to help out of the blue. And none of it was well done. Rush, rush, rush, and little description when it's needed. Like, tell me more. Make me care why you're doing this. The worldbuilding was so bad and all over the place. Just so messy and unnecessary.
The development of characters could also have been greatly improved. I didnt care about literally any of the characters or even the love story. So many scenes felt random and, I'll admit I skimmed, scenes were sloppy and made no sense. Everything was so rushed. It's a shame, too, because the author's writing wasn't even that bad.
Also, it definitely could've used a bit more red marker when being edited. I'm not the most educated in grammar, but the amount of comma splices.
Lastly, the gore. It was too much because entire scenes seemed to be centered around gore. They literally could've been skipped over because it added nothing. I don't mind gore, and can even enjoy it when warranted, but this book so heavily relied on it that it completely took me out of the scene and prevented me from being present.
Overall, interesting concept but needed to focus more on character relationships and worldbuilding. Plus, it could've been quite a bit longer. This story is not one that can successfully pulled off in less than 300 pages.
July 6, 2016
This book was provided free in exchange for an honest review. This is no way impacts my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
When I first started Limbo I was like, “What did I get myself into?” But the more I read, the more I didn’t want to put the book down! Limbo is definitely gruesome and disturbing in places, but that is offset by the funny and poetic moments sprinkled throughout the novel. The plot is very original and flows well. The imagination used to create the world of Limbo and its inhabitants – wow! – I don’t know whether to be impressed or a little frightened! I love how John Grim pulls at readers’ heart strings and clings to his humanity when it should have been stripped from him. Dora is just as gritty and well developed.
The only real issue I had was there is a point in the book where the police are talking about a John Grim and how he disappeared a long time ago, long enough for a few wars, industrial revolutions and a several hundred more years on top of that. It threw me because the story seemed like it was set in modern times. So I was confused as to whether John and Dora’s story at the beginning of the novel was in the past and the rest of the novel is in the present or if their story was in the present and the rest in the future.
Overall I loved this novel and give it five scythes!
If you like this book you might try Human No Longer by Kathryn Meyer Griffith, Northwoods by Bill Schweigart, Shadow of the Oak (A Sal Van Sleen Adventure) by Eric Edstrom.
When I first started Limbo I was like, “What did I get myself into?” But the more I read, the more I didn’t want to put the book down! Limbo is definitely gruesome and disturbing in places, but that is offset by the funny and poetic moments sprinkled throughout the novel. The plot is very original and flows well. The imagination used to create the world of Limbo and its inhabitants – wow! – I don’t know whether to be impressed or a little frightened! I love how John Grim pulls at readers’ heart strings and clings to his humanity when it should have been stripped from him. Dora is just as gritty and well developed.
The only real issue I had was there is a point in the book where the police are talking about a John Grim and how he disappeared a long time ago, long enough for a few wars, industrial revolutions and a several hundred more years on top of that. It threw me because the story seemed like it was set in modern times. So I was confused as to whether John and Dora’s story at the beginning of the novel was in the past and the rest of the novel is in the present or if their story was in the present and the rest in the future.
Overall I loved this novel and give it five scythes!
If you like this book you might try Human No Longer by Kathryn Meyer Griffith, Northwoods by Bill Schweigart, Shadow of the Oak (A Sal Van Sleen Adventure) by Eric Edstrom.
July 4, 2020
Spoiler Warning
First I want to give my thanks to Goodreads, Marko Pandza and his publisher for giving me the opportunity to win this book. Thank you so much!
I really wanted to like this book, but I couldn't finish it. It was hard for me to understand and picture the worldbuilding in my minds eye, the birth of it I suppose. Sometimes science fiction gets over my head anyway.
From my understanding, Limbo is the world that the reapers live in to compete against each other for the highest kill. John Grim became the grim reaper after his Dora died. He injects marrow into his bones to remember what his life was like before he died.
I liked the gore, I think its supposed to be a comedy/horror/SciFi, but I'm so lost it is hard to tell for sure. It reminded me of Clive Barker, and I can't understand his worlds either. But other folks love it. I wanted to like this book. I tried really hard. Maybe I'll come back to it and try again someday.
First I want to give my thanks to Goodreads, Marko Pandza and his publisher for giving me the opportunity to win this book. Thank you so much!
I really wanted to like this book, but I couldn't finish it. It was hard for me to understand and picture the worldbuilding in my minds eye, the birth of it I suppose. Sometimes science fiction gets over my head anyway.
From my understanding, Limbo is the world that the reapers live in to compete against each other for the highest kill. John Grim became the grim reaper after his Dora died. He injects marrow into his bones to remember what his life was like before he died.
I liked the gore, I think its supposed to be a comedy/horror/SciFi, but I'm so lost it is hard to tell for sure. It reminded me of Clive Barker, and I can't understand his worlds either. But other folks love it. I wanted to like this book. I tried really hard. Maybe I'll come back to it and try again someday.
August 1, 2020
A Grotesque Love Story
As hard as I tried to convince myself, hidden under all of the killing by the Reapers and their enjoyment of the killing, is a love story.
The Limbo is a vile evil place that Grim Reapers reside.
But one Reaper missed being alive and with his true love. He or it goes so far as to shoot up with bone cells to feel at least a bit more human.
He sets out on a plan to return to the living to find his one and only love.
As you wade through the gore and misery try and keep an open mind about love defeating evil.
It took me two attempts to read this book but when I realized for me that it's a love story I was able to finish it. And strangely enjoyed the story.
As hard as I tried to convince myself, hidden under all of the killing by the Reapers and their enjoyment of the killing, is a love story.
The Limbo is a vile evil place that Grim Reapers reside.
But one Reaper missed being alive and with his true love. He or it goes so far as to shoot up with bone cells to feel at least a bit more human.
He sets out on a plan to return to the living to find his one and only love.
As you wade through the gore and misery try and keep an open mind about love defeating evil.
It took me two attempts to read this book but when I realized for me that it's a love story I was able to finish it. And strangely enjoyed the story.
June 25, 2025
One of the poorer self published ‘extreme’ horror books I’ve read. In desperate need of an editor, it’s over written and overwrought (also noticed a few typos.) There’s a dumb love story at the core, a cheesy (and inexplicable ending) and not enough gore.
August 12, 2017
Wow! What an imaginative and original read. I will definitely be looking out for more from this author.
January 27, 2020
Fantastical fairy tale for the dark and twisted
This is the macabre love story of the Grim Reaper. Definitely not one for the faint of heart. You've not read anything like it.
This is the macabre love story of the Grim Reaper. Definitely not one for the faint of heart. You've not read anything like it.
April 23, 2019
I received a free digital copy of this book through a giveaway hosted on GoodReads.
Limbo.is a very unique and slightly unnerving novel, in all the best ways. It follows the exploits of Grim the Reaper as he struggled to maintain the dregs of his humanity long enough to protect the love of his life. You see, Grim was not always a Reaper. Once, he was an unsuccessful writer named John Grim living with his girlfriend and soulmate, Dora. But, after he accidentally killed her alongside himself, Grim is pulled into an existence in which he ends the lives of humans in the most unique and gruesome ways possible, to both the entertainment of and in competition with a plethora of other mad and morbid other Reapers. He has made a deal with It, the existence that has created all, that he may be the one to reap Dora’s soul in all subsequent incarnations, and is given a vial of Marrow used to relive their life together. As the Marrow, and Grim’s sanity along with it, begins to run out, he enters a desperate dash to save Dora’s soul once and for all. Assisted by an Engraver named Caitlyn, Grim is given just that chance, but with it, unleashed a rebellion in Limbo and an unimaginable number of horrors in the living realm in his wake.
Despite how much I wanted to read this book when I repeatedly entered giveaways for it, I was unsure I would like it after the first few chapters. It begins with lots of gore and chaos, and caused an anxiety spike as I tried to go to bed afterwards. However, I am so glad I made the decision to continue it the next morning, because the story that followed far exceeded my expectations. The choice to give the soulmates trope a horror twist was an amazing choice, and molded a story that was exciting and unpredictable in every way. Furthermore, the characters were very unique, with every reaper, human, and other creature leaving its own impression on the reader in turn. Even characters who were created just to showcase the way they died were unforgettable, as the Reapers who planned their demise would likely be happy about, if they are real (which, let us all hope they are not, and be glad for it). Even though their relationship, both the original part and the one they build over the course of Grim’s adventure, is far from perfect, I could not help but root for Grim and Dora. And although there seemed to always be something happening, up until the very end, the ending was still satisfying to reach. It was a trip and a half to read, and I enjoyed it immensely.
Rather than saying who I would recommend this book to, as I usually do at the end of a review, I feel it would be better to sat who it is not for. As I mentioned, this book did make me feel a bit anxious at times, so if you have a history of having your own mental illness triggered by chaos or gore in books, or if the topics of death and dying, especially in particularly violent ways, are upsetting for you, then this is probably a book that you should pass over, unfortunately. No matter how good a book may or may not be, no one should put themselves in a state of mental distress over it. Furthermore, even though I loved it, it is definitely not the kind of book that everyone can enjoy. There is little to no happiness or good in it, and what is there is bittersweet at best. It has more the air of a cult classic than a bestseller, in much the same way something like Rocky Horror or Repo! are very good but odd and, to some people offensive, musicals. If that sounds like something that is up your alley, though, then dig in. It is not a story for children, or even most teens, as most could probably guess from the rest of this review, but if you’re an adult or a mature older teen who likes to read dark and twisted stories with interesting and unique characters, then this book definitely deserve your attention.
Limbo.is a very unique and slightly unnerving novel, in all the best ways. It follows the exploits of Grim the Reaper as he struggled to maintain the dregs of his humanity long enough to protect the love of his life. You see, Grim was not always a Reaper. Once, he was an unsuccessful writer named John Grim living with his girlfriend and soulmate, Dora. But, after he accidentally killed her alongside himself, Grim is pulled into an existence in which he ends the lives of humans in the most unique and gruesome ways possible, to both the entertainment of and in competition with a plethora of other mad and morbid other Reapers. He has made a deal with It, the existence that has created all, that he may be the one to reap Dora’s soul in all subsequent incarnations, and is given a vial of Marrow used to relive their life together. As the Marrow, and Grim’s sanity along with it, begins to run out, he enters a desperate dash to save Dora’s soul once and for all. Assisted by an Engraver named Caitlyn, Grim is given just that chance, but with it, unleashed a rebellion in Limbo and an unimaginable number of horrors in the living realm in his wake.
Despite how much I wanted to read this book when I repeatedly entered giveaways for it, I was unsure I would like it after the first few chapters. It begins with lots of gore and chaos, and caused an anxiety spike as I tried to go to bed afterwards. However, I am so glad I made the decision to continue it the next morning, because the story that followed far exceeded my expectations. The choice to give the soulmates trope a horror twist was an amazing choice, and molded a story that was exciting and unpredictable in every way. Furthermore, the characters were very unique, with every reaper, human, and other creature leaving its own impression on the reader in turn. Even characters who were created just to showcase the way they died were unforgettable, as the Reapers who planned their demise would likely be happy about, if they are real (which, let us all hope they are not, and be glad for it). Even though their relationship, both the original part and the one they build over the course of Grim’s adventure, is far from perfect, I could not help but root for Grim and Dora. And although there seemed to always be something happening, up until the very end, the ending was still satisfying to reach. It was a trip and a half to read, and I enjoyed it immensely.
Rather than saying who I would recommend this book to, as I usually do at the end of a review, I feel it would be better to sat who it is not for. As I mentioned, this book did make me feel a bit anxious at times, so if you have a history of having your own mental illness triggered by chaos or gore in books, or if the topics of death and dying, especially in particularly violent ways, are upsetting for you, then this is probably a book that you should pass over, unfortunately. No matter how good a book may or may not be, no one should put themselves in a state of mental distress over it. Furthermore, even though I loved it, it is definitely not the kind of book that everyone can enjoy. There is little to no happiness or good in it, and what is there is bittersweet at best. It has more the air of a cult classic than a bestseller, in much the same way something like Rocky Horror or Repo! are very good but odd and, to some people offensive, musicals. If that sounds like something that is up your alley, though, then dig in. It is not a story for children, or even most teens, as most could probably guess from the rest of this review, but if you’re an adult or a mature older teen who likes to read dark and twisted stories with interesting and unique characters, then this book definitely deserve your attention.
December 23, 2019
3 - 3.5 stars. Very inventive premise and entertaining, but also pretty weird with a couple of plot holes.
First of all, I'd like to thank Marko Pandza, the author, for listing this book giveaway. When I first read the book's description, it grabbed my attention, and I was grateful to be selected as a giveaway winner and to have an opportunity to experience the novel.
Let's start by saying that "Limbo," by Marko Pandza, is not for everyone. It's a cross between fantasy / science fiction, horror, and hard-boiled detective story, with a splash of love thrown in for good measure. It's incredibly violent, and the plot, prose, setting, and characters are incredibly imaginative.
Meet John Grim, a mundanely-unsuccessful writer who isn't too concerned with his lack of success because he'e met his soulmate, the wonderfully-gifted artist Dora. However, life is unexpectedly cut short for our protagonist. Thanks to a technicality, though, he is given a chance to become a Reaper for Limbo, the expansive, miserable, all-consuming realm that is the afterlife. Grim ends up being an extremely gifted Reaper, becoming the infamous Grim the Reaper who is constantly recognized for the increasingly cruel and gruesome ways he reaps souls. But deep down, some small sliver of who Grim used to be misses his life with Dora, and the Reaper decides to get that life back before his former self is completely swallowed by the prolific killer he has become. Unfortunately, the Being that is and inhabits Limbo is determined to keep that from happening.
I enjoyed reading this book. It isn't an incredibly difficult read, but it is a fun one. While this type of story is not normally one I gravitate towards, the premise sounded interesting and the main conflict was engaging enough that I was genuinely curious how the book would end.
The story is not for the faint of heart. There is a lot of death, a lot of blood, and a plethora of descriptions about flesh, limbs, deformities, and grotesque creatures. The author has a knack for describing the unique, including the various characters that inhabit Limbo and the harrowing ways many individuals meet their end. None of this bothered me, though, as this is to be expected in a story where the main character is the Grim Reaper.
At times, I found the descriptions hard to follow, and even harder to picture. While I appreciate the author's ability to create a new, unique setting, I felt that some were so inventive that words were unable to adequately describe what was occurring.
Also, of the aforementioned plot holes - the main one that bothered me was the lack of human awareness regarding extremely violent, inexplicable deaths. Apparently, Reapers constantly attempt to murder humans in the most convoluted, sickening ways possible. Many of the methods are described in the book. And the number of Reapers seems innumerable, meaning they are constantly killing. Yet, until the very end of the story, humankind is completely unfazed by the horrific happenings.
The characters were likeable (when they were supposed to be), and the ending was surprising and satisfying. In my book (no pun intended), this would be a good story around Halloween or if you're looking for an over-the-top, horror-themed pleasure read, but it's not likely to make any "top" lists.
First of all, I'd like to thank Marko Pandza, the author, for listing this book giveaway. When I first read the book's description, it grabbed my attention, and I was grateful to be selected as a giveaway winner and to have an opportunity to experience the novel.
Let's start by saying that "Limbo," by Marko Pandza, is not for everyone. It's a cross between fantasy / science fiction, horror, and hard-boiled detective story, with a splash of love thrown in for good measure. It's incredibly violent, and the plot, prose, setting, and characters are incredibly imaginative.
Meet John Grim, a mundanely-unsuccessful writer who isn't too concerned with his lack of success because he'e met his soulmate, the wonderfully-gifted artist Dora. However, life is unexpectedly cut short for our protagonist. Thanks to a technicality, though, he is given a chance to become a Reaper for Limbo, the expansive, miserable, all-consuming realm that is the afterlife. Grim ends up being an extremely gifted Reaper, becoming the infamous Grim the Reaper who is constantly recognized for the increasingly cruel and gruesome ways he reaps souls. But deep down, some small sliver of who Grim used to be misses his life with Dora, and the Reaper decides to get that life back before his former self is completely swallowed by the prolific killer he has become. Unfortunately, the Being that is and inhabits Limbo is determined to keep that from happening.
I enjoyed reading this book. It isn't an incredibly difficult read, but it is a fun one. While this type of story is not normally one I gravitate towards, the premise sounded interesting and the main conflict was engaging enough that I was genuinely curious how the book would end.
The story is not for the faint of heart. There is a lot of death, a lot of blood, and a plethora of descriptions about flesh, limbs, deformities, and grotesque creatures. The author has a knack for describing the unique, including the various characters that inhabit Limbo and the harrowing ways many individuals meet their end. None of this bothered me, though, as this is to be expected in a story where the main character is the Grim Reaper.
At times, I found the descriptions hard to follow, and even harder to picture. While I appreciate the author's ability to create a new, unique setting, I felt that some were so inventive that words were unable to adequately describe what was occurring.
Also, of the aforementioned plot holes - the main one that bothered me was the lack of human awareness regarding extremely violent, inexplicable deaths. Apparently, Reapers constantly attempt to murder humans in the most convoluted, sickening ways possible. Many of the methods are described in the book. And the number of Reapers seems innumerable, meaning they are constantly killing. Yet, until the very end of the story, humankind is completely unfazed by the horrific happenings.
The characters were likeable (when they were supposed to be), and the ending was surprising and satisfying. In my book (no pun intended), this would be a good story around Halloween or if you're looking for an over-the-top, horror-themed pleasure read, but it's not likely to make any "top" lists.
February 1, 2019
I won this as a GoodReads Giveaway and I am very grateful to the author for a chance to read this novel which was a weird one, but I still enjoyed it quite a bit. I am a little confused by the description which claims it is about a man who accidentally becomes Grim the Reaper. Notice that is not The Grim Reaper. Nope, he very deliberately becomes a Reaper, one of many. His name just happens to be Grim. (Yeah I thought that was a bit too cute also but went along with it) It wasn't his idea to become a Reaper, but he agreed to it so I wouldn't call it accidental.
Anyhow, I really enjoyed the concepts and descriptions of the afterlife/universe behind the scenes/ heaven/hell/not sure what exactly to call it. The mythology behind this story is fascinating and described briefly but vividly and I would actually love to find out more about it. This ethereal plane of existence was vast and grotesque and, within the confines of our story, populated by things mostly revolving around killing humans. But they do have award shows! Yes you read that right. And yet this is most definitely not a comedy. By the end of the story our "hero" has survived and done things that heros normally try to avoid doing. Such as taking over a body by forcibly removing it's bones and replacing them with your own. Of course this is described in excruciating, and I mean extremely excruciating, detail. All of this because a young couple is separated by death and our hero wants to reunite with his soulmate.
It really does make sense when you read it but certainly not in any normal way you would expect.
However, I would recommend it for those that are willing to try out something that is not going to be what they expected and has some very detailed descriptions of body horror and beyond mixed in with some oddly human behavior for very otherworldly creatures. This is definitely a mixed bag that defies all attempts to apply logic but it was a fun ride.
Anyhow, I really enjoyed the concepts and descriptions of the afterlife/universe behind the scenes/ heaven/hell/not sure what exactly to call it. The mythology behind this story is fascinating and described briefly but vividly and I would actually love to find out more about it. This ethereal plane of existence was vast and grotesque and, within the confines of our story, populated by things mostly revolving around killing humans. But they do have award shows! Yes you read that right. And yet this is most definitely not a comedy. By the end of the story our "hero" has survived and done things that heros normally try to avoid doing. Such as taking over a body by forcibly removing it's bones and replacing them with your own. Of course this is described in excruciating, and I mean extremely excruciating, detail. All of this because a young couple is separated by death and our hero wants to reunite with his soulmate.
It really does make sense when you read it but certainly not in any normal way you would expect.
However, I would recommend it for those that are willing to try out something that is not going to be what they expected and has some very detailed descriptions of body horror and beyond mixed in with some oddly human behavior for very otherworldly creatures. This is definitely a mixed bag that defies all attempts to apply logic but it was a fun ride.
October 5, 2024
I really struggled with the rating on this one. I think it's a 2.5 for me but I rounded up for creativity. I mostly rate 2 stars for books I STRUGGLED to finish (I've never done a 1 star) and I did keep this one moving. However, this truly cannot be compared to any other books I've rated 3 stars so I'm rating this in a silo.
Absolute insanity, incredible gore, and incomprehensible description were very much not what I was expecting when I started this but it's definitely what I got. I was completely repulsed by the gratuitous violence and nasty shit and had to skim a bunch of it, but people do read and enjoy this I guess- it was just Not Me. The underlying concept is interesting and I did want to keep reading to see what happened, but I think a lot of that was my incredulity leading the way. Some of my rating of 2.5 had to do with the fact that it was Not My Cup of Tea, but also because of how it was written. I consider myself relatively intelligent and I could not parse out some of what was going on or being described, so I think that's more about the writing than me. However, there were moments of cool ideas, true creativity, and real emotion poking through so I'll give the author props there. I could see what he was trying to do but could have done with another editor to help find it, in my opinion. I did have a Lot of Feelings reading this, so there's that.
Anyway, if you want to read about some truly depraved, creative, unimaginable ways to be killed, this is your guy. Gonna go try and wash my brain with some soap and reality TV (I don't even watch reality TV!! But lord knows I need it right now).
Note: I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and am providing a fair review.
Absolute insanity, incredible gore, and incomprehensible description were very much not what I was expecting when I started this but it's definitely what I got. I was completely repulsed by the gratuitous violence and nasty shit and had to skim a bunch of it, but people do read and enjoy this I guess- it was just Not Me. The underlying concept is interesting and I did want to keep reading to see what happened, but I think a lot of that was my incredulity leading the way. Some of my rating of 2.5 had to do with the fact that it was Not My Cup of Tea, but also because of how it was written. I consider myself relatively intelligent and I could not parse out some of what was going on or being described, so I think that's more about the writing than me. However, there were moments of cool ideas, true creativity, and real emotion poking through so I'll give the author props there. I could see what he was trying to do but could have done with another editor to help find it, in my opinion. I did have a Lot of Feelings reading this, so there's that.
Anyway, if you want to read about some truly depraved, creative, unimaginable ways to be killed, this is your guy. Gonna go try and wash my brain with some soap and reality TV (I don't even watch reality TV!! But lord knows I need it right now).
Note: I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and am providing a fair review.
October 7, 2018
What would you do to live forever?
What would you agree to, to live forever? Especially if your only other choice was nothing? Would you agree to be a death reaper? What if you were told that you would be able to reap the life of the person you love more than yourself for eternity? That you knew you could could watch over their live and reap them in the most gentle, loving way possible. On top of that you get your own room in Limbo and a bottle of bone marrow to help you keep human feelings and emotions. So is the death of John Grim. This is the terms he agrees to to keep as close as possible to his beloved Dora.
From the Reaper becomes the most successful reaper in Limbo. At every Awards Ceremony sweeping each event. For years, decades for as many as anyone can remember it is Grim who is on top. To the point where he is so bored after he finishes with his Master of Ceremonies duties at the latest one he walks out of the ceremony to go his room. He's almost out of his precious marrow. Without that he will be will slowly forget how to feel. How remember what it was like to love Dora. While worrying how to fix his fate he has a not so chance meeting with Catlin an Engraver. She offers him a new deal. Much better that The Makers. One Grim decides he has to take the risk for. It will give him the chance to be back with Dora.
With three books supplied by Catlin, Grim and Dora find themselves on the road not only find themselves but to help find the balance so badly needed everywhere.
I would like to thank Marko Panera for a copy of this book for an honest review.
What would you agree to, to live forever? Especially if your only other choice was nothing? Would you agree to be a death reaper? What if you were told that you would be able to reap the life of the person you love more than yourself for eternity? That you knew you could could watch over their live and reap them in the most gentle, loving way possible. On top of that you get your own room in Limbo and a bottle of bone marrow to help you keep human feelings and emotions. So is the death of John Grim. This is the terms he agrees to to keep as close as possible to his beloved Dora.
From the Reaper becomes the most successful reaper in Limbo. At every Awards Ceremony sweeping each event. For years, decades for as many as anyone can remember it is Grim who is on top. To the point where he is so bored after he finishes with his Master of Ceremonies duties at the latest one he walks out of the ceremony to go his room. He's almost out of his precious marrow. Without that he will be will slowly forget how to feel. How remember what it was like to love Dora. While worrying how to fix his fate he has a not so chance meeting with Catlin an Engraver. She offers him a new deal. Much better that The Makers. One Grim decides he has to take the risk for. It will give him the chance to be back with Dora.
With three books supplied by Catlin, Grim and Dora find themselves on the road not only find themselves but to help find the balance so badly needed everywhere.
I would like to thank Marko Panera for a copy of this book for an honest review.
May 30, 2019
Note: I won this book through a Goodreads Giveaway. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Limbo is an interesting book. The premise, about the soul of a man who finds himself the top killer in the afterlife, and his attempts to regain his humanity and memories with the help of his soulmate Dora is a unique take on "what happens after we die?" books. And I have read a lot of those types of books. The prose has an interesting quality, at times delving into the philosophical, delightfully dark quality of the world, to completely gritty and coarse when describing the killers of Limbo. The book is immersive, and the elements of horror that Pandza attempts to carry throughout this tale really emerges in these sections.
Still, I would only give this book 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4 with the Goodreads system). Why?
Primarily, I feel that the giveaway page led me slightly astray as it promises both horror, as well as some humor. I found plenty of the latter, but very little of the former. There were attempts at humor, but nothing was really funny. Instead, the jokes were dry and awkward, which helped in cementing the uncomfortable feelings of some of the characters in the novel with their situation, but were not really comedic in the manner of Neil Gaiman or Christopher Moore. I think had I not been expecting more than a horror tale, then I would not have felt nearly as cheated, and I would happily give this book 5 stars. In other words, poor advertising, not poor writing, is the main downfall of this book.
Limbo is an interesting book. The premise, about the soul of a man who finds himself the top killer in the afterlife, and his attempts to regain his humanity and memories with the help of his soulmate Dora is a unique take on "what happens after we die?" books. And I have read a lot of those types of books. The prose has an interesting quality, at times delving into the philosophical, delightfully dark quality of the world, to completely gritty and coarse when describing the killers of Limbo. The book is immersive, and the elements of horror that Pandza attempts to carry throughout this tale really emerges in these sections.
Still, I would only give this book 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4 with the Goodreads system). Why?
Primarily, I feel that the giveaway page led me slightly astray as it promises both horror, as well as some humor. I found plenty of the latter, but very little of the former. There were attempts at humor, but nothing was really funny. Instead, the jokes were dry and awkward, which helped in cementing the uncomfortable feelings of some of the characters in the novel with their situation, but were not really comedic in the manner of Neil Gaiman or Christopher Moore. I think had I not been expecting more than a horror tale, then I would not have felt nearly as cheated, and I would happily give this book 5 stars. In other words, poor advertising, not poor writing, is the main downfall of this book.
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