Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
In the last year, Eliana has been aware of the paranormal world that merges with the humans. Knowing it and living in it are two very different things when your next breath could end up being your last.

Alistair, Hellhound shifter and President of the Death by Reaper MC Hell Charter, is unexpectedly confronted with his true mate. As the balance of good and evil is shifted, a battle is the only solution. One where family ties are unwillingly being pulled into the mix and a simple choice of sides might end up in losing the woman he just claimed as his. A Hellhound has an eternal vow to never walk out on the losing side. Even more so when he’s had a slice of heaven.

Evil hides in the inevitable to rectify redemption. Dive into book one of Death by Reaper MC and submit to the sentimental truth that crawling into the darkness might be the only good this world has to offer.

257 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 13, 2017

101 people are currently reading
463 people want to read

About the author

Esther E. Schmidt

199 books1,492 followers
Esther E. Schmidt is an USA Today bestselling author who loves to write MC (biker) series, Mafia Romance series, PNR series, contemporary romance series, and more. She's a graphic designer that also loves to write. She released her first series "Areion Fury MC" in October 2015. Esther lives in The Netherlands with her family, three daughters, and a crazy iguana. She loves to write about bad boy Alphas with a heart for only one woman. To make it a bit interesting, that woman needs to be a badass herself.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
261 (46%)
4 stars
168 (30%)
3 stars
81 (14%)
2 stars
35 (6%)
1 star
13 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
Profile Image for ♡Tonya♡.
2,062 reviews568 followers
November 28, 2017
It's Live!


**ARC RECEIVED IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **

What a wild ride. So much action. Buckle up, this is NOT your momma's shifter story! I would love to spend a day in the adventureland that is Esther Schmidt's brain!

Alistair was alpha to the max. He was the president of the Death By Reaper MC- Hell charter. He shifts into a Hellhound, and reaps unredeemable souls, ridding the world of bad guys. He sees Eliana and knows she is his mate. He is 100% devoted to her throughout the entire story.

Eliana was a great heroine. I'm not a fan of OTT alpha heroines and she had a great balance of strong yet soft. I liked that she didn't fight Alistair on being his mate. The drama was just how I like it, from outside sources and had NOTHING to do with OW/OM!

- no cheating
- no ow/om drama whatsoever
- no pushing away
-great secondary characters that we didn't have to see with others
- no club whores
-club violence
- great epilogue 12 YEARS in the future- I was so thrilled
Profile Image for Janie.
873 reviews82 followers
November 28, 2017
Great start to a new series with an interesting PNR spin. The only reason this is 4 stars instead of 5 is that sometimes I was lost in the world building. Maybe it’s just me, but I felt lost during some of the conversations used to do this. I am really looking forward to Jagger and Tess’s story as vampires are my favorite.
Profile Image for Sometime.
1,718 reviews171 followers
March 29, 2020
This book was just a lot of fun to read. H/h are true mates and they fall fast. Besides the romance, there is a great plot that involves the h discovering who she is and the H getting an assignment to reap the soul of another MC president in what could lead to war.

The writing and plot are pretty simple and basic which is why I gave this three stars, but the story took me for a fun ride.

Safety
Profile Image for Mikky.
982 reviews284 followers
January 7, 2019
Originally posted at:


I loved the initial concept of this story. The author found a very good way of meshing together paranormal romance with MC romance. I wish there was more of a detailed hierarchy for the MC that was presented. As fascinating as the concept was I would have also liked to have had more world-building aspects to the story as a whole.

Reading about soul mates is fun every once in a while, but I can't help that I wanted more of a connection between both couples before the explosion that is creating the "mate bond". At first, the mating seemed more like an assault rather than both parties participating willingly.

Eliana was a nice character to get to know. She definitely has a backbone and isn't afraid to call out BS when she's in the presence of it. Personally, I would have liked more of a fight from her before accepting the mating. It would have made for an even more entertaining story. I did enjoy the few nods from the author in cliché situations. It was a nice touch to the story!

Alastair was a hellhound shifter which was a first for me! Even after all these years reading paranormal romance there's still room to be surprised. I liked how in control he was but always did his best to treat Eliana respectfully. There was an instance or two that he became domineering too enough to expect Eliana to drop her human life and be with him 24/7. I don't know whatever happened to that plotline but I didn't like it.

There was a second mating in this novel right at the beginning and it threw me for a loop. I was expecting to have dual point of views but it never happened. It became clear after a few chapters that the second mating was there to progress the story in a certain direction.

The resolution to the "big bad problem" was too easy. It was way too straightforward with barely any problems. For a "big bad" that was powerful and that had stayed below everyone's radar for so long, I find his demise a little hard to believe.

Overall this had a nice story concept but wasn't without its flaws. It did end with a happy ending for the main couple but left quite a few possible future storylines open.

My Favorite Quotes:

"I don't think there is anywhere in the books about what you're capable of. That's something you have to find out as you go."

"Each of us protects all those around us who we love and can't live without."
Profile Image for Neringa Neringiukas.
1,213 reviews85 followers
November 3, 2017
I'm struggling to find words once again. But probably I should say what I'm saying always with all Esthers books. She hit jackpot again with her first book in new series. I love paranormal romance. Add MC aspect and I'm in heaven. Or more correctly I'm in hell and having lots of fun with hellhounds. If you read paranormal, you need to forget everything you learned about this world. Because, Esther brings her own dose of magic. It's something new and fresh. And I can't wait for more of it.
Profile Image for DeeReads.
2,284 reviews
March 15, 2018
"Hellhounds" was a pulse thumping paranormal MC story from the start! It begins as Alistair and Eliana's story but immediately I discovered that Eliana's sister, Velma and Osias aka Os, also were to be mated in this engaging, fast-paced story. The main hero, Alistair was the President of Death by Reaper MC, Hell Chapter and Os was the second hero. They were tasked by 'The Orderly' to take a soul around the corner but were told to basically "roll of the dice." They see two human around that corner and they stiff, one has a good soul and the other rotten to the core drunk guy who probably was planning on having sex with the other, but that good soul, a shapely women in a hoodie is none other than Alistair's true mate! Os handled the drunk with the bad soul, while Alistair finds out the the woman's name is Eliana and immediately kiss and bites her neck as she shamelessly allows it because their attraction for one another is so strong. Alistair knows what's going on but Eliana was a clueless human so he has to blow smoke in her face (which knocks her out) to make her not go and catch her train for home. Eliana wakes up in a strange setting and calls her half sister who is a Guardian and from there the story takes off and fast... with Os also biting Velma thus two romances in one story!

“The job was ‘roll of the dice’. I was given the choice to claim my mate or to take her soul.” I harden my voice so they have no doubt what the job has been from the start, and I just now realize this shit. “We either fight together or wipe them all out.” - Alistair


Now what happens next involves mating that damages two rooms in the MC, a mystery of who are 'The Orderly' and of another half sister or more, fate, half-witch, a new world order and hilarious drama in some parts of the tale!!

“The Orderly. That’s what they are called, and they are interfering, sis. By leaving it to Alastair’s MC to clean up the mess. Every one of us functions in a way where we leave it up to the soul in question to change, act, or evolve. Free will and all that. Clearly our father chose his own path, one that wasn’t the right choice, and there will be consequences.”- Velma

For me this story only proves that author, Esther E. Schmidt can not only write and craft intriguing contemporary MC novels but also the funny and sexy paranormal MC tales as well with more humor, sexy heat and even more twists and turns~!

Book 2 of this series will be entitled "More Death by Reaper MC - Jagger & Tess’ story.

5 "MC Hell vs MC Heaven" stars *****
Profile Image for Philomena Callan Cheekypee.
4,020 reviews432 followers
May 1, 2018
I don’t normally read paranormal stories but I’ve got faith in this author and as it’s her first paranormal story I thought I’d give it a go. I’m so glad I did as this was a brilliant read.

As I read quite a bit I crave unique storylines and this is what the author gave me with a cherry on top. I absolutely loved the MC aspect of it.

I’m so looking forward to reading more in this series. The author has brought her own uniqueness to this story and I’m craving more already.
Profile Image for Kim  Brewing.
3,627 reviews37 followers
November 14, 2017
There is nothing better than a hot, protective alpha......hellhound!?!
Yep Hellhound.

This is a paranormal read, not my usual but it was by Esther E Schmidt, so I had to check it out....I freaking loved it. Her writing style so works for me and she gives me my OTT alpha thrown in some witty banter.

There is a world that many of us don't see and everyone has their jobs. There are those sent to help save our souls and others sent to reap them....usually they don't meet or work together, but this book changes all that.

Alistair, Hellhound shifter and President of the Death by Reaper MC Hell Charter is on a job that can be a roll of the dice...little does he know he is about to meet his mate. Eliana has been aware of the paranormal world but has no idea of all her connections to it or that her mate is anything but human!
"A true mate is one in a million, a connection that's mutual, a pull you only feel once in your life and know the second it hits."
When these two come together, it's explosive!

As the story unfolds, we learn more about Eliana - things even she didn't realize about herself.
"Great, now I feel like a recipe on Pinterest I need to try"

Being the first book in a new series we are given a lot of information and several characters are introduced. This was done in a great way and at no point did I feel I needed to get out pen and paper to try to keep track! I can't wait for the next story.
Profile Image for Emily.
5,884 reviews552 followers
November 27, 2017
Alistair is a President of the Death by Reaper MC and what makes him unusual is the fact that he is a Hellhound shifter who reaps the souls of evil people. At times he is given a choice on if they will live or if he will take their souls. When he is assigned to two souls he doesn't expect to find a mate, his mate. He never thought he would have a mate but when he sees Eliana he knows he is not going to let her get away.

Elaina has never felt wanted but with Alistair she feels treasured. Realizing her father, who she doesn't know, has a part on the path that the MC will be taking for the future she becomes aware of secrets that have been kept. How will the standoff between good and evil unfold?

This was great and different for this author. I loved how the story unfolded and the little hints into possible future books. Alistair is a definite alpha male and Elaina is a spitfire who is a perfect match. I thought all the characters were fascinating and am looking forward to seeing what is next in this series. Unique.
Profile Image for Fran Gray.
277 reviews13 followers
November 28, 2017
Esther E.Schmidt has been a favorite of mine since the beginning. While I am not a paranormal fan, I wanted to read Hellhounds because she wrote it.

I’m still not a paranormal fan, but I REALLY LIKED THIS BOOK. The way she was able to blend the MC world with the Paranormal world made the story flow seamlessly. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Profile Image for Chris.
1,316 reviews38 followers
April 9, 2020
This is it for me! Paranormal (Yes, it has shifters!) MC (Yes, Alistair is the president of Death by Reaper MC Hell Charter) Romance (Yes, it's the story of Eliana and Alistair). I could ask for anything more! I loved it and I can't wait to read the next book!
Profile Image for Tammi.
2,177 reviews30 followers
November 4, 2017
First off I am a huge paranormal fan! This is a new genre for this author and she nailed it!
This story was different from others I have read. A unique spin on shifters types. A unique spin on the battle of good and evil. I loved it. I got sucked in learning more and more about these Hellhounds, then all Hell breaks loose when one takes a mate, then another does. The story that unfolds after had me glued to my Kindle. The mix of supernatural beings was great!
In true Esther fashion she leaves us dying for more! I cannot wait for the next one and hope there are more after.
Profile Image for Fatimama.
1,017 reviews65 followers
December 4, 2017
I liked the PNR spin. No cheating and ow drama as H/h are true mates.
Profile Image for Erin.
394 reviews57 followers
Read
January 15, 2018
DNF at 53%. I really wanted to like it.. or at least finish it, but I just can't force myself.
Profile Image for Shani.
855 reviews34 followers
June 20, 2019
I can’t even with this book…..seriously!!!!! It has all the things I love in a book. First its by one of my favorite authors, second paranormal!!!!! I love, love this genre.
Alistair is super hot in more ways than one. Yes, pun totally intended! He’s the Prez of the Hell charter of the Death Reapers MC. He has a duty to stand by his brotherhood, and the rules of the supernatural world. His job is anything but easy at any given time. But when he’s ordered to do said job and pick 2 to reap, he is faced with the challenge he wouldn’t accept: taking away his mate. Even as a “human” she attracts him in aways he’s never felt before.
Elaina has always felt like an outsider. She’s never been accepted in the way she deserved to be. A few months before her meeting Alistair for the first time she discovered she had a half sister. Little did she know, her sister is a supernatural being as well. What’s even worse is finding out her unknown father has had something to do with the command to take her soul. Thankfully what she finds with Alistair is a connection that is unheard of and undeniable. She has the chance at a real life where she can be the best of who she is.
But in order for either one of them to make sense of any of it they have to conquer their demons. Literally! Their fated mates for a reason, and they will discover why soon. The whole family gets involved and from there everything becomes earth shattering and chaotic. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, especially one that can throw down and battle like no other.
I was blown away by the depth of each of the characters and their full ability to just grab you and pull you into their story. Never mind the fact that there was a whole lot of paranormal goodness that I had not expected. For this being a first time genre for the author I’d have to say its a winner! Awesome book!
Profile Image for Judy Miracle.
1,198 reviews12 followers
November 8, 2017
Let me start off by saying that I am a huge Esther E. Schmidt reader... I've read all of her published work to date. With that being said I am not normally a PNR reader... But HOLY HELLHOUND does she knock this one out of the park. Not that I expected any less from this author, but damn, she's going to end up turning me into a PNR reader in no time, or maybe it will just be her PNR books.

Not only is this a Paranormal book but you have the aspects of an MC (which is my all-time favorite genre).

If you read Paranormal pick up this book. If you read MC and not much into Paranormal, pick up this book, I promise you will not be disappointed. Miss Schmidt has the ability to write a new genre that will completely suck you in and not let go.

I personally cannot wait to see where she takes the Death by Reaper Series next.
Profile Image for Amy Davies.
Author 77 books524 followers
November 14, 2017
I don’t normally read PNR, but I love Esther’s books, so I have this book a go. SO glad I did. I truly enjoyed this book.

You are sucked into the book, as soon as you meet Alister, which is pretty much straight away. Then you meet Eliana, that woman is wicked. I love her personality, her fierce attitude on life. You are kept thinking throughout this book, trying to see what will happen next. Alister is sexy as sin, all growly and demand. With the sexy and the sweet thrown in you get an awesome balance needed in a book.

Plus... when a certain claiming is done.. wow it is HOT!

Profile Image for Melissa.
670 reviews9 followers
November 28, 2017
Blown away and covered in soot here, man ohhhhhhh unholy man this read will strip that halo so fast smoke trails will be seen for miles. She’s conquered the MC and the Swamp now Esther has given us a taste of PNR and I know for one I definitely want more. Unique, unusual and so smokin HOT I doubt Antartica could cool me down. Yup Heaven and Hell are never going to be the same again. I FLOVED this one (I wonder how much nagging she’ll take from me for more hmmmm)
865 reviews3 followers
November 13, 2017
Yet another awesome series from Esther. I love paranormal reads and this one is really unique, set in modern day with many type of paranormal beings. I liked this, the mixing of creatures. The story line is engaging and funny, yes funny at times! :) They are a bad ass MC, but love their mates and are fiercely protective. I am a sucker for alpha males and the Hellhounds do NOT disappoint!
Thank you Esther E Schmidt for yet another wonderful series!!!
Profile Image for Bego.
161 reviews30 followers
March 31, 2019
Paranormals and bikers, all in this book!! Bonus that it’s safe (yeah, a MC series that is safe!!)
Profile Image for Iva Beth DiLoreto.
1,238 reviews37 followers
November 28, 2017
Amazing

Absolute best Paranormal MC romance, that I have ever read 5stars hands down. Esther has done it again with mixing Hellhounds and other paranormals to make an amazing series.
Profile Image for Teresa Lara.
3,484 reviews53 followers
December 6, 2017
loved Alistair and Elina amazing story.Swoon.give me more. love paranormal together with the mc;)Score
Profile Image for Just Josie.
1,144 reviews193 followers
August 21, 2023
When the plot was just so promising, but didn’t deliver😭

I was hyped when I read the blurb. Seriously, WHO would not dig a bloody paranormal MC! Like come ON it’s two of my favourite genres ever!
OF COURSE I NEEDED THIS BOOK ASAP!

However, I was slightly disappointed.
Everything in this book was rushed. I do enjoy a good fast paced book, but this was nothing like that. While reading this book I just thought “ How sad, it seems like the author just wants this book to be finished”.

It honestly had all the right elements to be good. The idea IS brilliant- I honestly think the whole “universe” is so unique and it was the only part of this book I liked. The creatures were so well thought of, I enjoyed it so much. The idea of the different MC’s. Their “jobs” and their obligations. I found it really fascinating.

Another “slight” issue of mine was the characters. I will never like a character who says “Yo”. I am sorry, but the whole masculine, badass alpha, just rubs completely off me when they talk like that.
I also found the characters so unbelievable. No chemistry, super “flat”, really not interesting to follow, and simply no personal development. I feel like we just got the top of the iceberg, and if we had gotten a little more depth I am sure I could have enjoyed them. Sadly I didn’t.

In the blurb we are introduced to 2 main characters - Alistair and Elianna. But “surprise” lets just add two other people to the mix. Yes, you read that right. Not only do we follow Alistair and Elianna, but also his VP and Elianna’s sister. We might not have had their direct POV’s, but we followed them the entire book, like they were glued to the “real” main characters hips. Unfortunately that did nothing good to this story. It simply didn’t work.
The book is already on the shorter side, and with the “added characters” it was simply not enough pages to make the book awesome.

It had no flow because of how rushed it was, the inner dialogues were vague, and really similar to each other so it was very hard to get a feel of the characters personalities.

I was just not impressed. And I really really wanted to be, because seriously a PARANORMAL MC, how COOL is that!

Read: 01/11/2018
Genre: Paranormal/ MC/Romance
1st rating: 2 stars
Cover: 2 stars
Will I recommend: No
Bonus info: I still haven’t decided if I want to try book no. 2. It was the book I was drawn to in the first place, so I feel like I should? 🤔We will see.
Profile Image for Kathy Rouchelle .
969 reviews15 followers
November 19, 2017
Paranormal AND a MC?? My two favorite genres rolled into one arousing, exciting, intriguing and literally HOT read. Esther E. Schmidt has a wonderful ability to get the leads hooked up right away and taking the story line off like a shot from a gun. Her technique is found in all of her books and makes her books exciting to read. This story line is intriguing as it deals with the balance between good and evil and has the Guardian's and Hellhounds not just a group of immortals who get their orders to intervene or to take a soul, but puts them into the life of a MC, and these MC's are more bad-ass than any that you have ever read before. The story line is like nothing I've read before which only adds to this book's appeal.

The characters are exceptionally well written, giving way to not only one male and female lead, but two as you have Alistair (the president of the Death by Reaper MC Hell Chapter) and Os (his VP), and their mates Eliana (who is part human, part Hellhound ) and her half-sister Velma who is a Guardian. When these four meet, it's instantly known to the males that the females are their mates (well Velma recognizes Os are her mate as well). And when they take their mates...it's combustible..literally!

A truly fantastic way to begin a new series and I so thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I cannot wait to see what happens next in this new series! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves paranormal reads and MC reads. The two together will have you in reading heaven.
Profile Image for Sarah Reads "Reading in Sarah's Corner".
415 reviews35 followers
November 20, 2017
First, this is my first book by Esther Schmidt and it most certainly will not be my last. I am hooked on this series and Esther's writing style.

Hellhounds (Death by Reaper MC #1) by Esther E. Schmidt was one heck of a read. This book has left me Captivated. Intrigued. Enlightened. And so much more. I cannot wait to see what the rest of this series brings to the table.

Seriously, this PRN book blew me away. I have never read another book like it. The plot and characters were completely original and a breath of fresh air. Esther's take on heaven and hell and all PRN beings were unique. It opened up so many other plots she could spin after this story.

Dominate alpha Hellhound Alistair has no hope that he would meet his mate Eliana when he was assigned a kill order by the Order. For Alistair, it was just another job. The moment he breathed in her scent he knew she was his entire world. The only issue was she is human. Or is she? I loved how there was something there that he knew made her more not less. Eliana just had to let her mate and sister help her discover who she truly was.

This story plays on what one would think would be evil and would be good. It an eye opener that just because you assume someone is good they may not be.

Alistair and Eliana's story is a fun ride that you need to read. I am excited to see where Esther leads us in book 2 of the Death by Reaper. Man, I could ramble on and on about this book. Go one-click! You know you want to.

Profile Image for Barbara.
2,648 reviews61 followers
November 25, 2017
Paranormal/MC - does it get any better than that? Only if the author of the said Paranormal MC book has an amazing style of writing, which anyone that has read her works knows Esther Schmidt has. Holy cow this is one awesome book. It spans both the heaven and hell chapters of the Death by Reaper MC’s with both human and paranormals in the casting mix.

Alastair is the Prez of the Hell chapter. He is sent to earth on a mission to take a Soul given the odd instructions of “roll of the dice”. In other words he was given a choice as to what to do with the two souls in the alley he was sent to. One is a dude the other a woman. What does he do and why? His choice, once made, is it the right one or the wrong one?

I could go into so much detail to the storyline but this book is a Must Read (IMHO) and spoiling it would just be wrong. So I’ll simply state that Ms. Schmidt has outdone herself with Hellhounds. Not only with the amazing storyline but with the characters. Both the bad ones you want to hate and hope they get what’s coming to them as well as the good guys who will sneak into your heart and have you rooting for their success and HEA.

I offer you 2 Thumbs Up and highly encourage you to one click this book ASAP. It’s a super start to what I foresee as a terrific series! If it were allowed this is what I would term a 10 Star Paranormal MC read!
Profile Image for Katie Kavanagh.
150 reviews1 follower
November 17, 2017
So to start off this was my first Paranormal book that I have read. I did not know what to expect when I started this book by once again Esther blows me away with another amazing book by her. I was honored to receive an Arc of Hellbounds and let me tell you, I could not put it down. The way she describes the different MC charters and the descriptions of the characters it made me feel like I was in the book with them. I thought at first I would have trouble understanding the book since I have never read a paranormal one but the way Esther tells the story it was easy to understand the different worlds/shifters. I loved how she gave me my OTT Alpha as well as strong females in the book. I loved the relationship between Alistair and Eliana and I especially loved Os and Velma relationship. The first sex scene with the characters was Explosive in more ways then one(you will understand when you read the book WHICH YOU SHOULD!!) I definitely would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. I cant wait for more of the Death by Reaper MC especially finding out more about the sisters and getting more of Esther's OTT Alphas which I love in all her books!!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.