Reaper: Book One of the Reaper Saga

by Eli Kwake

I am trapped. I know there's only one way out of here. I'm not sure I'm brave enough to take it. How did it come to this?
I grew up on my Da's farm. I went to school. I had a best friend. I was a normal kid. Well, if you ignore my flying and being stalked by the grim reaper, I was a normal kid.
Everything went wrong when Da and the town disappeared. They took me to Sky City. They tried to put me in an orphanage. I ran away. It was just me and my sister Lilly against the world. We survived.
How did it come to this?

249 pages, Paperback

Published April 5, 2020

About the author

Starting from the beginning, my name is Eli Kwake, pronounced ˈilaɪ kwāk. I am pansexual, polyamorous, and genderqueer. My pronouns are they/them. I am a musician, an artist, a writer, a drag king, a lover, a spouse, a friend, a foe, a human, a dragon. I make no apologies for who and what I am. I was forged in fire. I am bigger on the inside.

It’s nice to meet you.

Reviews

[Sable · Rating 5 out of 5]

I initially got this book through a Kickstarter. Full disclosure that Eli is a good friend of mine. But I think I've established a reputation now of not blowing smoke up people's *sses. I tell my friends, "I think you have some work to do" when I don't think their stuff is quite up to par yet; and maybe, some things never will be. But that is not the case here. This is an outstanding novel that is full of passion and pathos, which will also keep you on the edge of your seat with its fast-moving style; a style I genuinely envy.

Raven is a smart, strong character that I think most people will identify with quickly. Her plight draws you in as she is buffeted by injustice and forces beyond her control. And yet, she chooses to exercise her agency - sometimes to her own detriment, as she can be stubborn, which is beautifully portrayed as an asset that also brings detriments with it. I love her with my whole heart. This story has stayed with me over the course of several months, as clearly as the day after I read it.

Eli's style is what most writers aspire to. To the point. There is no filler here. Every word is chosen economically - and it's accessible, too, which many "literary" works are not. Their universe is intriguing and fulsome, and invites you to ask questions, not all of which are answered right away. That keeps you turning pages until the book is done, and the first thing you will ask is, "Is there more? I want more!"

Fortunately, friends, this is the first book of a series, and yes, there is more, and yes, I have read it, and it's wonderful - but we'll save those reviews for another day because I don't want to give you too many spoilers.

The plot is exactly what's on the tin - Raven can see the dead and she can fly. Both make her a target in this world, and dealing with the results of that will carry you along through every page. Some of the people she meets are harmful, but some are helpful, too. One of the greatest strengths of this book is how human all the characters are. You have met someone who is a lot like every character in this story, with their good and bad qualities. It's a surprisingly nuanced plot too, a credit to young adult and new adult genres, which are often denigrated as being simplistic. This is not the case here.

If you read something like "The Maze Runner" or "The Hunger Games" and thought, [i]Wow, look at all the holes in this, I wish someone could do this sort of thing only better,[/i] read this. You will not be disappointed.

[Sara L. Skroh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike anything I’ve ever read

This story gripped me from the beginning. The whole time I was trying to figure out what is going on. It’s very interesting. Characters are well done. I want to see what happens next. I will be getting the next book. Well done!