Twenty years ago, Reaper of Souls Kassidy Simmons battled Azra-El, the Angel of Death and won—or so she thought. Now, a number of strange and unexplained deaths are afflicting Kassidy’s quiet New York town. She wishes she didn’t care. But she does. Her empathic abilities are expanding beyond her control, and the intense emotions are tearing apart her relationships. They’re also degrading the magical wards put in place to protect her from other Reapers and the even deadlier Wraiths—onyx-eyed henchmen of Azra-El. Allied with her longtime mentor and a college professor with ties to her past, Kassidy learns that the untimely deaths are regenerating Azra-El, and that the only way to stop him is with the Scythe of Cronus, the legendary weapon of the God of Death.To save her loved ones and reset the natural order, Kassidy must journey home and confront a past she’s been running from for two decades. She’ll face-off with enemies, old and new, and through a haze of fear and addiction, Kassidy will learn the secrets of her heritage, and challenge head on the one being she fears most—herself.
Dennis Crosby grew up in Oak Park, IL and completed his undergraduate work at the University of Illinois at Chicago. With a degree in Criminal Justice he spent six years working as a Private Investigator and during that time developed an affinity for writing poetry. While working on a Master's Degree in Forensic Psychology, Dennis transitioned into social service. Dennis has spent the last thirteen years working with adult men and women experiencing challenges with mental health and addiction. He currently serves as Director of Apprenticeship Programs for a non-profit organization in San Diego.
With a lifelong passion for writing, Dennis wrote dozens of short stories, tapping into his creative side, but did not pursue the finer points of the craft until later in life. After leaving Chicago and transitioning to San Diego, California, Dennis had the opportunity to get more involved in the writing community where he strengthened his skills. After attending the workshops of San Diego Writer’s Ink, and regular attendance at the Writer’s Coffeehouse, an open workshop for writers of all genres, Dennis slowly learned to find his voice and direct it into long form writing.
To further augment his writing skills, Dennis completed an MFA program at National University.
A self-proclaimed geek and lover of pop culture, Dennis still lives and writes in San Diego, CA.
Kassidy Simmons’ life, death, and after-life have had their toll. After she beat her boss in a fight, she gained her freedom. But living the last twenty years, drowning her sorrows in a bottle, she can no longer keep her head stuck in the sand. Her empathy powers are getting stronger, the Reapers and Wraiths are getting closer to finding her, and those she loves are in danger. Death’s Legacy by Dennis K. Crosby is the first in a new Urban Fantasy series, where Kassidy has to discover the truth about her heritage and destiny. What seems a small story focussed on a quiet town soon expands to include gods, mythology, and the mystery of death.
The narrative is split between two timelines. The modern-day follows Kassidy as an adult, living a very imperfect life. She loves her girlfriend, but they are in a rut, and Kassidy is slowly ruining her own life with her dark secrets stewing within. We also follow twenty years ago - how Kassidy struggled with her abilities as a child, feeling ostracized by those around her. When she becomes a Reaper, she gains a new family. And we see how she eventually leaves Azra-El. The narrative is shared with several other characters throughout the book; some important, others throwaway. In the first half of the book, I felt that some of these were filler and some were used to push the story along whilst Kassidy still stewed. In the second half of the book Kassidy’s agency kicked up a gear, and the side characters really added to the story. I really enjoyed the historical element to it, and how everyone’s stories were woven together. Some really surprised me in the end! Death’s Legacy is a strong debut from author Dennis K. Crosby, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.
This book is outside the realm of my usually preferred genres, but I am so glad I took the leap on this one. I am now eagerly awaiting the sequel to get more in-depth with Kassidy’s story. This book is full on, non-stop action with fascinating characters. I don’t want to leave any spoilers so I will simply say this one is worth your while!
Death’s Legacy is a fast paced urban fantasy thrill ride. And when I say fast paced, I mean that it’s frenetic, borderline frantic. But that suits the story and the plight of the main character Kassidy Simmons. Time is not on her side in her quest to stop the proverbial Angel of Death from killing everyone she loves. But the pace doesn’t ever leave the reader adrift in it’s wake. Dennis Crosby does a great job of guiding you through his tale, and ending things with a conclusion that teases more to come. Definitely check this one out.
I love supporting new authors and when a friend told me a friend of his wrote a book, I was excited to read it. I am so glad I did. Death’s Legacy by Dennis K. Crosby is a debut novel and I could not stop reading it. Kassidy Simmons just wants to hide. She is tired of feeling too much, of running, of hiding. Years ago she battled the Angel of Death and won, but now he is back and after everything and everyone that matters to her. Now she is learning her life was full of secrets and lies. Who can she trust? As time is running out, she needs to be ready to face her enemy and find the weapon that will help her. I loved the characters and story so much and hope more is coming.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I mostly read memoir and YA stories about trauma and overcoming loss, but every once in a while when I need a change of pace, I appreciate true creative fiction set in a fantastical world. This book delivers a good story with compelling characters and great fight scenes. The ending is both satisfying and intriguing. Looking forward to the next one!
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review. Note: This text includes graphic scenes of rape and sexual content.
Kassidy's life is getting turned upside down, again. People in her town are dying before their time and she suspects she knows why. It all started twenty years ago when she seriously wounded her former mentor, Azra-El, the Primus of all reapers and wraiths, aka the Angel of Death. In the years since, she has tried to rebuild her life but that is all about to come crashing down. As she suspects, Azra-El is healing and he plans to come for the woman who nearly killed him.
The plot and backstory of the characters had a lot of depth to it. I could easily have seen this expanded into multiple books, which is not something that I tend to recommend lightly. The first chapter, for instance, mentions Kassidy's current trade and some side characters that never enter the rest of the story. It also reads almost like fantasy detective fiction to begin with. There is a mysterious "who is killing these people?" element to it. That element is later ended when Kassidy easily uncovers what it is happening with little investigation.
Later chapters also feature asides that pull in this "people are dying before their time" plot point and they end up detracting from the text. I think if the author had taken the mystery component and really developed it out, using those later chapters as material, the story might have had some time to develop and would have evened out the sometimes frenetic pace of later chapters. That's the reason that I took off one star. Its not necessarily a bad thing that it had too much content, just that it made the pacing seemed a little rushed and uneven.
Aside from the pacing and a few continuity errors, the story was great. The deeper mythological aspects were well planned and fit in perfectly. The plot twists are just choreographed enough to be believable without being predictable. The reader knows that something bigger is going on, but can't really figure out what it is.
I enjoyed Kassidy's character. She's seriously flawed but enjoyable, similar to Jessica Jones. I also loved the side characters of David and Keiron. I hope that we see more of them in future books.
Speaking of that, the epilogue sets the stage for at least one future book. With the amount of unexplored backstory in this book though, this could easily become a series. There could definitely be a prequel exploring the content of a certain journal. I look forward to reading future books in this series.
This is a *must read* book for anyone who enjoys mythology and action! I devoured it in one sitting and was left with the excitement of wondering what Kassidy was going to be doing next! I found myself easily relating to the main character and her struggles, what she was able to overcome, and her bad assery! The ending of the book gave the impression that there will be a next one as some questions were left unanswered. A girl can hope!
I was introduced to a genre I’d not yet indulged. I was “in” from the first page. I fell in love with Kassidy right away. Her perfectly flawed being, her search for her soul, her tortured soul, was hard to ignore. And in spite of her “humanity” Kassidy was a badass and intolerant of injustice.
I honestly and deliberately didn’t whiz through this book because I really didn’t want it to end. But the closer I got to the end, the harder it was for me to put it down.
Mythology today... in Oak Park, Illinois? Brilliant! I know Oak Park. I’m now a fan of Urban fantasy and can’t wait for more from this author.
Death's Legacy throws you right into the action. The fantasy and mythology elements are beautifully portrayed by author Dennis Crosby and leave you wanting more!
I read this book prior to interviewing Dennis on my YouTube channel and, honest to goodness, could not put it down! The protagonist, Kassidy, is a strong individual with many flaws trying to find her place in the world. It's been a long time since I've read a book that moved me to tears and there were a few times when I cried for and with Kassidy on her journey.
Before starting this book, I knew nothing about reapers, empaths or wraiths as fictional characters. Nor am I in the habit of reading books with these sorts of figures in them. Even so, I found empath Kassidy Simmons to be an intriguing main character, and all of the supporting cast to be well fleshed out and interesting.
So was the plot, in which a power hungry immortal, Azra-El, seeks to replace Thanatos, the personification of death in Greek mythology. For reasons I won’t give away here, only Kassidy, who at first is essentially oblivious of her role in this book, can thwart Azra-El’s goal. Why her? The answer to that is doled out in small doses every so often, keeping the reader wanting to learn more just as Kassidy does.
This is an entertaining and very well-written yarn that will keep readers wanting to know more, not only about the characters but perhaps also about the underworld in Greek mythology. A very well done debut effort by a new writer of note.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Star rating: almost four stars, so rounded up. Content warning: there are some passages in the book that describe sexual assault; they are not very detailed, and there is a reason related to the plot why they are included.
Kassidy Simmons is really having a rough time of it lately. Her life is already difficult, being a Reaper as well as an empath, but now people are turning up dead more frequently than usual, especially in this tiny little town. Pills and booze used to make the pain go away, but it's not quite working anymore, and it's putting her personal relationships in jeopardy. This would all be bad enough, but now, other Reapers and even Wraiths are looking for her, an easier task now that the warding she has used to evade them for years is starting to break down. What do they want from her? Their master, Azra-El (the Angel of Death), is looking for her, as she tried to kill him two decades prior, and now he wants his revenge. Can she stop him?
Death's Legacy is categorized as urban fantasy, and that's an appropriate description - it appears to be set in the present day, but with supernatural elements - namely, Reapers and Wraiths, both emissaries for the Angel of Death.
Kassidy, the protagonist of this tale, is complicated; however, this reader felt that some of her character was a bit hazy, even by the end. Quite a few of the other characters that surround Kassidy are likeable and interesting, but again, it appears that we don't get enough of them.
The pacing of the story as it neared the end seemed to be a bit rushed. Considering the amount of build-up and coalescing of the plot, the final act, if you will, appears to take very little time at all in comparison.
Overall, however, this was an enjoyable debut - especially the mythological and fantastical elements.
This story was truly captivating, from page one it drags you into this new mysterious world where nothing seems real. The characters are amazing and I was upset when it was over, loved this story, and I cut wait for the next one.
I truly enjoyed this book! I was hooked from the beginning. Characters are well developed with an extensive backstory. The plot was super engaging. I love how we were plopped right into the action, and discovered everything right along with Kassidy! Well done Dennis K. Crosby!! Can’t wait for more adventures with Kassidy!!
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This was the Nerd Night Out Book Club October 2020 selection and what a great pick! First, the excitement of a first book by a new author and then the fun of discussing it. In reflecting on this book, I realized, I’ve read A LOT of books with Death as a character. There is the Incarnations of Immortality series, Prachett’s Death Triology, the Christopher Moore Death books, and lots of others here and there. And you know what? I feel like this one totally holds up compared to those other series! It is hard to find a new twist in this little sub-genre, but the world this book introduced has a lot of new and compelling mythology.
We meet our main character, Kassidy, as everything is falling apart – too many unexplained deaths, wraiths wandering around. Maybe it has something to do with murdering her mentor twenty years ago?
I really liked Kassidy – she is complex and flawed character and we get more insight into her backstory as the novel progresses. But most importantly, she is not a broken main character, a trope which drives me a bit crazy. Yes, there is some serious past trauma here, but she is a mostly functioning person with some issues. And maybe a drinking problem, but hey.
The main events of the novel move pretty quickly but there are lots of wanders off into backstory, meeting new characters, and short asides as people continuing dying before their time. Of all of these, the “WAYback story” i.e. this world’s origin story was the one I found most compelling, closely followed by more information about Kassidy’s child and young adulthood. I ended the book wanting WAY more information about both.
Ultimately, this was a solid four star read for me. I have to deduct a star for a bit too much backstory and world mythos being crammed in here. Honestly, there is enough of both smooshed into this book to pad out another three or four “Monster of the week” sort of books and a more relaxed pacing would allow us to get to know Kassidy more deeply before the huge conflicts arise. But that little quibble aside – great read!
PSA: Don’t get attached to any of the characters. Death is coming! And it wants power! This urban fantasy was hit the ground running intense and I was all in from start to finish. Really enjoyed the audio and it made my housework and drives around town much more enjoyable this week!
WOW. Typically not my genre, but this was a "can't put down". Kassidy, the protagonist, keeps drawing you back. I had to know more, I need to know all about her. She is not exactly likable, yet you want to see her succeed. Mr. Crosby better have the next one in her series out soon!
I truly loved Death's Legacy. It's a compelling, original, well-written fantasy novel that's an excellent mix of goth/superhero/horror...think Neil Gaiman, Joss Whedon, and light dusting of Stephen King tossed in for good measure. Such good world-building, too: just enough explanation for WTH is happening without going overboard. While I was reading this book, I was also (purely coincidentally) watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and it couldn't have been more perfect timing. Like Buffy, Kassidy is a strong but complicated female lead, grappling with what it means to possess her powers and the responsibility (and oftentimes alienation) that comes along with it. But Kassidy holds her own as a totally unique badass. From the very beginning, I had a very good sense of who Kassidy is and of her character arc. I was emotionally invested in Kassidy's journey throughout, and can say the same about the other main characters, too (even the repulsive ones, and that's saying a lot!). This story is the perfect set-up for sequels. Highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys this genre!
One of my goals for this year was to open up and expand my reading books outside of my usual thriller/crime fiction comfort zone, and Death's Legacy by Dennis K. Crosby was my first attempt at doing just that.
Death's Legacy is an Urban fantasy. Trigger warnings: Sexual assault, substance abuse.
I'm an old Trekkie so it was easy to open my mind to this new world of empaths, reapers, and wraiths.
The book had a little of everything; suspense, action, and some great fight scenes.
Like many well developed characters, Kassidy was flawed, very flawed but I connect with her enough to want to see her succeed. Entertaining read. I'd definitely read a sequel. This was Dennis K. Crosby's debut novel. He's definitely got the writing chops to make his next book as entertaining as this was.
I really enjoyed this book. I bought it both as a Kindle version and an audio book, as I didn't want to take a break from reading when tasks such as laundry, dishes and driving got in the way! I am always amazed by an author's ability to come up with unique storylines, characters, and plot twists, and I was especially impressed by Crosby. His characters are phenomenal and the way he was able to weave so many different components into one, hard to put down, story, really speaks to his talent as a writer. I have told friends and family about this book and I can't wait to read what he comes up with next!
Death’s Legacy is a fantastic blend of mythology and modern-day action adventure. This story will take you on a journey of self-realization against a dark backdrop filled with mythological creatures of legend. Vulnerable yet fierce, Kassidy Simmons is the hero you’ve been waiting for.
A fascinating new world and a marvelous new voice. Dennis Crosby has come out of the gates with a high powered, action packed story. I loved the way the backstory was done, I liked how we were invested in the main character from the start. There is SOOOO much going on in this book, you wont want to stop reading it until everything is done. I am so excited to continue following this author and his writing.
Dennis Crosby has penned a wonderfully crafted fantasy world. Equal parts fantastical, thrilling, and even a bit dark at times.
It came across as unique and imaginative. The author really gave us something different.
When you dive into this world, you will be inundated with new things and have to learn the world, but Crosby does a great job of keeping us up to date and helping us understand while continuing to move the plot. He really managed to navigate it effortlessly and keeps us wanting more through the entire book, while ultimately leaving us satisfied.
YALL... I LOVED it. I was skeptical at first like aight lets see but omg. It had aspects of all sorts in there. Mythology, adoption, trigger warning for sexual assault, substance abuse, just soooo much that would relate to so many people while also completely making sense and providing a strong smart ass of a protagonist. Cannot wait to see where his future novels go. So great job to Dennis Crosby for his first book. Keep it up!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Death's Legacy by Dennis K. Crosby is an amazing story that I have loved reading. I was so hooked on this amazing story and I can not wait to read more from this author. I highly recommend this amazing story to everyone who loves reading about fantasy, suspense and horror.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
So much going on! The world building was amazing. There's reapers and wraiths and greek mythology all in one. Kassidy is powerful but flawed which makes her so relatable. Each character really shines. Highly recommend!
The creativity behind the characters and story had me turning the pages with eagerness to find out more. Mr. Crosby put a unique spin on ancient gods and Death itself. I can’t wait for the next book!