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Sixteen-year-old Zadie’s first mistake was telling the boy she liked she could bring her dead sister back to life. Her second mistake was actually doing it.
When Zadie accidentally messes with the Reaper’s Rite that should have claimed her sister Mara, things go horribly wrong. Mara isn’t the same anymore—Zadie isn’t even sure she’s completely human, and to top it off, a Reaper is determined to collect Mara’s soul no matter what. Now Zadie must figure out how to defeat her sister’s Reaper, or let Mara die … this time for good.
And now for my review:
My Sister’s Reaper by Dorothy Dreyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I shouldn’t have started reading this book before I had time to finish because I had a hard time putting it down. First, I liked the author’s style and teenage voice. Second, it got right to the weird stuff, the mystery and action. Third, it was a real treat to read a well-edited book. I rarely had to stop and make notes on mistakes. Fourth, the mythology was new, a combination of older ideas put together in an interesting and unique way. In fact, the only familiar mythological concepts were witches, fairies, the four elements, and magic. I love being surprised!
There were some things I didn’t like, one being I would have liked some of the withheld information revealed earlier. I just don’t think it’s fair to create false mysteries by keeping information from readers that the main character knows. The author skipped over multiple scenes I wanted to read. But wishing a book was longer is a good thing. And obviously, none of the flaws bothered me enough to keep me from turning the pages. There were real mysteries and strange happenings aplenty.
As for characters, Zadie’s lack of intellect was not an endearing trait. Another annoyance was people who made snide comments, but the flaws did make interesting characters. I know a crotchety old man, so a woman was believable. But I didn’t understand why Zadie took the ridicule or why she didn’t visit her (spoiler) at the start and get rebuffed and/or discouraged. It would have made the visit at the end all the sweeter. And even though the author did creepy very well, it would have been better if I I’d seen Mara’s normal side first. Then I’d have felt sorrier for her. So for me, the right place to start would have been earlier when the sisters visited their (spoiler). Lacking that extra characterization, I didn’t feel very anchored to the characters even when I was anxious to find out what would happen next. Last flaw: I kept wondering why a possible love triangle never grew.
Still, the emphasis on plot and pacing kept the tension high. I loved the last few chapters, especially the (spoiler) visit. I wanted more. Like earlier chapters, the last skipped too much time. I suspect the author was told to shorten the book. Disappointed sigh… Nevertheless, the arc felt more complete than for most series books, and I hope some of the things left out now appear later. Overall, I give My Sister’s Reaper 4.5 stars, and I’ll be happy to read the next book. I was provided an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
Author Dorothy Dreyer
I’m a Philippine-born American living in Germany with my husband and two teens.
I write young adult books that usually have some element of magic or the supernatural in them. I also like to read those kinds of books. Aside from reading, I like movies, chocolate, take-out, coffee, traveling, and having fun with my friends and family. I’ve also been known to make a pretty sweet cupcake.
I tend to sing sometimes, too, so keep me away from your Karaoke bars.
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