A HUGE thank you to every particpating in the Book Tour with Xpresso. I especially wanted to thank Giselle for organising everything, this has been such an amazing tour and I am over the moon with the response.
KJ Reads A lot
*** Kj Says ***
Jordan is a new Reaper and he really isn’t happy in the role, kind of lost and wanting his old life back. As he slowly accepts who he is, he redefines the Reaper’s world by his rules. Family loyalty way after death stays with him and makes a big difference in the way he does things. Follow Jordan as he tries to handle what has happened to himself and others that he cares for without getting completely lost. Will he manage to disrupt life as everyone knows it or will he settle into his new role?
I found myself really enjoying this book, I like the whole story. It did answer some of my questions from the first book which was really nice. I like the way Ms. Maree writes, it reads so nicely and I have absolutely no trouble “seeing” the story. I am eagerly awaiting more, this story is so good and I am invested in the characters. I thank Xpresso and Jacinta Maree for making this book available for me to read and review.
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Expatitent
Reading books of a series out of order typically bothers me, but even without reading the first book, The Reapers provided enough background that the reader can form an attachment to the characters and situations without it.
Stepping into the world of the Reapers, readers are introduced to Jordon Hastings, a young man who by all rights should be dead. Beaten and hit by a car, Jordon wakes from what he thinks is a really horrible dream in a hospital bed with only mild head injuries. Convinced he'd been dreaming, he attempts to reenter his life again, but strange things keep happening. There seems to be someone in a cloak following him around, and he's the only one who seems to be able to remember. His shadow also seems to have a mind of it's own now, a huge demonic wolf having slipped into it, leaving Jordon on edge.
Eventually Jordon has to face the facts that he should be dead. And that he'll have to leave his family behind if he wants to keep them safe. He can't quite seem to let go though, a mistake that will cost him dearly. When one of his friends accidentally catches Jordon doing his reaping duty when on a banished soul, things go haywire. Jordon's mistake of remaining with his family and trying to continue his life as normal costs his friend Mark his life, leaving Jordon with a horrible guilt. It's after this that the process that should have been completed upon his death is finished, leaving Jordon unknown to anyone, just a generic face in the crowd.
But Jordon can't just leave his family behind. Unwittingly, he causes more issues for his family, eventually leading to the accidental death of his younger brother. This tips Jordon into a need to protect the younger's soul as it's become a banished, prompting a string of events not even the Angelic Hunters could have predicted.
Maree's writing flows together well, giving the reader a sense of belonging despite the amount of strange things going on. Her descriptions of places allows for building a mental picture of the worlds, the characters, and everything involved. I definitely will be looking for the first book of this series as well as any other books that might come along.
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ROXANNE KADE
This book was awesome. Exciting, fast paced and full of twists and turns, I was fully immersed in the world of Reapers, Hunters, Royals, Banished and Hosts.
I loved how this book took place before and during the events of book 1, because it added to the story by clearing up some of the questions I had whilst reading the first book. It also gave me a chance to see a different side of Evan/Lock, and how and why he became a Banished.
It was interesting to see things from a Reapers perspective, because they were kind of made out to be these horrible beings who felt nothing for the Banished and just allowed their Goons to destroy “lives”.
I also loved getting to know certain characters were before they appeared in Lock’s life in Banished Spirits. I felt a little tingle of excitement every time I recognized someone or was able to tie together events. The world in which these spirits dwelled was exciting and at times terrifying, but Jordon and his friends fought for their rights, and it was one thrilling adventure.
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Mythical Books
The Reapers is the second volume of the My Demonic Ghost series and, being forced to skip the first volume, I was nervous that I'll need some information from the previous book to feel the story in full. That was not the case; The Reapers does not need any leverage. It is a great stand alone story, well-knitted, motivated and fine driven. However, I cannot deny, that now I am eager to read the first book because, if it is to resemble even partially with The Reapers, the full product will be a "mind blowing".
I used above the verb "to feel" and I did not do it for nothing. The story makes you feel. It is pure tension, atmosphere and excitement. Of course, it can be read just as an action story too. You will find, among other good things: a rhythm whose crescendo is obvious, twists, unexpected, thrill, suspenseful struggle of life and death (I mean the destruction of the spirit, not physical death because, remember, we are dealing with reapers), losses, comrades and enemies, allies that can kill you in an instant at the order of others ... I'll just tell you that The Reapers is a true (successful) Dystopia of that perfect world that is promised to all of us... in accordance with our own deeds. But if you read the book only as an adventure story you will lose. A lot. Even if the image of the Underworld as a corrupt world, in which the very ideas of good and evil, purity and sin are perverted, is fully "appealing".
The Spirit World was cracking. A battle for power was about to break the line between demons and angels. I had never thought in my wildest dreams I would be the culprit trying to tear down Heaven. We were always told that the Angels were good, but I suppose the reality isn’t always what the stories make them out to be.
Every action of the heroes is accompanied by emotions and feelings, by a substrate about that I could say it is a philosophical one, where the very distinction between good and evil makes that evil to be actually good and vice versa, where what must be done and what should be done are two things not only different, but opposites.
“Are you a corrupt spirit?” I asked with my brow raised. “Would you trust a demon even if it told you it was trustworthy?” “You’re not a demon.” “Sometimes I have my doubts.”
The emotions that the author manages to convey are sometimes overwhelming and lead the story to an entirely different level. At least it did it for me. I was gripped from the first paragraph, but I was subdued by the first chapter, the author with her inspiration gaining a loyal reader in me.
Each flake of life and identity broke and scattered until I became nothing but a vacant breath, lost in death.
The richness of language, the figures of speech used at the right moment and in right way enjoyed my mind and heart. In the same way, some of the characters’ names enchanted me to look for hidden meanings and nuances.
The Reapers brings together, skillfully intertwined: action, suspense, a wide range of feelings, doubts, the journey of a self discovery, the uncertainty of the existence of the Underworld, the reward or penalty, enabling the reader not only to read a beautiful story, but also to seek answers about himself and what it is, if it is, AFTER.
“There’s a world out there ruled by spirits and creatures that I am still trying to understand.”
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A_TiffyFits Review
I had the opportunity to read MY DEMONIC GHOST first before reading The Reapers. And really...I recommend it. While you won't be lost while readingThe Reapers, I think the story is more powerful after you've read MY DEMONIC GHOST. I was envisioning reading them in opposite order and this way was much more powerful and emotional!
In MY DEMONIC GHOST you are introduced to the Banished, the Reapers, the Hunters, the Royals, etc. and come to the harsh realization that the afterlife is nothing more than the hell that was junior high or office politics at work or society at its worst. It's visceral, recognizable, and a bit wrenching at the unfairness of it all. Whether you were a cheer leader, the head of the student council, the bookworm, the jock, the drama star, the popular, or the unpopular, you will find someone to relate to in this story. And you'll find yourself wondering about the afterlife.
In THE REAPERS , you will find yourself on the same timeline as MY DEMONIC GHOST but from a different perspective. The way Jacinta Maree handled this was unique or at least one that I had not read before. Rather than showing concurrent events, you also got the WHYs and HOWs as information is shown to you through the actions and experiences of Jordon. Again, I found myself sympathizing and empathizing with these characters. At one point, I won't mention which but it does involve an animal, I even teared up.
I'd like to see what happens further, although I'm wholly satisfied with the story at this point. Jacinta nicely wrapped it in a way that I could walk away with different future scenarios in my head without driving me insane with wanting to know EXACTLY. I loved the different representations of the Sins, the Mother and her character and how it is built, the Creators, and the vicious stupid head on the throne who is just a greedy bad person/entity/whatever. Life after death isn't what you expect, it isn't fair, and change is a'coming!
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Creating Serenity
Although this is a series you do not have to read the first book to understand the second. Surprisingly, although they are related, they are completely different. The second book answers some questions from the first but I don’t really think the first would have really added anything if you are short on time or something, so you do not have to worry about that one. I’m curious how these would work out of order because in book one, My Demonic Ghost, I had so many questions that I may have enjoyed it even more having these answers right at the gate.
The really interesting thing here is that this story is told from a completely different perspective and it is one that I really resonated with. The downside to this storyline is how Jordon. I felt like his transition could have been a lot smoother and some conflict could have been avoided and Jordon is another character, much like Lock in My Demonic Ghost, that I had some troubles with. I feel like he has some issues (being a reaper is sort of an issue!) but he is really dramatic with his issues. Maybe I’m weird but I think I would love to have my own Goon (heck I have four, they just don’t eat souls) so every time he was freaked about something I just couldn’t fully engage with him. But in Jordan’s defense he is dealing with quite a lot and Raix just makes his life crazy. And funnily enough Raix listens just like my pups do too!
As the story moves along I really started getting into it and enjoying the fully supernatural aspect. Jacinta Maree just has this way of writing that I really can sit back and enjoy. I really liked having some of the characters back and there are a ton of new characters in this too, although Raix is still my fav, I just cannot help myself!
I’m finding that Jacinta Maree has an imagination like no other. Her stories are fabulous with characters that I can really sink my teeth into. Although these are a bit on the creepy side, I can see these books entertaining a myriad of people. They’re just that much fun.
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Bawaka's Book Fair
Wow!! I must say that this was a totally different book that I have ever read.
This is her second in The Reapers storyline.
This story is about Jordon and his choosing between a God and a banished spirit.
Watching or should I say, reading Jordon's character, definitely quenched my suspenseful thrill seeking desire.
Never a dull moment here. I am sure my husband was tired of the soft glow of my kindle glaring into his face while he slept.
I am glad I read The Reapers because I can now fully understand everything that was going on, more things answered and more things made me go "ooooohhhh okay."
While I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, I would just like to say that I would recommend reading both. Some say My Demonic Ghost before The Reapers, either which way, they both have a powerful effect. Think roller coaster of suspense, you don't know how you are going to feel until it happens.
Jacinta Maree has a flair for words and smoothness. I can't wait to read more from her!!
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