The Reapers Quota by Sarah McKnight - #bookreview #blogtour

 

In the cavernous marble hall that serves as an office, the Big Boss sits back against the plush velvet of his golden throne. He appears large and menacing on the platform above me. The glowing red coals deep within his hollow sockets pulse with displeasure as he stares down. He raises an old, creaking arm and points his bony finger at me. His bones are yellowed with age, and micro-cracks lace an intricate pattern up to his arm. I imagine a musty smell coming off him. He's ancient, and whatever is left of his vocal cords grinds with effort as he speaks.

"Reaper #2497," he croaks, his finger shaking just inches in front of my own hollow sockets that once contained real eyes, "it is almost the end of the month."

"Is it?" I ask innocently...

***

Meet Grim Reaper #2497. Behind on his work, he must complete his quota of thirty Random Deaths or face termination in the worst way. Faced with an insurmountable task and very little time to complete it, Reaper #2497 struggles to hang on to the one thing he's not supposed to have - his humanity.

***

As one of the panellists for the Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award 2022, I was delighted when I was asked to read this book. The book was a finalist and came in at number five, and deservedly so.

I loved the dark humour of this book. It was an easy and entertaining read and the main character, Reaper #2497 (aka Steve), was delightful as we observe his reluctance to end the lives of people randomly to fulfil his daily quota. I was amused by the ways in which he justified the killing of those whom he finally settled on. For a deceased character he still exhibited elements of humanity, and it is this that made him such a likeable character.

Ms. McKnight creates a fictionally believable afterlife, and it was very easy to engage with. 

It is a really fun read and made me laugh on several occasions. The book is aimed at a young adult audience, but it will equally appeal to a more wide ranging audience. Adults who enjoy satirical writing will love this book, and it was a pleasure to read.

There is also a sequel, Chasing the Reaper, which I anticipate will be worth reading.

ISBN: 979 8781351893

Publisher:  Independently published

Formats: e-book and paperback

No. of Pages: 190 

About the Author:

Sarah McKnight has been writing stories since she could pick up a pencil, and it often got her in trouble during math class. After a brief stint teaching English to unruly middle schoolers in Japan, she decided she wasn’t going to put off her dream of becoming a writer any longer and set to work. With several novels in the making, she hopes to tackle issues such as anxiety, depression, and letting go of the past - with a little humor sprinkled in, too. A St. Louis native, she currently lives in Pennsylvania with her wonderful husband and three cats. You can find her on Twitter @mcknight_writes and www.sarahmcknightwrites.com.

(book, photos and info. courtesy of The Write Reads)