Reaper, (Paperback)

I picked up Reaper wondering if it was just another Christian book but I was wrong. The story had the feel of a gritty true fantasy with the undertones of a religious story. If it wasn't for the Christian base, I would definitely consider this a true adult fantasy novel. The book follows one of the Reapers, Jaml, through a wild and exciting ride through demons, werewolves, and succubae. The story opens with Jaml hunting down and killing what he thinks is a demon but turns out to be human whereas the demon attacks him, wounding him. From there the story twists and turns as Jaml searches for the weapons of the Apocalypse to prevent the book of Revelations from becoming a reality. On the journey, he meets and teams up with a battle monk, Kem, and a nun. The pace of the book is breathtakingly fast. There is very little time as each word, each scene, each thought leads to the next journey and the next fight. The plot is interwoven carefully into the fast pace of the battles. The reader is able to understand why the next journey is important and it isn't until the final battle that the reader is able to bring it all together. The good guys die as well! Another aspect of this story is there is no feel good ending. The reader is left taking a heavy sigh, thankful that Jaml is able to come out of it alive. Along the way, many characters are killed and others flip sides, creating a tale that captivates the reader to turn the page. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and await patiently for the next one. If you want a feel good hero vanquishing all the enemies but remaining unscathed, this book is not for you. If you want an enthralling story filled with surprises and a realistic approach to battle and the price a hero pays for being a hero, this book is definitely for you.