Book Thoughts: Reaper
Jun 12
Title: Reaper
Author: Rachel Vincent
Publisher: Harlequin TEEN
Pages: 55
Release date: December 1, 2010
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble
Goodreads description:
Tod Hudson was a typical teenager. He liked girls, sports, food and tolerated his younger brother, Nash. In fact, he had his whole life in front of him–and due to his bean sidhe heritage, it was going to be a very long life indeed. And then the car accident occurred.
Suddenly Tod’s future wasn’t so sure, and he had to make a choice. Life… Death… or something Between….
An ebook exclusive Soul Screamers series novella.
My thoughts on Reaper are based on a re-read of this second novella in the Soul Screamers series. I first read and reviewed Reaper on November 22, 2010 and while I’ve read it a couple of times since then, this is the first time since I reviewed it that I’ve looked at it with a critical eye instead of simply reading it for pleasure.
I originally gave Reaper a four star “loved it” rating. However, now that I’ve gotten to appreciate all that is Tod, which includes not only his sarcasm, but his loyalty, heroism and bravery, and have discovered all those little details that I missed on first read that connect this novella to the series, I would give it a five star “amazing” rating.
Aside from being a quick and entertaining read, which it was, there was much more to this short story than what I took away from it during my initial read. Whether it was due to the fact that on that first read I was so distracted by the heartbreak that was Nash Hudson, or simply because at that time I wasn’t as appreciative of novellas as I am now, I didn’t notice just how detailed and clever this story was.
I didn’t make the connection that both Kaylee and Nash existed on borrowed lives. I didn’t recall that the reanimation process was discussed. I didn’t remember how difficult it was for Tod to master his corporeality. And I didn’t notice that Kaylee’s mom made a similar sacrifice as Tod had and could just as easily have become a reaper… or wonder if maybe she did.
I didn’t question what it might mean that Kaylee could see Tod when he wasn’t corporeal the first time they “met.” I didn’t wonder if there would ever be any repercussions down the road for what Tod did to the drunk driver that hit his car and ultimately caused him to become a reaper. And I definitely didn’t realize that Tod died right before a birthday just like another character in the series.
I didn’t realize all these details would or could mean something later in the series. Had I known, I would have committed this entire novella to heart, and not just Tod’s witty and incredibly sarcastic lines.
Rachel Vincent wove all of these details into this short but captivating read. But that wasn’t all she did. She gave readers insight into who Tod was before he became a reaper, just how he became a reaper, and just what kind of person he was after his sacrifice, and she really let us get to know him in a way that we never would have been able to within the framework of the series up through My Soul to Steal.
Reaper is the first time we get to see the story from Tod’s point of view, which sets the stage for just how important a character he is to become later in the series. And by writing this story from his perspective, we are able to see parts of the Soul Screamers world that Kaylee never would have had knowledge of and I absolutely love, love, love that the author opened up her world in this way.
From the umpteen sarcastic lines that Tod delivered in this novella – of which I think there are at least ten I call favorites – to the cruel and clever irony that the author infused in this story during Tod’s last few hours alive, Reaper is a fun and a little bit heartbreaking short peek at Tod’s life and afterlife and a story that definitely raises a few questions as to what the future holds for this somewhat immortal reaper.
And while I could probably go on and on about just how amazing I think Tod is, his awesomeness wasn’t completely revealed by this story. Some of that did come later. But I can say with absolute certainty that after four reads, Reaper is my favorite novella in this series and one of my top five novellas of all time.
***
There are way too many favorite quotes of Tod’s for me to choose just one. So I chose instead a scene between Genna and Tod in which the irony of the conversation was not lost on me…
“…But if I’m late, my mom will jump to all the right conclusions, and then my dad will kill you. Seriously. And what am I gonna do with a dead boyfriend?”
“Nothing that doesn’t defy the norms of polite society…” I mumbled, disappointed when she stepped back and turned toward the door.
If Nash isn’t dead of alcohol poisoning by the time I get there, I’ll kill him myself…
I noticed everything you did – during the last spoiler chat I even asked Rachel V. about possible consequences for Tod because of killing the drunk driver, but she hadn’t thought of any yet, so he might be okay.
One thing that never crossed my mind though was that Kaylee’s mom could, in fact, be a reaper too. That is such a strange idea, but I guess she would have done anything to protect her daughter. I know I would have done it for my son in a heartbeat. You’ve definitely given me something to think about.
You know, I was going to share that same scene in my Reaper thoughts!!! *lol* Great minds, huh?
I kept thinking about the irony the whole time I was reading Reaper. *sigh*
I’m still wondering why Kaylee was able to see Tod… I wonder if we’ll ever find out…
This is definitely my favorite Soul Screamers novella, no doubt about it! I feel like going back and re-reading it right now.
T____________________________________________T
I need a printed Reaper copy :’(
#1stalker…
oh yes….the IRONY…of IRONIES >.<
ps.I did read this one!! It's been so long since I read the novella I thought it wouldn't hurt to read your thoughts on it
Oh my gosh! Seriously, chick the way you love this series, absolutely makes me want to pick it up immediately every single time you talk about it!!
xoxo
Oooh I was re-reading Reaper about two days ago too and I definitely appreciate it more now, too then I did the last time I read it.
I also realized a few of the things you did. Like, just like you I’m wondering wheteher Kaylee’s mom’s a reaper. And I also realized while reading Reaper for the second time, how much of a guy Tod is. And that like Nash, he was a player (before he died). We always get to see the sweet, sappy guy Tod is from Kay’s POV, but through Reaper we got to see more of his sarcasm and guy-ness. LOL. I’m thinking that we’ll get to see more of that that in BIW. Plus we saw him use that sarcasm to hide his real feelings, so Kaylee was right. (I knew that but it;s nice to see it.)
I only realized that Nash is living on borrowed time when I saw it in your post. Which is a connection I should have made last year. I did, however, realize that Tod had died a few days before his birthday and I remember when reading If I Die that I was wondering if Kay would die right before her B-day too. Turns out, she did. I’d also forgotten how Tod struggeled with corporeality and the whole beating heart thing.
And I had forgotten about the drunk driver thing until I re-read it and suddenly got really scared for Tod. Because that and what he did to Thane (and probably Thane himself) is surely going to come back to bite him. (And probably Kaylee). Hopefully not too hard.
I’m also really wondering why Kay was able to see Tod,too. I know he says that he thinks he wanted her to see him and I believe that. But there’s also the fact that Kay doesn’t remember seeing him, even though she did. Maybe it’s because she was medicated? Either way, wonder if that will be revisited.
Ooh that conversation between Genna and Tod, I totally had a thought along the lines of “I’m sure whatever your dad could do to Tod couldn’t be as bad as what’s awaiting him.” And it also made me wonder if Genna will reappear. If she’ll somehow catch a glimpse of Tod or something. I think that would be cool.