Shadow Reaper

I said I wouldn't read another Amos Cassidy series starter after Crimson Midnight, but when I saw this novel, Shadow Reaper, on Kindle Scout I decided to support it because I had enjoyed the previous writing. It was just the ending that left me exasperated. So I will start this review by saying that Shadow Reaper has a satisfying conclusion! There is plenty of potential left untapped for the further two books in the series, but I thought this one stopped at a good point.

The beginning of Shadow Reaper reminded me of Into The Air by A K Downing as both young adult novels commence with human communities forced underground after some global dystopian event and and follow a young woman as she strives to live within such a disaster-struck world. The stories are very different to each other, but I would heartily recommend each book to fans of the other author! In Shadow Reaper Ashling is a woman of some standing. An impetuous, but brave and loyal Reaper, her job is to risk life and limb away from Shelter in order to bring back food and supplies to her subterranean community. However, safe pickings are now scarce and the risks become greater.

Amos Cassidy has done a great job of bringing their fantasy environment to life for the reader. Although I couldn't quite get my head around the physics of how the worlds cleave together, I could easily envisage the detritus-strewn lands beyond the Horizon and I loved the wide variety of creatures we encounter. Ashling is immensely likeable and I could always understand her often rash decisions even though I didn't always think her choice was a good idea! I raced through Shadow Reaper in a day, pretty much unable to put the book down as I was eager to learn what happened next. The pace throughout is exciting and I was enthralled by Amos Cassidy's inventive ideas. I want to devour all of this trilogy!