Beth's Review: School of Deaths (The Scythe Wielder's Secret #1) by Christopher Mannino
Author Provided Copy/Reviewer Purchase
Publisher: MuseItYA
Released: May 14, 2015
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Horror
Narrator: Joel Froomkin
Length: 252 pages
Format: ebook, paperback, audiobook
Authors Links:
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Buy Links:
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Blurb
Thirteen-year-old Suzie Sarnio always believed the Grim Reaper was a fairy tale image of a skeleton with a scythe. Now, forced to enter the College of Deaths, she finds herself training to bring souls from the Living World to the Hereafter. The task is demanding enough, but as the only female in the all-male College, she quickly becomes a target. Attacked by both classmates and strangers, Suzie is alone in a world where even her teachers want her to fail. Caught in the middle of a plot to overthrow the World of Deaths, Suzie must uncover the reason she's been brought there: the first female Death in a million years.
Book One in The Scythe Wielder's Secret Trilogy
Five Boundless Stars
Taken away for her family and the only life she ever knew, Susie finds herself in the world of Deaths; where her only responsibility is to train to be a Death. After the first year, there's a test, if you pass the test, you can go back home to the family and life you love. That sounds easy doesn't it; well, it's not as easy as it sounds, especially when there are personal traits causing everyone to hate her. While she tries to overcome all this; she, and the two friends she manages to make, attempt to uncover secrets of the death that could change a million years of The Death's history, and their future. I must admit, this is the most unique story I've read! And I read a LOT! The story is well written with well developed and fun characters. You'll love Susie from the beginning; and all the other characters, from both worlds. The imagery is wonderful; I could practically see the characters and their world through Mannino's words. I love when that happens. The only negative is that some of the dialog was repetitive; like they mentioned what happened to Deaths if were killed way too many times. However, School of Deaths is still definitely a 5 Boundless Star book! I look forward to rating Book two, Sword of Deaths, and I know, after reading this, you will want to read the rest of the series too. I was offered an e-book in exchange for an honest review. However; when I noticed the audio version was offered for only $1.99, I jumped on that. My husband and I had a road trip planned and we listen to books on our trips. It helps us stay entertained during the drive; not to mention, it stops the arguments over which radio station we listen to, I can't take 4 hours of Glen Beck and he gets tired of my "Jesus music." The reason I'm telling you all this is because I want you to know, the first time we started the book, we both laughed out loud and had to turn it off; we just could not take the voices of her friends and the school nurse. Oh my!, the voice for the nurse was a combination of Mini Pearl and Daisy Duke, hilarious! I love a southern accent, but once it reaches a certain pitch, I just can't take it. I'm not slamming Southern accents, I grew up in Louisiana, so if your in the south, don't think I'm a hating Yankee. The point is, once you get pass the overly animated voices in first two chapters, the narration by Joel Froomkin is great too; it didn't take away for the excellent writing at all.