Don't Fear the Reaper [NOOK Book]

The Perfect Read!

Author Michelle Muto has done something for me, no other author ever has, she made me cry. This is a good thing! Don't Fear The Reaper for me was absolutely the perfect read. The story so well executed and flawlessly written. Only a few times in my life have I devoured a book and not wanted it to end. I won't do the typical rehashing the plot, because this book is too good to give anything away about it! Just read the preview blurb that should hook you! Don't Fear The Reaper has a storyline that keeps you glued to whatever format you're reading it in! The characters are so damn 3 dimensional you feel like you are right there with them every step of the way. The style of writing flows and the dialogue is spot on, never corny or over the top. As I read I found myself becoming more and more emotionally invested in all the characters, something that will make me treasure this book always and look upon it as easily my favorite read of all time.

If any agent reads this review, you would do well to grab Michelle as your client, because you will only be kicking yourself if you don't! Michelle Muto is destined to become a giant in this industry, if you don't believe me, then read "Don't Fear The Reaper," and you will know exactly what I'm talking about!

5 stars is not enough for this beautifully executed and brilliant work of literature.
So I'm breaking the rules and giving it infinity plus 1!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

"Don't Fear the Reaper" by Michelle Muto was a devasta

"Don't Fear the Reaper" by Michelle Muto was a devastating view of what happens to not only the family after two daughters die, but also to the twin sisters, Keely and Jordan...the deceased. Heart breaking, scary at times...the book just doesn't stop pounding on your senses. Add in Angels, Demons & Reapers and what you've got is a thrill ride that makes a roller coaster look flat! I recommend this book to anyone still breathing. A strong round of applause to Michelle Muto!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Dark and exquisitely beautiful!

My first impression upon opening this book was: Best first chapter in a novel - Ever! Michelle Muto hooked me from word one and kept me gripped until the end. This is a beautifully written dark tale of life, death, and everything that comes after. It was absolutely mesmerizing.

This is hands down, one of the best books of 2011! From the opening chapter that all authors should learn from, to the bittersweet ending, Don't Fear the Reaper will keep your heart on edge as you continue to turn the pages.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A New Favorite Author!

What I Liked: 1) All of the characters. It seems strange to say that I liked all f the characters in the book, especially when none of them belong to the land of the living. Keely is an earthbound (ghost), Banning is a Reaper (as in Grim), and Daniel is a demon. But they all have such lively personalities that I couldn't help but be drawn to them. Especially Banning. He made me think of, like a big brother, or maybe like a father-figure. I liked him a lot. 2) The themes. I don't talk a lot about themes, mostly because when I read for pleasure, finding themes is not one of the major things I think about. But this one stands out. It's all about making sacrifices for those that you love, and how love can transcend death. I have big sister syndrome in a big way, and would sacrifice anything for my siblings, which is what we see happening in Don't Fear the Reaper. Except, they are twins, not older/younger siblings. 3) Keely and Jordan's relationship. It reminded me of mine and my sisters. We're very close as well, and I could empathize with their feelings. It always makes a book better when you can relate to the emotions characters are feeling, I think. 4) One heck of a final battle. Seriously, for those of you who like a lot of action in your books, this one has a fantastically written final battle scene. It's not just, blink and it's over, either, which I find happens a lot. Battle scenes have a tendency to run short, and this one didn't. 5) Hard topics. Topics like teen suicide are always hard to discuss. And this one certainly didn't make light of that, or gloss over any of the side effects of it. Instead, it really explored emotions of people affected, and even the emotions of Keely, after her death. It was an interesting take on the hard topic, and I give props to any author who ventures out into that field.

What I Didn't Like: It's hard to say that there was nothing I didn't like about this book when there were things going on like death and suicide. No one likes death or suicide. But those were big topics of the book and I felt they were well written and handled with care as sensitive subjects should be. So, no, there was nothing that I didn't like.

Overall thoughts: This book wasn't the scary story I thought it was going to be. I found it more intriguing and suspenseful than out and out scary. But there are great characters, a plot that keeps the reader interested, and a truly fabulous writing style. I've already said that I'm a big fan of Miz Muto's, and I'd recommend this book to anyone!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Haunting and Beautiful

In One Word ~ Stunning

I have been trying to start this review for an hour. I have typed and erased my opening at least ten times now. I just don't think I can explain what this book did to me. I don't know what I expected from Don't Fear the Reaper. I do know that I was really excited when author Michelle Muto sent me the book. I had read another of her books, The Book of Lost Souls, and adored it. So I went into reading this one with no trepidation, an awesome feeling.

I knew I was in for an emotional journey within the first few lines of Don't Fear the Reaper. The main character, Keely, emotionally devastated after the murder of her twin, commits suicide while in the midst of desperate grief. After months of torture, praying for a sign that her sister is safe on the other side, a sign that never comes, Keely just wants peace. She wants to be reunited with Jordan. At first, Keely doesn't realize her attempt was successful. And she's relieved. But then she is greeted not by Jordan, but by Banning and Daniel, a Reaper and a Demon. Keely learns that to decide her fate, she must pass a "test" with guidance from Banning and Daniel, all while searching for her sister.

I found Don't Fear the Reaper to be one of the most unique books I have ever read. To be honest, I haven't read much involving suicide and certainly nothing from the perspective of a "successful" suicide. I have to give the author kudos on the first chapter. It is dark and overwhelming. I re-read it a few minutes ago, just to be sure that my feelings were accurate. It literally took my breath away again. I know I said it is dark and overwhelming, but it is also, and I know this may sound weird, peaceful and delicate. She handled it with respect, without judgment towards Keely.

That respect towards Keely is what makes Don't Fear the Reaper so unique. Although Keely regrets the inevitable pain her parents will endure, and hates that she has done this to them, I never felt anger or judgment towards her. Muto gave such a detailed background and relayed Keely's anguish so well, that you understand why she felt she had no other choice. I just wanted to hold her hand and take the painful journey with her.

But Keely does have someone to take the journey with her, Banning and Daniel. As a Reaper and Demon, they should be used to this routine. But something about Keely makes them throw everything they should do out the window and put their eternal fates on the line to help her. As much as I loved Keely, I think I loved Banning and Daniel equally. They also have tragic pasts that drew and attached me to them.

Don't Fear the Reaper is a story about the love of two sisters. Love that would cause each one to make radical, ultimate sacrifices if it meant the slightest chance at peace for the other. It is about taking chances. In the case of Banning and Daniel, it's taking a chance on someone who may not seem likely to succeed, but who is worthy of the risk. It is about letting go.

I feel truly honored that Michelle Muto asked me to read Don't Fear the Reaper. This book was a privilege to read. And I look forward to reading it again in the future. This book will haunt me for a long, long time.

Favorite Quotes:

"The mystery that was Banning reminded me of an old book tucked into the farthest crevices of a library shelf; dusty and forgotten, his painful memories cast in ink and meant for no one else to see, but committed to fragile pape

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book was Amazing! A must read!

5/5 STARS! This book was... Amazing! Don't Fear the Reaper by Michelle Muto exudes beauty that is so tantalizingly dark and sad I don't even know where to begin. Honestly? I can't believe this is an indie-book. The plot, the writing style, the formatting, the character development - everything was executed perfectly. The moment I can buy a physical book I'm doing it. And I can't wait for more. There has to be more right? The moment you read that first sentence it feels like Keely reaches up and yanks you into the story with her, and doesn't let you go until you've read the very last word. This book never held back, never, and I loved Michelle for that. The sadness and desperation etched into every page will choke you. The transition between real life and the paranormal was as smooth as black velvet, and I loved every single second. I've read YA books that try to integrate both aspects, but they're never done like this. They're either exaggerated or too sloppy. Michelle Muto got it right! Something else I truly appreciated was the lack of romance. If there had been love thrown into the equation this story would have gone south. To me, there was no room for love, not in Keely's world at this moment. In the future I would hope to see a relationship form between Keely and Daniel, because despite his icy attitude there was something about him that I loved. He thawed enough for me to see something warmer and for me to want to see the rest, even if he is a Demon... I loved Banning. He may have been death, but to me he was more light, more hope, when Keely needed it most. And I loved what she was able to do for him in the end, which makes me even more certain that they'll be another book. The care taken to create this world, including the afterlife and the way it affects the present was incredible. Sometimes it's easy to get careless and cut corners, we see it all the time in both self-pub and published books, but this book didn't cut a single corner. I didn't find any inaccuracies, I just read and got lost in Keely's struggle to reconnect with Jordan and herself, and her intense desire to get revenge on her sisters killer but at the same time to not give into temptation... Reapers, Demons, Hell, Heaven, Ghosts, Angels, revenge, grief, dedication... What's not to like? Everything about this book was fantastic, and I will absolutely recommend it!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Well written, captivating, and truly haunting

Michelle Muto’s Don’t Fear the Reaper took me on a haunting and intriguing ride through an unexpected and surprising netherworld.
I’m a huge fan of stories that explore the afterlife and what happens after we die, and Muto’s story definitely doesn’t disappoint, especially in the originality department. In Don’t Fear the Reaper, Muto offers readers a unique and wonderfully rendered exploration of the afterlife.

Muto’s first chapter is one of the best executed first chapters I’ve come across in a long time. A perfect blend of startling, yet captivating events and mystery, the first chapter had me hooked. However, the next quarter of the book did move a bit slow for my liking and it wasn’t until the halfway mark that I felt like the book found its stride…but once it did, the book moved at a perfect pace and had me enthralled until the end.

There’s a great mix of emotion and tone in this book. It’s haunting and mysterious and both thrilling and chilling. But it’s also quite funny and amusing; not necessarily in a laugh out loud, silly funny kind of way, but an amusing and smart, sarcastic, witty kind of way that I found both refreshing and entertaining. And of course the emotional journey that the characters go through (all the characters) is very important and Muto has crafted this fragile journey beautifully. There were scenes that had me choking up and a couple that had me in tears and moved me profoundly.

I’ll admit that it isn’t easy to impress me when it comes to the paranormal, but Muto has done just that. Her take on the world of reapers, demons, angels, and spirits is quite breathtaking and excitedly original.

There are certainly a few surprising twists and turns, but I can’t say that I didn’t see the ending coming. However, I didn’t mind the predictability that much, because Muto offers a compelling and exciting last quarter of the book. The ending also sets up future books nicely while still offering a satisfying ending.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Michelle Muto’s Don’t Fear the Reaper is a wonderfully original and enthralling book. The paranormal aspects will thrill you, while the emotional elements will move you. This series has me hooked and I’m excited to see where it goes.

Must read

Wonderful book by Michelle Muto! After seriously considering putting the book down after the first couple of pages I was surprised to learn that I couldn't put the book down. Very deep book that leaves you wanting to read more. Can't wait for the next book in the series.

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