Suzie Sarnio is a regular 13 year old girl, with regular 13 year old girl problems. Lately, she has developed a new one though. She has begun dropping weight at an alarming rate, no matter how much she eats. Her parents are convinced she either has an eating disorder or a disease, so she see’s doctors for both. Unknown to them all, The cause of the weight loss isnt anorexia, it’s her body preparing for a new life. That life starts when a man in a black cloak carrying a huge scythe comes to he house one day, grabs her, and disappears with her, only to appear a second later with her in a field next to a pond. It seems Suzie has been chosen to be a new Death! She will start at the school for Deaths, and cant go home unitl she passes her test in one years time. If she fails, she must remain a Death until she fades of old age or is killed on duty as a Death. Oh, and one more thing. She is the first female Death in a million years, the last one being a crazy traitor that colluded with the Dragon’s to fight the Deaths.
As you can imagine, it would be really easy to slide into a Harry Potter type knockoff pretty easily. Instead, Christopher Mannino goes very much his own way, creating a likeable cast of characters, with some truly nasty looks at how a closed society can treat outsiders. Suzie goes through the usual hazing rituals and more, taking it all in stride, even though she is lonely and afraid at times, and desperately want to go back to her family. If she doesnt pass her test, she will never see her family again. On top of that, she has come across a conspiracy that can effect the entire world of the Deaths, possibly hurting or killing those friends she has come to love. WIll Suzie and her friends be able to overcome such huge odds? Well, you’ll have to listen to find out, although it is definitely worth your time.
I was really impressed with Joel Froomkin’s narration. He did an outstanding job, especially considering the disparity in voices, ages and accents he had to handle. He really helped bring this story to life.
Any fan of Harry Potter or similar books should really enjoy this book, as will fans of fantasy in general.
I was given a copy of this book at no charge by the author in exchange for an honest review through Audiobook Boom.