Samael by N.J. Walters

Spice Level: The only 🔥 came from my heated annoyance. Ok fine it was spicy but the actual characters need a crash test in romance and how it works.

Tropes: Paranormal Romance, Insta-love, Morally gray characters, forbidden love

Quicktake: This one did not work for me, let's unpack it.

What didn't work: Insta-love was just too much. I didn't like that they were just dancing in circles and didn't have a real connection with each other. It was great and interesting at the start because of the story's arc with the grim reaper's son tasked with reaping his romance interest's soul. But once i got to a certain point the dancing began and I just didn't find it much more interesting. I think with more improvements it could have been a lot better. While I did not enjoy this one too much I will keep my eye out for more!

Great paranormal HEA!

Samael was a quick and easy read that makes for a great paranormal romance.

The MMC and FMC do have an instant connection that I felt could have been built upon and I was left wanting more with both their charchters.

I did enjoy the sprinkle of humor that was throughout the story but wish we could have had more of the paranormal aspect, it felt a little too contemporary at times.

Definitely would reccomend to those who enjoy fast paced story lines with a HEA!

This was an interesting and enjoyable story-a good "beach read" for sure. I enjoyed the paranormal spin (take on reapers & the entity of death) and that it did not overwhelm the story as a whole but was just a part of Samael & his life. While the story happens over a short period, neither it nor the relationship between Samael and Adrianne feel rushed. There's a bit of mystery which included a surprise twist (or two), but its also a story about finding parts of oneself that hadn't realized been lost and the power of love. I look forward to finding out what is store for the other Blackwell brothers.

I found this to be a fast-paced read, but at thr same time, I didn't feel like a lot was shared as it moved along. The romance was decent, but a little too insta-love. I was looking for a more fantasy aspect to the romance, but this definitely was heavier on the romance. It will definitely appeal to a certain audience, but it unfortunately was just not for me.

This was definitely a solid, entertaining read. It took me 2.5 days to complete this book, so a rather fast read.
I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. I felt that certain things could have been expanded on, but that's what later books are for, right? The resolution was a bit rushed for me, but overall, I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to continuing this series.

I’d enjoyed N.J. Walters’ wolf shifter romances, so I was excited to jump into this new series. Samael didn’t disappoint, giving me a grim reaper romance with some great character development and the perfect amount of spice.

Sam was your typical redemption story, forced to dig his way up from the very bottom if he wanted to return to the life he’d grown accustomed to. But Samael wasn’t who his father or his brothers thought he was, and his small town punishment turned into so much more than Sam or his father ever thought it would. Once Adrianne entered Samael’s life, Sam had to decide what was more important: his status as a reaper, or his and Adrianne’s happiness. It was definitely a journey of maturity and emotion for Sam, and I loved seeing that growth from him as he and Adrianne grew closer together.

Samael wasn’t just a redemption story, though. While Adrianne’s soul was wanted by the reaper, she was also wanted by a mysterious character who had it out to get her. I enjoyed the mystery element of this story, especially since it only brought Sam and Adrianne closer together.

These two main characters had a tendency to butt heads, but the tension between them was delicious when it turned into fireworks. I loved watching Sam realize what truly brought his life meaning, all while getting to know Adrianne and the people in her town a little better. Adrianne’s issues gave the plot a twist I didn’t expect, and Walters gave me an ending I did not see coming.

I enjoyed this take on a grim reaper romance, and loved Samael’s character development. I’m excited to see what adventures his brothers get up to in the rest of the series, as I’m sure the rest of the Blackwell clan has a lot of trouble planned for us.

Samael, the rebellious son of Death, is sent to a small town for one last chance at redemption, and his final assignment is Adrianne, a strong, guarded woman hiding from her past. What should’ve been a simple soul-reap becomes a heartbreaking moral dilemma as love complicates duty. I loved how the story balanced danger, emotion, and slow-burning tension. The world-building felt natural, and both characters grew in meaningful ways. While the romance felt a little rushed initially, the emotional payoff by the end completely won me over. The high stakes, pacing fast, and ending left me breathless. I can’t wait for the next book!

Not my most favorite. A little too small minded on the build up. It was an easy read if you just want to finish a book and add it to your read pile.

This was good! I'm thinking 3.75/4 stars. I liked the premise of the book, I found it to be different to what I usually read.

The book goes straight into the plot, starting with Samael, one of the sons of the Grim Reaper, being sent to a small town in the middle of nowhere called Redemption, all because his father is not happy with the job he's been doing and wants him to learn some compassion. Samael is ready to complete this job and get back to his life, but it all changes when he meets Adrianne, but not even their connection can make him forget that she is his next assignment.

I would have liked a little bit more background information/worldbuilding before going straight into it, as I was a bit confused at the start and just had to roll with it. The citizens of Redemption were more trusting of Samael than I would have thought, considering the situation, but who knows. I liked Adrianne, she was a good character and I liked her strength and resilience. Her relationship with Samael was a little bit too insta-love for my liking, and I struggled a little bit to relate to their big feelings considering that by the end of the book, they had only known each other for a week, and half of those days they were separated. I think it could have been written over a longer time period (idk, give me at least two weeks!) without deducting anything from the story. I like a bit of mystery so I was intrigued by the stalker aspect and came up with some theories while reading (happy to report I was correct about some of them!). I liked the action and how the situation was resolved, although the ending of the book left me a little bit confused. However, this book was quick to read, the pace was good, and I am intrigued about how the story will continue, so I will be reading the next book when it comes out!

Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, LLC, and N.J. Walters for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Author N.J. Walter delivers a fast-paced, plot-driven story that I found thoroughly engaging. The narrative is compelling without being overly fantastical, making it accessible even to those who don’t typically gravitate toward paranormal or romantic-themed tales. What I particularly enjoyed was how the story balanced supernatural elements with grounded, relatable contemporary character interactions. The themes woven throughout are relevant and thought-provoking, offering something for a wide range of readers. Whether you’re a fan of the paranormal or simply enjoy strong character development and a gripping plot, this book is sure to capture your attention and keep you hooked from beginning to end.

I adored this book! It is exactly as cute and cozy as it sounds! The pacing was a little slow at first, but Samael (the MMC) definitely made up for it with his loyalty and empathy. The personal growth for Adrianne from helpless victim to bravery was great. I liked the fact that the stalker essentially stayed a mystery until the final confrontation. Death was pretty cool also and not what I thought he’d be like. Malachi was amusing to me.

Okay so I read Samael suuuper quickly! It pulled me right in and I couldn’t put it down. I love the premise of the reaper going to get his assigned soul, as he has for as long as he can remember, but unexpectedly having a connection with his target and being forced to decide if he’ll follow the reaper code or save her. The attraction between Samael and Adrianne was intense and the mystery behind her impending death kept me guessing!

It’s just my personal preference that my favorite supernatural/fantasy books typically aren’t set in the real world or at least not modern time or the supernatural character isn’t exactly with the times. It didn’t take away from Samael at all though!

I just wanted a little more and feel like I still have a lot of questions. The book was fast paced and easy to read/get sucked into, but it got a little too fast in the end. And it took me a little bit to follow what was going on there. It looks like we may get more books in the world following Samael’s brothers, so maybe we’ll get more answers there. Like I said I did really enjoy reading it, and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to fill their paranormal romance craving without having to jump into a big series! I don’t always read sequels when they focus on different main characters, but I’m looking forward to seeing if books on Samael’s brothers come out!

Here’s my CAWPILE review breakdown for Samael. Overall I enjoyed the book and read it basically in one sitting! Samael and Adrianne’s relationship was addicting. Thank you to Entangled Publishing and Net Galley for the eARC!

Characters: 7
Atmosphere: 7
Writing: 7
Plot: 6
Intrigue: 6
Logic/relationships: 6
Enjoyment: 7

Average: 6.57/⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.5 ⭐
Samael is a steamy, high-stakes paranormal romance that blends danger, redemption, and dark passion into a fast-paced, emotionally charged ride. N.J. Walters delivers a brooding, complex hero in Samael—a fallen angel with a tormented past—and pairs him with a strong, relatable heroine who challenges both his darkness and his destiny. The chemistry between them is intense, and the worldbuilding adds rich layers to the overarching series mythology without overwhelming new readers. With its blend of action, sensuality, and heart, Samael is a must-read for fans of dark paranormal romance.

The Grimm Reaper's son gets an ultimatum: be a more compassionate reaper or spend eternity trapped in limbo. To prove that he can do it, he's sent to the dead-end town of Redemption with little money and the knowledge that he has to reap a soul or he's lost. Sounds easy, except the soul belongs to Adrianne Sharp, who manages to capture his heart with her strength and resilience. Will Samael be able to fulfill his mission if it means destroying his heart?

I really wanted to like this one and kept chastising myself for not enjoying it more as I read, because the characters are interesting and it's a nice twist on Death falling in love. However, it never got past being 'nice' enough to keep my attention.
Samael is a fascinating character, but his need to keep things from Adrianne made it so that, even reading his side of things, the reader doesn't get to know him. I get that he and Adrianne are connected by fate, but he's too much of a mystery for my liking.
I think my main issue is the pacing. There's this sense of urgency in the characters that doesn't translate to the scenes. It's a rush to solve the mystery of the stalker and Samael's exile with a small-town, life-on-the-farm pace. It didn't work for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled: Amara for the emotional read!

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and Net Galley for this eARC in exchange for a honest review.

What I liked:
✅ Paranormal Romance
✅ Steamy Scenes (though not many)
✅ Protective MMC
✅ Quick Read

What I disliked:
❌ Not enough time for character development, but that can almost be expected in a shorter book.
❌ Anticlimactic ending

Overall:
I rated this book at 4 stars. I liked it but didn't love it. The book definitely had some good parts and I'd recommend it.

A life-long soul reaper, and son of Death himself, who has lost his compassionate touch is sent on his next assignment with the expectation to re-learn how to guide souls. Will the woman who returned to her hometown to tend to a lavender farm be the one who can soften his edges? Or will she be the one who breaks Samael further?

Told in dual perspective, this was an easy, engaging read. I couldn't put it down, and I have no regrets. The characters were likeable and had realistic traits. However, I wish Walters had given more of a physical description to Adrianne. It seemed as though there were ample descriptors for Samael, but not Adrianne.

I found myself changing what I thought would happen at the end of the book a number of times. This is not a very predictable story. It keeps you guessing without taking away from the themes. The focus is kept intact and all secondary themes support the main storyline.

I've already recommended this book multiple times, and look forward to reading book two!

Thank you Entangled Publishing for the ARC opportunity. This review has been left voluntarily.

Samael is a reaper and Death's son. In order to avoid being sent to the Shadowlands for eternity, he is sent to a small town called Redemption by his father to learn empathy. His assignment is to wait until death comes to a woman named Adrianne, who fled back to her roots from Chicago to avoid a stalker and escort her into the afterlife. The problem is that he starts to fall fast for this quirky, curly haired woman and must not interfere with her death in order to avoid his eternal damnation.

This was a very fast romance read with forced proximity trope and some spicy scenes. It kept me entertained throughout, and the characters were very lovable. It keeps you guessing who the stalker is and ends where book two can be picked up as this will be part of a trilogy. I really liked this story and would recommend it for a quick romance read.

Adrianne returns to her home town after dealing with a stalker and to find some peace in her life. Unfortunately for her Samael has been sent to the same town to learn some compassion by his father.
Their attraction is pretty much instantaneous which is not good for Samael as he has been sent to reap her soul.
I found the storyline gripping as he has to decide whether he can watch the inevitable happen or will he intervene which goes against everything he has been doing up to now.
It is fast paced and the characters are very good with some great dialogue between them.
This was a good start to a new series and I’m looking forward to more

Samael was an awesome start to a new series. It's a suspenseful read with steam and sweet moments. I especially loved the sweet moments they warmed my heart. I loved the setup of this story and for the most part how it was executed. However, I was a little on the fence with the romance, I'm not what it was about but I wasn't fully sold on it but I did enjoy this story, the characters and their journey. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what the next book brings.

It was interesting from the start. He seemed to wanna get to a date more than do his job as the grim reapers son. I liked that he got sent to a small town and the way he protects her just fits his character growth. I found it to be a quick read for me.