The Reluctant Reaper is a witty, heartfelt twist on the romantasy genre. Amara Morrigan wants nothing to do with the family business—especially when it means becoming Death.

I loved the concept and blurb for this book but was sadly underwhelmed by most aspects of The Reluctant Reaper by MaryJanice Davidson.

I think part of what I found disappointing was that it was marketed as a romance; while it does have the obligatory HEA there is very little actual romance in the book. Yes, the FMC has been in love with her best friend for a very long time and vice versa and they end up together after denying themselves for years... but there is otherwise very little to drive the romance genre. It feels a bit like a Fantasy book with a side of romance that is trying to capitalize on the popularity of romance than that it's actually a romance. Yes, the protagonist's dominant motivation is that of romantic/platonic and familial love but the transition from friends to lovers felt to abrupt to capture this romance readers emotions.

Also the "mystery" that had to be solved in this book wasn't clearly enough foreshadowed that when the FMC stated her revelations many of them came across as "oh that's what that was supposed to hint toward?". And many of the characters felt underdeveloped and hinged on stereotypes... and while I get that they were often supposed to be the archtype of said stereotype they did feel very 2D at times.

I will come back to update Social Media link posts later.....

Hilariously irreverent, despite while dealing with topics like death and child abuse. The depth and tragedy sneaks up on you amidst the humour and underlying romance.

Amara Morrigan lleva una vida poco convencional: salta de trabajo en trabajo, deja una estela de jefes humillados a su paso y puede sentir cuándo alguien va a morir. Lo que pocos saben es que es la hija de la Muerte, literalmente. Huyendo de su herencia sobrenatural y de su disfuncional familia de dioses de la muerte, Amara ha hecho todo lo posible por vivir una vida "normal" lejos de Minot, su hogar natal.

Pero todo cambia cuando una ola de señales (vultures, cuervos y psychopomps ) comienza a rodearla. La situación se vuelve imposible de ignorar: su padre, el mismo Señor de la Muerte en el Medio Oeste, está muriendo (si es que eso es posible). Forzada a regresar a casa con su mejor amigo Gray, el único que conoce su secreto y sigue a su lado, Amara deberá enfrentar su pasado, aceptar su identidad y tomar una decisión que puede cambiar el equilibrio del mundo de los vivos y los muertos.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest.

The Reluctant Reaper is a witty, heartfelt twist on the romantasy genre. Amara Morrigan wants nothing to do with the family business—especially when it means becoming Death. With her father's unexpected illness, she's reluctantly pulled into the world of death gods, portents, and a ticking clock on her best friend’s life.

MaryJanice Davidson blends sharp humor, emotional depth, and just the right touch of romance. Amara’s relationship with Gray is sweet and bittersweet all at once, and the small-town North Dakota setting adds a grounded charm to the supernatural chaos.

Smart, funny, and surprisingly moving, this is a fresh and engaging read for fans of romance with a mythological twist.

This was a delightful cozy read. Amara, Death's daughter, has been dodging her heritage for years. She did not want to become the next Death. However, a summons home based on the illness of Death had her concerned for his well-being. Taking her best buddy Graham Gray with her, she returns home and finds that all is not truly as it seems. Can Death really die? this delightful story - especially with all of Graham's dialogue - was such a nice read. Highly recommend. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

I’ve read a lot of books by MaryJanice Davidson and I think this might be the one I like the least. It was a super quick read, but all of the characters lacked depth. The conflict wasn’t fleshed out enough. I didn’t feel like the love interests had chemistry so even that was unbelievable for me. A lot of the references were out of date, it almost feels like she wrote this around when she was writing her other series and then saved it to get published at a later date.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I've been a fan of MaryJanice Davidson's books since I started reading as an adult and the Undead and Unwed series has ALWAYS been a favorite. So when I saw she had a new book coming out I jumped at the chance to read it! The Reluctant Reaper is just as good as I remember her novels being. I loved these characters, the plot of becoming the next grim reaper (even though she didn't want to!), and the romance. Overall, just a great read!

Book Review: The Reluctant Reaper
Author: MaryJanice Davidson
Genre: Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Comedy
Rating: ★★★★☆

Review:

The Reluctant Reaper is a wickedly fun, fast-paced romp through the afterlife that proves death isn’t the end—it’s just where the bureaucracy begins. MaryJanice Davidson, best known for her Undead series, brings her trademark sass, irreverence, and breezy prose to this light-hearted take on the Grim Reaper mythos.

The story follows Gwen Baldwin, a workaholic marketing assistant who finds herself accidentally reaped by a trigger-happy scythe-swinger and shipped off to the afterlife. But instead of heaven or hell, she lands in the "Intermediate Afterlife"—a chaotic, paperwork-clogged holding zone filled with sarcastic demons, clueless souls, and one very hot (and emotionally unavailable) Reaper named Dante.

The tone is pure Davidson: sharp, sarcastic, and loaded with tongue-in-cheek dialogue. Gwen is a heroine who knows she’s in over her head but refuses to go down quietly, navigating the absurdities of the afterlife with a mix of snark and stubbornness. Think The Good Place meets Dead Like Me with a splash of Legally Blonde.

The plot doesn’t go deep into metaphysics or moral dilemmas—it’s here to entertain, and it does. The pacing is brisk, the chapters short, and the world-building smartly satirical. Davidson pokes fun at everything from workplace culture to celestial red tape, making the afterlife feel like the DMV on Halloween.

The romantic subplot between Gwen and Dante adds just enough heat to keep things interesting without slowing down the momentum. It's not particularly original, but it fits the tone and keeps the stakes (pun intended) emotional as well as supernatural.

Bottom Line:
The Reluctant Reaper is breezy, irreverent, and perfect for readers who want paranormal with a punchline. It won’t change your worldview, but it will make you laugh out loud—and maybe think twice about opening the door for a scythe-wielding stranger. If you like your fantasy with a side of snark and a touch of romance, this one’s worth the ride to the afterlife.

4⭐️ – Reapers, romance, and no messy breakup? Yes please.

This book was such a fun surprise! It pulled me in right away and kept me hooked the whole time. Amara—our main girl—finds out she has to take over as a grim reaper from her dad (uh, no thank you), and she’s very not into the idea. But of course, things get complicated fast.

I loved the friends-to-lovers romance with her bestie Gray. He’s sweet, supportive, and actually sees her for who she is. Their relationship felt real and didn’t come with any unnecessary drama (shoutout to the author for skipping the third-act breakup 🙌).

The story had just the right mix of spooky, emotional, and fun. The side characters were great, the pacing was solid, and the writing was super easy to get into. Plus, the cover? SO good.

If you’re into paranormal romance with strong characters, a bit of mystery, and a lot of heart, you’ll probably enjoy this one as much as I did!

Unfortunately I just couldn’t connect with this book which is such a shame because I really loved the premise. Such a great idea for a novel but everything felt a little too sarcastic and the MC was a little TOO sassy.

ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review. Reviewed on behalf of the Plot Thickens Book Club.

Title: The reluctant Reaper
Author: Mary Jane Davidson
Rating: 4 stars

This is the first book of Mary Jane Davidson’s that I’ve read but it certainly won’t be the last. What a wonderful read. Amara (love the name btw) has a gift, she’s the daughter of the grim reaper after all. She can see when and how people will die, she hates it. Her dad gets sick so she has to take over his reaper duties. Grey her best friend and the only non supernatural person in her life knows about Amara’s abilities and he’s totally fine with it. Amara and Grey spend the book trying to get to the bottom of her father’s illness while also carrying out his duties, a job she never wanted. Their relationship and interactions are great and honestly are what make the book so good. I really hope this isn’t going to be a standalone because I’d love to get to know more of the characters back stories and delve more into this world. This was a fun read with a different take on death, lighthearted and witty with a bit of romance and a mystery woven in.

Amara Morrigan has been running away from the family business for decades. Now she's summoned to the family compound because her father, the Midwestern regional avatar of Death, is sick and she needs to fill in. She and her best friend, Gray (only friends!), head home to eat too much, reap a few souls, and find out just what in Hades is going on.

It's a fun, breezy read that gives just enough underlying psychology for context without miring the plot in angst. Read via NetGalley.

Loved the undead series and this one is just as good, MaryJanice Davidson I can't wait to see what you have next for us

The Reluctant Reaper is a darkly humorous and delightfully quirky take on the supernatural. True to Davidson's signature style, this book introduces a FMC who finds herself in an extraordinary situation and is decidely unenthusiastic about it, leading to plenty of comedic chaos. The story follows a woman who unexpectedly becomes a grim reaper, a role she's completely unprepared for and utterly unwilling to embrace. Her attempts to shirk her new duties, combined with the bizarre world of the afterlife and its inhabitants, provide endless opportunities for laugh out loud moments. Davidson's sharp wit and irreverent tone make the narrative a fast and entertaining read. While it's packed with humor, the book also features a touch of mystery and a unique spin on familiar supernatural concepts. The characters are distince and memorable, and the pacing keeps the story moving briskly. If you're a fan of urban fantasy with a strong comedic bent, a cynical heroine, and a refreshingly unconventional approach to the supernatural, this book is for you!

Amara is the daughter of Death with a capital D. When she is called back home to North Dakota because her father is ill, she reluctantly fills his shoes. Add in a hot guy friend and a mystery, and you've got a story.
Amara is no Queen Betsy, but the story has some of the same sparks of humor.

I have been reading MaryJanice Davidson for years and when i saw this book i couldn't wait until i got my hands on it. This book is absolute brilliance mixed in with Davidson's signature humor, I am hoping this isn't the last time we hear about these characters because oh my god that ending!!!

Received this as an ARC! Thank you!!

I really loved this one! It was a fun combination of folklore, contemporary romance, and a bit of mystery. I loved Amara’s progress into accepting her family business, and I was not expecting the twist.

The Reluctant Reaper is another fantastic MaryJanice Davidson installment! Amara Morrigan is the only living child of Death and Freyja Brunhilde. Graham Gray is Amara’s diehard best friend since day one. They share everything including their hopes, dreams, and fears. When Death mysteriously becomes comatose Amara and Gray travel to the family seat. Amara has to become the interim Reaper while Death is ill. Gray tags along as any BFF would. Gray and Amara will wrap you up in their bubble and carry you away to North Dakota to find out how this plays out. Absolutely unputdownable! Be prepared to read it all in one sitting.

I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

As someone who has read this author before, I mostly knew what I was getting into. But, as a kid who grew up in a south Minneapolis suburb, I had so much fun with the little local references. This was a wonderful story, and even though I’d love if it was the start of a series, it was a great stand alone.
The characters were well written, the story was layered and though it was easy to see where the story was going, it wasn’t necessarily one you could say what was going to happen by chapter two.

If you’re looking for a fun new read, give this one a try.