Urban paranormal fantasy is so back!

Brown has wrote a stellar first book to this series and I had such a great time reading it. I thoroughly enjoyed the evolving dynamic between Amy and Gerald, and their partnership felt really fleshed out and well established as they journeyed through this mystery of locating Gerald’s targets. The paranormal elements were well thought out and gave substance to the evergreen paranormal beings we readers are familiar with.

The side characters are fun to read and compliment the story as well - being tangible in their existence but not detracting too much away from the main characters.

From a more subjective point of view as a Londoner, the culture imbued into the story gave The Reaper an extra layer of realism for me and made it all the more compelling to read.

Brown also did a great job balancing other themes within the story - grief, loneliness, familial expectations, morality - and I can see how they can be explored deeper in future books. There’s so much to be explored in this urban fantasy story and I’m looking forward to seeing where Amy and Gerald end up!

Jackson P. Brown’s The Reaper is an urban fantasy novel set in London, following Amy, a librarian who is pulled into a world of spirits, reapers, and supernatural crime. Teaming up with Gerald, a grim reaper with his own complicated past, she navigates a city teeming with restless ghosts, shady supernatural factions, and a brewing war between reapers and something much darker.

Brown’s version of London felt alive to me. The book’s setting is a highlight, painting a vivid, multilayered city where the mundane and the magical constantly interact. The incorporation of Caribbean cultural elements adds richness to the worldbuilding, making the magic and mythology feel distinct from more common Western-centric urban fantasy traditions. Amy is a solitary figure, wrapped up in her own history of living with her nan, who is deceased by the time the book starts. This was probably my favourite element of the book, and I could have really enjoyed an Amy book that was more focused on her life and smaller adventures.

Amy’s empath abilities were interesting. I liked that she was powerful, but it was a bit of a double standard that the magic folk were so exclusionary of her for the most part. Surely a human who has a strong supernatural ability might as well be included within magical life? I did like that the book outlined why Amy would struggle growing up with empath abilities. I did find it a bit strange that certain supers were so heavily impacted by Amy. One of the vampires gets into a bloodlust when he smells Amy, which overpowers him to the point that he has to immediately feed on another team-mate. I found this a bit unsettling, as the vampire is otherwise depicted as a reliable member of the team. Nobody else seems concerned about this power dynamic and no discussion is had of what to do with Amy’s level of influence.

Amy and Gerald’s relationship is the heart of this story. Amy, as a protagonist, is compelling, her perspective was refreshing and she serves as an engaging lead. Gerald, meanwhile, is a gruff but charismatic presence, offering a nice contrast to Amy’s more modern sensibilities. Their evolving partnership, built on uneasy trust, was one of the most satisfying elements of the story. In terms of action, there are some cinematic fight scenes, with Brown balancing fast-paced combat and character events. The book doesn’t shy away from the darker side of supernatural London, there are so many occult side characters and there is involvement from the supernatural police, as well as a second, more secretive secret magic crime-solving squad.

While the story is primarily Amy and Gerald’s, in the latter portion the book frequently jumps between perspectives, which sometimes felt jarring. Some of these shifts deepened the world, but others disrupted the momentum, especially when they involved side characters whose arcs weren’t as gripping as Amy’s or Gerald’s. The antagonists in The Reaper had a lot of potential but felt a bit underdeveloped to me. The major threats were intimidating on paper, but their motivations and presence didn’t feel as strong as they could have been. More time spent fleshing out their goals and personalities would have made them more compelling and heightened the stakes.

The Reaper is a solid urban fantasy debut, blending a well-realized London setting with supernatural intrigue and Caribbean heritage. While the shifting perspectives and underdeveloped antagonists detracted a bit from the overall pacing, the novel’s strengths are its atmosphere, action, and central duo. I feel that it is a worthwhile read for fans of supernatural thrillers. If you enjoy books with lots of supernatural intrigue and a London that feels like a character in its own right, this is one to check out.

Thank you to Netgalley and Goblin Booth Productions for a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Reaper

The Reaper written by Jackson P. Brown.
This debut book is the beginning of what, so easily, could become akin to the popularity of the ‘Harry Potter’ series. The concepts and Ideas are extremely well thought & fleshed out, resulting in a rich & far-reaching world full of future promise.

To characters are likeable with a good amount of emotional depth and the story has a very enjoyable plot worthy of its outcome. Perhaps my only criticism of the story is the political undertones, I’m sure if they are there as a further plot device or for some underlined political narrative? Hopefully it’s the former rather than the later. But thankfully these moments are brief in the grander scale of the narrative & therefore do not detract from the story as a whole.

The pacing feels just right and the prose is adequately adult enough to not make this feel like a YA story despite the teenage-ness of some of the characters. Overall an Extremely well written book that I fully enjoyed from the first to the last page. Hopefully there is plenty more stories to come from this debut author as I will be at the front of the queue to pick it up.

Thank you to#NetGalley & #thereaper for allowing me the utmost privilege and honour of this ebook copy of ‘The Reaper’ by Jackson P. Brown to read & review.

The comments & opinions above are solely my own & are reflective of my experience reading this book.

The title drew me and I always like to give debuts a chance.
This is an urban supernatural fantasy that intrigues from the start. The world building is innovative and the characters well drawn - the dynamic between Amy, a human empath, and Gerald, the Grim Reaper (here an assassin- brilliant!), is one that engages promises much. Some of the pacing and plot moves was a little off at times especially in the middle, and the introduction of multiple character pov towards the end felt a bit clunky. But otherwise an entertaining, enjoyable debut and I look forward to seeing how the next one moves it all forward.

this was an interesting and original story. i liked the writing and pacing. the characters were so well written.

Absolutely brilliant and so original! I couldn’t stop reading Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

I haven't read many books within the fantasy / supernatural genre, but I am keen to broaden my. horizons, This book, traverses the human, upstairs world of London and the downstairs supernatural one. It took me to places I know well and have visited, but obviously not in the way described in The Reaper.

Amy an Empath with the ability to read people's auras and Gerald, a newly transformed Reaper are drawn together after she witnesses his awakening in Camden Town. They quickly become partners in Geralds work as the Grim Reaper and more drawn together by a shared loneliness and isolation from those around them in their everyday lives.

This fast moving story gripped me from the beginning, it really is a page turner. I had to pause to look up definitions of some of the terminology and creatures within the book, but this was no chore. Gerald, with Amy's help is tasked with discovering the whereabouts and capturing two dangerous fugitives and their gang. The world of magic makes this no easy task even when they are aided by a wide range of supernatural creatures.

Should a human, even a special one with super empathic skills be working with the grim reaper? Many think not but Amy. wins most over and I think she and Gerald make for a powerful team. Even a reaper, whose job is to kill can learn to care for others. I hope more books like this will follow.

The Reaper" by Jackson P. Brown is a captivating blend of urban fantasy and contemporary fiction that had me hooked from the very beginning. The story introduces us to Amy, an empath navigating the supernatural side of London, and Gerald, a Grim Reaper Assassin. Their paths intertwine in a narrative that is both thrilling and deeply human. From the outset, I shared Amy's reaction to Gerald's name—seriously, you're the GRIM REAPERR, and your name is Gerald? This unexpected choice added a touch of humour and relatability to his character, making him more than just a supernatural assassin.

A side storyline that I enjoyed is Gerald's relationship with his parents. it's refreshing to see a a character with a supportive and loving family, especially in a genre that often leans towards tragic backstories. Also the fact that his parents are happily married and the warmth of their interactions provided a comforting counterbalance to the darker elements of the plot. As someone who doesn't usually gravitate towards contemporary settings, I was surprised by how immersive this book was. Being a Londoner, the vivid descriptions of the cityscape and the authentic portrayal of its diverse culture resonated deeply with me. The story has a distinct Black British feel, enriching the story with layers of authenticity and depth.

The only reason I'm not awarding this a full five stars is because of the structure of Part 5. The sudden introduction of multiple new points of view felt a bit jarring and, in my opinion, might have been better suited as a separate book or as part of book 2. This shift momentarily disrupted the flow of the narrative.

Overall, "The Reaper" is a masterfully executed novel that skilfully blends elements of fantasy and contemporary life. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fresh and engaging read.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

I first saw this book on TikTok thanks to one of the authors posts and I immediately ran to NetGalley to request it! I had the highest hopes and this book met almost all of them.

I did find the first 5-10% a bit slow going, the world set up felt a little heavy handed at first but as soon as the plot started to progress I forgot that it was ever an issue!

The magic system in this book is really interesting and I’m really looking forward to further development of this in subsequent books. I found the protagonist easy to like and support - and I’m loving the POC representation in an urban fantasy, though granted, the world feels far more fantastical than regular London!


Cannot wait to buy this and put it in the library for my KS4 kids - they’re going to eat it up!!

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley from the publisher (thank you!) but my opinions are my own.

I started this book in the first 5% not sure that I was going to be a fan - it seemed to overly explain things to me and info dump a bit. Plus I think I was a little weirded out by the setting being right where I work and hang out in London (so that pulled me out of the story a little, just because I'm not used to it). My company even used to give out discounts to stay in the St. Pancras hotel including the tower room where Gerald lives in the book!

But as soon as we get into the plot this issue disappeared, so I think this might have been only an issue at the start, when the author is trying to find a way into the story.

Then, the slight issue became just the fact that the story plot was sometimes a bit hard to follow, lots of twists and turns and new names. But this was a minor issue only for me and didn't stop me from enjoying the book.

I started to zip through it at speed I was enjoying it so much from then on - I loved the characters and their backstory and genuinely even cried a little when anything bad happened to Amy I felt so connected to her.

Even though there are quite a few characters in the story too, the single chapters in different perspectives didn't annoy me like they usually do in this set up. Normally I've gotten close to the two main characters so much that I'm either bored or fully annoyed when a single chapter takes me away from them and into someone who I don't know as much and don't care about. But in this case it was really refreshing and the side characters had such unique personalities that I loved being in their heads for the short time I was. It added a new dimension to the story, and a third party outsider perspective on the relationship/partnership I'd been growing to love between Amy and Gerald.

I loved the action and drama, and the descriptions of the unique magic system! I genuinely can't wait for a sequel to this book (which I hope is coming) to learn even more about the Reapers and Amy's backstory and so much that they just couldn't fit in this book. Bring it on.

I really enjoyed Amy's character and the writer's representation of her powers, heritage and personhood. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the book and think that the writing and plot are well thought out and realised throughout the novel. I really enjoyed it and recommend it for fans of urban fantasy and great empath and POC characters!

I was immediately drawn to this book by the cover, and then I was pleasantly surprised when I read the blurb—it sounded like quite a bit of fun! I love the idea of Reapers and Empaths, and how the characters grapple with their responsibilities/powers. I though the Downers was an interesting concept and that the characters were well done.

I felt like I needed to know a bit more about the universe and the secondary characters, but I'm hoping that will be fleshed out in book two!
re well developed. I sense the plot is lacking closure in the hopes of a second book, and if there were one I would probably read it.

Thanks to NetGalley, Del Rey and Jackson P. Brown for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

In a world where monsters walk among humans mostly undetected, Amy can see their auras - and what they are. Enter a mysterious encounter with a mysterious man of a species unknown to Amy, suspicion from both parties, and now we have an unlikely partnership - a Grim Reaper and an empath against the evil plaguing both their worlds.

Despite being set in our world, this resembles High much more than Urban Fantasy. Jackson P. Brown excels at creating intricate and believable magical and political systems, joining these with timely topics such as immigration. It isn't just a fun, fantasy novel, but a social commentary. It weaves itself around the plot, questions the morality of multiple characters, and creates a beautiful, well-developed universe filled with people who could be real.

However, the writing has made this confusing at times, rushing in places where I could've used a breather from all the action. Amy's character could've been developed more, as it felt like her existence was solely tied to the monster's. We learn very little about her life aside from the fact she works at a library and has a dead grandmother, whereas Gerald's life prior to the events of the novel are explored enough.

Despite everything, it's still an enjoyable read, one I was struggling to put down. If you like political fantasy or action, you will love this.

I was initially really intrigued about this books, particularly when I saw the cover and read the blurb. The beginning was quite convoluted but I managed to get into the story. The FMC Amy was generally easy to root for and I liked her story and discovery of what it means to be an empath. I liked the setting and the references to different places in London.

I found this novel very challenging at the start. The scene-setting descriptions were, in my opinion, overly elaborate. However, as I kept going, I managed to pace myself, often re-reading sentences to ensure I understood the nuances. Then I understood.. It is a magical novel woven in the upstairs and downstairs of this world with nary a bulter sight. The blend between the world as we know it and the fairytale world underground.

Suspend disbelief and you will love this story. Highly recommend.

If I could give this 3.5 stars I would.

Reaper follows Empath Amy as she tunes into Gerald’s incredible and strange power on the night of his Awakening. Gerald is a Reaper who has Awakened into, well more power it seems but at the end of the novel I realise we haven’t satisfactorily circled back to the “who cares” part of this great power. There’s also a big trauma in Gerald’s past that is literally shrouded in ice and mystery.

Amy and Gerald’s lives quickly become intwined when Amy uses her powers of empathy to track the auras of Gerald’s two big targets - which is weird because it’s clear Amy feels both good helping and bad about the killing. Her feelings aren’t resolved by the end, as she and Gerald walk into the sunset holding hands (not romantically but not not romantically??).

The world of the Downers, or those of supernatural inclination, is interesting and the characters are well written with subtle and clear markers of race that go beyond just naming skin tone. Amy and Gerald are well developed. I sense the plot is lacking closure in the hopes of a second book, and if there were one I would probably read it.

I don’t usually read, fantasy novels but I was intrigued by the blur of this book, and I thought that this would be up my street.
I really liked the first part of this story and liked the character of Amy and discovering of what it is like to be an Empath and meeting Gerald the Reaper and the bond between them. Then it went into a type of political drama that I was not expecting at all. And because of that I got lost and couldn’t really decipher what was going on and I felt quite confused with it all. 3 stars from me.

This urban fantasy/thriller is such an enjoyable read and is an excellent debut novel. It's a reimagining of the reaper as I'm sure we have never seen before. This reaper is from an African tribe of assassins who now lives in King's Cross, London. He is rich, charming and deadly. His partner is a Jamaican empath from Streatham. I live in London and I really like the way the author has used so many familiar locations to bring the story to life. I think the world-building is done well. It is a fast-paced story with well-developed characters. The main story line and sub plots are interesting, and the author uses different themes to keep you invested in the story and the characters.

Brown’s craft is solid in this book about The Reaper, Gerald, and an empath, Amy. Set in London, with modern crime scene in the backdrop, this is an interesting take on the supernatural crosses crime and the unlikely duo are interesting.