This story blurb intrigued me.
The relationship builds up between an empath Amy and Gerald the Reaper.
It is more Friendship than romance but that may come in a further book.
I did enjoy the first part of the story but as it went on politics came in more and more which made it less enjoyable that is why I gave it a 3.
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher.

I really struggled with this book. as a mood reader, I found it difficult to get through and finish (which is admittedly my fault, and I should’ve left this for another time when I was actually in the mood for it). I will be rereading the reaper at a later date when I’m looking for something more like this.

I found the characters fairly bland and uninteresting. the plot could’ve been tightened up a little bit more for better pacing.

the humour was really on point and I actually really loved the little jokes that were sprinkled throughout the book. the world building and setting were very interesting, but my mind kept wandering while I was reading.

Oh this was blindingly beautiful! Authentic and horrifying. I was so immersed in this incredible world and the London aspect of it sealed the deal. Jackson knew what she was doing by creating these characters. As a girl from Jamaican heritage (St Thomas Parish specifically) this felt like home and fantastical all in one. Books like this are everything to me. And I can’t wait to read Book 2!!!

Also, whoever designed the cover deserves a round of applause!!

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.

I loved the idea of the plot. An unusual human getting drawn into a political investigation with the secret supernatural society hidden in the bustling, diverse city of London… partnered up with the Reaper himself!

I loved the South London and Black British Caribbean rep. In fact I just loved the London vibes in general! The culture, the speech — authentic but accessible to everyone else too. There were some really funny moments as well, and the climactic scene at the end between Gerald and his enemies was excellent.

I liked Gerald and Blythe as characters. I give 4 stars when I find characters to be memorable and they were. I loved everything about the pair and their tension was juicy! I also adored the lift guardians!

The reason I didn’t quite get to a higher rating is because in places, I felt like I was being given a report of what happened by someone else who had read the book. I felt distant from the characters and a lot of their feelings were reported through Amy’s conclusions, which flattened everything for me. More characters came in towards the end that I simply didn’t feel invested in, though the author did a fab job of making them distinct. I didn’t really understand the restarting chapter counts in new parts of the book either. I couldn’t see the significance of it and mentally I guess I just like the sense of achievement that comes with the higher chapter numbers as I progress.

There was also the fact that I didn’t really find Amy’s arc as compelling as others. I had some sympathy for her situation but I didn’t feel that there were many stakes for her — something I wanted to really root for her about. Maybe if she had explored and questioned her past and abilities more… that would have worked. It’s agreed that her abilities seem especially strong for an empath so hopefully that is something that will develop as a story later in the series.

She had an odd sense of humour (or maybe strange timing for her humour) that I found lovable. But I found her connection with Gerald quite awkward. With all that being said, it is clear this is a set up for a whole series (and actually will probably be a very convincing slow burn friends-to-lovers) and based on the last scenes, which I felt included the elements that I felt were not as prominent earlier, I will be happy to read the next book in the series.

It’s a really good debut and the author is doing some great things in the book/writing community too so I wish her all the best in the future and I look forward to seeing what Gerald and Amy get up to next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Del Rey UK for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.


TW: death, body horror, abuse, torture, violence, blood, grief

Within Camden, another version of London exists- one populated by witches, vampires, werewolves and wraiths and most importantly of all, the Reaper. Amy has long known she’s an empath, capable of seeing the auras of supernatural creatures, but it’s only the recent death of her grandmother that’s driven her to seek out the “others” living among humanity in London. Lacking in knowledge, and eager to learn more, Amy watches and takes notes. Gerald is a Reaper- a killer for hire- and a significant one for his tribe, though he finds little joy in the murdering side of his work. On the verge of Awakening abilities that will make him more powerful, but more difficult to control his bloodlust, Gerald is determined not to let his family down. When Amy stumbles across Gerald one night, she notices his strange aura. Offering him aid after he collapses, Gerald makes her an offer: to become his partner and he’ll show her the shadowy underworld she’s determined to find. All they have to do is to find a girl who vanished into thin air.

‘The Reaper’ is a really strong debut, establishing a secret underground world of the supernatural within London, with two powerful lead POV characters. I enjoyed Amy’s curiosity a lot, even as much of it is driven by guilt after the loss of her grandmother, and her methodical ways of tracking various creatures through the streets. I loved how she met Gerald and how he was the exact opposite of what you’d expect a Grim Reaper character to be- his incredible politeness and friendliness was one of the parts that stood out to me most, especially because he doesn’t want to be defined by his abilities. His powers are terrifying the few times we truly see them (especially from Amy’s perspective) and the respect his position gains him in the underworld is well written. London feels like a character all of its own, both Above and Below, and I really liked how Amy is forced to reconsider the world she grew up in. However, there were times when the language was a little stilted, it felt a little overlong and some of the side characters (primarily ones further into the book) were hard to keep track of because they didn’t all stand out to me. I am glad I read this and I know I’ll be picking up the sequel!

This wasn’t for me, unfortunately which is such a shame because it was one of my most anticipated reads of the year.
I couldn’t get past some of the details, the way she immediately trusted him after he literally broke into her house and they spoke for 5 minutes, his name being Gerald and speaking like an aristocrat, it just, didn’t work for me for a grim reaper character.
The writing was strong but I couldn’t move past the convenience of their initial meetings and interactions so i unfortunately didn’t finish :(

I really enjoyed The Reaper, I want to start by saying it may not be for everyone since the pace is a little slow at times but I personally felt this built up the narrative, characters and reflected the story well. The characters themselves were fantastic, I loved Amy the most but Gerald was a close second. As I already mentioned, Brown is fantastic at building the scene and really immersing you in the story. It’s impossible to not bond with the characters due to this, well in my opinion.


I enjoyed the pacing myself since I felt it built tension and a sense of wanting to know what was going to happen next.This is personally previous done. If you do enjoy urban fantasies with a brilliant cast and interesting story this one is for you. I had preordered it before I finished the ARC and as soon as it arrived I started re-reading!

The Reaper is a gripping debut that blends urban fantasy with contemporary themes, set against the richly imagined backdrop of London’s supernatural underworld. Amy, a 29-year-old empath, and Gerald, a newly awakened Grim Reaper, form an unlikely partnership that drives the heart of the story. Their dynamic is both chaotic and compelling, offering moments of humour, vulnerability, and genuine connection.

Brown’s world building is immersive, with vivid descriptions of “Downstairs”, a hidden city teeming with vampires, witches, and wraiths. The magic system is intricate, and the political undertones add depth without overwhelming the plot.

While the pacing falters slightly in chapter five due to a sudden shift in narrative perspective, the overall structure remains engaging. Amy’s journey of self-discovery and Gerald’s emotional complexity make them a duo worth rooting for. The novel also explores themes of identity, isolation, and justice in a way that feels timely and thought-provoking.

A strong start to what promises to be an exciting series. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for book two.

I started off quite liking this. The characters of Amy and Gerald were interesting as were the descriptions of the downers and the alternative world. However, I think the storyline went on a little too long for me when essentially it was just a hunt for the baddie. Fun and easy to read, a summer comfort read.

3.75

I really enjoyed this book. The writing was easy to sink into and the found family Gerald and Amy built was amazing. I never thought I'd like Hollow but he really surprised me, he showed restraint and humanity I'm a way I didn't expect.

I liked the fact that Gerald was able to navigate his complex emotions in a safe space with those that understand him. I loved that he was reminded that sometimes what we are taught by our parents doesn't always have to be the only guide to navigate our lives.

Can't wait for the next book.

I really enjoyed this. The vibes were absolutely immaculate, and I had such a good time reading this. It was good, and I’d recommend it. It just wasn’t super memorable for me? 3.5 stars

I absolutely loved the London setting for this. I spent my late teens early 20s in Camden going to electric ballroom and underworld and the book perfectly captured north London.

Empath meets reaper with some political intrigue and assignation along the way and a spot of tea drinking.

Gerald was funny and charming and Amy was tough and interesting. The she just dove into the downers world with Gerald without batting an eye.

I found the political intrigue interesting and exciting an overall fun and exciting read.

I found this book just ok, it was very slow going and overly descriptive on alot of things that just turned me off the story, I would say this read like a YA book and certainly not adult, sadly not for me. The world building was good though.

Ive not read anything like this before but I really really enjoyed it! I loved the supernatural element set in modern day London it made the book feel more realistic with it being set somewhere real! The characters were all likeable (except one in particular 😒) and had their own unique personalities that I loved. I’m not sure if there is going to be a book 2 but i would love to see what they all get up to next 😁

Urban fantasy following Amy, an empath, and Gerald, a reaper, as their lives intertwine.
I enjoyed the world-building as we are introduced to the world of Downers, magical beings who live in an underground city away from the Uppers, who are normal humans. It was interesting getting to grips with the main characters' powers, especially Amy's who has the ability to answer auras, and people's intentions within said auras.
I just got a little bored with the plot and didn't find that aspect of the book super engaging. The dialogue also felt a little stilted to me at times.
An interesting world though, and one I'd be happy to return to.

Amy is an empath who after her nan's death has been able to sense supernatural auras. She never believed her nan when she told her these creatures existed, but now she investigates them as a way to feel closer to her. One night, she feels an aura that she has never felt before, so she decides to track down the being with the powerful aura. Not her smartest idea, but it brings her to Gerald, the reaper. His family is known for taking on assassinations, and his first bog mission since his awakening is to track down a couple of gang leaders. However, the leaders have been escaping justice for years now, and they are not easy to find. So Gerald and Amy team up—Gerald will use Amy's gift to track down the criminals and Amy will find out more about the supernatural world that exist right underneath London.

I enjoyed how the author gave the characters both strength and weaknesses, which they were able to talk about with each other. Both Amy's and Gerald's pasts are complicated and shaped them in a way that left them lonely as they couldn't enjoy the presence of other people easily. I'm glad they found each other, and I hope that romance will blossom the two of them. I shipped them from the beginning, but to know for sure, we'll need to wait for book 2!

Thanks you DelRey and NetGalley for an eARC of the book.

I'm truly gutted about this situation. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of the book and I was so excited for it but unfortunately, this just didn't land for me. Firstly, it reads a little bit like a YA that got bumped up to adult for some reason. Secondly, it's slow, like really slow. Everything is overly described. There's an entire chapter (4 full pages) of Amy waking up and making porridge, that's it. 4 whole pages to make porridge. I found myself repeatedly picking my phone up completely distracted and when I read the paragraph about her buying, a beef and patty, eating said patty and then buying a Rubicon, I just couldn't continue.

"After work, she bought a beef and cheese patty from the Caribbean shop and nibbled away at it as she walked. It was her first meal of the day, and as her anxiety sunk into the souls of her feet, her appitite steadily returned. After her patty, she bought a carton of mango Rubicon from he shop a few yards down, finishing it soon afterwards."

A lot of telling and not showing. And like I say, this isn't the first instance.

I really am gutted about this one, I was so excited for the empath, vampires and reaper. But alas, it was not meant to b

I loved this book!

This debut is a masterpiece and follows The Grim Reaper reimagined as a charming, tea-loving assassin and Amy St Clair, a Jamaican-born empath who stumbles into the underworld beneath the streets of Camden.

I loved discovering ‘Downstairs’ through Amy’s eyes. It’s layered, secretive and yet still deeply rooted in reality. The descriptions of ‘Downstairs’ are so vivid that you get a sense this hidden world has been there all along and Jackson’s just opened our eyes to it.

I also loved how the characters complemented each other. Amy, as an empath, feels everything and Gerald has been taught to feel nothing. Amy’s journey from bystander to partner is exciting and her dynamic with Gerald is funny and increasingly intimate.

The plot itself is intriguing with plenty of action, political intrigue, suspense and revelations. Alongside this, Jackson highlights systemic inequalities, exploitation of refugees and corruption. Access to magic and the underworld is used as a weapon and a currency hoarded and abused by those in power.

This is everything urban fantasy should be, it’s gritty and magical. and I can’t wait for book 2!

An unputdownable supernatural urban thriller, meet Amy who sees Gerald who is starting to become a grim reader. This is a fast paced read that had me hooked from the start. I loved the interaction between the two main characters. Over all an enjoyable read and I will look forward to this authors next book. Thanks to Random House UK/Cornerstone and Netgalley for this review copy.