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Croak #1
Croak
Fed up with her wild behavior, sixteen-year-old Lex’s parents ship her off to upstate New York to live with her Uncle Mort for the summer, hoping that a few months of dirty farm work will whip her back into shape. But Uncle Mort’s true occupation is much dirtier than shoveling manure. He’s a Grim Reaper. And he’s going to teach Lex the family business. She quickly assimilates into the peculiar world of Croak, a town populated by reapers who deliver souls from this life to the next. But Lex can’t stop her desire for justice—or is it vengeance?—whenever she encounters a murder victim, craving to stop the attackers before they can strike again. Will she ditch Croak and go rogue with her reaper skills?
311 pages, ebook
First published March 20, 2012
About the author
Gina Damico
7 books785 followersI grew up under four feet of snow in Syracuse, New York. I received a degree in theater and sociology from Boston College, where I was active with the Committee for Creative Enactments, a murder mystery improv comedy troupe that may or may not have sparked my interest in wildly improbably bloodshed. I have since worked as a tour guide, transcriptionist, theater house manager, scenic artist, movie extra, office troll, retail monkey, yarn hawker, and breadmonger.I live in Western Massachusetts with my husband, two cats, one dog, and and obscene amount of weird things purchased at yard sales.
NOTE: I don't check back here as often as I'd like to (OR write reviews), so instead of sending me a friend request or following me, why not hit me up on Twitter instead? @ginadamico
NOTE: I don't check back here as often as I'd like to (OR write reviews), so instead of sending me a friend request or following me, why not hit me up on Twitter instead? @ginadamico
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,519 reviews
May 3, 2014
Lex turned her scythe over in her hands once more, unable to take her eyes off it. “It’s amazing.”How do you make a different girl, a special girl into a main character that doesn't feel like a Mary Sue?
“And so dark, too,” said Zara. “I’ve never seen one that dark before.”
Uncle Mort rolled his eyes. “So it’s agreed, the scythe is totally dreamy.” He stood up and grinned that unglued smile again. “But it’s nothing more than a butter knife until you put it into action.”
- Make her a juvenile delinquent
- Make her angry, but not unreasonable
- Make her likeable and sympathetic, despite her attitude
- Don't let her hate other girls
- Don't make her fall into insta-love
- Give her room to grow
And, most importantly, give her the hottest Grim Reaper uncle in the whole wide world.
Sitting atop a black and purple–streaked motorcycle was, in a startling number of details, the exact type of villain depicted in the Never Talk to Strangers! picture book that had been drilled into Lex as a child: a man six feet tall, in his late thirties, lean but strong, roguishly attractive.Because I have priorities, man!
This was a great book, a strong main character, light on the romance, a wonderful and well-built setting. The writing is fantastic. It's filled with humor and love interests who would rather punch and kick each other than make googly eyes over corpses that they're supposed to be Killing. (Not killing, Killing. There's a difference besides the capitalization, I swear!)
The Summary:
She had begun acting out in every way that a frustrated bundle of pubescence possibly could: she stole things, she swore like a drunken pirate, and she punched people. Nerds, jocks, cheerleaders, goths, gays, straights, blacks, whites, that kid in the wheelchair—no one was safe. Tyrannosaurus Lex, as they called her, was an equal opportunity predator.Lex is an angry, angry 16-year old girl. One could call her a juvenile delinquent. It wasn't always like this, Lex was once a loving twin sister (she still is, actually), a good daughter (not so much anymore), a straight-A student. But then a few years ago...something within her changed. Lex can't even explain it herself.
She just felt angry, all the time, at absolutely nothing. And whenever she tried to pinpoint the reason why, no matter how hard she tried, she was never able to come up with a single, solitary explanation.Well, sadly, Lex has bit her last classmate (they don't call her Tyrannosaurus Lex for nothing), because her parents are at the end of their ropes. Their last resort: Sending Lex away to spend a summer with Uncle Mort on his farm.
Great. Fantastic. A summer in the middle of fucking nowhere, on a farm. With cows and sheeps and no internet and no phones and away from her parents and beloved twin sister. A summer with old, fat, balding Uncle Mort, right? Well...not exactly. Uncle Mort is hot. He rides a motorcycle, and he looks like someone who's going to kidnap innocent young girls.
Peeking out from underneath his sleeves were samplings of what was undoubtedly an impressive array of tattoos, and a red, craggy scar ran from his right earlobe to the corner of whatever sort of eye hid behind his sunglasses. Clearly, this was a man who would waste no time in snapping the neck of anyone who happened to piss him off.Which, actually, he does when Lex doesn't obey him.
“You don’t look like family. You look like a freak.”Uncle Mort practically kidnaps Lex and takes her to the town of Croak. Population 78...well, 80 now. But Croak ain't exactly a farm village...and Uncle Mort isn't a normal uncle. He's a Killer (again, not the same thing as a killer), he releases a dying soul from the body. Lex is going to join the family business by becoming a Killer herself, and she's going to have to cut the juvenile delinquent bullshit or else.
“Okay, Lex,” he said, revving the engine once more. “I didn’t want it to come to this, but you leave me no—” His eyes widened at some unknown horror behind her. “Is that a bear?”
“What?” screeched Lex, twisting around to cower at —nothing.
But that millisecond of falsely placed terror was all Uncle Mort needed. Deftly grabbing her around the waist, he chucked her onto the seat behind him, kicked the bike into gear, and tore down the road as if blasted from a cannon.
“I can’t believe you fell for that!” he yelled over the roar of the engine.
“You may have gotten away with this childish, petulant bullshit back home, but I assure you, it’s not going to fly here,” he said, letting go of her arm. “So I’ll cut you a deal: you behave like the mature individual that deep down I know you are, and in turn, you will be treated as such. Sound fair?”Being a Killer is a pretty sweet gig, if it weren't for stupid boy Driggs occupying the same house and pissing her off and making fun of her. Lex gets her own scythe, she learns to do an essential job, she makes friends (and quite a few enemies). There are moral dilemmas that Lex is going to have to get the fuck over if she's to do her job.
Family or not, Uncle Mort means business. There will be no fucking around here. Lex is going to have to grow up, and fast.
His face was inches from hers, his eyes fiery. “Lex, if you’re not just being a smart-ass, if you really do have a problem with all this, now’s the time to say so. If you’re hesitant, you’re a liability, and if you’re a liability, you sure as hell are never going to be a Grim.”It's not as easy as collecting souls, there's something bigger at stake here; Lex and her friends uncover something strange: someone's been killing people...and that someone may be one of them.
It's going to be one hell of a summer.
She had a job to do, and she sure as shit was going to do it.The Setting:
“I told you it wasn’t here, Quoth. Has anyone seen my cravat?” he shouted to no one in particular.AHAHAHAHA. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. The setting is absolutely fabulous. The town of Croak itself is adorable and quaint, with a 50s-style diner that serves food with names like "Mad CowBurger, E. Coli Cola, and the gag-inducing Salmo-Nilla Ice Cream." The town inhabitants fuck with the unfortunate tourists who accidentally wander inside (Uncle Mort is so opportunistic), milking them for money (like $50 for bird-watching fees). It's just delightful.
Lex fell right out of her hammock. “What the—are you Poe?”
“Regrettably.” He sighed, smoothing his pants. “Call me Edgar. Or the Tell-Tale Fart, that’s Teddy Roosevelt’s favorite.” He shot a distasteful glance at the crowd of presidents. “Jerks.”
The premise of Killing and Culling itself was very well-done, there's the Killer who don't actually kill: they release the soul from the body. Every Killer works with a Culler, who collects the soul, puts in a Vessel, and then release the soul into the Afterlife. There's a complex system of collecting souls, and levels of hierarchy that was believable, as well as fun.
And the Afterlife, Edgar Allan Poe, whom you met up there, is one of the many inhabitants. The system of what happens after death is explained, too, with enough room for ambiguity so that there's no HORRIBLY SERIOUS QUESTIONS about the existence of God. As an atheist and sometimes Buddhist, I am completely unoffended. This book portrays an interesting, sometimes silly, altogether readable system of Death.
Lex:
"You’re here because you’re special, and you’re special because—well, I don’t like throwing around words like ‘destiny,’ but let’s put it this way: this job chose you. Whether or not you reciprocate is completely your call.”Lex is a special girl that I completely like. She is special, she has special powers, yes, but she doesn't feel like a Mary Sue at all. This is because she is such a tomboyish, angry, belligerent character.
I usually don't like angry, immature teenagers, but I found myself loving Lex. This is because the book made me feel like she doesn't really want to be that way, she's hurt, she's acting out for a reason that she doesn't even know.
It was as if her psyche had been infected with an insidious pathogen, like the viruses in all those zombie movies that turn otherwise decent human beings into bloodthirsty, unkempt maniacs who are powerless to stop themselves from unleashing their wrath upon the woefully underprepared masses.Lex really is a success story, a believable story of a troubled young woman who just needs a hard hand and enough discipline to get her to walk the straight path. Lex does mature quickly and believably, and I appreciate that. It's all thanks to Uncle Mort.
Lex sat, stupefied. Over the past two years the various authority figures in her life had scolded, pleaded, lectured, cajoled, reprimanded, and threatened bodily harm, but none of them had spoken to her with anything resembling respect.The Romance:
Ten minutes and two fights over the bathroom later, they slid into their seats at the kitchen table. Uncle Mort took one look at their matching black eyes and nodded.
“Yep,” he said to himself, drifting back to his newspaper. “That’s about what I expected.”
For much of the book, you might be a little confused at the romance because the two people involved, Lex and Driggs, are, well, punching each other's lights out.
Lex is an aaaaaaaaangry person. I think we've settled that, and she's more than met her match in the snarky, take-no-prisoner Driggs. She wants to hit him? Well, he can dish that out, too. Equality of the sexes, yo!
“You can’t hit a girl,” she said, rubbing her face.Lex and Driggs fight like cats and dogs, until they realize that they actually have to get along in order to do their job. Lex wants to do her job well, she doesn't want her memories erased, and she doesn't want to be sent home. This is where she's meant to be, and she will tolerate Driggs if she must.
“You hit me first.”
“So?”
“So I was defending myself.”
Lex huffed. This was going terribly. “You can’t do that!”
“It seems I just did,” he replied with a stilted laugh.
She scowled. “You are not normal.”
“Neither are you.”
Driggs doesn't baby Lex, ever. He never underestimate her strength, her intelligence. He respects her, he knows she can take care of herself. Theirs is a relationship built on mutual respect and gradual friendship rather than insta-love, and I ship that completely.
And man, they are so adorably AWKWARD at kissing.
“Why do you care so much?” she asked.As awkward as my first kiss was, I'm pretty sure that has it beat. BUT MAN, IS IT ADORABLE.
Driggs sighed. “Don’t you know?”
Then something happened in the next two seconds, but neither Lex nor Driggs would be able to recall exactly what. All they knew was that after it was over, their eyes met once again, this time in horror.
“Why did you just kiss my ear?” Lex asked nervously.
Driggs winced. “Because you turned your head.”
“I thought that tree...moved.”
“Oh.”
Another moment of silence.
April 20, 2017
I thought this book was pretty good. It's extremely funny and becoming a reaper or grim as they call themselves in this book is a cool idea for a book.
Lex has become a delinquent. She's attacking kids at school, teachers, whoever gets in the way. Her parents have had enough so they decide to send her to live with her uncle Mort for the summer. She doesn't want to leave her sister but it has to be done. So they put her on a bus and her life is going to be changed forever.
It was hilarious from the get go when Lex met up with Uncle Mort and rode off with him on his motorcycle. He was pretty funny himself. Lex got to meet a lot of the people in the TOWN. She ended up working with some and getting used to things becoming a Grim and all. She even got to meet Edgar Allen Poe!
It was pretty sad doing the killing and taking the souls to send them on their way. Lex was mad that she couldn't kill bad people. I would be too for that matter. I would want to take out the bad people.
The book had a really, really sad ending. I didn't see that one coming at all, NOT AT ALL. I hope to read the next books to see what happens. While I don't love the book, I did enjoy it.
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
Lex has become a delinquent. She's attacking kids at school, teachers, whoever gets in the way. Her parents have had enough so they decide to send her to live with her uncle Mort for the summer. She doesn't want to leave her sister but it has to be done. So they put her on a bus and her life is going to be changed forever.
"Hey there, cutie," he said. "What's your name?"
Lex rolled her eyes and turned toward the window. "Kill me."
"Kimmy? I'm Steve," he went on, undeterred. "So, are you in school? I go to NYU. Where do you go?"
Lex gave him the same look a cheetah makes just before devouring a gazelle. "Listen. I really appreciate your efforts to make my trip infinitely more torturous than it already is, but do you think that you could maybe just shut the hell up for the rest of the ride, lest I rip off those hideous sunglasses and start beating you over the had with them?"
Steve looked as though he had just swallowed a socket wrench.
"Sor-ry," he said. "Just trying to be friendly."
"Cram it, Steve."
Lex's mood was fouler than usual. Not only she was getting shipped off to Uncle Dementia's Land of Psychosis, but she had also received the mother of all gloomy farewells when her family deposited her at the bus station. Mom had cried. Dad's chin quivered. And Cordy wrapped her in a sullen embrace, digging her nails into Lex's back as she whispered, "Get it all out of your system. Bring back the old Lex, or so help me God, I'll tell everyone you went to musical theater camp."
It was hilarious from the get go when Lex met up with Uncle Mort and rode off with him on his motorcycle. He was pretty funny himself. Lex got to meet a lot of the people in the TOWN. She ended up working with some and getting used to things becoming a Grim and all. She even got to meet Edgar Allen Poe!
It was pretty sad doing the killing and taking the souls to send them on their way. Lex was mad that she couldn't kill bad people. I would be too for that matter. I would want to take out the bad people.
The book had a really, really sad ending. I didn't see that one coming at all, NOT AT ALL. I hope to read the next books to see what happens. While I don't love the book, I did enjoy it.
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
July 1, 2016
3.5 stars
Behind my “gentle and kind” looking face (that’s what most people I meet say and I humbly thank them even though my best friend will probably choke of coughing fits if she reads this), deep inside, sometimes I have this urge, a dark fantasy to hurt really annoying people. Like sometimes, I dream of punching someone’s pelvic bone or kicking someone’s butt so hard they’ll land the top of the neighbor’s roof. Sometimes I imagine lining up all annoying people I’ve encountered in my life in a long empty field so I could slap their faces, domino style-back and forth. I bet that’s going to be the best stress reliever but of course, those are just dark fantasies and everyone’s entitled to them but the heroine in the story called Lex, she actually does it. She brings my dark side to life and I just gotta love the girl. She doesn’t like someone’s face, she hits it. Atta girl!
Of course, there’s a reason to this girl’s anger management issues and that’s where Croak comes in, a very small, very mysterious town for special people with special gifts and I won’t say further because that’s what you have to read the book for. You also have to read it the laughs. The narration and the characters’ endless banters are too funny.
Some of the best LOL moments: Heroine (Lex) hits hero (Driggs) and then he hits her back! (That’s what you call romance!) and basically all afterlife scenes especially those with Edgar Allan Poe. Lol.
The reason I’m deducting half a star is because there isn’t much world building going on and to be honest, even though there are a lot of shining, laugh-out-loud moments, there are also parts in the middle where I kind of zoned out, like the writing and the pace couldn’t fully grip my attention. It took three days for me to finish. The pace picks up at the last one hundred pages of the book though which thankfully revived my interest.
I’m just saddened by the ending because well, it’s too sad and which promises of a definitely vengeful sequel. I hope I won’t have to scythe into the ether just to find the sequel. :,(
P.S. I know this is lame and very sneaky but I wasn't able to read anything from your shelf, Donita. So instead, I read something I think you'll definitely enjoy which I therefore recommend to you and if you don't have a copy of this book yet, I would gladly send you mine. Happy Early Birthday, sweetie. Have a super awesome day! <3
Behind my “gentle and kind” looking face (that’s what most people I meet say and I humbly thank them even though my best friend will probably choke of coughing fits if she reads this), deep inside, sometimes I have this urge, a dark fantasy to hurt really annoying people. Like sometimes, I dream of punching someone’s pelvic bone or kicking someone’s butt so hard they’ll land the top of the neighbor’s roof. Sometimes I imagine lining up all annoying people I’ve encountered in my life in a long empty field so I could slap their faces, domino style-back and forth. I bet that’s going to be the best stress reliever but of course, those are just dark fantasies and everyone’s entitled to them but the heroine in the story called Lex, she actually does it. She brings my dark side to life and I just gotta love the girl. She doesn’t like someone’s face, she hits it. Atta girl!
Of course, there’s a reason to this girl’s anger management issues and that’s where Croak comes in, a very small, very mysterious town for special people with special gifts and I won’t say further because that’s what you have to read the book for. You also have to read it the laughs. The narration and the characters’ endless banters are too funny.
Some of the best LOL moments: Heroine (Lex) hits hero (Driggs) and then he hits her back! (That’s what you call romance!) and basically all afterlife scenes especially those with Edgar Allan Poe. Lol.
The reason I’m deducting half a star is because there isn’t much world building going on and to be honest, even though there are a lot of shining, laugh-out-loud moments, there are also parts in the middle where I kind of zoned out, like the writing and the pace couldn’t fully grip my attention. It took three days for me to finish. The pace picks up at the last one hundred pages of the book though which thankfully revived my interest.
I’m just saddened by the ending because well, it’s too sad and which promises of a definitely vengeful sequel. I hope I won’t have to scythe into the ether just to find the sequel. :,(
P.S. I know this is lame and very sneaky but I wasn't able to read anything from your shelf, Donita. So instead, I read something I think you'll definitely enjoy which I therefore recommend to you and if you don't have a copy of this book yet, I would gladly send you mine. Happy Early Birthday, sweetie. Have a super awesome day! <3
February 11, 2015
1.5 stars
There's a really good concept underneath it all, but the execution was horrible.
When I read the blurb, I got all excited because I love Grim Reaper stuff. And the idea that a bunch of kids work for some sort of Reaper Agency sounded phenomenal!
But.
Once I started reading?
No. Not unreadably awful, but awful nonetheless.
First, you have the main character who has...what? Some sort of obnoxious personality disorder?
I like MCs with a lot of piss and vinegar running through their veins, but this kid was just socially retarded.
She bites people. For no reason!
She punches, kicks, harasses, and bullies everyone around her for no discernible reason. Even she doesn't know why she does it!
And it wasn't just her angry outbursts that annoyed me.
Oh no, there's more.
Evidently, she's emotionally about 7 years old, as well. She might be 16, but she's still thinking about things like...I shit you not...cooties!
Another problem I had was that nothing in the world-building made much sense, even once it was explained.
It was all just...
La-la-la-la-la! We all live in a quirky town, with quirky street names, and quirky shops! Wheeee! Everyone is happy!
And the mystery was lame.
A bunch of kids (once again) decide to not do the smart thing, and try to solve it by themselves.
HUGE MISTAKE. Huge!
There's obviously no good reason not to inform the adults that something is terribly wrong, but let's do it anyway!
The ending?
It just stopped. Like, things started to get mildly interesting, the it was...
Read the next book in the Croak series for more exciting adventures with Lex!
Yeah, no thanks.
Lackluster plot, weird romance, and cringe-worthy main character.
I'm not going back for more.
There's a really good concept underneath it all, but the execution was horrible.
When I read the blurb, I got all excited because I love Grim Reaper stuff. And the idea that a bunch of kids work for some sort of Reaper Agency sounded phenomenal!
But.
Once I started reading?
No. Not unreadably awful, but awful nonetheless.
First, you have the main character who has...what? Some sort of obnoxious personality disorder?
I like MCs with a lot of piss and vinegar running through their veins, but this kid was just socially retarded.
She bites people. For no reason!
She punches, kicks, harasses, and bullies everyone around her for no discernible reason. Even she doesn't know why she does it!
And it wasn't just her angry outbursts that annoyed me.
Oh no, there's more.
Evidently, she's emotionally about 7 years old, as well. She might be 16, but she's still thinking about things like...I shit you not...cooties!
Another problem I had was that nothing in the world-building made much sense, even once it was explained.
It was all just...
La-la-la-la-la! We all live in a quirky town, with quirky street names, and quirky shops! Wheeee! Everyone is happy!
And the mystery was lame.
A bunch of kids (once again) decide to not do the smart thing, and try to solve it by themselves.
HUGE MISTAKE. Huge!
There's obviously no good reason not to inform the adults that something is terribly wrong, but let's do it anyway!
The ending?
It just stopped. Like, things started to get mildly interesting, the it was...
Read the next book in the Croak series for more exciting adventures with Lex!
Yeah, no thanks.
Lackluster plot, weird romance, and cringe-worthy main character.
I'm not going back for more.
October 26, 2014
This book was hard for me to rate.
Lex has been acting out. Her Uncle Mort agrees to take her in for the summer on his "farm". Ends up he is a Grim. He helps people die. Lex is perfect for the job.
I did not like the main character. I know she was supposed to be snarky and all. But she just served the purpose of pissing me off. I did like her somewhat better by the end of the book. It could be the fact that she is a teenage girl. Yep. Don't like those.
The land of Croak. Yeah ok. There just wasn't enough world building on it for me.
The keeping of the secrets. I hate when characters keep things to themselves. That may just be my nosey self but some things never were explained.
The Grim teenagers working 10 hours a day? I can't get mine off the couch for 10 min. I just don't see it.
Then there was some good:
I did laugh out loud several times.
Grim Reapers..frigging love the idea of the book.
Edgar Allan Poe. He is the star of the whole book. He got a star on the rating all by himself.
Did I like this book enough to continue with the series? Probably not unless they just jumped in my hand.
Anne You were right
Lex has been acting out. Her Uncle Mort agrees to take her in for the summer on his "farm". Ends up he is a Grim. He helps people die. Lex is perfect for the job.
I did not like the main character. I know she was supposed to be snarky and all. But she just served the purpose of pissing me off. I did like her somewhat better by the end of the book. It could be the fact that she is a teenage girl. Yep. Don't like those.
The land of Croak. Yeah ok. There just wasn't enough world building on it for me.
The keeping of the secrets. I hate when characters keep things to themselves. That may just be my nosey self but some things never were explained.
The Grim teenagers working 10 hours a day? I can't get mine off the couch for 10 min. I just don't see it.
Then there was some good:
I did laugh out loud several times.
Grim Reapers..frigging love the idea of the book.
Edgar Allan Poe. He is the star of the whole book. He got a star on the rating all by himself.
Did I like this book enough to continue with the series? Probably not unless they just jumped in my hand.
Anne You were right
June 12, 2015
Lex wondered, for a fleeting moment, what her principal’s head might look like if it were stabbed atop a giant wooden spear.
Fun, witty, snarky, and lighthearted, this book was just what the doctor ordered for my busy and stressful week. Do you ever just have those weeks where, no matter what you do, how you feel, how much time you make, every time you FINALLY get time to pick up your book you’re too tired to even enjoy or comprehend what you’re even reading? Yeah, well, that’s been me this week. And yes, I make time whereas a lot of people would just use their exhaustion from all day activities to rest and catch up on sleep-but that’s just not me and I don’t know if it ever will be. See, my escape is reading. Nothing else relaxes, elates, and motivates me more than reading. I strive for those peaceful (and not so peaceful) moments where I finally get to sit down, grab a drink (preferably soda if its not too late), and dive into my latest story. My point? This book, after many long and stressful work days, was just what I needed. Picking up this hilarious story was effortless, and I am so glad I randomly chose to pick this up and read it.
"…Poor Logan Hochspring’s arm will forever carry an imprint of her dental records!”
“You bit him?” Lex’s father said.
“He called me a wannabe vampire,” she said. “What was I supposed to do?”
“Oh, I don’t know-maybe not bite him?”
I don’t have a ton of time to write a long and drawn out review (shocker), but I loved this book for so many different reasons and it would drive me ABSOLUTELY INSANE to know that I passed up an opportunity to tell some people about a story they have never heard of. This is the type of story where you don’t have to take it too seriously, but it’s written so damn well that you do take it seriously. It’s not one to be overlooked just because it’s light as air-You care about every moment and you begin to fall for every character, no matter how big or small their part. I think that this is a fun story for everyone, and it’s even better if you just dive right in and don’t overthink it-it’s exactly what I did, and immediately upon opening the ebook I was laughing my ass off.
Another heavy smack echoed into the sky. A spasm of pain ripped through her face, her vision bursting into stars.
"You hit back?!" she shouted.
Driggs was gaping in disbelief at his own hand. Slowly, he recovered and looked into her good eye. “I had a feeling you’d be more insulted if I didn’t.”
Lex stared back. He couldn’t have been more right.
“You can’t hit a girl,” she said, rubbing her face.
“You hit me first.”
“So?”
“So I was defending myself.”
Lex huffed. This was going terribly. “You cant do that!”
“It seems I just did,” he replied with a stilted laugh.
This is a story about Lex, a snarky high school girl who has recently turned delinquent for no reason at all. Her attitude is through the roof and no one can reach her, so her parents decide to send her off to her Uncle Mort’s ‘farm’. But what they don’t know? They just signed their daughter up to spend the summer killing people. Ha ha. But really…
"Yeah, well, it doesn’t make up for his lack of sanity. Or parental instincts. Or decorating skills. Did you see that hideous display of girlish vomit that was supposed to be my room?”
“Oh? You didn’t like it?”
“Hell no.”
“Why not? Titanic is a timeless classic. The ultimate love story, one of the most towering achievements in cinematic-"
“Wait a damn minute,” Lex interrupted as his straight face began to crack. “You did that? On purpose?”
“Don’t girls like Titanic?”
I think my largest concern was the fact that she was going to be hanging out at her uncle’s all summer. I mean…come on. How fun could that even be? I have skipped over this book on numerous occasions without even a backward glance and then all of a sudden this week I thought…ya know, this looks like perfection right now. And it was. Her uncle was nothing like I’d ever have expected. He was maybe even funnier than Lex…which is a hard thing to accomplish. Humor leaped off each and every page, no matter how serious the situation, and it was due to every single character that contributed to this story.
"This doctor sure hates zits,” he said. “And this community college has got it all-education, affordability, and convenience!”
“Be quiet,” said Lex. “Where are your Oreos?”
“I ate them.”
“Already?”
“I was excited!”
-Lex and Driggs (looool)
And now for my favorite character: Driggs. Sweet, adorable, protective, and….Lex’s equal? Yeah. That went over well. It was hate at first sight, and their shenanigans were off the charts funny. And I absolutely adored his affliction for sweets. But as the story progresses, we begin to see a deeper and more emotional Driggs, making his witty and bantering behavior all the more appealing and escalating it into something worth obsessing over. And as we begin to see gradual feelings surface between these two, we might just learn something that will melt our hearts…I know I turned into a puddle of goo.
"Yes, you are. You’re scheming.” He got up and walked toward his room. “Scheming leads to crazy ideas. Crazy ideas lead to trouble. I get dragged into your trouble, we both get kicked out of Croak, and the next thing you know, we’re freezing to death in the waters of the North Atlantic.”
“Dude, you are way too obsessed with Titanic.”
Driggs looked indignant. “What is so wrong with having a healthy respect for heart-wrenching filmmaking of unequaled-" He shook his head. “Look, this isn’t about me. Just quit it with the evil plots, all right? If you get exiled, I’m going to be pissed as hell.” He slammed the door.
“Why?” she yelled.
He poked his head out. “I don’t want to have to clean out your room again.” He slammed the door once more and disappeared into a crash of drums.
I don’t know what to say to make this book more appealing, so I will just leave it at this: If you are busy, if you are tired, if you just want a light, funny, mystery book, then this is absolute perfection. I can’t say it didn’t have little flaws, like the lack of description on certain, ahem, kissing scenes and maybe the fact that it was in third person (I think I’d have liked a first person narrative-it would have made it a little more personal), but, aside from that, I really had no complaints. Sit back, relax, and pick this book up-Lex and Drigg’s bitching and griping at each other is sure to lighten even the darkest of your bad moods…I would suggest this to pretty much everyone. I hope it works for you like it did for me!
For more of my reviews, please visit:
*************************************
Ahhhh I absolutely devoured this. A snarky heroine with the ability to back it up, a beautiful boy in which she bickered-fought-argued-was attracted to, and a hilarious uncle that brought her into a world she never knew existed.
I'd say this was a pretty big win....and just what I needed!
Review to come!
September 3, 2013
Murders, Grim Reapers, Scythes! Oh my!
This was the perfect book to listen to on my way back from a 9 hour road trip. Its sarcastic protagonist, charismatic secondary characters, and entertaining plot made the drive feel like 30 minutes. Ok maybe a couple hours. But still.
Lex used to be a perfectly good student, except lately she's been a bit of a delinquent. This is what gets her shipped to her uncle Mort's place in a bizarre small town of population 80. This is also where she learns who, or what, she really is: a grim reaper. Grim reaper books have always been a favorite of mine and I loved what Gina did with this one, especially with the constant humorous tone. She's created a whole reaper world with hierarchies and distinct reaper roles that I found so imaginative. There's Killing, Culling, the Afterlife, the spiders *shudders*; each aspect of this world building is surprisingly intricate. Some of it is cheesy, I admit, - the presidents in the Afterlife bit especially - but it is amusing which, I believe, is the purpose of this book as a whole. In the midst of all the Killing, there is also someone (or something) murdering Reapers which adds a suspenseful mystery to the story. This part is more predictable than I was hoping, but it did work to put some emotional depth to the novel. When a character dies or gets targeted by this unknown killer, it stings a little! I also liked how Gina dealt with the topic of death; she doesn't let the dark humor go too far.
The plot is entertaining, the pacing could have been a little faster for my taste, but what really stands out in this book are the characters we meet. Lex's sarcastic, violent nature will have you chuckle and snort throughout. Though she's also intelligent as well as thoughtful. She's the anti-heroine we all love to root for! Uncle Mort will also be a fan favorite with his compelling personality coupled with a badass demeanor. Then Lex has a partner, Driggs; the two, mostly through bickering, develop a quirky relationship that I enjoyed seeing grow and evolve as the book progressed. There's also a hint of romance, of course, and it's as sweet as it is awkward - a perfect fit for this book! Really though, each and every citizen in this town adds their own dash of crazy to this story.
A note on the audiobook: the narrator imitated Lex flawlessly. Her voice was perfect for her character. However, I did find her inflections over the top at times. Like, she would sometimes end sentences in an exaggerating manner as you would when reading to a child.
Full of laughter and witty personalities, Croak is the perfect read to brighten a gloomy day!
--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
This was the perfect book to listen to on my way back from a 9 hour road trip. Its sarcastic protagonist, charismatic secondary characters, and entertaining plot made the drive feel like 30 minutes. Ok maybe a couple hours. But still.
Lex used to be a perfectly good student, except lately she's been a bit of a delinquent. This is what gets her shipped to her uncle Mort's place in a bizarre small town of population 80. This is also where she learns who, or what, she really is: a grim reaper. Grim reaper books have always been a favorite of mine and I loved what Gina did with this one, especially with the constant humorous tone. She's created a whole reaper world with hierarchies and distinct reaper roles that I found so imaginative. There's Killing, Culling, the Afterlife, the spiders *shudders*; each aspect of this world building is surprisingly intricate. Some of it is cheesy, I admit, - the presidents in the Afterlife bit especially - but it is amusing which, I believe, is the purpose of this book as a whole. In the midst of all the Killing, there is also someone (or something) murdering Reapers which adds a suspenseful mystery to the story. This part is more predictable than I was hoping, but it did work to put some emotional depth to the novel. When a character dies or gets targeted by this unknown killer, it stings a little! I also liked how Gina dealt with the topic of death; she doesn't let the dark humor go too far.
The plot is entertaining, the pacing could have been a little faster for my taste, but what really stands out in this book are the characters we meet. Lex's sarcastic, violent nature will have you chuckle and snort throughout. Though she's also intelligent as well as thoughtful. She's the anti-heroine we all love to root for! Uncle Mort will also be a fan favorite with his compelling personality coupled with a badass demeanor. Then Lex has a partner, Driggs; the two, mostly through bickering, develop a quirky relationship that I enjoyed seeing grow and evolve as the book progressed. There's also a hint of romance, of course, and it's as sweet as it is awkward - a perfect fit for this book! Really though, each and every citizen in this town adds their own dash of crazy to this story.
A note on the audiobook: the narrator imitated Lex flawlessly. Her voice was perfect for her character. However, I did find her inflections over the top at times. Like, she would sometimes end sentences in an exaggerating manner as you would when reading to a child.
Full of laughter and witty personalities, Croak is the perfect read to brighten a gloomy day!
--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
December 23, 2019
October 2015 reread
Honestly, I can't come up with any reason why this only got four stars instead of five the first time around. Rereading this was like coming home. Almost the same way rereading Harry Potter feels like coming home. I read books two and three this past January, and only read Croak for the first time in December, so it hasn't even been a whole year apart yet but I missed this town. And these characters <3 I love books that make me feel like this.
17Dec14 Initial Reaction:
YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME.
Thankfully the other two books are already in my Amazon cart.
The whole premise is so imaginative and completely different from any other magical-ish world I've encountered in my literary travels; I've never really read anything that dealt specifically with death (until now: having just finished Croak and currently reading Sabriel, which deals with necromancy), so it was a bit... hm... morbidly refreshing, in that sense.
Everything just seemed to fit together so well. The Afterlife, the jellyfish, Yoricks -- although I was disappointed that no one started waxing Shakespearean when they all got drunk. Ah well, there's still two more books to go! And Poe. Holy cheese. If he wasn't already my favorite poet (and he's held that position for over ten years now) this would have definitely cemented it. Ms Damico's writing, especially the dialogue, just came out so clever and witty. I literally sat here and cackled out loud every couple pages. I instantly loved Lex's character and we need more Uncle Morts in the world. Driggs proved to be a worthy companion as soon as he started dishing things right back at Lex. Let's be clear: I don't advocate violence, but if she's gonna be a little shitbag then he's got more than enough right to stand up for himself. Although the name was a bit odd, I'll admit; I kept thinking of Drix from that old KidsWB show Ozzy and Drix--
Things got a little predictable when it came to unmasking the villain but I thought it was okay because the details were handled really well -- with the scars and whatnot. Reminded me of Ron in the Brain Room of the Ministry from Order of the Phoenix. And I got on my own nerves because I made the idiotic mistake of saying "let's check the end and see if they include a snippet from the next book" before I was done -- well, they didn't and I wound up piecing things together a wee bit earlier than I would have liked and spoilering myself. Dammit. JUST GIVE ME THE NEXT BOOK ALREADY.
Upon discovering the book and its gorgeous cover: She looks like Jack Frost with a reaper's scythe instead of an ice staff. First impression is a good one!
Honestly, I can't come up with any reason why this only got four stars instead of five the first time around. Rereading this was like coming home. Almost the same way rereading Harry Potter feels like coming home. I read books two and three this past January, and only read Croak for the first time in December, so it hasn't even been a whole year apart yet but I missed this town. And these characters <3 I love books that make me feel like this.
17Dec14 Initial Reaction:
YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME.
Thankfully the other two books are already in my Amazon cart.
The whole premise is so imaginative and completely different from any other magical-ish world I've encountered in my literary travels; I've never really read anything that dealt specifically with death (until now: having just finished Croak and currently reading Sabriel, which deals with necromancy), so it was a bit... hm... morbidly refreshing, in that sense.
Everything just seemed to fit together so well. The Afterlife, the jellyfish, Yoricks -- although I was disappointed that no one started waxing Shakespearean when they all got drunk. Ah well, there's still two more books to go! And Poe. Holy cheese. If he wasn't already my favorite poet (and he's held that position for over ten years now) this would have definitely cemented it. Ms Damico's writing, especially the dialogue, just came out so clever and witty. I literally sat here and cackled out loud every couple pages. I instantly loved Lex's character and we need more Uncle Morts in the world. Driggs proved to be a worthy companion as soon as he started dishing things right back at Lex. Let's be clear: I don't advocate violence, but if she's gonna be a little shitbag then he's got more than enough right to stand up for himself. Although the name was a bit odd, I'll admit; I kept thinking of Drix from that old KidsWB show Ozzy and Drix--
Things got a little predictable when it came to unmasking the villain but I thought it was okay because the details were handled really well -- with the scars and whatnot. Reminded me of Ron in the Brain Room of the Ministry from Order of the Phoenix. And I got on my own nerves because I made the idiotic mistake of saying "let's check the end and see if they include a snippet from the next book" before I was done -- well, they didn't and I wound up piecing things together a wee bit earlier than I would have liked and spoilering myself. Dammit. JUST GIVE ME THE NEXT BOOK ALREADY.
Upon discovering the book and its gorgeous cover: She looks like Jack Frost with a reaper's scythe instead of an ice staff. First impression is a good one!
April 18, 2020
If you're looking for a Halloween read, Croak is perfect. It's a breath of fresh air. It was fun and funny and badass, I loved the characters and the story, and Lex spoke to my former-pissed-off-teenager-self on a spiritual level. My faith in YA is restored.
As they say, a GIF is better than a thousand words, so let me sum up my thoughts ans feelings while reading Croak:
As they say, a GIF is better than a thousand words, so let me sum up my thoughts ans feelings while reading Croak:
February 24, 2019
“Lex wondered, for a fleeting moment, what her principal’s head might look like if it were stabbed atop a giant wooden spear.”
Croak was an immensely enjoyable read for me. Right from the very first line, where Lex - our delightful MC - was contemplating how her headmater's head would look like decorated on a spike, I knew I'd like this one! I liked that the story follows not-so-nice, snarky, unapologetic female protagonist. As well as a realistic bunch teen characters, all of them: including the *gasp* male character Lex will have a romantic relationship with.
“Are you kidding me? That was not a town,” she said. “I mean, where’s the Starbucks?”
Uncle Mort sighed. “Lex, I know you’re from New York, so I’m going to forgive you for that. But let me tell you something right now, something that I don’t want you ever to forget: Starbucks is an abomination.”
Lex is a deliquent, she had anger issues, a lot of them. One day, her parents get fed up with her attitude and send her away for the summer. Away to her strange uncle Mort and tiny strange town he lives in. What follows is a crazy, slightly morbid, but fun tale of friendship, finding your place in the world and some Killing.
“Instead, a beautifully carved armoire stood gracefully in the corner. Next to it, a desk made from spotless white oak. Pink bedding, curtains, and rugs, as if a flamingo had exploded. And worst of all, looming on the wall across from the frilly, perfectly made bed: a Titanic movie poster.
Lex shrieked in horror and slammed the door.”
There was a great cast of side characters as well. Starting with Lex's uncle Mort, who I just loved from the very beginning. As well as Driggs and the rest of Lex's friend group. There's a tiny bit of romance thrown in the mix - it starts out as an uneasy friendship (frenemies, if you will) - and I enjoyed hella out of the little we got here! Though hoping for more of these two in the sequels!
“This doctor sure hates zits,” he said. “And this community college has got it all-education, affordability, and convenience!”
“Be quiet,” said Lex. “Where are your Oreos?”
“I ate them.”
“Already?”
“I was excited!”
What I also really enjoyed was the weird little town of Croak. It was so fun and morbid and strange. And we got a lot of details about how 'the job' functions, so I thought the world building was very well thought out. Loved it! The storytelling element was also very strong in this one. It was written in third person POV, in such an engaging, light and fun way.
“Driggs, stop it.”
“What?”
“You’re trying to get me to talk about my feelings.”
“So?”
“So you’re not Oprah.”
All in all, highly recommended if you want to read a fun YA UF book with snarky MC, loads of great side characters and the a-smidge-morbid theme of Grim Reapers in small town.
Croak was an immensely enjoyable read for me. Right from the very first line, where Lex - our delightful MC - was contemplating how her headmater's head would look like decorated on a spike, I knew I'd like this one! I liked that the story follows not-so-nice, snarky, unapologetic female protagonist. As well as a realistic bunch teen characters, all of them: including the *gasp* male character Lex will have a romantic relationship with.
“Are you kidding me? That was not a town,” she said. “I mean, where’s the Starbucks?”
Uncle Mort sighed. “Lex, I know you’re from New York, so I’m going to forgive you for that. But let me tell you something right now, something that I don’t want you ever to forget: Starbucks is an abomination.”
Lex is a deliquent, she had anger issues, a lot of them. One day, her parents get fed up with her attitude and send her away for the summer. Away to her strange uncle Mort and tiny strange town he lives in. What follows is a crazy, slightly morbid, but fun tale of friendship, finding your place in the world and some Killing.
“Instead, a beautifully carved armoire stood gracefully in the corner. Next to it, a desk made from spotless white oak. Pink bedding, curtains, and rugs, as if a flamingo had exploded. And worst of all, looming on the wall across from the frilly, perfectly made bed: a Titanic movie poster.
Lex shrieked in horror and slammed the door.”
There was a great cast of side characters as well. Starting with Lex's uncle Mort, who I just loved from the very beginning. As well as Driggs and the rest of Lex's friend group. There's a tiny bit of romance thrown in the mix - it starts out as an uneasy friendship (frenemies, if you will) - and I enjoyed hella out of the little we got here! Though hoping for more of these two in the sequels!
“This doctor sure hates zits,” he said. “And this community college has got it all-education, affordability, and convenience!”
“Be quiet,” said Lex. “Where are your Oreos?”
“I ate them.”
“Already?”
“I was excited!”
What I also really enjoyed was the weird little town of Croak. It was so fun and morbid and strange. And we got a lot of details about how 'the job' functions, so I thought the world building was very well thought out. Loved it! The storytelling element was also very strong in this one. It was written in third person POV, in such an engaging, light and fun way.
“Driggs, stop it.”
“What?”
“You’re trying to get me to talk about my feelings.”
“So?”
“So you’re not Oprah.”
All in all, highly recommended if you want to read a fun YA UF book with snarky MC, loads of great side characters and the a-smidge-morbid theme of Grim Reapers in small town.
September 24, 2013
Absolutely 5 SHINY (like this cover) STARS! Sometimes I think I read so many books that finding an original and captivating gem in the bunch gets harder by the day, but Croak reminds me why I love to read. It's knee-slappingly fun but still dark at the same time!
As a huge Soul Screamers fan, I already have a weakness for reapers but Gina Damico still brings something new to the table! These reapers carry actual scythes and only have the job of carting souls off to the Afterlife, where quirky ghosts like Elvis and Edgar Allan Poe can wallow in peace.
Lex has to be one of the most spunky, temperamental, and stubborn heroines I've ever met — but she's also one of my favourites! She doesn't take crap from anyone, not even her twin sister Cordy, but her fair heart still makes her wince when she has to reap the soul of a murdered victim. Along with her swoon-worthy partner Driggs and a whole group of misfit apprentice reapers, they will make you want to move to Croak ASAP! ♥
But it's not just all fun and games. The mysterious murders in the novel add a serious undertone, along with how Lex is wholeheartedly against unfair deaths. And that twist at the end... Break my heart, why don't you, Gina?? Intense is only the beginning of this amazing debut!
With a hilarious cast, a mysterious plot, and creativity packed to the max, it's safe to say that I love Croak to death! Like Adam Rex said, there are so many books with worlds that I would love to live in, but dying in this one doesn't sound like such a bad idea. ;)
BUY or BORROW?: If my five stars aren't enough to convince you, maybe me adding this to my favourites shelf will? I usually don't pre-order books this far in advance, but I'm already planning on buying the sequel, Scorch! :)
(Original review at Mimi Valentine's YA Review Blog)
As a huge Soul Screamers fan, I already have a weakness for reapers but Gina Damico still brings something new to the table! These reapers carry actual scythes and only have the job of carting souls off to the Afterlife, where quirky ghosts like Elvis and Edgar Allan Poe can wallow in peace.
Lex has to be one of the most spunky, temperamental, and stubborn heroines I've ever met — but she's also one of my favourites! She doesn't take crap from anyone, not even her twin sister Cordy, but her fair heart still makes her wince when she has to reap the soul of a murdered victim. Along with her swoon-worthy partner Driggs and a whole group of misfit apprentice reapers, they will make you want to move to Croak ASAP! ♥
But it's not just all fun and games. The mysterious murders in the novel add a serious undertone, along with how Lex is wholeheartedly against unfair deaths. And that twist at the end... Break my heart, why don't you, Gina?? Intense is only the beginning of this amazing debut!
With a hilarious cast, a mysterious plot, and creativity packed to the max, it's safe to say that I love Croak to death! Like Adam Rex said, there are so many books with worlds that I would love to live in, but dying in this one doesn't sound like such a bad idea. ;)
BUY or BORROW?: If my five stars aren't enough to convince you, maybe me adding this to my favourites shelf will? I usually don't pre-order books this far in advance, but I'm already planning on buying the sequel, Scorch! :)
(Original review at Mimi Valentine's YA Review Blog)
April 3, 2015
Before I say anything else about Croak, let me admit this: I read it because pizza.
Let me explain.
If you know me a little, you know I have one big, all-consuming, forever love affair with pizza. So when I heard from a Trusted Food Source that this book not only has PIZZA IN IT (!) but also has the love interest giving the female lead HIS PIZZA (!!!), I mean... THIS IS EVERYTHING I WANT IN LIFE MYSELF (A GUY WHO FULFILLS MY 24/7 DESIRE FOR PIZZA) AND IF I CAN'T HAVE IT (YET), AT LEAST I CAN READ ABOUT IT AND FEEL HAPPINESS. So there was definitely no stopping me from reading Croak.
The TFS (Trusted Food Source) live-tweeted her binge read of the series and while I did not read it all (forgive me for I plan to do so after I've binge read the books myself), what I did read made me believe: the sequels are soul-crushing painful, but book one is safe. There will be pizza. There will be shippy feels. And that's it.
But I was wrong.
THIS BOOK IS PAIN, YOU GUYS. You might not expect it, considering it's full of laughs and shippy feels and awesome stuff that is distracting you from the pain that will arrive later on and HIT YOU IN THE FEELS SO HARD. When it hit me, I was like, WAIT, WHAT THE FUCKING FUCKED UP FUCK, THIS IS NOT HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. Then I was in denial because NO. JUST NO. YOU DON'T DO THAT TO MY FEELS. And then I was mad. And then there were tears forming in my eyes. Mad tears. But also sad tears. And then I just couldn't hold it together anymore. AND THEN THERE'S A SHIPPY MOMENT AFTER THAT AND IT'S LIKE: MY HEART. MY FUCKING HEART.
This book, you guys. I can't write coherently about my feels for this book. I mean, you have to understand, I liked Croak okay when I started it but then put it on hold to read other books and when I picked it up again, I fell madly in love with it. And then it decides to rip my heart out and stomp all over it. To make up for it, after doing that to my heart it gave me a shippy moment that hit me in the feels, maybe not as much but IT STILL HIT ME IN THE FEELS, OKAY.
People of the Goodreadsverse, listen to me:
If you like books that make you laugh, go read Croak.
If you like kick-ass heroines, go read Croak.
If you want to meet an awesome love interest who gives the heroine his pizza, then for fuck's sake, go read Croak.
And if you fucking adore pizza as much as I do, then just go read Croak.
Just be prepared that at some point, your heart will be stomped on. And it will hurt. A lot. And you will know the pain I went through.
I will not recover from this. But maybe I should because the sequels are supposed to be even worse heart hurt wise. But whatever, ONTO THE NEXT BOOK. (Because Lex. And DRIGGS. ❤ AND HOPEFULLY MORE PIZZA.)
Let me explain.
If you know me a little, you know I have one big, all-consuming, forever love affair with pizza. So when I heard from a Trusted Food Source that this book not only has PIZZA IN IT (!) but also has the love interest giving the female lead HIS PIZZA (!!!), I mean... THIS IS EVERYTHING I WANT IN LIFE MYSELF (A GUY WHO FULFILLS MY 24/7 DESIRE FOR PIZZA) AND IF I CAN'T HAVE IT (YET), AT LEAST I CAN READ ABOUT IT AND FEEL HAPPINESS. So there was definitely no stopping me from reading Croak.
The TFS (Trusted Food Source) live-tweeted her binge read of the series and while I did not read it all (forgive me for I plan to do so after I've binge read the books myself), what I did read made me believe: the sequels are soul-crushing painful, but book one is safe. There will be pizza. There will be shippy feels. And that's it.
But I was wrong.
THIS BOOK IS PAIN, YOU GUYS. You might not expect it, considering it's full of laughs and shippy feels and awesome stuff that is distracting you from the pain that will arrive later on and HIT YOU IN THE FEELS SO HARD. When it hit me, I was like, WAIT, WHAT THE FUCKING FUCKED UP FUCK, THIS IS NOT HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. Then I was in denial because NO. JUST NO. YOU DON'T DO THAT TO MY FEELS. And then I was mad. And then there were tears forming in my eyes. Mad tears. But also sad tears. And then I just couldn't hold it together anymore. AND THEN THERE'S A SHIPPY MOMENT AFTER THAT AND IT'S LIKE: MY HEART. MY FUCKING HEART.
This book, you guys. I can't write coherently about my feels for this book. I mean, you have to understand, I liked Croak okay when I started it but then put it on hold to read other books and when I picked it up again, I fell madly in love with it. And then it decides to rip my heart out and stomp all over it. To make up for it, after doing that to my heart it gave me a shippy moment that hit me in the feels, maybe not as much but IT STILL HIT ME IN THE FEELS, OKAY.
People of the Goodreadsverse, listen to me:
If you like books that make you laugh, go read Croak.
If you like kick-ass heroines, go read Croak.
If you want to meet an awesome love interest who gives the heroine his pizza, then for fuck's sake, go read Croak.
And if you fucking adore pizza as much as I do, then just go read Croak.
Just be prepared that at some point, your heart will be stomped on. And it will hurt. A lot. And you will know the pain I went through.
I will not recover from this. But maybe I should because the sequels are supposed to be even worse heart hurt wise. But whatever, ONTO THE NEXT BOOK. (Because Lex. And DRIGGS. ❤ AND HOPEFULLY MORE PIZZA.)
February 18, 2012
::: Also posted on: http://jana-thebookgoddess.blogspot.com/
Let's have a look at that gorgeous cover for a sec. The girl's pose, that thing she's holding, what she's wearing, the bold font - everything just screams WHAT AN AMAZING AND PROMISING BOOK THIS WILL BE. But don't be mislead by the cover (just as I was) because I must tell you, this is a book that I did not finish (and won't consider continuing or reading the two sequels).
The concept was interesting, in lack of better word. I devoured the beginning (50 pages or so) but something wasn't right. I think it's because of the author's writing. I just couldn't get into it, and there was something wrong.
Lex was pretty, umm, weird. I mean, I guess she was written that way, but at times her temper and behaviour just seems forced and it make it seem like Gina Damico just created her to be like that to fall under YA's latest trend - bad-ass heroines. I just didn't get it. There was no explanation as to why she acts like that, just that readers are supposed to be on her side even though she got expelled, beat up other kids at school even though they've never done anything to her, played thoughtless tricks on cheerleaders, violated school rules, etc.
The bickering and the fighting (literally, I mean, we're talking about hitting, and black eyes on both parts) between Lex and Driggs. Those two are like unstoppable, the only think that kept me reading about this was to see more of their interaction with each other. But then again, since I gave up on CROAK after 115 pages (halfway through, more or less) I have no idea what happened or blossomed with those two.
I really wanted to like this book. I really did. Maybe that's why I gave it another chance when I was getting bored at around page 70. And it's such a shame because the cover is LOVELY. Too bad the book is not.
Let's have a look at that gorgeous cover for a sec. The girl's pose, that thing she's holding, what she's wearing, the bold font - everything just screams WHAT AN AMAZING AND PROMISING BOOK THIS WILL BE. But don't be mislead by the cover (just as I was) because I must tell you, this is a book that I did not finish (and won't consider continuing or reading the two sequels).
The concept was interesting, in lack of better word. I devoured the beginning (50 pages or so) but something wasn't right. I think it's because of the author's writing. I just couldn't get into it, and there was something wrong.
Lex was pretty, umm, weird. I mean, I guess she was written that way, but at times her temper and behaviour just seems forced and it make it seem like Gina Damico just created her to be like that to fall under YA's latest trend - bad-ass heroines. I just didn't get it. There was no explanation as to why she acts like that, just that readers are supposed to be on her side even though she got expelled, beat up other kids at school even though they've never done anything to her, played thoughtless tricks on cheerleaders, violated school rules, etc.
The bickering and the fighting (literally, I mean, we're talking about hitting, and black eyes on both parts) between Lex and Driggs. Those two are like unstoppable, the only think that kept me reading about this was to see more of their interaction with each other. But then again, since I gave up on CROAK after 115 pages (halfway through, more or less) I have no idea what happened or blossomed with those two.
I really wanted to like this book. I really did. Maybe that's why I gave it another chance when I was getting bored at around page 70. And it's such a shame because the cover is LOVELY. Too bad the book is not.
August 24, 2012
Anyone remember Dead Like Me? I flipping LOVED that show, and was so profoundly irate and indignant when dull-witted, moronic executives ripped it off the airwaves after its second season, with so much story left to tell. I will always remember it as an outstanding piece of television where young Georgia Lass is killed quite spectacularly one spring afternoon by an auspicious toilet seat that careens out of the sky after falling from the Russian space station. Smartmouth, antisocial George doesn't "pass over" into any recognizable afterlife however. Instead, she is recruited (against her will) to be a bonafide Grim Reaper. Her job is to "reap" the souls from dead bodies and send them on their merry way across a barrier she isn't allowed to cross. Sound morbid? It isn't. It's deliciously dark, shot through with potent humor, sharp observations, genuine emotion and a brilliant cast. I miss it still.
When I read the premise of Croak it immediately made me think of Dead Like Me. But I knew better than to hold this little book up against that show's richly developed canvas. That doesn't mean Croak is a bad book, because it isn't. It's sweet and funny and fun. Unlike Georgia Lass, Lex doesn't have to die to become a reaper. Instead, having gotten in trouble one too many times in her adolescent life, she is shipped off for the summer to stay with her eccentric, unknowable Uncle Mort who just happens to live in a tiny speck of a town known as Croak. When angry, violent, sarcastic Lex shows up in Croak she's in for the surprise of her life. Rather than milking cows and shoveling pig shit all summer long, her Uncle is going to teach her all about reaping the souls of the dead. She'll even get her own scythe.
I liked the world-building here. There are some nice details about reaping and death and souls and what happens after, though many of those details fall on the side of fluffy and superficial. Still, it is interesting finding out about "the rules". The set-up is gradual and natural and doesn't feel like a big info-dump. Uncle Mort is suitably crazy and charming and kept reminding me of Woody Harrelson in Zombieland. The "romantic interest" (c'mon, you knew there'd be one of those, right?) is actually a winner. This isn't insta-love (well, yes and no) but I didn't care because Driggs (I swear that's his name) is actually pretty funny. I really warmed up to his character. Some of the dialogue he and Lex share reminded me of my favorite screwball comedies from the 30's and 40's. And this made me giggle:
What happened next was an odd conglomeration of each of them moving in to give the other a hug, each thinking that the other was moving in to do something more, a subsequent dual retreat in the form of an awkward, octopus-like limb flailing, and a grand finale of something that could only be described as a clumsy, platonic chest bump. It wasn't pretty.Snicker. For a breezy summer read to make you smile and keep the pages turning, you could do a lot worse than this little book. I've already added Book 2 - Scorch to my to-read pile. Interested to see where the story goes next.
As for Dead Like Me -- still one of the best opening credits ever. Reapers on treadmills? C'mon! That's totally awesome.
May 26, 2012
3.5 stars Fun! It took about 20% for me to really get into the book (the narrative voice and humor seemed a little unusual to me at first), but once the story got going it was pretty cute and a very entertaining read. Good for those occasions when you want something a little more lighthearted...but with reapers.
March 20, 2015
Reading this book is like having sex after a really long dry spell.
Too much information?
Eh, whatever. I've been a bit of a reading slump lately and Damico's tongue-in-cheek writing was exactly what I needed. Croak follows the story of a girl called Lex, who has,er, anger management issues.
Very Suze from the Mediator series. Also, like Suze, Lex has an affinity for the Undead. You see, Lex's anger issues is puberty's way of telling her that she's a Grim Reaper, in charge of collecting souls from people's bodies after they die. Her Uncle Mort soon introduces her to the town of Croak, where she meets other Grim Reapers (and the hot love interest), and encounters mysterious deaths that have popping up ever since she arrived.
Let me just state right here I don't throw comparisons to Harry Potter around a lot. I mean, that stuff is gold and should be treated with the respect one shows to their national flag. But Croak's world-building is the closer I have seen a YA book come to matching the complexity and originality of the Wizarding World. It's not as good obviously, but it's leaps and bounds above the usual tripe you see in YA. Everything, from the Afterlife to how Grims detect death, is explained logically. And like Rowling, Damico takes the most mundane things and turns them into something magical: Spider silk into soul vessels, objects used to contain the Culled soul before it's released into the vault leading to Afterlife. Jellyfish into creatures that detect death. Scythes into—yeah, you know the drill.
The writing is similar to Rowling's as well. It's third-person with that sly, almost childish, edge of humor. Occasionally, it straddles the middle-grade line with Mark Twain chasing people out of hammocks and past presidents flashing their boxers because, apparently to them, it's a better invention than sliced bread. But you know what, I like that kind of silly humor. The unexpectedness makes me laugh out loud and if you can't be an immature kid now, when are you going to be one? When you're old, fat, and have two mortgages out?
The MC, Lex, is fantastic. She's the kind of heroine YA needs more: tough, independent, and doesn't take shit from a cute guy she just met:
She's technically a special snowflake, what with her prestigious talent at Killing, but never feels like one because of her take-no-prisoners attitude. I would liken her to Meda from Cracked, though Lex would most likely head-butt Chi the moment she saw him, instead pretending to be a simpering little girl to infiltrate their camp. Sneaky, she is not.
The romance was sweet but predictable. You could tell from the moment she kicked him in the nuts that they'd end up together. Cause, you know, you got his attention, right? I don't see myself actively seeking fanfiction for it, but their conversations did make me laugh. And the part on Driggs The plot would've trudged on fine without it, so props for not overdoing the lovey-dovey stuff.
Basically, if you're nostalgic for Rowling's Harry Potter days and yearn for a heroine more substantial than I'm-not-pretty-but-totes-is, you're in for a treat. Now one more The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy picture before I go because I miss that show like hell.
My review of Scorch
My review of Rogue
Too much information?
Eh, whatever. I've been a bit of a reading slump lately and Damico's tongue-in-cheek writing was exactly what I needed. Croak follows the story of a girl called Lex, who has,er, anger management issues.
“The list of scars my students have sustained at the hand of your daughter grows longer each week. Poor Logan Hochspring's arm will forever carry an imprint of her dental records!"
"You bit him?" Lex's father said.
"He called me a wannabe vampire. What was I supposed to do?"
"Oh, I don't know--maybe not bite him?”
Very Suze from the Mediator series. Also, like Suze, Lex has an affinity for the Undead. You see, Lex's anger issues is puberty's way of telling her that she's a Grim Reaper, in charge of collecting souls from people's bodies after they die. Her Uncle Mort soon introduces her to the town of Croak, where she meets other Grim Reapers (and the hot love interest), and encounters mysterious deaths that have popping up ever since she arrived.
Let me just state right here I don't throw comparisons to Harry Potter around a lot. I mean, that stuff is gold and should be treated with the respect one shows to their national flag. But Croak's world-building is the closer I have seen a YA book come to matching the complexity and originality of the Wizarding World. It's not as good obviously, but it's leaps and bounds above the usual tripe you see in YA. Everything, from the Afterlife to how Grims detect death, is explained logically. And like Rowling, Damico takes the most mundane things and turns them into something magical: Spider silk into soul vessels, objects used to contain the Culled soul before it's released into the vault leading to Afterlife. Jellyfish into creatures that detect death. Scythes into—yeah, you know the drill.
The writing is similar to Rowling's as well. It's third-person with that sly, almost childish, edge of humor. Occasionally, it straddles the middle-grade line with Mark Twain chasing people out of hammocks and past presidents flashing their boxers because, apparently to them, it's a better invention than sliced bread. But you know what, I like that kind of silly humor. The unexpectedness makes me laugh out loud and if you can't be an immature kid now, when are you going to be one? When you're old, fat, and have two mortgages out?
The MC, Lex, is fantastic. She's the kind of heroine YA needs more: tough, independent, and doesn't take shit from a cute guy she just met:
Lex dropped her hands. Unfortunately, Driggs followed suit, affording her the perfect opportunity to kick him in the crotch.
Which she did.
"That... was... unnecessary," he groaned from the ground.
Lex blew a tuft of hair out of her face.
"I disagree."
She's technically a special snowflake, what with her prestigious talent at Killing, but never feels like one because of her take-no-prisoners attitude. I would liken her to Meda from Cracked, though Lex would most likely head-butt Chi the moment she saw him, instead pretending to be a simpering little girl to infiltrate their camp. Sneaky, she is not.
The romance was sweet but predictable. You could tell from the moment she kicked him in the nuts that they'd end up together. Cause, you know, you got his attention, right? I don't see myself actively seeking fanfiction for it, but their conversations did make me laugh. And the part on Driggs The plot would've trudged on fine without it, so props for not overdoing the lovey-dovey stuff.
Basically, if you're nostalgic for Rowling's Harry Potter days and yearn for a heroine more substantial than I'm-not-pretty-but-totes-is, you're in for a treat. Now one more The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy picture before I go because I miss that show like hell.
My review of Scorch
My review of Rogue
June 28, 2014
4.5 Stars
The one thing that is almost always the same in the YA genre is that the Heroine is always a good girl or nice person. Rarely does she get to be something outside of the mainstream, so I was so happy when the MC is a misunderstood juvenile delinquent with anger issues.
“The list of scars my students have sustained at the hand of your daughter grows longer each week. Poor Logan Hochspring's arm will forever carry an imprint of her dental records!"
"You bit him?" Lex's father said.
"He called me a wannabe vampire. What was I supposed to do?"
"Oh, I don't know--maybe not bite him?”
I’m all for the gender equality and if you can have a bad boy MC that is misunderstood and just needs love and understanding then why can’t the opposite also be true. Lex has all these issues and can’t seem to grasp why she has such a short temper. She tries to be good she really does but with so many stupid people in the world it is just so hard to play well with others.
Her parents at a loss of what to do with the ever growing list of kids scared of their daughter hope that a little time in the country with her uncle Mort will help her decompress. They think they are sending her to a farm but the little town of Croak doesn’t deal in livestock…they deal in souls and Lex’s whole life is about to turn upside down.
“Are we going to unload these things?" she asked, a trace of nervousness creeping into her voice. "They're starting to gross me out."
"They're just souls."
"But they're warm. Like eggs. I feel like a spawning salmon.”
I love that Lex gets to keep the snarky hard edge that I really liked about her in the beginning of the book. Even as she grows and progresses learning what it is to be a grim reaper she keeps that dark side to her. The supporting cast of characters were a lot of fun too. Griggs the potential love interest doesn’t escape the force that is Lex even as they are building a friendship/relationship
“Lex, in the space of two months, you’ve punched me in the face, kicked me in the nuts, and permanently demolished my kidneys.
Whoever said falling in love was easy never met Lex. There is also the other Junior Grims and each has their own importance to the story. I love the banter between all the teens and how Lex began to interact with all of them.
“Elysia!" Driggs interrupted. "Slow the hell down."
She grinned at Lex. "Sorry. I talk a lot when I get excited."
"That's okay," Lex said with an impish nod. "We all have our flaws. Driggs here loves Titanic."
"Really??"
Driggs folded his arms and studied the girls. "I can already see the ramifications of an alliance between you two. And they are troublesome.”
Yay a book without girl on girl hate!!! Besides there is someone going around killing people who were not slotted to be dead so with a mystery and an actual story to the book we don’t need any other teenage angst. The Junior Grim’s are on the case and going to get to the bottom of the mysterious deaths of an unknown origin.
I loved how quickly this story grabs you and pulls you in. The banter and snark is hilarious at times and I loved so many of the characters. Uncle Mort and his mad scientist ways was one of my favorites for sure. The last few chapters of the book were OMG….exciting, devistaing, encapsulating and just a rollercoaster ride of sorts.
Super fun YA read with a unique heroine that can never be mistaken for a Mary Sue.
The one thing that is almost always the same in the YA genre is that the Heroine is always a good girl or nice person. Rarely does she get to be something outside of the mainstream, so I was so happy when the MC is a misunderstood juvenile delinquent with anger issues.
“The list of scars my students have sustained at the hand of your daughter grows longer each week. Poor Logan Hochspring's arm will forever carry an imprint of her dental records!"
"You bit him?" Lex's father said.
"He called me a wannabe vampire. What was I supposed to do?"
"Oh, I don't know--maybe not bite him?”
I’m all for the gender equality and if you can have a bad boy MC that is misunderstood and just needs love and understanding then why can’t the opposite also be true. Lex has all these issues and can’t seem to grasp why she has such a short temper. She tries to be good she really does but with so many stupid people in the world it is just so hard to play well with others.
Her parents at a loss of what to do with the ever growing list of kids scared of their daughter hope that a little time in the country with her uncle Mort will help her decompress. They think they are sending her to a farm but the little town of Croak doesn’t deal in livestock…they deal in souls and Lex’s whole life is about to turn upside down.
“Are we going to unload these things?" she asked, a trace of nervousness creeping into her voice. "They're starting to gross me out."
"They're just souls."
"But they're warm. Like eggs. I feel like a spawning salmon.”
I love that Lex gets to keep the snarky hard edge that I really liked about her in the beginning of the book. Even as she grows and progresses learning what it is to be a grim reaper she keeps that dark side to her. The supporting cast of characters were a lot of fun too. Griggs the potential love interest doesn’t escape the force that is Lex even as they are building a friendship/relationship
“Lex, in the space of two months, you’ve punched me in the face, kicked me in the nuts, and permanently demolished my kidneys.
Whoever said falling in love was easy never met Lex. There is also the other Junior Grims and each has their own importance to the story. I love the banter between all the teens and how Lex began to interact with all of them.
“Elysia!" Driggs interrupted. "Slow the hell down."
She grinned at Lex. "Sorry. I talk a lot when I get excited."
"That's okay," Lex said with an impish nod. "We all have our flaws. Driggs here loves Titanic."
"Really??"
Driggs folded his arms and studied the girls. "I can already see the ramifications of an alliance between you two. And they are troublesome.”
Yay a book without girl on girl hate!!! Besides there is someone going around killing people who were not slotted to be dead so with a mystery and an actual story to the book we don’t need any other teenage angst. The Junior Grim’s are on the case and going to get to the bottom of the mysterious deaths of an unknown origin.
I loved how quickly this story grabs you and pulls you in. The banter and snark is hilarious at times and I loved so many of the characters. Uncle Mort and his mad scientist ways was one of my favorites for sure. The last few chapters of the book were OMG….exciting, devistaing, encapsulating and just a rollercoaster ride of sorts.
Super fun YA read with a unique heroine that can never be mistaken for a Mary Sue.
October 18, 2015
I'd never heard of this book before my best friend recommended it to me and I'm so glad that she did!
I loved the writing and plot so much! It was really engaging and fun. I thought the characters were really relatable and real. These some really great dark humor from a couple of the characters which I really liked. And Lex was amazing. She's exactly what I look for in a female character.
But the best part of this book is how entertaining it is. I really enjoyed reading it and I'd definitely recommend it.
I loved the writing and plot so much! It was really engaging and fun. I thought the characters were really relatable and real. These some really great dark humor from a couple of the characters which I really liked. And Lex was amazing. She's exactly what I look for in a female character.
But the best part of this book is how entertaining it is. I really enjoyed reading it and I'd definitely recommend it.
April 26, 2017
Expected Publication Date: March 20th 2012
Croak was kindly provided to me by Netgalley for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Interested in more of my reviews? Visit my blog!
When sixteen year-old Lex starts to become a problem child, her parents decide to send her away for the Summer in hopes that her behavior will be changed while spending time with her Uncle Mort on his farm.
"I know it's a rather odd decision, but we think that a few months of fresh air could do you some good. You can get in touch with nature, lend a hand on Uncle Mort's farm, maybe even learn something! You could milk a cow!"
Cordy let out a snort. "She'd probably punch the cow."
So Lex is sent to Croak, which turns out to be a bit more than just your typical small town (and her Uncle Mort doesn’t live on a farm). Croak is actually a portal between this world and the next and all its inhabitants, otherwise known as Grims (including Lex now) are in charge of helping souls after death get to that other world. Lex ends up enjoying her new responsibilities far more than she had anticipated, and her Uncle Mort and new partner Driggs are both shocked at how strong her abilities are.
I loved the intricacies of their world: Killers, Cullers, Crashers, deathflash, the ether, the Ether Traffic Controllers (the Etceteras), Gamma Removal and Immigration Managers (Grims) the jellyfish, the Terms of Execution.... it was all very fun and extremely well done. I loved the originality of the whole world Gina Damico built. To me, Lex was a snarkier version of George from the Showtime show 'Dead Like Me' and I was all on board for that. 'Dead Like Me' is one of my favorite shows ever.
With an incredibly fun storyline and a great build-up (and not even a cliff-hanger OR a love triangle! Yay!) I’m really looking forward to how this series continues to progress.
Croak was kindly provided to me by Netgalley for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Interested in more of my reviews? Visit my blog!
When sixteen year-old Lex starts to become a problem child, her parents decide to send her away for the Summer in hopes that her behavior will be changed while spending time with her Uncle Mort on his farm.
"I know it's a rather odd decision, but we think that a few months of fresh air could do you some good. You can get in touch with nature, lend a hand on Uncle Mort's farm, maybe even learn something! You could milk a cow!"
Cordy let out a snort. "She'd probably punch the cow."
So Lex is sent to Croak, which turns out to be a bit more than just your typical small town (and her Uncle Mort doesn’t live on a farm). Croak is actually a portal between this world and the next and all its inhabitants, otherwise known as Grims (including Lex now) are in charge of helping souls after death get to that other world. Lex ends up enjoying her new responsibilities far more than she had anticipated, and her Uncle Mort and new partner Driggs are both shocked at how strong her abilities are.
I loved the intricacies of their world: Killers, Cullers, Crashers, deathflash, the ether, the Ether Traffic Controllers (the Etceteras), Gamma Removal and Immigration Managers (Grims) the jellyfish, the Terms of Execution.... it was all very fun and extremely well done. I loved the originality of the whole world Gina Damico built. To me, Lex was a snarkier version of George from the Showtime show 'Dead Like Me' and I was all on board for that. 'Dead Like Me' is one of my favorite shows ever.
With an incredibly fun storyline and a great build-up (and not even a cliff-hanger OR a love triangle! Yay!) I’m really looking forward to how this series continues to progress.
September 21, 2017
Who doesn't love a story about the Grim Reaper?
I guess the answer is me.
This book had so much promise and it certainly had great moments but it felt a little too overdone. I'm a bit nervous saying this and I'll qualify it by pointing out that 70% of reviewers have rated Croak 4 or 5 Stars...
...but, to me it felt like what you would get if Tommy Wiseau wrote Harry Potter.
I guess the answer is me.
This book had so much promise and it certainly had great moments but it felt a little too overdone. I'm a bit nervous saying this and I'll qualify it by pointing out that 70% of reviewers have rated Croak 4 or 5 Stars...
...but, to me it felt like what you would get if Tommy Wiseau wrote Harry Potter.
July 12, 2018
Aaaa, tak tohle bylo naprosto boží! A už chápu, proč to u nás nikdo nechce vydat - v téhle knížečce je pravděpodobně víc narážek a slovních hříček, než v celé Charley Davidsonové. Ten překlad by byl pravděpodobně za trest :D
May 21, 2014
Really enjoyed this :) A fun tale with action and plenty of humor with a dab of romance put in.
I loved the concept of Croak and the Grims, Killing/Culling... Miss Damico did a great job creating this world and making you fall in love with the characters.
Every one of the characters felt 'alive' to me, I felt like I could walk into Croak and just sit down with Grims in the diner.
Mort was the 'cool uncle' you would love to have, mini crush on him :).
Norwood I wanted to smack.. many times haha... His job's important but many times I wanted to shout at him and Heloise to "LOOSEN UP!"
The banter/bond between everyone (Lex's family and Croak citizens)is refreshing and strong, never feels forced, you fell the connection/community there :).
Mini spoiler: Driggs' 'obsession' with Titanic movie, so cute!
The way she wrote the Afterlife and the twist with the jellyfish was interesting, I loved reading the interactions between the Ambassadors... I wouldn't mind hanging with Lincoln or Poe.
I suspected who the 'Crasher' was but it still surprised me how far they were willing to go, I wanted to drag them by their hair back to Mort and Norwood.
The ending isn't a cliffhanger but it still leaves you hungry for the next installment, highly recommended :) Quick and fun read.
I loved the concept of Croak and the Grims, Killing/Culling... Miss Damico did a great job creating this world and making you fall in love with the characters.
Every one of the characters felt 'alive' to me, I felt like I could walk into Croak and just sit down with Grims in the diner.
Mort was the 'cool uncle' you would love to have, mini crush on him :).
Norwood I wanted to smack.. many times haha... His job's important but many times I wanted to shout at him and Heloise to "LOOSEN UP!"
The banter/bond between everyone (Lex's family and Croak citizens)is refreshing and strong, never feels forced, you fell the connection/community there :).
Mini spoiler: Driggs' 'obsession' with Titanic movie, so cute!
The way she wrote the Afterlife and the twist with the jellyfish was interesting, I loved reading the interactions between the Ambassadors... I wouldn't mind hanging with Lincoln or Poe.
I suspected who the 'Crasher' was but it still surprised me how far they were willing to go, I wanted to drag them by their hair back to Mort and Norwood.
The ending isn't a cliffhanger but it still leaves you hungry for the next installment, highly recommended :) Quick and fun read.
May 29, 2016
This book is really more of a 2.5 star read, but I'm rounding down because I really am deeply uncomfortable with the plot twist and the antagonist's motivation.
Conceptually, it's a charming idea. Girl with sudden anger issues is sent off to live in the country, only to learn that her anger issues actually herald the awakening of latent magical abilities, and that she's got the ability to become a Grim Reaper and help souls pass on to the afterlife. It's an offbeat urban fantasy in the vein of Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, and it's fun. But the book doesn't... really distinguish itself beyond that. There's a mystery - someone is using their Grim abilities to kill people who aren't supposed to die - and a romance, and both of them are... pretty unsurprising. Worldbuilding-wise, there are some neat notes (jellyfish detecting death!) and some... kinda weird ones (dead presidents welcoming people, and.... no mention of the fact that a lot of them were horribly racist and sexist and kind of awful?). Lex as a character is interesting, but gets dragged down by some really obvious tropes - the obvious romance, for one, and some textual 'but girls can't be friends' bullshit, to which there is of course just one exception.
The thing is that there's real potential for something interesting here. Lex almost instantaneously realizes that her Grim abilities could be used for vigilante justice, and struggles to understand why she's not allowed to do so. But as it becomes clear that the mysterious antagonist is doing exactly that, the exploration of morality falters - the antagonist's actions escalate to the point where they have become an irrefutable threat, and regardless of what Lex feels about their previous behavior, she's forced into action and the question is dropped.
And then the climax happens, and things get messy.
Looking back over my bookmarks, I've noticed another thing - sometimes the way teenagers are talked about in the prose of this book seems... well, like it's written by someone who doesn't like teenagers.
...what? Listen, I'm not saying that teens aren't antagonistic, or prone to being self-centered, or cliquey or whatever other allegations you want to level at them - but I do take issue with a book targeted at that audience mocking them within the narrative. This isn't character voice; this is authorial voice, and it feels patronizing and uncomfortable. You don't have to knock your readers to point out these things.
Sigh. Maybe I'm just starting to age out of YA completely somehow?
Conceptually, it's a charming idea. Girl with sudden anger issues is sent off to live in the country, only to learn that her anger issues actually herald the awakening of latent magical abilities, and that she's got the ability to become a Grim Reaper and help souls pass on to the afterlife. It's an offbeat urban fantasy in the vein of Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, and it's fun. But the book doesn't... really distinguish itself beyond that. There's a mystery - someone is using their Grim abilities to kill people who aren't supposed to die - and a romance, and both of them are... pretty unsurprising. Worldbuilding-wise, there are some neat notes (jellyfish detecting death!) and some... kinda weird ones (dead presidents welcoming people, and.... no mention of the fact that a lot of them were horribly racist and sexist and kind of awful?). Lex as a character is interesting, but gets dragged down by some really obvious tropes - the obvious romance, for one, and some textual 'but girls can't be friends' bullshit, to which there is of course just one exception.
The thing is that there's real potential for something interesting here. Lex almost instantaneously realizes that her Grim abilities could be used for vigilante justice, and struggles to understand why she's not allowed to do so. But as it becomes clear that the mysterious antagonist is doing exactly that, the exploration of morality falters - the antagonist's actions escalate to the point where they have become an irrefutable threat, and regardless of what Lex feels about their previous behavior, she's forced into action and the question is dropped.
And then the climax happens, and things get messy.
Looking back over my bookmarks, I've noticed another thing - sometimes the way teenagers are talked about in the prose of this book seems... well, like it's written by someone who doesn't like teenagers.
It's fairly common for children to forget a parent's birthday, of course, as most kids can't conceive of a situation in which the world stops revolving around themselves for twenty-four hours.
By now, Lex and Ferbus had tacitly come to understand each other better than any other pair in Croak. He was the best friend, and she was the threat. It was a healthy, demoralizing relationship.
...what? Listen, I'm not saying that teens aren't antagonistic, or prone to being self-centered, or cliquey or whatever other allegations you want to level at them - but I do take issue with a book targeted at that audience mocking them within the narrative. This isn't character voice; this is authorial voice, and it feels patronizing and uncomfortable. You don't have to knock your readers to point out these things.
Sigh. Maybe I'm just starting to age out of YA completely somehow?
August 2, 2014
Ohhhh that was awesome. A lot of fun, sassy main character and a really refreshing story line. Shame I don't have book 2 with me right now.
March 21, 2012
Four stars: A fresh, fun take on the Grim Reaper.
Lex is an equal opportunity bully. For reasons that are even unbeknownst to her, she has donned a mega bad attitude that pairs with her black hoodie. She picks on and punches everyone. Don't even dare to give her a dirty look, you risk a black eye. After repeated warnings her parents inform her, while she is restrained with a jump rope, that she is to spend the summer with her Uncle Mort. Her dad's mysterious younger brother, will take her in for the summer and put her to work on his farm. The hostile Lex, can't believe her ears. A whole summer working on the farm? Not to mention, she will be leaving behind her twin sister, Cordy, who can no longer make excuses for her bad behavior, either. The two have never really been apart. After a tedious bus ride, Lex arrives in upstate New York. She gets off the bus, to find no Uncle Mort. A loud rumbling and she turns to find a man, who looks exactly like a guy in those books parents give you to warn about talking to strangers, roars up on his motorcycle; it's Uncle Mort. Uncle Mort doesn't flinch at Lex's bad attitude. He throws her on his bike and takes her to her new home in the town of Croak. Croak is not your average town. This weird place is brimming with secrets, and so is Uncle Mort. The biggest is that Lex is a Grim Reaper. Soon Lex is performing her duties and loving life, but then something goes wrong. Mysterious deaths, with no apparent cause, begin cropping up, and the reapers themselves find themselves targeted. Can Lex and Uncle Mort find out who is behind these unexplained deaths?
What I Liked:
*I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Damico's creativity. She takes the old, creepy black robed Grim Reaper and reinvents it. Her Grim Reapers are normal humans with extraordinary abilities, they kill and cull the souls of the dying. They wear black hoodies and are armed with their own super slick scythes. The scythes can be made from any hard gemstone, diamond, obsidian, sapphire, to name a few. If you enjoy grim reaper books, then pick this one up.
*I loved the town of Croak, with its quirky inhabitants and hilarious names with double meanings. Take a stroll down Slain Lane for instance. I could go on and on, but you need to experience all the fun of Croak for yourself. The characters in the after life are entertaining and surprising, you never know who is hanging out in the atrium of the after life.
*This book features a fun romance. Lex and Driggs are a pair who are attracted to each other, but they choose to engage in the typical teenage behavior of denial and antagonizing. It was refreshing to read a romance where the couple spends a good majority of the book insulting and picking on each other. I will tell you though, when Driggs does reveal his little secret regarding the photo in his pocket, my heart melted. If you are sick of the love triangles ( oh me me for sure! ) and tired of insta-love, grab this one.
*This novel is funny and entertaining with a bit of mystery. This book was just what I needed, a fun break from the dark dystopian. There are plenty of comedic lines and scenes in this book that will have you smiling. I especially enjoyed the scene where the gang was playing their wacky, mixed up board games. Again, the author is so creative.
*The inclusion of the mystery keeps you engaged in the story, as you unravel the clues to catch the killer. You may be surprised at the final revelation.
And The Not So Much:
*This book was funny and entertaining, but it lagged just a tiny bit after it hit the mid way point, when it took on a more serious tone. No worries, it picks up toward the finish and ends fast and furious. I felt that the final scenes with the unmasking of the killer where a bit hurried and a bit confusing.
*Uncle Mort, when he storms on scene I was excited, I thought, wow this guy is going to be awesome and kick butt, which he was. Yet, he ends up taking a secondary role for the majority of the book, I wanted more of him!
*I was a bit distressed over the whole concept of the Grim Reapers. The author does not dish out the details regarding how a person becomes a Grim Reaper, meaning how they acquire the Grim Reaper's abilities. Are the born with them or are they the result of environmental influences? I would like the author to touch a bit more on how someone is destined to be a Reaper.
*Finally, this book is recommended for readers twelve and up. After reading this book, I would caution parents regarding the recommendation. This book, in my opinion, is better suited for a little bit more mature readers, I would say fourteen and over. This book isn't filled with horrendous content, but there is lots of cursing, and discussion revolving around deaths: some of them being violent in nature, and some teen drinking. There is nothing highly offensive by any means, but if you are a parent that prefers to keep that type of content out of your young readers hands, then I would suggest you wait on this title until your reader is a bit older.
*This is a minor consideration, but there were a few occasions where the author threw in some thesaurus words such as “troglodyte” and “avuncular”. These were two that I highlighted. Seriously, you are writing this book for ages twelve and up, keep that in mind. I like to think I have an expanded vocabulary, but even I had to pause and look these up on my ereader, is a young teenager going to know the definitions of these words? I think not.
Croak, is a fun foray into the world of the Reapers. Take a visit to the charming town of Croak, where life revolves around death. If you are looking for a fresh view on Reapers, grab a copy of Croak. Lex and her partner, Driggs, under the tutelage of Uncle Mort will lead you on a wild adventure with a touch of real and awkward romance, that will make you smile. Not everyone meets the boy of their dreams and falls head over heels. Some girls, like Lex, may end up punching them for being annoying instead. Gina Damico is another talented debut author. I am looking forward to reading the sequel, Scorch, in September 2012. I am sure Lex, Driggs and Mort will be back with a vengeance.
Favorite Quotations:
“Lex wondered, for a fleeting moment, what her principal’s head might look like if it were stabbed atop a giant wooden spear.”
“Sitting atop a black and purple--streaked motorcycle was, in a startling number of details, the exact type of villain depicted in the Never Talk to Strangers! picture book that had been drilled into Lex as a child: a man six feet tall, in his late thirties, lean but strong, roguishly attractive and sporting the rather nondescript ensemble of a smudged white T-shirt, a pair of jeans, and heavy black combat boots.”
“Momentarily forgetting how wind works, Lex tried spitting at him. This failed.”
“The motorcycle sprang to life yet again and shot down the road. Lex squinted against the wind as they rode, the trees a drab green blur, the road a dizzying ribbon beneath her feet.”
“But let me tell you something right now, something that I don’t want you ever to forget: Starbucks is an abomination.”
“I am about two seconds away from vomiting all over every inch of you,” she told her uncle in a slurred voice as he hung up. “And me without a poncho. Pity.”
“the material of your scythe says something about your personality...or something. I don’t know, I don’t really buy into any of that hippie crap.”
“I’d rather take a bath with a toaster.”
“Oh. Um, thanks,” she muttered, suddenly very aware of the last time she’d been complimented by a boy (never) and the current condition of her hair (pure chaos).
“As everyone knows, the only population more catty than a pack of actual cats is a clique of teenage girls.”
“If everyone with a bad attitude got fired, the postal service would cease to exist.”
A big thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, for kindly providing me with a copy in exchange for a fair review.
Originally posted: http://rainydayramblings.typepad.com/
Lex is an equal opportunity bully. For reasons that are even unbeknownst to her, she has donned a mega bad attitude that pairs with her black hoodie. She picks on and punches everyone. Don't even dare to give her a dirty look, you risk a black eye. After repeated warnings her parents inform her, while she is restrained with a jump rope, that she is to spend the summer with her Uncle Mort. Her dad's mysterious younger brother, will take her in for the summer and put her to work on his farm. The hostile Lex, can't believe her ears. A whole summer working on the farm? Not to mention, she will be leaving behind her twin sister, Cordy, who can no longer make excuses for her bad behavior, either. The two have never really been apart. After a tedious bus ride, Lex arrives in upstate New York. She gets off the bus, to find no Uncle Mort. A loud rumbling and she turns to find a man, who looks exactly like a guy in those books parents give you to warn about talking to strangers, roars up on his motorcycle; it's Uncle Mort. Uncle Mort doesn't flinch at Lex's bad attitude. He throws her on his bike and takes her to her new home in the town of Croak. Croak is not your average town. This weird place is brimming with secrets, and so is Uncle Mort. The biggest is that Lex is a Grim Reaper. Soon Lex is performing her duties and loving life, but then something goes wrong. Mysterious deaths, with no apparent cause, begin cropping up, and the reapers themselves find themselves targeted. Can Lex and Uncle Mort find out who is behind these unexplained deaths?
What I Liked:
*I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Damico's creativity. She takes the old, creepy black robed Grim Reaper and reinvents it. Her Grim Reapers are normal humans with extraordinary abilities, they kill and cull the souls of the dying. They wear black hoodies and are armed with their own super slick scythes. The scythes can be made from any hard gemstone, diamond, obsidian, sapphire, to name a few. If you enjoy grim reaper books, then pick this one up.
*I loved the town of Croak, with its quirky inhabitants and hilarious names with double meanings. Take a stroll down Slain Lane for instance. I could go on and on, but you need to experience all the fun of Croak for yourself. The characters in the after life are entertaining and surprising, you never know who is hanging out in the atrium of the after life.
*This book features a fun romance. Lex and Driggs are a pair who are attracted to each other, but they choose to engage in the typical teenage behavior of denial and antagonizing. It was refreshing to read a romance where the couple spends a good majority of the book insulting and picking on each other. I will tell you though, when Driggs does reveal his little secret regarding the photo in his pocket, my heart melted. If you are sick of the love triangles ( oh me me for sure! ) and tired of insta-love, grab this one.
*This novel is funny and entertaining with a bit of mystery. This book was just what I needed, a fun break from the dark dystopian. There are plenty of comedic lines and scenes in this book that will have you smiling. I especially enjoyed the scene where the gang was playing their wacky, mixed up board games. Again, the author is so creative.
*The inclusion of the mystery keeps you engaged in the story, as you unravel the clues to catch the killer. You may be surprised at the final revelation.
And The Not So Much:
*This book was funny and entertaining, but it lagged just a tiny bit after it hit the mid way point, when it took on a more serious tone. No worries, it picks up toward the finish and ends fast and furious. I felt that the final scenes with the unmasking of the killer where a bit hurried and a bit confusing.
*Uncle Mort, when he storms on scene I was excited, I thought, wow this guy is going to be awesome and kick butt, which he was. Yet, he ends up taking a secondary role for the majority of the book, I wanted more of him!
*I was a bit distressed over the whole concept of the Grim Reapers. The author does not dish out the details regarding how a person becomes a Grim Reaper, meaning how they acquire the Grim Reaper's abilities. Are the born with them or are they the result of environmental influences? I would like the author to touch a bit more on how someone is destined to be a Reaper.
*Finally, this book is recommended for readers twelve and up. After reading this book, I would caution parents regarding the recommendation. This book, in my opinion, is better suited for a little bit more mature readers, I would say fourteen and over. This book isn't filled with horrendous content, but there is lots of cursing, and discussion revolving around deaths: some of them being violent in nature, and some teen drinking. There is nothing highly offensive by any means, but if you are a parent that prefers to keep that type of content out of your young readers hands, then I would suggest you wait on this title until your reader is a bit older.
*This is a minor consideration, but there were a few occasions where the author threw in some thesaurus words such as “troglodyte” and “avuncular”. These were two that I highlighted. Seriously, you are writing this book for ages twelve and up, keep that in mind. I like to think I have an expanded vocabulary, but even I had to pause and look these up on my ereader, is a young teenager going to know the definitions of these words? I think not.
Croak, is a fun foray into the world of the Reapers. Take a visit to the charming town of Croak, where life revolves around death. If you are looking for a fresh view on Reapers, grab a copy of Croak. Lex and her partner, Driggs, under the tutelage of Uncle Mort will lead you on a wild adventure with a touch of real and awkward romance, that will make you smile. Not everyone meets the boy of their dreams and falls head over heels. Some girls, like Lex, may end up punching them for being annoying instead. Gina Damico is another talented debut author. I am looking forward to reading the sequel, Scorch, in September 2012. I am sure Lex, Driggs and Mort will be back with a vengeance.
Favorite Quotations:
“Lex wondered, for a fleeting moment, what her principal’s head might look like if it were stabbed atop a giant wooden spear.”
“Sitting atop a black and purple--streaked motorcycle was, in a startling number of details, the exact type of villain depicted in the Never Talk to Strangers! picture book that had been drilled into Lex as a child: a man six feet tall, in his late thirties, lean but strong, roguishly attractive and sporting the rather nondescript ensemble of a smudged white T-shirt, a pair of jeans, and heavy black combat boots.”
“Momentarily forgetting how wind works, Lex tried spitting at him. This failed.”
“The motorcycle sprang to life yet again and shot down the road. Lex squinted against the wind as they rode, the trees a drab green blur, the road a dizzying ribbon beneath her feet.”
“But let me tell you something right now, something that I don’t want you ever to forget: Starbucks is an abomination.”
“I am about two seconds away from vomiting all over every inch of you,” she told her uncle in a slurred voice as he hung up. “And me without a poncho. Pity.”
“the material of your scythe says something about your personality...or something. I don’t know, I don’t really buy into any of that hippie crap.”
“I’d rather take a bath with a toaster.”
“Oh. Um, thanks,” she muttered, suddenly very aware of the last time she’d been complimented by a boy (never) and the current condition of her hair (pure chaos).
“As everyone knows, the only population more catty than a pack of actual cats is a clique of teenage girls.”
“If everyone with a bad attitude got fired, the postal service would cease to exist.”
A big thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, for kindly providing me with a copy in exchange for a fair review.
Originally posted: http://rainydayramblings.typepad.com/
Shelved as 'dnf'
February 4, 2019dnf @ 50%
I wanted something light and fun to break out of my book slump, but this just didn't do it for me. I'm kind of shocked that this is published by a large publishing house and has high ratings. I should have read Anne's review before picking this up, she nailed the issues.....
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I wanted something light and fun to break out of my book slump, but this just didn't do it for me. I'm kind of shocked that this is published by a large publishing house and has high ratings. I should have read Anne's review before picking this up, she nailed the issues.....
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
April 6, 2012
Some spoilers
For two years, sixteen year old Lex hasn't been herself. Once a sweet, studious girl Lex is now a moody, angry and violent teenager. She's always in trouble at school and she starts fights for no reason. Her parents, twin sister and Lex herself have no idea why she's become so awful and unreasonable.
After getting in yet another fight at school, Lex's parents send their daughter to the town of Croak for the summer, to live with her uncle Mort in the hope that she'll change her attitude.
Lex soon finds out that her uncle Mort is a Grim Reaper and that the town of Croak is one of many gateways to the afterlife. Lex's uncle informs her of her own Grip Reaper abilities and it's not long before Lex starts reaping. When Lex and her Grim Reaper partner - Driggs come across several unexplainable deaths, they decide to investigate.
The premise of the book was quite good but what I enjoyed most was the small town of Croak and the community within it. There was a lot of great characters and places and it was nice seeing Lex fall in love with the town and the people.
I did find Lex to be quite annoying, it was hard to sympathize with her because of her violent behaviour. I don't know why Lex thought she was the victim in the beginning of the book..when she was the one going around hitting people. She does mellow out slightly as the story progresses and becomes a little more tolerable. There is a reason for her violence so it was fairly easy to excuse most of her actions and attitude. I was glad to see uncle Mort and the rest of Croak putting Lex in her place. I'm hoping that in the next book Lex won't be quite so aggressive.
The side characters were great, I loved Driggs, Ferbus and uncle Mort. Driggs was a refreshing love interest..he wasn't rich, mysterious, a playboy or all powerful..he was SHOCK!HORROR! - a normal teenage guy. Admittedly I wasn't initally keen on Driggs and Lex getting together - she punched him in the face and he punched her right back in the face! I don't like relationships where the hero or heroine is violent but Lex and Driggs gave as good as they got. The banter between them was entertaining and their were some great laugh out loud moments like when they both were thinking of ripping each others clothes off after their argument and also the awkwardness of them trying to kiss.
The death at the end was unexpected, I was quite disappointed with Lex's reaction to the death..it was just so underwhelming.
I wasn't impressed that Lex wasn't an ordinary Grim Reaper and she turned out to be speshul. Zara - a fellow Grim Reaper even questions why her of all people is so speshul, but we're not given an answer. I do think that Mort is keeping some secrets from Lex about her powers, so hopefully Lex's speshul-ness will be addressed in a future book.
For two years, sixteen year old Lex hasn't been herself. Once a sweet, studious girl Lex is now a moody, angry and violent teenager. She's always in trouble at school and she starts fights for no reason. Her parents, twin sister and Lex herself have no idea why she's become so awful and unreasonable.
After getting in yet another fight at school, Lex's parents send their daughter to the town of Croak for the summer, to live with her uncle Mort in the hope that she'll change her attitude.
Lex soon finds out that her uncle Mort is a Grim Reaper and that the town of Croak is one of many gateways to the afterlife. Lex's uncle informs her of her own Grip Reaper abilities and it's not long before Lex starts reaping. When Lex and her Grim Reaper partner - Driggs come across several unexplainable deaths, they decide to investigate.
The premise of the book was quite good but what I enjoyed most was the small town of Croak and the community within it. There was a lot of great characters and places and it was nice seeing Lex fall in love with the town and the people.
I did find Lex to be quite annoying, it was hard to sympathize with her because of her violent behaviour. I don't know why Lex thought she was the victim in the beginning of the book..when she was the one going around hitting people. She does mellow out slightly as the story progresses and becomes a little more tolerable. There is a reason for her violence so it was fairly easy to excuse most of her actions and attitude. I was glad to see uncle Mort and the rest of Croak putting Lex in her place. I'm hoping that in the next book Lex won't be quite so aggressive.
The side characters were great, I loved Driggs, Ferbus and uncle Mort. Driggs was a refreshing love interest..he wasn't rich, mysterious, a playboy or all powerful..he was SHOCK!HORROR! - a normal teenage guy. Admittedly I wasn't initally keen on Driggs and Lex getting together - she punched him in the face and he punched her right back in the face! I don't like relationships where the hero or heroine is violent but Lex and Driggs gave as good as they got. The banter between them was entertaining and their were some great laugh out loud moments like when they both were thinking of ripping each others clothes off after their argument and also the awkwardness of them trying to kiss.
The death at the end was unexpected, I was quite disappointed with Lex's reaction to the death..it was just so underwhelming.
I wasn't impressed that Lex wasn't an ordinary Grim Reaper and she turned out to be speshul. Zara - a fellow Grim Reaper even questions why her of all people is so speshul, but we're not given an answer. I do think that Mort is keeping some secrets from Lex about her powers, so hopefully Lex's speshul-ness will be addressed in a future book.
June 22, 2012
This if officially the best book ever. With the best lines, the most wonderful bunch of motley characters, references and of course the brilliant world of Reapers and the town of Croak, this book has everything to keep you entertained - mystery, thriller-ish elements, romance, adventure, comedy and of course, a spunky heroine who isn't afraid to punch your lights out to get what she wants!
December 31, 2014
More of My Reviews On My Blog:
Ageless Pages Reviews
Lex is the hard-edged and foul-mouthed teenage main character of Croak, and if you don't like Lex, chances are that this is not the book for you. Lex takes the stage early and that made Croak's beginning one of the weakest I have come across - I nearly set it down when "retard" came out to play as an insult early on. The reader's immediate, first impression within two pages of starting this is that this 17-year-old hellion is violent, volatile, impolite and frequently out-of-bounds. With a name like Lexington (plus twin sister Concord -- how cruel is that?! I'm a huge history nerd/double major and even I wouldn't do that to my kids!) and the attitude of a bear with four sore teeth, this is a highly individual character, and ultimately, one I truly loved. Lex battled her way into my esteem, slowly creeping up in my estimations.
Lex will certainly appear of any list of mine for favorite/memorable heroines. This is a funny girl with her own sarcastic, rough type of humor, and while I didn't love every single bon mot that fell from her lips, I absolutely, and more than once, literally laughed out loud several times at what she has to say. Even her name, taken from a battle that kick-started the American Revolution, unkind as her parents were to stick her with it, is a subtle reminder about how much this novel revolves around death. I also liked the symmetry present in the name: the battle of Lexington that began off a years-long war, and Lex's personal arrival in the town of Croak sets of a series of deadly events. Be warned, Lex is is rough shape at the beginning/middle: she's offensive, unrelentingly childish and overdone teenage cliches abound. What bothered me most, outside of the 'retard' comment, was Lex's double standards with her fellow Croakers. She constantly accuses everyone else of being cryptic and elusive with details, but sees no hypocrisy in shielding her own secrets and knowledge. But eventually, she evolved into a character that I could greatly appreciate and maybe even understand.
I really enjoyed the lore and mythology the author created for her world, especially since it was creative and original. What got me truly involved in Croak was...well, the town of Croak itself and the Afterlife. I thought the Killing/Culling pairs were a bit unwieldy and unlikely, but the structure reinforces the friendships between the teams so I can't complain too vociferously. The organization of the Grims is highly regimented, and seems like a viable plan for the tasks they must undertake (Ha! Death pun!). Croak itself is fun to read: from Slain Lane, Pushing Daisies flower shop (now I want to watch the tv show. I heart Ned!) to Dead Weight (a gym), death puns and wordplay appear and add and element of fun to an understandably less-than-teeming city.
Let's talk about the Afterlife - very visually striking in the narration, very tactile in description. But what I liked best, out of the whole damn book, was the version of Edgar Allan Poe that Damico has crafted. He's morose, moody and just plain hilarious. I would read a book about his adventures in the Afterlife anyday. His rivalry with Teddy Roosevelt ("Where's your big stick now, Teddy?!") was one of the aspects of Croak that kept me vastly amused and coming back for more. In fact, this whole book is "lol-worthy" - so much so that it inspired me to make a shelf named just that for future novels in the series/other books.
Like Lex's, the uncle she lives with has a name that is a harbinger of death, though not nearly as subtle: his name is Mort. Mort and most of the other GRIMs (Gamma Removal & Immigration Managers - a bit of a reach for that acronym, no?) lacked the wholly rounded personality of Lex, but weren't total cartoon caricatures either. What I liked best about Mort was his repeatedly demonstrated ability to put Lex in her place, often and firmly. With a character like Lex, so full of heedless anger and self-righteousness, Mort's calmer, steady personality balanced out her high emotions. Despite a blip of character continuity, Mort is the responsible, smart member of the group, but his control over Lex is tenuous, which leads to their fractious, though loving, relationship. I could have done without the whole romance element, slight as it was, because it just seems superfluous (thought I am told it packs the feels in later books). With Lex's tude, the whiteeye deaths, navigating being a Grim Reaper, couldn't the two just be friends? Is it that unheard of for two teens of opposing sexes to just be friends for a while? Damn - also, the picture "reveal"? I found it creepy, not adorable. And
Though it begins with a slower introduction, Croak happily gathers steam midway and eventually makes a more-than-favorable impression with its strong, complete ending. Besides Lex's overdone teenage tude, and a cliched villain monologue at the end (seriously, I swear it was Syndrome making a cameo) detailing every last element of the grand evil plan, this is enjoyable to read. And, BONUS!, this fun little death-centric book is only $7.87 for Nook. The next book and direct sequel, Scorch, is due out later this year in September, but is already available for pre-order now.
Lex is the hard-edged and foul-mouthed teenage main character of Croak, and if you don't like Lex, chances are that this is not the book for you. Lex takes the stage early and that made Croak's beginning one of the weakest I have come across - I nearly set it down when "retard" came out to play as an insult early on. The reader's immediate, first impression within two pages of starting this is that this 17-year-old hellion is violent, volatile, impolite and frequently out-of-bounds. With a name like Lexington (plus twin sister Concord -- how cruel is that?! I'm a huge history nerd/double major and even I wouldn't do that to my kids!) and the attitude of a bear with four sore teeth, this is a highly individual character, and ultimately, one I truly loved. Lex battled her way into my esteem, slowly creeping up in my estimations.
Lex will certainly appear of any list of mine for favorite/memorable heroines. This is a funny girl with her own sarcastic, rough type of humor, and while I didn't love every single bon mot that fell from her lips, I absolutely, and more than once, literally laughed out loud several times at what she has to say. Even her name, taken from a battle that kick-started the American Revolution, unkind as her parents were to stick her with it, is a subtle reminder about how much this novel revolves around death. I also liked the symmetry present in the name: the battle of Lexington that began off a years-long war, and Lex's personal arrival in the town of Croak sets of a series of deadly events. Be warned, Lex is is rough shape at the beginning/middle: she's offensive, unrelentingly childish and overdone teenage cliches abound. What bothered me most, outside of the 'retard' comment, was Lex's double standards with her fellow Croakers. She constantly accuses everyone else of being cryptic and elusive with details, but sees no hypocrisy in shielding her own secrets and knowledge. But eventually, she evolved into a character that I could greatly appreciate and maybe even understand.
I really enjoyed the lore and mythology the author created for her world, especially since it was creative and original. What got me truly involved in Croak was...well, the town of Croak itself and the Afterlife. I thought the Killing/Culling pairs were a bit unwieldy and unlikely, but the structure reinforces the friendships between the teams so I can't complain too vociferously. The organization of the Grims is highly regimented, and seems like a viable plan for the tasks they must undertake (Ha! Death pun!). Croak itself is fun to read: from Slain Lane, Pushing Daisies flower shop (now I want to watch the tv show. I heart Ned!) to Dead Weight (a gym), death puns and wordplay appear and add and element of fun to an understandably less-than-teeming city.
Let's talk about the Afterlife - very visually striking in the narration, very tactile in description. But what I liked best, out of the whole damn book, was the version of Edgar Allan Poe that Damico has crafted. He's morose, moody and just plain hilarious. I would read a book about his adventures in the Afterlife anyday. His rivalry with Teddy Roosevelt ("Where's your big stick now, Teddy?!") was one of the aspects of Croak that kept me vastly amused and coming back for more. In fact, this whole book is "lol-worthy" - so much so that it inspired me to make a shelf named just that for future novels in the series/other books.
Like Lex's, the uncle she lives with has a name that is a harbinger of death, though not nearly as subtle: his name is Mort. Mort and most of the other GRIMs (Gamma Removal & Immigration Managers - a bit of a reach for that acronym, no?) lacked the wholly rounded personality of Lex, but weren't total cartoon caricatures either. What I liked best about Mort was his repeatedly demonstrated ability to put Lex in her place, often and firmly. With a character like Lex, so full of heedless anger and self-righteousness, Mort's calmer, steady personality balanced out her high emotions. Despite a blip of character continuity, Mort is the responsible, smart member of the group, but his control over Lex is tenuous, which leads to their fractious, though loving, relationship. I could have done without the whole romance element, slight as it was, because it just seems superfluous (thought I am told it packs the feels in later books). With Lex's tude, the whiteeye deaths, navigating being a Grim Reaper, couldn't the two just be friends? Is it that unheard of for two teens of opposing sexes to just be friends for a while? Damn - also, the picture "reveal"? I found it creepy, not adorable. And
Though it begins with a slower introduction, Croak happily gathers steam midway and eventually makes a more-than-favorable impression with its strong, complete ending. Besides Lex's overdone teenage tude, and a cliched villain monologue at the end (seriously, I swear it was Syndrome making a cameo) detailing every last element of the grand evil plan, this is enjoyable to read. And, BONUS!, this fun little death-centric book is only $7.87 for Nook. The next book and direct sequel, Scorch, is due out later this year in September, but is already available for pre-order now.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,519 reviews