Reaper's Novice (Soul Collector, #1)

Reaper's Novice (Soul Collector #1)

by
4.07 of 5 stars 4.07  ·  rating details  ·  54 ratings  ·  35 reviews
**Reaper's Novice was previously published as a short story installment. It will be released in January 2013 as full length novel.**

17- year- old Ana Maria Tei’s life has always been perfect: loving parents, good grades, and a future so bright it outshone the sun. But now words like “separation” and “divorce” are sending her world plummeting to hell. Determined to keep her...more
Kindle Edition, 304 pages
Published January 8th 2013 (first published October 7th 2011)
more details... edit details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 971)
filter  |  sort: default (?)  |  rating details
KaSonndra Leigh
The Grim Reaper is a short story taking place in the romantic setting of Vienna. Although it has strong elements of an urban fantasy it could also easily cross over to the paranormal arena as well. I love the way the Ms. Robert sets up the beginning. All five senses are taken into consideration. I truly feel as if I'm in the MC's shoes. The description of Vienna made me ache for a chance to walk along its historical streets. So when our protagonist is suddenly thrown into the life of a reaper of...more
Kevis Hendrickson
Cecilia Robert's Reaper's Novice is a beautiful coming-of-age story that marks the beginning of a brand new urban fantasy series. The heroine Ana Marie Tei embarks on a journey of self-discovery after making a life-altering decision to save her family that puts her in the service of Grim, the literal personification of Death. As a Soul Collector in-training, she must undergo the training required to acquire the souls of other human beings in order to satisfy her soul-debt to the Grim. We journey...more
Rachel
Thank you to the group YA/NA Fanatics and Cecilia Robert for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Firstly I'd like to say that Cecilia Robert has a beautifully descriptive way of writing and I think at times this was what kept me reading. I only had one problem with this book which was the pace. It was a bit all over the place. I really struggled with the first 40% because (to me) it just seemed so SLOW and nothing was happening, but the writing was just so pretty that I pushed through....more
Multimemo
Although, the premise of this book wasn't absolutely promising, once I got into the story itself, it was surprisingly good. This is my first time reading a book with reapers but to be honest, I didn't really like the whole reaping idea at first and it was what kind of ruined the book for me but then, you could say that I got used to it and even enjoyed it along with the whole storyline.


The writing style was generally okay but the use of obscuration didn't work very well at the beginning of the...more
Victoria Watson
Two years ago, Ana traded her soul in order to save those of her family. To make the deal, Ana had to become the Grim Reaper's Novice. Her job is to collect souls and she doesn't have a problem with that, provided the souls are old and ready to leave. Soon, she will need to sit her final exam to become a Soul Collector Graduate however, the exam may not be as easy as Ana expected.

This is a really unique premise and Robert writes it confidently. The character of Ana is introduced well, giving ple...more
Gabriela
I would like to thank the author, Ms. Cecilia Robert and YA/NA Fanatics group, for giving the opportunity to read the book in exchange for an honest review.

Spoiler Alert:
Reaper's Novice is supernatural fantasy read about a teen girl who is primed to become a soul collector in exchange for the return of her family's souls.

I am going to do things a little different because I really liked this coming of age spin on the soul collecting/death genre and really liked it's characters however there were...more
Evelyn Ink
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Three things I liked:

1. Likable, well developed characters: The circle of friends and family around the main character Ana, feel real and comfortable; their conversations, actions, and dialogue are so natural, that it is with simple ease, the reader slips into Ana’s life.

2. Themes: Family and death seem to be the two biggest themes in this novel. In a subtle and natural way, the book imbues the beauty in death or rather the c...more
Becca
Reaper’s Novice by Cecilla Robert

This first book in the new urban fantasy Soul Collector series, Reaper’s Novice, is a captivating look into the world of the Grim Reaper. Ana, a family oriented teen, swaps her life for the lives of her family. In order to save her family she must become the Grim Reaper’s, Ernest, apprentice. She must collect souls and doesn’t mind if they are old or sick. Can she pass the final test to become a Soul Collector?

The Reaper’s Novice was one book that piqued my intre...more
Tonyalee
~I was given a free copy for an honest review~

To be honest, after the first few chapters I almost set this book down. Everything happened too fast and didn’t seem at all logical. I knew Ana’s motives were honorable, but at the same time I felt like she was making a HUGE mistake jumping in incredibly fast without thinking about her actions. But I pressed on, hoping things would smooth out. And it did.

Celilia Robert created a beautiful, captivating story that is very original and unique. Her take...more
Shilpa Mudiganti
What I loved about this book is Ana - You get her story from the beginning, her conflict, her love for the family, her insecurities, her strengths, everything. Right from the moment she is introduced. She is very likeable and you feel this need to know more about her. I almost prayed for her during her "graduation" test which is an entirely different story.

The story is unique with Ana being Grim's novice - She is getting ready to graduate as a soul collector and that I hadn't read anywhere befor...more
Meg
I am well accustomed to the concept of Reapers...mainly because I adored the TV show Dead Like Me (if you haven't watched it - go and check it out!) so I was actually rather surprised at how much I liked this new take on I guess 'old' tale.

To begin with isn't it sort of logical that a Reaper has to be trained? Since it is pretty much a job, wouldn't you only want the best possible applicants to take your soul onto the next plain?...I know I would. Hence - bring in Ana and the wonderful world cre...more
Kirsty Vizard
Reaper's Novice is an original edition of the paranormal story - there are no werewolves, vampires or traditional angels. However, as the title suggests the reader meets the Grim Reaper called Ernest (!), who accepts a novice, Ana, after she exchanges her soul for her family's after they were killed in an accident. The deal is that she must complete her training within 13 months and the souls of her family will be free but she will continue to be immortal.
However, as Ana discovers life as a Reap...more
Meg
I am well accustomed to the concept of Reapers...mainly because I adored the TV show Dead Like Me (if you haven't watched it - go and check it out!) so I was actually rather surprised at how much I liked this new take on I guess 'old' tale.

To begin with isn't it sort of logical that a Reaper has to be trained? Since it is pretty much a job, wouldn't you only want the best possible applicants to take your soul onto the next plain?...I know I would. Hence - bring in Ana and the wonderful world cre...more
Nanette Bradford
Reaper's Novice by Cecilia Robert
Reviewed by Nanette Bradford
YATR Review Panel


First off as one of my New Year's resolutions I'm going to stop not reading a book because of it's name or cover. I've done it a couple of times and I've read some awesome books that i didn't read sooner because of this reason. That is what happened here. I almost didn't read this book because of the title of it. Stupid, Stupid me.. This was a great book and i almost missed out because I thought it was out of my eleme...more
Sarah
See the full review at Short & Sweet Reviews.

Ana is a character who is absolutely devoted to her family and friends. She was written very realistically, and you could really feel her pain when her family was pulling apart, and her grief when she thinks that they are all dead. She is a normal teenage girl who, despite her new status as apprentice to the Grim Reaper, still has to worry about going to classes and maintaining relationships with her friends, on top of her new duties of Soul Colle...more
Francesca Dell
When I first started this book I did get quite bored and distracted very easily. But, after a while I found myself being pulled into the world of Ava and her life as a 'Soul Collector' and very soon the pages started turning themselves.

This book has an interesting plot, consisting of MIA boyfriends, family struggles and a deathly (literally) new job. This book has many mysteries that left me, as a reader, on the edge of my seat, dying to know what was really going on.

The relationships the author...more
Jenea Whittington
Reaper’s Novice got a new cover and I have to say, I really like it, because the new cover matches the story much more. Anna’s perfect life has began to slowly unravel. With family issues and faced with a decision that no seventeen year old should have to make, this turned out to be a great start to a new series.
Anna is a likable girl, she is strong and would do just about anything for her family. After making the decision to save her family’s souls, she begins her training as a Reaper’s Novice....more
Keirsten
I was really excited to recieve a copy of this book for review and even if it wasn't free I would have bought it. The book starts by introducing Ana and her family whose parents are very close to divorcing. On the day they planed to leave for their vacation Ana's parents, brother, and sister get in a deadly car accident but then the grim reaper shows up offering her a deal to save their lives. Grim... I mean Earnest is the funniest grim reaper I've ever read. He is a great character who cared ab...more
Shane Harris
3.5 Star Review

View this and other reviews on my blog:
http://booksinmynook.blogspot.com/

Reaper's Novice is the first book in the Soul Collector series written by Cecilia Robert. I would like to thank Ms. Robert for the copy of her book in exchange for a fair review.

The premise of the story is a new twist on the Grimm Reaper, but the head Reaper himself is not a main character in this book. Instead, we meet Ana - a regular high school girl with normal high school problems. In order to save her fa...more
Carrie
When I read the blurb for this book I was intrigued. I thought the idea of a young girl giving up her soul to save her family and as a result become a soul collector for none other than the Grimm Reaper a great premise. And as the story began it followed through with my expectations. Although Ana has this new role in life she doesn’t get to ditch her other life. She still has to deal with school, friends, her boyfriend, and her blossoming music career PLUS go off and collect souls for Grimm (aka...more
Catherine
The beginning of this book really drew me in - the characters are experiencing something real, and relatable. I also found that these issues don't come up that often in paranormal books - or, if they are, they aren't described in detail. This book was a good mix of the supernatural, mystery, romance, family/day-to-day life, etc. Even the balance between happy/sad and serious/playful was good. I found some of the characters really intriguing and definitely want to read more about them in the next...more
Stephanie Keyes
This was a wonderfully written Young Adult Fantasy that draws you in from the first page. Robert does a wonderful job of crafting a compelling and interesting world with complex characters and plot lines you couldn't anticipate if you tried. The author does such a wonderful job of building a reader/character relationship that you even feel sorry for the characters that you know are bad. You can't help yourself!

Add to that, Robert lives in Vienna, so the tale is woven with Viennese landmarks, cul...more
Werner
Since this is not a short story, but rather the first installment of the author's debut novel, Soul Collector, which Trestle Press is publishing serially, I want to hold my full review until I've read every installment. But you can bet that I WILL read every one. I definitely find this intriguing; the author writes well, has created an original (even unique) fantasy vision, and set it in what for most American readers is a very fresh locale. Of course, this first installment raises many more que...more
Melissa
I loved how Ms. Robert pulled the characters together. Ana's life was altered one day and she made the only choice she could. She agreed to give up her life in exchange for her family's lives. Now she works with Grim, the Grim Reaper and has to collect souls.

I really enjoyed the characters. Sometimes they surprised me as I found myself falling for Grim only to have him make me mad. Ms. Robert's writing drew me into the characters and I wanted to join into the story.

This YA story is one that wil...more
Carrie Penney
First off I would like to say I was given a copy of Reaper's Novice for an honest review.

Secondly I LOVE the cover!

If you where given the chance to have your family back would you take it? What if it meant trading your soul for it? Turing you immortal and being owned by death for eternity?

Ana's family is falling apart, her parents are fighting all the time, and she takes it up on herself to mend the pain and put it back together. She figures a holiday would be a great place to start. Except thi...more
Sara
A big thank you to Cecilia Robert for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

When I first saw this book, I knew I just had to check it out. I mean, look at that cover! It is gorgeous. And then I read the description and that sealed the deal:) Thankfully, I was not disappointed. I was drawn into the story after reading just one chapter. Cecilia Robert's writing is very descriptive and I needed to know more.

This was a story of great characters and a ton of surprises. Ana feels she canno...more
Alannah Clarke
This wasn't a bad book, however it was a bit difficult for me to get into. Although I blame uni for that problem, not the actual story or the writing. I think the fact I was distracted by university work ruined this book a bit for me and I couldn't get sucked into it as well as I would like to think that I would have.

Anyways I did think that Cecila Robert created a interesting take on the idea of reapers. I did like the main character Ana, she a strong young girl and I always believe that liter...more
Kerr
Apr 26, 2013 Kerr rated it 2 of 5 stars
Shelves: arr
Ana is your average 17-year-old. She loves her boyfriend, her friends and is trying to hold her family together. One day something happens that catapults her into her destiny. Her family is killed in a car accident right in front of her. When Ernest, the grim reaper turns up to collect their souls, he offers her a choice. Live her life family-less, or exchange her own soul for those of her family and become his novice. Unable to even imagine a life without her family she agrees to his bargain an...more
Darren Sant
The author uses some very effective descriptive writing. She creates what is an interesting universe complete with a solid setting and a colourful cast of characters. There is a lot of scope in what the author has laid down in this first episode and I am looking forward to forthcoming episodes. There is clearly a lot of heart in Cecilia Robert's writing. She writes with a sense of humanity and a her heart very much on her sleeve. A keener eye in the editing prior to publication would have made t...more
Samantha Martin
Reaper’s Novice is a beautiful and heartbreaking story that puts a whole new meaning to death. Ana is a 17 year old high school student that has dreams just like everyone else. Playing her violin is her greatest joy and she wants to play professionally. Everything is great, she has her best friends, and most of all she has Rolf. The only darkness in her life is that her parents seem to be always fighting. Ana can not stand it, it tears her up inside. Then one tragic day it all changes. She meets...more
« previous 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 32 33 next »
topics  posts  views  last activity   
Never Too Old For...: * Read 4 Review #39 - Reaper's Novice 33 90 May 18, 2013 05:48am  
YA/NA FANATICS: ARR #12 - Reaper's Novice by Cecilia Robert 56 62 May 11, 2013 09:15pm  
Young Adult Reads: Reaper's Novice by Cecilia Robert - r2r (88) signups 27 64 Mar 10, 2013 09:48pm  
Interracial and A...: Buddy Read 1 - Reaper's Novice 17 24 Mar 08, 2013 03:31pm  
Interracial and A...: Reaper's Novice - Buddy Read 1 8 10 Feb 19, 2013 02:24pm  
Reaper's Novice 17 7 Feb 03, 2013 09:58am  
Reaper's Novice Soul Collector Series (Kindle Edition)
Reaper's Novice (Soul Collector  #1)
5263768
Cecilia Robert lives in Vienna with her two children, has an incurable obsession with books, anything romantic, TV and medieval architecture. When not working in her full time job, catching up with her two children, writing or reading, she can be found, knitting or crocheting, taking photos of old buildings.
More about Cecilia Robert...
Truly, Madly, Deeply, You (Truly Madly #1) Lies and Other Disasters...Like Love (A short Story) Untitled (Truly Madly #2) A Need So Insatiable How Many Ways

Share This Book

Your website
“Fate doesn’t care about family. When the time is up, she nicks at the thread” 2 people liked it
“Normal life? Nothing about this is normal, Novice. I’m Death, not a Genie. I don’t go granting wishes unless absolutely necessary.” He levels his face to mine. “You do remember your family’s souls, don’t you?” 2 people liked it
More quotes…