What do you think?
Rate this book
Lana Harvey, Reapers Inc. #1
Graveyard Shift
Librarian Note: An alternate cover edition exist here.
The Inferno has Evolved…
Lana Harvey is a reaper, and a lousy one at that. She resides in Limbo City, the modern capital of the collective afterlives, where she likes to stick it to the man (the legendary Grim Reaper himself) by harvesting the bare minimum of souls required of her. She’d much rather be hanging out with Gabriel, her favorite archangel, at Purgatory Lounge. But when a shocking promotion falls in her lap, Lana learns something that could unravel the very fabric of Eternity. If the job isn’t completed, there could be some real hell to pay.
The Inferno has Evolved…
Lana Harvey is a reaper, and a lousy one at that. She resides in Limbo City, the modern capital of the collective afterlives, where she likes to stick it to the man (the legendary Grim Reaper himself) by harvesting the bare minimum of souls required of her. She’d much rather be hanging out with Gabriel, her favorite archangel, at Purgatory Lounge. But when a shocking promotion falls in her lap, Lana learns something that could unravel the very fabric of Eternity. If the job isn’t completed, there could be some real hell to pay.
236 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Angela Roquet
57 books678 followersUSA Today bestselling fantasy author Angela Roquet is a great big weirdo. She lives in Missouri with her husband and son in a house stuffed with books, toys, skulls, owls, and glitter-speckled craft supplies. Angela a member of SFWA and HWA, as well as the Four Horsemen of the Bookocalypse, her epic book critique group, where she's known as Death. When not swearing at the keyboard, she enjoys boating with her family at Lake of the Ozarks and reading books that raise eyebrows.
Find Angela on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or her website: www.angelaroquet.com
GRAVEYARD SHIFT, the first novel in Angela's Lana Harvey, Reapers Inc. series, and BLOOD VICE, book one in the Blood Vice series, are now available for FREE on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, iBooks, & Google.
Find Angela on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or her website: www.angelaroquet.com
GRAVEYARD SHIFT, the first novel in Angela's Lana Harvey, Reapers Inc. series, and BLOOD VICE, book one in the Blood Vice series, are now available for FREE on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, iBooks, & Google.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 943 reviews
February 16, 2019
Graveyard Shift by Angela Roquet is the first book of the Lana Harvey, Reapers Inc. series. This one is a paranormal urban fantasy in which the main character is a reaper. Lana Harvey doesn't like her position of being a reaper and scrapes by collecting the minimum of souls that she can. This one reminded me heavily of a show I'd once watched that I can't quite recall the name of but that means I didn't find it overly original either. That also made it a bit tougher to really connect with this sarcastic afterlife with Lana but not a bad read either just a bit of that take it or leave it time passer feeling.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
January 13, 2018
It’s like fan fiction for the most boring YA book series. Why do I say that?
The entire book screams of wish fulfillment. The kind of thing we used to read a lot on fanficion.net back in the day, where impossibly cool author-insert characters got to go on vacations with main characters from popular books. And the main character can be as unlikable as you please because she’s too busy being “cool.”
Lana, the main character, is an absolutely unlikable character. She’s lazy, bitchy, rude, stubborn, careless, joyless, and rather dim, but gets handed everything she could possibly want. Angel boyfriend? Check. Shopping spree? Check. Vacation in hell? Check. Magical heavenly weapon? Check. Per hellhounds? Check.
Her attitude problem lowers the stakes in the book because how can I believe she’s in danger when she never seems to care. She responds to being attacked by demons by sighing irritatedly at the demon guts that she’ll have to clean off of her ship. All she cares about is shopping and John Wayne.
Her supporting cast of non-characters have their own sets of problems. None of them have consistent personalities, they just respond with whatever convenient emotion is needed for Lana to then roll her eyes at, and then change their mind in the next paragraph to agree with Lana. They’re boring, cardboard characters with few redeeming qualities. And of course the ancient Chinese goddess speaks in broken English, so there’s some racism there as well.
The storytelling is also really lazy. Important information about the world that the author has constructed only appears paragraphs before that information is necessary, so the plot is very easy to predict. The rules of the world aren’t made clear so they keep having to be explained throughout the course of the book, so we never get a chance to settle in and let the plot unfold on the stage. There’s no climax, no satisfying ending.
So, no. Don’t read it. Don’t waste your time. There’s plenty of other paranormal fiction to read.
The entire book screams of wish fulfillment. The kind of thing we used to read a lot on fanficion.net back in the day, where impossibly cool author-insert characters got to go on vacations with main characters from popular books. And the main character can be as unlikable as you please because she’s too busy being “cool.”
Lana, the main character, is an absolutely unlikable character. She’s lazy, bitchy, rude, stubborn, careless, joyless, and rather dim, but gets handed everything she could possibly want. Angel boyfriend? Check. Shopping spree? Check. Vacation in hell? Check. Magical heavenly weapon? Check. Per hellhounds? Check.
Her attitude problem lowers the stakes in the book because how can I believe she’s in danger when she never seems to care. She responds to being attacked by demons by sighing irritatedly at the demon guts that she’ll have to clean off of her ship. All she cares about is shopping and John Wayne.
Her supporting cast of non-characters have their own sets of problems. None of them have consistent personalities, they just respond with whatever convenient emotion is needed for Lana to then roll her eyes at, and then change their mind in the next paragraph to agree with Lana. They’re boring, cardboard characters with few redeeming qualities. And of course the ancient Chinese goddess speaks in broken English, so there’s some racism there as well.
The storytelling is also really lazy. Important information about the world that the author has constructed only appears paragraphs before that information is necessary, so the plot is very easy to predict. The rules of the world aren’t made clear so they keep having to be explained throughout the course of the book, so we never get a chance to settle in and let the plot unfold on the stage. There’s no climax, no satisfying ending.
So, no. Don’t read it. Don’t waste your time. There’s plenty of other paranormal fiction to read.
Shelved as 'dreaded-dnf'
October 4, 2015I am setting this audiobook aside. I'm not sure if it's me, but it's not working for me at this time. I was looking for something with more of an edge, but this not so grim reaper is getting excited about a dress for a ball, and that's not very edgy to me. :(
No rating.
No rating.
January 5, 2022
Graveyard Shift is book one in the Lana Harvey, Reapers Inc. series by Angela Roquet.
Lana doesn’t like her position as a reaper and doesn’t quite follow the rules. She’s compassionate and kick-ass. The author weaves in many different types of religions and their accompanying deities and gods. It’s done in a well round way that it’s weaved into the story nicely. It’s got great world-building and character development.
The only thing I didn’t get on board with is the love interest though that is in the background and not the focus of the story.
It’s a nice introduction to the series. The author pulled me in and has me invested in Lana Harvey and the outcome of the character and world. Looking froward to reading more in the Lana Harvey, Reapers Inc. series.
Rated: 4 Stars
Lana doesn’t like her position as a reaper and doesn’t quite follow the rules. She’s compassionate and kick-ass. The author weaves in many different types of religions and their accompanying deities and gods. It’s done in a well round way that it’s weaved into the story nicely. It’s got great world-building and character development.
The only thing I didn’t get on board with is the love interest though that is in the background and not the focus of the story.
It’s a nice introduction to the series. The author pulled me in and has me invested in Lana Harvey and the outcome of the character and world. Looking froward to reading more in the Lana Harvey, Reapers Inc. series.
Rated: 4 Stars
September 11, 2016
This was a fabulous novel which I absolutely loooved. It was sooo funny, I enjoyed every moment. Yep, lots of overuse there, but I’m finding this a convincing expression for the moment.
Our leading lady is compassionate, dry, droll and dizzying all at once. She has some great kick-ass moves and doesn’t get on with her boss, who by the way is none other than the Grim Reaper himself. And yep, office politics continue to play a difficult part in life (or afterlife?). The support characters are engaging and provide a great juxtaposition to our winning heroine.
This story has amongst the best creativity I have read in a long time. The use of more than one type of the many religions and their accompanying deities & gods is done with verve and sublime humour. Don’t take any of this to heart, the book does not use religion for any particular standing point nor as a subject in itself for some grand slamming and posturing. It’s all part of the comic charm of the novel itself and is merely utilized as background humour and comic content. Everyone and everything is included, for example, archangel Gabriel (and I shan’t give away his place in the novel, he plays a fine part and his character is essential to the book’s humour), Horus, Shiva, Lucifer and Apollo. And let’s not forget the adorable Hell Hounds.
The beginning gives the reader a good launching point, and continues with a consistent pace. The varied environments are described without becoming too detailed to bog the novel down, but create a positive atmosphere that is constantly changing with never a dull moment. The book morphs through sexy men, annoying people, contentious gods and deities with lots of political maneuvering and conspiring events. And yes, politics is still a messy business wherever you are.
Another fine point to make about this novel, is it is the first book in a series that is up to book 5 so readers can keep on keeping on.
Our leading lady is compassionate, dry, droll and dizzying all at once. She has some great kick-ass moves and doesn’t get on with her boss, who by the way is none other than the Grim Reaper himself. And yep, office politics continue to play a difficult part in life (or afterlife?). The support characters are engaging and provide a great juxtaposition to our winning heroine.
This story has amongst the best creativity I have read in a long time. The use of more than one type of the many religions and their accompanying deities & gods is done with verve and sublime humour. Don’t take any of this to heart, the book does not use religion for any particular standing point nor as a subject in itself for some grand slamming and posturing. It’s all part of the comic charm of the novel itself and is merely utilized as background humour and comic content. Everyone and everything is included, for example, archangel Gabriel (and I shan’t give away his place in the novel, he plays a fine part and his character is essential to the book’s humour), Horus, Shiva, Lucifer and Apollo. And let’s not forget the adorable Hell Hounds.
The beginning gives the reader a good launching point, and continues with a consistent pace. The varied environments are described without becoming too detailed to bog the novel down, but create a positive atmosphere that is constantly changing with never a dull moment. The book morphs through sexy men, annoying people, contentious gods and deities with lots of political maneuvering and conspiring events. And yes, politics is still a messy business wherever you are.
Another fine point to make about this novel, is it is the first book in a series that is up to book 5 so readers can keep on keeping on.
February 12, 2015
This wasn't that great, but it wasn't horrible either.
I liked the way that Roquet had the afterlife in regards to its existence. But I didn't care for how it was run pretty much the same way that the world is run. It didn't feel like a foreign place and it left out a lot of world building that this book really could have used.
When you're introducing a new, foreign, realm, it really helps to have it feel and be foreign. I was looking for a whole different, otherworldly experience than what this book provided.
Roquet was really pushing feminine power in this book. Female villains and heroines run this joint. A lot of females were in high positions of power, so I can see a lot of feminist readers truly enjoying this.
I didn't take issue with it, but I did take issue with Lana's attitude toward chivalry. She rolls her eyes because her lover--whose name escapes me--holds her hand. She sees this as a possessive gesture, and even a demeaning one, insinuating that he is leading her, rather than seeing it for the intimate gesture that is is.
There is a big difference between being possessive and affectionate, and I'm not sure whether Roquet can tell the difference, or if it was just Lana. Either way, it annoys me.
She futher pushes this agenda with the way she ruins Gabriel's character. Gabriel is a powerful being, he is an archangel! He is not a whiny, dead beat. I just couldn't wrap my head around it. To completely destroy him was unexpected. And, you know what? Good for you, Roquet. I respect the chance you took with this. I just found it really disappointing rather than comical, I suppose.
As for the rest of the read, I found it lacking. The action scenes weren't really action. The politics were almost intriguing, but there was just so much missing there. I guess I just couldn't really get into the read, it didn't pull me in.
The plot was decent. It was even unique. It needed a lot more obscurity, but it still wasn't half bad.
There was too much downtime, and not enough time spent on things that I cared to read about.
This, I suppose would fall into the new adult genre, perhaps. Because it reads like YA, but feels like it was more intended for an older audience, yet failing to reach the mark.
I am not invested in this in the slightest, so I probably won't read further. I didn't find myself attached to any characters and can hardly recall any of their names.
I'm sure there are people that would enjoy this though. It's an easy read with unique elements. Not a bad start, really.
I liked the way that Roquet had the afterlife in regards to its existence. But I didn't care for how it was run pretty much the same way that the world is run. It didn't feel like a foreign place and it left out a lot of world building that this book really could have used.
When you're introducing a new, foreign, realm, it really helps to have it feel and be foreign. I was looking for a whole different, otherworldly experience than what this book provided.
Roquet was really pushing feminine power in this book. Female villains and heroines run this joint. A lot of females were in high positions of power, so I can see a lot of feminist readers truly enjoying this.
I didn't take issue with it, but I did take issue with Lana's attitude toward chivalry. She rolls her eyes because her lover--whose name escapes me--holds her hand. She sees this as a possessive gesture, and even a demeaning one, insinuating that he is leading her, rather than seeing it for the intimate gesture that is is.
There is a big difference between being possessive and affectionate, and I'm not sure whether Roquet can tell the difference, or if it was just Lana. Either way, it annoys me.
She futher pushes this agenda with the way she ruins Gabriel's character. Gabriel is a powerful being, he is an archangel! He is not a whiny, dead beat. I just couldn't wrap my head around it. To completely destroy him was unexpected. And, you know what? Good for you, Roquet. I respect the chance you took with this. I just found it really disappointing rather than comical, I suppose.
As for the rest of the read, I found it lacking. The action scenes weren't really action. The politics were almost intriguing, but there was just so much missing there. I guess I just couldn't really get into the read, it didn't pull me in.
The plot was decent. It was even unique. It needed a lot more obscurity, but it still wasn't half bad.
There was too much downtime, and not enough time spent on things that I cared to read about.
This, I suppose would fall into the new adult genre, perhaps. Because it reads like YA, but feels like it was more intended for an older audience, yet failing to reach the mark.
I am not invested in this in the slightest, so I probably won't read further. I didn't find myself attached to any characters and can hardly recall any of their names.
I'm sure there are people that would enjoy this though. It's an easy read with unique elements. Not a bad start, really.
November 3, 2014
Meh. Pretty weak. Interesting premise, whiny, lazy, proud-under-achiever protagonist, too many side characters to keep straight - a problem exacerbated by super sloppy editing. Cannot imagine that there would ever be so little to read that I'd read any more of the series, despite the fact that I should have been a prime target for them.
Want to read
September 12, 2016Free on Amazon.co.uk at the time of posting.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
April 30, 2015
I really wanted to like this book. A new refreshing take on the whole death and afterlife deal? A reaper as the protagonist? That sounded so interesting! Unfortunately, the reality fell short from my expectations.
First of all, the worldbuilding is very patchy and often illogical. It feels like the author just decided to toss everything she knew about different gods and religions into one big pot, stir it and see what floats to the top (little clue here - we all know what floats usually). And even then, it feels like the extent of the research on that subject stopped with Wikipedia. So we have a world that has a lot of inconsistencies that honestly made me scratch my head a couple times. This is so sad too, because with a lot more research and thought put into it, this could have been great.
Secondly, Lana is not a very memorable protagonist. You could even say that she is rather… bland. So it's no surprise that all the other female characters around her are portrayed in a rather negative light, otherwise they would outshine her without even making an effort. As a result, most of the other women in the book are either sluts or b%$ches or both.
And finally, Maalik, Lana's love interest is written as if he suffers from a double personality disorder. The man we encounter at the beginning of the book - arrogant, used to getting what he wants, rather condescending towards Lana, becomes a stuttering blushing idiot 3 chapters later, when he decides to "court" her. I mean the change is so abrupt I had the suspicion that it was an elaborate plot twist, that he was acting like this because he wanted something from Lana, or that it wasn't Maalik at all, but a double sent to spy on her… Nope, no such luck.
This tendency for the characters to start acting extremely out of character for no rhyme or reason at least is consistent throughout the entire book. It feels like the author never sat down and actually worked through their background and motivations, so she has no clue how they should react to any particular situation.
So to summarize this review, I would not recommend this series. It's neither original or particularly well-written. There are plenty of better books out there, don't waste your time.
First of all, the worldbuilding is very patchy and often illogical. It feels like the author just decided to toss everything she knew about different gods and religions into one big pot, stir it and see what floats to the top (little clue here - we all know what floats usually). And even then, it feels like the extent of the research on that subject stopped with Wikipedia. So we have a world that has a lot of inconsistencies that honestly made me scratch my head a couple times. This is so sad too, because with a lot more research and thought put into it, this could have been great.
Secondly, Lana is not a very memorable protagonist. You could even say that she is rather… bland. So it's no surprise that all the other female characters around her are portrayed in a rather negative light, otherwise they would outshine her without even making an effort. As a result, most of the other women in the book are either sluts or b%$ches or both.
And finally, Maalik, Lana's love interest is written as if he suffers from a double personality disorder. The man we encounter at the beginning of the book - arrogant, used to getting what he wants, rather condescending towards Lana, becomes a stuttering blushing idiot 3 chapters later, when he decides to "court" her. I mean the change is so abrupt I had the suspicion that it was an elaborate plot twist, that he was acting like this because he wanted something from Lana, or that it wasn't Maalik at all, but a double sent to spy on her… Nope, no such luck.
This tendency for the characters to start acting extremely out of character for no rhyme or reason at least is consistent throughout the entire book. It feels like the author never sat down and actually worked through their background and motivations, so she has no clue how they should react to any particular situation.
So to summarize this review, I would not recommend this series. It's neither original or particularly well-written. There are plenty of better books out there, don't waste your time.
February 7, 2015
While the proposed premise of the afterlife was interesting, I found the story very flat. The characters felt very stale and I emphatically Did Not Care about cookie-cutter Lana. (Sorry, but she felt like the placeholder female character that seems to feature prominently in a lot of new fiction.)
While I was impressed with the research the author clearly did in regards to various Afterlife beliefs, she didn't do enough in terms of actual cultures. seeing as how she dressed Chinese folks in Kimonos. You know, Japanese robes. Really?
(Spoilers Below)
We do get the interesting idea of a Muslim Angel guarding Hell, but no back story to him. He goes from smoldering and annoying Lana to being shy and unsure and getting into her apartment while she's not home and giving her two massive dogs. Because yeah, I totally respect a guy with boundary issues who changes his personality in the space of a chapter to get the girl.
Lana feels contrived - ooh, yeah, she's soooo special. She's going to wear leather pants and a black tank top but not red lipstick because she doesn't want to be "slutty". She's "not like the other girls". She has a special power, omg. UGH. Lana was flat. I'm more interested in her partner-in-sailing's roommate and her study habits than I am the judgmental Reaper who has suffers from the done-to-death "I don't like him I disdain him ooh I misjudged him he's really a nice guy and now we're a couple" complex. *vomits*
The premise of the afterlife and division of souls was neat. Coin was a cool thing.
But that's about it. I don't think I'll be reading any more about flat Lana and her flat world and her new "dinning" table.
While I was impressed with the research the author clearly did in regards to various Afterlife beliefs, she didn't do enough in terms of actual cultures. seeing as how she dressed Chinese folks in Kimonos. You know, Japanese robes. Really?
(Spoilers Below)
We do get the interesting idea of a Muslim Angel guarding Hell, but no back story to him. He goes from smoldering and annoying Lana to being shy and unsure and getting into her apartment while she's not home and giving her two massive dogs. Because yeah, I totally respect a guy with boundary issues who changes his personality in the space of a chapter to get the girl.
Lana feels contrived - ooh, yeah, she's soooo special. She's going to wear leather pants and a black tank top but not red lipstick because she doesn't want to be "slutty". She's "not like the other girls". She has a special power, omg. UGH. Lana was flat. I'm more interested in her partner-in-sailing's roommate and her study habits than I am the judgmental Reaper who has suffers from the done-to-death "I don't like him I disdain him ooh I misjudged him he's really a nice guy and now we're a couple" complex. *vomits*
The premise of the afterlife and division of souls was neat. Coin was a cool thing.
But that's about it. I don't think I'll be reading any more about flat Lana and her flat world and her new "dinning" table.
October 15, 2009
I don't know why, but I love it when an author has a book that could easily go the route of traditional publishing (i.e., getting an agent, shopping the book around, getting published through established publishing companies, etc) and instead goes all independent and either self-publishes or goes through a small-press type of company. Graveyard Shift is the perfect example of what I'm talking about. It's well written and edited. It had a good take on the Grim Reaper, the after life, and about a zillion different religions. Angela set it up as a series, much like Harry Potter (in fact, it reminds me of the Harry Potter stuff in a lot of ways, although it doesn't copy HP) so that she can hook her readers in and make them want to know what happens in her next book. In short, Graveyard Shift is something that probably would have done well going the traditional route. But, Angela decided instead to do the indie author thing and is doing it well. From what I've seen, she's promoting the hell out of her book and getting a lot of good feedback. I think I blurbed her book for her and called it "sacrilecious" or something silly like that. If you're into Harry Potter or Neil Gaiman, you should check out Angela's book. It's good indie fiction.
July 6, 2014
I hate it when I read great reviews & get my hopes up. Some of these glowing reviews have favorably compared this series to several of my favorite urban fantasy series, and unfortunately I went into this story with high expectations. Our heroine is NOT as humorous as Queen Betsy, nor is she as spunky as Sookie Stackhouse or as tough as Mercy Thompson. It's an okay story with no grammar issues, but other than grossing me out a time or three, it just didn't grab me. Meh. Life is too short to read mediocre books.
October 31, 2019
Definitely a good start the world was introduced and wow what an imagination this Author has.....
Lana works in Limbo as a reaper, not fully invested in her job she gets by.... The plot thickens when someone on the council is suspected of treachery and a very important soul has to be found.
I like there didn't seem to be a complex plot going on but as the books go on and we get to know the characters more i can see some great story potential, it was fab that the first book didn't overwhelm me....
Its a 4 star as i felt the characters lacked chemistry between each other, still that could be due to this being book 1 definitely looking forward to the next....
Narrator was amazing!!!!!!
Lana works in Limbo as a reaper, not fully invested in her job she gets by.... The plot thickens when someone on the council is suspected of treachery and a very important soul has to be found.
I like there didn't seem to be a complex plot going on but as the books go on and we get to know the characters more i can see some great story potential, it was fab that the first book didn't overwhelm me....
Its a 4 star as i felt the characters lacked chemistry between each other, still that could be due to this being book 1 definitely looking forward to the next....
Narrator was amazing!!!!!!
October 26, 2018
That was a creative book with an equally creative premise. Afterlife, blending religions and reapers sparked my interest right away. The plot was flowing, quick-paced and simple. The characters were interesting, a mix of characters from different religions. The writing style was good and neat. My complaints are that the ending was kind of flat and Lana should have been portrayed more ambitious maybe. There were some small mistakes related to the lack of research (such as a Chinese deity wearing kimono) but overall that was a pleasant and refreshing book to read after a while.
September 4, 2020
I really enjoyed this first story in the Lana Harvey, Reapers Inc. series. I loved the characters, and all the gods, demi-gods, nephilims, demons, reapers, etc. I think the idea of having a council comprised of gods from all the different religions running eternity is awesome. I also love Lana and hope she has a long and successful career as a reaper.
December 19, 2013
It’s a helluva mess in the Afterlife, but it would be worse without Lana and her fellow Reapers. The more humans fill up the world, the more their souls fill up the Afterlife and someone has to control all the traffic…Reapers.
Reapers don’t cause death they merely guide the often befuddled souls and deliver them to whichever place their Earthly lives and various religions (or lack of) destined them for. First stop for all souls in Limbo City and, of course, wherever you have a city you have politics and intrigue and backstabbing and, well, more politics.
Meanwhile, the average Reaper just like any average Joe wants to get their job done and stay off the Boss’s radar. Unfortunately, for Lana (a contented underachiever) the Weavers have other plans for her. Big scary plans possibly, deadly plans. Reapers don’t get an Afterlife; good or bad, so being a dead Reaper is looked forward to about as much as a meeting with the Boss.
Lana’s tasked with bringing home the one soul that can maintain the balance of powers in the Afterlife; to keep the demons from taking over and making the Otherside Hell for everyone. To top off the fun, no one has a clue which soul is ”the one” out of all the millions arriving every day.
Ms. Roquet has created an Afterlife which is much more interesting than any of us are expecting no matter what beliefs or non-beliefs we have. The characters are well developed, interesting, and often humourous. I ,personally, adored the Hellhounds, would love a TMZ bus tour of Limbo City and can’t wait to read “Pocket Full of Posies,” the next installment in the series.
Reapers don’t cause death they merely guide the often befuddled souls and deliver them to whichever place their Earthly lives and various religions (or lack of) destined them for. First stop for all souls in Limbo City and, of course, wherever you have a city you have politics and intrigue and backstabbing and, well, more politics.
Meanwhile, the average Reaper just like any average Joe wants to get their job done and stay off the Boss’s radar. Unfortunately, for Lana (a contented underachiever) the Weavers have other plans for her. Big scary plans possibly, deadly plans. Reapers don’t get an Afterlife; good or bad, so being a dead Reaper is looked forward to about as much as a meeting with the Boss.
Lana’s tasked with bringing home the one soul that can maintain the balance of powers in the Afterlife; to keep the demons from taking over and making the Otherside Hell for everyone. To top off the fun, no one has a clue which soul is ”the one” out of all the millions arriving every day.
Ms. Roquet has created an Afterlife which is much more interesting than any of us are expecting no matter what beliefs or non-beliefs we have. The characters are well developed, interesting, and often humourous. I ,personally, adored the Hellhounds, would love a TMZ bus tour of Limbo City and can’t wait to read “Pocket Full of Posies,” the next installment in the series.
January 2, 2016
Lana is a Reaper, living in Limbo City, making a living collecting souls on their deaths and delivering them to whatever Afterlife suits them best - it turns out that all religions were sorta right, you see, and so their believers are simply measured against their own beliefs before being ferried on to Heaven/Hell/Nirvana/Summerland etc. Unless they're unbelievers, in which case they're thrown into the Sea of Eternity. Despite not being a very good Reaper - she breaks rules, is insubordinate, lazy and generally a pain in the ass - Lana has somehow just been given a promotion. Grim, the boss of the Reapers, wants her to head a crew looking for a particularly special soul who can hold Eternity together.
This initially appealed to me because of its ideas, but unfortunately fell flat in the telling. We jump from plot point to plot point with most of the contents feeling like ideas for scenes and characters not yet fleshed out, and neither the relationships (be they the apparently romantic one that springs up between Lana and an angel she supposedly despises, or those with her friends and peers) nor the plot points felt remotely organic but simply appeared because Roquet wanted them to. Description wasn't a strong suit either, so I was left with only a vague sense of what this world looked and felt like, what happened in the battles that frequently kicked off, and no clue whatsoever why both Lana and the soul she was looking for were so ruddy bloody special.
On the plus side, this was free...
**Also posted at Randomly Reading and Ranting**
This initially appealed to me because of its ideas, but unfortunately fell flat in the telling. We jump from plot point to plot point with most of the contents feeling like ideas for scenes and characters not yet fleshed out, and neither the relationships (be they the apparently romantic one that springs up between Lana and an angel she supposedly despises, or those with her friends and peers) nor the plot points felt remotely organic but simply appeared because Roquet wanted them to. Description wasn't a strong suit either, so I was left with only a vague sense of what this world looked and felt like, what happened in the battles that frequently kicked off, and no clue whatsoever why both Lana and the soul she was looking for were so ruddy bloody special.
On the plus side, this was free...
**Also posted at Randomly Reading and Ranting**
June 21, 2017
4.5 Stars
"A reaper and an archangel walked out of a bar. I almost had to laugh."
Then how about an archangel and a Hell archangel? Too funny!! This small novel had me chuckling all of the way through it. Lana Harvey is 300 years old, an 8th generation reaper. A baby really. Also, she has a special talent. A talent desperately needed by her boss, Grim. If Eternity is to survive, Lana will have to vanquish some rogue demons and a few powerful Council members.
"Limbo City is considered the new frontier by most Eternity citizens. The America of the afterlife. A melting pot of various cultures and races protected by the strictest set of laws this side of the grave." And the Council appointed to keep Limbo safe and Eternity calm have a few traitorous Deity that would like to bring Eternity back into chaos. (Remember the battle before the fall?) And our heroine seems the unlikely choice to preserve Eternity.
I absolutely loved Lana, Josie, Kevin, Gabriel, Maalik, and Lana's Hell Hounds - Coreen and Saul! Not my usual reading genre, but I'm hooked. I, now, must read every novel in the Lana Harvey Reapers Inc. Series!
"A reaper and an archangel walked out of a bar. I almost had to laugh."
Then how about an archangel and a Hell archangel? Too funny!! This small novel had me chuckling all of the way through it. Lana Harvey is 300 years old, an 8th generation reaper. A baby really. Also, she has a special talent. A talent desperately needed by her boss, Grim. If Eternity is to survive, Lana will have to vanquish some rogue demons and a few powerful Council members.
"Limbo City is considered the new frontier by most Eternity citizens. The America of the afterlife. A melting pot of various cultures and races protected by the strictest set of laws this side of the grave." And the Council appointed to keep Limbo safe and Eternity calm have a few traitorous Deity that would like to bring Eternity back into chaos. (Remember the battle before the fall?) And our heroine seems the unlikely choice to preserve Eternity.
I absolutely loved Lana, Josie, Kevin, Gabriel, Maalik, and Lana's Hell Hounds - Coreen and Saul! Not my usual reading genre, but I'm hooked. I, now, must read every novel in the Lana Harvey Reapers Inc. Series!
February 1, 2018
This book grabbed my attention and never left go. I loved the premise of the book, the characters, and the vivid descriptions of Lana's life in Limbo City.
You see, Lana is a reaper, and she's downright bad at it. Like a kid in calculus class, she does the absolute minimum, barely reaching her quota. She's more of a party girl, loves hanging out with her favorite archangel in a place called Purgatory Lounge. The author does a great job describing these locales and you will find yourself partying along with Lana and Gabriel in the Lounge. It's pretty easy to imagine it after reading her descriptions.
Lana works for the Head Grim and she and her friends better get themselves in line, or else that promotion may also be a fantasy.
You see, Lana is a reaper, and she's downright bad at it. Like a kid in calculus class, she does the absolute minimum, barely reaching her quota. She's more of a party girl, loves hanging out with her favorite archangel in a place called Purgatory Lounge. The author does a great job describing these locales and you will find yourself partying along with Lana and Gabriel in the Lounge. It's pretty easy to imagine it after reading her descriptions.
Lana works for the Head Grim and she and her friends better get themselves in line, or else that promotion may also be a fantasy.
November 12, 2018
something different and great !!!!
Read
August 16, 2015So Lana is a reaper, a kind of indentured lower class citizen in a Limbo where all the mythologies have mashed together in a careful peace following a war between the conflicting godly traditions. Her job is to conduct souls to their respective afterlives (or chuck atheists and agnostics back for rebirth).
This is kind of Bridget Jones' Sex in the Afterlife, with a lot of talk about clothing and attractive gods and angels, but Lana maintains a reasonable amount of competence. Lana has a solid female friendship, but the majority of other women (mostly goddesses) are...vampy or running clothing stores or being secretaries, and there is a strong thread of cattiness. Limbo is also America, by which I mean that everyone speaks English, eats and shops at American-style stores, listens to Elvis and straight out comes across as American, regardless of whether they're Egyptian or Greek gods, angels, demons or reapers. The only exception is the sole Asian godly representative, Meng Po (distinguished by not speaking English very well, for some reason wearing a kimono, and being one of the more negatively viewed gods). [I was also rather confused by the Islamic angel who seems happy to drink alcohol in the right circumstances, and switches personality a quarter of the way through the book (and is rather bland).]
It's a very light, breezy and bubbly story and I enjoyed it enough to finish it, but was not captured enough to go on with the series. I also felt like the resolution to the story was a bit weak and easy - plot-wise this is more a series starter, with the consequences presumably to come later.
Reasonably good narrator.
This is kind of Bridget Jones' Sex in the Afterlife, with a lot of talk about clothing and attractive gods and angels, but Lana maintains a reasonable amount of competence. Lana has a solid female friendship, but the majority of other women (mostly goddesses) are...vampy or running clothing stores or being secretaries, and there is a strong thread of cattiness. Limbo is also America, by which I mean that everyone speaks English, eats and shops at American-style stores, listens to Elvis and straight out comes across as American, regardless of whether they're Egyptian or Greek gods, angels, demons or reapers. The only exception is the sole Asian godly representative, Meng Po (distinguished by not speaking English very well, for some reason wearing a kimono, and being one of the more negatively viewed gods). [I was also rather confused by the Islamic angel who seems happy to drink alcohol in the right circumstances, and switches personality a quarter of the way through the book (and is rather bland).]
It's a very light, breezy and bubbly story and I enjoyed it enough to finish it, but was not captured enough to go on with the series. I also felt like the resolution to the story was a bit weak and easy - plot-wise this is more a series starter, with the consequences presumably to come later.
Reasonably good narrator.
September 24, 2018
I picked this up as a free Kindle deal online and thought, "Sure! I'll give it a whirl." I did have some issues with the writing. It felt a little lazy in parts and the ending was really kind of abrupt. It felt like the author had a great idea for a story, wrote the whole thing, then chopped it up into awkward bits to be able to sell more books. Nothing was really cleared up in the end. It just stopped before anything was resolved. It left me going.... Was that really the ending?
That being said.... I still enjoyed the characters. I thought the author's imagining of the afterlife was really clever and highly interesting. It was an easy read that even though it had some down points was still really enjoyable. I would probably pick up the rest of the series at the library or if it was free on Kindle.
That being said.... I still enjoyed the characters. I thought the author's imagining of the afterlife was really clever and highly interesting. It was an easy read that even though it had some down points was still really enjoyable. I would probably pick up the rest of the series at the library or if it was free on Kindle.
October 27, 2019
Lana, a Reaper whose job is to collect souls, gets involved in the replacement of a major (but unknown to most) character.
I actually can't really even sum up this book in a sentence because it seems so squishy. What really happened? Lana collected some souls, battled some demons, got irritated at demon guts in her hair, went shopping (a few times), attended a ball, and got an angel boyfriend. It had a neat premise but I was expecting/hoping for more. It leans more toward paranormal romance than true urban fantasy and I don't enjoy those any more. I won't be reading more books in this series - too cheesy for me.
I actually can't really even sum up this book in a sentence because it seems so squishy. What really happened? Lana collected some souls, battled some demons, got irritated at demon guts in her hair, went shopping (a few times), attended a ball, and got an angel boyfriend. It had a neat premise but I was expecting/hoping for more. It leans more toward paranormal romance than true urban fantasy and I don't enjoy those any more. I won't be reading more books in this series - too cheesy for me.
October 8, 2016
I've had the pleasure of working with Angela but hadn't had the opportunity to read her work, until now. I have to say that it is delightfully different than the other stories I've read in this genre. I was intrigued by the different deities and loved how she was able to skillfully weave them into the fabric of her work. I look forward to reading the rest of the Lana Harvey Series of books and I will definitely share these tales with friends.
Shelved as 'dnf'
September 28, 2015Wonderful idea for a book!
It just didn't grab me as much as I would have liked... It dragged on a bit too much for me- I found myself skipping pages upon pages, focusing on a sentence here and there...
It just didn't grab me as much as I would have liked... It dragged on a bit too much for me- I found myself skipping pages upon pages, focusing on a sentence here and there...
May 22, 2017
Did not like it. Did not care.
July 27, 2020
This was really quite a enthralling book. I liked the character although shes a little bit bratty. I like the idea of grim reapers not being from human souls but made from them.
October 23, 2022
This is a 3.5 🌟 read rounded ⬆️ to 4 🌟.
A totally fun romp in the AfterLife!
A totally fun romp in the AfterLife!
November 8, 2014
Review at: One Night Book Stand
*****4.5****
I believe in God and after life. But my belief of it isn't as black and white as Christianity teaches. Actually, this book is exactly how I see the after life.
It's a wonderfully crafted work and absolutely brilliant. I loved the way author portrayed the Eternity and Limbo City. Giving every faith it's rightful place in the after life and making it enjoyable to read. The author did amazing job of creating new world and describing in the way that didn't make you yawn from boredom.
The story revolves around Lana Harvey, an 8th generation reaper and real slacker. She isn't fishing for a promotion or any recognition. She is pretty happy banding the rules to let souls avoid Eternal torture and such. That is until one day a promotion is thrown at her way and pretty much makes her a target to everyone who wants to rule Eternity. Lana is, hands down, one of the best PNR MCs. We are all used the same MCs that appear in the pnr over and over again; Ditzy with false bravado and illogical to the core. Oh, and don't forget Sookie syndrome. Well, Lana suffers from non of the above. She is down to earth reaper, who likes to shop and feel like girl without being pink and annoying. She tries to avoid trouble and holds her tong when it can get her in trouble. I loved that she didn't charge and bushed everyone's head with the false bravado and get herself killed. I loved that she wasn't that heroic and didn't try to save every one who couldn't be saved. Very often authors mistaken heroism with stupidity. Anyways, she is totally awesome and kick-ass!
The dry humor was very enjoyable to me. Her sarcasm so subtle you could almost miss it. It was refreshing from usual fleshy and out there type. Even though I enjoy that one as well.
The only problem I had with this book, and it's quite big problem, was the romance. It was horrible. Very premature, it wouldn't even appeal to the first grader. She disliked him, he bought her a coffee and next day he was her boyfriend. Yayyy! They hadn't even kissed for Pete's sake!!!! I would have really liked more romance and smooching. I'm not asking it to be described in details but little spark would be appreciated.
But definitely great read!! The world building made it worth it.
Happy Reading!
April 1, 2013
Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:
We have an Event planned with Angela in April through Book Monster Promotions, so I decided to give the book a shot so we'd have a review to go along with the post. While I figured I had nothing to lose going in for the read, my immediate reaction upon finishing the book was quite different, all I could say was "Ooh I love it when review books turn into new obsessions! I LOVED this book and cannot wait to read more. Way to go Angela!" :)
Our heroine, Lana, is a reaper employed by an organization owned and run by Grim (yeah that Grim). She's sort of a slacker, doing her job but not much more, and just trying to stay off of the big guys' radar. One of her closest friends, however, Josie, is an incredibly ethical reaper, following all of the rules to the letter. The two own a ship together (the only way to drop their souls off above and below as determined, is to sail across a sea in Limbo), and sometimes their relationship can get a little strained, especially when odd things start happening in Limbo and nobody knows quite why. Add in one of their other closest friends, the hot mess of an archangel Gabriel, and you have a very interesting group. :)
If you're a Urban Fantasy reader like me who loves a variety of supe groups in your books, you will adore this series. It has Reapers, Spirits, creatures from Mythology, Demons, Angels, and more, and all of it is blended seamlessly into an endlessly entertaining (and surprisingly accurate) pastiche. I laughed out loud, I swore under my breath, I cheered on our kick butt heroine, I cringed when things went bad, it was fabulous, and having just done a bunch of online research on the classifications of angels and demons for something else, I was very pleased to see the amount of research that went into the creation of this book, without it taking anything away from the lightheartedness of the story.
There's not a lot of romance in here, but it's a Urban Fantasy Mystery that will keep you turning pages late into the night and wishing you could call in sick to work the next day. Angela Roquet quickly became one of my new favorite UF authors and I am jumping into book two immediately.
LITERAL ADDICTION gives Graveyard Shift 5 Skulls and emphatically recommends it!
We have an Event planned with Angela in April through Book Monster Promotions, so I decided to give the book a shot so we'd have a review to go along with the post. While I figured I had nothing to lose going in for the read, my immediate reaction upon finishing the book was quite different, all I could say was "Ooh I love it when review books turn into new obsessions! I LOVED this book and cannot wait to read more. Way to go Angela!" :)
Our heroine, Lana, is a reaper employed by an organization owned and run by Grim (yeah that Grim). She's sort of a slacker, doing her job but not much more, and just trying to stay off of the big guys' radar. One of her closest friends, however, Josie, is an incredibly ethical reaper, following all of the rules to the letter. The two own a ship together (the only way to drop their souls off above and below as determined, is to sail across a sea in Limbo), and sometimes their relationship can get a little strained, especially when odd things start happening in Limbo and nobody knows quite why. Add in one of their other closest friends, the hot mess of an archangel Gabriel, and you have a very interesting group. :)
If you're a Urban Fantasy reader like me who loves a variety of supe groups in your books, you will adore this series. It has Reapers, Spirits, creatures from Mythology, Demons, Angels, and more, and all of it is blended seamlessly into an endlessly entertaining (and surprisingly accurate) pastiche. I laughed out loud, I swore under my breath, I cheered on our kick butt heroine, I cringed when things went bad, it was fabulous, and having just done a bunch of online research on the classifications of angels and demons for something else, I was very pleased to see the amount of research that went into the creation of this book, without it taking anything away from the lightheartedness of the story.
There's not a lot of romance in here, but it's a Urban Fantasy Mystery that will keep you turning pages late into the night and wishing you could call in sick to work the next day. Angela Roquet quickly became one of my new favorite UF authors and I am jumping into book two immediately.
LITERAL ADDICTION gives Graveyard Shift 5 Skulls and emphatically recommends it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 943 reviews