Dead Girl Walking

Royal Reaper #1

by Ruth Silver

Princess Ophelia Dacre sneaks out of the castle to visit her boyfriend in secret. A perfect night cut short when she’s brutally murdered.

Ophelia is given the rare chance to become a grim reaper. She must become Leila Bele, cut ties with her old life, and follow the rules of the reapers. Her greatest adventure begins with death.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural, Historical Fiction, Action

113 pages, ebook

First published April 24, 2014

About the author

Ruth Silver first began writing poetry as a teenager and reading heaps of fan fiction in her free time. She has written under three unique pseudo names and penned well over a hundred stories.

She attended Northern Illinois University in 2001 and graduated with a Bachelor's in Communication. While in college she spent much of her free time writing with friends she met online and penning her first novel, "Deuces are Wild", which she self-published in 2004. Her favorite class was Creative Writing senior year where she often handed in assignments longer than the professor required because she loved to write and always wanted to finish her stories.

Her love of writing, led her on an adventure in 2007 to Melbourne, Australia. Silver enjoys reading YA novels and sharing her favorite books with other readers. She runs her own book blog and also enjoys photography and traveling.

Her favorite YA genre is a mix of Dystopian & Fantasy which is evident in the upcoming release of her latest book, Aberrant. Slated for release April 2013 by Lazy Day Publishing, it is the first in a trilogy.

Reviews

[Alicia Batista (Addicted Readers) · Rating 5 out of 5]

DEAD GIRL WALKING was such a refreshing original world that I couldn't get enough of! Ruth Silver delivers (As Always ;) in this historical-fantasy blend, with a paranormal twist of grim reapers, angels, and a romance that's sure to leave you yearning for more!

DEAD GIRL WALKING was my first book on grim reapers. And to be honest, I was a little skeptical. Not because I didn't have faith in the authors work, because everything that Ruth has written has been amazing. But because I'm not a big fan of ghost-reapers, or even the angel books that I have read, there just not really my thing. BUT I was pleasantly surprised that DEAD GIRL WALKING was fantastic and enthralling! I found myself lost in the pages, and when it was over I wanted more! I wanted to continue the journey into the undead!

THE PLOT...

Princess Ophelia is bound to the rules her father, the king sets. She is betrothed to someone she doesn't love. She is force into a marriage she can't imagine living. But Princess Ophelia has a secret, one that will shatter her world if it's ever revealed. She has a secret lover that she loves with all her heart. And though she knows just how much danger she is putting him in by being with him in secret, she can't help that her heart calls to him. But he is ignorant to the truth. He does not know she is a Princess. He does not know that their world as they know it is about to come to an end. He does not know... but he's about to find out!

Princess Ophelia is on another one of her adventures sneaking out of the castle to meet her beloved. Everything is going as planned, until the unthinkable happens. She is brutally murdered in the alley and left for dead. Her lovers meet turns into her worst nightmare! It becomes the end of Princess Ophelia, but it's the beginning for Leila the Grim-Reaper!

The night of her murder was the day Princess Ophelia dies, but it's the day Leila Bele is born. She is given the rare opportunity to become something she never knew existed. Something she can't imagine doing. She is given the chance to live again, but awaken as a grim reaper, with the sole purpose to help the dead move on. Something Leila would rather not do. But with so many questions about what happen to her, Why was she murdered, who did it, what did they hope to achieve? She can't allow her soul to rest in peace. She has unfinished business here in this life. And she determined to find out!

No longer Princess Ophelia, and now Leila Bele, she struggles with her new found life as someone else, watching the living die, and helping the dead move on without pain. But fortunately Leila has a group of other Grim Reapers at her side. Teaching her the ropes and helping her in her struggles. And their is one in particular that has caught her interest, and maybe her heart...

Just as Ruth put it in the Blurb:

"For Princess Ophelia, her greatest adventure begins with death."

That is the best example for this book! It was so much fun to read. With it's nightly balls at the castle, to princesses sneaking out and defying their king. To a secret lovers meet that ends in murder. To a brand new adventure that begins with death, full of grim reapers, ghost, angels, conspiracies, murder, revenge, new beginnings, friendships, and ultimately, love!

DEAD GIRL WALKING is just that great "Pick me up book" that I needed in my reading slump! It was fantastic, and I need the next book, NOW!!

NOTE: I received an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced in any way!

[Levian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Princess Ophelia was to wed Prince Astin when the time comes, but she was in love with Larkin, a commoner. she often sneaked out of the castle to meet him secretly after everyone in the castle went to sleep. one day meeting with Larkin, she was murdered. however, instead of falling dead, she found herself staring at her body with no one being able to see her. she later found out that she was a newly recruited Grim Reaper, joining the team by the name Leila. she had to cut all ties with her old life but found it every bit difficult when Larkin was the next to die.

the book was absolutely easy read. Leila was a character so believable that it was easy to fit in her shoes, experiencing what she was experiencing, especially the struggles against death, making her highly relatable. i was relieved to find their group consisted of only a few members, just so not being overwhelmed by supporting characters, but it was also slightly disappointing to know so little about them before they were removed from the scene completely. the uniqueness of the plot was the main attraction that kept me flying through the pages in no time. i had fun exploring their lives as much as the adventure Leila was forced to go through. with the cliffhanger that i was left with by the end of the book, i can't wait to lay my hands on the coming installment.

my review: here

[Lanie (Lanies Book Thoughts) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this story, I thought it was a cute read for a teenager because it took a dark subject matter and kinda lightened it up. I figured this book would be very 'goth' and morbid because it dealt with death,murder and grim reapers but this wasn't the case. The subjects were touched upon but not dragged out or really gruesome. Being a grim reaper was more appealing than I've read about in some teen books. So in that instance, I thought it was nicely written.

I didn't particularly like Leila as the heroine of this story, obviously being a princess you're gonna get some entitlement but in this case it felt like too much. This girl just had no regards for the safety of those around her or her family, she just can't stop pushing boundaries. She had what seemed to me like tantrums when she didn't get what she wanted, and for her age, roughly 17, it was a bit obnoxious. The other issue was the romance part between her and boys, it felt very awkward. She didn't seem to stay attached to one or the other for too long, but kept bring "one" of them up constantly.

However, I did like the secondary characters a lot. I really would have preferred the book to be about them or perhaps the POV switch to them. I felt like Jasper and Violetta had a story that I wanted to know more about. I wanted to know why Violetta hid behind her dark makeup and why Jasper was so eager to play hookie from his reaper duties. After learning how old they are, that also sparked my curiosity as well as some other tid bits placed in the book. Wynter was the other character I wanted more from which I got near the ending, we get pieces of his POV.

The general idea of the story is that Leila has become a reaper not by choice which has cut her life short. She'll never be Queen or marry the boy she loves, or even have the chance to see her little sister grow up. No one knows who truly murdered Leila, but she intends to find out or at the very least keep tabs on her little sister. Leila can't let go of her past, even though it's crucial for her to more forward. A good portion of the story is devoted to mini adventures Leila goes on and experiences with the overall idea being finding out "who done it".

This book is quite fast paced so expect to be constantly moving forward through the story. There's not too much depth to this story but as I said it's really geared for teens. I think it's one where you're gonna enjoy it if you're looking for something light with a dark whimsical twist. Overall, liked the plot and the general idea of the story. It'd be good for teens probably 13/14 yrs and older.

[Freda Mans-Labianca · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a quick, fun and easy read. Perfect for the season too.
This story reminded me of that old grim reaper TV show, Six Feet Under. All the things you normally think about reapers is not so, the reapers are more human like the show. They live like humans and look like them too, just in an undead way.
I liked the story itself but didn't love the end. Man, it was rushed like an ambulance. I hate abrupt endings.
I would read more though. I want to see how Leila does as a reaper, plus we finally got to the romance between her and Wynter. I definitely want to peek in on that part of the story some more.

[Tasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given a review copy of this for review and in no way has this effected my review.

*4.5 star rating*

I really enjoyed this book! The pacing was good, the writing simple and the story straightforward.

The characters all acted their age. The female protagonist, Leila, went through a lot in a very short span of time but pulled through with the help of her reaper friends.

The group of grim reapers had their share of misadventures before Leila arrived but after her arrival the list just went on and on.

Romance took a backseat in this book but I think I know where the couple is heading!

Silver effortlessly combined reapers, angels and royalty into one amazing, quick read with a sequel that looks promising.

Also, Dead Girl Walking is a clean book without foul language or sex. And as the story isn't dark, it can be read by anyone from the age of 13 to adults.

[Cary Morton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Review Originally posted to Author Unpublished: http://authorunpublished.wordpress.com

I hate giving one-star reviews. I loathe it… but I simply could not get through this book. The cover was gorgeous, the synopsis was interesting, and I was excited when I picked up my ARC copy of Dead Girl Walking by Ruth Silver. Despite my predisposition towards reading YA novels on a regular basis, it did not take me long to realize that I was probably the worst possible reader choice when it came to picking up this book.

This book got a lot of 5-star reviews before it picked it up, so I was expecting a spectacular, in-depth read… but that isn’t what I got. I got a familiar read instead. The plot was uncomfortably similar to another series from a few years back (which just happens to be one of my favorite series), and while I hate to compare books (and so I will not name the series here), the two are remarkably alike. Both series contain a girl who by unfortunate circumstances is killed, and finds herself invited into the ranks of the reapers. Both have younger sisters of about the same age… both main characters chafe against the new rules of being reapers… both take on new identities and appearances… and unfortunately, their method of reaping, how they get their reaping notices, etc, is all nearly identical. The difference, unfortunately for this novel, is that the older series thrives on it’s in-depth characterization, gripping drama, and world building. Dead Girl Walking contains none of that.

The main character, Ophelia, is entitled in a way that isn’t pleasant: she isn’t aware of how entitled she is. She takes her status in society and wealth as if it were normal, and despite her constant protests that she knows what it is like to be a commoner, she really has no clue. She holds no accountability for the danger she put herself in, the heartbreak she brought to her family, or the job of being a reaper. She’s barely been a reaper for a few hours, and after having the importance of her new job explained to her (and having signed a contract), she is flippant about her obligations. I found it incredibly difficult to relate to her, or even like her.

As she unraveled it, the scroll revealed her first reap. “Absolutely not.” She was not ready for this; she would never feel ready. She rolled the scroll up and shoved it back into her stocking. “It’s your lucky day, Asher Smoot. I’m not taking your soul.”

The other characters faired no better. Though I was given their names and genders, three chapters past their introduction, I still knew nothing about them. Not what they looked like, their ages, their personalities… nothing. Other than Ophelia/Leila, the cast of the book seemed to be present because Ophelia/Leila needed someone to bounce conversations and actions off of. They felt like stand-ins instead of real people. I was given no sense of their personalities, nor what they thought of the main character. They were just names on a page.

I managed to labor through the first quarter of this book, and to be honest, the story seemed to skim by on the bare minimum of content. The world-building is remarkably absent, and was set in a fantasy world for reasons I couldn’t fathom. Other than the fact that it provided the opportunity for the main character to be a princess and for everyone to run around in period clothing and ride horses… there was no lore to fill out the world. This story could have just as easily been placed in a contemporary setting, and with the exception of the main character becoming an Heiress instead of a Princess, there wouldn’t have been much of a difference.

The characters were 1-dimensional, and the descriptions of... well… anything really, are completely missing. Breaks in scenes were treated as if the story just went on from paragraph to paragraph, with no clear delineations of a change in time or location. Sometimes, characters actions seemed out of place or overblown for what was happening, and unfortunately, the reader is not privy to any of the in-head thought processes that would have served to help ground Ophelia’s actions in reality.

“Why can’t we get a carriage?” she fussed.

“Only the royal and wealthy have carriages, which neither of us are. You’ll learn to ride, just like the rest of us.” Violetta took off with Leila gripping her from behind.

Approaching the ocean, they slowed.

Thought this is marketed as a Young Adult novel, in the end, the writing was simplistic and bare-bones, and seemed more reminiscent of a Middle-Grade or children’s book rather than something marketed to teenagers. Though the narrative was grammatically correct and punctuated appropriately, it was written in the most basic of forms. It would probably make for an easy read, but seems almost as if it’s been dumbed down for an age range that doesn’t need to be talked down to. The premise of this book was good. There was a lot of promise in the synopsis and idea behind the story, but in the end, the story fell short of my expectations. In my opinion, the book was off the mark for it’s intended audience, and lacked substantial content. I really wish there had been more meat on the bones of the story…. more characterization, more personality, more description.

Would I read it again? No. Would I recommend it? Maybe for teenagers that don’t commonly read. The narrative style of this book is very simple and lacks the complexity an avid reader would enjoy. I’m sure there are many teens out there that may enjoy this book, but as someone who reads 100+ books a year, I found I had difficulty sinking in. I’ve read some amazing YA books this year that were full of complexity and characterization, and unfortunately, this wasn’t one of them. I truly wish I’d loved this book more than I did. I don’t think it was written poorly, but perhaps not appropriately for it’s reader base. I didn’t find it as engaging as I’d hoped, and in the end, it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

[Holly · Rating 1 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this from the author in exchange for an honest review.
*Review can be found on The Fox's Hideaway.

I love story-lines that involve grim reapers. They fascinate me to no end; these creature that harvest the souls of the dead. So, when I read the synopsis and saw that pretty cover, I definitely wanted it. But I hated this book, and it makes me sad because I was so looking forward to reading Dead Girl Walking.

There have only been a few characters that I loathe after all the books I've read, and one of them is Ophelia Dacre. I don't think I've ever read a character who was more selfish, self-centered, naive, and more annoying than Ophelia Dacre. There was absolutely no character development with her, and I honestly did not care one iota about her. This was written in 3rd person, thank God. I don't think I could have stood to listen to Ophelia's whiny, unintelligent, unemotional, and sour voice. I just could not stand her attitude about anything. There were times when something happened and this girl had the worst response ever.

Examples: Her grumbling about the cold instead of worrying about her sister being in trouble. Her not even bothering to ask how Wynter's doing after he ruined his life for her, or properly thanking him, or even showing him that she cared about him. Her asking too much from Wynter and expecting him to just do what she wants, without even bothering to think about the price such favors could cost him.

She never gave a thought to her actions and the consequences that followed them. I also didn't feel any emotions from her, even when there were moments when she should have been on her knees and crying because her heart was broken. She was just a weak character.

And the secondary characters were placemats, all set up to make Ophelia look good. They had no backgrounds, no personalities, and no value whatsoever in the story. Their "relationships" with Ophelia were all superficial and had no true depths. This book was about Ophelia and her life, which I wouldn't have minded so much if I had actually liked the MC and the secondary characters were still strong elements in the story. I think my favorite was Violetta, just because she didn't take shit from anyone and she wasn't the biggest fan of the MC. They were supposed to be a group of friends, these reapers, but all of them were only there to further the plot along and to get Ophelia to that ending. Nothing more, which was so sad considering most of them have been around for a long time and they could have had amazing backstories.

There really wasn't even a plot in this story. It felt more like a bunch of random scenes thrown together. Some were supposed to suspenseful, and yet, I felt no sense of danger for the characters. Some were supposed to be emotional, and yet, I felt nothing in this story. And since I didn't care for Ophelia, nothing bothered me about this book. And I just don't totally understand the creatures in this book. The world building was nonexistent. And speaking of world, this had the feel of a fantasy but it was so very modern. The setting, dialogue, and details didn't mesh together at all.

The writing style was very sophomoric. The characters' conversations felt disjointed and awkward, and the story-line didn't flow well. I was very bored throughout the book, and the only reason I finished was because it was such a quick read. Sadly, Dead Girl Walking was extremely disappointing.

[Nay Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received this book in exchange of an honest review form the author.

Dead Girl Walking is a story about a Princess named Ophelia who sneaks out to see her forbidden boyfriend. She is already arranged to be married, but on the night she goes to see her boyfriend she is killed by a mysterious guy and saved by Edon, a grim reaper. He gives her the option to either let her soul move on or get a second chance at life as a grim reapers under a new identity -- she accepts.

When she accepts, she becomes Lelia and gets a new body to live in with different features. At first she disobeys the rules and doesn't reap souls and visits home, but eventually she learns that every choice has a consequence and things need to happen in an orderly manor. Lelia was definitely an interesting young lady. She was afraid at certain points and very bold. I love her indecisiveness, sometimes I normally despise that, but Ruth Silver made it work for Lelia's character.

Mara, Princess Ophelia's baby sister, was a sweet, confident young lady. She respected her role as the princess, but when her sister died she started to question a lot of things and loved it. Edon reminded me of a warden. He was strict, kept conversation short and to the point and may be the head reaper. Wynter was such a handsome character for me. I enjoyed him from start to finish. He was caring and mysterious. The secret romance between him and Lelia was amazing. The friendship they built was rich. Definitely perfect.

Overall, this was a good start to the series.

[Emma Andje · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dead Girl Walking was a pretty average book. It had a good storyline and okay characters. I found it to be a satisfying book to read in between meaty books; it is a great palette cleanser. It was also a very quick read, it only took me two days to read during the school week.

The main downside to this book, though, was that it had no overarching plot. There wasn't a major conflict that needed to be solved throughout the book, just little problems that were solved, then the next one came up, it was solved, and so on. Another issue I had, was that this book was incredibly short for a full-length novel. I wish this had been longer and combined with one or books in the future series, which would have prevented both of these problems. It just seemed unfinished, unresolved, and unsatisfying. These problems seem to be a trend in indie authors, since most of the books I have read by them lately have had them.

Despite this book's need for substance, it was still a quick and fun read that I would recommend if you need a refresher between books.

*I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review*

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.

Princess Ophelia Dacre is not your ordinary princess, one who thinks she is better than most folks especially the poor people. No Princess Ophelia is a very nice and sweet young lady who cares about everybody. But she doesn't like to follow rules, rules that she doesn't agree with at least. The King Ophelia's father has arranged her marriage to Prince Astin. The only problem Ophelia has with this arrangement is the fact that she doesn't love the Prince and she doesn't like people controlling her life and bossing her around. She may not like all the rules that are assigned to her but she does try to follow them and do what is required of her unless she doesn't agree with them.

Ophelia has a secret; she sneaks out her bedroom window at night to go meet her boyfriend Larkin. She even keeps secrets from Larkin too. He doesn't know that she is the princess. Ophelia has not told him because she is afraid of losing him if he knows the truth. Not that he would break it off but he would probably want to go tell her father how much he loves her and her father would more than likely lock her up in the tower and throw away the key. Anyways he would find a way to stop Ophelia from seeing Larkin no matter how much he hurt his daughter. The royal family has a reputation to follow and live by, of course. One night when she is out with Larkin at a pub she has to go to the outhouse but before she reaches the outhouse she murdered.

Ophelia is given a choice to either move on or become a grim reaper. She chooses to be a grim reaper. She then becomes Leila, the reaper of souls. Leila has a lot of rules that she must go by as a reaper but she doesn't like following rules no better now than she did when she was Princess Ophelia and alive. She has a lot to learn as a reaper but she has a wonderful group of Reapers to teach her all the ropes of being a reaper. When Leila gets her first reap she finds out that it is not exactly what she thought it would be. Actually she never really gave any thought to what being a reaper meant. The only thing she was thinking about at the time was finding out who killed her. Leila decides that she doesn't want to be a reaper any longer. Her understanding of being a reaper means that she is killing people and she wants no part of that.

Leila meets other reapers that teach her a lot about being a reaper and the rules that she must follow. They also become her friend and help her when she needs it or gets herself into a bind. Leila likes all of her new friends especially Wynter whom she comes to care about a lot and who also cares about her. Wynter and Leila have a special kind of relationship. Does Leila find out who killed her? Will she ever learn to accept the choice she made? Will Wynter and Leila fall in love? If they do will they ever tell each other how they feel? To find out the answers among other things you will just have to read Dead Girl Walking of course.

Dead Girl Walking is not the first book by Ruth Silver that I have read and I hope that it won't be the last. Every book by Ruth Silver that I have read I loved so when I saw that she had written another book I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I didn't even have to read the summary to know that it would be a great book. If you have not Dead Girl Walking then my opinion is that you should read it asap along with her other books as well like the Aberrant Series and Orenda they are just as amazing as Dead Girl Walking.

[Amphitrite · Rating 2 out of 5]

What I liked: I loved the idea that went into this book, especially with the way reaping a soul is done. The summary also is interesting, it makes you wonder what's going to happen. What's the adventure? How did she die? Why is her name changed? Who was the boy?

What I didn't like: Ophelia is supposed to be a princess, and frankly her acceptance on the fact that she no longer has anything she's grown up with (servants, the prettiest gowns, fancy balls, the best food, carriages, etc.) came way too easy. I expected her to be fussy and whine a lot about the fact she didn't have any of that anymore, because that would have been realistic since that's really all she's ever really known. Even if she was sneaking out to meet a commoner boy she liked, she wouldn't have really accepted the things they eat and drink and the way they live when she still lived in a castle. There's also quite a bit of inconsistencies within the book, especially when Ophelia starts her job as a reaper. She says something she couldn't know and maybe a few lines later she asks about the exact same thing she said a few lines earlier was true. The characters felt flat, there wasn't any real world building, and there was no emotion to drive me into continuing the book....I just kept flipping to finish because I wanted the book to be over with. No breaks between scene changes, travels seemed to just happen and we were given no sense of time passing in the book at all. The descriptions lack all the way through the book except in a few places, and of course Ophelia gets her descriptions but we know little to nothing about the others throughout most of the book. While the summary does make you ask questions, it's bland, boring, it doesn't really make me want to read the book like the summary did for Emeralds and Pearls by C. Spencer-Upton. Or The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason.

Overall Review: I wanted to like this book, especially with its high rating but it just did not work. I don't see how this book got four star ratings, much less five. I felt it deserved a two, and that's exactly what I gave it on Goodreads because it was an "okay" book. I didn't do anything to wow me, it just simply was there. It read more like a first draft than a finished book to me, and I was really upset about that. I tried, and this is the second book by this author that I've read that I didn't like. Nothing against her personally, her writing just falls flat compared to what I'm used reading every day, so this is the last book by her that I'll read.

Recommend?: For those who don't really read books, yeah. It's simple enough and short so that for someone who doesn't read a lot like some people they can breeze through it pretty easily. And maybe they'd like it.

[Jaime · Rating 2 out of 5]

Princess Ophelia has a boyfriend, but he is not her betrothed. He is a commoner and her father, the King, has no idea. If he did, he would have him tried for treason and executed. So Ophelia has been sneaking out of the castle for a year, and only her sister knows. Her boyfriend doesn't even know that he is dating a princess, he only knows her as Leila.

One night, after sneaking out to meet him as usual, things go terribly wrong and she is murdered. Once she leaves her body, she is given the chance to become a grim reaper, and she hesitantly accepts. She meets the other grim reapers in the area, who are now her team. Her appearance is changed, so that she is no longer recognizable as Princess Ophelia, and she takes the name Leila.

Okay, I really enjoy grim reaper stories. Call Me Grim by Elizabeth Holloway is a great one, and I highly recommend it. However, I had a really hard time liking this book. I think it had potential, but there were so many things that bothered me that I just can't say with any honesty that I enjoyed it.

First, Leila. I understand that the responsibility that comes with her new position cannot be easy, but she just decided that she wasn't going to do her job and caused a lot of heartache, with no repercussions. She was kind of a brat, and definitely whiny. She was reckless, and didn't think about what her actions would cost those around her. The other characters weren't nearly as bad, but they also didn't really have much personality. As Princess Ophelia, she was crazy in love with her boyfriend, but she fell in love with a fellow grim reaper mighty quickly not long after her death.

My other issue with the book was the time period. There are kings and queens and taverns, and kingdoms so I thought this was the 1800's, but the speech is all very modern. The characters were using words and forming sentences that we say today, and it completely threw me.
There were just so many things that weren't working for me, and it was disappointing. The time period, the characters, the plot... which was basically Leila wanting to find her murderer, and protect her sister from the same fate. Which happened, but in such a roundabout way, and with almost no amount of time being dedicated to any of it. It almost felt as though the real plot of the story was finding someone you can love in death. Which would be fine, if that had been the point of the story.

All in all, this one just didn't work for me. The story felt almost a little too young to be called YA. I think if I was a lot younger than I am, Dead Girl Walking may have worked a lot better for me. Alas, I am not that you anymore. I honestly can't say that I would recommend this one. I hate writing negative reviews. :(

[Amber Hodges · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this book sounded interesting but was a little hesitant just because the synopsis was kind of vague as well. I read the synopsis not letting it sink in that this is a time set back towards the Medieval period. I usually don't like books like that, but this book proved me wrong. I was sucked in.

This book talks about Reapers as someone that actually does good, not the typical skeleton in a ratty black cloak and a scythe. I liked the change and very much enjoyed reading it.

I picked this book up needing to read it for a review, but not necessarily feeling it before hand. That definitely changed once I started reading. I read about half of it one night before going to bed but dreaming about the story while I slept. I woke up bright and early to end up finishing it before doing anything else.

I thought Ophelia was a slightly annoying character in the fact that one minute she is stubborn and not wanting to do certain things and the next she is completely different. She changed very fast in a time period that seemed off from how fast she changed. I do understand that this was a shorter story, so I can see how the time can seem rushed. This however didn't change my opinion on the book. I did like Ophelia (aka Leila). She seemed sweet and not too sucked into the royalty life that she was born into. She seemed to be able to blend in anywhere she went.

Wynter was my next favorite character. He seemed so sweet and didn't give up. He is a character that you can swoon over. You get descriptions of him and Jasper, but you aren't told which one is which. I had a little hard time figuring out who was who, but I decided to cast him as the one with black hair, just because that is the color hair I tend to go for :) I do like the idea that if you die as a reaper you are just given a new look. That way if you do get a new body, you are liked for your personality, not your looks.

This story was great that you get a different perspective on things. It isn't all the creepy or evil. There is a lot of bad going on in the story, but for once, reapers aren't the cause of the evil. The author does a great job describing the situations that are going on within the world and you get to completely change your opinion through the book.

There is a romance in this book, well two actually, but the one that blossoms at the end is sweet and leaves you with a cliff hanger for the next book. I don't know when the next book is coming out, but I definitely will be waiting for my chance to get a hold of it. I need to know what happens next because there is a lot that I know is going to happen and I need to know what!

[Necole Ryse · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me just start with this. I hate HATE giving anything less than 3 stars. But I have to be honest.

I signed up to review this book because I participated in a book blitz and the synopsis pulled me in. I’ve never read a book about grim reapers so I was really intrigued. It has a great cover, a great synopsis, excellent excerpts and reviews. I really wanted to like it. I wanted to fall in love with the characters and the story line like everyone else had in the reviews. But, I didn’t.

Ophelia Darce did not move me. She was a flat character with no real emotions or reactions. I had no reason to care for her or her family or the supporting cast of characters because there was no background to her or her family. We landed in the middle of the story and trekked from there to the ending. I really did want to like her though. I wanted to feel bad for her, but I didn’t mostly because of the lack of emotion in the book. Ophelia chose to be a grim reaper with little or no thought. If I saw my dead body with my own throat slashed I think I would throw up, scream, something. She didn’t even panic.

Also, there were some fact checking errors where Ophelia thought or mentioned something before it was actually revealed in the book – and I don’t mean foreshadowing.

For example, in Chapter 2 it says, “She pulled out the scroll, relieved that it was still blank. She didn’t have an assignment yet, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t have one soon.” Ophelia had just signed the contract to become a grim reaper (the scroll). She did not know the intricacies of the job yet. How could she have known she would get assignments on the scroll? Two pages later she asks, “What do I do exactly? I mean as a reaper. How does it work?” Then, her scroll/assignments are explained.

This occurs again in Chapter 2 when she asks if reapers get paid for their services. She is told she gets room, board and a stipend. The very next page she walks into her new room and sees that she doesn’t have any clothes in her closet. The very next sentence: “She’d have to find out if reapers were paid a stipend.”


This book has a lot of potential to be good. I think the writing needs to be revised, and some real emotion and plot needs to be thrust into it. It could be a very good book. Right now, it seems bare-bones and flat, almost like a first draft.

Again, I really wanted to love this book. I just…didn’t.

Maybe you will?

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead Girl Walking is the first novel in the new Royal Reapers series by Ruth Silver, author of the fantastic Aberranti series. Aberrant is a dystopian/sci-fi/post-apocalyptic series that is absolutely chilling at times, but Royal Reapers is an entirely different kind of series.

The world of this book is wonderful, set in midst of kingdoms and royal politics with a side of grim reapers and dark angels and romance, too. The reapers that the author created were very different than others I have read, living and walking and easily seen by those still living around them. What is interesting is that, in many ways, Ophelia's life really doesn't begin until she becomes a reaper... a whole new twist on life after death!!

The mythology that has been created for these reapers is truly interesting. There are rules and regulations for their work, punishments for not carrying out their reaps accordingly. Yet, even as mediators of death, there is much they don't know about where the souls they reap go. This is a point that is made often, but never really explained so I am hoping that this is something that will be part of further books in the series.

The story line and its premise were refreshingly original to me. I loved the reapers she created and the plot was thoroughly engrossing. There was romance, intrigue, fantasy, and mystery galore. My only real issue, and it isn't a big one, was the slight insta-love between Wynter and Leila/Ophelia. It seemed to develop rather quickly on the heels of some traumatic events.

Things to love...

--The original mythology of the reapers.
--The interesting characters among the reapers.

Things I wanted more/less of...

--Less insta-love.

My Recommendation: This is a very different read than most of the "ghost reaper" kind of mythology. I love the interaction that the fantasy world had with the "real" world. If you like a good paranormal fantasy this is a good choice. A prequel novella, Ashes to Ashes, is due out in May of 2015.

[Deniz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's to another original and intriguing story! *raises imaginary glass*

Here's my little spiel on this lovely: it was great. It was spunky, it was funky, it was awesome-y.

First of all, I loved the characters. There was a good balance between the characters that readers naturally dislike and the characters that readers naturally like (or love). Not only that, but the characters each had a story and unique personality of their own. It was incredible to see all of these characters come together to create this weird yet real harmony. Silver did a fantastic job in doing it. Things weren't just plastered onto her blank canvas, but was intricately placed and happened for a reason instead.

I also want to talk about the story/time of the book. Man, I really loved the world this book took place in! To me, it was like a mix of the olden, more sophisticated days from various different areas of the world. I loved seeing the more vintage details of the story come to life. It was interesting, for example, to see just how much a carriage was used, bringing an emphasis to that one detail. It really leads me to believe that Silver moved with her story with purpose and that readers shouldn't take a small detail that is added within the story lightly.

This book kept me entertained. It is a short read, but it satisfied me. I was constantly wondering what would happen next in the story whenever I had to put it down to do something else. This story touched me in ways that I can't describe in words... I was refreshed and got thrust back into the YA Fantasy world after reading so much NA Romance, and I remembered just how amazing these darn books from this genre can be. I loved this book, and I definitely recommend it. I can't wait to read the next books in the series!

http://bookswithacupoftea.weebly.com/...

[Jennifer Ricketts (Donnie Darko Girl) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a review copy for my stop on the blog tour at Donnie Darko Girl.

A unique and entertaining take on grim reapers, Dead Girl Walking was an absolute joy to read. I couldn't help but adore this story - I love reading about grim reapers, and Silver's concept was fresh and original. The characters were engaging, and I really felt for them all. It can't be easy being a reaper. And the asylum is mysterious and creepy - you'll want to know more about it like I did.

Leila breaks the rules at first, and though her choices made me cringe, they made sense to me because she agreed to become a reaper so quickly without taking time to think about what that was going to entail. Plus she has a hard time letting go of her former life, which I would, too. I think anyone would! She worries about her younger sister, and the guy she fell in love with, especially since he's been arrested after her death.

The other reapers Leila lives with each have their own distinct personalities. I adored Wynter - his name, the way he helps and supports Leila without doing her job for her. He draws you in right away. Violetta was aggravating at first, but I came to admire her snark. I enjoyed Jasper's flirting with Violetta - he's incorrigible! ;) Emblyn is a quiet and friendly reaper, preventing Violetta from messing with Leila just because she's the new girl. Edon, who's the oldest reaper and kind of like Leila's boss. He's honest, brutally so, but he's gotta be in this line of work.

Dead Girl Walking is the first book I've read by Ruth Silver, and I'm her newest fan! This book went by so fast - I can't WAIT for the next installment!!

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and Sweet:
While I really loved the premise for this, several parts of it felt rushed. I'm a bit on the fence about continuing with the series, but leaning towards wanting to.
To Elaborate...
Princess Ophelia is enjoying sneaking out to meet her secret boyfriend (who thinks her name is Leila), but everything changes when she is murdered. When she leaves her body, she is given the chance to become a grim reaper, someone who finds and touches someone who is about to die so they won't feel pain, and their soul will be released. As she struggles to work through being a reaper, she is faced with challenge upon challenge still leftover from her old life.

The first part of this book really captured me. I loved the royalty/paranomal crossover so much, plus a secret/scandalous love interest? Yes, please. The opening dynamic with Ophelia and her sister is really sweet, and it made me hope for a stronger sister story. The grim reaper aspect, while surprising, was really refreshing and original.

However, there were so many areas where the story felt rushed. The story would just say how a character felt instead of opening it up to character development where you see their changing feelings instead of being told them. Though I definitely shipped the romance (and it wasn't insta-love, yay!), it had lots of rushing in it as well, especially given what happens to Ophelia's original love interest.
Overall, I did like the story a lot. I think I like it enough to continue the series, but I'm still a little hesitant. I would still recommend it to anyone looking for a unique twist and premise in a story.

Originally posted at I Heart YA Fiction: http://iheartyafiction.blogspot.com/2...

[Helena Ison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writing style:
I would describe the writing of this novel as concise. The story processes fairly quickly, but is executed excellently with a smooth flow. Beware of the slight cliffhanger, which will make you eagerly await the next book in this series. The likeable, witty characters make this story a must-read.

My Opinion:
Who said grim reapers had to wear black hooded cloaks and carry a scythe? Take everything you have heard of reapers and throw it out the window because it's totally not like that all at! They are just like me and you, well sort of. They walk among us, dress like us, and even have heartbeats! They are like a hybrid breed of the undead. (Without all those pesky restrictions and brain munching of course.) The reapers in Dead Girl Walking are sassy, trouble seeking teenagers that are set on bending the rules. Who would have thought dying would provide so much entertainment?

Ophelia is a princess whose life is sudden tuned upside down. Imagine one minute having everything and the next losing it and being throw into a strange new world. The biggest problem she faces is her past, more specifically straying away from it. Given the situation, I would have reacted the same way.... it's hard forgetting the life you had. Fortunately for her, her fellow reapers are always willing to provide aid in her ventures; no matter the risks involved. Reapers are like family, they protect one another until the end.



To-Read or Not-To-Read:
Read. You're going to enjoy this fresh new take on reapers!

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, wow, WOW! This was the first book of Ruth Silver's that I've had the privilege of reading, and wow! I was blown away. The setting of Dead Girl Walking was so descriptive that I instantly felt enveloped by the world of Princess Ophelia Dacre.

The attention to detail didn't end with the setting. Each of the characters in Dead Girl Walking seemed so unique that I truly felt like I had met a new group of people. As the princess left behind her identity of Ophelia and submerses herself into a new life of Leila, the Grim Reaper, I felt like I was right there with her. The struggle with her new life and new responsibilities was showcased in a searingly honest way that allowed me to experience her resistance, too. For those of you who enjoy romance, there's definitely a budding connection in this book. But it isn't the focus of this story. I was so appreciative of that. It was enough romance to satiate my HEA-loving heart, but the focus of the book was on Leila and her journey.



I can promise you that this will not be my last read of Ruth Silver's works. Her talent is captivating, and I cannot wait for the next book in the Royal Reaper series to continue following Leila's adventures as a novice Grim Reaper. It can't come soon enough!

**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review with no compensation.

[Cassandra Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a copy of Dead Girl Walking by Ruth Silver in exchange for an honest review. This is book one in the Royal Reaper series, and boy what a start! I found it to be one of those rare five star reads. I really loved this book and my only complaint is that I have to wait for the next book in the series to come out.

The story was set in a fantasy world where there were no modern conveniences. This added a different feel to the story. Ophelia experiences quite a bit of tragedy in this book. Being brutally murdered isn’t the end of her misfortune. Despite these tragedies, the story does not have a depressing feel to it. This is probably due to the interactions between Ophelia and the other grim reapers.

Ophelia has a hard time adjusting to her new existence as a grim reaper. Lucky for Ophelia her fellow reapers soon become good friends to her. Watching their friendship grow was fun. The story follows along as they all seem to break the rules more than once. Overall, the characters were all well-written and likable. The book did end with a cliff hanger, but it was not an annoying one. There was conclusion to part of the story in book one, and it left me looking forward to book two.

While this story did have some violence, it was not graphic. The romance was light and very PG. I think this could easily be enjoyed by young adult readers as well. This one is a must read, in my opinion.

[Jessica Adkins-Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leila Bele was once known as Princess Ophelia, but that was before she died. Brutally murdered, Ophelia is given a chance to either move on into the light or to become a grim reaper and reaped the souls of those who are lost before they suffer pain during their deaths.

Not known for following the rules, Ophelia, now known as Leila, needs to learn how to become the best reaper she can be while cutting all ties to her past. Along the way there are mishaps, adventures, and Leila finds a new family in her fellow reapers and a place to call home.

Dead Girl Walking is a wonderful, easy to read YA. Perfect for a rainy day indoors, I was able to read Dead Girl Walking in one setting and highly enjoyed this book. I don't read as much YA as I used to so for me Dead Girl Walking was a wonderful change of pace.

Grim Reapers, ghosts, and angels of death along with royal princesses, Dead Girl Walking has it all. Prince Ophelia is a rule breaker who longs to be free from obligations. All she wants to do is love a village boy. Spunky and courageous, Ophelia isn't your typical princess...or grim reaper.

Besides Ophelia, I highly enjoyed the rest of the reapers, including Wynter. Wynter is similar to Ophelia in many ways especially when it comes to breaking the rules. Ophelia and Wynter are a perfect match for one another.

I absolutely loved Dead Girl Walking and for those of you who enjoy YA, I'm sure you will too.

[Kimber Wheaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

Dead Girl Walking is an intriguing YA paranormal romance set in a fantasy world. Overall this is just a really good read: likable characters, flowing prose, and sweeping descriptions keep the reader turning the pages. This is my first book by Ruth Silver, and now I can't wait to read her others.

Princess Ophelia is a great character. Trapped under her father's rules, she sneaks out to be with the boy she loves, only to be murdered in an alley on the way to the tryst. She is given the option to live again as a reaper, guiding souls to the next plane. She accepts, knowing she can't rest with her murderer out there.

So that's where the story begins, with her rebirth as Leila the reaper. Given her background, one might expect her to be meek, but she is one spunky gal with no shortage of moxie. It was so much fun following along as she learned her new duties and made new friends (I really enjoyed the secondary characters!). I will admit that there were times when the story was a bit depressing, but it's very difficult to deal with death and reapers without some downers.

This is book one of a series, so expect a bit of a cliffhanger ending, though it isn't as bad as so many that I complain about. Overall I think this book is great for ages 14+ -- due to the subject matter, I wouldn't recommend it for younger readers.

[Maghon Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet and fun paranormal YA read. I loved the thought of how the reapers worked in this one, and I know that it's going to be an adventure for this one. I won't like, this one is heart breaking, and sometimes I just wanted to hug myself and cry. Poor Leila. She started out as a princess who just wanted some normalcy and romance, when a slightly tyrant father, but a wonderful series. And then something horrible happens, and she's given a choice, become a reaper, or be gone for good. She chooses reaper.

Laney, she struggles with being a reaper. She thinks that she can be alive, but not take souls. She's thinking she can get away with it, but everything has consequences, and when she refused to take a soul, she causes something that's pretty horrible. But then she learns from her mistake and and tries to make up for them. She also struggles really hard with letting go of her past, her sister, and wanting to catch her murdered. And when she does get to see her sister it's not such a good thing.

The plot is more sweet than anything, but it's an adventure and it's a great story about chosing how you want to live your life. It's really a fun story and I really enjoyed it. I hope there's more to come and I look forward to seeing how things may turn out with Wynter, and her new reaper friends. And of course her sister Mara. I was not disappointed and I can't wait for more. 4.5 PAWS!!

[Tanya Vought · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by Ruth Silver and I will be definitely reading more from her in the future!
She creates a paranormal, YA style book filled with Reapers and Dark Angels... that definitely lures you in right from the very beginning.

Leila was once known as Princess Ophelia. She was betrothed to a prince, but was in love with a commoner, Larkin... a man her father knew nothing about. But one night she was killed.

After she's killed...she receives a new life...as a Reaper by Edon. He helps her and gives her other reapers who can help her understand her new life/responsibilities.

Through the reapers friendships... she learns the ins and outs.. and heartache, pain of what happens when you don't follow through with your job. The new reapers, help her tremendously... especially one.. who you fall in love with yourself..
I can't wait to see what will happen more on that front! They are perfect for one another.. that's all I'm going to say.

This book was short and fast paced. I love the action, drama, intensity and uniqueness this book had to offer.

If you love YA paranormal books, strong kick ass princess, amazing Reaper friends...and a few dark angels, mayhem and mischief ...you will fall in love with this book.

I was very intrigued with the ending and loved the bonus material. I'm now eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series!!


5 stars from me.

*Recv'd a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Kirsty Bicknell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Girl Walking is written with such power and pace that I feel as though I held my breath throughout the story. It begins when its heroine, Princess Ophelia Dacre dies and she become Leila Bele, grim reaper! Leila is as confused as we are by her new identity; how many authors are brave enough to let their protagonist be killed off in the book's first chapter??! In becoming Leila, the Princess has to accept new rules, friends and a physical appearance.
The Reaper team are a mixed bunch; caring but rebellious Wynter, quiet Emblyn, feisty Violetta and cunning Jasper. When Leila makes her first Reaper mistakes it is Wynter who supports her and it is unsurprising how their relationship develops into something more.
Leila refuses to surrender all ties to her human life, especially when she discovers her sister is in a vulnerable position, but interfering leaves her and her friends with a difficult decision.
Ruth Silver's writing is fluid and her descriptions detailed, so much that I was afraid of the Asylum and its secrets. I love the fact that the author is not afraid to shock her reader, frequently exposing her characters to life-changing circumstances. Although aimed at a Young Adult audience I thought this was an exceptional paranormal/fantasy story and will appeal to a wide audience. I eagerly await the sequel!

[Alice Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from the author, Ruth Silver. Dead Girl Walking is the first book of the Royal Reaping series. This story is Princess Ophelia. Ophelia is a normal rebellious princess who wants to find true love. She has been making a habit of sneaking out to meet a boy, but she is destined to be Queen until she is killed while on a trip out to meet her normal local boy. Because she has unresolved issues, worry about her little sister and the identity of who murdered her, Ophelia has the opportunity to become a grim reaper and given a new chance at life, although it is more as an undead, than as a typical girl. Ophelia jumps at the chance and become Leila. As Leila she has to learn that there are rules she must follow and how to get on in her new life, or rather unlife. Leila makes friends and may even find love, but still tries to figure out how to protect her sister without breaking any more rules than she must.

This book was awesome. The story flows really well and keeps the reader interested. The story is aimed at young adults and could be read by adults as well. The characters really seem to come alive. Be warned though at the end of this book I want to know what is going to happen next. So I am ready to get my hands on the next book and find out what happens next.

I’m giving this book 5 stars.

[Katrina Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Now that the formalities are out of the way on with the review.

4 Stars

In this book you will meet reapers, dark angels, princesses, kings, gypsies, and many other types of characters. It is full of characters from all walks of life. It was an interesting read, but I wanted more :)

We first meet Ophelia, a princess in Casmerelda, and next in line to the thrown. She, however, isn't content with a life of just servitude and marrying just because her dad wants to keep good relations with another kingdom. So to combat that she sneaks out of the castle and ends up meeting a boy named Larkin. She doesn't reveal herself and on a fateful night something happens that changes both of their lives for better or worse remains to be seen.

Wynter is a reaper that has a bit of a darker side. He likes to break the rules or at least bend a little. The question, at least for him is, what happens when you bend them one too many times & was this decision worth it?

If you are looking for steam or lots of romance this book only eludes to it a little. It is a good story, but don't read it hoping for angst and strong love because you will be disappointed. I am looking forward to the next one to finish the story.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always pleasantly surprised when I pick up and read a book designated for the YA crowd. I think that's because the story always blows my expectations out of the water! I'm in love with this book and can't wait for more from Ruth Silver!

This story focuses on Ophelia/Leila, once the Crown Princess of her kingdom destined to be queen. But after sneaking out to meet her one true love and she is brutally murdered- she becomes a grim reaper.

A grim reaper is nothing like I expected! A grim reaper must reap souls from the dying so they souls do not feel any pain from the death they must endure. This helps the soul cross over, where is undecided because none of the reapers truly know.

As Leila learns her grim reaper powers and makes friends, even a new romantic connection, she has a hard time leaving her old life behind. Her love that she was sneaking out to see was executed, her sister's name shows up on her scroll and one of her friends turns into a dark angel!

There is so much mischief and mayhem in this book that is make it such an enjoyable romp! The characters are so appealing and the plot is unique and original! I definitely recommend this for teens and adults alike!

[Hollyberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruth Silver has done it again! I devoured this book in one sitting, it starts with some action in the first chapter, and never ends!

We meet Princess Ophelia when she is sneaking out of the castle to meet her boyfriend Larkin. They go to a pub where she believes that no one knows who she is, and they are having ale and going to dance. She goes to use the latrine outside and when she reaches it, she is suddenly murdered.

She then meets Edon, who tells her that she has been chosen to be a grim reaper. She does not believe what is happening to her, she does not think that she has been murdered, and wants Edon to put her back in her body and bring her back to life, though he cannot do that.

He brings her back to the asylum where all the other grim reapers live. She is introduced to some of them, and she immediately moves in to a house with some of the other girls.

This is when the story picks up and she starts to get her assignments, and she learns very quickly what happens if she decides to ignore one of them.

I loved all the characters in this book, and the plot, everything was bang on, and cannot wait for the second installment in the series.

If you are looking for a YA paranormal with something a little different, this one is for you! I give it a 4/5!