The Reluctant Reaper
- Author MaryJanice Davidson
- Narrator Emily Lawrence
- Publisher Blackstone Publishing
- Publish Date 11 November 2025
- Run Time 7 hours and 35 minutes
- Format Audio
- Genre Comic (humorous) fantasy, Romance: fantasy and paranormal, Traditional stories, myths and fairy tales.
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What to expect
From bestselling author MaryJanice Davidson comes The Reluctant Reaper, a delightful romantasy—with a twist—featuring Death’s daughter.
What’s a death god to do …
A lot of twentysomethings might look forward to inheriting the family business. Amara Morrigan’s got zero interest in hers. The mantle she stands to assume is currently worn by her father, Death.
Amara’s childhood included helplessly watching as her best friend and her favorite teacher were taken away. She knows her dad didn’t do it on purpose … it was just their time. But Amara refuses to accept the job. It’s bad enough that she can sense when the final moment will be for anybody she meets—including her best (and only) friend, Gray. He knows who she is, and he’s cool with it. And though he’s the funniest, kindest, most understanding guy she’s ever met, she can’t allow him to get any closer (however much she might want to), because his moment is coming all too soon.
But now her father is dying. Ominous portents she can’t ignore pull Amara home to Minot, North Dakota, where Death is comatose—something that shouldn’t be possible. Thank all the gods that Gray refuses to be left behind. Amara’s mother is a mess, and Gray gives her somebody to cook for while the other death gods are gathering.
Alas, there’s not enough lefse in all of North Dakota to fix the situation. With their options waning, Amara agrees to (temporarily!) take up her father’s mantle—but she has to figure things out, and fast, because there is no way she’s doing this forever.
Critics Review
“MJD is the queen of snarky, engaging characters and plots that simply rock. Amara Morrigan is called to her father’s bedside to take over his job. Unfortunately, he’s Death and she must become the Reaper … in Minot, North Dakota.”
“A fast-paced, offbeat journey through life, death, and everything in between…Davidson’s voice is unmistakably witty and quippy, with humor that hooks immediately…[Readers] will be rewarded with a unique narrative voice and a surprisingly poignant existential love story…A fast, funny, and thoughtful romantasy, perfect for fans of kitschy humor, unconventional heroines, and lighthearted takes on deep philosophical questions.”
“Davidson’s signature lively humor turns what might have been a grim subject into a cozy one, mixing somewhat kooky mythology with Midwest charm.”
“Delightful and charming.”
“This was a fun, fast-paced story with intriguing characters and lots of witty banter…[Recommended] to anyone who enjoys a rom-com type romantasy with a mystery twist.”
“[A] humorous fantasy romance novel.”
“Suited to readers who enjoy light-toned romantasy with supernatural structure and emotional warmth.”
“There’s no better way to end the year than with a snarky, sort-of-tender rom-com, based on mythology and death gods, from the prolific St. Paul author of the wildly popular Undead series.”
| Author | MaryJanice Davidson |
|---|---|
| Narrator | Emily Lawrence |
| Duration | 7 hours and 35 minutes |
| Release Date | |
| ISBN | 9798228000704 |
| Format | Audiobook |
| Publisher | Blackstone Publishing |
| Genre | Comic (humorous) fantasy, Romance: fantasy and paranormal, Traditional stories, myths and fairy tales |
| Availability | AU, GB, IE, US |
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