This one is a funny and cute graphic novel about Jake, a young boy, who one day opened a mistery box and accidentally summons a grim reaper to drag him to the Eternal Void. So suddenly, Jake and his dead gang found themselves with the mission of find the Embassy of the dead and seek protection.

This supernatural middle grade with some fantasy and horror, it was a lot like Tim Burton's movies with that creepy vibe, the characters were funny and well develop and I love Jake since the first moment.. Is a very enjoyable story perfect for kids who want to start reading.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an honest review. This was a cute story. I think any child 4th grade to 6th grade would like it.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* really cool middle grade book, would have loved reading this book/series as a kid for sure!

This book was SO MUCH FUN!!! I really love the middle grade genre and I believe it’s for all ages! This was fun and immersive and engaging!

I will be recommending this book for purchase as an addition to our school library. Thank you for the opportunity to read.

Embassy of the Dead

By: Will Mabbitt

Candle Wick Press

Walker Books US

Middle Grade

Publish Date 08 September 2020

#EmbassyoftheDead#NetGalley

50 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader

I would like to thank both NetGalley and Candle Wick Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Good Reads Synopsis:

Jake Green is dead. Or he might as well be when he mistakenly accepts a package from the Embassy of the Dead in this hilarious adventure of the afterlife, the first in a series.

When Jake Green opens a mysterious box containing a severed finger, he accidentally summons a grim reaper intent on dragging him to the Eternal Void (yes, it’s as fatal as it sounds). Now Jake is running for his life. Luckily, he has a knack for talking to ghosts, which just might help him survive long enough to reach the Embassy of the Dead and plead his case. With the help of a prankster poltergeist and a dead undertaker, Jake dodges fearsome undead creatures, discovers his own ghostly abilities, and gets excused from the school field trip due to a terrible (and made-up) bout of diarrhea. But the Embassy has its own problems, and Jake must be very careful where he places his trust–in both the living and the dead. With a plot that zips and a colorful cast of characters, this delightful new series delivers laughs and shivers in equal measure.

Review:

I am really late in reviewing this book. This should of been done over a year ago. Sorry everyone. I gave this book 3 stars. It was okay but the story felt familiar to me. This is about Jake who has received a package from a stranger and when he opens it there is a finger inside. In the first place the package isn’t for him so he shouldn’t have opened it but he did which is normal for a kid. He needs to return this package with it’s strange gift and he recruits some ghost to do so. Things happen when they are trying to return this finger. It was a quick read and fun.

DNF at 50%

I was really excited to read this. But unfortunately, I could not make it through this.

This book follows Jake who opens a strange box containing a severed finger, he accidentally summons a grim reaper to drag him to the Eternal Void. We follow Jake and his gang trying to find the Embassy of the Dead and seek protection.

I think the reason I didn't like this was that it was a little too young for me. I love middle grade but I felt like this is for much younger readers. The characters felt flat and the plot wasn't that entertaining.

I wish I liked this, but it fell flat for me.

A case of mistaken identity lands twelve-year-old Jake Green in possession of a mysterious and dangerous box containing a frighteningly severed finger. The messenger, a ghostly man named Stiffkey, returns for the box when he realizes his mistake but it is too late for Jake who quickly becomes the target of the Embassy of the Dead and their reaper. Jake's only chance at escaping the Eternal Void is to help a troubled ghost pass on and become an Undoer.

This was a lot of fun and I couldn't help but think it would make a wonderful Tim Burton or Laika stop-motion film while reading! The characters are interesting and the plot is fast-paced and spooky and adventurous at the same time.

I love a good middle grade book that has creepy aspects, but is funny. I really enjoyed Embassy of the Dead and cannot wait to continue the series.

This is a middle fantasy/horror, but I would not say it was scary. This book made me think of the movie Beetlejuice at several points in this book. All the characters where very developed, and I loved so many of them. I have to say to ending left so many thing up in the air, so I wonder if there's going to be a follow up book. The are ghost, ghost animals, adventure, and so much more. I really love the adventure this book took me on. I would say this book is good for anyone 9 years old and older. I even adults will love it because I really loved it. I did not love the pictures in the book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Walker Books Us) or author (Will Mabbitt) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

I absolutely adored this book. This is one of the best children's books that I have read in a long time. I liked the adventure and comradeship displayed. Can't wait to read the rest of this series. This is the perfect book to make a young reader fall in love with reading.

I got this on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

Okay, so I really enjoyed this one! I kept procrastinating, but why did I??? Honestly, the perfect balance between fun and creepy, and I can't wait to keep reading this trilogy and find out how it goes for the gang! There were also quite a few unexpected twists in this, and I'm sure if I had read this as a child I would have devoured it in only a few days!
My only criticism is that I think the end was a bit too fast-paced, and wish the book lingered on the main conflict moment for longer. Still good tho!

My son amd I read this together and we both loved it. He is 13 and very much enjoys reading books with me. The characters in this book were very lifelike, each with their own personalities. The plot was wonderful for kids and I think both boys and girls would love reading this adventure about how a simple "Good morning" can get you into a lot of trouble!

This was great, fast-paced, quirky middle grade! It would definitely be a favourite amongst children. I’ll be recommending!

Jake Green is a pretty ordinary kid who becomes pretty extraordinary when he accepts a box from a mysterious stranger. The box contains a severed finger, and if that's not freaky enough on its own, the act of opening the box - hey, it didn't come with instructions - has put Jake on a very dangerous radar: a grim reaper is after him, intent on sending him into the Eternal Void. But it's not entirely Jake's fault: Stiffkey, a ghostly undertaker, gave Jake the box! But he can't be entirely at fault, right? Jake used the secret phrase: "Good morning". But Stiffkey's in danger of getting thrown into the Void, too, so he appears to help Jake get the Reaper off his trail - which is how Jake discovers he has a talent for ghosts, and may be of some help to the mysterious Embassy, who has enough problems of their own. Jake has a habit of collecting ghosts, and his retinue expands to include a ghostly girl trapped by her trophy and a sweet pet fox, all of whom stand ready to help save the day.


Embassy of the Dead is the first in a new series, and it's got adventure, laugh-out-loud moments, and some thoughtful, moving moments that readers will love. There are some creepy moments, but they're fun, with chills and giggles, rather than outright fear or terror. The characters are each extraordinary in their remarkably ordinary-ness, which is the appeal of a good adventure. Graveyard Book fans will love this one. Black and white illustrations throughout add to the gothic, quirky mood of the story. I can't wait to see what Jake gets himself into next. This is just the type of spooky story my library kids love. I can't wait to get it to them when we open back up... but in the meantime, I'll crow about it here, and to the kids in the community I'm subbing at for now.

This has to be one of the most fun books I’ve read in a while. I almost wish I had read this around Halloween time, because it would have been the PERFECT book to get me into that spooky feel. Almost. Because I am very glad I’ve read this book.

The plot is not overly complex which makes it all the more interesting to jump right into the story. And the plot kicks off fast when the main character, Jake, meets a ghost who gives him a box containing the severed finger of a very dangerous corpse. Along with said ghost and a whole cast of really fun characters, Jake has to keep this box from those who would use its contents to bring about a very real peril, while also avoiding the trouble that follows him from the Embassy of the Dead.

One thing that really stood out to me was the realistic approach it took to a child’s feelings as their parents are going through a divorce. We clearly see the inner turmoil of Jake as he adjusts to this new normal that he has been so quickly thrust into. It makes a great parallel to the not so normal situation he is later thrust into as he has to learn how to navigate not only his world, but the world of the no longer living.

The plot was very well-paced, easy for young readers to follow, given that we are following a select handful of characters who are all distinct. By the end, it is easy to get invested in Jake’s journey and the relationships he has made along the way. I was left really excited to see where Jake’s new found talents lead him in the next book, which is a sign of a truly entertaining read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Walker Books for a review copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

There’s absolutely nothing that says a ghost book can’t be funny! I was attracted to the idea that this book could do both and be the best of both worlds. Pun intended. Don’t hate me.

Embassy of the Dead is a funny, light story about a mix-up that could Jake his life … and death. When he’s thrust into a world of ghosts and rules, Jake has to figure out who to trust or it could cost him everything.

While I enjoyed this book, it wasn’t as funny as I expected. It had a sort of quite humor, with small jokes and puns, that was quirky rather than laugh-out-loud funny.

My Thoughts:

- The haunting in this is mild and tinged with humor, which makes it perfect for younger middle grade readers. There are small moments that build on the creepy atmosphere, but nothing particularly scary. Add that to the humor, and I can see this being a big hit for younger middle grade readers! There are some darker aspects, for sure, like the fact that Jake is being hunted by a Reaper and faces the punishment of being tossed into the Eternal Void. Still, the tone is mostly upbeat overall, and the plot flies along at a steady clip.

- This book is less spooky and more fun-filled adventure, with a few ghostly sidekicks thrown in for good measure. The best way to describe this cast is quirky, which made for a lot of fun while reading. Each character introduced was something new, and never exactly what you might expect, and it was a delight to get to meet them. Not all ghosts are made equal, after all. While the subject matter may sound like horror, I was left with more of an impression of adventure and think this would be well suited for someone looking for more of an adventure read. If you’re in this for the shivers, it’s probably not going to deliver. What it does deliver on is a fun cast, large stakes, and a fast-paced adventure that takes the reader a little through this world and a little through the ghost world.

- I sort of wish the embassy had been better explained in this and had more of a role. I mean … it’s kind of in the title, isn’t it? The Embassy ends up feeling more like a deus ex machina, providing an artificial conflict that I never got a real good feel for. The reason Jake ends up in trouble and threatened with the Eternal Void is never really explained more than an excuse akin to the one any parent gives when they don’t want to elaborate: “Because I said so.” I was hoping for a little more solid reasoning. All in all, the Embassy comes off looking entirely incompetent in this book, yet is also meant to provide the source of conflict, so the two concepts didn’t quite mesh well in my mind. I highly doubt a target reader will mind, but it was a bit of a sticking point for me.

- I’m not sure Jake actually really did anything in this book, other than drive a van? It feels like he mostly just … stumbled across things. In fact, that’s how he lands himself in this situation in the first place, and that’s the one time I totally bought it. That scene was funny, what can I say? After that, though, it seems like Jake’s wins and progress comes from having someone tell him what comes next, essentially, or accidentally stumbling upon something he needs or getting lucky. It would’ve really been nice to see him be a little more proactive, but instead, he comes across almost as a bystander. Except, you know, the part where he steals his father’s van, which isn’t cool, but whatever. It just all seemed a little too easy for him.

What happens when you open a box and accidentally summon the wrath of death?! Jake Green finds out in this funny, delightfully spooky, adventurous middle-grade paranormal thriller! It’s the perfect combination of relatable and feeling like it’s taking place on a different spectral plane. I love how it introduces so many creatures from beyond the grave - including the dead, ghosts, grim reapers, and other scary beasts! And it’s perfectly creepy illustrations (that don’t skew toward a specific gender, appealing to all kids) help make this an awesome magical mystery for any kid interested in all things weird.

Cute middle grade read. While slightly spooky, it's not truly scary, more eccentric, and fun. The main character is truly at the wrong place at the wrong time, which makes for all kinds of hijinx. I enjoyed all the characters, especially the dry Stiffkey. It's a perfect read for kids that want to be creeped out but not have to hide under the covers!

This middle-grade book is the perfect cozy-spooky book for October and the presence of illustrations also really helped with imagery and atmosphere!