Honestly I didn't love this. A good effort but it didn't draw me in, I found it hard to get interested in. The cover is beautiful and it has a good premise but I just didn't like how long the plot took to unravel. I need something with a quicker pace.

DNF at 70%

Spoilers ahead - you have been warned.

This book starts off strong with death reaping the wrong person. But it slowly started to feel like chapters were missing. We jump from hate to love in a blink. There a massive inconsistencies with how death understands humans, one minute he’s wise a sage to the ways of humanity and other times completely naive in a way that someone who has observed them for millennia shouldn’t be.

Then we get my most hated trope “surprise pregnancy”. I gave it one more chapter but it felt forced.

Thank you @netgalley for my eARC in exchange for honest review.

Thank you for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. I love this story, it's so cute! Anything with death personified is an instant read for me.

I love this cover and after reading the book it makes so much sense.
This book was so unique and a little strange. But I enjoyed these characters and their quirks. It was so interesting how death wanted to have a life and experience a relationship and the human with the life experienced so much loss that she was so lonely. He really had to keep saving her.
There were so many funny quirks and a lot of parts were told in stories as if this was being told to us and not present tense.
Death was experiencing so much for the first time and he was very child like at times with his wonder. It made people uncomfortable but also curious about him.
That ending though was intense but there is no other type of ending and I loved how everything is connected since one of their outings from when they first met and she happened to save someone they met later on.

Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death is not a children’s story, despite the catchy title and whimsical cover! It is, in fact, a quirky little Pratchett-esque tale about an Auditor-style Death falling in love with a Susan-style mortal woman and the quietly touching shenanigans that ensue.

The blurb, cover and premise are all so promising and drew me in, and the story itself is a funny little love story, with some dark moments and lots of weirdness. I just never quite got the hang of either Death or Molly’s characters – they never came to life for me, despite all of the details of their lives that we observed. And I am afraid that I loathed the surprise pregnancy subplot, which just made no sense for the plot or characters and was a baffling decision all round.

There are moments of gentle humour and pathos throughout the book, but mainly this is a celebration of all of the small, squishy details of human life, the good and the bad, the struggles and tiny triumphs of the everyday and ordinary. That’s what Death truly falls in love with and reading this might make you fall in love with life a little more too, flaws and all.

This book was amazing! Giving the reader a glimpse into heaven and it politics was unlike any book I have ever read. The main characters Dee and Molly were multi layered and introspective with lots of humor thrown in to keep a deep, dark subject from becoming morose. I have been recommending this book to all my book loving friends.

I had such a great time reading this book! I've loved her other books, and this one sounded good, and it absolutely was! It was weird, and not at all what I expected, but I had a really great time with it! I loved reading about Azrael, grim reaper!

I utterly loved Azrael and Molly's dynamic. That they had all this time together because of a mistake, yeah, it was just that bit funny, in this so very strange novel. They were different, and things are complicated by the fact that he should kill her, but he doesn't.

The fact Death only knows about human culture from a very narrow scope-but that humanness also means he has to basically scrape it off to go report and such, which was really interesting way at looking at things, and I loved what that meant for his character!

This story was just so great to read, so strange and adorable, and I just loved this cast of characters, and oh, where it went, between the pregnancy and everything else, I wasn't sure how it was going to end, but I really enjoyed the ride! I'm so glad that I read this book!

This was a great read and I can't wait to read more by Maria Vale!

What was Maria Vale, she of the incredible shifter series The Legend of All Wolves, thinking? Who decides to make Azrael, the angel of death, an awkward and surprisingly, given his immortality, clueless romance hero? And to have him fall for his second (since the beginning of time) mistake, a mouthy, part-time stripper who struggles to pay the bills? It's a mystery but whatever inspired Vale to write this gem of a story, all I can say is I'm damn glad she did. 

As our story begins, Azrael has spent the past two hundred thousand years ushering the dead into the next stage which, somewhat off puttingly, involves their souls put through Mangles and being transformed into more or less nothingness. And lest you wonder--and I think Santa should use this trick--how one angel has managed to process the 108.234 billion people who have died since the beginning of time, Death has the ability to stop time. 

In all the eons Death (the supernatural set calls him Ragpicker) has been at his job--he doesn't really like it or the supernatural beings he reports to--he's never been seen by a human. But, on the day he goes to collect the Rag or soul of a human with the last name of Molloy, he errs. Not only does he take the wrong one, the human whose soul he was supposed to (literally) pocket can see him--he's inadvertently saved her from death by flaming hot chicken wing--and chats him up. 

Death now has a problem. Molly, he explains to her, is supposed to be dead. Molly, understandably, would prefer to remain in the land of the living. And though Death knows he's supposed to send Molly's soul to be Mangled, he just can't quite bring himself to. Initially, she's just so entertaining--his life is one of solitude interspersed with angry lectures from his superiors. However, given time which Death has in spades (In the supernatural world, there is no such thing as time--in fact, there is a running well done joke about his peers inability to understand tense that anyone who's ever struggled with high school Latin will love.) he, like the reader, finds himself falling head over immortal form for Molly Molloy.

Both Molly and Death, whom Molly calls Dee, are wonderfully unexpectedly leads. Death, in his marginally human form, is skinny, awkward, and absurdly enamored of cold pizza and trashy men's magazines. He's not especially sexy or wise and yet he is exactly what it turns out Molly (and we all) need. Molly's morality errs on the side of pragmatic; she's sarcastic and a better waitress than stripper. But she sees all creatures as having inherent value and her heart is big enough for two. Which is a good thing because Azrael doesn't have one--organs are for humans not for angels. 

Over the course of this fable, Molly and Dee fall in love and create a life together. They navigate both his immortality and her insistence that the rent be paid with honestly earned money with equal effort. As they live together, we readers suspect that Molly's time will, some day, end. Will Azrael's? And, if Molly does die, will her soul be Mangled? And does it matter? Is the point of living just to be and be grateful for the gift of human existence? Or are our souls and loves destined to be timeless? 

You'll have to read the book to see how Vale deftly answers these questions. All I'll say is that, for me, the book has a believable, heart-breaking and remaking, joyful ending.

I loved this book. It is true that, once I'd finished it, I wasn't sure its metaphysics held up to intense scrutiny. But who cares? There are no easy answers about what love, life, and death really mean or even are. And though this book will make you think in all the best ways, its real gift is its richly imaginative storytelling, hilariously vivid characters, and its unwavering conviction that, really, all you need is love. And maybe some very spicy chicken wings.

In "Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death" by Maria Vale, readers are invited into a whimsical and thought-provoking world where mistakes and miracles collide, and love transcends even the boundaries of life and death.

At the centre of the story is Molly Molloy, an ordinary woman whose life takes an extraordinary turn when she narrowly escapes death by chicken wing, thanks to a mishap by Azrael, the Grim Reaper himself. Suddenly able to see, touch, and converse with Death, Molly finds herself thrust into a surreal and mysterious realm where the lines between the living and the dead blur.

Vale's storytelling shines as she navigates the complexities of Molly and Azrael's unlikely relationship. As Death grapples with the consequences of his mistake, Molly becomes his confidante, questioning his actions and challenging his beliefs. Through their interactions, Vale skilfully explores themes of love, life, and the human condition, weaving a poignant narrative that is both heart warming and profound.

What sets "Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death" apart is Vale's ability to infuse the supernatural elements of the story with humanity and depth. Despite the fantastical premise, the emotions and struggles of the characters feel authentic and relatable, drawing readers into their world and keeping them engaged until the very end.

At its core, "Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death" is a story about the power of love to transcend even the most daunting obstacles. As Molly and Azrael navigate the complexities of their relationship, they discover that love knows no bounds – not even the boundaries between life and death.

In this poignant and humane novel, Maria Vale invites readers on a journey that is equal parts whimsical and thought-provoking. With its richly drawn characters, engaging storyline, and timeless themes, "Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death" is a captivating read that will linger in the hearts and minds of readers long after the final page.

Synopsis
Death has taken everyone Molly Molloy loves. Then he comes for her. What follows is a love story.
My Overall Thoughts
This fantasy romance is too awkward to be romantic and too mundane to be fantastic.

What I Didn't Love

The author lost me with the bizarre (not in a good way) world building. Death’s world is full of boring Latin chanting and my mind wandered so much while reading about it that I’m sure I missed something important but I don’t have it in me to go back and catch up. It just could not hold my interest.

I’m also confused by the “love story” aspect. I kind of understand why Death is drawn to Molly, but I don’t grasp Molly’s attraction to Death. He is physically attractive, but otherwise uninteresting. There is not enough there to build a life on, but somehow they do, sort of. The pacing is so lopsided that it is hard to believe. This first 90% of the book takes place over a couple of months, then the last 10% covers 30 or 40 years. The missing depth of their relationship is just glossed over in the rush through their life story.

Potentially Offensive Content

Adult situations

What I Loved
If you only judge this book by its cover, it nails five stars. I also loved the premise. The story had such potential. I was drawn in by the blurb and really wanted to love the book.
Thank you NetGalley and Wild & Ashe, LLC for the advanced copy of this book.

This book was interesting. Death intrigued me and I definitely will bee reading more from this author!

I was initially really interested in the premise of this book, but I just couldn't get into it due to the writing style. Really sad this book didn't hook me!

Who knew Death could be an intriguing character. This was such a surprise for me. I’ll be reading more by this author.

I just could not get into this book, which is why I decided to not finish it. This does not mean, that someone else couldn't enjoy it. It just definitely wasn't my cup of tea.

This was such a cute premise but,
unfortunately it didn't quite work for me. It definitely had some cute parts and also a lot of weird parts. There was some humor and did enjoy that. Overall though it was a disappointment.

Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was expecting this book to have a similar vibe to Belladonna or other paranormal/fantasy romance with a gothic twist but this book just fell flat for me and felt ridiculous at times (I’m talking about the magical penis) and it just put me off the story.

I know that some people will enjoy it but it wasn’t my cup of tea at all.

I'm sure “Molly Molloy & the Angel of Death” is as cute, sweet and heartbreaking as the content warning said it is, but Maria Vale’s style is not for me.
At least, I assume it isn't.

The story has potential and it’s captivating enough to put the many aspects aside - latine sentences here and there, hoping they're correct; descriptions on descriptions about Death’s wardrobe and friendships; situations that happen in the background when the two of them are together -, but even ignoring them, they still make the story confusing.
And that's honestly it, the reason I just stopped trying to enjoy it: I couldn't understand what was happening and why and, at some point, I also stopped wondering if I cared.

Thanks to Sungrazer Publishing and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and of course the author for gifting me this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved the synopsis and was so glad the book did not disappoint.
This follows the story of 'the grim reaper' who is basically not what you would expect in flowing black cloaks, faceless and with a scythe - he looks like an ordinary boy in scruffy clothes with pockets to keep all the souls he takes until the unfortunate incident when he has to embark on an adventure after he took the wrong soul - enter Molly!

I loved the description (I'm a nurse so takes a lot to turn my tummy!), and it really made me think about what it must be like for people with sensory issues when he is experiencing all these things for the first time and how we take our senses for granted.

I wanted so much more from this. I loved the premise, but just never felt fully pulled into the story or invested in the characters or the outcome. I didn't hate it, but just felt meh from start to finish.

Thank you for the opportunity to read an ARC of Molly Melloy and the Angel of Death.

I love books with Death as a character and love interest. I thought it was cute and funny how she saw him, he was shocked and she was nonchalant about it..
But it lost me the moment that Death sat on a futon and poured himself a bowl of cereal at like.. a million years old. A futon?? Hmm. Got the vibe it was going to be a contemporary romance with an ~edge~ so, not for me like I thought.