A truly enjoyable read and, hopefully, the first book in a just as enjoyable series.

While touching on a subject and genre seemingly done to death (joke not intended) in modern time, I found this book a refeshingly original look at it all. Original, witty, likable characters, good pace. My only "complaint" is there is no book two to immediately start reading. So I've added C. A. Kennedy to my "authors to look out for" list and must now politely wait.

Book nerd side of things: There was a couple of typos and such, but I was reading an ARC so found that perfectly fine and didn't affect my rating. Perfectly formatted to be a Kindle book (huge tick, as so few books are) and all in all a well thought out and produced book.

Would highly recommend.

Demons, angels, reapers, and witches - shades of the classic "Dead Like Me" as reapers navigate the entry to Styx while the demon versus angle dynamic causes perpetual animosity, politics and power plays cause obstacles, and someone is killing witches! Plenty of snark with fun characters and a bit of mystery and romance thrown in, what could be better?

2.5 ⭐️
.5🌶️
"Life’s too short to follow the rules, especially when you’re already dead."

I was really excited about The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Reapers. The idea of the office structure to heaven/hell sounded like it would be a funny read with a hint of spice! I thought it would be similar to the The Assistant to the Villain series, which is a great palate cleanser between dark romances or long reads!

But honestly, it just didn’t get there for me. There were a few plot holes that had me confused, and can someone please tell me what happened to Tommy the cat? We spent so much time talking about witches, but where was the magic? I was also missing the spice🌶️. The highlights were really some of his reaps and their comical behaviours.

I really wanted to love it, but I found myself having to push through to finish. But I think with a little more fleshing out, this could be a really idea for another book.

Tropes:
⭐️ Workplace Afterlife
⭐️Witches
⭐️Supernatural Bureaucracy
⭐️Humour in the Macabre


Thank you to NetGalley and C.A. Kennedy for allowing me to have an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review.

I fell for the title, cover, and blurb. They completely hooked me and drew me right in. I just wish the story had sustained it. There wasn’t anything wrong with the book per se. There wasn’t anything right either.

The humorous parts never quite got the chuckle. The plot twist didn’t boggle or even twist. The ending was abrupt and expected. There were numerous loose threads left. Those made the ending feel even more abrupt.

The concept was amazing. If there end up being more books in this series, I would probably read them to see if things this book just left hanging get resolved. If they didn’t, I would not stick with the series.

I did receive an ARC of this book and in my optimism, I purchased a copy as well.

**ARC Review**

This is a funny, entertaining paranormal romance/urban fantasy with a murder mystery twist. The side characters contributed well to the plot, and the world was unique. Cliffhanger beware! The last page is a jaw dropper. That said, I have several lingering questions that I really hope are answered in the next book rather than left as loose ends. The book released this week, and I recommend you add it to your spooky season TBR!

CREWS Review:

Character Rating
This is the first book I’ve read in a while that is told from the MMC’s POV. Finn is charming, funny, and a great deal of fun. I would have loved more of his background, but perhaps that will come in the next book. The FMC, Chloe, is sweet, and although she seems meek, she has a quiet strength. I am also hoping we get more backstory/information for her in the next book.

Relationships Rating
There were several side characters to enjoy. Andrea, Chloe’s roommate, and Corsun, Finn’s colleague, are two of my favorites. They are quite different from each other, but equally entertaining. Along with the two of them, there are a number of other characters that give the world depth. I particularly enjoyed the dynamics between the Demons and Angels.

Emotional Impact Rating
Most of the book is quirky and humorous, with mystery, intrigue, and romance thrown in. The premise of modern day Grim Reapers and Angels of Death is entertaining on its own. There was a truly heartbreaking moment and twist that threw me off entirely, and the ending had my jaw dropping. There is a cliffhanger, and there are a number of questions I hope are answered in the next book.

Writing Style Rating
It was nearly impossible to put this book down. The humor was right up my alley, and the world building was interesting. With some of the characters and some of the plot, there are lingering questions. I don’t mind them when there is a cliffhanger, but I am hoping they are resolved in the future rather than left as loose ends. Overall, it was a fun read.

Spice Rating
This is an open door romance with two explicit scenes, one each in chapters five and nine. There are a few other scenes that describe some heavy kissing/touching, nudity/seduction, and fade to black/references to sex after the fact. The romance did not overtake the plot, nor are the scenes drawn out.

Thank you Netgalley and Harbor Lane Books for the chance to read The 7 habits of highly effective reapers by C.A. Kennedy. This is the first book in the Grim Reaper chronicles, and I thought it would be a great humorous read for Halloween. It was an ok read for me, but I found myself putting it down constantly as I just couldn't get into the story and found the writing style was not to my liking. 21/2 stars rounded up.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Reapers by C.A. Kennedy is a clever and engaging exploration of the afterlife through a humorous lens. Kennedy’s unique premise combines wit and insight, offering readers a fresh perspective on the roles of reapers and the human condition. Each habit outlined is both entertaining and thought-provoking, blending light-hearted moments with deeper philosophical themes. This book is a delightful read that will leave you chuckling while also reflecting on life and death in a whole new way.

Not quite the book I was expecting, but interesting nonetheless. I thought the books would be more centered around the mystery of who was killing the witches and why. Instead, the story was more, “demon goes about his daily corporate job as a grim reaper, and randomly falls in love for the first time in his thousands of years of existence!” and the witch mystery was kind of a side note until near the end of the book. That said, I’ll happily read the next in the series whenever it’s out - the book was a fun read and the cliffhanger at the end had me intrigued.

The next time you're frustrated by your job, just remember it could always be worse. You could be a demon who works as a grim reaper. Aiden Finn has been doing this job for 3000 years, so he's seen a lot and not much phases him any more. He tries to simply collect the soul, take it to the ferry over the river Styx, and move on to the next assignment. Aiden tries to avoid drawing the attention of management until the day he reaps a murdered witch who refuses to leave this plane until she knows someone to take care of her cat. While he usually doesn't break the rules like this (especially after the incident back in 79 AD that had him serving time in Hell) he agrees to help. That's when he meets Chloe, the witch's neighbor. Aiden feels an immediate attraction to her and the two start dating. After an incident at a multi-vehicle accident gets him in front a grim reaper investigation team for possible misconduct, Aiden starts questioning a series of witch murders that are mysteriously being added to his jobs list each day. While the romance blooms with Chloe, Aiden starts digging deeper into the murders, including having tea with a Catholic priest, and uncovers a plot to overthrow Lucifer. When his investigation seems to be closing in on the killer, Chloe is nearly killed. Aiden realizing even a trip back to Hell is worth it to save Chloe's life. A really fun romantic mystery.

3.5 upped to 4
More paranormal romance than urban fantasy. It's a funny and entertaining story with a well done world building.
The characters would need some more depth but I liked them
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I couldn't finish this. I think the author should keep writing but the writing needs to be worked on. The idea was fun, but the entire book was just descriptive narrative instead of there being dialogue. I am not a fan of the instant romance, there was honestly nothing that made me feel like they were in love other than a basic "I knew this was different" but no reason why. I feel bad writing this but honestly it was not great. I hope they keep trying because the concept was fun.

Quick, easy read that was cute. There could've been more story fleshed out overall but it wasn't bad. I liked the grim reaper 9-5 job type of story.

This book was a breath of fresh air. A romance plot I had never seen before and perfect for spooky season. Aiden Finn Is a grim reaper tasked with brining the dead to the other side. When one of his charges Carol won’t go without Finn promising to find a good home for her cat Finn has to agree. Upon going to get said cat Finn stumbles upon Carol’s neighbor Chloe. Chloe happens to be a witch and witches are dying. Finn needs to figure out who’s doing it before they get to Chloe. And the two grow close. This book gave me Sign Here by Claudia Lux vibes with the underworld managements Finn has to deal with.

This was a fun, engaging read that I loved so much I can't wait to read the rest of the series! Finn and Chloe were fun characters and I look forward to more of them

This book was such a treat to read. Also great for the upcoming spooky season. A cute contemporary romance of death vs. witches.

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Dark Humor
Series: Yes, it is Book One of The Grim Reaper Chronicles.

"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Reapers" is a captivating mix of humor, heart, and the supernatural that will leave readers contemplating life, death, and everything in between. It’s a must-read for fans of urban fantasy who enjoy stories with depth, humor, and endearing characters.

I would recommend this book to readers who like urban fantasy, especially the kind that has dark humor combined with deeper and heavier emotional topics. Most likely, it will appeal to those who have read Jim Butcher's "The Dresden Files" or fans of Neil Gaiman. It is truly an original and intriguing tale.

It involves Aiden Finn, a demon, Grim Reaper, and residences talent in Boston for 3,000 years. He ushers the souls of the dead into the afterlife, ready or not. Pulled into the mystery of a series of murders among the witches, Aiden has been thrust wide open from his routine-not just that, but into the personal lives of the souls he reaps. Meanwhile, the smoldering relationship he develops with side characters-like Carol, a stubborn witch, and her ever-so-loving cat Tommy-builds up a deeper rapport with his neighbor Chloe, a witch who actually manages to draw out the human side of him. Professional struggle, emotional growth, and larger supernatural forces entwine in this plot.

Aiden Finn: His character provides the hub of the story, wherein lies a balance of demonic nature, astoundingly combined with an ability to show empathy. At the beginning, Aiden was just a cynical reaper who completed his job, but soon his emotional arc paces the novel as his motives change from fulfilling his obligations to protecting those he inadvertently cares for. This turmoil between professional detachment and personal involvement makes him hugely complex and flawed, which is great. Also brilliant is the development of Aiden when he gets chiseled through his interaction with Chloe, Carol, and Tommy, starting to raise questions about the meaning of his existence.

Chloe: Whereas Aiden holds a very jaded view of the world, Chloe is a witch with an immediate sense of warmth and kindness. Her relationship with Aiden is, really, very, very slow in its development and hence brings tension into his world, along with some vulnerability. In fact, it is through her that we really do see the protective instincts of Aiden rise to the surface. Independent yet subtle in meaning within the story, Chloe connects the themes of love, redemption, and trust in End.

The witch Carol and her cat Tommy were not peripheral characters but rather active participants in Aiden's emotional awakening. Carol's refusal to cross over till Tommy was taken care of made Aiden reflect on his aloofness.

Roz, his fellow Grim Reaper, brought insight into the pecking order of the reapers-further iterating bureaucracy and duty.
That's where Angels of Death and other reapers constantly challenge Aiden's approach to things and cause tension-as a show of authority within the supernatural community.

Death and the Afterlife: It is about the dying process, which most definitely is letting go-the story of both the dead and those that have to stay behind. Aiden's work puts him face to face with how souls deal with the concept of death and what crossing over entails.

Empathy and detachment, however, appear to be the biggest problem in the role of Aiden-with his duty of detachment toward souls he reaps and a growing attachment, in particular to Chloe and Tommy. He is bang in the middle of this emotional journey, attached to questioning what it costs to care.

Power and Control: It is a book, essentially pointing the accusing finger at the different hierarchies existing within the management systems of the reapers and angels, relating mainly to issues of control and autonomy from the perspective of both reapers themselves and souls they guide.

This novel takes on a theme often left to fantasy novels, including the redemption through love even for one like Aiden, who viewed himself as beyond saving for such a long period of time. His writing is humorous and engaging; the dark humor does not eradicate the true moments of emotion. First-person point of view really lets the reader feel the angst of Aiden's inner turmoil. Realism within the context of dialogue gives a realistic air to the work and also provides much humor in the story. The pacing is good; likewise, there are well-placed shifts between action, introspection, and character development. Kennedy uses effective figurative language with regards to creating vivid pictures of a supernatural world instilled with a contemporary setting.

His tone is light yet reflective; hence, deeper themes can be considered without weighing the readers down with heaviness about the theme. The point of view dives deep into Aiden's world and just makes his emotional growth so real and relatable.

"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Reapers" is a deeply charming urban fantasy that tells yet another story about the afterlife, love, and duty. C.A. Kennedy weaves the thread of humor and heart into the story for the most part, regarding personal redemption as much as the supernatural nature of it. Complex in character, in his relationships, and in the moral dilemmas he finds himself in, Aiden stands out as one of those exceptional stories told not so frequently within this genre.

Weightier with humor, heavier with heart, than most novels of its ilk in the urban fantasy genre, this reads like Neil Gaiman, but a little lighter, a little more personal.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆
Writing Style: ★★★★☆
Characters: ★★★★☆
World-Building: ★★★★☆

Fave Quote

“Crap. I might lie, but I don’t break promises.”

This was a strong start to the Grim Reaper Chronicles series, it worked with an introduction to this world and characters. It uses the Grim Reaper element perfectly and was glad it was so well written. C.A. Kennedy wrote this in a way that I was hooked from the start and glad I got to read this.

A fun premise and a light tone. Despite the rather bland cover, this book turned out to be an engaging read. It is fast paced with plenty of action and intrigue, as well as good moments of humor. It even gave me chills towards the end.

I was thoroughly invested throughout.

3.5 stars

I was looking forward to this book; I love a spooky read for the fall! The plot is original, and the characters are great. I like Finn and Chloe's chemistry. The dialogue and pacing in this book were excellent. My issue with this book is that some loose ends took away from the reading experience.

I was very intrigued by both the title and the blurb, so I requested this. It didn’t take long for me to get immersed in the story, and I really liked Finn. He might be a little too self-absorbed at first, but once he meets Chloe, he changes. I thought this would be more of a mystery than it was; the book focuses on the romance aspects more than the mystery, and I was a little disappointed about that. However, I still enjoyed this from the beginning to the end. With that ending, I am hoping there will be more, and maybe the next one will have more of the mystery in it. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.