This was my first ARC, and I’m thrilled it was Samael

The storyline follows familiar patterns, so the strength lies in its characters and emotional depth.

Adrienne’s journey through grief and guilt is portrayed really well, and the exploration of how we cope with loss and the expectations we place on ourselves adds a poignant layer.

The romance is intense, and the swift progression may feel abrupt or rushed to some, however the chemistry between Sam & Adrienne is undeniable and moments of domesticity we get to see provide a comforting contrast to the much darker themes and the mystery aspect of this!

Chief Johnson stands out as a protective figure who I hope to see more of in subsequent books.

What a fantastic suspenseful read. I absolutely love this author and have been looking forward to this new series.
Sam has become jaded being a reaper for so long. He gets set down in a small town to redeem himself.

Samael Blackwell was the Grim Reaper’s son, a dangerous reaper in his own right—intelligent and deadly.

Adrianne has a stalker that has followed her to her home town of Redemption.

There HEA made me smile and look forward to the next story in this series.

3.5
This was an enjoyable read. I really liked the paranormal aspects as I don’t read a lot of books with that. I found it interesting how Sam’s path played out. I really did enjoy the reaper aspect and I wish that was discussed more. Adrianne was such a sweet character. I liked how strong she is despite what is happening to her. I enjoyed both of these characters and their friendship. I also liked the town of Redemption and seeing how the small town persona carried over to this one off situation they are apart of.

One of the few things that was more of a miss for me was the romance. I did enjoy it at first, I thought it was sweet seeing how protective he was despite just meeting her, but I think it got much more insta-love than I would have enjoyed. I kept thinking that they have only known each other for like a week and she was already saying I love you. I know the build up for their relationship was bound to happen, I just wish it happened at a slower pace.

Overall I was really intrigued by the plot. I thought the ending was fun and took a turn that I didn’t necessarily expect. I also enjoyed both of these characters and their personal growth. Thanks Entangled and Netgalley for an earc. All opinions are of my own.

“𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐩 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥.”

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 1.5/5 ⭐️💫

𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 4/21/25

*Thank you @NetGalley and @Entangled_Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆:
Samael is the Grim Reaper’s son, a real life angel of death. He has one purpose, to lead souls to the afterlife. When he becomes jaded to the task his father teaches him a lesson by sending him to reap Adrianne’s soul, and do it with compassion. Soon Sam find himself developing feelings for his target.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲:
💀Touch her and die
⚖️Stalker mystery
💀HEA
⚖️Open door spice


𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
Ugh, I really don’t want to write this review. 🫣

This had so much potential to be a great read. The premise was 🤌🏻 chefs kiss. The cover 😍.. omg. Yes, let me read about Samael!
Chapters 1-4 were pretty good, I wasn’t able to put the book down! I was sucked in to the story and had to know where it was going. 🤓📚

Unfortunately, it went nowhere and nowhere for another 16 chapters or so. When we find out who the stalker is, and the resolution to the FMC/MMC conflict is revealed. I was so bored with the whole thing- it was nothing like it hoped it would be. The story is 90% about Adrianne’s stalker, not about the paranormal aspect of Sam being a reaper. The relationship was so forced but not felt. Even for being an ULTRA instant love… it was just words on a page telling me what they were supposed to be feeling. I want to FEEL the characters emotions for each other, not just be told. The character angst was so cheesy, the dialogue was disjointed and choppy. It seemed the author had a thesaurus next to them and tried to use as many words as possible- with the exception of “canted”, that was a favorite and overused. There was an excessive about of beverages consumed, namely coffee… and the amount of lip licking made me want to buy chapstick. 💄 The random stalker that was never a red herring or introduced previously in the book was just odd. I would have loved to see more character development with Chester the cat 🐈‍⬛ too!

Lots of potential but completely fell flat 😞

#Samael

DNF. It's just not for me.

I received a gifted copy. This review is honest and voluntary.

This was my review in it's entirety.

While Samael may have started off cold and arrogant, his exposure to Adrienne and her adamant refusal to slink away in the darkness despite the threat of her stalker, changed him in ways he never would have imagined. He finds himself wanting her future to change from the direction he knows it will go. His burgeoning emotions shock him as he finds quiet pleasure in her presence, laughter in the ways she expresses her love of her grandmother and guilt for the loss of his family through careless neglect and apathy. Taking a chance may be his only redemption, but will any of it help if he doesn't succeed in the assignment he was given?

Thank you Entangled Publishing for the e-ARC! I really enjoyed reading!

This book is a mix of romance, suspense and paranormal. Samael is a reaper whose father is the big Grim Reaper. Samael does his job, but not exactly the way his father wants. He’s given the ultimatum, learn compassion and empathy or be banished for eternity. So he’s sent to this town (almost reminds me of the first Thor movie, but maybe I’ve been watching too much Marvel lately). There he meets Adrianne, who I loved. She’s a strong FMC and sweet. She cares about doing the right thing and helping Samael, but she’s running/ hiding from something. This book jumps right into things, and I was able to read in a day. The one thing I wish is that we got a little more of seeing how Samael was before. But overall I enjoyed reading and loved that it wasn’t just a romance, it had a bit of suspense. We got to see growth from both characters and hopefully we’ll get to meet his brothers!

Samael sets the stage for an epic character redemption journey teeming with sacrifice, discovery, absolution, and the most powerful of feelings: love.

The son of Death has disregarded etiquette and rules one too many times in his life of reaping, and so his father issues him one quest for redemption. Learn to reap with consideration and empathy and he will retain his position, which includes all the luxury and freedoms an immortal life has to offer. Fail, and lose everything. All he has to do? Go to the dead-end town of Redemption with only the clothes on his back and money in his wallet, be humbled, and reap with compassion the soul of Adrianne, who death will soon be circling. He hits one unexpected road block along this journey- Adrianne herself. For, as Sam will come to learn with great inner turmoil, Adrianne isn't just an assignment, she's a woman full of life, goals, and love...a love that may just capture his heart.

I was all in for this plot! The immortal aspect of Sam and his background never felt out of place or distracting, rather it fed seamlessly into the story at hand. It's a very grounded story that allows its more fantastical elements to be comfortably set to the side as needed to allow the lesson in humanity to take center stage. I was so enthralled with the overall story! Truly, what a conundrum Sam has at hand. He may not see it at first, but as he spends time with Adrianne he slowly but surely lowers his guard and opens his heart to her. What was a mission becomes a dilemma of the highest consequence.

Sam isn't an instantly likable character, but ahh how I came to love him! For all his immortality, he is a very flawed individual, but he's someone who comes to learn from his mistakes and losses. And learns to be better. He absolutely earns his growth throughout. And so much is due to Adrianne. I love her strength even when faced with the greatest of fears and terrors. She remains steadfast in her resolve and her courage and is instantly lovable. The type you want to immediately rally around.

I only wished I could have rallied around the leads' romance more readily. I never fully warmed up to the love story between Adrianne and Sam. Its flame ignited to a full bonfire with such an intensity that I did not feel convinced by. I would have liked more time between the two leads to buy into their intense love. That said, the ending reeled me into their love story in a way I so yearned for in the story prior. Suddenly- oh how I was sold!

That final act did me in, wheww! My pulse was accelerating, my forehead dripping in sweat, my heart screaming to be released from my rib cage. It was reverberating! The plot masterfully weaves the fantasy element back into is foreground in grand fashion. There were moments I wanted to scream into the pages "why, why, whyyy!" Suddenly that intensity I wasn't sure about lit up in me! I was genuinely jolted in the very best way with how that ending unfurled. I'm still sitting here taking some deep breaths to calm down the nerves, because they were all over the place! I was on the edge of my seat, brimming with exhilaration and anticipation! And Samael absolutely delivered!

This is the first installment in the series and you can absolutely bet I will be sticking around!

Thank you to Entangled Publishing for this advanced complimentary copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily.

This was just okay for me. I didn’t fall in love with the characters or the story. By the end I was just reading to get it over with because I wanted it to be done.

What I liked:
-the idea behind the story

What I disliked:
-not enough meat to the story

I feel like it was a great idea, but not very well executed. I really wanted to love it, but I just didn’t.

Please make sure you check your triggers before reading. This story contains a stalker (and not the fun kind), gun violence, attempted murder, death, grim reaper etc.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

Loved This Storyline!

A reapers son, sent on a task to learn empathy in a town called redemption but falling in love along the way with Adrianne who he was meant to reap is the basis of this entertaining fantastic first read of a new series.

I loved the interaction between Adrianne and Sam and the build up towards danger as you feel the conflicted emotions within Sam as her time drew near.

A wonderful powerful read you won’t be able to put down full of sizzle and spice as they strive to find their HEA.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I totally requested this because it gave off Lucifer vibes. And I am so happy I did. I had a blast with this book.

Sam and Adrianne were electric. I loved them from the start. Sam is a bit of an anti-hero which just made him more interesting in my opinion. His struggle throughout the book is whether or not he should reap Adrianne's soul to complete his mission but he feels a connection to her like no other. I thought this made a compelling conflict. The chemistry between the characters is intense and the forbidden element makes it that much better. There's angst and drama which I ate up too.

I really enjoyed the supernatural world and thought the worldbuilding was well done. The reaper part of the story is explained well and it's easy for the reader to understand the stakes. The pacing is also tight and the dialogue was great.

A great start to a series and can't wait for the next one. If you love paranormal romances, I would recommend this one!

✅Dual POV
✅Forbidden love
✅Paranormal
✅Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
✅Suspense and thriller

Samuel by N.J. Walter’s is a fast-paced romance that has paranormal elements. I finished the book in a couple of hours.

Adrianne ran away from Chicago because something scared her. In the small town of Redemption, she hoped to find a safe haven for herself. There, she met Samael who was on an assignment given by his father - Death.

I liked Adrianne and Samael as a couple. Although their romance was very fast paced, they still had tender moments together. If the book was longer, I think Samael would have more time to explore his character development. It would make sense as well because he was changing thousands of years of behavior.

The end seemed a little anticlimactic. The build up to the reveal of the villain felt flat. The character had no prior introduction in the first parts of the book. The conflict was resolved very quickly as well.

Overall, I liked the book. It was a fun romantic and paranormal read. I’ll read the next book in the series.

The grim reaper’s son? Yes! Author N.J. Walter delivered a fairly fast-paced plot-driven story, which I thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed. It wasn’t too overly fantastical for those who don’t typically read paranormal and romantic-themed stories. There are enough contemporary character interactions and themes to capture most readers' attention.

Sam's relationship with his father and his being sent on an “assignment” to the small town immediately grabbed me into the story. His romance with Adrianne, which he was supposed to resist, was steamy and sweet. The ending had me eager for the next book.

Samael, a centries old soul reaper, is sent to a small town where he is to learn empathy or spend all of eternity banished and powerless in the Shadowlands. Meanwhile , Adrianne has returned to her hometown in order to escape a stalker but finds herself inexplicably drawn to a new stranger in town known as Sam

Paranormal romance sign me up! This is a quick read with low spice. Although there was a fun bed breaking scene 🛌💥

I liked the bodyguard/protector vibes that Sam had towards Adrianne and the strength and calmness she showed. While I love a good damsel in distress 🆘 it was nice seeing an FMC keep her wits about her and not make too many questionable decisions 💪🏾

The sacrifices both Adrianne and Sam were willing to make for one another…💖💖. I am curious if there will be other consequences that arise and not just for Sam 🤔

Although I enjoyed the story it didn’t leave me wanting more or falling in love with the characters.

*** due to the 3 star I will wait 1 week after publication date to post to Amazon

Complex and totally addictive romance with a lot of substance and sizzle. Tough being the son of the grim reaper, yea the big guy - and being taught a lesson you don't really need to learn. Lots of tension, suspense, secrets, and sizzle as he finds his way to more feelings than he planned! Excellent take on reaper trope, a HFN and looks like more to come?

Uhm hello my new book boyfriend.

Basically, the grim reaper falls in love with someone he is supposed to claim. This is such a unique and intriguing plot idea!

The romance in this book is both adorable and spicyyy. There are layers weaved throughout this book that I never even anticipated.

There was mystery, banter, romance, and drama, and I ate it all up.

Thank you very much to Entangled Publishing, Brittany Zimmerman, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own and in no way are influenced by the manner in which I received it.

Overall this was an enjoyable, fairly quick read. Personally I prefer a little more depth in the paranormal side of things for a paranormal romance but there was enough to hold my interest.

This book is written in the third person with a dual POV for Adrienne and Samuel, which I enjoyed. The romance is definitely a fast-burn which worked fairly well.

The plot with the stalker was interesting and kept me guessing throughout. I also loved Chester the cat and the lavender farm.

I wanted more from the plot with Samael's father and Adrienne learning Samael's secret. That wrap up felt very rushed and fell flat for me.

Thank you to Entangled and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was great. Samael is a reaper, and has been sent to a small town where his next target is. But he didn't expect for his target to be a beautiful, captivating woman. She's dealing with a dangerous stalker, and he can't help but look out for her.

When things take a turn for the worst, Sam realizes that he doesn't want to follow the rules, yet again, and in protecting Adrianne, he may have to give up everything he is. Swoony and spicy, looking forward to meeting the next brother!

Samael by N.J. Walters is a fast-paced, emotional paranormal romance that pulls you in from the start. Samael, an emotionless reaper, finds himself grounded—quite literally—by his father, Death. Banished to the small town of Redemption, he’s given a final chance to prove he still has empathy by reaping the soul of a woman named Adrianne. But what should be a simple task becomes the hardest assignment of his existence.

As Samael gets to know Adrianne, he finds himself torn between duty and desire, struggling with the knowledge that her time is almost up. The story offers a compelling perspective on how our choices not only shape our own lives but also deeply affect those around us.

This book has everything I enjoy in a romance: a fast burn, open-door heat, and a plot that goes beyond just the romance. The emotional tension and high stakes made it hard to put down. If you’re a fan of supernatural love stories with heart and heat, Samael is definitely worth the read. I’m excited to dive into more books by N.J. Walters!

Thank you to Entangled Publishing for this ARC!

This book is a 3.5 stars for me. I liked the book overall and the end was actioned packed. I was on to something of who the stalker would be but also wasn't so predictable that I knew exactly who, and in the end my guess was half correct. Personally, with stories like this I do not love a predictable 'this is who my stalker was' so the fact it was not easily pointed out or guessed made it that much better. I also think the relationship between these characters is pretty cute and watching the MMC character fall in love was adorable.
I think the story is a little tough because its a third person POV, which is not what many people are used to, including myself. I also think the book at times felt very disconnected emotionally, but I also have to remember that our MMC was emotionally disconnected from the world, so of course he would give off those vibes and the reader would feel those. Ultimately making that well done, just more of something to be aware of when choosing this book. The one thing about this book that I didn't like for this situation was the fact of how easily trusting our FMC was given her stalker situation. As a woman myself who once lived in a small town and then moved to a bigger city, I just cannot imagine being able to trust someone you just met days ago to stay in your house and end up ultimately doing other things. That part of the story was a little bothersome because to me it did not make much sense for how always concerned she seemed to be.
I did overall like the story and this would be a book that I would wait to read a second book for to see how the story continues and what happens next.