Book Review: Grim Crush, by S. L. Bynum

Can love overcome Death?

1. Do not interfere with someone’s death. 2. Do not become emotionally involved. 3. Do not show yourself to the living.

As a grim reaper, seventeen-year-old Xia has to follow these Rules. But when she meets Shilah, a Native American boy who can see reapers, she figures the rules don’t apply. To find out why he can see her, she pretends to be human, since carrying a scythe probably isn’t the latest teen craze.

Things become unnerving as she begins experiencing first-time affection with Shilah, but she’s irreversibly drawn to him. Suddenly Xia finds herself breaking Rule Two, even while collecting dead souls behind Shilah’s back. It isn’t long before she is caught red-handed by the Angel of Death himself, and then not only is her relationship at risk, but also Shilah’s soul. And this leaves Xia wondering: can love overcome Death?

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My thanks go to the author for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

As soon as I read the blurb, I loved the idea of this book and it fits in perfectly with Spooky Reads Week!

Xia has always been a bit rebellious, but while she may often break the code of being a reaper (be nice to souls etc etc…) she wouldn’t dare think of breaking the actual Rules of Reaping. And then she meets Shilah, and while she didn’t technically break Rule 3 – it doesn’t count if he can see her anyway, right? – she quickly finds herself in an emotional struggle of doing what’s right, and even of knowing what the right thing is.

Shilah is sweet and doting, a perfect match for Xia’s defiant personality, and what ensues is a sweet and charming young love story. Relationships are hard enough, but how do you build a life with someone who isn’t living?

I loved seeing Xia develop as a person as she learnt more about human life, real emotions and in turn more about herself. The story flowed well and was filled with ‘aww’ and ‘ahh’ moments, as well as a great twist that I definitely hadn’t seen coming.

It was definitely quite a young read, but enjoyable none-the-less as it was well-developed and moving, with likeable characters. I really enjoyed how Bynum created the world of Reapers and thought it was a really original idea.

I definitely hope to be seeing a sequel soon as I can’t wait to read more of how things turn out for Xia!