Review: Reaper + Ranger = Tension
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 12, 2014
I really enjoyed this book, but it's a bit hard to categorize, part romance, part Western, part zombies and even a little steampunk. Reapers are similar to zombies but with some interesting twists: they are not undead and rotting, but actually heal faster than regular humans, they've been infected with a parasite and, while younglings behave in the usual zombie fashion, older Reapers can control their parasitic 'riders'. Abby is a Ranger; Rangers fight the Reapers and have immunity to a Reaper's bite. Female rangers are rare, and she has to guard her soft heart. Jake is a sentient Reaper who has precarious control over his rider and is desperate for a cure--so desperate he goes so far as to kidnap Abby for a group of scientists. Cue romantic tension as Abby struggles to overcome her distrust of Reapers, and Jake battles his 'rider' not to hurt her. Add in good pacing and a well-developed world, including Scraper cities and dirigibles along with Western-style forts, and you have a winner!