Bookanistas Review: Croak

I’m not a big fan of Grim Reapers. Not in, you know, in a philosophical sense. Or literally, though I suppose I wouldn’t be a fan if one came for me. No, when it comes to YA literature, I’m not really into Grims.

(I did, however, go through a serious Six Feet Under phase when I discovered it on Netflix Watch Instantly and, because of my deep love for Mandy Patinkin and Inigo Montoya, watched them pretty much back to back.)

Anyhow, that was the main reason I kept seeing Croak on my TBR list and passing it by. This went on for a year. Every so often I’d click to the Goodreads page and become interested and then pick up something else. So finally a couple weeks ago I was IN THE MOOD and that mood happened to be for something funny. I’d read reviews of Croak and I re-read them just to assure myself that the book was, in fact, written with the exact kind of humor I was looking for.

I think you know where I’m going with this.

Where I’m going is straight to Gina Damico’s house to beg on her front lawn for a copy of Rogue, the third book in the series.* Why yes, I did say third. Of course I read the second directly after the first. But I’m getting ahead of myself. First, I need a copy of Rogue like humans need coffee. TO LIVE, people.

Of course, you geniuses have already deduced how much I love Croak. Don’t let it go to your head: You already knew that the Bookanistas only review books they love.

But, oh, do I love it.

I’m usually a bigger fan of first person than third and even then I much prefer close third. Croak is neither of those. But the voice drew me in immediately and as I read I realized the benefit of a narrator that is close to Lex but not in her head. Because with it come some pretty funny jokes at the characters’ expense. Take, for instance, the lust-hate relationship between Lex and another reaper, Driggs:

“Coward!” 

“Freak!” 

It suddenly occurred to both Driggs and Lex, in that very same instant, that neither of them wanted anything more in the world than to tear off every single piece of each other’s clothing and make wild, passionate, messy adolescent love under the radiant glow of the full moon.

Their chests rose and fell. A few seconds passed. 

“I’m going to sleep,” Driggs panted, clambering off the roof. 

“Me too,” Lex huffed, right behind him. 

And without another word, they fled to their rooms, slammed the doors, and threw themselves into bed, where they both spent the next five hours dazedly contemplating their respective ceilings.

See what I mean? The entire book is like this. The writing, that is. Not the romance, though the relationship between the two is hilarious. As is Lex’s badass reaper uncle and the rest of the characters. 

I had considered going more in depth as to why you should read this book yesterday, but aside from mentioning the fact that there’s also a story in with all of those characters (and it’s a good one), I think I’ve done my job. Oh, and in case you’re curious, the second book, Scorch, is just as good if not better than the first.

And now for a reminder: The YA Book Club is currently reading The Westing Game. Well be chatting about the book and posting reviews on our blogs on in the comments here on July 29. For more info on the book club, head here.

Heres what the other Bookanistas are reviewing today:

Rebecca Behrens leaps over The Moon and More by Saran Dessen

Elana Johnson has props for The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Kimberly Sabatini delves into The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle

* Not really. I don’t recommend adoring fans visit their favorite authors at their homes. It’s creepy.