Book review
Written by Amber Benson
Ace paperback
Release date Out now

Calliope Reaper-Jones, aspiring fashion journalist and daughter of Death (who runs Death, Inc.), gets drawn into a jam at her father’s headquarters involving Egyptian mythology, a bargaining canine guardian of Hell and some romantic issues, while trying to sort out what she should do with her life…

Amber Benson’s second novel in her Death’s Daughter series is rather like a fun, pop tour of Joseph Campbell’s territory, with a protagonist a little reminiscent of Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse.

Calliope is torn between regretting what being “different” does for her life and enjoying the adventurous perks of it, and Benson gives due attention to both aspects of the character. Likewise, Calliope’s desire to do the right thing is tempered by a more-realistic-than-usual feeling of being put upon by both fate and family.

Benson also handily performs the theological fantasy juggling act that marks the works of Neil Gaiman and Jim Butcher, where aspects of various religions coexist in cohesive rather than contradictory fashion. This gives the work the ability to turn unpredictable new corners without feeling like it has split from its natural course. Abbie Bernstein

VERDICT: 8/10
An imaginative, fun read.