School of Deaths (The Scythe Wielder's Secret #1)

School of Deaths by Christopher Mannino
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

(Free copy of novel in exchange for honest review)

Christopher Mannino does a fantastic job of creating a new sci-fi/fantasy series for young teen girls. He provides a great message for young girls about courage and perseverance in the face of bullies and personal struggle.

Suzie Sarnio is the first female Death in, like, a million years. She has one year to learn all she needs to know about being a Death to pass her test to go back home to her family. Little does she know that there are those plotting against her and there's more at stake than her ability to go home.

Mannino does a wonderful job building the world of the Deaths, Elementals and Dragons. The complicated backstory/history adds to the richness of the storyline and characters. There is an intricate plot that begins to be unveiled and I think it will be fully revealed in the sequel. I am looking forward to reading book two.

(view spoiler)[My only complaint is Suzie's ability to dismiss her family so easily at the end. Her family should be more important than what she's dealing with, honestly, and her comfort of not going back to her family was a little disturbing. I am still undecided on whether I would want my 13-year-old daughter reading this book based on this fact alone. There should have been some out, some way she passed the test and then was able to go back after reassuring her family she was okay. It really bugged me a lot, enough to give the book 3 stars instead of 4/5. (hide spoiler)]

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