School of Deaths - Christopher Mannino

[goodreads]

Title: School of Deaths
Author: Christopher Mannino
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.5/5
# pages: 270
Date read: January, 2016

Can a timid girl from Maryland become the first female Death?

Thirteen-year-old Suzie Sarnio always believed the Grim Reaper was a fairy tale image of a skeleton with a scythe. Now, forced to enter the College of Deaths, she finds herself training to bring souls from the Living World to the Hereafter. The task is demanding enough, but as the only female in the all-male College, she quickly becomes a target. Attacked by both classmates and strangers, Suzie is alone in a world where even her teachers want her to fail.

Caught in the middle of a plot to overthrow the World of Deaths, Suzie must uncover the reason she's been brought there: the first female Death in a million years.


A random pick from Netgalley, which turned out to exceed my wildest expectations. It's Hogwarts for Deaths students with all the charm, intrigues, joys and sorrows one might expect of such a school. It even has its own new ball game similar to Quidditch.

But though one might fear it, "School of Deaths" in no way seemed derivative or like a copy-cat read. It was completely delightful, and I quickly got to care for Jason, Billy, Frank and of course Suzie. I loved the Elementals, and am curious to (presumably) hear more about the dragons in the future.

The book was hard to put down, and I read it in just two sittings over the weekend. People who enjoy books like the Harry Potter series, Rick Riordan's books and others of that ilk will be sure to enjoy this as well. I'm eager to read the next book in the series.