Agents of the Reaper (Sebastian and the Afterlife)

Another great read from William Barry! This book continued where the first book ended with Sebastian and Onyx finally becoming full-fledged agents. Some of the issues from the first book has been revisited (Sebastian's sister and Jack's brother). I was a bit disappointed because I was hoping the sequel would focus more on the afterlife but the book did a fair job of making the visits to the human realm interesting. All the characters were interesting and had vibrant personalities. I especially liked Onyx and her tomboy nature!

My only real issue with this book is how Axis Red has finally been captured and put behind bars. One-third of the book hasn't been finished yet and he's already out and causing mischief again. I would really show more rather explore more about the afterlife rather than it all be about the soul pirates!

Won in a giveaway in return for an honest review show less

It's very rare to read a book that flows perfectly, and this is one of those. Barry wrote this book with just enough detail to paint a vivid picture, but short enough to not be too wordy like some books such as Lord of the Rings. Over all, the books action is always moving. This series is now one that I want to follow.I can't wait to go back and read the first one!

I am adding this manually since I couldn't find it listed anywhere else so I hope I'm doing this right.

Having read Barry's first book of this series, I was really looking forward to reading this second installment and, for the most part, I wasn't disappointed. The story takes up where the last left off. The story begins with the pirates escaping prison and the Reaper announcing his retirement. The book is pretty much equally divided between the spirit and human realm and manages to keep both sections interesting. Sebastian and Onyx are now agents. Sebastian is still visiting the human realm to check on Sarah and his sister and Jack is trying to find ways to help his brother. My one quibble with the book - it is very apparent that there show more is a traitor still at work in the school (I figured out who he was within the first few pages as I suspect almost all readers will) but no one seems overly concerned about the fact.

This is a fun and fast paced fantasy aimed at middle graders. The copy I received was an early reviewer copy and there was still some editing to be done but, over all, I have to say I quite enjoyed this second book in the series. It does end on a bit of a cliff hanger so I look forward to the next book. show less

I absolutely love it when we as readers get to see an author grow in his craft, that's exactly what I saw in Agents of the Reaper, the second book in the Sebastian and the Afterlife series. William J. Barry takes his Sebastian and the Afterlife characters to new heights in the second book of this series.

In Agents of the Reaper, our main character Sebastian is kidnapped by the Soul pirates, but he's not alone. Sid, one of the professors at the school, is with him. Will they be saved? Or will all be lost?

(Come on you all know me better than that, I give no spoilers! Well I at least try not too!)

I really enjoyed reading these great characters stories and just like the author grew so did his great characters. I love how Sebastian is very show more protective of the ones he loves and has left behind. I also really liked how he knew he must let Sarah go and move on with her life, even when its really hard for him to do! In this aspect the book seems so real, when someone dies that we love and care for deeply, we dont want to move on. We want to hold tight to that love. I love how these books depict that emotion, but at the same time shows how we need to move on as well!

I can't wait to see what comes next in this series and from this wonderful author. show less

Note: This review contains spoilers for book one

"This isn't life Onyx...that's over."

Sebastian and Onyx training to be Agents of the Reaper in the spirit realm. After helping to defeat two dangerous Soul Pirates and free the Grim Reaper, Sebastian and Onyx are training to be full agents and protect the spirit realm. The dangerous pirate that they have put in Darhkendin prison has escaped and is planning another ominous mission to take over the realm that involves Sebastian, a beloved teacher Sid and the headmaster of Sapientia. Meanwhile, Sebastian is still a little too tied to the mortal world, worrying about his sister, Kristen and the current Grim Reaper has announced his retirement.

Agents of the Reaper is a wonderful sequel that show more flowed well from the first book. I was glad to see more character development, especially in Onyx; she is a powerful female character that has her afterlife in control. It was also interesting to get to see more of Jack's journey to fulfilling his soul's mission. This book had a lot more action scenes and intrigue and left us on a cliffhanger that will make you want to start Forever Awakening immediately after.

Sebastian and the Afterlife series was provided as an Advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review. show less

Here is why I like this series, it talks about death but not in the morbid way. It talks about the Afterlife and a possibility that some of us would like to believe in. Call it Romanticism but especially for this series' target audience, it is a good alternative to help pre-teens cope with loss. It doesn't matter what your religious beliefs are, it helps soften the blow of losing someone forever and the idea that they're not floating mindlessly in oblivion somewhere is comforting.

A great continuation of the Sebastian and the Afterlife series - with Sebastian becoming an Agent of the Reaper (yay!). I was looking forward to more revelations about the Afterlife, and I was a little disappointed. It was good to see Sarah and Onyx in the book as well, and Sebastian continues trying to figure out how to help his brother.

The ideas in the book, like the previous book, are simple and easy to follow, and I found plot twists easy to guess. The book is definitely aimed at younger readers than the books I normally read.