Assessment:

Plot/Idea: McKnight weaves an interesting - and often thought-provoking tale, delivered with enough charm to keep it generally on track, despite the narrative's propensity to meander in the opening hours.

Prose: A simple, economic prose style works results in a brisk and reader-friendly pace, while also offsetting occasional bouts of repetition and a predilection towards exposition, rather than exploration.

Originality: In many ways, The Reaper's Quota lives and dies by the tropes of its genre, which could make it a hard sell for readers looking for something different. However, the general focus--on a grim reaper who begins to question his task of assigning random deaths--holds within it a flavor of uniqueness that is certain to entertain seasoned sci-fi/fantasy fans while ensnaring newbies, too.

Character/Execution: While the cast might initially seem archetypal, there are many flashes of individuality, even in the smallest of background characters.

Date Submitted: April 03, 2023