Embassy of the Dead Review

Title: Embassy of the Dead
Author: Will Mabbitt
Series: Embassy of the Dead #1
Publisher: Orion Children's Books
Publication Date: 14 June 2018
Source: Pan Macmillan South Africa
Format: Paperback (ARC)
Pages: 272
Rating: 3.8 Stars
Reading Timeline: 17 September 2018 - 18 September 2018

Goodreads Synopsis:

Welcome to the Embassy of the Dead. Leave your life at the door. (Thanks.)

When Jake opens a strange box containing a severed finger, he accidentally summons a grim reaper to drag him to the Eternal Void (yep, it's as fatal as it sounds) and now he's running for his life! But luckily Jake isn't alone - he can see and speak to ghosts.

Jake and his deadly gang (well dead, at least) - Stiffkey the undertaker, hockey stick-wielding, Cora, and Zorro the ghost fox - have one mission: find the Embassy of the Dead and seek protection. But the Embassy has troubles of its own and may not be the safe haven Jake is hoping for . . . 

Book Review:

Pre-reading Thoughts:

I read a chapter sampler of this book and I really enjoyed it. I cannot wait to read the rest of the novel. I have a feeling it is going to be a great adventure.

Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan South Africa for providing me with a copy of this book. Just a small disclaimer for those reading this review. I have received this book for free. Please note that this does not affect my opinion in any way. All thoughts are my own.

Writing Thoughts:

The writing in this book is humorous in the beginning but I felt as if it got lost along the way and then right at the end it found its way back. I really enjoyed how well everything flowed and how typically boyish the writing was. I think that the writing really helped in creating the atmosphere for this book.

Plot Thoughts:

This book was so enjoyable. I loved everything about the plot. It was unique and fun, I definitely let out a chuckle here and there. I also really enjoyed how simple the plot was. There was no intense or confusing plot twist along the way, although some things are surprising. I think that this book is beyond perfect for children age nine and up.

Character Thoughts:

I loved how Jake wasn't a character that screamed HERO but was rather mundane. He was like every other kid except he had an extra talent and everything happened by accident. I loved how powerful Cora's character was despite her only being in the book for a short while. I really enjoyed this cast of characters because they were fun. I cannot wait to read more about them.x

Final Thoughts:

Overall, this is the perfect book for children age nine and up. It was funny, adventurous and super entertaining to read. The book flowed incredibly well and didn't seem to slow down at any point. I enjoyed how the writing was very boyish and funny. I also quite enjoyed the mix media in the book. I think that always adds a little more dimension and pacing to a novel. The book was really enjoyable and the adventures that Jake goes on are fun and quirky. I loved the characters and can't wait to read more about them. Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan South Africa for providing me with a copy of this book!

Yours in Reading,

Melleny