Reckoning by Katheryn J. Avila

Here’s my disclaimer: I got a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.  Cool.  Now that’s done, on to the actual review.

Reckoning by Katheryn J. Avila is a story about Lexia, a young woman who loses most of her family and ends up in charge of her younger twin cousins, Saxon and Adwin, after their mother dies.  Then this strange guy shows up and things go downhill from there.  Reapers, demons, angels, and wraiths abound in this fast paced urban fantasy adventure.

I loved the story itself.  The ideas that Avila conjured were familiar enough to be believable and maintained that fun element.  From little details, like Lexia’s sarcastic attitude, to the tension drawn out as the book hurtles toward its conclusion, Avila has a good grasp on the overall plot and goal of the story.  As has been mentioned in previous reviews, there were a couple minor plot holes, but to me they were not enough to take me out of the story.

I also think Avila did an excellent job of developing her characters throughout the novel.  Lexia’s transition from a scared teenager to a lost early twenties to a more confident woman felt real and relatable.  Saxon and Adwin undergo their own growth that is very fitting to the events in the story as well.  Garrett, the stranger, becomes a little bit more of a known quantity by the end.  With him, I was left wanting to know more.

The one relatively big issue I had is that there were a couple things that seemed to be somewhat forgotten along the way in the story.  Like the murders that start this whole escapade.  Avila gives an answer to what happened – no I’m not going to spoil it by telling you – but it felt rather off hand, as if wrapping up that little bit was an afterthought.  I get the story moved on from that, but it would have been nice to see some of those elements wrapped up a little more deftly.

Overall, I give this a 3.5 stars out of 5 and will round up for creativity points.  While, yes, there were a few missteps, Avila has some great skill with her characters and takes you on quite the adventure.  Check it out before the next book in the series comes out.