Genre: Fantasy
Hazel, the thirteenth child born in her family, is promised to Death at birth and as such her family often treats her as if she is already gone and working with Death. In reality, Death comes to collect Hazel on her 12th birthday and immediately moves her to a new house in the Between where she is expected to study all she can about illnesses and the human body so that she can become a great healer. She is gifted the ability to see exactly what ails a person, but this includes seeing if she is unable to heal someone. She quickly becomes renowned and people come from far away to seek her help. However, when the king’s men come looking for her she knows it is very serious and she isn’t sure what she’ll do if she can’t save the king. Upon arriving, it appears she will not be able to save the king from this horrific disease, but she also fears what might happen to his children and the kingdom if she does not. Meanwhile, Death has made it very clear that he does not support her bending the rules of life and death to save anyone, even if it is the king. What is Hazel willing to do to save someone? What is she willing to give up in the process?
This update to the Grimm tale, Godfather Death, does a nice job of explaining why Hazel feels so torn in her quest to heal those around her. She has faced impossible tasks, but she definitely struggles to find a cure for the terrible disease that has started spreading through the country. She feels for the king’s family, but is also concerned about the total loss they will face if she cannot stop it. If she is forced to guide someone to Death she is then haunted by that person’s decaying ghost. Her relationship with Death is complicated as he does seem to care for her, but often leaves her alone when she is struggling with obstacles in her path. The supporting characters are all memorable so that when they come back into the story, even if they have been absent for several pages, they fit seamlessly back into the action. Recommended for fantasy readers.
Young Adult Book Reviews 