The Reapers Are the Angels

By: Alden Bell

Narrated by: Tai Sammons

Length: 7 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

For 25 years, civilization has survived in meager enclaves, guarded against a plague of the dead. Temple wanders this blighted landscape, keeping to herself and keeping her demons inside her heart. She can’t remember a time before the zombies, but she does remember an old man who took her in and the younger brother she cared for until the tragedy that set her off on her personal journey toward redemption. Moving back and forth between the insulted remnants of society and the brutal frontier beyond, Temple must decide where ultimately to make a home and find the salvation she seeks.

©2010 Alden Bell (P)2010 Blackstone Audio

Critic reviews

“Bell (a pseudonym for Joshua Gaylord, author of Hummingbirds) has created an exquisitely bleak tale and an unforgettable heroine whose eye for beauty and aching need for redemption somehow bring wonder into a world full of violence and decay.” ( Publishers Weekly)

Loved this

Beautifully written book. Personally, I loved the main character, and was completely invested in her story, her fate. I found the additional characters in the novel very interesting, and real, and I loved the various storylines. Tai Sammons did an amazing job with the voice characterizations, and it was a pleasure listening to her narration. I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing this book.

As some reviewers have mentioned, the fact that edible cheesy crackers can still be found in convenience stores 25 years after the apocalypse seems a bit of a stretch, but I accepted this and moved past, and it was well worth the time. Looking forward to the author's next work!

Beautifully written, surprising

No spoilers, just so yourself a favor and buy this. I don’t give out 5 stars like candy like most reviewers. This is a beautifully written and performed work.

Tale of revenge with zombies

I believe a good zombie IP is more about a compelling story with engaging characters set on a post apocalyptic zombie backdrop instead of zombie antagonist outright. I think The Reapers Are the Angels does a good job coming very close to a great zombie story but falls just shy of greatness. The only reason I say that is because the story is a bit predictable at times. Now that may be because I’m a genre fan and consume this content regularly.

Overall I really enjoyed this title and would recommend it to anyone interested in on the road survival stories and zombies.

Better to read book than to listen to it.

The story was good, but I didn't like the narrator. I didn't like the voices she used and the main character did not sound believable. I know the main character was supposed to be 16 but she sounded 10.

Never expected a zombie book to be so touching and so well written

I absolutely LOVED this book!!! I had zero expectations when I downloaded it and was really just looking to be entertained by a zombie thriller with mediocre character development (as per usual). But with in the first 2 minutes I could tell that the writing was much more than the typical zombie book. The descriptive wording and the artistic flow was beyond beautiful. I actually had to snap back into focus after realizing that this wouldn’t just be a mindless, (entertaining yet mind numbing) listen to pass the time (like the last one I listened to Patient Zero). I actually haven’t seen that kind of character development since Stephen King’s “it”. And maybe I’m really just referring to to Temple (the main character), but I really felt like
I knew her personally in this story. I really don’t know why A. this author hasn’t written very many books, and B. Why this isn’t a series? There is a prequel but it’s very hard to get in print and it’s not on audiobook. What a missed opportunity.

Refreshing Zombie Story

This Zombie story really is different from all the others I have read. The book has a feeling of optimism throughout as you see the country rebuilding.

Yes the book has an bad guy throughout but it felt really different. It wasn't some crazy person trying to take over the world for no reason with a bunch of dumb followers. This bad guy had a goal and I could sympathize with him.

I really enjoyed all of the characters. The performance was outstanding. Could not have been a better voice for the characters.

Wish the book was longer. I would love to read a follow-up book about the same "world".

A little slow but overall a good story

Well written but the narrator's reading made it slower paces than I thought would have been good for it.
I would recommend the story to anyone wanting to venture into the zombie genres, but if you love fast paced action it lacks this a bit.
Again I have to say overall a great story just wished the narrator picked up the pace a bit.

pretty good

well written loved it. not your normal zombie book. you should definitely check it out.

AMAZING

I suspect those who will dislike this book, and the reviewer who panned it, are looking for the typical zombie action story - with loads of gore and action and maybe a bit of medical/scientific explanation of what zombies are... Hasn't that been thoroughly explored and enacted though in loads of other zombie fiction? It is troubling how "zombie" seems to imply all kinds of required stereotypes and expectations that limit what the story can be.

Fortunately, this, like many other great stories featuring zombies, is not a slave to those expecations and stereotypes. It has its share of action and intrigue and mysteries and it is an amazing survival story, but more than that, is a deeply philosophical tale, and a psychological exploration of hope, loneliness, alienation, grief, loss and perserverance. The characters are truly compelling and well explored and developed, and some of the relationships are truly profound. There are no easy, simple, predictable good guys and bad guys, but rather complex human beings in an inconceivable scenario making what htey can of it. It is a very intriguing and intelligent exploration, but at the same times, a very entertaining and fast moving tale. The main character is absolutely amazing.

I was riveted to the story, and think it is a real accomplishment. It moves along very nicely too, is never boring, never gets bogged down, and progresses with purpose toward an amazing resolution. I highly recommend it.

Post Apocalyptic (with a zombie here and there)

Matthew 13:

"His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and THE REAPERS ARE THE ANGELS..

“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear."

Not sure what this title has to do with the rest of the book. ?

Other than an occasional nod to Christianity, this book is in no other way representative of Christ or Christians. Honor killing/revenge seem to be the underlying emphasis, while the primary thrust of the story seems to be only to survive in a messed up world without losing one's moral compass; The problem I have with that idea, is that the two main characters who illustrate this notion, have their own individual idea about morality. The dichotomy of Individual morals and Christian morals seems irreconcilable. If the author hadn't insisted on creating a connection to Christianity, and then departing from it, it might have carried more weight.

Performance was Tai Sammons solid and entertaining.