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Tuesday, June 4, 2019

YA Book #Review: Rogue (Croak 3) by Gina Damico .@ginadamico

Book Title: Rogue (Croak 3)
Author:  Gina Damico |WebsiteTwitterFacebook| Instagram
Publisher:  Graphia
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal, Mature YA
Series/Standalone: Book 3
Format: ebook, Trade Paperback
Cost: $9.99
Pages: 326
How I got it: Purchased 
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher
Publication Date: Sept 10, 2013
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Synopsis:
Lex is a teenage Grim Reaper with the power to Damn souls, and it’s getting out of control. She’s a fugitive, on the run from the maniacal new mayor of Croak and the townspeople who want to see her pay the price for her misdeeds. Uncle Mort rounds up the Junior Grims to flee Croak once again, but this time they’re joined by Grotton, the most powerful Grim of all time. Their new mission is clear: Fix his mistakes, or the Afterlife will cease to exist, along with all the souls in it.

The gang heads for Necropolis, the labyrinth-like capital city of the Grimsphere. There, they discover that the Grimsphere needs a reboot. To do that, the portals to the Afterlife must be destroyed…but even that may not be enough to fix the damage. Things go from bad to worse, and when at last the fate of the Afterlife and all the souls of the Damned hang in the balance, it falls to Lex and her friends to make one final, impossible choice.
Once again let's start with the amaze-balls covers, when they are all lined up together they are so pretty!!!  This has taken me several years to finish as I have placed it on like every TBR pile through the years. It's not because it wasn't engaging it's because I didn't want it to end and as much as I love it and can go back and re-read; there's nothing like reading the ending and finding the twists for the first time. I procrastinated reading this because I didn't want the series to end, I didn't want to let go of the amazing characters and I was scared she wouldn't do it justice. Man I'm an idiot!!

I have loved this group of ragtag Grim Reapers from the first and didn't want to part with them. Lex has been one of my favorite characters to read in a long time. As I have said a few times before she reminded me of Toilet seat Girl in Dead Like Me.

Lex is an angry sixteen-year-old, unfortunately, she has plenty of reason to be, so much has gone down since she came to Croak and it all seems to be going from bad to worse. In the last book, we were left with some heartbreaking news and given the choices she has to make I can understand why she's still so angry. Betrayed, angry, heartbroken Lex is on the run and keeping secrets. Her town of Croak was damaged when they went to war and now the Juniors and Uncle Mort are on the run trying to right the wrong done generations ago. While trying to stay one step ahead of the mob hellbent on making them pay for their transgressions.

Running, Crashing and Reaping as they go the Juniors are doing their best to undo the damage being done to the Grimsphere. Except they don't have the help they should because their enemies are moving faster than they are and have better PR. This is the book that holds the most amount of adventure, growth, and development for the Juniors. They each get their moment to shine and show that even with Lex as their leader they are fearless as well. They back her plans and she and Uncle Mort begin to rebuild their relationship. Even as they face the dangers of their mission they wouldn't be them without Fergus cracking a joke or Pip being dramatic. There are some sweet reunion moments for Lex and heartbreaking goodbyes as well.

I will say I started to cry when we go to the last few chapters as betrayals happened to the team, as each member began to step up and make a difference for the ultimate mission. As their enemies get savior and take the fight to another level, Lex, Uncle Mort, and the Juniors try to find a way to bring the townspeople around to their side.  As the battles continue, there are prices to pay and so many paid them, each taking a piece of Lex as it happened. Knowing that the Afterlife is in danger if they don't win the team keeps going even with the loses. New powers come into play, old enemies come back to *surprisingly* help when they realize they too will lose if the Grimsphere doesn't get the help it needs.

This is the darkest the books have gotten. And it's been the best adventure as well. I didn't see the ending coming and sobbed when I realized how far each town had to go to help right the wrongs. When you realize this is bigger than Lex and her quest for vengeance. When we learn all about Uncle Mort's past & some seriously surprising secrets about the history of Croak and the Grimsphere.  When the end comes it's bittersweet, heartbreaking and at the same time so perfect. When the Last does their job and then lays down their Scythe?? I just fell apart.

A fantastic end to a great series. I highly recommend it my loves, be ready for an adventure, for young love, for a great found family and be prepared for the loses that come with war.
 ★★★★
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RECOMMENDATIONS
Happy Reaping Reading my loves, 

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