Name: Death Watch
ISBN: 9781416991151

Ari Berk

A first entry in a planned trilogy finds 17-year-old Silas moving to Lichport after the disappearance of his father and assuming his father's responsibilities as a person who can see ghosts and who settles the accounts of the dead, a job that is complicated by dark local secrets.

Death Watch

Riley

Ken Yuen

"But some things you can do something about, while others may only get sorted out in the fullness of time."

Did you know the word "tantalize" comes from the word Tantalus? The guy in Hades always within reach of grapes or water, but having it snatched away before he can reach it? It's good to be tantalized, to be curious, to want to know more. But too much of it, and it can feel a bit torturous.

In some ways, Death Watch is a very simple hero's journey. Silas, his father disappeared, his mother absent, must find his own direction. His main quest: find his father. His side quests: Explore the town, learn the plights of its people, meet a pretty girl and fall in love, etc.

However, this is not a book about events. It's a book that is about worldbuilding. You explore the town of Lichport in fascinating and excruciating detail. The town holds a great mystery, which only begins to reveal itself to Silas and the reader at chapter 20, 139 pages into the story. And that's the pacing of this book. In some ways, it's about being young and impetuous and trying to tackle things before one is ready. In others, it's Hamlet pondering and unable to take the action that he needs.

It's about a boy growing up with no support. Questions are evaded. Everyone expects something from young Silas, but no one tells him what he needs to know. It's quite unfair, and any wonder that Silas is able to follow in his father's footsteps in such a manner. But there are no instruction manuals for life, and ultimately Silas must be the one to become the man that he wants to be. That the town needs him to be.

Also cliffhanger bait for the sequels. 

Ultimately, this was a fascinating world to explore. I genuinely wanted to know more about how things worked. Just what is Silas capable of? Who can Silas truly trust? What secrets does his uncle hold? How much of this is dream logic? If you have the patience for it, this is a great fantasy story that has roots that dig down deep in the town of Lichport.

Chilling, in the most comforting way. I only have an analogy to describe how this book makes me feel:
Eating thick chocolate mud cake with a small, ornate fork in a tiny café, rugged up in a warm coat on a cold day. The coat gives the occasional wool-itch, but for the most part is just soft enough to keep your mind off the cold wind whipping through the space between jeans and socks. The odd shudder of cold comes up the spine just often enough to keep you alert.

If you are seeking a book that will entice you with its macabre, look no further! Death Watch will satisfy your cravings with a sound plot, moving characters and a mystery to be solved. I have absolutely loved this trilogy since its release, and I must say that Silas Umber has remained one of my very favourite fictional characters to this day party because I feel that he was truly written like a forlorn teen (rather than like an annoying and mopey kid like many other writers have written depressed adolescents as, thereby making the reader detest him). I feel a strong, personal connection to the wonderful characters in this trilogy, it's somewhat difficult to put it in words. Needless to say, Death Watch has stayed with me for years after I first read it and will for many more to come.

Jessica Nottingham

Currently a DNF title. I gave it 80 pages but it felt so slow that I just couldn't stay entertained. Elements of it reminded me of Graveminder, but much more slow moving. This book just wasn't for me.