Jake runs into a scary stranger who wishes him good morning, then hands him a box, which turns out to contain a withered human finger. Not knowing what to do, he carries it around in his backpack because his parents have recently split and Jake can't decide on who to tell. His indecision may save his life, because the scary stranger returns and is required to bring Jake, an unlicensed human to opened Embassy property, to the Embassy of the Dead for eternal punishment.
A fast moving and original story about mistaken identity and all the red tape involved in being dead. It features the worst illustrations I've ever seen in a book. ( )

This is an imaginative tale about a boy named Jake who receives an unexpected box from a stranger. This triggers all sorts of creepy and fun adventures for Jake, and the unlikely friends he makes along the way, all while unlocking an extraordinary gift he never thought he possessed. Middle grade readers and above would enjoy this first book of a series. I really enjoyed reading it and can imagine it being adapted successfully on screen. Thanks to Candlewick Press and Walker Books US for my review copy. ( )

Embassy of the Dead is a fun, adventure-packed, spooky story about a boy that happens upon a plot to take over the world, but not just the living world, the world of the dead too.

Jake is just your ordinary boy until one day on his way home he is given a box and what person doesn't open a box if it is given to them. Jake discovers a severed finger and is immediately thrown into a supernatural crazy plot. He meets some ghosts, and learns about the Embassy of the Dead.

This was a quick read, full of action and a lot of running away from spooky reapers and other undeads. The characters were fun and I enjoyed them, there seems to be a plan for more books in the series which will help more with characters growth and development. There was some in this installment, nit not a lot yet. The plot is fun and combines the spooky/scary with a bit of mystery and as pretty action packed. I think younger readers will really enjoy this one. ( )

This was a fun, relatively quick read. While the characters and plot didn’t blow me away, it was compelling enough to keep me reading. Jake is maybe a little too accepting of the sudden revelation that he can see and talk to ghosts, but I think that’s a hard thing to get just right.

Jake is pretty level-headed and determined, Stiffkey is the loveable old man type who just wants to retire but has to keep track of the kiddos on this crazy adventure, and Cora is the sass and spark of the group. The characters play pretty well off each other. The embassy is interesting and I’d like to know more; it reminds me a bit of the office in the afterlife in Beetlejuice.

I’d like to see a finished copy of the book because I’ve been following Taryn on Instagram for years and I love her style. There are some illustrations in the ARC and I’m curious as to whether the images are sketches, or if they’ll maybe be in color in the final copy. There are also a few pages that describe the different types of ghosts, like poltergeists, and I’d love to see more inserts like that.

I don’t have much more to say than this. It was a fun book and it appears to be the start of a series. It’s one of those books where I likely won’t seek out the sequel, but if I won a copy or was offered one by the publisher, I’d be interested in seeing how it plays out. If you like spoopy middle-grade and ghostly adventures, this is one to check out. ( )

“There are some things in life and death that are certain. One of those things is that a man digging a hole in the dead of the night is definitely up to no good.”

And so begins Jake’s unexpected fight for survival with the Embassy of the Dead, the Grim Reaper, and Death itself. While walking home from school one late October afternoon, Jake encounters an oddly dressed, eerie old man who insists the small, brown-wrapped package he’s holding is meant for Jake. A case of mistaken identity? Surely the small box is meant for someone other than Jake? Does he dare open the box and peer inside? Little does Jake know that once opened, there’s no going back.

A humorous, kid-friendly scary, Otherworldly adventure involving a withered, severed human finger, ghosts, ghouls, and a mystery as old as time itself. This first book in what is sure to be a hit series, is a must for middle school aged readers looking for a little spooky, hair-raising adventure. Black and white illustrations accompany the easy to read text and the bony, skeletal hand missing a finger adds just enough creep-factor to remind the reader that Jake’s adventure is just beginning. A fun book to read aloud or to curl up under the covers with. Looking forward to book 2 in this fun, new series! ( )