The Fetch by Laura Whitcomb

     Calder is a Fetch, an escort of sorts. He delivers souls who have just died to Heaven. He waits at their 'Death Door' until they choose life or death, then opens the door into the 'Aisle of Unearthing' and guides the soul through the different elements of the Aisle until he hands them over at the 'Great River'.
     Calder makes a mistake and unleashes lost souls into the living world during the Russian Revolution. He must make things right and save Ana (Anastasia) and Alexis.

     I just finished The Fetch this morning, and I must say, I loved it. Although, The Fetch was excessively confusing during the first part, in my opinion at least. Whether the confusion resulted from the new world Laura Whitcomb created or from my lack of genius I'm not sure. I would be willing to bet on the latter reason. ;) I actually didn't think I would enjoy the book because I couldn't understand the beginning. As it turned out, the novel became increasingly interesting and I fell in love with the characters. I also figured out what had been happening at first as the book progressed.

     I thought the author truly mixed the supernatural and historical elements beautifully. Calder is an unearthly being who is thrust into some of the horrors happening on earth during the revolution in Russia. The book manages to make these terrors fresh in your mind. How could you murder an entire family, royal or otherwise, in cold blood? Can love thrive so wonderfully in a dire situation and then die afterwards?

     More than anything, this book makes you realize what it means - and what it takes - to forgive. Ana, Alexis and Calder all must learn to forgive in order to move on. It also shows the importance of your memories. Although you don't always realize it, your experiences make you who you are. Calder learns this lesson through the course of the book. This is a book well-worth getting through the start of.

     Rating: 7

     Get The Fetch by Laura Whitcomb at Amazon or Books a Million.