The Fetch by Laura Whitcomb

Calder’s job us essentially what it is named; as a Fetch, Calder escorts souls from their Death Scene to the Aisle of Unearthing. It’s his duty to make sure these souls do not become Lost Souls and that they make their way to Heaven. Calder has never questioned his duties, nor has he dwelled too much on the land of the living. That’s why even Calder can’t really believe himself when he neglects his duties and goes backwards, from the Aisle into a Death Scene, emerging in the midst of the Russian Revolution. Unknowingly, Calder creates a rift in all the realms, a crisis only he can fix—if he only knew how. And now Calder must race against time to protect the ones he now loves against the imbalance in the worlds and the rebellion that’s brewing amongst the Lost Souls before it’s too late and everything is lost.

Whitcomb creates a fantastically thrilling tale that successfully combines the tremulous times of the Russian Revolution and World War One with the supernatural barrier between life and death in her stunning novel, The Fetch. This novel was so delightful to read because of the historical accuracy and imagination; it is easy to see all the care and dedication that went into sculpting this story. Whitcomb includes an imaginative view of the afterlife including God and Heaven, but never in a way that it too religious or preachy. There is no shortage of action, excitement, and wonder between Calder’s wild travels, encounters with Lost Souls, and explanations of Calder’s Heavenly duties. I was a little disappointed at how flat Calder’s character seemed at times because his inhuman qualities made him hard to sympathize with; thankfully though, a little bit of romance brought livened him up. The Fetch can be viewed as a religious text, but I prefer to think of it as a supernatural story with a peek into the afterlife.

Fans of novels concerning creative versions of life after death such as Repossessed by A.M. Jenkins, Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin, and Jo-Jo and the Fiendish Lot by Andrew Auseon are sure to enjoy this lovely tale as well. Also, now that I’ve seen what Whitcomb’s writing is like, I am more eager than ever to get my hands on A Certain Slant of Light.

Rating: 4.25

Review copy from publisher Houghton Mifflin