DEATH OF A POP STAR

An up-and-coming idol makes a deal with the Grim Reaper for a second chance at life.

Eighteen-year-old Sophie Lim, who presents East Asian, has devoted her life to training for pop stardom. But a fall down a flight of stairs brings her face-to-face with Eli, the Grim Reaper—a pale, slender young man with gray hair, who also happens to be a huge fan of her music. To dodge death, Sophie bargains with Eli: The next time she dies, she’ll become his bride, forever in limbo, reaping souls. After Sophie miraculously awakens from her coma (with no memories of the deal), Grace, who’s her aunt and manager, puts her on a yearlong hiatus from performing. But leading a normal life as a college student is hard when you’re famous—not to mention that she seems unusually prone to near-death experiences. Karim packs a lot into this volume, which compiles episodes 1-22 of the popular WEBTOON series: budding romance, social conflict, family issues, a motley crew of friends, a mystery, and more. The quick pace fits with the story’s energy, and fans of shōjo manga and K-drama rom-coms will enjoy the humor and heart. Karim’s clean and expressive illustrations energetically convey the hijinks, particularly the comedy in Sophie’s attempts to adjust to college life. The volume ends abruptly, with a cliffhanger reveal that will leave readers in suspense.

A fun and funny series starter.