Review: Grave Memory by Kalayna Price

Star Rating:

Date released: 3rd July 2012

Publisher: ROC

Author’s website: www. kalayna.com

My source: Amazon Kindle Store

Part of a series: Yes, #3 Alex Craft series

Find it at: GoodReads | Amazon | B&N

Official blurb:

When the dead need to talk, Alex Craft is always ready to listen…

As a Grave Witch, Alex solves murders by raising the dead—an ability that comes at a cost, and after her last few cases, that cost is compounding. But her magic isn’t the only thing causing havoc in her life. While she’s always been on friendly terms with Death himself, things have recently become a whole lot more close and personal. Then there’s her sometime partner, agent Falin Andrews, who is under the glamour of the Winter Queen. To top everything off, her best friend has been forever changed by her time spent captive in Faerie.

But the personal takes a backseat to the professional when a mysterious suicide occurs in Nekros City and Alex is hired to investigate. The shade she raises has no memory of the days leading up to his brutal ending, so despite the very public apparent suicide, this is murder. But what kind of magic can overcome the human will to survive? And why does the shade lack the memory of his death? Searching for the answer might mean Alex won’t have a life to remember at all…

What worked for me:

• This plot. How amazing was it? The mystery behind the ‘apparent suicides’ was fantastic, the big reveal of the murderer being the grave-entity of the ‘rider’ and how they managed to contain him in the end? Absolutely riveting. I was hooked.
• Death (the character). My opinion and love for Death still stands. Smoking. Hot. Absolutely tender, masculine and totally amazing, my hopeless romantic heart practically flip flopped in my chest when I realized they had a chance.
• That sex scene. Nowhere 50 Shades material, but come on, it was still hot. And it was so affectionate and warm between them! And the morning after? Sheesh. I wonder what we would have been reading had Tamara not interrupted. I also found it amusing that Alex has known Death since she was 5 years old, hopped into bed with him, and doesn’t even know his real name.
• A deeper understanding of the mechanics behind being a soul collector. I have been dying to know more about Death’s contextual construct and Price managed to give me a scrap without making me angry and demanding more. And I love how she never really confirmed or denied that the ‘mender’ Alex met is or isn’t ‘god’. Pretty obvious though, right? I like that Price doesn’t treat her readers like they’re idiots.
• The exploration of faerie politics during the faerie revelry celebration. How interesting is it! Usually, as I’ve mentioned before, I hate reading books about fae because most of the authors do a fantastic job of describing Faerie and its occupants and it creeps me out to the max, but this was well written. Had me shivering and cringing, to be honest, especially whenever the Winter Queen made an appearance. Heinous bitch.

What didn’t work for me:

• Falin. Seriously, get out already. Okay, fine, I’m sorry for being harsh – I know you’re only doing the bidding of your bitch-queen, but seriously. Alex can’t trust you and your boss is plotting her demise. Guilty by association, I know, but Alex needs to trash your toothbrush and make some space for Death’s.
• This love triangle! Come on Alex! Stop being a typical indecisive lover and just choose one (preferably Death, thank you). I’d like you a lot more as a character if you stopped dancing between Falin and Death and just make a decision. I know you’re heartbroken but you’re a glutton for punishment what with the way you’ve been carrying on. Again, like I’ve previously mentioned, I abhor stories that have love triangles without a clear ‘winner’.

Other thoughts:

Caleb and Holly: totally saw that coming, and I think it’s hella cute.

My thoughts for the next installment (can’t believe it’s coming out August in 2013!!) is that Alex chooses a lover (preferably Death, thank you) and that her powers manifest even further, or even better, she understands and is at least able to control her planeweaving. Remember the Shadow King’s Changeling? Perhaps she meets him again and learns some valuable lessons from him. And maybe a plotline that involves something perhaps with Alex’s faerie power inheritance, and perhaps some more secrets her darling of a father has been keeping? I’m curious if the ‘mender’ will also make an appearance. His parting words of definitely seeing Alex again sounded ominous!

Adored the third installment to this series and cannot wait till August 2013 for Grave Vision!

A solid 4.5 Stars.

[ Alex Craft Book 1 review | Alex Craft Book 2 Review ]

Review: A Hidden Fire by Elizabeth Hunter

Rating: 5 Stars and The Golden Bookshelf!!

Okay. I need to compose myself for this extended review. Ahem.

A Hidden Fire is the first in The Elemental Mysteries series by Elizabeth Hunter, a self-published indie author. I was pleasantly surprised and totally glad that I decided to give this book a go. Usually I’m wary of free books by unpublished authors, but A Hidden Fire completely blew me away. The best thing is that it’s free on the Amazon Kindle Store! Go get it!

The story revolves around a remarkable and intelligent librarian named Beatrice De Novo who (seemingly accidentally at first) is thrust headfirst into the world of vampires by her affiliation with mysterious, broody Dr. Giovanni Vecchio. Think HBO’s True Blood vs. Avatar: The Last Airbender. Hunter builds a grand world that is so believable, incredible in all ways and has epic proportions. And the dialogue between the two? Beautiful. Just beautiful.

“So, the wooden stake through the heart thing is apparently a myth, but you can be killed by fire. Anything else?”

“Should I be concerned that one of your first questions is how to kill me?”

Her jaw dropped. “What? No! I didn’t mean… I was just curious.”

He snorted. “Well you can remain so.”

“What about the sun?” she asked. “Extra toasty?”

“I’m not going to burst into flames, but I avoid tanning beds.”

“Silver?”

“Some of my favorite cufflinks.”

“Garlic?”

“Please,” he sneered. “I’m Italian.”

Hunter’s writing style is sharp yet graceful and is an exquisite mix of tenderness and brutality. She had me wrapped around her fingers from the word ‘go’. I can’t explain my love for this series – it won’t pull at your heartstrings, hell no, it’ll rip them to shreds. An absolutely fantastic read. And check out that amazing front cover, too!

Spoilers beneath the Read More!

Review: Sempre by J.M. Darhower

Rating: 5 Stars!

Sempre by J.M. Darhower is, in short, a story that will warm your heart, pulling at strings you never knew existed, excite you till your heart pumps, have you full to bursting, destroy your hopes and make you yearn for more.

You might think I’m exaggerating, but wow is all that comes to mind.

Haven is a lost girl, trying to find her place in a world she can barely comprehend with a past that would disgust and infuriate many. She finds solace in the DeMarco family, learning the ropes of society through Dominic and Carmine and how to walk the fine line of Dr. DeMarco’s anger. She’s special, intelligent and strong – a survivor and she doesn’t even know it.

Carmine, the youngest son of Dr. Vincent DeMarco, is a rebellious teen on the cusp of manhood. With a mouth that infuriates others when it opens, Carmine’s straight-up personality, tenacity and his penchant for violence and rage make him an interesting character – one that balances Haven’s precarious fragile-flower state.

Overall, I thought the book was an amazing read. The story flowed with such grace, third person point-of-views are narrated with finesse and the characters dance around the plot like it were a ballet. Definitely one of the better books I’ve read this year!

Spoilers under the Read More!!