Monday, February 11, 2013

BOOK REVIEW - GRAVE MEMORY by KALAYNA PRICE - ALEX CRAFT # 3 - ROC - 4.25 STARING DEATH IN THE FACE STARS!


By: Kalayna Price
Published By: Roc, Penguin
Released : Available Now
Details : Paperback from Library, 373 Pages

RATING: 4.25 STARING DEATH IN THE FACE STARS!!

Blurb : Goodreads


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…


BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

Grave Memory had me turning the pages, and looking...I was looking for Death and Falin. I really enjoy this series and I really like Alex and all the characters. I know this series is called the Alex Craft series, but... book 3, I wanted *stomps foot* more Falin and Death. I almost expect to see more of them in this series as the book numbers climb.

I admittedly have had a crush on Falin , I know he has his issues , but he can’t help them, not with WQ = Winter Queen being all in everybody’s faces.

“As long as I belong to her, you can never trust me. I have to do what she commands. So don’t call me, don’t look for me, and if you see me, run away. Do you understand?

I love Death. Is it his name Death that is so alluring...is it his mysterious self, floating in and out for a cup of coffee and some smexiness that oozes off him???

Death is not your warrior / alpha type guy, there is a caring, protectiveness about him, especially with Alex. I think Falin has more of an Alpha type character, if he was allowed to let it loose.

We as the reader don’t get an awful lot of Death in the 3 books to date.

There is just something about him.

My fingers moved to my lips. That fleeting, ghost-like kiss? It tasted of sorrow.


“Why can’t you at least try to stay alive?” Death asked dropping to his knees by my shoulders. “For me?”

I wonder if we will ever know his true name?

We did get more Death than I think we ever have in this book, giddy up! I will explain in a moment.

This instalment was mostly, 2/3rds a ‘Tongues for The Dead’ mystery to solve. Errr... Alex was making it her case because Det. John’s superiors have reneged on her retainer.

“No you won’t. You’re staying here.”

“Like hell I am,” I said, pushing out of the chair.

John shook his head. “Officer, arrest her.”

I gaped at John. “For what?”

“Oh , I’m sure there’s an entire list I can choose from after your little escapade earlier, but for now, let’s go with endangering a civilian.”

“What civilian?”

“At the moment, yourself,” he said, heading for the door.

He stopped long enough to shoot a hard glance at the rookie. “Officer, that wasn’t a suggestion. Arrest her.”



Alex can’t sit around when men are suiciding left right and centre and Det John can’t and won’t listen to her. What is making these unassuming men kill themselves rather horribly? Death is at the scene to collect the souls and shades get raised with frighteningly similar stories.

What they can recall, that is, because they have a Grave Memory, pun intended.

Roy is a fave ghost of mine. I felt a tad sorry for him as he is trying to make the most of what he has become. I love his ‘Office’. 

Go Roy!

Everybody is digging the faerie menu, whether by choice or...

I loved the last 1/3rd of this book it really went places. * waggles eyebrows* followed by * face plant*

You will know when that happens.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but I got rather excited, then I kind of had the rug shifted and THEN!!!!!!!...well I can’t say.

* face plant*

Needless to say, oh , deary, me! The Winter Queen is really doing her best to be a thorn in Alex’s side.

I say, ‘Off with her head!’

Now Fred, who ended up being a girl, lol! Has my memory gone grave on me? Am I forgetting something in Grave Dance? My fave gargoyle is nowhere. Maybe I am forgetting something?

Briar Darque. I like her! She pulls no punches. I think she is a bit trigger happy, lol! I dig this chick. A nice new shiny character working for the Magical Crimes Investigation Bureau = MCIB. 

We do go back into Faerie in this book, I was hoping for some more Shadow King , we got a glimpse of him, and I liked Kyran in Grave Dance. Maybe book 4? 

“Please tell me a Faerie party isn’t code for an orgy,” I muttered, turning.

Good ol' dad. When Alex really has no answers, or she needs an off switch ( cryptic I know) , she does turn to Dad, for better or worse. Dad is still being all mysterious and just letting enough information drop , until Alex no doubt makes another emergency stop, in ‘Grave Visions’, book # 4 due out August 2013.

Grave Memory will have you turning the pages, lusting after Death, possibly having a love triangle moment bouncing about in your head with our trio.  Sub characters who are ...well, I won’t tell you, but yay to something , and some deadly... errrr things happen. There is a wicked mystery to solve that could end up costing Alex more than she can chew, and an ending that will have you grabbing for Grave Visions # 4 as soon as it is released. 

O.M.G!

I am also curious who left the rose? I am thinking Death as Falin got his crank on, but indeed, no more reference to ...the rose J


Michelle

6 comments:

  1. Falin sounds fun, and sorry there wasn't enough of him. Glad that you enjoyed it otherwise though.
    Happy reading,
    Brandi @ Blkosiner’s Book Blog

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    Replies
    1. Hey Brandi, I do like Falin I think he has a lot against him with the WQ:)

      Mich

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  2. Hehe!

    "Endangering a civilian."

    "What civilian?"

    "Yourself."

    I love that quote! This sounds like a great series :)

    Jesse @ Pretty In Fiction

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    Replies
    1. Hi Jesse,

      Detective John is lovely. He is just a great guy, kind of like a father figure to Alex even though she has one of those. I really like this series I just think the lads need to be brought into it MORE!!!!!

      Thanks for dropping by:D

      Mich

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  3. Cant get any bolder than Death. I am happy I'm reading PNR/UF again. I feel excited reading reviews like this too. I hope I get to read this series in the future.

    ReplyDelete

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