Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
ROC (2010), Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages
Description
As a grave witch, Alex Craft can speak to the dead. She's even on good terms with Death himself. As a consultant for the police, she's seen a lot of dark magic, but nothing has prepared her for her latest case. Someone really doesn't want her to know what the dead have to say, and she'll have to work with mysterious homicide detective Falin Andrews to figure out why.
User reviews
LibraryThing member DarkFaerieTales
Quick & Dirty: This magical tale delivers intrigue, mayhem and adventure that will have you clamoring for the second installment.
Opening Sentence: The first time I encountered Death, I hurled my mother’s medical chart at him.
The Review:
Despite working with charms, Alex Craft leads anything but a
Grave Witch is the first book in the Alex Craft series. I wanted to read this book from the moment that I heard about it. Grave Witch has a unique concept. The book has enough nuances to make it a stand out in this fall publishing season. Alex Craft is a strong kick-ass urban fantasy heroine. Death also plays a major role in Alex’s life. He’s an intriguing and elusive character. There’s a lot we still don’t know about him. Death has that eerie and dark vibe about him, making me question what he really wants from Alex. Any romantic relationship Alex would have with Death would certainly not be between equals. He is out of her league and I’m just not sure she could actually stand up to him in a meaningful way. Alex has some really cool powers, but let’s be honest – Death trumps all.
Nekros City is full of deadly fae and malevolent magic. The world-building and characterization are fascinating but I would have liked a bit more detail. It felt as if Ms. Price glossed over a lot of details. The Magical Awakening is one such example that could have been expounded upon to draw the reader deeper into the story, and have a profound impact. I just didn’t feel that the world was as complicated as it should be given the supernatural circumstances. A world where magic is out in the open is a game changer. The ramifications and implications of this new world didn’t seem fully realized.
Overall, I recommend reading this solid urban fantasy. Grave Witch is an exciting and action-packed story. Great characters make this a very entertaining, intriguing and atmospheric tale with magic and mayhem. I’m really looking forward to reading the second book in this series, Grave Dance.
Notable Scene:
The extra defenses the charms gave me vanished. The chill of the grave pressed against my mental shields like icy water lapping at the edge of my consciousness. I drew in a deep breath and sank deeper into a trance. The grave essence lifting from the corpses within my circle persisted, thundering against my mind. Beckoning. Taunting. Demanding.
I dropped my shields.
A racking wind rushed through me. The clammy touch of the grave slid against my skin, beneath my flesh.
The Alex Craft Series:
1. Grave Witch
2. Grave Dance
FTC Advisory: The author provided me with a copy of Grave Witch. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. In addition, I don’t receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site.
Opening Sentence: The first time I encountered Death, I hurled my mother’s medical chart at him.
The Review:
Despite working with charms, Alex Craft leads anything but a
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charmed life. She’s a grave witch with the ability to raise “shades,” which are a person’s memories. Once they take shape, Alex is able to communicate with the shade. Alex can also speak with ghosts. She’s trying to make ends meet as a P.I. and consultant for the Nekros City Police Department. Alex begins to have problems from the moment she takes on a high profile murder investigation. Bodies start turning up with ritualistic symbols and contaminated with a soul-draining spell. With her life in danger, Death breezing in and out of her life, Alex will need all the help she can get. She teams up with homicide detective Falin Andrews to find the ghost-silencing killer, save her soul, and hopefully pay her rent.Grave Witch is the first book in the Alex Craft series. I wanted to read this book from the moment that I heard about it. Grave Witch has a unique concept. The book has enough nuances to make it a stand out in this fall publishing season. Alex Craft is a strong kick-ass urban fantasy heroine. Death also plays a major role in Alex’s life. He’s an intriguing and elusive character. There’s a lot we still don’t know about him. Death has that eerie and dark vibe about him, making me question what he really wants from Alex. Any romantic relationship Alex would have with Death would certainly not be between equals. He is out of her league and I’m just not sure she could actually stand up to him in a meaningful way. Alex has some really cool powers, but let’s be honest – Death trumps all.
Nekros City is full of deadly fae and malevolent magic. The world-building and characterization are fascinating but I would have liked a bit more detail. It felt as if Ms. Price glossed over a lot of details. The Magical Awakening is one such example that could have been expounded upon to draw the reader deeper into the story, and have a profound impact. I just didn’t feel that the world was as complicated as it should be given the supernatural circumstances. A world where magic is out in the open is a game changer. The ramifications and implications of this new world didn’t seem fully realized.
Overall, I recommend reading this solid urban fantasy. Grave Witch is an exciting and action-packed story. Great characters make this a very entertaining, intriguing and atmospheric tale with magic and mayhem. I’m really looking forward to reading the second book in this series, Grave Dance.
Notable Scene:
The extra defenses the charms gave me vanished. The chill of the grave pressed against my mental shields like icy water lapping at the edge of my consciousness. I drew in a deep breath and sank deeper into a trance. The grave essence lifting from the corpses within my circle persisted, thundering against my mind. Beckoning. Taunting. Demanding.
I dropped my shields.
A racking wind rushed through me. The clammy touch of the grave slid against my skin, beneath my flesh.
The Alex Craft Series:
1. Grave Witch
2. Grave Dance
FTC Advisory: The author provided me with a copy of Grave Witch. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. In addition, I don’t receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site.
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LibraryThing member samantha.1020
Alex Craft has a unique talent as a "grave witch" which allows for her to speak to the dead. The shades that she raises are usually harmless and easy for Alex to control until the day when she is attacked by one of them. Before Alex knows it, she is caught up in a mystery filled with dark magic and
Grave Witch was one of those urban fantasy reads that I didn't want to put down. It left me wanting more after I turned the last page, and I've already went out and bought a copy of the second book which should tell you how much I enjoyed this one. First of all, Alex has such a unique talent as she can talk to the dead otherwise known as shades. With her ability to communicate with them comes her "grave vision" which allows for her to see the world in a different perspective than the average human. I really liked that her talents came with a price and it took a lot out of her to use her skills especially when she was left basically blind for periods of time. It helped to make this book very unique from other urban fantasy reads that are out there. The mystery that Alex found herself caught up in was very dark and creepy. It kept me on my toes and turning pages long after I should have gone to sleep. My only complaint with the book was that I was never a huge fan of the romance that was developing between Alex and Detective Falin. I think that it was because Falin had so many secrets of his own that we were never really privy to. Maybe in the next book we will learn more about him. I'm really excited to see what happens next and how the story develops.
All in all, this was a really solid beginning to this urban fantasy series. It was dark, gritty and extremely compelling and I'm hooked on the world that Price has created. Highly recommended to fans of urban fantasy!!
Disclosure: I checked this book out at my local library and promptly bought a copy of the 2nd book after finishing this one.
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even darker beings who care little if she comes out of all this alive or not.Grave Witch was one of those urban fantasy reads that I didn't want to put down. It left me wanting more after I turned the last page, and I've already went out and bought a copy of the second book which should tell you how much I enjoyed this one. First of all, Alex has such a unique talent as she can talk to the dead otherwise known as shades. With her ability to communicate with them comes her "grave vision" which allows for her to see the world in a different perspective than the average human. I really liked that her talents came with a price and it took a lot out of her to use her skills especially when she was left basically blind for periods of time. It helped to make this book very unique from other urban fantasy reads that are out there. The mystery that Alex found herself caught up in was very dark and creepy. It kept me on my toes and turning pages long after I should have gone to sleep. My only complaint with the book was that I was never a huge fan of the romance that was developing between Alex and Detective Falin. I think that it was because Falin had so many secrets of his own that we were never really privy to. Maybe in the next book we will learn more about him. I'm really excited to see what happens next and how the story develops.
All in all, this was a really solid beginning to this urban fantasy series. It was dark, gritty and extremely compelling and I'm hooked on the world that Price has created. Highly recommended to fans of urban fantasy!!
Disclosure: I checked this book out at my local library and promptly bought a copy of the 2nd book after finishing this one.
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LibraryThing member DonnerLibrary
I don't normally gush about books but I LOVED Grave Witch. This is a great beginning and I really hope the rest of the series lives up to the standards that Price has set for herself with this book.
Alex is a very interesting character with a hidden past of her own. Her magic is wild at times and it
I really tried to stay away from reading reviews of this book before I read it because I didn't want the reviews to influence my opinion. I did read a few guest posts by Kalayna Price though and it seemed that people often focused in on the character of Death. So when I read the book, I was surprised that Death wasn't more present. I loved the scenes with Death and I am really looking forward to seeing him more in future books but I really found Detective Andrews more interesting because he and Alex spent so much more time together. Both men have their secrets and their hidden agendas which added another element of mystery to the story.
The main murder investigation was full of twists and turns and really kept moving. The conflict with the Humans First Party and the Organization for Magically Inclined Humans reminded me a bit of the tension between humans and paranormal beings in the Kim Harrison's Rachel Mogan series. I think fans of Kim Harrison and of Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld books will really enjoy Grave Witch.
Originally, I was a bit worried that I would not be able to get this book read before I needed to return in to the library but it was such a fast read that I really had nothing to worry about. I lost track of time reading Grave Witch because I just wanted to stay immersed in Alex's world and find out what was going to happen.
Alex is a very interesting character with a hidden past of her own. Her magic is wild at times and it
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comes with a significant price. This leaves her very vulnerable to others after using her magic so she must balance the need to See clearly with the potential danger.I really tried to stay away from reading reviews of this book before I read it because I didn't want the reviews to influence my opinion. I did read a few guest posts by Kalayna Price though and it seemed that people often focused in on the character of Death. So when I read the book, I was surprised that Death wasn't more present. I loved the scenes with Death and I am really looking forward to seeing him more in future books but I really found Detective Andrews more interesting because he and Alex spent so much more time together. Both men have their secrets and their hidden agendas which added another element of mystery to the story.
The main murder investigation was full of twists and turns and really kept moving. The conflict with the Humans First Party and the Organization for Magically Inclined Humans reminded me a bit of the tension between humans and paranormal beings in the Kim Harrison's Rachel Mogan series. I think fans of Kim Harrison and of Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld books will really enjoy Grave Witch.
Originally, I was a bit worried that I would not be able to get this book read before I needed to return in to the library but it was such a fast read that I really had nothing to worry about. I lost track of time reading Grave Witch because I just wanted to stay immersed in Alex's world and find out what was going to happen.
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LibraryThing member pacey1927
I wavered over my rating for "Grave Witch" by Kalayna Price. I really enjoyed the story but it had some big flaws. With a litle editing and polish, this book could have been a phenomenal success in my opinion. I really liked our heroine Ms. Alex Craft. She has been disowned by her wealthy family
Alex comes across fairly tough but immediately we find out she loves her dog P.C. and has a gargoyle taht lives in the front yard. Yup she is kind of a softie inside too. Now a famous politician is dead and Alex has to help uncover the mystery. Enter an unusual and handsome detective named Falin Andrews who is also investigating the case...is he help or more trouble? Oh, and did I forget to mention Alex can see and talk to Death? Death is a hot guy who wears blue jeans and seems to have a crush on Alex.
The characters are for the most part a real treat. I really like Death, just the novelty of him as a character is intriguing. Falin was so-so for me, I can't get a feel for him yet. There were some side characters with promise, but they didn't do much. I assume they will be fleshed out somewhere down the line in the next books. For me, Price's characters are the strongest aspect of the story outside of the general premise of the story. The premise is wonderful...the girl who can raise shades of the dead and talk (and more) with Death and ghosts.
What fails to work as well are the details. Alex's grave sight is confusingly portrayed. Sometimes I wondered what was reality and what was in the other planes. If Alex is walking on sold steps in reality but in her grave sight she can see them start to crumble, is she really going to fall or is she one solid ground? Some clarification on grave sight really is would be nice.
There were too many different pieces to this mystery. Usually this is fine with me but for a first novel, where readers are just beginning to become accustomed to the world and characters, it just became too much. The revelation about Alex's father was ok except that I couldn't understand the motivations behind is treatment of Alex after everything was revealed.
There was just a little too much clutter.
I am most certainly engaged enough to contine and I look forward to seeing where these characters go. Overall if you like Urban Fantasy this is worth reading.
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for being a grave witch. Meaning that she can use 'grave sight' to see althernate planes of reality. She can also rise shades of the ghosts and find out how or why they were killed. She does this for a living as well as uses her skills as a specil P.I. Investigator. Alex comes across fairly tough but immediately we find out she loves her dog P.C. and has a gargoyle taht lives in the front yard. Yup she is kind of a softie inside too. Now a famous politician is dead and Alex has to help uncover the mystery. Enter an unusual and handsome detective named Falin Andrews who is also investigating the case...is he help or more trouble? Oh, and did I forget to mention Alex can see and talk to Death? Death is a hot guy who wears blue jeans and seems to have a crush on Alex.
The characters are for the most part a real treat. I really like Death, just the novelty of him as a character is intriguing. Falin was so-so for me, I can't get a feel for him yet. There were some side characters with promise, but they didn't do much. I assume they will be fleshed out somewhere down the line in the next books. For me, Price's characters are the strongest aspect of the story outside of the general premise of the story. The premise is wonderful...the girl who can raise shades of the dead and talk (and more) with Death and ghosts.
What fails to work as well are the details. Alex's grave sight is confusingly portrayed. Sometimes I wondered what was reality and what was in the other planes. If Alex is walking on sold steps in reality but in her grave sight she can see them start to crumble, is she really going to fall or is she one solid ground? Some clarification on grave sight really is would be nice.
There were too many different pieces to this mystery. Usually this is fine with me but for a first novel, where readers are just beginning to become accustomed to the world and characters, it just became too much. The revelation about Alex's father was ok except that I couldn't understand the motivations behind is treatment of Alex after everything was revealed.
There was just a little too much clutter.
I am most certainly engaged enough to contine and I look forward to seeing where these characters go. Overall if you like Urban Fantasy this is worth reading.
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LibraryThing member BookSwarm
irst, Alex gets into it with a client who is refusing to pay (she didn't give him the news he wanted), and Death takes him before she can make him pay. Then, her estranged sister calls and asks a favor. A big one, it turns out, involving her also-estranged father. Reluctantly, she agrees. While
Now, all she wants to do is go home and snuggle her dog. Maybe have a drink. But she can't. She has to find out who's behind the murders, who tried to kill her, who is using evil magic, who is stealing people's souls, and who cast the spell on the shade who poisoned her—and they may not all be the same person. No biggie. At least, she has that hottie Death on her side. Oh, and Detective Falin Andrews. But Death disappears every time she tries to question him, and Falin knows more than he says and is not quite as human as he appears.
GRAVE WITCH is a fast-paced, magic-filled thriller with just enough romance to make it interesting. I love the character of Death—he's cute, likes coffee, and looks out for Alex. There's more going on with him then we're told, which keeps him mysterious, just the way I like them. Falin, the other hottie on the scene, is just as mysterious but I didn't like him as much—at first. However, he really grew on me after a while. He grew on Alex, too, leading to some pretty hot bedroom scenes and sparks flying every which way each time they butted heads, which was a lot.
Kaylayan Price weaves together a world filled with magic and intrigue, where the land of Faerie touches the human world, and humans are connected to magic. The worldbuilding is beautifully done with no massive info dumps, as sometimes happens in urban fantasies. Alex is a great character—strong, snarky but with a sense of humor (especially when it comes to the state of her finances), and independent. Of course, she's not flawless. She has commitment issues, usually preferring to warm herself up after a job with a random hook-up than a full-time guy. She's also got family issues. Daddy doesn't like magic and, because she couldn't control hers when she was younger, he disinherited her. So, she changed her name, burying her past. Until it comes back to haunt her (Get it? Since she can talk to the dead?). All in all, this was a great story populated with strong, interesting characters that will have you rooting for the witch to win.
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she's checking things out, she's attacked by a murdered woman's shade, something that never happens. And, after raising another shade to testify in court, someone shoots at her but the bullet hits her cop-friend instead and puts him in a coma. Truly, this is a very bad day for Alex Craft.Now, all she wants to do is go home and snuggle her dog. Maybe have a drink. But she can't. She has to find out who's behind the murders, who tried to kill her, who is using evil magic, who is stealing people's souls, and who cast the spell on the shade who poisoned her—and they may not all be the same person. No biggie. At least, she has that hottie Death on her side. Oh, and Detective Falin Andrews. But Death disappears every time she tries to question him, and Falin knows more than he says and is not quite as human as he appears.
GRAVE WITCH is a fast-paced, magic-filled thriller with just enough romance to make it interesting. I love the character of Death—he's cute, likes coffee, and looks out for Alex. There's more going on with him then we're told, which keeps him mysterious, just the way I like them. Falin, the other hottie on the scene, is just as mysterious but I didn't like him as much—at first. However, he really grew on me after a while. He grew on Alex, too, leading to some pretty hot bedroom scenes and sparks flying every which way each time they butted heads, which was a lot.
Kaylayan Price weaves together a world filled with magic and intrigue, where the land of Faerie touches the human world, and humans are connected to magic. The worldbuilding is beautifully done with no massive info dumps, as sometimes happens in urban fantasies. Alex is a great character—strong, snarky but with a sense of humor (especially when it comes to the state of her finances), and independent. Of course, she's not flawless. She has commitment issues, usually preferring to warm herself up after a job with a random hook-up than a full-time guy. She's also got family issues. Daddy doesn't like magic and, because she couldn't control hers when she was younger, he disinherited her. So, she changed her name, burying her past. Until it comes back to haunt her (Get it? Since she can talk to the dead?). All in all, this was a great story populated with strong, interesting characters that will have you rooting for the witch to win.
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LibraryThing member MargK
Grave Witch is one of those books that left me unsure about how exactly I felt about it. I neither hated the book nor did I love it, but despite finishing it several days ago, I found myself unable to formulate an in-depth review. I think the problem stems from the fact that the book moves along
So what did I like about Grave Witch? Well, as I mentioned, it was fast paced with a good amount of action that propelled the story forward without any noticeable lagging. The mystery, despite feeling like it was following a familiar formula, was still engaging. I thought that the concept of "grave sight" was quite unique and interesting. I also liked the fact that Alex was very human and ordinary despite her magical abilities. She didn't have super strength or fighting abilities. On the contrary, she had very limited resources to aid her in her work, and she could get hurt just as easily as you and me. Moreover, she made mistakes and rushed into decisions without thinking them through. She wasn't this idealized heroic archetype; she was a regular person with money and family problems, who was trying to make the best of what she had. Thus, Alex's realistic portrayal makes it easy for the reader to relate to her.
So now for the bad news. The thing that really disappointed me about this book is that there was a lot of wasted potential. The story takes place in an open alternate universe, meaning that in Alex's world magic and supernatural beings are out in the open for all of the public to know about. I like both the open and closed universes for different reasons. The thing that I like most in an open universe is seeing the changes the interactive presence of the supernatural brings to the everyday life of the human population. Naturally, nonhuman beings have their own cultures, and I find it fascinating when authors actively acknowledge and utilize this in their world and story development. Unfortunately, Kalayna Price did not do this. In fact, there was virtually no world building in Grave Witch. The book introduces less than a handful of supernatural beings and tells the readers almost nothing about them.
Another source of appeal that I felt was not tapped into effectively is that of the two love interests and their individual interactions with Alex. I was really excited when I first learned about Death and his role in Alex's life. I liked that he had a dark, mysterious aura and flirtatious demeanor. Given his clear hunger for physical contact and the fact that Alex was the only living person who he could interact with, I thought there would be a lot of titillating tension between them. Sadly, aside from a couple of very short scenes that subtly crackled with mutual attraction, their chemistry never fully developed and was left to ultimately fizzle out by the end of the book. And then there's Falin. I liked that he and Alex pushed each other's buttons, and I knew that their bickering would eventually lead to attraction. I was actually looking forward to watching that shift from dislike to desire and maybe even love down the line. Unfortunately, I thought that the transition in their relationship happened way too quickly and without real merit, since their interactions were limited and shallow and they barely knew anything about one another. Falin's feelings in particular seemed to make a complete 180 degree turn midway through the book, which I found rather confusing.
Bottom Line:
Grave Witch was a fairly fun but forgettable ride. The plot moved along at a fast pace with adequate amount of action and an entertaining mystery, but I was disappointed by the lack of world building and character development. I never really connected with the story or came to care about the protagonist and her love interests. I do think that the book had a lot of potential that I hope will be better utilized and explored in the next installment.
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very quickly, the story is rather formulaic, and the characters and their environment are underdeveloped. Actually, everything about the book felt rather superficial, lacking adequate description and depth. This is not to say that I wasn't entertained because I was, but the entertainment was unfulfilling. To put it in other words, this book is like a Michael Bay movie; it has fast-paced action, good-looking sexy characters, a dose of humor, and flashy effects, but no real substance—no thought-provoking, emotionally stirring character or story development.So what did I like about Grave Witch? Well, as I mentioned, it was fast paced with a good amount of action that propelled the story forward without any noticeable lagging. The mystery, despite feeling like it was following a familiar formula, was still engaging. I thought that the concept of "grave sight" was quite unique and interesting. I also liked the fact that Alex was very human and ordinary despite her magical abilities. She didn't have super strength or fighting abilities. On the contrary, she had very limited resources to aid her in her work, and she could get hurt just as easily as you and me. Moreover, she made mistakes and rushed into decisions without thinking them through. She wasn't this idealized heroic archetype; she was a regular person with money and family problems, who was trying to make the best of what she had. Thus, Alex's realistic portrayal makes it easy for the reader to relate to her.
So now for the bad news. The thing that really disappointed me about this book is that there was a lot of wasted potential. The story takes place in an open alternate universe, meaning that in Alex's world magic and supernatural beings are out in the open for all of the public to know about. I like both the open and closed universes for different reasons. The thing that I like most in an open universe is seeing the changes the interactive presence of the supernatural brings to the everyday life of the human population. Naturally, nonhuman beings have their own cultures, and I find it fascinating when authors actively acknowledge and utilize this in their world and story development. Unfortunately, Kalayna Price did not do this. In fact, there was virtually no world building in Grave Witch. The book introduces less than a handful of supernatural beings and tells the readers almost nothing about them.
Another source of appeal that I felt was not tapped into effectively is that of the two love interests and their individual interactions with Alex. I was really excited when I first learned about Death and his role in Alex's life. I liked that he had a dark, mysterious aura and flirtatious demeanor. Given his clear hunger for physical contact and the fact that Alex was the only living person who he could interact with, I thought there would be a lot of titillating tension between them. Sadly, aside from a couple of very short scenes that subtly crackled with mutual attraction, their chemistry never fully developed and was left to ultimately fizzle out by the end of the book. And then there's Falin. I liked that he and Alex pushed each other's buttons, and I knew that their bickering would eventually lead to attraction. I was actually looking forward to watching that shift from dislike to desire and maybe even love down the line. Unfortunately, I thought that the transition in their relationship happened way too quickly and without real merit, since their interactions were limited and shallow and they barely knew anything about one another. Falin's feelings in particular seemed to make a complete 180 degree turn midway through the book, which I found rather confusing.
Bottom Line:
Grave Witch was a fairly fun but forgettable ride. The plot moved along at a fast pace with adequate amount of action and an entertaining mystery, but I was disappointed by the lack of world building and character development. I never really connected with the story or came to care about the protagonist and her love interests. I do think that the book had a lot of potential that I hope will be better utilized and explored in the next installment.
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LibraryThing member les121
Standard urban fantasy fare, but very well done. This novel is essentially a conglomeration of urban fantasy tropes and elements borrowed from other stories. But, somehow, it managed to hook me. It was so well done that the cliches worked, and the derivative elements melded into a story different
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enough to hold its own. Excellent writing and pacing, as well as a great plot and interesting characters make Grave Witch stand out above the crowd. There’s a stronger romantic subplot than I expected from a murder mystery, but I enjoyed it. All in all, this was an entertaining read and I will definitely pick up the next one in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member ladylikekitt1
I love this book with all the turns and twists. Alex Craft has the power to raise shades and help others with closer but when things turn on her only Det Falin can help her.. Death loves her but cant help her.. what more can she go though oh wait she finds out her sister is dealing with grey magic.
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I cant wait till the next one come out... Show Less
LibraryThing member Squeex
Boy, oh, boy! My butt aches from all the kicking I've giving it for waiting so long to pick this out from the nightstand section of Mt Git'r'Read!!!
I saw the interview on BittenByBooks, one of my favorite go-to blogs for all things good readin', and immediately put GRAVE WITCH on the Wanton
I love this book's open world that acknowledges magic exists. Fae have come out of the faery ring, ghosts can be spoken to, witches are flinging magic.
But someone is raising evil that has attacked Alex and if she doesn't do something soon, she's gone for good.
Once again, I can't say much more or it will be spoiler hell. I can say, though, get GRAVE WITCH and visit Kalayna on her blog.
Five witches and fae sparkly diamonds.....
I saw the interview on BittenByBooks, one of my favorite go-to blogs for all things good readin', and immediately put GRAVE WITCH on the Wanton
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Wantin' Book List. Then it arrived in the mail and I had a few other books to read...then got in the right UF frame of mind and enjoyed the hell out of Alex, Falin the hot cop, Death (THE Death), Tamara the very cool medical examiner, and all the rest. I love this book's open world that acknowledges magic exists. Fae have come out of the faery ring, ghosts can be spoken to, witches are flinging magic.
But someone is raising evil that has attacked Alex and if she doesn't do something soon, she's gone for good.
Once again, I can't say much more or it will be spoiler hell. I can say, though, get GRAVE WITCH and visit Kalayna on her blog.
Five witches and fae sparkly diamonds.....
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LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
I enjoyed this read. Alex Craft is a complex character. She raises shades, the echoes of those who are dead, is on good terms with Death himself and her family life is best described as complicated.
When a shade attacks her, and there's another attempt on her life, she has to step up and do
Does it sound a bit like Anita Blake? Yes, but I liked it more and if Kalayna Price manages to avoid the abyss that Anita has fallen into this holds out promise to be a good series to follow. The characters have believable flaws and issues and the magic is complicated without being too messy. There are promises of complicated Faerie politics that are going to mess her life up, but she's also got enough backbone that she should be able to keep telling others to get off her back.
I have the second book of the series wishlisted and I'm looking forward to it.
When a shade attacks her, and there's another attempt on her life, she has to step up and do
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something about it. She has to team up with homicide detective Falin Andrews, who is hiding stuff from her. There's complicated paranormal and normal politics and a lot of running around trying to stay alive and work out what exactly is going on.Does it sound a bit like Anita Blake? Yes, but I liked it more and if Kalayna Price manages to avoid the abyss that Anita has fallen into this holds out promise to be a good series to follow. The characters have believable flaws and issues and the magic is complicated without being too messy. There are promises of complicated Faerie politics that are going to mess her life up, but she's also got enough backbone that she should be able to keep telling others to get off her back.
I have the second book of the series wishlisted and I'm looking forward to it.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
This is the first book in the Alex Craft series. The fourth book in this series, Grave Visions, is expected to release in August 2013. I have had this urban fantasy series on my shelf to read forever. It was a fun read; I enjoyed the humor and Alex’s interesting Grave Magic.
I listened to this on
Alex Craft is a Grave Witch who is on the rocks with the rest of her family and struggling to make ends meet. When Alex is asked to investigate a high profile murder things start to get complicated. She is attacked by a Shade and then someone tries to murder her. Good thing she is on good terms with Death and that she has the tough cop, Falin Andrews, to back her up.
This was a very enjoyable urban fantasy, I liked it. There is humor in here, some great characters, an intriguing world and I enjoyed Alex's grave witch magic. The story is very much an investigative urban fantasy, there is a case of serial murders that must be solved and it involves black magic and fey.
Alex is a snarky character with a great sense of humor, some incredibly intriguing magic, and a problem with making ends meet. She also has a habit of taking guys home to ward off the grave chill, which has gotten her into trouble more than once.
Alex was a very fun character to read about, she is engaging and she knows how to ask for help when she needs to. Yeah, she does some kind of stupid things, but it is all highly entertaining.
The next wonderful thing about this book is the character Death. He loves wearing jeans, seems to have a soft spot for Alex, and turns up at the worst times to claim souls. Him and Alex have some wonderful banter and he is a delightfully mysterious. I can’t wait to read more about him in future books.
Helping out Alex is investigator Falin Andrews. While I didn’t like him as much as Death in the beginning of the book, he grew on me as a character. I enjoyed his interactions with Alex and all of the crazy secrets that were revealed around him.
I liked that the plot had multiple levels. The main story is resolved, but a lot of side storylines involving Alex’s background and the surrounding characters remain unanswered.
Overall a solid urban fantasy read, I enjoyed it. I liked the humor throughout, the interesting magic, and all of the mysteries surrounding our characters’ backgrounds. There was a solid mystery that was solved and it had a number of interesting fey and magic elements involved. I would definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy investigative urban fantasy. I plan on continuing the series and am looking forward to reading Grave Dance.
I listened to this on
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audiobook and the audiobook was decent but not spectacular. The narrator’s voice sounds a little bit...mushy and wasn’t like I pictured Alex being. The narrator also had a bit of trouble with differentiating some of the male voices. Still overall the narrator did a good job conveying character emotion, and it was a decent listen.Alex Craft is a Grave Witch who is on the rocks with the rest of her family and struggling to make ends meet. When Alex is asked to investigate a high profile murder things start to get complicated. She is attacked by a Shade and then someone tries to murder her. Good thing she is on good terms with Death and that she has the tough cop, Falin Andrews, to back her up.
This was a very enjoyable urban fantasy, I liked it. There is humor in here, some great characters, an intriguing world and I enjoyed Alex's grave witch magic. The story is very much an investigative urban fantasy, there is a case of serial murders that must be solved and it involves black magic and fey.
Alex is a snarky character with a great sense of humor, some incredibly intriguing magic, and a problem with making ends meet. She also has a habit of taking guys home to ward off the grave chill, which has gotten her into trouble more than once.
Alex was a very fun character to read about, she is engaging and she knows how to ask for help when she needs to. Yeah, she does some kind of stupid things, but it is all highly entertaining.
The next wonderful thing about this book is the character Death. He loves wearing jeans, seems to have a soft spot for Alex, and turns up at the worst times to claim souls. Him and Alex have some wonderful banter and he is a delightfully mysterious. I can’t wait to read more about him in future books.
Helping out Alex is investigator Falin Andrews. While I didn’t like him as much as Death in the beginning of the book, he grew on me as a character. I enjoyed his interactions with Alex and all of the crazy secrets that were revealed around him.
I liked that the plot had multiple levels. The main story is resolved, but a lot of side storylines involving Alex’s background and the surrounding characters remain unanswered.
Overall a solid urban fantasy read, I enjoyed it. I liked the humor throughout, the interesting magic, and all of the mysteries surrounding our characters’ backgrounds. There was a solid mystery that was solved and it had a number of interesting fey and magic elements involved. I would definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy investigative urban fantasy. I plan on continuing the series and am looking forward to reading Grave Dance.
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LibraryThing member STACYatUFI
I found this to be a great start to a new series. I really enjoyed reading the start of Alex's story. I also cant wait to read more about the love triangle and how it turns out.
LibraryThing member xfryx
** spoiler alert ** I can’t even begin to explain how much I liked this book. It’s really hard to pin down. It had all the makings of a cliché paranormal book, with some themes that I haven’t found particularly interesting before.
It got them all right.
Fairies have been very hit or miss in
Needless to say, it’s not a very good track record.
I loved the fairies in this book. They were interesting, engaging, different. Their mythology and world kept me captivated. I hope that more is revealed in the next book. I’ve only been allowed to skim the surface.
Falin isn’t really my sort of sexy hunk, but I do not outright despise him. Too much long blonde hair. I just kept picturing Draco Malfoy all grown up. He wasn’t overbearing in a alpha male way, just very casual and helpful, sometimes contrary. There’s so much about him that we don’t know. He’s supposedly the lover to the Queen of Winter? If so, he’s a little bit of a player. I was so happy that Alex didn’t allow him back into their casual romance after she found out. I wonder if that will change in the second book?
Death, the other love interest, also has really long hair. What is it with long hair? I did enjoy his compatriots. All I really know about him is that he’s in love with the heroine and takes souls over to the other side. I need to know more!
The mystery had enough twists and turns to keep me interested, and wasn’t overly obvious until the big reveal. I had a few inklings, but they didn’t compare to what actually happened.
I seriously loved it. I haven’t been this interested in a book of this genre since early last year.
I have the second book, but do I gobble it up immediately? Or do I let it sit for a few days and mellow first? Decisions.
It got them all right.
Fairies have been very hit or miss in
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the books I’ve read. Most of the time, they miss. I’ve read other books with part fey individuals. They usually make me roll my eyes. I’ve read about Sookie Stackhouse and her special snowflake fairy heritage and how she’s so utterly attractive because of it. I’ve read about Merry Gentry and her need to procreate and spend the span of every book trapped in a hole where nothing ever happens and everyone spills.Needless to say, it’s not a very good track record.
I loved the fairies in this book. They were interesting, engaging, different. Their mythology and world kept me captivated. I hope that more is revealed in the next book. I’ve only been allowed to skim the surface.
Falin isn’t really my sort of sexy hunk, but I do not outright despise him. Too much long blonde hair. I just kept picturing Draco Malfoy all grown up. He wasn’t overbearing in a alpha male way, just very casual and helpful, sometimes contrary. There’s so much about him that we don’t know. He’s supposedly the lover to the Queen of Winter? If so, he’s a little bit of a player. I was so happy that Alex didn’t allow him back into their casual romance after she found out. I wonder if that will change in the second book?
Death, the other love interest, also has really long hair. What is it with long hair? I did enjoy his compatriots. All I really know about him is that he’s in love with the heroine and takes souls over to the other side. I need to know more!
The mystery had enough twists and turns to keep me interested, and wasn’t overly obvious until the big reveal. I had a few inklings, but they didn’t compare to what actually happened.
I seriously loved it. I haven’t been this interested in a book of this genre since early last year.
I have the second book, but do I gobble it up immediately? Or do I let it sit for a few days and mellow first? Decisions.
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LibraryThing member BookAddictDiary
Every now and then, I have to read something that's easy. Something frivolous, thin, and certainly not thought-provoking or in-depth -and, in some instances, just a little sexy. Grave Witch was one of those books I picked up to satisfy this craving. Though not an incredibly engrossing book, Grave
Alex Craft is a grave witch. And in a world where magic, witches, and other fantasy creatures have become the norm, it's completely okay for Alex to have a good relationship with Death himself and to work as a freelance consultant for the police. Using her magic to raise a dead "shade," in a big-deal murder, it attacks her and someone attempts to kill Alex. That's when she's thrown into a murder mystery that's unlike any other Alex has ever encountered.
I wouldn't say that Grave Witch is that extraordinary, or even that interesting or original. I feel like I've read all of these things before -and sometimes in a better-executed and witter approach than what was presented here. But, for what the book is, it works. The writing is decent and easy to follow, though not amazing, the plot is semi-predictable but still readable, the romance is steamy and downright sexy -which is all it needs to be.
But most importantly, Grave Witch has potential. A lot of potential to become something really fun and enjoyable to read. When I'm back in the mood for the same type of book again, I would definitely pick up the sequel. A great book in the genre.
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Witch is a fun adventure with a fairly entertaining premise and a good protagonist that's well-worth the read.Alex Craft is a grave witch. And in a world where magic, witches, and other fantasy creatures have become the norm, it's completely okay for Alex to have a good relationship with Death himself and to work as a freelance consultant for the police. Using her magic to raise a dead "shade," in a big-deal murder, it attacks her and someone attempts to kill Alex. That's when she's thrown into a murder mystery that's unlike any other Alex has ever encountered.
I wouldn't say that Grave Witch is that extraordinary, or even that interesting or original. I feel like I've read all of these things before -and sometimes in a better-executed and witter approach than what was presented here. But, for what the book is, it works. The writing is decent and easy to follow, though not amazing, the plot is semi-predictable but still readable, the romance is steamy and downright sexy -which is all it needs to be.
But most importantly, Grave Witch has potential. A lot of potential to become something really fun and enjoyable to read. When I'm back in the mood for the same type of book again, I would definitely pick up the sequel. A great book in the genre.
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LibraryThing member ufreview
This is the first novel in the Alex Craft series, I am always hesitant reading first novels and trying a new series. It always turns into a love it/hate it situation. Happily I really liked this one, it was very different from the typical Urban Fantasy story, not a vamp or shifter to be had, the
Alex is a grave witch, which means she can summon shades of the dead but it's at a big cost to herself. She uses her skills both for her own business and for the police department. She has been estranged from her conservative family for years until her sister calls her to look into the murder of a politician. Women are being murdered in what looks like a ritual. Alex has to connect the two cases while working with the hot Detective Falin who she doesn't quite trust but finds attractive. Meanwhile Death has the hots for Alex and saves her life when someone tries to shoot her, he helps her out with her case when he can but he is very mysterious too. Makes an interesting triangle and I am not sure who I am rooting for yet.
I really enjoyed this book and I already grabbed the second one to add to my growing to-be-read pile. I had never read Kalayna Price so I am really hopeful that the series continues.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 4/5 I really enjoyed it.
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Fey were the fantasy element, I love well written books about the fey and there isn't enough of them in UF. As I said this book is pretty unique, I mean she makes Death HOT!Alex is a grave witch, which means she can summon shades of the dead but it's at a big cost to herself. She uses her skills both for her own business and for the police department. She has been estranged from her conservative family for years until her sister calls her to look into the murder of a politician. Women are being murdered in what looks like a ritual. Alex has to connect the two cases while working with the hot Detective Falin who she doesn't quite trust but finds attractive. Meanwhile Death has the hots for Alex and saves her life when someone tries to shoot her, he helps her out with her case when he can but he is very mysterious too. Makes an interesting triangle and I am not sure who I am rooting for yet.
I really enjoyed this book and I already grabbed the second one to add to my growing to-be-read pile. I had never read Kalayna Price so I am really hopeful that the series continues.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 4/5 I really enjoyed it.
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LibraryThing member Rennee
Same old thing but with a twist. A little humor and a fast read. No Vampires or zombies or werepeople. Just witches and fae and humans. I may read the seies as a fast read between others.I really did enjoy this until the author felt she had to share the main charactors intimate sex life with the
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reader. You can leave out details. I myself thought the Alex Craft was a defined charactor and didn't need to have her sex life defined. Show Less
LibraryThing member Liz_S
I loved this book! It was full of action, suspense, humor, and just the right amount of steamy romance! I loved the spin Ms. Price put on Death! If Kim Harrison and James Patterson had a child, this is how she would write!! I have already ordered the second one! I would definitely recommend this
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book to any fans of the rachel morgan series or the stephanie plum series! Show Less
LibraryThing member MlleEhreen
The weird thing about Grave Witch, to me, is that I can think of a number of UF series-starters that have impressed me more where I haven't gone on to read book 2 in the series, but the second I put down Grave Witch I picked up Grave Dance and I loved it, too. There's nothing obviously special
The worldbuilding bears a strong resemblance to Kim Harrison's Hollows books, for those that are a fan, but with enough differences to make the two distinct. It features a thriving witch-based economy, like a market for all sorts of charms and hexes, and witch-fae animosity, although in Price's world the fae are relatively common and the route to Fairy is still open. The plot itself is less labyrinthine than Harrison's are...as long as I'm just tossing out names I'd say, plot-wise, there's a dash of the old Anita Blake (Alex Craft raises shades and sees the dead, after all), maybe a similarity to Patricia Briggs or Chloe Neill. By that I mean, it's not ultra-heavy, but it's not fluff, either. There's a main mystery plot, Alex is an independent business owner rather than a hard-boiled agent of law-enforcement but she is a competent detective and she's juggling a pair of dangerous, complicated men.
The characters ended up feeling very real and the pace is just right, moving along at a good clip, never getting bogged down by investigative tedium or overwhelmed by action sequences or derailed by romance. Speaking of romance, Death doesn't make much of an impression on me - he can never stick around for long enough to really engage with Alex. Alex always asks him a question soon after he shows up and that's his cue to vanish. But Falin is nice, all broody and ambiguous.
So, to my own surprise, I'm sold on this series and excited to find out what happens in book 3.
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about this book, nothing that leaped out at me, except that I enjoyed it so much. Maybe it was a case of the right thing at the right time? Or maybe it's got some magical special something. The worldbuilding bears a strong resemblance to Kim Harrison's Hollows books, for those that are a fan, but with enough differences to make the two distinct. It features a thriving witch-based economy, like a market for all sorts of charms and hexes, and witch-fae animosity, although in Price's world the fae are relatively common and the route to Fairy is still open. The plot itself is less labyrinthine than Harrison's are...as long as I'm just tossing out names I'd say, plot-wise, there's a dash of the old Anita Blake (Alex Craft raises shades and sees the dead, after all), maybe a similarity to Patricia Briggs or Chloe Neill. By that I mean, it's not ultra-heavy, but it's not fluff, either. There's a main mystery plot, Alex is an independent business owner rather than a hard-boiled agent of law-enforcement but she is a competent detective and she's juggling a pair of dangerous, complicated men.
The characters ended up feeling very real and the pace is just right, moving along at a good clip, never getting bogged down by investigative tedium or overwhelmed by action sequences or derailed by romance. Speaking of romance, Death doesn't make much of an impression on me - he can never stick around for long enough to really engage with Alex. Alex always asks him a question soon after he shows up and that's his cue to vanish. But Falin is nice, all broody and ambiguous.
So, to my own surprise, I'm sold on this series and excited to find out what happens in book 3.
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LibraryThing member particle_p
This was a decent and enjoyable paranormal mystery, very much like a Sue Grafton Kinsey Milhone with magic. I liked the Grave Witch private detective character, Alex (see book cover), but I wish the author hadn't made her such a birdbrain. Seriously, she is DUMB. This is a heroine who repeatedly
You might think from this that I hated the book, but that's not true at all, I just got frustrated with it. It's actually a very fast and engaging read. Alex is certainly lovable, but I wish she spent more time on offense and less on defense. I won't say she never tries to make things happen. It's more that every time she takes action, it gets away from her and she has to extricate herself (or a Potential Boyfriend does). The effect is to make her seem incompetent at life. I have read the next book and she does much better there, but since I'm reviewing this book, those were the issues I had with it.
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wanders into situations from which she needs to be rescued by one of the Potential Boyfriend characters, a policeman named Falin, or the other, a grim reaper-type who collects souls. She does not suspect that Falin is a fairy FIB agent (Fae Investigative Bureau, heh) despite the odd and otherwise inexplicable way he appears on the case and the many strange coincidences that happen whenever he's around. This situation persists through most of the book, and results in intense readerly frustration. Then there's the way Alex decides to talk to herself aloud when she's hiding in the bathroom from possible bad guys, thus tipping them off to her presence. I mean, it's one thing to stub your toe or have something fall on you at a crucial moment, but it's another to TALK TO YOURSELF. And yes, I live alone and talk to myself in my apartment also, but I'm not calling myself a private investigator or hiding out. Or how about going to see clients when she knows she has people hunting for her and it might be a trap? All of this would bother me less if Alex actually put two and two together occasionally, but instead she goes around blundering and getting rescued until finally it's all spelled out by the bad guys. And I do mean spelled.You might think from this that I hated the book, but that's not true at all, I just got frustrated with it. It's actually a very fast and engaging read. Alex is certainly lovable, but I wish she spent more time on offense and less on defense. I won't say she never tries to make things happen. It's more that every time she takes action, it gets away from her and she has to extricate herself (or a Potential Boyfriend does). The effect is to make her seem incompetent at life. I have read the next book and she does much better there, but since I'm reviewing this book, those were the issues I had with it.
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LibraryThing member mlsimmons
Listening to audiobook
I neither loved or hated this book. It was a light "read" or listen, I guess. There are several characters that I'm not sure about. I do like Death and would like to see more of him.
I neither loved or hated this book. It was a light "read" or listen, I guess. There are several characters that I'm not sure about. I do like Death and would like to see more of him.
LibraryThing member crazybatcow
I hadn't been expecting much from this book... I figured it was going to be another generic Urban Fantasy heroine who solves some weak mystery and falls for some strong, mysterious and handsome guy.
Well, I was partly right. It is urban fantasy. Alex is a stronger than usual character, and the
I don't know that it stands out from the genre a whole bunch, but it is as strong as some of the better ones (such as Caine's Weather series, or Kim Harrison's Dead Witch series). I like the main character, and her romantic interest, and the world is unique and interesting enough that you don't feel like you're reading a do-over of someone else's work. I have bought the next one in the series, but this one did not end on a cliff-hanger so you won't feel forced to buy the next one.
Well, I was partly right. It is urban fantasy. Alex is a stronger than usual character, and the
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mystery is actually a bit suspenseful. There is some romantic tension that is not over done, and there isn't the usual UF couple dozen pages of soft flowery porn. Oh, okay, there is a bit of that, but it wasn't the whole point of the story. There is actually a bit of a plot outside of the sex, and the characters feel like they are distinctly drawn.I don't know that it stands out from the genre a whole bunch, but it is as strong as some of the better ones (such as Caine's Weather series, or Kim Harrison's Dead Witch series). I like the main character, and her romantic interest, and the world is unique and interesting enough that you don't feel like you're reading a do-over of someone else's work. I have bought the next one in the series, but this one did not end on a cliff-hanger so you won't feel forced to buy the next one.
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LibraryThing member Kellie12
Grave Witch is the first book in the Alex Craft series, written by Kalayna Price. Price takes readers of urban fantasy on a different journey in this tale about Alex, a witch with the ability to raise the shades of the dead. It’s not a glamorous job, but someone’s got to do it.
The book starts
Grave Witch is a dark and gritty tale of death which demands the attention of readers from the first page. Grave Witch should definitely be added to Urban Fantasy book catalogs everywhere.
The book starts
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off on just the right note. The reader is instantly introduced to Alex and her unique job, as well as Death, himself. Yes, Death. Price has managed to go where no writer has gone before; Death is a being, whom only Alex can see. She normally sees him whenever he needs to collect someone’s soul, but over the years, since the age of 5, she’s developed a special bond with him. It also helps, that he’s quite good looking. So anyway, the plot goes something like this. Alex receives a call from her estranged sister, asking her to take a look at the recently murdered, governor’s body. Desperate for cash Alex accepts the job. Alex heads to the morgue to raise the Governor Coleman’s body, but before doing that, a cop friend asks her for a favor. He wants her to raise the shade of a murdered woman. Alex raises the shade, but all isn’t well. She soon discovers that something isn’t quite right with this particular shade. Especially since it emerges from the woman’s body screaming like a wild banshee, before physically attacking her. As if her day couldn’t get any worse, she then proceeds to raise the shade of Governor Coleman, but is in for the shock of her life. The two bodies in the morgue may have more in common than she thought. Alex’s tampering in the case leads her down a dangerous road. With her life in the balance, she is forced to depend on the mysterious detective, Falin Andrews, a man not too keen on Alex. Of course, as with most, Urban Fantasy books, a little romance must be thrown into the mix, and in Grave Witch, it turns into a love triangle. Love triangles have become a bit redundant in the fantasy world, so I’m not too interested in the budding romance. However, if I must choose, is it odd for me to choose Death?Grave Witch is a dark and gritty tale of death which demands the attention of readers from the first page. Grave Witch should definitely be added to Urban Fantasy book catalogs everywhere.
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LibraryThing member TheLibraryhag
Alexis Craft is a grave witch. She can raise Shades, basically the memories of the dead. On the eve of a landmark trial in which she will raise a shade to testify, Alex is asked to raise the shade of the governor who was murdered. When she attempts it, she finds that the body of the governor is a
I liked this book a lot. Alexis is an interesting character who is very likable. The world building is good. I want to know what happens to these folks. and their strange town. Looking forward to the next book.
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shell with no soul. Basically, the body had been hijacked years ago and was being run by an evil spirit instead. Now that spirit is in another body and is performing a ritual that requires 7 sacrifices. Pretty intense.I liked this book a lot. Alexis is an interesting character who is very likable. The world building is good. I want to know what happens to these folks. and their strange town. Looking forward to the next book.
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LibraryThing member dorie.craig
Very enjoyable fantasy novel featuring Alex Craft, who is a grave witch. She earns a living raising shades of people who have died. The plot in this one is sort of complicated, so I won't get into it. Suffice it to say that Alex has two interesting men in her life. One is homicide detective Falin
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Andrews, the other is Death -- both pretty hot guys. If you like your fantasy novels well written with a touch of humor try this book. I'll be reading the rest of this series. Show Less
LibraryThing member RozzieReads
HELL YEA! You know, I've been reading books that I hear people talking about all the time, like oh this series is good, this is amazing, and a lot of them just seem like such similar writing. But let me tell you, this was a really good book and I would totally recommend this to a lot of people.
Alex is pretty bad ass witch. She deals with being attacked by shades, followed by ghosts, a virus eating her soul, almost being shot multiple times, almost kidnapped, and stabbed. But she saves the day. If you like your women bad ass and strong, she's your chick. I love the books that have the heroine not needing the man for the ending. I'm ok yea, Falin saved her a couple times. In the end is Alex who saves everyone from Coleman's evil plans. Evil plans being stealing people souls. And trying to take over faery. Oh yea there's Fae and Witches.
I really liked the way Alex's grave magic worked, the visual that you get when she uses her grave vision is fricken awesome. Theres different types of magic in this world that Kalayna Price has created. Aetheric magic planes, Alex's grave site planes, and I think at the ending there's like an emotional plane that she can see. In the end you find out that Alex's father is a fae and being a part of anti fae group that's weird. This makes Alex, according to her father, Fae with human blood. . .
THE MEN:
You've got "Death" who Alex meets when she is 5 years old. Her mother was in the hospital and Alex threw a clip board at him. He pops up every now and then throughout her life. Alex knows practically nothing about him. She can physically touch him. This is something that only she can do, not even other grave witches. Death saves her life a couple times. And at the end of the book, Death refuses to take her soul because he loves her. Which he admits to other soul collectors.
Of course we have Falin. This is the main romance stud of the story. Turns out he is the winter queen's (fae - high court) lover and assassin. But he also seduces Alex, and seems that he cares about Alex. He's the detective that has been assigned to the case that Alex was illegally working on involving coleman. Her father had signed the paperwork to get Falin to investigate. And now after reading the book and knowing that her father is fae himself. THAT'S CRAZY. Falin is fae himself. He wears gloves a lot. Doesn't really explain why, just does. Except for the face that he took his gloves off to use his Truth magic to get Alex to tell the truth.
Awesome story, and I think there's suppose to be more? I'll be checking those out for sure.
--edit--
Yes, there is another confirmed book coming out, I WILL SO BE GETTING THAT!
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Alex is pretty bad ass witch. She deals with being attacked by shades, followed by ghosts, a virus eating her soul, almost being shot multiple times, almost kidnapped, and stabbed. But she saves the day. If you like your women bad ass and strong, she's your chick. I love the books that have the heroine not needing the man for the ending. I'm ok yea, Falin saved her a couple times. In the end is Alex who saves everyone from Coleman's evil plans. Evil plans being stealing people souls. And trying to take over faery. Oh yea there's Fae and Witches.
I really liked the way Alex's grave magic worked, the visual that you get when she uses her grave vision is fricken awesome. Theres different types of magic in this world that Kalayna Price has created. Aetheric magic planes, Alex's grave site planes, and I think at the ending there's like an emotional plane that she can see. In the end you find out that Alex's father is a fae and being a part of anti fae group that's weird. This makes Alex, according to her father, Fae with human blood. . .
THE MEN:
You've got "Death" who Alex meets when she is 5 years old. Her mother was in the hospital and Alex threw a clip board at him. He pops up every now and then throughout her life. Alex knows practically nothing about him. She can physically touch him. This is something that only she can do, not even other grave witches. Death saves her life a couple times. And at the end of the book, Death refuses to take her soul because he loves her. Which he admits to other soul collectors.
Of course we have Falin. This is the main romance stud of the story. Turns out he is the winter queen's (fae - high court) lover and assassin. But he also seduces Alex, and seems that he cares about Alex. He's the detective that has been assigned to the case that Alex was illegally working on involving coleman. Her father had signed the paperwork to get Falin to investigate. And now after reading the book and knowing that her father is fae himself. THAT'S CRAZY. Falin is fae himself. He wears gloves a lot. Doesn't really explain why, just does. Except for the face that he took his gloves off to use his Truth magic to get Alex to tell the truth.
Awesome story, and I think there's suppose to be more? I'll be checking those out for sure.
--edit--
Yes, there is another confirmed book coming out, I WILL SO BE GETTING THAT!
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Language
Original publication date
2010-10-05
Physical description
336 p.; 6.7 inches
ISBN
0451463803 / 9780451463807
Local notes
As a grave witch, Alex Craft can speak to the dead-she's even on good terms with Death himself. As a consultant for the police, she's seen a lot of dark magic, but nothing has prepared her for her latest case. When she's raising a "shade" involved in a high profile murder, it attacks her, and then someone makes an attempt on her life. Someone really doesn't want her to know what the dead have to say, and she'll have to work with mysterious homicide detective Falin Andrews to figure out why.
Quirky and fun.
Quirky and fun.