Grave Ransom (Alex Craft #5)

by Kalayna Price

What is it about:

Grave witch Alex Craft is no stranger to the dead talking. She raises shades, works with ghosts, and is dating Death himself. But the dead walking? That’s not supposed to happen. And yet, reanimated corpses are committing crimes across Nekros City.

Alex’s investigation leads her deep into a web of sinister magic. When Briar Darque of the Magical Crimes Investigation Bureau gets involved, Alex finds herself with an unexpected ally of sorts. But as the dead continue to rise and wreak havoc on the living, can Alex get to the soul of the matter in time?

What did I think of it:

I'm totally hooked on this series!

And there are even some kind of zombies in this book!

I like how this series mixes up cases having to do with faerie and with other supernatural occurrences, making you guess what and who is causing trouble this time. I love the lore and how it's used in the story. 

I really do not like Briar, I'll confess, but as she's not meant to be liked (I think) I loved to hate her.

The love triangle seems to be taking a turn I might like, but I won't relax until I've finished this series, there's still a lot to resolve.

You bet I'll pick up the next book soon.

Why should you read it:

It's awesome UF!

Grave Memory - Book Review

 

Grave Memory (Alex Craft #3)

by Kalayna Price

What is it about:

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…

Before diving into my review I'm going to tell a story:

This book is part of my challenge to have read all seven books in this series by the end of 2023. All books are in my TBR pile, this one and the previous book had been there since 2014, while books 4-7 are more recent additions. This means that Grave Memory doubled for this challenge and my TBR Orphan challenge, were I try to read at least one book a month that's been on my shelves for a long time.

I started on this book during a train ride. It immediately gripped me and by the time I reached my destination I was really into the story. I put my book in my bag together with some other things, including a bottle of soda...

The  cap of the bottle wasn't screwed on right, so it emptied itself in my bag! As it was a plastic bag there was a small pool of soda at the bottom of it instead of it just leaking out of the bag.

The biggest casualty: my book!

It was totally soaked and as it was soda, I just knew it would be a total sticky mess once it dried. You bet I immediately looked the book up online and ordered a new copy when I found one for 5 Euro. Luckily they had it in stock and it arrived the next day.

So that's how this book ended up being both a TBR Orphan as well as a new addition to my shelves.

What did I think of it:

As you might have guessed from me immediately ordering a new copy after the soda incident: I totally loved this book. And that's even with the love triangle going in the wrong direction in my opinion.

I loved the mystery Alex has to solve in this book, it's creepy and disturbing. I also really enjoyed seeing more of some of the side characters. Roy is absolutely a favorite by now.

I also learned more about both the fae in this world and the death collectors. Both are very intriguing and especially the fae are a disturbing bunch.

I think this book is my favorite in the series so far., but I need more. You bet I already started the next book.

Why should you read it:

It's a totally awesome Urban Fantasy read

Grave Dance - Book Review

Grave Dance (Alex Craft #2)

by Kalayna Price 

What is it about:

 Whoever said dead men tell no tales obviously never met Alex Craft.

After a month spent recovering from a vicious fight with a sorcerer, grave witch Alex Craft is ready to get back to solving murders by raising the dead. With her love life in turmoil thanks to the disappearance of Fae Investigation Bureau agent Falin Andrews and a shocking “L” word confession from Death himself, Alex is eager for the distractions of work. But her new case turns out to be a deadly challenge.

The police hire Alex to consult on a particularly strange investigation in the nature preserve south of Nekros City. The strange part: There are no corpses, only fragments of them. A serial killer is potentially on the loose, and Alex has no way to raise a shade without a body, so she’ll have to rely on the magic of others to find leads. But as she begins investigating, a creature born of the darkest magic comes after her. Someone very powerful wants to make sure the only thing she finds is a dead end—her own.

What did I think of it:

After rereading the first book in this series I was eager to get to book 2. 

And this is yet another really cool read.

There's a lot going on and Alex and her friends get caught up in it. Soon it's no longer just an investigation, but a race against the clock. I was eager to find out what was going on and if Alex would be able to save herself and her friends. 

I absolutely love the worldbuilding. Next to the shades and ghosts, there's fae and they are so intriguing and scary. And then there's the shady dealings of the Humans First movement and other human agencies/groups. 

Overall this was a rollercoaster ride with lots of suspense, danger, and revelations. The love triangle is still triangling, but not annoyingly so. I do have my favorite of course, so we will see who Alex ends up with.

Why should you read it:

It's a really suspenseful Urban Fantasy read.

Grave Witch - Book Review (reread)

 

Grave Witch (Alex Craft #1)

by Kalayna Price 

What is it about:

Grave witch Alex Craft can speak to the dead, but that doesn’t mean she likes what they have to say.

As a private investigator and consultant for the police, Alex Craft has seen a lot of dark magic. But even though she’s on good terms with Death himself—who happens to look fantastic in a pair of jeans—nothing has prepared her for her latest case. Alex is investigating a high profile murder when she’s attacked by the ‘shade’ she’s raising, which should be impossible. To top off her day, someone makes a serious attempt on her life, but Death saves her. Guess he likes having her around...

To solve this case Alex will have to team up with tough homicide detective Falin Andrews. Falin seems to be hiding something—though it’s certainly not his dislike of Alex—but Alex knows she needs his help to navigate the tangled webs of mortal and paranormal politics, and to track down a killer wielding a magic so malevolent, it may cost Alex her life...and her soul.

What did I think of it:

So this was a reread. I came across book 4, 5 & 6 of this series in the charity bookstore, and it reminded me of the fact I read and enjoyed the first book back in 2012. I got book 2 & 3 from a friend in 2014, but never picked them up. As the books in the charity shop were less than 5 Euro total I decided to buy them and to make reading this whole series one of my challenges for 2023. I started a bit early by rereading the first book in December .

And I have to confess: I didn't remember a single thing!

Usually this means I didn't like a book, but luckily that wasn't the case here. I very much enjoyed the worldbuilding, the characters, and the story. It was a lot more serious and suspenseful than my 2012 review gives it credit for, I must confess. There are some very creepy things going on, and how past me described this book as 'wacky' is beyond me.

All in all this is a really cool read, even with a love triangle being set up for the rest of the series, and you bet I put book two near the topof my TBR pile after finishing this one.

Why should you read it:

It's a great UF read with a cool take on witches and the dearly departed. 

Grave Witch - Book Review

Grave Witch (Alex Craft #1)
by Kalayna Price

What is it about:
Grave witch Alex Craft can speak to the dead, but that doesn’t mean she likes what they have to say.

As a private investigator and consultant for the police, Alex Craft has seen a lot of dark magic. But even though she’s on good terms with Death himself—who happens to look fantastic in a pair of jeans—nothing has prepared her for her latest case. Alex is investigating a high profile murder when she’s attacked by the ‘shade’ she’s raising, which should be impossible. To top off her day, someone makes a serious attempt on her life, but Death saves her. Guess he likes having her around...

To solve this case Alex will have to team up with tough homicide detective Falin Andrews. Falin seems to be hiding something—though it’s certainly not his dislike of Alex—but Alex knows she needs his help to navigate the tangled webs of mortal and paranormal politics, and to track down a killer wielding a magic so malevolent, it may cost Alex her life...and her soul.

What did I think of it:
This is a very enjoyable read.

I liked the magic system, it's unique and well thought out, and I was intrigued with Alex's powers. And having Death walk around as a character is always cool as well in my opinion.

The story is a strange mix between grim thriller and wacky paranormal adventure. This is for most part thanks to the breezy writing style. The grim scenes don't always feel grim because of the way they are written. Not that I think that's a bad thing btw.

There was the almost inescapable love triangle going on, but I will confess it didn't bother me as much as it does in some other books.

All in all a refreshing and enjoyable read and I will most certainly try to get hold of the second book in this series.

Why should you read it:
It's a nice paranormal mystery/adventure