Review of Grave Witch by Kalayna Price

Five + Fangs for Grave Witch by Kalayna Price

Grave Witch is the best book I've read in awhile. It's a fresh new spin into the realms of Urban Fantasy. I was instantly sucked into the characters and the story- so much so that I read the entire book in less than 24 hours.

My husband came home from work and found me reading- this was the exchange:

"That book must be good," he said as he walked by me.

"It is. Why?" I asked without looking away from the page.

"Because I never see you reading at this time of day."

I made some indistinguishable sound but didn't say anything else. He left me alone to read.

Grave Witch is that good.

The best way I can describe Grave Witch and the main character Alex Craft is to take a pinch of Anita Blake's necromancy, a twist of Rachel Morgan's witchy uniqueness, then blend with author Kalayna Price's awesome style and toss everything into a world where humans know about the fae and witches- then you get Alex Craft and her world.

Alex Craft is a Grave Witch. She can raise the shades of the dead and communicate with ghosts (shades and ghosts are two separate things as explained in the book). Her grave sight allows her to see the world of the dead- including Death himself when he comes to collect souls.

As a grave witch Alex is a private investigator for hire and a consultant to the police. She helps solves crimes, especially murders and she helps families have closure with their dead.

But her newest case drops more into her lap than she bargained for. First she receives a call from her estranged sister Casey to check things out with a recent death, then once at the morgue the police want her to take a look at another body- the third body dump in what could be a serial killer case.

Alex has never encountered anything like this before- with either body. One body doesn't even seem human and the other has left a screaming insane ghost in the place of what should have been a shade- and the ghost scratches Alex. Something that shouldn't have been possible. To make matters worse the whole debacle is interrupted by a new detective on the force- Falin Andrews. Who happens to be completely gorgeous and entirely insufferable. And he's the lead detective on the case- which makes everything his business.

Just what Alex needs, a sexy pain in her butt.

But that's the least of worries after she realizes someone is gunning for her. She just can't figure out why.

The whole book is filled with twists turns and a well thought out tangled plot that leaves the reader guessing and turning pages. Family drama, skeletons in the genetic closet, and enough fae glamour to always leave you wondering if things are really what they appear to be.

Oh, and how could I forget one of the best parts of the book- the romantic tension and drama- two sexy men that are vying for Alex's attention- the gorgeous Detective Falin Andrews and Death, who looks delicious in jeans.

Kalayna Price has a winner on her hands with this new series.

The main character is believable and well rounded with enough quirks and mystery that there is a lot of territory left for character growth.

The world is well developed with enough explanation that readers are satisfied but not overloaded. This will let the world unfold more in upcoming books. And the romance- a good foundation is laid out but left entirely open for a "who knows what" development in future books.

Excellent, fabulous, awesome, amazing - I can't praise this book enough.

I love books- I love this genre. Too many times though the world has holes, the characters don't click with me, I can't get into the story or I predict everything in the book and I am left disappointed.

Not this time. I was absolutely hooked right from the beginning. And at the end...I was left wanting more. I couldn't wait to find out what was happening, who was behind everything and how it was going to end.

Grave Witch was an absolutely fabulous read. Well worth your time. If you are a fan of witches and fae with a touch of the dead mixed in- this book is for you.

I am really looking forward to future books in this series.

Guest Blog and Giveaway with Kalayna Price

Thanks so much for having me here at Fang-tastic Books, Roxanne. As it is nearly Halloween, the day when legend says the veil between the living and the dead is the thinnest, and as my newest book, GRAVE WITCH, features quite a bit of the Land of the Dead, I thought I’d take this opportunity to talk about ghost stories.

Now, there are a couple different kinds of ghost stories. There are those that are purely fictional for entertainment. There are those meant to terrify. And then there are those based on legend. While the first two are fun (and right up my alley as a fiction writer) it is the last type I find the most fascinating—especially around this time of the year.

I’m not saying that I do, or that I don’t, believe in ghosts, but I think anyone who has ever passed through an unnatural cold spot or heard a door suddenly creak open for no apparent reason has probably wondered about the existence of ghosts. Stories and legends have been told throughout time and across nations. Some legends portray ghosts as malicious, others altruistic, and still others seem completely uninterested in the living. Some are stories of revenge, or warnings, or messages. No matter where you’re from, you’ve probably heard stories of haunting. You might even know someone who knows someone who’s seen a ghost.

As I’m from the Carolinas, one of the ghost stories I grew up with is that of the Grey Man. If you’re not familiar with the Grey Man, he’s a specter who haunts the beaches of Charleston, SC and is usually portrayed as a benevolent spirit whose presence warns the residents of deadly hurricanes. Many people have reported seeing the Grey Man wandering the beach prior to storms. It is also said that those who see him and heed his warning to flee the island tend to fair better in the storm—sometimes to the extent that their house might be the only house surviving on a street. A helpful ghost? A warning omen? I’m not sure, but I’ve met people who swear they’ve seen him!

Question:

What ghost stories and legends did you grow up hearing? Any favorite legends?

Answer the question to enter to win a copy of Grave Witch

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Winner TBA Wed Nov 3

Kalayna Price is the author of the Alex Craft Novels, a new dark urban fantasy series from Roc, and the author of the Novels of Haven from Bell Bridge Books. She draws her ideas from the world around her, her studies into ancient mythologies, and her obsession with classic folklore. Her stories contain not only the mystical elements of fantasy, but also a dash of romance, a bit of gritty horror, some humor, and a large serving of mystery. She is a member of SFWA and RWA, and an avid hula-hoop dancer who has been known light her hoop on fire.

To find out more, please visit her at http://www.kalayna.com/

Grave Witch by Kalayna Price

Not even death can save her now.


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.

Read an excerpt here.