Early Review of Grave Dance by Kalayna Price

5 Fangs for Grave Dance

Product Description

After a month of down time, Grave Witch Alex Craft is ready to get back to solving murders by raising the dead. With her love life in turmoil, Alex is eager for the distractions of work. But when her new case forces her to overuse her magic, it might be the last mystery the Grave Witch ever gets to solve...

My Review:

The first book in this series, Grave Witch, blew me away. The second installment, Grave Dance does not disappoint either. I am hooked on this series which has everything you could want in an urban fantasy series with romantic elements.

Grave Dance is another exquisite example of Kalayna Price's enticing storytelling abilities. Her vivid descriptions and unique characters combined with her gripping storylines will keep your turning pages and wanting more.

She mixes a little bit of everything urban fantasy into the Alex Craft series.

You'll get family drama, secrets and plenty of unknown skeletons in the closet waiting to be let out. Plus you'll get general UF characteristics with Alex's awakening and changing abilities that morph into unique magic that no one else has along with Alex's character growth.

You'll also get some elements of paranormal romance with a sexy love triangle featuring two men who are both forbidden to Alex in their own unique way.

One is Death- Alex doesn't even know his real name or much about him or his world, he's just always been a part of her life, in some ways her best friend. But now he's confessed his love for her and Alex just can't seem to control herself around him, he knows her better than anyone else. But they don't even inhabit the same realm- how could they ever be together?

Then there's the sexy fey, Falin. Now there's a yummy man, warm and real and sexy as hell.

Too bad he "belongs" to the winter queen of Fairy. He has to do what she says, he is her knight and he can not disobey, not even if he wanted to. Now that can be a problem when it comes to having a relationship, especially if the winter queen would prefer that Alex be dead, or imprisoned.

In Grace Dance Alex has another case to solve, this one weirder and more difficult than the others because she doesn't even have bodies to raise shades from, only feet. She can't get anything from a bunch of left feet. But she tries anyway and pushes her magic until she's overloaded and wiped out. Which isn't good because someone or something is after her and seems to want her dead plus the winter queen has taken an interest and would like to see Alex in fairy... aligned with her court.

The surprises keep coming and Alex keeps learning more about herself, her powers, the Fey, and everyone around her. It's a wealth of discovery that'll hook you on this series... if you weren't already.

Review of Once Bitten and Twice Dead by Kalayna Price

Five Fangs for Once Bitten by Kalayna Price

Book Description:

Vampires and Shapeshifters.

A Fictionwise bestseller: No. 1 on the Fictionwise Dark Fantasy list in Feb. 2009 Kita Nekai, on the run and the smallest of her shifter clan-a calico cat among lions and tigers-is being hunted. She was expected to accept her role as her father's successor whether or not her cat was up to the task of leading the clan. She disagreed. Now she's less than a step ahead of the hunters, bone-tired, cold, and living hand-to-mouth in the city of Haven. And that's the high point of her day.

She's also drugged, "accidently" turned into a vampire, and sentenced to death for recklessly creating a rogue shifter who tortures its human prey. She's got seventy-two hours to find the rogue, evade a city full of hunters, prove she's not responsible for the rogue, and keep the vampire council from killing her. All while sorting out an apprentice mage, a married ex-boyfriend shifter-hunter, and the vampire who made her.

Click here for a Once Bitten Excerpt

My review:

After a slightly slow and shaky start I was quickly engrossed in the story. The first few pages of Kita shifting into a cat and wandering about didn't quite grab my interest but I kept reading because a gut instinct told me things were going to get good- and they did.

Kita gets drugged at a party, attacked by a shifter after escaping hunters then wakes up later to find she's become something altogether new- a vampire. And her cat seems to be a cold and dead inside her. She's a shifter that can no longer shift.

Nathanial, the vampire that changed her, is sorry for accidentally drinking too much from her therefore the need to turn her- but he doesn't seem that sorry. In fact he seems quite intrigued by Kita...too bad everyone else is fascinated by the shifter turned vampire as well. Even a judge that threatens her life and a scholar that wishes to study her.

Once the story really gets interesting you won't want to put it down.

Kita is quite a spirited cat and it's a good thing she has nine lives because the situations she keeps ending up in- well let's just say life threatening doesn't even begin to cover it.

I love the rich and very complete world building. I truly think Kalayna Price is a rising star in the urban fantasy genre. Her books are rich with descriptions that put you right there in the scene, in the skin of the characters. And the descriptions are never overdone. The imagery is spot on.

And the characters...I can't wait to see what happens with this cast. I love that I already see where story arcs and character growth are going to come into play- but I have no clue where those lines will lead and that's fabulous. I love books to surprise me.

I could not put this book and was quite happy that I could go right from book one into book two Twice Dead.





Five Fangs for Twice Dead by Kalayna Price

Book Description:

Newly undead shifter-turned-vampire Kita Nekai is coming to grips with the reality that her cat has not awakened since her change. What she needs is a little time to adjust to her new liquid diet and the increasingly complex attraction to her sire, Nathanial. What she gets is a headless harlequin. With the body count rising, Kita is dragged into a dangerous game of vampire politics.

Her involvement draws the attention of an ancient vampire known as the Collector who has a penchant for acquiring the unusual - like a pureblood shifter-turned vampire. Kita still has unfinished business of her own and finds herself deeper in magical debt. It's a bad time to be a kitten who can't slip her skin.

Kalayna Price's debut novel, ONCE BITTEN, earned rave reviews and reached #1 on Amazon.com's "Fantasy Bestseller List." TWICE DEAD returns readers to a dark, seductive world where magic rules and ancient loyalties collide with modern challenges.

Click here for a Twice Dead excerpt.

My review:

Where Once Bitten had a shaky start Twice Dead jumped right into the action. And it was a non-stop adventure from page one.

Poor Kita is constantly getting into trouble. It's not her fault she's different and stands out form the crowd but her spirit and uncontrollable mouth could be controlled more effectively.

Ah if only...but then we wouldn't have a story now would we?

I am enthralled by Nathanial. His sexy vamp appeal is exactly what a vamp should be- strong and dangerous, yet flawed and totally mysterious because we are thrown a few crumbs about his past, his life and his ties to the other vampires but we are left wanting- aching for more.

His connection to Tatius is the story that really leaves me wanting more. He admits that Tatius is his brother...but how is that possible. Tatius is ancient and Nathanial is only 400 or maybe around 450 years old. Almost a baby in vampire terms. I can't wait to learn more about that story- and Nathanial in general.

And Bobby- sweet Bobby. He doesn't have a clue the furry guy never gets the girl when a vampire is involved, does he?

Maybe someone should hand him a set of the Twilight books.

Bobby does intrigue me but I see no future there between him and Kita even though there is a rich past and I'm sure their lives will stay entwined but just not in a romantic way. For one, he's mated. That means off limits.

But Nathanial...yes as always back to the vampire. He is just so yummy, I'd have no problem tasting him. Kita's quite crazy trying to keep her distance from him.

But I understand, poor girl is confused. One day she's a cute little kitty on the run from responsibility in her world of Firth. The next day she's undead and everyone wants to kill her- again and for real.

Being undead totally sucks for her.

If you have not read this series yet- what the hell are you waiting for? It is awesome.

The Haven series is a fresh look at vampires and shapeshifters. I love the new persepctive and the amazing world building.

Kalayna Price is definitely a rising star you won't want to miss.

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

US Shipping Only Please

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.