Grave Memory, by Kalayna Priceby Kalayna Price

I finished this book in two days, which is both a good and bad thing. It’s good, in that it was a fun story that moved quickly and kept me so entertained I couldn’t put it down. It’s bad, in that now it’s over and I have to wait for the next one to come out which makes me sad. No good deed goes unpunished, Kalayna!

This book continues the story of Alex Craft, a witch who can raise shades of the dead, as well as weave planes of existence and other things. Each book has added to her repertoire, and also to her weaknesses in a way that keeps her human even though she might not actually BE full human. I love Alex as a protagonist. She’s not a fighter, but she’s smart, learns from her mistakes, and has a moral code. She means well, even when she messes up. In other words, she’s an everyday woman just trying to make a living in a world that mixes magic with our own. With a little romance on the side. Did I mention she has the hots for Death? I would too, he is, for lack of a better word…hot.

I love the world building. Every book in the series shows a little more of how our world might look if suddenly magic were a part of it. The way the faerie courts interact, the fae in general, the prejudice that some display toward anything different…it all feels so vibrant and real that I swear if I walk out my front door right now I’ll see a vendor selling magic charms.

I also love the way the mystery unfolds in this story. It starts out as a “is it really murder” progresses to a “yes, but who is doing it” then ends up as a “what the heck?”. I was fascinated and hooked all the way to the end. I just love when mystery is blended with magic. It makes my day.

First line: “What do you think?” I asked, as I fumbled for the light switch. An incandescent bulb flickered on, and then continued flickering. I frowned at it, but the late-afternoon sunlight streaming through the grimy picture window prevented the gloom from devouring the room.

As opening lines go, I’ve seen stronger. However, as this is a series and it’s not the first book in the series, it worked for me. I know who is speaking because I’ve read the other books in the series. I didn’t know where she was or why she needed an opinion, but that was enough for me to keep reading. As a hook, it worked. I was in the same place as her friend, wondering why we were looking at this grimy run down space.

Fast paced story telling, fun world building, believable characters and one very steamy, very hot love scene.  Sounds like a recipe for a great read to me!

If you haven’t read the other books in the series, start with book one: Grave Witch. There’s only three out so far, but the fourth is coming. Now’s a great time to catch up!