veronica87's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, whereas books one and two were rereads for me, this is my first time reading this third installment in the series. The series has a short timeline as each book picks up within a month or so of the previous book which, considering everything Alex goes through, must be exhausting for her. This time she's looking into a string of suspicious suicides. It is definitely the most interesting case of the series so far. It's also the most evenly paced. One thing annoys me about Alex and that's her inability to ask more questions of her father. He drops all these interesting tidbits about her past and her heritage but Alex never asks the relevant follow up questions. I don't know if she intentionally doesn't want to know or what but, shoot, I want to know!
I'd heard this was Death's book so I wasn't particularly looking forward to reading it but, in all actuality, he's not really in it all that much. He's still the same, one dimensional character he started out as and I just can't be bothered to feel anything for him. And honestly, , I just don't see Death fitting into her life. He's no Reyes Farrow.
The other leg of the love triangle, Falin, on the other hand does fit Alex's life. Her dual life. He's visible to everyone on any plane of reality, for one. That's always a plus in a love interest, lol. He's just fleshed out a bit better as a character. Yeah, yeah, he has the whole tied-to-the-Winter-Queen thing that's currently problematic but that may not be a forever thing. I feel his struggle more. Plus, I just find the fae stuff more interesting.
But for all that, the love drama doesn't really eat up a lot of page time. It annoys because it's unnecessary but, hey, it could be worse. The case, as I said, was cool and interesting. We get a bit more of a peek at faerie and we meet a new character, an investigator for the Magical Crimes Investigation Bureau, who has potential. I wish there was more Roy. I get a kick out of him.
P.S. Hmmm, so far every book has ended with a scene between Alex and one particular character. A hint, maybe?
I'd heard this was Death's book so I wasn't particularly looking forward to reading it but, in all actuality, he's not really in it all that much.
Spoiler
His relationship with Alex takes a turn...right after she reminds the reader that he looks exactly as he did when she first met him when she was five years old. Ick factor aside, it's clearly a doomed relationship. Alex repeatedly reminds readers that Death is her oldest and dearest friend but it's a whole lot of telling and not showing. Never are we privy to any deep or personal conversations. All that's shown is that Death lusts after her (and one wonders when he started looking at Alex in that way, when she was seven? Ten? Hmmm...) and she reciprocates. I don't really blame her as he's pretty much been cultivating her crush on him all of her life. And yet, she knows nothing about him as a person which means we readers know nothing him.Spoiler
with Alex's fae heritage coming to light and all the hints of how important that will beThe other leg of the love triangle, Falin, on the other hand does fit Alex's life. Her dual life. He's visible to everyone on any plane of reality, for one. That's always a plus in a love interest, lol. He's just fleshed out a bit better as a character. Yeah, yeah, he has the whole tied-to-the-Winter-Queen thing that's currently problematic but that may not be a forever thing. I feel his struggle more. Plus, I just find the fae stuff more interesting.
But for all that, the love drama doesn't really eat up a lot of page time. It annoys because it's unnecessary but, hey, it could be worse. The case, as I said, was cool and interesting. We get a bit more of a peek at faerie and we meet a new character, an investigator for the Magical Crimes Investigation Bureau, who has potential. I wish there was more Roy. I get a kick out of him.
P.S. Hmmm, so far every book has ended with a scene between Alex and one particular character. A hint, maybe?
lynseyisreading's review against another edition
4.0
So good to be back with Alex and crew.
This is book three in a series that's gradually becoming a top favourite of mine. What makes it a favourite? Well, you've got the imaginative world-building, the diverse cast of characters of all ages and from all walks of life, the new spin on the Fae race, the interesting take on witch magic, including its harsh drawbacks, and all the inter-layered plains of existence and creatures that live in them. And also the potential love interest characters are none too shabby either.
Now, I know a lot of people hate love triangles with the fiery passion of a thousand suns, but this one I feel is more than worth while getting involved in. Because you've basically been given two good (mostly) men, both of whom love Alex and who I like to think she loves in return in slightly differing ways, and then Price has just complicated the ever living hell out of it, making each potential pairing seemingly impossible for one reason or another. It's very interesting and I'm completely torn over how I feel about each of them. I was pleased, therefore, that this book had a little more time devoted to Death and the Collectors, to try and balance out my opinion since Falin was hogging the limelight for most of the first two books.
It's really hard to watch what's happening with Falin at the moment. He's tied through compulsions to the Winter Queen (can you say bitch in a tiara?), who, despite her animosity towards Alex, wants her to join her Court. The way she's been trying to "gently persuade" Alex to her side has been to dangle the prospect of being with Falin in her face.... by sending him to raid her house every couple of weeks on bogus charges and searches as part of his F.I.B job. Just to torment her with the fact that she can see him, talk to him, but he's been compelled to only have contact with her in an official capacity. No small talk, no niceties. It's painful for Alex and more than a little cruel of the Winter Queen. I'm dying to see what else she has up her sleeve after what happened in the final pages.
Death, as I mentioned before, gets more time to shine in this instalment. I enjoyed learning even more about the Collectors and Death himself. He's so yummy. I really struggle to find fault with him. I guess his main fault is that he's unattainable.
Alex is having a slightly hard time of things. Her friend John seems to be giving her the cold shoulder, she can't seem to do right for doing wrong in the investigation currently ongoing, and her love life is a disaster. Still, she's trying to make the best of things and is thrilled to have her childhood friend Rianna back in her life. They've decided to do something they planned as kids together; open a P. I. firm called 'Tongues for the dead.'
I enjoyed the plot surrounding the 'Rider' once it got going. Unfortunately that seemed to take quite while. Also, there was not much sign of either Falin or Death in the first half so I found it a little slow going. It did have plenty of recaps in the opening chapters for anyone who, like me, has forgotten a lot of the details since the last book. I was worried at first that I'd forgotten too much as I couldn't even remember the names of her house mates, but it all came back to me with the gentle re-introductions provided. By which I mean, we were given just enough info to jog the old memory box, but not pages and pages of character bios copied and pasted from past books (take note, Estep!).
All in all a great instalment, definitely one for the Death fans, and a great progression of the series.
4 Stars ★★★★
This is book three in a series that's gradually becoming a top favourite of mine. What makes it a favourite? Well, you've got the imaginative world-building, the diverse cast of characters of all ages and from all walks of life, the new spin on the Fae race, the interesting take on witch magic, including its harsh drawbacks, and all the inter-layered plains of existence and creatures that live in them. And also the potential love interest characters are none too shabby either.
Now, I know a lot of people hate love triangles with the fiery passion of a thousand suns, but this one I feel is more than worth while getting involved in. Because you've basically been given two good (mostly) men, both of whom love Alex and who I like to think she loves in return in slightly differing ways, and then Price has just complicated the ever living hell out of it, making each potential pairing seemingly impossible for one reason or another. It's very interesting and I'm completely torn over how I feel about each of them. I was pleased, therefore, that this book had a little more time devoted to Death and the Collectors, to try and balance out my opinion since Falin was hogging the limelight for most of the first two books.
It's really hard to watch what's happening with Falin at the moment. He's tied through compulsions to the Winter Queen (can you say bitch in a tiara?), who, despite her animosity towards Alex, wants her to join her Court. The way she's been trying to "gently persuade" Alex to her side has been to dangle the prospect of being with Falin in her face.... by sending him to raid her house every couple of weeks on bogus charges and searches as part of his F.I.B job. Just to torment her with the fact that she can see him, talk to him, but he's been compelled to only have contact with her in an official capacity. No small talk, no niceties. It's painful for Alex and more than a little cruel of the Winter Queen. I'm dying to see what else she has up her sleeve after what happened in the final pages.
Death, as I mentioned before, gets more time to shine in this instalment. I enjoyed learning even more about the Collectors and Death himself. He's so yummy. I really struggle to find fault with him. I guess his main fault is that he's unattainable.
Alex is having a slightly hard time of things. Her friend John seems to be giving her the cold shoulder, she can't seem to do right for doing wrong in the investigation currently ongoing, and her love life is a disaster. Still, she's trying to make the best of things and is thrilled to have her childhood friend Rianna back in her life. They've decided to do something they planned as kids together; open a P. I. firm called 'Tongues for the dead.'
I enjoyed the plot surrounding the 'Rider' once it got going. Unfortunately that seemed to take quite while. Also, there was not much sign of either Falin or Death in the first half so I found it a little slow going. It did have plenty of recaps in the opening chapters for anyone who, like me, has forgotten a lot of the details since the last book. I was worried at first that I'd forgotten too much as I couldn't even remember the names of her house mates, but it all came back to me with the gentle re-introductions provided. By which I mean, we were given just enough info to jog the old memory box, but not pages and pages of character bios copied and pasted from past books (take note, Estep!).
All in all a great instalment, definitely one for the Death fans, and a great progression of the series.
4 Stars ★★★★
chefgirlsatan's review against another edition
5.0
WHY ISN'T GRAVE VISIONS OUT ALREADY!! I don't think I've enjoyed and been so wrapped up in a series as much as this one. With everything going on with Death in this one and the last page of what her life is like with him and Falin. UHG! How long must I wait for #4!?
This is my favorite series in a long long time.
This is my favorite series in a long long time.
bookwife's review against another edition
4.0
Re-read 8/23/2017.. So now that I am re-reading this series Alex annoys the hell out of me. She worries about Falin and Death WAY too much. Trust me. I am all for romance being the center point of a story, hell I prefer it that way. But I don't want the back and forth for 3 damn books and since I have already read the next book as well, I know that she hasn't made a choice by then either. So I am just annoyed that she is acting like a teenage girl.
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I love and hate this book. I love it up until the last 10 mins and then I want to scream and rage at Kalayna Price for getting my hopes up and crushing them. Especially since I have ordered the next book but I am still waiting on it.. so I am not happy.
I am team Death. All the freaking way. It's not that I don't like Falin.. because I do. I just think he has done too many things that I wouldn't be able to get over. I understand that he is being forced to do those things by the Winter Queen. Still I don't have to like it.. or get over it. I now remember why I don't like love triangles. I always get waaay too into the characters. I need an author to tell me who to root for. This one didn't bother me at first because it was kinda obvious that Falin was the clear choice so it just wasn't much of a triangle. But now, NOW after this stupid book I will be so upset if she doesn't end up with Death. GGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
Okay the story... Nope screw it I'm too upset by the last part of this book. You gave me a dream Price and then you took it away. I will rate this book minus the last couple minutes.. because otherwise it would be negative stars.
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I love and hate this book. I love it up until the last 10 mins and then I want to scream and rage at Kalayna Price for getting my hopes up and crushing them. Especially since I have ordered the next book but I am still waiting on it.. so I am not happy.
I am team Death. All the freaking way. It's not that I don't like Falin.. because I do. I just think he has done too many things that I wouldn't be able to get over. I understand that he is being forced to do those things by the Winter Queen. Still I don't have to like it.. or get over it. I now remember why I don't like love triangles. I always get waaay too into the characters. I need an author to tell me who to root for. This one didn't bother me at first because it was kinda obvious that Falin was the clear choice so it just wasn't much of a triangle. But now, NOW after this stupid book I will be so upset if she doesn't end up with Death. GGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
Okay the story... Nope screw it I'm too upset by the last part of this book. You gave me a dream Price and then you took it away. I will rate this book minus the last couple minutes.. because otherwise it would be negative stars.
samlynneyikes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
snarkymotherreader's review against another edition
4.0
Grave witch Alex Craft is still reeling from her ordeals in Grave Dance. Her eyesight is still wonky, her relationship with Falin, the fae FIB agent, is seemingly doomed, her love for Death fluctuates with every day she doesn’t see him, and her new, “glowing” way of life may place even more of a strain on her venture into the world of private investigations with her best friend, Rianna.
Everything changes when Alex witnesses a man jump off a building. Ruled a suicide, the case appears cut-and-dried to the police and witnesses – well, the witnesses who can’t see dead people. Alex’s powers as a grave witch throw her into an investigation of apparent suicides — an investigation that finally brings business to Tongues for the Dead, but may also bring the true death to Alex’s doorstop.
Grave Memory by Kalayna Price had me doing the bipolar tango – I laughed, I cried, I pulled my hair and rent my teeth in the manner of all naughty toddlers (or, in this case, naughty reviewers who have a love/hate relationship with cliffhangers). While the main focus of the series is certainly NOT the Many Romances of Alex Craft, my inner romance-junkie lives off the scenes where we see Alex interact with Falin and/or Death. Both men (and I use that term loosely) got equal playing time in Grave Memory, which both pleased and frustrated me. Readers learned a great deal about each in this installment, but very few of the lingering questions regarding either were answered. It would have almost been better to have two books – one focusing on Death and one on Falin and the fae court.
The main part of the plot, though, had me gnawing my nails. The Big Bad causes death by suicide, and he doesn’t appreciate Alex interfering in his fun. This leads to a few spoiler-worthy events that are complete game changers, both in Alex’s life in the human world and in the supernatural world.
Even with my romantic frustrations, I thoroughly enjoyed Grave Memory. Kalayna takes the dark and dangerous side of Urban Fantasy and sprinkles some light-hearted fun, original mythology, and sexy sidekicks. I give it four and a half tombstones.
Everything changes when Alex witnesses a man jump off a building. Ruled a suicide, the case appears cut-and-dried to the police and witnesses – well, the witnesses who can’t see dead people. Alex’s powers as a grave witch throw her into an investigation of apparent suicides — an investigation that finally brings business to Tongues for the Dead, but may also bring the true death to Alex’s doorstop.
Grave Memory by Kalayna Price had me doing the bipolar tango – I laughed, I cried, I pulled my hair and rent my teeth in the manner of all naughty toddlers (or, in this case, naughty reviewers who have a love/hate relationship with cliffhangers). While the main focus of the series is certainly NOT the Many Romances of Alex Craft, my inner romance-junkie lives off the scenes where we see Alex interact with Falin and/or Death. Both men (and I use that term loosely) got equal playing time in Grave Memory, which both pleased and frustrated me. Readers learned a great deal about each in this installment, but very few of the lingering questions regarding either were answered. It would have almost been better to have two books – one focusing on Death and one on Falin and the fae court.
The main part of the plot, though, had me gnawing my nails. The Big Bad causes death by suicide, and he doesn’t appreciate Alex interfering in his fun. This leads to a few spoiler-worthy events that are complete game changers, both in Alex’s life in the human world and in the supernatural world.
Even with my romantic frustrations, I thoroughly enjoyed Grave Memory. Kalayna takes the dark and dangerous side of Urban Fantasy and sprinkles some light-hearted fun, original mythology, and sexy sidekicks. I give it four and a half tombstones.
lizzy_22's review against another edition
3.0
Mixed feelings about this one, mainly because I feel like Alex hasn't made any progress solving the conflicts surrounding her. After the second book blew my socks off I felt like we'd see a similar adventure here. But while I still enjoyed it this installment didn't fulfill my elevated expectations. And let's not even get into her man problems.
prfctlymismtchd's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book. It was such a great take on the Fae and Witchcraft. I tore through these really quickly. I wish Death had been a bigger part of the later books. I also liked the earlier books that focused more on her Grave magic and less on other skills more.
loishojmark's review against another edition
4.0
Read 12/05/2013. 4 stars
Reread 23/02/2016. Still 4 stars.
Reread 23/02/2016. Still 4 stars.