erin_oriordan_is_reading_again's review against another edition
4.0
This is the eighth book in the Dead Is series overall, and the third one in which the protagonist is Jessica Walsh. When we last saw Jessica in [b:Dead Is a Killer Tune|12513514|Dead Is a Killer Tune (Dead Is, #7)|Marlene Perez|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1334127465s/12513514.jpg|17499359], she and her sister viragos (town-defending women warriors) had to solve the mystery of the bizarre behavior of Battle of the Bands contestants during Jessica's freshman year of high school. 'Just a Dream' opens at the end of summer, with Jessica becoming a sophomore.
This year's strange occurrences include a ghostly, red-eyed white horse stalking the town at night, a creepy clown who comes into town with the circus, an artist whose paintings give people nightmares, and a new art teacher with a marionette obsession. In the acknowledgments, author Marlene Perez thanks the Houston Teen Book Con. Apparently someone asked her what she is afraid of, and "This book is the answer." It does have a certain creepiness factor that makes this volume a little more suspenseful than the last one, which offered very few surprises.
The mysteries here still aren't very tough to crack - this series has always had more of a light, breezy paranormal tone than a hardcore mystery novel tone, after all - but I found myself liking this one a little better than 'Killer Tune.' Maybe it's because the horse, the bizarre paintings, the weird puppets, and the eerie clown are more interesting and original than a Pied Piper retelling.
As I've come to expect from this series, there's also a romantic wrinkle: Jessica faces a solid month of loneliness when her boyfriend Dominic announces he'll spend December touring with his band. She also faces competition when Dominic's ex-girlfriend Tashya comes to town - and Dominic's mother (also a virago) seems to prefer her to Jessica.
No spoilers, but the ending is somewhat bittersweet. At this point, I don't know whether or not Perez intends to continue the series. I hope so, because if this ending is the very end, it doesn't seem quite definitive. Also, Jessica is really growing on me. Daisy got five books as the heroine, and I kind of hope Jessica gets the same.
Disclosure: I received an advance reading copy of this book through Amazon's Vine Program. I was not compensated for this review in any way other than the free book. The review represents my own honest opinion.
This year's strange occurrences include a ghostly, red-eyed white horse stalking the town at night, a creepy clown who comes into town with the circus, an artist whose paintings give people nightmares, and a new art teacher with a marionette obsession. In the acknowledgments, author Marlene Perez thanks the Houston Teen Book Con. Apparently someone asked her what she is afraid of, and "This book is the answer." It does have a certain creepiness factor that makes this volume a little more suspenseful than the last one, which offered very few surprises.
The mysteries here still aren't very tough to crack - this series has always had more of a light, breezy paranormal tone than a hardcore mystery novel tone, after all - but I found myself liking this one a little better than 'Killer Tune.' Maybe it's because the horse, the bizarre paintings, the weird puppets, and the eerie clown are more interesting and original than a Pied Piper retelling.
As I've come to expect from this series, there's also a romantic wrinkle: Jessica faces a solid month of loneliness when her boyfriend Dominic announces he'll spend December touring with his band. She also faces competition when Dominic's ex-girlfriend Tashya comes to town - and Dominic's mother (also a virago) seems to prefer her to Jessica.
No spoilers, but the ending is somewhat bittersweet. At this point, I don't know whether or not Perez intends to continue the series. I hope so, because if this ending is the very end, it doesn't seem quite definitive. Also, Jessica is really growing on me. Daisy got five books as the heroine, and I kind of hope Jessica gets the same.
Disclosure: I received an advance reading copy of this book through Amazon's Vine Program. I was not compensated for this review in any way other than the free book. The review represents my own honest opinion.
thisbookishcat's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
2.5
Definitely a 2.5-star rating, but it wasn't good enough to bump it up to a 3. Boy am I glad it's over - I know I could have stopped at any time, but I was so invested at this point so I just needed to do it.
I hate that what should have been the climatic and truly interesting part of the story, where they got their man, was only like 5 pages, and yet the whining about the ex-girlfriend being in town was rampant throughout the whole thing.
I also hated the final chapter...six year later and setting up for a spin-off...please don't!
Read at your own risk.
I hate that what should have been the climatic and truly interesting part of the story, where they got their man, was only like 5 pages, and yet the whining about the ex-girlfriend being in town was rampant throughout the whole thing.
I also hated the final chapter...six year later and setting up for a spin-off...please don't!
Read at your own risk.
nightswim78's review against another edition
2.75
This was a sweet way to end the series! The beginning was paced way too fast but it did start to even out closer to the middle.
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
Still cute, but a little bit less than last time.
Jessica's virago status is talked about, as is her boyfriend's mother not liking her, but that wasn't as central to the book as I'd have hoped. Instead, we get a jealous ex and a Mara (nightmares come to life) and paintings that might kill. We still hear about the band Side Effects May Vary, and refer to past events/people but in under 200 slight pages it's starting to feel as though there's something missing. It's almost as though this could have been one or two good books, but instead they've been chopped up into now eight smaller books (including padding and exposition). Still, the speed with which these can be read will appeal to readers wanting a quick read.
ARC provided by publisher.
Jessica's virago status is talked about, as is her boyfriend's mother not liking her, but that wasn't as central to the book as I'd have hoped. Instead, we get a jealous ex and a Mara (nightmares come to life) and paintings that might kill. We still hear about the band Side Effects May Vary, and refer to past events/people but in under 200 slight pages it's starting to feel as though there's something missing. It's almost as though this could have been one or two good books, but instead they've been chopped up into now eight smaller books (including padding and exposition). Still, the speed with which these can be read will appeal to readers wanting a quick read.
ARC provided by publisher.
allisonbrooke's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Murder, Death, and Stalking
markma's review against another edition
4.0
Dead is Just a Dream by Marlene Perez is about Jessica, a sophomore at Nightshade High School. Jessica lives in the small town of Nightshade where strange things happen in the night. Jessica is a Viagro, a woman warrior, who protects the town from the supernatural beings with bad intentions. But Jessica isn't alone, she has her fellow Viagro's and good friend Daisy. When people are found murdered, Jessica teams up with psychically gifted neighbor Daisy to find the killer before it is to late. This is the 8th and final book in the Dead Is series. I read the rest of this series awhile ago and loved them, and this one is just as good as the rest. I also like the way this book is written, the characters are honest with themselves. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes supernatural/paranormal mysteries.
bookreader02's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I loved this book, and I loved Marlene Perez's writing. It was great to read about all the main characters and have the original characters from the first few books in it a lot more. This book made me love all the characters more than before! I especially love the ending, when she skipped so many months with Ryan and Daisy. even as I get older, these books will always be my favorite and I will always love the characters.
heyshay07's review
4.0
I love this series, but I didn't like Dead is Just a Dream as much as the other books. Maybe I'll have to go back and read it slower so I can enjoy more of Perez's wit and humor. Or maybe after 8 books I've finally hit the wall. Don't get me wrong, it was still a really fun story and fast read, and I think the middle schoolers will enjoy it when I put it in the library but there is something missing, and I can't put my finger on it.
jax549's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
nunchigoya's review against another edition
4.0
This book hit me in the soul. I started this series when I was in like middle school. And honestly put off reading this part of the series because I was still not emotionally ready to move on but I finally womaned up and started it.
This. Books is everything you've come to love about Marlene and the the kick butt virago Jessica. Murder is a foot and this vigilante virago is out to save the town but she needs the OG Psychic sleuth Daisy Giordano.
Buckle up boys and girls its what we've all been waiting for. The perfect cameo to end it with
Unfortunately thete wasn't as much of Daisy as i wanted and more Ryan Mendez wouldn't have hurt either but a solid easy read to pass the time... And drool over Dominic.
This. Books is everything you've come to love about Marlene and the the kick butt virago Jessica. Murder is a foot and this vigilante virago is out to save the town but she needs the OG Psychic sleuth Daisy Giordano.
Buckle up boys and girls its what we've all been waiting for. The perfect cameo to end it with
Unfortunately thete wasn't as much of Daisy as i wanted and more Ryan Mendez wouldn't have hurt either but a solid easy read to pass the time... And drool over Dominic.