Tag Archives: Ghosts

Grave Witch by Kalayna Price

Overview

Grave WitchTitle: Grave Witch
Author: Kalayna Price
Series: Alex Craft #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fae, GhostsGrim reapersParanormal romance
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Roc Fantasy
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: Which still didn’t explain why it didn’t register as dead.

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Synopsis

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 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 ehr 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 who wields a magic so malevolent, it may cost Alex her life… and her soul.

Thoughts

I need to start this by saying that my sister and I have now read this book so many times that my version is starting to lose it’s cover. That is the level of obsession that I have had with Grave Witch and Alex Craft since I first found it about five years ago. It has moved across all seven houses with me. And as much as I want to get a new copy, there is something wonderful about still having the first copy that both my sister and I have so completely loved.

There are a number of reasons that I love this series, and everytime I read one of the novels, I found a few more reasons to add to the list. But something that really struck me with this read through was the fact that Alex is broke. She is surviving off crappy food, and struggling with emotions and is just having an incredibly human existence. There is a constant battle for survival and money that most other stories I read don’t have. And yes, sometimes finances get in the way of a good story, but it’s a little frustrating to constantly read stories about people who don’t have to worry about where their next meal comes from. It just helps to make Alex all that much more realistic and relatable. At least for me, a PhD student with a book-shopping problem.

I also love the love triangle that starts in Grave Witch. It is organic, and confusing, and it’s really hard to decide which character I want Alex to end up with more. But it’s not annoying and angsty. It doesn’t involve the lead female half leading either of the men on and although there is a bit of steaminess in each relationship, it’s not overbearingly so. And even though I’ve read the next two books before, I can’t wait to see how this relationship unfolds all over again!

 <- Grave Ransom Review Grave Dance Review ->
Image source: Kobo

Heads Will Roll by Lish McBride

Overview
Heads Will Roll

Title: Heads Will Roll
Author: Lish McBride
Series: Necromancer #0.1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, GhostsNecromancers
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Tor.com
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: The harpy used her own talons to slice into the manticore’s flesh and tear muscle.

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Synopsis

Lena’s not your typical animal trainer. And when she and her unicorn partner, Steve, decide to enter a fight, it’s definitely not your typical fight….

Thoughts

Every time I pick this short story up, the song “Heads Will Roll” gets stuck in my head… it’s actually my current ringtone. Which is maybe why I haven’t read this so far – I get too busy singing the song to actually start reading the story. But, I finally pushed through the soundtrack playing in my head and decided to read this. And I really, really, really wasn’t disappointed.

A fighting unicorn really isn’t what I was expecting, and when I explained this tale to my partner, he kind of gave me this incredibly confused, dear in the headlights kind of look. Which is the perfect explanation of how wickedly awesome and random this story is. And how much I want to pick up another piece of McBride’s writing.

I think that my favourite moment of all in this 51-page tale was the ending, the attempt at riding off into the sunset, and kind of epically failing at it. And the hint that there are more adventures to come for this small team of do-gooders and vigilantes.

<- Necromancing the StoneDeath and Waffles ->

Image source: Kobo

Death & Waffles by Lish McBride

Overview
Kisses and Curses

Title: Death & Waffles
Author: Lish McBride
Series: Necromancer #0.5
In: Kisses & Curses (Lauren Burniae)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, GhostsNecromancers
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Square Fish
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: “And this” – I waved my hand at her image, this time in jeans and a KISS T-shirt – “is this also for my benefit?

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Synopsis

Matt’s childhood friend, Ashley, has been stopping by a lot lately. That might seem pretty normal, but Ashley died years ago and now she’s Death.

And tonight she wants waffles and fries.

Thoughts

This story was cute, funny and really fun. Even though there was a death. But the peppy Harbringer of Death made it fun and adorable. Her friendship with Matt was also sweet, albeit in a slightly creepy kind of way. But it worked.

Mostly this story makes me feel a little hungry – it mostly takes place in a dinner and there are waffles. Which I haven’t had in a while… which I really feel like… anyone else got a waffle craving at the moment? Maybe with a side of death?

<- Heads Will RollHold Me Closer, Necromancer ->

Image source: Goodreads

A Good Bargain by Christina Henry

Black Wings ShortsTitle: A Good Bargain
Author: Christina Henry
Series: Black Wings #1.6
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Angels, GhostsParanormal fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Free online short story
Publisher: Christina Henry online
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: The ground shook like the tremor of an earthquake, and I staggered a little.

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Everyone loves a good bargain. And, although I can’t imagine what it is like to go shopping at a Walmart or some such shop, it was still quite amusing reading about Maddie’s (once again) chaotic experience of shopping. The appearance of Lucifer, and Beezle’s snappy comments just helped to increase the enjoyable feeling of mayhem that I know I experience when I have to go to the shops.

This is a great little short story that, although it doesn’t quite add to the overarching storyline, is a great aside of Maddie’s daily existence under the shadow of Lucifer’s lineage. A nice way to fill up 5 minutes when you don’t have the time to read one of the novels.

 <- Night Out Review Moonlight and Sunscreen Review ->
Image source: Fang-tastic Fiction

Night Out by Christina Henry

Black Wings ShortsTitle: Night Out
Author: Christina Henry
Series: Black Wings #1.5
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Angels, GhostsParanormal fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Free online short story
Publisher: Christina Henry online
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: He stood in a shadow cast by the taller hotel across the alley from the movie theatre roof.

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It’s kind of difficult to find the time, not to mention the money to spend a night out on the town. And I don’t have supernatural duties and forces to contend with. Maddie and Beezle’s night on the town, although it had a happy ending had the same catastrophic, chaotic style that well, all of her stories do. It made me feel a lot better about my own hermit-like existence at times…

Dragons, illusions and weird little demons are a great way to work up the energy to watch Toy Story 3 (which I haven’t seen yet by the way). And Beezle’s determination to have his popcorn is both irritating, and endearingly obnoxious. Maddie’s ability to constantly maintain her sass and attitude, even when she’s quite possibly bleeding to death shines again throughout this story. If you’re feeling bad about not going out to socialise as much as you’d like then this is a good little story to read. It will not only make you laugh on your night in, but it will also remind you that sometimes it is just better to stay at home.

 <- Black Wings Review A Good Bargain Review ->
Image source: Fang-tastic Fiction

Aren’t You Glad You Didn’t Turn on the Lights? by Christina Henry

Black Wings ShortsTitle: Aren’t You Glad You Didn’t Turn on the Lights?
Author: Christina Henry
Series: Black Wings #0.6
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Angels, GhostsParanormal fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Free online short story
Publisher: Christina Henry online
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: He was young, surprisingly young.

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In hindsight, this isn’t really the type of story you should be reading while you are in the middle of nowhere, doing fieldwork at 3am… The title alone kind of shows that. Regardless, I actually thoroughly enjoyed these five pages of slight terror that I felt in my tiny, accessible cabin on reserve. I just didn’t so much enjoy it when I decided to turn out the lights…

Maddie’s position as an Agent of Death must have some pretty difficult deaths which she is forced to witness. And, although they don’t fit into the overall structure of the novels, I like that Henry was able to find time to pen a short story of one such moment. I can’t imagine the horror that Maddie felt at watching a, well, horrifying murder take place right in front of her. Yet, the poetic justice of the story did help it to come full circle and emphasise that at least in this literary world, good always triumphs.

 <- The Care and Feeding of Gargoyles Review Black Wings Review ->
Image source: Fang-tastic Fiction

The Lost Word by Traci Harding

Overview

ghostwriting-tales-of-the-supernaturalTitle: The Lost Word
Author: Traci Harding
In: Ghostwriting: Tales of the Supernatural (Traci Harding)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Fantasy, Ghosts
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Voyager
Year: 2002
5th sentence, 74th page: ‘Logan?’

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Synopsis

An unwitting artist, a conspiracy that delves into secret societies, and a ghost that falls in love. The three intersect in brilliant ways as they try to discover the meaning and hiding place of the lost word.

Thoughts

There is something incredibly intriguing about secret societies – probably the fact that they are secret is what tends to fascinate us. A ghost story using a shady secret society was a perfect way to tell the last story in Ghostwriting: Tales of the Supernatural. It was suspenseful, intriguing, with just the right dose of love, lust and betrayal.

For me, The Lost Word was the most potent of the stories in the Ghostwriting collection. It combined the elusive nature of secret societies, with a history steeped in murder, mayhem and mystery. And, then to complete it, there is the key to all knowledge – something that we can truly achieve on our own, but which many men (and possibly women) attempt to find a shortcut for. Harding’s reminder that mankind is selfish, and not ready for a universal truth hits a note. Although, this is balanced by the goodness in people – although there are those who are incredibly selfish, there are also those who are immensely selfless.

<- Curses Review The Immortal Bind Review ->
Image source: Harper Collins Australia

Curses by Traci Harding

Overview

ghostwriting-tales-of-the-supernaturalTitle: Curses
Author: Traci Harding
In: Ghostwriting: Tales of the Supernatural (Traci Harding)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Fantasy, Ghosts
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Voyager
Year: 2002
5th sentence, 74th page: ‘Quite possibly.’

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Synopsis

Rhea and Phillip might think that they’ve found the perfect home, but it soon turns out that it’s cursed.

Thoughts

In hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have read this right before I went to sleep, it certainly gave me some very interesting and tripped out dreams. But, isn’t that a mark of a good story? Something that can affect both the conscious and the subconscious? The use of a curse and a building’s history to build this ghost story helped to add to the sense of mystery and suspense.

Rhea and Phillip’s ignorance at the past of their home, and the consequences of their actions lead them on a merry chase through the supernatural penalties of one man’s indiscretions. The increasingly violent confrontations of the spirit with Phillip and Rhea heighten the sense of speed and necessity within the story. You just know that if they don’t solve the problem (and soon), they will end up either dead or homeless.

The use of a priest in a supernatural tale about spirituality and ghosts was not one which I expected. Yet, somehow, Father Chuck’s influence and presence actually worked. As did his ability to accept the priesthood, and the idea of spiritual cleansing that doesn’t necessarily fall under the purvey of the Church. The balance of the two belief systems and acceptance of slightly different views of life is to me, exactly what religion and beliefs should be all about – and it made the Curse have a silver lining in my eyes.

<- In the Limbo of Luxury Review The Lost Word Review ->
Image source: Harper Collins Australia

Ghostwriting: Tales of the Supernatural by Traci Harding

Overview

ghostwriting-tales-of-the-supernaturalTitle: Ghostwriting: Tales of the Supernatural
Author: Traci Harding
In: Ghostwriting: Tales of the Supernatural (Traci Harding)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Australian authorsFantasy, Ghosts, Short story collections
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook Collection
Publisher: Voyager
Year: 2002
5th sentence, 74th page: My agent, Selwa Anthony, gave me the title and asked me to write a tale, but the story itself had been brewing for a long time before Selwa gave me the reason to pen it.

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Synopsis

Enter a world of mystery and hauntings fair and foul .

the best ghost stories you will read for a long time … from the author of the bestselling Ancient Future. Featuring characters inspired by her closest friends and relations, traci delivers a series of spine-tingling stories alongside autobiographical snippets that give fascinating insights into her life and the real-life personalities who inspire the characters for her fiction (including the fiesty model for Ancient Future’s Tory Alexander!) Enter a world of mystery and hauntings fair and foul.

Thoughts

I’m not normally very interested in ghost stories. Even growing up, at sleep overs, I always found them a little boring. So it was a pleasant surprise to find a collection of short ghost stories which I actually enjoyed. Better yet to find a collection that makes me question my preconceptions about the world that I live in and how I am able to influence my reality.

Harding is always a purveyor of the power of thought weaves this through her tales so neatly that it is only after you read the last word that you realise the potency of her esoteric views. The happy endings and reminder of our own power to influence our lives gives a nice, complete feeling of power when you finish this collection. A welcome one that helps to highlight the supernatural aspects of the stories which are imparted throughout the collection.

One of the things that I loved the most about this collection of short stories was the introduction to each tale. All of the short stories were dedicated to one of the amazing women in Harding’s life and her explanation of how they have helped her on her own esoteric and writing journey. This made the stories feel immensely more personal, and the leads far more real.

<- Book of Dreams Review A Piece of Time Review ->
Image source: Harper Collins Australia

Black Lament by Christina Henry

Overview

black-lament

Title: Black Lament
Author: Christina Henry
Series: Black Wings #4
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this),
My Bookshelves: Angels, GhostsParanormal fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Ace Fantasy
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: I acknowledged this with a nod.

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Synopsis

As an Agent of Death, Madeline Black deals with loss every day. But when tragedy touches her own life, Maddy will have to find the strength within to carry on…

Devastated and grieving, Maddy unexpectedly finds hope with the discovery that she is pregnant. But her joy is short-lived when Lucifer informs her that he wants the baby, hoping to draw on the combined power of two of his bloodlines. Maddy is determined that her grandfather will never have her child, but she’s not sure what she can do to stop him.

Being pregnant is stressful enough, but Maddy suddenly finds herself at odds with the Agency, which forbids her from meddling in the affairs of the supernatural courts. When a few of her soul collections go awry, Maddy begins to suspect that the Agency wants to terminate her employment. It should know by now that she isn’t the sort to give up without a fight…

Thoughts

Black Lament had a very drastic change in tone to the first three Black Wings stories. And honestly, I’m not sure how I feel about it. On one hand, it showed an amazing ability to have a changing and dynamic character; on the other, I love Maddy Black for her sass, sarcasm and wit, all of which were tainted by a black halo of depression. When they were present. However, this change in the general ambiance of the tale really should have been obvious from the title of the novel.

Although the black haze through which Maddy travels in Black Lament was incredibly bothersome, it was really her slow greying of morals that I found difficult to stomach. Throughout the series she has clung stubbornly to her morality and sense of self, yet, the moment her unborn child is threatened, she does everything she always swore she wouldn’t. Yes, it is a fantastic testament to the lengths that a woman will go to for her child, but, mostly I just found it difficult. The change seems totally plausible in a character’s development; it wasn’t one that I truly appreciated. I suppose because this character had always conducted herself in very much a ‘right and wrong’, ‘black and white’ way, and all of a sudden the lines are incredibly blurred.

Honestly, it was Beezle and Samiel who really saved this story for me. Where Maddy is almost difficult to really sympathise with throughout this story, Beezle and Samiel stay true to themselves, and even to Maddy. Although Beezle is often a voice of conscious to her, and constantly questions whether she has already crossed the line, he is still loyal. Both characters seem to be determined to save and protect her, even if it is just from herself.

<- Black Howl Review Black City Review ->
Image source: Goodreads