Review: GRAVE WITCH

Grave Witch by Kalayna Price
Book 1 of the Alex Craft series.

Genre: urban fantasy

About Grave Witch:

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.

Source: Info in the About Grave Witch was taken from the author's website at http://www.kalayna.com/alexcraft.html on 26/12/2010.

Review:
I've just read Sparks and gained me a new favouritest character. I still like Sparky, but I love Death... now Kalayna Price makes Death look damn good in jeans! Is Death following me around here? First in Sparks and now in Grave Witch... with different authors too! Or is Death the new vampire??

My review of Sparks is HERE.

The author's voice is good but seems just a shade short of a masterpiece. I find that I have to have small breaks while reading this book. I don't know what it is... that drags the story telling quality just a shade down a bit... but don't get me wrong, the story telling quality is very good, but it's just not a masterpiece-kind-of-compelling to me. I'd give it a 4.5 out of 5.

The plot is twisty enough to keep me guessing. I liked it when an unexpected event unfolds. Having said that, there were a few things there which was just slightly predictable. I knew who the next victim was going to be and I was right. And I knew who the Shadow Girl was and I was right. However, to me those predictability factor is a tiny flaw which I can easily forgive and forget when another twisty plot unfolds before me. And love the ending!

Overall, I would say that this is a very good read indeed!! If this trend continues, I think this is going to be one heck of a series. But that's the "if"... what I worry about is, could the succeeding books top the goodness of this book? Or would expectations becomes high and so the next book would become a disappointment??

World Building = 4
Ending = 4.5
Story = 4
Story Telling Quality = 4.5
Character Development = 5
Pace = 4
Plot = 4.5

Cherry's Rating: 4.5 out of 5 cherries


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Other Book(s) In The Series:
Grave Dance (Book 2 of the Alex Craft series)