Jenn's Review: Made for You

Author: Melissa Marr
Series: none
Publication Date: September 15, 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 368
Obtained: publisher
Genre:  YA thriller
Rating: 3.5
Bottom Line: Good page turner but lacking depth
Grab, Just get it at the library, or Remove from your TBR list? Just get it at the library...

Blurb:  When Eva Tilling wakes up in the hospital, she’s confused—who in her sleepy little North Carolina town could have hit her with their car? And why? But before she can consider the question, she finds that she’s awoken with a strange new skill: the ability to foresee people’s deaths when they touch her. While she is recovering from the hit-and-run, Nate, an old flame, reappears, and the two must traverse their rocky past as they figure out how to use Eva’s power to keep her friends—and themselves—alive. But while Eva and Nate grow closer, the killer grows increasingly frantic in his attempt to get to Eva.

For the first time, New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr has applied her extraordinary talent to contemporary realism. Chilling twists, unrequited obsession, and high-stakes romance drive this Gothic, racy thriller—a story of small-town oppression and salvation. Melissa’s fans, and every YA reader, will find its wild ride enthralling

Review:  I wanted to love this book but I just didn't. It was enjoyable with a real page turner of a mystery, but...  I didn't love it. Actually the more I wrote this review, the less I liked the book.

I would have to say one of the things that held me back was that I never identified with any of the characters. As a matter of fact they were all so flawed that there wasn't a single overly likeable character.  Eva was a little shallow and complacent which I suppose describes many teens, but none that I want to read about. Her friends Nate and Grace were interesting characters but we only get to know them on the surface. 

When it came to the whodunit of it all the reveal wasn't a great 'A-ha!' moment, more of an 'Oh'.  As a matter of fact it seemed a little unrealistic.  After Eva and Nick figured it out, their actions were unnecessarily risky to the point of ludicrous.  Maybe it's just the mom in me but I had a very hard time with the excessive amount of danger they placed themselves in at the end of the novel.

Honestly, I kept hoping for more.  I have read three books by Melissa Marr and that seems to be how I feel after all of them. While I enjoy them, I am always left wishing they were deeper. 

Jenn's Review: Wicked Lovely

Summary:  Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty—especially if they learn of her Sight—and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.

Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.

But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost—regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

Review:  Having just read Melissa Marr's adult novel, Graveminder, for our GJR Challenge, I thought it would be the perfect time to launch into one of her YA books that has been on my TBR list for a while, Wicked Lovely.  I think it really clarified Melissa Marr's voice for me.

There are things I really like about Ms. Marr's writing style.  She writes compelling characters. And I felt like I got to know them a whole lot better in Wicked Lovely than I did in Graveminder, or perhaps I just liked them better.  I adored Ash because she wasn't your typical heroine.  Instead of being enthralled by the fey, she wants nothing to do with them. All she wants is a little normality.  Seth is also not the typical hero, though a little more far-fetched -the bad boy who has just been waiting for her to be ready for him- but that doesn't make him any less fascinating.  I adored Donia too her tragedy and ensuing suffering was captivating.  

The other wonderful thing is how easy it was to slide into the story unlike Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series, which I love but it took me almost a third of the first book to get into.  The storyline was full of engaging twists and though I had hopes for how the story would end, but it didn't take any of the conventional paths to get there. 

However, as with Graveminder, I found there was much that I wanted explained in more detail. I want to meet and know more about Irial. What happened between the Summer King and the Winter Queen?  How did the game come into existence?  But unlike Graveminder, this is the first book of a series so there may be answers yet to come.

I will definitely be reading more of this series. It was intriguing and I am excited to return and learn more. 

Final Take:  4/5

 

Group Review: Graveminder

Summary: Rebekkah Barrow never forgot the tender attention her grandmother, Maylene, bestowed upon the dead of Claysville, the town where Bek spent her adolescence. There wasn't a funeral that Maylene didn't at tend, and at each Rebekkah watched as Maylene performed the same unusual ritual: three sips from a small silver flask followed by the words "Sleep well, and stay where I put you."

Now Maylene is dead and Bek must go back to the place--and the man--she left a decade ago. But what she soon discovers is that Maylene was murdered and that there was good reason for her odd traditions. It turns out that in placid Claysville, the worlds of the living and the dead are dangerously connected. Beneath the town lies a shadowy, lawless land ruled by the enigmatic Charles, aka Mr. D--a place from which the dead will return if their graves are not properly minded. Only the Graveminder, a Barrow woman, and the current Undertaker, Byron, can set things to right once the dead begin to walk. ~ blurb

Alice's Review:  I admit I am fairly addicted to certain ghost shows on TV.  When I received Graveminder last year, I was intrigued.  A novel about a woman whose job is to keep the dead dead seemed all right to me.  I really wanted to like this.  It was spooky enough, scary enough but I draw the line at zombies.  And the walking dead eat people.  That’s just creepy.

There were some things I couldn’t ignore.  Overall, the novel lacked something.  I think the writing was a bit elementary.  The premise was interesting, but the execution could have used some work.  In defense to Ms. Marr, I received an ARC of Graveminder.  I’m sure the finished novel was better.  I know the dead and zombie’s are no laughing matter but this novel definitely needed a dose of laughter.  Something, anything, to lighten it up.

I liked how Bek embraced her role as Graveminder.  She knew it was her destiny.  I thought she was a strong character.  She knew what needed to be done and didn’t shy away from her responsibility.  My issues lay with Byron.  I didn’t like that Byron’s  rose-colored love for Bek made him blind to everything else.  Maybe I’m just a cynic, but seriously, the guy needed to settle down.   Yes, I know as her Undertaker they are forever linked and he’s supposed to protect her, but still.  It was nauseating to watch someone that clingy.  It was creepy. 

My favorite character was William, Byron’s father and Maylene’s Undertaker.  Of all the characters, he was the most real to me.  Ms. Marr portrayed his grief beautifully.  Although his role was limited, there was such grace about him.  I wish Graveminder was about him and Maylene instead of Byron and Rebekka. 

I have several questions, especially about Mr. D (Charles).  I like Rebekkah, but can’t really stomach Byron.  My opinion of the novel changed frequently during the reading.  Sometimes I liked it, sometimes I didn't.  Although in the end, I felt a glimmer of like but it might have been joy that it was finally over.  I do believe if you are a fan of this genre, you will enjoy this novel.    Me, not so much.

Final Take: 3/5

Jenn's Review:  This is my first Melissa Marr novel, having had her YA books on my TBR list for a while but not getting to them yet, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Graveminder.  As paranomal genre goes it was different, and I liked that about it.    Graveminder is also a stand alone novel for now.  The last bit may or may not be a good thing.

I think that there were several potential books in Graveminder; there is so much plot exposition that doesn't get fleshed out.  I found myself wishing for more details in the world of the dead.  I'm not sure I understood everyone's relationship and/or motivation.  I'm still not exactly sure what happens over there.  I wanted to know more about Abigail.  I also wanted to learn more from the journals and clippings that Rebekkah and Byron found.  Melissa Marr has put together a nice little scrapbook of information on the history of the Graveminders and Undertakers, but I still don't think it's enough. I thought the part about the way the jobs pass from generation to generation was confusing too.

The plot itself was fascinating and their was a huge twist that I never saw coming, though in hindsight, perhaps I should have; I think it was too heinous for me to have guessed.  While I enjoyed the character's of Rebekkah and Byron, there were definitely times I was frustrated with both of them, especially Rebekkah.  Her hot-cold act wore thin after awhile.

I love that it's a novel with a play list; I'm a sucker for that and I will be checking it out this week (I just wish there were embeded links).  Graveminder has certainly peaked my curiosity about the rest of Melissa Marr's work and moved  closer to the top of my TBR list.

Final Take:  3.75/5

Julie's Review: Let's just say that paranormal isn't my usual fare and I can say that Graveminder didn't do anything to change my mind. I did like some aspects of the storyline, although I wish it had been a different paranormal angle. While wishing that, I also realize it would have been a completely different book then.

I found that I was intrigued by the story of Rebekkah and Byron more than anything else. The Underground world was interesting but I found that it confused the story more for me than anything. It were these parts of the story that interrupted the flow of what was going on in the living world. I realize that both worlds are connected to each other and if one fails, the other one does as well. What I did think was interesting was that Rebekkah and Byron had very different experiences when they went to visit Mr. D and Abigail. What Rebekkah saw enchanted her and what Bryon saw repulsed him.

I didn't think the story that gave Rebekkah the background to being a Graveminder to be all that clear. In fact, I think I found it to confuse me even more. Perhaps if I read more paranormal books, it wouldn't confuse me as much.

In the end, there were things that I did enjoy but if there were to be a sequel to Graveminder , I would probably pass on it. If you are a paranomal fan and haven't checked out Melissa Marr, then I'm fairly certain you should. Graveminder is her first foray into Adult novels.

Final Take: 3.25/5