ARC Review: Grave Witch by Kalayna Price

Not even death can save her now.

As a grave witch, Alex Craft can speak to the dead-she's even on good terms with Death himself. As a consultant for the police, she's seen a lot of dark magic, but nothing has prepared her for her latest case. When she's raising a "shade" involved in a high profile murder, it attacks her, and then someone makes an attempt on her life. Someone really doesn't want her to know what the dead have to say, and she'll have to work with mysterious homicide detective Falin Andrews to figure out why...

Note: I received this ARC from the publisher.

The first word that comes to mind to describe this book is "refreshing." That's because the main character, Alex, is a rarity in books now days in that she possesses common sense and uses it. She is able to be logical and reasonable and that was so refreshing for me to read. Alex is just a great character all around. She's very relatable, she has bad days at work, she has bills, friends and a dog and yet she's a total commitment phobe and has definite family issues. Alex is a grave witch, which means she can commune with ghosts, shades and even Death himself. Her abilities though come at a price and that was refreshing, too. She's noble but practical. She doesn't have a burning need to save the world all by her lonesome, with nothing but her pluckiness and a fab hairdo to save the day. No, she asks for help and even calls in the cops when it's necessary and when she knows she can help or needs to put herself at risk because it makes sense to do so, then she does. She also calls herself on her shit. She knows when she's unreasonable or being ridiculous and she admits it. I loved Alex a lot.

The cast of supporting characters were also very cool from her two girlfriends, Holly and Tamara, to her housemate Caleb to Detective Andrews to Death, they were all interesting in their own right and possessed their own personalities, abilities and secrets.

Yes, there is a smokin hot love scene (let me just say, yum) and yes there is sexual tension and a possible triangle, but it worked because this story always felt like it was about Alex. I never lost sight of that fact as I read. It's about her experiences, hang ups and interactions and so the romance was a great part of it but it never over shadowed the mystery, action and characters. Again I say, refreshing.

I absolutely recommend this book to any fan of UF or Paranormal. It's a great book filled with great characters and some dark and scary and fascinating happenings.

Final grade: A.