Book Review: Graveminder by Melissa Marr
Graveminder
Rebekkah Barrow doesn’t like to be tied down. She moves from place to place and never gets involved in romantic entanglements. It would seem she is fated to live the life of a nomad. However, Rebekkah is called back to the one town, Claysville, that feels like home for her when stepgrandmother Maylene is brutally murdered. Waiting for Rebekkah is old flame, Byron Montgomery.However, Claysville is hiding a secret and it is up to Byron and Rebekkah to take on roles of Undertaker and Graveminder and set things to rights.
Ya’ll this book is completely absorbing. I find myself utterly engaged by southern Gothic novels, and Graveminder is no different. I love the small town feel. I love reading about places where people take care of their own. I loved the dark paranormal elements and the way they were woven in, so the elements felt natural and real. I felt the idea of a caretaker for the graves, the Graveminder was totally plausible. You give the dead what they need to pass on, and they don’t come back. Just a bit of food, drink and words. Plus when you stir in the tempestuous relationship between Rebekkah and Byron, you have got a winner. Although, if I was Byron I would probably have dumped Rebekkah because she’s one of those girls who will hook up with you, but then drop you as soon as she gets the morning regrets. Not cool, bro, not cool.
The chapters are brief, with only a handful of pages. I found that made Graveminder easy to set down before sleeping and easy to pick up with my morning coffee. Graveminder is Marr’s debut for adults and it is chilling. This book flows in the same way YA does, as it never gets bogged down in navel gazing, but continues with action.
I highly recommend Graveminder if you are a YA fan looking for an adult read maybe because if you have to read about one more teenager you’ll tear your hair out, or if you’ve grown tired of navel gazing and especially for those of us who love a good down home read served with a side of paranormal mystery.
Disclosure: Received for review via Amazon vine.
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Purchase Graveminder by Melissa Marr here.
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April (Books&Wine) – who has written 954 posts on Good Books And Good Wine.
April is 24 years old. She is an educator. In her free time she can be found reading, working out, or eating junk food. She often wears her sunglasses at night.
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I’m in the middle of this one right now and am really enjoying it. The pace is much slower than in her YA’s but it works, adding to the creepy atmosphere. I have a ton of questions and want Bek to find out what’s going on and DO something about it!
Thanks for the review!
I am really glad to hear that you like this one. I have really been looking forward to reading it. As much as I love YA it is nice to have a good adult read once in a while! Fab review!
I really need to get my hands on Graveminder! I loved Wicked Lovely, and it sounds like she can write adult fiction just as well as she writes YA! Fab review. =)
Never heard of the book, but it sounds ok. Wondering where the paranormal aspect comes into play?
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