Love can never die.
Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead&m... read full description
Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead&m... read full description
reviews
Oct 24, 2011
Wendy Darling
rated it: 
Dearly Departed is one of the most enjoyable steampunk novels I've ever read, as the author skillfully puts Victorian customs down in a futuristic setting and then throws the crazy addition of zombies into the mix! It is, unfortunately, also a very frustrating novel in many ways, mainly because it has major flaws that stand in the way of a really terrific story.
In the year 2195, Nora Dearly is just coming out of a period of mourning for her father, who was a noted scientist, when her h More...
In the year 2195, Nora Dearly is just coming out of a period of mourning for her father, who was a noted scientist, when her h More...
66 comments
like
(65 people liked it)
Oct 20, 2011
Maja
rated it:
2.5 stars
With one hundred pages and three POVs less, plus some small changes in worlbuilding, Dearly, Departed could have been an excellent novel. As it is, parts of it are amazing, while other parts left me extremely frustrated, disappointed and angry.
If only Lia Habel decided against introducing five <spoiler>that’s right, FIVE</spoiler> different POVs, one precious star in my rating would have been saved. At least two of those five contributed nothing but annoyance More...
With one hundred pages and three POVs less, plus some small changes in worlbuilding, Dearly, Departed could have been an excellent novel. As it is, parts of it are amazing, while other parts left me extremely frustrated, disappointed and angry.
If only Lia Habel decided against introducing five <spoiler>that’s right, FIVE</spoiler> different POVs, one precious star in my rating would have been saved. At least two of those five contributed nothing but annoyance More...
38 comments
like
(29 people liked it)
Oct 20, 2011
Michelle, the Bookshelf Stalker
rated it: 
A steampunk novel that lost its steam
What a frustrating book! I so wanted to love it. It had so many good elements to it. However, somehow, the book lost its way and could not find its way back again!
The GOOD
Bram Griswold
Zombie, soldier, and overall nice guy. He was the source of many of my favorite lines in the book. He was charming, respectful, and he was the guy that all parents dreamed that their loving daughter would find… minus the fact tha More...
What a frustrating book! I so wanted to love it. It had so many good elements to it. However, somehow, the book lost its way and could not find its way back again!
The GOOD
Bram Griswold
Zombie, soldier, and overall nice guy. He was the source of many of my favorite lines in the book. He was charming, respectful, and he was the guy that all parents dreamed that their loving daughter would find… minus the fact tha More...
30 comments
like
(34 people liked it)
Oct 13, 2011
Giselle
rated it: 
Dashing zombies anybody? Dearly, Departed has quite the original zombie lore. I really enjoyed it and thought it was brilliantly done. Stephenie Meyer took vampires and made them sparkly. But Lia Habel, she took zombies(!), and made them charming! There's just no beating that!
This story takes place in a future after a volcano almost ends humanity. The new age is called New Victoria - yup, it's Victorian age with holographs and cell phones. It's pretty neat and very well thought out. More...
This story takes place in a future after a volcano almost ends humanity. The new age is called New Victoria - yup, it's Victorian age with holographs and cell phones. It's pretty neat and very well thought out. More...
18 comments
like
(19 people liked it)
Dec 07, 2011
Reynje
rated it:
Edit: So, I was bored a while ago and recorded an audio version of this review (with Special Guest Appearance by the birds on my balcony). <spoiler>I haven't read aloud all that much, so apologies for how odd I sound. I kept running out of breath.</spoiler>.
At the risk of sounding flip about it, I have to commence this review by saying that I felt Lia Habel’s zombie/horror/post-apocalyptic/steampunk/neo-Victorian novel was rather in need of a corset.
More...
At the risk of sounding flip about it, I have to commence this review by saying that I felt Lia Habel’s zombie/horror/post-apocalyptic/steampunk/neo-Victorian novel was rather in need of a corset.
More...
27 comments
like
(16 people liked it)
Dec 31, 2011
Paige
rated it:
Also appears on The Screaming Nitpicker. I received my copy through Amazon Vine.
After a catastrophic apocalypse, society has rebuilt itself in the image of Victorian England. Nora Dearly and her best friend Pamela Roe are two young ladies attending St. Cyprian's and just after they return home for winter break, Nora is attacked by zombies and then kidnapped by more zombies--but these are supposed to be the good zombies. One of them, Captain Abraham Griswold, fascinates her and in tur More...
After a catastrophic apocalypse, society has rebuilt itself in the image of Victorian England. Nora Dearly and her best friend Pamela Roe are two young ladies attending St. Cyprian's and just after they return home for winter break, Nora is attacked by zombies and then kidnapped by more zombies--but these are supposed to be the good zombies. One of them, Captain Abraham Griswold, fascinates her and in tur More...
0 comments
like
(4 people liked it)
Oct 26, 2011
Juliana
rated it:
3.5 stars | Grade: C+
This book was a first in many ways for me. It was my first book in the steampunk genre, which seems to have become all the rage. It was my first zombie and my first modern horror novel. And it was the first YA book I’ve read since being a YA myself.
I hadn’t been avoiding any of these—on the contrary: seeing review after review by my Goodreads friends has had me adding book after book that I would not normally have read or sought out. One of the reasons I’m More...
This book was a first in many ways for me. It was my first book in the steampunk genre, which seems to have become all the rage. It was my first zombie and my first modern horror novel. And it was the first YA book I’ve read since being a YA myself.
I hadn’t been avoiding any of these—on the contrary: seeing review after review by my Goodreads friends has had me adding book after book that I would not normally have read or sought out. One of the reasons I’m More...
8 comments
like
(8 people liked it)
Feb 20, 2012
Nimue
rated it: 
First of all, I normally don't read anything even remotely scary! I get scarred easily and have nightmare for ages. And always when I think I'm finally old enough to have outgrown this problem and watch/read something like horror/zombie/ghosts I fail miserably. But this book intrigued me quite a bit. So, I braved myself and ... wasn't disappointed at all. I love this book!
This book is classified as steampunk, but could also easily be a Victorian dystopian novel. I loved how Lia Habe More...
This book is classified as steampunk, but could also easily be a Victorian dystopian novel. I loved how Lia Habe More...
Sep 27, 2011
Tori [Book Faery]
rated it:
See this review in it's entirety at:
http://www.book-faery.blogspot.com
A hilarious, spine-tingling novel, DEARLY DEPARTED has completely blown my mind. I was expecting a so-so 3-star book when I requested this on Amazon Vine. The back cover summary made it sound fairly interesting, and I figured zombies, steampunk, and some sort of dystopian-ish storyline might be the perfect change of pace from all the YA love triangles I've been drowning in. Never in my wildest dreams di More...
http://www.book-faery.blogspot.com
A hilarious, spine-tingling novel, DEARLY DEPARTED has completely blown my mind. I was expecting a so-so 3-star book when I requested this on Amazon Vine. The back cover summary made it sound fairly interesting, and I figured zombies, steampunk, and some sort of dystopian-ish storyline might be the perfect change of pace from all the YA love triangles I've been drowning in. Never in my wildest dreams di More...
4 comments
like
(4 people liked it)
Nov 06, 2011
Blodeuedd
rated it:
posted at Serendipity reviews
Zombies! I am not a big fan but when it comes to books it is different and I can read about them. Of course I never read a book where the male lead is one, but then vampires are dead in some books too, and they want your blood. Zombies are dead and want your flesh, nothing different there. With that I started this book.
The world was truly the best part. The world went to hell and survivors fled south. What used to be Central and South More...
Zombies! I am not a big fan but when it comes to books it is different and I can read about them. Of course I never read a book where the male lead is one, but then vampires are dead in some books too, and they want your blood. Zombies are dead and want your flesh, nothing different there. With that I started this book.
The world was truly the best part. The world went to hell and survivors fled south. What used to be Central and South More...
2 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Nov 27, 2011
Megan (Book Brats)
rated it:
Check out more of my reviews on Book Brats!
When I saw DEARLY, DEPARTED by Lia Habel on NetGalley, it automatically became my first request. Science fiction-meets-steampunk-meets-zombies?! You had me at hello! My own hype for this book became an undeniable and overwhelming force in my head. When I dug into the book and started reading, I found myself growing disappointed. The writing is nice and the plot is very original and unique, but there was just something…missing, I guess you co More...
When I saw DEARLY, DEPARTED by Lia Habel on NetGalley, it automatically became my first request. Science fiction-meets-steampunk-meets-zombies?! You had me at hello! My own hype for this book became an undeniable and overwhelming force in my head. When I dug into the book and started reading, I found myself growing disappointed. The writing is nice and the plot is very original and unique, but there was just something…missing, I guess you co More...
5 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Dec 16, 2011
Jessie (Ageless Pages Reviews)
rated it:
I had my eye on this novel for a while before a copy of it fell into my greedy, cover-loving, teenage-steampunk-heroine craving hands. Dearly, Departed is indeed a great read for most of the novel, lively with NeoVictorian humo(u)r and futuristic themes, though it is hampered sadly by two (maybe three) too many POV's and overly-cartoonish and cliched villains. Dearly, Departed tries to do a lot with its 384 page length, with an eclectic mixing of a multitude of dramas and an inter-life relations
More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Oct 19, 2011
I had a love/hate relationship with this book. When I won this from Firstreads, I was really surprised because when I got the book because I hadn't seen the e-mail they sent me :P But anyways, this book's premise was awesome. Steampunk/zombie/romance novel? I'm all in.
But it had it's flaws. The first thing I noted was the point of view. It was in the first person p.o.v. but the chapters alternated from character to character, and made it REALLY confusing to read sometimes. Some of th More...
But it had it's flaws. The first thing I noted was the point of view. It was in the first person p.o.v. but the chapters alternated from character to character, and made it REALLY confusing to read sometimes. Some of th More...
2 comments
like
(6 people liked it)
May 24, 2011
I won Dearly, Departed from First Reads. I look forward to reading it now that its arrived.
3 comments
like
(4 people liked it)
Oct 17, 2011
Isamlq
rated it:
3/5
It's not exactly what I was expecting. Throwing around the words ‘steam punk’ and ‘zombies’ had me thinking of something a little more epic. Instead there’s Bram, a zombie, who takes offense at being likened to a freak… and Nora, daughter of a war hero doctor who is oh- so-special and is technically the real freak. Things are not helped by the fact that I’m still not sure about what differed between the good ‘uns and the baddies. Because all I got was where the Grays were canniba More...
It's not exactly what I was expecting. Throwing around the words ‘steam punk’ and ‘zombies’ had me thinking of something a little more epic. Instead there’s Bram, a zombie, who takes offense at being likened to a freak… and Nora, daughter of a war hero doctor who is oh- so-special and is technically the real freak. Things are not helped by the fact that I’m still not sure about what differed between the good ‘uns and the baddies. Because all I got was where the Grays were canniba More...
6 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Nov 25, 2011
Ala
rated it: 
Alright, I've put this off long enough.
Let's do this thing...
Here we have a story set in the not-too-distant future. The worlds gone to hell, the polar ice caps are spreading out, leaving a ring of habitable land around the equator. The former nations of the world have crumbled, giving rise to a bunch of new tribes/countries/etc.
One of these newly minted nations was begun from the remnants of what was the good old US of A. And, wanting a return to a more More...
Let's do this thing...
Here we have a story set in the not-too-distant future. The worlds gone to hell, the polar ice caps are spreading out, leaving a ring of habitable land around the equator. The former nations of the world have crumbled, giving rise to a bunch of new tribes/countries/etc.
One of these newly minted nations was begun from the remnants of what was the good old US of A. And, wanting a return to a more More...
15 comments
like
(17 people liked it)
Dec 21, 2011
Stacey
rated it:
I really enjoyed this book for a ton of reasons so I'm just going to go through a few of them.
1. This book is very unique. It's dystopian, it's paranormal romance, it's zombies, it's cyberpunk, and it's got some elements of Victorian history. You really can't put it in one box which is why it's so cool.
2. It's written in 1st person POV, but with several characters. You get to see an odd romance from both perspectives which I love plus various secondary characters. Not to More...
1. This book is very unique. It's dystopian, it's paranormal romance, it's zombies, it's cyberpunk, and it's got some elements of Victorian history. You really can't put it in one box which is why it's so cool.
2. It's written in 1st person POV, but with several characters. You get to see an odd romance from both perspectives which I love plus various secondary characters. Not to More...
8 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Nov 04, 2011
SL
rated it:
First of all let me add a disclaimer that honestly Dearly, Departed isn't a really well written book. The prose is awkward at times, the world building seriously doesn't make any sense, the multiple POVs will give you a headache and the plot isn't all that particularly interesting.
So why the hell did I give it 4 stars?! LOL.
Because I love Captain Abraham Griswold aka Bram!!!!! There you have it, I have a crush on a zombie, god help me....... I was gone the minute he put More...
So why the hell did I give it 4 stars?! LOL.
Because I love Captain Abraham Griswold aka Bram!!!!! There you have it, I have a crush on a zombie, god help me....... I was gone the minute he put More...
10 comments
like
(7 people liked it)
Oct 30, 2011
Sam
rated it:
I loved it! Dearly, Departed is an amazing first novel and a thoroughly entertaining young adult read. Definitely one of my favorites.
The world-building in this book is pretty amazing. Dearly, Departed is a futuristic, steampunk novel set in a post-apocalyptic world. I loved the idea of a New Victorian era - fitted with holograms and and ID chips! - and thought it was wonderfully presented. The idea of society going backwards when the world and its technology is progressing forwards More...
The world-building in this book is pretty amazing. Dearly, Departed is a futuristic, steampunk novel set in a post-apocalyptic world. I loved the idea of a New Victorian era - fitted with holograms and and ID chips! - and thought it was wonderfully presented. The idea of society going backwards when the world and its technology is progressing forwards More...
3 comments
like
(5 people liked it)
Jan 01, 2012
Natalie (Mindful Musings)
rated it:
Read this review on my blog, Mindful Musings.
In a Sentence: Though I wasn't sold on the number of POVs in this novel, Dearly Departed was an overall fast and fun read set in a wonderfully imaginative world.
My Thoughts
I decided to read Dearly Departed when I saw that Tiger at All Consuming Books and Tara at 25 Hour Books had both given it a good rating. These ladies' taste in books tend to be extremely similar to my own, so when I read their reviews, Dearly Departed More...
In a Sentence: Though I wasn't sold on the number of POVs in this novel, Dearly Departed was an overall fast and fun read set in a wonderfully imaginative world.
My Thoughts
I decided to read Dearly Departed when I saw that Tiger at All Consuming Books and Tara at 25 Hour Books had both given it a good rating. These ladies' taste in books tend to be extremely similar to my own, so when I read their reviews, Dearly Departed More...
0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Oct 14, 2011
Nora Dearly isn't like other New Victorian girls. After all, they don't know how to wield guns and they certainly haven't been abducted by a group of zombies. Wait, perhaps I ought to say "the group of individuals effected with the Lazarus." However, the members of Company Z are the least of her problems as the Grays are after her too and as far as zombies go, they're much less civilized.
Whenever I think of stories involving zombies, I picture mindless creatures with a tast More...
Whenever I think of stories involving zombies, I picture mindless creatures with a tast More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Dec 10, 2011
Katie(babs)
rated it:
The writing has a nice Victorian vibe to it and Bram, even as a zombie, is a wonderful hero. But the constant switching of POV from more than two characters and a no answers for anything, makes this an underwhelming read. Nothing is really explained and why XYZ has happened.
What genre is this book? There's a mish mash of at least 5 genres going on in this story. And why if this is sent over 100 years in the future, why has everything gone back to the Victorian way of thinking? Just b More...
What genre is this book? There's a mish mash of at least 5 genres going on in this story. And why if this is sent over 100 years in the future, why has everything gone back to the Victorian way of thinking? Just b More...
2 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jan 20, 2012
Caitlin
rated it:
Overall the book was solid, and I enjoyed it with a few reservations.
Things I didn't like:
The point of view changes from chapter to chapter which probably confused me more than it should have. The voices of the characters weren't different enough from each other and often I had to remind myself who was telling the story. This is a little bit of a problem since the characters should have very different styles of talking (girl, zombie, old man, etc.).
Nora is a stron More...
Things I didn't like:
The point of view changes from chapter to chapter which probably confused me more than it should have. The voices of the characters weren't different enough from each other and often I had to remind myself who was telling the story. This is a little bit of a problem since the characters should have very different styles of talking (girl, zombie, old man, etc.).
Nora is a stron More...
0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Sep 16, 2011
Rachel
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
0 comments
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(4 people liked it)
Oct 11, 2011
Claire
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Feb 18, 2012
Ewa
rated it:
For all it's riddled with issues this a really fun read that's so over the top and given half a chance carries you with it all the way through a crazy mess of plot, rotting corpses and romance. Fans of dystopias and zombies will get more of a kick out of this than romance fans - and people who enjoy well-rendered characters who are willing to get stuck in and be pro-active will enjoy this too. It's not structured very well, however; the viewpoints are a mess and only partially feel like they're
More...
Jan 31, 2012
Between the Covers
rated it:
REVIEWED by Chris for Between the Covers blog:
I wanted to read Dearly Departed desperately. I longed for it. A genre defying novel, it mixes steampunk, dystopian, zombies and romance all into one fairly large novel. I pre-ordered Dearly and as soon as Amazon delivered it I had to start it. I just wish that I had loved it as much as I wanted to.
Dearly Departed is told in three main point of views (with one surprise narrator thrown in): Nora the daughter of Victor Dearly, Bram More...
I wanted to read Dearly Departed desperately. I longed for it. A genre defying novel, it mixes steampunk, dystopian, zombies and romance all into one fairly large novel. I pre-ordered Dearly and as soon as Amazon delivered it I had to start it. I just wish that I had loved it as much as I wanted to.
Dearly Departed is told in three main point of views (with one surprise narrator thrown in): Nora the daughter of Victor Dearly, Bram More...
Jan 23, 2012
Book Whales
rated it:
Originally posted @ Book Whales
Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead or rather, the undead?
I’ve wanted to read this book for ages, the cover is amazing and I’m a sucker for zombies! The plot is interesting, a proper Victorian lady and a dashing zombie in love? I was surprised that this book was set in the future, an era called the New Victoria. The way the author describes Nora’s world, imp More...
Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead or rather, the undead?
I’ve wanted to read this book for ages, the cover is amazing and I’m a sucker for zombies! The plot is interesting, a proper Victorian lady and a dashing zombie in love? I was surprised that this book was set in the future, an era called the New Victoria. The way the author describes Nora’s world, imp More...
Jan 21, 2012
Miri
rated it:
Nora führt ein behütetes, wenn auch trauriges Leben in Neuviktoria, zusammen mit ihrer besten Freundin Pam und ihrer Familie. Ihre Tante kümmert sich um sie, nachdem sowohl ihre Mutter als auch ihr Vater verstorben sind. Sie fahren mit dampfbetriebenen Kutschen, Mädchen tragen Kleider und ein Date besteht aus einem Treffen am Essenstisch zusammen mit den Eltern. Altmodisch durch und durch, nachdem Kriege den größten Teil von Amerika zerstört haben.
Am Tag ihrer Rückkehr von der Schule spri More...
Am Tag ihrer Rückkehr von der Schule spri More...
