Velveteen by Daniel Marks

Oct 27, 2012 Emily May rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy, dnf

I love this cover and I love this idea: a ghost trapped in purgatory getting revenge on the serial killer who brought about her early death. It should have been really exciting and dark and gripping, but the result was one messy disappointment made worse by frequently clumsy prose. If I get over half way through a book but don't finish it, I allow myself to leave a rating as long as I state that I didn't get to the end. And really, I feel I read enough to know that myself and Velveteen (the nove I love this cover and I love this idea: a ghost trapped in purgatory getting revenge on the serial killer who brought about her early death. It should have been really exciting and dark and gripping, but the result was one messy disappointment made worse by frequently clumsy prose. If I get over half way through a book but don't finish it, I allow myself to leave a rating as long as I state that I didn't get to the end. And really, I feel I read enough to know that myself and Velveteen (the novel, not the character) were never going to get along.

This is the story of Velveteen Monroe who was kidnapped and murdered at the age of sixteen by a serial killer and madman referred to as Bonesaw. Now she is trapped in the grey and dreary purgatory and dreams of delivering a slow and painful punishment to her killer, instead she settles for haunting him, destroying his furniture and helping his would-be victims to escape and avoid the same fate she endured. However, her haunting begins to have consequences and her very soul is threatened by her actions; perhaps once she would have sacrificed her soul for vengeance, but a blooming romance gives her a new reason to want to stick around.

The first thing I didn't like was the mish-mash world-building of purgatory. I don't even know how to explain it, it was ridiculous. How I wish I'd read the Kirkus review before starting this because their choice of the word "erratic" to describe the world, characters and plot going on in purgatory is about as spot on as you can get. There are too many characters, too many subplots (most of which are uninteresting) and too many unanswered questions. Purgatory made me think of some kind of wacky eighties-themed party - and not the fun kind; I was constantly in a state of bewilderment at what I assume were supposed to be colourful characters and behaviour, but were actually just the cause of numerous "huh?"s.

But even more than that was the unbelievability of Velveteen's state of mind. This girl had been kidnapped at sixteen, tied up in a man's house for a week, starved, beaten, cut open with knives, and eventually killed. Why was she not more... damaged? Or even if we are supposed to believe that she's unnaturally tough, why is the situation handled so casually? In the very first chapter, Velveteen is in Bonesaw's house and discovers his latest victim tied up and the way the whole situation is told is so offhand and cold. There's a teenage girl - a child - tied up in this man's house, he intends to hurt her and then kill her... why isn't everyone just a little more concerned? Velveteen acts like the situation almost bores her, it's so unrealistic.

I don't think the chapters I missed could possibly hold anything that would make up for the bad I'd already read. Not recommended.
...more

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Mar 19, 2012 Experiment BL626 rated it it was ok

Shelves: young-adult, paranormal, reviewed

CAUTION: Long Review

I thought the story of 110,000 words was going to be a bloody tale of revenge but it wasn't. The blurb was awfully misleading:

Velveteen aches to deliver the bloody punishment her killer deserves. And she's figured out just how to do it. She'll haunt him for the rest of his days.

Uh, no. Velveteen was actually about a bunch of angry, disillusioned dead people called Departurists who wanted out of purgatory and so they commit a series of terrorist acts in order to accomplish the ...more

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Mar 29, 2012 Devon Ashley rated it did not like it

Shelves: completed-arcs, quit-reading, reviewed-on-blog

Riddle me this: Why does a book description that goes off about a ghost seeking revenge against her serial killer, but is mostly about an uprising in the weirdest purgatory I've ever heard of, have so many good ratings? Answer: Hell's bells if I know.

Oh, yeah...there are spoilers ahead, because this book was just a modge podge of wtf-ery.

Velveteen started off so promising with Velvet using her ghost mojo to destroy things in the serial killer's home, and then realizing the sicko had collected a Riddle me this: Why does a book description that goes off about a ghost seeking revenge against her serial killer, but is mostly about an uprising in the weirdest purgatory I've ever heard of, have so many good ratings? Answer: Hell's bells if I know.

Oh, yeah...there are spoilers ahead, because this book was just a modge podge of wtf-ery.

Velveteen started off so promising with Velvet using her ghost mojo to destroy things in the serial killer's home, and then realizing the sicko had collected another girl to torture. Instead of moving forward with that story, she leaves because she has to slip back into purgatory because somebody might notice she's missing. Hmm...okay. (Why does she have to be butt naked to travel through - and arrive in a dark alley that's frighteningly similar to Nocturn Alley? Cobblestone pathways, weird clothing...totally felt like I was in Harry Potter). And I've never heard of a ghost that practically had to be present for roll call and participate in something I can only call group counseling in purgatory. They're dead...leave 'em alone already. If they wanna hang out in purgatory, that's their decision. Then out of nowhere some shadow thing comes along whipping up souls into its tendrils and showing them really bad things. O-kaaaay.... They're dead right? It's not like this shadow can destroy their soul or anything, but they scatter like it's that deformed monster from Cloverfield snatching them up.

Apparently, our girl Velvet, who's just a kid and been in purgatory for only a few years, is the leader of a team of scavengers that have the best fight record against the shadows. Say what? It's purgatory! How can someone so new have the best record? People have been there for thousands and thousands of years and this two year old is better? (You can't see it, but I'm shaking my head right now, cause her out of this world - ahem...purgatory - number is 57.) Sigh...Velveteen is just filled with things that make my eyes roll and my head shake, and I'm not even gonna get into how quickly Velvet and Nick are rolling around in her bed groping each other - oh, wait...yes I am - a few hours after they met!

Are you sure were not just in the head of some delusional mental patient in Bellevue? Cause this book is filled with crazy stuff all over the place. Now I try to find the good in every book I read, but Velveteen made this really hard. Luckily, I loved the chapters where she faced off with her killer, and I was ready to upgrade this nightmare to two stars, but they were so few and far between, I just couldn't mislead my readers into thinking this was worth two stars. And I hate giving one stars. Oddly enough, I had to upload my one star pic from the harddrive cause it had never been used before on the Crazy Dream blog. The first chapter with her screwing with Bonesaw was awesome...but then I had to suffer through totally unawesomeness for 200 more pages before I was given another short glimpse of Bonesaw. I'm so disappointed right now, cause the author was onto something really great with this whole ghost-revenge-on-a-serial-killer thing, but fell flat when the focus shifted onto this ridiculous version of purgatory.

I'd pass on this one peeps. It took me forever to read cause it put me to sleep every night. And to be honest, I pulled the sheet over Velveteen and called her death at 277 pages.

description

Novel provided publisher via NetGalley. ...more

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Jul 16, 2011 Brad Sells marked it as to-read

Shelves: netgalley-arc

Why does the girl on the cover remind me of a teenage Bellatrix Lestrange?

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Apr 19, 2011 hayden marked it as to-read-via-netgalley-and-edelweiss

Dear Daniel Marks,
Please give me an ARC of this immediately because you are cool.

Thanks,
Hayden

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Mar 28, 2012 Katy rated it it was amazing

4.5 stars - Ah, what the hell - I'm rounding up to 5.

This book was long, and I wouldn't say this book was absolutely mind-blowing, but the writing as truly amazing. It was really sick an twisted, so disgustingly graphic, so mentally chilling - not usually my type of thing, but I was totally diggin' it. Just to give you a taste of what you would be reading: (view spoiler) 4.5 stars - Ah, what the hell - I'm rounding up to 5.

This book was long, and I wouldn't say this book was absolutely mind-blowing, but the writing as truly amazing. It was really sick an twisted, so disgustingly graphic, so mentally chilling - not usually my type of thing, but I was totally diggin' it. Just to give you a taste of what you would be reading: (view spoiler) Was that so gross that it was freakin' awesome or what?

Chapter 1 had me hooked as I got a glimpse of the twisted world of Bonesaw. But then the book lost me for several chapters as it began going down a different direction. Marks is VERY descriptive in setting up the scene, but I didn't see why he spent so much time setting up Purgatory when it didn't have much to do with Bonesaw. Perhaps chapter 1 may have been better as a prologue. But right about chapter 8 was when the story went back on track (at least according to the summary), and the rest of the book for me was a pretty smooth ride.

I'm not sure how I feel that most of the book was about Purgatory instead of Bonesaw. Still, the book had some action as Velvet make a few visits back to Bonesaw and as Purgatory saw the rise of the revolution - as well as some romance scenes. Yes, it was one of those "I like you but I shouldn't be with you" type of romances, but it wasn't the dragged-out "c'mon let's get on with it already" kinds. I found Velvet and Nick's bickering and flings to be quite hilarious. A preview:
(view spoiler)

I was impressed with Marks' ability to write a girl's point of view. Man is Velvet a kickass bitch. But whereas some authors' writing would make me hate the main characters or be extremely annoyed by them, I found Velvet's bitchiness to be "part of her charm."

I did have a complaint about Nick, and that was I resented Marks for making him too girly at the beginning. I know he was going through a lot, and I'm not opposed to a guy getting in touch with his feminine side and shedding a few tears, but I was kind of annoyed with Nick at first. Thankfully, he made up for it pretty quick and I liked his cocky yet sweet attitude.

I also like each of Velvet's sidekicks, and I'm so glad Marks did not make Kipper out to be the stereotypical flamboyant gay friend. I think he was actually my second favorite supporting character, right after Quenton, who is absolutely hilarious.

Overall, the book was a great read. It may not have been mind-blowing, but I think Marks is a truly talented writer, and I'm anxious to read the sequel and any future projects he may have. ...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Charlett rated it really liked it

Shelves: happy-bouncing-at-least-once, kick-ass-girly, person-got-better, romance-was-awsome, scared-the-crap-out-of-me, snooping, surprised-me-in-a-good-way, words-of-wisdom, favorites, holding-my-heart

4.5

Velveteen was creepy, and at first I wasn't sure I was going to be able to read it. But the thing about it was, it's justifiable creepiness. It's not a world of normal people with our insane lil Velvet; they're all dead! Murdered, banshees or otherwise, there's something that keeps them on Purgatory, something that won't let them move on. So basically everyone's a lil messed up in the head.
And I must be a lil messed up, too, because I loved every bit of it.
Velveteen was a bitch, which I very 4.5

Velveteen was creepy, and at first I wasn't sure I was going to be able to read it. But the thing about it was, it's justifiable creepiness. It's not a world of normal people with our insane lil Velvet; they're all dead! Murdered, banshees or otherwise, there's something that keeps them on Purgatory, something that won't let them move on. So basically everyone's a lil messed up in the head.
And I must be a lil messed up, too, because I loved every bit of it.
Velveteen was a bitch, which I very much liked. It suited her, and it was necessary (you can't sneak around haunting your murderer if you're always nice and forthcoming, she had trauma, that's probably why she's on Purgatory in the first place, and she's the leader and has to make sure people respect and follow her) and honestly I just thought she was real. I admired her.
The romance was perfectly placed, and it wasn't only wild monkey lust, even if they tried to pass it off as such several times (view spoiler) and no matter what, Nick was always there for her. But he also didn't give Velvet everything wanted, was persistent, and sweet. Perfect fit.
Purgatory was amazing. The world building skills were top notch. Picture this; a world of constant night, with people who shone like stars so they had to cover themselves in the ashes which coat every surface. Streets lined with buildings made of paper and plastic and metal, anything they could find to construct a place to stay. Gas lamps burned and flickered, signaling the time to work and the time to sleep based on how bright they turned on. This place had gas addicts, inventive singers, storytellers, heroes, villains, and trains. The people all have their demons, but they try to find something good in life after death, try to learn the one thing that will set them free to either Heaven or Hell.
Some never leave.
Then there are the criminals, the ones who haunt. Haunting or body stealing can create cracks in Purgatory, cracks leading to the normal world. It can create shadow quakes which show you your worst fears in a constant replay until the evil person or spirit is put to justice.
That's where Velvet and her team come in; they capture the criminals. But this is the Velvet's story, and she isn't about to let her murderer, a serial killer, go. Will the place she fought so hard to protect be the price for her revenge?
Well, go read it and find out!
The ONLY thing I wasn’t satisfied with was the ending. At first this made me very put out, because honestly the ending is the most important part of a book and I kept thinking some evil troublemaker tore the last few chapters out. But the reason it’s like this is because it was meant to be a trilogy, but enough copies weren't sold, so if you liked it as much as I did and want to read whatever other stuff Marks can come up with, then buy the book. Because not being able to finish something you wrote, especially with this level of thought and rightness, is so messed up I don't even have words.
So please join the revolution cuz this was one awesome, creepy, detailed, amazing book that can take you worlds away in page.
...more

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Mar 16, 2012 Anna marked it as to-read

Shelves: cover-love, dead-walking

Crash out of purgatory so you can brutally haunt your murderer?!?

Has this been done before because it sounds freck'in awesome! Even Velveteen (I love that name!) sounds awesome in a slightly crazy bitch kind of way. I LOVE crazy bitches!

Sign me up!

Oh and the cover...

...

...

...

My whole brain shut down for a minute due to a short circuit caused by pure electric AWESOME!

Okay I'm done...

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Mar 10, 2012 Nafiza rated it it was amazing

Shelves: source-net-galley, read-2012

The beginning of this novel is so very awesome that I have to applaud Mr. Marks on it. I started the novel without rereading the synopsis so I literally walked in blind. And then as I started reading, I started frowning because what is this girl in some serial killer’s house, why is she not running for her life and why is she not calling the cops? What in the world is going on? And then, very slyly, the reader is hit with the information that changes things substantially. And then, we’re off. Ve The beginning of this novel is so very awesome that I have to applaud Mr. Marks on it. I started the novel without rereading the synopsis so I literally walked in blind. And then as I started reading, I started frowning because what is this girl in some serial killer’s house, why is she not running for her life and why is she not calling the cops? What in the world is going on? And then, very slyly, the reader is hit with the information that changes things substantially. And then, we’re off. Velveteen is a wonderful protagonist. She is bitter, full of angst and intriguing mix of loyalty and vulnerability. She is flawed as anything out there and she has this hero complex going on and you don’t know whether it will lead her…well she’s already dead…to something worse, say, than what and how she exists right now.

I found the novel to be fresh, yes it is possible, and rather innovative. It deals with subjects and themes that are very common in paranormal YA but it does so in a manner that is markedly different. Marks’ version of Purgatory is gritty, sad and entirely fascinating. The whole question of what happens after death, where we go, is there really a God is not answered at all. I must say that Marks avoided the entire conversation of religion rather prodigiously. Moving on to the actual meat of the story, I will be honest, there were times when I wished that Marks would hurry with the narrative without, you know, describing stuff but it wasn’t crazily distracting.

What surprised me was how much I liked the romance. I am not a mushy person and I do not like reading mushy romances but in this case, for some reason I cannot fathom, I liked it. It was sweet and it convincing. It was really sincere. I guess this is because the love interest is not the usual bad boy confident character who is certain of his ability to win the girl. In fact, I’d say that the gender roles were reversed and the power was in the hands of Velveteen. Who did not disappoint.

The novel presents a solid, entertaining story with its share of tragedies and little pockets of unexpected happiness. It talks about how life and death are not necessarily the full stops in one’s existence. It is not without its faults, certainly not, but I think that its strengths outweigh the faults. I am certain that the majority of the readers will enjoy this novel immensely. I know I did. ...more

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Mar 26, 2012 Neyra ♦ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: best-of-2012, dystopia, ya-pnr

With it's vivid world-building and intriguing characters, Velveteen is hauntingly beautiful and just as riveting, bringing new meaning to life after death!

Imagine dying, and landing, not in heaven, not in hell, but in Purgatory. the place where souls who are not quite ready to crossover, go. After being kidnapped and brutally murdered, that is exactly where sixteen year old Velveteen Monroe ends up. and in Purgatory, everyone has a purpose, everyone has a job to do. But Velveteen is angry, and s With it's vivid world-building and intriguing characters, Velveteen is hauntingly beautiful and just as riveting, bringing new meaning to life after death!

Imagine dying, and landing, not in heaven, not in hell, but in Purgatory. the place where souls who are not quite ready to crossover, go. After being kidnapped and brutally murdered, that is exactly where sixteen year old Velveteen Monroe ends up. and in Purgatory, everyone has a purpose, everyone has a job to do. But Velveteen is angry, and she can't seem to let her murderer go. Bonesaw. Determined to bring him down once and for all, Velvet breaks all the rules by crossing back into the land of the living, and haunting him, rescuing his would be victims from a terrible fate. But haunting has a price, and if she's not careful, Velveteen's obsession will destroy all that she knows in Purgatory. Is she willing to bring everyone down with her, or can she save them and herself before it's too late?

"No one knows what they're doing in this, Manny. But if I can't trust my instrincts, then I can't trust anything."

Velvet brings a refreshing new character to life with her quick tongue, strong leadership, and no bullshit attitude. As leader of the Salvage team, a group of souls responsible for crossing over to the land of the living and rescuing kidnapped souls, Velvet has more than enough to worry about. But she's developed and unhealthy obsession with her killer and wants nothing more than to see him destroyed. What I loved about Velveteen is oddly enough, her reluctance to admit she has any ounce of kidness at all. She's determined to keep her feelings at bay, but deep down she knows, she cares. When Purgatory is hit by a shadowquake--think eight point five earthquake with octopus like shadow creatures that instill fear into their victims--Velvet and her Salvage crew: twelve year old twins Luisa and Logan (whom I just loved), and Quentin, must travel to the daylight, and rescue a soul. What she never expected to find was the boy who'd make her question her actions AND her feelings.

I really enjoyed Nick's character, he brought humor, and assurance to not only Velvet, but her friends as well. And he seemed to be taking his death in stride, but as expected, Nick is just as scared. And I loved how we get glimpses of his vulnerability. the one thing that definitely threw me off was that he seemed to be too in touch with his feelings. I guess I'm more use to the strong alpha males, that reading about Nick disoriented me for a second. This is not to say I disliked him, I loved Nick, I just found it odd that Velvet seemed to be the Alpha & Omega in this.. relationship. Lol

I enjoyed the secondary characters as well. Especially Logan, he made me laugh with his moodyness and snarky ass comments; and for a twelve year old, Luisa definitely had some spunk in her. She's not someone you'd want to mess with. She'll kick your butt! >.< Lol Quentin was the shy one, but he appealed to me, though there wasn't much interaction with him, which I would have loved.

The story line was rather interesting. It fluctuated from Velveteen's revenge to saving Purgatory--though i'll admit it was a slow read even with the action--but the writing was so beautiful and the characters well written, I was engaged with the story from the beginning.

*Fair warning: It may not be completely gruesome, but some scenes are not for the squirmish*

This book was given to me for review by the publisher via Netgalley ...more

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May 11, 2011 Leah Clifford added it

So freaking excited for this one!

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Oct 30, 2012 Heidi rated it really liked it

Four stars: A book with a dark theme, incredible world building and an unexpected romance.

Velveteen once again returns to the scene where she was brutally murdered. Hoping that she can somehow find a way to exact her deadly revenge. Unfortunately, as a ghost she hasn't found a way to stop the insane murderer, Bonesaw. He is evil incarnate and he took her life. After flooding his kitchen, Velvet rushes outside to find that he has another victim tied up in his shed. Desperately, she tries to free ...more

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Oct 11, 2012 Anzu The Great Destroyer rated it liked it

Recommends it for: kids who are into gore and mushy shit

Shelves: a-bit-of-mush, casper-ate-my-sandwich, could-have-been-sooo-much-better, fat-kitty-judges-you, good-guy-greg, lust-at-first-sight, me-likes-them-creepies, paranormal-fix, ya-is-dead, great-concept

First paragraph:

When Velveteen Monroe pictured Bonesaw’s house—and she did, more often than could be considered healthy—blood striped the paint a muddy reddish-brown, internal organs floated in jars of formaldehyde, and great big taxidermy crows leered from branches that twisted from the wall like palsied arms.

Velveteen started out well. A morbid story about a murdered girl's ghost who's out for revenge on the person who took away her life.

I really loved the fact that even though she's stuc ...more

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Oct 31, 2011 Sunnykimmy marked it as to-read

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Oct 14, 2012 Priscilla rated it really liked it

3.5! :D Mayhem, gushy, and fun.

Initial thoughts:
1. Velveteen is a BAMF. I like her violent, kick-ass style.
2. The LURVE. Okay, not love. I really liked how Velveteen didn't label her relationship with Nick, and saw it for what it was. Sexeh.
3. The overall plot was a bit overwhelming. Lot's of different elements going on, and happening too quickly. I wanted more time/info. to absorb the setting and what was going on.
4. Danny's personality and voice is infused into his writing. I really enjoyed t ...more

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May 10, 2011 Amanda Pearl rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2012-release, bir-2012, paranormal, young-adult

3/13/2012
COVER! I love the font, but I'm not 100% sure about the models. I was expecting something more artsy, maybe more of a drawn cover and less of a fashion magazine style cover. However, I'm still EFFING EXCITED for this book and can't wait for it to release!

Update 3/27/2012

OMG I HAVE NEVER WANTED SOMETHING MORE FROM NETGALLEY IN MY WHOLE LIFE.

Update 4/25/2012

YESSSSSSSSS

Update 5/5/2012

OMG this book...I tell ya, it is so unlike any YA I've ever read. It's got all of the elements of YA books ...more

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Mar 23, 2011 Krista (CubicleBlindness Reviews) rated it it was amazing

Review originally written and posted to
http://yabookreads.com/blog/2012/10/0...

Characters: Velvet is the leader of her collections group. Possibly the most famous of her time, going on 56 souls rescued. She leads Quentin, Luisa and Logan into situations in which souls that have been captured need to be released. Her position as body thief or “body snatcher” is when she takes over a human body to help the group get in closer with the soul stealers and help rescue them, and bring them to purgator Review originally written and posted to
http://yabookreads.com/blog/2012/10/0...

Characters: Velvet is the leader of her collections group. Possibly the most famous of her time, going on 56 souls rescued. She leads Quentin, Luisa and Logan into situations in which souls that have been captured need to be released. Her position as body thief or “body snatcher” is when she takes over a human body to help the group get in closer with the soul stealers and help rescue them, and bring them to purgatory.

Plot: There are 3 different layers of stories happening in this novel. Velvet has an obsession with Bonesaw, the man who killed her and so she haunts him (against the rules). There is also something dark and dangerous happening in the Vermillion district of Purgatory that maybe connected to the worsening Shadowquakes. Then there is Nick. He is the love interest and just so happens to be placed into Velvet’s group and now she has to train him, but they’re not allowed to date (yeah right!)

Originality: The world building is very imaginative and unique. The story is divided up between time in Purgatory and time on Earth. Purgatory is described as ashy, dirty and creaky (well the railway is) They have buildings and structured districts. But they cover their bodies with ash so they don’t shine so bright and they are in a constant cloudy darkness. My favorite and most original part of the story are the Shadowquakes. Creepy tendrils that come from above and grab you, showing visions of the most horrific scenes. And quaking enough to knock down buildings.

Writing: The writing has a lot of pop culture references and even though dealing with some heavier topics, takes it on in a more campy way. Small conversations of why these souls are stuck in purgatory. Good VS Evil and consequences for your actions. It’s pretty fast paced, very little down time, one event leading right into another. .

Krista’s Rating: I honestly went into the story thinking it was going to be just Velvet haunting Bonesaw. But got so much more, a whole new world and group of characters that range from zombie-esq to supportive best friend material. Although dealing with some religious ideas that surround purgatory and “moving on” it never gets overwhelming or overdone. It was a lot of fun to read. There are several different layers to the story. Velvet is a strong and menacing character you wouldn’t want to mess with, but would make an amazing friend to have on your side. ...more

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Apr 06, 2012 Pixie rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2012-releases, arc, netgalley

Meet the strange and dark world of Purgatory in Velveteen . This was an oddly beautiful and fascinating story with a lot of depth and unique world-building. I went into this novel with a lot of excitement to begin with because I am a huge fan of The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. So when I heard some of the comparisons that it was like reading a darker YA version, I jumped at the chance. I’d like to make a note now that in my honest opinion, it’s NOTHING in comparison to The Lovely Bones. It’s f Meet the strange and dark world of Purgatory in Velveteen . This was an oddly beautiful and fascinating story with a lot of depth and unique world-building. I went into this novel with a lot of excitement to begin with because I am a huge fan of The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. So when I heard some of the comparisons that it was like reading a darker YA version, I jumped at the chance. I’d like to make a note now that in my honest opinion, it’s NOTHING in comparison to The Lovely Bones. It’s fantastic, yes, and it’s told from the view of a dead girl, but this is darker and wittier at times. Velvet has power and sass, and it’s unique all on its own.

Purgatory was strange. I kept imagining a gothic Tim Burton setting world, kind of like in the movie Sweeny Todd. I know. I’m probably strange for that, but that’s the picture I kept picking up for it. The descriptions were vividly detailed. I thought the ash was interesting and the concepts kept my attention. The only thing I wanted more from the story was more of Velveteen’s conflict with Bonesaw. I think from the blurb, I had expected it to be more about her revenge on her killer, but the majority of the story was about life in Purgatory it seemed. However! I don’t want to give away spoilers at all. Let’s just say that it’s a long book with a lot of interesting action that didn’t disappoint in the slightest.

The characterization was confusing sometimes. There were several characters to keep up with. And I was a bit distant from the romance on occasion.
Velveteen (by the way, I just LOVE her name!) has spark. She’s a bit bitchy at times, and she’s not afraid to admit it. I like her personality. She’s straight-forward, strong, smart, and witty. Plus has a great sense of fashion. But what a violent way to die. I felt sympathy for her often, which proved that I had easily attached myself to her character from the beginning and held on through the end.

I liked the dark humor sprinkled in at times, and the natural flow of dialogue between the characters. The background was chilling and twisted. I was hooked from the beginning until the end. The writing was incredibly crafted.

All in all, Velveteen was a wonderful read and I certainly hope to be reading more in the future. This will keep you up late into the night gasping out loud and flipping the pages with a rush.

P.S. I just adore the cover of this book!

<3
Pixie ...more

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Mar 06, 2012 Tom Ryan rated it it was amazing

Set to blast onto the scene in October, VELVETEEN, by Danny Marks, is a rollicking revenge-tale horror-dramedy extravaganza. I was lucky enough to snag an ARC, and I have no doubt that this evil-puppy will be scurrying off the shelves come Halloween season.

Velveteen is out for blood, specifically the blood of her nemesis, the twisted serial killer Bonesaw, who was responsible for her all too early exit from the living world. She’s the sort of ass-kicking female protagonist that YA needs more of Set to blast onto the scene in October, VELVETEEN, by Danny Marks, is a rollicking revenge-tale horror-dramedy extravaganza. I was lucky enough to snag an ARC, and I have no doubt that this evil-puppy will be scurrying off the shelves come Halloween season.

Velveteen is out for blood, specifically the blood of her nemesis, the twisted serial killer Bonesaw, who was responsible for her all too early exit from the living world. She’s the sort of ass-kicking female protagonist that YA needs more of – emotionally conflicted but decidedly in control of her own posthumous destiny. When a love interest shows up (and you can be sure that he does, semi-bewildered, smoking hot, and totally in her way) there’s no doubt about who’s calling the shots. Velveteen has work to do, and if dude wants to make out, well, he’d better tag along and hope for a free minute.

Where Marks really shines is in his descriptive prowess. Purgatory, where the majority of the action takes place, is a sprawling sinister magpie’s nest of a place – with interior design by Tim Burton and costumes by Alexander McQueen. Marks manages to take this gothic sprawl and make it feel like home – not an easy task but he succeeds marvelously. He manages a similar feat with Velveteen herself – she’s a serious bad-ass with a bone to pick (literally) and no time to screw around, but she’s also got some serious heart, and when glimpses of it emerge we feel that we’ve earned them and they’re all the sweeter for it.

The book is filled with queasily-rendered and gothically baroque set-pieces that jump off the page. A scene in a medium’s urban hovel involving a gleeful juvenile poltergeist in a Grover costume had me squirming in my seat. Muppet mayhem? Yes please. Toss in a motley crew of misfit sidekicks and a swelling resistance rising up from the back-alleys of Purgatory and the verdict is in – this is one hell of a ride.

Anyone who follows Marks on Twitter or his YouTube channel already knows that he’s a very funny guy who loves literature (high/low what’s the diff?) and the gorier corners of pop-culture geekdom. He skillfully combines this depth of insight with his trademark black humor and vivid imagination to create a world and a heroine unlike anything else in fiction and I for one can’t wait for the follow up. I’ll just be sure to remember my Gravol next time. ...more

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Apr 18, 2012 Isamlq rated it liked it

Shelves: arc-galley

I suspect that the tone she’s speaks will be a hit or miss with readers. Irreverent, she could be. Cheeky but perfectly aware of how unlikeable she was. Despite such an interesting character, the flow of the story felt choppy. With endings that served to emphasize how silly, horrific, stupid something was… the novelty of all those one liner endings eventually wore off because they cut off the flow of the story. Add the fact that it wasn’t that easy to get into at first. There’s little explanatio I suspect that the tone she’s speaks will be a hit or miss with readers. Irreverent, she could be. Cheeky but perfectly aware of how unlikeable she was. Despite such an interesting character, the flow of the story felt choppy. With endings that served to emphasize how silly, horrific, stupid something was… the novelty of all those one liner endings eventually wore off because they cut off the flow of the story. Add the fact that it wasn’t that easy to get into at first. There’s little explanation as to what was what and who was who, so I had to learn everything along side the new guy. I couldn’t tell heads from tails, why something was happening or why something being done, so I could just imagine how confused he was… because I certainly was. Basically, it wasn’t that easy to get into in the beginning.

Recalling my excitement over the possibility of a ghost-girl haunting her killer, I admit it was this aspect of the story delivered. Her memories of him… and anything to do with him had the effect they were suppose to have: Horror, I say. Yet, the story isn’t as simple as a dead girl haunting her killer (if you could even say that that is simple) because it’s a just small part in a bigger world of her Purgatory. The things is things were confusing; not only did her cheeky ways, one liner endings cut off the flow, I felt as if I were plopped right in middle of something happening and then expected to know what was up. I learned at the same the newbie did… but things did clear up a while later.

Speak of Purgatory, I’d never quite pictured it that way. She and the people around her made for an interesting read. Having just read WANDERDUST, with its team of paranormals, I was quite surprised to encounter something similar here. Though, I have to say that the “teams” in this one were much more interesting. On one hand there’s Collectors, then on the other Scavengers. That one tram was comprised of poltergeist siblings, members that could posses either living or non living was certainly different, Luisa especially. I just wish a little more of her Purgatory were laid out more smoothly.

Thanks NETGALLEY!
3/5
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Mar 20, 2012 Kristin rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2012, ya

The story follows Velvet through purgatory. There are some glimpses into her past from when she was brutally tortured and murdered by a man named Bonesaw. At first I thought this book was going to be her haunting him but the majority of the book is her in purgatory. She is part of a kick-ass team who seem to help keep purgatory up and running by protecting it. On one of her missions she saves Nick who was captured in a crystal ball by a hijacker (a ghost who was commanding a living body). Nick e ...more

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Mar 26, 2012 Tara Fuller rated it it was amazing

It takes a lot for me to say this, but this is my new favorite book. Of all time. Amazing isn’t enough to describe it. And it deserves way more than five stars. VELVETEEN was absolutely brilliant. Daniel Marks descriptions and world building are flawless. The dialogue is witty and natural. Velvet is one of my favorite heroines in YA books to date. Nick…oh Nick. What can I say? Funny, gorgeous, and dead. My kind of guy. This book was fantastically creepy. It had an almost Tim Burton quality that ...more

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Mar 29, 2012 Evie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: october-2012, 2013-tbr-pile, creepy-as-hell, ya, supernatural, review-copy, pure-awesomeness, miya-event, loved-it, horror

Extremely creative and entirely compelling, Velveteen offers a devourable blend of fantasy noir and horror with a splash of dark humor and pinch of romance!

Velveteen Mondroe is sixteen and dead, her life cut short by a serial murderer named Bonesaw. Not being able to get over her brutal death and move on, she is now trapped in Purgatory (or the City of the Dead if you may). She occasionally sneaks out of there to haunt her killer, hoping to somehow prevent him from torturing and murdering othe Extremely creative and entirely compelling, Velveteen offers a devourable blend of fantasy noir and horror with a splash of dark humor and pinch of romance!

Velveteen Mondroe is sixteen and dead, her life cut short by a serial murderer named Bonesaw. Not being able to get over her brutal death and move on, she is now trapped in Purgatory (or the City of the Dead if you may). She occasionally sneaks out of there to haunt her killer, hoping to somehow prevent him from torturing and murdering other teenage girls, or at least scare the crap living soul out of him with her poltergeist, Hulk-smash actions. With every day that passes she is getting stronger and closer to getting her revenge. Unfortunately, while fun and satisfying, haunting is also strictly forbidden. By crossing over to the world of the living, Velveteen is disrupting the balance, causing massive tremors that are threatening to destroy the whole world. With her own soul at stake, revenge may come at a very high price. The question is: what is more important? Vengeance or salvation?

Velveteen was simply awesome. Dark, creepy and with a deliciously grim atmosphere, it was exactly my kind of read. I loved the grey, shadowy world of Purgatory. It was utterly fascinating and depicted with care for (often very unsettling) details. The beginning of the book - while very disturbing at times (particularly when it comes to Bonesaw and his little cirque du freak farm) - did not prepare me for just how thoroughly bone-chilling this book would get in the second half. Everyone with the taste for macabre will definitely enjoy it. Marks really hit the mark, skilfully balancing the scary, gruesome, funny and sexy.

Velveteen's narrative voice was realistic and compelling. She knew what she wanted, she knew how to get it, and there was nothing that could stop her (or even slow her down). She was one tough and sharp chick, totally rocking the afterlife. At times she was quite bitchy, but not in an off-putting way. I actually really enjoyed her snarky comments and biting remarks. She was such an entertaining character! And I loved how determined she was to punish Bonesaw. I really wanted her to kick his sick ars. She had quite a temper and incredible fierceness to her that really made it easy for me to connect with her.

Marks' Purgatory is definitely very different from what I expected. Similar in a way to the Purgatory from Supernatural (the TV Show), only more awesome and "liveable". The souls don't just sit around, waiting idly for the day when the gates of Heaven or Hell will open for them, allowing them to finally move on. No, they actually created some sort of a functioning society, which I thought was really cool. There are different districts were people live, and everyone is assigned a role. Velveteen's job in the City of the Dead is being part of the Salvage team. She is responsible for rescuing souls trapped in the world of the living. And - oh! - did I mention that her co-worker is drop-dead gorgeous and

I loved the writing style, too. I am a huge fan of Dan Marks and his incredibly hilarious vlogs, and I read the entire book with his voice in my head. His charismatic personality and signature wittiness really shine through in Velveteen. I can't emphasize enough how much I enjoy the creepy premise and dark humor in this book. It made for a highly entertaining, thoroughly enjoyable read. I want more! ...more

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Sep 16, 2012 A Book Vacation rated it did not like it

1.5 stars

I had a very hard time getting into this novel. I loved the synopsis and the cover, so I was really looking forward to reading this one, but in the end, it just wasn’t what I was expecting. I really wanted to learn about Bonesaw, and I figured that a majority of the novel would deal with Velvet’s terrible death and her attempt to bring Bonesaw down. What I found, instead, is that the novel touches briefly upon Bonesaw here and there, but more often than not, deals with Velvet’s sexual f 1.5 stars

I had a very hard time getting into this novel. I loved the synopsis and the cover, so I was really looking forward to reading this one, but in the end, it just wasn’t what I was expecting. I really wanted to learn about Bonesaw, and I figured that a majority of the novel would deal with Velvet’s terrible death and her attempt to bring Bonesaw down. What I found, instead, is that the novel touches briefly upon Bonesaw here and there, but more often than not, deals with Velvet’s sexual frustrations alongside her life as a salvager in purgatory, which, in my opinion, ended up sounding very much like life in middle school.

I really didn’t care for the way the characters talked to each other. Kipper and Quentin drove me insane with their commentary and, as far as I’m concerned, sitting around talking about conquests and calling each other sluts didn’t make any of the characters very endearing. While I realize they are “young,” I expected that they would have grown up a bit seeing as some of them have actually been dead for a very long time. Perhaps it was just me, but I really thought the characters would be a bit more mature than they turned out to be, especially as they get upset when others refer to them as young or as children. Likewise, the characters didn’t really talk about anything substantial that I cared about, and so I had a very hard time connecting to them.

While Velvet was very self absorbed, her obsession with Nick and his obsession with sex was just weird. Nearly every time Velvet sees him or interacts with him, all she can think about is how hot and sexy he is. In turn, all he can think about is how much he wants to be with her, even though he thinks she’s a jerk, and even 40% into the novel I still didn’t feel like any substantial information was given to spur the reader on. I was dying to hear about Velvet’s death and Bonesaw’s murderous tendencies, but as I said, that was much too few and far between.

Something else I struggled with throughout the novel was the peppering of SAT words. Velvet and her friends would be talking about something mundane and suddenly an SAT word would pop up where, I felt, it didn’t really belong. Generally, the words showed up in the narration and not the dialogue, and don’t get me wrong, I love the use of the words and I hope it helps teens learn them, but I don’t necessarily feel that the words fit in with the story all that well. Childish, immature actions don’t really mesh well with high end SAT words, in my opinion, so that threw me off a little bit.

Overall, I have to say I was disappointed in this novel. It had a very high potential, but wasn’t what I was expecting in the least. Had I known ahead of time that Bonesaw wouldn’t be the main issue and that purgatory was much like middle school, I may have liked the novel better than I did. As it is, however, I really didn’t care for this novel.

To see my full review:

http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20... ...more

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Jun 20, 2012 April rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya, horror, paranormal, for-review, vine, netgalley, ereader

It’s unfortunate that Daniel Marks’ YA debut Velveteen didn’t get quite the attention it deserved when it first came out. Velveteen takes a walk on the macabre side and feels quite unprecedented in the YA market. It mashes up horror with paranormal, as the machinations of the residents of Purgatory are explored in this novel. While I am not usually one who LOVES weird books, I have to say that I was totally won over by Marks’ world building and prickly characterization. I definitely would like m ...more

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Jul 13, 2016 Gelisvb rated it it was ok

This book had nothing that kept me interested.I don't even remember the male character.

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Mar 21, 2012 Steph Sinclair marked it as to-read

Shelves: dat-cover-yo, ghosts, come-out-already, young-adult, 2012-release, ebook, edelweiss, netgalley, e-arc

I love this cover! I really hope I can score an ARC for this. ;)

GUYS! This is up on NetGalley right now!

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Sep 25, 2011 Zoraida marked it as to-read

Shelves: apocalypsies-2012-ya-mg-debut

Danny Marks has a dark delicious mind. You will want to lick his brain like bloody serbert.

These characters are unique and terrifying and funny.

More please.

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Mar 14, 2012 Bunny added it

Shelves: ebooks-kindle, review-copy-arc, booktuber-books, friends-and-clients

**originally posted at www.bunnycates.com/reading **

My Thoughts:

After taking a few days to gather my thoughts…

I should probably mention that I consider this author to be “an online friend”. I don’t know him in real life – only on twitter and the youtubes. Knowing him socially does not have any bearing on my review at all. If anything, I may be a little harder on this book because of it. I have high expectations for the folks I label in the “friend” category. lol.

“and now for something c

**originally posted at www.bunnycates.com/reading **

My Thoughts:

After taking a few days to gather my thoughts…

I should probably mention that I consider this author to be “an online friend”. I don’t know him in real life – only on twitter and the youtubes. Knowing him socially does not have any bearing on my review at all. If anything, I may be a little harder on this book because of it. I have high expectations for the folks I label in the “friend” category. lol.

“and now for something completely different…”

the world:

The world building in Velveteen, I thought was pretty fantastic. Velveteen takes place in both our world and in Purgatory. Purgatory being that somewhere place that a spirit goes when they aren’t immediately taken into Heaven or Hell. It is dark and eery. Using the descriptions given, I kept imagining like a ghetto filled with homeless peoples after a natural disaster – say an uncontrollable fire or a volcano. Everything is covered in ash, and buildings were made of salvaged cardboard. Actually, you know that scene at the end of VOLCANO (the movie with Tommy Lee Jones in it)? Was it Volcano? Yes, I think it was Volcano. They pick up a little boy and he looks around at all the people covered in ash from the volcano and he says “Look, they all look the same” and the camera pans and sure enough… all the people look the same, covered in ash. There were no races, no genders, just people in ash, white teeth, and eyeballs. So poetic. THAT is what I saw when I was reading about Purgatory.

Purgatory is divided into cities, and each city has “factions” that live in dorms. Each faction has its specific duty or “job” within their community. The city is constantly being flooded with an influx of new souls – all in shock and all needing an “orientation” of sorts to way things work in THIS world.

the characters:

The main character in Velveteen is Velveteen Monroe. Velveteen isn’t your average angsty teenager. She’s a spirit who lives in Purgatory. She was murdered by the serial killer, Bonesaw, at the age of 16. She is strong willed, bitter, and hell bent (pardon the pun) on revenge.

The serial killer, Bonesaw. He is a nasty freaknut in “our” world with a penchant for cutting and a hankering for young girls. He is the focus of Velvet’s hatred, and she is determined to have her revenge.

Nick is a soul that Velvet’s crew rescue and bring to Purgatory. He is the sporty and attractive “boy next door” “all american” boy. His appearance in the story turns both worlds (ours and Purgatory) up on end.

The twins, Luisa and Logan, are members of Velvets crew. Very different little souls that enamor both Velveteen and the reader.

There are various other members of the team that deserve a mention here. Quinton and Kipper both have great roles in the story. Though they are only side characters, their inclusion in the story helps illustrate the life and hierarchy of Purgatory. Ms Antonia and Manny (the bosses, so to speak) also have a large role to play and deserve a mention. I’m afraid going into much detail of them will spoil the story for you.

The point is, this story has a rather large “cast” of characters. All so well developed they become real. Each of them an integral part of this story. Being without any one of them, would have changed the tale entirely.

the plot:

ahhh, the point in my review in which I become overly judgmental and bitter. :(

The synopsis of this book listed on both Goodreads and Amazon (above), lead one to expect a book about a murder victim’s journey to find revenge against her killer. Though that IS included in the story – it is only a side-plot/backstory. The Bonesaw aspect of the book plays a major part of the story only in that it is the motivation of our main character and part of the climax. However, Bonesaw and his evil deeds are only in the story a tiny bit – a very small part in the journey. I feel the synopsis is kind of misleading, and those of us who pick this book up expecting a big horrorfest will be disappointed. Those that don’t enjoy horror will miss out on a great para-ro simply because they misunderstand the story and pass on picking it up, thinking that its horror.

In Conclusion:

Overall, I enjoyed Velveteen. (read my reading updates on goodreads) I am a little disappointed, because I wanted to LOVE IT. I wanted and expected horror. I made the mistake of reading other reviews that said things like “so gory” and/or “SO scary!” And now I am reminded why I don’t read other reviews before reading a book I am really looking forward to. I did LIKE it. I liked it A LOT. It felt – and this is important - new and fresh in a genre thats flooded with books that all feel “the same”. Personally, I would have liked to have read more encounters with Bonesaw, had it focus more on the Bonesaw aspect of the story. It would have leaned the story more toward having a horror feel instead of a paranormal romance. That being said, I DID still like it. A lot.

I whole heartily recommend this one to you guys. All the YA folks that are into the paranormal romance/urban fantasy type books are sure to enjoy it. I think the horror fans might not “LOVE” it, but would still enjoy it as long as they go into it knowing it isn’t going to be “horror” per say. It definitely fell into the “light horror” category for me, more of a Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy/Mystery/Thriller. So yea, basically every category known to man, except non-fiction. At least, I hope it can’t go into non-fiction. But really, who knows? =)

Mom Notes:

Contains graphic violence and language.

*and, as if Karma herself wishes to show me her displeasure in my review… I spill an ENTIRE glass of sweet tea – all over my expensive new keyboard, mouse, and desk. You’re welcome. haha

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Apr 30, 2012 ☕ Kimberly rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5
You know that feeling you get when you first begin reading a book and realize you have stumbled onto something really good. When it grabs you at page one and you submerse yourself into the world the author has created? That is exactly what happened to me when I opened up Velveteen. Marks wicked imagination took me into the depths of purgatory, with beautiful, dark details and fascinating characters. With multiple plots weaved throughout this tale I found myself completely spellbound.

When we 4.5
You know that feeling you get when you first begin reading a book and realize you have stumbled onto something really good. When it grabs you at page one and you submerse yourself into the world the author has created? That is exactly what happened to me when I opened up Velveteen. Marks wicked imagination took me into the depths of purgatory, with beautiful, dark details and fascinating characters. With multiple plots weaved throughout this tale I found myself completely spellbound.

When we meet sixteen year old Velveteen Moore she is dead, and haunting the home of the man who killed her. When Velveteen died, she did not cross over into the light, instead she ended up in purgatory. Despite the risk of losing her soul, she keeps sneaking out to try and stop him. In this fascinating, dark, grey world she is the team leader of a group that protect those dwelling in purgatory. Recent threats and talks of the "end of times" have caused tension and disastrous events. When "Shakequakes" begin and souls are snatched, Velveteen and her team head through a crack to find the source of the disturbance. A new co-worker named Nick is about to shake Velveteen’s world up. The tale that unfolds is dark, gritty, humorous, scary, freaky, page-turning and at times deliciously romantic.

I really liked snarky protagonist Velveteen. She has attitude, and is a kick-ass leader for her team. Her outward image depicts someone who is tough, and untouchable. Inside, she cares… a lot. She worries about her team and saving purgatory. Thoughts of Bonesaw and revenge drive her. I loved how despite her own terrifying memories and overwhelming sense of fear that she tackles things head on. She fiercely protects her heart for fear of being hurt. When she lets people in she discovers something special. I loved how clever she was at piecing together clues and executing a plan. Nick was a drop dead gorgeous jock living with his overworked, underpaid Mom before his death. Now he is in purgatory and let’s just say death agrees with him. He has that messy never care hair you want to run your fingers through.(yum) His warm expressive eyes and crooked smile have all the girls swooning. Despite some of his libido driven conversations (rolls eyes) and puppy dog comments, I liked him. He looks out for his team; stand up for what he believes and totally has the hots for Velveteen. His feelings for her were kinda insta-lovey. Grr! Thankfully Velveteen had other ideas and we got to see things develop. She on the other hand definitely finds him oh so kissable, but as her leader he is totally against the rules and untouchable. It was fun watching these two interact and seeing her tough exterior crack. There were definitely some sweet, romantic moments. Other characters from the station manager to the origami maker made the tale interesting. Marks really developed all of the characters, giving them each a distinct personality and made them memorable. I love when even the secondary characters are fleshed out. Bonesaw and the villain gave me the creeps and added suspense.

Marks blew me away with his world-building and imagination. I loved the world he created and the details he used to bring this underground city to life. I love so many things about purgatory. Who would have thought? If Tim Burton were to create a movie about this dark, gritty, nightmarish place he need only consult Marks. I was completely enthralled with this world, from the trains and check in station to the dark streets and dormitories. I found the rules, hierarchy, jobs and traditions downright awesome. I was blown away by the author’s limitless imagination and could totally see this coming to life on the big screen. While I still have many questions about purgatory and the limited understanding of where souls go from here, I did enjoy all that we learned. I am hoping Marks tightens up these holes or provides more detail in the next book. Velveteen’s team and the missions they went on were totally cool. The way in which they captured souls and banished Banshees was freaky good. I completely immersed myself in the different plots and action scenes. From nasty souls, squeamish moments, zombies to a serial killer this book has it all. I loved the climactic battle and the interrogation scenes. I just want to spill my guts and talk about some of the fantastic, hilarious, gruesome, mind boggling stuff that went down. (Darn my self-imposed no spoiler rule..Grrr) The end tied up nicely, with just enough left unanswered to have me drooling for more.

If you haven't figured it out yet, I totally loved Velveteen!! I recommend you run to the nearest bookstore and purchase this one. For goodness sake hurry! I want to chat with someone about all of its dark gooey goodness and get your opinion on Nick. Marks is on my list of must read authors and I cannot wait to get my hands on book two which is not yet titled.

I want to thank Random House for providing this ARC, in exchange for my unbiased review.
Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ...more

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