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Dead Things #1
Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things
Three reapers. Two worlds. One prophecy.
Seventeen-year-old Ember Lonergan has made an art of isolating herself. She prefers the dead. She spends her days skipping school in old cemeteries and her nights hiding from her alcoholic father at the funeral home where she works. When her own father dies, Ember learns her whole life is a lie.
Mace is a monster, a soulless assassin tasked with a single purpose: follow Ember. He only has two rules. Do not interact with her. Do not to kill her. Simply watch and report. But Mace has never been good at following orders, and Ember is a temptation he simply can't resist.
Whisked away to a small Florida town, Ember must learn to embrace a family she's never known, a supernatural world she never knew existed, and a power so vast it just might kill her. All that stands between Ember and destruction is that beautiful dangerous boy from the cemetery.
Can she learn to trust him before it's too late?
Seventeen-year-old Ember Lonergan has made an art of isolating herself. She prefers the dead. She spends her days skipping school in old cemeteries and her nights hiding from her alcoholic father at the funeral home where she works. When her own father dies, Ember learns her whole life is a lie.
Mace is a monster, a soulless assassin tasked with a single purpose: follow Ember. He only has two rules. Do not interact with her. Do not to kill her. Simply watch and report. But Mace has never been good at following orders, and Ember is a temptation he simply can't resist.
Whisked away to a small Florida town, Ember must learn to embrace a family she's never known, a supernatural world she never knew existed, and a power so vast it just might kill her. All that stands between Ember and destruction is that beautiful dangerous boy from the cemetery.
Can she learn to trust him before it's too late?
492 pages, Paperback
First published August 31, 2015
588 people are currently reading
3394 people want to read
About the author
Martina McAtee
22 books422 followersMartina McAtee is a USA Today Bestselling author and the winner of the 2016 Reader’s Favorite Gold Medal for her first book, Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things. She lives in Jupiter, Florida with her teenage daughters, her best friend, two attack Chihuahuas, and two shady looking cats. By day she is a registered nurse, but by night she writes young adult books about reapers, zombies, werewolves, and other supernatural creatures. She wrote her first story when she was five with an orange crayon on a legal pad she stole from her mom’s office. She’s been writing ever since.
Her influences include Christopher Pike, R.L. Stine, Joss Whedon, L.J. Smith, and even J.K. Rowling. Living in South Florida provides her with plenty of material for the weird worlds she writes about. When she isn’t working, teaching, or writing, she’s reading or watching shows involving reapers, zombies, werewolves, and other supernatural creatures.
Her novels, Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things and Dark Dreams and Dead Things are on sale now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books A Million. Her third book, Loving You with Teeth and Claws, a Dead Things Prequel, is due out in April, 2017. She is currently working on the fourth book in the ‘Dead Things’ series, Sinister Souls and Dead Things due to release in Summer of 2017.
Her influences include Christopher Pike, R.L. Stine, Joss Whedon, L.J. Smith, and even J.K. Rowling. Living in South Florida provides her with plenty of material for the weird worlds she writes about. When she isn’t working, teaching, or writing, she’s reading or watching shows involving reapers, zombies, werewolves, and other supernatural creatures.
Her novels, Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things and Dark Dreams and Dead Things are on sale now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books A Million. Her third book, Loving You with Teeth and Claws, a Dead Things Prequel, is due out in April, 2017. She is currently working on the fourth book in the ‘Dead Things’ series, Sinister Souls and Dead Things due to release in Summer of 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 338 reviews
November 20, 2015
I like to think myself as a weird graveyard girl. I don’t know what it is I just find them so interesting and peaceful so when I heard the premise of “Children shouldn’t play with dead things” my first thought was “SIGN ME UP”. I’m so glad I read this book! Im a huge fan of the paranormal genre and this was perfect.
Reapers, Shape shifters, wizards, demons, witches, sluagh, reanimators and necromancers. I mean everything you would want in a book personally!
Ember doesn’t know she is special….however she can talk to dead people! not in the creepy “I SEE DEAD PEOPLE WAY”. She has issues as home with her alcoholic father and just tries to get away from it by drawing, working at the funeral home, and talking to dead people…again yes dead people.
There are four main characters in this book Ember, Tristin, Kai, and Mace. And all of them bring something amazing to the table. They are not at all two dimensional! I want to all know them and hang out!
I loved the adventure in this book and the edge of the seat moments! Embers reaper cousins take her away from her troubles and into a world she never expected. A world of things not as they seem. I loved the writing style! I found it such a page turner There are people looking to save her and people looking to kill her. Ember isn't sure who to trust. Go pick this up if you haven't, you will not regret it! <3
Reapers, Shape shifters, wizards, demons, witches, sluagh, reanimators and necromancers. I mean everything you would want in a book personally!
Ember doesn’t know she is special….however she can talk to dead people! not in the creepy “I SEE DEAD PEOPLE WAY”. She has issues as home with her alcoholic father and just tries to get away from it by drawing, working at the funeral home, and talking to dead people…again yes dead people.
There are four main characters in this book Ember, Tristin, Kai, and Mace. And all of them bring something amazing to the table. They are not at all two dimensional! I want to all know them and hang out!
I loved the adventure in this book and the edge of the seat moments! Embers reaper cousins take her away from her troubles and into a world she never expected. A world of things not as they seem. I loved the writing style! I found it such a page turner There are people looking to save her and people looking to kill her. Ember isn't sure who to trust. Go pick this up if you haven't, you will not regret it! <3
November 27, 2017
Ember seems to have an affinity for the dead, but it wasn’t until her father died that she learned why. She would also learn that not everyone can be trusted, no matter how handsome or charming they are and that family is more than blood, it is belonging, caring and being there for each other.
Imagine finally finding a place to fit in among beings from fantasy and fairytales and that is what happened to Ember, just when she needed family most, when she discovers she has powers that will baffle even the most unusual creatures. Those powers are growing stronger, out of control and makes Ember a target from both “friend” and foe, alike. So who can Ember trust? Who has her back and who is continuing to lie to her? Who really does love her for herself and who wants to use what she can do?
CHILDREN SHOULDN’T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS by Martina McAtee is a story of loss, jealousy, love, attraction and learning who to trust, as well as listening to your heart. This isn’t a quick read, Ms. McAtee gives us pages of story, pages of conflicts and a cast of characters that are like a ragtag family with all the flaws that families have. There is so much going on, so many subplots and so many high tension moments, and this author gives it to us in one fantastic book, making for a tremendous foundation to a new series. It was a pleasure to have so much story to live in, as each character comes to life, and grows right along with this impressive plot! Settle in, this is a journey into another world, not just a quick trip!
Series: Dead Things - Book 1
Publication Date: August 31, 2015
Publisher: Martina McAtee
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Print Length: 510 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Imagine finally finding a place to fit in among beings from fantasy and fairytales and that is what happened to Ember, just when she needed family most, when she discovers she has powers that will baffle even the most unusual creatures. Those powers are growing stronger, out of control and makes Ember a target from both “friend” and foe, alike. So who can Ember trust? Who has her back and who is continuing to lie to her? Who really does love her for herself and who wants to use what she can do?
CHILDREN SHOULDN’T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS by Martina McAtee is a story of loss, jealousy, love, attraction and learning who to trust, as well as listening to your heart. This isn’t a quick read, Ms. McAtee gives us pages of story, pages of conflicts and a cast of characters that are like a ragtag family with all the flaws that families have. There is so much going on, so many subplots and so many high tension moments, and this author gives it to us in one fantastic book, making for a tremendous foundation to a new series. It was a pleasure to have so much story to live in, as each character comes to life, and grows right along with this impressive plot! Settle in, this is a journey into another world, not just a quick trip!
Series: Dead Things - Book 1
Publication Date: August 31, 2015
Publisher: Martina McAtee
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Print Length: 510 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
November 24, 2015
I’ll be the first to admit the premise, along with the great cover, is what drew me to this story. However, Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things, definitely did not disappoint.
We begin our story with our quirky, somewhat strange yet, slightly relatable heroine as she is abruptly tossed into a chaotic, supernatural world she knew nothing of. Or more like couldn’t remember being a part of. Ember has no idea she’s far more special than her alcoholic, completely unattached father ever allowed her to believe and his death marks the beginning of a new chapter in her life.
This is where things start to get real!
The plot moves along nicely, leaving very little questions unanswered. As with every great read every new chapter reveals a bit more of information, but continues to build up suspense, enough to keep you sufficiently intrigued and invested to keep turning the pages.
We get to experience the story through four different POV. Ember, Mace, Kai, and Tristin. I loved all the characters, but Mace and Kai were my favorite by far. I couldn’t stop laughing when they came into the mix and found them both equally fascinating.
In hindsight, I thoroughly enjoyed all the paranormal elements and how they were tied together. I couldn’t get enough of the story and wish I had book two like, right after I finished this one. Really want to know what the author has in store for us next.
We begin our story with our quirky, somewhat strange yet, slightly relatable heroine as she is abruptly tossed into a chaotic, supernatural world she knew nothing of. Or more like couldn’t remember being a part of. Ember has no idea she’s far more special than her alcoholic, completely unattached father ever allowed her to believe and his death marks the beginning of a new chapter in her life.
This is where things start to get real!
The plot moves along nicely, leaving very little questions unanswered. As with every great read every new chapter reveals a bit more of information, but continues to build up suspense, enough to keep you sufficiently intrigued and invested to keep turning the pages.
We get to experience the story through four different POV. Ember, Mace, Kai, and Tristin. I loved all the characters, but Mace and Kai were my favorite by far. I couldn’t stop laughing when they came into the mix and found them both equally fascinating.
In hindsight, I thoroughly enjoyed all the paranormal elements and how they were tied together. I couldn’t get enough of the story and wish I had book two like, right after I finished this one. Really want to know what the author has in store for us next.
October 12, 2020
Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things
Dead Things Series, Book 1
By: Martina McAtee
Narrated by: Kristin Watson Heintz
I liked how this started, mysteries unfolding slowly. The middle of the story has ups and downs, and the ending was good but a little rushed.
I found the plot great! Families of reapers, witches, and shifters, and even a vampire is in here. Family secrets, powers, and intrigue all blend together with characters you hate or love! A good mix of emotions and paranormal override any negative issues. Enjoyable!
Dead Things Series, Book 1
By: Martina McAtee
Narrated by: Kristin Watson Heintz
I liked how this started, mysteries unfolding slowly. The middle of the story has ups and downs, and the ending was good but a little rushed.
I found the plot great! Families of reapers, witches, and shifters, and even a vampire is in here. Family secrets, powers, and intrigue all blend together with characters you hate or love! A good mix of emotions and paranormal override any negative issues. Enjoyable!
July 31, 2019
Where do I begin?
This book was just absolutely spectacular.
This is probably the best supernatural, paranormal, fantasy book I have ever read.
From start to finish I was mesmerised in this story.
So many amazing characters, I loved all of them. The family they created for each other was lovely to read.
Many twists that popped up leaving me desperate to continue reading non-stop.
The ending? Ahhhhh, so desperate for book 2, "Dark Dreams And Dead Things " coming in 2016... Can't come quick enough!!!
Thank you Martina for such an amazing book!
If I could rate this 10 stars I would!
This book was just absolutely spectacular.
This is probably the best supernatural, paranormal, fantasy book I have ever read.
From start to finish I was mesmerised in this story.
So many amazing characters, I loved all of them. The family they created for each other was lovely to read.
Many twists that popped up leaving me desperate to continue reading non-stop.
The ending? Ahhhhh, so desperate for book 2, "Dark Dreams And Dead Things " coming in 2016... Can't come quick enough!!!
Thank you Martina for such an amazing book!
If I could rate this 10 stars I would!
June 13, 2016
17 year old Ember Denning has made an art of isolating herself. She prefers the dead. She spends her days skipping school in old cemeteries and her nights hiding from her alcoholic father at the funeral home where she works. When her own father dies, Ember learns her whole like is a lie. Standing in the cemetery that's been her sanctuary, she's threatened by the most beautiful boy she's ever seen and rescued by two people who claim to be her family. They say she's special, that she has a supernatural gift like them.... they just don't know exactly what it is.
All I have to say is that Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things literally was the most captivating,exhilarating, and overall amazing book I've read in a very long time! The plot is so delicately planned,and the writing style is outstanding!
There are four main characters in the first book of the Dead Things series, who are all falling around the main character Ember Denning (November Lonergan). Ember goes about her days by trying her best to avoid her crazy alcoholic father. Who she constantly has to pick up at local bars. She finds peace by drawing, working at the funeral home, and talking to dead people. She just doesn't know that she's special...
Then one day unexplainable things happen, Ember doesn't understand what's wrong with her.. She just doesn't feel right,it feels like she's burning from the inside out... she feels like she's dying.
Then the pain just goes away. Later on she gets threatened by this beautiful, stunning, mysterious guy who's been secretly stalking her. Her cousins Kai and Tristin save her in the nick of time.
Kai and Tristin, both brother and sister thought that their cousin Novemeber was dead. Why has she popped up all of a sudden?? They knew something was wrong. Ember soon learns that she has uncontrollable supernatural powers and at first she doesn't know what to do with herself..
Until Mace shows up,the guy who threatened to kill her.
Ember's and Maces powers take a liking to one another. Since Ember's powers are everywhere, Mace offers to help redirect her powers through him so she can learn to gain control.
Throughout the book Mace, Ember, Tristin, and Kai learn many shocking things about Ember's powers as well as their own, that they didn't even know they were capable of.
As I began to understand the traits of each character more in depth, I started to be more connected and even attached to them. And in any great book, spending time with each character and learning about them is the most joyous and interesting part of reading. These characters proved to be possibly the most enjoyable and enthralling people in any book I've read yet, that and truly sets Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things apart.
The idea behind Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things isn't like your typical supernatural YA book. It connects on a deeper level than other books in this genre, and is not as vain or as clichè as most paranormal/supernatural novels.
This book is so utterly amazing! I'm patiently waiting for the second book to come out in the Dead Things series... Next year feels too far away..
All I have to say is that Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things literally was the most captivating,exhilarating, and overall amazing book I've read in a very long time! The plot is so delicately planned,and the writing style is outstanding!
There are four main characters in the first book of the Dead Things series, who are all falling around the main character Ember Denning (November Lonergan). Ember goes about her days by trying her best to avoid her crazy alcoholic father. Who she constantly has to pick up at local bars. She finds peace by drawing, working at the funeral home, and talking to dead people. She just doesn't know that she's special...
Then one day unexplainable things happen, Ember doesn't understand what's wrong with her.. She just doesn't feel right,it feels like she's burning from the inside out... she feels like she's dying.
Then the pain just goes away. Later on she gets threatened by this beautiful, stunning, mysterious guy who's been secretly stalking her. Her cousins Kai and Tristin save her in the nick of time.
Kai and Tristin, both brother and sister thought that their cousin Novemeber was dead. Why has she popped up all of a sudden?? They knew something was wrong. Ember soon learns that she has uncontrollable supernatural powers and at first she doesn't know what to do with herself..
Until Mace shows up,the guy who threatened to kill her.
Ember's and Maces powers take a liking to one another. Since Ember's powers are everywhere, Mace offers to help redirect her powers through him so she can learn to gain control.
Throughout the book Mace, Ember, Tristin, and Kai learn many shocking things about Ember's powers as well as their own, that they didn't even know they were capable of.
As I began to understand the traits of each character more in depth, I started to be more connected and even attached to them. And in any great book, spending time with each character and learning about them is the most joyous and interesting part of reading. These characters proved to be possibly the most enjoyable and enthralling people in any book I've read yet, that and truly sets Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things apart.
The idea behind Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things isn't like your typical supernatural YA book. It connects on a deeper level than other books in this genre, and is not as vain or as clichè as most paranormal/supernatural novels.
This book is so utterly amazing! I'm patiently waiting for the second book to come out in the Dead Things series... Next year feels too far away..
August 8, 2016
~3.5 stars~
This book had 83 reviews on Amazon with an overall rating of 4.9 stars, so I was eager to give it a try. Here's my breakdown:
Pros:
* Creative storyline
* Paranormal creatures galore
* Beautiful cover
* Offered as a kindleunlimited
Cons:
* The book title gave it no justice: "Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things" That just sounds lame in my opinion
* At times it felt as if there were too many characters - every few pages a new character seemed to be intoduced and it seemed to take away from the main characters development
* Speaking of an abundance of characters this book also rotated between various points of view. A couple characters POVs is ok, but after 2 I feel as if I'm being pulled in too many different directions.
* Much to be desired upon closure
* The romance was incredibly lacking
Overall, I wanted more in the sense of closure, but since this book was offered as a kindleunlimited at least I can go ahead and give book 2 a shot. I just hope book 2 doesn’t end with a cliffhanger etc. or that will be the end of this series for me personally.
This book had 83 reviews on Amazon with an overall rating of 4.9 stars, so I was eager to give it a try. Here's my breakdown:
Pros:
* Creative storyline
* Paranormal creatures galore
* Beautiful cover
* Offered as a kindleunlimited
Cons:
* The book title gave it no justice: "Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things" That just sounds lame in my opinion
* At times it felt as if there were too many characters - every few pages a new character seemed to be intoduced and it seemed to take away from the main characters development
* Speaking of an abundance of characters this book also rotated between various points of view. A couple characters POVs is ok, but after 2 I feel as if I'm being pulled in too many different directions.
* Much to be desired upon closure
* The romance was incredibly lacking
Overall, I wanted more in the sense of closure, but since this book was offered as a kindleunlimited at least I can go ahead and give book 2 a shot. I just hope book 2 doesn’t end with a cliffhanger etc. or that will be the end of this series for me personally.
August 5, 2016
This book is written as a full length novel containing over 50 chapters of greatness! I love the authors new age writing style and the story line is one not soon to be forgotten! With so many different paranormal creatures and love connections this book is sure to leave you with a smile on your face! I won't spoil anything here, but can say I really love everything about the book! I give it a solid 5 star rating and think it is appropriate for YA and above. Great work Martina Mcatee!
September 10, 2015
Very original concept and all-consuming novel. Could not put it down for 3 straight days while I finished it. 5 stars all around.
February 21, 2024
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
This book was a fantastic introduction to a very dark magical world. I loved all of the paranormal elements to the story – there are shifters, banshees, reapers, witches, demons … this list could go on and on. But McAtee manages to meld it all together well and give us a supernatural world that’s both frightening and fascinating. When Ember is kidnapped by her cousins, she has no idea what’s in store for her – and when she finds out, it’s more than a little overwhelming. Figuring out who to trust when just about everyone would like to use her in some way – or kill her – is nearly impossible. Ember’s discovery of who she truly is and what she is capable of throws her life into chaos in a lot of ways – but it also helps her to make sense of a lot of pain in her life that she previously couldn’t understand.
There are lots of elements of family, friendship and loyalty that are explored, which I loved. There are also a few romances in bloom. I wasn’t completely on board with the relationship that developed between Mace and Ember because I felt like there wasn’t enough substance to it, but I was rooting for Tristin and Quinn. Kai and Rhys were definitely my favorite couple, though – probably because the romance between these two is most developed and takes center stage quite often. (I should note that it’s a M/M romance, but none of the storyline has to do with characters coming to terms with their sexuality or anything like that – which is kind of refreshing.)
Overall, a great book, though the complexity of the worldbuilding and the paranormal elements make for a little slower read. I give it 4/5 stars.
***Disclosure: I received these books from the publisher via YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
This book was a fantastic introduction to a very dark magical world. I loved all of the paranormal elements to the story – there are shifters, banshees, reapers, witches, demons … this list could go on and on. But McAtee manages to meld it all together well and give us a supernatural world that’s both frightening and fascinating. When Ember is kidnapped by her cousins, she has no idea what’s in store for her – and when she finds out, it’s more than a little overwhelming. Figuring out who to trust when just about everyone would like to use her in some way – or kill her – is nearly impossible. Ember’s discovery of who she truly is and what she is capable of throws her life into chaos in a lot of ways – but it also helps her to make sense of a lot of pain in her life that she previously couldn’t understand.
There are lots of elements of family, friendship and loyalty that are explored, which I loved. There are also a few romances in bloom. I wasn’t completely on board with the relationship that developed between Mace and Ember because I felt like there wasn’t enough substance to it, but I was rooting for Tristin and Quinn. Kai and Rhys were definitely my favorite couple, though – probably because the romance between these two is most developed and takes center stage quite often. (I should note that it’s a M/M romance, but none of the storyline has to do with characters coming to terms with their sexuality or anything like that – which is kind of refreshing.)
Overall, a great book, though the complexity of the worldbuilding and the paranormal elements make for a little slower read. I give it 4/5 stars.
***Disclosure: I received these books from the publisher via YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
November 7, 2015
This amazing book was given to me by the author in exchange of an honest review. Now, you guys know my reviewing is messy and I mostly just review when it is about books I've loved. This one, oh I do loved. Honestly I am feeling all the fangirl feelings like: containing pterodactyl noises, staring at the book hoping to read more when there's nothing left to read and wanting to write nonsense like ghdfguubjjvb.
Some amazing things about this book:
1. I usually get frustrated at paranormal books because there are a lot of questions but rarely any answers that make sense. In here, even though there's many secrets, you'll be getting answers.
2. This book evolves around four different perspectives and all of them are entertaining.
3.This book has tons of different paranormal creatures so everyone gets a taste of a little bit of everything.
4. There's a lot of funny things in it. And there's also a lot of scenes that get your heart racing or...tied up in knots.
5. There's lgbtq representation.
6. Witches aren't cool in this book. There's far more important stuff than witches.
7. Feelings. Feelings everywhere.
8. This book is huge and I love huge books. Also it was addicting as hell. (Oh where are you book number two?)
Hmmm I think these are the good points I could point out for now. Martina has created a hell of an epic book.
Go get this one. Gogogogogo!
Some amazing things about this book:
1. I usually get frustrated at paranormal books because there are a lot of questions but rarely any answers that make sense. In here, even though there's many secrets, you'll be getting answers.
2. This book evolves around four different perspectives and all of them are entertaining.
3.This book has tons of different paranormal creatures so everyone gets a taste of a little bit of everything.
4. There's a lot of funny things in it. And there's also a lot of scenes that get your heart racing or...tied up in knots.
5. There's lgbtq representation.
6. Witches aren't cool in this book. There's far more important stuff than witches.
7. Feelings. Feelings everywhere.
8. This book is huge and I love huge books. Also it was addicting as hell. (Oh where are you book number two?)
Hmmm I think these are the good points I could point out for now. Martina has created a hell of an epic book.
Go get this one. Gogogogogo!
September 1, 2015
Really enjoyable read!
January 24, 2018
I loved the characters and the story. this book was a great read, that got emotional at times.
October 25, 2017
Amazing amazing book with so many feels and wonderful characters! CSPWDT will definitely be in my best books of the year! This is not an "acquired taste" book but one that is universally awesome! I would recommend it to absolutely everyone!! Writing and editing my review this weekend- should have it posted as well as a blog post by Monday! Do yourself a favor and pick it up asap! I don't say that often so when I do you know I mean it!
Full review:
You want feels? This book has ALL. THE. FEELS! I'm literally at a loss for words to describe just how amazing CSPWDT is! I didn't just love it, I LOVED it! I need the next book like yesterday! Before I even finished it I was on Amazon looking to see if I could preorder the next installment in the Reanimator Series. Martina McAtee blew me away! This is a book that should be at the top of the NYT bestsellers list! This isn't an "acquired taste"- it's universally amazing! I would most definitely recommend CSPWDT to EVERYONE! I can't find a single thing that I don't absolutely LOVE about this book! It would be a travesty to just call it "good!"
The characters in CSPWDT are the cornerstone of this book. They jump right out of the book and become real as you're reading. They're very dynamic characters. I feel like "three-dimensional" is a bit over-used but there is no better way to describe these characters! Ember and company will forever be in my heart now! I could go on forever just raving about these amazing characters but I'm just going to be brief. I loved them all. Each person was so well-created. There were plenty of times that Tristin crawled right under my skin but I can't help but love her as well. Her heart is in the right place where and when it counts. Isa is a favorite for sure as well as Kia and Mace. And Ember- oh Ember! I love her so so much! I felt I could relate to her in so many ways. Her relationship with her father especially touched me- they had a rocky relationship while he was alive but She later learns that there was much more to him and his love for her. All of the characters in this book became real to me as I was reading and are still with me after I've finished.
The world-building in CSPWDT was amazing as well. Very original, detailed, believable, and thorough. The author did such an amazing job with everything- the legends behind the story show just how much work and research she put into this book.
The plot was original- I have read no other books like this one and the types of creatures in the book were very original as well. It was very refreshing to read a book with new types of beings in it instead of the same old, overused ones. Even the familiar creatures in this book had a fresh, new spin on their mythology and background/workings. Martina McAtee has such a polished writing style that is truly a joy to read and experience. It reminds me of Charlaine Harris(Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood books among many others) and she has the same knack for creating amazingly real and lovable characters that play off of each other very well that Richelle Mead has. Needless to say she is now with them as one of my favorite authors!
With such lovable characters and an amazingly engaging plotline, this book is nothing short of favorite material! It's one I will want to read again and again- and those are the very best ones! There is absolutely no question that I would recommend this book to everyone. What are you waiting for?!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review*
Full review:
You want feels? This book has ALL. THE. FEELS! I'm literally at a loss for words to describe just how amazing CSPWDT is! I didn't just love it, I LOVED it! I need the next book like yesterday! Before I even finished it I was on Amazon looking to see if I could preorder the next installment in the Reanimator Series. Martina McAtee blew me away! This is a book that should be at the top of the NYT bestsellers list! This isn't an "acquired taste"- it's universally amazing! I would most definitely recommend CSPWDT to EVERYONE! I can't find a single thing that I don't absolutely LOVE about this book! It would be a travesty to just call it "good!"
The characters in CSPWDT are the cornerstone of this book. They jump right out of the book and become real as you're reading. They're very dynamic characters. I feel like "three-dimensional" is a bit over-used but there is no better way to describe these characters! Ember and company will forever be in my heart now! I could go on forever just raving about these amazing characters but I'm just going to be brief. I loved them all. Each person was so well-created. There were plenty of times that Tristin crawled right under my skin but I can't help but love her as well. Her heart is in the right place where and when it counts. Isa is a favorite for sure as well as Kia and Mace. And Ember- oh Ember! I love her so so much! I felt I could relate to her in so many ways. Her relationship with her father especially touched me- they had a rocky relationship while he was alive but She later learns that there was much more to him and his love for her. All of the characters in this book became real to me as I was reading and are still with me after I've finished.
The world-building in CSPWDT was amazing as well. Very original, detailed, believable, and thorough. The author did such an amazing job with everything- the legends behind the story show just how much work and research she put into this book.
The plot was original- I have read no other books like this one and the types of creatures in the book were very original as well. It was very refreshing to read a book with new types of beings in it instead of the same old, overused ones. Even the familiar creatures in this book had a fresh, new spin on their mythology and background/workings. Martina McAtee has such a polished writing style that is truly a joy to read and experience. It reminds me of Charlaine Harris(Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood books among many others) and she has the same knack for creating amazingly real and lovable characters that play off of each other very well that Richelle Mead has. Needless to say she is now with them as one of my favorite authors!
With such lovable characters and an amazingly engaging plotline, this book is nothing short of favorite material! It's one I will want to read again and again- and those are the very best ones! There is absolutely no question that I would recommend this book to everyone. What are you waiting for?!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review*
November 21, 2015
Reapers, Shifters and witches, oh my -also fae, necromancers, banshees, zombies and so much more. This book is freaking amazing and it has so many paranormal elements that it's hard not to love. I'm a huge paranormal fan so to see so many different creatures wrapped up in one big book was beyond incredible, it was addicting as hell. It was basically my book brand of heroin - I'm aware of how weird that sounds but you'll have to read it to understand what I mean.
The book is centered around four peoples POV, Ember, Mace, Kai and Tristen and though that sounds like it would be confusing it's not. It works so well because each character was highly entertaining to read and easy to get invested in. I like how every individual POV blended together so well and ended up coming together at the end with no stone left unturned.The story was fast and so easy to follow and I wasn't kidding when I said addicting. I read over 300 pages in a day because I didn't want to stop reading and the chapters were short, so it was easy to say one more chapter, just one more. I had plenty of question going through this book but I was left with none, almost none. I have only one question after that ending and it is, when is book two coming out? I need it like yesterday!
I'm actually a huge fan of books dealing with reapers, there aren't many out there sadly so I was glad they were in here. Kai was great though it reaper-ness didn't get much of a chance to show in this book but that just makes me excited for book two. To see how the author will take his story and his powers, I think that will be very interesting. This was also the first book that I've read that had a banshee, which was freaking awesome. And come on necromancers are always cool. The entire paranormal world fascinates me and this is no exception though this world may be my favorite now.
When it comes to the characters I think they were all great. They were funny and mixed well together and kind of made me jealous that I don't exist in this world- I personally think I would make a good reaper or shifter or anything really. Mace and Ember were my favorite just how they were together was cute, eventually. Kai and Tristen were funny when they were dealing with each other especially that beginning argument. It was hysterical this book also made me want a twin to argue with. I think what I liked the most about the characters were how real and life like they seemed, the supernatural stuff aside, of course. The way they talked to each other felt like it was real, like it was how I would talk with my own friends and family.
Don't let the size of this book intimidate you, I know it's big but it's so entertaining and fast paced that it'll be worth it. I happen to like big books so I was thrilled but I know some people scare easily, just trust me on this one and give this book a chance. I can't wait for book two so I can see what happens with everyone and how badass these characters are going to become.
The book is centered around four peoples POV, Ember, Mace, Kai and Tristen and though that sounds like it would be confusing it's not. It works so well because each character was highly entertaining to read and easy to get invested in. I like how every individual POV blended together so well and ended up coming together at the end with no stone left unturned.The story was fast and so easy to follow and I wasn't kidding when I said addicting. I read over 300 pages in a day because I didn't want to stop reading and the chapters were short, so it was easy to say one more chapter, just one more. I had plenty of question going through this book but I was left with none, almost none. I have only one question after that ending and it is, when is book two coming out? I need it like yesterday!
I'm actually a huge fan of books dealing with reapers, there aren't many out there sadly so I was glad they were in here. Kai was great though it reaper-ness didn't get much of a chance to show in this book but that just makes me excited for book two. To see how the author will take his story and his powers, I think that will be very interesting. This was also the first book that I've read that had a banshee, which was freaking awesome. And come on necromancers are always cool. The entire paranormal world fascinates me and this is no exception though this world may be my favorite now.
When it comes to the characters I think they were all great. They were funny and mixed well together and kind of made me jealous that I don't exist in this world- I personally think I would make a good reaper or shifter or anything really. Mace and Ember were my favorite just how they were together was cute, eventually. Kai and Tristen were funny when they were dealing with each other especially that beginning argument. It was hysterical this book also made me want a twin to argue with. I think what I liked the most about the characters were how real and life like they seemed, the supernatural stuff aside, of course. The way they talked to each other felt like it was real, like it was how I would talk with my own friends and family.
Don't let the size of this book intimidate you, I know it's big but it's so entertaining and fast paced that it'll be worth it. I happen to like big books so I was thrilled but I know some people scare easily, just trust me on this one and give this book a chance. I can't wait for book two so I can see what happens with everyone and how badass these characters are going to become.
December 27, 2015
I was sent this book in exchange for an honest review:
First off, I have to say I went into this book with high expectations. I mean, come one, check out that cover. Unfortunately, very early on I knew it was going to be a chore to get through this one. It ended up being one of my least favorite books I read this year.
The writing didn't flow well for me and I was taken out of the story when some paragraphs were basically the same sentence repeated in different wording for 3-4 sentences. I just felt as though there were so many unnecessary details even early on in the book, but I still wanted to give it a chance.
The book is structured with multiple POVs and I don't think it worked well in the beginning at all. Around 2/3 of the way through, the story lines start splitting up enough for a shifting POV to work a bit better, and chapters started ending on semi-cliffhangers, which I liked.
Overall, I just think that the author had too many ideas that she wanted to fit into one story. We have just about any paranormal creature you could think of: werewolves, faeries, witches, reapers, banshees, necromancers, ghosts, zombies, oracles, gods/goddesses and even re-animators. I found it difficult to latch on to any of the characters or the overall story because there was just so much happening it made my head spin.
Honestly, the only reason I gave this book 2 stars instead of one was that there was a slight mysterious undertone to the main plot, however, which kept me invested in the book because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I honestly didn't entirely see the ending coming and I do think there were many parts when the book could have ended but then something else would happen.
The family dynamics in the story were very reminiscent of the Cullen's in the Twilight Saga, which I actually really enjoyed. I saw a lot of parallels between Twilight and this book and found it a little amusing that vampires were one of the creatures that weren't in the book.
The romances that were in this book were very strange and I don't think that they were well thought out. Overall, this whole world didn't seem very well developed and in turn it made everything feel really jumbled and thrown together.
I wanted to like this book so bad, I really did. I generally really enjoy paranormal books, but I really felt like this book was all over the place. There were parts of it I genuinely enjoyed and found interesting, but I didn't end up enjoying this book as a whole. I might continue on with the series, but I haven't decided yet.
First off, I have to say I went into this book with high expectations. I mean, come one, check out that cover. Unfortunately, very early on I knew it was going to be a chore to get through this one. It ended up being one of my least favorite books I read this year.
The writing didn't flow well for me and I was taken out of the story when some paragraphs were basically the same sentence repeated in different wording for 3-4 sentences. I just felt as though there were so many unnecessary details even early on in the book, but I still wanted to give it a chance.
The book is structured with multiple POVs and I don't think it worked well in the beginning at all. Around 2/3 of the way through, the story lines start splitting up enough for a shifting POV to work a bit better, and chapters started ending on semi-cliffhangers, which I liked.
Overall, I just think that the author had too many ideas that she wanted to fit into one story. We have just about any paranormal creature you could think of: werewolves, faeries, witches, reapers, banshees, necromancers, ghosts, zombies, oracles, gods/goddesses and even re-animators. I found it difficult to latch on to any of the characters or the overall story because there was just so much happening it made my head spin.
Honestly, the only reason I gave this book 2 stars instead of one was that there was a slight mysterious undertone to the main plot, however, which kept me invested in the book because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I honestly didn't entirely see the ending coming and I do think there were many parts when the book could have ended but then something else would happen.
The family dynamics in the story were very reminiscent of the Cullen's in the Twilight Saga, which I actually really enjoyed. I saw a lot of parallels between Twilight and this book and found it a little amusing that vampires were one of the creatures that weren't in the book.
The romances that were in this book were very strange and I don't think that they were well thought out. Overall, this whole world didn't seem very well developed and in turn it made everything feel really jumbled and thrown together.
I wanted to like this book so bad, I really did. I generally really enjoy paranormal books, but I really felt like this book was all over the place. There were parts of it I genuinely enjoyed and found interesting, but I didn't end up enjoying this book as a whole. I might continue on with the series, but I haven't decided yet.
July 8, 2016
After years of watching her father be a barely functioning drunk, Ember must now attend his funeral and try to put the broken pieces of her life together. She's pretty much felt like she was on her own for most of her life, so this really isn't much of a change.
What is a change is the strange boy who seems to be everywhere watching her. Also strange is the appearance of twins who show up and take her to a tiny town in Florida, telling her that she is their cousin who was thought to be dead for the last 12 years. Now she's living with them, a pack of werewolves, and a fae.
Another change is the fact that she can now raise the dead, speak with the souls of the departed, and her cousins are a reaper and a banshee.
People want her power. People definitely don't want her to have her power. Ember and her cousins are at the center of a dangerous plan hatched generations before and now coming to fruition.
If she can survive it, she may become the most powerful person ever to have walked the earth.
Final thoughts: This thing just kept going and going and going and dragging and dragging and dragging. It was so frustrating because I kept having to put it down and pick it back up again. Only near the end did I finally look up the number of pages (having been reading the Kindle edition with only percentages listed), and I found that this thing is 508 pages. While the author is pretty good at showing and not just telling, this showed way too much and kept meandering around. Additionally, and this is a personal thing of mine, ::SPOILER ALERT:: the three death cousins are reincarnations of The Morrigan, a trio of goddesses. But one of the cousins is male. How does the author work that? She makes him gay. As if being gay makes him automatically more feminine/effeminate. That's really rude and definitely not accurate. More accurately, it's stereotyping and judgmental.
Not reading the next one. Not caring one bit.
Rating: 2/5
What is a change is the strange boy who seems to be everywhere watching her. Also strange is the appearance of twins who show up and take her to a tiny town in Florida, telling her that she is their cousin who was thought to be dead for the last 12 years. Now she's living with them, a pack of werewolves, and a fae.
Another change is the fact that she can now raise the dead, speak with the souls of the departed, and her cousins are a reaper and a banshee.
People want her power. People definitely don't want her to have her power. Ember and her cousins are at the center of a dangerous plan hatched generations before and now coming to fruition.
If she can survive it, she may become the most powerful person ever to have walked the earth.
Final thoughts: This thing just kept going and going and going and dragging and dragging and dragging. It was so frustrating because I kept having to put it down and pick it back up again. Only near the end did I finally look up the number of pages (having been reading the Kindle edition with only percentages listed), and I found that this thing is 508 pages. While the author is pretty good at showing and not just telling, this showed way too much and kept meandering around. Additionally, and this is a personal thing of mine, ::SPOILER ALERT:: the three death cousins are reincarnations of The Morrigan, a trio of goddesses. But one of the cousins is male. How does the author work that? She makes him gay. As if being gay makes him automatically more feminine/effeminate. That's really rude and definitely not accurate. More accurately, it's stereotyping and judgmental.
Not reading the next one. Not caring one bit.
Rating: 2/5
December 4, 2015
Ember Denning has lived quite a secluded life from what she can remember, she has also been labelled as weird and a freak and spends more time with the dead than alive . The story starts when her absent father passes away and we catch a glimpse that Ember is being followed and watched by what we assume is a Grim Reaper Soul Eater type person. We also learn that Ember isn't ordinary as strange things happen at her father's funeral. The story then moves to another community called The Grove where three high school students are sitting in class and one screams and a name appears on another's arm. The name is November. This can't be real as November was said to have died twelve years ago when the town suffered a major accident and alot of people passed away. Tristan and Kai are twins and cousins of November and we learn that The Grove is in fact a community of supernaturals and that they have been hidden from the real world due to a series of incidents that caused chaos and they all started when three babies were born the same day with powerful abilities and all bearing the same Reaper mark. As they grew older , Tristan was a banshee and Kai - a Reaper Soul Collector and November - the most powerful and rarity of them all.
Now Ember has been chucked into a strange world where she has forgotten her past and must remember events about her family to learn what she is and what she is capable of. But how can Ember do that when she doesn't know who to trust and stay away from ?
If you love Paranormal and Supernatural Teen Stories with lots of Twists and Turns then Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things is the book for you.
Also if you have seen the TV Series 'The Gates" , then you can have a fair idea of how "The Grove" works. This book also reminded me of LJ Smith's series "The Secret Circle"
Now Ember has been chucked into a strange world where she has forgotten her past and must remember events about her family to learn what she is and what she is capable of. But how can Ember do that when she doesn't know who to trust and stay away from ?
If you love Paranormal and Supernatural Teen Stories with lots of Twists and Turns then Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things is the book for you.
Also if you have seen the TV Series 'The Gates" , then you can have a fair idea of how "The Grove" works. This book also reminded me of LJ Smith's series "The Secret Circle"
November 21, 2015
The title and cover for Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things by Martina McAtee reached out and grabbed me by the short hairs and said , “READ ME!” So I did. I was captured from the opening pages and Martina McAtee never let me go.
Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things is an adventure, some fun, some deadly. An amazing and gripping story. I was fully engulfed in Ember’s story, devouring the words, sometimes laughing, sometimes in sorrow, sometimes shocked and angry.
I LOVED this novel and hated for it to end and I will be looking for Book II in the Reanimator Series, His Soul To Take, coming in 2016. You can bet the house I will be snatching it up, and Martina, PLEASE WRITE FASTER.
I received a copy of Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things by Martina McAtee in return for an honest review.
To read my full review visit me at http://www.fundinmental.com/martina-m...
Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things is an adventure, some fun, some deadly. An amazing and gripping story. I was fully engulfed in Ember’s story, devouring the words, sometimes laughing, sometimes in sorrow, sometimes shocked and angry.
I LOVED this novel and hated for it to end and I will be looking for Book II in the Reanimator Series, His Soul To Take, coming in 2016. You can bet the house I will be snatching it up, and Martina, PLEASE WRITE FASTER.
I received a copy of Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things by Martina McAtee in return for an honest review.
To read my full review visit me at http://www.fundinmental.com/martina-m...
August 25, 2015
I was fortunate enough to be one of the first people to get my hands on this amazingly well written novel and didn't want to put it down for a second. It has a well planned out plot that is complex yet McAtee somehow manages to keep it easy to follow so that you never feel overwhelmed or that the story is getting away from you. The characters in this book are so endearing and I really loved how each chapter is voiced by an individual character. You can't help but feel like you are watching a movie while reading this novel. It flows effortlessly and leaves you wanting more with each chapters end. I have to give this read 5 stars as it speaks to McAtee's skill as a writer and an amazingly entertaining first novel. Can hardly wait for the sequel.
August 12, 2015
I was fortunate enough to get to read this book earlier than the general public. I am attached to the characters. I find myself thinking about them when I'm not reading about them. I am very much looking forward to the rest of the books in this series. It's so hard to pick a favorite character, they all have such distinct personalities. I really enjoyed the humor and the pop culture references as well as the suspense. The story held my interest till the very end and that is saying a lot from me. I can't count how many books I've stopped reading out of boredom. Great job Martina!!
September 7, 2015
When I think of paranormal young adult books I think twilight. I promise you this is no twilight. I could not put this book down. You fall in love with every character, even the ones you hate you fall in love with. I cannot wait for the second book to come out!
December 25, 2023
This would have been a full proud 5 stars if Ember wasn't such a loser as a main character. Full review coming soon!
November 8, 2017
Ember had always preferred the company of the dead, she thought it was safer that way, with no one criticizing her every moves and not getting hurt by real alive people. But her fascination with corpse and everything dead had a reason, and it was only until the day that she was supposed to die did she know the truth about herself.
She didn't want to attend her father's funeral, knowing how he had drank himself to death. It wasn't after she was about to die in the hands of a handsome stalker when she was rescued by her long lost cousins who took her to Florida and met a motley crew of paranormal creatures she never realized were real. Her twin cousins, Kai and Tristin were both affiliated with the dead, a reaper and a banshee. Then there's the wolf pack headed by the feisty Alpha Isa and her mate Wren, plus a human with intelligence far superior than Einstein's and a coven of witches and grims that turned her world upside down.
Bearing the significant birthmark of a moon, the pack realized Ember was one of them - a reanimator from a family of reapers. She could bring back the dead and turn them into zombies. But the truth was, she was more than that, far more sinister and darker than everyone had assumed. For the power she possessed was something deadly, something that had killed a community twelve years ago, and was now on the verge of breaking out again, wreaking havoc to her pack and the ones she considered family. A power that have abilities that could rival the gods. A power unimaginable.
Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things had been a really fun and adventurous read! I'd like to kick myself for not reading this immediately when I downloaded it. I've had this book for a year and was supposed to read it to my kids who love scary stuffs. But when I learned that this was for more middle age readers, I decided to read it myself first. And then life got in the way..
Now... I am flabbergasted! I can't believe I waited that long to meet Ember, Kai, Tristin and Mace! This book about teenage shifters and witches is a gem! Martina McAtee is a gem herself. I love how she put everything into place, how how she brought life to these characters, how she got me rooting for Mace and rolling my eyes at Tristin and roll on the floor laughing with Kai and Rhys!
There's a lot I really feel about Ember and her pack. It was everything I never expected and everything I wished for. I've always had a soft spot for werewolves and supernaturals, and a badass heroine with deadly attitude. So suffice it to say that Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things is a sure winner for me. Can't wait to read the next book!
Words aren't enough for me to express how I love everything about this book. So let me just put it this way... This book is...
She didn't want to attend her father's funeral, knowing how he had drank himself to death. It wasn't after she was about to die in the hands of a handsome stalker when she was rescued by her long lost cousins who took her to Florida and met a motley crew of paranormal creatures she never realized were real. Her twin cousins, Kai and Tristin were both affiliated with the dead, a reaper and a banshee. Then there's the wolf pack headed by the feisty Alpha Isa and her mate Wren, plus a human with intelligence far superior than Einstein's and a coven of witches and grims that turned her world upside down.
Bearing the significant birthmark of a moon, the pack realized Ember was one of them - a reanimator from a family of reapers. She could bring back the dead and turn them into zombies. But the truth was, she was more than that, far more sinister and darker than everyone had assumed. For the power she possessed was something deadly, something that had killed a community twelve years ago, and was now on the verge of breaking out again, wreaking havoc to her pack and the ones she considered family. A power that have abilities that could rival the gods. A power unimaginable.
Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things had been a really fun and adventurous read! I'd like to kick myself for not reading this immediately when I downloaded it. I've had this book for a year and was supposed to read it to my kids who love scary stuffs. But when I learned that this was for more middle age readers, I decided to read it myself first. And then life got in the way..
Now... I am flabbergasted! I can't believe I waited that long to meet Ember, Kai, Tristin and Mace! This book about teenage shifters and witches is a gem! Martina McAtee is a gem herself. I love how she put everything into place, how how she brought life to these characters, how she got me rooting for Mace and rolling my eyes at Tristin and roll on the floor laughing with Kai and Rhys!
There's a lot I really feel about Ember and her pack. It was everything I never expected and everything I wished for. I've always had a soft spot for werewolves and supernaturals, and a badass heroine with deadly attitude. So suffice it to say that Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things is a sure winner for me. Can't wait to read the next book!
Words aren't enough for me to express how I love everything about this book. So let me just put it this way... This book is...
April 3, 2018
It’s no secret that I enjoy the twists and turns of a good YA fantasy story. I like a gritty, layered series even more. If I can combine the two and add in a certain amount of drama, then I’m as happy as a clam. I’d never touched the paranormal genre until I picked up the first Sookie Stackhouse novel about ten years ago. Immediately sucked into the cheeky characters and their exploits, I dug down deep and stayed awhile amongst the affectionate nods to my own Louisiana heritage, watching Sookie’s life play out in a mixture of feverish passion and harrowing complications. There was a certain degree of humor and humility that appealed to me, and an overall feel of the sweaty, sticky honeysuckle-scented air of a little country town was all too familiar. Deep woods and thick, damp grass. Cool earth just waiting for your toes to sink in. Moonshine that makes your chest burn and ache in a way only it can. That particular series was wrought with grotesque and bloody gore, intimate meetings in darkened hallways, and thirsty (hot-sexy-salacious) vampires.
I, of course, loved every minute of Sookie’s ride. Pun intended.
Martina McAtte‘s debut novel, Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things, took me back to that place. Instead of the backwoods of Louisiana, the playground was the beloved city of New Orleans, a setting fit for any number of creatures of the night and their counterparts and familiars. Again, I found myself sinking into a world saturated with the heady sent of death and destruction; my imagination felt full of the thickness of magic and mystique. And much like another series I’d read and adored, I was captivated once again by a fiery redhead intent upon her own evolution and independence. I was intrigued, and was not disappointed.
Ember Lonergan knows nothing of who – or what – she truly is. Growing up in New Orleans is normally every teenager’s dream; the scent of alcohol lingers upon every inch of Bourbon Street and debauchery is to be readily found at every street corner. But instead of living the high life and making the most of her formidable years in The Big Easy, Ember has lived a life of regret and hardship. Her father is a professor specializing in the occult at the local college, but is more often than not to be found at the bottom of a bottle. Their apartment is a mess and a travesty, the space dirty and void of anything even remotely considered cozy or homey. She took the job at the funeral parlor in part to earn wages so she could eventually strike out on her own, but also because of her boss; he’s a man she looks upon as the only reliable adult in her life, a veritable father-figure. Among the dead, Ember can release her frustrations and her fears, never worrying about their judgements or any carefully tailored advice they might push upon her. They are dead, passed on to the afterlife and all its quiet peacefulness, and Ember cannot deny her jealousy. As a frequent visitor to the numerous and expansive cemeteries that litter New Orleans and its outskirts like museums, Ember is able to find some modicum of her own version peace in the chaos that is her existence.
It should have come as no surprise when her father died. He was a drunk and a coward. He was abusive and cruel, selfish and a disgrace of a human being. Ember has no room in her heart to find mourning; the only feeling she has about her father’s demise is one of annoyance, as she knows she will now be dumped into the system for underage orphaned and abandoned kids. It all seems like a badly tuned joke; her 17th birthday gift from her only parent is his releasing of her via the misery his company brought, only to send her into another dead-end of a trapped life.
But perhaps there is another way out.
The man who watches her looks like a teenager on the surface, but he is in fact, centuries old. Not a vampire, as the city likes to breed in its essence, but something else entirely. Having walked the earth for many lifetimes and seen it all, Mace finds it hard to be interested in the mundane world around him. But this girl with the ruby-red hair and startlingly violet eyes is leaving an indelible mark as the days slowly pass by. Not upon his soul of course – he doesn’t have one – but upon his utmost curiosity. He was asked to watch her and nothing more, but there is something about her that draws him uncomfortably closer.
Across state lines there is another teenager, or rather, a pair of them. Kai and Tristin are a matching twin-set of reapers, each with their own particular skill set – or perhaps and much to digress, a lack there of. Kai collects the souls of the dead, helping them to cross to the other side and into the afterlife with peace and integrity. Each soul leaves its mark upon his skin, a tattoo of his life’s work embedded in black ink weaves its way up his arm. Tristin is a banshee, but a rather useless one; one who hasn’t screamed in over a decade . . . until the afternoon the name November Lonergan appears upon her brother’s arm.
The request to collect their cousin’s soul is a riddle, given the fact that November has been dead since they were children. Something happened in the quiet Floridian town they reside in and countless paranormal entities were wiped out – gone in a flash of magic and turmoil. Their parents, their families, all gone in an instant, and no one can remember why or how. Kai and Tristin were absorbed by a wolf pack led by a compact alpha named Isa and her mate, Wren. The pack is a haphazard group of misfits; a colored motley crew of outcasts – an outsider, a forgotten witch with a genius mind, a faery, a group of shifting wolves in the omega and beta sensibility.
Saving Ember from imminent death was the mission, no matter the cost. Kai has been marked with not only saving a charge intended for Death’s Door, but also with bringing her back to the city she’d been previously banished from. Unbeknownst to the cousins, there is a string of dark magic threading its way into the fabric of their lives, all laced with nefarious undertones and mistaken allegiances. Separating friend from foe from family does not come easy, and alliances thought to have been impossible to break will be tested as complications arise.
Ember is wanted by a coven for her power, but for what purpose? She can bring things back from the dead, but can she control them? What did she do as a child to be sent away, cloaked under the protection of powerful witches and hidden away like a terrible secret? And how does the soul-eater fit into all of this?
Can Kai figure out why her name was imprinted upon him in the first place, and can Tristin finally learn how to harness her own powers? Or are they destined to watch as an evil covers their makeshift pack with all its dirt and grime, destroying everything they have fought so hard to create?
Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things is book one of the Dead Things saga, of which there are currently three novels and one prequel. Perfect for young adults and new-adult readers looking for a tamer extension of the supernatural genre, readers will love the mash-up of creatures and species. Recognizable entities such as faeries, werewolves and shifters, necromancers and powerful wishes weave themselves into a delicate tapestry of the paranormal, all converging in one town to try and establish order and regulation.
Those who crave the angsty romance typical of the world of young adult literature will not be disappointed. I was most thoroughly impressed with the inclusion portrayed; same sex relationships are at the forefront of the romantic spectrum in this novel, and I was almost giddy as things came to their beautiful conclusion between two such characters. The canny way with which the author slipped into the minds and actions of a teenage boy was inspiring, and I applaud McTee for her honest showcasing of subjects that most young adult authors tend to shy away from.
While the main protagonist is Ember Lonergan, readers will be able to see themselves in any of the multitude of richly drawn characters provided. From the insecure and surly Tristin to the gawky but charming brains possessed by Quinn, the basis of the supporting characters’ descriptions are relatable and believable. Different points of view throughout the novel help to tie them all together in a way that might otherwise be lost. As the story ramps up and the reader becomes more accustomed to and comfortable in the world carefully built by McAtee, pages will turn as fast as they can be read – the ending leaving an acute ache for more.
I snagged this book off Amazon for a rockbottom price, and I can’t wait to read more! If you’re interested in some amazingly complex and gorgeous companion artwork, I encourage you to check out the author’s website.
4 out of 5 stars for me, and I am anxious for more.
I, of course, loved every minute of Sookie’s ride. Pun intended.
Martina McAtte‘s debut novel, Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things, took me back to that place. Instead of the backwoods of Louisiana, the playground was the beloved city of New Orleans, a setting fit for any number of creatures of the night and their counterparts and familiars. Again, I found myself sinking into a world saturated with the heady sent of death and destruction; my imagination felt full of the thickness of magic and mystique. And much like another series I’d read and adored, I was captivated once again by a fiery redhead intent upon her own evolution and independence. I was intrigued, and was not disappointed.
Ember Lonergan knows nothing of who – or what – she truly is. Growing up in New Orleans is normally every teenager’s dream; the scent of alcohol lingers upon every inch of Bourbon Street and debauchery is to be readily found at every street corner. But instead of living the high life and making the most of her formidable years in The Big Easy, Ember has lived a life of regret and hardship. Her father is a professor specializing in the occult at the local college, but is more often than not to be found at the bottom of a bottle. Their apartment is a mess and a travesty, the space dirty and void of anything even remotely considered cozy or homey. She took the job at the funeral parlor in part to earn wages so she could eventually strike out on her own, but also because of her boss; he’s a man she looks upon as the only reliable adult in her life, a veritable father-figure. Among the dead, Ember can release her frustrations and her fears, never worrying about their judgements or any carefully tailored advice they might push upon her. They are dead, passed on to the afterlife and all its quiet peacefulness, and Ember cannot deny her jealousy. As a frequent visitor to the numerous and expansive cemeteries that litter New Orleans and its outskirts like museums, Ember is able to find some modicum of her own version peace in the chaos that is her existence.
It should have come as no surprise when her father died. He was a drunk and a coward. He was abusive and cruel, selfish and a disgrace of a human being. Ember has no room in her heart to find mourning; the only feeling she has about her father’s demise is one of annoyance, as she knows she will now be dumped into the system for underage orphaned and abandoned kids. It all seems like a badly tuned joke; her 17th birthday gift from her only parent is his releasing of her via the misery his company brought, only to send her into another dead-end of a trapped life.
But perhaps there is another way out.
The man who watches her looks like a teenager on the surface, but he is in fact, centuries old. Not a vampire, as the city likes to breed in its essence, but something else entirely. Having walked the earth for many lifetimes and seen it all, Mace finds it hard to be interested in the mundane world around him. But this girl with the ruby-red hair and startlingly violet eyes is leaving an indelible mark as the days slowly pass by. Not upon his soul of course – he doesn’t have one – but upon his utmost curiosity. He was asked to watch her and nothing more, but there is something about her that draws him uncomfortably closer.
Across state lines there is another teenager, or rather, a pair of them. Kai and Tristin are a matching twin-set of reapers, each with their own particular skill set – or perhaps and much to digress, a lack there of. Kai collects the souls of the dead, helping them to cross to the other side and into the afterlife with peace and integrity. Each soul leaves its mark upon his skin, a tattoo of his life’s work embedded in black ink weaves its way up his arm. Tristin is a banshee, but a rather useless one; one who hasn’t screamed in over a decade . . . until the afternoon the name November Lonergan appears upon her brother’s arm.
The request to collect their cousin’s soul is a riddle, given the fact that November has been dead since they were children. Something happened in the quiet Floridian town they reside in and countless paranormal entities were wiped out – gone in a flash of magic and turmoil. Their parents, their families, all gone in an instant, and no one can remember why or how. Kai and Tristin were absorbed by a wolf pack led by a compact alpha named Isa and her mate, Wren. The pack is a haphazard group of misfits; a colored motley crew of outcasts – an outsider, a forgotten witch with a genius mind, a faery, a group of shifting wolves in the omega and beta sensibility.
Saving Ember from imminent death was the mission, no matter the cost. Kai has been marked with not only saving a charge intended for Death’s Door, but also with bringing her back to the city she’d been previously banished from. Unbeknownst to the cousins, there is a string of dark magic threading its way into the fabric of their lives, all laced with nefarious undertones and mistaken allegiances. Separating friend from foe from family does not come easy, and alliances thought to have been impossible to break will be tested as complications arise.
Ember is wanted by a coven for her power, but for what purpose? She can bring things back from the dead, but can she control them? What did she do as a child to be sent away, cloaked under the protection of powerful witches and hidden away like a terrible secret? And how does the soul-eater fit into all of this?
Can Kai figure out why her name was imprinted upon him in the first place, and can Tristin finally learn how to harness her own powers? Or are they destined to watch as an evil covers their makeshift pack with all its dirt and grime, destroying everything they have fought so hard to create?
Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things is book one of the Dead Things saga, of which there are currently three novels and one prequel. Perfect for young adults and new-adult readers looking for a tamer extension of the supernatural genre, readers will love the mash-up of creatures and species. Recognizable entities such as faeries, werewolves and shifters, necromancers and powerful wishes weave themselves into a delicate tapestry of the paranormal, all converging in one town to try and establish order and regulation.
Those who crave the angsty romance typical of the world of young adult literature will not be disappointed. I was most thoroughly impressed with the inclusion portrayed; same sex relationships are at the forefront of the romantic spectrum in this novel, and I was almost giddy as things came to their beautiful conclusion between two such characters. The canny way with which the author slipped into the minds and actions of a teenage boy was inspiring, and I applaud McTee for her honest showcasing of subjects that most young adult authors tend to shy away from.
While the main protagonist is Ember Lonergan, readers will be able to see themselves in any of the multitude of richly drawn characters provided. From the insecure and surly Tristin to the gawky but charming brains possessed by Quinn, the basis of the supporting characters’ descriptions are relatable and believable. Different points of view throughout the novel help to tie them all together in a way that might otherwise be lost. As the story ramps up and the reader becomes more accustomed to and comfortable in the world carefully built by McAtee, pages will turn as fast as they can be read – the ending leaving an acute ache for more.
I snagged this book off Amazon for a rockbottom price, and I can’t wait to read more! If you’re interested in some amazingly complex and gorgeous companion artwork, I encourage you to check out the author’s website.
4 out of 5 stars for me, and I am anxious for more.
November 5, 2015
I couldn’t help but feel something familiar when I started this story. Reminded me of certain other books I’d read. That’s not uncommon when there are so many stories out there. So if this happens to you, don’t stop reading. It’s the author’s job to spin their own tale, to move from familiar to fresh, to new. And that happens soon in this book.
With so many characters, it’s hard to discuss all of them. I do have some favorites though. There’s Ember, or course. Her powers are out of control. She’s a danger to herself and all those around her.
Then there’s Mace. He’s a grim, a reaper of sorts. He has to consume souls to survive. He’s what you’d call a good bad guy. Sexy, snarky, and as spicy as his name implies. Like the chemical spray, he’ll burn ya.
Ember’s first encounter with Mace ends with a shovel to the back of his head. Their next encounter is electric. They’re like magnets. Each one’s power is drawn to the others, whether they like each other or not. The humorous dialogue and situations lighten the mood.
A couple more I want to mention are Kai and Rhys. One human. One werewolf. Both are a mess of anxiety and unrequited love. Puppy love.
After Ember’s father dies, she’s lost and alone. But not for long. She’s soon whisked away to a new life. One filled with supernatural beings from werewolves, to witches, to reapers, and more. And, she’s one of them. Except, no one seems to know just what she is.
Living with a wolf pack isn’t easy. They are all touchy feely and Ember abhors being touched. She adjusts and soon becomes a part of the rambunctious family.
It was a lot of fun getting to know the pack. It doesn’t take long to recognize who’s who. They really do have two natures, and they seem to blend together.
Lots of questions to be answered. What happened twelve years ago? Why can’t anyone remember? What does the Grove know? And why is Ember alive when she’s supposed to be dead?
I usually fly through books, especially those I loved as much as this one. Yet, at just over 500 pages, it took me several days. I did have to sleep and show up for work. But, the book stayed with me. I thought about it while at work, wondering about the answers I’d get. I’d crawl into bed at night, determined to stay awake and finish it, falling asleep and startling awake when the book fell out of my hands.
What’s funny is, as anxious as I was to get to the end, once I got there, I didn’t want it to end. I was that into it. That connected to the characters. And I loved the world the author created.
The good news is there’s another book in the series coming out in 2016. I’ll be waiting for it.
One for all fantasy fans, no matter your age.
I received this book for my honest review.
With so many characters, it’s hard to discuss all of them. I do have some favorites though. There’s Ember, or course. Her powers are out of control. She’s a danger to herself and all those around her.
Then there’s Mace. He’s a grim, a reaper of sorts. He has to consume souls to survive. He’s what you’d call a good bad guy. Sexy, snarky, and as spicy as his name implies. Like the chemical spray, he’ll burn ya.
Ember’s first encounter with Mace ends with a shovel to the back of his head. Their next encounter is electric. They’re like magnets. Each one’s power is drawn to the others, whether they like each other or not. The humorous dialogue and situations lighten the mood.
A couple more I want to mention are Kai and Rhys. One human. One werewolf. Both are a mess of anxiety and unrequited love. Puppy love.
After Ember’s father dies, she’s lost and alone. But not for long. She’s soon whisked away to a new life. One filled with supernatural beings from werewolves, to witches, to reapers, and more. And, she’s one of them. Except, no one seems to know just what she is.
Living with a wolf pack isn’t easy. They are all touchy feely and Ember abhors being touched. She adjusts and soon becomes a part of the rambunctious family.
It was a lot of fun getting to know the pack. It doesn’t take long to recognize who’s who. They really do have two natures, and they seem to blend together.
Lots of questions to be answered. What happened twelve years ago? Why can’t anyone remember? What does the Grove know? And why is Ember alive when she’s supposed to be dead?
I usually fly through books, especially those I loved as much as this one. Yet, at just over 500 pages, it took me several days. I did have to sleep and show up for work. But, the book stayed with me. I thought about it while at work, wondering about the answers I’d get. I’d crawl into bed at night, determined to stay awake and finish it, falling asleep and startling awake when the book fell out of my hands.
What’s funny is, as anxious as I was to get to the end, once I got there, I didn’t want it to end. I was that into it. That connected to the characters. And I loved the world the author created.
The good news is there’s another book in the series coming out in 2016. I’ll be waiting for it.
One for all fantasy fans, no matter your age.
I received this book for my honest review.
March 25, 2016
This book was the biggest surprise of the year 2015. I purchaed it just because I've seen it on Instagram and I fell in love with the cover.
Hey, don't you dare judge me! Who has never bought a book just beacuse the cover was pretty, may be the one who throw the first stone.
I fell in love with the characters and the world created by Martina. The world is full of different kind magic and it's AWESOME! We have witches, wizadrs (no, male witch is a witch. Wizard is something completly different!), shapeshifters (props for Tate, I root for him), reapers and all kinds of supernatural beings.
You know what I missed the most? A vampire. Will there be a vampire in second book? Please tell me there will be someone just like my personal fave - Lestat de Lioncourt. Oh, swoon.
I really like Ember, the protagonist. She could be more decisive, but I'm really hoping she'll get there in time.
Mace. Oh, Mace. You and your "luv" make me week in my knees. You may be souless, conscienceless, evil, psycho killer and a soul eater, but you sure know how to make a girl swoon. Smooth talker, you.
When I read what happened to Quinn, who happens to be my fave character in this book, I cried like a baby and it wasn't pretty. People on the bus were looking at me funny. I kid you not. I hope everything will sort out somehow.
I'm not sure I like Tristin. She's starting to grow on me, but there something in her that makes me a bit reserved towards her.
Kai and Rhys? Oh boy, did the temeperature in the room just bacame a little bit higher? I really like Kai, he's my second fave in this book.
On the one hand I'm super happy that there will be a second part to this book, but on the other hand I feel like no one's writing standalones anymore. It would be so nice to have a story resolved in one book without waiting years for the series to finally end.
I loved the multiple POVs.
Hey, don't you dare judge me! Who has never bought a book just beacuse the cover was pretty, may be the one who throw the first stone.
I fell in love with the characters and the world created by Martina. The world is full of different kind magic and it's AWESOME! We have witches, wizadrs (no, male witch is a witch. Wizard is something completly different!), shapeshifters (props for Tate, I root for him), reapers and all kinds of supernatural beings.
You know what I missed the most? A vampire. Will there be a vampire in second book? Please tell me there will be someone just like my personal fave - Lestat de Lioncourt. Oh, swoon.
I really like Ember, the protagonist. She could be more decisive, but I'm really hoping she'll get there in time.
Mace. Oh, Mace. You and your "luv" make me week in my knees. You may be souless, conscienceless, evil, psycho killer and a soul eater, but you sure know how to make a girl swoon. Smooth talker, you.
When I read what happened to Quinn, who happens to be my fave character in this book, I cried like a baby and it wasn't pretty. People on the bus were looking at me funny. I kid you not. I hope everything will sort out somehow.
I'm not sure I like Tristin. She's starting to grow on me, but there something in her that makes me a bit reserved towards her.
Kai and Rhys? Oh boy, did the temeperature in the room just bacame a little bit higher? I really like Kai, he's my second fave in this book.
On the one hand I'm super happy that there will be a second part to this book, but on the other hand I feel like no one's writing standalones anymore. It would be so nice to have a story resolved in one book without waiting years for the series to finally end.
I loved the multiple POVs.
October 20, 2015
Ember's life changes the day her father dies. Suddenly she is alone in the world and social services wants to take her into foster care. Ember isn't having any of this. She's been basically living on her own for years as her dad was a barely functioning alcoholic.
Ember has always been different. She works at a funeral home, likes to walk around the cemetery and have conversations with the dead, and doesn't have many friends. When she goes to her father's grave she sees a hooded figure watching her. At the same point she begins to sweat and start feeling weird. She isn't sure what is wrong with her but feels like she might pass out.
Later on in the cemetery she meets up with the same boy. She thinks he is there to murder her but she also finds him attractive. As he gets too close a boy and a girl appear and kidnap Ember. They say they are her cousins and are helping to keep her safe. While Ember sees a resemblance she can't remember anything from her childhood including them.
Soon Ember is in a world of supernatural beings. Her cousins are reapers and live with a werewolf pack. Something is happening to Ember but no one knows what. She smells paranormal but different then anything anyone has smelled before. Ember thought she was human but always knew she was different and she begins learning why.
As Ember's powers grow so does the hunt for her. There are people looking to save her and people looking to kill her. Ember isn't sure who to trust or even if she can trust her own power.
This is a fast paced story with a lot of characters. I had a difficult time placing all the characters at first but once they were all introduced and I started getting a personality with the name it all came together. I found this to be an interesting paranormal story full of action and twists. I really enjoyed it and wanted to keep reading until the very end.
I give this book 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.
Ember has always been different. She works at a funeral home, likes to walk around the cemetery and have conversations with the dead, and doesn't have many friends. When she goes to her father's grave she sees a hooded figure watching her. At the same point she begins to sweat and start feeling weird. She isn't sure what is wrong with her but feels like she might pass out.
Later on in the cemetery she meets up with the same boy. She thinks he is there to murder her but she also finds him attractive. As he gets too close a boy and a girl appear and kidnap Ember. They say they are her cousins and are helping to keep her safe. While Ember sees a resemblance she can't remember anything from her childhood including them.
Soon Ember is in a world of supernatural beings. Her cousins are reapers and live with a werewolf pack. Something is happening to Ember but no one knows what. She smells paranormal but different then anything anyone has smelled before. Ember thought she was human but always knew she was different and she begins learning why.
As Ember's powers grow so does the hunt for her. There are people looking to save her and people looking to kill her. Ember isn't sure who to trust or even if she can trust her own power.
This is a fast paced story with a lot of characters. I had a difficult time placing all the characters at first but once they were all introduced and I started getting a personality with the name it all came together. I found this to be an interesting paranormal story full of action and twists. I really enjoyed it and wanted to keep reading until the very end.
I give this book 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.
October 18, 2015
I received this book in exchange of an honest review.
Personal rating: 4 stars
Summary: Ember Denning's world as she knows it ends with the death of her father and his funeral where she meets a supernatural being and learns that everything she believed in all her life is a lie.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is a very easy read, funny and lighthearted in spite of some dark themes. It has a switching POV which allows to look into the minds of characters and behind their actions. I found that this sort of narration both helped and distracted at times. I would have preferred to have the book stick to one or two POVs and not switch between pretty much all main characters. (Or almost all.)
This book is also rather long and I feel it would have been an easier read if it were slightly shorter. Some dialogues by the end of the book felt redundant and even though the author did a great job keeping the pace of the story and inserting enough action to keep me engaged in the story, I still feel that the book would have benefited from being more concise.
Since I received the book as an ARC, I understand that it was not the final version, but I felt that the first half or one third of the book was way better written and polished than the rest of it. Some of the final chapters felt slightly rushed.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book and I will be looking forward to reading the second one in the series.
If I had to describe the book in one sentence, I'd say that it reminds me of a crossover between anime (any supernatural/reaper themed) and Teen Wolf (tv show). So, if you are a fan of either, you should read it!
Also, the cover of the book is stunning and I even regret having it on kindle and not as hard copy as it is not as beautiful in black and white.
Personal rating: 4 stars
Summary: Ember Denning's world as she knows it ends with the death of her father and his funeral where she meets a supernatural being and learns that everything she believed in all her life is a lie.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is a very easy read, funny and lighthearted in spite of some dark themes. It has a switching POV which allows to look into the minds of characters and behind their actions. I found that this sort of narration both helped and distracted at times. I would have preferred to have the book stick to one or two POVs and not switch between pretty much all main characters. (Or almost all.)
This book is also rather long and I feel it would have been an easier read if it were slightly shorter. Some dialogues by the end of the book felt redundant and even though the author did a great job keeping the pace of the story and inserting enough action to keep me engaged in the story, I still feel that the book would have benefited from being more concise.
Since I received the book as an ARC, I understand that it was not the final version, but I felt that the first half or one third of the book was way better written and polished than the rest of it. Some of the final chapters felt slightly rushed.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book and I will be looking forward to reading the second one in the series.
If I had to describe the book in one sentence, I'd say that it reminds me of a crossover between anime (any supernatural/reaper themed) and Teen Wolf (tv show). So, if you are a fan of either, you should read it!
Also, the cover of the book is stunning and I even regret having it on kindle and not as hard copy as it is not as beautiful in black and white.
September 25, 2019
Hands down the best book I read in a few years.
I received the book from the author in return for an honest review.
Shape-shifters, fae, witches, demons...all that I could ever want in a book. The world, characters and plot all so well written and thought out.
Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things is about Ember, a girl who lives with her drunk dad until he dies and meets a boy at the cemetery. Things start to go out of control for Ember, a lot of secrets her father has been hiding from her, powers she didn't know she possessed.
I liked Embers character a lot, even though she was all new to the information she was getting from her cousins, who moved her to Florida. Learning about what everyone was that she was going to live with and she herself finding out what powers or what she was. There were times where I was a bit bored with her character, she was like a walking zombie in some moments of the books but that build up to what happened and what she found out towards the end. I loved her relationship with Mace, they were so cute even if Mace couldn't share his feelings with her until the end. There was a spark between them that took a long time but eventually it did.
Now I absolutely loved Kai and Rhys. Their relationship was the best. It was so refreshing and something I've never read in a book. A gay relationship. Finally! I love you Martina for making a relationship like this. Kai being a reaper and Rhys being a werewolf, things were hard for Rhys especially; opening up his feelings for Kai. I always looked forward to their POVs since for me they were the most interesting.
I received the book from the author in return for an honest review.
Shape-shifters, fae, witches, demons...all that I could ever want in a book. The world, characters and plot all so well written and thought out.
Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things is about Ember, a girl who lives with her drunk dad until he dies and meets a boy at the cemetery. Things start to go out of control for Ember, a lot of secrets her father has been hiding from her, powers she didn't know she possessed.
I liked Embers character a lot, even though she was all new to the information she was getting from her cousins, who moved her to Florida. Learning about what everyone was that she was going to live with and she herself finding out what powers or what she was. There were times where I was a bit bored with her character, she was like a walking zombie in some moments of the books but that build up to what happened and what she found out towards the end. I loved her relationship with Mace, they were so cute even if Mace couldn't share his feelings with her until the end. There was a spark between them that took a long time but eventually it did.
Now I absolutely loved Kai and Rhys. Their relationship was the best. It was so refreshing and something I've never read in a book. A gay relationship. Finally! I love you Martina for making a relationship like this. Kai being a reaper and Rhys being a werewolf, things were hard for Rhys especially; opening up his feelings for Kai. I always looked forward to their POVs since for me they were the most interesting.
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