She Smells the Dead

Spirit Guide #1

by E.J. Stevens

It's the beginning of senior year and Yuki's psychic awareness of ghostly spirits is threatening to ruin her life. Her ability to sense spirits of the dead isn't glamorous like the ghost hunting on television.

SHE SMELLS THE DEAD.

The smell impressions are becoming stronger. Yuki is being visited in her dreams, and she suspects that her friend Calvin is involved in something strange. To make matters worse her crush on Garrett is going unrequited, Yuki's friend Emma is on a rampage against bee oppression, and Calvin Miller mysteriously disappears.

Will Yuki be able to focus her powers in time to save the lost soul who is haunting her? Meanwhile, who will save Yuki from following the spirits into the light?

Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult, Ghosts, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Mystery

186 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 19, 2010

About the author

E.J. Stevens is the bestselling, award-winning author of the IVY GRANGER, PSYCHIC DETECTIVE urban fantasy series, the SPIRIT GUIDE young adult series, the HUNTERS' GUILD urban fantasy series, and the WHITECHAPEL PARANORMAL SOCIETY Victorian Gothic horror series. She is known for filling pages with quirky characters, bloodsucking vampires, psychotic faeries, and snarky, kick-butt heroines. Her novels are available worldwide in multiple languages.

BTS Red Carpet Award winner for Best Novel, Imadjinn Award winner for Best Short Story, Raven Award winner for Best Urban Fantasy Novel, Independent Audiobook Award winner for Best Short Story, SYAE finalist for Best Paranormal Series, Best Novella, and Best Horror, winner of the PRG Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Paranormal Fantasy Novel, Best Young Adult Paranormal Series, Best Urban Fantasy Novel, and finalist for Best Young Adult Paranormal Novel and Best Urban Fantasy Series.

When E.J. isn't at her writing desk, she enjoys dancing along seaside cliffs, singing in graveyards, and sleeping in faerie circles. E.J. currently resides in a magical forest on the coast of Maine where she finds daily inspiration for her writing.

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Reviews

[Loves To Dive · Rating 5 out of 5]

She Smells the Dead is about a senior in high school, who, well - smells the dead. Vanessa Stennings, better known as Yuki, can smell the dead. No not dead bodies, if a ghost is around she gets a smell that is somehow related to the dearly departed person. She is not overly thrilled that this is her superpower. Her best friends are Emma - a committed vegan and Calvin - a blue eyed, shaggy haired pain in the rear. Yuki gets an overwhelming smell of vinegar the first day of senior year and the quest for the ghost begins.

I was prepared to dislike this book. First, I don't normally read YA; I like my books to have a little more mature content in them. Second, the title threw me off, what does that mean "She Smells the Dead", didn't sound appetizing to me. I heard of the book through a discussion board and saw a link to the cover of the second book and liked it. I felt like it wouldn't be a good idea to read the second book without reading the first so I bought this one. Yes, I judge a book by the cover, sue me. From the first paragraph of the book, I was hooked. I love the style the book is written in, Yuki is telling the story and she has a way with words. While the book is classified as YA it is not dummied down. The only difference I could tell was there was no sex or foul language (unless you count "Son of a Dung Beetle"). The characters make wise crack comments to each other; they have problems and solve them. I fell in love with them all from the get go. How can you resist a heroine who renames herself, a side kick who believes in bee oppression and a good looking guy who can quirk one eyebrow up? I whole heartedly recommend this book to all ages and look forward to reading the next one.

[T. Tolles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed the story. The Ghost Whisperer in Smell-O-Rama. Yuki may not be the most popular girl at school, but she definitely has the Bestest Friends a girl could ask for. This story was a refreshing new slant on helping the dead cross over to the light. I won't give any of the exciting details away, but when an unexpected romance starts, and complications start to arise with the lingering smelly dead and the annoying wet dog smell, you are sure to be swallowed up into E. J. Stevens exciting, twisting turning plot. Can't wait to see what happens on Samhain....

[Brandi ;) · Rating 5 out of 5]

She Smells the Dead by E. J. Stevens

5 STARS

I LOVED this book. Those of you who know me, know I am a Ghost-Story-Whore (Ghost related books are my favorite type of paranormal story and I consume them with greed and happiness, especially when the book is a good one). This was a GREAT one! The story was original, not something that has been done over and over and over again. Big plus for me.
Yuki, the main character, can smell the dead. No, this doesn't mean she literally smells rotting corpses, she gets a smell impression from the deceased, aka ghost. So instead of being able to see dead people or be able to talk to them, she gets a smell impression when they are around. In this book the ghost that is haunting her is giving her the smell of apple cider vinegar. With this smell she does her research to find out who it could be and what she can do to help them take care of what ever unfinished business they had left in our world and then move on.
So, I'm totally expecting the whole book to just be about Yuki finding out who the ghost is and of course some mystery she has to help solve for the ghost to move on. WRONG!! I was sooo suprised and happy to get not only an extra twist in the story but also a sweet romance to boot! Yippee!! What was so good about this romance, after all they are in almost every book I read, I got to watch it develope from a simple friendship to a "Why is he looking at me like he likes me more than a friend and why am I liking it, wait, what? I like it? I do! OMG, I think I like him!" discovery of love. It was adorable, but not the kind of adorable that makes you sick, just real.
I loved how Yuki talked to herself and uses the full name of her friend. In the beginning her friend Calvin gives her a beetle plushie as a joke. To herself she thinks "You suck Calvin Miller. You suck times ten." She does this through out the book and I won't spoil anything so I won't give away any more cause you really should read this book. I enjoyed it so much I even broke my rule of not reading series books back to back. I jumped into the second one immediately and I'll tell you now, it is just as good. Actually a little better since we have the back story established and can focus on the lives of the characters and what ghostly things are going on, and the little twist.
So if you haven't read this one yet, get to it! I finally got to it because I decided to clean out my TBR closet (it is not a TBR shelf, it is a TBR closet, have you seen the size of that thing!) by reading books that have been in there the longest and I can not believe I put this in there and let it get buried for as long as it did!

[Grammy 1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just come upon an enchanting new Paranormal Mystery Story written by Dark Poetess, E.J. Stevens. She Smells the Dead is just what the Moms and Librarians have been looking for. A New Series of books with enchantment, mystery, love and commitment for a YA audience.

Yuki is our heroine, a high school girl who is affected by the dead. She is "not part of the crowd" At her age, she walks to her own tune, has been called "witch" by her classmates , which is only exasperated by her looks and dress. To her credit she is very grounded and has a great sense of humor about herself...She has a great friend in Emma, who compliments her in every way.

Calvin and Yuki have been friends forever. They share secrets of who they are. Calvin has been told by his family that he is an Alpha wolf, part of his heritage. At a camp they both attended one summer, Calvin finds his WOLF form. Yuki was told she was a DUNG BEETLE which she found unsettling and not humorous. Together in this story, they sift their way through a Ghostly Haunting of Yuki, a need to find out more about their powers and now the young love that is blossoming between them.

Book one of the series is W.O.N.D.E.R.F.U.L. I cannot wait for the sequel....Although this book gives us a great story, it ends with the promise of another...Great job Ms Stevens...

Review by
Gloria Lakritz
Senior Reviewer for Paranormal Romance Guild

[Robert Duperre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.3 out of 5

I’ve said before that I have no love of paranormal romance as a genre. It’s too girly, too gushy, too intrinsically self-absorbed and flighty, to be worth my while. I mean, who wants to read about some young girl with “special talents” who falls head-over-heels in love with some otherworldly creature?

Uh, apparently I do. So color me a liar.

I received She Smells the Dead by E.J. Stevens as a review copy, and honestly I was excited to dive into it. No matter my previous statements on the matter, the truth is I’ve had a long and enduring love for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and trashy romance novels. It’s the inherent impracticality of the stories that draw me in; how can you not feel affection for a story told about youngsters who want nothing more than to be naïve and free, yet have massive, mythical responsibilities heaped on their shoulders? It offers us a chance to explore adolescence without having to relive it, in many ways offering up an idealized version of teenagers without ever losing sight of the inborn selfishness and idiosyncrasies that come with being a teen in the first place.

She Smells the Dead introduces us to Vanessa Stennings, a girl who likes to be called Yuki (we’ll get into my trepidation over the popularity of Japanese culture among today’s youth another time) and who possesses a very quirky paranormal talent – like title of the book suggests, Yuki can smell the dead. As she says in the prologue, this isn’t like smelling rot or something of the like. Instead, what we have here is an actual haunting; a ghost wants to tell Yuki something, and so gives her clues through her olfactory senses. Think The Sixth Sense with nothing but your nose to guide you (and minus one creepy little boy). I found this to be a very original innovation on a somewhat overused theme, which made it stand out.

Yuki is a senior in high school. She has all the shortcomings of any girl her age – indecisiveness, doubtful of her future, obsessed with clothes, falls in love with the wrong guys – and yet she is still almost idyllic in the way that she has this (recently discovered) power and makes it her goal to help those wayward spirits haunting her find their way back home.

For support, Yuki has the prerequisite quirky cast of friends – Emma, a brilliant vegan with a tendency to seek out and expose oppression against the animal (and insect) world, and Calvin, her scruffy bff-for-life (who might also be something more than that). Just as in shows like Buffy and Smallville, this little group bands together to help Yuki solve the “spirit problems”, researching at the public library and going on (sometimes not very well thought out) investigative ventures. Many times the solutions are outrageously easy (not to mention unexplained), but that’s okay. This isn’t a book intent on bending your mind.

It is all pretty formulaic, but She Smells the Dead gains its wings with dialogue (conversations flow without a hitch, which takes copious amounts of talent) and an imaginative reclassification of standard tropes. As an example of the latter, I must bring out a plot point that may be a spoiler (and some may roll their eyes at): Calvin is a werewolf. However, author Stevens has created a fresh perspective on werewolvery by doing the unthinkable – going backward. She fastens their existence to the root of the original (Native American) shapeshifter myth; a spiritual partnership between creatures of the wild and man, beneficial to both with nary a mention of curses or evil deeds. When I read this I wanted to stand up and say, “Bravo!” Very well done, indeed.

There are quite a few customary themes to the work, with those of self-discovery and duty climbing to the forefront. As you might have been able to tell, I appreciated Yuki’s steadfastness when it comes to her obligation to the dead (as well as the difficulty with figuring out their problems with only something like, say, the smell of vinegar to go on). But the scenes where she trains with Calvin, trying to harness her power, are truly well done. We get to see her weak – both with a burgeoning love for her old friend and the doubt of her capacity to channel her abilities – and strong. She is a young girl facing seemingly insurmountable odds, yet she never once really hesitates.

There is an innocent quality to the work that I appreciated, as well. I think, at the end of it all, that’s the most appealing facet. Like with the Harry Potter series, we see young people (who could be any one of us) grow up before our eyes. They think and act like the teenagers they are, but hold an almost preternatural sense of honor. Looking back on my own life, when reading material such as this, I sometimes wish I could have as sturdy a head on my shoulders as they do.

On the minus side, Stevens has a strange habit of interjecting Yuki’s thoughts into the text, even though they are directly preceded by information that makes those thoughts repetitive. And redundant, too! (See what I mean?) At first I found this quirky and even a bit funny, but as the story went on I started to roll my eyes whenever something like that came across. A slight drawback, but a bearable one.

Other than that, there really isn’t much to complain about. Not that I would want to. I had a lot of fun reading She Smells the Dead. It’s nostalgic in a wish-you-were-here sort of way, and the mushrooming young love between Calvin and Yuki is something like a bunch of kindling teetering perilously close to an emotional firestorm. It’s well-written and it flows, it’s not too violent, and surprisingly original. And it’s also very short, as it is basically the introduction into a series that continues with the second book, Spirit Storm, a book I’m itching to dive into, which will undoubtedly reveal the solution to the rather ingenious cliffhanger of an ending.

Yes, I recommend She Smells the Dead. This man fell in love with it, and I think women of all ages will, as well.

Plot - 8
Characters - 10
Voice - 8
Execution - 8
Personal Enjoyment – 9

Overall – 43/50 (4.3/5)

[Cyna · Rating 1 out of 5]

She Smells the Dead begins with a one-page prologue, and I gotta say, having finished the book, it's probably the best one-page litmus test I've ever read. All you have to do to know whether or not this book is for you is read the first four paragraphs. It's that simple.

"I can smell the dead. I know, you hear of people with superhuman paranormal powers and you think, how cool is that but there is nothing cool about smelling the dead. I mean it could be worse I suppose. The dead don’t smell like rotting corpses, usually. It’s often more of a symbolic smell. "Smell Impressions" as my friend Calvin likes to call them. Ugh. I know, again with the uncoolness. You have no idea.

Imagine biting into your favorite veggie burger loaded up with ketchup and suddenly smelling rotten eggs. Heck, my biggest fear is finally kissing Garrett Hamlin, the guy I’ve been drooling over since 8th grade, and smelling something awful. Like skunk butt or sweaty gym socks. I. Would. Die.

So yeah. My name is Vanessa Stennings but I go by Yuki. When you’re a kid the name Nessie gets you teased and Vee for victory takes on a whole new meaning when you reach high school and all the boys can think about is getting lucky. So I picked Yuki. It means snow or a snow covered village which, considering all the snow we get here in Maine seems fitting. I didn’t pick it for that reason though. I decided on Yuki because the smell of freshly falling snow is a clean, beautiful smell and if I'm anything, it's ruled by smells.

Of course I hadn't realized that a few jocks would start calling me Yucky, but heck, they’re jocks. It's not like I acknowledge their existence anyway. We live in different worlds. They are obsessed with muscles and fart jokes - and I smell the dead."

...

This book was not for me.

Yuki and I had problems from the beginning. I could not take her seriously, and the voice demonstrated in the prologue is why. It's somehow pretentious and yet vapid, immature at the very least. Yuki's supposed to be seventeen and in her senior year, but between the vocabulary and the attitude, I'd have pegged her for somewhere around a fourteen/fifteen-year-old freshman, honestly.

She's got the perky pseudo-goth thing going on, with a side of pseudo-weeaboo, which probably would have been more interesting - or at least, differentiating - if not for the "pseudo" part. She's not actually a character an anime nerd or "goth" can identify with, unless the mere fact that she calls herself Yuki and dresses in black tulle is enough for you to relate with. Her subculture-related attributes are all really superficial. They have no impact on the story, they don't lend her any kind added depth or realism, and seem to exist solely to excuse the book's indulgence in the re-naming and Costume Porn, at least in this installment.

To be clear, I'm not saying Yuki was unrealistic. That's the thing about immature, phase-ish teenagers - they're everywhere. It's just that I would really, really prefer not to read about them. Hence why Yuki didn't really work for me.

Still, I can get over voices. It wouldn't have tanked the book for me if the story had worked, but, well, it didn't. In any respect.

1) The premise lacked a solid foundation

She Smells the Dead lacks any kind of introduction to Yuki's life. We're just sort of dropped in at the start of a new case, and come to find that she's apparently had her ghost-smelling abilities for a while - long enough, at least, to come to the conclusion that they are ghost-smelling abilities, develop a pretty good idea of how they function, figure out what to do with them, and share all this with her friends. It feels more like we're coming in on the second book in the series, as opposed to the first...

Read more at You're Killing.Us.

[Kat (A Journey In Reading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would you do if you had the ability to help souls cross over? What if you found out that your best friend also had a secret of his own?

She Smells the Dead is the story of Vanessa aka Yuki who can smell the dead. Not in a gross way, but in a way that the smell is related to the soul that needs help. She is beginning her senior year in high school when the soul needs her help. Cal, with a secret of his own, and Emma, who is her strictly vegan friend know of Yuki's ability and help her with the mysteries surrounding the souls.

I really enjoyed the unique spin on this paranormal story. It took the paranormal, ghost story, and spirits to a completely different level. It was a fast paced and short read, after you get used to Yuki's thoughts interjected here and there.

The story develops well and the characters are likable. You aren't really given much of a background for Yuki's ability to smell the dead, however, when Cal reveals his secret, his background is well developed and explained in a way that I have not seen in YA books lately. And it was perfect.

Emma is a character that I really enjoyed. She was quirky, funny and had the uncanny ability to pop off with sarcastic comments without missing a beat. As she learns Cal's secret, she is calm and takes everything in stride. I have the feeling that she may have some special ability of her own that may come out in later books in this series.

If you like a quick witted, fast paced light read of the paranormal kind, I think that you will enjoy this book. I am looking forward to reading the second in the series.


***This e-book was given to me by the author, free of charge, in exchange for an honest review. It in no way influenced my review or opinion of the book.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Info: Genre: Urban Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Recommended for: Fans of YA Urban fantasy who are looking for something new, those who enjoy paranormal stories

My Thoughts: In this first book in the Spirit Guide series, Yuki is recently come into her powers and learning how to deal with them, with the help of Calvin Miller, her friend Emma, and Calvin’s mentor and trainer Simon. We get to know a bit about all of them, watch Yuki deal with a haunting, and basically accompany her during the beginning of her senior year of high school.’

It has been said repeatedly that Stevens has come up with something new and fresh – Yuki definitely does not have all the answers and has to find her own way, but she has some great friends and allies who are willing to help her. She also has a keen sense of style. This is an enjoyable novella, and is a great start to the series. The next book is Spirit Storm, and the topic of how she is going to deal with all the spirits on Samhain was brought up repeatedly during She Smells the Dead, so I’m quite interested to see where Stevens goes with this. Check it out!

Disclosure: I received this book as part of an omnibus, including the first three books in the Spirit Guide series, from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: It's the beginning of senior year and Yuki's psychic awareness of ghostly spirits is threatening to ruin her life. Her ability to sense spirits of the dead isn't glamorous like on TV. SHE SMELLS THE DEAD. Yuki is being visited in her dreams and suspects that her friend Calvin is involved in something strange. Will Yuki be able to save the spirits and herself?

[Krisi Keley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you thought your high school days were rough…

Yuki’s in her senior year and besides dealing with all the inherent pressures of that crazy time of life, she has some unusual and difficult stresses all her own. She doesn’t get to see dead people, she has to smell them; her best friend, whom she’s beginning to suspect she cares for more deeply than she imagined, has an odd secret that may be related to her psychic power; and her dreams seem to portend an imminent danger.

Author E. J. Stevens’ delightfully original She Smells the Dead impressed me from its first pages and I now include it among my favorite novels. Yuki is one of the most likeable heroines a reader has the joy to be introduced to, and I loved hearing her every thought as much as following her story adventure. The author’s great character development shines through with the entire cast. Calvin, simultaneously cool and down-to-earth and Emma, passionate vegan and animal advocate, are the best friends we all wish we had. This paranormal romance of blossoming love and great friendships, with laugh-out-loud moments, shares the wonderful “high school can be hell” metaphor and witty dialogue of the TV series, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” but in a unique story all its own and with the distinctive voice of its talented author. I eagerly await the next book in the Spirit Guide series! Highly recommended.

[Amber Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I wasn't sure what to expect but this went above and beyond whatever I expected.

I love Yuki and Cal. They are such great characters. It's so cute that Cal has such a thing for Yuki and she doesn't see it at first. They seem like an odd pairing but they're actually perfect for each other. They have been friends for so long and they are super cute together.

The supporting characters in this book are really awesome too. Emma and Simon are too funny.

There are a lot of mysterious things going on in this book. There is paranormal stuff going on, mystery, murder, werewolves, spirit guides and all kinds of good stuff.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good read. This is an excellent book.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Yuki is a resourceful heroine who embraces the idiosyncrasies and foibles of her friends with equanimity. Her wardrobe choices are as unique as she is. Emma, her best friend, is a staunch and loyal ally even though she and Yuki seem as different as night and day. Then there is Calvin, her steadfast and true friend, who is also her anchor and defender. Yuki, Calvin and Emma each come into their own in this outstanding break-out novel for young adults and the young of heart. More

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book it was a wonderful mix of romance and mystery behind everything that Yuki goes though and has to deal with. The story flows wonderfully the way it introduces who Yuki will end up with as well as how she must learn to control her gift, was done perfectly in my opinion. I can't wait for another book because I want to now what the hell happens on Halloween. So EJ Stevens PLEASE KEEP WRITTING!!!!!!!

[Sharon Buchbinder · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clever premise (yes, she smells dead people) combined with high school angst, in-crowds, out-crowds and a cute boyfriend with his own secret made this a fast, fun read. Thanks for making my 2 hour wait in the doctor's office go by quickly!

[Jenny (Books that Spark) · Rating 4 out of 5]

She Smells the Dead is the first book in the Spirit Guide series written by E. J. Stevens. The title alone was enough to grasp my attention. It promised a new twist on the ever-popular young adult fantasy genre and I was eager to get started to see whether it delivered on it's promise.

She Smells the Dead is told from the point of view of Vanessa Stennings, more commonly referred to as Yuki. It's the start of Yuki's senior year and with that comes a lot of change and of course, a lot of drama to deal with. As if teasing jocks, her studies and beginning to see her best friend Calvin in a different light wasn't enough, Yuki has an even more overpowering problem. She can smell the dead. Yuki has what she calls 'smell impressions' which are smells related to the restless soul of someone who needs her help in order to move on and be at peace.

As the main character, Yuki is both enchanting and believable. She stands out from the crowd and doesn't allow those who can't accept her bring her down. She's often called a 'witch' by her classmates, egged on from her unique looks and style. The best thing about Yuki, in my opinion, is that despite the spiritual talent she has and the responsibilities that come with that talent, she's still a girl who is trying to find her place in the world. I can relate to her as she's alike to most teenage girls; she copes with the stress of school life, her best friends and confusing crushes. She doesn't claim to understand who she is or why she has her talent, but she does the utmost to deal with it.

Stevens successfully introduces and develops other characters throughout the book which allow She Smells the Dead to be an entertaining read. There's Calvin Miller for instance. Yuki has been best friends with him forever. However Yuki is beginning to see him in a new light which confuses her a bit. There closeness and commitment to each other is compelling to read. I loved being introduced to their relationship and I hope in the following instalments to see further developments. I definitely believe they have the potential to become a new power couple in fiction.

If reading about a teenage girl who can smell the dead was not interesting enough, Stevens adds even more to the plot with the life-changing revelation of what Calvin truly is. I don't want to give anything away for those who are yet to read this book but this revelation plays a big factor into allowing the story to be so uniquely interesting. I'm eager to see how both Yuki and Calvin develop throughout the series.

Stevens writes in a way which is straight-forward yet allows emotion and detail to still stand out. For me, she beautifully told a story which not only had me reading the book in one sitting alone, but had me begging for more. I can guarantee fans of the paranormal and fantasy will love this book. It's a great introduction to the series and I can't wait to read the next instalment, Spirit Storm.

[Carmel (Rabid Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original review posted at Rabid Reads: http://www.rabidreads.com/2011/05/review-she-smells-dead-by-ej-stevens.html

At first I was a bit put off by the title of this book; but after seeing the gorgeous wolf on the cover of the next installment I just had to give it a try! I devoured this book in an afternoon. The plot is engaging, the characters are real and I loved Stevens' no nonsense writing style. Although, I did see the cliff hanger ending coming a mile away and felt a tad frustrated as a result. Overall, She Smells The Dead is an outstanding book. Also, I'm happy to report that my suspicions have been confirmed; there are werewolves in this book! Well, kinda.

There are two storylines that span the entire length of the book and keep it interesting. Number one is that Yuki can, yes, smell dead people. She's haunted by a ghost and does a bit of investigating with her friends to figure out what issue he needs to resolve before being able to pass over. This added an element of fun to the novel. This group of friends' investigation takes them into some pretty weird situations. The hilarity of some of their schemes didn't escape them either and with that witty banter ensued. The second is the blooming relationship between Yuki and Cal. It progressed at a nice pace and added depth to the characters.

I got a real kick out of Yuki. She's unique and kirky. I loved witnessing her dreams and her later interpretation of them. The symbolism and meaning behind them was superbly done. I also enjoyed the Young Adult aspect of this book. It wasn't overpowering and added an extra dimension to the characters. Cal! Cal is a great personage. I enjoyed his softer, more vulnerable side but it didn't make him appear weak. This kid is definitely growing into a strong and competent man.

Throughout the entire novel there's such a huge build-up to Halloween that I couldn't help but feel disappointed that I have to wait until Spirit Storm to find out what happens. The ending definitely made me want to read book 2 but could have been handled better in my opinion. She Smells The Dead is an outstanding read that surprised me with its to-the-point writing style that immediately grabbed my interest. Still skeptical? Check out the cover of the next installment and then decide!

[Missy (Two Readers Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

She Smells the Dead was a fast and fun read. I really enjoyed the fact that there was a mixture of paranormal elements that were tied together. Also, I completely love the cover. It is absolutely beautiful and is pretty much exactly how I visualize the main character, Yuki.

Vanessa “Yuki” just so happens to smell the dead. It’s their way of letting her know that they have unfinished business that she needs to help them with. When she starts out all she has is the smell to go on in order to find out who they are and what they need. I love how original Yuki was. She wasn’t your average cookie cutter character. She was a goth girl and she was darn proud of it. She was hilarious, sarcastic and kick butt. She was all the things that I love in characters.

While working a case Yuki enlists the help of her friends. Calvin, her hunky best friend that she is starting to have feelings for, who also has a secret of his own and Emma her crazy vegan best friend who is the queen of research and lover of all animals big and small. They make up an extremely fun cast of characters.

I love how Stevens weaved all of the characters in together so that they play such an important role in each others lives and the story. The plot was so fun, fast paced and it seemed like there was adventure around every corner!

Overall I really really like this one! This story was absolutely unique and fun and WAY too short! We are left with quite a cliffhanger and I am excited to start on the next in the series, Spirit Storm.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yuki has an unusual ability to smell the dead. She can sense them and sense that they need something from her before they can move on. When a spirit comes to her reeking of vinegar and is possibly a victim of foul play, Yuki enlists her friends Calvin and Emma to unravel the mystery. But something far more dangerous lurks on the horizon and if Yuki doesn't learn to control her gift in time she may lose her mind or even her life.

This novel was different than so many paranormal novels out there. I mean whoever heard of someone who could smell the dead. Perhaps that is what intrigued me about this novel to begin with, that or the fantastic cover art.

Stevens is a talented writer who pulls you into the story and keeps up the fast pace throughout the novel. I love her writing style and how she tells her story. It is straight to the point without the meandering that has been plaguing me in so many novels of late. This is an easy read you can just sit back and enjoy.

Overall this is a fun fast read. Yuki and her friends are entertaining and fun to read about. Yuki's ability is unusual and it is interesting to watch her unravel ways to understand and use her talent. Calvin and Emma, her best friends are charming and fascinating in their own right. This short entertaining read is definitely worth the time. I can't wait to read book two, Spirit Storm.

Cautions for sensitive readers: none

[Thomas Amo · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the beginning of senior year and Yuki's psychic awareness of ghostly spirits is threatening to ruin her life. Her ability to sense spirits of the dead isn't glamorous like on TV. SHE SMELLS THE DEAD. Yuki is being visited in her dreams and suspects that her friend Calvin is involved in something strange. Will Yuki be able to save the spirits and herself?

REVIEW
E.J. Stevens, truly took me into her world from page one. I fell in love with her MC, Yuki from the first moment she wrinkled her adorable nose at the smell of vinegar...or the smell of the dead. (having been a former death investigator I can assure the dead don't smell like vinegar...I wished some of them did..) But it's her sixth sense and E.J. just really has a great way of putting you in the mood with her writing style. She builds on all those typical emotions we all feel during those sometimes torturous years of high school. It's written in first person and I felt the entire time Yuki was telling ME the story. It's a fun fast paced read, great for any YA readers!

Looking forward to more from this very talented writer!
5 Stars for Yuki and E.J. Stevens!

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE FAERYS VIEW

First off-I am amazed that I haven’t read the Spirit Guide series by E.J. Stevens until now! How could I miss such a gem of a read! She Smells The Dead is a One-Sit-Read for me-literally and figuratively! Once I picked it up, I didn’t put it down until I finished it and then I quickly downloaded the rest of the series on to my Kindle and did the same. I read the entire series in 2 days and now I want more!

E.J. did a beautiful job in all aspects of her novel but what impressed me the most was her character descriptions; the main character Yuki (really Vanessa, but that’s a story within itself!) quickly endeared herself to me. She is 5 ft nothing, Goth and tortured by the jocks at school who think she’s a witch but Yuki’s the kind of girl who doesn’t let them see how it hurts her, she’s a tough cookie on the outside but has a heart of gold. She’s a vegan and loves showing her own uniqueness in her sense of style. So what if it happens to be knee-high lace ups, torn tights and white make-up-she is proud of her style and wears it well. Yuki values her friends Calvin and Emma. Calvin or Cal, is a meat eating hunk who’s as anti-goth as they come but has been friends with Yuki forever and Emma, straight laced, organized, factual, extreme animal rights activist and dresses basically only in beige don’t seem to be who you’d pick out of a line up as Yuki’s friends but they are loyal and supportive of each other. E.J.’s description of the trio’s friendship is realistic and true, she could have been talking about my own besties. The secondary characters, particularly Simon, are a joy and I couldn’t wait to read more about them.

Told in Yuki’s POV, I was completely engrossed in a wondrous tale about an unusual young woman with the gift of smelling the dead and by smelling the dead she learns she can help those spirits that are reaching out to her for help or closure. There is so much more to the story then this, though. E.J. incorporates young love, hilarity in the form of Yuki’s personality and her interactions with her friends. Yuki’s favorite saying, ‘Son of a Dung Beetle’ is so apropos and Cal often calls her ‘Dung Beetle Princess ’. The story holds many secrets for the reader to discover.

There’s quite a bit of mysticism involved, Cal is a practitioner of many variations of meditation and vision quests. Yuki finds that her dreams are prophetic and that she has a spirit guide and the form of that spirit guide is a riot but you must read to find out! Interestingly enough, Cal has his own supernatural ability to cope with and it ties in with Yuki, making the story all that much more fascinating.

She Smells the Dead by E.J. Stevens is a captivating read that I completely enjoyed on so many levels. The next in the series, Spirit Storm promises to be as fanfaerytastic as She Smells the Dead! I know this because I’ve already read it!

THE BOOK FAERY SAYS ROCK ON E.J. STEVENS!

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the first day of school and Vanessa Stennings who likes to be called Yuki is overwhelmed by the scent of vinegar, weird right? Well Yuki has a gift, she smells the dead, not like decay or anything like that but instead its more a symbolic scent of the spirit who has come to her for help, her friend Calvin likes to call it smell impressions, anywho this particular spirit smells like vinegar, and the only way to get rid of the spirit is to figure out what it wants!
Yuki hasn't ever been popular in school, some of her classmates even call her a witch,because of the way she looks and dresses, but she does have a few good friends. Calvin Miller whom she has known since second grade,Emma, who writes for the school paper and Gordy who is in the Anime club, and thinks Yuki is cool because of her name.
Calvin and Yuki share a special bond of knowing who they really are, Calvin was told by his family that he is actually a werewolf , and one summer while he and Yuki was at a Shaman retreat he was told his spirit animal was the wolf, and Yuki's turned out to be the dung beetle, which Calvin loves teasing her about. So with her paranomal powers and his werewolf thing well you could say they have a few things in common!

Together they need to figure out their powers while also trying to get to the bottom of Yuki's ghost, all before Samhain (Halloween), the night that ghosts flood the earth, but with romance blooming between the two all Yuki wants to do is attend The Homecoming Dance and wear her corset dress!

This is a very quick paced story with a great cast of characters. Yuki's quick wit and her often sarcastic sense of humor was something I loved, the romance that also started developing between Gordy and Emma toward the end of the book was an unexpected twist, and I look forward to how that might develop in a future book.
The author wraps up the book very well, but the last sentence of the book leaves us hope that there will be sequel to this one!
If your a fan of paranormal fiction, young adult, or mysteries then I highly recommend this book.

I was provided a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Kai · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think started a bit slow, but it got better as I go along reading, and before I knew it I was enjoying the read.

Yuki can smell the dead. Literally. It was her indicator that a ghost is around when she smells something. With her recently discovered powers, Yuki was helping the world, one ghost at a time, and her latest haunting was from a ghost smelling like vinegar.

Enlisting help from her friends, Emma, hardcore vegan and against anything with meat who’s got a knack for concocting salves to nasty teas using herbs, and Calvin, the boy who was into all things mystical, the one who’s spirit animal was a wolf. But was it really just a spirit animal, or something else entirely?

I had an impression that this was a ghost story, and that’s what you will initially think when you read the summary, so imagine my surprise when I found out there were wolves as well. I had my reservations, wondering how this element of the story will play out, but it was an interesting mix. Wolves and Ghosts. I don’t think I’ve read anything with both.

I liked the way the plot worked out. E.J. was able to blend ghosts and wolves and turn it into something very convincing and believable with her writing. I think this was such a fresh idea, a very promising premise that, if worked out effectively would be a really good story. It’s enchanting and very entertaining!

The ending was such a cliffhanger. It makes you wonder just what will happen to Yuki. I myself am anticipating how she’ll be able to deal with her powers and the upcoming Samhain, when she’s most vulnerable against ghosts.

Very much looking forward to the sequel!

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yuki is a unique teenager. She has an annoying habit of smelling dead people. When spirits have unfinished business, they haunt her until she is able to figure out how to help them. Instead of seeing or conversing with the dead, each one has a certain smell that alerts her of their presence. With the help of her friends, Yuki is about to be once fierce ghost whisperer.

First of all, I love the cover. I also loved the storyline. I’ve read a lot of ghost stories about people being able to interact with the dead and being able to help trapped spirits move on; but none where the dead could be helped without actually seeing or talking to them. It’s a different twist and I think that’s what made She Smells The Dead so interesting to me.

The story was a little slow at first, but once I got a sense of who Yuki was and her ability, I did enjoy the story. I loved her support system. Although Yuki was considered different to most kids at school, she still had Calvin and Emma by her side to share her secret with and to keep her life normal-when she’s not being haunted.

She Smells The Dead lays the foundation for a great new YA series. E J Stevens did a wonderful job of introducing this series. I am very interested to see what will happen next.

[TheBookAddictedGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

4½ Out of 5
Yuki’s more-or-less your average girl: she has great friend Emma, she has a crush – who doesn’t crush back on her – and awesome boots. Except Yuki can smell the dead. Yeah, that’s right. It’s not glamorous, and it makes it a lot harder to figure out what the spirit haunting you actually wants. Now it’s senior year, and Yuki is being haunted by someone who smells like vinegar. But that’s not the worst part. She’s suddenly got strange feelings for Calvin Miller, her other friend and is having prophetic dreams at night. And she knows – knows – that something odd is going on with Calvin… Can Yuki save Vinegar Man? Before she loses herself?
I loved this book! It had action, romance, humour, dead-smelling: everything a girl wants in a paranormal book. And – more importantly – it was wonderfully written with great characters and plot. Thanks E.J.!
Yuki (her real name’s Vanessa, but she changed it because of some unfortunate nicknames) was just a character I instantly liked. I liked her habit of exaggerating, her sarcasm, her brilliantly mad fashion sense: everything. Especially that her spirit animal is a dung beetle. I laughed so much at that one. All her strange, unique little sayings made me laugh, too. How can you not at things like: “son of a dung beetle”, “holy heck”, or “this sucks eggs”? She was just awesome, from the way she dealt with her gift – in a great, sometimes-funny and always relatable way – to the way she always called Cal by his full name to the habit she had of saying things like: “crow dude” or “doctor man”. I loved her! (Did she remind anyone else of Abby from NCIS? Abby is my favourite TV character ever!)
Calvin Miller was sort of New Agey, into mystical, um, stuff… He was just adorable: strong, cute, forgiving. I loved him! He really made me laugh. Although, his big secret was kinda obvious. To me, anyway.
Emma was the best! She was a vegan and always laid into Calvin for eating meat. As a vegetarian myself, I loved her: “Can you taste its fear?” comments. She was really into human rights for everyone – people in the dark ages, bees. Also into the whole herbal remedies, she was practical, cute, and funny. She was awesome!
And Calvin and Yuki were really cute. Their relationship was easy, natural, and oh-so sweet. They constantly teased one another, and had funny conversations with words like “Smellavision” and “Technosmellor” in them. However, their friendship changed lately. Suddenly Calvin was flirting and interrupting Yuki’s daydreams about the studded, Emo-ish guy she was crushing on. That’s what I liked most about this couple: the fact that they were friends first. It wasn’t a love-at-first-sight connection, instead being a sweet and one-hundred-per cent believable romance. Plus there’s the whole adorable: “Beetle Princess” and other nicknames as well. I can’t wait to see where this couple goes!
I have to mention E.J.’s writing once again: it was amazing. Easy and funny, I completely felt like it was Yuki talking, not an author writing as her, if that makes any sense. It sounded like a teenager speaking, without having to try too hard by using irritating words such as too many “like”s or “totally”s. It was believable and completely addictive.
Now, I have to admit something. Before I read this book, I just assumed it would be a ghost haunting a girl, who would give him peace and everyone would be peachy. I was wrong. Yes, there was murder mystery, but it was so much more than that. There was a whole other side, one that was so new and so amazing: a brilliant new take on many popular folklores. I adored She Smells the Dead, and have only one major fault: it was too short! And it had a terrible cliff-hanger. I’m over the moon that I have the rest of the series so I can get my ghostly fix and find out what will happen next!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

E. J. Steven's novel is a combination of paranormal romance and mystery with a good bit of humor thrown in. The main character Yuki isn't really named that, but chose that nickname over her real name Vanessa. You'll have to read the book to see what the nicknames she's been through to see why she chose a nickname. The novel takes place in high school in a small Maine town where Yuki's best friends are Calvin and Emma. Calvin is a huge meat eater, but into meditation and spiritual matters. Yuki is a vegetarian and Emma is completely Vegan. It makes for fun and interesting fodder at the lunch table.

The mystery begins when Yuki is overpowered with the smell of vinegar. Both Calvin and Emma know about her strange "talent" and help her in her sleuthing to find the ghost that is connected to the smell. She can't see him or talk to him. She only has a smell to go by. Her parents don't know about her talent so she works around that. And she has to rely on her friends for rides as she doesn't have her driver's license yet, afraid a scent will overtake her and she'll pass out while driving.

She has the hots for the bad boy in school Garrett Hamlin but suddenly finds herself attracted to Calvin. She soon finds out why and things get really strange from there. And that's saying a lot since she can smell dead people.

This is an easy to finish in one night book. The writing flows quickly, there are no gaps in the story that need explaining except maybe how Yuki came to have her talent. But the story builds momentum leading to the next novel. There are no cliffhangers. It ends with a good conclusion but you know there is more to come. I loved the story between Cal (vin) and Yuki. They'd obviously been friends a long time and they are so opposite it is hard to believe they are friends. She's as goth as they come and he's as outdoorsy as they come, yet they are perfect for each other. He calls her his "Princess Dung Beetle" which she sometimes likes. You'll have to read to see how that came about. There are no betrayals in this book, everyone is a good down to earth loyal friend. The story is told from Yuki's perspective, first person narrative so we get a chance to see inside her head. Her observations, especially in high school are funny.

I really loved this story. The romance was just enough. The paranormal was definitely something new and it wasn't just the smelling dead people. I left out a big part so I don't spoil it for you. And the strong friendships were nice to see. The biggest villain at high school this time was a "jock" and not a girl. So yay for the girls we aren't as bitchy as we're portrayed to be!! At least not in this novel.

This novel is G rated. Anyone that likes paranormal romance/mystery should enjoy this quick read.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a teenager can suck. Being a teenager with paranormal gifts can really suck. Yuki is a Senior in high school who has an uncanny sense of smell. She smells the dead. That’s right she senses ghosts through scent. That alone makes this series interesting.

In these first two books Yuki is learning about her spirit gifts. Her best friend Cal who becomes her boyfriend has his own issues that he has to work through. Together Yuki and Cal will weather anything that the spirit world has to offer. Emma is Yuki’s other best friend who brings reason and balance to Yuki. Emma is the polar opposite of Yuki from the way they dress to the way they respond to things. Simon is helping Cal as he deals with his issues. He also is there to help Yuki understand how to control her spirit gift and not let it control her. Simon is a funny, quick witted, hot guy who gets under Emma’s skin. I’m interested to see where their quips lead them.

There were many things I liked about this series. The first thing that had me loving this series was the cover art. I love the covers of both of these books. The cover for She Smells the Dead is a striking cover that features only Yuki. The cover for Spirit Storm has a little more detail that hints at what’s to come in the story. Both are simple but appealing. The story itself was an enjoyable quick read. The story is told from Yuki’s point of view but the reader gets to also witness Yuki’s inner monologue. She makes witty comments on the things she is telling to the reader. The story offers a level of mystery. Since Yuki smells the dead she doesn’t actually see them or talk to them. This makes figuring out what they want a little difficult so with the awesome research skills of her friend Emma and the internet she has resources to help her. She also is getting in tune with the spirit side and she gets clues from her dreams. I was pleasantly surprised that in the story Emma used the library for research. She scoured books and used microfiche while Yuki relied on internet. Yuki even comments that Emma was able to find more information from her research. As a teacher this bit of story detail stood out to me since I have seen the decline in research skills among students. It makes the story more believable that the characters use all resources available to help them figure things out. To add a level of reality to the story Yuki still goes to school every day even though paranormal activity is creeping up on her. There is a nice balance of reality and paranormal to make this story work. It truly is a brilliant series beginning. Book 3 is scheduled to release Fall 2011.

[Bonnie Lamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yuki is just beginning her senior year and as if high school wasn’t difficult enough, she has to deal with smelling the dead while paying attention in class. E. J. Stevens has brought a new and fun element to YA paranormal fiction. Yuki doesn’t smell corpses; she smells something that is associated with the human life of the spirit trying to make contact. She then needs to use her yet limited, but developing, detective skills to try to figure out who the spirit was and why it’s contacting her with only her sense of smell as a guide.

I truly enjoyed this book. I am a fan of dream imagery and E. J. Stevens weaves this into the story nicely. The characters are charming, quirky and interesting and they each seem to blossom as the book progresses. Yuki may be somewhat awkward in the beginning but she takes on the challenge of dealing with her ability with strength and courage. While dealing with all of this, she also discovers that her feelings for her good friend, Calvin, are stronger than friendship. But she knows that Calvin is keeping something from her, something important and she’s determined to discover what it is even if it could mean the end of their burgeoning relationship. Yuki’s vegan friend Emma seems to take it all in stride as she battles her own demons such as cruelty of animals by meat eaters and the oppression of bees by beekeepers. The more I read, the harder it was to put the book down.

The one thing I thought the book was missing was back story. There is no clear explanation of how Yuki discovers that the overwhelming smells that bombard her are those of dead spirits. Were there others in her family history that may have had the ability or is this something that happens only to random individuals? Did she have dreams that helped her believe that she indeed smelled the dead? Yuki’s friends are supportive throughout the book and believe in her ability but did they believe her at first? It would be interesting to know how she told them and convinced them that this power of hers was real. I would love to read maybe a novelette prequel to She Smells the Dead that answers these questions.

She Smells the Dead is a fun read that makes you eager to discover where the spirits are going to take Yuki and Calvin next. I will definitely be reading the second book in this series!

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

She Smells the Dead is the story of Vanessa Stennings, better known as Yuki, as she struggles with and discovers the true weight and meaning of her gift to sense...or smell...the dead. Unlike the glamourous and sensationalized psychics, Yuki's gift can be painful, and the intensity can wear on her. When the sudden, overwhelming smell of vinegar plagues Yuki, she and her friends Calvin, her mystical-loving best friend whose spirit is supposedly a wolf, and Emma, her intensely vegan friend, must unravel the mystery of the spirit before time runs out.

I've been a follower of the author, E.J. Stevens' blog for a long time now, so when she offered a chance to read and review her book, She Smells the Dead, I jumped at the chance. I didn't really know what to expect getting into this book. I thought perhaps it might be a ghost story, or some sort of paranormal story, but it definitely took my assumptions to the next level. Incorporating lore, mystery, wolves, and spirits in an entirely unique way, She Smells the Dead is a refreshing and dark twist on a paranormal story.

I thought the beginning of She Smells the Dead was a little slower than I might have hoped, but it established Yuki's background, which definitely helped later in the story. I also had to get used to reading Yuki's thoughts interjected into the narrative, identified as italics. Once I got a grip on that, it became normal to read them, and it didn't feel jarring at all. I really enjoyed, as well, the introduction of characters halfway through, namely Simon, to throw a wrench and a little eye candy to keep the story fresh and alive.

She Smells the Dead is an exciting new take on wolves, spirits, and more. It's a slim book, fast-paced once you get into it, and very easy to read. E.J. Stevens has a unique voice that really sets She Smells the Dead apart from other such books. I give it a strong 4 out 5, and I'd recommend it to all those who love YA, Paranormal, Mystery, and an entertaining read.

This book was given to me free of charge by the author in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of the book.

[Artem · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted like this book. And I do like the concept of smelling ghosts with other identifier. That original (at least for me) concept is the reason for the second star.
And just so we are clear I do not blame the author all that much. But whoever did the editing of this book was sloppy and negligent or just did not read it through. That is my overall feeling but there were several issues that stuck out for me like a sore thumb.
•there is cafeteria scene where Emma and Yuki discuss their food. In the beginning of the scene Cal is mentioned to be eating and reacting to their conversation but by the end of the chapter he is now positioned at a different table and the fact that he is reacting to their conversation has turned into something surprising.
•there is also an issue with Cal's tattoo. It is first described by Yuki as wolf chasing a scarab. And two chapters later she is asking Cal to show her the tattoo and is then surprised to see "a dung beetle" as a part of it. So she either forgot over the period of less than 6 pages what it looked like or...
•there is a long description of how Simon is introduced to Yuki parents as Cal's uncle and how they were training all the time. But later when Simon is seen we are now told that Yuki has not seen him since their first meeting.
•try looking objectively at the first page of chapter 44. How many times over the course of a few paragraphs do the words "Cal's dad" appear? Is it really that hard to come up with a name for the guy? Alternating with Mr Miller would work too.
•The whole "romance between childhood friends" can be based on one of three things: sudden realization, long term pining or evolutionary progression of feelings. In this book we have no idea why Yuki or Calvin feel the way they do all of a sudden. We are given the impression that Cal has always been "pining" but Yuki just switches her affections without any internal realizations. The "am I into Calvin Miller all of a sudden? Yes, I am!" shtick is unsatisfying.

I have no idea if I should read the sequels.

[Jessica Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

E. J. Stevens writes a beautiful paranormal novel with an amazing
cover and a story that will stick with you long after your finished reading. She fits so
much in this short novel you never feel like a character is missing something.
The characters really make the story what it is!
Yuki: With a paranormal gift that is anything but glamorous and would gag
me if I had to deal with it, she smells the dead. Her current spirit haunting her makes
her smell vinegar all day can you even imagine. Yuki seems to be to be strong and
venerable because of her powers all at the same time. She is a goth at school - and called
a "witch" by many of the students. Her sense of humor and smart ass remarks she says
to herself really tripped me out. With her amazing talents I can't wait to see what's
next for Yuki.
Calvin: Is Yuki best friend that soon becomes a lot more. For some reason he
reminds me of a hippie dude but that may just be in my head. But just as we are getting
to know the caring, protective, and loving Calvin something strange seems to be
happening and he is avoiding Yuki.
Emma: She is Yuki's vegan friend -who to me is the best kind of written
friend you can have. She is trustworthy, fun loving, and is very humorous. She is
out for bee oppression everywhere and will not stand for it.
Simon: A wanna be playboy who becomes Yuki's instructor in all things spiritual.
He is annoying,sarcastic, and very helpful in rough situations.
*Overall I think this book was well worth the read and I will be reading it again and again. I recommend it to Paranormal lovers, YA, mystery fans. I think young teens could read this with ease of their parents.

Check Out More Reviews :http://jessicasvision.blogspot.com

[Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first started reading this book I was instantly hooked- we have an extremely interesting premise with an equally interesting female lead, Yuki, but best of all, a totally swoon-worthy male lead/ best friend/ love interest, Cal.The fast paced nature of the book and its size (it being very concise and to the point) makes it easy to consume this book in one sitting, leaving the reader itching to read the next book in the series, "Spirit Storm".

If I had to criticize one thing of the book (which let me tell you, is no easy thing to do as so much of this book is done right), I would have to say that my biggest criticism lie with Yuki. I thought that she started out as a very strong female character but lost her resolve as the book went on (it appeared that she began to become more and more dependent upon Cal/ super clingy as the book went on). When Yuki does something at the end of the book she becomes, what I thought to be, extremely melodramatic (with thoughts like "He will never forgive me!", "He is going to hate me!", etc.), when the thing that takes place is clearly an accident and those around her understand it to be exactly that- I seriously didn't see the severity of the event at all- and in her being so melodramatic, well, I did lose a bit of respect for her.

All in all, despite the criticism I have of one of the main characters this is still a really great book, and dare I say it, a must read. I think that fans of Kimberly Derting's "The Body Finder" series and Meg Cabot's "Mediator" series will gobble this book up in a heartbeat, becoming instant fans of E.J. Stevens (and Cal, we obviously cannot forget Cal the heartthrob).