Amy

http://www.anovelstart.co.uk

https://www.goodreads.com/amy_heaney

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Amy is Currently Reading

Amy is currently reading

Beatrix Potter The Complete Tales

by Beatrix Potter

bookshelves: currently-reading

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May 17, 2025 07:17AM

Amy is currently reading

Grave Witch (Alex Craft, #1)

by Kalayna Price (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: 2013, fiction, supernatural, 2015, mystery, 1-owned, 3-reread, fantasy, currently-reading, under-350-pages

read in February 2015

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Amy said: " Grave Witch is set in a world where witches and elves are socially accepted as part of the norm. The main character of this novel, Alexis Craft, is a grave witch; this means she can raise Shades from dead bodies - normally to interrogate them as part Grave Witch is set in a world where witches and elves are socially accepted as part of the norm. The main character of this novel, Alexis Craft, is a grave witch; this means she can raise Shades from dead bodies - normally to interrogate them as part of her P.I. business or police work.

I found the concept of a 'Grave Witch' quite interesting. The way Price described the chill of death crawl over Alexis as she access's her grave magic is quite realistic. I particularly liked that although this magic seemed to be powerful, it did have its limits. After using her grave magic she would lose most of her sight, as the book progresses and her power increases, she soon looses all her sight after using her magic. I liked that this was included because I think it taught the character a bit of discipline and respect, certainly some caution in relation to her gift.

In this novel, Alexis is working for the cops assisting them with a high-profile death and also a serial killer. The description of the murders was quite vivid but thankfully it wasn't in so much detail that I started to feel queazy. Alexis's work certainly makes you feel sympathy for her, but also leaves you feeling that she's stronger than she looks.

I really liked how the author incorporated a magical society into (what I assume is) modern America. It isn't just that there are special magical divisions in the police force now; it's also incorporated into politics. I liked this because it shows an on-going struggle to 'fit in' with the norm, rather than just saying "yeah, witches and elves and what not live in America", which would have been the easy thing to do, but Price actually goes on and explains how and why this happened in the story, which was a nice touch.

Alex Craft was, for me, a believable character because she had her every day flaws. She was messy, skint, and a little erratic.

Now, Falin Andrews... Detective Andrews... homicide... at first I thought he was some sort of up-tight swear word who stuck by the book and dealt with anybody who got in his way. As the story progresses, you get to know him a little better as Price dangles hints in front of the reader to tease you. As the book progressed I had to change my view on Andrews quite a few times and change my hypothesis, it's nice to have a character like that in a book purely to keep the reader guessing and thinking.

Overall, it was a good story but it lacked that "spark" for me. The book was certainly interesting and gripped me all the way through, but I still felt like it was quite... average. I'd recommend this book to anybody who likes supernatural crime-fighting novels.

If you like my review, please visit my book blog at: http://anovelstart.co.uk ...more "

May 21, 2023 02:43PM · see review

Amy’s Notes & Highlights

The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer

1 note & 46 highlights

She just needed one more.

See Amy’s 17 books with notes and highlights…

Amy’s Quotes

“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.”
― William Shakespeare, As You Like It

tags: wisdom

45298 likes

“Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.”
― Groucho Marx, The Essential Groucho: Writings For By And About Groucho Marx

tags: animals, books, dogs, friends, humor

37988 likes