Fantasy Review+Giveaway: Graveminder by Melissa Marr

Review+Giveaway: Graveminder by Melissa Marr

Kristin •August 4, 2011, ,

I have an extra copy of Graveminder to give away, courtesy of HarperCollins, so please see below the review for details!

Graveminder by Melissa Marr
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: From publisher for review
Horror/Suspense
4.5/5 Hats

Synopsis
Three sips to mind the dead . . .

Rebekkah Barrow never forgot the attention her grandmother Maylene bestowed upon the dead of Claysville, the small town where Bek spent her adolescence. There wasn’t a funeral that Maylene didn’t attend, and at each one Rebekkah watched as Maylene performed the same unusual ritual: She took three sips from a silver flask and spoke the words “Sleep well, and stay where I put you.”

Now Maylene is dead, and Bek must go back to the place she left a decade earlier. She soon discovers that Claysville is not just the sleepy town she remembers, and that

Maylene had good reason for her odd traditions. It turns out that in Claysville the worlds of the living and the dead are dangerously connected; beneath the town lies a shadowy, lawless land ruled by the enigmatic Charles, aka Mr. D. If the dead are not properly cared for, they will come back to satiate themselves with food, drink, and stories from the land of the living. Only the Graveminder, by tradition a Barrow woman, and her Undertaker—in this case Byron Montgomery, with whom Bek shares a complicated past—can set things right once the dead begin to walk.

Although she is still grieving for Maylene, Rebekkah will soon find that she has more than a funeral to attend to in Claysville, and that what awaits her may be far worse: dark secrets, a centuries-old bargain, a romance that still haunts her, and a frightening new responsibility—to stop a monster and put the dead to rest where they belong.

REVIEW
 Undertaker Byron Montgomery grew up in Claysville, but recently came back after 8 years to work in the town he grew up in. After Rebekkah’s grandmother Maylene is murdered, she must return to Claysville to take care of unfinished business. Meanwhile, Byron is frustrated at the sheriff’s unwillingness to look into a death that, to Byron, was obviously murder, and the fact that the only woman he’s ever loved, but could never really have, is back in town doesn’t help matters. Rebekkah and Byron are meant for something bigger, and as a sinister figure makes its way through the town, devouring the living, they must resign themselves to their fate before the dead take over.

Byron is the Undertaker and Rebekkah is the Graveminder. Bound together by fate, and by an ancient contract to keep the town of Claysville safe, they’ll have to put aside years of repressed feelings and fears if they are to keep their wits about them. Rebekkah has been pushing Byron away for ages, always denying her love for him. Byron has always loved Rebekkah and will do anything to have her in his life. I’ll admit it, Rebekkah frustrated me. She’s got this wonderful man professing his undying love to her, and she pushes it away. Sometimes I wanted to smack Byron for making moonie eyes for someone that just makes him crazy, but it does makes for wonderful tension, and also threatens to affect their ability to come together for the sake of Claysville, and their own futures.

Melissa Marr turns up the creep factor in this one, and creates an atmosphere that’s at once oppressive and fascinating in its mystery. I especially enjoyed the trips to the land of the dead, and into Mr D.’s lair, where different times and places come together to create a dangerous landscape that’s as seductive as it is terrifying. That’s actually the only change I would have made to this book; more land of the dead, more Mr. D., and more Alicia (trust me on this one.) Murder, the Hungry Dead, and long held secrets, with an eerie Southern Gothic feel, make Graveminder a creepy treat (especially on a rainy night.) Highly recommended!


Giveaway Details:
1. Giveaway is for one copy of Graveminder to one winner
2. To enter, please leave a comment with your email address. Following is not required but is always appreciated.
3. Giveaway is open to the US only
4. Giveaway ENDS Friday, August 19th, 2011

 

No related posts.

58 Comments:

  1. Jacob Drabek-Scheer
    August 4, 2011 at 6:55 pm

    jdrabekscheer[at]yahoo[dot]com

  2. pamela
    August 4, 2011 at 6:59 pm

    I love Melissa Marr! Now that the WL series are done, I want to read more of her!

  3. Christina Wofford
    August 4, 2011 at 7:02 pm

    Love Melissa Marr!! Thanks for the chance to win one of her books. ?

  4. debbie
    August 4, 2011 at 7:08 pm

    I love, love, love Melissa Marr!!! Make my 40th b-day extra special &pick me to win ?

  5. Andrea Kelley
    August 4, 2011 at 7:17 pm

    Great review.(:

    angee1011 at yahoo dot com

  7. Grace
    August 4, 2011 at 7:33 pm

    Thanks for the great giveaway!

  9. Joan Swan
    August 4, 2011 at 8:05 pm

    OMG, I’ve wanted to read this since it came out! I was at Borders the day before it released and asked for it. They had it in the back but couldn’t put it out or sell it until the actual release date. I didn’t get back and haven’t gotten around to ordering it online. LOVE the premise! I rarely enter contests, but…:)

  10. Beckie Cooley
    August 4, 2011 at 8:12 pm

    Can’t wait to read it!

  11. Amanda Strempke
    August 4, 2011 at 8:14 pm

    Waiting & Hoping!

    [email protected]

  12. Sara Negrete
    August 4, 2011 at 8:36 pm

    I’ve had my eye on this book for awhile now! Can’t wait to read! Thanks for the chance to enter! ?

    saribonita76(at)gmail.(com)

  13. Kayla Bouy
    August 4, 2011 at 8:47 pm

    Sounds like a very interesting read. Sign me up ?

    [email protected]

  14. Vivien
    August 4, 2011 at 9:29 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    GFC follower

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

  15. Carolsue
    August 5, 2011 at 2:39 am

    I can’t wait to read this book! Sounds scary!

  16. Tara
    August 5, 2011 at 7:00 am

    I adore her Wicked Lovely series. This sounds like it would be just as good if not better!
    [email protected]

  17. T C Welch
    August 5, 2011 at 8:44 am

    Love the Wicked Lovely Series.

  18. cynthia garcia
    August 5, 2011 at 10:49 am

    I love Melissa Marr! Thank you for the great giveaway!

    [email protected]

  19. Candice J
    August 5, 2011 at 4:40 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    GFC: Candice
    candicerjames [at] gmail [dot] com

  20. Terri M
    August 5, 2011 at 5:41 pm

    thanks for the giveaway. ?

    [email protected]

  21. Victoria Zumbrum
    August 5, 2011 at 5:43 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway. Please enter me in contest. Sounds like a really good read. [email protected]

  22. Angie
    August 5, 2011 at 5:54 pm

    Awesome giveaway!!!

    Thanks!

    ajiehuang1997 (at) gmail (dot) com

  23. SpadesHighReads
    August 5, 2011 at 7:00 pm

    I’ve been trying to enter all the giveaways for this book but never was lucky enough. Im hoping with crossed fingers =D
    Thanks for hosting this giveaway!!

    GFC Follower: SpadesHighReads
    SpadesHigh @ http://SpadesHighReads.com
    TValeros18 AT gmail DOT com

  24. Andrea I
    August 5, 2011 at 7:05 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway. It sounds very interesting.

    lillieblue613(at)gmail(dot)com

  25. Julie Witt
    August 5, 2011 at 7:37 pm

    I really, really want to read this book! Thanks so much for giving me the chance to win a copy:)

    GFC follower
    jwitt33 at live dot com

  26. Marjie Pride
    August 5, 2011 at 7:42 pm

    This sounds great!
    Thanks for the Giveaway!
    [email protected]

  27. Lexi
    August 5, 2011 at 7:53 pm

    Oooooh this book has been in my TBR list for a while now. I would LOVE to get my hands on it.
    Thanks for the chance to win! Nice review!

    GFC follower
    eyesofblueice (at) gmail (dot)com

  28. Kris S
    August 5, 2011 at 8:06 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway. I’ve been looking forward to this book for a while now!

    I’ve been a GFC Follower for a while now as Sakira ?

    Kris
    elfdrop at gmail dot com

  29. Michele L
    August 5, 2011 at 8:54 pm

    This looks like such a good book, and the cover is so perfect for a creepy story! Thank you for the giveaway!
    rlawrence110 at yahoo dot com

  30. Andreat78
    August 5, 2011 at 9:06 pm

    Would love to win this.
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    [email protected]

  31. Krystal Larson
    August 5, 2011 at 9:31 pm

    This is a good author! Thank you! edysicecreamlover18@gmailDOTcom GFC Krystal Larson

  32. Sarah E. Cruz
    August 5, 2011 at 10:44 pm

    Thanks for the Giveaway!
    GFC Follower; Sarah E. Cruz

    ebbith0115[at]gmail[dot]com

  33. Maureen
    August 6, 2011 at 4:56 am

    It looks like a great story.
    mce1011 AT aol DOT com

  34. anne r
    August 6, 2011 at 7:18 am

    Thanks for the giveaway, I have this book on my to-read list. Thanks.
    areeths At new DOT rr DOT com

  35. dianad
    August 6, 2011 at 7:56 am

    Read the reviews. This sounds like a real good book. Appreciate the giveaway.

  36. Abgafford
    August 6, 2011 at 9:04 am

    Loved the Wicked Lovely series and I’ve been wanting to read Graveminder. Thanks for the giveaway! [email protected]

  37. latisha depoortere
    August 7, 2011 at 12:20 am

    What a great giveaway I love her books and look forward to reading this one! Great giveaway thanks for the chance! Im a GFC follower/latishajean
    tishajean@ charter.net

  38. victoria
    August 7, 2011 at 1:44 am

    thanks for the giveaway this sounds like an amazing book. vbarton24 at gmail dot com

  39. Janel Mullins
    August 7, 2011 at 4:26 pm

    great giveaway i have heard a lot about this book.

  40. Sapphyria
    August 8, 2011 at 8:10 am

    This sounds like a great book!

    Thanks for the opportunity.

    Saph
    saphsbookblog(at)gmail(dot)com

  41. Sariah
    August 8, 2011 at 1:38 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway. I like her books!!

  43. Raven In A Blue Room
    August 10, 2011 at 4:43 am

    Google Friends Connect – following you publicly as (Louis)

    Thank you for hosting this giveaway

    Louis
    pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com

  44. Kait
    August 10, 2011 at 12:13 pm

    I want to read this so freaking bad!!!! =D
    Kait.Reader at gmail dot com

  45. Malinda Chaney
    August 11, 2011 at 2:50 pm

    Definitely on my “must read” list!

  46. katklaw777
    August 11, 2011 at 11:13 pm

    Looks like a good one…thanks for the giveaway. Email addy listed in form…

  47. Katherine Wigginton
    August 12, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    Oh wow this sounds really good!

    [email protected]

  48. ML
    August 13, 2011 at 1:25 pm

    I’ve been waiting to read this! Thanks for the great giveaway.

    mljfoland AT hotmail DOT com

  49. erin
    August 13, 2011 at 11:33 pm

    Thanks for the lovely review and giveaway! I’ve had my eye on this book for a while!

    [email protected]

  50. Michelle
    August 14, 2011 at 11:43 pm

    This books sounds great! Thanks!
    mictsu613(at)gmail(dot)com

  51. Patti P
    August 16, 2011 at 3:06 pm

    Hi, I have never read anything from Melissa Marr, but this sounds interesting.
    Thanks for the giveaway.
    Patti P
    musicalfrog at comcast dot net

  52. Kristy
    August 17, 2011 at 11:27 am

    I’ve never read anything by Melissa Marr, but it sounds interesting. Thanks for the giveaway.

    kliu107(at)gmail(dot)com

  53. Christy
    August 17, 2011 at 9:11 pm

    Seems like I’ve wanted to read this book for forever. Great review

    cmdalton [at] sbcglobal [dot] net

  54. Sara Negrete
    August 17, 2011 at 11:52 pm

    Love your review! I have so been wanting to read this book!!! Thank you for the chance to enter! ?

    saribonita76(at)gmail(dot)com

  55. Andreat78
    August 18, 2011 at 7:06 am

    Thanks for the opportunity!
    [email protected]

  57. Patti P
    August 19, 2011 at 7:15 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway. I have heard about this one but haven’t gotten it yet.

    musicalfrog@ comcast.net

  58. AEKZ2
    August 19, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    I’ve been wanting to read this!

Comments are closed