Review: Dead, Undead or Somewhere in Between by J.A. Saare

Dead, Undead or Somewhere in Between (Rhiannon’s Law #1)
J.A. Saare
Published: Feb. 2010 (Eternal Press)
Purchase at: Amazon (Paperback or eBook)

Rating (out of 5): 3. 5 stars

Rhiannon can see dead people. It kind of blows. Mostly, she tries to ignore it. Instead she focuses on her gig as a bartender at a gentleman’s club, where she often ends up playing the role of backup bouncer. She’s tough and mouthy, but the local vampires just don’t want to leave her alone. Whatever magic allows her to see the recently departed also lets her identify the half-undead. Rhiannon would rather not deal with the vampire Disco, but as it’s best not to get on the bad side of a vampire she agrees to hear him out when he shows up at her bar.

Local vampires are disappearing, and Disco wants Rhiannon’s help to find out why. With the help of another necromancer, Rhiannon is to find the ghosts of the dead vampires and get answers as to who is killing them. It quickly becomes apparent Rhiannon doesn’t realize just how much power she has, and the tale becomes part self-discovery and part murder mystery. Add that Disco is utterly handsome and willing to do whatever it takes to protect his family and Rhiannon, and you’ll find yourself wondering more about when Rhiannon and Disco will hook up than who’s taking out his fellow vamps.

I loved J.A. Saare’s Crimson Moon. While I know she’s got the second Crimson book in the works, I needed more and decided to give her Rhiannon’s Law series a shot. Several of my favorite bloggers have nudged me on this one saying one can’t help but fall for the leading man Disco. In a quick, two-day read I can tell you: Don’t read it for Disco, read Dead, Undead or Somewhere in Between for Rhiannon.

Don’t get me wrong: Disco is easy to like, if not a little too perfect. But Rhiannon had depth, and Saare made me work to get to know her. She felt real. She’s an ass-kicker who uses her brash, take-no-prisoners front to seal away her past trauma. She’s funny. She’s strong. She’s tortured. Basically, if she were a guy, I’d swoon. As much as I like Disco, I only like him in relation to Rhiannon. Their interactions — especially their banter and his reactions to her foul-mouthed ways — are highlights to be sure.

Those who love a strong heroine and pretty vampire boys in an urban fantasy setting will get a kick out of Dead, Undead or Somewhere in Between. After beginning the series — and enduring the what?! ending — I’m curious to see where Rhiannon’s story goes. I’ll be on the lookout for the second novel The Renfield Syndrome. However, I’m still going to say Crimson Moon has more universal appeal.

Sexual content: Sex, references to sex and allusions to rape. (Though, looking back, it felt much lighter than all that….)