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Note: Following the review, we’re giving away two hardback copies of Melissa Marr’s Graveminder. One more reason to read to the end, no?
Graveminder
Melissa Marr
Published: May 17, 2011 (William Morrow & Company/Harper)
Purchase at: Book Depository, Barnes & Noble or Amazon
Rating (out of 5): 4 stars
There is something to be said for a purposeful slow build, and Melissa Marr does it masterfully in Graveminder.
The small town of Claysville has special rules and almost all of them involve the dead. Everyone born in Claysville is required to be buried within the city. No one is to be embalmed and must be interred within 48 hours of death. And one woman, Maylene Barrow, attends every funeral. She’s the last to leave the graveyard, always whispering and pouring drink over the fresh grave.
But that’s not the only thing different about Claysville. The citizens have accepted they can’t ever leave. Those born within its limits who attempt to move elsewhere will fall ill, and even those who only lived in the town for a short time are stricken with a wanderlust that leaves them never feeling at home anywhere but Claysville. Rebekkah falls into that latter category. She’s always run from commitment. She ran from the boy she loved back in Claysville, she ran from her crazy mom and each new city still doesn’t feel right. When her grandmother Maylene dies, she has to rush back to Claysville. The moment she crosses the town border, she feels home. And she doesn’t like it.
To make matters more complicated, Byron is back, too. She ran from him years ago, but as one of the undertakers, he’s there to help her though it all. Plus, he’s still in love with her. She wants to run, but being near him makes the whole ordeal of her grandmother’s death more manageable. Unfortunately with Maylene gone, there is no one to mind the graves in Claysville. Rebekkah knows the basics without realizing it’s to keep the dead in the ground, but no one told her she was tapped as the new Graveminder. They didn’t tell her it’s now her job to make sure the dead stay that way, and to lead the Hungry Dead to the land of the dead.
And no one told Byron it was his job to protect her, to save her. He just did it on instinct. Quickly these two try to learn their new roles, but with everyone else forbidden from knowing the details of the pact that keeps Claysville free of disease and death, they’re on their own.
And that’s what makes the slow build work in Graveminder. We know a bit more about what’s going on in Claysville than either Byron or Rebekkah do, because we get peeks into other points-of-view. However, for the most part, we’re learning along with them. We’re along for the journey as they stumble onto the reasons why the dead rise, why people are tied to the town and just how the Graveminder and Undertaker are expected to interact with the dead. Additionally, the two main characters are struggling with their feelings for one another, which can only become more complicated as they discover their new role as a team ushering the dead.
Marr created rich characters and a fascinating mythology in Graveminder. There’s a bit of dealing with the past to accept your future happening, and you’ll be happy to watch as Rebekkah and Byron come to accept their roles. (Though, Byron is of the mind his job as always been to protect Rebekkah, now it just includes keeping her from becoming too enamored with the dead.) The novel is a beautiful blend of self-discovery, family drama, light romance and the supernatural.
Sexual content: Kissing, references to sex
We are lucky to have two hardcover copies of Melissa Marr’s Graveminder to give to Vampire Book Club readers. To enter simply leave a comment on this post, letting me know you’d like to read Graveminder. (Please note while Marr’s Wicked Lovely series is for young adults, Graveminder is an adult novel.) Contest is open to U.S. and Canadian addresses only and ends on July 18.
CONTEST DETAILS AND RULES
1. To enter, you must leave a comment on this post.
2. You do not need to follow Vampire Book Club to be entered, but we sure do like it.
3. This contest is open to U.S. and Canadian residents only.
4. Contest closes at 11:59 p.m. CST on Monday, July 18.
5. The winners will be selected using Random.org. Then each will be contacted via email and given 48 hours to claim prizes. If we do not hear from the winner(s) within that time, a new winner will be selected.
6. Entrants must be at least 18 years old or have their parent’s permission to enter. Please review our privacy policy, if you have any questions as to how Vampire Book Club uses your information. (Short version: we’ll only use it to contact you for this contest.)
7. Though unlikely, Vampire Book Club has the right to change or cancel any giveaway at any time without prior notice.
8. Vampire Book Club is not responsible for prizes lost or damage in transit.
9. Thanks to Harper Collins for providing the books!
Thanks for the giveaway! I really want this one.
andreat78@yahoo.com
I follow the blog
Thanks again!
Vivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com
Please count me in! I love Melissa Marr’s books. 🙂
Old follower here. 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway.
maidenveil(at)gmail(dot)com
Loved the Wicked Lovely series, can’t wait to read this one!
Sounds really good
Awesome, awesome, awesome. (:
I’m in.
Also, I do have parental permission. ^_^
I really want to read this one. I love Melissa Marr, and the story sounds increadibly interesting. Thanks for the chance to win it!
Ahhhhhh! I’ve been dying to get my hands on this book! Thanks for the great giveaway!
Fantastic review as always! I’ve heard so many great things of this book between twitter and other reviews and it’s already on my TBR List but hasn’t made it to my TBR Pile. Thanks so much for the opportunity to win this book, sounds like a very interesting story that I would love to check out sooner than later. 😀
I loved Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series. This book looks good but creepy. It also sounds really interesting. Thanks for the review.
Sounds like a good book!
I’ve heard really great things about this book, I would love a chance to win a copy!
Thank you for the giveaway! Melissa Marr is a great author and I’m looking forward to reading this book.
ashley.mckinsey(at)yahoo(dot)com
For some reason this book intrigues me. It’s rapidly heading to the top of my tbr pile. I’ve heard so many good things about it. Looking forward to reading it.
Wow! I really want to read this one! I loved the Wicked Lovely series and I am sure this will be a great nook. Loved your review also!
ashleysbookshelf@gmail.com
This book looks awesome. I really look forward to reading it!
Melissa Marr knows how to do creepy. I would love to win this. Amy @ bookgoonie
bookgoonie at yahoo
Sounds great
gfc follower
vidishamun@gmail.com
This looks totally fascinating. Thanks for running the contest!
looking forward to this one!
I’m really looking forward to reading this book — it’s been getting great reviews. Awesome post by the way 🙂
This sounds like a really good book. With our Borders gone it’s hard to find books locally.
this sounds like an awesome book and i can’t wait to read it.
trvlagnt1t@yahoo.com
This sounds like a fabulous book and I cannot wait to read it!
I’m so excited to read and adult novel by Melissa. Am a big fan of the Wicked Lovely books.
Awesome review! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and for the chance to win a copy of Graveminder! I’ve been wanting to read it so bad! 😀
Thanks again! 😀
Ambur
ambiepie_6@hotmail.com
Loved the Wicked Lovely series, can’t wait to read this one!
Awesome giveaway thanks for the chance to enter
jennlovesed14 at gmail
its different and looks interesting 🙂 Definitely want to give this book a try!
I’d love to read Graveminder! I’ve heard really good things about it and I enjoyed Melissa’s Wicked Lovely series.
I follow the blog – Lee723
thanks for the giveaway!
lisa7723(at)gmail(dot)com
Cool! sounds awesome! I love Melissa marr!
I definitely want to get my hands on this one. Thanks for the opportunity!
Awesome giveaway!!! Thanks!
jgriffin1018@gmail.com
Ooh, that sounds just like what I want to be reading right now! Please put me in for the giveaway!
Hey there! New follower popping by to checkout the giveaway that was posted on a FF blog post. This is supposed to be a great book and I would really like to read it!
This book sounds amazing! Hope it’s going to be a series!! I’m in.
I would love to have a finished copy of this book. I read an ARC and then gave it away.
readingwithmartinis@gmail.com
As a teacher of teens, I’d love the book to read & for class library!
Thanks! I’d love to read Graveminder… but that’s probably obvious since I’m entering the contest, right? lol
: )
ambience.of.rain {at} gmail.com
Thanks for the giveaway! I’d love to win this book.
adsanders77 at gmail dot com
Thanks for the giveaway. I would love to read Graveminder. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
I SO want to read this book! I think this cover is the scariest one I’ve seen in a long time
(I’m a follower)
rlawrence110 at yahoo dot com
Thanks for giving some info on the book now I can look forward to it . If I don’t have to wait too long when I put it on hold at the library sometimes doubleday doesn’t have certain books. Thanks for the giveaways. Its fun trying to win.
this sounds like a great creepy book! i cant wait to read this. thank you for the chance to win.
shadow_kohler(at)att(dot)net
I would LOVE to read Graveminder.
I follow all sorts of ways…..facebook, twitter, email and google friend ..dor
Thanks and good luck, everyone!! 🙂
I haven’t read this book yet but I love Melissa’s other books!!
This is a must read for me! I would love to win it. Thanks for the chance 🙂
thanks for the Giveaway!! I would love to read it.
ebbith0115[at]gmail[dot]com
Sounds like a great read
Ktalley28@gmail.com