Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
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!
What a great giveaway I love her books and can’t wait to read this one! Thank you so much for the chance!
tishajean@ charter.net
I can’t wait to read this.Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
great review.
I would love to read this book! Thanks so much!!
This sounds Awsome i really would love a copy!
Thanks for the giveaway! I’m excited to have found your site.
alisoncanread at gmail dot com
I love Melissa Marr’s writing and would love to read this book. Thank you so much for sharing today and for the lovely giveaway opportunity 🙂
Of course I am a follower – its just too much fun not to be!
dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com
I adore Melissa Marr’s books. She is such a talented writer, one of the only writer I know who always pulls off the most amazing companion novels. The Wicked Lovely series is to die for! I can’t wait for this book.
thegirlonfire27 at gmail dot com
I am hooked on Vampire stories! I hope I win!
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
This one is on my wish list. Can’t wait to read it.
I’m a follower. Thanks!!
kdoris@centurytel.net.
I can’t wait to read this book.
I love Marr’s YA books, and she is a pretty interesting person herself. I love the creep factor of this book, but I’m also loving the self-discovery aspect of it, too. It’s a must read for me. Thanks for the giveaway. 🙂
ash @smashattackreads.com
I LOVE Melissa Marr, I have been wanting to read this book forever!!!
What an amazing opportunity! I am a librarian, and I can never keep Marr’s “Wicked lovely” series on the shelves…
I love Melissa Marr’s books in the Wicked Lovely series. I look forward to reading this book as well so I hope I win 😀
I have wanted to read this book ever since I saw its discription on Amazon it sounds really awesome.I loved your review,thanks for the chance to win a copy!
Can’t wait to read this!
Sounds great, kind of Southern Gothic-ish. I’d love to win!
Awesome giveaway! This book sounds great, would love to win!
Thanks for the giveaway! This book looks great. 🙂
Stephanie
stephanie(at)onceuponachapter(dot)com
love the cover looks like some places around here
Would love to give this book a read! Really liking the cover, too.
zsaz1029(at)yahoo(dot)com
Sounds like a great read.
This looks like a delightfully creepy book! I can’t wait to read it! Thanks for the chance to win a copy:)
I would love a chance to read the new book. Great giveaway and awesome cover.
I love a good paranormal. Would like to read this. 🙂
Awesome, adding it to my TBR list
Id absolutely LOVE to win this 😀 <3 Thankyous very much for the chance!!
This book is on my TBR list and I have been waiting anxiously to read it! I would definitely L-O-V-E to win this!!! 🙂
I would love to read this book, I have had it flagged in my “to read” list for awhile.
thanks!
I have been dying to read this book! It sounds great and I love her writing! 🙂
I would love to read this book. Thank you for the chance!
tatiana_lwg(at)yahoo.com
New to Melissa Marr but this sounds like a great read! Fairly new to your site but love it especially the reviews telling me about new authors for me that I know ahead of time will be what I’m looking for. Love this site! THANKS EVERYONE!
I would love to read Graveminder. Thank you very much!
What a great giveaway!! Thanks so much!
Hey! I loved Wicked Lovely, yet haven’t had the chance to read the rest of that series 🙁 And even though this isn’t a part of that series I’d really love to read it!
I can’t wait to read this! Great giveaway.
I can’t wait to finally read this great read! Melissa Marr is so awesome. I met her at a book signing and she really is so cool!
Thank you for the review and giveaway!
Really looking forward to this one. Thanks for the chance!
bacchus76 at myself dot com
I’ve been wanting to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway!
I would love to read this book, sounds very interesting.
thanks for the giveaway. sounds cool.
I’ve been dying to read Graveminder! Thanks for the giveaway =)
I loved Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series and the premise for this book sounds very interesting.
Thanks for the giveaway!
I would love to be entered in the giveaway. The book sounds amazing.
Cool giveaway. Thanks
This book sounds very interesting!! Great giveaway! Thanks.
I’ve heard great things about this one. Please count me in the giveaway.
Love to read this book thx for such an ah-mazing giveaway. Love Melissa’s other books especially Darkest Mercy
Thanks for the giveaway!
I’ve read and loved all of Marr’s books so she is an auto buy for me
I’m a follower on GFC-Lisa Richards
(\___/)
(=’.’=)
(“)_(“)
alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.