Reviews

The Reburialists by J.C. Nelson

mjfmjfmjf's review

3.0

An Endeavour Award read. I would have avoided this book otherwise, for the cover alone. A semi-romance Buffy/Van Helsing bit of silliness with Zombies instead of vampires. But surprisingly readable and interesting. And given that the two main characters are over the top Mary Sues, they are also just believable enough. If this book started at the beginning I think it would have been too annoying to read. But it kind of starts near the end of the story and it was definitely okay. But don't expect high art.

tmawhir's review

adventurous dark hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

rclz's review against another edition

3.0

Eh. Liked the world building quite a bit, the characters were okay...kind of flat. The plot wasn't bad but it....was kind of flat also even with a fair amount of action. There is promise here if this is going to be a series.

molly_patricia's review

5.0

This is fabulous, and I'm afraid that if I say anything else I'll spoil it.

bookfessional's review against another edition

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

I'm going to keep this one short and simple. A couple years ago, I tried to read the first installment of Nelson's GRIMM AGENCY series, Free Agent. It did not go well:

"She didn't look like a princess. She looked like a college intern for a radio station. Five foot three, strawberry blonde, and a complexion that could sure as hell use work. Plus she was packing the freshman five on her hips, along with the sophomore seven on her thighs and, well, you get the idea."

My best friend in high school was a ballerina, and to this day, I'm pretty sure she still struggles with bulimia. Insensitive statements like that one could send her spiraling down another another binge-and-purge cycle.

Not to mention the 10% of college-aged women who struggle with eating disorders . . . *eye twitches*

BUT.

I'm a strong believer in second chances, so when a copy of THE REBURIALISTS fell in my lap, I decided to give it a go.

It went about as well as the last time:

Beneath me, my date from last night’s champagne ball cursed in Greek. The only part I understood for certain was my name, Brynner, and that her name was most definitely not Athena. Athena would be her sister, my date from the night before.

Seriously, dude? DON'T DATE SIBLINGS. It's tacky. Ugh.

But it didn't stop there:



1. *throws head back and shrieks with RAGE*

2. You know how much fun it is to watch rogue-like characters on screen? Han Solo, Captain Kirk, Harvey Spector, etc.?

It's significantly less fun to share headspace with one.

3. Women talk. *flares nostrils*

I know, it'd be so much easier if they didn't. Don't hate the player, hate the game, right? *mutters* Asshole . . .

I just can't.

And so, I think it's best if Mr. Nelson and I permanently part ways. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try him on. I seem to be a minority in my fury over his callous remarks about female imperfection and stereotyping women as jealous shrews, but, hey, one woman's insults are another's oh-so-funneh jokes. I leave it in your hands to decide on which side of the fence you fall. #nojudgement

jessie_h's review against another edition

4.0

This book was something else. I wasn't sure I liked the writing style or the main characters much but I was enjoying the hell at of the mythology. Then almost with me knowing it my feelings about everything changed about 30% in and I was sucked in. I ended up loving the characters by the end as well as hating some of the others. This book redeemed itself.

My thoughts are still a bit scattered so I'll write a full review as soon as I have them collected.

*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.

glennisleblanc's review against another edition

3.0

I’ve had this in the TBR for a while now and it sounded interesting. In this world the dead come back to life animated by the Re-Animis. All dead bodies are prepped to prevent them from rising by cutting all the tendons or they go for cremation. Brynner has been fighting them all his life after learning the craft from his parents who are both dead. When the dead start speaking to Jack and tell him they want something his father hid and they will not stop until they get it back. Brynner is a loves them and leaves them kind of guy who doesn’t mind breaking the rules at work because he is so good at his job. The Bureau allows this because he is their poster boy for getting things done and brings them good press.
Due to the messages drawn in blood he needs to take a non-field agent to his father’s stash of journals written in a personal code in order to translate them and find what the dead are asking for. This of courses leads to problems along with dealing with his last surviving family members that have the journals he needs.

Overall it was an entertaining read and a good ending the book. Not sure if there are any more planned but with the ending provided I don’t feel like I have to hunt down the next book to find out what happens next.


Digital review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley