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kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
Eighth in the Charley Davidson urban fantasy series revolving around a grim reaper-cum-private detective and her new husband, the son of Satan.
My Take
I swear to god, it's old home week with everybody who's ever shown up in the series.
In some ways Charley reminds me of Betsy from MaryJanice Davidson's Undead series. She's irreverent and quirky with her own take on life around her. She cracks me up with her remarks about "Beep", and then there is the assortment of ghostly companions who surround her — the usual and the transient. She'd make a great judge too, what with her ability to see everything about a person's life when they pass through her.
There's more about Charley's childhood and how nasty Denise was. What kind of woman could do that to a kid? And Gemma. Okay, I get that she wants everyone to make nice, but…geez… Denise suddenly wants to make nice and Charley is supposed to roll over for it?? Especially after what she put Charley through?? No, I don't think so.
I gotta say, that combination of Charley, Reyes, and Daeva certainly gives me a new perspective on souls. Cherry pie, huh? As for that silly trope of being disgusted with one's origins…oh, boy…
Charley's gives birth in this one. And, only Charley could get into such a deep situation as this, *laughing* But it all goes to Hell when it comes to Beep's safety, and Charley explodes in sorrow.
Cookie is finally marrying Ubie with Charley as her extremely pregnant matron of honor. And it'll be on the grounds of the abandoned convent — the only place the hellhounds won't step.
It's baby Beep who is truly in danger, for prophecy says she'll destroy Lucifer.
The Characters
The eight-months pregnant Charley Davidson, a.k.a., the Daughter of Light or Dutch, is a grim reaper by fate and a private detective by day. "Beep" is what Charley calls the baby, a.k.a., the Daughter or Elwyn Alexandra Loehr. Artemis is the ghost of a Rottweiler assigned as her guardian. Detective Robert Davidson, Uncle Bob, a.k.a., Ubie, is with the Albuquerque PD. Gemma is Charley's sister; Wyatt is her boyfriend. Denise is Charley's nasty, mean stepmother who appears to have turned over a new leaf since Leland (Charley's dad) died. Aunt Lillian is a hippie ghost; she died in the 1960s.
Reyes, a.k.a., Rey'aziel, is Charley's husband now; he'll always be the son of Satan. Yep, Lucifer is his daddy. Amador, Bianca and their kids, Ashley and Stephen, are friends of Reyes and will be coming for the wedding.
Cookie Kowalski is Charley's best friend and assistant. Amber is her thirteen-year-old daughter. Lucille is Cookie's really crazy aunt who is actually clairvoyant. Uncle Tommy, her husband, up and ran off to Alaska. Noah was Amber's father and Cookie's second husband.
Osh is a Daeva, a slave demon who escaped Hell and sups on human souls. Quentin Rutherford is the deaf kid Charley and Cookie "adopted" after they got rid of the demon possessing him. Pari is another of Charley's friends. Sheets is the kitten. Sister Mary Elizabeth hears the angels speaking. Donovan, Eric, and Michael are the bikers who had to light out.
Mr. Wong has moved into the convent with Charley. He's a ghost who's been hanging out in a corner of Charley's living room for years. Angel is Charley's thirteen-year-old sidekick, lead investigator, and ghost. Rocket is a ghost who died in the 1950s at the asylum in which he grew up. Now he documents the names of every person who has died. Nurse Hobbs had been a nurse at the asylum. Blue is his ghost of a five-year-old sister who is friends with another ghost girl, Strawberry, Officer David Taft's sister. Jessica is yet another ghost; she'd been Charley's BFF in high school who turned traitor.
Special Agent Kit Carson is an FBI agent who's been working with Charley off and on. Special Agent Jonny Waters, Kit's ex (she likes to call him her "FedEx"), doesn't want to consult Charley about Faris Waters, his missing niece. Captain Eckert is Ubie's boss.
The Twelve are hellhounds bent on Charley. Sheila is a tax attorney. Duff is a stuttering ghost who suddenly seems threatening. Earl Walker was Reyes' nightmare "father" who bought Reyes from his kidnappers, the Fosters. Walker is now confined to a wheelchair. Except. Colton Ellix is a kidnapper. Olivia Dern was his first.
Katherine is the midwife tending to Charley. Hildie is doing their hair. Mr. Alaniz is a private detective Charley hired. The Loehrs are the parents of Ryan Alexander Loehr who went missing when he was a baby.
Father Glenn tipped Charley off about the Vatican. Howard Berkowitz of the Vatican is stalking Charley. Bee Heedles, a.k.a., Sister Beatrice, and her twin, Mo (Sister Maureen), are victims of a priest.
Charley is the thirteenth god (the last of her kind, the Val-Eeth) and the first pure ghost god, created by the last two ghost gods of her kind: Ran-Eeth-Bijou was her father and Ayn-Eethial her mother. Elle-Ryn-Ahleethia is who Charley really is.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a smoky range of softened blues as the background for the double-banded watch studded with domes and skulls. The yellow title and white author's name is embossed.
The title refers to the story's position in the series and Charley's real job as a grim reaper, and it's the Eighth Grave After Dark.
My Take
I swear to god, it's old home week with everybody who's ever shown up in the series.
In some ways Charley reminds me of Betsy from MaryJanice Davidson's Undead series. She's irreverent and quirky with her own take on life around her. She cracks me up with her remarks about "Beep", and then there is the assortment of ghostly companions who surround her — the usual and the transient. She'd make a great judge too, what with her ability to see everything about a person's life when they pass through her.
"It's about time for Beep to move out. Cut her hair. Get a job. I need a flat belly."She does drive me a bit crazy with her need to name everything. Her breasts are Danger and Will. Her jeep is Misery. David Beckham is a divan.
There's more about Charley's childhood and how nasty Denise was. What kind of woman could do that to a kid? And Gemma. Okay, I get that she wants everyone to make nice, but…geez… Denise suddenly wants to make nice and Charley is supposed to roll over for it?? Especially after what she put Charley through?? No, I don't think so.
"Now that Denise was open to the idea, Gemma wanted us to bond. To be besties and go shopping together."I'm curious to see how that Vatican connection works out, especially after that explanation about the pure ghost god.
I gotta say, that combination of Charley, Reyes, and Daeva certainly gives me a new perspective on souls. Cherry pie, huh? As for that silly trope of being disgusted with one's origins…oh, boy…
Charley's gives birth in this one. And, only Charley could get into such a deep situation as this, *laughing* But it all goes to Hell when it comes to Beep's safety, and Charley explodes in sorrow.
"'People will stop asking questions if you answer back in interpretive dance.' – T-shirt"The Story
Cookie is finally marrying Ubie with Charley as her extremely pregnant matron of honor. And it'll be on the grounds of the abandoned convent — the only place the hellhounds won't step.
It's baby Beep who is truly in danger, for prophecy says she'll destroy Lucifer.
The Characters
The eight-months pregnant Charley Davidson, a.k.a., the Daughter of Light or Dutch, is a grim reaper by fate and a private detective by day. "Beep" is what Charley calls the baby, a.k.a., the Daughter or Elwyn Alexandra Loehr. Artemis is the ghost of a Rottweiler assigned as her guardian. Detective Robert Davidson, Uncle Bob, a.k.a., Ubie, is with the Albuquerque PD. Gemma is Charley's sister; Wyatt is her boyfriend. Denise is Charley's nasty, mean stepmother who appears to have turned over a new leaf since Leland (Charley's dad) died. Aunt Lillian is a hippie ghost; she died in the 1960s.
Reyes, a.k.a., Rey'aziel, is Charley's husband now; he'll always be the son of Satan. Yep, Lucifer is his daddy. Amador, Bianca and their kids, Ashley and Stephen, are friends of Reyes and will be coming for the wedding.
Cookie Kowalski is Charley's best friend and assistant. Amber is her thirteen-year-old daughter. Lucille is Cookie's really crazy aunt who is actually clairvoyant. Uncle Tommy, her husband, up and ran off to Alaska. Noah was Amber's father and Cookie's second husband.
"A friend will help you if someone knocks you down.Garrett Swopes is a bounty hunter who has worked with Charley before. Zaire is the son he had with Marika. Dr. von Holstein's specialty is linguistics.
A best friend will pick up a bat and say, 'Stay down. I got this.'"
Osh is a Daeva, a slave demon who escaped Hell and sups on human souls. Quentin Rutherford is the deaf kid Charley and Cookie "adopted" after they got rid of the demon possessing him. Pari is another of Charley's friends. Sheets is the kitten. Sister Mary Elizabeth hears the angels speaking. Donovan, Eric, and Michael are the bikers who had to light out.
Mr. Wong has moved into the convent with Charley. He's a ghost who's been hanging out in a corner of Charley's living room for years. Angel is Charley's thirteen-year-old sidekick, lead investigator, and ghost. Rocket is a ghost who died in the 1950s at the asylum in which he grew up. Now he documents the names of every person who has died. Nurse Hobbs had been a nurse at the asylum. Blue is his ghost of a five-year-old sister who is friends with another ghost girl, Strawberry, Officer David Taft's sister. Jessica is yet another ghost; she'd been Charley's BFF in high school who turned traitor.
Special Agent Kit Carson is an FBI agent who's been working with Charley off and on. Special Agent Jonny Waters, Kit's ex (she likes to call him her "FedEx"), doesn't want to consult Charley about Faris Waters, his missing niece. Captain Eckert is Ubie's boss.
The Twelve are hellhounds bent on Charley. Sheila is a tax attorney. Duff is a stuttering ghost who suddenly seems threatening. Earl Walker was Reyes' nightmare "father" who bought Reyes from his kidnappers, the Fosters. Walker is now confined to a wheelchair. Except. Colton Ellix is a kidnapper. Olivia Dern was his first.
Katherine is the midwife tending to Charley. Hildie is doing their hair. Mr. Alaniz is a private detective Charley hired. The Loehrs are the parents of Ryan Alexander Loehr who went missing when he was a baby.
Father Glenn tipped Charley off about the Vatican. Howard Berkowitz of the Vatican is stalking Charley. Bee Heedles, a.k.a., Sister Beatrice, and her twin, Mo (Sister Maureen), are victims of a priest.
Charley is the thirteenth god (the last of her kind, the Val-Eeth) and the first pure ghost god, created by the last two ghost gods of her kind: Ran-Eeth-Bijou was her father and Ayn-Eethial her mother. Elle-Ryn-Ahleethia is who Charley really is.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a smoky range of softened blues as the background for the double-banded watch studded with domes and skulls. The yellow title and white author's name is embossed.
The title refers to the story's position in the series and Charley's real job as a grim reaper, and it's the Eighth Grave After Dark.
yodamom's review against another edition
5.0
Charley still caffeine free and ready to pop. Her and super sexy hubby Reyes are hiding out on sacred ground while the gang looks for way to kill the hounds and the 12 that hunt them and the future.
That is all I'm going to tell you. I had to suffer and wait and you should too. Enjoy the ride not knowing where the turns will be because this is an E ticket.
I laughed, cried, laughed and cried, and then I cried ugly, real ugly.
I loved it, the only flaw was that it ended too soon. I only wanted a couple hundred pages more. LOL
lakea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
zaza_bdp's review against another edition
4.0
Après trois ans à laisser en jachère les tomes de Charley dans ma bibliothèque, voilà que je m'enfile deux tomes d'un coup en une semaine ! Bon franchement, je dois dire que comme tout le monde sur le forum, je suis complètement sur le c** après cette fin on ne peut plus WTF.
C'est un tome très paradoxal, car durant presque la totalité du livre, il ne se passe pas grand chose, et puis sur la fin, tout s'accélère à un rythme ahurissant, pour en arriver à la conclusion que l'on sait ... On a aussi bon nombre de révélations sur quantités de personnages et d'évènements, et c'est tellement foisonnant qu'à un moment donné on ne sait plus où donner de la tête.
Le couple Reyes/Charley est ici de toute beauté. La sensibilité, la douceur et la tendresse dont ce mâle absolu fait preuve dans ce tome est tout simplement magnifique, il m'a complètement retournée avec cette façon qu'il a de toujours magnifier sa belle. Le voir en proie aux doutes, à la peur de ne pas pouvoir la protéger, le voir faire face à l'éventualité de la perdre donne une très belle dimension à son personnage, prouvant une fois de plus qu'il fait partie des meilleurs héros jamais créés en romance.
Charley a beau être cloîtrée dans ce couvent où ils ont trouvé refuge, elle trouve encore moyen de résoudre des enquêtes et de se mettre dans le pétrin, voire de prendre (encore et toujours !) des risques inconsidérés. Ce n'est pas la première fois que ça arrive dans cette série, mais je dois dire que là, je l'ai vraiment trouvé particulièrement idiote et complètement kamikaze, car la noblesse d'âme, au bout d'un moment, ça peut vous conduire droit dans le mur !
Osh me fascine toujours autant, sinon plus ... Amber gagne en 'valeur' dans ce tome, occupant une place importante, on sent que cette gamine a l'étoffe d'une héroïne, à mon avis on n'a pas fini de compter sur elle. Sinon, je suis bien contente d'avoir ENFIN eu des révélations concernant un certain asiatique (là encore, mais quelle surprise !!) et puis il y a bien sûr ce personnage qui est là sans l'être, et qui occupe une place centrale dans le roman !
Et puis cette fin franchement, non mais quelle claque on se prend ! Je suis partagée entre l'envie de lire la suite immédiatement, et en même temps, je me dis que là, l'auteur a voulu jouer à la roulette russe. Je ne doute pas de la qualité des prochains tomes, mais là franchement, j'ai l'impression de m'être pris une grosse baffe !
Voilà donc un tome qui ne peut laisser le lecteur indifférent !
C'est un tome très paradoxal, car durant presque la totalité du livre, il ne se passe pas grand chose, et puis sur la fin, tout s'accélère à un rythme ahurissant, pour en arriver à la conclusion que l'on sait ... On a aussi bon nombre de révélations sur quantités de personnages et d'évènements, et c'est tellement foisonnant qu'à un moment donné on ne sait plus où donner de la tête.
Le couple Reyes/Charley est ici de toute beauté. La sensibilité, la douceur et la tendresse dont ce mâle absolu fait preuve dans ce tome est tout simplement magnifique, il m'a complètement retournée avec cette façon qu'il a de toujours magnifier sa belle. Le voir en proie aux doutes, à la peur de ne pas pouvoir la protéger, le voir faire face à l'éventualité de la perdre donne une très belle dimension à son personnage, prouvant une fois de plus qu'il fait partie des meilleurs héros jamais créés en romance.
Charley a beau être cloîtrée dans ce couvent où ils ont trouvé refuge, elle trouve encore moyen de résoudre des enquêtes et de se mettre dans le pétrin, voire de prendre (encore et toujours !) des risques inconsidérés. Ce n'est pas la première fois que ça arrive dans cette série, mais je dois dire que là, je l'ai vraiment trouvé particulièrement idiote et complètement kamikaze, car la noblesse d'âme, au bout d'un moment, ça peut vous conduire droit dans le mur !
Osh me fascine toujours autant, sinon plus ... Amber gagne en 'valeur' dans ce tome, occupant une place importante, on sent que cette gamine a l'étoffe d'une héroïne, à mon avis on n'a pas fini de compter sur elle. Sinon, je suis bien contente d'avoir ENFIN eu des révélations concernant un certain asiatique (là encore, mais quelle surprise !!) et puis il y a bien sûr ce personnage qui est là sans l'être, et qui occupe une place centrale dans le roman !
Et puis cette fin franchement, non mais quelle claque on se prend ! Je suis partagée entre l'envie de lire la suite immédiatement, et en même temps, je me dis que là, l'auteur a voulu jouer à la roulette russe. Je ne doute pas de la qualité des prochains tomes, mais là franchement, j'ai l'impression de m'être pris une grosse baffe !
Voilà donc un tome qui ne peut laisser le lecteur indifférent !
spines's review
3.0
Every plot arc in this book ended in a really unsatisfying way; I understand why, but it was a real letdown for me.
bookeen_la_rouquine's review against another edition
5.0
Un tome haletant et passionnant qui m'a fait rater une fois ou deux mon arrêt de métro !! 😂😂
parpacifica's review against another edition
2.0
I think I need to remind my myself that this series used to be about a girl who solved murders.
Next, I think I need chocolate.
No wait. I definitely need some chocolate.
This novel had many, many interesting aspects. Maybe too many. Not that I minded at first, I mean after being presented with Charley Davidson, the grim reaper extraordinaire, I have been dismissing things that would usually be big red flags for me.
But now, it's kind of very scattered, and annoying. Charley's mystery murders used to be the highlight of a CD novel. And of course Reyes, but more about that later. Whether she had been held at gun point, sliced in half or even burned alive, that shit was fucking epic, and left you to hanging on for more. Of course there was also the sub point about Reyes being the Son of Satan and Charley being A Uber Magical Being.
Now the formats have changed. We know more about the Charley-being-an-Uber-God storyline. But after having the mystery unravel slowly for the past 7 books, to have everything suddenly thrown at you (and I mean everything. Think of every single plot point, and it will have been pushed in this novel)...well.. it's a little overwhelming.
Not to mention, that after the whole Charley-Being-A-God, and Beep being an even More Uber God, plot line, the solving mysteries and murders sub -plot line just doesn't grasp my attention anymore. The plots aren't executed in the same cohesive manner as they once were. I want the main course! It's like giving me Belgian Chocolate, and then wanting to trade me for it with this vegan, gluten free, cocoa-free imposter.
You can't trick me into falling for that.
Also, do Charley and Reyes even like Beep???? Because Charley was so goddamn immature in this book, and I usually love her, and Reyes completely dismissed Beep's presence until the very end, where he made sure to refer to her usefulness in the dark prophecy.
Like hallo? Dis is yo' kid.
And then, the ending. Gosh, worse ending ever. It wasn't even a cliffhanger like Moning does them.
Just awful.
I don't even know if I want to read more.
Next, I think I need chocolate.
No wait. I definitely need some chocolate.
This novel had many, many interesting aspects. Maybe too many. Not that I minded at first, I mean after being presented with Charley Davidson, the grim reaper extraordinaire, I have been dismissing things that would usually be big red flags for me.
But now, it's kind of very scattered, and annoying. Charley's mystery murders used to be the highlight of a CD novel. And of course Reyes, but more about that later. Whether she had been held at gun point, sliced in half or even burned alive, that shit was fucking epic, and left you to hanging on for more. Of course there was also the sub point about Reyes being the Son of Satan and Charley being A Uber Magical Being.
Now the formats have changed. We know more about the Charley-being-an-Uber-God storyline. But after having the mystery unravel slowly for the past 7 books, to have everything suddenly thrown at you (and I mean everything. Think of every single plot point, and it will have been pushed in this novel)...well.. it's a little overwhelming.
Not to mention, that after the whole Charley-Being-A-God, and Beep being an even More Uber God, plot line, the solving mysteries and murders sub -plot line just doesn't grasp my attention anymore. The plots aren't executed in the same cohesive manner as they once were. I want the main course! It's like giving me Belgian Chocolate, and then wanting to trade me for it with this vegan, gluten free, cocoa-free imposter.
You can't trick me into falling for that.
Also, do Charley and Reyes even like Beep???? Because Charley was so goddamn immature in this book, and I usually love her, and Reyes completely dismissed Beep's presence until the very end, where he made sure to refer to her usefulness in the dark prophecy.
Like hallo? Dis is yo' kid.
And then, the ending. Gosh, worse ending ever. It wasn't even a cliffhanger like Moning does them.
Just awful.
I don't even know if I want to read more.
ellewhyen's review against another edition
5.0
OH MAN WHY DID I HAVE TO FINISH THE SEVENTH BOOK IN A DAY??? Can 2015 come faster please, I actually need to know about Beep and will someone finally tell Charley WHO exactly Mr Wong really is, cause I've been dying to know for ages.
guardyourhonor's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I'd always wondered who thought those t-shirts were funny and now I know, I guess. I miss the more lighthearted case-of-the-week editions, in part because I'm not reading these for emotional heaviness and in part because the more serious the plot becomes the more irritating Charley's constant joking becomes.
jenn_loves_2_read's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0