| Title | : | Grave Destiny (Alex Craft, #6) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0451416597 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780451416599 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Mass Market Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 374 |
| Publication | : | First published April 2, 2019 |
Alex is still trying to come to terms with her changing powers and her growing ties to Faerie when a case she’d rather avoid falls right into her lap. A fae prince desperately needs Alex to investigate a politically sensitive murder. She reluctantly agrees to the case, taking FIB agent Falin Andrews along as her backup.
But as Alex begins to delve into the mystery, she realizes that the intricate web of alliances and intrigue in the Faerie courts is strained to its limits. War is about to break out, one that threatens to spill over into the mortal realm. This murder is tied right to the center of centuries-old arcane unrest, and if Alex isn’t careful she may follow the twisting path ahead of her right into her grave end.
Grave Destiny (Alex Craft, #6) Reviews
-
OMG OMG OMG!
Ok, so let me tell you a story (a short one this time, I promise!).
It was a good read 'til about 80%, then it became really good and, at about 91%, I couldn't put it down. Problem was, I had to get to work (and, so nice of me, I did). But after about one hour after I started, I kept thinking about the book and what will happen. So guess what I did?
Yup, I was pretending to work while I was reading the book.
Don't know what that says about my work ethic but you know what that says about this book?
I can't believe this book had some sort of closure! Not the end of the series (really hope so) but at least we got something and it's appreciated.
If you're reading the review, you probably read the series. If not, you should definitely start (and don't stop when the stories get predictable and normal, it's worth reading through those and getting to this book).
We see Alex evolve. And finally, she ends up with
Yes, it is definitely worth reading!
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4.5 Stars!
I always know when I open an Alex Craft book I am going to get one heck of an action packed adventure. One that will keep me rapidly turning the pages and engaged the whole way through.
I have loved these characters from the very beginning and even though I once thought myself as not a fan of anything having to do with the fae, this series completely changed my mind.
From the very first page it was obvious this series stood out. The deceit, the lies, the glamour, the mystery, the deaths, magic...just all of it. The very characters themselves are memorable and with each new installment I find myself more and more in love with it.
The latest installment had even more of all the things I have come to know and love about this series. So much more was revealed and slowly meted out. The twists, the turns, that unbelievable ending! I seriously am so excited about the direction this series is headed and I couldn't be more excited for the next book.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.* -
Alex wants to find a way to learn more about her powers when she is hired both by the shadow and winter courts to uncover murders that have taken place in the winter court. Alex finds herself, with Dugan and Falin, traversing a tenuous path that has them all in the sights of the killer.
Price writes a strong and masterfully engaging addition to the Alex Craft series. The mystery will keep you guessing till the end while captivating the reader with characters that you just can't help but to route for. Can't help but love the friendships the Alex creates as she is tuggled through the fae world.
Solid 4.5 star read for me.
I received this ARC copy of Grave Destiny from Berkley Publishing Group - Ace. This is my honest and voluntary review. Grave Destiny is set for publication April 2, 2019.
My Rating: 5 stars
Written by: Kalayna Price
Series: An Alex Craft Novel
Sequence in Series: Book 6
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Ace
Publication Date: April 2, 2019
ISBN-10: 0451416597
ISBN-13: 978-0451416599
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Grave-Destiny-...
Barnes & Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/grav...
Itunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/grav... -
Update 2:
Ooooooh. EMMMM. GEEE. ***spoilers***
My prayers to the author lord have been answered, because I have never seen a more redefining moment for a series that I loved to pieces prior. BECAUSE HOLY CRAP THAT ENDING. Was. Amazing. Grave Destiny was written well; down the pacing, action, new friendships, sarcasm, political machinations, mystery, and best of all, mydesperatelygreatly desired faerie romance. How DID she do it???
Ya'll, let me tell you, I have been FIGHTING hard core for that faerie since book one. I know there's team Faerie Freaking Falin, and team Death, but there's only one true suitor. And I'll tell you I had myendlessdoubts with this so slow burn-I'm-practically-rotisserie-now love triangle. But Falin is forever *insert heart eyes*. <3
I am beside myself because I could have sworn this book was the last, but I need more. I THINK there's a 7th book, but in all honesty I need at least two more books something. Alex still has so much to learn and to grow, but her journey thus far from Grave Witch has been a joy to read. There's still plenty left to explore, especially further into her relationship with her father and her faerie heritage. Heck, is that a new job entirely I see? I enjoyed seeing less of Death *avoids being stoned*, and seeing (hopefully) more of Dugan in the future with consideration to what transpired in Grave Destiny. Hmmm.
Overall, I don't mind reading about fae politics as one of the nearest and dearest series to me was the Wicked Lovely series. In some ways, this is just good old sweet nostalgia.
Kalayna, I beg you to keep writing because this is the seriously good stuff.
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Update 1:
SAY WAHT SUDDEN RELEASE DATE. *drops everything to read this book*
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I JUST WANT IT. -
Based on the winter themed cover I have a BAD feeling Alex will end up with Falin. Even after the events of the last book I still had hope (maybe) for her and Death. And yes, this is one of those lame UF series with still unresolved love triangle until the bitter end, maybe not even then. I don't know if the author herself was even 100% sure who she wanted Alex to end up with, or if it was a later on in the series decision, seems to me like the letter. It was very back and forth, but I always got the sense, up until the previous book, that Alex would end up with Death. But maybe it would be just good enough for Alex to finally choose either way.
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i loved it!!! GREAT ENDING
................................................................
yeah six books!!
pls i need more FALIN.
FALIN x ALEX OTP!! -
This isn't the first time that Alex has been asked to investigate a murder that happened in Faerie but this time the potential consequences are all out war between two of the courts so the stakes have never been higher. When it appears that a member of the Shadows has murdered a Winter Court noble tensions between the two reach breaking point. Dugan comes to Alex for help as he wants to prevent a war and along with Falin the three begin a difficult investigation, it quickly becomes clear that not all is as it first appears and they need to get to the bottom of the conspiracy fast if they want to prevent any further deaths.
I've been a fan of the Alex Craft series for years now and I really enjoyed learning more about Faerie and Alex's magical planeweaving abilities in this instalment. Alex, Falin and Dugan have to visit multiple Faerie courts during their investigation and this was the first time we really get to find out more about the other rulers and how their courts are run. This story had a lot of action and there were some really great developments for certain characters that are going to have a huge knock on affect as the series continues.
It also looks like we finally have a resolution to the love triangle (or should that be square since Dugan was also a potential suitor?). I'm not sure I love the way it's been resolved, personally I think a certain character's potential was wasted by the way things were handled in the last book which was really disappointing, but I at the same time I was fed up with the dithering so I'll be pleased if Alex has made a decision and sticks to it. I'm not convinced the best man won although his character has grown on me so hopefully I'll come round to the idea eventually.
Completely disregarding my feelings about the romance I'm very happy with the way this series is going, I like that Alex is starting to come into her Fae heritage and learn more about her magical abilities and I really love that she's starting to make a name for herself in Faerie as someone who shouldn't be crossed lightly. I'm desperate to know more about her parents too and hope we'll see more of the different courts in the next book. -
Mon avis en Français
My English review
It’s always a real pleasure to find a new Alex Craft novel, so how can I resist this 6th volume? Well, I can’t and I was really looking forward to finding out what the author was going to propose, and I’m thrilled!
Alex needs help to control her powers, but now she finds herself in a story that is completely beyond her control. Dugan and Falin need her to investigate a murder that could well lead to a war. As a team, our three heroes will have to face several monarchs but above all several plots that could well change the kingdoms in a way! But what they might find out could change the deal!
I’m always a little afraid of being disappointed with the growing number of novels in a saga, but that’s far from being the case and I was completely swept away! The alliance between the three characters is surprising, but the whole thing works perfectly and I must admit that I was really curious to see how things would end. Besides, I can say that I was very surprised by the ending which makes me want to have the next one even more! Arghh, why do we always have to wait? I want the rest now!
In any case, I had a really good time with this novel and I loved discovering this new story! It’s a series that I recommend! -
3.5 Stars, but I’m rounding up because although it wasn’t to my personal taste, that doesn’t mean it’s not interesting and well written.
Definite mixed feelings on this book. While it was nice to have a new book after a wait of two years, the storyline didn’t tick all of my boxes. When the plotline centered on the case and Alex’s talents as a grave witch/plane weaver, the story was fine. Unfortunately (for me) the case took place entirely in faerie. I’m not a huge fan of the fae by a long stretch; they are by far my least favorite UF paranormals. While I enjoy reading the politics of various paranormal groups; I don’t enjoy reading about fae politics…because again, I don’t care for the fae. This is a personal reading bias, others may love it. On that note, I also have to say that I miss the early books which were about Alex’s cases and raising the dead to get info from them. The latter books are all fae, all the time; and the series has lost track of where it came from, which is a bummer.
As to the rumor that this is to be the last book of the series, the ending gave off the vibe that it could go either way. Lots of threads were tied up a satisfactory enough fashion, including Alex’s personal dilemma with the men in her life. By the same token, the book ended in way that opened the door to a new chapter in her life, so who knows. I really think it depends on whether Price ever gets around to writing more, honestly. -
I really enjoyed this latest installment in the Alex Craft series. Even though there is what feels like an eternity between releases of these books, I am always able to jump back in so seamlessly and fall into the world. Alas, we do not see much of Death this time around. You can thank the events of the last book for that. Instead, this centers on an adventure Alex takes with Dugan, prince of the Shadow realm, and Falin, the Winter queen’s knight.
The story begins with Dugan visiting Tongues for the Dead, in need of help from Alex to solve the mysterious death of one of his people. Falin gets involved right away, as soon as he catches word that Dugan is in the human realm. Turns out, someone is dead from both Dugan’s court and Falin’s. And the bodies were found in the Winter court. Likely, it was set up as a frame job.
I don’t want to spoil too much of the story, but this is an adventure for these three as they navigate multiple rounds of Faerie, not only trying to solve the murder mystery but a much more pressing problem that impacts Alex directly.
I really enjoyed spending time in both the Winter and Summer courts. We even got to visit in the Light for a while. More developments unravel about Alex‘s planeweaving ability, which I really dug. And there is some movement in the relationship development. Obviously, it leans towards Falin, because Kalayna Price killed off the Death relationship pretty definitively in the last book. I’m still smarting over that. That doesn’t mean I hate Falin. I don’t, and the way that this story unfolded, if I hadn’t fallen so hard for Death, I could be down with it. I’m still feeling a bit salty.
That being said, the book was just so, so good. If you are in the market for an urban fantasy and you like Fae at all, I strongly urge you to give this a try. Alex is such a cool main character. I love her powers and the way we see them growing and unfurling. And that growth set up the climax here phenomenally. A great, very surprising ending that makes me want to read more. I can’t wait to see how it all ends.
*ARC provided by publisher -
3.5 stars
The story seems to be ever increasingly rooted in Faerie. Grave magic did play a role in this although it was a small one. I miss it that Alex no longer seems to be straddling two worlds, but it may be a temporary break from that. Rather momentous things happened. Alex’s life will no longer be the same.
My feelings are mixed about how some things have turned out, but it is good that Alex’s path has become more clear. She learned much more about her magic and the history of faerie. Knowing the history makes it easier to understand what needs to be done.
The love triangle seems to have been resolved by default rather than by Alex’s choice, but I strongly emphasize seems to have been. Things went one way that strongly opened the door for one suitor, but something else important happened that may have opened the door for the other.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this in exchange for an honest review! -
Well, I wanted more fae politics and I definitely got it in this book. Alex is all over fairie in this one as she tries to solve a double murder that, on the surface, looks set to ignite tensions between two fae courts. I know there's only one book left in the series and I'm curious to see how the author will manage to wrap everything up because I feel as though there are still a lot of dangling plot threads.
Oh, and I have a theory about Alex's father so I'll see how that pans out. -
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
Grave Destiny is the sixth installment in author Kalayna Price's Alex Craft series. As a series summary, Grave Witch Alex Craft desperately needs training in being a plane weaver. Up to this point, she's been shooting in the dark hoping that something doesn't backfire and cause even more issues. Trouble has a tendency of following Alex around like bad luck.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20... -
My favorite of the series so far, I think. Just needed more Death. :P
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Well this was certainly an exciting world flip. I liked that we saw more of shadow and that their king was humanized a bit. And the prince became less of a cipher finally.
Falons 'promotion' to someone of status vs a grunt was also very useful for revamping the status quo. A fun pell mell ride start to finish.
Kinda felt like the end of the series at the conclusion. I'll probably check release dates to see if the book following was ages after and maybe not an intended release. But it will be nice to check in even if the next book doesnt maintain the momentum or drama. -
Grave Destiny is a turning point in the Alex Craft series and I absolutely enjoyed it! This story was a thrilling read indeed as Alex’s services were engaged by two different sources in order to investigate the most inexplicable murder that she has yet to encounter. To say that everyone was stumped would have been an understatement! What really made it imperative that this mystery was solved as quickly as possible were the political implications that would arise if word was to get out about who the victims were, or rather what court they were from. Alex and her companions were pushed to their max as they worked on a very tight timeline to figure out what was happening all while trying to make sure they themselves stayed alive.
Alex’s grave witch magic has always been exciting to read about and with the addition of her recently discovered truth about her heritage, well that just added an entirely new skill set to the mix. In Grave Destiny, Alex was spending way more time that she was comfortable in the Faerie courts, where her grave magic was mostly inaccessible to her, while there she would encounter situations that would force her to try and use her newly found but unreliable skills and that just kept my eyes glued to the pages! There were also many twists and turns as Alex desperately tried to find the missing pieces of the puzzle before it was too late. There was one MAJOR event that occurred in this book that had me omg-ing and I promise you that nothing is ever going to be the same in this series. I am eagerly anticipating the next installment, and I am SO excited to see where it goes!!!
This review is based on a complimentary book I received from Penguin Random House. It is an honest and voluntary review. The complimentary receipt of it in no way affected my review or rating. -
I do like historical romance on audio, but urban fantasy I have discovered to work just as well. Some genres to seem to click more and get even better in audio. And this one certainly did just that.
Alex gets a new case. A dead body in Faerie and possible war if a killer is not caught. I never remember who I ship since the wait between books is usually quite long. So Faelan who? Stop crying over spilled milk, Dugan seems juicy! As it is no Alex is not dating anyone (still miss you Death!), Faelan and her, well they did have their fling and now she has to work with him since he is a knight and agent. And Dugan, is the Shadow Prince who hires her. And yes, I like him, I wish she could like him back *sighs*
Faerie is not easy to navigate through. Everyone has hidden agendas. The Winter Queen is a b*tch. The other regents are no better. Though Dugan's dad did seem ok. This is not just a murder investigation, there are toes that can not be stepped upon. Feathers that can not be ruffled. And there is a baddie in the wings trying to cause war (I did guess who quite easily, I wonder why they did not).
The narration is great, there is always something behind the corner so you keep listening to know more. Like I said, UF does seem to be great for audio.
The end promises more hardship to come, and I can't wait! Must have more.
Narrator
She does the voices well, everyone has their sound. It is easy to follow along. She keeps up the tension and speed. And she makes this to an enjoyable listen that has me clamoring for more. -
![julia ☆ [owls reads]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1636739475i/5520447._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
4 stars
Grave Destiny was pretty intriguing! I really enjoyed how the focus was on Faerie business and how the world-building expended and became more complex because of that. The main mystery plot did take a while to come together, as in the previous book, but it was unique enough that it kept me interesting and wanting to know what was going on.
I'm still really not a fan of the romance here. I loved Dugan, though :( -
I don't care how long I have to wait between books, I will always swoop up the newest book in this series and read it right away whether I'm in the middle of another book or not. An Alex Craft novel will get my attention.
Grave Destiny has Alex investigating a new case- a murder that occurred in Faerie. A member of the Shadow Court has been found dead in the Winter Court next to a Winter court resident, it's all very odd.
So Alex is hired first by Prince Dugan and then by the Winter Queen to get to the bottom of these horrible murders.
Many new characters are introduced. We don't see much of the normal cast. But it was a quick paced, engrossing read nonetheless.
Price is a master story teller with characters I have fallen in love with. Alex is complicated, quirky, and mysterious. The men in her life are even more complicated and mysterious. Unfortunately they are also both forbidden.
Then there's Prince Dugan, the prince of the shadow realm who I almost found myself rooting for. He really needed more consideration. But I guess two forbidden men in Alex's heart are enough, why fall for one she could actually have? I think there are many unresolved issues about the shadow realm and I would love to see this explored more in future books. I would also love to see Alex use her grave magic more. I loved the witchy side of Alex's world in the early books. Fae politics drive me batty but they do make for complicated plots and story lines.
*****Spoiler Alert*****
Fans of Death, sadly you won't see him much in this book. Grave Destiny takes place 99% in Faerie with the love focus being on Falin.
Rumor has it this may be the last book. I certainly hope not. Alex still has too much to learn about her powers and her love life can't just fall into place by default because situations change and make one suitor more accessible than the other.
I received this ARC copy of Grave Destiny from Berkley Publishing Group - Ace. Grave Destiny is set for publication April 2, 2019. -
Review courtesy of
All Things Urban Fantasy
GRAVE DESTINY was a fun return to the world of Alex Craft and feels like a large turning point for the series based on some pretty big changes that occur as a result of various characters' actions. Sometimes I get annoyed at books having summaries of what happened in the previous books but there was so much that happened that I didn't mind getting a quick refresher! In general the plot was in the sweet spot where it wasn't so frentic that I couldn't keep anything straight but it wasn't too slow. I liked that this book was more of a discovery of Alex's powers and what she could potentially do with them along with a more indepth experience of the Faerie realms. The mystery at the center was interesting and there was enough danger and tension that I actually wondered if everyone would get out alive. I tend to like it when I don't know the answers in a mystery by the second chapter.
Alex continues to be a solid urban fantasy heroine and I love exploring her world and seeing what her powers can do. Her love life is pretty complex with the ever present love triangle between her, Falin, and Death. In GRAVE DESTINY, though there is another player for her heart in a sense. Dugan, a Faerie prince takes the place of Death as an obstacle and conflict between Alex and Falin. I kind of liked him but the oncoming love quadrangle that will happen in future books seems like it's going to get complicated.
I enjoyed coming back to the world of Alex Craft filled with magic, faeries, witchcraft, and danger. This series hits many of the classic urban fantasy tropes but it has enough uniqueness to it that it doesn't feel like you've read this a dozen times before. GRAVE DESTINY ends on a shocking turn of events which has me excited for what comes next. -
GRAVE DESTINY is up there with my favorite installments of the series.
GRAVE DESTINY is big on Faerie. Not only does it take place in Faerie for a majority of the story, but we learn a lot more about faerie and the people that inhabit it. There are a lot of twists involved as well as mystery. Alex continues to learn more about her powers and her place in Faerie. I enjoyed the action, I enjoyed the characters and I enjoyed the storyline.
A few thoughts on the men in this series. Prince Dugan—of the shadow realm— plays a pretty big part in GRAVE DESTINY and I have to say that I like him a whole lot. I wouldn't be sad if he ended up being a real contender for Alex's heart. We don't see much of Death in GRAVE DESTINY, so if you're a Death fan, you will be disappointed. And then there's Falin. I never disliked him and can see him and Alex ending up together. The events in GRAVE DESTINY definitely made that a possibility.
I read on one review that this might be the last book of the series and I really hope that it's a horrible rumor because I don't feel like Alex's story is over. I really want to explore more of her world and watch her get her HEA.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. -
5 Stars... We travel deep into faery throughout this read... Alex and Falin are tasked with solving a murder in the Winter Court... As the plot thickens, so do the pool of suspects converging from multiple courts... In the end betrayal is evident and the fallout will affect everyone in the faery realm... I enjoyed the interaction between Falin and Alex as they navigated this case and continued to learn about one another; their chemistry ranged from sweet to sexy to protective and all of it was GOOD!!! The destiny of Alex and her role in the future of Faery is integrated within this read and hopefully will continue to be flushed out as the series continues... I love this world Kalayna Price has developed and the dynamic characters that exist there... Looking forward with great anticipation to the next read in the series:)
-
Audible version.
I oscillated between ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ or ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ but ultimately decided although the writing was well done it was horribly predictable with 2 exceptions. Ultimately ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ strong stars is the fair rating. I will continue the series. -
Sixth in the Alex Kraft paranormal fantasy series and revolving around a grave witch who speaks to the dead in Nekros City, Texas, part of a territory that appeared after the Magical Awakening 70 years ago.
My Take
The story uses first-person protagonist point-of-view from Alex's perspective, so everything is only what she experiences: The parties, dressing to kill, chases, murders, deceptions, seductions, contagion, politics, distrust (oops, I already said "politics"), and greater knowledge of how to use her planeweaving skills.
Hoo, boy, does this girl take it up a notch or what!
It's a blend of action and character, as Alex struggles to determine who killed a Shadow and a Winter fae, who stands to gain from it, and how to survive the different fae courts without being murdered herself. I have to wonder why Price didn't slip in more of Alex's vulnerabilities. Oh, there were a few, but the emphasis was so low-key, if someone were reading this story out of context of the rest of the series, they'd never see beneath it. Falin was more stereotypical of the jealous boyfriend while Dugan was, well, there. Price didn't do much to develop his character other than for us to see him as honorable if ambitious.
There's an interesting story that seems quite plausible as to the High Court and why the seelie and unseelie courts no longer exist. Unfortunately, Faerie is all about balance. Part of it would be achieved by what the Light Queen reveals to Alex...jesus... Yep, just call me the negotiable pawn...
I like Price's take on legal agreements in her magic world, from the right to open roads to the Sanctuary of Artisans.
Hmm, Price claims that Alex was betrothed to Dugan at birth, but her father suggested the betrothal in
Grave Visions, 4.
It's a blend of prose depending upon whether it's the ambling progression of the story or someone is speaking, from Alex's straightforward approach, Falin's attempts to straddle that line, Dugan's "somewhat" straight talk, and then there's the twisty ways of the fae and their rulers. Riddle me this and keep yourself safe!
The Story
Tongues of the Dead's reputation is trashed and work is thin after events in
Grave Ransom, 5.
Still, Alex is of two minds when Prince Dugan wants to engage her services...in Faerie where her grave powers don't work. It's the gravity of the murders (and Falin's promise of backup) that changes her mind, for the courts are on the verge of war.
The Characters
Alex Kraft is a grave witch and planeweaver who runs a private investigation agency, Tongues of the Dead, with Rianna McBride, a fellow grave witch and her best friend. PC is Alex's dog.
Her father, George Caine, is a fae in hiding from the local court; a prominent member in mortal government; and, a member of the Humans First Party, a hate group against fae and witches. He's also the father who excommunicated his daughter.
Death is a soul collector who had loved Alex, and she him. The Mender, a telepath, is the leader of the soul collectors and very strict to whom Alex owes a debt. He's one sneaky guy!
Detective Falin Andrews is in charge of the Fae Investigation Bureau (FIB) in the mortal realm where his love for Alex is impossible, because he's also the Winter Queen's bloody hands, her lover, and her knight. Nori is an FIB agent and second-in-command.
Alex's castle...
...showed up in
Grave Visions. Alex's housemates include Caleb, a green man; Holly is a human addicted to Faerie food as well as the assistant district attorney, and she's dating Caleb; Icelynne is a ghost; and, Mrs B is a brownie who manages the office and takes care of the castle.
Nekros City is...
...the mortal city where Alex lives, a territory that unfolded between Georgia and Alabama after the Magical Awakening occurred. Tamara is the lead medical examiner, a charm witch, and one of Alex's best friends. The Eternal Bloom is a fae bar as well as a door into Faerie.
Faerie was...
...once one court and is now divided into the central high court and six other courts: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter are the seasonal courts while Shadow and Light are unaffiliated.
The Shadow Court...
...is tied to dreams, nightmares, and secrets. Prince Dugan is the heir to the throne of the Shadow Court. And betrothed to Alex (
Grave Visions). King Nandin rules Shadow; he's also Alex's great-granduncle several times removed. Serri is close to the king. Kordon is a goblin who was a masterful shadow-crafter and has been a friend to Dugan for years.
The Light Court is...
...ruled by the Queen of Light, Winter's sister. Her son, Ryese, was banished from Winter in
Grave Visions. Teaghan is an assassin formerly with the Shadow Court and an ex-lover of Dugan's.
The Winter Court is...
...ruled by the insane Winter Queen. Maeve and Lyell are members of the queen's council. Jurin and Stiofan Greenmeadows (a snarky jerk who thinks he's all that) are both members of the Winter Court. Stiofan had once been married to Lunabella Blossommist.
The Summer Court is...
...split between the lecherous Summer King and the straitlaced Summer Queen.
The Autumn Court is...
...ruled by the Harvest King.
The High Court has not...
...been seen or heard from in centuries. The only two other planeweavers are said to be part of his court.
Sleagh Maith is the noble line of Faerie. Basmoarte is an always-fatal contagious infection that spreads from magic to magic. It's also the disease that killed Alex's mother. The Magical Awakening occurred 70 years ago when the fae announced to the world that they exist.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a range of pale grays. The palest is the background with a pale purple in the scrolls that frame the edges of the upper third and more scrollwork framing the series information to the right of Alex's shoulders. An info blurb is at the very top in a deep purple. The author's name is in a grayish purple. Beneath that is Alex holding her knife and wearing a slinky pale purple dress with intricate trim on the upper bodice, her pale blonde hair swirling in the breeze. A testimonial is to the right of Alex and below the series information in the same purple. The title is in white across Alex's lower half. Behind her are the tombstones in a snowy landscape.
The title is a play on Alex's abilities and her Fate, and it's a Grave Destiny. -
This is so far my favorite of the bunch. Maybe just because of the explosive ending. I was sluggish reading this one and I think it was because I knew it was the second to last book and I'd have to wait 4 months for the final book in the series to come out. Truthfully, this could have been the final book. Well. Except for all those overarching plot points that barely move in each installation and I still have no idea where they are going.
In this installation, we spent very little time with PC and the rest of the cast of Alex' friends. Yet, I didn't miss them. Duran's character and appearance fit right in and made for an interesting story.
Loved this one. -
A quick and fun read. I must admit that I do love me some trash fantasy.
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Grave Destiny is the 6th installment in the Alex Craft series. Seems like I waited forever for this one! Alex is back with Falin & Dugan trying to solve a murder in Faerie. I really enjoyed Dugan and hope to see him more, but I really missed Death! Lots of new characters and answers for Alex kept me turning the pages until the surprise ending. Didn’t see that one coming! Looking forward to what’s next for Alex.
*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review. -
more than one whole year??? **by the fae**!! how will we survive that long??! how many rereads during ths long horrible wait, and then knowing there's a next book.... ohdear.....
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My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at
Hotlistens.com.
I really love this world that Kalayna Price has created. It features mostly witches and fae. Alex Craft is our main character and is a grave witch. She can raise shades of the dead to help police find out what happened to them and other things.
In this one, Alex has to help the Shadow Prince and the Winter Queen solve a murder of a member of Shadow Court that takes place in the Winter Court. Then there is Death’s boss, The Mender, has his own agenda for Alex. Oh, I can’t forget that his father is up to something too. The poor girl is pulled into so many directions in this book (actually, that might be everybook). A lot happens in this book and it ends with a lot of changes in store for the next book.
This is a fun urban fantasy. If you like investigations and fae politics, then this is the series for you. The characters are a lot of fun and the worldbuilding is complex. I’m not sure how long the wait will be, but I’m eager for the next book.
Narration
Emily Durante has always read this series and I’ve really enjoyed narration. She has no issues with the ever growing cast filled with many men, women and creatures of all kinds. I always look forward to listening to this series and Durante is part of that reason. I can’t even imagine just reading this series without Durante.
**I'd like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. -
I've been with this author since the very first book in the Alex Craft series back in 2010, and because of how much I loved her writing, I even ended up reading her Haven books. I'll admit that I nearly gave up hope there for a while when there was a four year gap between Book 3 & Book 4, but I've read a lot of UF and nothing else was quite like this series, so I found myself always checking up on it even as the years went by.
So this review is actually going to focus on Alex's love life, although that's not what the point of the series is about and I love the series for everything else. Still, I normally abhor love triangles, but this was the only one that I've read which felt actually realistic and was resolved in a way that I would also consider realistic, so I'm going to take the time to examine WHY. At various points in the series, I really did like her with Falin and with Death - I think what made the relationships acceptable in this series (when normally I would've dropped it ASAP at the first sign of a wishy washy triangle) is that it's actually handled well. Let me break it down:
1. Alex's relationships with Falin and with Death both actually make sense and neither of them are grounded in just lust or instalove. She grew up with Death and he was her teenage crush and first love, but although that does work for a short term relationship, it's true that for an adult woman, despite all the feelings in the world, the barriers to their relationship are insurmountable. I'm not just talking about the whole "she's human/fae/living & he's a soul collector" but the fact that she doesn't actually know much about him, doesn't even know his name, and though it's not his fault, he's unavailable to be there when she needs him. It made a lot of sense for her to be in love with him, considering how he was her best friend and how lonely her magic had made her. However, no relationship (whether in a paranormal world or otherwise) can survive with that many deep seated issues, and I admire that Price made Alex adult enough to acknowledge those and move on.
2. As for Falin, Alex bonded with him through their partnership in investigating and resolving the various threats to their lives and world. I also think that Price handled this relationship in an interesting way; originally Falin *was* actually just a lust-driven one night stand and little more than a hot guy to warm Alex's bed after use of grave magic. But despite the big underlying issue in their relationship, namely his subservience and ties to the Winter Queen, they actually got to know each other. Over the course of several books, you could see the respect and trust grow between them as they worked together and watched each other's backs.
3. Although Death and Falin are neither jealous of each other at various points, neither of them acted butthurt about it or turned into giant babies over Alex's choices. And it remained firmly that: ALEX's choice, with neither of them pulling some macho bullshit or trying to guilt her one way or another, and with both of them still ultimately having her well being and happiness in mind. THANK GOODNESS. I've come to realize my major gripe with love triangles isn't that there IS a triangle, because in real life relationships and love do get confusing, but the fact that authors often handle them in such immature and petty ways...
4. Including not resolving the triangle for ages. Ok, so the Alex-and-Death vs Alex-and-Falin did stretch on for a while, but at no point did she cheat on one or the other (another HUGE gripe I have with love triangles) and again, both relationships were shown in an adult and realistic manner. There were really good reasons for her breakups with both of them and good reasons for her love of both of them. Alex wasn't wishy washy because she didn't know her feelings, but because despite her feelings, there were insurmountable issues and because of that, she cut herself off from both of them as best as she could.
5. The resolution. Ok, I saw this one coming (where else have we seen the heroine break the fae knight's oath/bonds to his crazy bitchy queen...coughcough...Sarah J Maas & Throne of Glass, Book 3...) but I'm glad that the triangle wasn't resolved by turning one of the guys into an evil asshole, aka retconning the whole series. I've seen too many authors make the heroine "choose" by revealing that all along, one dude was just using the heck out of her and was like the Worst Guy Ever. My gripe with that is twofold: A) you don't string along readers for several books only to retcon the heck out of your own character and his background, and B) it suggests that not only are your readers incredibly stupid, your heroine is almost too stupid to live if the possible love of her life was this giant scheming evil dude from day 1.
I'm also glad that the resolution didn't involve what I call the deus "ex" machina, aka where the ex is abruptly kicked out of the running by dying. And above all, the one thing I can't stand about love triangles is if the author actually wimps out and tries to go with both because now you've got a vocal, angry fandom split between Team Dude'sName and Team OtherDude'sName.
