| Title | : | How to Break an Undead Heart (The Beginner's Guide to Necromancy, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 280 |
| Publication | : | First published March 30, 2018 |
Soon an attack on Woolworth House leaves her with bigger problems than he loves me, he loves me not. Vampires are on the prowl, and they aren’t the only predators circling. A new threat has emerged, one with blood rights to Grier. With enemies closing in on all sides, she must choose her allies, and the decision could make or break her…and her heart.
Warning: This book contains a buttload of zombie parakeet poop. Like grab a poncho and thank me later. Watch out, y’all. It’s about to hit the fan. Hearts will break, and heads will roll. Literally.
How to Break an Undead Heart (The Beginner's Guide to Necromancy, #3) Reviews
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I haven’t been this addicted to a series since Anne Bishop came out with The Others (
Written in Red). Just like back then, I recognize that there are serious philosophical problems with it, and just like then, Reading Brain Don’t Care.™
This is the book-crack of quarantine isolation, and I’m thankful I have Kindle Unlimited at the moment, otherwise it would have been $40 on books last night. (can I get a shout from my book-lovers? You know what I’m saying, here).
The good: a main character that is young in some ways, but really doing her best. Yes, I know; that’s what they all say, but I think in this book, she walks the talk. She’s studying to make up the gaps in her education; she’s trying to work, to help give her identity and purpose; she is, as a therapist would say, open to asking questions of the world, instead of making assumptions; and is trying to reach out and connect despite being trust-impaired.
A couple of new creature-types are introduced, which can be a high point urban fantasy. These add nice flavor, and have both an edge of danger and potential interest that could result in positive or negative outcomes. They end up providing some nice emotional counterpoints to the rest of the book’s emotion.
There’s some nice humor, mostly in the dialogue.
Plotting is decently done. As a non-romance reader, I felt like the life-events/mystery plot and their development were solid, and ran a nice parallel with the changes in Grier’s relationship with Boaz.
The bad is that the heroine--like the Others--is super-Spechul-without much work work on her part. So there's some deus ex machina moments for Spechul powers to Save the Day. Your tolerance may vary--in this book, they're pretty prevalent.
Also, Edwards can absolutely not stay away from the paranormal/romance trope of discussing both body size and eating. I’m sure she thinks she has a humorous/modern take on it, with the various characters all telling Grier she has to ‘gain some curves back’ and making a big deal about how thin she is. She couples this with Grier’s insatiable appetite for sweets.
I’ll also throw in that to date, the versions of romantic love that have been shared have been admittedly youthful and idealistic. A new one is introduced that might also be a tad… obsessive. Just saying. I mean, this universe is a small one, with ‘High Society marriages for life’ and arranged marriages and actual thing, but it feels very feudalistic. It is nice that Grier has a gay male friend in a solid marriage as a counterpoint.
So, that said, I stayed up late to finish. I also might have shed a tear or two. I’m sure it was Quarantine Brain. Who cares, right? Reading Brain Don’t Care!™ -
You know exactly what is going to happen in this book because the blurb itself is a spoiler. WTF blurb? I thought you were cool! Also, you lied about the zombie bird shit. It was hardly mentioned and really not funny at all. Seriously, blurb, you are fucking up and need to get your shit together before you lose all credibility.
On the other hand - good riddance Boaz! He was Grier's childhood crush and let's face it girls, childhood crushes are meant to be left behind with our scrunchies and diaries. Trying to make your childhood crush work out in your adult life is like ordering the dinosaur chicken nuggets off the kid's menu on a date. It's awkward and everyone is embarrassed for you.
Unless...
This is acceptable.
Still, Grier's love for Boaz was undeserved. He called her "Squirt" for fuck's sake. You can't have sex with someone who calls you Squirt! It's just wrong on so many levels!
Oh, you mean the Squirtles? Yeah, they all killed themselves. They heard their father yelling out their mother's name during sex. It was their only choice after that.
Of course, my hope is that things will happen with Linus. He's much more interesting than Boaz ever was. -
** Note: You do need to read this series in order.
How to Break an Undead Heart is by far the best in the Beginner’s Guide to Necromancy series to date. I devoured this extraordinary novel in one sitting.
WOW, the title should have been a dead give away, but I wasn’t expecting what happens to happen. The author left me an emotional wreck and I’m still getting tears in my eyes, when I think about what happened.
The story takes place close to where How to Claim an Undead Soul ends. Not much time has passed between books. Grier and company sparkle off the pages. Boaz is out on a confidential assignment, Amelie is working through her house arrest, and Linus is trying to help Grier get knowledge on her necromancy skills.
Their are a few different conflicts introduced in this one. The master is still trying to take Grier under his care, Linus and Grier are trying to understand what Grier can do, and Boaz is being sketchy.
In the last book Boaz said he was all in and it seams like they where finally going to be TOGETHER, but she has some concerns that he’s not as in as he said he was, especially since he’s talking to Amelie all the time and only shows up when Grier is severely hurt. I really liked Boaz and was hoping for the underdog to come out on top, but what Boaz does made me say Goodbye.
As for Linus; I still don’t see him as a lover, but the possibility is open. At this time he’s more a friend and teacher. I liked that we got to see more of Linus and his different masks he wears and his Wrath. The combination is interesting and Linus plays more of a role in this installment. He gets Grier out of the house, shows her a different life, and helps her grow. With what Grier went through she never got to have the life she dreamed and now she learns that she will never be the same Grier and it’s time to let go of many things and move forward.
So much happens in How to Break an Undead Heart. We learning more about Grier, get to meet new creatures, and have our heartbroken. Edwards ripped out my heart at the end. I’m not sure if I’m glad she did it, but I see it needed to be done. Grier needed to let go of so many things. No one likes to let their first love go, but it’s something that happens in life.
I’ll leave you with this. My heart broke for Grier and Woolly, the house, so have tissues ready. I cried the last 15% of this book, but I couldn’t stop; because it’s such an important and impactful moment for everyone involved.
Rated: 5 Stars
*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy provided by Hailey Edwards with the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
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Spoiler alert:
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I'm glad Boaz is out of the picture. I never liked him, or Amelie. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with Grier now. Adore Wooley as always. I almost wish my house was sentient like Wooley. 4.5 stars -
Oh Hailey Edwards, you crafty crafty lady. You make me feel things.
This book kept me so riveted, I read it in one sitting. The kind of book that made me stay up way past my bedtime on a work night so that as I write this the next morning, my eyes are bleary but my insides are still squeezing tight over the events that transpired.
Read any reviews about this series and you’ll find how often people say the heroine, Grier, can’t catch a break. And it’s so true. It is a crappy, crappy world that she lives in. No one can be trusted. And I mean no one. The climax in the last book should’ve tipped me off. The title of this book should’ve tipped me off. And yet when everything came crashing down, I felt sideswiped. And that’s good writing, people.
You know what else is good writing? Subtly laying the groundwork for all of this, so that when it came together, it made complete and total sense. The downside I had about a particular character or the interest I had an another. Expertly played.
Clearly, I am trying not to spoil you and probably failing spectacularly. One scene does not make this entire book, but it’s the one I can’t let go. And neither will you.
All that said, this is a road trip book of sorts. Someone new is attacking Woolly and it is affecting Amelie. Grier is worried that her sigils or her involvement is putting her best friend in danger, so she leaves with Linus to go to the university where he works in Atlanta, for answers. There, she sees even more sides to him than the quiet, thoughtful man that lives in her carriage house or the dutiful scion to his mother who knows all the sharp corners of society. Linus fascinates me. And he is so clearly in love with Grier that I just want to scoop him up in a hug. I feel it in my bones, and still part of me is waiting for his position to make him act against her. After all, everyone else does. (Sorry, I’m going down the rabbit hole on that again.)
A lot of people are trying to kill her. Some new faces, some old. And with these characters, the world is expanding. Like the supernatural high rise where Linus lives and the mysterious beasts who guard it. Like tidbits on Grier’s birth family and what it means to be goddess-touched. There’s a ton of action, plot twists, and characters I love, side by side with characters I now love to hate.
I’m kicking myself for not reading this series sooner.
Rating: A -
Loving this series more and more! I love all the action, mystery, the plot, the characters and how there is never a dull moment or lag in the story. And the slow building romance that I don't even think the heroine saw coming is...yum! I can't wait for more!
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I'm giving everyone slightly crazy eyes right now because OHMIGAWD I LOVE THIS SERIES SO HARD. So. Hard.
Why do I love it? Because Grier is messed up. Her circumstances leave her in a place where all her friendships and interactions are suspect and she's *still* dealing with the fallout from her time in prison and she's a messssssss.
And yet, she's making it work. Not always as smoothly as she might wish, but things find a way of working out around her and, really, that's what matters.
Even though sometimes "working out" means her friends end up in danger and the one person she shouldn't trust but does is the one helping her out of her situation.
Like I said, messsssssed up.
Anywho. THINGS HAPPEN in this book. THINGS. I'm torn between being happy (for reasons) and angry because Grier deserves better than what she was given. However, I'm sort of loving where things are going *crosses fingers* and I'm ALL IN for whatever comes next.
-Kelly @
Reading the Paranormal -
Review originally posted at
http://fictionvixen.com/review-how-to...
WARNING: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS
I’m giving a spoiler warning for this review because I’m not sure I can get through it without giving away a few very important changes in Grier’s relationships. SO MANY CHANGES. I’m also going to admit that I might have peeked at the end before I started the book which I totally should not have done because OMG. Seriously, OMG. And yes, I know I shouldn’t have read ahead okay. That’ll teach me.
Anyway, if you’re all caught up with the series then you know that Grier is Dame Woolworth and she has taken her bff Amelie into her home after it was revealed Amelie did really bad things in book two. Things that got her basically kicked out of her family. Grier saves her by taking responsibility for her and offering Woolworth House as a secure place to keep her while she’s under house arrest. Linus is still teaching Grier all the necromancer things that she never got the chance to learn and Boaz is off on assignment, but he and Grier are trying out the dating thing. Although he seems distant and doesn’t call or text anymore.
How to Break an Undead Heart has several conflicts that either have been ongoing through the series, or are new to book three. Grier is trying to find information on her father, a member of her mother’s long-lost family shows up out of nowhere, the master vampire who kidnapped her in the first book still wants her in his custody and Linus and Grier are working hard to figure out exactly what kind of powers Grier has. Not to mention Boaz is acting sort of weird and has all but disappeared. That’s a lot to get through and work out in your head.
I’m not going to really get into the first several conflicts other than to say that I’m so intrigued by some of the developments. I would have never guessed at what was revealed about her parentage. I can’t wait to find out what this might mean for her and her necromancer abilities. I really, really want to get to know more about her mother and the relationship she had with Grier’s father.
The very best part of this book is Linus and his character development. This is a character that started out as one-dimensional and who I envisioned in my head as a sort of wimpy, odd, untrustworthy distant relation. BUT NOT NOW. I want to eat Linus up with a spoon and come back for seconds.“Who did this to you? What made you believe you’re disposable? You’re an heir, a scion, a professor, an artist, a potentate. Those are all positions of power.”
Linus is all of those things and every time I turned a page he got more interesting. He’s respectful of Grier and genuinely wants the best for her. It’s obvious that he has intense feelings for her and has for a long, long time. He doesn’t use cute nicknames or turn on the charm to try and get her attention, he just stands behind her when she needs support and in front of her when she needs protection. He’s smart, and artistic and cool as hell and I absolutely adore that Ms. Edwards allowed his character to flourish.
After peeking at the end and realizing what was about to happen, I kind of went into this book with a feeling of dread. Lots and lots of dread. But when I finished I was so very happy with the direction it seems like this series, and Grier’s love life, is headed. Boaz does something totally shitty and I hope he regrets his actions forevermore. Ugh. So disappointed. (This also may or may not effect the relationship between Grier and Amelie) But, YAY for a real man who has stood silently by and secretly ached for years finally getting the trust and chance he deserves. I am 100% team Linus.
It must be said that I also adore Wooly and love that she is such an integral part of this series. You can’t get much better than a sentient house that lets her feelings be known in the way of exploding lightbulbs and slamming doors. If Wooly don’t like you, you better work hard to make amends and get back in her good graces.
This series rocks on all levels and every new release just sucks me in deeper. I can’t wait to see what happens next. Final Grade- A
Favorite Quote:
“I had told the truth. I trusted him. I trusted Linus Lawson. That faith in him might damn me, but… He had saved me. He kept saving me.” -
4.5 Stars... I just want to start off saying that I absolutely adore the character of Linus and the complexity that he brings to this story... The chemistry between he and Grier is sweet but with an undertone of intensity that leaves me wanting more... The unfolding of the story seems to come front and center in this book; more is revealed regarding the true nature of Grier and the extent of her abilities as well as snippets into the trauma of losing Maud and the events that unfolded that night... The love story is taking shape as well forming to this ever changing Grier and her needs... I look forward to more from these characters and this storyline.:)
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1) The endgame ship is very good, 2) thank goodness [redacted character] is finally gone (I swear I’ve been meh on the series so far just because I intensely dislike them), and 3) not a fan of a Meiko storyline (not writing a review, but it veered too close to the eroticization of East Asian women).
Read via KU. -
Still really liking this series. I feel like the magic system could be explained better and fights could be more fully described. But this author seems to be more about the relationships and she does that really well. I am liking where this is going.
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Why the author doing this?
The town manslut extraordinaire certainly not this series’s hero!
Good riddance Boaz!
Linus here, the chubby and nerd boy who grown up become a hot guy!
Wake up Grier! -
Grier is excited to go on a trip to Atlanta , but things don’t go according to plan...heart break is in the air...
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I am not ashamed to admit that I read this book until around 6:00 AM.
I couldn’t help myself. I thought, “Ok, the first chapter then get to bed.” Obviously, I was totally overestimating both my self-control and how much How to Break an Undead Heart would just suck me back into Grier’s world.
Undead Heart brings up back into action not too long after the second book wraps up; Boaz has gone back out on a confidential assignment, Amelie is working through her house arrest under Woolly’s watchful...lightbulbs? Windows? You get what I mean, and Linus (my favorite) is still living in the carriage house and trying his best to get Grier’s necromancy knowledge caught up.
Edwards gives us a few different conflicts for Undead Heart- the Master is still trying to find a way to take possession of Grier (and her power), Linus and Grier are trying to find ways to understand what Grier can do and if she’s really as special as his mother thinks, and, to top it off, Boaz is being sketchy as heck.
Even though it seemed like they would finally be TOGETHER, she knows he’s making plenty of calls to check on Amelie, but he doesn’t show up for Grier unless he finds out she’s been hurt. In the midst of everything else that’s going on, I was pretty annoyed with Boaz. I found him charming in the first two books, but Undead Heart has just pushed me even more firmly to #TeamLinus
Speaking of beautiful book crushes, we get to see a lot more of Linus both in terms of his total “page time” and also more of the masks that he wears. I think he’s pretty interesting, a social chameleon, and it’s pretty clear that there’s real chemistry between him and Grier. Not to mention, I love intelligent men (and he can cook!!!!!!!).
Edwards gives us a lot of moments that are endearingly awkward as they continue to figure out what their real dynamic and relationship is going to be. I mean, they’re adorable! I’m going to just keep crossing my fingers on this because I think they’re growing to complement each other extremely well.
My only real criticism of Undead Heart is that the subplot about Grier’s maternal family felt rushed to me. The other conflicts felt well-developed and well-anchored to previous books, but the Marchand storyline seems too important for short focus that it’s given. In any case, what happens with the Marchands is going to have a huge ripple effect, so there’s plenty of time to really dig into this conflict and flesh it out.
Overall, the book was great! Undead Heart sets A LOT of wheels set in motion, and it’s going to be a “can’t miss” installment in the series. Big moves and discoveries are being made in Grier’s love life, family history, and her unpredictable yet undeniably awesome powers.
I cheered at the end of the book; those last two paragraphs...what is life?????? And by cheer, I mean I had a silent dance party on my bed since it was 6:15 in the morning, and all normal people were asleep.
I don’t know how I’m going to be patient until the next book to find out what happens. It’s going to be a heck of a wait!
For anyone who’s in need of other reading material, I’d strongly recommend Edwards’ other series- especially The Foundling (starts with Bayou Born).
https://www.amazon.com/Bayou-Born-Hai... -
3.5⭐
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There's still time..
The MVP of this book is Linus. Aaaaaah! Such character growth! I looooove it!
After being distracted and obsessed by real world chaos, I was finally able to pick this book back up and finish it and I pretty much devoured the chapters I had left. It was soooo glorious! The second book left Grier in a bit of a conundrum. Boaz was finally showing her the attention she has craved from him her entire life and she wasn't sure how to take it because this man can flirt and then go back to pretending she doesn't exist in a blink. It was annoying as hell. Grier decided to take Amelie in even though she was betrayed and almost killed and they've been trying to get back to being normal friends as much as possible.
Linus has been Grier's solid foundation, besides Woolly. He's still continues to train her and decides to take her to Atlanta with him for answers after an incident left Amelie unconscious. He has friends everywhere that will keep his various secrets. Grier gets a good glimpse of his world and it helps her to see (FINALLY) that Linus is actually a really freaking great guy especially where she is concerned. She's not exactly sure how to handle the information that he has a crush on her but as complicated as it sounds just from me describing this, I assure you, the author handles it very, very well. It also helped that there was this obnoxious cat familiar who helped this revelation along.
I usually hate when there's an almost love triangle but this just doesn't feel like your normal "team x or team y" and the conversation Grier has with Linus on the Woolly's porch, was so heartbreaking-ly feeling that all you can say is "oh" and then "whew!".
"Maybe that apparent ease was what made their unions so bright from the outside looking in. Maybe that kind of love wasn't simple. Maybe it was a goal you strove toward every single day for the rest of your lives. A peak you never reached, but that was okay as long as you kept climbing."
Besides enjoying our tattooed, badass underdog, the plot overall was quite good. We got a little bit more insight into Grier's family heritage. Grier has also grown a bit more powerful especially when it comes to writing sigils. She has a unique, instinctual ability that awes even Linus. Grier's life is still in danger because the master's lackeys are growing more and more bold and desperate so the stronger she gets, the better. She also gained 3 new unexpected house guests and Woolly is filling up with protective residents quite nicely. I'm definitely invested in this series and I can't wait to see what happens next. -
4.5/5.0
Oh. My. Gosh! I’m growing to LOVE these stories!! Grier is such an interesting and sympathetic character. She is strong, yet vulnerable, resilient yet kind. She has been through SO much yet still holds such capacity to love.
I’m actually glad events happened the way they did with Boaz. She deserves SO much better. I think Linus is one to root for... :). LOTS of twists and turns, this story never sinks to predictable for sure! -
So much fun!
After the first 2 books, I didn't expect this one to be so good. Or the series to get so very interesting, but it did.
Yay, I found a 5-star read! Now I'm sad it doesn't have more books in this series. -
4.5
Review posted on
Got Fiction?
Continuing with my binge on this series, I dove into this book really excited to see where Grier and Boaz would go. And at about 20% in, I noticed that I don't really like Boaz with Grier. I haven't been fully sold on him as a love interest, but since this isn't a Romance, it's Urban Fantasy, I usually try to be more patient and wait and see. He's supposed to be the fun, hunky big brother of her best friend, guy next door. But I find him...annoying. Only once in the first book did I really see him as hero material rather than just boyfriend material. Add to that she's changed. She's a different person, but he's in love with who she was before she was imprisoned. Even Grier mentions how she's changed and trying to be who she was before, when what we see here is she needs to be who she's becoming. And even though he's still there for the big emergencies, he isn't there for the small things.
Linus, however, is shaping up to pretty solid. He's been forced on her by the Grande Dame (his mother), but it's sort of a blessing. She needs to learn more about who she is and what she can do. But she isn't going to depend solely on Linus, so she starts poking around, looking for hints as to who her father was. This sets off a chain reaction and her mother's family finds her. I liked the idea of meeting a cousin, however something happened with her that kind of felt out of left field. I don't want to spoil it, but it was really...odd. I'm sure that there was a reason for it that will be exposed in the next book, but what I'm finding I don't love is that like Grier, we're only being handed crumbs of her past, and we're no closer to finding Maud's killer.
I feel like Grier has been isolated by her best friends and I'm not sure why. I don't know where the author is leading us. The next book is due out at the beginning of September, so we don't have to wait long, but I'm unsure of how I feel about this path she's leading us/Grier down. Judging by the Foundling books I've read by her, sometimes she makes decisions I don't always agree with, but I enjoy the characters and the world enough that I try not to let that get to me. But this time around, I'm both wary and curious where she's taking us. -
Linus......
How Grier can be all for Boaz is beyond me!!!!! LOVE LINUS!!!!!!!!!
So Grier is And Woolly are adjusting to their two new roommates, Linus (ahhhhh) is the boy next door helping Grier learn her magic.. and Boaz is lunging around like a buffoon...
When Linus and Grier leave town to investigate some attempts to break the wards on Woolly assassination attempts are made on Grier.....
I am loving these books and (SOME!!!) of these characters!!!!! -
Loved it. Loved it utterly, could not put it down.
And man, my heart just broke at the end -
And then, at the very very end, my heart just warmed -
Already reading onwards. Hooray!
Re-read August 2022
Man, this was the book where I fell utterly in love with this series, and kicked it up to my favorites list. -
Each book in this series get better and better! Poor poor Grier, I swear this woman can't catch a break
I think the events in this installment will be a turning point for her and I for one am already dying for the next one.
The only thing that would have made this better for me was if there was an audio version.....c'mon Hailey Edwards -
3.5
right in the feels
Also -
Oh, oh, oh who saw this freaking coming?!
Sooooo heart wrenching. I normally don't like reading this sort of drama, but dang this book was all sorts of good otherwise and it sucked me in anyway. I know it snuck up on me ... because like I said ... who would've seen that coming?! -
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
I have really enjoyed every book in the
Beginner's Guide to Necromancy series , and have been fortunate to listen to them all on audio. They are all on Kindle Unlimited including the next after How to Break an Undead Heart. So this review WILL contain spoilers, as I can't review it without some for the earlier books and my feelings about them.
At the beginning, my mind was occupied with the world-building and learning about Grier. Since she had been imprisoned for 5 years, she was struggling with financial issues and grappling with the changes in the world and the people she knew. Her closest friends are her neighbors, Amelie and Boaz. She has had a lingering crush on Boaz.
In How to Claim an Undead Soul, things really took off with the mystery and Grier's learning. She has some time with Boaz and they decide to give things a try. I did not enjoy Boaz or the banter with him. Linus joins her life to teach her. She has known him since childhood, as a sort of a cousin. He is kind and helpful, and I was crushing on him. But with all the betrayals and unknowns, neither Grier or I know if we can trust him. Then she is betrayed by Amelie.
I was so excited for How to Break an Undead Heart and I LOVE the cover. Amelie and Boaz are kind of on the periphery and Grier spends most of her time with Linus. I was in terrified suspense Linus would betray her, even as we learn more about him. He is, after all, a spy for his mother. But he continues to protect, train, and show the most consideration imaginable for Grier's feelings and needs. Swoon.
Grier and Linus take a trip to Atlanta for a long weekend, to research something which happened when Woolly was attacked. She is excited to go see the college she always wanted to attend, and see more of Linus' home and life. The bad guys come from every direction to attack. I loved this book for giving her a chance to explore her feelings and possibilities with Linus. This was exactly what I wanted her to do.
I won't spoil the story, but we do learn more about Grier's past, her mother's family, Linus, Amelie, and Boaz. I want to pick up How to Dance an Undead Waltz, now, tonight and read it even though I have the audio coming. It's just getting better and better, and this was brilliant.
Narration:
I continue to enjoy Rebecca Mitchell as Grier and also as Linus. The other characters aren't as important to me, so other than Oscar, I didn't notice them so much. I listened at my usual 1.25x speed. I'm still surprised there isn't more of a southern drawl in Georgia, but the world IS global now so it's not unrealistic. I loved this one and couldn't stop listening.
Listen to a clip:
https://soundcloud.com/user-149056452...
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Uuuuuuugh. As you surmise by the very spoilery blurb, our heroine starts to date her childhood crush, aka the guy that I hate. Gosh, and I dislike him even more in this book. And like the other guy more in the same level.
What he does here is just... hmmm, you need to read it. I feel for the heroine. This whole book was not easy to deal with for her. Many emotional things, many things happening. It was great. -
GRIER WOOLWORTH
Read 25/9/18 | 5 stars
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Book synopsis: Grier finally has the one thing she’s always wanted: Boaz Pritchard. Too bad her dream boyfriend is keeping her up nights, just not in a sweaty or fun way. Boaz has dialed down the Southern charm and stopped returning her calls. His job forces him to keep secrets, but his radio silence is cranking up her suspicions. He’s a shameless flirt, but he’s her shameless flirt…right?
Soon an attack on Woolworth House leaves her with bigger problems than he loves me, he loves me not. Vampires are on the prowl, and they aren’t the only predators circling. A new threat has emerged, one with blood rights to Grier. With enemies closing in on all sides, she must choose her allies, and the decision could make or break her…and her heart.
Warning: This book contains a buttload of zombie parakeet poop. Like grab a poncho and thank me later. Watch out, y’all. It’s about to hit the fan. Hearts will break, and heads will roll. Literally. -
While it seems some of Grier’s childhood dreams have come true, they didn't come about like she assumed, nor are they working out the way she thought. Amelie is her new roommate, under house arrest and driving her crazy. Jealousy that Amelie gets regular phone calls from Boaz, while he has gone radio silent on Grier isn’t helping. Her emotions are already a bit frayed when a new attack on Wooly occurs, reminding Grier that she is still hunted. Despite that, she agrees to go to Atlanta with Linus; however, the world outside Savannah doesn’t fit her childhood dreams either, nor is it safe.
Oh damn! It is impossible for me to write this review without spoilers. Sorry! So here is your warning, don’t read further if you don’t want to know. -
I am not ashamed to admit that I read this book until around 6:00 AM.
I couldn’t help myself. I thought, “Ok, the first chapter then get to bed.” Obviously, I was totally overestimating both my self-control and how much How to Break an Undead Heart would just suck me back into Grier’s world.
Undead Heart brings up back into action not too long after the second book wraps up; Boaz has gone back out on a confidential assignment, Amelie is working through her house arrest under Woolly’s watchful...lightbulbs? Windows? You get what I mean, and Linus (my favorite) is still living in the carriage house and trying his best to get Grier’s necromancy knowledge caught up.
Edwards gives us a few different conflicts for Undead Heart- the Master is still trying to find a way to take possession of Grier (and her power), Linus and Grier are trying to find ways to understand what Grier can do and if she’s really as special as his mother thinks, and, to top it off, Boaz is being sketchy as heck.
Even though it seemed like they would finally be TOGETHER, she knows he’s making plenty of calls to check on Amelie, but he doesn’t show up for Grier unless he finds out she’s been hurt. In the midst of everything else that’s going on, I was pretty annoyed with Boaz. I found him charming in the first two books, but Undead Heart has just pushed me even more firmly to #TeamLinus
Speaking of beautiful book crushes, we get to see a lot more of Linus both in terms of his total “page time” and also more of the masks that he wears. I think he’s pretty interesting, a social chameleon, and it’s pretty clear that there’s real chemistry between him and Grier. Not to mention, I love intelligent men (and he can cook!!!!!!!).
Edwards gives us a lot of moments that are endearingly awkward as they continue to figure out what their real dynamic and relationship is going to be. I mean, they’re adorable! I’m going to just keep crossing my fingers on this because I think they’re growing to complement each other extremely well.
My only real criticism of Undead Heart is that the subplot about Grier’s maternal family felt rushed to me. The other conflicts felt well-developed and well-anchored to previous books, but the Marchand storyline seems too important for short focus that it’s given. In any case, what happens with the Marchands is going to have a huge ripple effect, so there’s plenty of time to really dig into this conflict and flesh it out.
Overall, the book was great! Undead Heart sets A LOT of wheels set in motion, and it’s going to be a “can’t miss” installment in the series. Big moves and discoveries are being made in Grier’s love life, family history, and her unpredictable yet undeniably awesome powers.
I cheered at the end of the book; those last two paragraphs...what is life?????? And by cheer, I mean I had a silent dance party on my bed since it was 6:15 in the morning, and all normal people were asleep.
I don’t know how I’m going to be patient until the next book to find out what happens. It’s going to be a heck of a wait!
For anyone who’s in need of other reading material, I’d strongly recommend Edwards’ other series- especially The Foundling (starts with Bayou Born).
https://www.amazon.com/Bayou-Born-Hai...
