Review: Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade

Title: Queen of the Dead
Author: Stacey Kade
Genre: YA, Supernatural, Romance, Action
Perfect for: those who read the first book in the series, 'The Ghost and the Goth'
Star Rating: 5/5

Taken from Goodreads, "After being sent back from the light, Alona Dare - former homecoming queen, current Queen of the Dead - finds herself doing something she never expected: working. Instead of spending days perfecting her tan by the pool (her typical summer routine when she was, you know, alive), Alona must now cater to the needs of other lost spirits. By her side for all of this - ugh - “helping of others” is Will Killian: social outcast, seer of the dead, and someone Alona cares about more than she’d like.

Before Alona can make a final ruling on Will’s “friend” or “more” status, though, she discovers trouble at home. Her mom is tossing out Alona’s most valuable possessions, and her dad is expecting a new daughter with his wicked wife. Is it possible her family is already moving on? Hello! She’s only been dead for two months! Thankfully, Alona knows just the guy who can put a stop to this mess.

Unfortunately for Alona, Will has other stuff on his mind, and Mina, a young (and beautiful) seer, is at the top of the list. She’s the first ghost-talker Will’s ever met—aside from his father—and she may hold answers to Will’s troubled past. But can she be trusted? Alona immediately puts a check mark in the “clearly not” column. But Will is - ahem - willing to find out, even if it means leaving a hurt and angry Alona to her own devices, which is never a good idea."


What a great read! 'Queen of the Dead' surprised me.  I dare say, with all the introductions over, 'Queen of the Dead' is even better than last years 'The Ghost and the Goth'. In 'Queen of the Dead', we pick up pretty much where we left off. Alona is still playing spirit guide, Will is still trying to help the dead cross over, and together they are stuck in a very tangled romantic relationship.


I expected the story to play out like an episode of 'Ghost Whisperer'. You know, psychic meets ghost, resolves their unfinished business, the end. Boy, was I wrong! Author Stacey Kade introduces some great plot twists and new relationships that really make this a fresh story. And the ending? Well, let's just say she's up their with Rachel Hawkins in terms of cliffhangers and has successfully got me pining for book three!


With the interest in keeping this spoiler free, I won't go into too much detail about the plot. However, I feel I should mention a few things that I love about this book. First off, Kade's witty, humor filled writing is a welcome godsend in a world filled with over dramatic YA novels. I love the fun, upbeat quality the 'voices' have in this series.


Secondly, the new mysteries and plot development brought forth in 'Queen of the Dead' are fantastic. Unexpected turns are taken and I'm looking forward to seeing what becomes of the characters in the third installment. After finishing 'Queen of the Dead', I found myself theorizing about what could happen next for Will and Alona. That is always a sign that the book was a worthwhile read!


Needless to say, I enjoyed this second visit into Will and Alona's world. 'Queen of the Dead' gets 5 out of 5 stars. Enjoy the read!

S.O.S Book of the Week

The S.O.S Book of the Week is where I let you in on what new releases I'm looking forward to! S.O.S comes from the term 'Strict on Sale'. It's bookseller speak for a title that you can't sell before a specific date-- think Harry Potter. While the books I have here may not be S.O.S titles specifically, they are all new!


The S.O.S. Book of the Week is:

Taken from Goodreads, "After being sent back from the light, Alona Dare–former homecoming queen, current Queen of the Dead–finds herself doing something she never expected: working. Instead of spending days perfecting her tan by the pool (her typical summer routine when she was, you know, alive), Alona must now cater to the needs of other lost spirits. By her side for all of this, ugh, “helping of others” is Will Killian: social outcast, seer of the dead, and someone Alona cares about more than she’d like.

Before Alona can make a final ruling on Will’s “friend” or “more” status, though, she discovers trouble at home. Her mom is tossing out Alona’s most valuable possessions, and her dad is expecting a new daughter with his wicked wife. Is it possible her family is already moving on? Hello?! She’s only been dead for two months! Thankfully, Alona knows just the guy who can put a stop to this mess.

Unfortunately for Alona, Will has other stuff on his mind, and Mina, a young (and beautiful) seer, is at the top of the list. She’s the first ghost-talker Will’s ever met—aside from his father—and she may hold answers to Will’s troubled past. But can she be trusted? Alona immediately signs her name in the “clearly not” column. But Will is, ahem, willing to find out, even if it means leaving a hurt and angry Alona to her own devices, which is never a good idea.

Packed with romance, lovable characters, and a killer cliffhanger, Queen of the Dead is the out-of-this-world sequel to The Ghost and the Goth."


'Queen of the Dead' has a release date of June 2011 and holds a spot on my 'eager to read' list! If you read my review of 'The Ghost and the Goth', then you know that I quite enjoyed it. I hope that 'Queen of the Dead' holds the same enjoyment! This series is flying under the radar at the moment, but I think once we see this follow up tale hit store shelves, it will become as popular as it deserves to be!!!


Are you looking forward to this title?

Review: The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade

Title: The Ghost and the Goth
Author: Stacey Kade
Genre: YA, high school, ghost, romance
Perfect for: A rainy day

Dying sucks, especially if you're Alona Dare. She expected a bright light, a long tunnel, something supernatural when she was accidentally hit and killed by a school bus before morning gym. What she got, however, was far less exciting. Waking up a ghost, she quickly learned that the afterlife isn't all that great. Watching your boyfriend hook up with your best friend, not being able to touch anything, and lastly, being invisible to everyone are not easy things to get over. Well, make that almost invisible to everyone.

Enter Will, loner goth boy who has inherited a family gift to see spirits. While he's doing all he can to try and distance himself from the ghosts at the school, Alona has a different idea and latches on to him instantly. 'The Ghost and the Goth' is a story about friendship, with a bit romance and humor tossed in.

'The Ghost and the Goth' is a perfect rainy day popcorn read. If you are looking for a book that is light, fun, and not too demanding or mellow dramatic, this is for you! Stacey Kade has some great characters on her hands and has a talent for writing some realistic, humorous teen dialogue without too much 'teen speak'.

The characters are quite likable. Alona, contrary to what you might expect, isn't your typical annoying cheerleader character. She actually has a bit of depth to her. Will, as well, is a fun character. His family background gives him a unique POV. 'The Ghost and the Goth' is one of those rare titles where the characters are both equally likable.

As I stated earlier, the storyline isn't over the top or mellow dramatic. It's light, fun, and popcorn'y, which are three things I tend to enjoy! Kade did well on creating a story that is a quite addicting read. The pace of the story is practically perfect and the plot elements are interesting and refreshing.  While this is a standalone, it could totally become the first in a series.  Actually, I'd be quite interested in seeing where the characters go.

Overall, don't judge this book by its slightly odd looking cover! It's a good read that you shouldn't miss out on. If you need an easy, popcorn read, this is it!

'The Ghost and the Goth' is available at your local bookstore and online now!