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Dreg City #3
Another Kind of Dead
She can heal her own wounds. She can nail a monster to a wall. But there’s one danger Evangeline Stone never saw coming.
Been there. Done that.
Evy Stone is a former Dreg Bounty Hunter who died and came back to life with some extraordinary powers. Now all but five people in the world think she is dead again, this time for good—immolated in a factory fire set specifically for her.
Evy and Wyatt, her partner/lover/friend, can no longer trust their former allies, or even the highest echelons of the Triads—the army of fighters holding back from an unsuspecting public a tide of quarreling, otherworldly creatures—they can trust only each other. Because when the Triads raided a macabre, monster-filled lab of science experiments and hauled away the remnants, they failed to capture their creator: a brilliant, vampire-obsessed scientist with a wealth of powerful, anti-Dreg weaponry to trade for what he desires most of all—Evy Stone: alive and well, and the key to his ultimate experiment in mad science.
Been there. Done that.
Evy Stone is a former Dreg Bounty Hunter who died and came back to life with some extraordinary powers. Now all but five people in the world think she is dead again, this time for good—immolated in a factory fire set specifically for her.
Evy and Wyatt, her partner/lover/friend, can no longer trust their former allies, or even the highest echelons of the Triads—the army of fighters holding back from an unsuspecting public a tide of quarreling, otherworldly creatures—they can trust only each other. Because when the Triads raided a macabre, monster-filled lab of science experiments and hauled away the remnants, they failed to capture their creator: a brilliant, vampire-obsessed scientist with a wealth of powerful, anti-Dreg weaponry to trade for what he desires most of all—Evy Stone: alive and well, and the key to his ultimate experiment in mad science.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
31 people are currently reading
1407 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Meding
26 books691 followersAlso writes as Kelly Meade: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
August 18, 2012
OK, third book in the Evangeline Stone series and ENOUGH with the Capture/Torture/Murder already!! Sheesh! This one finally got thrown across the room last night. Don’t get me wrong- I like mayhem. I also admit to being much happier when my protagonist is the one dishing it out. Yes, I do realize that the character has to face pain and challenges or risk becoming a 1 dimensional, super hero caricature. I get that. And I gave “Another kind of dead” more chances to make up for the misery than I might given another book of its ilk because of the previous 2 books in the series. However, I made it from Chapter 21 to page 309, only by skipping over paragraphs and then whole pages in chapter 22, just to see what happens after the Kick-ass Heroine’s current bout of Capture/Torture/Murder. This would be, what..? - the fourth in her story line and the 2nd in this book, if you count the threat of ‘Rape plus Torture, minus Murder’ that the character under went in chapters 9 and 10.
I gotta say, I begin to think there’s some psychology at work here: Once again, an author has taken this standard bad-ass chick character, (well trained-physically strong- but-emotionally wounded-outwardly snarky-but-with-an-emerging-tender-side) and tied her down to rape (or threaten rape), brutalize and murder her. What’s up with that? “Girls kick ass, but when they do, they’re gonna pay for it!” I’m really not finding this entertaining and it’s actually become more boring than horrific from sheer overuse. The series started with the protagonist’s, Capture/Rape/Torture/Murder. (Because as a female character; she must be sexually assaulted if only to give her a reason not to sleep with the male protagonist for a while.) Aside from the Agggh-factor, this trope pretty much amounts to literary laziness and it becomes as meaningless as repeatedly tying Perilous-Pauline to a railroad track. It’s as if the author has a Capture/Torture/Murder key next to the space bar on the keyboard. “It’s time to put our Heroine in jeopardy again. Hit the CTM key!”
I’d like to propose a rule, let’s call it”Evy’s Rule” after this protagonist, which states: for this and all other series in the Kick-ass Heroine genre; if you, the author, go for the Capture/Torture/Murder trope to kick off your series, you can NOT use it again. Not on that protagonist. Not in that series. Never again. No matter how many books the series produces. For each new entry, you’re just gonna have to dig deep, be creative and come up with some - Oh, I don’t know Plot, Storyline and Character development that you haven’t tortured to death already.
I gotta say, I begin to think there’s some psychology at work here: Once again, an author has taken this standard bad-ass chick character, (well trained-physically strong- but-emotionally wounded-outwardly snarky-but-with-an-emerging-tender-side) and tied her down to rape (or threaten rape), brutalize and murder her. What’s up with that? “Girls kick ass, but when they do, they’re gonna pay for it!” I’m really not finding this entertaining and it’s actually become more boring than horrific from sheer overuse. The series started with the protagonist’s, Capture/Rape/Torture/Murder. (Because as a female character; she must be sexually assaulted if only to give her a reason not to sleep with the male protagonist for a while.) Aside from the Agggh-factor, this trope pretty much amounts to literary laziness and it becomes as meaningless as repeatedly tying Perilous-Pauline to a railroad track. It’s as if the author has a Capture/Torture/Murder key next to the space bar on the keyboard. “It’s time to put our Heroine in jeopardy again. Hit the CTM key!”
I’d like to propose a rule, let’s call it”Evy’s Rule” after this protagonist, which states: for this and all other series in the Kick-ass Heroine genre; if you, the author, go for the Capture/Torture/Murder trope to kick off your series, you can NOT use it again. Not on that protagonist. Not in that series. Never again. No matter how many books the series produces. For each new entry, you’re just gonna have to dig deep, be creative and come up with some - Oh, I don’t know Plot, Storyline and Character development that you haven’t tortured to death already.
September 9, 2011
kick, punch, slice, burn, poison "who are you, who do you work for" break, crunch, slam, dice, puncture, tear, break "oh Wyatt" "oh Evy" bleed, restrain, rip...
and repeat....
and repeat....
January 22, 2012
"Another Kind of Dead" begins shortly where book 2 leaves off. Unfortunately, my taste for this series continues to dwindle just as my reviews. Therefore, I have sadly decided not to continue with the next book.
Book one was thrilling, book two was okay and book three was just plain dismal. Why? Well, the series has become formulaic. At first it was unique and now it is just plain boring even though the plot in book three was briming with action. Let me explain, Evy Stone dies in every book and is reborn. She is viciously raped in the first book and comes close to it in the third. Really? She is battered, abused, and mocked by criminals as every turn. But what really did it for me was the convoluted new characters like Token who says, "Master?" It was just a little to "Lord of the Rings" for me.
Additionally, I just do not feel as though this series is building toward anything: no mounting destiny, no epic nemesis to battle, just nada! I grew tired of all of the injuries beatings and the good guys constantly being outwitted until I almost threw my book across the room. I really had great difficulty getting into the plot or staying interested. I almost did not finish the book. Judge for yourself. I just cannot take it anymore.
Book one was thrilling, book two was okay and book three was just plain dismal. Why? Well, the series has become formulaic. At first it was unique and now it is just plain boring even though the plot in book three was briming with action. Let me explain, Evy Stone dies in every book and is reborn. She is viciously raped in the first book and comes close to it in the third. Really? She is battered, abused, and mocked by criminals as every turn. But what really did it for me was the convoluted new characters like Token who says, "Master?" It was just a little to "Lord of the Rings" for me.
Additionally, I just do not feel as though this series is building toward anything: no mounting destiny, no epic nemesis to battle, just nada! I grew tired of all of the injuries beatings and the good guys constantly being outwitted until I almost threw my book across the room. I really had great difficulty getting into the plot or staying interested. I almost did not finish the book. Judge for yourself. I just cannot take it anymore.
July 27, 2011
Originally posted at http://www.smexybooks.com/2011/07/rev...
Reviewed by Tori
Favorite Quote: “The girl who went through hell is long gone, ashes scattered to the wind. I didn’t ask to be brought back and I’m done fucking apologizing for it.”
Been there. Done that. Evy Stone is a former Dreg Bounty Hunter who died and came back to life with some extraordinary powers. Now all but five people in the world think she is dead again, this time for good—immolated in a factory fire set specifically for her. Evy and Wyatt, her partner/lover/friend, can no longer trust their former allies, or even the highest echelons of the Triads—the army of fighters holding back from an unsuspecting public a tide of quarreling, otherworldly creatures—they can trust only each other. Because when the Triads raided a macabre, monster-filled lab of science experiments and hauled away the remnants, they failed to capture their creator: a brilliant, vampire-obsessed scientist with a wealth of powerful, anti-Dreg weaponry to trade for what he desires most of all—Evy Stone: alive and well, and the key to his ultimate experiment in mad science. (Goodreads)
Evy Stone has nine lives and by my count has used up three of them. Another Kind Of Dead picks up a few weeks after As Lie The Dead leaves off. She, Wyatt, and the Triad destroyed the lab and contained the hybrids but failed in capturing the scientist who created them. Evy has come out unscathed from her battle with a few more ‘gifts’ to add to her growing repertoire. Evy can now heal herself. When fey avatar Jaron tracks Evy and Wyatt down, she speaks of betrayal and trust but dies before saying anymore. Right on her heels is a hybrid goblin hit man who’s genetic origins leads them back to William Thackery-a scientist who’s hatred of vampires has pushed him over the edge. Evy and Wyatt soon learns from the fae that the crystal that contains Torin has been stolen and Thackery has it. He wants Evy in exchange. Evy will once again have to place her faith and life into the hands of people who betrayed and killed her if she wants to survive
I am a huge fan of Ms. Meding’s Dreg City series. A dark edgy Urban Fantasy filled with nail biting action, suspense, and intrigue. The originality of this series is it’s appeal. Your never sure what is going to happen. The lines between good and evil are blurred and often enough the good ARE just as bad and worse then villains. Smooth writing, a fast pace, and engaging dialogue keeps you on your toes to the very end. A convoluted storyline gives us a very interesting view of the supernatural and the human warriors who stand between them and us. Betrayal and redemption are a continuing underlying theme as we watch our heroine and hero navigate through their minefield infected lives. One step in the wrong direction and BOOM!
Evy is still a girl to be reckoned with. Ms. Meding has allowed her to grown within the storyline at a steady comfortable pace. She has finally accepted the body she inhabits and acknowledges that her constant excuses about Wyatt and not being sure if what she feels for him is real or Chandra’s feelings are just that…excuses. We see more of her back story in here (how she came to be recruited into the triad) and her reasons for animosity towards them. At the same time, Ms. Meding does a wonderful job of showing us Evy’s love and longing to be back part of that group. They are her family and she misses being part of that. Courage and loyalty are her strongest points as she continuously tries to save a world that has done nothing but hurt her from day one. She’s not completely forgiving though. She is very careful about dealing with the Triad and the Assembly. She knows her use to them is tempermental and she is always prepared for the moment they will turn on her.
I love our hero Wyatt. As Evy’s ex-handler and lover-he admirably tries to keep her safe while giving her the space she needs to deal with her feelings for him. He realizes after As Lie The Dead that the only one he can truly trust is Evy though he is enough of a strategist to know he cannot alienate the Triad or the Assembly. He is a constant presence in this book and we are left with no doubt here where his loyalties lie.
There is a deeper emotional aspect in here then the other books. Evy is tested in ways that would destroy a less indomitable person and your heart breaks for her. We are also given a more in depth look at the intricate relationships between the members of the Triad which paints a different picture then what we have thought. The romance between Evy and Wyatt jumps some long standing hurdles and a healing or sorts begins for them.
We free fall through the main conflict and events leading up to it’s climatic resolution. There are some rough spots in here that had me hyper ventilating but Ms. Meding wondrous slight of hand tricks allows us an acceptable outcome with just enough left open to ensure the 4th book in this series-Wrong Side Of Dead- is a must read for 2012.
Action, suspense, intrigue, and just the right amount of humor makes Another Kind Of Dead a wonderful addition to any urban fantasy readers bookshelf.
Over all rating: B+
Reviewed by Tori
Favorite Quote: “The girl who went through hell is long gone, ashes scattered to the wind. I didn’t ask to be brought back and I’m done fucking apologizing for it.”
Been there. Done that. Evy Stone is a former Dreg Bounty Hunter who died and came back to life with some extraordinary powers. Now all but five people in the world think she is dead again, this time for good—immolated in a factory fire set specifically for her. Evy and Wyatt, her partner/lover/friend, can no longer trust their former allies, or even the highest echelons of the Triads—the army of fighters holding back from an unsuspecting public a tide of quarreling, otherworldly creatures—they can trust only each other. Because when the Triads raided a macabre, monster-filled lab of science experiments and hauled away the remnants, they failed to capture their creator: a brilliant, vampire-obsessed scientist with a wealth of powerful, anti-Dreg weaponry to trade for what he desires most of all—Evy Stone: alive and well, and the key to his ultimate experiment in mad science. (Goodreads)
Evy Stone has nine lives and by my count has used up three of them. Another Kind Of Dead picks up a few weeks after As Lie The Dead leaves off. She, Wyatt, and the Triad destroyed the lab and contained the hybrids but failed in capturing the scientist who created them. Evy has come out unscathed from her battle with a few more ‘gifts’ to add to her growing repertoire. Evy can now heal herself. When fey avatar Jaron tracks Evy and Wyatt down, she speaks of betrayal and trust but dies before saying anymore. Right on her heels is a hybrid goblin hit man who’s genetic origins leads them back to William Thackery-a scientist who’s hatred of vampires has pushed him over the edge. Evy and Wyatt soon learns from the fae that the crystal that contains Torin has been stolen and Thackery has it. He wants Evy in exchange. Evy will once again have to place her faith and life into the hands of people who betrayed and killed her if she wants to survive
I am a huge fan of Ms. Meding’s Dreg City series. A dark edgy Urban Fantasy filled with nail biting action, suspense, and intrigue. The originality of this series is it’s appeal. Your never sure what is going to happen. The lines between good and evil are blurred and often enough the good ARE just as bad and worse then villains. Smooth writing, a fast pace, and engaging dialogue keeps you on your toes to the very end. A convoluted storyline gives us a very interesting view of the supernatural and the human warriors who stand between them and us. Betrayal and redemption are a continuing underlying theme as we watch our heroine and hero navigate through their minefield infected lives. One step in the wrong direction and BOOM!
Evy is still a girl to be reckoned with. Ms. Meding has allowed her to grown within the storyline at a steady comfortable pace. She has finally accepted the body she inhabits and acknowledges that her constant excuses about Wyatt and not being sure if what she feels for him is real or Chandra’s feelings are just that…excuses. We see more of her back story in here (how she came to be recruited into the triad) and her reasons for animosity towards them. At the same time, Ms. Meding does a wonderful job of showing us Evy’s love and longing to be back part of that group. They are her family and she misses being part of that. Courage and loyalty are her strongest points as she continuously tries to save a world that has done nothing but hurt her from day one. She’s not completely forgiving though. She is very careful about dealing with the Triad and the Assembly. She knows her use to them is tempermental and she is always prepared for the moment they will turn on her.
I love our hero Wyatt. As Evy’s ex-handler and lover-he admirably tries to keep her safe while giving her the space she needs to deal with her feelings for him. He realizes after As Lie The Dead that the only one he can truly trust is Evy though he is enough of a strategist to know he cannot alienate the Triad or the Assembly. He is a constant presence in this book and we are left with no doubt here where his loyalties lie.
There is a deeper emotional aspect in here then the other books. Evy is tested in ways that would destroy a less indomitable person and your heart breaks for her. We are also given a more in depth look at the intricate relationships between the members of the Triad which paints a different picture then what we have thought. The romance between Evy and Wyatt jumps some long standing hurdles and a healing or sorts begins for them.
We free fall through the main conflict and events leading up to it’s climatic resolution. There are some rough spots in here that had me hyper ventilating but Ms. Meding wondrous slight of hand tricks allows us an acceptable outcome with just enough left open to ensure the 4th book in this series-Wrong Side Of Dead- is a must read for 2012.
Action, suspense, intrigue, and just the right amount of humor makes Another Kind Of Dead a wonderful addition to any urban fantasy readers bookshelf.
Over all rating: B+
July 29, 2011
Check out my favorite quotes at http://yummymenandkickasschicks.com/?...
Man I love this series. It is just so raw and original. The writing is marvelous, the characters are just wonderful and the stories…well they’ll just drag you to the edge of your seat and won’t let you settle until you reach the very end of the book.
Another Kind of Dead, book three in Kelly Meding’s Dreg City series, starts off a little over a week after the end of book two. Evy is thought dead (again) and she and Wyatt are hoping to keep it that way. Unfortunately, evil crazy-dudes and creepy as hell mutants seem to have other plans and once again Evy is having to choose between what she would love and what is right.
Evy is such a fantastic character. You can’t help but want things to work out for her, especially with all she has already endured…and all she endures in this book too. We’re talking cringe worthy stuff people! But she still thinks of others first, well after most people would say: “Screw you all. I’m going to Disney Land after all this sh*t I’ve gone through! Wyatt, you coming?”
Wyatt is such a sweet man! I always liked him, but I like him even more now! Who knew he had the potential to be such a wonderful sort of-romantic lead?! My heart ripped out when reading about what he was dealing with again. Another testament to the writing in this series.
The villain is a bastard. One of those guys who think he’s actually doing good when in reality he’s just being a sick and twisted buggard. I wanted to punch him on many occasions and not once did I feel at all sorry for him. Not once. *mumbles “buggard”*
One of my favorite parts of this book (and of the other books too) are the flash back chapters. They really help you to understand where everything started and they are placed in such a way that you don’t get confused or lost in the current story while reading them. Really cool. And speaking of flashing back, these books really are not stand alones…at all. But if you are like me and read book two when it came out and remember most but not all of what happened, Kelly does a wonderful job recapping the previous books. But she does it throughout the whole book! So you are not sitting there reading chapter upon chapter of “Previously in Dreg City”. I was really impressed by that. Geez…can you tell I really enjoyed this book?!
The beginning of the books was solid, but it’s really at the 30% or so mark where it really grips you in and doesn’t let you go. And I am going to give you guys a heads up and say that this series is not for the faint of heart. Kelly has a pretty twisted visual imagination and is very good at sharing and describing what is going on in that head of hers. Meaning: These books are quite graphic – and often gory. Not that the gore is simply placed there to make you squirm – it is all part of the story and it’s there to paint a clear picture of what Evy and her friends deal with. What her world is made of. This is not a light and fluffy UF series: It’s the read deal.
I mentioned at the beginning of this review that the plot lines in this series will drag you to the edge of your seat and won’t let you settle until you reach the very end of the book. That is very true for each and every installment to date. When you finally reach The End, you fall back and finally release that breath you didn’t realize you were holding…only to bring yourself to the edge of your seat again once you start contemplating what is going to happen next. That sensation I get at the end of each book was even stronger this time around because, even though you knew Evy’s story would continue in future books, this time around there is a clearer direction as to where the story is headed. The über bad guy is on the loose and Evy is his muse of sorts. You just know he is going to be looking for her. And man I can’t wait to see what happens when he does.
Man I love this series. It is just so raw and original. The writing is marvelous, the characters are just wonderful and the stories…well they’ll just drag you to the edge of your seat and won’t let you settle until you reach the very end of the book.
Another Kind of Dead, book three in Kelly Meding’s Dreg City series, starts off a little over a week after the end of book two. Evy is thought dead (again) and she and Wyatt are hoping to keep it that way. Unfortunately, evil crazy-dudes and creepy as hell mutants seem to have other plans and once again Evy is having to choose between what she would love and what is right.
Evy is such a fantastic character. You can’t help but want things to work out for her, especially with all she has already endured…and all she endures in this book too. We’re talking cringe worthy stuff people! But she still thinks of others first, well after most people would say: “Screw you all. I’m going to Disney Land after all this sh*t I’ve gone through! Wyatt, you coming?”
Wyatt is such a sweet man! I always liked him, but I like him even more now! Who knew he had the potential to be such a wonderful sort of-romantic lead?! My heart ripped out when reading about what he was dealing with again. Another testament to the writing in this series.
The villain is a bastard. One of those guys who think he’s actually doing good when in reality he’s just being a sick and twisted buggard. I wanted to punch him on many occasions and not once did I feel at all sorry for him. Not once. *mumbles “buggard”*
One of my favorite parts of this book (and of the other books too) are the flash back chapters. They really help you to understand where everything started and they are placed in such a way that you don’t get confused or lost in the current story while reading them. Really cool. And speaking of flashing back, these books really are not stand alones…at all. But if you are like me and read book two when it came out and remember most but not all of what happened, Kelly does a wonderful job recapping the previous books. But she does it throughout the whole book! So you are not sitting there reading chapter upon chapter of “Previously in Dreg City”. I was really impressed by that. Geez…can you tell I really enjoyed this book?!
The beginning of the books was solid, but it’s really at the 30% or so mark where it really grips you in and doesn’t let you go. And I am going to give you guys a heads up and say that this series is not for the faint of heart. Kelly has a pretty twisted visual imagination and is very good at sharing and describing what is going on in that head of hers. Meaning: These books are quite graphic – and often gory. Not that the gore is simply placed there to make you squirm – it is all part of the story and it’s there to paint a clear picture of what Evy and her friends deal with. What her world is made of. This is not a light and fluffy UF series: It’s the read deal.
I mentioned at the beginning of this review that the plot lines in this series will drag you to the edge of your seat and won’t let you settle until you reach the very end of the book. That is very true for each and every installment to date. When you finally reach The End, you fall back and finally release that breath you didn’t realize you were holding…only to bring yourself to the edge of your seat again once you start contemplating what is going to happen next. That sensation I get at the end of each book was even stronger this time around because, even though you knew Evy’s story would continue in future books, this time around there is a clearer direction as to where the story is headed. The über bad guy is on the loose and Evy is his muse of sorts. You just know he is going to be looking for her. And man I can’t wait to see what happens when he does.
August 3, 2011
This review is for the audiobook version of Another Kind of Dead, narrated by Xe Sands
The third book in Kelly Meding’s Dreg City series picks up where book two left off, with the majority of people believing Evy dead after she was trapped in a factory fire. An unexpected visitor who leads trouble to Evy and Wyatt’s door sends them on a hunt for the scientist responsible for creating genetically engineered monsters but this time, Evy may have taken on more than she can handle because the scientist’s ultimate prize is Evy herself.
I can use two words to describe this audiobook – Visceral and Intense. But why leave it at just two when there are so many more available? It is difficult to talk about almost any of the events in the book without blowing the lid off the spoiler tank so this review will focus primarily on why I enjoyed this book so much and why I am so drawn to these characters.
I found Another Kind of Dead to be the best of the series so far, although perhaps not for the faint of heart. There is a lot of action woven into the plot and it plays out with an ‘edge of your seat’ tension. I spent my time reading this book with my head down focused on the gradual untangling of who lives? who dies? who to trust? will Evy and Wyatt ever get together? plot threads, only to look up at the end, satisfied with the resolution, and realize there is another whole tapestry of tangled storyline waiting to be unraveled.
More engaging than the action sequences, for me, is the tension that events generate in Evy and Wyatt’s relationship. While this book is distinctly Urban Fantasy, there is more relationship narrative built in than I am accustomed to seeing in the genre and I really enjoy that aspect. Meding has done such a good job of creating layered characters who reveal themselves gradually and who grow based on events in each book that it is difficult for the reader not to feel as if they know them and have a stake in their continued survival and eventual happiness. Because Evy and Wyatt are constructed with human flaws, their struggles resonate. That is probably why, despite not being prone to actually talking aloud to my books, when Evy encounters a Puca who likes to play mind games and another barrier arises between Evy and Wyatt I could only shake my head and mutter “Oh Wyatt, you poor poor man.”
Much like in the first book, the physical struggles Evy goes through are intense and the author, while not truly straying into gruesome territory, doesn’t stint on the descriptions. Despite her healing and teleportation powers, Evy suffers a lot. Knowing it is her determination to follow her internal moral compass that places her in those situations makes those scenes all the more poignant.
Books occupy a strictly internal landscape for me so I was surprised by how this story evoked a physical response. Without a doubt there are some gritty scenes but it wasn’t the physical descriptions, it was (once again) the emotional strain that was affecting. In part, this was due to the narration. As with the previous two audiobooks, there were several scenes of intense internal/emotional struggle that are delivered with such quiet intensity that I found myself tensing and gritting my teeth in a visceral response. Evy’s first encounter with the scientist Thackery and the consequences that follow were so well vocalized I cringe just thinking about it. Unlike a challenge I had with the previous two audiobooks, I found Ms. Sands delivery utterly smooth and effortless to sink into. The characters continue to be clearly differentiated and the narrator seems to have slipped even more firmly into their (vocal) skin, making for a really good (if occasionally uncomfortable) listen.
The third book in Kelly Meding’s Dreg City series picks up where book two left off, with the majority of people believing Evy dead after she was trapped in a factory fire. An unexpected visitor who leads trouble to Evy and Wyatt’s door sends them on a hunt for the scientist responsible for creating genetically engineered monsters but this time, Evy may have taken on more than she can handle because the scientist’s ultimate prize is Evy herself.
I can use two words to describe this audiobook – Visceral and Intense. But why leave it at just two when there are so many more available? It is difficult to talk about almost any of the events in the book without blowing the lid off the spoiler tank so this review will focus primarily on why I enjoyed this book so much and why I am so drawn to these characters.
I found Another Kind of Dead to be the best of the series so far, although perhaps not for the faint of heart. There is a lot of action woven into the plot and it plays out with an ‘edge of your seat’ tension. I spent my time reading this book with my head down focused on the gradual untangling of who lives? who dies? who to trust? will Evy and Wyatt ever get together? plot threads, only to look up at the end, satisfied with the resolution, and realize there is another whole tapestry of tangled storyline waiting to be unraveled.
More engaging than the action sequences, for me, is the tension that events generate in Evy and Wyatt’s relationship. While this book is distinctly Urban Fantasy, there is more relationship narrative built in than I am accustomed to seeing in the genre and I really enjoy that aspect. Meding has done such a good job of creating layered characters who reveal themselves gradually and who grow based on events in each book that it is difficult for the reader not to feel as if they know them and have a stake in their continued survival and eventual happiness. Because Evy and Wyatt are constructed with human flaws, their struggles resonate. That is probably why, despite not being prone to actually talking aloud to my books, when Evy encounters a Puca who likes to play mind games and another barrier arises between Evy and Wyatt I could only shake my head and mutter “Oh Wyatt, you poor poor man.”
Much like in the first book, the physical struggles Evy goes through are intense and the author, while not truly straying into gruesome territory, doesn’t stint on the descriptions. Despite her healing and teleportation powers, Evy suffers a lot. Knowing it is her determination to follow her internal moral compass that places her in those situations makes those scenes all the more poignant.
Books occupy a strictly internal landscape for me so I was surprised by how this story evoked a physical response. Without a doubt there are some gritty scenes but it wasn’t the physical descriptions, it was (once again) the emotional strain that was affecting. In part, this was due to the narration. As with the previous two audiobooks, there were several scenes of intense internal/emotional struggle that are delivered with such quiet intensity that I found myself tensing and gritting my teeth in a visceral response. Evy’s first encounter with the scientist Thackery and the consequences that follow were so well vocalized I cringe just thinking about it. Unlike a challenge I had with the previous two audiobooks, I found Ms. Sands delivery utterly smooth and effortless to sink into. The characters continue to be clearly differentiated and the narrator seems to have slipped even more firmly into their (vocal) skin, making for a really good (if occasionally uncomfortable) listen.
May 21, 2012
Listening!
Review to come- Excellent!
Thanks to a review on RED HOT BOOKS I decided to pick back up right where I left off.
And oh boy! I’m so glad I did, this is undoubtedly the best in the series thus far.
Ms. Meding hardly gives you time for your emotions to settle, before she takes you for another head-spin in this gripping and exciting episode in the dangerous world of, Evangeline Stone.
Evy has plenty of enemies, but this time her ability to heal has made her the point of attention of a mad scientist, whose delusional pursuit to find exactly what makes Evy different will have our tough heroine challenging her limits. In this installment, she will have to fight tooth and syringes for her survival. This nightmarish trip will have you biting your nails until you reach its conclusion.
The uncanny ability of Kelly Meding to make you experience this world with all its gory details prompts me to warn you about the content, this is definitely not for the faint of heart, but if you enjoy fast action and don’t mind a little carnage in a well constructed plot with skillfully developed characters, then this series is a must listen.
Wyatt (Evy’s love interest) reaches his full potential, and in this novel, he becomes the kind the hero that you love and love to root for - your heart will definitely go out to him. Their moments together are heartfelt, and it gives the story the right touch of softness.
You will be anxious to find out what’s in store for Evy and Wyatt’s future, lucky for us the following novel is already out.
If you are a fan of UF genre don’t let this series go by without getting acquainted with this engrossing creation by Kelly Meding.
All in all, this is a fantastic entry, and in my opinion, must be enjoy as a part of the ongoing Dreg City series.
Narration
I love the way Xe Sands found the perfect balance of toughness and vulnerability to bring Evy to life, her portrayal delivers the kind of heroine that you can’t help but to root for.
Again, she does an excellent job transmitting to the listener all the angst, suspense and the creepiness of this world without neglecting the tender and heartfelt moments between the protagonists.
As much as I enjoyed her delivery in the previous books, I have to say without a doubt, this is her best work yet. All the elements that make a good listening experience are present, from her believable male voices to the perfect tone applied to the reading.
I’m really hoping the fans of this genre will begin to discover this fantastic UF, and help to persuade the publishers to continue to bring this series to audio, as of right now; there are no plans for The Wrong Side of Dead to be released on this format.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed in hopes that they will reconsider their decision.
For as sample of the audiobook visit:
http://lupdilup-hotlistens.blogspot.c...
Review to come- Excellent!
Thanks to a review on RED HOT BOOKS I decided to pick back up right where I left off.
And oh boy! I’m so glad I did, this is undoubtedly the best in the series thus far.
Ms. Meding hardly gives you time for your emotions to settle, before she takes you for another head-spin in this gripping and exciting episode in the dangerous world of, Evangeline Stone.
Evy has plenty of enemies, but this time her ability to heal has made her the point of attention of a mad scientist, whose delusional pursuit to find exactly what makes Evy different will have our tough heroine challenging her limits. In this installment, she will have to fight tooth and syringes for her survival. This nightmarish trip will have you biting your nails until you reach its conclusion.
The uncanny ability of Kelly Meding to make you experience this world with all its gory details prompts me to warn you about the content, this is definitely not for the faint of heart, but if you enjoy fast action and don’t mind a little carnage in a well constructed plot with skillfully developed characters, then this series is a must listen.
Wyatt (Evy’s love interest) reaches his full potential, and in this novel, he becomes the kind the hero that you love and love to root for - your heart will definitely go out to him. Their moments together are heartfelt, and it gives the story the right touch of softness.
You will be anxious to find out what’s in store for Evy and Wyatt’s future, lucky for us the following novel is already out.
If you are a fan of UF genre don’t let this series go by without getting acquainted with this engrossing creation by Kelly Meding.
All in all, this is a fantastic entry, and in my opinion, must be enjoy as a part of the ongoing Dreg City series.
Narration
I love the way Xe Sands found the perfect balance of toughness and vulnerability to bring Evy to life, her portrayal delivers the kind of heroine that you can’t help but to root for.
Again, she does an excellent job transmitting to the listener all the angst, suspense and the creepiness of this world without neglecting the tender and heartfelt moments between the protagonists.
As much as I enjoyed her delivery in the previous books, I have to say without a doubt, this is her best work yet. All the elements that make a good listening experience are present, from her believable male voices to the perfect tone applied to the reading.
I’m really hoping the fans of this genre will begin to discover this fantastic UF, and help to persuade the publishers to continue to bring this series to audio, as of right now; there are no plans for The Wrong Side of Dead to be released on this format.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed in hopes that they will reconsider their decision.
For as sample of the audiobook visit:
http://lupdilup-hotlistens.blogspot.c...
August 21, 2011
"You were dead."
"Since when has that stopped me?"
I ventured well past page 100 before I became invested in this story, but it turned out to be worth the wait. The ending was high-paced, full of action and anticipation, topped off with an emotional reunion and enough unresolved issues to have me eagerly anticipating "Wrong Side of Dead".
I have an odd relationship with this series. I fell in love with the first book, "Three Days to Dead". The story line, the characters, the overall writing-style just blew me away. I love my stories dark and gritty, with lots of gore, an emotionally-crippled protagonist, and a small touch of romance that builds with each story. Check, check, check, and check.
Then I read the sequel, "As Lie The Dead". It was full of minor annoyances and enough head-scratching moments that I would have second-guessed pre-ordering the third book if I hadn't already done so.
Evy's decision-making skills were severly impaired at times and she was a formerly trained hunter who was often in life-or-death situations ... but never armed herself with a weapon.
Also, the explanation for developing stronger feelings for Wyatt was a little odd. It was blamed mostly on Chalice (the body's previous owner) having her own post-death attraction toward Wyatt. So I couldn't decide if I should root for their relationship or not, because Evy herself didn't actually seem to love him.
Another thing was Evy's attitude. I like tough chicks that like to talk a lot of shit ..... if they can back it up. Evy talks hardcore, but she was in constant need of help when evading danger or even death. Instead of being an admirable trait, it makes her look like a fool when she mouths off to others and can't completely protect herself.
Sooo... the first half of "Another Kind of Dead" was reminiscent of my feelings toward the sequel and then later on in the story it became more intriguing and reminded me of why I first fell in love with the series.
The time line doesn't progress much, so the scenery doesn't change and the villians are all still connected in one way or another.
And Evy still gets her ass kicked a lot...
.. but she kicks some ass too!
She's still admirably self-sacrificing, puts her teleporting skills to good use, and feels more confident than ever about her feelings toward Wyatt Truman.
So mark your calendars! "Wrong Side of Dead" will release January 31, 2012.
http://addicted2heroines.blogspot.com...
"Since when has that stopped me?"
I ventured well past page 100 before I became invested in this story, but it turned out to be worth the wait. The ending was high-paced, full of action and anticipation, topped off with an emotional reunion and enough unresolved issues to have me eagerly anticipating "Wrong Side of Dead".
I have an odd relationship with this series. I fell in love with the first book, "Three Days to Dead". The story line, the characters, the overall writing-style just blew me away. I love my stories dark and gritty, with lots of gore, an emotionally-crippled protagonist, and a small touch of romance that builds with each story. Check, check, check, and check.
Then I read the sequel, "As Lie The Dead". It was full of minor annoyances and enough head-scratching moments that I would have second-guessed pre-ordering the third book if I hadn't already done so.
Evy's decision-making skills were severly impaired at times and she was a formerly trained hunter who was often in life-or-death situations ... but never armed herself with a weapon.
Also, the explanation for developing stronger feelings for Wyatt was a little odd. It was blamed mostly on Chalice (the body's previous owner) having her own post-death attraction toward Wyatt. So I couldn't decide if I should root for their relationship or not, because Evy herself didn't actually seem to love him.
Another thing was Evy's attitude. I like tough chicks that like to talk a lot of shit ..... if they can back it up. Evy talks hardcore, but she was in constant need of help when evading danger or even death. Instead of being an admirable trait, it makes her look like a fool when she mouths off to others and can't completely protect herself.
Sooo... the first half of "Another Kind of Dead" was reminiscent of my feelings toward the sequel and then later on in the story it became more intriguing and reminded me of why I first fell in love with the series.
The time line doesn't progress much, so the scenery doesn't change and the villians are all still connected in one way or another.
And Evy still gets her ass kicked a lot...
.. but she kicks some ass too!
She's still admirably self-sacrificing, puts her teleporting skills to good use, and feels more confident than ever about her feelings toward Wyatt Truman.
So mark your calendars! "Wrong Side of Dead" will release January 31, 2012.
http://addicted2heroines.blogspot.com...
January 6, 2016
This stuff is like Crack to me. This is pure ID-satisfying non-stop entertainment: action, aching, grief, pain, excitement, searching, loss, vengeance, loneliness, magic, intimacy, science, deep friendship, agony, intensity, fear, violence, rage, lust, power, greed, battle, passion, showdown, torture, love and an ending having me logging in to the library to request the next one ASAP.
Yes there were a couple of problems with the story--why is she the one to make the calls/see the proof, how could anyone just check blood for any abnormality-- and those of my friends who don't like the deep-love-like-no-other would gag at this relationship, but it's exactly what I am looking for when I want a good can't-put-down emotionally intense read. And this time she's added a gay male couple (well it isn't quite spelled out yet but the protagonist has figured it out) which just makes me feel all squiggly inside which bumps Meding up to Rob Thurman status in my book of 5 star Urban Fantasy Writers.
I think I need a cold shower. ;)
Yes there were a couple of problems with the story--why is she the one to make the calls/see the proof, how could anyone just check blood for any abnormality-- and those of my friends who don't like the deep-love-like-no-other would gag at this relationship, but it's exactly what I am looking for when I want a good can't-put-down emotionally intense read. And this time she's added a gay male couple (well it isn't quite spelled out yet but the protagonist has figured it out) which just makes me feel all squiggly inside which bumps Meding up to Rob Thurman status in my book of 5 star Urban Fantasy Writers.
I think I need a cold shower. ;)
November 1, 2011
It was a great book in most ways. As usual, I'm not going to summarize the plot, plenty of other people have done that. I'll just give you my thoughts.
First of all, it's not a stand-alone book, if you haven't read the first two books in the series it might be exciting enough when it comes to the action, but you won't appreciate the many emotional layers of story that are being told here when it comes to Evy and Truman, with the other Hunters and their Triads, with Phin, with the organization in general, etc. There's just a lot that refers to past story that made this book rich and nuanced and it would be a shame to miss out on that.
As for that rich story, it was nice to see how much Evy has grown up. Sure, it's a bit unrealistic when you realize that the time frame is that this book begins two weeks after the first book began. And that she's unconscious during a large chunk on this one. That's not much time to mature in. But it's been a busy few weeks. Time enough for her to learn to value her friends' lives and her own a lot more than she had in the previous years. And to view her job with some new clarity.
On the other hand, I'm not sure how I feel about the violence in the book, specifically the sexual violence. It's a dark world, they have to fight, I don't mind the battles, the gore, the intensity. But I'm troubled by the rape theme. This woman was hideously tortured and raped to death two weeks ago and has had almost no time alone with this guy since then, has spent most of that time fighting for her life. But on page 20 she feels she has to push through her panic about that to be with her boyfriend. And while I'm sure it's normal to want to move past things, it doesn't seem like it would be so easy, no matter how determined the woman is. It felt very rushed, like because the book has to have a romantic storyline suddenly the woman has to get over it. But OK, they were eventually interrupted and we moved on. And then half way through the book another creature, molests and attempts to rape her. Which obviously creates some drama, and but frankly it's drama I could have done without. It's all well and good to come up with ways for the characters to prove how much they really love each other, now matter what horrible obstacles are thrown into their paths. But I don't know. I can see that the author is trying to show that Evie is so strong that she can be pushed and pushed to the breaking point and still survive. When you read the book you'll see how it fits into the story. It isn't that it's gratuitous or anything. But I still don't know if I like it. Frightening her on other levels, fearing for her life and her friends' lives, OK, but repeatedly using sex as a weapon? It's realistic in some ways, it's certainly a fact of life. But when it's goblins or pucas doing it then it's make-believe and maybe not necessary.
Anyway, it was still a very enjoyable book. The political situation continued to unravel and many questions were left unanswered, like what the heck is going on with the fae and the sprites? And what does this Reilly guy know and what else might people from the "real world" know? Because it does seem pretty unlikely that they can be doing all of this without government collision, but maybe that's just me overanalyzing. And more loose ends, all making me eager for January to come so that I can read the next book.
First of all, it's not a stand-alone book, if you haven't read the first two books in the series it might be exciting enough when it comes to the action, but you won't appreciate the many emotional layers of story that are being told here when it comes to Evy and Truman, with the other Hunters and their Triads, with Phin, with the organization in general, etc. There's just a lot that refers to past story that made this book rich and nuanced and it would be a shame to miss out on that.
As for that rich story, it was nice to see how much Evy has grown up. Sure, it's a bit unrealistic when you realize that the time frame is that this book begins two weeks after the first book began. And that she's unconscious during a large chunk on this one. That's not much time to mature in. But it's been a busy few weeks. Time enough for her to learn to value her friends' lives and her own a lot more than she had in the previous years. And to view her job with some new clarity.
On the other hand, I'm not sure how I feel about the violence in the book, specifically the sexual violence. It's a dark world, they have to fight, I don't mind the battles, the gore, the intensity. But I'm troubled by the rape theme. This woman was hideously tortured and raped to death two weeks ago and has had almost no time alone with this guy since then, has spent most of that time fighting for her life. But on page 20 she feels she has to push through her panic about that to be with her boyfriend. And while I'm sure it's normal to want to move past things, it doesn't seem like it would be so easy, no matter how determined the woman is. It felt very rushed, like because the book has to have a romantic storyline suddenly the woman has to get over it. But OK, they were eventually interrupted and we moved on. And then half way through the book another creature, molests and attempts to rape her. Which obviously creates some drama, and but frankly it's drama I could have done without. It's all well and good to come up with ways for the characters to prove how much they really love each other, now matter what horrible obstacles are thrown into their paths. But I don't know. I can see that the author is trying to show that Evie is so strong that she can be pushed and pushed to the breaking point and still survive. When you read the book you'll see how it fits into the story. It isn't that it's gratuitous or anything. But I still don't know if I like it. Frightening her on other levels, fearing for her life and her friends' lives, OK, but repeatedly using sex as a weapon? It's realistic in some ways, it's certainly a fact of life. But when it's goblins or pucas doing it then it's make-believe and maybe not necessary.
Anyway, it was still a very enjoyable book. The political situation continued to unravel and many questions were left unanswered, like what the heck is going on with the fae and the sprites? And what does this Reilly guy know and what else might people from the "real world" know? Because it does seem pretty unlikely that they can be doing all of this without government collision, but maybe that's just me overanalyzing. And more loose ends, all making me eager for January to come so that I can read the next book.
August 24, 2011
Originally posted at WickedLilPixie Reviews
I am not going to do a summary because the blurb above really does give you a good idea of what happens in Another Kind of Dead. This book should not be read standalone and is the third book in Kelly Meding’s Dreg City series, which is now one of my favorite Urban Fantasy series.
To me, this series really is one of perseverance and utter sacrifice. Evy, a former Dreg Bounty Hunter, endures awful horrors over the past two books, and they don’t let up in Another Kind of Dead. She just keeps on rolling with the punches and I love her for it. She is tough, and in the end she will do whatever she can to keep those she loves from pain. I have to agree with other reviews I’ve read that compare her to Gin from Jennifer Estep’s Elemental Assassin series. If you enjoy that series, you should really try this one out!
At the start of the third book, it’s only been 2 weeks that we’ve been with Evy from the first. Evy’s relationship with Wyatt has grown and matured nicely, and we get some really fantastic relationship development. We get to see some heart and gut wrenching flashbacks of Ivy’s past, both with Wyatt and before her becoming a Hunter. Wyatt is just as much of a lost soul as she is, they know they need one another but they don’t know how to say it. I was moved, saddened, relieved, horrified, and elated… to name a few emotions I felt while reading. This is a page-turner, no doubt about it, and the intensity never lets up. With Another Kind of Dead, this series is another one of those rare gems that just gets better and better which each book. In fact, as I was reading the book, I was reminded just how much I enjoyed the second book in the series, and now I want to go do a re-read of the first two! Come onnnn, January! I cannot wait for Wrong Side of Dead!!
My Urban Fantasy peeps: Give this series a try!!
The Dreg City series reading order:
Three Days to Dead
As Lie the Dead
Another Kind of Dead
Wrong Side of Dead – 1/31/2012
I am not going to do a summary because the blurb above really does give you a good idea of what happens in Another Kind of Dead. This book should not be read standalone and is the third book in Kelly Meding’s Dreg City series, which is now one of my favorite Urban Fantasy series.
To me, this series really is one of perseverance and utter sacrifice. Evy, a former Dreg Bounty Hunter, endures awful horrors over the past two books, and they don’t let up in Another Kind of Dead. She just keeps on rolling with the punches and I love her for it. She is tough, and in the end she will do whatever she can to keep those she loves from pain. I have to agree with other reviews I’ve read that compare her to Gin from Jennifer Estep’s Elemental Assassin series. If you enjoy that series, you should really try this one out!
At the start of the third book, it’s only been 2 weeks that we’ve been with Evy from the first. Evy’s relationship with Wyatt has grown and matured nicely, and we get some really fantastic relationship development. We get to see some heart and gut wrenching flashbacks of Ivy’s past, both with Wyatt and before her becoming a Hunter. Wyatt is just as much of a lost soul as she is, they know they need one another but they don’t know how to say it. I was moved, saddened, relieved, horrified, and elated… to name a few emotions I felt while reading. This is a page-turner, no doubt about it, and the intensity never lets up. With Another Kind of Dead, this series is another one of those rare gems that just gets better and better which each book. In fact, as I was reading the book, I was reminded just how much I enjoyed the second book in the series, and now I want to go do a re-read of the first two! Come onnnn, January! I cannot wait for Wrong Side of Dead!!
My Urban Fantasy peeps: Give this series a try!!
The Dreg City series reading order:
Three Days to Dead
As Lie the Dead
Another Kind of Dead
Wrong Side of Dead – 1/31/2012
August 5, 2011
4.5 stars. This is one of my favorite paranormal series, and it just keeps getting better. Evy Stone reminds me very much of another of my favorite heroines, Gin Blanco, of Jennifer Estep's Elemental Assassin series. She's physically tough and frequently gets into life-or-death scrapes, but she is also kind and generous and willing to do anything for her friends. For that, I love her.
While some series become stale over time, this one most definitely has not. While it started a bit slowly, it was never boring. A third of the way into the story, it really kicked into high gear, and I had trouble putting it down after that!
The supporting characters also make this series special. They are so vividly drawn and real. Flawed but forgiving, and worth being forgiven for their OWN failings. I'm so glad Phin had a part in this book - I really like his character! And Wyatt is becoming one of my all-time favorite male leads. He loves and cherishes Evy so much, and his love often keeps her going in the worst of situations.
This book was brilliantly written. There were even a few snippets from Evy's past that were gripping. I have to warn you that it contained some disturbingly violent scenes (similar to Three Days to Dead). While they were difficult to read, they really made me see and feel what was happening, and they also made me cheer for Evy all the more for her strength and courage.
If you haven't read this series yet, I highly recommend it! This book ended with a partial resolution, and I can't wait for its conclusion!
While some series become stale over time, this one most definitely has not. While it started a bit slowly, it was never boring. A third of the way into the story, it really kicked into high gear, and I had trouble putting it down after that!
The supporting characters also make this series special. They are so vividly drawn and real. Flawed but forgiving, and worth being forgiven for their OWN failings. I'm so glad Phin had a part in this book - I really like his character! And Wyatt is becoming one of my all-time favorite male leads. He loves and cherishes Evy so much, and his love often keeps her going in the worst of situations.
This book was brilliantly written. There were even a few snippets from Evy's past that were gripping. I have to warn you that it contained some disturbingly violent scenes (similar to Three Days to Dead). While they were difficult to read, they really made me see and feel what was happening, and they also made me cheer for Evy all the more for her strength and courage.
If you haven't read this series yet, I highly recommend it! This book ended with a partial resolution, and I can't wait for its conclusion!
December 16, 2012
Dreg City is a great DARK urban fantasy series. I do mean DARK. Kelly Meding has no problem putting the heroine and other characters through hell and just like book 1 and 2, Another Kind of Dead is not full of rainbows and puppies.
This time around we are dealing with a mad scientist that was responsible for the mutant creatures that Evy uncovered in a lab in As Lie the Dead and he has his eyes set on Evy. But Evy and her stable of close friends has very thing under control, she just has to go through hell and another near death experience to take down the bad guy (must be Tuesday).
I feel like Evy is finally a whole person; she comes to grips with feeling more at home in her skin, or should I say in Chalice’s. Both mind and new body are finally one and so are her feelings for Wyatt. YES! Wyatt has finally made the journey from boss to friend to lover but not just any lover, he is the second half of Evy. They balance each other and I could not see one living without the other. They always have each others back and have unyielding loyalty to each other.
It’s hard to believe that the ride that Evy has been on through the series has only been a couple of weeks. Each book picks up within a day or two of the last. So it’s no wonder that Evy is tired as hell and just when she thinks she’s going to get a few days rest some new hell pops up.
If you are looking for a dark urban fantasy with balls and your not faint at heart you really should check out the Another Kind of Dead and the rest of Kelly Meding's Dreg City.
September 8, 2011
*Rating* 4.5
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Review*
Another Kind of Dead, by Kelly Meding, is the third installment in the Dreg City series and picks about two weeks after the events of As Lie the Dead. Evangeline (Evy) Stone is a former Dreg bounty hunter who is presumed to be dead by everyone other than those that truly matter to her like Wyatt.
Evy has been through the ringer over the past several weeks having died twice, and been brought back to life with the miracle of magical healing. Now, all she wants to do is spend some quality time with her constant companion/partner/lover Wyatt Truman.
Evy and Truman no longer work for Triad as Hunter and Handler. In fact, Evy is the last member of Truman's triad still standing. Truman has been placed on leave pending review of his actions and Evy’s subsequent “death”. Their relationship has actually grown by leaps and bounds since the first novel Three Days when Truman did something incredibly honorable in getting Evy back, to the point now where you just know that something huge is going to sprout up and cause them problems.
But, like the USPS once said, no matter the Halfies, Goblins, mad scientists, or crazy assed Fey can keep Evy and Wyatt from each other’s arms while continuing to fight the good fight against evil. Ok, so I just made a play on words there, but you get the meaning.
It seems that whenever Evy is around, something bad always seems to rear its ugly head. This time around, it starts with a P.I. calling upon Wyatt and Leo Forrester looking for Chalice Frost--the same Chalice whose body Evy currently inhabits and who has the ability to magically transport herself from one place to another.
Just when you think Meding is going down one path, zing, zam, zoom, she tosses Evy right back into the fire when a badly beaten Fey arrives at their apartment door and the Fey admit after the fact that they have lost something truly evil that was under their care--something that nearly took over Evy’s body in Three Days to Dead. Naturally, the fact that Evy isn't dead comes out into the open as well.
I truly believe that after this book, Evy is definitely due for a much deserved vacation away from Dreg City. In fact, I would actually like to see her move to ANOTHER city entirely so that she can stay away from all the Halflings, crazy assed scientists hoping to rid the city of vampires, and those who have betrayed her trust, and put her life in the balance so many times that she actually gives her finger to the cause.
**Warning: I would strenuously recommend to anyone considering read this series, that you start from the first book called Three Days to Dead, and move forward. I honestly don’t believe this story merits any consideration as a standalone novel. There are too many characters, and too much has happened to Evy and Wyatt for a novice to fully understand the current situation.
Even though there are several flashbacks about how Evy came to being a Hunter and being with Wyatt, which I totally enjoyed for the record, I still believe that reading the other books first will make you much happier and better able to understand everything that has happened up to this point.
*Another warning: Seriously! Evy is put through so much pain and suffering and torture over the course of this book, that I would rate it an R for mature audiences if it were a movie. The things Meding puts Evy through are not suitable for children or young adults to read about. I actually paused for a moment to give thanks that Evy isn’t a real character otherwise she would be a shell of her former self and not able to even stand up without someone helping her. Was the torture and brutally over the top? That is for you to decide.
Definitely the strongest book in the series in my humble opinion, and definitely worth the wait to see what happens next to Evy, Wyatt, and Phineas my favorite shape shifter.
Dreg City Series
Three Days to Dead
As Lie the Dead
Another Kind of Dead
Wrong Side of Dead 01/31/2012
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Review*
Another Kind of Dead, by Kelly Meding, is the third installment in the Dreg City series and picks about two weeks after the events of As Lie the Dead. Evangeline (Evy) Stone is a former Dreg bounty hunter who is presumed to be dead by everyone other than those that truly matter to her like Wyatt.
Evy has been through the ringer over the past several weeks having died twice, and been brought back to life with the miracle of magical healing. Now, all she wants to do is spend some quality time with her constant companion/partner/lover Wyatt Truman.
Evy and Truman no longer work for Triad as Hunter and Handler. In fact, Evy is the last member of Truman's triad still standing. Truman has been placed on leave pending review of his actions and Evy’s subsequent “death”. Their relationship has actually grown by leaps and bounds since the first novel Three Days when Truman did something incredibly honorable in getting Evy back, to the point now where you just know that something huge is going to sprout up and cause them problems.
But, like the USPS once said, no matter the Halfies, Goblins, mad scientists, or crazy assed Fey can keep Evy and Wyatt from each other’s arms while continuing to fight the good fight against evil. Ok, so I just made a play on words there, but you get the meaning.
It seems that whenever Evy is around, something bad always seems to rear its ugly head. This time around, it starts with a P.I. calling upon Wyatt and Leo Forrester looking for Chalice Frost--the same Chalice whose body Evy currently inhabits and who has the ability to magically transport herself from one place to another.
Just when you think Meding is going down one path, zing, zam, zoom, she tosses Evy right back into the fire when a badly beaten Fey arrives at their apartment door and the Fey admit after the fact that they have lost something truly evil that was under their care--something that nearly took over Evy’s body in Three Days to Dead. Naturally, the fact that Evy isn't dead comes out into the open as well.
I truly believe that after this book, Evy is definitely due for a much deserved vacation away from Dreg City. In fact, I would actually like to see her move to ANOTHER city entirely so that she can stay away from all the Halflings, crazy assed scientists hoping to rid the city of vampires, and those who have betrayed her trust, and put her life in the balance so many times that she actually gives her finger to the cause.
**Warning: I would strenuously recommend to anyone considering read this series, that you start from the first book called Three Days to Dead, and move forward. I honestly don’t believe this story merits any consideration as a standalone novel. There are too many characters, and too much has happened to Evy and Wyatt for a novice to fully understand the current situation.
Even though there are several flashbacks about how Evy came to being a Hunter and being with Wyatt, which I totally enjoyed for the record, I still believe that reading the other books first will make you much happier and better able to understand everything that has happened up to this point.
*Another warning: Seriously! Evy is put through so much pain and suffering and torture over the course of this book, that I would rate it an R for mature audiences if it were a movie. The things Meding puts Evy through are not suitable for children or young adults to read about. I actually paused for a moment to give thanks that Evy isn’t a real character otherwise she would be a shell of her former self and not able to even stand up without someone helping her. Was the torture and brutally over the top? That is for you to decide.
Definitely the strongest book in the series in my humble opinion, and definitely worth the wait to see what happens next to Evy, Wyatt, and Phineas my favorite shape shifter.
Dreg City Series
Three Days to Dead
As Lie the Dead
Another Kind of Dead
Wrong Side of Dead 01/31/2012
Read
August 29, 2011It's hard to believe this series has so far taken place in just 2 weeks! This books focuses on an evil scientist named Thackery, who has a lot of genetically modified lackeys and a sad back-story. I don't feel like this book really solves much of anything, even though a lot happens. Any new developments were kept pretty vague so I guess Meding is saving those for future books. The biggest thing is that the Triads have disassembled by the end from a combination of bureaucratic mishandling, having only simple solutions for complicated problems, and just spectacular bad luck. Evy's relationship with Wyatt really develops a lot in this book. I like that the author acknowledges that Evy has gone through some intense stuff that affects how she acts with Wyatt and has her deal with the resulting issues. It was a little schmaltzy in places too but that's ok I guess. The main conflict is the scientist, he wants to find a cure for a vampire infections and is ready to torture Evy for as long as it takes to get it (he doesn't).
There's one thing in particular I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around:
Certain species have an instinctual maliciousness that all of its members share. So if they do something bad they should be forgiven because they can't help it. This is a hard pill to swallow on its own but also this doesn't really jibe with the fact that Evy has had friends/informants from the enemy side. Does their innate desire for trickery trump their loyalty to their family or are they actually able to think and decide for themselves? Meding is seemingly trying to make the distinction that some of these dregs (she seems to exclude the weres) aren't human so don't have free will or some similar concept. If that's the case I guess the question is what the hell are you supposed to do with a bunch of monster drones who kill/make mischief because they're just hard-wired that way? It gets more convoluted with the introduction of these hybrids, because the human/monster ones inspire more sympathy in Evy and make her re-evaluate how she handles these situations. Which is a good thing! Don't get me wrong, I'm really glad the author is making her protagonist ask all the big questions. I'm just wondering where it's all going.
And poor Evy! Every five minutes she has some deeply traumatizing near-death (or actual death) experience. I love the fact that she's a super tough paranormal cop: kicking ass, taking names, questioning the status-quo. But I do feel like she could suffer a tiny bit less and her character wouldn't lose any of her grit. Like during the battle royal at the training center where on top of a gladiator-style fight with a wolf hybrid in an arena, a gremlin hybrid throwing someone else's limbs at her, and getting picked up and slammed into a wall by a "Gar-Bat" - she gets stuck in an intense trainee obstacle course and actually has to go through all the exercises just to get out. It's just too much and as a consequence I stop really feeling for the character and start to get bored with the repetition.
Still, I'm looking forward to the next book. There's a small preview at the end of this one and it looks like Meding is going more in-depth with the sometimes-monsters-have-feelings-and-what-does-it-mean, excellent (but poor Milo).
There's one thing in particular I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around:
"The desire to inflict mayhem and play tricks is infused in his being," Phin continued. In the same manner gremlins sneak around and steal, or or goblins create havoc, he sensed an opportunity and had to seize it." - location 2358 or thereabouts in the ebook.
Certain species have an instinctual maliciousness that all of its members share. So if they do something bad they should be forgiven because they can't help it. This is a hard pill to swallow on its own but also this doesn't really jibe with the fact that Evy has had friends/informants from the enemy side. Does their innate desire for trickery trump their loyalty to their family or are they actually able to think and decide for themselves? Meding is seemingly trying to make the distinction that some of these dregs (she seems to exclude the weres) aren't human so don't have free will or some similar concept. If that's the case I guess the question is what the hell are you supposed to do with a bunch of monster drones who kill/make mischief because they're just hard-wired that way? It gets more convoluted with the introduction of these hybrids, because the human/monster ones inspire more sympathy in Evy and make her re-evaluate how she handles these situations. Which is a good thing! Don't get me wrong, I'm really glad the author is making her protagonist ask all the big questions. I'm just wondering where it's all going.
And poor Evy! Every five minutes she has some deeply traumatizing near-death (or actual death) experience. I love the fact that she's a super tough paranormal cop: kicking ass, taking names, questioning the status-quo. But I do feel like she could suffer a tiny bit less and her character wouldn't lose any of her grit. Like during the battle royal at the training center where on top of a gladiator-style fight with a wolf hybrid in an arena, a gremlin hybrid throwing someone else's limbs at her, and getting picked up and slammed into a wall by a "Gar-Bat" - she gets stuck in an intense trainee obstacle course and actually has to go through all the exercises just to get out. It's just too much and as a consequence I stop really feeling for the character and start to get bored with the repetition.
Still, I'm looking forward to the next book. There's a small preview at the end of this one and it looks like Meding is going more in-depth with the sometimes-monsters-have-feelings-and-what-does-it-mean, excellent (but poor Milo).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2014
The sheer amount of horrors Evy has survived is amazing. That total stepped up to an incredible amount by the end of Another Kind of Dead. I've read many series where the main character is put through hell and back, but never in such a short amount of time as Evy has had. How she has the willpower to keep dragging her bleeding and broken body into fight after fight without rest is simply beyond me. Yes, she has supernatural healing powers, but they are no where near instantaneous, and she still feels the full pain of every injury, and they do nothing to help her mental stability. Those healing capabilities get tested to their ultimate limit in Another Kind of Dead. If you thought Evy had suffered before, you really haven't seen anything yet.
Evy Stone, now in hiding since she died and came back with some extra abilities, then almost died again. Since almost everyone thought the second death was real, she's decided to lay low. Of course that isn't the easiest thing for Evy as she is a trouble magnet. This time it's a crazy scientist who is on a path of vengeance, determined to stop vampirism at all costs. Right now his obsession is Evy as she may hold the key to his illustrious cure. But, just because he wants her alive, doesn't mean her friends are safe as he will do anything he can to get his hands on her. Evy knows she must do everything she can to keep the ones she loves safe, even if it means the ultimate sacrifice.
I love the dynamic between Evy and Wyatt. Their love for one another is so incredibly strong, yet so very fragile as well. They need each other more than anything, yet neither one seems to know what to do with that fact. At times the progression has felt gratingly slow, but then I force myself to take a step back to realize that while this may be the third book, at the start, only about two weeks has passed. So, when you consider everything that has happened to them as obstacles to their relationship, it is a wonder they stand a chance at all. I think that more than anything shows just how much they belong together. The brevity of their time together made everything seem so much precious and sweet, so I fell even harder for the two as a couple. I know this is a wish with very slim odds, but I really hope they get a little more time together before the next crisis hits, as they have more than earned it.
Like its predecessors, Another Kind of Dead is one big roller coaster ride from start to finish. It is so full of loops and turns that barely give the characters (and readers) a chance to take a breath. You won't find any slackers here, just a set of characters determined to stand up for what is right no matter the personal cost. I was on the edge of my seat until the very last word, and while there wasn't a cliffhanger ending, there was still more than plenty things left open to make me more than a little desperate to get my hands on the next installment. My hat goes off to Kelly Meding for another great installment in the Dreg City Series. You won't want to miss this!
Evy Stone, now in hiding since she died and came back with some extra abilities, then almost died again. Since almost everyone thought the second death was real, she's decided to lay low. Of course that isn't the easiest thing for Evy as she is a trouble magnet. This time it's a crazy scientist who is on a path of vengeance, determined to stop vampirism at all costs. Right now his obsession is Evy as she may hold the key to his illustrious cure. But, just because he wants her alive, doesn't mean her friends are safe as he will do anything he can to get his hands on her. Evy knows she must do everything she can to keep the ones she loves safe, even if it means the ultimate sacrifice.
I love the dynamic between Evy and Wyatt. Their love for one another is so incredibly strong, yet so very fragile as well. They need each other more than anything, yet neither one seems to know what to do with that fact. At times the progression has felt gratingly slow, but then I force myself to take a step back to realize that while this may be the third book, at the start, only about two weeks has passed. So, when you consider everything that has happened to them as obstacles to their relationship, it is a wonder they stand a chance at all. I think that more than anything shows just how much they belong together. The brevity of their time together made everything seem so much precious and sweet, so I fell even harder for the two as a couple. I know this is a wish with very slim odds, but I really hope they get a little more time together before the next crisis hits, as they have more than earned it.
Like its predecessors, Another Kind of Dead is one big roller coaster ride from start to finish. It is so full of loops and turns that barely give the characters (and readers) a chance to take a breath. You won't find any slackers here, just a set of characters determined to stand up for what is right no matter the personal cost. I was on the edge of my seat until the very last word, and while there wasn't a cliffhanger ending, there was still more than plenty things left open to make me more than a little desperate to get my hands on the next installment. My hat goes off to Kelly Meding for another great installment in the Dreg City Series. You won't want to miss this!
May 18, 2012
There was one thing holding me back from loving the first two books in the Dreg City series. That was the fact that Evy, the heroine, could not make peace with the new version of herself that was raised from the dead. She fought her feelings for the man who loved her, alternately pulling him close and pushing him away. She was at war with her own mind, her new body, and her heart. She lashed out when it wasn't fair to do so; she hurt people - people who tried to help her. And it cast a shadow over the great plot-lines of both books.
I say all this because that problem is gone in this third installment. Evy's waffling and her angst about who she is and whether she can trust her feelings... Poof! Over. Finished. And in its absence, I totally and completely loved this book.
The story picks up just a day or two after the events of As Lie the Dead. Again, Evy is exhausted and hoping for a respite from the constant barrage of crap that's been hurling her way for the past few weeks. But again, that is not meant to be. A third partner is revealed in the evil plan that set Evy's death in motion. This man is the scientist who created all of those monstrous hybrids they discovered caged up in the lair of one of the other villains. And he has even more horrible creations in his arsenal, targeting Evy. The mad scientist wants Evy to be his ultimate experiment --and manages to stay one step ahead of her time and time again.
The action and plot progression are fantastic and the book virtually flies by. There's danger and a lot of bloodshed. But as nearly frenetic as it all was, I felt even more of an emotional connection to the characters than I ever have before. I loved watching Evy finally accept her love for Wyatt and allow the relationship between them grow and thrive. It made it even more poignant as they faced the possibility of losing each other again. I cried for Evy in this one. A fat, snotty cry... for her suffering, for her sacrifice, and for everything else that got her to the point she was ready to die again. I won't spoil the details of her journey, but I thought it was gripping and just... amazing.
This was the book that reached the potential I knew this series had. Evy has grown into a character that I like and respect. I'm crazy about Wyatt for his unwavering love and loyalty. I am still a big fan of Phin and I'm even growing to care for members of the Triad, who for the first time, are becoming three dimensional characters instead of faceless, hired guns. There are dark parts to the story, just as the first books had, but they never felt gratuitous. And while there were times I felt despair, I also felt triumph and hope and potential and love.
Very, very good. I can't wait to go start the next book.
Rating: A-
I say all this because that problem is gone in this third installment. Evy's waffling and her angst about who she is and whether she can trust her feelings... Poof! Over. Finished. And in its absence, I totally and completely loved this book.
The story picks up just a day or two after the events of As Lie the Dead. Again, Evy is exhausted and hoping for a respite from the constant barrage of crap that's been hurling her way for the past few weeks. But again, that is not meant to be. A third partner is revealed in the evil plan that set Evy's death in motion. This man is the scientist who created all of those monstrous hybrids they discovered caged up in the lair of one of the other villains. And he has even more horrible creations in his arsenal, targeting Evy. The mad scientist wants Evy to be his ultimate experiment --and manages to stay one step ahead of her time and time again.
The action and plot progression are fantastic and the book virtually flies by. There's danger and a lot of bloodshed. But as nearly frenetic as it all was, I felt even more of an emotional connection to the characters than I ever have before. I loved watching Evy finally accept her love for Wyatt and allow the relationship between them grow and thrive. It made it even more poignant as they faced the possibility of losing each other again. I cried for Evy in this one. A fat, snotty cry... for her suffering, for her sacrifice, and for everything else that got her to the point she was ready to die again. I won't spoil the details of her journey, but I thought it was gripping and just... amazing.
This was the book that reached the potential I knew this series had. Evy has grown into a character that I like and respect. I'm crazy about Wyatt for his unwavering love and loyalty. I am still a big fan of Phin and I'm even growing to care for members of the Triad, who for the first time, are becoming three dimensional characters instead of faceless, hired guns. There are dark parts to the story, just as the first books had, but they never felt gratuitous. And while there were times I felt despair, I also felt triumph and hope and potential and love.
Very, very good. I can't wait to go start the next book.
Rating: A-
July 31, 2011
Originally Posted at http://thespinecracker.blogspot.com/
I love when a book makes me cry out "WHAT?!" before I'm even a third of the way through. A) I know I'm in for a great story that's bound to keep me on the edge of my seat and 2) I enjoy the hubs' look of concern and questions of "everything ok?" as though these characters are close friends... makes me snort every time. I always seem to get this reaction with Ms. Meding's books. And Another Kind of Dead is no exception. Around page 125 I sucked air and expelled horror and a little excitement.... exactly what I want from my UF books.
Speaking of what I want out of UF, Evy Stone is the perfect heroine and AKOD seals her fate as one of my all-time favorites. She is such a fighter. She's the modern-day superhero. She fights and never gives up. Even when she's been beaten down, she rises and fights some more. But all of her spirit and grit hasn't turned her cold. She's the exact opposite. Her emotions are in check and her human reactions make you literally feel her pain. At least I did. There was a scene towards the end of the book where I realized I was crying and it wasn't because of some great lose, but solely because of the emotions Evy was feeling at the time. I was stunned by how much I was affected. I could read about her forever.
The over-all story and plot was so great. Dark, but not overly so. Tender in just the right spots, difficult and gristly in others. I ate it all up and am still asking for more. The relationship between Evy and Wyatt is exactly what I want from a hero/heroine. They work together, but they're not perfect. They make mistakes but have triumphs too. And, most importantly, it all works with the story.
Bottom Line: My new rug has a worn tread pattern in it, my best jeans have permanent stains on the knees from my sweaty palms, and my nails have been chewed to the quick. Yeah it's that good.
I love when a book makes me cry out "WHAT?!" before I'm even a third of the way through. A) I know I'm in for a great story that's bound to keep me on the edge of my seat and 2) I enjoy the hubs' look of concern and questions of "everything ok?" as though these characters are close friends... makes me snort every time. I always seem to get this reaction with Ms. Meding's books. And Another Kind of Dead is no exception. Around page 125 I sucked air and expelled horror and a little excitement.... exactly what I want from my UF books.
Speaking of what I want out of UF, Evy Stone is the perfect heroine and AKOD seals her fate as one of my all-time favorites. She is such a fighter. She's the modern-day superhero. She fights and never gives up. Even when she's been beaten down, she rises and fights some more. But all of her spirit and grit hasn't turned her cold. She's the exact opposite. Her emotions are in check and her human reactions make you literally feel her pain. At least I did. There was a scene towards the end of the book where I realized I was crying and it wasn't because of some great lose, but solely because of the emotions Evy was feeling at the time. I was stunned by how much I was affected. I could read about her forever.
The over-all story and plot was so great. Dark, but not overly so. Tender in just the right spots, difficult and gristly in others. I ate it all up and am still asking for more. The relationship between Evy and Wyatt is exactly what I want from a hero/heroine. They work together, but they're not perfect. They make mistakes but have triumphs too. And, most importantly, it all works with the story.
Bottom Line: My new rug has a worn tread pattern in it, my best jeans have permanent stains on the knees from my sweaty palms, and my nails have been chewed to the quick. Yeah it's that good.
May 5, 2012
This book is third in a series. If you have not read the previous books, you will probably be very confused.
It is very hard for me to decide on a final star rating for this book because I loved some aspects of the story and wasn't so keen on several of the others. Ultimately, I think it balances out to a 3 though I'm still waffling over it.
Liked:
* Any of the parts with Evy & Wyatt. I love their interactions. I love how Evy is working hard to overcome her psychological barriers to closeness so she can be with him. I almost cried a couple of times from their scenes and it's rare that a romance gets me that emotional.
* Evy is a badass and a smartass. Sometimes that can annoy me in a UF heroine because it's become such a trope. However, Evy is so well-written that these things are a natural part of her character. Plus, she backs up her words so it's not just hollow bravado.
* The other secondary characters are well-done and interesting in their own right. I would love to read extra stories about Kismet, Phin, etc.
Liked Less:
* The action in the book was slower-paced than in previous books. Slower action is fine for me but it also seemed less connected somehow. To me, the events didn't feel tied together into a smooth arc. This is likely because it's the 3rd book in a series but I don't know... it just didn't gel as well as the other books.
* The final action sequence and the ending just kind of happened. There was some kind of conclusion but it left so many things up in the air that it didn't make me feel that satisfied glow. It was a mix of cliffhanger and satisfying conclusion that just didn't work for me personally.
Overall, Another Kind of Dead was an enjoyable read. I will definitely continue to read the series despite being a little disappointed in some aspects of this installment.
It is very hard for me to decide on a final star rating for this book because I loved some aspects of the story and wasn't so keen on several of the others. Ultimately, I think it balances out to a 3 though I'm still waffling over it.
Liked:
* Any of the parts with Evy & Wyatt. I love their interactions. I love how Evy is working hard to overcome her psychological barriers to closeness so she can be with him. I almost cried a couple of times from their scenes and it's rare that a romance gets me that emotional.
* Evy is a badass and a smartass. Sometimes that can annoy me in a UF heroine because it's become such a trope. However, Evy is so well-written that these things are a natural part of her character. Plus, she backs up her words so it's not just hollow bravado.
* The other secondary characters are well-done and interesting in their own right. I would love to read extra stories about Kismet, Phin, etc.
Liked Less:
* The action in the book was slower-paced than in previous books. Slower action is fine for me but it also seemed less connected somehow. To me, the events didn't feel tied together into a smooth arc. This is likely because it's the 3rd book in a series but I don't know... it just didn't gel as well as the other books.
* The final action sequence and the ending just kind of happened. There was some kind of conclusion but it left so many things up in the air that it didn't make me feel that satisfied glow. It was a mix of cliffhanger and satisfying conclusion that just didn't work for me personally.
Overall, Another Kind of Dead was an enjoyable read. I will definitely continue to read the series despite being a little disappointed in some aspects of this installment.
December 16, 2012
This series just gets better and better! Evy is a badass--my favorite heroine since Kate Daniels. It seems that everything that I like about her are the same things negative reviewers complain about her for.
I like that she's a trash-talker even when she should keep her mouth shut. I like that she charges into situations without always thinking it through; it means as a reader, we get less talk and more action. I even like that she never seems to have a weapon when she needs one. Like a lot of other reviewers, it drove me nuts through the first couple of books that Evy seemed to never have a weapon when she needed one. I mean, she battles species stronger and faster than herself, many of whom seem to have countless additional physical advantages over her...why doesn't she always make her first priority to GET A FREAKING WEAPON?! But then I realized about halfway through this book that I actually find her lack of a traditional weapons in the midst of a fight to the death kind of endearing. She bludgeons people with candlestick holders and thrift-shop lamps. How cool is that?? Pick up any urban fantasy books and you can read about a good guy who is an expert marksman, a powerful sorcerer, etc. Give me a crafty human with nothing but a bone to pick any day. It adds a different dimension to a fight scene and rarely fails to bring a little smile to my face.
YAY for Evy Stone! Can't wait for her next narrow escape!!
I like that she's a trash-talker even when she should keep her mouth shut. I like that she charges into situations without always thinking it through; it means as a reader, we get less talk and more action. I even like that she never seems to have a weapon when she needs one. Like a lot of other reviewers, it drove me nuts through the first couple of books that Evy seemed to never have a weapon when she needed one. I mean, she battles species stronger and faster than herself, many of whom seem to have countless additional physical advantages over her...why doesn't she always make her first priority to GET A FREAKING WEAPON?! But then I realized about halfway through this book that I actually find her lack of a traditional weapons in the midst of a fight to the death kind of endearing. She bludgeons people with candlestick holders and thrift-shop lamps. How cool is that?? Pick up any urban fantasy books and you can read about a good guy who is an expert marksman, a powerful sorcerer, etc. Give me a crafty human with nothing but a bone to pick any day. It adds a different dimension to a fight scene and rarely fails to bring a little smile to my face.
YAY for Evy Stone! Can't wait for her next narrow escape!!
July 1, 2013
Evangeline 'Evy' Stone just died. She's had many attempts on her life and also died and came back in a different body. The last attempt has everyone believing she died for real, but she didn't. Only a handful of people know Evy is still alive, and she is laying low and out of sight.
Her partner and lover Wyatt is concerned for Evy. He loves her too much to see her die or be harmed. But when an evil scientist, Walter Thackery, decides he needs Evy for his ultimate, she cannot hide forever. Evy has supernatural abilities and speed healing, and Walter desires her alive, as he needs her blood for the cure he is developing to stop vampirism.
The Triad, a group of supernatural hunters that Evy used to work for, believe her to be a traitor. They've recently raided Thackery's lab and removed various monsters and creatures, but failed to capture Thackery. The heat is on now that they are after Thackery, he is after Evy and the action is non-stop.
Wyatt and Evy have a strong relationship, even though their love is still new and fragile. However, they make a marvelous team, complementing one another perfectly. Thackery is a nasty villain who really gives Evy a run for her life. Urban fantasy readers will enjoy the fantastic world-building and complex characters. ANOTHER KIND OF DEAD is the third book in this series, so make sure you pick up the first two, AS LIE THE DEAD and THREE DAYS TO DEAD.
Her partner and lover Wyatt is concerned for Evy. He loves her too much to see her die or be harmed. But when an evil scientist, Walter Thackery, decides he needs Evy for his ultimate, she cannot hide forever. Evy has supernatural abilities and speed healing, and Walter desires her alive, as he needs her blood for the cure he is developing to stop vampirism.
The Triad, a group of supernatural hunters that Evy used to work for, believe her to be a traitor. They've recently raided Thackery's lab and removed various monsters and creatures, but failed to capture Thackery. The heat is on now that they are after Thackery, he is after Evy and the action is non-stop.
Wyatt and Evy have a strong relationship, even though their love is still new and fragile. However, they make a marvelous team, complementing one another perfectly. Thackery is a nasty villain who really gives Evy a run for her life. Urban fantasy readers will enjoy the fantastic world-building and complex characters. ANOTHER KIND OF DEAD is the third book in this series, so make sure you pick up the first two, AS LIE THE DEAD and THREE DAYS TO DEAD.
August 12, 2011
**************************************spoilers*******************************************
This book has the best rating, but it just wasn't as good as the others to me. Evy of course is tortured, dies, and comes back to life. (again) Starting to see a pattern here. She and Wyatt are an all out couple now, so there goes my hope for Phin. The triads are slowly but surely crumbling, and it looks like they (Evy & her crew) will be creating their own team of Dreg fighters. That will probably be best, because this last installment screamed played out. Thackery (the mad scientist) is still out there creating dreg mutants, and manages to capture Phin. Of course the hero that she is, Evy trades her life for his. The most bizarre part of this entire book is that EVERY time she goes into battle, goes up against the mad scientist, or wherever she goes, she somehow forgets her weapons. I don't know about you but if I had already died like 6 times, half of my friends were dead, and I fought supernatural baddies daily, I don't think I would leave the house without something. Of course, Evy can take on 4 vampires with a toothpick, so I am sure she isn't worried. That part I made up, but I think it goes along nicely with the theme of the story.
This book has the best rating, but it just wasn't as good as the others to me. Evy of course is tortured, dies, and comes back to life. (again) Starting to see a pattern here. She and Wyatt are an all out couple now, so there goes my hope for Phin. The triads are slowly but surely crumbling, and it looks like they (Evy & her crew) will be creating their own team of Dreg fighters. That will probably be best, because this last installment screamed played out. Thackery (the mad scientist) is still out there creating dreg mutants, and manages to capture Phin. Of course the hero that she is, Evy trades her life for his. The most bizarre part of this entire book is that EVERY time she goes into battle, goes up against the mad scientist, or wherever she goes, she somehow forgets her weapons. I don't know about you but if I had already died like 6 times, half of my friends were dead, and I fought supernatural baddies daily, I don't think I would leave the house without something. Of course, Evy can take on 4 vampires with a toothpick, so I am sure she isn't worried. That part I made up, but I think it goes along nicely with the theme of the story.
August 16, 2011
More like 2,5 stars in truth. On the one hand, this series are full of action, author doesn't shy from gore, her heroine is tough and can save herself from dangerous situations.
On the other hand, all elements which I disliked in previous books are present in this one too. The world is still inconsistent - author doesn't dwell on how all this magical races and the Breach came to be. Lack of explanations by itself wouldn't be a huge con in my book, but I find it hard to believe that the military, CIA and other agencies wouldn't be involved. I find the structure of Triads inefficient and their training, in all it highlander style, quite over the top. I wonder if author was inspired by old Nikita TV series.
As for the plot, it seems to me that Evie has only two ways of dealing with problems: 1) beat them to death; 2) heroic self-sacrifice (which is somewhat cheapened by her healing abilities). The story wasn't interesting enough for me, it lacked tension and mystery. Non-stop action is good and all, but I don't like how she describes it. Romance parts would have been decent, I suppose, if I'd cared about male lead.
Summary: A decent book, but not for me.
On the other hand, all elements which I disliked in previous books are present in this one too. The world is still inconsistent - author doesn't dwell on how all this magical races and the Breach came to be. Lack of explanations by itself wouldn't be a huge con in my book, but I find it hard to believe that the military, CIA and other agencies wouldn't be involved. I find the structure of Triads inefficient and their training, in all it highlander style, quite over the top. I wonder if author was inspired by old Nikita TV series.
As for the plot, it seems to me that Evie has only two ways of dealing with problems: 1) beat them to death; 2) heroic self-sacrifice (which is somewhat cheapened by her healing abilities). The story wasn't interesting enough for me, it lacked tension and mystery. Non-stop action is good and all, but I don't like how she describes it. Romance parts would have been decent, I suppose, if I'd cared about male lead.
Summary: A decent book, but not for me.
January 22, 2012
Absolutely loved the third addition to Meding's Dreg City series. I often burn out on continuation series about this point (with the exception of Estep's Gin Blanco books), but Evy and her crew have kept my attention since the first book and I don't see that interest waning.
Evy and Wyatt honestly make my heart break, because even though they seem destined to be together, fate, the gods, whoever, keep throwing seeminly insurmountable roadblocks in front of them. One of the things I appreciate the most about this series is the fact Evy gets herself into trouble (mostly through her loyalty to friends), and then she gets herself back out of it. Noone needs to rescue her, but when Wyatt and her friends do show up in the nick of time, it adds to the intensity of the story, instead of detracting.
And the last chapter of this one--OMG. Freakin' fabulous! Can't wait for the next one!
Evy and Wyatt honestly make my heart break, because even though they seem destined to be together, fate, the gods, whoever, keep throwing seeminly insurmountable roadblocks in front of them. One of the things I appreciate the most about this series is the fact Evy gets herself into trouble (mostly through her loyalty to friends), and then she gets herself back out of it. Noone needs to rescue her, but when Wyatt and her friends do show up in the nick of time, it adds to the intensity of the story, instead of detracting.
And the last chapter of this one--OMG. Freakin' fabulous! Can't wait for the next one!
June 19, 2015
If you've gotten this far in the series, you've probably picked up on how formulaic the plots have been, and continue to be.
1. Evangeline talks a lot of shit, usually to people more important than herself
2. Evangeline rushes somewhere without backup to fight some bad guys
3. Oh nooooo, Evangeline is captured, beaten and nearly raped
4. Whatever nonhuman, or strong male figure that's patrolling the area rescues her
Why the hell do I keep reading them then? There's just enough action to keep me flipping pages. Lots of Michael Bay style explosions, stabbings, and fiery deaths. Besides, I bought the series, and i'll be damned if i'm not gonna finish it.
In total, I wouldn't read these again, but if you're looking for a relatively fast paced no-brainer of a book/series for vacation, this'll do ya.
1. Evangeline talks a lot of shit, usually to people more important than herself
2. Evangeline rushes somewhere without backup to fight some bad guys
3. Oh nooooo, Evangeline is captured, beaten and nearly raped
4. Whatever nonhuman, or strong male figure that's patrolling the area rescues her
Why the hell do I keep reading them then? There's just enough action to keep me flipping pages. Lots of Michael Bay style explosions, stabbings, and fiery deaths. Besides, I bought the series, and i'll be damned if i'm not gonna finish it.
In total, I wouldn't read these again, but if you're looking for a relatively fast paced no-brainer of a book/series for vacation, this'll do ya.
August 23, 2011
Another fabulous book by Kelly Meding! But man, how much more can Evy take, LOL! The poor woman was really put through the ringer this time. :-( I'm sad about Felix as well... After reading the teaser for the next book I'm wondering what is really going to happen with him though??
I'm glad her and Wyatt are still hanging on...the scene at the end made me cry. Can't wait for the next book! :-D
I'm glad her and Wyatt are still hanging on...the scene at the end made me cry. Can't wait for the next book! :-D
January 10, 2012
Audiobook read by Xe Sands. Really enjoyed this and am glad I don't have to wait long for next one. This was an emotionally grueling book with all that Evy and Wyatt go through. I REALLY hope that Ms. Meding gives them a little easier time in the next book. I'd prefer to read one without torture being involved.
December 30, 2015
Not a bad read. Brought down a bit by the overkill (excuse the pun) of the main character being killed/maimed/raped/tortured/beaten up throughout the entire course of the story.
September 17, 2019
Gave up at about 1\3 into the audiobook, skipped toward the last 30 minutes, and find no desire to pick up the next instalment. I tried to give this series the second and even the third chance. But I'm sick and tired of rape and violation as plot devices for female protagonists. I think I'll continue to stick to Seanan McGuire's and Gail Carriger's works.
January 25, 2018
Decent continuation of the series. I like the characters and world building, but for some reason this series is just a harder read for me, so I struggle to get through the books in timely fashion. Decent Urban Fantasy, but not the best.
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