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Almost Dead
A glitzy whodunit set amongst the Gold Coast elite and a hilarious romance between Macey Pentecost, the privileged teenager with a social conscience who just happens to see ghosts, and the good-looking surf champion Finn.
Macey's life has been turned upside down. Her mother has left, her father is absent and her two best friends (her brother Seth and his girlfriend Willow) are MIA. On top of that Macey is being visited by ghosts who need her help to 'move on'. But as wild as all that sounds, it's all under Macey's control until a rakish, good-looking spirit called Nick turns up ... in her bedroom!
Nick's a spirit with spirit who insists he's not dead, he's astral travelling and has a message for Macey: someone is out to get her. Macey's biting wit has got her in trouble before, so she's not surprised but when the threatening notes start turning up, she's seriously shaken. Does someone want her dead?
It's all rather disturbing but she's finding it hard to focus on who could mean her harm with the annoyingly handsome surf god Finn turning up at the most inopportune times and a father with a rather large surprise of his own.
Is it a case of bad timing? Or are these things somehow connected? And if they are, what on earth should she wear when she's solving the mystery?
Macey's life has been turned upside down. Her mother has left, her father is absent and her two best friends (her brother Seth and his girlfriend Willow) are MIA. On top of that Macey is being visited by ghosts who need her help to 'move on'. But as wild as all that sounds, it's all under Macey's control until a rakish, good-looking spirit called Nick turns up ... in her bedroom!
Nick's a spirit with spirit who insists he's not dead, he's astral travelling and has a message for Macey: someone is out to get her. Macey's biting wit has got her in trouble before, so she's not surprised but when the threatening notes start turning up, she's seriously shaken. Does someone want her dead?
It's all rather disturbing but she's finding it hard to focus on who could mean her harm with the annoyingly handsome surf god Finn turning up at the most inopportune times and a father with a rather large surprise of his own.
Is it a case of bad timing? Or are these things somehow connected? And if they are, what on earth should she wear when she's solving the mystery?
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
66 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 8, 2014
I'm giving this novel 5 stars. I picked it up at the library and it's not the usual genre I read; YA paranormal romances aren't my thing. But I knew the author, Kaz Delaney's previous novel, Dead Actually, had won Best YA Novel in the Aurealis Awards last year, and so I expected Almost Dead to be an entertaining summer read. Plus I live on the Gold Coast, where the novel is set.
It was more than entertaining; it was un-put-downable! I had to know what happened next! I had to find out whether Macey Pentecost would end up almost dead herself!
Author, Kaz Delaney has masterfully thrown in various red herrings and clever heart-stopping plot twists.
As you read you question each sub character's motives and movements; anyone could be the stalker, even the love interest. And to top it off the stakes are raised with increasing momentum until you are desperate to know - who is it?
The writing is exquisite, and, while the main character, Macey, is a bit of an airhead, the language throughout is stellar, beautifully written and perfectly edited. Macey's voice is so accurate in its authenticity, that I actually know private school girls on the GC who sound like this. In fact the characterisation of the cast is delightful in its variety.
Well done Kaz Delaney and Allen and Unwinn. This novel is the best in its genre.
A YA must read for fun! Adults will love it too.
It was more than entertaining; it was un-put-downable! I had to know what happened next! I had to find out whether Macey Pentecost would end up almost dead herself!
Author, Kaz Delaney has masterfully thrown in various red herrings and clever heart-stopping plot twists.
As you read you question each sub character's motives and movements; anyone could be the stalker, even the love interest. And to top it off the stakes are raised with increasing momentum until you are desperate to know - who is it?
The writing is exquisite, and, while the main character, Macey, is a bit of an airhead, the language throughout is stellar, beautifully written and perfectly edited. Macey's voice is so accurate in its authenticity, that I actually know private school girls on the GC who sound like this. In fact the characterisation of the cast is delightful in its variety.
Well done Kaz Delaney and Allen and Unwinn. This novel is the best in its genre.
A YA must read for fun! Adults will love it too.
January 9, 2014
My second book in 2014 by an Aussie Woman writer and another top read.
Life is normally tough when you are a teenager, it is part of growing up, and it is even tougher if your mother abandons you and your father brings home another woman and a half-sister you never knew you had. Macey has all this, but she has an even bigger problem, she sees ghosts, and they talk to her, mostly just to argue that they are not dead! Surely this should only happen in books not on the Gold Coast, this is so uncool! The story opens with a dead person called Nick appearing in Macey’s bedroom but unlike the other ghosts she has been seeing lately, when Nick says isn’t dead, he actually isn’t. He is in a coma after a car accident and he has astro-travelled to tell her she is in great danger, but can’t remember who the danger was from – just that it is there. Shortly after this the stalking starts in earnest, with a message in Macey’s bedroom. Nick is limited in how he can help so he gets Macey to contact his very sceptical cousin to help her.
Macey’s character is spot on for a posh well off Gold Coast princess. BUT there is something about her that just makes you want to really love her – and she is certainly not as bad as some of her friends, she is very no-nonsense and independent. In fact Macey is a real girly girl – a refreshing change from all the heroines lately who seem to be almost boy-like in their appearance and toughness. Macey demonstrates that a young woman can be feminine and still search for a creepy stalker, cope with her car being run off the road and being locked in a room full of rats. OK so she may have been a bit of a mess after the rats – but she started off looking good!
I found ALMOST DEAD to be unputdownable! I loved it even though I am probably not the target audience, and my daughters also are both over the target audience! I didn’t guess who it was until all was revealed at the end – I did suspect the accomplice though – but not until a good way through. Oh let’s be honest here – I suspected just about everyone at one stage or another! There is a love interest but it is very subtle, oh so perfect, and takes a back seat to the investigation. So ALMOST DEAD has golden beaches, family dramas, humour, teenage angst, a sexy surfie, a clairvoyant and a boy band all combining into a very, very good read.
Life is normally tough when you are a teenager, it is part of growing up, and it is even tougher if your mother abandons you and your father brings home another woman and a half-sister you never knew you had. Macey has all this, but she has an even bigger problem, she sees ghosts, and they talk to her, mostly just to argue that they are not dead! Surely this should only happen in books not on the Gold Coast, this is so uncool! The story opens with a dead person called Nick appearing in Macey’s bedroom but unlike the other ghosts she has been seeing lately, when Nick says isn’t dead, he actually isn’t. He is in a coma after a car accident and he has astro-travelled to tell her she is in great danger, but can’t remember who the danger was from – just that it is there. Shortly after this the stalking starts in earnest, with a message in Macey’s bedroom. Nick is limited in how he can help so he gets Macey to contact his very sceptical cousin to help her.
Macey’s character is spot on for a posh well off Gold Coast princess. BUT there is something about her that just makes you want to really love her – and she is certainly not as bad as some of her friends, she is very no-nonsense and independent. In fact Macey is a real girly girl – a refreshing change from all the heroines lately who seem to be almost boy-like in their appearance and toughness. Macey demonstrates that a young woman can be feminine and still search for a creepy stalker, cope with her car being run off the road and being locked in a room full of rats. OK so she may have been a bit of a mess after the rats – but she started off looking good!
I found ALMOST DEAD to be unputdownable! I loved it even though I am probably not the target audience, and my daughters also are both over the target audience! I didn’t guess who it was until all was revealed at the end – I did suspect the accomplice though – but not until a good way through. Oh let’s be honest here – I suspected just about everyone at one stage or another! There is a love interest but it is very subtle, oh so perfect, and takes a back seat to the investigation. So ALMOST DEAD has golden beaches, family dramas, humour, teenage angst, a sexy surfie, a clairvoyant and a boy band all combining into a very, very good read.
December 4, 2013
First up this was a Proof book my daughter was reviewing for the publisher when her review was done I pinched it :) there is really no feeling better than reading a book before its released to the public and having a jump on it.
I loved this book and I'm a mum to teens so its suitable for any age. Its set on the sunny Gold Coast and well researched as I can identify with many of the locations immediately but if you can't you will wish you could and its very accurate to the area's mentioned.
The characters were well structured and very easy to relate to, you really could feel for them as the story grew and each twist and turn took them to different places and through different experiences both good and bad. From the Uptown girl Macey to her new family members who suddenly appear to Finn the rather sexy surfie and our friendly "ghost" Nick. the storyline ran smoothly like a well oiled train.
Expect the unexpected in this book, not everything is what it seems and it really does make it hard to put down, at the end of the day I have to give it a 5 because like my daughter it is one you just want to read to the end so you can find out who, what, where and why.
I dislike reviews that simply retell the story plot line, I prefer to either be encouraged or discouraged from a book based on its quality and writing and this one is definitely one to be adding to your reading list for 2014.
Kat Delaney while I realise I am far from your target audience I was very impressed with this book and look forward to reading more from you soon.
I loved this book and I'm a mum to teens so its suitable for any age. Its set on the sunny Gold Coast and well researched as I can identify with many of the locations immediately but if you can't you will wish you could and its very accurate to the area's mentioned.
The characters were well structured and very easy to relate to, you really could feel for them as the story grew and each twist and turn took them to different places and through different experiences both good and bad. From the Uptown girl Macey to her new family members who suddenly appear to Finn the rather sexy surfie and our friendly "ghost" Nick. the storyline ran smoothly like a well oiled train.
Expect the unexpected in this book, not everything is what it seems and it really does make it hard to put down, at the end of the day I have to give it a 5 because like my daughter it is one you just want to read to the end so you can find out who, what, where and why.
I dislike reviews that simply retell the story plot line, I prefer to either be encouraged or discouraged from a book based on its quality and writing and this one is definitely one to be adding to your reading list for 2014.
Kat Delaney while I realise I am far from your target audience I was very impressed with this book and look forward to reading more from you soon.
January 15, 2014
OMG! Almost Dead is so way more than a YA ramble through the angst of adolescence. Macey certainly has plenty of trouble. Designer shoes and a beachfront mansion don't compensate for an absentee mother and a workaholic father. Even the boys in her life aren't exactly normal. Surfer Boy impersonates the psychic Macey visits in desperation, and Ghostboy is exactly that; a disembodied spirit hanging around while his rock star host lies in a coma, undecided whether to live or die. Add to that a mysterious stalker intent on payback for some crime Macey doesn't know she has committed, and a sister her father has never bothered to mention...Fraught with near-disasters, Macey's journey is touching, sad and funny. This may be a YA genre but anyone young at heart will enjoy the ride, probably concluding that Kaz Delaney's novel totally rocks!
March 3, 2014
*** I won this book from Jess at The Never Ending Bookshelf, via an Australia Day blog hop ***
WOW - what a great read! Almost Dead had my attention from the very beginning, and kept it until the very end. I found it very difficult to put down - which makes things difficult when you have a hungry family!
Kaz Delaney has done a fabulous job of showing the cliques and cultures that teenagers have to deal with, and adding some humour and intrigue to the mix.
I think my next library visit may include a search for "Dead, Actually" and any other books by Kaz.
WOW - what a great read! Almost Dead had my attention from the very beginning, and kept it until the very end. I found it very difficult to put down - which makes things difficult when you have a hungry family!
Kaz Delaney has done a fabulous job of showing the cliques and cultures that teenagers have to deal with, and adding some humour and intrigue to the mix.
I think my next library visit may include a search for "Dead, Actually" and any other books by Kaz.
January 18, 2014
Wow. Simply Wow. This book had me sitting on the edge of my bed trying to read quicker. Loved it. Kaz Delaney's best book yet :)
December 23, 2013
Rating: 3.5 stars
Macey seems to have the perfect life, but behind closed doors, it’s a mess. She’s being visited by ghosts that need her help to move on, and with her brother and best friend away on holiday, Macey’s left by herself to try and solve the mystery behind super cute ghost Nick’s astral walking tendencies. With a stalker attempting to scare her, a new family she never knew about and trying to not fall on her face in front of surf god Finn, Macey’s life has completely tipped upside down and it’s up to her to piece together all the connections before her stalker finally manages to harm her.
Almost Dead is set in the backdrop of Australia’s Sunshine Coast. I always feel so proud every time I pick up a new book by a author from Australia because it’s so exciting to read about places you can pinpoint. It does wonder for setting up the scene backdrops! Delaney does a wonderful job in doing justice to the Goldcoast, and I could almost imagine myself being there in person with Macey as she walked along the beach.
Macey to me was a very interesting character. I liked her personality – it was feisty, but because of her no-nonsense personality, she doesn’t have many close friends or anyone to turn to. With her mum running off, her dad halfway across the world working and her brother disappearing on holiday with her best friend, Macey often has the house to herself. Except for the ghosts that visit her. I liked that there was an explanation for Macey’s ability to see ghosts, but it still felt a little rushed and unthorough. However, that doesn’t hinder your enjoyment as her being able to see ghosts is only a small story arc.
After meeting Nick and realising that he is in fact not dead, but astral walking, Macey begins to receive messages from her very own stalker. Nick warns her that he’s there to warn her about someone trying to hurt her, and that the connection has something to do with him. From that point on, the mystery of Macey’s stalker had me hooked from beginning to end – and let me tell you I did not see it coming!
Macey is an extremely smart girl, and I found myself holding my breath every time something creepy happened to her. Delaney’s writing is so realistic you find yourself beside Macey even when you’re not trying to be. The mystery is smartly woven in with the romantic elements of Macey’s life, making me question each and every person she interacted with. Macey has to deal with a lot of drama throughout the novel, which is very smart of Delaney. Her drama acts as different decoys, making you question how everything is connected, but I’m happy to say that the ending has a nice resolution that doesn’t leave you hanging. What a relief!
If I had to nitpick, I would have to say that I didn’t enjoy how Delaney attempted to create a love-triangle between Macey, Finn and Nick. It felt really forced, and didn’t eventually happen but I felt myself inwardly groan every time hints of it occurred. Nick as a whole felt really one-dimensional, and the ghosty element felt a lot like a plot point that was thrown in to attract the paranormal-genre readers. I understand why it was used, but I think the story would have been just as good without Macey’s ability to see ghosts.
At the beginning of the novel, I expected Almost Dead to be just like Meg Cabot’s ‘The Mediator’ series, but it’s nice to say that I was pleasantly surprised by how different it is. I thoroughly enjoyed this book a lot, and if you like high school mysteries with some glitz and glamour, then definitely pick this one up next year!
Thank you to Allen & Unwin Australia for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
- - - -
Macey seems to have the perfect life, but behind closed doors, it’s a mess. She’s being visited by ghosts that need her help to move on, and with her brother and best friend away on holiday, Macey’s left by herself to try and solve the mystery behind super cute ghost Nick’s astral walking tendencies. With a stalker attempting to scare her, a new family she never knew about and trying to not fall on her face in front of surf god Finn, Macey’s life has completely tipped upside down and it’s up to her to piece together all the connections before her stalker finally manages to harm her.
Almost Dead is set in the backdrop of Australia’s Sunshine Coast. I always feel so proud every time I pick up a new book by a author from Australia because it’s so exciting to read about places you can pinpoint. It does wonder for setting up the scene backdrops! Delaney does a wonderful job in doing justice to the Goldcoast, and I could almost imagine myself being there in person with Macey as she walked along the beach.
Macey to me was a very interesting character. I liked her personality – it was feisty, but because of her no-nonsense personality, she doesn’t have many close friends or anyone to turn to. With her mum running off, her dad halfway across the world working and her brother disappearing on holiday with her best friend, Macey often has the house to herself. Except for the ghosts that visit her. I liked that there was an explanation for Macey’s ability to see ghosts, but it still felt a little rushed and unthorough. However, that doesn’t hinder your enjoyment as her being able to see ghosts is only a small story arc.
After meeting Nick and realising that he is in fact not dead, but astral walking, Macey begins to receive messages from her very own stalker. Nick warns her that he’s there to warn her about someone trying to hurt her, and that the connection has something to do with him. From that point on, the mystery of Macey’s stalker had me hooked from beginning to end – and let me tell you I did not see it coming!
Macey is an extremely smart girl, and I found myself holding my breath every time something creepy happened to her. Delaney’s writing is so realistic you find yourself beside Macey even when you’re not trying to be. The mystery is smartly woven in with the romantic elements of Macey’s life, making me question each and every person she interacted with. Macey has to deal with a lot of drama throughout the novel, which is very smart of Delaney. Her drama acts as different decoys, making you question how everything is connected, but I’m happy to say that the ending has a nice resolution that doesn’t leave you hanging. What a relief!
If I had to nitpick, I would have to say that I didn’t enjoy how Delaney attempted to create a love-triangle between Macey, Finn and Nick. It felt really forced, and didn’t eventually happen but I felt myself inwardly groan every time hints of it occurred. Nick as a whole felt really one-dimensional, and the ghosty element felt a lot like a plot point that was thrown in to attract the paranormal-genre readers. I understand why it was used, but I think the story would have been just as good without Macey’s ability to see ghosts.
At the beginning of the novel, I expected Almost Dead to be just like Meg Cabot’s ‘The Mediator’ series, but it’s nice to say that I was pleasantly surprised by how different it is. I thoroughly enjoyed this book a lot, and if you like high school mysteries with some glitz and glamour, then definitely pick this one up next year!
Thank you to Allen & Unwin Australia for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
- - - -
You can find this review and many more like it at Thoughts By J!
July 23, 2016
Power, love, hate, bad language tears and great shoes. Just another day at RTHS, really…
Macey Pentecost is getting used to seeing ghosts. When the spirit of a cute almost rock star Nick appears in her bedroom, Macey learns that is more than just ghosts out there. Nick isn’t dead. He’s had an accident and is in a coma but feels that he needs to protect Macey from something out there. Threats aside, Macey’s family life is in turmoil. Her mother has abandoned her and her father has some secrets of his own. Lucky for her, Macey meets Finn – surfer god extraordinaire who is willing to help get to the bottom of who is tormenting Macey and just how Nick is connected to it all.
I thought Almost Dead was a fun read. There is mystery, ghosts and romance topped off with plenty of high school drama. Macey is a privileged and feisty seventeen year old (on first impressions, she’s a bit of a mean girl) who has many vulnerabilities deep down. When creepy things start happening to her, she doesn’t run and hide but uses all the resources at her fingertips to try to track down the villain. It took me a while to warm to Macey. She’s blunt and (dare I say) a tad spoilt but after getting into the story and coming to understand her I realized that her frank ways are a defence mechanism. She’s loyal to her friends and (after a while) acts rather maturely in very difficult family circumstances.
The secondary characters are interesting and I liked how they interacted with Macey – I adored how Nick didn’t bow down to Macey and didn’t allow her to dismiss him. Felicity, Finn and Madame Zordastramus all add something extra to the story and I enjoyed getting to know more about them as Macey’s story unfolded. The mystery in this book was great. It’s one that I didn’t see coming till right near the end but once everything was explained it made perfect sense! The supernatural elements of ghosts and spirits was handled with humour and were entertaining to read.
Almost Dead is a companion novel to Dead, Actually (also by Kaz Delaney) and as such shares a setting and many characters but you don’t need to have read Dead, Actually in order to enjoy Almost Dead
Macey Pentecost is getting used to seeing ghosts. When the spirit of a cute almost rock star Nick appears in her bedroom, Macey learns that is more than just ghosts out there. Nick isn’t dead. He’s had an accident and is in a coma but feels that he needs to protect Macey from something out there. Threats aside, Macey’s family life is in turmoil. Her mother has abandoned her and her father has some secrets of his own. Lucky for her, Macey meets Finn – surfer god extraordinaire who is willing to help get to the bottom of who is tormenting Macey and just how Nick is connected to it all.
I thought Almost Dead was a fun read. There is mystery, ghosts and romance topped off with plenty of high school drama. Macey is a privileged and feisty seventeen year old (on first impressions, she’s a bit of a mean girl) who has many vulnerabilities deep down. When creepy things start happening to her, she doesn’t run and hide but uses all the resources at her fingertips to try to track down the villain. It took me a while to warm to Macey. She’s blunt and (dare I say) a tad spoilt but after getting into the story and coming to understand her I realized that her frank ways are a defence mechanism. She’s loyal to her friends and (after a while) acts rather maturely in very difficult family circumstances.
The secondary characters are interesting and I liked how they interacted with Macey – I adored how Nick didn’t bow down to Macey and didn’t allow her to dismiss him. Felicity, Finn and Madame Zordastramus all add something extra to the story and I enjoyed getting to know more about them as Macey’s story unfolded. The mystery in this book was great. It’s one that I didn’t see coming till right near the end but once everything was explained it made perfect sense! The supernatural elements of ghosts and spirits was handled with humour and were entertaining to read.
Almost Dead is a companion novel to Dead, Actually (also by Kaz Delaney) and as such shares a setting and many characters but you don’t need to have read Dead, Actually in order to enjoy Almost Dead
December 10, 2013
I received an ARC for an honest review.
I really enjoyed Almost Dead, the perfect contrast of humour, family issues, mystery, romance and so much more, made Almost Dead a quite enjoyable read.
I was very intrigued that Almost Dead was set in Australia, even though I don’t live in Queensland I have been to the Gold Coast many times before so I know some places that were talked about pretty well. It felt different than reading a book that is based in America or England I think because I somewhat felt at home. It is really hard to find books that are set in my home country, so for that part I quite enjoyed it. I also like it was set near a beach, come on surf boys in the summer without any shirts on.
Read Full Review on Angel Reads
I really enjoyed Almost Dead, the perfect contrast of humour, family issues, mystery, romance and so much more, made Almost Dead a quite enjoyable read.
I was very intrigued that Almost Dead was set in Australia, even though I don’t live in Queensland I have been to the Gold Coast many times before so I know some places that were talked about pretty well. It felt different than reading a book that is based in America or England I think because I somewhat felt at home. It is really hard to find books that are set in my home country, so for that part I quite enjoyed it. I also like it was set near a beach, come on surf boys in the summer without any shirts on.
Read Full Review on Angel Reads
July 22, 2015
http://www.divabooknerd.com/2014/01/a...
It was witty, charming and fun. Set on the Gold Coast, reading this on a stinking hot Melbourne summer day was a breath of fresh air. It's the ultimate Aussie summer read. Seeing this is my first Kaz Delaney novel, it certainly won't be my last.
It was witty, charming and fun. Set on the Gold Coast, reading this on a stinking hot Melbourne summer day was a breath of fresh air. It's the ultimate Aussie summer read. Seeing this is my first Kaz Delaney novel, it certainly won't be my last.
April 27, 2017
At 400 pages I flew through this book. I started at maybe 11pm and by 3:30 am I was done. I kept telling myself I should stop but then I convince myself to read some more and then all of a sudden I'd read another 40 pages and I was telling myself to stop again. And so the cycle continued until 3:30 when I finished the final page.
There is a perfect balance between the paranormal, the mystery, and the every day, and Kaz's writing is so inviting that you want to keep turning the page. Her words draw you in and even closing the book for sleep is unthinkable because you don't want to leave the story. Your curiosity overrules sleep, and who could sleep anyway when such an enthralling tale is being told!
A companion book to Dead, Actually, this time it's Macey's story that gets told. What I loved about this was that it was a completely new story but didn't forget what had come before it. It is impossible to compare the two because they both have very different mysteries with different focuses, but the similarities and same surroundings is a comfortable familiarity. Willow and Seth are not forgotten, and there are throwbacks and references to the other book, but not so much that it tries to make you connect the two and see it as a sequel. Macey's story is her own and Willow's hers, and I loved that Kaz gave them both stories that suited them.
There are so many drawcards about this book, not only the creative paranormal aspect, but the mystery, the drama, and the realities of life that all mix together. It is easy to love the amazing events that play out around Nick as well as Macey's newly discovered gift, not to mention the surprising home life she had found herself living in. Kaz's portrayal of the stresses and confusion in Macey's life is divine, as well as managing to express beautifully how overwhelmed and out of her depth she becomes. It's wonderful.
Macey and Finn's relationship is cheeky and adorable. He is a wonderful friend, loyal and protective, and seeing Macey fight her feelings for him reveals more of who she is and why. Everything connects and has consequences with this story and moments fit together and react off each other with style and creativity. This is just one of the many things that interact and connect, sometimes you don't even realise just how connected things are until the last moment.
The mystery side definitely needs mentioning because the way Kaz plays it out you find yourself suspecting even the most innocent of people. There are hints and clues, and no clear motive which means anyone could be the culprit. With so much else happening in Macey's life, having someone stalk her is another thing she has to worry about, and seeing it overlap with her other problems makes the story more intense and enthralling.
This multifaceted story has something for everyone's tastes: There are great characters to fall in love with and great friendships to admire, there's a great YA story, a thrilling mystery, some excellent paranormal, a budding romance, family drama, self-discovery and acceptance, and an ending that's beautiful - all wrapped up in a thrilling 400 pages.
This review was also published on my blog https://lostinagoodbk.wordpress.com/2...
There is a perfect balance between the paranormal, the mystery, and the every day, and Kaz's writing is so inviting that you want to keep turning the page. Her words draw you in and even closing the book for sleep is unthinkable because you don't want to leave the story. Your curiosity overrules sleep, and who could sleep anyway when such an enthralling tale is being told!
A companion book to Dead, Actually, this time it's Macey's story that gets told. What I loved about this was that it was a completely new story but didn't forget what had come before it. It is impossible to compare the two because they both have very different mysteries with different focuses, but the similarities and same surroundings is a comfortable familiarity. Willow and Seth are not forgotten, and there are throwbacks and references to the other book, but not so much that it tries to make you connect the two and see it as a sequel. Macey's story is her own and Willow's hers, and I loved that Kaz gave them both stories that suited them.
There are so many drawcards about this book, not only the creative paranormal aspect, but the mystery, the drama, and the realities of life that all mix together. It is easy to love the amazing events that play out around Nick as well as Macey's newly discovered gift, not to mention the surprising home life she had found herself living in. Kaz's portrayal of the stresses and confusion in Macey's life is divine, as well as managing to express beautifully how overwhelmed and out of her depth she becomes. It's wonderful.
Macey and Finn's relationship is cheeky and adorable. He is a wonderful friend, loyal and protective, and seeing Macey fight her feelings for him reveals more of who she is and why. Everything connects and has consequences with this story and moments fit together and react off each other with style and creativity. This is just one of the many things that interact and connect, sometimes you don't even realise just how connected things are until the last moment.
The mystery side definitely needs mentioning because the way Kaz plays it out you find yourself suspecting even the most innocent of people. There are hints and clues, and no clear motive which means anyone could be the culprit. With so much else happening in Macey's life, having someone stalk her is another thing she has to worry about, and seeing it overlap with her other problems makes the story more intense and enthralling.
This multifaceted story has something for everyone's tastes: There are great characters to fall in love with and great friendships to admire, there's a great YA story, a thrilling mystery, some excellent paranormal, a budding romance, family drama, self-discovery and acceptance, and an ending that's beautiful - all wrapped up in a thrilling 400 pages.
This review was also published on my blog https://lostinagoodbk.wordpress.com/2...
January 16, 2014
Almost Dead is the new YA book from Kaz Delaney it is also some what of a companion to her other YA book Dead, Actually with some of the characters re-appearing. We follow Macey who for the last month has been seeing spirits and this time this spirit is insisting that they are still alive.
Nick is the lead singer of the band Pashton that Macey slammed on her blog about the lyrics not being original etc. and now Nick is in a coma after a car accident and people are starting to blame Macey. Nick knows Macey is in trouble but doesn't know who is doing it and wants her to have help from Finn his cousin.
Macey really has a bad week this in this book, her mother leaves her father, she finds out that her dad has another family so she has a half-sister and someone is stalking her. With her best friend Willow and her brother together out of the country she has no one to turn to now that she knows about her father's other family.
Finn is a champion surfer laid back, portrayed as a beach bum but knows how to look after a girl. He helps Macey through everything that she is going through and also knowing that Nick is around makes him feel slightly better.
The girls at Macey's private school are your typical snobby rich kids and Macey doesn't trust any of them. Even when they start hanging around because of the stalker. The relationship in this book progress a lot between the girls and Macey, Macey and her sister and the destruction of the relationship between Macey and her father which eventually is back to normal mainly because Macey is quite stubborn. They all play an important part in the story as the book goes on.
The revelation of the stalker was quite a shock even when I already had guessed who one of them was. It is a great story keeps you guessing and it being set in Australia was another great perk! Almost Dead is a different YA paranormal romance set on the Gold Coast which sucks you in until you have finished the book completely!
Thanks to Allen and Unwin Australia for the review copy!
Rating: 4/5
Keely xx
Nick is the lead singer of the band Pashton that Macey slammed on her blog about the lyrics not being original etc. and now Nick is in a coma after a car accident and people are starting to blame Macey. Nick knows Macey is in trouble but doesn't know who is doing it and wants her to have help from Finn his cousin.
Macey really has a bad week this in this book, her mother leaves her father, she finds out that her dad has another family so she has a half-sister and someone is stalking her. With her best friend Willow and her brother together out of the country she has no one to turn to now that she knows about her father's other family.
Finn is a champion surfer laid back, portrayed as a beach bum but knows how to look after a girl. He helps Macey through everything that she is going through and also knowing that Nick is around makes him feel slightly better.
The girls at Macey's private school are your typical snobby rich kids and Macey doesn't trust any of them. Even when they start hanging around because of the stalker. The relationship in this book progress a lot between the girls and Macey, Macey and her sister and the destruction of the relationship between Macey and her father which eventually is back to normal mainly because Macey is quite stubborn. They all play an important part in the story as the book goes on.
The revelation of the stalker was quite a shock even when I already had guessed who one of them was. It is a great story keeps you guessing and it being set in Australia was another great perk! Almost Dead is a different YA paranormal romance set on the Gold Coast which sucks you in until you have finished the book completely!
Thanks to Allen and Unwin Australia for the review copy!
Rating: 4/5
Keely xx
April 6, 2016
I got this book at the official book signing back in 2014 and I met the author, she is a good friend of my Aunt who is also an author (Michelle Douglas), I thought Kaz was a really nice person and she signed my book. I feel bad that it took me to years to get to reading this book.
l really liked this book. It was a fun read and it was really easy to get through even though it was 400 pages and was really thick looking in my hand. I liked the pace and the plot was interesting and this book could have been a contemporary read if it didn't have ghosts and a creepy stalker, which I thought was cool.
I liked Macey, she was a snobby bitch but I still liked her.
Nick was a fun ghost and I really enjoyed his presence in the book.
Finn was totally the bae of the book. He was so much fun and I liked how protective he could be.
I also liked the references to Willow and Seth who were the main characters in the first book, Dead Actually.
This was a good read.
l really liked this book. It was a fun read and it was really easy to get through even though it was 400 pages and was really thick looking in my hand. I liked the pace and the plot was interesting and this book could have been a contemporary read if it didn't have ghosts and a creepy stalker, which I thought was cool.
I liked Macey, she was a snobby bitch but I still liked her.
Nick was a fun ghost and I really enjoyed his presence in the book.
Finn was totally the bae of the book. He was so much fun and I liked how protective he could be.
I also liked the references to Willow and Seth who were the main characters in the first book, Dead Actually.
This was a good read.
February 28, 2014
Loved it! Had a few late nights not wanting to put it down.
The characters are great, and the story has a perfect mix of humour, suspense, romance, and drama. You're constantly rethinking who the stalker might be and so in the end, every character has been the suspect 'with the stiletto, in the library'.
Whilst it's main target audience might be YA (which I am well past), it has a great ability to bring out the youth in all of us - as I thoroughly enjoyed it and so did my mum! I have read the first book 'Dead Actually', and loved it too. This book is more of a companion to the first, not a sequel as such. So both are great stand alone books, but highly recommend reading both. It's also great to read books set somewhere in Oz.
The characters are great, and the story has a perfect mix of humour, suspense, romance, and drama. You're constantly rethinking who the stalker might be and so in the end, every character has been the suspect 'with the stiletto, in the library'.
Whilst it's main target audience might be YA (which I am well past), it has a great ability to bring out the youth in all of us - as I thoroughly enjoyed it and so did my mum! I have read the first book 'Dead Actually', and loved it too. This book is more of a companion to the first, not a sequel as such. So both are great stand alone books, but highly recommend reading both. It's also great to read books set somewhere in Oz.
September 3, 2014
I read this book while on holiday in Turkey and loved it. Such a crazy fun read and so great to read a YA novel set on the Gold Coast. The plot was intriguing and the 'almost dead' Nick is gorgeous - though not as gorgeous as super-handsome surfer guy, Finn (so cool). I loved the return of Macey Pentecost from the first book 'Dead, Actually' and she really carries this book beautifully. Lots of action and plenty of entertaining scenes, plus a bit of a mystery and some great mixed-up relationships. I thoroughly enjoyed 'Almost Dead'.
February 14, 2014
This book is so much fun to read. Was it ridiculous at times, over the top and just plain silly? Of course - but so funny at times. Throw in a fashion obsessed, mega wealthy but socially conscious princess, some astro-planers, good looking surfers, ghosts, psychics, stalkers and family drama - all in the location of the Gold Coast Queensland and it makes for some very light-hearted mystery reading. Can't wait to read her first book which is a companion read to this one.
May 1, 2014
cool!yaa
December 13, 2020
This was an interesting book, it shows that you need to rely on the people around you that you love, trust and know, because it can overwhelm you if you don't and it will only make you feel worse. I think this was a great book!
September 23, 2014
This review also appears at Quiet Worlds Book Reviews.
Almost Dead is the story of Macey Pentecost, a teenage girl in the suburbs of Sydney with a turbulent home life and a recently acquired ability to see ghosts. When the ghost of a boy who claims not to be a ghost appears in her room and tells her that she is in danger, she is catapulted into a fast paced adventure involved a stalker, a new sister, and a very attractive Surfer Boy.
I bought this book a couple of months ago having read Delaney's previous book Dead, Actually (which is a companion to this one though they function well enough independently) with the understanding that I had very few light-hearted books on my to-read pile. When I did pick it up it was in the hope that it would be a quick, easy read, and I can confidently say that Almost Dead served the exact purpose that I hoped it would.
There were times while reading that I found myself a little irritated by Macey as a heroine, but this was no because of the way she was written, it was because she was a teenager and having very natural teenage responses to things. That's the thing about YA fiction, many teenagers in YA fiction come across a little more as adults, or they come across as an exaggerated stereotype written by an adult who has no concept of what the modern teenager is like. Macey Pentecost fits into neither of these categories.
The things I liked about this book were;
-the love interest
-the writing style
-the plot (which had moments in which it seemed a little far fetched but the whole premise of this book is that a boy in a coma astral-projects into her room so the element of far-fetched-ness is established from the get-go)
the things I disliked about this book were;
-typos, there were repeated instances in my copy of the word 'focused' being spelled 'focussed'... and it was quite jarring from a reader's perspective
-lack of foreshadowing, while I understand that the book was told from the perspective of Macey the final twist came out of the blue a little bit, most of the book indicated the stalker's motives in one direction -but then it turned out to be something else entirely
-too many characters not enough development... this is primarily because when we found out the identity of the stalker I had to go back and see where they had turned up in the book before... I had no idea who they were.
Ultimately, I did enjoy Almost Dead, it was exactly the book I wanted exactly when I needed it, and I definitely recommend it for people who like humourous teen lit with an element of the unbelievable.
Almost Dead is the story of Macey Pentecost, a teenage girl in the suburbs of Sydney with a turbulent home life and a recently acquired ability to see ghosts. When the ghost of a boy who claims not to be a ghost appears in her room and tells her that she is in danger, she is catapulted into a fast paced adventure involved a stalker, a new sister, and a very attractive Surfer Boy.
I bought this book a couple of months ago having read Delaney's previous book Dead, Actually (which is a companion to this one though they function well enough independently) with the understanding that I had very few light-hearted books on my to-read pile. When I did pick it up it was in the hope that it would be a quick, easy read, and I can confidently say that Almost Dead served the exact purpose that I hoped it would.
There were times while reading that I found myself a little irritated by Macey as a heroine, but this was no because of the way she was written, it was because she was a teenager and having very natural teenage responses to things. That's the thing about YA fiction, many teenagers in YA fiction come across a little more as adults, or they come across as an exaggerated stereotype written by an adult who has no concept of what the modern teenager is like. Macey Pentecost fits into neither of these categories.
The things I liked about this book were;
-the love interest
-the writing style
-the plot (which had moments in which it seemed a little far fetched but the whole premise of this book is that a boy in a coma astral-projects into her room so the element of far-fetched-ness is established from the get-go)
the things I disliked about this book were;
-typos, there were repeated instances in my copy of the word 'focused' being spelled 'focussed'... and it was quite jarring from a reader's perspective
-lack of foreshadowing, while I understand that the book was told from the perspective of Macey the final twist came out of the blue a little bit, most of the book indicated the stalker's motives in one direction -but then it turned out to be something else entirely
-too many characters not enough development... this is primarily because when we found out the identity of the stalker I had to go back and see where they had turned up in the book before... I had no idea who they were.
Ultimately, I did enjoy Almost Dead, it was exactly the book I wanted exactly when I needed it, and I definitely recommend it for people who like humourous teen lit with an element of the unbelievable.
July 2, 2014
For a book that is the second in a series when I haven't read the first, this was pretty enjoyable. Also, for a character as shallow and clothes obsessed as Macey, she is oddly an interesting main character. I can't honestly pinpoint why I liked either the plot or the characters, but this book seemed to supersede my expectations. Also, I hired this from the library. I tend to forget where I get books from, so if I ever check this review I won't go looking for it in my book room.
A fun book, I wouldn't mind reading the first. Four stars!
A fun book, I wouldn't mind reading the first. Four stars!
April 19, 2021
Lighthearted entertainment
August 12, 2015
Not my usual reading fare, but a bit of fun. Not sure if it's typical for its genre, but I found it a little too histrionic in parts. But a good mystery, with a culprit I did not expect.
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