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Night Owls #2
Grave Matters
Night Owls bookstore always keeps a light on and evil creatures out. But, as Lauren M. Roy's thrilling sequel continues, even its supernatural staff isn’t prepared for the dead to come back to life…
Elly grew up training to kill things that go bump in the night, so she’s still getting used to working alongside them. While she’s learned to trust the eclectic group of vampires, Renfields, and succubi at Night Owls bookstore, her new job guarding Boston’s most powerful vampire has her on edge—especially when she realizes something strange is going on with her employer, something even deadlier than usual…
Cavale isn’t thrilled that his sister works for vampires, but he’s determined to repair their relationship, and that means trusting her choices—until Elly’s job lands all of the Night Owls in deep trouble with a vengeful necromancer. And even their collective paranormal skills might not be enough to keep them from becoming part of the necromancer’s undead army…
Elly grew up training to kill things that go bump in the night, so she’s still getting used to working alongside them. While she’s learned to trust the eclectic group of vampires, Renfields, and succubi at Night Owls bookstore, her new job guarding Boston’s most powerful vampire has her on edge—especially when she realizes something strange is going on with her employer, something even deadlier than usual…
Cavale isn’t thrilled that his sister works for vampires, but he’s determined to repair their relationship, and that means trusting her choices—until Elly’s job lands all of the Night Owls in deep trouble with a vengeful necromancer. And even their collective paranormal skills might not be enough to keep them from becoming part of the necromancer’s undead army…
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 24, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
February 20, 2015
**I received this book for free from (Ace) via (NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*My Thoughts*
Grave Matters, the second book in the Night Owl series, picks up a month after Night Owl ended. Events that happened in Night Owl, are IMPORTANT to understand before picking up Grave Matters. It matters because there is a lot of turmoil, sadness, and feelings that everything stared with the arrival of ONE person to Edgewood/Crow's Neck.
It matters because it is the first time all the characters actually came together to fight evil side by side, even though there was a tough loss to swallow, and one of them died and was changed. It matters because everything in Edgewood is about to change, not just relationships, but what happens next.
*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Recvd via NetGalley 02/11/2015* Expected publication: February 24th 2015 by Ace
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*My Thoughts*
Grave Matters, the second book in the Night Owl series, picks up a month after Night Owl ended. Events that happened in Night Owl, are IMPORTANT to understand before picking up Grave Matters. It matters because there is a lot of turmoil, sadness, and feelings that everything stared with the arrival of ONE person to Edgewood/Crow's Neck.
It matters because it is the first time all the characters actually came together to fight evil side by side, even though there was a tough loss to swallow, and one of them died and was changed. It matters because everything in Edgewood is about to change, not just relationships, but what happens next.
*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Recvd via NetGalley 02/11/2015* Expected publication: February 24th 2015 by Ace
March 20, 2015
3.5 Stars
See this review and others like it at Badass Book Reviews!
Grave Matters is the second book in Lauren M. Roy's Night Owls and it is a solid read that I heartily recommend to urban fantasy aficionados. My concern with the first book was the pacing and that has mostly been fixed here. The setup was still a little slow, but it was interesting enough that I never wanted to stop reading. Ms. Roy takes her time in setting up all the plot lines and giving her characters the information they need to make decisions. When everyone came together in the end to face the big bad, the story really jelled and everyone had their role to play.
Grave Matters is one of those series books where you definitely need to read the debut novel first to really understand the dynamics and relationships between the characters. Psuedo-siblings Elly and Cavale are still learning to live with one another, though they both still harbor resentment and guilt, respectfully, over Cavale leaving her behind before. Val is adjusting to having baby vamp Justin in her home as well as trying to balance keeping Chaz, her Renfield, safe without hurting his pride. The succubi Sunny and Lia are still trying to repair their home from the last battle while still staying off any demon's radar. Everyone is still mourning the loss of the Clearwaters and the sense of normalcy they felt before the events with the Creeps in Night Owls . Some characters have been together forever while others still feel like outsiders. Everyone is trying to figure out the best way to work together and how they can be supportive without being overbearing.
It's hard to pick a favorite character from Grave Matters because everyone is so unique and carefully crafted, but I think I still like being in Elly's head the most. She's had probably the roughest time of everyone and is still trying to adapt to having a stable home and life. I loved her flirtation with Justin and just think they are both so cute. I also think it is good for them to have each other because they seem to relate to one another on a level that is different from all the other characters. I liked the development between Elly and Cavale too; it was very sweet that he decided to try to learn to cook so he could provide Elly with hot meals. I'm interested to learn more about him and his skills as well. I loved seeing him work the tarot here. I would also like to know more about Sunny and Lia and why they are so scared of other demons finding them. I think learning about their demonic histories could be fascinating. Val took a bit of a backseat for me in this book, but Chaz was pretty awesome. He's the one character that really can't take care of himself and is vulnerable, but he has humor and personality in spades. It's going to be interesting to see him developing his limited physical abilities in the future.
There was a lot going on in this book, but you don't really get the whole story until the very end. I really enjoyed the necromancer plot line and how it was interwoven with the demon world. It was interesting to see how the different characters responded to the ghosts and ghouls, though I think Cavale was my favorite. Grave Matters touched on fear from seeing an unexpected spirit, despair at the loss of a loved one, and even hope of somehow getting to talk to them one last time. I liked seeing the runes, sigils, powders, oils, and other tools of the trade that Elly and Cavale used. It was very different from the hack and slash action that we see in a lot of books.
I was a little confused by how the vampires tied into the necromancer. Thinking back on the book, I feel like I have a pretty good handle on everything that happened but I still have some questions about how and why. The vampires in the Night Owls world are not sparkly and doe-eyed. Most are manipulative and out to do whatever benefits them the most. I wasn't super thrilled with Elly becoming tangled up in their world, but it seems to have ended in one of the better ways it could. I don't think we have seen the last of Ivanov and his manipulations though... especially where Val is concerned.
One thing that I wish was explored a little more in Grave Matters was the appearance of Elly's mother, Marian. I have no clue why she was involved with the necromancer/vampire intrigue and there were literally no Creeps in this book. If her story from the last book is true, I'm not sure why she was there or even who she was working with exactly.
I enjoyed Grave Matters and the Night Owls series in general, so I am glad to see there is another book planned. If some of the plot could be tightened up just a little bit more and the characters could work together earlier in the stories, I think these books would be real winners. Everything is there; it just needs a smidge more shine to it. Overall though, Lauren M. Roy has created a fantastic world with colorful characters and I can't wait to see what's next!
Thank you to Ace and Netgalley for providing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
See this review and others like it at Badass Book Reviews!
Grave Matters is the second book in Lauren M. Roy's Night Owls and it is a solid read that I heartily recommend to urban fantasy aficionados. My concern with the first book was the pacing and that has mostly been fixed here. The setup was still a little slow, but it was interesting enough that I never wanted to stop reading. Ms. Roy takes her time in setting up all the plot lines and giving her characters the information they need to make decisions. When everyone came together in the end to face the big bad, the story really jelled and everyone had their role to play.
Grave Matters is one of those series books where you definitely need to read the debut novel first to really understand the dynamics and relationships between the characters. Psuedo-siblings Elly and Cavale are still learning to live with one another, though they both still harbor resentment and guilt, respectfully, over Cavale leaving her behind before. Val is adjusting to having baby vamp Justin in her home as well as trying to balance keeping Chaz, her Renfield, safe without hurting his pride. The succubi Sunny and Lia are still trying to repair their home from the last battle while still staying off any demon's radar. Everyone is still mourning the loss of the Clearwaters and the sense of normalcy they felt before the events with the Creeps in Night Owls . Some characters have been together forever while others still feel like outsiders. Everyone is trying to figure out the best way to work together and how they can be supportive without being overbearing.
It's hard to pick a favorite character from Grave Matters because everyone is so unique and carefully crafted, but I think I still like being in Elly's head the most. She's had probably the roughest time of everyone and is still trying to adapt to having a stable home and life. I loved her flirtation with Justin and just think they are both so cute. I also think it is good for them to have each other because they seem to relate to one another on a level that is different from all the other characters. I liked the development between Elly and Cavale too; it was very sweet that he decided to try to learn to cook so he could provide Elly with hot meals. I'm interested to learn more about him and his skills as well. I loved seeing him work the tarot here. I would also like to know more about Sunny and Lia and why they are so scared of other demons finding them. I think learning about their demonic histories could be fascinating. Val took a bit of a backseat for me in this book, but Chaz was pretty awesome. He's the one character that really can't take care of himself and is vulnerable, but he has humor and personality in spades. It's going to be interesting to see him developing his limited physical abilities in the future.
There was a lot going on in this book, but you don't really get the whole story until the very end. I really enjoyed the necromancer plot line and how it was interwoven with the demon world. It was interesting to see how the different characters responded to the ghosts and ghouls, though I think Cavale was my favorite. Grave Matters touched on fear from seeing an unexpected spirit, despair at the loss of a loved one, and even hope of somehow getting to talk to them one last time. I liked seeing the runes, sigils, powders, oils, and other tools of the trade that Elly and Cavale used. It was very different from the hack and slash action that we see in a lot of books.
I was a little confused by how the vampires tied into the necromancer. Thinking back on the book, I feel like I have a pretty good handle on everything that happened but I still have some questions about how and why. The vampires in the Night Owls world are not sparkly and doe-eyed. Most are manipulative and out to do whatever benefits them the most. I wasn't super thrilled with Elly becoming tangled up in their world, but it seems to have ended in one of the better ways it could. I don't think we have seen the last of Ivanov and his manipulations though... especially where Val is concerned.
One thing that I wish was explored a little more in Grave Matters was the appearance of Elly's mother, Marian. I have no clue why she was involved with the necromancer/vampire intrigue and there were literally no Creeps in this book. If her story from the last book is true, I'm not sure why she was there or even who she was working with exactly.
I enjoyed Grave Matters and the Night Owls series in general, so I am glad to see there is another book planned. If some of the plot could be tightened up just a little bit more and the characters could work together earlier in the stories, I think these books would be real winners. Everything is there; it just needs a smidge more shine to it. Overall though, Lauren M. Roy has created a fantastic world with colorful characters and I can't wait to see what's next!
Thank you to Ace and Netgalley for providing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2015
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Ghosts are wandering all over the place, and it’s up to the Night Owls group to find the necromancer responsible before all hell breaks loose. Despite a slow start, a good follow-up to the first book in the series.
Opening Sentence: Elly dreams of heartbeats.
The Review:
Elly is still getting used to living in one place after a lifetime of constantly being on the move. Her brother Cavale is always worried about saying the wrong thing to her in fear that one fight will cause her to take off. Justin is adjusting to being a vampire, with Val as his new tutor in all things undead. That just leaves Chaz, who is feeling pretty useless as the one human in the group without any real fighting ability. And it’s starting to look like he’s going to need it. It all starts with Elly evicting a ghost from a neighbor’s house. The ghost acts strangely, but Elly doesn’t really think much of it. That is, until a ghoul attacks Chaz and Justin in the Clearwaters’ house. Turns out, there’s a necromancer in town, and he has an agenda that will put everyone in danger if they don’t find him and take care of him. Will they be able to find him before it’s too late?
This one was a bit tough for me to rate. The first half of the book moves a little slowly. It starts off great, with Elly dealing with the aforementioned ghost in her neighbor’s house, but then there’s a lull as we get reintroduced to all the main characters. The lull did help me refresh my memory on what happened in the first book, but it didn’t really keep my interest. Then the action picks up again with the attack at the Clearwater’s house. And then there’s another lull. I was beginning to get a little frustrated because I did enjoy the first book,and I was having a hard time remembering why. Then, right around the halfway point, everything just started happening at once, and the momentum just kept on going right up until the end. From the halfway point on, I never wanted to put the book down. So, if we did half ratings, it would probably get a 3.5 out of 5. I’m rounding up though because of how hooked I was for the latter half of the book.
In looking over my review of the first book, I noticed that I mentioned a lack of connection to Elly. That thankfully did not recur here. I actually found myself really looking forward to her narrative segments this time around. It’s interesting to see how she’s growing as a character now that she’s staying in one place and surrounded by people who care about her. My second favorite narrator this time around was Cavale. I just felt so bad for him, seeing how much he wants to reconnect with Elly, but he’s so afraid to do anything that might make her take off again.
All in all, this was a good follow-up to book one. Not perfect, given the slow start, but it certainly picks up speed as the book goes on, and it ends with a bang. Given some of the events that take place, I’m very curious to see where things go from here. It promises to be a thrilling ride!
Notable Scene:
They approached quietly, even though Val still didn’t smell anyone nearby. No one but she and Justin had been here for hours, at least, but it seemed suddenly disrespectful to tromp over to an open grave. As though we haven’t been using the place as a playground all night long.
“Did someone dig this guy up?” Justin bent and ran his fingers over the stone. The letters had mostly eroded, but he found the faint grooves after a moment. Webb, they read. Val picked up a handful of dirt and let it fall through her fingers. “I don’t think so. The hole’s not big enough for someone trying to get to the coffin.” The hole was maybe two feet all around and looked more like something had exploded up out of the ground than dug down into it.
“Look there.” She pointed at the edge of the churned earth, where five long, raking lines led into the middle. “I think it’s supposed to look like Mr. or Mrs. Webb climbed out themselves.” She straightened and paced around the grave in a widening circle. “There.” She showed him a bony handprint pressed into the dirt, and some footprints beyond it.
Justin came to stand beside her, eyes wide. “Are you about to tell me this guy’s a zombie? Because Elly hasn’t taught me the first thing about fighting zombies.”
Val snickered. “No, since I’ve never met one. I’m pretty sure what we’re looking at here is someone’s idea of a hilarious prank. Doesn’t one of the fraternities scare the shit out of their pledges every Halloween?”
“Beta Epsilon, yeah.” Justin had rushed them, Val knew, but he never made it past the first couple of weeks. Justin didn’t talk about it, but by the growl in his voice, he was pissed about whatever had happened. “Ugh, fuck those guys. Can we get out of here before they come back and finish setting up? They’ll probably want to put buckets of pigs’ blood in the trees or something.”
“All right,” said Val. “Let’s go.”
“Assholes.”
“When we get you feeding on real people, maybe I’ll let you bite one.”
FTC Advisory: Penguin/Ace provided me with a copy of Grave Matters. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Ghosts are wandering all over the place, and it’s up to the Night Owls group to find the necromancer responsible before all hell breaks loose. Despite a slow start, a good follow-up to the first book in the series.
Opening Sentence: Elly dreams of heartbeats.
The Review:
Elly is still getting used to living in one place after a lifetime of constantly being on the move. Her brother Cavale is always worried about saying the wrong thing to her in fear that one fight will cause her to take off. Justin is adjusting to being a vampire, with Val as his new tutor in all things undead. That just leaves Chaz, who is feeling pretty useless as the one human in the group without any real fighting ability. And it’s starting to look like he’s going to need it. It all starts with Elly evicting a ghost from a neighbor’s house. The ghost acts strangely, but Elly doesn’t really think much of it. That is, until a ghoul attacks Chaz and Justin in the Clearwaters’ house. Turns out, there’s a necromancer in town, and he has an agenda that will put everyone in danger if they don’t find him and take care of him. Will they be able to find him before it’s too late?
This one was a bit tough for me to rate. The first half of the book moves a little slowly. It starts off great, with Elly dealing with the aforementioned ghost in her neighbor’s house, but then there’s a lull as we get reintroduced to all the main characters. The lull did help me refresh my memory on what happened in the first book, but it didn’t really keep my interest. Then the action picks up again with the attack at the Clearwater’s house. And then there’s another lull. I was beginning to get a little frustrated because I did enjoy the first book,and I was having a hard time remembering why. Then, right around the halfway point, everything just started happening at once, and the momentum just kept on going right up until the end. From the halfway point on, I never wanted to put the book down. So, if we did half ratings, it would probably get a 3.5 out of 5. I’m rounding up though because of how hooked I was for the latter half of the book.
In looking over my review of the first book, I noticed that I mentioned a lack of connection to Elly. That thankfully did not recur here. I actually found myself really looking forward to her narrative segments this time around. It’s interesting to see how she’s growing as a character now that she’s staying in one place and surrounded by people who care about her. My second favorite narrator this time around was Cavale. I just felt so bad for him, seeing how much he wants to reconnect with Elly, but he’s so afraid to do anything that might make her take off again.
All in all, this was a good follow-up to book one. Not perfect, given the slow start, but it certainly picks up speed as the book goes on, and it ends with a bang. Given some of the events that take place, I’m very curious to see where things go from here. It promises to be a thrilling ride!
Notable Scene:
They approached quietly, even though Val still didn’t smell anyone nearby. No one but she and Justin had been here for hours, at least, but it seemed suddenly disrespectful to tromp over to an open grave. As though we haven’t been using the place as a playground all night long.
“Did someone dig this guy up?” Justin bent and ran his fingers over the stone. The letters had mostly eroded, but he found the faint grooves after a moment. Webb, they read. Val picked up a handful of dirt and let it fall through her fingers. “I don’t think so. The hole’s not big enough for someone trying to get to the coffin.” The hole was maybe two feet all around and looked more like something had exploded up out of the ground than dug down into it.
“Look there.” She pointed at the edge of the churned earth, where five long, raking lines led into the middle. “I think it’s supposed to look like Mr. or Mrs. Webb climbed out themselves.” She straightened and paced around the grave in a widening circle. “There.” She showed him a bony handprint pressed into the dirt, and some footprints beyond it.
Justin came to stand beside her, eyes wide. “Are you about to tell me this guy’s a zombie? Because Elly hasn’t taught me the first thing about fighting zombies.”
Val snickered. “No, since I’ve never met one. I’m pretty sure what we’re looking at here is someone’s idea of a hilarious prank. Doesn’t one of the fraternities scare the shit out of their pledges every Halloween?”
“Beta Epsilon, yeah.” Justin had rushed them, Val knew, but he never made it past the first couple of weeks. Justin didn’t talk about it, but by the growl in his voice, he was pissed about whatever had happened. “Ugh, fuck those guys. Can we get out of here before they come back and finish setting up? They’ll probably want to put buckets of pigs’ blood in the trees or something.”
“All right,” said Val. “Let’s go.”
“Assholes.”
“When we get you feeding on real people, maybe I’ll let you bite one.”
FTC Advisory: Penguin/Ace provided me with a copy of Grave Matters. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
March 3, 2015
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
GRAVE MATTERS is an excellent follow up to NIGHT OWLS. Full of the same action, snark, and mystery as NIGHT OWLS, GRAVE MATTERS marks the Night Owls series as one to keep an eye on.
My one complaint is the extensive cast of characters makes for some confusion. Switching the focus of the story every chapter or so is a bit disorienting, and also makes it hard to keep track of the timeframe everything is happening in - sometimes the same time period is repeated from different points of view if the characters aren’t together. For me, this meant GRAVE MATTERS was a book that was hard to put down and pick right back up, I sometimes had to go back a few pages to see who was the focus at the moment and what was going on. GRAVE MATTERS may also be a bit difficult to pick up if you haven’t read NIGHT OWLS, as well, since there are some details that aren’t explained very well and may not make sense to a new reader.
On the flip side, the great ensemble of characters offers a lot in the way of character development and also a fascinating look at the various relationships between the characters. I loved seeing the characters interact with each other, knowing that even if sometimes they were a bit prickly with each other, they still all had each other’s backs. I also enjoyed how the mystery of GRAVE MATTERS was so different than the mystery of NIGHT OWLS. It opens up more of the world to the reader without any kind of info dumps. The view the reader gets into the Night Owls world grows organically, and it is a joy to uncover the different creatures, paranormal aspects, and mythology Roy has created.
With Roy’s engaging style of writing, and the great characters and setting, GRAVE MATTERS is one not to be missed. Far from a sophomore slump, GRAVE MATTERS will definitely please readers of NIGHT OWLS and leave them wanting more.
Sexual content: Kissing, references to sex
GRAVE MATTERS is an excellent follow up to NIGHT OWLS. Full of the same action, snark, and mystery as NIGHT OWLS, GRAVE MATTERS marks the Night Owls series as one to keep an eye on.
My one complaint is the extensive cast of characters makes for some confusion. Switching the focus of the story every chapter or so is a bit disorienting, and also makes it hard to keep track of the timeframe everything is happening in - sometimes the same time period is repeated from different points of view if the characters aren’t together. For me, this meant GRAVE MATTERS was a book that was hard to put down and pick right back up, I sometimes had to go back a few pages to see who was the focus at the moment and what was going on. GRAVE MATTERS may also be a bit difficult to pick up if you haven’t read NIGHT OWLS, as well, since there are some details that aren’t explained very well and may not make sense to a new reader.
On the flip side, the great ensemble of characters offers a lot in the way of character development and also a fascinating look at the various relationships between the characters. I loved seeing the characters interact with each other, knowing that even if sometimes they were a bit prickly with each other, they still all had each other’s backs. I also enjoyed how the mystery of GRAVE MATTERS was so different than the mystery of NIGHT OWLS. It opens up more of the world to the reader without any kind of info dumps. The view the reader gets into the Night Owls world grows organically, and it is a joy to uncover the different creatures, paranormal aspects, and mythology Roy has created.
With Roy’s engaging style of writing, and the great characters and setting, GRAVE MATTERS is one not to be missed. Far from a sophomore slump, GRAVE MATTERS will definitely please readers of NIGHT OWLS and leave them wanting more.
Sexual content: Kissing, references to sex
April 16, 2015
I should have reread Night Owls, but my time was limited by other commitments, so I read my Goodreads review and dove right in to Grave Matters. Just as in Night Owls, Grave Matters is an ensemble book; there is not one main character, and there are multiple points of view. Thanks to my review of Night Owls, I knew that I had learned to care about all the characters. Grave Matters has sorrow, friendship, betrayal, trust, evil, trickery, ghouls, ghosts, vampires, succubi, and a necromancer pulling everyone's strings. I highly recommend this urban fantasy.
February 20, 2023
I did not love this one as much as the first in the series. It did drag at times for me. It had a solid ending and I like where the author is going with the characters. However it just needed a little more action for me. Not a bad read but I definitely liked the first one better.
February 26, 2015
Trinitytwo's Point of View
Grave Matters by Lauren M. Roy is the second in the Night Owl series which features a sensational array of supernatural characters. Book two picks up about a month after the events of its predecessor and although Roy fills in all the blanks to allow this installment to stand alone, I think the reader would get a much better flavor for the world of Night Owls if they start with book one, Night Owls.
Vampire Valerie McTeague owns Night Owls, a bookstore that caters to the nocturnal crowd. Staffed by Chaz, Val’s Renfield, and Justin, a newly turned vampire, the bookstore and its surrounding area are a hub of paranormal activities. Val and her crew have joined forces with Elly and her brother Cavale, both former members of the mysterious Brotherhood. Elly and Cavale are well-versed in the all things mystical and especially the laying to rest of a variety of monsters, either by magical means or lethal force. In Grave Matters, a renegade necromancer is raising the dead and causing havoc within the circles of their small community. To further complicate matters, Elly’s new boss, the powerful leader of a nearby vampire coven, is keeping her busy dealing with a rival group of vamps who are trying to edge into his territory.
I like this series. It’s entertaining and dark at the same time. Roy does a great job of fleshing out her characters while dealing with the emotional complexities and conflicts that come with such a diverse group of supernaturals. Physically badass but emotionally vulnerable Elly continues to be my favorite character.
Please find review in its entirety on The Qwillery blogspot:
http://qwillery.blogspot.com/search?q...
Grave Matters by Lauren M. Roy is the second in the Night Owl series which features a sensational array of supernatural characters. Book two picks up about a month after the events of its predecessor and although Roy fills in all the blanks to allow this installment to stand alone, I think the reader would get a much better flavor for the world of Night Owls if they start with book one, Night Owls.
Vampire Valerie McTeague owns Night Owls, a bookstore that caters to the nocturnal crowd. Staffed by Chaz, Val’s Renfield, and Justin, a newly turned vampire, the bookstore and its surrounding area are a hub of paranormal activities. Val and her crew have joined forces with Elly and her brother Cavale, both former members of the mysterious Brotherhood. Elly and Cavale are well-versed in the all things mystical and especially the laying to rest of a variety of monsters, either by magical means or lethal force. In Grave Matters, a renegade necromancer is raising the dead and causing havoc within the circles of their small community. To further complicate matters, Elly’s new boss, the powerful leader of a nearby vampire coven, is keeping her busy dealing with a rival group of vamps who are trying to edge into his territory.
I like this series. It’s entertaining and dark at the same time. Roy does a great job of fleshing out her characters while dealing with the emotional complexities and conflicts that come with such a diverse group of supernaturals. Physically badass but emotionally vulnerable Elly continues to be my favorite character.
Please find review in its entirety on The Qwillery blogspot:
http://qwillery.blogspot.com/search?q...
November 6, 2015
"Holy Crap!"
That's what I said when I was done with this book. The second in the Night Owls Series was, dare I say, better than the first!
In order for me to get into a series,I have to care about the characters. Lauren created characters that made me hold my breath when they were hurt; squeed when there was snogging, and was sad when the story was over because that meant no more adventures.
The world the Night Owls crew lives in is believable, even if it's filled with the supernatural. The main plot of this novel, a necromancer on the loose, intertwined with the subplots (Elly working for the vampire mafia; Chaz learning to defend himself; Elly's mother and the Brotherhood) perfectly, and nothing felt forced or "neatly tied up."
I can't wait for more!
That's what I said when I was done with this book. The second in the Night Owls Series was, dare I say, better than the first!
In order for me to get into a series,I have to care about the characters. Lauren created characters that made me hold my breath when they were hurt; squeed when there was snogging, and was sad when the story was over because that meant no more adventures.
The world the Night Owls crew lives in is believable, even if it's filled with the supernatural. The main plot of this novel, a necromancer on the loose, intertwined with the subplots (Elly working for the vampire mafia; Chaz learning to defend himself; Elly's mother and the Brotherhood) perfectly, and nothing felt forced or "neatly tied up."
I can't wait for more!
March 6, 2015
3.5. It took a little bit for me to remember all the different characters, but I managed eventually. This storyline didn't engage me as much as the previous books and I ended up just not caring much about how things ended. There is a cute romance brewing and I do still really love all these characters and the refreshing way this series differs from a typical urban fantasy!
February 5, 2018
I was back and forth between 4 or 5 stars. The only.reason I would give it 4 stars is because there were a couple of instances in the book where I was frustrated because it took a while to get to the point of joining up story lines. Slightly dragged out, just slightly.
The Author has done an exceptional job of world building, adding new twists to vampires and other monsters! Her building up of the relationships between the group of main characters, (that were brought together in the first book) was gripping, drawing you in, to really care about them. So 5 stars it was!
It is a shame that Roy has not gone on with this series, I would love to see more! The firm basis of characters is there waiting for more adventures
The Author has done an exceptional job of world building, adding new twists to vampires and other monsters! Her building up of the relationships between the group of main characters, (that were brought together in the first book) was gripping, drawing you in, to really care about them. So 5 stars it was!
It is a shame that Roy has not gone on with this series, I would love to see more! The firm basis of characters is there waiting for more adventures
January 23, 2016
It took me awhile to pick this sequel up, mainly because I was busy trying to squash my expectations. Not that I needed to, as it turns out this book is an easy 4/5.
Basically I got everything I ever wanted out of this series. Every character is well-fleshed out (It speaks to this that I remembered most of them immediately despite having read Night Owls ages ago) and gets their chance to shine, and the relationship progressions have been absolutely fantastic, both platonic and otherwise.
The plot's well thought out- although I'm a huge fan of anything ghost-related, so I was damned from the start- and everything is very well connected, although there's still a few threads left to explore (I believe this is a trilogy at least?). The writing has improved a lot from the last book and flows much better, which absolutely makes my day. The book might start off a little slow for those who did not need a reintroduction to the characters, but the pace was fine for me, and once the plot begins to snowball, it does so quickly.
Other thoughts:
Basically I got everything I ever wanted out of this series. Every character is well-fleshed out (It speaks to this that I remembered most of them immediately despite having read Night Owls ages ago) and gets their chance to shine, and the relationship progressions have been absolutely fantastic, both platonic and otherwise.
The plot's well thought out- although I'm a huge fan of anything ghost-related, so I was damned from the start- and everything is very well connected, although there's still a few threads left to explore (I believe this is a trilogy at least?). The writing has improved a lot from the last book and flows much better, which absolutely makes my day. The book might start off a little slow for those who did not need a reintroduction to the characters, but the pace was fine for me, and once the plot begins to snowball, it does so quickly.
Other thoughts:
May 5, 2015
Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..
This book and series is rather frustrating for me. There's so much potential there for an excellent story, but it's massively hindered by the constant switch in narrators and their subsequent different storylines. Due to this constant shift I was never able to settle into anyone's head as as soon as I started to get hooked on one character and their chain of events, it would all be ripped away and into the next. Sometimes the changes were so abrupt that I hadn't even started to get sunk in at all. It just made for a very frustrating read. That being said, considering all this frustration it does speak to the impressive skill and writing that I continued on and did enjoy as much as possible. I just feel like this book would have been so much better if the rotations and perspectives had been cut in half. There was just two much going on with too many characters getting the limelight.
Putting all that aside, I did enjoy the characters in this book/series as there is one heck of a cast. Each and everyone had a very unique personality and were fully fleshed out despite the short amount of page time featuring each one. I absolutely loved the extra backstory on each character that was filtered in throughout the book, and it only endeared me to the cast of characters more. The two succubi and Chaz probably were my absolute favorites, followed up shortly by Justin. And the rest of the cast was pretty interesting too, again I just wish there had been a bit more screen time with each.
I enjoyed this one more than the first one as I had more time with the characters to get to know them etc, but overall it was still frustrating. I just wanted to get more time with the characters and perhaps more focus on fewer storylines. Granted everything was tied together really well at the end, which was no small feat considering and impressive writing, but prior to that point it was just too much for me. That being said, there wasn't a dull moment and despite my frustration with the rotation, over all it was a decent read that kept my attention. So the end verdict is a bit flawed but still entertaining.
This book and series is rather frustrating for me. There's so much potential there for an excellent story, but it's massively hindered by the constant switch in narrators and their subsequent different storylines. Due to this constant shift I was never able to settle into anyone's head as as soon as I started to get hooked on one character and their chain of events, it would all be ripped away and into the next. Sometimes the changes were so abrupt that I hadn't even started to get sunk in at all. It just made for a very frustrating read. That being said, considering all this frustration it does speak to the impressive skill and writing that I continued on and did enjoy as much as possible. I just feel like this book would have been so much better if the rotations and perspectives had been cut in half. There was just two much going on with too many characters getting the limelight.
Putting all that aside, I did enjoy the characters in this book/series as there is one heck of a cast. Each and everyone had a very unique personality and were fully fleshed out despite the short amount of page time featuring each one. I absolutely loved the extra backstory on each character that was filtered in throughout the book, and it only endeared me to the cast of characters more. The two succubi and Chaz probably were my absolute favorites, followed up shortly by Justin. And the rest of the cast was pretty interesting too, again I just wish there had been a bit more screen time with each.
I enjoyed this one more than the first one as I had more time with the characters to get to know them etc, but overall it was still frustrating. I just wanted to get more time with the characters and perhaps more focus on fewer storylines. Granted everything was tied together really well at the end, which was no small feat considering and impressive writing, but prior to that point it was just too much for me. That being said, there wasn't a dull moment and despite my frustration with the rotation, over all it was a decent read that kept my attention. So the end verdict is a bit flawed but still entertaining.
February 18, 2015
"Night Owls bookstore always keeps a light on and evil creatures out. But, as Lauren M. Roy's thrilling sequel continues, even its supernatural staff isn’t prepared for the dead to come back to life."
Ok, I admit that that I am always susceptible to books about bookstores. And a supernatural staff doesn't hurt. That's just me, I'm a little superficial like that.
The fact that it was the second in a series did make me pause, but I needed something to read right then and decided to go ahead. I liked it. Vampires, Jackals, Necromancers, Renfields, and Succubi. Grave Matters is an urban fantasy that provided interesting characters, suspense, and a fast-paced and entertaining read. If you like that kind of thing, that is. I do.
It would have been better perhaps, if I had read Night Owls: Bk. 1 first, but I can always remedy that. Here is the book description for the first book:
"Night Owls book store is the one spot on campus open late enough to help out even the most practiced slacker. The employees’ penchant for fighting the evil creatures of the night is just a perk…"
There is just this tongue-in-cheek attitude about these descriptions that appeals to me, and this is just the kind of urban fantasy that I enjoy. Is it great literature? No. Is it entertaining? It was for me.
A Garden Carried in the Pocket
NetGalley/Penguin Group
Urban Fantasy. Feb. 24, 2015. Print length: 304 pages.
Ok, I admit that that I am always susceptible to books about bookstores. And a supernatural staff doesn't hurt. That's just me, I'm a little superficial like that.
The fact that it was the second in a series did make me pause, but I needed something to read right then and decided to go ahead. I liked it. Vampires, Jackals, Necromancers, Renfields, and Succubi. Grave Matters is an urban fantasy that provided interesting characters, suspense, and a fast-paced and entertaining read. If you like that kind of thing, that is. I do.
It would have been better perhaps, if I had read Night Owls: Bk. 1 first, but I can always remedy that. Here is the book description for the first book:
"Night Owls book store is the one spot on campus open late enough to help out even the most practiced slacker. The employees’ penchant for fighting the evil creatures of the night is just a perk…"
There is just this tongue-in-cheek attitude about these descriptions that appeals to me, and this is just the kind of urban fantasy that I enjoy. Is it great literature? No. Is it entertaining? It was for me.
A Garden Carried in the Pocket
NetGalley/Penguin Group
Urban Fantasy. Feb. 24, 2015. Print length: 304 pages.
February 26, 2015
All in all, the same "fun" quality that drew me to the first one. Night Owls returns with new baddies. The Jackals in particular, are largely absent from this book, and that's not a bad thing, as we get to see some new and different problems for Val & friends to deal with. As with the first ones, POV transitions are occasionally confusing as to whose head we've hopped to this time, leaving us asking "Who exactly is thinking what?" but by and large, it works. If you didn't like Ellie first book around, you're probably not going to like her this time. I didn't. I don't. Chaz remains my favorite of the crew, because it's clear that he's out of his league among this league of extraordinary book lovers. (Ok, I totally made that part up. There is no such league. But there ought to be).
This time around, you'll get a few answers as to what happened to Justin in book 1, and a few more clues about how some of the other forces in this world work. There are also questions that are plainly asked (by the characters) and yet never answered, which I can't tell about. Could be dropped threads, or mysteries we'll come back to for book three (assuming there will be a book three).
If you liked the first one, you'll like this one.
If you hated the first one, you'll probably hate this one.
If you were on the fence about the first one, this is better and definitely worth a shot.
This time around, you'll get a few answers as to what happened to Justin in book 1, and a few more clues about how some of the other forces in this world work. There are also questions that are plainly asked (by the characters) and yet never answered, which I can't tell about. Could be dropped threads, or mysteries we'll come back to for book three (assuming there will be a book three).
If you liked the first one, you'll like this one.
If you hated the first one, you'll probably hate this one.
If you were on the fence about the first one, this is better and definitely worth a shot.
March 25, 2015
This is the second book of the Night Owls series by Lauren M. Roy and picks up where the first left off. While at first glance, it may appear to have all the trappings of a standard urban fantasy tale, the subtle differences make it somewhat unique.
The characters are all portrayed in rich dimensions, with their fears, flaws and foibles well depicted. No stock characters here.
Roy does some exceedingly interesting twists with her own plot and I stopped even trying to guess what would unfold after the first five chapters.
The plot is suitably complex and far more engaging than other similar novels. Moral choices, bargains with the devil and making tough choices abound. In addition the novel itself seemed "thick" with various subplots and character arcs which, while intriguing, never stole the limelight from the main plot.
And worthy of note is a singular "side-character" who is among one of the most interesting I've read of in a long time. Not a protag, nor an antag nor exactly an anti-hero - the interactions of the other characters with this one were absolutely delightful to read. I really liked the way the author chose not to fit the character into any existing "box" for filing purposes, but rather let him roam about as he would.
If you're looking for some more depth in your urban fantasy, look no further than "Grave Matters." Great book.
The characters are all portrayed in rich dimensions, with their fears, flaws and foibles well depicted. No stock characters here.
Roy does some exceedingly interesting twists with her own plot and I stopped even trying to guess what would unfold after the first five chapters.
The plot is suitably complex and far more engaging than other similar novels. Moral choices, bargains with the devil and making tough choices abound. In addition the novel itself seemed "thick" with various subplots and character arcs which, while intriguing, never stole the limelight from the main plot.
And worthy of note is a singular "side-character" who is among one of the most interesting I've read of in a long time. Not a protag, nor an antag nor exactly an anti-hero - the interactions of the other characters with this one were absolutely delightful to read. I really liked the way the author chose not to fit the character into any existing "box" for filing purposes, but rather let him roam about as he would.
If you're looking for some more depth in your urban fantasy, look no further than "Grave Matters." Great book.
March 2, 2015
The second book is a set only a few months after the end of the first book and everyone is trying to deal with the changes and losses in their lives. Elly is working for the Stregi, the Boston group of vampires as they are dealing with a turf war. Cavale is tracking down a necromancer that has moved into the neighborhood. And both Elly and Cavale are tiptoeing around talking about their shared childhood, separation and how they will handle the future together as adults. Both story lines blend by the end of the book and bring everyone from the previous books together again and you also learn more about Sunny and Lia as well. Justin is adjusting to being a a vampire with a little extra in the mix of his making A good second book and a book that you can read without reading the first book since you are still finding so much out about these characters.
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley
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January 25, 2016As a sequel to Night Owls, this was pretty much what I would have hoped for. More about all our favorite characters from book one, including some deepening relationship dynamics -- notably not all of which are romantic in nature, though several are walking intriguingly complicated lines in that regard -- and a new threat in the form of a necromancer and complicated Boston vampire-mob politics. I am particularly enjoying the wary yet fiercely protective brother-sister relationship that Elly and Cavale are developing, and am intrigued by the way Cavale and Chaz are dancing around one another. Dudes, possibly un-ruffle your mutual feathers a bit and consider one another in a bit more, ahem, friendly light? I think you might both be happier that way.
March 4, 2015
Initial thoughts: As much as I enjoyed the previous novel, I think this one was even better! The characters really come together and I enjoyed the different plots that were woven within the large overall one. It was gripping and exciting and I really enjoyed it. I would have devoured it if I hadn't been interrupted by other things. I eager look forward to the next novel in the series! Please click on the link to the full review by myself and my review partner Gikany posted at That's What I'm Talking About Blog: http://twimom227.com/2015/03/review-g...
September 24, 2015
Another quick, fun, supernatural read. Lauren M. Roy is slowly working her way towards being a favorite of mine.
I did figure out the big mystery before her characters. However, I still enjoyed the challenges they had to face in order to figure it out for themselves.
I love her characters and the relationships that have grown with them in this book. Chaz and Val exchanging sarcastic quips never fails to make me laugh, and the evolution of Elly is subtle yet progressive. Roy isn't rushing her characters, which makes me believe we have quite a journey ahead of us in her series and I am excited to see what comes next.
I did figure out the big mystery before her characters. However, I still enjoyed the challenges they had to face in order to figure it out for themselves.
I love her characters and the relationships that have grown with them in this book. Chaz and Val exchanging sarcastic quips never fails to make me laugh, and the evolution of Elly is subtle yet progressive. Roy isn't rushing her characters, which makes me believe we have quite a journey ahead of us in her series and I am excited to see what comes next.
June 8, 2015
Grave Matters picks up a few months after Night Owls ended. Elle is getting deeper into the supernatural world. She and Cav are working on their relationship. This book has a bit more romance than the first one. There is not much, but you can see where the author is going.
The story is still enjoyable and I can't wait to see where the author is going with it.
The story is still enjoyable and I can't wait to see where the author is going with it.
July 14, 2015
Lots of supernatural action with great characters
I thought this book might suffer from the sophomore curse and not do justice to the first book in the series. Not to worry, this book is great. The story is well thought out and the character's growth is palpable. These are multi-faceted characters in a complex story line. Sooo rare these days and so enjoyable!
I thought this book might suffer from the sophomore curse and not do justice to the first book in the series. Not to worry, this book is great. The story is well thought out and the character's growth is palpable. These are multi-faceted characters in a complex story line. Sooo rare these days and so enjoyable!
March 17, 2015
Lauren Roy's follow-up to Night Owls is just as good as her first! It was another page-turner, and not a repeat of the same story. The main characters are developed further, and I can't wait to see where she goes next with this series.
March 13, 2015
A great follow-up to Night Owls. We learn more about the crew and the world they are in. I hope we'll see some follow ups. Bonus points for some pop culture shout outs.
March 3, 2015
A solid second entry in the series. I like that there's a spread of ages--that is what it's like with a bookstore crew. Touches of humor leaven the darkness. These are on my buy list.
April 3, 2015
The second book proves to be even better than the first one. It held lots of tension, just the right amount of action, and a twisty plot that kept me guessing the whole way. I highly recommend it.
July 16, 2023
The book is much more focused on the inner turmoil of the Ragtag Band of Misfits - about five of whom are viewpoint characters - than anything resembling actual plot. It’s not great, because the world-building is complicated and this is the second book in the series. Maybe the first book had more background - but there’s so much in this one that if so, it must have been nothing BUT background. There are a lot of characters, mostly with very short names, two of which start with C.
I also question the choice to place Russian vampires in Southie, but that’s a Boston thing. Polish, okay, maybe they walked from Dorchester. (And why does everyone refer to a character as “Dunyasha”? Her boss, sure, it’s a power play, but surely she’d insist that everyone else use Dunya or even Avdotya?)
I also question the choice to place Russian vampires in Southie, but that’s a Boston thing. Polish, okay, maybe they walked from Dorchester. (And why does everyone refer to a character as “Dunyasha”? Her boss, sure, it’s a power play, but surely she’d insist that everyone else use Dunya or even Avdotya?)
March 8, 2025
A follow up to Night Owls, Grave Matters follows Elly and her foster brother Cavale as they deal with a necromancer that is controlling not only ghosts and ghouls, but also vampires. Both Elly and Cavale, along with their friends Val, Justin, Chaz and the two succubi, Lia and Sunny, get sucked into a situation that is way more than they expected. I loved the different points of view, as we see events happen that affect all the different characters, and how they react to them. I enjoyed Elly and Cavale especially, since their upbringing was really hard and they are suffering the results of that as adults. There is plenty of action and suspenseful moments, and I really like how it all comes together at the end, which wraps everything up nicely.
October 4, 2017
A real page turner that was spoiled by
If you enjoyed #1 do not read this.
If you enjoyed #1 do not read this.
September 5, 2017
So much love! Life making me read the first half in half-chapter bursts made me realize I would totally watch a Night Owls show. Lauren, please write more!
October 24, 2017
Book two of the Night Owls. The action never stops. Relationships need work. And death looms over all. Looking for book three.
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