Twenty-seven year old Violet Shephard woke up in a morgue with a tag around her wrist and no memory of how she got there.
Somewhere in the small, suffocating town of Gourmand Falls, someone is responsible.
The police stopped looking, but Violet isn't done yet.
Caught between the living world and the darkness of Hades, she has one chance to uncover the truth before she fades away forever. With the help of a coven with no plan, and a charming preacher's son she can't quite trust, Violet begins to piece together the night she was destroyed.
Dead Girls Don't Pray is a short, fast-paced novel with horror, fantasy, and dark romance elements.
It explores violence, justice, and what happens when the wrong girl refuses to disappear.
RATING: 3/5 stars - Upon finishing the book, I struggled with how to rate it - and I settled with rounding up to 3/5 stars because the premise was unique and there were sections/elements I really liked. - But there were also times I was thoroughly confused by the plot or character motivations and felt like I was missing information. - HOWEVER -- I chalk the latter sentiment up to me having ADHD, as I can often read too fast or accidentally skip over things.
WHAT WAS DONE REALLY WELL? Surreal Quality: - As I mentioned above, there were times I was confused about what was going on - but I don't see this as a weakness at all because we find out right away that the story is being narrated by a 20-something woman who was apparently murdered & very recently brought back to life for reasons unknown. - So it makes sense that the narrative feels disjointed & blurry, because the FMC (Violet) is essentially in limbo. And like any person who has experienced trauma and tries to recall it after, the timeline often becomes inconsistent and memories can shift "out of order".
Creepy, Yet Intriguing Mystery: - So many parts were really creepy but like...in a good way - if that makes sense. It was hard to put down and I ended up flying through the last half because I needed to know the "truth"! Fans of dark fantasy, deep psychological thrillers, and true crime/murder documentaries will understand.
WHAT DO I WANT MORE OF? While reading, I didn't realize this was the introduction to a series. SO my hopes for the next/future installment are: - more backstory on Amaranth (this is all I can say without including spoilers!) - more explanation into the "rules" of paranormal/supernatural activity (what is or is not possible in the parameters of this world?) - potential explanation on "WHEN" Violet's story happened (specific time period? any relevant co-occuring historical events?)
ARC reader here This story was truly a beautifully written work. One, I actually wasn't sure of at places, but that is just because I wondered, "is this going to end up somehow going into a cult?" The character creation was great. I couldn't when it came to Virgil-- he was probably my least favourite part of the book. I understand the role in which he played in the book. I understand the role in which he played for both Violet and Atticus. A lot was going on in the story. There was one major plot, then you had little side quests, of sorts. They all led to the bigger story. Though there were parts of the story where I did get a little lost. Not too lost, as the story always did get back in line. Then I'm still trying to understand where this town is located. State-wise. This information was sort of given a little bit in the epilogue when Chicago is mentioned. Though I am also wondering what year this is taking place in? Is Atticus just throwing around money at the bar and the diner? There is a sense of poetic justice that the bar is called The Confessional. It did confuse me at first when it was first brought up, as I assumed, since other religious things were going on, that it was actually a legit confessional. The Epilogue alone left me with plenty more questions, but it also left me wanting the next book. The POV change from first to third, though, was a little off for me, and also is part of my rating.
REVIEW OF ADVANCE READER COPY RECEIVED FROM AUTHOR
3.75⭐️
Feeling a little torn with my rating here because this was a good read but couple of things missing the mark and I can’t justify the full 4⭐️
I think the main thing was the chosen format which is a short novel. While I enjoyed the fast pace, it actually left me craving for more to fully immersed myself in the story and get attached to the characters.
What’s frustrating though is that I really enjoyed the premises with a fresh plot and crumbs of deliciously gothic atmosphere - I feel this would be phenomenal with more time to fully develop in a more standard format/full(er) novel.
I really liked that the characters were older as well, not enough of that in the genre so that was greatly appreciated.
I felt some confusion around the whole coven aspect and overall dynamic between the characters which was skimmed over, which again is due to the shorter format. I think a little more backstory and time on the page with others would help the story feel more rounded.
Quite a few scenes I really enjoyed which accurately reflected the main character situation in an unscrupulous way 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Also really enjoyed seeing the subplot and ending - I’d definitely be keen to see what happens to Violet next 👌🏻
Thank you so much to the author for allowing me to read her work and I look to forward to hearing about the next instalment in the series.
Dead Girls Don't Pray is such a good read! Violet, the fmc, wakes up in a morgue, having been murdered. There are several male suspects in town, and several other women who want to help her catch the one who did it. There is a weird religious aspect that takes a good chunk of the story and it is downright frightening. Virgil, the pastor, is terrifying from the moment he lays eyes on Violet. And his son 'Saint' Atticus, has the most confusing and unsettling mental state the entire storyline. A deal that should never have been made.
Hadrien is the red eyes in the woods that everyone is taught to avoid. As the story goes on, Violet ends up in the underworld a few times and she is able to ask other minor characters questions, but Hadrien is also there. He is a pain in her butt, and seems to always be lurking but never helping. I wish I got more of a chance to get to know Hadrien, because I think he is my favorite. LUCKILY, it looks like there will be a sequel, and it will focus on Hadrien and Violet!
This book is fast paced, creepy, and full of little twists to keep you up reading until 2a.m. I had a lot of fun reading it and I think Blaire Russell wrote a terrific book. I did receive an early copy so I'd like to thank the author for that as well.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of Dead Girls Don't Pray from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Dead Girls Don't Pray by Blaire Russell starts with a fantastic hook: twenty-seven-year-old Violet Shephard wakes up in a morgue with a toe tag and no memory of how she got there. Stuck between the living world and Hades, she has one chance to solve her own murder before she disappears forever.
The setting of Gourmand Falls is incredibly eerie. The town is built on a fake, aggressive religious vibe used to cover up a lot of ugly secrets. The main villain, Atticus, is genuinely vile. Reading about his hallucinations—and how he frames them as a divine mandate from "God" to commit awful crimes—makes for a highly disturbing character profile. Violet's alliance with a chaotic coven and a charming preacher's son keeps the pages turning fast.
While the horror and fantasy elements blend well, the dark romance sub-plot was too obscure and pushed to the back. My main issue was that the book left me a bit frazzled and confused. The reasons behind what several characters did were never explained, leaving the plot feeling a bit loose. Still, if you want a quick, spooky thriller with a brave main character who refuses to go quietly, it’s a solid read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I really enjoyed Dead Girls Don’t Pray by Blaire Russell. The story immediately pulled me in with Violet waking up in a morgue with no memory of what happened to her. The mystery surrounding her death and the strange space she exists in between the living world and Hades made the whole book feel eerie and compelling. Gourmand Falls had that small-town darkness where it feels like everyone is hiding something, and watching Violet slowly piece together the truth kept me hooked the entire time.
For a short novel, it packs in a lot—mystery, horror, a little dark romance, and just enough supernatural elements to keep things interesting without feeling overwhelming. I especially liked Violet as a main character because she refuses to just fade away or accept what happened to her. The story moves quickly but still manages to build tension and emotion, making it a really captivating read. It’s a great pick if you enjoy darker stories with a haunting atmosphere and a determined heroine.
Our FMC her name is Violet, and she was murdered but whats unexpected is that she wakes up in the MORGUE. She is absolutely dead, but somehow she wakes up and back in her body but she doesn't know how she died but just knows she is dead. This was an interesting paranormal mystery with a lil bit of romance, but its mainly just follows Violet trying to find out who murdered and also a few other women that were also murdered in their small town. I very much like Violets character she was def a baddy and I loved how she didn't just go with the flow, she wanted to know who killed her and the why of it, she was not going to be like the other girls and just fade away. This story did keep me guessing who could be the murderer but not sure where I was that i figured out the killer, I do look forward to the next book in the series to see how Violet adjust to her new life being dead and her new job I guess.
I went into this a bit blind. I saw the author advertising for ARCs and because I had read one of her books before and really enjoyed it I glossed over the description (I always prefere to read a blurb after Ive read a book. Which with most ARCs I cant do this as i need to know what sort of vibe it is. So when I saw the opportunity to not have to read a blurb for this because I enjoyed previous works, I went for it).
Very different to my previous experience with the author. This time there was a fantasy thriller vibe with some life after death thrown in. It was a good read and when I thought I had it figured out, I was wrong. I enjoyed the characters and getting to know them and look forward to the next in the series.
Well paced short book, but not so short I felt I had missed out on anything. Good for a day time mind escape.
While the concept is top tier, the execution feels like a slow build. Despite the fast-paced nature of the mystery, it takes a significant amount of time for the plot to fully find its footing. The relationship with Hadrien leaves you wanting much more interaction than what is actually provided in this first installment.
Additionally, the mental state of some side characters can feel a bit confusing, and the weird religious aspect takes up a large chunk of the story.
This is a solid start to a series with plenty of twists to keep you reading until 2 a.m. However, it feels very much like a "setup" book for the sequel. If you enjoy paranormal mysteries with a dash of dark romance and a lot of atmosphere, it’s worth a read, but expect to be left waiting for the next book to get to the "good stuff" regarding the larger lore and Hadrien.
First off I want to say that I really enjoyed this book. However I didn't like it as much as I wanted to. At times it felt like the characters didn't behave realistically. I know that the situations weren't realistic but I guess I had trouble really understanding the characters personality traits and their relationships with each other. I feel like there were a lot of avenues that I wish had been explored further, I like a short book too but this felt like many plots dropped off. Or a short story that was more focused. I understand there's a sequel which I definitely want to read. I am very interested in the town lore and the author's take on the afterlife. Hopefully those are explored further in the sequel. Thank you to the author for providing an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Dead Girls Don't Pray is a pretty intriguing story with a dark, spooky, paranormal romance. Violet is confused about what is happening to her when she wakes up in a morgue with no memories of what happened to her. Basically a zombie now, she is caught between the living world and the paranormal one in search of her murderer. The story was slightly confusing because it took me a good minute to figure out if she was actually dead and if she was, how were people able to see her and interact with her. But it all ties in to the story. I thought the concept of the story was pretty interesting. It is well written and fast paced. The story does end on a little bit of a cliffhanger. I can't wait to read the next in the series.
This book was a spooky little dark mystery- romance- fantasy where we follow Violet,our FMC as she tries to find out who m**dered her.
This book reads very similarly to the book "Remember me" by Christopher Pike,at least vibe wise. I love that book so safe to say I enjoyed this one!
I do wish some of the side characters were more fleshed out but otherwise I enjoyed this a lot!
I can't wait to find out more about Hadrien especially. 👀
This is very light on the smut,but there is still some. I appreciate that as I wasn't in the mood for smut while reading this. 😂 Anyway,I'd give it an 8/10!
Dead Girls Don’t Pray was a thoroughly enjoyable read. The storyline is intriguing from the start, the pacing stays tight, and the overall tone leans deliciously dark without ever feeling overdone. I really liked the mix of characters — some easy to root for, others delightfully unlikable — which kept the tension high and the dynamics interesting.
I did figure out who the killer was fairly early, but that didn’t take away from the experience; the journey there was still gripping. The ending landed well, tying things together while leaving just enough open to make the next book feel promising. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where the series goes next.
It's a hauntingly creepy story with a bit of horror slasher vibe. It has kind of a muted colour about it, dark and mysterious. Violet is dead and she hasn't gone on to the next life. Why is she trapped, who is pulling the strings, and, if you are already dead why are you getting scared of being killed again. Violet is trapped and someone is using her and not letting her pass over. She has to solve her murder to free herself. Or so she thinks!
You think it's going to be resolved at the end but a twist happens leaving you needing the next book to find out. What a creepy interesting story.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wow! I am absolutely mind blown with the plot line in this book. It had me questioning and guessing everything. Dead Girls Don’t Pray is one of those books that keeps you captivated and wanting more. I love the vibes of this book and I am excited for the next one. Keep in mind this book ends on a cliff hanger, and there isn’t a HEA. I would say this is the perfect book for those who love a thriller mystery, ghost and witch vibes, demons and Gods etc. I personally wouldn’t call this a romance or a dark romance even though it touches slightly with a few *adult activities*. I absolutely ate this book up! Blaire has done a fantastic job!
I loved the story. It was a unique spin on a murder mystery. I was very entertained and hooked. I didn't think it was too short. It didn't feel rushed. It was perfect and well detailed. It had a good balance of mystery, creepy vibes, and supernatural.
The only thing I would have liked was to know more about what Ed and Tim were doing. Were they murderers too? It was something dark and wrong. But I guess it was resolved in the best way possible. I love that for them.
I can't wait for the second book. The first ended on such a cliff that I might just fall off while waiting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was a combination of several of my go-tos - dark romance, fantasy, and some horror.
I enjoyed the book, but struggled with how I wanted to rate it. Did I 100% fall in love, no. Would I still recommend to others as enjoyable read, yes. Therefore, placing it as a 3.75*. (Rounded up for goodreads)
The story moved well, the plot and the characters developed, but at times I felt the story strayed a little more than maybe it needed to. I feel like this could have also gone deeper and developed more had the story been longer and not a short novel.
Overall I'd say well done and enjoyable read. It kept me going to find out what happened next!
This was a very interesting one. While I was a little confused for a bit of it, I slowly started to piece things together, and with that came a bit of a surprise. It was just dark and intense enough that I finished it within a few hours because I just needed to know! I really am excited for what's next!
Not going to lie: I was a little lost when I first started reading. However, everything gets pieced together and it'll all make sense! Violet wakes up dead in the morgue (pun intended) and she has been murdered. Her and some friends try to figure out what happened. You have a mixture of zombies and the First 48. It is a quick read but I really enjoyed it!
REVIEW OF ADVANCED READERS COPY FROM AUTHOR: 3.5 ⭐️ I loved the premise of this book, a dead girl coming back alive to solve her own murder, but for me some of the witch/underworld parts didn’t seem to blend well with the rest of the story and kind of took me out of the story. All in all I did enjoy this story but wish there had been more focus on the present vs hades portion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was an edgy thriller! Of course I was able to make my predictions about how the book was going to go, but the author does a good job of throwing you off that path. Bodies were being dropped left and right very suspenseful! I want it justice for the main character, so bad and justice was served!
Violet wakes up and her skin is cold, her heart not pumping, and her blood runs black. She doesnt understand how or why shes back but shes 💀. She has to figure out why shes back and who unalived her.
This was a pretty good read. It was interesting and kept me on the edge, trying to figure out who the real bad guy was! I can’t wait to read more of Violet’s story in the next book! If you like murder mysteries that keep you guessing, this book is for you!
This was another interesting and unexpected read from this author. I felt like the story was unique and combined different genres. You never know what to expect from a new book but this was fantastic. It definitely kept you wondering what would happen next.
I was throughly intrigued during this book! The story itself had me sold from the blurb, and it did not let me down. I can’t wait to read more of Violets story!
Dead Girls Don't Pray is the story of Violet, who wakes up in the Morgue with no memory of how she got there and the only way to move on is to solve her own murder; you know, like a typical Thursday. It's definitely a fast paced story with a lot of horror, mystery, fantasy, and dark romance elements. Since this is going to be the first book in a series, it had a lot of background building and character introductions and partial developments. At times I felt it difficult to keep up to what was happening and the timelines of events. Also, it didn't switch between 1st & 3rd person perspective throughout and that got a bit confusing. I loved how every character seemed so shady (including the town itself), and you couldn't quite trust anyone. I will 100% be reading the next book in the series to see how this is going to play out because that little cliffhanger it left on was a smidge cruel lol
I loved the ended of this book. There was a lot of build up and everything just clicked and made sense at the end. I found myself wanting more after I finished the book.
This was such an interesting read not my usual stuff that I read but I was hooked and couldn't stop reading. She wakes up in the morgue, dead with no memories and a town with many unhinged people as law enforcement doesn't care what anyone does. So what's a dead girl going to do she goes searching to see if she can get her memories back but finds more horrors than expected. Absolutely looking forward to the next book of Violet's especially with how it ended. Thank you for this lovely murder mystery book.