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The Reburialists
The author of Wish Bound and the Grimm Agency novels returns with an all-new urban fantasy novel!
Burying the dead is easy. Keeping them down is difficult.
At the Bureau of Special Investigations, agents encounter all sorts of paranormal evils. So for Agent Brynner Carson, driving a stake through a rampaging three-week-old corpse is par for the course. Except this cadaver is different. It’s talking—and it has a message about his father, Heinrich.
The reanimated stiff delivers an ultimatum written in bloody hieroglyphics, and BSI Senior Analyst Grace Roberts is called in to translate. It seems that Heinrich Carson stole the heart of Ra-Ame, the long-dead god of the Re-Animus. She wants it back. The only problem is Heinrich took the secret of its location to his grave.
With the arrival of Ra-Ame looming and her undead army wreaking havoc, Brynner and Grace must race to find the key to stopping her. It’s a race they can’t afford to lose, but then again, it’s just another day on the job . . .
Burying the dead is easy. Keeping them down is difficult.
At the Bureau of Special Investigations, agents encounter all sorts of paranormal evils. So for Agent Brynner Carson, driving a stake through a rampaging three-week-old corpse is par for the course. Except this cadaver is different. It’s talking—and it has a message about his father, Heinrich.
The reanimated stiff delivers an ultimatum written in bloody hieroglyphics, and BSI Senior Analyst Grace Roberts is called in to translate. It seems that Heinrich Carson stole the heart of Ra-Ame, the long-dead god of the Re-Animus. She wants it back. The only problem is Heinrich took the secret of its location to his grave.
With the arrival of Ra-Ame looming and her undead army wreaking havoc, Brynner and Grace must race to find the key to stopping her. It’s a race they can’t afford to lose, but then again, it’s just another day on the job . . .
416 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2016
7 people are currently reading
806 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Nelson
15 books183 followersA Texas native transplanted to the Pacific Northwest, JC Nelson works with software, herds chickens and children, and writes books.
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September 11, 2017Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
I'm going to keep this one short and simple. A couple years ago, I tried to read the first installment of Nelson's GRIMM AGENCY series, Free Agent . It did not go well:
My best friend in high school was a ballerina, and to this day, I'm pretty sure she still struggles with bulimia. Insensitive statements like that one could send her spiraling down another another binge-and-purge cycle.
Not to mention the 10% of college-aged women who struggle with eating disorders . . . *eye twitches*
BUT.
I'm a strong believer in second chances, so when a copy of THE REBURIALISTS fell in my lap, I decided to give it a go.
It went about as well as the last time:
Seriously, dude? DON'T DATE SIBLINGS. It's tacky. Ugh.
But it didn't stop there:
1. *throws head back and shrieks with RAGE*
2. You know how much fun it is to watch rogue-like characters on screen? Han Solo, Captain Kirk, Harvey Spector, etc.?
It's significantly less fun to share headspace with one.
3. Women talk. *flares nostrils*
I know, it'd be so much easier if they didn't. Don't hate the player, hate the game, right? *mutters* Asshole . . .
I just can't.
And so, I think it's best if Mr. Nelson and I permanently part ways. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try him on. I seem to be a minority in my fury over his callous remarks about female imperfection and stereotyping women as jealous shrews, but, hey, one woman's insults are another's oh-so-funneh jokes. I leave it in your hands to decide on which side of the fence you fall. #nojudgement
I'm going to keep this one short and simple. A couple years ago, I tried to read the first installment of Nelson's GRIMM AGENCY series, Free Agent . It did not go well:
"She didn't look like a princess. She looked like a college intern for a radio station. Five foot three, strawberry blonde, and a complexion that could sure as hell use work. Plus she was packing the freshman five on her hips, along with the sophomore seven on her thighs and, well, you get the idea."
My best friend in high school was a ballerina, and to this day, I'm pretty sure she still struggles with bulimia. Insensitive statements like that one could send her spiraling down another another binge-and-purge cycle.
Not to mention the 10% of college-aged women who struggle with eating disorders . . . *eye twitches*
BUT.
I'm a strong believer in second chances, so when a copy of THE REBURIALISTS fell in my lap, I decided to give it a go.
It went about as well as the last time:
Beneath me, my date from last night’s champagne ball cursed in Greek. The only part I understood for certain was my name, Brynner, and that her name was most definitely not Athena. Athena would be her sister, my date from the night before.
Seriously, dude? DON'T DATE SIBLINGS. It's tacky. Ugh.
But it didn't stop there:
1. *throws head back and shrieks with RAGE*
2. You know how much fun it is to watch rogue-like characters on screen? Han Solo, Captain Kirk, Harvey Spector, etc.?
It's significantly less fun to share headspace with one.
3. Women talk. *flares nostrils*
I know, it'd be so much easier if they didn't. Don't hate the player, hate the game, right? *mutters* Asshole . . .
I just can't.
And so, I think it's best if Mr. Nelson and I permanently part ways. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try him on. I seem to be a minority in my fury over his callous remarks about female imperfection and stereotyping women as jealous shrews, but, hey, one woman's insults are another's oh-so-funneh jokes. I leave it in your hands to decide on which side of the fence you fall. #nojudgement
March 16, 2016
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy:
I didn't know I needed a fabulous Egyptian-inspired zombie killing novel in my life, but now that I have devoured THE REBURIALISTS, I will be recommending it to everyone at the top of my lungs. It's equal parts clever and exciting, with a dash of horror and a fun love story.
The world is complicated enough without having to cut the tendons of your dead relatives and get their mouths sewn shut in case a Re-Animus decides to take it for a ride after you bury it. You're better off cremating it, if you can afford it. Where zombies rising is common place, the BSI (Bureau of Special Investigations) takes care of putting the dead back where they belong, and Brynner Carson is their hero.
Brynner comes off at first like a dashing James Bond figure, who only needs to sleep a few hours a night and can walk off broken ribs like it's a scratch. He has a giant chip on his shoulder; everyone reminding him that he is not his legendary father may have something to do with it. He is cocky and a bit of a jerk, but he gets a major wake up call when one of the reanimated corpses focuses his eyes, looks straight at him and says his name. Damn.
Opposite Brynner is Grace, who is a researcher and translator working for the BSI. And contrary to most people in the world of THE REBURIALISTS, she does not believe in any religion, magic or demons. She is the Sculley to Brynner's Mulder, but she is so much more. She is capable of great acts of bravery, even when she doesn't feel brave at all, and she doesn't hesitate to take command when the situation calls for brain over brawn. She was an absolutely brilliant character to read about.
The book is told in Brynner and Grace's alternating point of views, which chapters helpfully labeled with their names. I say helpful not because I was ever confused as to who was talking because of the writing, but I was flipping pages so quickly I might have lost my way without the useful breakdown.
The few side characters, Amy and Dr. Thomas in particular, were as great as the main characters, serving as useful contrasts to the main characters. Amy is better trained than Brynner, coming straight from Egypt, the original hotbed of Re-Animus activity. Dr Thomas is another non-believer, helping Grace find her feet in an office full of "religious scientist".
The pacing was quick but excellent, and although the book featured many of the tropes of paranormal romance love stories (including the festering drama caused by a secret kept too long), it never felt like formula. Each time I internally thought I had seen this before, there was a twist that made it original.
There were a few things I saw coming, but there were just as many that surprised a me. If you are looking for a blend of hard science, ancient Egyptian mythology and kick ass undead-slaughtering action, THE REBURIALISTS is the book for you. Go get it now. Right now.
I didn't know I needed a fabulous Egyptian-inspired zombie killing novel in my life, but now that I have devoured THE REBURIALISTS, I will be recommending it to everyone at the top of my lungs. It's equal parts clever and exciting, with a dash of horror and a fun love story.
The world is complicated enough without having to cut the tendons of your dead relatives and get their mouths sewn shut in case a Re-Animus decides to take it for a ride after you bury it. You're better off cremating it, if you can afford it. Where zombies rising is common place, the BSI (Bureau of Special Investigations) takes care of putting the dead back where they belong, and Brynner Carson is their hero.
Brynner comes off at first like a dashing James Bond figure, who only needs to sleep a few hours a night and can walk off broken ribs like it's a scratch. He has a giant chip on his shoulder; everyone reminding him that he is not his legendary father may have something to do with it. He is cocky and a bit of a jerk, but he gets a major wake up call when one of the reanimated corpses focuses his eyes, looks straight at him and says his name. Damn.
Opposite Brynner is Grace, who is a researcher and translator working for the BSI. And contrary to most people in the world of THE REBURIALISTS, she does not believe in any religion, magic or demons. She is the Sculley to Brynner's Mulder, but she is so much more. She is capable of great acts of bravery, even when she doesn't feel brave at all, and she doesn't hesitate to take command when the situation calls for brain over brawn. She was an absolutely brilliant character to read about.
The book is told in Brynner and Grace's alternating point of views, which chapters helpfully labeled with their names. I say helpful not because I was ever confused as to who was talking because of the writing, but I was flipping pages so quickly I might have lost my way without the useful breakdown.
The few side characters, Amy and Dr. Thomas in particular, were as great as the main characters, serving as useful contrasts to the main characters. Amy is better trained than Brynner, coming straight from Egypt, the original hotbed of Re-Animus activity. Dr Thomas is another non-believer, helping Grace find her feet in an office full of "religious scientist".
The pacing was quick but excellent, and although the book featured many of the tropes of paranormal romance love stories (including the festering drama caused by a secret kept too long), it never felt like formula. Each time I internally thought I had seen this before, there was a twist that made it original.
There were a few things I saw coming, but there were just as many that surprised a me. If you are looking for a blend of hard science, ancient Egyptian mythology and kick ass undead-slaughtering action, THE REBURIALISTS is the book for you. Go get it now. Right now.
April 24, 2016
If I wasn't already a fan of author J.C. Nelson, this novel would have made sure that I was. With The Reburialists, Nelson delivered a fast-paced and exciting tale centering around zombies and Egyptian mythology, with a little dash of romance to balance out all of the action.
Told from alternating points of view of Brynner and Grace, each character initially plays a role that wouldn't have otherwise brought them together. When an odd rash of meat-skins start appearing, diverging from their regular patterns (if there is such a thing concerning zombies...), Brynner and Grace find themselves working together on a task concerning Brynner's father's journals in order to locate the heart of an ancient being -- the same being that leads the zombies that are coming out in droves.
Nelson surprised me on quite a few levels with this novel. My experience with male authors who write from a female POV is always hit or miss. The women are either incredibly tough (almost manly), or incredibly meek and not tough enough. Nelson nailed Grace, managing to strike a fine balance between her femininity and her ability to be as tough as the men surrounding her. Honestly, I shouldn't be as surprised as I was, being that his previous series is both a favorite and has a female MC, but I still was. Another huge surprise was the romance element. Nelson can write a lovely and incredibly sweet love story as well as any female author I've read, and that's the part the surprised me the most. I know, I know, it sounds stereotypical and it really kind of is, but again -- more often than not in my experience, romance from a male perspective often fails for me, becoming porn-y, unrealistic, sex that's completely lacking on the romance part of the equation.
Bottom line -- The Reburialists hit so many high notes for me that it's most likely going to be one of my favorite reads for this year. Yes, it's a zombie novel, but it's so unlike the hordes of zombie books available. Yes, there's action and adventure, but not the over-the-top gore and guts that usually accompany zombies. Quite honestly, the relationship between Brynner and Grace often overshadowed the zombies and meat-skins, and that's what made this really stand out for me. Highly recommended and will certainly be looking forward to whatever J.C. Nelson brings to readers in the future.
**eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
*Cliterary Genius A to Z book challenge, letter R.
Told from alternating points of view of Brynner and Grace, each character initially plays a role that wouldn't have otherwise brought them together. When an odd rash of meat-skins start appearing, diverging from their regular patterns (if there is such a thing concerning zombies...), Brynner and Grace find themselves working together on a task concerning Brynner's father's journals in order to locate the heart of an ancient being -- the same being that leads the zombies that are coming out in droves.
Nelson surprised me on quite a few levels with this novel. My experience with male authors who write from a female POV is always hit or miss. The women are either incredibly tough (almost manly), or incredibly meek and not tough enough. Nelson nailed Grace, managing to strike a fine balance between her femininity and her ability to be as tough as the men surrounding her. Honestly, I shouldn't be as surprised as I was, being that his previous series is both a favorite and has a female MC, but I still was. Another huge surprise was the romance element. Nelson can write a lovely and incredibly sweet love story as well as any female author I've read, and that's the part the surprised me the most. I know, I know, it sounds stereotypical and it really kind of is, but again -- more often than not in my experience, romance from a male perspective often fails for me, becoming porn-y, unrealistic, sex that's completely lacking on the romance part of the equation.
Bottom line -- The Reburialists hit so many high notes for me that it's most likely going to be one of my favorite reads for this year. Yes, it's a zombie novel, but it's so unlike the hordes of zombie books available. Yes, there's action and adventure, but not the over-the-top gore and guts that usually accompany zombies. Quite honestly, the relationship between Brynner and Grace often overshadowed the zombies and meat-skins, and that's what made this really stand out for me. Highly recommended and will certainly be looking forward to whatever J.C. Nelson brings to readers in the future.
**eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
*Cliterary Genius A to Z book challenge, letter R.
February 29, 2016
Mon avis en Français
My English review
I knew the author by his Grimm Agency series mixing fairy tales and urban fantasy which is also very pleasant to read, but he is back today with a new genre. Indeed, The Ruburialists is much different regarding the format. Unlike the previous series, the story is divided from the perspective of two characters: Grace, an analyst and Brynner a hunter. It was interesting to have such a share especially when we understand that the two characters are very different from each other. This then allows us to go a little bit into the head of each and to discover them a better.
Our characters will be launched into a story completely beyond them. Indeed, a Re-Animus, an entity who does not usually speak, asked Brynner to bring the heart that his father had hidden back for their queen who is about to wake up, an object that is directly linked to the disappearance of his mother and so a painful past. Despite what he wants to do, he will have to work with an analyst, and to go home to his family to try to decipher the small notebooks that his father has written and that could provide the location of the heart. Thus we follow the two characters, trying to understand what is happening while managing the strange relationship that exists between them.
I was curious to discover the revelations about the Brynner’s past. We feel that something very difficult has occurred. Besides, he only wants to be like his father and that is also destroying him. Hunting these creatures all the time and dating a lot of women, our hero has a pretty good reputation at the professional level but this is far from the case on the personal side. Besides it is also his weakness and while progressing in the chapters, we will understand that this character is much more complicated and contradictory than expected. Unlike him, Grace is a rather reserved person who does not want to have a relationship with Brynner but who wants to assist for the translation (or it is what she thought at first).
The plot is pretty well done and I admit that I was really interested about the events going on. I regret a little the lack of explanation in relation to the Re-Animus and some lengths. But putting that aside (which remains a detail), it was a great find and I had a good time with the story. It was nice to discover the author in another genre and I’m always curious to read more!
My English review
I knew the author by his Grimm Agency series mixing fairy tales and urban fantasy which is also very pleasant to read, but he is back today with a new genre. Indeed, The Ruburialists is much different regarding the format. Unlike the previous series, the story is divided from the perspective of two characters: Grace, an analyst and Brynner a hunter. It was interesting to have such a share especially when we understand that the two characters are very different from each other. This then allows us to go a little bit into the head of each and to discover them a better.
Our characters will be launched into a story completely beyond them. Indeed, a Re-Animus, an entity who does not usually speak, asked Brynner to bring the heart that his father had hidden back for their queen who is about to wake up, an object that is directly linked to the disappearance of his mother and so a painful past. Despite what he wants to do, he will have to work with an analyst, and to go home to his family to try to decipher the small notebooks that his father has written and that could provide the location of the heart. Thus we follow the two characters, trying to understand what is happening while managing the strange relationship that exists between them.
I was curious to discover the revelations about the Brynner’s past. We feel that something very difficult has occurred. Besides, he only wants to be like his father and that is also destroying him. Hunting these creatures all the time and dating a lot of women, our hero has a pretty good reputation at the professional level but this is far from the case on the personal side. Besides it is also his weakness and while progressing in the chapters, we will understand that this character is much more complicated and contradictory than expected. Unlike him, Grace is a rather reserved person who does not want to have a relationship with Brynner but who wants to assist for the translation (or it is what she thought at first).
The plot is pretty well done and I admit that I was really interested about the events going on. I regret a little the lack of explanation in relation to the Re-Animus and some lengths. But putting that aside (which remains a detail), it was a great find and I had a good time with the story. It was nice to discover the author in another genre and I’m always curious to read more!
December 11, 2018
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
My impression about The Reburialists was totally wrong. I was thinking it was fantasy and the world building would be overwhelming and heavy with details; it would be grim and dark. Not so much. It is urban fantasy and was easy to read. I happily read along, learning the characters and following the plot.
This book was ok. That's what 2 stars is on Goodreads. I can't say I liked it though. I just did not connect enough with the characters. They did not seem authentic. Their words and actions were not realistic to me. I was surprised to find a romance. I didn't believe it either. It happened too quickly.
The mystery and the battles of fighting the co-orgs was all interesting. I really enjoyed Grace's scientific methods and her efforts in developing weapons to battle them. I guessed the Big Bad twist so that sort of took the excitement out of it. I won't spoil the ending but it was a cliche of sorts. If you can connect with the characters more than I did, you might really like this.
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
My impression about The Reburialists was totally wrong. I was thinking it was fantasy and the world building would be overwhelming and heavy with details; it would be grim and dark. Not so much. It is urban fantasy and was easy to read. I happily read along, learning the characters and following the plot.
This book was ok. That's what 2 stars is on Goodreads. I can't say I liked it though. I just did not connect enough with the characters. They did not seem authentic. Their words and actions were not realistic to me. I was surprised to find a romance. I didn't believe it either. It happened too quickly.
The mystery and the battles of fighting the co-orgs was all interesting. I really enjoyed Grace's scientific methods and her efforts in developing weapons to battle them. I guessed the Big Bad twist so that sort of took the excitement out of it. I won't spoil the ending but it was a cliche of sorts. If you can connect with the characters more than I did, you might really like this.
June 29, 2016
I am still uncertain how I feel about this book exactly. It took me 103 pages to really get into it, and even then, I finished mostly because I don't like to leave books unread. The main male character is immensely unlikeable. He's more a caricature than anything else. There's no growth, no arc. He's a womanizer who magically falls in love with a woman who is his complete opposite. I found this terribly predictable and a perfect example of lazy writing. The guy has no flaws. Even the stuff we're supposed to think are flaws aren't. The main female character, on the other hand, was enjoyable. She had a nice growth arc and the addition of the subplot with her daughter and her ex-husband was a nice touch of human. There is a twist to the ending, which I did not see coming; a nice red herring made that possible.
I'd give it 2.5, because it rides a fine line between being merely okay and good.
I'd give it 2.5, because it rides a fine line between being merely okay and good.
April 5, 2016
Pure crap. The dialogue was written by a 12-year boy, whose only thoughts are sex and mayhem. Then throw in zombies. I've read better, but I doubt that I've ever read worse. I read the reviews of this author's other work and it seems that this is par for the course for him. Too bad, the plot concept would have been really cool.
February 29, 2016
This was one of my first reads this vacation. The deadly humour mixed with the non stop action and that tangled love story in the backdrop of a fascinating mythology makes this a truly enjoyable read. I gobbled this one up in a few sittings on the plane, airport and at night. Loved it. Review soon!
sampled
March 15, 2016Maybe. sample is interesting, price so not at 10$.
March 31, 2016
I have to say that my first impression of Brynner was not a good one. On the first page, he's running away from one of the many women whom he has scorned over the years. I definitely despise annoying male characters that have nothing better to do than use women and have countless one night stands. It became very apparent that this character has a history of womanizing. Hence, he has been banned from getting involved with any female employee of the Bureau. So needless to say, I did not like him and I really hoped the entire book wouldn't focus on a complete douchebag of a character.
Grace Roberts soon enters the picture. She's an awesome female character that's extremely intelligent and a top-notch translator. However, her Bureau translating job doesn't come with a giant paycheck and she's struggling to pay for her disabled child's medical bills, as her ex-husband is not in the picture. She has also heard of the many women-related rumors surrounding Brynner, and although she does think that he is fairly attractive, she does not like him. Besides, she's the complete opposite of Brynner, is extremely level-headed, and an atheist who doesn't believe that any magic exists. Consequently, she places stock in the belief that there is a perfectly logical and scientific reason as to why the Re-Animus exist, and magic isn't the answer.
Grace and Brynner soon cross paths when a Re-Animus appears with a message for Brynner Carson. After Brynner dispatches the Re-Animus's host, Grace is brought in to study the hieroglyphics that it left behind. It turns out that the heart of Ra-Ame is what the Re-Animus are after, and without the heart, their goddess will never be able to reach her full power. The only way to find the heart and prevent an invasion of Re-Animus is to find out where Brynner's diseased father hid it. As a result, Grace is promoted to the position of field operative and tasked with going with Brynner to his aunt and uncle's home in order to translate Brynner's father's journals with the hope that he didn't take the heart's location to his grave.
The world spirals into chaos as more Re-Animus appear, and the body count stacks up. The heart's location is not in the journals, and the Re-Animus are becoming more and more anxious. There is also the slight problem that Grace may be falling in love with Brynner. Now, let me stop right here for a minute. So I already mentioned that Brynner appeared to be a douchebag of a character, but he kind of grew on me. There was a lot more to him than his mistakes, and Nelson conveyed the countless struggles that Brynner faced, along with the fact that he's more of a puppet to the Bureau than a real human being. He's the best at what he does (and he accepts the fact that his job is what he was born to do), he had a terribly traumatic childhood, he saw his mother killed, and his father wasn't the best role model. In truth, Brynner became a character that I eventually grew to love, and his struggles felt so real. I am also glad that Nelson chose to portray Brynner as such a realistic person. He wasn't always that macho man that everyone expected him to be. He experienced an entire spectrum of emotions, had to face the fact that he has limits, and he actually cried...on several occasions. I feel that many authors choose to portray their male protagonists as individuals that don't always feel entirely real. They are often strong and can overcome any obstacle. They also don't show a large range of emotions. And these characters rarely cry, so I commend Nelson for creating Brynner Carson. Plus, Grace is a woman that Brynner respects and doesn't treat as an object. And I love the fact that she doesn't need Brynner's brawn to get out of bad situations, as her intelligence serves her well and she can certainly kick butt.
I don't want to give too much away, but I will say that I didn't see the ending's twist coming! I usually become bored with books when the endings become predictable or blatantly obvious, but I am extremely glad to say that Nelson had me holding my breath when the final twist came. Overall, I loved the book. It was an original, supernatural tale that was by no means stereotypical, and I'm glad it didn't turn into yet another typical zombie novel. I was engrossed and loved it to the very end.
You can see reviews like this one and more at http://knightingalereviews.blogspot.com/
Grace Roberts soon enters the picture. She's an awesome female character that's extremely intelligent and a top-notch translator. However, her Bureau translating job doesn't come with a giant paycheck and she's struggling to pay for her disabled child's medical bills, as her ex-husband is not in the picture. She has also heard of the many women-related rumors surrounding Brynner, and although she does think that he is fairly attractive, she does not like him. Besides, she's the complete opposite of Brynner, is extremely level-headed, and an atheist who doesn't believe that any magic exists. Consequently, she places stock in the belief that there is a perfectly logical and scientific reason as to why the Re-Animus exist, and magic isn't the answer.
Grace and Brynner soon cross paths when a Re-Animus appears with a message for Brynner Carson. After Brynner dispatches the Re-Animus's host, Grace is brought in to study the hieroglyphics that it left behind. It turns out that the heart of Ra-Ame is what the Re-Animus are after, and without the heart, their goddess will never be able to reach her full power. The only way to find the heart and prevent an invasion of Re-Animus is to find out where Brynner's diseased father hid it. As a result, Grace is promoted to the position of field operative and tasked with going with Brynner to his aunt and uncle's home in order to translate Brynner's father's journals with the hope that he didn't take the heart's location to his grave.
The world spirals into chaos as more Re-Animus appear, and the body count stacks up. The heart's location is not in the journals, and the Re-Animus are becoming more and more anxious. There is also the slight problem that Grace may be falling in love with Brynner. Now, let me stop right here for a minute. So I already mentioned that Brynner appeared to be a douchebag of a character, but he kind of grew on me. There was a lot more to him than his mistakes, and Nelson conveyed the countless struggles that Brynner faced, along with the fact that he's more of a puppet to the Bureau than a real human being. He's the best at what he does (and he accepts the fact that his job is what he was born to do), he had a terribly traumatic childhood, he saw his mother killed, and his father wasn't the best role model. In truth, Brynner became a character that I eventually grew to love, and his struggles felt so real. I am also glad that Nelson chose to portray Brynner as such a realistic person. He wasn't always that macho man that everyone expected him to be. He experienced an entire spectrum of emotions, had to face the fact that he has limits, and he actually cried...on several occasions. I feel that many authors choose to portray their male protagonists as individuals that don't always feel entirely real. They are often strong and can overcome any obstacle. They also don't show a large range of emotions. And these characters rarely cry, so I commend Nelson for creating Brynner Carson. Plus, Grace is a woman that Brynner respects and doesn't treat as an object. And I love the fact that she doesn't need Brynner's brawn to get out of bad situations, as her intelligence serves her well and she can certainly kick butt.
I don't want to give too much away, but I will say that I didn't see the ending's twist coming! I usually become bored with books when the endings become predictable or blatantly obvious, but I am extremely glad to say that Nelson had me holding my breath when the final twist came. Overall, I loved the book. It was an original, supernatural tale that was by no means stereotypical, and I'm glad it didn't turn into yet another typical zombie novel. I was engrossed and loved it to the very end.
You can see reviews like this one and more at http://knightingalereviews.blogspot.com/
June 28, 2016
This is an original review from Booked & Loaded
The Reburialists was like mother-fucking Indian Jones meets Caitlin Snow. With the bonus of Egyptian mythology added in. The Reburialists is a trifecta of awesome that made my geeky heart pitter patter and sing joyous songs. I might have broke out into song or dance, ok that it's a lie..or is it? If your blinking in confusion so far, this might not be the book for you. I think the cover is a bit serious for the overall tone of this book, which even with all of the reanimated bodies and death, it still held a pretty light tone. Or maybe I just lost the rest of you thinking I am one warped individual. I won't deny it. It is true. But enough about me, the Reburialists was a joy to read. I was entertained and laughed out loud many times and then held my breath during the action. All in all, it was a win-win for me.
In the beginning I had small little pangs of doubt and worry about Brynner and his man-whoring stereotypical ways. I feared the author was walking a bit of a tight rope with stereotypes, but then I realized these went both ways. He really poked a lot of fun at his character and all in all, his lady character were bad asses, so clearly some of the nuances of this could be missed if you got too stuck on things that clearly were meant to poke fun. OF MEN. Shrugs. Some of us get a little sensitive about it, it is true. And in all of our defense..there is a metric ton of literature out there that is just downright offensive to women. This was not one of the books.
The Reburialists was an adventurous ride in a new world that I hope you will find equally as entertaining!
I rate The Reburialists 4.5 out of 5 Bullets!
The Reburialists was like mother-fucking Indian Jones meets Caitlin Snow. With the bonus of Egyptian mythology added in. The Reburialists is a trifecta of awesome that made my geeky heart pitter patter and sing joyous songs. I might have broke out into song or dance, ok that it's a lie..or is it? If your blinking in confusion so far, this might not be the book for you. I think the cover is a bit serious for the overall tone of this book, which even with all of the reanimated bodies and death, it still held a pretty light tone. Or maybe I just lost the rest of you thinking I am one warped individual. I won't deny it. It is true. But enough about me, the Reburialists was a joy to read. I was entertained and laughed out loud many times and then held my breath during the action. All in all, it was a win-win for me.
In the beginning I had small little pangs of doubt and worry about Brynner and his man-whoring stereotypical ways. I feared the author was walking a bit of a tight rope with stereotypes, but then I realized these went both ways. He really poked a lot of fun at his character and all in all, his lady character were bad asses, so clearly some of the nuances of this could be missed if you got too stuck on things that clearly were meant to poke fun. OF MEN. Shrugs. Some of us get a little sensitive about it, it is true. And in all of our defense..there is a metric ton of literature out there that is just downright offensive to women. This was not one of the books.
The Reburialists was an adventurous ride in a new world that I hope you will find equally as entertaining!
I rate The Reburialists 4.5 out of 5 Bullets!
June 10, 2016
If Anita Blake were a man (impulsive, cocky, haunted) tossed into a universe very similar to World War Z, it might resemble the context of The Reburialists, which is also a romance. A tag line from Joe Morton's Capt. Mac in Speed and variations on memorable lines from Eraser and Air Force One make this saving-the-world tale a fun, fast read. Grace and Brynner offer provocative points of view about the nature of belief.
*****SPOILER-ish***** A few things at the end: obviousness of the supernatural baddie's hiding ******************** place, cornball source of power to defeat the supernatural baddie, lack of a
******************** few more specific details about the human baddie's motives.
Still enjoyed it immensely.
*****SPOILER-ish***** A few things at the end: obviousness of the supernatural baddie's hiding ******************** place, cornball source of power to defeat the supernatural baddie, lack of a
******************** few more specific details about the human baddie's motives.
Still enjoyed it immensely.
March 9, 2016
This book was something else. I wasn't sure I liked the writing style or the main characters much but I was enjoying the hell at of the mythology. Then almost with me knowing it my feelings about everything changed about 30% in and I was sucked in. I ended up loving the characters by the end as well as hating some of the others. This book redeemed itself.
My thoughts are still a bit scattered so I'll write a full review as soon as I have them collected.
*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.
My thoughts are still a bit scattered so I'll write a full review as soon as I have them collected.
*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.
October 2, 2017
I was turned off right from the start with this one. I didn't care for Brynner, he seemed to think he was God's gift to women and also it seemed to be that he thought he was above everyone else in the agency he worked. Not sure if the later came because his dad was one of the first doing that job, or because he was good, or a combo. Either way, that combined with the first made the book not for me.
March 28, 2016
I suspect this is a stand alone .. it is an odd one
June 25, 2017
An Endeavour Award read. I would have avoided this book otherwise, for the cover alone. A semi-romance Buffy/Van Helsing bit of silliness with Zombies instead of vampires. But surprisingly readable and interesting. And given that the two main characters are over the top Mary Sues, they are also just believable enough. If this book started at the beginning I think it would have been too annoying to read. But it kind of starts near the end of the story and it was definitely okay. But don't expect high art.
March 14, 2017
I really, really wanted to like this book.
I loved Grimm Agency's trilogy and the topic of the new one seemed one of my favorite sci-fy fantasy topic (zombies, walking deads, dark magic...)
BUT this book is SO slow. And the romance between the 2 character is so cheesy, so predictable and so wide in the book that overwhelm all the good ideas.
Such a disappointment...
I loved Grimm Agency's trilogy and the topic of the new one seemed one of my favorite sci-fy fantasy topic (zombies, walking deads, dark magic...)
BUT this book is SO slow. And the romance between the 2 character is so cheesy, so predictable and so wide in the book that overwhelm all the good ideas.
Such a disappointment...
March 3, 2016
See this review and others like it at Badass Book Reviews!
J.C. Nelson is the author of the Grimm Agency series, but The Reburialists was a completely different story. This was dark and dangerous and steeped in uncertainty. Our characters were always being caught off guard and spent a majority of the book fighting for their lives. It was definitely intense... an enjoyable read for sure, but definitely intense.
The main characters in The Reburialists were Brynner Carson and Grace Roberts. Brynner, after I got over my Scrubs "brinner" association with his name, was a complex character. He was practically born a hunter because of his parents and has been a BSI agent fighting the "meat skins" ever since he turned 18. He's deadly and smart and well-respected, almost worshipped, among his peers. He also has a reputation as something of a ladies' man, so that immediately puts Grace on the defensive. Grace Roberts is a BSI analyst, a brilliant translator to be precise, that is called in to help Brynner translate his late father's journals. Grace is wary and closed off because of her personal life and she is determined she won't be Brynner Carson's latest conquest. They come to an uneasy working relationship, that slowly turns into more as the book progresses.
I liked both characters for the most part; their narratives were very different from one another and they were both very capable characters. They both made some questionable decisions at times, especially at the peak of an emotional situation, but nothing that was so stupid as to be a deal breaker. Both characters begin to develop throughout The Reburialists, but Grace had an especially surprising amount of growth. When we first meet her I wouldn't call her meek, but she is definitely inexperienced and out of her element. She has a certain sense of what her role is and has no desire to step outside of it. She will work with Brynner for the good of the BSI, but that's it. By the end of the book, she can shoot a co-org with the best of them and danger, well that's become her middle name. She becomes incredibly strong both in spirit and heart and no longer worries about how others see her. She takes charge in a way that works for her and learns how to compliment her strengths and weakness by depending on others. Brynner also changes, but in a more emotional way. He's lived a life of danger and uncertainty, but now he has learned that it's okay to care about others without taking all the responsibility on himself. Bad things happen to people and it's not his fault he wasn't there to save them every time. He also learns that he doesn't have to stand alone and that loving someone is more important than worrying you're putting them in danger, especially when they can take care of themselves.
I could have done with a little less relationship angst, especially when the characters were in danger, but I did like the romantic developments between Brynner and Grace in The Reburialists. It was interesting to see such a strong bond being forged in a situation that could have just as easily drove them apart. Grace and Brynner both carried a lot of baggage from their pasts, so it was also refreshing to see them discussing their issues without holding a grudge or being angry at one another for very long.
I know I've talked a lot about the main characters but, yes, this book did have zombies too. Brynner and Grace and the rest of the BSI are fighting a war against them. The zombies here, called co-orgs or meat skins, are normally the mindless, angry zombies we are used to. Sometimes, though, the zombie will display an alarming intelligence and even talk. These are called the Re-Animus. It's like a consciousness, an evil one of course, that can possess dead bodies and just moves from one to the next as needed. The storyline behind The Reburialists kicks off when a Re-Animus calls Brynner by name and demands he return "the heart." Brynner knows what this means, but he doesn't know where it is and that's where Grace comes in. Throughout the book, the types of zombies they run into expands and some are even introduced that are new to Brynner himself. The mythology that J.C. Nelson created here, which I don't want to get into because it would be a spoiler, was fascinating and very detailed. It really made the world come alive and added a high amount of tension to Brynner and Grace's mission.
The Reburialists was a very enjoyable read and blazed a new path for zombie stories. The detailed world building, intricate mythology, and interesting characters make this one an easy recommendation for all zombie, apocalyptic, and urban fantasy readers. As of now, I don't know if this was the beginning of a new series or not. If not, it had perfect closure for a stand alone, but the world is also so vast that I could easily see new adventures for Brynner and Grace or even new characters continuing the story.
Thank you to Ace via Netgalley for providing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
J.C. Nelson is the author of the Grimm Agency series, but The Reburialists was a completely different story. This was dark and dangerous and steeped in uncertainty. Our characters were always being caught off guard and spent a majority of the book fighting for their lives. It was definitely intense... an enjoyable read for sure, but definitely intense.
The main characters in The Reburialists were Brynner Carson and Grace Roberts. Brynner, after I got over my Scrubs "brinner" association with his name, was a complex character. He was practically born a hunter because of his parents and has been a BSI agent fighting the "meat skins" ever since he turned 18. He's deadly and smart and well-respected, almost worshipped, among his peers. He also has a reputation as something of a ladies' man, so that immediately puts Grace on the defensive. Grace Roberts is a BSI analyst, a brilliant translator to be precise, that is called in to help Brynner translate his late father's journals. Grace is wary and closed off because of her personal life and she is determined she won't be Brynner Carson's latest conquest. They come to an uneasy working relationship, that slowly turns into more as the book progresses.
I liked both characters for the most part; their narratives were very different from one another and they were both very capable characters. They both made some questionable decisions at times, especially at the peak of an emotional situation, but nothing that was so stupid as to be a deal breaker. Both characters begin to develop throughout The Reburialists, but Grace had an especially surprising amount of growth. When we first meet her I wouldn't call her meek, but she is definitely inexperienced and out of her element. She has a certain sense of what her role is and has no desire to step outside of it. She will work with Brynner for the good of the BSI, but that's it. By the end of the book, she can shoot a co-org with the best of them and danger, well that's become her middle name. She becomes incredibly strong both in spirit and heart and no longer worries about how others see her. She takes charge in a way that works for her and learns how to compliment her strengths and weakness by depending on others. Brynner also changes, but in a more emotional way. He's lived a life of danger and uncertainty, but now he has learned that it's okay to care about others without taking all the responsibility on himself. Bad things happen to people and it's not his fault he wasn't there to save them every time. He also learns that he doesn't have to stand alone and that loving someone is more important than worrying you're putting them in danger, especially when they can take care of themselves.
I could have done with a little less relationship angst, especially when the characters were in danger, but I did like the romantic developments between Brynner and Grace in The Reburialists. It was interesting to see such a strong bond being forged in a situation that could have just as easily drove them apart. Grace and Brynner both carried a lot of baggage from their pasts, so it was also refreshing to see them discussing their issues without holding a grudge or being angry at one another for very long.
I know I've talked a lot about the main characters but, yes, this book did have zombies too. Brynner and Grace and the rest of the BSI are fighting a war against them. The zombies here, called co-orgs or meat skins, are normally the mindless, angry zombies we are used to. Sometimes, though, the zombie will display an alarming intelligence and even talk. These are called the Re-Animus. It's like a consciousness, an evil one of course, that can possess dead bodies and just moves from one to the next as needed. The storyline behind The Reburialists kicks off when a Re-Animus calls Brynner by name and demands he return "the heart." Brynner knows what this means, but he doesn't know where it is and that's where Grace comes in. Throughout the book, the types of zombies they run into expands and some are even introduced that are new to Brynner himself. The mythology that J.C. Nelson created here, which I don't want to get into because it would be a spoiler, was fascinating and very detailed. It really made the world come alive and added a high amount of tension to Brynner and Grace's mission.
The Reburialists was a very enjoyable read and blazed a new path for zombie stories. The detailed world building, intricate mythology, and interesting characters make this one an easy recommendation for all zombie, apocalyptic, and urban fantasy readers. As of now, I don't know if this was the beginning of a new series or not. If not, it had perfect closure for a stand alone, but the world is also so vast that I could easily see new adventures for Brynner and Grace or even new characters continuing the story.
Thank you to Ace via Netgalley for providing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 25, 2017
Eh. Liked the world building quite a bit, the characters were okay...kind of flat. The plot wasn't bad but it....was kind of flat also even with a fair amount of action. There is promise here if this is going to be a series.
September 9, 2017
I loved this book! I'm a sucker for Egyptian undead and all the lore and trappings that go with it. Great sexual tension and chemistry, deep, rich characters and well defined setting. Twists and turns and I loved the ride. Sequel. Now. Please!
July 25, 2017
This is fabulous, and I'm afraid that if I say anything else I'll spoil it.
January 10, 2023
Definitely a must read for zombie lovers!
March 25, 2016
This review originally appeared on my blog, Leeanna.me.
==
THE REBURIALISTS is delightfully quirky urban fantasy. It’s full of action, a super cool mythology, and even a partnership/romance. “Burying the dead is easy. Keeping them down is difficult.” Who can pass up a summary with that line?
I’m typically not a fan of zombie books; they’re just not my thing. But ancient Egyptian inspired zombies? Totally my thing. The mythology in THE REBURIALISTS was my favorite thing about the book. In J. C. Nelson’s world, the dead can rise. So most people are cremated now, and if they aren’t, they’re buried with tendons cut and jaws pinned shut. Many of the risen dead are just shamblers, but they’re under the control of a very intelligent Re-Animus.
One of those Re-Animus knows Brynner Carson by name. One of the most famous agents of the Bureau of Special Investigations, Brynner’s also a playboy with a reputation. When a Re-Animus asks for something his dad hid, Brynner must work with Grace Roberts, an analyst who believes in science and only science. Predictably, they clash plenty of times in THE REBURIALISTS, but because the book is written from both of their POVS, it’s a great way to see both sides of the story and mythology. Brynner’s all belief and instinct, where Grace is rational and methodical.
For now, THE REBURIALISTS is a standalone. It’s a complete story, but I would like to see more of Brynner, Grace, and the author’s supercool world. There’s a lot of story and a lot of stuff happening in THE REBURIALISTS’ ~400 pages, all of which I enjoyed. I definitely didn’t expect some of the twists, which is always nice.
The only part of THE REBURIALISTS that didn’t quite work for me was the relationship between Brynner and Grace. I just didn’t see a spark between them, and wished they had stayed friends. That said, once the kinks were worked out, I did like them together, and liked how they backed each other up (even when they were mad at each other).
THE REBURIALISTS is a fun read. I enjoyed how the author mixed ancient Egyptian mythology with zombies and science. I never thought anyone would get me to read a book about scary walking dead, but J.C. Nelson did.
==
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews:
==
THE REBURIALISTS is delightfully quirky urban fantasy. It’s full of action, a super cool mythology, and even a partnership/romance. “Burying the dead is easy. Keeping them down is difficult.” Who can pass up a summary with that line?
I’m typically not a fan of zombie books; they’re just not my thing. But ancient Egyptian inspired zombies? Totally my thing. The mythology in THE REBURIALISTS was my favorite thing about the book. In J. C. Nelson’s world, the dead can rise. So most people are cremated now, and if they aren’t, they’re buried with tendons cut and jaws pinned shut. Many of the risen dead are just shamblers, but they’re under the control of a very intelligent Re-Animus.
One of those Re-Animus knows Brynner Carson by name. One of the most famous agents of the Bureau of Special Investigations, Brynner’s also a playboy with a reputation. When a Re-Animus asks for something his dad hid, Brynner must work with Grace Roberts, an analyst who believes in science and only science. Predictably, they clash plenty of times in THE REBURIALISTS, but because the book is written from both of their POVS, it’s a great way to see both sides of the story and mythology. Brynner’s all belief and instinct, where Grace is rational and methodical.
For now, THE REBURIALISTS is a standalone. It’s a complete story, but I would like to see more of Brynner, Grace, and the author’s supercool world. There’s a lot of story and a lot of stuff happening in THE REBURIALISTS’ ~400 pages, all of which I enjoyed. I definitely didn’t expect some of the twists, which is always nice.
The only part of THE REBURIALISTS that didn’t quite work for me was the relationship between Brynner and Grace. I just didn’t see a spark between them, and wished they had stayed friends. That said, once the kinks were worked out, I did like them together, and liked how they backed each other up (even when they were mad at each other).
THE REBURIALISTS is a fun read. I enjoyed how the author mixed ancient Egyptian mythology with zombies and science. I never thought anyone would get me to read a book about scary walking dead, but J.C. Nelson did.
==
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews:
June 8, 2016
Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession
I have rather mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, the characters and their dynamics were top notch, and the plotline is very well paced and had the perfect amount of stakes. But unfortunately to be blunt, the world didn't make a lick of sense, which left me more than a little frustrated throughout the entire read. I realize part of the book is supposed to have to do with different beliefs as to why the dead didn't stay dead, but nothing was really explained. We're just thrown into things without any knowledge or understanding at all. Even towards the end as more explanations came, I still frankly was confused. Perhaps by that point I had just given up trying to make sense of it and was just going with the flow. It's a shame because there's so much potential here, but I needed more explanation to really get sucked into the series. It was almost like everyone just accepted that the reanimates were there, and that was that. No one really tried to get to the route of the problem, or try and find ways to get rid of them once and for all. Just rang a bit false to me. I realize I've been a bit vague here, but even after finishing the book I still don't understand any of the mythology to explain it myself.
Now onto the good. I really enjoyed Brynner and Grace's characters. Where the world building lacked depth, their three dimensional characters made up for it. Brynner is incredibly damaged goods, and yet so strong at the same time. And of course Grace's fierce yet gun shy character was the perfect thing to help "tame" his wild ways. So I really enjoyed their progression together. It was more than a little bumpy along the way, making for a very enjoyable journey in the romance aspect. No complaints on that angle. The other good thing about THE REBURIALISTS is that despite my confusion on the world and mythology, it didn't stop the plot from progressing quickly and the stakes being very high. I was engaged and invested from the start, which when you think about it is rather impressive considering the disadvantage of the world.
I'm not sure if this is going to be a new series, or if it's a stand alone. Things ended well enough that I'd be satisfied here. But as there's potential for more, if it does continue I just hope there's more digging into the world to bring just a bit more depth.
All in all THE REBURIALISTS is an entertaining read with some world building flaws, but great characters that I enjoyed.
I have rather mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, the characters and their dynamics were top notch, and the plotline is very well paced and had the perfect amount of stakes. But unfortunately to be blunt, the world didn't make a lick of sense, which left me more than a little frustrated throughout the entire read. I realize part of the book is supposed to have to do with different beliefs as to why the dead didn't stay dead, but nothing was really explained. We're just thrown into things without any knowledge or understanding at all. Even towards the end as more explanations came, I still frankly was confused. Perhaps by that point I had just given up trying to make sense of it and was just going with the flow. It's a shame because there's so much potential here, but I needed more explanation to really get sucked into the series. It was almost like everyone just accepted that the reanimates were there, and that was that. No one really tried to get to the route of the problem, or try and find ways to get rid of them once and for all. Just rang a bit false to me. I realize I've been a bit vague here, but even after finishing the book I still don't understand any of the mythology to explain it myself.
Now onto the good. I really enjoyed Brynner and Grace's characters. Where the world building lacked depth, their three dimensional characters made up for it. Brynner is incredibly damaged goods, and yet so strong at the same time. And of course Grace's fierce yet gun shy character was the perfect thing to help "tame" his wild ways. So I really enjoyed their progression together. It was more than a little bumpy along the way, making for a very enjoyable journey in the romance aspect. No complaints on that angle. The other good thing about THE REBURIALISTS is that despite my confusion on the world and mythology, it didn't stop the plot from progressing quickly and the stakes being very high. I was engaged and invested from the start, which when you think about it is rather impressive considering the disadvantage of the world.
I'm not sure if this is going to be a new series, or if it's a stand alone. Things ended well enough that I'd be satisfied here. But as there's potential for more, if it does continue I just hope there's more digging into the world to bring just a bit more depth.
All in all THE REBURIALISTS is an entertaining read with some world building flaws, but great characters that I enjoyed.
April 15, 2016
The Reburialists suffers from trying to be all things: chick lit, action adventure, fantasy, grit. Like Elliot James' Charming, it's as if you took a bunch of books from both the hyper macho world (say, stuff like Correia's Monster Nation) and blended them together with the "feelings matter" chick books from, for example, Anne Bishop. The result is confused and muddled and fails to come together to form a coherent whole.
There's a perfect action hero whose heart is just waiting for the right girl and there's the brainy beautiful and heartbroken girl whose heart is waiting for the right guy. Call me crazy, but the notion of a Lothario who deep down only really wants a strong romantic connection just didn't work. Nor did the sadder-but-wiser divorcee with the institutionalized child and the commitment issues. Reburialists felt like all those horrible werewolf novels where a super-macho hero wants nothing more than monogamy and the girl keeps pushing the hero away until she finally gives in to her heart.
The world building was pleasant but uninspiring. Think mummy-zombies and you're about hitting the right marks. The "big surprise" reveal was pretty obvious within seconds of its introduction (or, as I thought at the time, "Wow, that's a surprisingly bad choice by the author as it's so confusing with the evil" that turned out to be a deliberate plot point.) Everyone got chances to hold the stupid-ball (see: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php...) at one point or another, especially the supposed big government-run hero organization, whose lack of feasibility fails to rise above the risible.
So why "It was okay" rather than "I didn't like it"? I like JC Nelson's writing. It entertains and it tries to have depth. Even when every character from Uncle Ben and Aunt Mae to Gwen Stacy are troped in from stock resources, Nelson still manages to keep the pages turning.
The last time he did the same approach with his Grimm Agency novels and he pulled off the hat trick (although the last book was significantly weaker in order to wrap up the plot.) He took cardboard and spun it into narrative silk. This time, he missed the mark.
Reburialists gets a 2-star Goodreads "It was okay". Still looking forward to the next book Nelson writes because I know he can do better.
There's a perfect action hero whose heart is just waiting for the right girl and there's the brainy beautiful and heartbroken girl whose heart is waiting for the right guy. Call me crazy, but the notion of a Lothario who deep down only really wants a strong romantic connection just didn't work. Nor did the sadder-but-wiser divorcee with the institutionalized child and the commitment issues. Reburialists felt like all those horrible werewolf novels where a super-macho hero wants nothing more than monogamy and the girl keeps pushing the hero away until she finally gives in to her heart.
The world building was pleasant but uninspiring. Think mummy-zombies and you're about hitting the right marks. The "big surprise" reveal was pretty obvious within seconds of its introduction (or, as I thought at the time, "Wow, that's a surprisingly bad choice by the author as it's so confusing with the evil" that turned out to be a deliberate plot point.) Everyone got chances to hold the stupid-ball (see: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php...) at one point or another, especially the supposed big government-run hero organization, whose lack of feasibility fails to rise above the risible.
So why "It was okay" rather than "I didn't like it"? I like JC Nelson's writing. It entertains and it tries to have depth. Even when every character from Uncle Ben and Aunt Mae to Gwen Stacy are troped in from stock resources, Nelson still manages to keep the pages turning.
The last time he did the same approach with his Grimm Agency novels and he pulled off the hat trick (although the last book was significantly weaker in order to wrap up the plot.) He took cardboard and spun it into narrative silk. This time, he missed the mark.
Reburialists gets a 2-star Goodreads "It was okay". Still looking forward to the next book Nelson writes because I know he can do better.
March 15, 2016
Check out my other reviews, discussions and link ups at Fantasy of the Silver Dragon.
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Why is this not a series?? That was literally my thought when I finished this book. It was such a fun ride, and an interesting world. And I want more!
The story is told from two view points, Grace who is an analyst, and Brynner who hunts down the monsters and kills them. So you get the scientific, wanting to know everything and not believing in magic or religion view point. And you also get the 'this is the way it works because it works, and I was raised to believe in this' view point. (And no, that is nowhere near any kind of actual book quote!)
I loved how Grace grew and changed as a character. There was never a complete turn around, but a very believable progression of how her thoughts changed as she was exposed to more Re-Animus, as well as Brynner himself. Brynner changed as well, but to a slightly lesser degree.
We do eventually get to know all about what's wrong with Grace's kid, it just takes a while to come out. We also find out a lot about Brynner's past. And yes, I totally saw the reveal at the end coming. But I loved how it was done, so didn't mind at all that it was fairly obvious.
There is some sex in the book, but it isn't explicit. The descriptions of blood and killing Re-Animus is worse, but even at that, the book isn't very gory at all. Certainly wouldn't bother me to read it while eating. The mythology was really interesting, and I loved the world. If I knew there would be more books in the series this would have made my 5-Star list. However there were a few things left hanging that needed to be wrapped up more for me to give that rating to a stand-alone.
If this isn't on your To Read list yet, it should be!
This review was originally posted on Fantasy of the Silver Dragon
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Why is this not a series?? That was literally my thought when I finished this book. It was such a fun ride, and an interesting world. And I want more!
The story is told from two view points, Grace who is an analyst, and Brynner who hunts down the monsters and kills them. So you get the scientific, wanting to know everything and not believing in magic or religion view point. And you also get the 'this is the way it works because it works, and I was raised to believe in this' view point. (And no, that is nowhere near any kind of actual book quote!)
I loved how Grace grew and changed as a character. There was never a complete turn around, but a very believable progression of how her thoughts changed as she was exposed to more Re-Animus, as well as Brynner himself. Brynner changed as well, but to a slightly lesser degree.
We do eventually get to know all about what's wrong with Grace's kid, it just takes a while to come out. We also find out a lot about Brynner's past. And yes, I totally saw the reveal at the end coming. But I loved how it was done, so didn't mind at all that it was fairly obvious.
There is some sex in the book, but it isn't explicit. The descriptions of blood and killing Re-Animus is worse, but even at that, the book isn't very gory at all. Certainly wouldn't bother me to read it while eating. The mythology was really interesting, and I loved the world. If I knew there would be more books in the series this would have made my 5-Star list. However there were a few things left hanging that needed to be wrapped up more for me to give that rating to a stand-alone.
If this isn't on your To Read list yet, it should be!
This review was originally posted on Fantasy of the Silver Dragon
March 7, 2016
The Reburialists
I don't normally read this type of book. That said, I did enjoy it. It was a roller coaster of a novel, dragging us along with our heroes Brynner Carson and Grace Roberts. Along the way they leave a landscape littered with the bodies of the reanimated, who they learn to dispatch with aplomb.
Brynner Carson grew up in the shadow of his father, Heinreich, who was a fighter and researcher against the scourge that infests this version of the Earth. For four thousand centuries the legions of Egyptian flavored undead have been controlled by a mysterious force that causes bodies to rise from recent graves to attack humans for it's own reasons. This fight is coming to a crucial nexus with the coming together of these two strong willed and beautiful people. Grace is a highly intelligent translator brought in by the BSI, the organization that makes it's mission the eradication of the creatures who torment the living. Grace has secrets that make her actions sometimes hard for Brynner to understand.
Brynner is the man who has made his life's mission align with the organization that pays him to do what he would do without pay. Grace needs the higher pay she's getting to translate Brynner's father's diaries to find a secret that can help them in their fight. They are strongly attracted to each other, but with the end of civilization as we know it at hand, they must ignore their lust and get to business. They are both being manipulated by their boss, Director Bismuth, who has her own idea how the mission should be accomplished, and will use anyone and anything to get things done.
Several times I thought I knew who the real villain was, and it was not who I thought. There is real emotion here, we know their motivation and it is noble. J. C. Nelson knows how to build suspense and build a credible world with incredible beings in it. I believed that this could happen while I was reading it. I raced though the book in a day.
In conclusion, if you enjoy action and a world full of "zombies", a little sex and a grand story, you will like this book.
I received this book for free in return for writing a review.
I don't normally read this type of book. That said, I did enjoy it. It was a roller coaster of a novel, dragging us along with our heroes Brynner Carson and Grace Roberts. Along the way they leave a landscape littered with the bodies of the reanimated, who they learn to dispatch with aplomb.
Brynner Carson grew up in the shadow of his father, Heinreich, who was a fighter and researcher against the scourge that infests this version of the Earth. For four thousand centuries the legions of Egyptian flavored undead have been controlled by a mysterious force that causes bodies to rise from recent graves to attack humans for it's own reasons. This fight is coming to a crucial nexus with the coming together of these two strong willed and beautiful people. Grace is a highly intelligent translator brought in by the BSI, the organization that makes it's mission the eradication of the creatures who torment the living. Grace has secrets that make her actions sometimes hard for Brynner to understand.
Brynner is the man who has made his life's mission align with the organization that pays him to do what he would do without pay. Grace needs the higher pay she's getting to translate Brynner's father's diaries to find a secret that can help them in their fight. They are strongly attracted to each other, but with the end of civilization as we know it at hand, they must ignore their lust and get to business. They are both being manipulated by their boss, Director Bismuth, who has her own idea how the mission should be accomplished, and will use anyone and anything to get things done.
Several times I thought I knew who the real villain was, and it was not who I thought. There is real emotion here, we know their motivation and it is noble. J. C. Nelson knows how to build suspense and build a credible world with incredible beings in it. I believed that this could happen while I was reading it. I raced though the book in a day.
In conclusion, if you enjoy action and a world full of "zombies", a little sex and a grand story, you will like this book.
I received this book for free in return for writing a review.
July 20, 2017
I was expecting Urban Fantasy, but although this book's got an interesting UF world and decent plot points, it is more like mediocre Paranormal Romance than solid UF. The point of view alternates between Brynner and Grace, two unlikeable -- and wildly inconsistent -- characters who want so desperately to get into each other's pants from the moment they meet that their attraction quickly overtakes not just the plot, but any actual character development. Brynner and Grace are meant to enact a classic case of "opposites attract", and we're told early on that Grace is the consummate professional to Brynner's devil-may-care manwhore type, but A) Grace rarely behaves in a professional manner anway, and B) their ostensibly different narrative voices are so similar that I found myself always confused as to which one's headspace I was supposed to be in at any given time. (Also, there's a ton of sexist stuff in here, even from Grace.)
Even with all that, I was still interested to know what would happen with the Re-Animus and the "co-orgs", i.e., the zombies, and what would come of Grace's translations of Brynner's father's journals. But once the two had spent a couple days back in Brynner's home town, I wanted out. The characters' relationships continue to strike sour notes with poorly written dialogue. Also, when Brynner's aunt is terribly upset by Grace's lack of belief system beyond science, the narrative itself seems to agree with her. The message that an atheist is deficient as a person, and just needs to find some religion, was just a final dealbreaker for me, in an already shaky deal.
** I received a Review Copy of this book via NetGalley **
Even with all that, I was still interested to know what would happen with the Re-Animus and the "co-orgs", i.e., the zombies, and what would come of Grace's translations of Brynner's father's journals. But once the two had spent a couple days back in Brynner's home town, I wanted out. The characters' relationships continue to strike sour notes with poorly written dialogue. Also, when Brynner's aunt is terribly upset by Grace's lack of belief system beyond science, the narrative itself seems to agree with her. The message that an atheist is deficient as a person, and just needs to find some religion, was just a final dealbreaker for me, in an already shaky deal.
** I received a Review Copy of this book via NetGalley **
May 26, 2016
I loved the zombie part of this book. This was a new take on zombies, and it was fun. I could see reading a whole series about the undead Egyptian menace stalking the globe. That would have been great. The action and fight scenes were well done too. Anytime the story was all zombie, I was happy.
I hated the romance part of the book. Unfortunately, that was a big part of the story. This should have been shelved as romance, with a zombie sub-plot. Both characters were such stereotypical clichés that as soon as I met them I knew what would happen. Brynner is gorgeous. He's a womanizing zombie killer, sort of like James Bond, but with more undead. Grace is a six foot tall drop-dead gorgeous blonde with "dangerous curves". He never sleeps alone and never remembers anyone's name the next morning, and she's got commitment issues. They don't like each other at all, but can't deny their longing for each other - it's every romantic cliché you've ever heard of.
Brynner was raised by his no-nonsense aunt and uncle, but neither of them ever told him to stop treating the local girls so badly. All the women love/hate him, and all the men want to be him, even his best friend who married a woman who hates Brynner for cheating on her. He's okay with it, because Brynner is awesome. The wife still hates him though.
I really wish the story could have focused on the undead issues at hand and left the romance alone, because it would have been so much better without it.
I hated the romance part of the book. Unfortunately, that was a big part of the story. This should have been shelved as romance, with a zombie sub-plot. Both characters were such stereotypical clichés that as soon as I met them I knew what would happen. Brynner is gorgeous. He's a womanizing zombie killer, sort of like James Bond, but with more undead. Grace is a six foot tall drop-dead gorgeous blonde with "dangerous curves". He never sleeps alone and never remembers anyone's name the next morning, and she's got commitment issues. They don't like each other at all, but can't deny their longing for each other - it's every romantic cliché you've ever heard of.
Brynner was raised by his no-nonsense aunt and uncle, but neither of them ever told him to stop treating the local girls so badly. All the women love/hate him, and all the men want to be him, even his best friend who married a woman who hates Brynner for cheating on her. He's okay with it, because Brynner is awesome. The wife still hates him though.
I really wish the story could have focused on the undead issues at hand and left the romance alone, because it would have been so much better without it.
September 27, 2016
I’ve had this in the TBR for a while now and it sounded interesting. In this world the dead come back to life animated by the Re-Animis. All dead bodies are prepped to prevent them from rising by cutting all the tendons or they go for cremation. Brynner has been fighting them all his life after learning the craft from his parents who are both dead. When the dead start speaking to Jack and tell him they want something his father hid and they will not stop until they get it back. Brynner is a loves them and leaves them kind of guy who doesn’t mind breaking the rules at work because he is so good at his job. The Bureau allows this because he is their poster boy for getting things done and brings them good press.
Due to the messages drawn in blood he needs to take a non-field agent to his father’s stash of journals written in a personal code in order to translate them and find what the dead are asking for. This of courses leads to problems along with dealing with his last surviving family members that have the journals he needs.
Overall it was an entertaining read and a good ending the book. Not sure if there are any more planned but with the ending provided I don’t feel like I have to hunt down the next book to find out what happens next.
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley
Due to the messages drawn in blood he needs to take a non-field agent to his father’s stash of journals written in a personal code in order to translate them and find what the dead are asking for. This of courses leads to problems along with dealing with his last surviving family members that have the journals he needs.
Overall it was an entertaining read and a good ending the book. Not sure if there are any more planned but with the ending provided I don’t feel like I have to hunt down the next book to find out what happens next.
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley
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