Cat Johnson Braves Doll Lil’s Word Association Challenge!

Author: Stacey Kade
Book: Queen of the Dead
Release: May 31, 2011
Series: A Ghost and the Goth Novel (No.2)
Reviewer: Mona
Purchase: – Book Depository
Source: Net Galley
After being sent back from the light, Alona Dare – former homecoming queen, current Queen of the Dead – finds herself doing something she never expected: working. Instead of spending days perfecting her tan by the pool (her typical summer routine when she was, you know, alive), Alona must now cater to the needs of other lost spirits. By her side for all of this – ugh – “helping of others” is Will Killian: social outcast, seer of the dead, and someone Alona cares about more than she’d like.

Before Alona can make a final ruling on Will’s “friend” or “more” status, though, she discovers trouble at home. Her mom is tossing out Alona’s most valuable possessions, and her dad is expecting a new daughter with his wicked wife. Is it possible her family is already moving on? Hello! She’s only been dead for two months! Thankfully, Alona knows just the guy who can put a stop to this mess.

Unfortunately for Alona, Will has other stuff on his mind, and Mina, a young (and beautiful) seer, is at the top of the list. She’s the first ghost-talker Will’s ever met—aside from his father—and she may hold answers to Will’s troubled past. But can she be trusted? Alona immediately puts a check mark in the “clearly not” column. But Will is – ahem – willing to find out, even if it means leaving a hurt and angry Alona to her own devices, which is never a good idea.

I had entirely too much fun reading this book. I mean, think about it, it’s a YA paranormal with a dark concept that’s anything but dark. Alona is quite entertaining as she adjusts to life, or rather death, without the spoiling and pampering she enjoyed while alive. Will is equally entertaining as he finds himself developing feelings for her while struggling to find his place in the world. Didn’t anyone ever tell them that mortals and ghosts don’t mix?

When Will meets Mina, he’s fascinated because she’s a ghost talker like him, but her prejudice against ghosts bothers him. However, if he wants to meet others like himself, she’s his key. Meanwhile, Alona isn’t taking this new alliance too well, nor is she happy that her parents are moving along with their lives. She demands that Will make sure her parents don’t forget her—or replace her—and she wants to get Will away from Mina. To her consternation, she has developed feelings for him.

When she decides to send him a message via his comatose friend things go terribly awry, and Alona is trapped in a circumstance from which she can’t extricate herself. In light of his new discoveries about the actions of the other ghost talkers, Will is left wondering what has become of Alona. Is she safe or has she been subjected to a fate worse than her death?

I loved the connection between Will and Alona and was immensely pleased with the surprising twist that affects their relationship. Even though Will’s talent has been exposed to other ghost talkers, possibly placing him in danger, he is more concerned about her wellbeing. I can see great things on the horizon for these two. Now I’m anxiously awaiting the next book to see how their relationship progresses and to see if Will can adjust to Alona’s new outlook.

~Mona Leigh

Mona's first grade teacher, Mrs. Stanford, gifted her with the love of reading. For that, she'll always live in her heart. But reading took over Mona's life, eclipsing everything but playing sports, and has continued to be a huge part of her life. Although she has always written poetry and stories for her self, last year she decided to try her hand at writing fiction. She is currently editing her first urban fantasy and hopes to have it ready for the agent by summer's end. Besides reading, Mona loves speed in the form of fast cars. The faster, the better! In her next life, she plans to drive race cars (or whatever happens to be their replacement in the future) all while reading and writing. She has also taken up rune reading, and find it to be disturbingly accurate and exciting.

Doll Mona Leigh

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