Today I’m lucky enough to spotlight The Grave Winner by Lindsey R. Loucks. This young adult paranormal is a great story with some interesting paranormal aspects. It is unique characters both real and paranormal. I have found a new series I will be following. For my whole review be sure to read my full review after the book blurb. I hope you all have a great hump day! What Day Is It??? Sorry couldn’t resist.
Book Blurb:
Leigh Baxton is terrified her mom will come back from the dead — just like the prom queen did.
While the town goes beehive over the news, Leigh bikes to the local cemetery and buries some of her mom’s things in her grave to keep her there. When the hot and mysterious caretaker warns her not to give gifts to the dead, Leigh cranks up her punk music and keeps digging.
She should have listened.
Two dead sorceresses evicted the prom queen from her grave to bury someone who offered certain gifts. Bury them alive, that is, then resurrect them to create a trio of undead powerful enough to free the darkest sorceress ever from her prison inside the earth.
With help from the caretaker and the dead prom queen, Leigh must find out what’s so special about the gifts she gave, and why the sorceresses are stalking her and her little sister. If she doesn’t, she’ll either lose another loved one or have to give the ultimate gift to the dead – herself.
Review:
We first meet Leigh at her mom’s gravesite on the day of her funeral. This is a day that will change Leigh’s life forever and it’s not just because her mom has died. While standing at the gravesite she sees a girl who was dead a couple of weeks ago walk toward her in a horrific look of dirt, mud and gore. Leigh hurries back to her family only to return later to bury some of her mom’s favorite items so that she will stay in the ground. While trying to bury the items at her mom’s grave a strange boy comes along telling her not to do that. That she should never offer gifts to the dead. Leigh ignores the “Scary boy” as she comes to call him and does exactly what she wants. Though Leigh continues to do what she likes strange things begin to happen starting with visits from the undead girl from school and culminating with a spider infestation in her house. At first Leigh doesn’t know how this all connected to her or why this is happening but she soon discovers that she must make some decisions that will save those she loves but possibly hurt the world.
This was a wonderful book. It was a fast paced easy read. It keeps you turning the pages to see what will happen next. I loved Leigh’s character. I thought she had just the right amount of teenage angst with a touch of responsibility that is thrust upon teenagers going through what Leigh has been through. I also loved the love triangle. It’s still a bit unresolved but I do find that this plotline allows for more in the series to come. The supporting characters of Cal, Jo and Tram are wonderful additions. They ad depth to the story without slowing things down. Jo is the best friend for Leigh. She adds just enough quirkiness along with an emotional attachment that Leigh’s character needs. It’s not just the characters though that makes this story great. It’s the paranormal world that Lindsey R. Loucks has created. The story with the sorceresses and the Trammelers was unique and something I have never come across before. I am quite excited to see where this series goes. It has a lot of potential and a wonderful start with this first book, The Grave Winner.