Review of "Once Dead, Twice Shy" by Kim Harrison

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This was a recommendation. Well, not so much a recommendation as my friend, who also works at the library, just put me on hold for it, so it showed up one day. She said it had angels in it, so of course I should read it. So I did!


Disclaimer: This book is what is commonly referred to as "Library Loot." I did not purchase this book, nor did I receive it in exchange for a review, whether positive or negative.

Type: Young Adult, Angels, Oh crap I'm dead!, series

From the book jacket: "   Madison's prom was killer - literally. For some reason she's been targeted by a dark reaper - yeah, THAT kind of reaper - intent on getting rid of her, body and soul. But before the reaper could finish the job, Madison was able to snag his strange, glowing amulet and get away. Now she's stuck on Earth - dead but not gone. Somehow the amulet gives her the illusion of a body, allowing her to toe the line between life and death. She still doesn't know why the dark reaper is after her, but she's not about to just sit around and let fate take its course. With a little ingenuity, some light-bending and the help of a light reaper (one of the good guys! Maybe... ), her cute crush, and oh yeah, her guardian angel, Madison's ready to take control of her own destiny once and for all, before IT takes control of HER. Well, if she believed in that stuff.  "

Well first off, while this book is officially the first in the series, Madison's story starts in Kim Harrison's novella in the anthology "Prom Nights From Hell," which, unfortunately, I haven't read. This sort of explains why I felt a little lost and confused at the beginning, like I came in right smack dab in the middle of the story. So despite knowing what happens to Madison after her unfortunate Prom experience, I'm on the hunt for the anthology. As well as the second book in this series, "Early to Death, Early to Rise."

As I'm sure most of you know by now, my obsession with Angels is a little nuts. So much so, that I'll read pretty much anything if there are actual angels in it. I can't help myself. So reading this book, I was a little saddened to find I wasn't liking Barnabas, Madison's angel friend. But don't worry, dear readers! I ending up loving the book, and all of the characters in it. Even the evil/bad ones! I'm always pleased when the bad characters are so interesting, or fascinating, that even when you hate them for what they've done, you want to know more about them. Such is a case with two of the baddies in this book. Or maybe they're not so bad? Maybe they're just incredibly flawed, and it's fate that is leading them down this darker road. I'm still not sure which is the truth.

"Once Dead, Twice Shy" by Kim Harrison is a quick read. In fact, I read most of it just this morning after my friend left. It's a good, quick read that I would definitely suggest to others. Though I would add in the warning that the beginning is a little disorienting, because it seems to jump right into things. And even with picking up on it very quickly, I'm eager to read the story that starts it off. And considering how life-changing the ending of "Once Dead, Twice Shy" was, I can't wait to pick up the second book to continue Madison's, and the gangs', story.

I'm going to give "Once Dead, Twice Shy" a FOUR POINT FIVE out of FIVE (4.5/5). As I said, I really did enjoy it, it was a great quicky read, and it would have gotten a perfect score if the beginning wasn't so confusing. It was enough to pull me out of the story and search to make sure I had the first book in the series. If you've read it, tell me how you feel about it. And if not, go read it! Then come back and tell me how you felt about it.

Happy Reading! And don't forget to enter my contest to win a $40 gift card to CSNstores.com!
~!~ Morning Glow