Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Grave War by Kalayna Price Narrator: Emily Durante
Series: Alex Craft #7
Published by Tantor Audio on November 24, 2020
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Length: 13 hours and 7 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
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Grave witch Alex Craft is getting pulled back into deadly fae politics in the thrilling new novel in the USA Today bestselling series.
Grave witch Alex Craft has forged an uneasy truce with the world of Faerie, but she’s still been trying to maintain at least some semblance of a normal life in the human world. So it’s safe to say that stepping up as the lead investigator for the Fae Investigation Bureau was not a career path she ever anticipated taking.
When an explosion at the Eternal Bloom threatens to upend the fae who make their home in our world, Alex finds herself in charge of the most far reaching investigation she’s ever tackled. And it’s only her first week on the job. With the threats mounting and cut off from half her allies, Alex can’t wait on the sidelines and hope the fae’s conflicts stay contained within their borders.
This is the last installment of a series that follows, grave witch, Alex Craft. She lives in a fictional Nekros City, which is in a pocket of reality separate from the real world. She’s a PI who can raise spirits, and does often for the police. She also sees soul collectors (basically grim reapers).
As we’ve gone through the series, we’ve watched Alex grow. She’s also made a lot of friends along the way. Earlier in the series, we learned something about Alex’s ancestry (I won’t go into details so as to not spoil it for anyone who hasn’t started this series). But in this book, we learn even more about that ancestry.
She has also gone from being a PI to leading the FIB (Fae Investigation Bureau). Needless to say, this makes things kinda awkward for a lot of people. She’s been investigated herself a few times throughout the series. She always seems to be involved in cases that involve the FIB and some don’t like that she’s now their boss (and the way she got it, really doesn’t help).
Alex’s first week is quite a chaotic one. The Eternal Bloom, a bar catering to the fae and the humans that want to mingle with them, and more importantly, it is the door to Farie, is blown up. This cuts everyone off from Fairie, and there are some that will not survive without access to Fairie.
I do love how Alex looks at everything differently from the rest of the Fae. She sees each Fae as an individual, no matter the court they are connected to or the “value” of that individual. She works to save everyone, not just people high in the court. It really baffles not just the high court, which aren’t used to thinking of the little guy, but also the little guys are not used to having someone fight for them.
I have to say this series overall has been a fun one. It isn’t a favorite series for me, but it is a solid Urban Fantasy series. It has some strong characters I really came to love. There were some great stories along the way. Like many series from authors who don’t have a huge amount of writing under their belt. The first few books had some large similarities to some other series, but as it went on, the author got better at writing and really differentiated herself from other Urban Fantasy series.
Narration:
I have listened to this series from the start. I’ve always enjoyed Emily Durante’s narration of the series. As the cast grew larger, she continued to choose more and more different voices for each character. They all had their own voice that matched their personality. No issues with male or female voices. There are even some weird fae she voiced well, also. I would listen to her with another series or book.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Emily Durante
Emily Durante has been acting since the age of seven, performing in a number of stage plays professionally, in the community, and at the college level. Other performance credits include commercial and industrial voice work, educational live theater, and singing telegrams. She has been narrating audiobooks for over ten years. Her titles include the Midnight Twins trilogy by Jacquelyn Mitchard, Casting Off by Nicole R. Dickson, Impossible and Locked Inside both by Nancy Werlin, and Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas. She has also directed audiobooks, including the Earphones Award-winning performance of Heaven’s Keep narrated by Buck Schirner. Emily resides in the Philadelphia area with her husband and two children.
About Kalayna Price
USA Today Bestselling author Kalayna Price writes the Alex Craft Novels, a new dark urban fantasy series from Roc, and the Novels of Haven from Bell Bridge Books. Her works have been translated into several languages and are available (or have been contracted for release) in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, France, Poland, Russia, and Germany. Kalayna draws her ideas from the world around her, her studies into ancient mythologies, and her obsession with classic folklore. Her stories contain not only the mystical elements of fantasy, but also a dash of romance, a bit of gritty horror, some humor, and a large serving of mystery. Kalayna is a member of SFWA and RWA, and an avid hula-hoop dancer who has been known light her hoop on fire.
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I started listening to audiobooks when a new book in a series was coming out and I wanted to get a refresher, but didn’t have time to read all the books (I think it was Anita Blake). I fell in love. I stayed with strictly re-reading books that I’d already read for a long time. I eventually tried an audiobook for something that I hadn’t read first and was hooked there too. Now, I listen to audio for both re-reads and first time. I have some series that I’ve given up reading and only listen. I try to get any many books/audiobooks from the library to help save on my budget. Books on CD and the newer digital downloads from the library really allow me to listen more. I then purchase my favorites (because who can wait in line for your favorite book??) and less mainstream books from Audible or some other online retailer.
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i love when a series hits the spot from beginning to end
I had a lot of fun with this series.
I think I have one of the books in this series, but not the first or last. I really must get the first book and start in from the beginning. I love the sound of this series and am glad you have enjoyed it!
I would really start with the first book. But then, I have this need to do that, even with romances that don’t require it. I’ just not able to start in the middle.
This is a series that I anticipate loving when I finally get the chance to read it. Though, I do love the narrator so maybe that will be listen rather. Glad it finished strong for you.
This was the first series that I listened to Emily Durante. I really fell in love with her.
I’ve always wanted to read this series. Someday.
Me too. Maybe a read along??
The shorter series does make it a bit easier for that.
ooh this one sounds delightful and I really like that she looks at the worth of the individual. So happy to see that this series delivered in the character development for you.
Lovely review.
Thanks. Yes, I love when the characters are not only well written, but also good people (though I have fun reading villains too LOL)
Oh I had a really nice time for this one!
I’m sad to see it end, though it ended in a good spot.
I loved this series and was so sad to see it end but was happy with how it ended. I really hope there is a spin off series in the future but I doubt that will ever happen. 🙁
I didn’t know this was the last book until I got to the end. I thought it did wrap the series up well.
So is this series all done? I may want to listen to it knowing it’s done at seven books – that’s doable.
I love really long series, but sometimes it is nice to have something you can read that is shorter. Just like I like to read standalone stories sometimes too.
This is a series that I really want to read some day. It sounds like it has been a very well done series.
I have no complaints. It has been a fun series from the beginning. It wrapped up well too, though I will miss these characters.