Format: E-Galley, 304 pages
Release Date: January 15th 2019
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Source: Publisher
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Grim Reaper Charley Davidson is back in the final installment of Darynda Jones’ New York Times bestselling paranormal series.
Charley Davidson, Grim Reaper extraordinaire, is pissed. She’s been kicked off the earthly plane for eternity – which is the appropriate amount of time to make a person starkraving mad. But someone’s looking out for her, and she’s allowed to return after a mere hundred years in exile. Is it too much to hope for that not much has changed? Apparently it is. Bummer.
She’s missed her daughter, she’s missed Reyes, and Beep, but now that she’s back on earth, it’s time to put to rest burning questions that need answers. What happened to her mother? How did she really die? Who killed her? And are cupcakes or coffee the best medicine? It all comes to a head in an epic showdown between good and evil in this final smart and hilarious novel.
Summoned to Thirteenth Grave is the 13th and final installment in author Darynda Jones' Charley Daniels series. In anticipation for the final book in the series, I also went back to the beginning and re-read First Grave on the Right. You will notice that this is a rather large post. I have included some pretty interesting facts about the book, as well as Q&A from the author, and yes, even a giveaway. I couldn't fit an excerpt into this post, and for that I apologize.
Out of the gate, the author has to resolve Charley's situation. If you've read the 12th installment, you know that Charley made a choice which got her banished by Jehovah from this plane. If you ask Charley if she would do it over again, she wouldn't hesitate one second in saying absolutely. But, once Charley and Reyes have their reunion, and hot damn was it a sexy hot reunion, things get serious.
Their hometown has become a nightmare thanks to Charlie and Reyes opening a hell dimension in Albuquerque. When Charley was in the hell dimension, it was suggested that she look into the circumstances of her mothers death. Hell is coming and in order to stop it, Charley needs the truth. In doing so, Charley is hoping to uncover the answer to the stopping the Shades from spreading and wiping out the planet.
The couple, along with pretty much everyone who has mattered to Charley for some time now, Uncle Bob, Cookie, Garrett, Angel, Osh, Amber, Quentin, Artemis and Rocket, have only 3 days to solve the issue, close the hell dimension, and save the planet from being destroyed. If you think this is the only thing that will be on Charley's plate, you haven't read this series yet. Trouble will always find Charley.
It's fair to say that I am sad that this series is coming to an end but I respect the author's choice. There are series that are still going on right now that should have ended years ago. It's fair to say that I laughed, yes, I cried, and so many other emotions as well. I absolutely looked forward to each and every single one of these books. I looked forward to the snarky meme's the author provided on each and every single chapter. I looked forward to the sarcastic, trouble magnet Charley and her co-horts.
I looked forward to seeing what kind of trouble Charley and Reyes could get into. I loved Cookie, and wished that I had a best friend like her. I looked forward to seeing what the author can come up with next, and what characters would become part of Charley's group who is able to see the supernatural world. I am sad to say this isn't all a happy book, and there are moments that I had sad eyes. Couldn't be help. But, I was also pensive about how the book was ending and if this ending meant the author would come back to Beep's world next. We shall see!
A FUN FACT FOR EACH OF THE CHARLEY BOOKS:
Before I started reading Summoned, I did a re-read of First Grave on the Right. Here are some fun facts for the First book, and Summoned.
First Grave on the Right
The concept for First Grave came about while Darynda was working as a sign
language interpreter in her hometown. She stole many of the names from students
at the schools where she worked, including Reyes, Garrett, and Amber. As far as
Darynda knows, they have all forgiven her for her thievery.
Summoned to Thirteenth Grave
By far the hardest story in the series to write, penning the last Charley book was a
bittersweet experience. But Darynda knew she had to go big or go home, so what
better way to go out with a bang than to end the world as we know it by starting
the zombie apocalypse? Because that’s what writers do. We start apocalypses.
Q&A with Darynda Jones
How did you come up with Charley?
So, I’m lying in bed one morning, waiting for my turn in the shower, when Charley popped into my head in all her glory. I loved her from the get-go. I will add that I was looking for her. I had just typed The End on my second complete manuscript, a YA titled Death and the Girl Next Door which later sold to my amazing editor along with the Charley books. So, I was craving another project. I knew I wanted it to be adult and paranormal. That was all I had. And then Charley walked in.
What has it been like to planning and writing this series, and how does it feel to be wrapping it up?
I had no clue! I dreamed, of course. We all do that. But for that dream to become a reality…it’s quite surreal. I have the best job in the world. Planning and writing the last two books have been bittersweet. I love writing these books so much, so the fact that it’s coming to an end is a little heartbreaking, but I want to go out with a bang. Like a HUGE one. I hope everyone loves reading them as much as I’ve loved writing them.
Are there any side characters or plots you wish you would have developed more?
Actually, yes. In Fifth Grave Past the Light, I brought in a character named Nicolette Lemay, gave her an insanely cool gift, then never brought her back in again. We see her briefly in Twelfth Grave, but I wish I’d done more with her.
Can you give us a sneak peek into how it all ends? What do you hope readers feel as they reach the last page?
I am very hopeful that readers will feel a sense of happiness, closure and (dare I dream?) euphoria. All I can say is that this book is truly darkest before the dawn. Charley and Reyes have accidentally opened a hell dimension within our own, and they have to figure out how to close it before it takes over the world. But it’s expanding exponentially, and soon there will be nothing left of the world as we know it. But with a little help from Charley's departed mother, one clue leads Charley in the right direction and, hopefully, to the secret to stopping the hell dimension and save all of humanity. Sadly, she only has three days to do it.
What's the next project you're working on?
Right now I am working on a brand new series, a trilogy set in a small town in New Mexico with a sheriff named Sunshine, a missing girl named Olivia, and a murder suspect named Levi. Too bad she is in way over her head, especially since the missing girl is her daughter's best friend and Sunshine has been in love with Levi since she could breathe.
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DARYNDA’S SOCIAL LINKS:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Darynda
BUY LINK:
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250149411
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250149411
DARYNDA’S SOCIAL LINKS:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author DARYNDA JONES won a Golden Heart and a RITA for her manuscript First Grave on the Right. A born storyteller, she grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike. Darynda lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Darynda
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/darynda.jones.official
Website: http://www.daryndajones.com/
Website: http://www.daryndajones.com/
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SWEEPS LINK
Enter for a chance to win the entire Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones, an ARC of the epic finale, Summoned to Thirteenth Grave, plus fun swag!
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I have seen Darynda's books around for a long time now.
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental