Book Review: Grave Dance by Kalayna Price

Grave Dance
Author: Kalayna Price
Series: Alex Craft (Book 2)
Publication: Ace (July 5, 2011)

Description: After a month of down time, Grave Witch Alex Craft is ready to get back to solving murders by raising the dead. With her love life in turmoil, Alex is eager for the distractions of work. But when her new case forces her to overuse her magic, it might be the last mystery the Grave Witch ever gets to solve...

My Thoughts: Though Alex's love life in sort of in disarray, professionally she is doing better. When her friend John the homicide detective calls her in to consult on a case where all he has is left feet from a number of victims. Unfortunately, one foot isn't enough for Alex to manifest the shade and find out what happened.

Besides her new talent of ripping holes in reality is making her too popular with the fae. The Winter Queen wants to attach her to her court. Meanwhile, Alex's friend Rianna comes to her with a request. As a changeling, she must stay in faerie and she sort of belongs to Alex. When Alex defeated the body stealer in the previous book, she inherited all of his property including Rianna, a castle, and a brownie housekeeper. However, she has to go to faerie to claim it.

She has also brought a problem to Death and the other soul collectors. It seems there is a rogue soul collector in the left foot part of the story. He is collecting souls before the people die. What he wants them for and how he is using them are a mystery that Alex needs to solve. Her relationship with Death is also causing complications. He is interested in a romantic relationship which is being heavily discouraged by the other soul collectors.

Her relationship with Falin is also going through a stressful time. She didn't see or hear from him for a month after their first adventure. And when he does return he has been mortally injured. He is trying to keep her away from the Winter Queen but she needs to go to faerie to rescue her best friend who has disappeared there. In faerie, it is confirmed that Falin is the Winter Queen's assassin and was once her lover. She isn't willing to let him go and he is bound to follow all of her orders.

This was an entertaining urban fantasy story. I like the characters. I like that Alex is developing new powers which make her stronger and which make her life much more complicated. I'm eager to find out what is next for her and the men in her life.

Favorite Quote:

"You think I'm letting you out of my sight? Alex, you are a magnet for trouble, though, in trouble's defense, you go out looking for it. What with tearing holes in reality in the middle of populated streets and wandering the wilds using raw meat to draw out a fae will know for tearing people to shreds and eating them, it's a wonder you're not completely entangled in trouble." He shook his head. 

I bought this one on July 7, 2012 and am rereading it. You can buy your copy here.