Graveminder

Written by Melissa Marr

Narrated by Emma Galvin

Three sips to mind the dead . . .

Rebekkah Barrow never forgot the attention her grandmother Maylene bestowed upon the dead of Claysville, the small town where Bek spent her adolescence. There wasn't a funeral that Maylene didn't attend, and at each one Rebekkah watched as Maylene performed the same unusual ritual: She took three sips from a silver flask and spoke the words ""Sleep well, and stay where I put you.""

Now Maylene is dead, and Bek must go back to the place she left a decade earlier. She soon discovers that Claysville is not just the sleepy town she remembers, and that Maylene had good reason for her odd traditions. It turns out that in Claysville the worlds of the living and the dead are dangerously connected; beneath the town lies a shadowy, lawless land ruled by the enigmatic Charles, aka Mr. D. If the dead are not properly cared for, they will come back to satiate themselves with food, drink, and stories from the land of the living. Only the Graveminder, by tradition a Barrow woman, and her Undertaker—in this case Byron Montgomery, with whom Bek shares a complicated past—can set things right once the dead begin to walk.

Although she is still grieving for Maylene, Rebekkah will soon find that she has more than a funeral to attend to in Claysville, and that what awaits her may be far worse: dark secrets, a centuries-old bargain, a romance that still haunts her, and a frightening new responsibility—to stop a monster and put the dead to rest where they belong.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: May 17, 2011
• ISBN: 9780062072689

Melissa Marr

Melissa Marr was voted in high school the “most likely to end up in jail”. Instead, she went to graduate school, worked in a bar, became a teacher and did a lot of writing. Her novels Wicked Lovely, Ink Exchange and Fragile Eternity are published by HarperCollins.

Reviews for Graveminder

[mutantpudding · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Intriguing premise, but I hated the characters and the plot didn't make sense. The protagonists are way too chill about their situation and it was infuriating to me. They spend twice as much time whining about their relationship problems than they do dealing with the fact their town has been under contract with an immortal being from another dimension for decades. Clearly it's a crap deal, as evidenced by the fact that there are freaking ghouls out munching on folks, but they never really deal with the root of the problem. Also the protagonists had almost no personality and the mechanics of the ghost world didn't make sense.

[roses7184_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I'd like to say that I've read everything by Melissa Marr. I'd like to say that. However the truth is that until Graveminder showed up at my door, and drew me in with it's Southern Gothic cover and blurb, I hadn't realized Melissa Marr's books were out there. Shame on me, I know. Let's just say that I've remedied that now, and if Graveminder is any indication of Marr's shining talent, then I'm 100% in. Call me a fangirl.

Graveminder is deep, gritty and filled with the type of tension that you only see in really good, old, horror movies. You know, the ones where the town seems peaceful and quiet at first glance, but deep down you know there's something brewing under the surface. The small town feel allows the reader to watch characters interact who know one another so intimately that it is captivating. I believe it's on the front cover that Charlaine Harris mentions Melissa Marr's stunning world building abilities. I second that, third it, and go back to read this book another time through. Claysville is not only a town populated by some of the most intriguing characters I've ever met. It's not just a town that buries secrets. No, Claysville literally breathes. It's alive.

If the town itself is alive, the characters are even more so. Their lives bleed off the page, intermingling into a group of people you might just meet some day. I fell in step with Rebekkah and Byron almost instantly, watching as their paths widened, met, and finally tangled into a messy heap. Each of them was believable, and I enjoyed that Marr didn't try make them perfect. Rebekkah and Byron each have their own demons that they are fighting, even as they are trying to keep one another from drowning. The tension between them, both in terms of anger and sexual interest, is palpable. I couldn't get over the fact that they were thrown together so unceremoniously. Following them as they tried to sort things out, and learned to rely on one another, was definitely a big part of what kept me reading on.

There's not really too much I can share with you in terms of the story line, without spoiling things. I am enamored with how little the synopsis gives the reader in terms of back story. To be honest, the less you know going in the more you'll be open to falling in love with the concept. This isn't your typical zombie book my friends. I'm honestly not even sure it should be compared to that. What Marr has created in Graveminder is something new, fresh and beautifully original. Her characters, her setting, the gorgeously woven story, it all comes together to create one heck of a book. Grab a copy and dive into Claysville. You might find that you just can't leave.

[whatsmacksaid · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked "Graveminder" well enough, but the beginning and parts of the middle were much slower than they needed to be. Questions are not answered for a hundred pages or more, and by that point a literal portal to the afterlife feels like a bit of a stretch. I knew something mystical was going on, but "Graveminder" is set in our world, roughly at the present day, but because of the lack of hints or answers prior to the introduction of the portal to the afterlife I wasn't at all prepared for something that big to happen. Up until that point I had thought "Graveminder" was more magical realism than straight-up, other-worlds-attached-to-ours, fantasy.

Other than the slow pacing and sudden jolt when things picked up, I enjoyed "Graveminder" well enough. My favorite thing was how the point of view continually shifted--I loved seeing how different Rebeckah and Byron viewed the world of the afterlife, how other characters (particularly Daisha, Rebeckah's step-cousin Liz, and the mayor) viewed Rebeckah and Byron's relationship, and how Daisha reclaimed her humanity. The whole story is told through third-person limited point of view, but with who the POV is limited to always shifting, the world of Clayville became far more robust. The cast was varied but interesting, and very few minor characters were anything but fully 3D.

All in all, well worth a read, but I'm very glad I got my (virtual) copy on sale. Don't pay full price for "Graveminder."

[lauren2013_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Graveminder
4 Stars

Upon returning home to Claysville following the death of her beloved grandmother, Rebekkah Barrow learns the town's troubling secret known only to a select few, and discovers that she has been chosen to carry on a family tradition. Unfortunately, not everyone is pleased with the choice and Rebekkah finds herself the target of a malicious and dangerous foe ...

The original premise and solid writing style more than compensate for the lackluster romance.

Rebekkah is a strong and independent heroine, but also stubborn and emotionally distant. She has trouble accepting help from others even when she clearly needs it. Although she is obviously in love with Byron, she cannot admit it either to him or to herself, which adds unnecessary angst to their relationship. Byron, in contrast, has not such difficulty and there are times when his devotion to Rebekkah grates on the nerves. While Rebekkah and Byron do eventually come to terms with the fact that they must work together as a team both personally and professionally, their chemistry falls flat and their romance fizzles.

Notwithstanding the problems with Rebekkah and Byron, it is the plot of Graveminder that makes the book well worth reading. The town’s secret is intriguing and the build up to its revelation adds tension and suspense. There is also the added mystery of who precisely is out to get Rebekkah and why. The villain is a nasty piece of work, but ultimately receives the just reward in a very satisfying climax.

The world building is fascinating and the secondary characters, whether dead or alive, are very engaging. All in all, an entertaining story with just the right amount of gothic horror and grisly scenes to keep me satisfied despite its flaws.

[kmajort · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Yet another book where it comes into the Circ Desk, a co-worker says, "HM, this looks interesting!" and its on Hold for me... ;)

Pretty good, if asked I'll stay with "worth reading"... and considering how picky I've been about reading of late....

[shaunesay · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent! This is zombie fiction for those that aren't crazy about zombies! It was very interesting, and completely different from her Wicked Lovely series. Highly recommend!

[jjaylynny · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Hmmm. A premise that was new to me, which is always wonderful. Some cool images, interesting ideas, and a plot that hummed along and clunked along at times. The ending was weak.

[mhanover10 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book. I have never thought of this topic where the dead can come back and someone has to be able to take them back to the land of the dead. Bek has been assigned the task of graveminder after her grandmother is killed by the dead. She must go around and make sure the dead stay where she puts them. But she is drawn to the land of the dead and wants to be in both worlds. The undertaker helps keep the graveminder safe. They are drawn together and help each other. They are supposed to keep the living in Claysville safe. I found this well written although halfway through the book there were tons of typos. But it is enjoyable and I recommend this book.

[carol420 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sleep well and stay where I put you. More than mere words uttered over the newly dead. The Graveminder and her undertaker are the heart of survival for the small town of Claysville - but it had been this way for over two hundred years. Now this survival is being threatened.

[laphenix · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked the concept and characters, it was my own visuals of the world that drew me out of the story.

[altheaann · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was really pleasantly surprised by this book, the first I'd read by this author.
She doesn't an excellent job of mixing the familiar and the original to create a fun and emotionally touching story.
It reminded me a bit, in tone, of Marion Zimmer Bradley's "Ghostlight" series, but I actually liked this better.
There's a small, insular town in the South where, instead of being desperate to get away, people who were born their always find themselves coming back. Tradition has it that anyone born their must also be buried there. Little do most of them know that their peaceful lives and their odd traditions are part of a magical contract drawn up hundreds of years ago.
But when the terms of that contract are not fulfilled, the dead walk...
Sympathetic characters, ghostie zombies, a dashing devil, a dash of romance... I hope there's a sequel!

[darceypaige-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The overall idea of grave minding drew me in. Imagine having to mind graves? "spooooooky" (ghost story type voice) I thought ghosts or maybe I don't know something but did I expect zombies? No I did not! *GRRRJHGHJ* The idea I like but that's where it ends. Grandmother dies (gets eaten by a girl yuk) and you have to return to the place and the man you left behind to make sure the graves are cared for or else (dun, dun, dun). So I thought to myself just give it a try, let it have a chance. ERGH big mistake no matter how much I liked the idea and the characters I could not read more than half of this novel. I mean i'm a huge fan of pretty much any idea. I've even watched a few zombie films but to read about someone let alone a girl eating flesh it turns out is just not for me. This is in fact the first book I have not read till the end. I just couldn't do it. The writing is beautiful the words are not. I tried, I really tried I just couldn't do it. If it had only been monsters or something, anything but flesh eating (creepy) maybe this is for you?.... I might at some point pick it back up and re-try but that day is not today and it certainly is not in the seeable future. I do how ever want to know what happens to these characters so maybe it could be sooner than I thought......

[slsmitty25 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Having loved her series Wicked Lovely, I was vastly looking forward to her first foray into Adult fiction. Sadly, I felt that I was still reading writing for YA's. It lacked depth of story, development of character and background. In a story that was aiming for a more mature audience she could and should have written a more substantial story.

[ahopkinsbibliomaniac · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When I first read the cover I was a little worried. This book was recommended from a friend. This book had me till the end. I won't add a spoiler. It's a favorite of mine and have lended my copy out several times. In fact I have just recently borrowed it out again. :) I was easily taken in by the story and the characters. Wish it hadn't ended.

[ellsie98 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book. I really did. The world building from Ms Marr was, as always, impeccable and believable. I especially liked the world of the dead.

Having said this, there is one thing that pushed down the rating of this book from a 4 star to a 3 star; how unconcerned Rebekah and Byron were about the fact that Maylene's murderer was a dead girl and was still out there, killing people. Sure, I get that Rebekah is jet-lagged and her grandma just died and she's the Graveminder, and has to look after the graves of the newly deceased. Oh, and let's not forget visiting the world of the dead., but she and Byron should perhaps be a little more concerned about Daisha running about free? At least, concerned enough that they don't take 5 days over getting around to solving it.

Not enough variety in the mood of this book to give it a higher rating. The description was good and that was about it.

[nazgullie · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book was decent. I love Melissa Marr's characters, and while my love for Byron and Rebekkah was tepid, I really enjoyed the concept of the book which was giving offerings to the dead. A lot of the book fell flat for me though, and I wasn't too sorry when the book was over. The concept wasn't original, and the book itself while it had great potential sort of fell flat in the end.

[fefferbooks · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked the plot well enough--interesting idea. I wanted a bit more character development, but it was entertaining. I suspect I'd enjoy her YA novels as well or better. 3.5 stars.

[bookwormteri · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely fell in love with this book. A unique concept that was superbly carried out.Rebekkah Barrow has to go home for her grandmother's funeral. Bek has always had a wanderlust and a dislike for staying in one place for long. Plus, there is her past with Byron that she doesn't want to deal with. However, upon returning, Bek finds out that she has inherited her grandmother's position of Graveminder for this small quaint town and exactly what that means.The characters and the world that is built in this novel is so real and so entertaining. I couldn't wait to read the resolution, but also never wanted it to end.

[mlleehreen · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Graveminder is kind of like, if Melissa Marr sat down in front of me and said, "I have this great idea for a novel!" and then she launched into it, explaining about the city of Claysville and the Graveminder and the Undertaker and the Land of the Dead, started laying out these neat characters and all the relationships. And I'd be sitting there, thinking, "Wow, what a great idea for a novel, yeah, amazing, so cool, do it!" However, when presented with the same thing in book form, the sketch handed over as the complete novel, I'm not quite so thrilled.

This really stumps me. I love Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series. She is an amazing writer, and the other books of hers that I've read have just sucked me in from page one and totally drenched me in a strange and scary alternate reality. I found her writing so vivid, and her fairy tales so real.

Graveminder, on the other hand, was hard to get into. I really trudged through the early chapters, always annoyed by one thing or another. Especially the flashbacks, which always seemed to come out of nowhere.

I felt like I knew who Rebekkah was supposed to be, but I always felt like I was getting a description of who she was -- her itinerant lifestyle and relationship dodging, her artistic streak -- rather than really seeing it in action. All the scenes where she talks to Byron, for example, about the state of their relationship - they just constantly rehash this history, using the same words from conversation to conversation, more or less at a standstill. There are a few scenes between the two of them that really pop, that come alive and have the kind of intensity I expect from a Melissa Marr book, and a lot that fall flat.

I could say the same about a lot of the characters, especially Mr. D. The one character that consistently pulled me in was Daisha. All the scenes with Daisha were wonderful.

I kind of feel like Graveminder is still in its fetal state, like I read a draft instead of a finished novel. I really hate writing a bad review when I'm a fan of the author's work, and I think the concept is pretty fantastic, but the execution left me pretty tepid. I'd say this is a 3.5 star book but I'm rounding up for old times sake.

[janetarmentani · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very good original story, i hope there' a sequel

[jcmontgomery · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was a fan of Melissa Marr because of her Wicked Lovely series in the young adult/urban fantasy genre. Graveminder however is adult fiction - and I feel as good or better than her other work. It was one of the books I was able to read in two days. (The only upside to being sick; I have all the time in the world to whine and read.)I've seen mixed reviews of this book, but I'm not sure why unless you decide to treat this as high literature and critique every single thing. Not much fun and really not fair.This is good mystery with some romance that doesn't get mushy or distracting. For those familiar with her YA stuff, be aware that this is not YA - it is definitely adult. I guessed the mystery toward the end, but I found that this didn't detract from the revelations and how the story is finished off. This was a very pleasant read and I highly recommend it to fans of mystery/horror/paranormal stories. Graveminder is hard to pin down genre-wise, but very easy to enjoy, especially when one is spending days in a sick bed. Okay, maybe a couple of days, still...regardless of your health, you have to check out this book. Enjoy!

[abshepherd · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3 1/2 stars.

Melissa Marr has one heck of an imagination! This book was a little darker than I usually prefer and it is far from fast paced. There is little romance here. Although the main two characters are "destined", I never felt a real connection between them.

What I liked best about this story is that it was quite different from anything I've read before.

[beckymmoe_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very scary and creepy...and the heroine's name is Rebekkah! (Okay, so only the crazy aunt who hated her called her Becky, but still, the family names continue.) I was really looking forward to reading Marr's first "adult" book, as I have enjoyed what I've read so far of the Wicked Lovely series. (Though the characters in this one are adults, there really isn't much "adult" stuff going on--kind of reminded me of Ann Brashares' first adult book in that way--just older characters.) This one was very different, being about a small, rather isolated town that has some very..interesting quirks. Hardly anyone who is born there moves away. None of the locals who die there are embalmed before burial. Illness is unheard of under the age of eighty. Couples have to wait their turn to have children. And a local woman has an office at the undertaker's funeral home, a woman who spends hours each day visiting the town's graveyards with a mysterious flask, some food, and whispered words. Very engrossing read.

[myurbanfantasies · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Originally published on my blog, My Urban FantasiesThis was supposed to be Melissa Marr's first adult novel and she missed the mark. It reads like a bizarre mix of a YA novel and a New Adult novel. Rebekkah Barrow starts the book with the emotional maturity of a teenager. Byron Montgomery, eventually Rebekkah joins him, is still transitioning between who he was when he left home and who he is expected to become. I noticed that some people consider this a horror novel. If you are very easily scared then this might be true otherwise no. I didn't even get the goosebumps. The prologue was full of suspense and was cryptic enough that I devoured page after page to see what would happen next. Maylene Barrow was by far my favorite character, unfortunately she does not live to see chapter one. The chapters between the prologue and when Byron officially becomes the Undertaker and Rebekkah finds out she is the Graveminder, which is about halfway through, are slow. It was well written but the suspense is gone and the plot became a little predictable. Things were remarkably better in the last half of the book. The predictability is almost gone and the suspense is back though it does not reach the same intensity it had in the prologue.I found Rebekkah highly annoying, unsympathetic and slightly distracting. She has a history with Byron, and gives a whole new meaning to love them and leave them. Rebekkah is constantly avoiding her feelings about Byron. She hooks up with him when it's convenient for her and then leaves, sometimes in the middle of the night. Whenever Byron approaches the subject of their relationship, or lack of one, Rebekkah uses sex as a distraction. Eventually she tells Byron to stay out of her life forever and he did until Maylene was murdered. I know I'm complaining a lot about Rebekkah. Byron does bear a little of the blame, he has this whipped, kicked puppy feel to him. But, I'm so tired of heroines who can deal with anything supernatural without blinking an eye, but dealing with their emotions is too scary and must be avoided at all costs. This book barely made it to 3 Moons. Conceptually it was a brilliant story and I really enjoyed the last half of the book.

[ajhackwith · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Got this as a GoodReads advance reader giveaway! Yay!

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and blazed through it in 48 hours. I loved the concept of the whole Graveminder/Undertaker set-up and dynamic of traveling to and from the world of the dead is pretty awesome. All the nuances of the world really interested me--who can and can't be hurt in the underworld, the laws of the Graveminder and the town contract, etc. It was an addictive read that I wanted to get through the minute I picked it up.

On the negative side, Rebekkah's commitment-phobia was kind of hammered over our heads a little too much. The "tough girl with relationship issues" trope is nothing new, so I wish the author had gone a little lighter with it. I was much more interested in Bek's reaction to becoming the Graveminder and all the restrictions and challenges that come with that than I was with her "I love him-NO I DON'T" angst with Byron. I felt like I wasn't learning anything new and just being told the same thing eight different ways every time they interacted.

The book took a while to pick up steam and I was impatient for Bek to become Graveminder. (I was literally skimming over paragraphs, which I rarely do.) Once she got to that point in the book where everyone knew what was up, the plot picked up speed quite nicely! Like other reviewers, Mr. D was one of the most interesting characters. I also though Alicia had some meat to her. I hope in any future book the rest of the cast get fleshed out with a bit more complexity and given the same treatment.

Bottom line, while I would have liked less relationship angst and a faster pace, the concept of the world and Claysville's contract really drew me in. Warts and all, it's a good read and I'll be interested in seeing what else Melissa Marr comes out with!

[forsix · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I admit I am fairly addicted to certain ghost shows on TV. When I received Graveminder last year, I was intrigued. A novel about a woman whose job is to keep the dead dead seemed all right to me. I really wanted to like this. It was spooky enough, scary enough but I draw the line at zombies. And the walking dead eat people. That’s just creepy. There were some things I couldn’t ignore. Overall, the novel lacked something. I think the writing was a bit elementary. The premise was interesting, but the execution could have used some work. In defense to Ms. Marr, I received an ARC of Graveminder. I’m sure the finished novel was better. I know the dead and zombie’s are no laughing matter but this novel definitely needed a dose of laughter. Something, anything, to lighten it up.I liked how Bek embraced her role as Graveminder. She knew it was her destiny. I thought she was a strong character. She knew what needed to be done and didn’t shy away from her responsibility. My issues lay with Byron. I didn’t like that Byron’s rose-colored love for Bek made him blind to everything else. Maybe I’m just a cynic, but seriously, the guy needed to settle down. Yes, I know as her Undertaker they are forever linked and he’s supposed to protect her, but still. It was nauseating to watch someone that clingy. It was creepy. My favorite character was William, Byron’s father and Maylene’s Undertaker. Of all the characters, he was the most real to me. Ms. Marr portrayed his grief beautifully. Although his role was limited, there was such grace about him. I wish Graveminder was about him and Maylene instead of Byron and Rebekka. I have several questions, especially about Mr. D (Charles).I like Rebekka, but can’t really stomach Byron. My opinion of the novel changed frequently during the reading. Sometimes I liked it, sometimes I didn't. Although in the end, I felt a glimmer of like but it might have been joy that it was finally over. I do believe if you are a fan of this genre, you will enjoy this novel. Me, not so much.

[darkfaerietales_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: A darkly imaginative world and excellent storytelling but too many points of view make the story a little confusing at times.Opening Sentence: Maylene put one hand atop the stone for support; pulling herself up from the soil got harder every year.The Review:The town of Claysville holds a dangerous secret over their dead. For many generations Graveminders and Undertakers have taken care of the dead, either by minding their graves or returning them back to the land of the dead if they don’t rest properly. The town is under a strange spell/pact with Charles or Mr. D. as he likes to be called. The town is happily ignorant over the contract but the townsfolk have some nice protections. If you were born there you never want to leave or you always feel the pull to bring you back. If you do manage to leave town, you must consent to have your body brought back to be buried if you die. You are also protected from diseases until eighty years of age.Rebekkah’s grandmother Maylene is murdered before she tells her of the heritage that has been thrust upon her. Rebekkah spent a few years following Maylene and her strange habits not realizing that she was being taught to be a Graveminder. Bek must return to town quickly to attend her grandmother’s funeral but as soon as the funeral is over she wants to leave town, her grandmother was the only reason she would come back to Claysville. Bek would never come back for Byron, her teenage crush and sometimes lover.Byron is an Undertaker, in name and in trade. His father was Maylene’s Undertaker and just like Rebekkah, Byron doesn’t know about his heritage until after Maylene dies. They have a tragic history that Bek just can’t get over. She blames herself and Byron for her step-sisters suicide so she will not allow herself any happiness with him.The world Melissa Marr creates is darkly imaginative. The dead don’t always stay dead in the town of Claysville. In order for the dead to stay in the ground a Graveminder must follow a ritual with drink, food and words. If someone rises from the dead, the Undertaker helps the Graveminder lure them into the land of the dead for only he can lead the way. The land of the dead is another unique place that has its own rules. Byron sees it as a drab, colorless world while for Rebekkah it is vibrant and beautiful, the food she eats there is better than in the live world.Marr’s writing is easy to follow and the short chapters make Graveminder flow effortlessly. There were a few concerns that I had. Graveminders and Undertakers are naturally attracted to each other. Bek and Byron don’t know this, Bek is always trying to fight off her attraction to Byron even when it seems like she gives in to it. When Byron finds out that their attraction isn’t exactly fate, he is pissed at first but then he quickly gets over it and it is never an issue again. Graveminder has many points of view, many townspeople just had one chapter, some added to the story, others didn’t, it was a little hard to follow all the characters introduced and what part they played in the story. I felt like the bulk of the book followed Byron which was fine because I thought he was the most level headed of the people in the book. I liked Byron way better than Bek, I felt she was a little too whiney at times, especially as she kept trying to push Byron away but would then send him mixed signals.Overall, Graveminder is an intriguing new look at death, the dead and those who take care of them. If there is ever a sequel planned, I would like to see more of Mr. D., the land where the dead live and more about the history of exactly what happened to make a Gravefinder necessary.Notable Scene:Charlie held out the pen, and the musicians stopped all at once as if they’d been cut off. They, much like everything else since Byron had arrived in the land of the dead, seemed to be under the control of the man currently watching him expectantly. Byron wasn’t eager to be under anyone’s control. “What’s my part? You talked about the Graveminder, but what is it that I’m supposed to be promising to do?”Charlie smiled magnanimously. “The very thing you want, Byron, the thing you’ve wanted since Ella died: you protect our Rebekkah. You love her. You keep her from wanted death.”Bryon fixed his gaze on Charlie. “Can you come to our side?”“If the Undertaker and the Graveminder do their job, none of the dead will come to your town. Your children will stay in the town, be safe from . . . well, quite a few things. Your town will stay strong, safe, flourish, all that rot.” Charlie tapped the scroll. “It’s all there in the fine print, spelled out in black and white.”“It’s simply the order of things, Byron.” William’s voice was weary. “Go ahead.”“Why? You expect me just to . . .” Byron backed from the table. “No. You’re not thinking clearly, but I am. Let’s go.”He turned and made it as far as the door before he heard his father’s voice: “You drank with the dead, son. You sign, or you stay.”Byron put his hand on the door, but he didn’t open it. His father had knowingly brought him here and put him in this predicament.“I’m sorry,” William added softly. “There are traditions. This is one of them.”“You’re old man is right.” Charlie’s voice echoed in the quiet room. “Make your choice.”FTC Advisory: The author provided me with a copy of Graveminder. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[mt256 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"Sleep well, and stay where I put you." Are you intrigued yet? This sentence is what sold me on this book. Melissa Marr has a fantastic way of sucking you into her stories. She is a phenomenal wordsmith. If you've been reading my reviews for awhile you'd know that I'm not a huge fan of anything to do with zombies. I loved Marr's Wicked Lovely series so I thought I'd take a chance on Graveminder. Once again Melissa Marr weaves a tale that you can't look away from.Rebekkah Barrow or Bek left the town of Claysville hoping to make a life for herself anywhere else. She left her grandmother, torn relationships, and family drama behind her. However she never can seem to settle down. After the death of her beloved grandmother she returns to Claysville to take over her grandmother's unusual job as the town's graveminder. Bek is an interesting character. She has several internal struggles that hold her back in life. What is a graveminder you ask? Basically it's Bek's job to keep the dead from rising. (It's a little more complicated than that but I don't want to spoil anything.) Which leads me to the zombies. The zombies in this book are a little different from the brainless zombies that are so popular. These zombies have the ability to think although they are still driven by their zombie instincts. Marr also plays up the mystery in the novel. There is a lot of mystery concerning not only the towns history but also the residents of Claysville. This element of the story is what kept me captivated. As far as the gruesome factor is concerned, there is some. However Marr doesn't go to far down that road. Overall this book is a titillating story that grabs your attention from the start. I think this is a great book for people who don't like the gore of traditional zombie books. Melissa Marr has once again put out an entertaining read. Graveminder is written as an adult novel but I think it would be appeal to older teens as well.

[bookwormygirl · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

In 1712, Abigail Barrows unknowingly opens a gateway into the land of the dead. With no other choice, she unwittingly signs a contract with Death in order to bring the deceased back to where they belong. Abigail was the first Graveminder who ensured the dead were taken care of, and if they should rise, it was her responsibility to escort them back to the land of the dead. The Undertaker helps the Graveminder to bring the dead back while protecting her at all times. Through the years, the position of Graveminder and/or Undertaker has been passed down to someone in either the Barrows or Montgomerry families. Due to their important positions as Graveminder and Undertaker, the townspeople of Claysville have also agreed to the contract with Death. Because of this, they have been granted longevity and near perfect health. Since the contract was agreed so many years ago, no one is quite sure what it says, but they do know that anyone who is born in Claysville can leave, but they will always return. And should they die outside the town they will rise from the dead.Rebekkah Barrow has just become the newest Graveminder after the passing of her beloved grandmother Maylene. She has recently returned to Claysville after being away for some time and has just reunited with her long lost love, Byron Montgomerry - whom surprisingly has just acquired the position of Undertaker. When one of the dead begins to wreak havoc in the town, it will be up to them to save not only themselves, but the townspeople.This is Ms. Marr's attempt at adult fiction - or urban fantasy as I like to call it. I found it a little disconcerting that it is a third person narrative - and, to make it worse, there were varying points of view chapters too. Once I got over the confusion though, I did not have a hard time grasping who was who and what was what. For some reason, I had trouble liking most of the characters in this novel. I especially did not see eye to eye with Rebekkah - she fit in more in one of Ms. Marr's young adult novels than she did in this one. Byron was okay - yet forgettable. Although he was more likeable then Rebekkah, he was still nothing to write home about. I found the story very predictable. While I enjoyed the parts that took place in the land of the dead - these areas were much more vivid and the characters were superbly interesting, yet these good moments were not enough to overlook the others that weren't so good. The "rising dead" had a zombie feel to them - they rose from their graves and bit people - yet they specifically note that they are not zombies. Since I was always a step ahead of the characters and the mystery the story felt long and uninteresting. The best part of all, it (so far) seems to be a stand-alone. We don't get many of these lately - so that gives it extra kudos in my book. All in all, I found this one to be more on the weird side than anything else. It was okay - but not something I'd recommend (at least, not in the foreseeable future).

[kristy1hamby · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I can see why some people would gobble this up and fall into this world. I can also see why some people would rip it to shreds and hate it. It is creepy, but not overly so. So, those of you wanting to be "pee-your-pants scared" you will be dissapointed. However, if you are a cowardly lion like me, you will be okay. I feel like this is a -not-for-me story, yet I know it still had it's shining moments. I also hate how long it took to really get to the main story. There was so much world building and character backgrounds and love interests and this and that in the beginning, I was starting to get a little bored. I was about to the point of screaming at Melissa Marr. Get on with it already. In the end, I found this to be: interesting, creepy, different yet predictable at times and well-written although not my taste. Spoilers: Rebekkah really got on my nerves at times. Especially regarding her relationship with Byron. She was so hot and cold it was hard to tell what she was thinking. The whole other world Charlie/Mr. D. deal was just odd. It was interesting, but I was afraid Rebekkah was going to get tricked into staying there. Daisha, Maylene, Amity, Byron, Cissy.... what is up with these names?!?!? The whole town contract deal was a pretty fun concept. I really wish we could have gotten more details. 3 stars (I have to give some credit to Marr, and I acknowledge that many of you will probably rate this higher.... and I can see why, but yet.... I just can't.)