Desires of the Dead

I wasn’t sure I was in the mood for a young adult novel when I started it, but I’m glad I stuck with this, the second in Kimberly Derting’s Body Finder series. I really like the special ability that the main character has; it strikes me as especially original in the bloated genre of paranormal romances, young adult or adult, where so many characters are either witches, vampires, fallen angels or shapeshifters (not there’s anything wrong with that, but it’s nice to see something fresh). I love the characters and the sense of suspense Derting builds, although I do get frustrated with Violet’s actions sometimes, especially when she repeatedly ventures off into danger alone. The girl does not seem able to learn from the past. It show more is nice, though, to have a flawed main character who acts like a regular teenage girl in a lot of ways, despite her special ability.
I like where the series is going-that Violet is going to be actively using her ability to solve mysteries in future books, but I’m concerned that this Rafe guy is destined to be the third in an unnecessary love triangle. I hope I’m wrong about that. How about a book where Violet and Jay can just enjoy their relationship, without stupid secret-keeping and other stressors? I would like that for the next book, and just get my suspense from the murder and mayhem. There you go, Kimberly Derting, I’ve placed my order. show less

Desires of the Dead
2 Stars

Synopsis
Violet Ambrose has always kept her ability to sense the echoes of the dead a secret but after finding the body of a dead boy, she has drawn the attention of the FBI. Unfortunately, she also finds herself the target of a disturbed stalker and has no one to turn to, not even her closest friend turned boyfriend, Jay Heaton who is preoccupied with he newest pal, Mike, whose family seems to have secrets of its own.

Review
The paranormal thriller premise has potential but is completely overshadowed by the teen melodrama and angst.

Violet has become a completely different character - she has regressed emotionally and is now a typical whiny and jealous girlfriend who keeps secrets and overreacts to the smallest show more thing. The fact that she fails to tell her parents of the FBI's interest, is completely illogical and ruined my suspension of disbelief.

The story begins well with the discovery of a boy's body and Violet's stalker but ends up going in a confusing and disappointing direction. The tension and suspense that builds in the beginning rapidly fizzles out by the end.

Violet and Jay's romance is sweet and they certainly have oodles of chemistry but his perfection gets old after a while and the inclusion of Rafe feels out of place. It is as if Derting needed a tick next to "love triange" on her YA check list.

I may eventually read the next book if it comes my way but I won't be actively looking for it. show less

In this case, the sequel was way better than the original. In my opinion Desires of the Dead blew The Body Finder completely out of the water. I was grabbed right from the beginning. Kimberly Derting knows how to tell a tale. Now Violet is stuggling with the decision to come out in the open with her power. She was caught on tape 'finding' a lost boy in a cargo container and then contacted by someone of the FBI to find out how she did it. She even asks her parents why her gift has been kept secret? Did her grandmother keep thing secret too? Who can she trust with this information? Jay for one!

On to the next! I think that I will head on back to the Iron Fay series.

And: no boogers found in this book!

Desires of the Dead is another suspense filled and utterly absorbing novel by Kimberly Derting who is fast becoming one of my all time favourite YA authors for the way she seamlessly weaves mystery and edge of your seat suspense together with romance.

After finishing The Body Finder I was desperate to discover whether or not there was going to be a continuation of Violet and Jay’s story because quite frankly I fell in love with both of them, so imagine my utter excitement when I found out that there was indeed going to be a sequel and International Book Tours had snagged themselves a copy for a tour which I quickly signed up for. So here I am now writing this review after literally just having finished reading the book.

I probably show more should mention that I had high hopes for Desires of the Dead, and from the moment I read the chilling prologue of things to come I knew it was going to be just as absorbing, I couldn’t read through the pages fast enough, I had to know what lead up to the events in the prologue and how it was going to end. I couldn’t even put the book down when I was supposed to be studying for my stats exam, that’s how engrossed I was in Violet’s story. Perhaps this book should come with a warning, something like “beware once you start reading Desires of the Dead you won’t be able to put it down, no matter what else you have to do”.

What I find so engrossing about both The Body Finder and Desires of the Dead is that the whole concept of Violet’s special ability, which is the primary focus of the book, is so unique, I haven’t read anything like it before. For those of you who haven’t read The Body Finder yet (why not?) Violet’s special ability is best summarised by Kimberly herself

"The dead called to Violet.
They used echoes that only violet could sense, pulling her onward, steering her to their locations. These echoes came in many forms. Smells, sounds, sometimes an inexplicable color. Anything.
Yet not all the dead had echoes, only those who had died violently, their lives cut short. And it wasn’t just the dead who stood out to violet but also those who had killed. They bore a mark as well: an imprint identical to the echo of their victim.” - page 12.

It is this special ability that get’s the FBI interested in Violet when she is drawn to an echo that she can’t get out of her head, it calls to her. The only way for Violet to loose the incessant pull the echo has over her is for the body to be found and laid to rest. In a sudden impulse Violet decides to ring the authorities, tipping off the bodies’ location which inadvertently brings Violet to the attention of Sara Priest, a specialist who works with the FBI and Rafe a mysterious boy not much older than Violet who works with Sara, however we’re not sure what exactly his job with Sara involves. It is clear from the start though that these two are hiding something from Violet. Suddenly Violet now has to deal with Sara who has made it clear that she believes Violet has a special ability that she is hiding and Sara won’t let it go. This is of particular concern to Violet who has been very protective of her secret all her life, only her immediate family and Jay know of her special ability.

Violet soon finds herself questioning why she has kept her ability a secret all these years, should she open up to someone else and should that person be Sara or someone else? Who can she really trust? With Sara’s inquiries Violet also starts to question whether or not she could help others with her ability just like she did previously.

Whilst also trying to deal with the consequences of her actions which involves an ever present Sara Priest and Rafe, Violet also finds herself trying to figure out how to navigate through her new romantic relationship with Jay which doesn’t help when a new boy, Mike, and his sister Megan move into town taking up Jay’s time. It soon becomes apparent that Mike and Megan have secrets of their own, one of which could have dire consequences not just for Mike and Megan but for Violet as well.

Apart from dealing with FBI Sara and her relationship with Jay, poor Violet is also being harassed by someone who is ringing her up, sending her “gifts” (and I use that term lightly) and writing threatening letters.

Just as in The Body Finder we have some chapters that are from another individual’s point of view however instead of us diving into the head of a serial killer we are given an insight into an individual who has evil intentions that are directed towards Violet. Once again I found this to be an exceptionally chilling aspect of the novel reading about someone (who at first we don’t know) and getting into their head. This individual is so emotionally broken down due to their home life that they truly believe that Violet is blocking their path to happiness and must be dealt with and not in a pleasant manner.

The strength of Desires of the Dead is definitely Violet, Kimberly has written such a realistic protagonist even though she is dealing with an extraordinary ability, you just can’t help not loving her. I could understand and sympathize with Violet’s predicament of not wanting to tell her family and Jay about being harassed by someone and questioned by the FBI, she didn’t want them to worry about her, they’ve already done enough worrying. The way Kimberly described Violet’s swirling emotional state, in such a beautiful yet realistic portrayal, I was left with my heart breaking along with Violet’s when she was fighting with Jay.

Now I hear all you Jay lovers out there (for I am a self professed Jay lover too) what about Jay, fear not Jay is in the book and he is just as sweet and caring as ever, that boy would have to be the best boyfriend ever (note to Violet if you don’t want Jay I’ll take him off your hands). I was emotionally invested in both Jay and Violet in The Body Finder and this continued in Desires of the Dead, these two obviously belong together. There were some pretty heart wrenching scenes between both Violet and Jay, not everything in their relationship runs smoothly which is how a real relationship is, but then there were also some beautiful scenes between these two as well. All Jay wants to do is protect Violet and all Violet wants to do is to protect Jay, these two so clearly love each other it’s so sweet.

Just like in The Body Finder Kimberly managed to outsmart me once again, I was so sure I knew what was going on and then all of a sudden my view was turned completely upside down and then it was turned once again for good measure. It is this unpredictableness that kept me on the edge of my seat reading throughout the day and night.

I should mention that Desires of the Dead is not all serious, in fact one of my favourite aspects of the book was the banter that occurred between Chelsea and Violet, with Chelsea providing some great comic relief. One of my personal favourite quotes comes from Violet describing Chelsea

“Chelsea was Chelsea. Trying to convince her that what she’d done was wrong would be like banging your head against a brick wall. It would be painful to you but accomplish nothing.” - page 169.

The ending was amazing, everything tied together as all the pieces Kimberly set in motion fell into place. There is definitely room for a continuation in Violet’s story, which will hopefully include more Rafe who I’m interested in finding out more on. Of course it goes without saying more Jay is a must as well!

Desires of the Dead is an amazing sequel to The Body Finder which will leave you, once again, begging for more. show less

I enjoyed The Body Finder. I thought it was an interesting premise and found it filled with action and romantic tension and as time has passed it's one of those memories that have grown fonder. That said, I was a bit disappointed with Desires of the Dead.

Don't get me wrong, I loved Violet and Jay and their relationship, I loved the mystery and the suspense and everything that I enjoyed about The Body Finder - but what I didn't like was the introduction of Sara Priest. I felt as if the story went too far by introducing that particular aspect, and what I had been enjoying as a paranormal fantasy tried to go a little too X-Files/The Ghost Whisperer on me. It's hard to pin down with words exactly how it affected me, but it just felt a show more bit.. corny.

I still enjoyed much of the story and found the writing to be stronger than it was in The Body Finder. I hate saying anything negative about the book because, as a series, I'm finding it to be one of the more enjoyable YA Paranormal ones out there - I just wish that things could have been done without the introduction of Sara Priest (who is actually the only character I have issues with - Rafe is fine). show less

Quick & Dirty: This tale is a perfect mix of danger, romance and suspense. Packed with tension and twists and turns, readers will be thrilled with this exciting story.

Opening Sentence: Violet leaned forward on her hands and knees over the frozen landscape.

The Review:

Violet Ambrose is back, and she has another murder to solve. Unfortunately for Violet, she's drawn to death echoes. After discovering another body, Violet tries to do the right thing and notify the authorities. Turns out, that was a big mistake. The FBI starts hounding Violet about her involvement in the investigation. Someone wants her to disclose her talents, yet Violet knows that she can't trust anyone else with her secret. As if the events surrounding the investigation show more weren't enough, Violet is also under siege from a stalker. Troubled and feeling like she has nowhere to turn, Violet takes matters into her own hands. As Violet struggles to turn to Jay in her time of need, someone just might be waiting in the wings to take her man and her life.

Desires of the Dead is the sophomore installment in The Body Finder series. I loved The Body Finder so much that Ms. Derting instantly cemented herself a place on my auto-buy list. Without a doubt, The Body Finder is one of the best YA books from 2010. Ms. Derting succeeded in crafting a suspenseful story with an intriguing plot and compelling characters. The characterizations are amazing and the villains are simply unforgettable.

In Desires of the Dead, Ms. Derting not only delivers another suspenseful storyline, she deftly weaves a gripping and HOT romance between Jay and Violet. Their love story is blended beautifully throughout the story, so much so that you'll have a hard time letting them go. Despite the fact that their relationship has matured and that they have grown as characters, there is still an element of giddiness, innocence and newness to what they share. The intimacy and sexual exploration that they share is not only sweet, emotional and realistic, it's breathtaking.

While Desires of the Dead remains captivating and intriguing, it doesn't have the same edge and fear factor as its predecessor, The Body Finder. The suspense in this book will keep you on the edge of your seat, but it's just not as intense as The Body Finder. The serial killer element from the first book was riveting and down-right scary. I loved the POV from the serial killer and the tone and atmosphere that it set for The Body Finder.

Overall, Desires of the Dead is definitely worth reading. Beautifully written and clever, this suspenseful tale will leave you eagerly awaiting the next story. This series manages to maintain pitch-perfect addictive romance, danger and excitement. It's everything that a reader could want.

Notable Scene:

The blackness was stifling, overwhelming. She was afraid it was going to suffocate her. But it was the cold that was unbearable.

She searched around her once more, exactly as she'd done every few moments for the hours -- or days -- that she'd been trapped inside. Time had stopped holding any tangible meaning as seconds stretched into minutes, stretched into hours. Stretched into days.

It was useless, her efforts futile. There was no escape, and she already knew it, but her warning survival instincts refused to allow her to surrender...to accept her fate.

There was no light. Not a trace. Not even a flicker.

And no light meant no openings.

But she searched anyway, because she couldn't give up, feeling with her fingertips along every surface she could find...the floor...the walls...the corners. They were all too familiar to her now, and her skin was raw from probing the unyielding and punishing surfaces.

Panic took hold, again, and she screamed, beating her bruised fists against the walls that confined her. The voice that came out of her mouth was foreign, even to her own ears. It was weak and small. It sounded like someone who had already conceded to death.

The darkness closed in on her, filling her lungs until it was hard to breathe and impossible to scream any longer. The sounds of her stranger's voice rasped and echoed around her until she found herself gasping to catch real air...clean air...undark air.

The Body Finder Series:

1. The Body Finder

2. Desires of the Dead

FTC Advisory: HarperCollins provided me with a copy of Desires of the Dead . No goody bags, sponsorships, "material connections," or bribes were exchanged for my review. In addition, I don't receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site. show less

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

THE BODY FINDER was one of my favorite Paranormal YA reads from 2010. I loved the subtly supernatural story and fell head over heels in love with Jay, who is, if possible, even more perfect in DESIRES OF THE DEAD.

Here’s irony for you: I miss the serial killer. The thing about THE BODY FINDER that made me the most uncomfortable were the scenes written from the POV of the serial killer, and yet that was the element that I missed the most in DESIRES OF THE DEAD. I hated reading them before but they had a huge impact on the tension and genuine panic I felt throughout the whole book. In DESIRES OF THE DEAD we do still get chapters told from the POV an antagonist, but where do you go after a show more serial killer? The new threat was drastically not as terrifying as in THE BODY FINDER, drastically. We’re talking Cujo and kittens here.

Jay, on the other hand, was every bit as swoon worthy as I remembered. He and Violet are still transitioning from being best friends to being a couple, and I loved the scenes where Violet would tease Jay in front of her uncle about them making out. Violet had some moments where she crossed into pissy mode, and the way she sulked after the fight she and Jay got into was far from attractive, but she won me back by the end. On a small note, I wasn’t a fan of the increased intimacy between Violet and Jay, especially given Violet’s extremely immature behavior soon after, it just proved that she wasn’t ready.

As with the previous book, there are several flawlessly executed bait and switch moments that completely blindsided me even though I was looking for them. It was nice to finally break out of my slump and read a book that kept me guessing and surprised me at the end. One big surprise involved a couple new characters and the possibility that Violet might not be as unique as she always assumed. I’m really looking forward to seeing how that story line is developed in the future.

Overall, not quite as amazing as THE BODY FINDER, but if you want a step down in the scary department, you might disagree. Me? I miss the serial killer for the abject terror I was kept in while reading. This time it was just mild alarm. I do love how the author has set up this book to expand The Body Finder world. It’s a brave choice to shake things up that way, but ultimately I think the payoff will be worth it. So my question is, when can I pre-order the next book?

Sexual Content:
Kissing. A scene of mild sensuality. One sex scene with almost no description. show less