Three Days to Dead

"Dark, action-packed supernatural page turner"

"Three Days to Dead" delivered more than I expected of it. The slightly clichéd title and garish cover set me up for a piece of supernatural light entertainment with a puzzle at its heart. The book turned out to be much, much darker, more violent and more thoughtful than that.

The story centres around Evangeline Stone, a young killer in a death squad targeted at the non-human population (the Dregs) who, having been robbed of her life and the memory of her death, is returned to a three day lifespan, in the body of a stranger, to solve a puzzle she does not have the pieces of.

The plot is set up to provide a good action story: charismatic heroine, a race against time, a mysterious chain of show more events, laced with betrayal and mistrust and packed with fight sequences to keep the readers' attention.

But Kelly Madding takes everything further than. As Evangeline painfully recovers her memory and struggles to discover who she can trust, she confronts her former self and discovers a desire to change and a need to live that she lacked before her first death.

She reassesses herself, her allies, her enemies and discovers choices she was previously blind to. As she does so, we start to care about her and root for her, which brings this action-packed supernatural thriller to life and turns the gruesome memories and the endless violence from gratuitous window dressing into real character building.

Xe Sands does a great job as the narrator, able to deal with action and introspection equally well. show less

Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2011/09/book-review-three-days-to-dead-dreg....

Evangeline (Evy) is dead; well she thought she was dead. She wakes up in a morgue, but thing is, she isn’t herself. Evy now resides in the body of a woman named Chalice who also just died. Evy can’t remember anything prior to her death, but she knows that it was something awful and that she must be quick in finding the who and the why. It was magic that brought her back, but that magic can only last so long; exactly three days.

Oh my goodness! This is one of the most exciting things I have read this year. Why didn’t I catch this sooner? From the first page we are given so much mystery and suspense. I loved that Meding wrote it show more this way because I felt like I was in Evy/Chalice’s shoes. We learn everything she learns piece by piece. I was really invested in this story. The plot was just incredible. I loved how it came to together. Evy has been set up, everyone thinks she is a traitor; she is racing against time to figure out why she was chosen and what has happened to her. Every chapter was just one big explosion after the other (some, literally).

Evy was a great heroine, definitely one of my favorites really. She was strong, thought on her own two feet and took everything on full force. Instead of whining about her problems, she does whatever it takes to find what she needs to find, no matter how ugly the result may be. We know Evy is a Hunter, she kills the things that go bump in the night. It is her job to keep the human world ignorant and safe. But since she is in a new body, she struggles with little moments of thinking like Chalice and the fact that Chalice was not a fighter. I love how all this is happening, but Evy never loses herself.

I am also a very big Wyatt fan. I did want to smack him at one specific scene in this book (when you read it, I think you will know), but his actions proved different. He sacrificed so much to get Evy back (I mean, a lot) and despite what he said his reason was, in my book that makes up for his dumb confession. One character that surprised me was Alex. He was Chalice’s best friend and the one that found her after she killed herself. Evy goes to the apartment to try and figure out her next step after she rises from the dead and Alex, of course, is shocked at first. But he helps Evy even after she tells him that she isn’t who she looks like, that the world he knows is a lot bigger than he thought. Alex knows the dangers, but he sticks by Evy’s side and the friendship that takes place between was so amazing and unexpected.

This book was just incredible. Meding’s worldbuilding was impeccable and her characters were brilliant. I love the emotional aspect of this book. I found myself pausing the audiobook just to catch my breath. Xe Sands, the narrator, did such a great job bringing those emotions out. Seriously, this book got intense at times. I highly recommend this book to everyone. I think if you are a Mercy Thompson fan like me, you will LOVE this. Oh I would love to see Evy and Mercy in a fight. Who would win? That would be interesting. show less

Urban fantasy normally isn't my thing, but Kelly Meding's premise in Three Days to Dead - a woman who's devoted her adult life to protecting the city in which she lives from the beasties that lurk in its shadows, awakes in a morgue in a body not her own, to learn that aside from her missing memories, she has three days before the body she inhabits dies and thus, three days to unravel the mystery of what put her in the morgue in the first place - intrigued me enough to pick it up and give it a read.

And boy was I glad I did! The plot moves along at a quick clip as Evangeline Stone searches for answers throughout Dreg City, encountering fantastical creatures that include goblins, vampires, gargoyles, gremlins, faeries and perhaps my show more favorite modern incarnation of a bridge troll. She turns up more answers than she was initially seeking, which naturally moves the plot forward to its satisfying conclusion. And there's just the right amount of romance and humor thrown into the mix as well. One of the things that initially turned me off the genre, was the urban fantasy I had read appeared to be thinly veiled romance. Not so, here. There's not one forced scene in the book, and the chemistry between the characters seems genuine.

Three Days to Dead will appeal not just to readers of urban fantasy, but folks who enjoy adventure, romance and fantasy of any type. show less

THREE DAYS TO DEAD's deck is stacked with tons of paranormal content, a funky 'work backwards' story telling style, and a tough as nails protagonist. I loved Evy; this girl has been lived through pretty much every crappy scenario you can dream up, and then some, yet she keeps her eye on the prize. Meding's DREG CITY world is vast, and exciting without being overpowering, and the urgency of Stone's situation comes through loud & clear thanks to the author writing the heroine's flashbacks in the present tense. I was iffy on the narrator for the better part of this audiobook, but I enjoyed it enough to continue listening to the series.

Review courtesy of AllThingsUrbanFantasy.blogspot.com
Have you seen the movie D.O.A starring Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan or the 1950 original about a man who is poisoned and has only 24 hours to solve his own murder? It’s a great premise that unfortunately didn’t make for a great movie. Three Days to Dead operates on a similar idea with a much more successful execution.

I don't recall the first time I died, but I do remember the second time I was born. Vividly. Waking up on a cold morgue table surrounded by surgical instruments and autopsy paraphernalia, to the tune of the medical examiner's high-pitched shrieks of fright, is an unforgettable experience. – first line from Three Days to Dead

Evy Stone, paranormal bounty hunter, wakes up show more naked in a morgue inside a stranger's body with little memory of the past few. Now she has only 72 hours to figure out how she died, why she was brought back, and who is ultimately responsible. Easier said then done when she’s been branded a traitor by those she used to work with. Not sure who to trust, Evy turns to the one man whom she has always depended on, her Handler Wyatt. Together they begin to unravel a plot that goes deeper then either of them feared and includes a possible alliance between the vampire Bloods and the Goblins that would result in the destruction of mankind.

A lot of first time authors, especially in the urban fantasy genre, struggle with trying to establish a unique and distinct world without reducing their characters to little more than props while trying to tell a captivating story. Kelly manages this task beautifully without resorting to huge passages of info dumping. I have a good sense of her world and the rules that govern it, and yet I feel truly connected and engaged with her characters. Evy especially.

Evy Stone is my kind of girl. She's tough, resourceful, and most importantly resilient. Her second life starts hard and gets harder. The more she remembers the worse it gets. Friends die, allies betray, and her new body turns traitor in desiring Wyatt in a very unprofessional way. And do you know how many pages of the book Evy spends feeling sorry for herself and complaining about her lot? None. Not a one. Zilch. This was such a refreshing outlook from a character that it made up for some convenient plot developments towards the end of the book (more about that later).

And of course Evy isn’t alone in Dreg City. While including the standard fare paranormal beings like vampires and weres (although I've never before read about were owls aka owlkins), though with unique and interesting twists, Three Days to Dead also brings to light other less prominent beings such as gargoyles, gremlins, goblins, and trolls. I don’t know about you, but when I hear the word gargoyle I think of fat little statues singing Disney songs. Kelly's gargoyles are a lot closer to their vampire cousins; stoic, wise, and often indifferent to other creatures. And forget short, they can reach 7ft in height.

But its not just additional creatures that set Three Days to Dead apart, Kelly uses an interesting narrative technique in the flashback scenes where Evy is remembering the days leading up to her death. They are all told in the present tense. This was a gamble that I think paid off big time. The connection between Evy and the reader is strengthened by this present tense and a sense of immediacy is created that would have been impossible if told in the past tense. If you've read any of Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games books you'll be appreciative and familiar with this tense. If not, it may take you a paragraph or two to acclimate, but after that I think you'll be so swept up in the scene that you won’t even notice it.

There were only a few things that I didn’t like about Three Days to Dead. As I mentioned before, there were a couple of convenient plot developments that weren’t even hinted at prior to occurring, and I could have wished for a few less species to interact with only because they were each so interesting that I would have liked more time to focus on just one or two, even three. And sadly Evy’s love interest Wyatt fell a bit flat for me. He was a bit too needy, too weak to credibly hold Evy’s interest. She is a strong woman who needs a strong man, and I don’t think he will ever be enough. Where’s an alpha man when you need one?

Minor criticisms aside, Three Days to Dead is easily one of the best urban fantasy debuts I've read in a long time. And lucky for us, As Lie the Dead, Dreg City, book 2, is due out next summer, and Kelly has posted some short stories featuring Evy online at Suvudu.com.

Sexual Content:
A rape is alluded to but not described. A brief sex scene without graphic descriptions. show less

Evangeline Stone is a bounty hunter. Her quarry: vampires, goblins, fey, and the occasional werewolf---otherwise known as Dregs. A member of one of the most feared Hunter Triads to stalk the streets, Evy is exceedingly good at her job.

Or she was...until she died.

Newly resurrected in a body that does not belong to her, Evy has no idea who brought her back or why. She can't even remember how she died. What Evy does know, however, is that her mysterious resurrection is the least of her problems. Accused of murdering her two teammates, Evy has been labeled a traitor by every Hunter Triad in the city. To make matters worse, the reincarnation spell that brought her back---only lasts three days.

Evy must prove her innocence, but in order to do show more that she's going to have to enlist the help of some unlikely allies, regain her lost memories, and blow the lid off a brewing conspiracy that threatens humanity---all before time runs out and she dies. Permanently.

Personal Thoughts:

I admit that Kelly Meding had me hooked with the first paragraph of Three Days to Dead. The first chapter is a good, solid opener and is sure to pique the reader's interest. As the novel proceeds, Meding presents a well thought out and expansive mythology that provides a suitable backbone to the story. Evy's world is meticulously constructed and evocative of Kim Harrison's Hollows series crossed with the gritty darkness of Len Wiseman's Underworld.


As the protagonist, Evy is extremely like-able. Full of witty banter and ambition, she is definitely someone that you would want on your team. Other notable characters include the dreamy, self effacing Wyatt Truman (Evy's boss) and icy (but underdeveloped) vampire Isleen.

While Meding incorporates a lot of typical Urban Fantasy elements, she's able to put enough spin on it to keep it interesting. If you're a seasoned reader, the plot is going to be pretty clear cut and maybe even a little predictable at times. It didn't diminish my enjoyment of the story any, but there were a few things that did:

1) Pacing. Pacing was a big issue for me. A lot of the time, it felt as if Three Days to Dead moved too slow. Yes, there are plenty of action sequences, but no real substance begins to drive the story until about halfway through the novel. Meding keeps the reader hanging a bit too long. It's especially difficult to bear if you're already sure of the direction in which the story is headed.

2) The Villains. Many of Dreg City's bad guys come across as one dimensional. As a result, they aren't very interesting. While the majority of them are physically threatening, they lack sufficient substance to come across as truly menacing.

With that being said, there were many parts of Three Days to Dead that I did enjoy and I do think that it's worth taking a stab at. I think for many people, this will simply be a hit or miss. The expectation that the protagonist will have to solve her own murder is fascinating. The execution just doesn't quite live up to the promise of the first paragraph.
My Rating = 3 Stars. show less

When i read the synopsis i seriously thought wow! she just came back to life? a fugitive trying to solve her own murder in another persons body!..and in three days she dies again..?!!i have to read this and soon!!! and i did just that, i had just started The Book Thief, but i couldn't resist it, as it lay there with that awesome cover and synopsis, and the cutest ever bookmark to go with it! i felt i just had to have a quick peek, but before i knew it Evangeline had become my main priority, i felt relived because after what seemed forever, i had finally come across a book which just seemed to flow for me, i devoured it within two days, and spent hours at night trying to read as much as possible, I got caught up in Evy's world, her bad show more ass attitude and sheer toughness felt new to me, because i hadn't read about a character like her in such a long time, she reminded me of what i envy in a women, determination, independence, strength, pride, she had all those qualities, and even if she made a wrong move at times, Those qualities seemed to redeem her, Its quick paced and witty due to the fact, every time i felt i had someone figured out, something completely different would happen leaving me utterly clueless and curious.

The romance is one that i am grateful to say does not hit of right away, but actually takes its time, we don't really appreciate this within books, because we are so used to normally within the first chapter or so, someone being with a certain someone already or crushing, well in this the relationship doesn't really begin to become clearer until further into the book, and that only makes everything more suspenseful, its to the point and accurate because someone in Evy' situation wouldn't really have the time to think right away about a love interest when they've just woken up in someone Else's body, the main focus would be, what in the world has just happened and how do i fix this?! so yes i was very pleased about this subject..also. i felt as though i was living this one big adventure alongside Evy, what i love is, every character seems to have a spark to them, something that you can connect with, The One for me was Alex, from the moment Evy met him i found a understanding with him,he seemed just like a genuine guy, I actually found it hard to read his story further into the plot, i wanted to protect him yet as readers we can only watch and wait. Vampires are not these smexy loving creatures , but evil, thirsty animals, there is nothing attractive about them, in fact they reminded me of the reasons why i used to be creeped out by Vampires when i was younger, There are goblins, who aren't as naive as they may seem, there is a more sinister evil at hand.. The only problem?? No one knows who to point the finger at, so now its Time for Evy to find the answers for herself, the old way, hunt them down and make them pay. show less