If you have not read The Ghost and the Goth, you may not want to continue on, but I’ll do my best to not be too “spoilery.”
After meeting her tragic and untimely end at the front fender of a bus and not yet able to move on to the “light,” Alona Dare, former high school mean queen, is adjusting to her life in the in-between as ghost-talker Will Killian’s spirit guide. Now graduated, Will lives at home, works at Sam’s diner, and together with Alona, he tries to help the dead make peace with whatever unresolved business tethers them to the world of the living. In the midst of one such mission, Will stumbles across the enigmatic Mina, another ghost-talker, and discovers that he is not the only one of his kind. Driven by an insatiable curiosity about his past, his ability, and the uncertainty of his future, Will seeks out Mina and The Order – a secret society of ghost-talkers – against the advice or, more specifically, demands of Alona. Alona, the ice queen, finds herself trying to keep restless spirits at bay while also dealing with the harsh reality that her family is moving past her death… a little too quickly in her opinion. Feeling forgotten and abandoned, she views Will’s new fascination with Mina and her friends as a threat to the one meaningful, and perhaps only true, relationship she has left. As Will pursues what a future with The Order might mean, his confusing relationship with Alona becomes strained, loyalties are tested, philosophies are questioned, lines are crossed, all culminating in a heart-stopping climax that just might change everything.
Why do I love this series so much? Will & Alona. Kade has done such a fabulous job creating both of these characters. The Magnificent Alona Dare is a rehabilitating “mean girl” who places value on appearance, presentation, strategy and power. She constantly views every situation, no matter how small, as a challenge in which she must must gain the upper hand. Life is war, and she must take, win, control and be revered. Alona does not have friends, she has followers and people are merely pawns in a larger game. Her harsh observations of people, insights that she considers motivational and helpful, are often incredibly insulting and devilishly funny. However, her death and fledgling partnership with Will has begun to open her eyes to a view of life she never before considered. Alona is a character that could be completely unlikable due to her selfish, haughty, all-about-me attitude, but Kade does an excellent job bringing out Alona’s rare vulnerable side to make her a more sympathetic character.
Will is an excellent foil for Alona. Often mistaken for a goth, Will spent the majority of his high school career a quiet loner who got his kicks trading barbs with Principal Brewster. For a long time he had trouble coming to grips with his ability until Alona came along and unwittingly helped manage the never-ending slew of spirits needing his help. With Alona filling the position of “spirit guide” he’s reached a much needed workable balance in his life. Will’s wonderfully sarcastic, yet infinitely patient, genuine, grounded and helps attune Alona to the more human side of situations that she just doesn’t seem to understand. He’s not what you’d call a tough guy, but he doesn’t back down from confrontation and he’ll go toe-to-toe with anyone who threatens someone he cares about.
In conjunction with their character development Will and Alona’s interactions are really what makes this novel shine. Theirs is such a fresh relationship dynamic in today’s YA fiction. Typically it seems as though in most YA books, at least that I’ve read, you’ve got the overprotective male figure where the romance is incredibly dramatic and there’s little interaction between the two lovers that leave room for normal or deep conversation. Instead it’s all about the life or death, world-ending drama (i.e. Edward/Bella & Daniel/Luce). Or, we have the bad boy, crackling with sexual tension, who sarcastically goads the girl into liking him but has moments of sweetness that make us collectively go, “Awww…” (i.e. Patch/Nora & Jace/Clary). Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind those stories – some of them are even my favorites – but those relationship dynamics just seem the most over-used. Will & Alona, on the other hand, are routinely at odds, fighting like cats and dogs, and yet are clearly attracted to each other. As opposed to one of them having obvious control in the relationship, though Alona might dispute this, they both are evenly matched and can hold their own against the other. Their exchanges are witty, snark-ridden and hilarious. The POV switches cleanly between them from chapter to chapter, and gives the reader the opportunity to observe the dueling viewpoints from a first person perspective. Their relationship though unlabeled, whatever it may be, is tempestuous and exciting; there’s never a dull moment between them. Yet when push comes to shove, I’m certain they both will fight for the other, because there’s genuine affection there, though they might be a little loathe to admit it.
I really enjoyed the turn the story has taken with the introduction of The Order, their questionable morality and their motto that the living come first. It makes for some interesting developments in Will’s character, his relationship with Alona, and has him reevaluating how he views the dead. The book largely deals with his internal struggle with his current philosophies and the philosophies introduced to him by The Order. Should the living or dead take priority? Is one more important than the other? And with which should his loyalties lie? Alona takes some issue with the view The Order is touting, and Will’s interest in the group compounded by her personal issues leaves her feeling alone and desperate, causing her to cross a line she may never be able to come back from.
What’s going to happen? Will Will choose The Order or Alona? Well, you’ll just have to read it and find out. <wink wink>
Overall, Stacey Kade’s Queen of the Dead is a hilarious, irreverent, heart-pounding and heart-wrenching must-read that will leave you breathless from laughter and gasping in surprise right to the very last page.
Author: Stacey Kade
Title: Queen of the Dead
Series: The Ghost and the Goth (Book #2)
Published: May 31st 2011 by Hyperion Book CH
Format: Hardcover, 266 pages; Kindle; Nook; Kobo; iBooks
Website: www.staceykade.com
Happy Reading!
Dani
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I love this series too! I think it is completely under-read by the book blogging world! You focused a lot on Will and Alona’s relationship and how it is different compared to the current relationships we see (which I love as well) and it is a refreshing change. Great review!
It IS completely under-read…such awesome books! Thanks for reading and commenting
Sorry I didn’t read the review since I still haven’t read The Ghost and the Goth, but I’ve heard great things about this series! Can’t wait till I read the first! =D
No, I totally understand. I like to be surprised too! And you totally should read it. Like right now. 😉
I’m so looking forward to reading this! =)
I’ve got both books in hard copy. You wanna borrow next time we get together?
I also didn’t read the review as I have every intention of reading this series and I don’t want to spoil it.
Completely understand, I typically avoid all reviews too until I’ve read a book, unless it’s one I’m on the fence about reading
I hope you enjoy this series!
I can’t wait to read this book.
It’s super-duper awesome
I loved the first one and can’t wait to read this sequel. great review with sweetness moments
Thank you Kristina! QotD is just as wonderful as TGatG and should be read immediately 😉 lol Hope you enjoy it!
I’m just drawn to the cover of her books! I continue to ask myself why I haven’t read any of them yet.
Aren’t the covers fabulous? They portray the main characters so well, and are just very accurate representations of what the books are like.
Adding this series to my TBR pile. Thanks for the review!
Sure Joy!
Thanks for stopping by! Glad I could help convince you to add more books to your TBR. 😉 If it’s anything like mine, it’s out of control. lol
oh wow, you seem to totally love this series. Ive had it as an ebook for a while, but hadn’t had the chance, or even been encouraged to read it but since you love them so much i think ill check them out!
Ive been wanting to read this series from a long time ago, but the cover kind of ticked me off. I KNOW we arent supposed to judge a book by the cover , but i hate it when covers of books have actual people on them. Then i wont be able to imagine how the characters look like by myself
BUT since you said they are great, i wont miss it!
Thanks for the review!
This is a really fun series! I love Alona. She is too funny. Curious to see how the series changes after that ending!
Alona rocks, and yes, it will be interesting to see where Kade takes Will and Alona in Body & Soul
Dani!!!
So of course I loved QOTD when I read it! I love the relationship between Alona and Will! Hah. This series just keeps getting better and better and I anxiously await Body & Soul this year!! I need to know how their stories end! I need to find out what happens with “Lily” and I need to know more about Mina. Grr. May needs to be here now!