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Saturday, November 21, 2015

Shallow Graves by Kali Wallace ARC Review


Paperback ARC, 358 pages
Published by Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins
Publication Date: January 26th, 2016
Pre-order It: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository |
For fans of Holly Black and Nova Ren Suma, a gripping, hauntingly atmospheric novel about murder, revenge, and a world where monsters—human and otherwise—lurk at the fringes.

When seventeen-year-old Breezy Lin wakes up in a shallow grave one year after her death, she doesn’t remember who killed her or why. All she knows is that she’s somehow conscious—and not only that, she’s able to sense who around her is hiding a murderous past. In life, Breezy was always drawn to the elegance of the universe and the mystery of the stars. Now she must set out to find answers and discover what is to become of her in the gritty, dangerous world to which she now belongs—where killers hide in plain sight and a sinister cult is hunting for strange creatures like her. What she finds is at once empowering, redemptive, and dangerous.

Tense, complex, and wholly engaging, Shallow Graves is a stunning first novel from Kali Wallace.



A year after her death, a teenage girl named Breezy wakes up in a grave, having no idea how she died or why she has been brought back to life. All she knows is that she is able to sense whenever someone near her is a killer, and that she feels an unexplainable and incredibly strong urge to seek murderers out and give them exactly what they deserve. It isn't long before she finds out that she is no longer a human—she's a monster, and there are many others like her, scattered and in hiding all around the world. Then she discovers a group of humans who are seeking out and cruelly killing creatures like her, which is when everything spirals out of control.

Shallow Graves had me completely hooked me from the first line—and I could barely put the book down! Not only was it dark and eerie, the writing was perfect! It was witty, engaging, and so fast-paced that I devoured the book in no time. I never could have guessed what was about to happen, and Breezy’s voice was so believable that I could easily see her as a 17-year-old girl. I especially loved the dialogue between the characters, and how much it helped develop and build upon their relationships. It is one of the best horror books I have ever read, and I would recommend it to absolutely everyone, especially to those who are looking for a spooky read!





1) I have never been a huge fan of horror books, but Shallow Graves was perfect! Not only did the entire book have an amazingly dark and creepy vibe, it constantly gave me goosebumps, because even the concept itself is chilling.


2) The writing is smooth, fast-paced, and witty. It was so incredibly detailed that I felt like I was the one standing in Breezy’s place and experiencing everything she was. The descriptions of the world, setting, and surroundings were one of the things that made this book so great.

3) The plot was surprising and I could never guess what was coming. I never knew what was right around the corner, and this kept me hooked and unable to stop reading. There were constantly new questions springing up, and the answers were always unexpected and satisfying.


4) If you woke up in a grave and found out you died a year ago, what would you do? That question seems impossible to answer realistically, and yet Kali Wallace manages to do just that! Breezy is easy to relate to and understand, even in a totally crazy situation that isn't.


1) None xD


“ What’s your name? Will you tell me that, or do I have to keep thinking of you as Smelly Girl?”

“ Breezy.” I said…

The woman laughed. “ Hey, I’m not judging. You can call me Rain.”

“ Great. Together we can be the weather report.”
“ Your parents won’t mind?” I asked.

“ It’s just me and my brother.”

“ Your brother won’t mind?”

“ I don’t know. He might.”

“ And if he does? ”

A shrug. “ We get dinner for a week?”

“ Oh my god.” I said, but I couldn’t help but laugh. “You can’t make jokes about eating dead people if you actually eat dead people.”
“Were you born like this? A, uh, ghoul?” 
Jake was surprised by the question. “Well, yeah.”

“Oh. How does that even work?”

He laughed. “Do you need me to give you the talk about what happens when a mommy and a daddy like each other very much?”

I was going to need a hobby. Learn to knit. Get a library card. Join a Warcraft guild. Take up vigilantism. There are so many more hours in a day when you don’t spend a third of them sleeping.



12 comments:

  1. I am SO happy that you ended up liking this! I have a copy on my desk and I am very anxious/excited to get into it! I love books that make me feel as if I'm in the story itself, and I'm glad you felt the same way. :) Great review as always, Britt! <3

    Talina @ Sassy & Dangerous

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    1. This is actually my co-blogger's review, Talina xD but we hope that you enjoy this book at the same!

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  2. Great review! I wasn't sure about this book but it sounds cool! I think I'll check it out. Thanks!

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    1. Thanks, and I would definitely recommend it! It is a great read

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  3. I have been looking forward to this book for awhile now! And now that I've read your review of it, I think I'm even more excited! This book sounds so interesting, I can't wait til it comes out!

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    1. It is very interesting, and I loved it! You should definitely read it once you can

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  4. Like you, scary books aren't ones I like reading (creepy is what I can do!). However, I was so captivated by the synopsis, and I'm incredibly happy that you really enjoy it. It makes me more excited to pick this up!

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    1. You should be! I'm the same way with creepy and scary books, so I usually stay away from them, but I'm glad I read Shallow Graves. I thought the synopsis sounded amazing before I read this book too, and the book really followed through

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  5. I'VE BEEN WANTING TO READ THIS BOOK! I'm so glad you liked it! Also very good review. You've given me more incentive to pick it up ^_^ Scary books are right up my alley xD I'm in the mood for them more often than not.

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    1. Thanks, I definitely recommend this book xD! Even for someone who doesn't usually read scary books, this book is incredible and creepy

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  6. Ooh this sounds so interesting! I'm glad you enjoyed it so much :)

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