Mimi's Bookcase

Synopsis: 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 to confront 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.


My Opinion: Quite an original idea!
Do I really have to explain the reason behind my wanting to read this novel? How could I resist such a plot? Undertaker, Graveminder, possible walking dead... it's a nice change from the usual vampires, werewolves & cie.
Usually, when a novel deals with "zombies", it's all about surviving but it is not the case here.

Graveminder is Melissa Marr's first adult novel and my first book from her. In it, the heroes are an Undertaker and a Graveminder. But what is a Graveminder? Simple, her job is to make sure that the dead stay dead and don't awake. But what happens when that fails and a Hungry Dead walks among the living and wreak havoc? This is a terrible situation that Rebekkah will have to face. In her mission, she will be helped by Byron, the Undertaker and her first love.

I liked and enjoyed reading this novel. The world created by Melissa Marr is truly interesting and original. BUT, it could have been SO much better!!
Firstly, it takes way too long for Rebekkah and Byron to discover who they are and what they are supposed to do. We have to wait until chapter 18 for Byron to discover the truth and 27 for Rebekkah which is half the novel. And even after they know, they still take their sweet time even though people are being hurt. At that point, I felt like kicking their asses.

Secondly, all that talk about their feelings and their relationship is truly irritating. That's the reason I couldn't connect to any of them, though Byron is less annoying. Until now, I thought that the "I am so in love with you, 20 seconds after meeting you" was the most stupid thing but I also couldnt bear the "I love you but I can't be with you. I am so attracted to you but I have to run away from you because I feel so guilty" described in Graveminder. I understand that the author wanted to create an "impossible love" but it endes up being more annoying than anything and the heroine seemed truly immature to me.

Finally, the ending appears to be rushed. While there was only a few pages left, I started wondering if there was maybe a second installment planned because I couldn't see how the author could give all the answers and end the novel with what was left. Unfortunately, it does end like this. So, yes, it was too rushed for my taste especially since I wanted to read more about the Graveminder/Undertaker business, the dead, etc.

In a way, I am disappointed by the novel because it had to potential to be so fascinating and thrilling. But Melissa Marr chose to spend a long time on the love aspect instead of the fantastic universe she imagined.
Despite it all, I enjoyed it and I really liked the plot. Hopefully, there will be a second installment, I want to know more about Charlie and Alicia and all the previous Graveminders/Undertakers.


To summarize: I recommend it for the original plot and great ideas but please note that it has flaws and may leave you a bit frustrated.