Scan barcode
beachybookstack's review against another edition
4.0
When are we going to find out who the hell Mr Wong is? His power had been mentioned a few times in the last 2 books and still no answer. Are we going to have a timeskip before the next book? Pregnant Charley is a bit dim.
snoopydoo77's review against another edition
5.0
You would think with Charley now being pregnant, that it would slow her down and maybe not take so many things on at once. But NO. She is just as ever if not even a little more, even with the 12 hellhounds after her and Reyes. Reyes doesn’t want to leave her site, being pregnant with his child and all and makes it his mission not to let her out of his sight. The whole situation causes tension between them. Both stubborn and both wanting to protect the other and their unborn child from the twelve.
Charley is more powerful than ever this book. Which is good because right from the beginning she gets herself in trouble and more than once does she encounter one or more hellhounds. She also uses one of her(semi-new found) powers more than once but that gets her in trouble with heaven. Oops.
You can find my full review here:
http://snoopydoosbookreviews.com/seventh-grave-and-no-body-charley-davidson-7-by-darynda-jones/
Charley is more powerful than ever this book. Which is good because right from the beginning she gets herself in trouble and more than once does she encounter one or more hellhounds. She also uses one of her(semi-new found) powers more than once but that gets her in trouble with heaven. Oops.
You can find my full review here:
http://snoopydoosbookreviews.com/seventh-grave-and-no-body-charley-davidson-7-by-darynda-jones/
kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
Seventh in the Charley Davidson comic urban fantasy series and revolving around Charley, a very cheerful grim reaper.
My Take
It's weird. I like this series and most of the characters. I especially like the twist Jones has put on the grim reaper. Charley? I'm six of one and half a dozen of the other about her. She is funny. She's also incredibly annoying, and I hate that Jones pulls out the worst of the tropes with her.
Charley is pregnant, the baby is incredibly important in the fate of the world, and the hounds of Hell are after her. So, does she accept that she could use, NEED, extra protection? Nah. Where's the fun in that????? Okay, it seems there are some moments when it's safer if Reyes isn't with her. Not so great for Charlie, though. Then there's the I-gotta-be-there-to-fight-the-demons-and-put-everyone-in-danger-because-they-have-to-protect-me trope.
Yeah, it would just kill Charley if Satan would win", but don't let that stop me from putting myself — or Beep — in danger. Oy. Ooh, poor baby, Charley thinks that Reyes thinks she's inept. Well, duh.
The text messages are fun. The idea of practicing keeping a goldfish alive so Charley will be ready for the baby is…scary.
Eeek, I didn't know there were three types of possession: infiltration, oppression, and possession.
If you've been following the series, this is a can't miss. There is simply too much happening in this one.
All that Thirteenth stuff can be confusing to follow, since Reyes is also the Thirteenth Beast while Charley is the Thirteenth Warrior. And everyone is willing to die to save everyone else. Hopefully, someone will live to benefit from all this dying.
I'm hoping that the refuge Charley and Reyes are heading to will work. That Charley won't decide she's bored after a couple hours, and just has to step outside the safe zone. I am curious to know what she'll name everything there *eye roll*.
The Story
Hell is after Charley, and Reyes is determined to keep her safe. If that means plastering himself to her side, it's all to the good.
Of course, said plastering does not endear Charley to Reyes' legions of fans at the bar.
The Characters
The now-pregnant Charley "Dutch" Davidson runs a private detective agency, is the grim reaper, and is engaged to the Son of Satan. She's also the Val-Eeth, the thirteenth one since before the creation of our sun. Beep, a.k.a., the Daughter of Light, is the nickname she's given the baby. Misery is her Jeep Wrangler. Belvedere is her new goldfish. Zeus is the demon-killing dagger. Artemis is her ghostly Rotteweiler protector. Gemma is her psychologist sister. Denise is the wicked stepmother. Leland is her suddenly secretive dad.
Cookie Kowalski is her best friend and secretary, her best researcher, her neighbor, and totally in love with Uncle Bob. Amber is Cookie's daughter. Quentin is a young deaf man whom Charley took under her wing, and Amber is crushing on.
Reyes Alexander Farrow, a.k.a., Rey'aziel, is the Son of Satan, and he wants Charley. He's done quite a lot to be close to her. Bought her father's bar, Calamity's. Bought her apartment building — and removed the bedroom wall that separated her room from his. Charley named his shower "George". Teri is the manager he hired for the bar so Reyes can bodyguard Charley.
Special Agent Kit Carson is with the FBI and a friend of Charley's. She's also made use of Charley's special (unknown to Carson) abilities. Angel is a thirteen-year-old gangbanger who works as Charley's assistant. He'd died in the '90s. Mrs. Garza is his "mother", and she loves that. Rocket Man, a savant who died in the '50s, now writes the names of those who died on the old asylum walls. Well, he used to write the names of the dead. Blue Bell is his five-year-old dead sister who lives with him at the asylum (yep, Reyes bought this too to ensure Rocket would be safe). Strawberry Shortcake lives with them too; she's Officer David Taft's sister.
Albuquerque PD Robert Davidson, Uncle Bob, a.k.a., Ubie, is a detective with Albuquerque PD (his new nickname is "Traitor Joe"). Captain Eckert is Bob's boss, and he blackmailed Charley in Sixth Grave on the Edge, 6.
Judge "Iron Fist" Quimby has banned Charley from her courtroom. The case Ubie is listening to is about a woman, Vikki, poisoning her husband, Steve. ADA Nick Parker is the prosecutor.
Garrett Swopes is a skiptracer who's been to Hell and got revived. Marika is the woman Garrett thinks had his baby, Zaire. Bondye is God. Dr. von Holstein was translating the book, Cleosarius' prophecies, Garrett brought back from Hell.
Mrs. Allen is one of Charley's neighbors. Mr. Wong is the departed soul who came with Charley's apartment; he stands sentry in a corner of the living room, his back facing out. Charley has recently learned that he's an ungodly powerful being.
The Dealer, a.k.a., Osh'ekiel "Osh" Villione, is a demon who deals in souls. Hey, it's his sustenance. He's a Daeva demon, a slave renowned for his prowess as a gladiator.
Deputy Warden Neil Gossett works at the state pen in Santa Fe where Reyes was jailed, and he spilled the beans. Dollar sicced Zeke Schneider on Reyes and Charley. Bruno Navarra, a.k.a., Bumpy, was in prison with Reyes and knew Zeke Schneider, Sr.
The Twelve are Hellhounds after Charley. Prophecy says the Thirteenth Warrior will be the undoing of the Daughter of Light.
Charley's ex-BFF, Jessica Guinn, is dead after events in Sixth Grave on the Edge. Her sister Willa's only son, Dustin, is dying.
Victims
The young victims include Vanessa, Jessica, and Lydia Weeks who explains that the Hellhounds were summoned. The suicide victims include Fabiana Marie Luna, Anna Michelle Gallegos, Theodore James Chandler, Phoebe Durant, and Mr. Trujillo. Mrs. Chandler is the one who draws attention to the common thread all the "suicides" share. Sandra Rhammar was the only holdout on the jury until they coerced her into changing her mind. Lacey Banks has a missing body.
Ramona was Charley's very best friend when she was young. Wynona Jakes is a fake psychic Uncle Bob fake hired to get a rise out of Charley. Father Glenn is a new client. From the Vatican. Seems they have an extensive file on Charley. Sylvia Starr is a reporter with the hots for Reyes.
The Cover and Title
The cover is very adult pinks in the gradated background of purple flowing into a deep pink and flowing into a darker pink to lilac. Just below center is a pink alligator belt turning on itself with a rhinestone skull of a buckle. The title and author's name is in an embossed white.
The title is where we are in the series, the Seventh Grave and No Body.
My Take
It's weird. I like this series and most of the characters. I especially like the twist Jones has put on the grim reaper. Charley? I'm six of one and half a dozen of the other about her. She is funny. She's also incredibly annoying, and I hate that Jones pulls out the worst of the tropes with her.
Charley is pregnant, the baby is incredibly important in the fate of the world, and the hounds of Hell are after her. So, does she accept that she could use, NEED, extra protection? Nah. Where's the fun in that????? Okay, it seems there are some moments when it's safer if Reyes isn't with her. Not so great for Charlie, though. Then there's the I-gotta-be-there-to-fight-the-demons-and-put-everyone-in-danger-because-they-have-to-protect-me trope.
Yeah, it would just kill Charley if Satan would win", but don't let that stop me from putting myself — or Beep — in danger. Oy. Ooh, poor baby, Charley thinks that Reyes thinks she's inept. Well, duh.
The text messages are fun. The idea of practicing keeping a goldfish alive so Charley will be ready for the baby is…scary.
Eeek, I didn't know there were three types of possession: infiltration, oppression, and possession.
If you've been following the series, this is a can't miss. There is simply too much happening in this one.
All that Thirteenth stuff can be confusing to follow, since Reyes is also the Thirteenth Beast while Charley is the Thirteenth Warrior. And everyone is willing to die to save everyone else. Hopefully, someone will live to benefit from all this dying.
I'm hoping that the refuge Charley and Reyes are heading to will work. That Charley won't decide she's bored after a couple hours, and just has to step outside the safe zone. I am curious to know what she'll name everything there *eye roll*.
The Story
Hell is after Charley, and Reyes is determined to keep her safe. If that means plastering himself to her side, it's all to the good.
Of course, said plastering does not endear Charley to Reyes' legions of fans at the bar.
The Characters
The now-pregnant Charley "Dutch" Davidson runs a private detective agency, is the grim reaper, and is engaged to the Son of Satan. She's also the Val-Eeth, the thirteenth one since before the creation of our sun. Beep, a.k.a., the Daughter of Light, is the nickname she's given the baby. Misery is her Jeep Wrangler. Belvedere is her new goldfish. Zeus is the demon-killing dagger. Artemis is her ghostly Rotteweiler protector. Gemma is her psychologist sister. Denise is the wicked stepmother. Leland is her suddenly secretive dad.
Cookie Kowalski is her best friend and secretary, her best researcher, her neighbor, and totally in love with Uncle Bob. Amber is Cookie's daughter. Quentin is a young deaf man whom Charley took under her wing, and Amber is crushing on.
Reyes Alexander Farrow, a.k.a., Rey'aziel, is the Son of Satan, and he wants Charley. He's done quite a lot to be close to her. Bought her father's bar, Calamity's. Bought her apartment building — and removed the bedroom wall that separated her room from his. Charley named his shower "George". Teri is the manager he hired for the bar so Reyes can bodyguard Charley.
Special Agent Kit Carson is with the FBI and a friend of Charley's. She's also made use of Charley's special (unknown to Carson) abilities. Angel is a thirteen-year-old gangbanger who works as Charley's assistant. He'd died in the '90s. Mrs. Garza is his "mother", and she loves that. Rocket Man, a savant who died in the '50s, now writes the names of those who died on the old asylum walls. Well, he used to write the names of the dead. Blue Bell is his five-year-old dead sister who lives with him at the asylum (yep, Reyes bought this too to ensure Rocket would be safe). Strawberry Shortcake lives with them too; she's Officer David Taft's sister.
Albuquerque PD Robert Davidson, Uncle Bob, a.k.a., Ubie, is a detective with Albuquerque PD (his new nickname is "Traitor Joe"). Captain Eckert is Bob's boss, and he blackmailed Charley in Sixth Grave on the Edge, 6.
Judge "Iron Fist" Quimby has banned Charley from her courtroom. The case Ubie is listening to is about a woman, Vikki, poisoning her husband, Steve. ADA Nick Parker is the prosecutor.
Garrett Swopes is a skiptracer who's been to Hell and got revived. Marika is the woman Garrett thinks had his baby, Zaire. Bondye is God. Dr. von Holstein was translating the book, Cleosarius' prophecies, Garrett brought back from Hell.
Mrs. Allen is one of Charley's neighbors. Mr. Wong is the departed soul who came with Charley's apartment; he stands sentry in a corner of the living room, his back facing out. Charley has recently learned that he's an ungodly powerful being.
The Dealer, a.k.a., Osh'ekiel "Osh" Villione, is a demon who deals in souls. Hey, it's his sustenance. He's a Daeva demon, a slave renowned for his prowess as a gladiator.
Deputy Warden Neil Gossett works at the state pen in Santa Fe where Reyes was jailed, and he spilled the beans. Dollar sicced Zeke Schneider on Reyes and Charley. Bruno Navarra, a.k.a., Bumpy, was in prison with Reyes and knew Zeke Schneider, Sr.
The Twelve are Hellhounds after Charley. Prophecy says the Thirteenth Warrior will be the undoing of the Daughter of Light.
Charley's ex-BFF, Jessica Guinn, is dead after events in Sixth Grave on the Edge. Her sister Willa's only son, Dustin, is dying.
Victims
The young victims include Vanessa, Jessica, and Lydia Weeks who explains that the Hellhounds were summoned. The suicide victims include Fabiana Marie Luna, Anna Michelle Gallegos, Theodore James Chandler, Phoebe Durant, and Mr. Trujillo. Mrs. Chandler is the one who draws attention to the common thread all the "suicides" share. Sandra Rhammar was the only holdout on the jury until they coerced her into changing her mind. Lacey Banks has a missing body.
Ramona was Charley's very best friend when she was young. Wynona Jakes is a fake psychic Uncle Bob fake hired to get a rise out of Charley. Father Glenn is a new client. From the Vatican. Seems they have an extensive file on Charley. Sylvia Starr is a reporter with the hots for Reyes.
The Cover and Title
The cover is very adult pinks in the gradated background of purple flowing into a deep pink and flowing into a darker pink to lilac. Just below center is a pink alligator belt turning on itself with a rhinestone skull of a buckle. The title and author's name is in an embossed white.
The title is where we are in the series, the Seventh Grave and No Body.
yodamom's review against another edition
5.0
I love Charlie, Reyes, Cookie, Bob, Ubie and Osh. This grouping makes my reading fun and leaves me smiling every time. This adventure was heartbreaking at times, there was so much pain and death, it seemed darker to me. We are getting closer to the big bad moment and things are getting even more dire. I was afraid, we would loose a character. I sat on the edge of my seat sure this one or that one would go. I never saw what happened coming. I was brought to tears after juts having the most wonderful moment. What a spin-fest Ms. Jones weaved for us. I loved it.
Charlie, what was up with you risking your life and BEP so many times ? I know I feel for you, you are compelled to help but save Bep save the world, remember? I also needed a little less Reyes is HOT talk, I know he's hot I KNOW, enough already you've rubbed it in. I was a smidgin miffed at you for just watching somebody get torn to bits while you watched. GIRL, get your powers going and save them I can't take the pain.
I need the next book, NEED. Ms. Jones, you rock !
Sorry to my book group but I couldn't wait.
Charlie, what was up with you risking your life and BEP so many times ? I know I feel for you, you are compelled to help but save Bep save the world, remember? I also needed a little less Reyes is HOT talk, I know he's hot I KNOW, enough already you've rubbed it in. I was a smidgin miffed at you for just watching somebody get torn to bits while you watched. GIRL, get your powers going and save them I can't take the pain.
I need the next book, NEED. Ms. Jones, you rock !
Sorry to my book group but I couldn't wait.
zaza_bdp's review against another edition
4.0
Trois ans que je n'avais plus ouvert un tome de Charley ! Pour être honnête, je pensais être complètement à la ramasse et ne plus rien comprendre après une si longue pause, mais finalement hormis deux trois détails, mes souvenirs sont vite revenus et j'ai pu suivre l'intrigue sans problème !
Comme d'habitude, le récit va à cent à l'heure, et on est sur plusieurs fronts puisque Charley mène à bien plusieurs enquêtes, tout en essayant d'échapper aux Douze, tandis que sa vie amoureuse avec Reyes prend une autre dimension, et qu'elle apprivoise ses nouveaux pouvoirs qui prennent une ampleur prodigieuse.
Alors globalement j'ai beaucoup aimé ce tome, c'est toujours un plaisir de retrouver toute la petite bande, et évidemment Reyes fait son effet, mais j'avoue que le côté tête brûlée de Charley qui fonce dans le tas m'a un peu agacée. C'est une femme généreuse, mais à trop vouloir venir en aide aux autres et à vouloir se débrouiller seule, elle finit par y laisser des plumes. La vulnérabilité dont Reyes fait preuve ici est touchante, ce qui rend pour moi la témérité de Charley d'autant plus difficile à avaler. En fait quand elle fonce tête baissée dans les ennuis, elle me fait un peu penser à la blondinette des films d'horreur (que je ne regarde d'ailleurs jamais lol) qui fonce droit vers le méchant, les pouvoirs et la puissance en plus, sachant qu'elle choisit pertinemment de s'exposer au danger (même si je peux comprendre son envie de régler les choses elle-même).
Néanmoins, j'apprécie vraiment la richesse de cet univers, le soin apporté aux personnages secondaires, qui jouent tous un rôle très important à chaque fois. J'ai craqué pour Osh, je suis impatiente de le retrouver dans les prochains tomes, d'ailleurs. J'ai passé un très bon moment de lecture, puisque j'ai englouti ce livre en quelques heures (merci l'insomnie ! ... ou pas ^^)
Comme d'habitude, le récit va à cent à l'heure, et on est sur plusieurs fronts puisque Charley mène à bien plusieurs enquêtes, tout en essayant d'échapper aux Douze, tandis que sa vie amoureuse avec Reyes prend une autre dimension, et qu'elle apprivoise ses nouveaux pouvoirs qui prennent une ampleur prodigieuse.
Alors globalement j'ai beaucoup aimé ce tome, c'est toujours un plaisir de retrouver toute la petite bande, et évidemment Reyes fait son effet, mais j'avoue que le côté tête brûlée de Charley qui fonce dans le tas m'a un peu agacée. C'est une femme généreuse, mais à trop vouloir venir en aide aux autres et à vouloir se débrouiller seule, elle finit par y laisser des plumes. La vulnérabilité dont Reyes fait preuve ici est touchante, ce qui rend pour moi la témérité de Charley d'autant plus difficile à avaler. En fait quand elle fonce tête baissée dans les ennuis, elle me fait un peu penser à la blondinette des films d'horreur (que je ne regarde d'ailleurs jamais lol) qui fonce droit vers le méchant, les pouvoirs et la puissance en plus, sachant qu'elle choisit pertinemment de s'exposer au danger (même si je peux comprendre son envie de régler les choses elle-même).
Néanmoins, j'apprécie vraiment la richesse de cet univers, le soin apporté aux personnages secondaires, qui jouent tous un rôle très important à chaque fois. J'ai craqué pour Osh, je suis impatiente de le retrouver dans les prochains tomes, d'ailleurs. J'ai passé un très bon moment de lecture, puisque j'ai englouti ce livre en quelques heures (merci l'insomnie ! ... ou pas ^^)
lakea's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Cursing, Torture, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Grief, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, and Sexual content
Minor: Suicide, Kidnapping, and Rape
- MC gets asked for help from a ghost that died by suicide. - The MC is attackedparpacifica's review against another edition
3.0
January 2019 re-read:
Uhm.... I knocked a star off this one surprisingly. Can I just say (and I kept track throughout the entire book): Charlie and Reyes never once referenced their daughter without referencing the prophecy immediately afterwards. What I mean is I never ever once read of them being excited of having a kid together, or raising a child, or imaging how she would be, or even any remote sort of love for Beep.
Well, except the love they had when they referenced her importance in the prophecy. How she would save the world. She was destined for greatness.
How Charlie had a feeling she would die after birthing Beep.
Most depressing shit ever.
So she and Reyes are only having this kid to fulfill some prophecy. Wow. That kind of weirded me out. I don’t know why I didn’t catch on during the first read.
Also Charley is kind of immature, and Reyes is kind of controlling and frustrating.
And I hate to says this, but those long-winded descriptions of Reyes EVERY TIME WE SEE HIM, or EVERYTIME HE MOVES are getting kind of annoying. There are only so many times I can read about fluffy dark eyelashes, sexy heat and the hair that curls behind a his ears. This prose has been brutally recycled through the last six books.
buttttt all the side characters are amazing.
January 2017:
This is simply no good. Charley Davidson novels are meant to be read temperately, gradually, with moments of stasis for recovery.
It's like I have no self control. I promised myself I would space them out, but I ended up reading two in the span of a day.
Damnit!
As always, Ms.Davidson never fails to deliver her witty commentary and hilarious outlook on her life. Reyes has really evolved as a character, Beep is freaking awesome even though she hasn't been born yet, and the banter is awesome.
This book was very different from the others in the series. There was a whole lot more Reyes, which I don't mind at all, like ever, and we got to learn more about the secondary characters in the book.
I LURVE ALMOST EVERYTHING!
BUT, the mystery wasn't a strongly pulled together it usually is. I know there is a much more promising plot there but I felt like there were a million different sub plots, as there are in every other CD novel, but they weren't really solved and rested as neatly as they usually were in the previous books. I was a bit confused at one point.
Uhm.... I knocked a star off this one surprisingly. Can I just say (and I kept track throughout the entire book): Charlie and Reyes never once referenced their daughter without referencing the prophecy immediately afterwards. What I mean is I never ever once read of them being excited of having a kid together, or raising a child, or imaging how she would be, or even any remote sort of love for Beep.
Well, except the love they had when they referenced her importance in the prophecy. How she would save the world. She was destined for greatness.
How Charlie had a feeling she would die after birthing Beep.
Most depressing shit ever.
So she and Reyes are only having this kid to fulfill some prophecy. Wow. That kind of weirded me out. I don’t know why I didn’t catch on during the first read.
Also Charley is kind of immature, and Reyes is kind of controlling and frustrating.
And I hate to says this, but those long-winded descriptions of Reyes EVERY TIME WE SEE HIM, or EVERYTIME HE MOVES are getting kind of annoying. There are only so many times I can read about fluffy dark eyelashes, sexy heat and the hair that curls behind a his ears. This prose has been brutally recycled through the last six books.
buttttt all the side characters are amazing.
January 2017:
This is simply no good. Charley Davidson novels are meant to be read temperately, gradually, with moments of stasis for recovery.
It's like I have no self control. I promised myself I would space them out, but I ended up reading two in the span of a day.
Damnit!
As always, Ms.Davidson never fails to deliver her witty commentary and hilarious outlook on her life. Reyes has really evolved as a character, Beep is freaking awesome even though she hasn't been born yet, and the banter is awesome.
This book was very different from the others in the series. There was a whole lot more Reyes, which I don't mind at all, like ever, and we got to learn more about the secondary characters in the book.
I LURVE ALMOST EVERYTHING!
BUT, the mystery wasn't a strongly pulled together it usually is. I know there is a much more promising plot there but I felt like there were a million different sub plots, as there are in every other CD novel, but they weren't really solved and rested as neatly as they usually were in the previous books. I was a bit confused at one point.