Velveteen - Review

Velveteen by Daniel Marks

Book Blurb

Velveteen Monroe is dead. At 16, she was kidnapped and murdered by a madman named Bonesaw. But that’s not the problem.

The problem is she landed in purgatory. And while it’s not a fiery inferno, it’s certainly no heaven. It’s gray, ashen, and crumbling more and more by the day, and everyone has a job to do. Which doesn’t leave Velveteen much time to do anything about what’s really on her mind.

Bonesaw.

Velveteen aches to deliver the bloody punishment her killer deserves. And she’s figured out just how to do it. She’ll haunt him for the rest of his days. 

It’ll be brutal... and awesome.

But crossing the divide between the living and the dead has devastating consequences. Velveteen’s obsessive haunting cracks the foundations of purgatory and jeopardizes her very soul. A risk she’s willing to take—except fate has just given her reason to stick around: an unreasonably hot and completely off-limits coworker.

Velveteen can’t help herself when it comes to breaking rules... or getting revenge. And she just might be angry enough to take everyone down with her.

My Review

I received this book from NetGalley for a honest review. Velveteen was murdered by a crazy man she calls Bonesaw and if that isn't bad enough she doesn't get to go to heaven or hell for that matter. Nope she ends up in Purgatory. Just imagine a world of ash and grey everywhere and that is where she is. She only wants to make Bonesaw's life miserable but every time she goes and haunts him it has bad side effects in Purgatory. She also has a job to do she is the leader of the Salvage team. She rescues souls that have been kidnapped by people for their own purposes. Her team rescues a soul that may just mean trouble for her as she is drawn to him and she shouldn't be for several reasons. Nick at first doesn't believe he is dead but soon believes Velveteen and becomes a member of her team when a member moves on. As they fall for each other while trying to fight their feelings they also have to figure out who is causing all the Shadowquakes that is destroying their home in Purgatory. It seems Velveteen and her haunting may be a part of why.

 The characters in this book are fantastic! Velveteen is such a take charge person and such a strong leader it is hard to believe she was murdered. Got to say I believe I would follow her and want to be on her team. Nick you will fall in love with even if he gets on your nerves a little with the jokes and things he says. He reminds of little boys in kindergarten pulling a girls hair he likes. It makes him so adorable in some ways. You also get to meet the twins who are part of the team. Love them and their attitudes. Imagine street tough 12 year olds. Their is loads more of characters to get to know in this amazing book.

 I have to say I read a lot of books but this one is in my top 10 I have read this year. The world Daniel Marks creates in this book is a fresh idea where I think I have read it all. I have read books about heaven and hell but never any about purgatory. You really get inside Velveteen's head as she tries to get even with Bonesaw and what all he did to her. You in a way hope she would find peace and move on then you think nope she belongs here to lead these people and help take care of them. The book has a darker feel to it and you feel like you are in a strange world, but a strange world you want to read more about. So much happens in this book you have fight scenes, ghost, love even a fly covered zombie that made me laugh picturing it. I could picture it easily to as it is so well written you feel you are along for the ride with Velveteen. I could seriously ramble on and on about this book but I won't spoil it for you. Trust me if you like a dark YA book pick this one up. It is so amazing.

5 out of 5 Bats~Pam