Sunday, October 31, 2010

Review - She Smells the Dead by E.J. Stevens


TITLE:     She Smells the Dead (Spirit Guide, Book 1)
AUTHOR/EDITOR:    E.J. Stevens
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 168 pages
PUBLISHED:   Sacred Oaks Press, 2010
ISBN#:   978-0-9842-47523
HOW'D I GET IT:   Received from Author for Review

FROM GOODREADS: 
It's the beginning of senior year and Yuki's psychic awareness of ghostly spirits is threatening to ruin her life. Her ability to sense spirits of the dead isn't glamorous like the ghost hunting on television.   

SHE SMELLS THE DEAD.


The smell impressions are becoming stronger. Yuki is being visited in her dreams, and she suspects that her friend Calvin is involved in something strange. To make matters worse her crush on Garrett is going unrequited, Yuki's friend Emma is on a rampage against bee oppression, and annoying Calvin Miller mysteriously disappears.


Will Yuki be able to focus her powers in time to save the lost soul who is haunting her? Meanwhile, who will save Yuki from following the spirits into the light?

MY TAKE:   I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  I received it from the author, E.J. Stevens who is a master of dark poetry.  I wondered if this book would be a bit dark as well, but I was quite pleased in this fun and inventive story.

Yuki ~not Yucky, long u~ is an unusual protagonist.  She has the ability to smell dead people.  Not as in rotting corpses, but as in impressions that indicate something of the deceased's life ~ vinegar or roses are some examples.  As to her appearance, Yuki has her own sense of Goth style that will amuse many readers.  I got a kick out of visualizing each of her ensembles.  (Don't you just LOVE the cover by the way??)

Calvin and Emma are Yuki's best friends and confidants. Emma is a loyal and quirky animal-lover and environmentalist.  Calvin is becoming more and more mysterious.  They both know of Yuki's unusual ability as well as her major, major crush on nerd-boy Garrett.  Garrett barely takes notice of Yuki, much to Calvin's delight!  Calvin and Yuki learn more about their own spirit guides and their destinies as Samhain approaches.

This very entertaining story is a great addition to the YA market, appropriate for young readers and adults as well.  As one of those "adults", I am really looking forward to the next installment in the Spirit Guide series, "Spirit Storm" which is due out early next year.   
   
MY RATING:    4/5

WHERE TO BUY IT:   Amazon, The Book Depository, IndieBound

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~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

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