Book Review: Dark Dreams and Dead Things (Dead Things #2) by Martina McAtee

Media Type: Ebook
Title: Dark Dreams and Dead Things
   *Series: Dead Things #2
Author: Martina McAtee
Publisher: Self-published
Pages: Ebook; 540
Release Date: June 21, 2016
Source: YA Bound Book Tours / Author
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Content Screening: Mild Fantasy Violence

HDB Rating: 4 Keys to My Heart

Recommended to: Readers who enjoy richly written paranormal series.

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17-year-old November Lonergan spent her whole life feeling like an outsider. She was right. She’s a reaper like her mother; like her two cousins, Kai and Tristin. The supernatural world believes they are part of a prophecy to save them from an evil known as the Grove. Ember just wants to survive high school and fix the fallout from bringing back her friend. 

Old enemies are lurking; waiting for their opportunity to strike but the pack has a new problem. A group of legendary hunters has resurfaced, threatening the reapers and anybody who stands with them. They are making good on their threats too; attacking those closest to the pack.

Their only hope of defeating the Legionaries involves trusting a stranger to perform a dangerous spell to advance Ember and her cousin’s powers. But Ember has a secret; a secret she can’t tell the pack. One that leaves the pack vulnerable.

An attack on pack allies, leaves one member of the group injured and another missing, along with a mysterious girl named Evangeline who may play a bigger part in this than any of them realize. As the Legionaries are closing in, the pack must trust their enemies, enter hostile territories, and play a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a psychopath. Their entire plan lynches on a dangerous bargain, but rescuing one member of the pack could mean losing another in their place…possibly forever.

So, it should be known that as much as I desperately wanted to read Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things, I just didn’t have time to tackle it before my spot on this tour. Which means that I read Dark Dreams and Dead Things almost as a standalone. I say almost, because I did go back and read a ton of reviews! I wanted to make sure I had the general gist of the characters, the setting, and anything important I should know. Let me tell you, it’s testament to Martina McAtee’s writing that I was still able to chug along happily through this book. If anything, I’m actually really excited to go back and start over again.

What impressed me most was the character development here. It’s not easy to build the kinds of characters who feel like real people, especially set against a paranormal backdrop. November’s personality, despite not knowing her from the first book, really spoke to me. I’m kind of a sucker for the whole concept of being a reaper anyway, but she specifically brought it home for me. I love characters who don’t have a definite light side/dark side to them. Real people, with real flaws. That’s what I love. Maybe Ember was a little mopey at times, but at least that was realistic.

As for the plot, I can say that I definitely was missing some pertinent information. Such as the fact that there are apparently two characters who share a body. My mistake, of course, for not getting through the first book quick enough. Still, I had a great time romping through what I was given. This is a magical, twisted world where bad things lurk and good has to hold the line. McAtee stole my breath away with the whole world that she’s built up around these characters. It’s rich, and well done. I can see why so many people are absolutely in love with this series.

Long story short, this is now on my radar to go back and start from the beginning. I was so intrigued at everyone that was happening, and eager to find out exactly where it all stemmed from. McAtee’s writing is stellar! I can’t wait for more.

FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.