Whispers From The Dead (The Veil Diaries Book 4)
Reviews (188)
This is a beautifully written book in a series that impossibly gets better and better.
This book, Whispers From The Dead is just more. The Veil Diaries is just more. When is a hug more than a hug? When it's between the Tough guy and Baby. When is a kiss more than just a kiss? When it comes from any one of the guys. When is a dog more than just a dog? When it's Hades. When is a high school mean girl more than just a bit**? When it's Jessica (or Tara). See what I mean or should I go on? This book/this series is just more, it's everything! Whispers From The Dead returns the reader to Alexis Delaney, 17 year old high school necromancer, keeper of the Veil, lover of coffee, wanna-be tattoo artist, and center of the universe to an incredible group of young men, Miles, Asher, Isaac and Ethan, and Zeke. Lexy is still recovering from the brutal attack she suffered at the hands of Clay Ordin. She's in therapy for her PTSD and it's a daily struggle. All of her guys are having a hard time with her pain, but her trauma has triggered Zeke's own issues. It's a tough time for the friends. Not to mention that there's an influx of dead and they are getting more pushy by the day. And there's still the issue of Sophie. It's time for her to cross. Lexie is tired; tired of the dead, tired of Veil work, tired of being afraid, tired of Tara's nastiness; plain old TIRED. But this is Lexie. She's a fighter and she has Rory, Hades, and her guys. She starts confronting her fears; fear from the attack and her deeper fear of abandonment. It's time she decides she's "all in". This is a book of emotions. Negative; fear, anger, hurt, worry, feelings of betrayal. Positive; love, attraction, warmth, happiness, amusement, relief. It's a book of confrontations. It's time to face fears, stop procrastinating, and reveal secrets, Lexie's childhood impacted the person she became. The attack has left her forever changed. That's okay. She's still Alexis. She's a beautiful, fiery, talented, stubborn, intelligent, loving young lady. She has a temper and a potty mouth. She has a light that cannot be ignored. She's still Alexis, she just has a few more triggers that need to be acknowledged. The guys carry the weight of their own pasts. Growing up means putting the past to rest. Some are more successful at this than others. It's an on-going journey. This is a beautifully written book in a series that impossibly gets better and better. It's a must-read and that will probably happen in one sitting. It's captivating. I am more attached to and invested in these fictional characters than I am in some of my actual acquaintances. I adore Lexi and her guys, Rory (World's Best Uncle), Maria, and Riley. I can't wait for more!
Amazing series!
This review will have some spoilers in it so be warned. I absolutely love this series! The characters are incredibly addicting the story line keeps you guessing and attached. And you really get into the main character's head. The romance is to die for but might kill me waiting for something to develop! This book out of all of them moved a little slower to me and had a lot more hard parts that made me want to cry or made me mad. But in the end I was very very happy and can't wait for the next one! I reread the first three before I read this one to get back in the mood and I highly suggest it. But it broke my heart when she couldn't hug Zeke anymore! That absolutely killed me. I find these books kind of crazy because I have red hair, my nickname is red, I'm from Missoula Montana, I'm a tattoo artist, I have a loud sarcastic personality and all guy friends for the most part. My dad raised wolves and rehabilitated them like Zeke's family does. And I used to sing in a band when I was younger. My dad passed away from a freak accident as well. So this book really spoke to me on a lot of different levels and it was kind of crazy! I swear I wondered if I knew the author! But as a whole I cannot tell you how much I love this series and how much I wait for the next book! Incredibly addicting and I highly recommend!
I love RH and I even love slow burns a lot ...
First of all, I'm giving this a five star review because while I have issues with the story-line, they are probably MY issues and not with the quality of writing. I love RH and I even love slow burns a lot but the progress of this story is painful. It wouldn't be so bad if it was KU but it's not. It's not even a 2.99 book. It's a 5 dollar book with just straight character development. Don't get me wrong, I love the characters but I'm seriously ready for them to do something substantial. The effects of her attack are relatively realistic and I appreciate that, but now I'm starting to worry that it was a mistake for the author to put that scenario in her series because it's moved from a love story into a series about PSTD after kidnapping. It's a touching subject and one that needs to be addressed but it's not what I thought the books would be about. So okay, I've bought and read through all these books, not make them do something.
Best in the Series Yet! Loved All the New POVs
So, I'm one of THOSE obsessed fans of this series. I found it after book 2 came out and I joined the cult. ;) This book did NOT disappoint. I truly believe this is BL's best book yet. The original three were great. BL's characters and storytelling are unlike anyone else is the best possible way. However, the editing in the first three books left a bit to be desired. There were mistakes throughout. Nothing that mattered or really altered the meaning of a given sentence. I'm a bit of a grammar nazi, so these sorts of things jump out to me. They're natural. We all have typos, even after being proofed by multiple people. This book was practically error-free. Alright, time for a bit of a confession: This book is RH, so #whychoose. We all know Lexie's going to end up with all of the boys. But Ethan has always been my favorite. As a definite audiophile like Lexie, his musical ability, affinity to monochromatic attire, and honesty with his emotions, Ethan has always had a special draw for me. So this book focuses mostly on Ethan (and by extension Isaac, though it seems he's going to get his own book later). There is SO much you learn in this book. The knowledge shared about the "supernatural" side of things is MUCH more in this book than in the first 3. This book answers many questions about the twins past as well as the intricacies of Lexie's world. We also get MANY different points of view in this book. We get to read brief snippets from Asher, Ethan, Isaac, and even one from Rory. BL switches POVs very well. The guys' sections are short, but insightful. Without giving away too much or distracting from Lexie too much. All in all, definitely the best book of the series yet. I can't wait to see what BL comes out with next.
When you least expect it, you're elected
Lexie has dealt with abuse, trauma, ghosts, 5 overly protective guys and a smug witch. After Clay and her mom she's pretty much able to handle anything, right? Except everything just keeps piling on. No sleep, Sophie is ready to cross, she keeps having flashbacks, Tara is alternating between sympathetic and diabolical, and she still has to tell the twins that their sister is the one haunting their house. Can she at least tag in another player to help in this challenge?? Spoilers ahead. Lexie is recovering from Clay. Therapy is helping. So is Hades. Rory feels more like family again. You can really feel him trying to bond. Tara, well... You can't tell with her. She's noticing more, about Lexie and how Rory reacts to her. Add that to the fact that she's friends with the 2 guys she has a crush on and it gets volatile. I enjoyed the scene with Jessica. Not for the violence, but hopefully because it will shake her up. We keep getting these teasing hints at the past that explain some things, but lead to more questions, too. I like the mystery. This book was less angst and more healing. Learning to forgive, let people not just be in your life but be part of your life.
Draaaaamaaaaaa!!
Lots of depression comes out to play in this one. Lexie tries to deal with her ghost problems herself and is confused about all the attention and attraction btwn her and the guys. She finally tells Isaac and Ethan about Sophie, who dont take it well. Isaac is even more out of control. Zeke is dealing with his guilt after the attack by Clay on Lexie. Miles is dealing with being in his house alone. Asher tries to deal with his sister Jessica and his dad is starting to come into play. Tara has mood swings btwn nice and mean. Lexie deals with vice principal, and bully, Mrs. Weaver. She also comes into new powers recently, scaring her, and almost dies getting jumped by another ghost. She comes to find out her life could be in danger from more than ghosts and Serena cant be trusted. ...*whew!*
The Love Hexagon is Gettin' Real
Whispers from the Dead heavily digs into two big problems: the overwhelming dead that are being drawn to Lexie & Sophie's readiness to move on through the Veil. I feel like Lexie had some real victories in books 2 & 3 in terms of learning more about her powers and finding a way to connect with the Veil/calm The Way. In book 4, we see that some new roadblocks are coming up in her way; there's just so many dead that it's starting to take a real toll on her life and her safety. The biggest thing that I disliked was that Lexie keeps the trouble she's having from the guys. It SEEMS like, by the end of the book, that she's ready to go ALL IN. For me, that's a relief. The idea of whether or not the guys will desert her is something that really plagues her, but they've already stood by her through so much that I really want to see her acknowledge and believe their loyalty & love for her. Brunnemer finally gives us the details of the twins' car accident and Sophie's death, and it's exactly as heartbreaking as I thought it would be. The entire story line about Sophie's moving on was well-written, and opens up so much more in terms of both plot and the twins' relationships with Lexie. We get a little closure, but there are also big wounds that are reopened and new ones left behind. There's a lot of dominoes that are going to fall from this. Whispers from the Dead also starts to amp up the tension between the guys and Lexie to the point where something has to happen soon. I cannot wait for the world's most awkward family meeting. With Lexie growing closer to each of the guys every day, and seeing new sides to them that get those butterflies fluttering, I'm expecting the next two books to be SO important. Personally, I am completely torn as to my favorite guys. Right now, I think Miles is still in the lead, but Whispers in the Dark gives Ethan a lot of spotlight that makes it impossible to not recognize why the sparks are starting to fly between him and our leading lady. Can't wait for what's next!!!
Gosh it just keeps getting better!!
This series just keeps getting better! My only complaint? That I need to wait for the next book!!! I am not a patient person!! LOL! This series is the true definition of a slow burn Reverse Harem series! The author is so very talented, developing her characters over the course of the last few books, as opposed to throwing their nature at you too suddenly!! Alexis is an amazing protagonist and heroine! She's equal parts feisty, confident, kick ass and independent; yet balanced perfectly by her fragile, self deprecating moments, this keeps her BELIEVABLE, it makes her so much more real and HONEST...you feel for her, and walk the journey along with her and her guys! The guys, oyyyyy where do I even begin?! :) You know an author has "gotten it right," when your favorite hero changes and moves from one guy to the next as books continue...until you realize that you DO NOT HAVE A FAVORITE, that they are all equally amazing and THAT is what makes reverse Harem romance work!!! They only truly work when you're equally invested in the heroine and heroes developing relationship with EACH guy! You know it's the right "equation" when each hero feels as if they are equally compatible with the heroine and that you'd be devastated if she chose only one, or even only two, lol. That the only way to have the series work is to have the heroine be in love and loved equally by all her guys! Now THAT is a true Reverse Harem!! BL Bruneman understands this dynamic, better still, she cultivates the relationships honestly, organically, they grow like a true plant would grow, from the small seeds, to the blossoming, and you become so psyched to see hat blossoming occur you're Impatient for he heroine to bring all the guys to the same point, to have them all UNDERSTAND what they all mean to her; that her love is TRUE LOVE, not just friend love, although having the friend dynamic makes for the best romantic love there is!!! Again, by far the best Reverse Harem series I've encountered (you know I'm all in when I can even ignore the grammatical issues that pop up here and there lol) I don't know how I'll last until book 4!! The full book 4! My only hope...that since 3.5 was shorter, that she'll release 4 sooner!! Like, uhm, next month? ;) please please pretty please, I'm prepared to beg here!! LOL! Don't be a doubter!! READ THIS SERIES, and get prepared to fall in love with Alexis and her amazingly dreamy group of guys; Asher (love him! Hot, athletic, dominant and yet sensitive, so dreamy) Miles oh Miles, (smart and athletic is sooooo attractive!) Zeke (big and powerful and protective is incredible) Ethan (humorous and artistic is hot!) Isaac (sensitive is beautiful!) Alexis is one amazingly lucky (she deserves them all) girl!!!
A great addition to one of my favorite series's
I can't get enough of this series. I've never reread a series immediately after reading it until this, let alone reread the same book twice in the same day like I did with Whispers From The Dead today. This book was shorter in length than the previous 3 in the series, (6+ hours to read through compared to her usual 12+), but it was exactly what the story needed to advance the storyline and help our main characters heal from the end of book 3. There is PTSD, and triggers for it that our heroine Lexie is dealing with, but she's creating a new normal and accepting that things are different and that it's OK. She's also getting over her abandonment issues, which had drug on long enough and she really needed to accept she has the best support system a girl could ever dream of. We get to see more of some characters we've seen less of in the previous books, and less of some who have been more dominant before now, which was good. This is a slow build up to a great RH romance, and the author is making sure we're all in love with the guys as equals. It's going to be epic when it all comes together. I love where the paranormal storyline is going. This book introduced more direction to it we can look forward to seeing in the upcoming books. It isn't scary enough that I've wanted to put my book in the freezer to take a break (that's a FRIENDS reference btw), but it's been enough to want to turn on another light in the room. The author is good enough to get that scary if she wanted to though, so we'll have to wait and see. We are dealing with ghosts here. I've only had one critique for this series, but less so in this book in particular, and that has been the line editing. It's never been bad enough that I want to stop reading it, I can usually skip over the error without much disruption to the flow. And, the author has gone back to make updates to fix those errors in the 1st book so far. I just think the use of the Oxford comma could be utilized a little better. At the end of someones dialogue when expressing how it came out for example, she'll say "he asked his voice concerned", like he's asking his voice to be concerned. This book hasn't been as big of an offender in instances like this, but there are a handful. Still, I've read a whole lot worse from other authors, and it's isn't enough of a writing sin to decrease my enjoyment of this series. Overall, I loved this new addition to a highly enjoyable series. It's one of my favorite book series ever, and I am a book lover.
Nicole
This series is driving me nuts!!!!! I liked this book better bc it didn't read like an episode of Friends! Why was the situations the twins not handled to my liking! They ignored everyone then bam settled! What is up w that evil vice principal??? Thank God for Rory... poor Rory, why is he still not more involved? I still hate Tara and Ashers sister! It was a break to have Lexie struggle and trying to deal but in an so tired of her thinking the boys and Rory will leave her, they Won't! It was sweet when they redid the house so she wouldn't be upset. I feel like there is enough drama to be settled but then new stuff enters and its not really settled. Example, the ghosts cause physical harm to your friend, why would you bring said friend to a haunted hospital??Then, sheds creepy dark things and its like just don't go near there and they Won't hurt you enter those two annoying ghost hunters, I mean arrrgg! Deal w the veil, friends, Rory, Tara, there's enough plot to keep going just give us some growth and resolve!!!!
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