Review - Phoenix (Beautiful Dead #4) by Eden Maguire

Title: Phoenix

Author: Eden Maguire

Series: Beautiful Dead (Jonas, Arizona, Summer)

Pages: 304

Published: October 1, 2011 by Sourcebooks Fire

ISBN: 9781402239472

Source: Publisher sent for honest review

Description: Everything has been building to this moment, but Darina knows that solving the mystery of her undead boyfriend's death will lead to their final parting. Her emotions in turmoil, Darina begins to unscramble the facts, but she's up against mounting obstacles that blur and block the truth. With time running out and Phoenix in danger of being sent back into limbo forever, Darina is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice.

I Give This ...

I have to admit this book was what I was looking forward to.  The entire series I've been waiting for Darina to be able to solve Phoenix's death.  The idea that someone you love could play such an intricate part in whether you could pass on or being eternally stuck in limbo is one that I wouldn't have thought of.

I don't blame Darina for being so anti Beautiful Dead.  I wonder if she thinks if she ignores the upcoming anniversary of Phoenix's death, if she just won't have to deal with it.  I think the hardest thing for her is coming to terms with this time Phoenix really will be gone.  So for awhile there, she really just checks out.

But when she finally decides the helping Phoenix really is the best way to go, she goes at with all her heart.  If when finding out all the details really put her in danger.  When no one else believes that she can come through it all, she tries harder.  I wasn't surprised at what really happened that night.  It makes a lot of sense in hindsight.  I was surprised at the depths people will go to hide other crimes committed in a long string of events before Phoenix's death.

So, why I liked the story line, I found the book to be on the slow side.  I for some reason just wasn't as invested in it as I have been the past books in the series.  I was also really expecting something more for the ending. 

Review: Summer (Beautiful Dead #3) by Eden Maguire

Title: Summer

Author: Eden Maguire

Series: 2rd in Beautiful Dead

Pages: 288

Published: Available now from Sourcebooks

ISBN: 9781402239465

Source: Publisher provided

Description: In order to spend time with her undead boyfriend, Phoenix, Darina must help solve the murder of the third member of the Beautiful Dead. The gorgeous and talented singer/songwriter Summer Madison was shot dead in broad daylight by a crazed killer. Will Darina be able to solve the mystery in time to save Summer from eternal limbo?

I Give This ...

I've enjoyed The Beautiful dead series so far.  The idea is interesting and really hooks you from the very first book.  You're invested and want to know what a really happened to all four teenagers.  Which, really is a brilliant marketing idea.

But, this one felt really repetitive.   We know that the first part of the book is going to be Darina going crazy with grief for Phoenix.  She's actually annoying about it this time around.  The Beautiful Dead show up with hardly anytime to spare, just like always.  Hunter makes Darina feel like crap, again.  Oh...and there's time travel (surprise).   Which again seems to completely negate the reasons Darina is even there.

Despite that, I like Darina the minute she has a mission.  Granted she's given quite a bit of direction this time around.  But, I think it's different because she and Summer were actually close friends.  Helping finding Summer's killer seems to be helping her heal.   I liked reading about the rehearsals for the tribute concert and especially the crazy fan.  

I will read the next one.  I want to know what really happened to Phoenix.  I want to see how Darina handles finding the truth knowing when she does, Phoenix will be gone forever.  Although, I wouldn't be surprised at some twist in the story were they somehow can still be together.

Arizona (Beautiful Dead #2) by Eden Maguire

Title: Arizona

Series: 2nd in Beautiful Dead

Author: Eden Maguire

Published: October 1, 2010 by Sourcebooks Fire

Pages: 288

ISBN: 9781402239458

Source: Sent for review from Publisher

Description: There's been no sign of the Beautiful Dead for weeks. Darina achingly misses Phoenix all over again. But surely he will return with the rest of the Beautiful Dead as so much still remains unresolved. It's been ten months since Arizona drowned in Hartmann Lake. Suicide, it would seem. But something doesn't add up. Drowning herself in a hidden - away lake does not sound like strong, confident, Arizona: Ellerton High School's high-maintenance drama queen. Darina needs to help Arizona the way she helped Jonas. But time is running out...

I Give This ...

After thinking the first in the series was only so-so, I didn't set my expectations to high for this second installment.  I'm happy to report that enjoyed it way more than the first.  Even better, the word Zombie wasn't even mentioned once in this one.

I do have to point out that this series seems to have some glaring faults.  The first being, I'm sure in a sane world, an autopsy would have been performed on Arizona.  And the placement of her wings tattoo doesn't make a lot of sense when the description of what actually happened is revealed.  In my eyes, she technically did drown.   Also, I don't understand what the beautiful dead for 18 months.  Darina gets about a week to help them, but even she doesn't do much.  Hunter is the one who actually solves the mystery.  Why can't he do that all along?

Despite all that, I really like the story this time.  I think it's because I liked Arizona more.   Her life leading up to her death was way more complex that I thought possible.  She's hiding so much from everybody, and it's interesting to watch all the facts unfold.  And what really happened was crazy.  Not to mention the events that occur right after we learn the truth.  I don't think justice was truly served.

I also liked Phoenix and Darina's relationship in this one.  It seemed more real and not nearly as rushed.  I also think Darina is starting to build more character, although I really wish there would be more of a connection with her mom.  Plus, the other character are starting to have more life.  

I'll be reading the next one.  I was to see how this all plays out in the end.   

 

Jonas (Beautiful Dead, #1) by Eden Maguire

Title: Jonas (Beautiful Dead)
Author: Eden Maguire
Published: republished March 1, 2010
Pages: 288
ISBN: 9781402239441
Source: ARC provided by Sourcebooks Fire

Description: Something strange is happening in Ellerton High. Phoenix is the fourth teenager to die within a year. His street fight stabbing follows the deaths of Jonas, Summer and Arizona in equally strange and sudden circumstances. Rumours of ghosts and strange happenings rip through the small community as it comes to terms with shock and loss.   Darina, Phoenix's grief-stricken girlfriend, is on the verge. She can't escape her intense heartache, or the impossible apparitions of those that are meant to be dead. And all the while the sound of beating wings echo inside her head...   And then one day Phoenix appears to Darina. He tells her that she must help Jonas - the first of the four to die - right the wrong linked with his death. Only with her help can Jonas finally rest in peace. Will love conquer death? And if it does, can Darina set it free?

I Give This Book 3.5 Stars!

I really wanted to like this book, and for the most part I did.  It was a fast and easy read.  Darina seemed a bit extreme to me at first (maybe I'm growing tired of the love-struck teenager role?).  But, she quickly grew on me.  She has a lot of backbone for a teenager.  I was impressed with the was she handled herself in a lot of the situations.  She also seemed genuinely concerned for a friend.  She knew that helping Jonas would also be helping her estranged best friend (her name escapes me at the moment).  I was not impressed with her parents, but I could see that being normal with a step-parent in the picture(another running theme is teen fiction).  The 4 dead teens and their "group" also make for interesting characters.  They added humor and definitely some suspense and terror to the story.  Although I wonder how they expected to right the wrongs associated with their deaths without Darina.  It's almost like they knew she would come help them.  I loved the idea of the angel wing tattoos marking them according to how they died.  It was an interesting idea to the story.
Now, there were a couple things that bring this book down for me.  First, the use of the word zombie.  When I think of zombie, I think of the living dead.  That's not what these people are.  They are more like ghosts with actual bodies.  Second, I really disliked the ending for some reason.  I was not surprised with the circumstances surrounding Jonas' death.  But, I thought he could have been vindicated differently.  I understood the feelings behind the extreme actions that brought about the ending.  It just left me with a bad taste in my mouth.  It felt over the top.  Last, but really not important, I wish the book was a little longer.  I felt like all the action took place way to fast.

 As part of the Beautiful Dead blog tour, here are links to other reviews by fellow bloggers! 

Park Avenue Princess	21-Mar
My Ever Expanding Library	22-Mar
Bri Meets Books	22-Mar
Book Loons	22-Mar
The Book Lush	23-Mar
Bran Hambric Fan Blog	24-Mar
Red Headed Book Child	24-Mar
Book Blather	25-Mar
Inside The Mind	25-Mar
National Children's Book Examiner	26-Mar
Babbling About Books, and More	26-Mar
Lauren’s Crammed Bookshelf	26-Mar

And if you are interested in reading the first chapter

Beautiful Dead Book 1: Jonas - Chapter 1 Excerpt