Today is the release day of Death of the Body by Rick Chiantaretto!
Title: Death of the Body
Series: (Crossing Death #1)
Author: Rick Chiantaretto
Genre: New Adult Urban Fantasy
I
grew up in a world of magic. By the time I was ten I understood nature,
talked to the trees, and listened to the wind. When the kingdom of men
conquered my town, I was murdered by one of my own—the betrayer of my
kind. But I didn't stay dead.
I
woke to find myself in a strange new world called Los Angeles. The only
keys to the life I remembered were my father’s ring, my unique
abilities, and the onslaught of demons that seemed hell-bent on finding
me. Now I must learn who I really am, protect my friends, get the girl,
and find my way back to my beloved hometown of Orenda.
Writing Style:
I would describe Rick Chiantaretto’s writing as vivid and articulate.
The horror elements in his writing are gruesome and fear-inducing. The world he
creates is astonishing and quite complex; it draws you in and takes you on hell
of a ride that will leave you gasping for breath. His character development is remarkable;
each character comes to life before your eyes in such a realistic manner. You
can literally feel their emotions flow off the pages. The magical elements are fantastically
intriguing and will make you wish you had the ability to perform magic yourself.
I loved how Death of the Body was divided up into three
sections, (Prologue, Reborn, and Recovery) because they represent a timeline of
Edmund’s journey. Each section covers a different stage in his life and brings
his past and present together beautifully. The different sections make the book
a breeze to read and give you built-in intermissions. I found this to be a
double plus because once you start this book you don’t want to put it down. (Unfortunately
humans have to eat sometimes)
My opinion:
Death of the Body wasn’t what I expected it to be…. It was
so much more! It honestly scared the daylights out of me. The energumen
(demons) in this book are absolutely terrifying and vicious things. I’ve been freaking out every time I hear the
wind blow loudly or see a strange dark shadow. One encounter Edmund had in particular
has shaken me to the core. I’m not sure I will ever be able to get the image
out of my mind. This is saying a lot because it takes a lot to freak me out, I
totally don’t scare easily. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the second
teaser pictured above is from that very encounter. *shudders*
Edmund has such a strong will to live. He is loyal,
compassionate, and brave. My heart aches for him because everything has been
taken away from him, yet his hope never falters. He goes through some horrible situations that
would break most people but he always finds a way to survive. I have a feeling
that no matter what happens he will find a way to make things right. He is a
fighter and will do anything it takes to get justice for his people. I cannot
wait to continue on with him in his journey!
As a whole I loved just about everything in this novel. I
was a little taken back by all the religious references at first, sometimes a
bit confused, but they are important to the story. Without them the book would seem
incomplete. In the end everything falls into place and makes perfect sense. I
just wish it didn’t end in a cliff-hanger because now I have to wait to find
out what happens. I hate not knowing. The wait for the next book may kill me.
Any book that can terrify me to the core and make my nerves
a bit unsteady deserves to be read. When I calmed down, I found this book to be
thought provoking. My curiosity is peaked; I need to know more about the 7
levels and the unknown. I really really really want the next book like right
now. Patience is not a virtue I have mastered yet. So what are you waiting for?
Go get your copy of Death of the Body… you won’t regret it!
I’ve often been accused of having done more in my life than the average 30 year old, but if I were completely honest I’d have to tell you my secret: I’m really 392.
So after all this time, I’m a pretty crappy writer.
I have one book published but out of print, one coming out soon, and a bunch half written (when you have eternity, where’s the reason to rush?). I’ve been favorably reviewed by horror greats like Nancy Kilpatrick, and my how-to-write-horror articles have been quoted in scholarly (aka community college freshmen’s) papers.
I enjoy the occasional Bloody Mary, although a Bloody Kathy or Susan will suffice.
Mostly, I just try to keep a low profile so people don’t figure out who I REALLY am.
