Three Days to Dead (Dreg City, Book 1)

Boring Boring Boring

While strolling through the new releases in the book section at Walmart, I saw this book. The cover attracted my attention right away. Dark, mysterious, dangerous, a sexy woman on the cover, how could I resist it? After reading the back cover, I was hook by the intriguing plot and hoped, that it was as good on the inside as it was on the outside. I wasn't disappointed. I can't imagine waking up, not knowing where I was or how I got there, (at least not without a few drinks thrown back as an excuse) but that is what happened to Evangeline "Evy" Stone. Can you imagine waking up and having a completely different body, very limited memories and you have three days till you die again? Truth be told, I would FREAK! Right from the get go, Meding had me hooked with the gritty D.O.A and dark twist, Very Cool! What I found really amazing, besides the intriguing plot, was the fantastic character growth. Kelly Meding brought the characters to life within the pages. Each character had amazing depth and I wasn't overwhelmed with heavily written adjectives. (Something alot of authors are unable to achieve.) The protagamist Evy, not only has to relive all that she endured before death and deal with the consequences of her previous life, she has to come to grips with the ones of the body she resides in, to include her relationship with the body's roommate. From the beginning, I joined Evy in the quest to recover her memories. I found myself, wondering how I would feel in this situation. Part of me would want to recover them, and part of me figured some things are best left alone. But like Evy, I would want to know them. That is powerful writing, when a story pulls you in like that, don't you agree? Needless to say, Evy gradually started recovering her memories. What she eventually found out was startling and unexpected. I was like WHOA...didn't see that coming. There are actually several moments throughout the book that made me feel that way. I have to say kudos to Meding for taking me on the journey and not giving the story a quick fix. Otherwise, I would have never known just how vulnerable Evy really was. Her relationship with Wyatt was wonderfully written. I appreciated how strong a survivor Evy was, but not so strong, that she doesn't struggle with certain intimacy issues when it comes to her handler, friend, and lover, Wyatt. Things are not all as it seems in this book. Friends are enemies and enemies are friends. I got sucked into the story and started seeing conspiracies everywhere. Kelly Meding has done a remarkable job in this book. She has managed to do what many authors still struggle to accomplish, she made the characters and situations come alive on the pages and in my imagination. It's hard to believe that this is her debut. It was very edgy, compelling and an exciting read, everything an urban fantasy novel should be. I look forward to reading her future works. A definate recommend!

I read a lot of urban fantasy. Some of it's comic, some of it's light "paranormal romance," and some of it's serious and dark...but whatever the tone, I insist that a book be entertaining. Damn, but this one delivers. This is a solidly-realized world, dark without depressing and detailed without overwhelming, with engaging characters and one heckuva hook. The last Urban Fantasy debut I enjoyed this much was Devon Monk's Magic to the Bone, the first in her Allie Beckstrom series. In fact, if you haven't read either author, take advantage of the 4-for-3 deal and pick up this book and the first three Beckstrom books in one bite. I'm not going to spoil "Three Days to Dead" by talking about the plot or dissecting the characters. You deserve the chance to discover the world and its players as I did: by accompanying a murdered woman on her quest for knowledge, justice, and vengeance. Buy this, read it, and enjoy. Then join me in waiting for the sequel.

It has been awhile since I have felt this passionate about a book. I love my romances with the steamy smex, but I also am a huge fan of urban fantasy. I love the altered worlds, kick ass heroines, the sexual tension, and great action. Three Days to Dead has it all, written so well there were times I had to make myself take a deep breath so I could get through the page. I laughed out loud and at one point I had to read with one eye open because of the awful things that were being done. This book also brought back my bad habit of sneaking peeks ahead. Yes, I'm a peeker and it is this book's fault. There were two occasions where I absolutely had to take a quick look to make sure a certain character was coming back. The reason I had to look is because Kelly Meding doesn't write a perfect world. Innocents die, bad things happen to characters you like, Evy doesn't always succeed in what she is trying to do. So as the reader, you are left on the edge of your seat without being able to guess what the outcome is going to be. Although the world has supernatural rules, it felt real. Bad things happen, and that makes a great book. There are about two hundred things I want to talk about, but I knew nothing of this book when I started it and I think it greatly enhanced my reading experience, so I am not going to go heavy into the plot. The book has one of the best beginnings I have read this year. Evy opens her eyes and she is in a morgue and in a different body, but she has retained her mind and memories - at least all of her memories except for the past few days - those detailing how and why she died. After scanning the charts, she discovers her new name is Challice. Desperate for clothes, money and transportation, she goes to Challice's address. Her plans become somewhat mottled when she runs into Alex, Challice's roommate who discovered Challice dead and identified her at the morgue. Think he is a bit freaked out to see her now? The world Evy lives in is full of magic, although most people don't even realize it. Most are oblivious because Evy has spent the past four years working in a secret organization. She is a bounty hunter that protects the innocent humans from the dregs - otherwise known as the vampires, goblins, shifters, etc. She works in what is called a triad, with two other team members. All triads have a handler that send them out on their mission. It can be a very violent job, and Evy has lived quite a hard life, but she likes it. Her triad is elite with more kills than any other. She likes to think of imaginative ways to kill the rogue supernaturals, she lives for that high. When Evy awakes in the morgue, she knows someone must have performed a spell to put her spirit in another body. But she has no idea who, nor why. She can't remember the past couple of days. She has no idea how or why she died. The last of her memories are of her teammates being killed, her being blamed for it, and innocent shifters being slaughtered. The only person t

Sometimes you stumble across a book that makes the your most recent purchases pale in comparison. A book that engages you from the first sentence and keeps the throttle on full tilt. "Three Days to Dead" is such a book. Evangeline Stone was a part of an elite group, called the Triad. Specialized bounty hunter/ assassins, they are charged to protect humankind from the things that go bump in the night. Everything was going along well until Evangeline woke up in the morgue. Upon awaking, Evy discovers she has two major problems. One, she died about a week ago; the other is that she has been resurrected into a strange new body and will die again in three days if she doesn't fulfill her mission. One major stumbling block is her lack of memory. The other is "allies" either won't help her or are hunting her as a fugitive. Those who do listen have the unfortunate habit of dropping like flies. One ray of light in this drama is Wyatt, her Handler (i.e. boss). The other is Alex, the best friend of Chalice, the body Evy now inhabits. I adored this complex world of Triads, Handlers, Bloods and Elves. Kelly Melding has built a multidimensional world of depth that is engaging to the most jaded urban fantasy connoisseur. While this world and the politics between the different factions were interesting, the characters make this book sing. Evy is the stereotypical tough-talking, smart-ass assassin. But underneath all that bravado, lies a confused, lonely, vulnerable and caring woman with common sense, a strong moral compass and unbreakable sense of loyalty to those she loves. I liked and understood her choices. Wyatt, her Handler is strong, capable, smart and flawed. His flaws made him human and a dream to read about. Their complex relationship lifted this above the majority of the books I have read lately. This book is filled with twists and turns that kept me guessing. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, it went in a different direction. Once I got started on this book, it was hard to put it down. I don't want to give away any spoilers. But the 400 pages were not enough for me. Evy's adventures will continue in another book next year. I can't wait to buy my copy. She joins the ranks of my favorite heroines- Mercy Thompson, Kate Daniels, and Anna Corrick. So run, don't walk, to the nearest bookstore(or keyboard)and pick up a copy. This book is definitely worth the price of admission.

Evangeline `'Evy'' Stone worked as a Dreg Bounty Hunter cleaning up the city by killing rogue goblins, trolls, vampires, and other creatures. She was part of a bounty hunter squad called a Triad but something went terribly wrong and all three people ended up dead. But somehow Evangeline has been resurrected and has three days more to live. She starts her first day by waking up naked on a morgue slab with out much recollection of what happened to her. Evy now inhabits a stranger's body and with her Triad all dead, there are not many people to go to for answers. One phone number and name is still fresh in Evy's mind so she reaches out to her boss aka her Handler, Wyatt. Wyatt informs Evy that he is the one who resurrected her because she knows something very important that she needs to tell him that could save the world. There was a rumor of the vampires uniting with goblins and if this happens it could cause horrible repercussions. Evy knows something and Wyatt needs to uncover this information to save everyone. But there's one problem. Evy's memories are very hazy and she can not remember what she needs to tell Wyatt. With only three days until she dies again, the time ticks down as the two of them run for their lives as fugitives accused of crimes they didn't commit. Will Evy be able to put together the clues as to why she and her squad were murdered? What does Evy know and will she remember in time to tell Wyatt? Three Days to Dead is the debut urban fantasy novel by new author Kelly Meding. The story starts off with Evy Stone waking up on a morgue slab, naked and in another person's body. I was immediately drawn into her world, curious, and anxious to find out how she ended up in this situation. The suspense is so intense in this book with the hours left for Evy to live counted down on the top of every chapter. Every scene is extremely vivid and I felt like I was right along side Evy, hiding from the cops behind the bushes. I could feel the branches scratch my body, my heart raced along with her, I was worried and scared, I felt everything she felt. Even though this is an urban fantasy novel and we all know that vampires and goblins aren't real and that people can't really be resurrected after dying, Kelly Meding made me believe it could happen. I felt like Evy Stone was telling me her story and I knew her, she was my friend. As she ran around the city, desperate for answers, not knowing who she could trust, I was right there by her side through it all, nervously turning the pages long into the night. When an author can make her characters come alive for the reader in such a way, I believe she has accomplished her goal. Three Days to Dead does not read like a debut novel. If I did not know this was Kelly Meding's first book I wouldn't believe you if you told me. The story is intricately written with sharp details, strong characterization, plenty of paranormal creatures, mystery, non -stop suspense, and a touch of romance. Three Days