Queen of the Dead Review

Author: Stacey Kade
Release Date: May 31, 2011
Pages: 266 (E-book)
Publisher: Hyperion
Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: From Netgalley for review
Other titles in series: The Ghost and the Goth

After being sent back from the light, Alona Dare - former homecoming queen, current Queen of the Dead - finds herself doing something she never expected: working. Instead of spending days perfecting her tan by the pool (her typical summer routine when she was, you know, alive), Alona must now cater to the needs of other lost spirits. By her side for all of this - ugh - “helping of others” is Will Killian: social outcast, seer of the dead, and someone Alona cares about more than she’d like. Before Alona can make a final ruling on Will’s “friend” or “more” status, though, she discovers trouble at home.

Unfortunately for Alona, Will has other stuff on his mind, and Mina, a young (and beautiful) seer, is at the top of the list. She’s the first ghost-talker Will’s ever met—aside from his father—and she may hold answers to Will’s troubled past. But can she be trusted? Alona immediately puts a check mark in the “clearly not” column. But Will is - ahem - willing to find out, even if it means leaving a hurt and angry Alona to her own devices, which is never a good idea.

I enjoyed The Ghost and the Goth a decent amount, as I did Queen of the Dead, though I think I enjoyed this book even more than I did the first. The plot is full of twists and drama and I was entertained for every minute of it.

Alona is much less annoying in this installment (woo!), and Will's angst is never over-the-top and always believable. I have so much fun rooting for the two of them to solve their life and death problems, as well as become a couple. 

There are very few side characters in the novel, and we don't get to know the few that are, unfortunately. Maybe we'll learn more about them in the next book? (But nothing could make me like Mina either way. Just for the record.)

The Ghost and the Goth series is just plain fluffy fun. This story doesn't really stay with me for long, but I enjoy it while I read it. Queen of the Dead takes this series to a place I would've never expected it to go, and I'm excited to read the next book.

Plot: Unpredictable and entertaining.

Characters: Alona and Will (especially Will) are so easy to like.

Writing: Pretty good.

Ending: Um, how's that gonna work?!

Kid friendly? There's some swearing and mentions of pot, and making out, but nothing too serious.
Should I read it? If you read and enjoyed The Ghost and the Goth, you'll devour Queen of the Dead!

Overall: