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Dead Is Just a Dream Marlene Perez

Jessica and the other viragos are having a hard time figuring out Nightshade’s most recent run of murders. People are dying with looks of terror on their faces. They can’t figure out a pattern, and there are too many suspects. Is it the new art teacher who specializes in creepy marionettes? What about the landscape artist whose work has suddenly taken a morbid and disturbing tone? Or is it the ghostly horse that runs through town at night? And why does Jessica keep seeing a clown with a mouth of dripping blood outside her window in the middle of the night? To make matters worse, Dominic’s ex-girlfriend is in town and is making no secret of the fact she wants him back.

I love this series. This is a fun installment because it features the return of Daisy. Where she’s been in the periphery of the last few books, she and Jessica team up to solve this mystery, which is hitting really close to home when Sam ends up in an nightmare coma. Also, unlike some of the other mysteries, this one was hard to figure out because there were a lot of likely suspects and no clear pattern.

I like how this series balances paranormal mystery drama and regular high school drama. In addition to Dominic’s ex-girlfriend hanging around, graduation is looming, and Side Effects May Vary is going on tour, all of which make Jessica insecure about their relationship’s future. It manages to balance the different sides of the story with a light town that really works and why this entire series is consistently a delight.

The first printings also have a bonus short-story that works as an epilogue to the whole series (so I think this may sadly be the last one.)


Book Provided by... my local library

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Dead is a Killer Tune Marlene Perez

Nightshade is having a battle of the bands! Local favorites Side Effects May Vary and Drew Barrymore's Boyfriends are up against some new comers. Moonlight and Magic features Selena, Connor and Harmony. Harmony's never been able to sing before, but she's tearing up the lead vocals now. Hamlin is a band from out of town, but their fans follow them everywhere. But when band members start acting strangely, even turning up dead, Jess and the other Viragos are on the case, with some complications. Flo's best friend may be involved, but she refuses to see it. And, Jess has been drafted to fill in some holes in Side Effects May Vary! EEP!

You have a band called Hamlin, whose fans follow them around on tour. It's not hard to see where this one is going. There are a few nefarious threads going on, and it's hard to see if they're all related or not. The different threads also throw out lots of red herrings, to keep this one fun and interesting.

I also like how Dominic is a seer and his prophesies appear in songs. I missed the psychic jukebox from the earlier books. I continue to enjoy the new track Perez has taken with this series. Daisy's story was pretty much done, but there is still so much material in Nightshade, so focusing on Jess coming in to her abilities is great and works really well.

Now, to wait another year until the next one!


Book Provided by... my local library

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

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Dead Is a Battlefield Marlene Perez

I thought the Dead Is... series was well, dead, with Daisy graduated and off to college and the scourge taken care of.

And it is, kinda.

Remember Daisy's BFF Samantha's boyfriend, Sean? And how Sean had a million sisters? Well, this new book is about one of those sisters, Jessica, who's starting her freshman year at Nightshade. And she's just discovered that she's a Virago-- a woman warrior who's charged with protecting her town, and under the training to everyone's favorite waitress, Flo. Plus, new hottt boys, and well, a bunch of crazy love zombies (this is, after all, Nightshade.)

While I miss Daisy and her friends, I think this was a good way to keep the series going. And, we still get a lot of the characters that we're used to. It's a little annoying because as a reader, we know SO MUCH MORE about Nightshade than Jessica does, but she'll figure it out pretty quickly.

I'm really happy that this series isn't dead. I'd still start with Dead Is the New Black if you haven't yet, but if you're a fan, rejoice in the fact that there is more!

Book Provided by... my local library

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

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Dead Is Not an Option Marlene Perez

There's never a quiet day in Nightshade.

Tension is running high between the Were and Vamp population, with people being attacked on both sides. Daisy and the Council are doing their best to avoid full-on war, but it's hard. Things get so bad that prom gets canceled in the name of safety.

At the same time Dracula's in town and his grandson is Poppy's new guy, and Circe is back and Council doesn't seem that concerned that she's not doing anything to help turn Bam and Lily back into themselves.

To top it all off, high school is almost done and Daisy hasn't heard back from ANY of her college applications, yes or no. Everyone else knows what they're doing, except for Daisy.

Good-- we finally find out who's in charge of the Scourge. While it was hinted at pretty heavily in this book, I don't remember any clues pointing in that direction in previous volumes.

More good-- this ISN'T the end of the series! Hurrah! No cliffhanger endings where I MUST KNOW MORE, but characters I enjoy and love, a fun voice, and a great balance of dark mystery and light beach read make me gobble these up.

Sad-- we lose a character we know and love. :(

This is a bit darker than previous installments (see the sad above!) but overall, do you like the series? Yes? Then this is a good one. If you haven't read the series yet, go back and start with the first one and work your way up to this one.

Oh! And there's a cool librarian that plays a minor role in this one. I knew I could trust her. She was a librarian, after all. It was their job to save lives with books (p56)

ARC Provided by... the publisher at ALA midwinter

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Dead Is Just a Rumor Marlene Perez

Daisy's father is back, and it's not easy. After being away for so long, he has a hard time coming to grips with the fact that Daisy's a senior in high school, has a boyfriend, a job, and isn't used to having a curfew. It's a very hard adjustment period on all sides.

To top it off, someone is blackmailing Nightshade's paranormal community (but not Daisy's family, for some reason.)

And, Daisy won cooking lessons with Circe Silvertongue, the famous TV chef, only Circe's a total rhymes-with-witch.

I had a few problems with this one-- where was Daisy's mom to talk her dad down from some of the craziness? Also, the thing with Circe was obvious to me, especially because HER NAME WAS CIRCE AND SHE HAD A PET PIG WITH MOURNFUL EYES.

But, I did still like it, I liked the blackmail mystery and the tension as Daisy got used to her father again.

And Ryan continues to be hot and awesome. Yum. Ryan.

And I love that Jukebox even more.

The next book, Dead Is Not an Option comes out in May and is the last in the series. I can't wait.

Book Provided by... my local library

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

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Dead Is So Last Year Marlene Perez

It's summer in Nightshade! Daisy, Poppy, and Rose are on their own because their mom's overseas working on a case. The girls all have jobs-- Daisy's at Slim's diner, Poppy's working on the boardwalk and Rose gets to be a research assistant for a professor she idolizes.

But... it seems that Nightshade has a serious sugar addiction issues-- no one can keep their hands off the doughnuts. Even weirder, their seem to be doppelgangers of people showing up all over town and wreaking some serious havoc. Even more so when one of the doppelgangers is Daisy's long-lost father...

I read this when it first came out, over a year ago, so I can't remember much about it besides the fact I liked it. I enjoy this series. Sorry to not be more helpful.

This is one of the reasons I'm trying to be more diligent about reviewing shortly after I finish a book. The problem is that when I read a library book, I review it before I return it, so it works. When I buy a book it tends to languish in my "to review" pile because I'm so busy reviewing the library books. Must. Work. On. This.

Book Provided by... my wallet

Links to Amazon are an affiliate link. You can help support Biblio File by purchasing any item (not just the one linked to!) through these links. Read my full disclosure statement.

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Teen psychic sleuth Daisy Giordano is back on a case.  This time it involves a string of mysterious letters that seem to be blackmailing those who have paranormal abilities.  Daisy is determined to find out who's behind this.  But her overprotective father is watching her every move and doesn't approve of her relationship with her boyfriend, Ryan.  Add to that a new guidance counselor who is determined to also separate Daisy and Ryan.  Plus, a sinister celebrity chef Circe Sivertongue who has secrets of her own.  Dead is Just a Rumor continues Daisy Giordano's adventures with a sassy, upbeat heroine that is sure to make you smile.

Click here to read more of my review.

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Rainy rainy rainy. I feel bad for my poor puppy that had to suffer through the scariest thing in the world ALL BY HERSELF today. (Scariest thing in the world? Thunder.) But, every so often, I see a glimpse of sun. Huzzah!

Also, there's a new Students Across the Seven Seas book out, Great Call of China! Not only a new book, but it's about CHINA!!!! Why o why doesn't my library have this yet?!

Anyway, today we have the second book in 2 series that I think are going to be trilogies. Not that I know they are, but that's what my gut is telling me. I listen to my gut, especially when it says "I WANT PIZZA."

Dead Is a State of Mind Marlene Perez

I loved this for all the reasons I loved Dead Is the New Black. Silly and fun, this time Nightshade has some serious werewolf issues. Even worse, Ryan seems to be pulling away from Daisy and spending an awful lot of time with the absolutely stunning newcomer, Elisa. Not that Daisy doesn't have her own new guy--Duke's a gorgeous fortune-teller that just won't leave her alone. At least she doesn't have to go to cheer leading practice, right?

Also, the best part? One of snarky-waitress Flo's t-shirts says "SCROTUM IS JUST A WORD" Big props for random The Higher Power of Lucky references thrown into fun YA lit!

Dead Is So Last Year is out now! (According to Amazon) Huzzah!


Fade Lisa McMann

Wake really surprised me, by being the opposite of what I thought it would be. Fade doesn't disappoint.

The police suspect that there is a sexual predator among the teaching staff at Janie and Cable's high school. The two are on the case. This involves Janie basically using herself as bait to catch the creep, which is something Cable has very big issues with and is straining their relationship. Janie's learning how to control her catching talent to make it useful, but there are starting to be some pretty bad side-effects and when she reads through Miss Stubbins's old notes, she finds out some truly shocking and horrible things.

This is definitely darker than Wake. The mystery is more immediate for Janie and the dreams she delves into for clues are worse. Plus, Janie has to use more than her dream-catching abilities to help catch the bad guys, which may be more than she can handle.

I'm really looking forward to Gone which will come out next February.

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I have had Romeo by Basement Jaxx in my head ALL DAY. Which means I've been dancing in my chair ALL DAY.

Anyway, this weekend I had the pleasure to read a book that I normally wouldn't have picked up, but I had to read it for work.

Dead Is the New Black Marlene Perez

Weird things happen in Nightshade, so Daisy isn't too surprised to find out that new jukebox at the diner is haunted to play prophetic songs, or that the head cheerleader showed up on the first day of junior year, dead and toting around her own coffin. I mean, everyone else in Daisy's family is psychic.

But some weird stuff isn't good. Like the fact that a dead body ran away from the morgue and there's a psyonic vampire on the loose (one that sucks your soul, not your blood.) Daisy might not have her mother's or sisters' pyschic abilities, but she's still on the case. Is Sam really dead or just starting a weird new trend? Is she the killer vamp? Daisy's about the join the cheerleading squad to find out.

An engaging story that's funny and fun instead of scary and dark, even though Nightshade is full of characters that usually populate horror novels. I especially enjoyed the craziness of does he like me or not amidst the investigation and the interaction between Daisy and her older sisters. Daisy often feels left behind and left out, not only because she's the youngest, but because she doesn't have any powers of her own. Immensely readable and enjoyable.

I can't wait until my hold copy of Dead Is a State of Mind.

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Ever since I was little I’ve had a thing for series. I fall so in love with characters that I hate the idea of never seeing them again and series allow me to continue visiting with these people who’ve become real to me and to watch them grow. At my library it’s practically impossible to find the first book in a series on the shelf. Either it’s checked out or it’s been stolen (sad but true). As I’ve mentioned, I’m working on a sequel to Sleepless and I’d love nothing more than to develop Trinity as a super-sleuth/dream warrior. With that hope in mind, I’m offering a contest with the first books in some of my favorite YA series.

Marked – House of Night Series – P.C. and Kristin Cast
Prom Dates from Hell – Maggie Quinn Series – Rosemary Clement Moore
Dead is the New Black – Nightshade series - Marlene Perez

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To enter please leave a comment telling me why you like (or don’t like) series and what your favorite series is. The close of this contest is midnight on February 13, 2009. A random drawing will determine the winner on Valentine’s Day. If you’d like to earn an extra entry, please spread the word about my contest. Send me a link to the buzz you’ve posted on your blog or website and I’ll give you another spot in the pot. Good luck!   

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Marlene Perez is the author of DEAD IS THE NEW BLACK. She lives in Orange County, California, where she's always on the lookout for vampires roaming her sunny suburb. So far, she hasn't spotted any. www.marleneperez.com

1) what's your book about?
DEAD IS THE NEW BLACK is the first book in a trilogy.

2) favorite Halloween candy?
mini mint Three Musketeers bars or those mellocreme pumpkins.

3) favorite spooky novel?
LOST BOY LOST GIRL by Peter Straub creeped me out. But my childhood favorite was WOLVES OF WILLOUGHBY CHASE by Joan Aiken.

4) fangs or fur?
Fangs. Vamps rule and werewolves drool.

5) Monster Mash, Thriller, or The Time Warp?
It's a tie. I love The Time Warp, but Thriller has Vincent Price doing a voice-over.

6) cape or no cape?
cape. I'm old-school.

7) Bela Lugosi or Gary Oldman?
Gary Oldman! I know Bela Lugosi is the premiere vamp, but Gary Oldman rocked the house as Sid Vicious, Dracula and Sirius Black.

8) Trick or Treat?
treat.

9) favorite costume?
Hmm. On me or someone else? My best friend and I (our names both start with M) once dressed up as M&M candies. Not very scary, but fun.

10) favorite scary movie or television show?
SCARY MOVIE: THE LOST BOYS
TELEVISION SHOW: Buffy, of course

11) what really scares you? (like spiders or the dark or whatever)
Lots of things. I'm a wimp. Spiders, heights, people who don't vote.

12) what’s your favorite way to spend Halloween night?
The people in our neighborhood all hang out together, then a group of parents & kids go trick-or-treating. I stay home and hand out candy. Then after the kids have gorged themselves on chocolate and have crashed, my husband and I watch a movie.

13) what’s the scariest thing that ever happened to you?
When I was growing up, I lived in an old farmhouse that was haunted.

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