The Stubborn Dead (Lost Souls) [Kindle Edition]

Natasha Hoar (Author)

Book Description

Rachel Miller thought her next job was a run-of-the-mill haunting. As a member of the Order of Rescue Mediums it's her duty to release trapped spirits from the earthly realm. But when called to client Sylvia Elkeles's house, she finds a wraith who doesn't act like he should.

The Order considers the wraith an extreme threat and Rachel may be forced to use a barbaric ritual to free him—a ritual that comes with a heavy personal price. If she fails to humanely release the wraith, she'll have her supernatural abilities bound.

When Janus Ostara—local supernatural mob boss—shows up demanding her attention, and Sylvia keeps secrets that may place Rachel in mortal danger, she doesn't need her abilities to know something darkly sinister is at play.

Between uncovering Sylvia's disturbing motives, and avoiding Janus, Rachel has enough on her hands without dealing with a wraith who may not realize he's supposed to be dead...

20,000 words

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Born in South Africa, Natasha moved to Canada in her 20s and settled just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia. This meant she was surrounded by an abundance of amazing natural beauty, interesting people from around the world to talk to and a fair bit of rain (which, oddly enough, she rather enjoys). She's always up for a good adventure, especially if it involves 'stumbling upon' movie or TV shoots, hunting for G1 My Little Ponies at local thrift shops, meandering through book and toy stores, or looking into paranormal phenomena.

Product Details

• File Size: 253 KB
• Print Length: 72 pages
• Publisher: Carina Press (January 23, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B006BVTFT4
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #548,907 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Short but Substantial Series Debut June 25, 2012

By Tracy TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition

Hindsight being what it is, Rachel Miller should have climbed right back on her motorcycle and ridden away as soon as she saw...and felt...the charming house she'd been called to clear of a dangerous spirit. The waves of rage and pain that emanate from the house jar every cell in her body. She had dealt with aggressive spirits before, though, and had plenty of experience in her job with the Order of Rescue Mediums. A wraith is nasty, but doable. Metaphysically speaking, at least.

When she engages the nasty spirit, trying to release it from the home, it doesn't respond like any other wraith Rachel has ever seen or heard of before, drawing into question just what, exactly, she is dealing with. If it's not a wraith, she has no idea what it is, and successfully releasing it just got a whole lot closer to impossible.

She can't just walk away, no harm, no foul, either. Once she actively engages a spirit, she is bound to follow through until either it's gone or she's dead. If she doesn't, she's kicked out of the Order, the repercussions of that so severe that dying by not-wraith may actually be preferable.

As if her situation isn't dire enough, she's got a supernatural mob boss all up in her business and her client is mixed up in something so threatening it forces Rachel to look over her own shoulder. She's definitely had easier jobs. If she can't get rid of whatever is in that house with the oh-so-bad vibes, though, she won't ever have another.

~*~

It's hard for me to believe, but with only about 20,000 words, Hoar created a totally satisfying, thoroughly entertaining urban fantasy series debut that rocked my world. I didn't even know that was possible. I'm sure part of my appreciation lies in my love for hauntings, ghosts, ghost busters, ghost investigations, et al., but without Hoar's deft and comprehensive storytelling ability, this very short but lovely story would have still fallen flat.

There isn't a significant amount of expansive world-building, or pages of exposition to set up the story and the characters, but as it turns out, Hoar didn't need it to kick her story off and make her main character, Rachel, believable and sympathetic. I enjoyed her. Her quick-witted, sardonic, take no prisoners personality is really right up my alley.

Combining that likable character with a main plotline that has depth and you have a story with teeth and enough layers to keep me coming back for more, unsure what to expect next but happy to find out. The building blocks for the future of the series were laid well, right alongside a fully realized story conflict with enough closure to make the novella feel complete. And okay, it's true, I sort of had an instant if perhaps unwise attraction to supernatural mob boss Janus. Maybe there's something wrong with me, but I swear, I adored the tension between him and Rachel.

There's no romance in this short novella, per se, but if the series is heading that way, I hope it includes Janus. Call me a romantic, but even the possibility of him redeeming himself because of his feelings for Rachel flips my switch. I'm a total sucker for a redeemable bad boy.

At this length, there isn't room for sweeping, epic plot and a wide diversity of characters. Hoar kept her tale conservative in that regard, careful not to overextend herself. That being said, she definitely made the most out of what space she had and maximized every word that went into it. I was engaged and entertained from word one. I love that about this story.

Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided by publisher Carina Press via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.

3.0 out of 5 stars The Stubborn Dead May 28, 2012

By Mind Reading?

Format:Kindle Edition

My rating: 3/5 stars

*May contain some spoilers*
This is one of those entertaining and actionfilled stories. But man, was it short! I didn't realize it until I was finished and expected to see what happens with Kit and Rachel (you know, some roooomance!), and OOPS!, it ended! Which was sad, since I was really getting into the story :/

And since it was so short, there really wasn't any time for any character development or even to get deeper with the plot. Which really was unfortunate, since I was finally getting some contact with Rachel.

There's few glimpses about Rachel's past and the world around her. We get to find out that she's part of The Order, and her mum is The Boss. And we get to meet Janus, a mob boss, and few of Rachel's clients.
But it still felt like the novella was only length of one chapter. The information we gather is pretty small amount and nothing drastic is really revealed. Though there is some mysteries that leaves you craving for more.

And yes, it left me definitely craving for more, since when I finally got into story, it ended. So hopefully the second part will be a whole book, since there really is potential with Rachel :)

My thanks to NetGalley and Carina Press!

Love,
Monaliz @ Mind Reading?

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific read April 30, 2012

By Tahlia Newland

Format:Kindle Edition

The Stubborn Dead is an enjoyable short novella about Rachel Miller, a ghost buster who wouldn't like me to call her that. Her correct title is a Rescue Medium. She's good at her job, which entails releasing trapped spirits from the earthly realm, but in The Stubborn Dead, she meets a challenge - a dangerous wraith who doesn't act like he should.

Sylvia Elkeles, the client who engaged Rachel's services is obviously hiding something and it may be something that could tip the scales between life and death for Rachel.

From the blurb
The Order [of Rescue Mediums] considers the wraith an extreme threat and Rachel may be forced to use a barbaric ritual to free him-a ritual that comes with a heavy personal price. If she fails to humanely release the wraith, she'll have her supernatural abilities bound.

Add a local supernatural mob boss with a romantic interest in the heroine to the mix and things get more complicated. Rachel eventually uncovers the disturbing truth about Sylvia and her relation to the wraith who may not realize he's supposed to be dead.

This is a well constructed mystery with interesting, well rounded characters. Rachel is easy to like, but my favourite character at the end is actually the wraith. Although clues are left like a trail of breadcrumbs, I never picked the full truth until it was revealed because I'd never come across anything quite like it before. That's no mean feat in today's market bulging with urban fantasy.

The romance is very low key, so the book is suitable for young adults as well as adults and makes a great read for those times when you don't want to get embroiled in a longer work. I give it 4 stars and recommend it for all urban and paranormal fantasy fans.

More About the Author

Born in South Africa, Natasha moved to Canada in her 20s and settled just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia. This meant she was surrounded by an abundance of amazing natural beauty, interesting people from around the world to talk to and a fair bit of rain (which, oddly enough, she rather enjoys). She's always up for a good adventure, especially if it involves 'stumbling upon' movie or TV shoots, hunting for G1 My Little Ponies at local thrift shops, meandering through book and toy stores, or looking into paranormal phenomena.