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October 17, 2012

Review: Velveteen by Daniel Marks - Juhina

Velveteen (Velveteen, #1)
Title: Velveteen (Velveteen #1)
Author: Daniel Marks
Publication date: October 9, 2012
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Genre(s): Young Adult (Paranormal / Ghosts)
Source: Edelweiss / NetGalley
Format: eARC
Pages: 464
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N 
Velveteen Monroe is dead. At 16, she was kidnapped and murdered by a madman named Bonesaw. But that’s not the problem.

The problem is she landed in purgatory. And while it’s not a fiery inferno, it’s certainly no heaven. It’s gray, ashen, and crumbling more and more by the day, and everyone has a job to do. Which doesn’t leave Velveteen much time to do anything about what’s really on her mind.Bonesaw.

Velveteen aches to deliver the bloody punishment her killer deserves. And she’s figured out just how to do it. She’ll haunt him for the rest of his days. It’ll be brutal... and awesome. But crossing the divide between the living and the dead has devastating consequences. Velveteen’s obsessive haunting cracks the foundations of purgatory and jeopardizes her very soul. A risk she’s willing to take—except fate has just given her reason to stick around: an unreasonably hot and completely off-limits coworker. Velveteen can’t help herself when it comes to breaking rules... or getting revenge. And she just might be angry enough to take everyone down with her.
If you are planning on reading Velveteen, don't expect a book centered around Velvet getting her revenge against her killer, because this book is so much more. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the 464 pages of Velveteen. Velvet was a great protagonist to read about and I loved how independent and how much of a leader she is. She also had the worst personality and a mouth with no filter. She was honestly a ton of fun to read about. Looking at the plot, I did have a small issue with the conspiracy plot happening in purgatory, but in the end I really did enjoyed Velveteen.
I have to say, this book contains some gory stuff. Being a person who HATES gore, I gagged multiple times when Velvet recalled how Bonesaw, her killer, tortured her. It was brutal, inhumane, and I can't believe there are monsters like this in our world. While trying to save more victims of Bonesaw and think of a way to kill him, Velveteen is also the head of a team, or posse, that basically tries to keep peace between our world and purgatory. She rescues a guy, Nick from this evil spirit and he ends up joining her team. A romance obviously developed but it wasn't the cliche typical one that blossoms oh so randomly. Nick was a great guy, along with the rest of the team and I think Daniel Marks did a great job with the characterization and individuality of all his characters.
As for the plot, it was one complicated yet fascinating plot. It had a ton of secrets, betrayals, scheming, and straight up revenge. I also think Daniel did a great job with the plot but I hoped that it would have been shortened because it was a very long book. I also wished we spent more time trying to get revenge on Bonesaw since the synopsis did promise that is what will mostly happen. All in all, Velveteen was a very different book from what I usually read but I am glad that I ventured into this world of purgatory, ghosts, and revenge because it was one hell of an adventure.

16 comments:

  1. Oh, goodness. I'm not a huge fan of gore, either. But the fact that you still really enjoyed it makes me really hopeful for VELVETEEN! It looks interesting, and it's definitely on my list. Thanks for the review! :)
    - Lauren

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  2. Oh, I'm one of those strange readers who really love gore but having it done to the main character will definitely blaze in fury. I might start having a revenge plan to Bonesaw too. Haha! Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed this Juhina. It sounds liek a very fascinating read. The main character seems great and likable. Great review. :)

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  3. Oh sweet! I love gore!! haha. Surprisingly not in movies, though. But I put this one off and I don't remember why, but I definitely want to pick it up, now! I also heard there was great morbid humor which is always a win! :D Great review, Juhina!

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  4. I got this last week and I can't wait to read it :)! Great review Juhina and the plot sounds really interesting. And so does Velveteen, she sounds like she has a lot on her plate!

    Janina @ Synchronized Reading

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  5. I felt pretty much the exact same way about this book. I was seriously disgusted a few times by all the gore and I really wanted more about her revenge on Bonesaw. The synopsis was really misleading as far as the revenge plot. However I did still really enjoy the book. Great review!

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  6. I am totally up for this book since it's all gore and stuff... I rarely get affected on reading gory stuff, I hope this one changes it. If it does it means it's effective right? what am I saying here lol I like scheming and secrets! I think i'll read this one soon ;) Great review!

    ~Jay
    We Fancy Books

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  7. I'm not really one for gory books either, but there's just something about this book that's got me intrigued. Also I adore books which end up leaving you with so much more than you expected. A wonderful review Juhina I can't wait to read it! :)

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  8. I've read a whole bunch of reviews for this book and all of then keep making me change my mind about it. :D I want to read it again after yours!

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  9. I am super excited for this one to come out! I have been seeing this everywhere, and I just can't wait to meet the characters and to see how the plot progresses throughout the story! Plus, I really like that cover. It's so intense and dark. Very alluring. Thanks for the brilliant review, Juhina! :)

    ~ Maida @ Literary Love Affair

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  10. I tried to read this one recently and there was just too much going on that I couldn't get into it at all. I loved the first chapter but then it was just a mind eff for about 4 chapters until I put it down. Maybe I'll pick it up again one day. Great review, Juhina!

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  11. I got an ARC of this from Netgalley a few months ago but I haven't read it yet, which surprises me considering that I read everything related to the afterlife. I'll be picking it up next week (according to my schedule) so I can't wait to check it out. Great review!

    -Megan @ Book Brats

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  12. I suck cause I DNF'd this one. I liked the beginning a lot but then it lost me later on. I just grew bored and didn't have much interest in it. I'm curious how it turns out but I've read enough reviews to know that this one just might not be my thing. I'm really glad that you enjoyed it so much though! I gotta agree, that stuff with Bonesaw was hard to read!

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  13. I really want to read this! If it has the dark quality it promises, I am all in. Plus, I love revenge themed books. Love it!

    Great review!

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  14. I've been so excited to read this! Glad to hear you liked it. Btw, new follower :)

    -Momo @ Where the Mome Raths Outgrabe

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  15. Hello! Firrst, thanks for taking the time to stop by my blog. I finally got to blog hopping and I am now following you :)

    I loved Velveteen! I felt it had just the right about of grittiness and dark and lots of sarcastic humor! I snorted a lot!

    Awesome review :)

    P.S. Love your ratings! Super cute :)

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  16. I have started this book a million times but can't seem to get past the first couple pages for some reason. The story sounded really unique but it was mostly cause I was hoping for revenge which I'm kind of sad to hear isn't much of it. Also kind of sad and disturbed to hear the torture is explained graphically. I'm not a fan of sad books and I was hoping this book would skip that and get to the revenge and mystery. I will still attempt to give it a go again soon.

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