Eleventh Grave in Moonlight: A Novel (Charley Davidson Series Book 11)
Grim Reaper Charley Davidson is back in Eleventh Grave in Moonlight, the latest installment of Darynda Jones’ New York Times bestselling paranormal series.
My entire life can be summed up in one sentence:
“Well, that didn’t go as planned.”
—T-Shirt
A typical day in the life of Charley Davidson involves cheating husbands, errant wives, missing people, philandering business owners, and, oh yeah...demons, hell hounds, evil gods, and dead people. Lots and lots of dead people. As a part time Private Investigator and full-time Grim Reaper, Charley has to balance the good, the bad, the undead, and those who want her dead.
Now, Charley is learning to make peace with the fact that she is a goddess with all kinds of power and that her own daughter has been born to save the world from total destruction. But the forces of hell are determined to see Charley banished forever to the darkest corners of another dimension. With the son of Satan himself as her husband and world-rocking lover, will Charley be able to defeat the ultimate evil and find a way to have her happily ever after after all?
Reviews (184)
Eleventh Grave in Moonlight
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club The Curse of Tenth Grave left Charley with a lot on her plate, as per usual. Yes, she banished one rogue god to the god-glass necklace, but she still has one at large and needs to figure out how to take care of him, as Beep’s survival is on the line. Then, there’s the fact that she’s still trying to come to terms with her own godhood, her beef with Jehovah over which has caused his ever-vigilant angels to follow Charley around wherever she goes, plus the fact that Uncle Bob’s life may still be in danger despite having saved him from his foreseen death previously. To top it all off, though, Charley is officially hired by Reyes’ sorta-kinda-in-a-way-brother Shaun to look into his adoptive parents the Fosters, and to find his real parents. Just a reminder: the Fosters are the people who stole Reyes from his birth parents and eventually sold him to the evil Earl Walker. Of course Reyes wants Charley to drop the investigation, but, come on; this is Charley Davidson we’re talking about. The moment she backs away from anything is the moment hell freezes over….oh wait. I always love being back in Charley’s world and Eleventh Grave is certainly on par with all the wit and humor we’ve come to know and love from our grim reaper/god. I’ve felt that ever since she had Beep, subsequently lost then regained her memories, and learned she is a god, there’s been an increased level of maturity to Charley, which is a nice element of growth to her character. Probably one of my favorite things about Eleventh Grave is that we get to see Charley really learn about and start to hone her powers, with Reyes acting as Charley’s Yoda/Obi-Wan—albeit with a bit more sexytimes however. Constantly, people are telling her what she’s able (or should be able) to do with her powers and she’s always been clueless. So it was really nice to see Charley gain some perspective on who she is because she still equates herself as human and it just isn’t true. But I do like the fact that Charley hangs on to her humanity, especially in the face of what we learn about her history. Having said that, what really kept Eleventh Grave from being a five-star rating was the fact that I felt as though it was too jam-packed full of varying leftover storylines. I felt like all the open story threads from Tenth Grave were kind of just check-marked off the list to clear the way for what is happening in the next book, which is all set-up within the last maybe five to ten percent of the book. Unfortunately, I felt like a few scenes could have been throwaways because the resolution was just so quick. That’s not to say Eleventh Grave wasn’t an enjoyable read. It certainly was. It just felt more transitory for me than revelatory. There’s a certain point towards the end where you get a definite feel of where the story will be heading in the next book, and I just wanted to tell Charley: “No! Bad Idea!” But alas, this is not a Choose Your Own Adventure book. So we’ll have to wait until fall to find out The Trouble with Twelfth Grave.
Still learning so much!
It amazes me how we are 11 books in and still learning new things about Charley, Reyes and Beep (nickname for their daughter). There is just so much information. Charley's powers are amazing and I can't wait until she ultimately unleashes all that power....if she does. I'm not sure if we will get to see it or not. It seems the end goal is Beep being the one going into the major battle. That's part of what is so great about this series. I have no idea what's going to happen. Each book is opening all the worlds up more and more and in the meantime, I am enjoying the cases Charley and gang are solving. Some connect to the upcoming war and some don't. The cases in book 11 are: -Amber has a stalker -the mysterious behavior of Uncle Bob that leads back to what he did in his past -the conclusion to the investigation into Reyes abductors from when he was a kid. -the conclusion to solving how to get the innocent souls out of the God Glass -the final Duzan God needs to be dealt with This ended on a pretty big cliffhanger and has me wondering how Charley is going to fix what she feared would happen with Reyes. On to book 12...
Missing the early theme of the series...
I want to give this series 5 stars- bc I can’t put the books down once I begin, but there are some... aggravations... in the writing. First of all, and this has gotten exponentially less frequent, the annoying repetitive obsession with coffee- but at least in the last few books Charley is no longer sexualizing the coffee maker, but still, the repeated mentions of coffee love are obnoxious. And street e the first maybe 6 books, the “joke” : “I’m sitting in Misery, the Jeep not the emotion,” is finally abandoned. The novelty of cleverness wears off when it’s repeated over and over. And over and over and over. Unfortunately, I’ve also grown to like Andy care about the main character less and less in the last 3 books, mostly because she’s repeating the same arrogance and ignorance in every book- thinking she knows best, even though literally every single plan she has backfires, she is too hard headed to be as intelligent and intrusive as she should be, considering she’s a God. Another issue I had with this book is that during a certain standoff with a cult, instead of using her incorporeal gifts or her incorporeal spies to find what she’s looking for Andy figure out what’s going on, she goes in in human form herself. I get that without that it would have been harder to include this event in the story, but suspension of disbelief has to exist even in stories that are completely impossible. Also, I definitely enjoyed the earlier books much more, when all the god extremes were non existent... but now I’m so interested in getting to the end of the story I can’t stop. I also think there is way too much summarizing of past events and characters- at this point, there’s no way you can know what the hell is going on if you haven’t read the previous books. The sex scenes have certainly gotten much, MUCH better as the series goes on, even if there’s again a lot of repetition (ESP in descriptions of Reyes). I think I liked the books better, though, when Charley was a PI and not trying to understand her godliness. I would have preferred less holy war and more earthly crime, though. All that being said, I certainly don’t regret getting addicted to this series, I just don’t love the turn it took!
All time favorite series!
I can honestly say that the Charley Davidson series is my all time favorite. Darynda Jones has cracked the code of keeping a series fresh even after 10 books. I love every character in this series and they all play such an important role in what makes this series so amazing. In Eleventh Grave in Moonlight Charley is up to her usual Private Investigating activities while also dealing with the paranormal danger that is hanging over the gangs heads. The combination of the two is just perfect and makes the read so enjoyable. In each book we discover new things that may rock Charley and Reyes world. But they are not without support from their friends and family. These group of people are amazing, I especially love Angel. His scenes are my favorites and I just love his interaction with Charley. In this book Uncle Bob is acting really strange, but nobody knows what is going on. We get to see more of Reyes' past and it is heartbreaking. Also Charley takes a case where she has to investigate Reyes' foster parents which Reyes is against. He does his best to get her to drop the case, but Charley is very headstrong and goes against his wishes. Reyes is still my number one book boyfriend, he is such an alpha male and very protective. The love between Charley and Reyes is perfect. This book is a phenomenal addition to the series. It just gets better and better and the ending has me anticipating the next book like an addict. My love for the characters has grown stronger each book and I just hope this series never ends. I see the characters as part of my family and I cry when they cry and laugh when they laugh. This series is the only one that can make me laugh out loud one moment and cry the other. Charley is the best and I love her quirky and crazy ways, she is one of a kind and I can't wait for Reyes and her to reach their full potential. All the characters continue to grow each book and their bond becomes stronger.
A chaotic roller coaster of a read with some of the most dynamic characters in fiction
Things do not slow down at all with the latest installment of the Charley Davidson series and if you've never read it before, this is definitely not the place to start. To open the beginning pages is to welcome pure chaos that falls under the ADD stricken and manic mind of Charley. Surprisingly, we don't exactly start where we left off, which I found to be a little disappointing, since the reveal at the end of the last installment set me up that we would be protecting Ubie for the duration of the book, and although this happens, it's not the front story you would expect. To try to describe what the plot of this particular installment is about is a challenge in itself. The majority focus is on the investigation of the Foster couple that kidnapped Reyes as a child, however there is side drama that includes more secrets with Ubie, secrets with Amber, and how to destroy Eidolon. There is also lots and lots of quality Charley and Reyes time that reinforces the very definition of epic duo. Things happen at a very clipped pace and culminate to a fantastic climax that sneaks right up on you. This series is pure gold to me, but if there's a frustrating thing in general, and especially with this installment, it's all the secrets this tightly knit family keep from one another. When you have the power of two Gods at your back, I can't think of many threats that would be so overwhelming that you couldn't share, but alas, this story also emphasizes human nature and the natural response to threats in general. What makes the series work so well is that at the end, they're all human, no matter the circumstances. Having said that, this installment, more than others, was more predictable to me and it does not end on a happy note. Actually, it does end with a cliffhanger for those who hate that. I was maudlin after wrapping up but remain optimistic and excited for future installments and hope this series never ends.
I Love This Series!
Okay, this one is possibly my favorite book of the entire series right now. We actually see some growth in Charley's AND Reyes character. Previous books it's like they were exactly the same as before they met, but now they're just screwing. Reyes still doesn't trust her at all or tell her anything and Charley still didn't think of the consequences before acting. To be fair to Charley, though, people don't TELL HER ANYTHING so she can have that information before making a choice. Just saying. In this book though, she seems a bit more mature and coming into herself as a less impulsive and reckless heroine. Reyes seems to genuinely be trying to open up to her more. That said, Uncle Bob's behavior AND Reyes DID tick me off how much they wanted to her 'safe' despite the fact she's a freaking powerful god. Just saying. It's kind of dumb Reyes didn't allow Angel to tell Charley he was 'captured.' Geez. That said, the ending of this book has me skipping all my blogging to open up book 12!
Great addition!!!
Holy chile rellenos! Like with all of the other Charley Davidson books, this one did NOT disappoint! I was giddy going in and within the first page or so, I began laughing at some of Charley's usual antics. This is what I love about Darynda's writing. She's consistent. This is book eleven in a series and not once has any of the stories lagged in its humor, romance, sexiness, and suspense. It holds the reader captive from beginning to end. My jaw aches from clenching my teeth together throughout the story. I had to apologize to my fellow medical staff for continually laughing out laugh or gasping at what happened in the book. There was so much that was answered in this book, yet so much that still needs answering. I sort of wished I hadn't read this early so that I wouldn't have to wait as long to discuss this with others, yet I'm so happy I did because wowee! And that ending?! You are horrible Darynda, but I still love you! HEHE! I can't wait for book 12 to be released now! ARC received from NetGalley for honest review. Thank you!
The Awesomeness Never Stops!!
Holy freaking cow!!! I honestly didn’t expect an ending to totally shatter my being once I finished Eleventh Grave in Moonlight! I mean…it’s not like I’m reading book twelve and waiting an agonizingly long time for the next book! But holy freaking cow!! Darynda Jones has once again taken me completely by surprise and left me a whole ball of messiness! The stakes just keep getting higher and higher in the Charley Davidson series! Truly anxious to see how things will all play out in the end! Life continues to move on for Charley. She still misses little Beep fiercely, but knows keeping her safe is the ultimate goal. Her friends all still watch out for her, especially Osh who we already know will play a very critical role in her life. To keep herself busy, Charley throws herself into her work. Well, sorta. Charley’s next client is a very familiar one, it’s Shawn Foster, the man who would’ve been Reyes’ adoptive brother, if the Fosters had decided to keep him after stealing him, instead he was sold to Earl Walker. Man, just when you think your family’s got issues, it’s nothing compared to poor Reyes! Shawn has suspicions about the Fosters. He wants Charley to prove their guilt and naturally, Reyes wants her as far away from this case as possible, so naturally, Charley is all over this case! But that’s not the only issue at hand, Charley’s top priority as of late has been trying to keep her Uncle Bob alive. He was marked for hell and apparently his possible death is just around the corner. So Reyes, Osh, and Garrett take shifts in order to make sure Bob stays out of trouble. That’s not all the fun and games though, apparently, Amber has some pretty scary things happening in her life as well! Things are never calm in Charley’s life it would seem. There’s always a mystery or two or three and a handful of bad guys to be dealt with, and generally a few of them are the type that are not quite alive…or human. I think the parts that trip me up the most involve when Charley is trying to remember her life from before, when she was still a god. When she and Reyes were more than human and whatnot. Their past lives come into play every now and then, and I can’t help but feel confused every now and then, but since Charley herself has no recollection of these memories, I guess it’s fitting that we aren’t too sure of things either. But man, does it get complicated when dealing with the angels, like Michael, who know all about who Charley was and what she did beforehand! It’s definitely nerve-wracking for sure! I swear these books are pure gold! There is never a dull moment to them! Darynda Jones knows how to keep the pace flowing at near warp speed! Don’t think that I mean that things get confusing or whatnot due to the fast pace! Oh heavens no! Things just really keep moving and moving from one plot point to another. There are some downtime moments, and let’s face it, those are some pretty good ones since they usually involve Charley and Reyes being all romantic like! Lol! Again I must mention the intensity of Charley and Reyes’ relationship! It is seriously one of the most swoony and heart-racing sorts! Like I swear I feel a blush coming on when they’re together and I’m reading this book in public on lunch breaks and whatnot! I always feel like people KNOW when I am those scenes! Lol! Though seriously, I am never around people at these times! Needless to say the romantic scenes are still toe curling worthy! The ending was far more explosive than I anticipated! The past few books have had endings that are fairly moderate. Except for book 8, man that one was a doozy! But books 9 and 10? Totally doable! Nothing to make you pull your hair out too much. So what happens when I finish book 11 and don’t have book 12 at the ready because I anticipated a busy day that was far from busy? A seriously mind-blowing ending! One that has me reeling back with shock, with fear, with holy-crap-what-will-Charley-do-now?! It doesn’t fit the pattern of having killer cliffhangers one book than calmness (of a kind) for two and then back to a killer cliffhanger! I mean seriously! This is the kind of ending I expect from the next book as then I am all caught up and left devastingly waiting for the 13th book! But don’t let my fears keep you from this series! It’s truly all the waiting that I despise. And that can be said of every series ever! Lol! Now is definitely a good time to binge read the series as I want to say book 13 is the final one, but I am not positive, so don’t quote me on that! I’d be ecstatic if there were more!! Eleventh Grave in Moonlight is like its many predecessors and filled with exceedingly good mysteries, some ghosts, some demons, more than a few laughs, spine-tingly good romance, and characters that you just grow to love so thoroughly that goodbyes are painful! This series just continues to amaze me and bring delight every time I crack one of them open! Overall Rating 5/5 stars
Fast paced, solid installment
This review contains spoilers. Eleventh grave is a solid 4 ½ star installment in the Charley Davidson series. I went back and forth between rounding down when something annoyed me and rounding up when I was finding myself particularly enjoying the story. I ended on a round up for an especially startling cliffhanger ending. Charley seems to have mellowed into herself and for the most part I found myself liking her. She’s continuing to try (with good deal of help from Reyes) to absorb her god status, to learn her powers, the scope of what it means to be a Reaper and to differentiate the teeny tiny part of her that is human Charley from the infinitesimal part of her that is Elle-Ryn-Ahleethia, the 13th god. The only thing about her that continues to annoy me is her quirky tendency to name inanimate objects. I must confess I really don’t find it quirky – it hits more on the idiotic scale for me. It is quite safe to say that never will I be tempted to name and henceforth refer to a couch as Alexander Skarsgard just because it happens to have buttery curves and a wide back. Also I dearly wish she would stop falling for the bad guy’s “if you want to save-so-and-so come to this remote spot alone and don’t tell anyone”. It’s nice that she manages to pull an 11th hour save out of her butt when her emotions go haywire; but it would be preferable if she were just a tad more competent. The focus of 11th Grave seems to be on advancing the main story arc. There is a “case du jour” but it concerns the Foster’s, the psycho incestuous couple who kidnapped baby Reyes and handed him off to the even bigger psycho Earl Walker. The Uncle Ubie conundrum is resolved seemingly once and for all as Charley has figured out how to unmark and one of the gods of Uzan Eidolon is running around creating havoc. Rumor has it that the series is wrapping up and that there are only 2 books left. 11th Grave foreshadows the hopefully inevitable spin off, aka the Beep and Osh story. Amber’s prophetess status is re-visited and Charley lets it slip that she has a big role to play and that both Amber and Quentin are “on Beep’s team” in the future. And did I mention the honkin’ big cliffhanger in which Reyes goes into the god glass for a little reconnaissance and to free a few innocent souls and comes back all hell-god-y?
Charley's life is getting stronger and stronger
When you read a Charley Davidson novel, you need to be prepared for a fast-paced book. Everything happens quickly, which I would attribute to the amount of coffee our darling Charley consumes. Truly? I don’t think she sleeps. True to previous books, Charley takes on cases to work while she also wrestles with all she is learning about herself and the world. Charley has been watching the Fosters, despite Reyes’ disapproval. He is downright adamant that she not take on this case. Charley isn’t going to let somebody tell her what to do. And with Ubie acting all strange and trying to tell her what to do too, she’s really sick of it. So what do you do when people demand you do one thing? You do the opposite. So many things happen throughout Eleventh Grave and you have to be careful not to miss anything. The cases and investigations Charley takes on are very close to her. People she loves are in situations that can’t be ignored and in the midst of those situations she is being flooded with information on what she is truly capable of and bits of her memory are explained. She not only finds out new things she is capable of, but that that there are rules to what she can and cannot do with her powers. The problem is that she needs to learn how to use these powers effectively to help her and those she loves in times of trouble. Despite all that circles around Charley, she somehow keeps her sense of humor, her strategic plans and her love of coffee from being affected. That is what makes Charley Davidson one of my favorite characters. She can really keep it together in most cases. Granted she somehow always finds herself in situations where you have to wonder just how she (or someone she loves) is going to survive. Those times alone keep me freaked and reading at a frantic pace. Then there is my biggest complaint, if you want to call it a complaint. It’s the endings. They are kind of cliffhangers, or at least the last few have been. I will admit, the end of this book came around and there was some violent cursing at the book and Darynda. How can I wait after this happens. I had no idea that was coming and it is going to really throw you for a curve ball. I am so freaked out, there are no words. Charley’s life has become really complicated and it is kind of hard to keep up. You definitely do not want to try and jump in here. So much happens in the previous books building up to what we know is going to be a big ending. This could be why we are being left in a state of panic at the end of each installment. I am beyond ready for the Trouble With Twelfth Grave. I have become so immersed in this series that sometimes my feelings overwhelm me and to me that is the sign of a great book. To help you totally immerse in the story is the narration of Lorelei King. She takes on each character with such feeling that you flow into each character. Lorelei has just made them part of the series and I can’t imagine not listening to this series. I don’t think my head could create the voices with the skill that Lorelei King does.
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