Weston Kincade

Ghosts are speaking to Alex, but can he bring them justice? Alex is a troubled teen with a checkered past, a broken home, and a surprising ability: psychometry. When he touches items murder victims held in their final moments, he relives the events in gruesome detail. But who will believe a troubled teen, especially when murders implicate the town's founding family? If you like amazing supernatural stories that are intense, powerful, and fraught with emotion, then you'll love Weston Kincade's suspenseful coming-of-age trilogy, A Life of Death. Ghosts are speaking, and they want answers. Heed the call. Buy A Life of Death.

A Life of Death

Jolie

I have read a few books where the main characters have elements of Alex’s gift and for the most part, they bored me. There was a certain oomph missing from those books. So, when I agreed to review A Life of Death, I was expecting the same thing. My expectations were not high. So, imagine my surprise when I actually enjoyed reading this story.

What I enjoyed the most about this book was that it was a story within a story. The book starts off with an older Alex telling the story about how he started using his gift to his son. Then it goes back in time to when Alex first discovered his gift.

Alex had my full sympathy the entire book. His stepfather (aka the drunk) beat him senseless over the littlest things. His mother chose to turn a blind eye to what was going on. She showed more concern for her stepson than her own son. I have never despised a character before Vivian. He had to go to school with bruises and the school could do nothing. It was heart-wrenching to read. The only reason he stuck around was because of Paige and his step sisters, Abby and Glory.

I will admit that the scenes where Alex’s stepfather beat him disturbed me. It disturbed me because everyone knew he was getting beaten but no one did anything about it. His mother turned a blind eye and his principal and nurse did want to do something but didn’t want him in foster care. No wonder he had an attitude and didn’t apply himself. I want to make it clear that while those scenes disturbed me, they are essential to the book and Alex’s character development.

Alex’s gift kind of scared me. I couldn’t imagine touching an item and being transported the last owner’s death. I had shivers reading those scenes. I know that I wouldn’t have been able to deal with it like Alex did. I also know that I wouldn’t be able to use the information that I saw in those visions like Alex too. As I was reading those scenes, I did think to myself “Reckless“. But, he did use the information for good too. He avenged a couple of deaths using the information gleaned from those visions.

The end of the book was great but I did have some questions that weren’t answered in the book. Mainly about Coach Moyer and his disappearance. I do have a feeling that he will turn up in the next book. Speaking of that, I cannot wait to read it. The excerpt was fantastic.

My Summary of A Life of Death: 5 stars

I enjoyed reading A Life of Death. It was a fast paced, well written paranormal YA book with 3-dimensional characters. This is not a book where everything is sunlight and roses. This is a dark book that deals with child abuse, death, and dysfunctional family dynamic. It’s the darkness that makes this book shine. This is a graphic no holds bar book and I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone under the age of 16.

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Older Teen

Why: Violence, language. No sex (Alex and Paige do kiss but nothing beyond that). There are some graphic child abuse scenes (where Alex is getting beaten by the drunk) and some graphic death scenes.

I would like to thank Weston Kincade for allowing me to read and review A Life of Death. All opinions expressed in this review are mine and mine alone.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Chantale

Really good book. I was hooked from the very beginning

Jessica Nottingham

Reader be warned, A Life of Death is not an easy read. Weston Kincade doesn't pull any punches in this book. It deals with child abuse, murder, and the inevitability of death. Everything is presented in vivid color, against the stark background of what should be a normal childhood in a normal town. While the synopsis deals a lot with Alex's mysterious ability that isn't really the main focus of the book. Just be warned, most of this book isn't pretty.

That being said, I was pleasantly surprised at how polished and quick moving A Life of Death turned out to be. This was originally a serial novel, but I was given the opportunity to read it as a whole entity. On the one hand, reading it in its entirety was nice. Things flowed along, and I didn't have to wait to see things resolved. However I can also see the benefit of reading this as a serial novel. Some parts seemed overwritten to me, but I had to keep in mind that I wasn't waiting a week, or even two, between reading. 

In terms of content, you've read my piece above. A balance between light-hearted moments and dark ones is attempted here, but there is still a lot of sadness built into Alex's life. It's hard not to feel for him. I saw Alex in my mind many times while reading. A boy who lost a father. A boy whose mother has checked out. A boy who has to deal with things that, by all rights, not even people twice his age should have to deal with. I became one with Alex as I read and, even when things felt bleak, I rooted for him. Credit where credit is due, but Kincade definitely knows how to write a character.

As for Alex's ability, I saw how it fit into the story and why it was necessary. I'm still not one hundred percent sold on it, but it did make things interesting. Watching as he relived other people's deaths was both eye-opening, and terrifying. I'm not sure he ever had the chance to do too much good with his ability, but it wasn't for lack of trying. It adds another layer to his life, and keeps things from being all about his problems at home. For that, I was appreciative.

I know I'm rambling, but it's tough not to. There is so much wrapped up in A Life of Death. So many minor things that, as a whole, contribute to make this a book that's honestly tough to put down. It is a bit long. It does deal with tough issues. However it's put together in a way that creates a need to know what happens next. Whether you read this as a serial novel, or as a whole, I suggest you give this a place on your reading list.

A Life of Death

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