Predictable ending but very well written. Eager to read the second book... ( )

In the walled city-state of Alu, Kammani wants nothing more than to become the accomplished healer her father used to be before her family was cast out of their privileged life in shame.

When Alu's ruler falls deathly ill, Kammani’s beautiful little sister, Nanaea, is chosen as one of three sacred maidens to join him in the afterlife. It’s an honor. A tradition. And Nanaea believes it is her chance to live an even grander life than the one that was stolen from her.

But Kammani sees the selection for what it really is—a death sentence.

Desperate to save her sister, Kammani schemes her way into the palace to heal the ruler. There she discovers more danger lurking in the sand-stone corridors than she could have ever imagined and that her own life—and heart—are at stake. But Kammani will stop at nothing to dig up the palace’s buried secrets even if it means sacrificing everything…including herself.

This review was guest posted on Ity Reads Books: Gravemaidens

Cast out of nobility for failing to save the ruler’s dying son, Kammani’s father spends his nights befuddled by alcohol. Having trained under her father, Kammani continues to heal when her father cannot. As the ruler of Alu falls ill, sacred maidens are called to accompany him into death. When Kammani’s sister is selected as a maiden, Kammani will do everything in her power to heal the dying ruler. But Kammani’s sister, Nanaea wants nothing more than to repair her family’s honor by being a maiden. An unknown illness plagues the ruler and Kammani must battle both the unknown and the spite from her sister. But as she begins to unearth hidden truths within the palace, she will realize there is much more at stake.

Gravemaidens read at an even pace, not holding too many twists or turns. I guessed a few of the plot reveals before they occurred, but it was still an entertaining read. Kammani’s character kept me reading. She was dedicated to the healing arts and was extremely different from the usual YA protagonist who chases after love. While Kammani acknowledged that she did feel attracted to Dagan, she was responsible enough to know that she had an important job to do.

This book does touch on cruelty towards women, as the world of Alu contains men who see women as beneath them. There are moments of abuse, but once the structure is established it dances on the edge of this theme. Men leer at the woman and make lewd suggestions throughout the novel to remind the reader of the dangers Kammani could be in if caught alone.

But despite everything she has to face, Kammani is determined to save her sister. Even if Nanaea fights against it every step of the way. The age difference between the two was so clear when Nanaea bickered with Kammani over being a maiden. And yet through it all, Kammani’s love for her sister was so clear to the reader.

I’m intrigued to see where the next book leads. Given where the characters end up, I am puzzled as to how the series can continue. But Kelly Coon must have something planned, and I can’t wait to see what it is! ( )

Dang it, fooled again! Just...generic and I have no time. I think I'm gonna have to stop signing up for SPOTM, I feel like a flake.

Imagine you live from hand to mouth because your father wasn't able to save the ruler's son after a terrible fall. That failure resulted in your family, already in pain and disarray because your mother died giving birth, being stripped of rank, home and wealth, not to mention your younger brother being taken to the palace as a servant. Your dad, perhaps the most skilled healer in the city, now drowns his sorrow in a tavern every day while you try to hold things together by following in his footsteps as a healer, mostly for the poor living outside the city. With the death of the Lugal (the city's ruler) eminent, three maidens are to be chosen to accompany him to the netherworld where they will supposedly live a life of eternal ease and luxury. This is what healer in training Kammani faces, but things get worse very quickly. Her younger sister is chosen as one of the 'gravemaidens' and she knows the whole thing is a sham. Her sister, Nanaea, will die and soon, unless Kammani can do the impossible. That, for her means convincing the palace that her disgraced father can save the Lugal. However, once her plan is set in motion, things not only get much more complicated, she starts to realize that there are sinister forces at work and figuring out who to trust is very difficult.
This is a dandy first book with plenty of twists and hooks to grab teen fantasy lovers. I'm very curious as to how the author will wrap everything up in the sequel ( )