Review, Interview and Giveaway! Touch of Death by Kelly Hashway

We are very excited to have Kelly Hashway join us today!  She is stopping by to answer some of our questions, take a look!

1) Touch of Death is so original, how did you come up with the idea to use mythology, necromancers and zombies? What kind of research did you have to do.
The idea started with a lesser-known myth I came across while researching for another book. The myth is about Ophiuchus, the 13th sign of the zodiac. He was a healer, and according to this myth, his power came from a vial of the Gorgon Medusa's blood. The blood on the right side of her body was said to have the ability to bring the dead back to life. I loved that idea. But I also found out that in this myth, Ophiuchus was given a second vial of blood from Medusa's left side, which was poisonous. I immediately wanted a cast of characters who had blood with the power to either kill or bring the dead back to life. Touch of Death was born from there.

2) Medusa just happens to be my favorite mythological character. Do you have a favorite?
Medusa has become one of my favorite mythological characters, too. There are so many myths about her, and I prefer the ones where she was beautiful and cursed by Athena. I happen to think she was wrongly cursed by a jealous god, by the way. ;)

3) What should we expect in the next book; Stalked by Death? And do you have anything planned after that?
Things will get a lot more complicated for Jodi in Stalked by Death. She's in for some serious trouble. Medusa and Hades will also play larger roles in the next book. The series spans three books, the final being Face of Death.

4) As a writer who has influenced you and/or your writing?
I've been heavily influenced by Rick Riordan. He's a master at mythology and action scenes.

Thank you so much Kelly for stopping by! 

Touch of Death by Kelly Hashway
Released- Jan 15th  2013

Publisher-Spencer Hill Press

Purchase- Amazon / Barnes and Noble 

Jodi Marshall isn't sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she’s in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she’s being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he’s not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she’s part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendants of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.Jodi’s deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn't difficult enough, Jodi discovers she’s the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can’t figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.

My Thoughts:

Jodi Marshall isn't having a very good day. In fact, it's been flat out strange. She was late for school so she decided to take a back road to avoid lights and ends up wrecking her car from a deer she hit-who then magically prances back to life. The school nurse ends up dead and Jodi was the last person to see her alive and to top it off a guy with gorgeous green eyes has creepy stalker tendencies and keeps following her around. 

But things only go from bad to worse, when random animals and even people turn up dead then come back to life. Only they're not the same as they were before. They're more dangerous and rabid, almost zombie-like and they're all connected to Jodi. She can bring the dead back to life and make the living fall dead. All with a drop of her blood.

Jodi finds out that she's part of special group of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac. Ophiuchus, descendants of the Gorgon Medusa. Poisonous blood runs through their bodies. And Jodi has to find a way to control her powers and save her race from Hades.

Ha! What a cool book! Seriously, if you have an open mind and you love your mythology to swing in a new direction then Touch of Death is the book for you.

Necromancer, mythology and zombies! Hell yeah! Kelly Hashway delivers an enthusiastic plot concept that is completely fresh and unique. 

Is it out there? Yes. Yes it is. But I think that's the reason I liked it so much. Hashway dares to be different, dares to take mythology, play with it's characters and create something that's entirely her own. Giving this an irresistible twist and an absorbing read.

Jodi Marshall is an easy protag to like, but at the beginning I was screaming at her to stop being so stubborn and just go already. She was putting people she loved in danger and after Matt (sweet sweet Matt) I just didn't want to see that happen. Still, I was proud of her when she took responsibility  for something that she can't control. But once she does have it together she's a real force and an incredible one at that.

Alex (aka Green eyes) is a smooth talker and a bit smug, but he's such a sweetheart. I really liked every moment he had in this book. I loved how much he believed in Jodi and how much he wanted to be there to help her. I'm also curious to see how things play out for them in the next book.

All in all, I thought this book was pretty wicked. The mythology was completely fascinating. Jodi, Alex and all the other Ophi's were intriguing and the writing is very well done. Sure, it had it's moments of 'say what now?!?' but it was fun and different and such an entertaining experience from the very first page till the heart stopping conclusion.

Looking forward to seeing what happens next in; Stalked by Death!

Find the Author:

Goodreads / Website

4 snowflakes 

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