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Revivalist #2
Sans préavis
After dying and being revived with the experimental drug Returne, Bryn Davis is theoretically free to live her unlife—with regular doses to keep her going. But Bryn knows that the government has every intention of keeping a tight lid on Pharmadene’s life-altering discovery, no matter the cost.
And when some of the members of a support group for Returne addicts suddenly disappear, Bryn begins to wonder if the government is methodically removing a threat to their security, or if some unknown enemy has decided to run the zombies into the ground…
And when some of the members of a support group for Returne addicts suddenly disappear, Bryn begins to wonder if the government is methodically removing a threat to their security, or if some unknown enemy has decided to run the zombies into the ground…
384 pages, Pocket Book
First published July 25, 2012
About the author
Rachel Caine
216 books18.8k followersRachel Caine is a pen name of Roxanne Longstreet Conrad.
She has also published as:
Roxanne Longstreet
Roxanne Conrad
Julie Fortune
Ian Hammell
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She has also published as:
Roxanne Longstreet
Roxanne Conrad
Julie Fortune
Ian Hammell
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 251 reviews
August 31, 2017
Definitely liked this way more than the first. So interesting and different. I love the fast paced story line and the characters are definitely growing on me. Can't wait to see how Caine ends it.
July 20, 2012
Um...I got an arc of this, so maybe I'm not as impartial as I could be. But this book was BETTER than #1, I'm extremely confident to say that. I mean, until the last 1/4tg. And then I LITERALLY GASPED OUT LOUD and my heart raced, and laughed out loud too. I mean, the twist was just....best one I've seen in a book in QUITE a while. Wow. This is not as romancey as most urban fantasy I read either, so I think guys would like it as well. I dunno, I think the tech zombie thing is pretty cool and...that last 1/4th...cannot wait for the followup. BOYYYYY!
July 12, 2012
Two Weeks’ Notice gives new meaning to the term corporate zombies. Literally.
Not your usual brain-eating zombies, the zombies in Two Weeks’ Notice are just regular folk revived by Pharadene Pharmaceuticals miracle drug Returné. The catch? The revived must take a dose of Returné daily or risk decomposition. The drug has a more evil side, allowing the users to be compelled.
The author captures the sinister side of corporate America in this unique mix of urban fantasy and conspiracy thriller. Big Pharma and government agencies are portrayed as the villains in this twisty tale. The conspiracy runs deep and the level of paranoia is at a high.
Central to this story is Bryn Davis, now the owner of the Davis Funeral Home and a user of the drug Returné. Bryn has come a long way since the first book. I’ve warmed up to her character and feel a lot more sympathy for her. Bryn is in an unenviable position. In order to keep receiving her daily dose of Returné, she must help the FBI. Bryn does have several advantages: She is, after all, already dead, and while she is on the drug she heals rapidly. Bryn also has the backing of two very dedicated professionals – Joe Fideli and Patrick McCallister.
Joe is a character full of contrasts. He is a devoted husband and father. He is also a walking armory, a well-trained field operative. Lethal. I love Joe.
Patrick. What can I say about Patrick? Patrick makes Bryn feel alive. He is also keeping her alive ensuring that she gets her daily dose of Returné. He is protective of Bryn and there is a genuine affection for her. Patrick is absolutely perfect from Bryn.
Now wait a minute. Zombie romance? Just how is that possible? Don’t body parts fall off? Not with Ms. Caine’s’ zombies. These are revived people. As long as they are on the drug, their heart beats, their bodies are warm, and they do not decompose. So yes, there can be a romance which is great because I’ve wanted to see these two get together.
Paranoia is taken to whole new levels by my absolute favorite pair in this book Manny and Pansy. I’m so glad that they have more time in this book, there’s never too much Manny and Pansy. Manny a reclusive scientist and his companion Pansy hide out in San Diego. Their security measures alone were entertaining.
Of course, there is even something for dog lovers in this book. I loved Mr. French, Bryn’s pet bulldog. So cute!
I could not put Two Weeks’ Notice down. It was action-packed, full of twisty plot turns and surprises and a few “I didn’t see that coming” moments. If you enjoy conspiracy thrillers with a touch of urban fantasy, you are in for a treat. And the ending…..Wow.
More, Ms. Caine. I want more…….
Review posted on Badass Book Reviews.
Thank you to the author for a review copy of this book
Not your usual brain-eating zombies, the zombies in Two Weeks’ Notice are just regular folk revived by Pharadene Pharmaceuticals miracle drug Returné. The catch? The revived must take a dose of Returné daily or risk decomposition. The drug has a more evil side, allowing the users to be compelled.
The author captures the sinister side of corporate America in this unique mix of urban fantasy and conspiracy thriller. Big Pharma and government agencies are portrayed as the villains in this twisty tale. The conspiracy runs deep and the level of paranoia is at a high.
Central to this story is Bryn Davis, now the owner of the Davis Funeral Home and a user of the drug Returné. Bryn has come a long way since the first book. I’ve warmed up to her character and feel a lot more sympathy for her. Bryn is in an unenviable position. In order to keep receiving her daily dose of Returné, she must help the FBI. Bryn does have several advantages: She is, after all, already dead, and while she is on the drug she heals rapidly. Bryn also has the backing of two very dedicated professionals – Joe Fideli and Patrick McCallister.
Joe is a character full of contrasts. He is a devoted husband and father. He is also a walking armory, a well-trained field operative. Lethal. I love Joe.
Patrick. What can I say about Patrick? Patrick makes Bryn feel alive. He is also keeping her alive ensuring that she gets her daily dose of Returné. He is protective of Bryn and there is a genuine affection for her. Patrick is absolutely perfect from Bryn.
Now wait a minute. Zombie romance? Just how is that possible? Don’t body parts fall off? Not with Ms. Caine’s’ zombies. These are revived people. As long as they are on the drug, their heart beats, their bodies are warm, and they do not decompose. So yes, there can be a romance which is great because I’ve wanted to see these two get together.
Paranoia is taken to whole new levels by my absolute favorite pair in this book Manny and Pansy. I’m so glad that they have more time in this book, there’s never too much Manny and Pansy. Manny a reclusive scientist and his companion Pansy hide out in San Diego. Their security measures alone were entertaining.
Of course, there is even something for dog lovers in this book. I loved Mr. French, Bryn’s pet bulldog. So cute!
I could not put Two Weeks’ Notice down. It was action-packed, full of twisty plot turns and surprises and a few “I didn’t see that coming” moments. If you enjoy conspiracy thrillers with a touch of urban fantasy, you are in for a treat. And the ending…..Wow.
More, Ms. Caine. I want more…….
Review posted on Badass Book Reviews.
Thank you to the author for a review copy of this book
March 31, 2019
Two Weeks' Notice (Revivalist #2) by Rachel Caine is a fantastic sequel to Working Stiff. It's an addicting zombie urban fantasy novel that's absolutely perfect for fans of iZombie. It's great to be back with Brynn and to learn more about the tech behind the zombies, but the new characters and the epic twists make this better than the first installment. Rachel Caine is quickly becoming a new favorite author for me. I can't wait to read the finale to this series, Terminated.
October 23, 2017
Upon finishing Working Stiff, I was eager to jump straight into Two Weeks’ Notice. The first book may not have hit all my buttons, but it certainly left me addicted and wanting more. I needed to see how things played out, I needed to see what came next, and I was more than willing to jump straight into the second book.
As is often the case with such books, it took me a while to get into this second book. We had the usual element of the details being rehashed, something that I found unnecessary having just come from the first book. Fortunately, this did not last as long as it sometimes does before the story started to get moving again. I wasn’t quite sure what direction this story would go in, a part of me worried it would be a repeat of the prior book when it came to trying to achieve certain goals, but I quickly found this second book was introducing a number of new elements.
You see, I enjoyed Two Weeks’ Notice a lot more for quite a few reasons. New elements were introduced, new characters appeared, new twists were added, and as a whole a lot more happened in this one. The first book had limited action in my opinion, whereas things occur throughout with this book. There’s a lot more in terms of action, and even when we step away from the action there is still a decent amount occurring. Even in the slower sections of the book, we’re still moving towards some kind of goal.
This one certainly leaves you pulled in throughout, leaving you turning page after page as you work towards your answers. Then, when you reach the end you’re left desperate to grab the next book. I wasn’t quite sure what new element would be added for book three, but the ending left me truly desperate to grab it up. The twist added, the new element, will leave you grabbing book three instantly. It’s certainly a book that will leave you begging for answers.
Without a doubt, a much stronger second book.
As is often the case with such books, it took me a while to get into this second book. We had the usual element of the details being rehashed, something that I found unnecessary having just come from the first book. Fortunately, this did not last as long as it sometimes does before the story started to get moving again. I wasn’t quite sure what direction this story would go in, a part of me worried it would be a repeat of the prior book when it came to trying to achieve certain goals, but I quickly found this second book was introducing a number of new elements.
You see, I enjoyed Two Weeks’ Notice a lot more for quite a few reasons. New elements were introduced, new characters appeared, new twists were added, and as a whole a lot more happened in this one. The first book had limited action in my opinion, whereas things occur throughout with this book. There’s a lot more in terms of action, and even when we step away from the action there is still a decent amount occurring. Even in the slower sections of the book, we’re still moving towards some kind of goal.
This one certainly leaves you pulled in throughout, leaving you turning page after page as you work towards your answers. Then, when you reach the end you’re left desperate to grab the next book. I wasn’t quite sure what new element would be added for book three, but the ending left me truly desperate to grab it up. The twist added, the new element, will leave you grabbing book three instantly. It’s certainly a book that will leave you begging for answers.
Without a doubt, a much stronger second book.
September 3, 2012
Library borrow.
The last 5 or so pages of this book absolutely and completely ruined it for me. And ruined the series as well. I'm totally done with it.
Here's the thing. Rachel Caine knows how to write. I've read many series by her and they're always solid. The first in the Revivalist series really disturbed me - the idea of slowly rotting while conscious and aware of the whole thing if you don't get a daily injection of a super rare, top secret drug? Really disturbing. To be that vulnerable and have such terrifying consequences is something that truly bothered me. And yet, the story was interesting and it's why I picked up the second installment.
But I draw the line at true zombies. I LOATHE zombies. I do not even remotely see any appear to shuffling, rotting, mindless corpses eating people. It's just so repugnant I won't have anything to do with them.
So when, in the last 5 pages of the book, Bryn is given you totally jumped the shark for me.
It utterly ruined not only the book, but the series. That single part took it from a flitting with the ideas of death and what it means to be alive firmly into zombie territory I will not abide. So I'm done with the series. Which is a shame because creepy or not, it was interesting.
The last 5 or so pages of this book absolutely and completely ruined it for me. And ruined the series as well. I'm totally done with it.
Here's the thing. Rachel Caine knows how to write. I've read many series by her and they're always solid. The first in the Revivalist series really disturbed me - the idea of slowly rotting while conscious and aware of the whole thing if you don't get a daily injection of a super rare, top secret drug? Really disturbing. To be that vulnerable and have such terrifying consequences is something that truly bothered me. And yet, the story was interesting and it's why I picked up the second installment.
But I draw the line at true zombies. I LOATHE zombies. I do not even remotely see any appear to shuffling, rotting, mindless corpses eating people. It's just so repugnant I won't have anything to do with them.
So when, in the last 5 pages of the book, Bryn is given you totally jumped the shark for me.
It utterly ruined not only the book, but the series. That single part took it from a flitting with the ideas of death and what it means to be alive firmly into zombie territory I will not abide. So I'm done with the series. Which is a shame because creepy or not, it was interesting.
July 25, 2012
I read Working Stiff, the first book in the Revivalist series, with some trepidation, not being a fan of shambling mindless brain eaters, only to find myself gripped by a original, exciting story. I was thrilled to be given access to a galley of Two Week's Notice and eager to see if Caine could do it again.
And she did. Picking up a few months after Working Stiff Bryn is managing the funeral home she 'inherited', searching for her kidnapped sister, Annalie, offering counseling to the newly Revived and falling in love with Patrick McCallister. As Manny continues to tinker with the Returne formula she must inject herself with everyday or risk a gruesome death, the FBI, who are in the process of dismantling Pharmadene insists she help them with an investigation into missing funds. What Bryn discovers is a shocking government conspiracy that involves murdered and missing Pharmadene employees, and results in her being targeted by a shadowy group of sadistic military operatives. This time, Bryn is not at all sure she will escape with her life.
Perhaps best described as an urban fantasy thriller, with a compelling mix of action, conspiracy and a touch of romance, the plot of Two Weeks' Notice is well thought out and ideally paced. I was engrossed by each twist and turn as Bryn, backed up by Pat McCallister and Joe Fideli, becomes the target in a complex conspiracy by the government to tie up loose ends involving Pharmadene and Returne. To escape a bomb she must jump from a seventh story window, to avoid abduction she jumps through a wall of glass but when the mysterious Jane finally gets a hold of her by threatening Joe's son, she has to endure unimaginable torture. While rarely explicit, the imagined horror is inescapable and made my skin crawl.
There is a continued intensity to Bryn's character as she struggles with the emotional fall out of becoming the living dead. Her dependence on the Returne drug makes her vulnerable, at the mercy of Manny and the FBI and she still suffers from nightmares about her death and the white room in the bowels of the Pharmadene building. Bryn also has concerns about her growing intimate relationship with Patrick which is hit with a shocking curve ball when the truth of the conspiracy comes to light.
Fast paced, action packed and leading to stunning conclusion that left me wanting more, Two Week's Notice is a thrilling page turner. A must read for urban fantasy fans, this is one series you don't want to miss.
And she did. Picking up a few months after Working Stiff Bryn is managing the funeral home she 'inherited', searching for her kidnapped sister, Annalie, offering counseling to the newly Revived and falling in love with Patrick McCallister. As Manny continues to tinker with the Returne formula she must inject herself with everyday or risk a gruesome death, the FBI, who are in the process of dismantling Pharmadene insists she help them with an investigation into missing funds. What Bryn discovers is a shocking government conspiracy that involves murdered and missing Pharmadene employees, and results in her being targeted by a shadowy group of sadistic military operatives. This time, Bryn is not at all sure she will escape with her life.
Perhaps best described as an urban fantasy thriller, with a compelling mix of action, conspiracy and a touch of romance, the plot of Two Weeks' Notice is well thought out and ideally paced. I was engrossed by each twist and turn as Bryn, backed up by Pat McCallister and Joe Fideli, becomes the target in a complex conspiracy by the government to tie up loose ends involving Pharmadene and Returne. To escape a bomb she must jump from a seventh story window, to avoid abduction she jumps through a wall of glass but when the mysterious Jane finally gets a hold of her by threatening Joe's son, she has to endure unimaginable torture. While rarely explicit, the imagined horror is inescapable and made my skin crawl.
There is a continued intensity to Bryn's character as she struggles with the emotional fall out of becoming the living dead. Her dependence on the Returne drug makes her vulnerable, at the mercy of Manny and the FBI and she still suffers from nightmares about her death and the white room in the bowels of the Pharmadene building. Bryn also has concerns about her growing intimate relationship with Patrick which is hit with a shocking curve ball when the truth of the conspiracy comes to light.
Fast paced, action packed and leading to stunning conclusion that left me wanting more, Two Week's Notice is a thrilling page turner. A must read for urban fantasy fans, this is one series you don't want to miss.
June 18, 2015
Good continuation of the series, Bryn maybe trapped by circumstances but she makes her own choices in some ways. There are a few surprises and some bizarre goings on at Pharmogene.
It's not a zombie book, as the characters are more in a state of stasis.
It's not a zombie book, as the characters are more in a state of stasis.
April 7, 2024
Two Weeks Notice
Revivalist, Book 3
I Picked Up This Book Because: Continue the series.
Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Hoopla via HC Public Library
Dates Read: 4/4/24 - 4/5/24
Stars: 4 Stars
Narrator(s): Julia Whelan
The Characters:
Brynn:
Patrick “Pat”:
Joe,
The Story:
I love that I was able to pick right back up with this story even though I read the first book almost ten years ago. This is a complicated plot with many layers. Some of the details reminded me of an episode of the TV show Leverage.
Revivalist, Book 3
I Picked Up This Book Because: Continue the series.
Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Hoopla via HC Public Library
Dates Read: 4/4/24 - 4/5/24
Stars: 4 Stars
Narrator(s): Julia Whelan
The Characters:
Brynn:
Patrick “Pat”:
Joe,
The Story:
I love that I was able to pick right back up with this story even though I read the first book almost ten years ago. This is a complicated plot with many layers. Some of the details reminded me of an episode of the TV show Leverage.
December 11, 2012
Two Weeks’ Notice is book #2 in the Revivalist series by Ms. Caine. While I liked the first book, I enjoyed this one even more.
Central to the story was Bryn, the survivor from the last book, in which she died from murder and was brought back to life through the injection of a drug called “Returne”. This drug contained nanites that worked to rebuild damaged body parts/organs and kept the body functioning top-notch. It literally was the panacea to aging and dying – provided that the receiver had one booster injection every day for the rest of his/her eternal life. Otherwise, the side effects would include a very slow and prolonged death by rotting and decomposition while the person was still conscious and physically functional.
Zombie much?
Okay, no really, this book wasn’t about zombies, although that was the first impression I had when I read book #1, Working Stiff. Similar to my feeling previously, I struggled a bit with the classification of this book. I wouldn’t call it urban fantasy or paranormal, since it really had nothing to do with vampires/weres/fae and the like. I’d probably categorize it as a combination of science fiction, horror, and mystery.
In the aftermath of the Pharmadene fiasco (Pharmadene was the pharmaceutical giant which researched and developed Returne. One of its psychotic executives decided it would be good to turn key politicians and people with influence into their puppets by killing them and then reviving them using the drug, a terrorist act that was stopped just in time due to Bryn’s involvement), the FBI had taken over the corporation secretly and was working to root out all the conspirators and shutting the corporation down for good. However, it was apparent that there could be some concealed secrets that were hard to unearth and hence Bryn’s help was enlisted – or rather, she was threatened. After all, as a Returne addict herself, she had to rely on the drug on a daily basis. Add to that was the fact that she was extremely hard to kill and was very resourceful, thanks to her friendships to Patrick McAllister and Joe Fideli, whom she met in the previous book.
Got the hang of it yet? Yes, so basically, Bryn and gang got sucked right back into the Pharmadene conspiracy and became entrenched in its investigations. As more dark secrets were uncovered, Bryn became more in danger herself...
Quite honestly, I thought the first half of the book was only so-so. The actions were slow in building. I felt that Bryn wasn’t as cautious as expected, though thankfully she was more than capable of taking care of herself. Knowing that she was likely being monitored (all Returne victims were watched to a certain degree), she continued her activities as though it was business as usual while knowing that there were “bad people” out there. It got to a point which I started wondering where things were going and suddenly BOOM!!! Things took off and the plot suddenly picked up at geometrical speed and from there onwards, it was difficult to put the book down.
Seriously, it took me 3 evenings to get through the first half of the book and then I finished the second half in one evening sitting!
I really wouldn’t want to spoil the book by giving away spoilers. But I’d say this – there were certain things that you’d be expecting and others that you wouldn’t have guessed. The somewhat cliffhanger ending bothered me though – BECAUSE I NEVER LIKED CLIFFHANGERS!!!! Damn it! Now it’d be a whole year before the next book comes out!
Oh, and after reading this book, spoons now gave me a whole different perspective on things that I never imagined or thought possible.... Enough said...
Obviously my review wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t mention anything on the romance front. I would NEVER classify this book as romance, because there was nothing “romancy” about it. Yes, there were definitely romantic feelings and possibilities between Bryn and Pat. If I were to focus on the emotional aspects of things, they were clearly attracted to each other. I actually thought they would be a good fit for each other. However, this was not a book of romance because with most romance books, there were certain elements that would almost always be expected – the sizzling chemistry, the physical attraction, and hot and sexy love scenes etc. There were none of these things in this book. So if you were looking for a good romance read, sorry but you’d be disappointed. Also, there was also the uncertainty of a happily-ever-after for Bryn and Pat, given the events of this book....
Now I wait on pins and needles until the next instalment...
I give this book 4 stars.
Central to the story was Bryn, the survivor from the last book, in which she died from murder and was brought back to life through the injection of a drug called “Returne”. This drug contained nanites that worked to rebuild damaged body parts/organs and kept the body functioning top-notch. It literally was the panacea to aging and dying – provided that the receiver had one booster injection every day for the rest of his/her eternal life. Otherwise, the side effects would include a very slow and prolonged death by rotting and decomposition while the person was still conscious and physically functional.
Zombie much?
Okay, no really, this book wasn’t about zombies, although that was the first impression I had when I read book #1, Working Stiff. Similar to my feeling previously, I struggled a bit with the classification of this book. I wouldn’t call it urban fantasy or paranormal, since it really had nothing to do with vampires/weres/fae and the like. I’d probably categorize it as a combination of science fiction, horror, and mystery.
In the aftermath of the Pharmadene fiasco (Pharmadene was the pharmaceutical giant which researched and developed Returne. One of its psychotic executives decided it would be good to turn key politicians and people with influence into their puppets by killing them and then reviving them using the drug, a terrorist act that was stopped just in time due to Bryn’s involvement), the FBI had taken over the corporation secretly and was working to root out all the conspirators and shutting the corporation down for good. However, it was apparent that there could be some concealed secrets that were hard to unearth and hence Bryn’s help was enlisted – or rather, she was threatened. After all, as a Returne addict herself, she had to rely on the drug on a daily basis. Add to that was the fact that she was extremely hard to kill and was very resourceful, thanks to her friendships to Patrick McAllister and Joe Fideli, whom she met in the previous book.
Got the hang of it yet? Yes, so basically, Bryn and gang got sucked right back into the Pharmadene conspiracy and became entrenched in its investigations. As more dark secrets were uncovered, Bryn became more in danger herself...
Quite honestly, I thought the first half of the book was only so-so. The actions were slow in building. I felt that Bryn wasn’t as cautious as expected, though thankfully she was more than capable of taking care of herself. Knowing that she was likely being monitored (all Returne victims were watched to a certain degree), she continued her activities as though it was business as usual while knowing that there were “bad people” out there. It got to a point which I started wondering where things were going and suddenly BOOM!!! Things took off and the plot suddenly picked up at geometrical speed and from there onwards, it was difficult to put the book down.
Seriously, it took me 3 evenings to get through the first half of the book and then I finished the second half in one evening sitting!
I really wouldn’t want to spoil the book by giving away spoilers. But I’d say this – there were certain things that you’d be expecting and others that you wouldn’t have guessed. The somewhat cliffhanger ending bothered me though – BECAUSE I NEVER LIKED CLIFFHANGERS!!!! Damn it! Now it’d be a whole year before the next book comes out!
Oh, and after reading this book, spoons now gave me a whole different perspective on things that I never imagined or thought possible.... Enough said...
Obviously my review wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t mention anything on the romance front. I would NEVER classify this book as romance, because there was nothing “romancy” about it. Yes, there were definitely romantic feelings and possibilities between Bryn and Pat. If I were to focus on the emotional aspects of things, they were clearly attracted to each other. I actually thought they would be a good fit for each other. However, this was not a book of romance because with most romance books, there were certain elements that would almost always be expected – the sizzling chemistry, the physical attraction, and hot and sexy love scenes etc. There were none of these things in this book. So if you were looking for a good romance read, sorry but you’d be disappointed. Also, there was also the uncertainty of a happily-ever-after for Bryn and Pat, given the events of this book....
Now I wait on pins and needles until the next instalment...
I give this book 4 stars.
May 23, 2022
This was another great read, loved the mystery, and I can't wait to read book 3!
August 7, 2012
It’s rare that a sequel can top its predecessor, and given the enthusiastic 5 bats I gave WORKING STIFF, I never expected TWO WEEKS’ NOTICE to become my new favorite in the series. The bleak circumstances of the first few chapters set me up for a mind blowing ending that has my excitement about this series turned up to an all time high.
Though Bryn’s circumstances at the start of TWO WEEKS’ NOTICE have changed drastically since we first met her in WORKING STIFF, underneath the luxurious accommodations and zombie grief counseling I saw the same calm, capable, utterly bomb proof heroine I fell in love with in book one. And all of that strength is needed now more than ever as the bleakness of life after revival sinks in. Much like Chess Putnam of Stacia Kane’s Downside Ghosts, Bryn’s condition makes her day to day existence precarious and heartbreakingly vulnerable. But if the first portion of TWO WEEKS’ NOTICE is spent reminding you of the depression and fear of life as a nanite zombie, both Bryn’s love life and her self esteem take explosive turns for the better soon after. Though I haven’t quite figured out Patrick McCallister as a leading man, he more than proves his chops as a sex symbol in TWO WEEKS’ NOTICE. Alone with the good (and the steamy), the Revivalist series doesn’t gloss over unpleasantness either. Rather, Bryn’s abilities come at a significant physical and psychological cost that makes her all the more satisfying as a heroine. Though the violence is ratcheted up this time around, all of the emotional pain more than pays off in impact by book’s end.
In addition to greater emotional punch, I like the way Caine manages villains and threats in TWO WEEKS’ NOTICE. Even Annie, one of my least favorite characters in WORKING STIFF, is used to much greater effect. I don’t want to spoil anything by going into details, but I felt that both old threats and new were exciting, intriguing, and really well written. Though Caine’s ability to write wicked women is nearly unmatched, I also I love that her character palette ranges beyond love interests and villains to include families, pets, and happy couples. Joe Fideli in particular had some hilarious dialogue with Pat and Bryn this time around.
After two in a row, I think it’s safe to say that the Revivalist series just plain does it for me. Managing the transition between series installments is a tricky business, and TWO WEEKS’ NOTICE is a great example of how to do things right. The entire action-packed conclusion was thrilling and well written, and the ending caught me completely off guard with a delicious twist. Not your average cliffhanger, Caine treats fans to a game-changing development that definitely puts Revivalist #3 at the top of my “Must Read” list.
Sexual Content: Sex scenes.
Though Bryn’s circumstances at the start of TWO WEEKS’ NOTICE have changed drastically since we first met her in WORKING STIFF, underneath the luxurious accommodations and zombie grief counseling I saw the same calm, capable, utterly bomb proof heroine I fell in love with in book one. And all of that strength is needed now more than ever as the bleakness of life after revival sinks in. Much like Chess Putnam of Stacia Kane’s Downside Ghosts, Bryn’s condition makes her day to day existence precarious and heartbreakingly vulnerable. But if the first portion of TWO WEEKS’ NOTICE is spent reminding you of the depression and fear of life as a nanite zombie, both Bryn’s love life and her self esteem take explosive turns for the better soon after. Though I haven’t quite figured out Patrick McCallister as a leading man, he more than proves his chops as a sex symbol in TWO WEEKS’ NOTICE. Alone with the good (and the steamy), the Revivalist series doesn’t gloss over unpleasantness either. Rather, Bryn’s abilities come at a significant physical and psychological cost that makes her all the more satisfying as a heroine. Though the violence is ratcheted up this time around, all of the emotional pain more than pays off in impact by book’s end.
In addition to greater emotional punch, I like the way Caine manages villains and threats in TWO WEEKS’ NOTICE. Even Annie, one of my least favorite characters in WORKING STIFF, is used to much greater effect. I don’t want to spoil anything by going into details, but I felt that both old threats and new were exciting, intriguing, and really well written. Though Caine’s ability to write wicked women is nearly unmatched, I also I love that her character palette ranges beyond love interests and villains to include families, pets, and happy couples. Joe Fideli in particular had some hilarious dialogue with Pat and Bryn this time around.
After two in a row, I think it’s safe to say that the Revivalist series just plain does it for me. Managing the transition between series installments is a tricky business, and TWO WEEKS’ NOTICE is a great example of how to do things right. The entire action-packed conclusion was thrilling and well written, and the ending caught me completely off guard with a delicious twist. Not your average cliffhanger, Caine treats fans to a game-changing development that definitely puts Revivalist #3 at the top of my “Must Read” list.
Sexual Content: Sex scenes.
July 2, 2012
From the author of the hit series, The Morganville Vampires, comes this new series that began with a novel called “Working Stiff” and takes a new look at urban fantasy. Although it’s true that anything with vampires, werewolves, and zombies is not exactly a ‘fresh’ idea in this day and age, Ms. Caine proves yet again that she knows how to twist and turn these characters into something new and exciting.
Bryn Davis is a zombie—a member of the large ‘undead’ community. In the first tale, Bryn was killed at her job and revived with an experimental drug called Returne, which was discovered in the lab known as Pharmadene. Because of this miracle, Bryn is now not only the owner of a mortuary, but also works for the government. As long as Bryn has her injection of Returne each day, she’s able to function and live her life, or non-life, depending on how you look at it. Now that the government has taken over Pharmadene, they’re adamant that no one discover the drug, and they have the power to ‘take care’ of anyone who tries to blow the lid off their finding.
Bryn, surprisingly, has made a decent life for herself. Her business, Davis Funeral Home, is doing well; and her significant other, Patrick McCallister, knows about her undead status and loves her anyway. They actually run a support group for the Returne undead. Unfortunately, some of the group members are coming up missing and Bryn suspects that the government is ‘helping’ them to disappear.
Even if you’re not among the millions who are interested in zombies, you’ll have a type of ‘awakening’ with this series. While still offering the usual crime and punishment and thrills and chills, this is also the first series that provides the undead with a new ‘face.’ Instead of just scaring people, they’re getting more into the financial world that Gordon Gekko and his “Greed is Good” mentality once made famous. This series will keep you up at night…not because you’re frightened, but because you’re intrigued.
Until Next Time, Everybody,
Amy
Bryn Davis is a zombie—a member of the large ‘undead’ community. In the first tale, Bryn was killed at her job and revived with an experimental drug called Returne, which was discovered in the lab known as Pharmadene. Because of this miracle, Bryn is now not only the owner of a mortuary, but also works for the government. As long as Bryn has her injection of Returne each day, she’s able to function and live her life, or non-life, depending on how you look at it. Now that the government has taken over Pharmadene, they’re adamant that no one discover the drug, and they have the power to ‘take care’ of anyone who tries to blow the lid off their finding.
Bryn, surprisingly, has made a decent life for herself. Her business, Davis Funeral Home, is doing well; and her significant other, Patrick McCallister, knows about her undead status and loves her anyway. They actually run a support group for the Returne undead. Unfortunately, some of the group members are coming up missing and Bryn suspects that the government is ‘helping’ them to disappear.
Even if you’re not among the millions who are interested in zombies, you’ll have a type of ‘awakening’ with this series. While still offering the usual crime and punishment and thrills and chills, this is also the first series that provides the undead with a new ‘face.’ Instead of just scaring people, they’re getting more into the financial world that Gordon Gekko and his “Greed is Good” mentality once made famous. This series will keep you up at night…not because you’re frightened, but because you’re intrigued.
Until Next Time, Everybody,
Amy
September 1, 2012
‘Two Weeks’ Notice’ is the second book in Ms. Caine’s new “The Revivalist” series. Bryn Davis has lived (and died) through so much in her young life. Picking up the pieces after the events in ‘Working Stiff’, Bryn now runs the funeral home where she worked, has started a support group for other Revived people, is working on her relationship with Patrick McCallister, and is still searching for her sister. Of course, she also needs her Returné injections to keep ‘living’. Everything was working smoothly until she received a visit from Agent Reilly of the FBI who wants her to do some digging the FBI can’t through the proper channels. Unfortunately, this brings Bryn to the attention of another player in the Revivalist game.
While at times Bryn can appear to be cold and disconnected, she’s had to keep her life compartmentalized for so long it takes her a while to open up. Don’t let this stop you from picking up “The Revivalist” series – Bryn and the other characters are complex and they just suck you into their world completely. Bryn has now come out of her shell quite a bit by the time ‘Two Weeks’ Notice’ starts and is starting to build friendships and explore her relationship with Patrick McCallister. While the good guys have their own checkered pasts, the antagonists are truly and magnificently evil, which I loved. I also enjoyed the twists, turns, and upheavals throughout the book. Ms. Caine has been one of my favorite writers for a long time and this series is shaping up to be her best! Enriched with strong characters and a solid, but sordid plot, ‘Two Weeks’ Notice’ is even better than the first book, ‘Working Stiff’. The intensity of ‘Two Weeks’ Notice’ will grab hold of you and keep you locked in for a roller coaster ride where you won’t see the twists and turns coming up ahead for the characters. I am eagerly anticipating book 3 after the thrills and creepy surprises from this book, plus a truly outrageous cliffhanger!
The Revivalist Series: Working Stiff (1), Two Weeks' Notice (2), Terminated (3)
While at times Bryn can appear to be cold and disconnected, she’s had to keep her life compartmentalized for so long it takes her a while to open up. Don’t let this stop you from picking up “The Revivalist” series – Bryn and the other characters are complex and they just suck you into their world completely. Bryn has now come out of her shell quite a bit by the time ‘Two Weeks’ Notice’ starts and is starting to build friendships and explore her relationship with Patrick McCallister. While the good guys have their own checkered pasts, the antagonists are truly and magnificently evil, which I loved. I also enjoyed the twists, turns, and upheavals throughout the book. Ms. Caine has been one of my favorite writers for a long time and this series is shaping up to be her best! Enriched with strong characters and a solid, but sordid plot, ‘Two Weeks’ Notice’ is even better than the first book, ‘Working Stiff’. The intensity of ‘Two Weeks’ Notice’ will grab hold of you and keep you locked in for a roller coaster ride where you won’t see the twists and turns coming up ahead for the characters. I am eagerly anticipating book 3 after the thrills and creepy surprises from this book, plus a truly outrageous cliffhanger!
The Revivalist Series: Working Stiff (1), Two Weeks' Notice (2), Terminated (3)
August 30, 2012
"Two Weeks' Notice" is on the level better then “Working Stiff”.
Actually, Ms.Caine fixed almost all the things that made me lower my rating for the first book.
And the biggest change was with main character. In "Two Weeks' Notice" Bryn is tougher, more active, more capable. She still gets her butt kicked, but unlike in the first book, she kicks right back.
I also liked, that there was a bit more romance. Not too much to shift the focus of the book, but just enough to spice all the fighting and explosions.
As far as the plot goes, it is - as always in Ms.Caine case – excellent! Fast-paced, packed with actions and corporate horrors – all components for the great Urban Fantasy!
I want to compliment Rachel Caine on her ability to create great villains. She is especially good with women villains. Their detachment, twisted logic and calm cruelty make you more afraid than explosive violence ever could.
By the end things turned to be really gruesome and terrifying, but I guess it will make the next book only more exiting!
The “Terminated” is scheduled almost a year from now and I’ve already started countdown to read about Bryn new adventures.
P.S. Joe is my new favorite character in this series. Also, Mr.French is pretty close to him.
September 18, 2012
Forget Fangs and Claw.Make way for the Revivalists
My ratings: 5 out of 5 stars.
Bryn Davis is trying to cope being dead and coming back. she is running her Mortutaory, running a support group for Returne addicts and trying to figure out a relationship with the Patrick MacCallister. So, when members of her support group start dying one by one and the FBI sending her to do random jobs she can't help but think there may be something else going on entirely. Is it Pharamadene again, the government or perhaps something even bigger which may just be too much for Bryn.
Bryn has now become one of my favourite heroines. I loved her in this book. She was is so much more relatable in this than she was in Working Stiff.She is still coping with what happened to her since Pharmadene went down. She has been picking pieces of her life and trying to make a to life as normal life as possible. I have to give her the credit for being the tough fighter she is. No matter was is thrown at her she doesn't cry, whinge or even try to run away from it. She know she may have a gruesome end but she is fighting her way through. She is someone with strength of character which I loved to see. I always liked my heroines strong with a bit of personality thrown in and Bryn has them both. Somehow, I found her a lot more relatable than the last book. It is clear that what she went through is clearly life altering(quite literally) but now it hits her full force. The wrongness of it all, the wrongness that was her, starts to change her. I feel we will get to she more development in her character as the series goes on.
"The first day I met you I thought you were complicated and dangerous. No matter how far I go with you, it seems there's more to find...”
If you thought Patrick McCallister was good in the first one, he is brilliant in this. He was so sweet, loving and caring. It was clear what he thought about Bryn and how much her well-being mattered to her. But don't be fooled by his soft ways because he is a killer inside and as easily he will be charming (in his own way) he will snap your neck in the next. I love how he has this two sides to him one in which he is the perfect gentleman and the other where he puts on his military facade complete with body armour, guns and grenades and of course his guarded expression. The tender moments between him and Bryn were heart melting and when he had his guard down around Bryn.....all I can say I had been fanning myself while reading it. For those, rooting for this couple, I'll say that your wait is rewarded. There is progress between them and that's all I can say.
"I like women who take control,'" he said, as his lips came close again, but didn't touch. 'I also like women who know when to give it up.”
The plot simply blew my mind. The story line for this instalment of Revivalist contains non stop action. The scenes are really well written and it was so easy to imagine each fight scene. The anticipation and thrill had me sitting on the edge of my seat. Each action/fight scene was better and tenser than before which took your breath away. But as soon as you come up for air, Caine hits you with another plot twist that you are left breathless. The mystery was really well done and I could not have guessed who the villain was till it was revealed.
Once in a while I have come across some truly hideous, evil villains who have you questing the limits of human cruelty. Two Week's Notice introduced me on such villain was not only twisted but quite frankly, barking mad. I will not say much as I don't want to give away spoilers some scenes were gruesome and bone- chilling. All I can say is that, I will never think a spoon to be innocent ever again.
The side characters were awesome as well. I loved Joe Fideli's protectiveness for Bryn, Liam's familiarity, and Manny's craziness. Each and every one of them has been written with so much thought that each one of them have a story behind them.
"She had no idea what drew him to to her with such constant and consistent force, but it was always there,that buried attraction that only required a moment's slip of control to surface. I was wildly sexy, but more than the pure attraction of him there was a kind of beautiful strength to Patrick that she couldn't begin to define.”
This Series most certainly has taken a more darker note and I'm not sure where Caine is planning to take it. It seems to me that Bryn's situation is getting worse and worse with no end in sight. Will she rot away alive with no one to save her? She has been struggling desperately against all odds to survive.The whole team is fighting a losing battle where friends are turning out to be enemies and enemies unexpected allies.
Words may not be enough to convey how much I loved this book. Was it the 'real heroine Bryn or the blossoming romance between her and Patrick. Maybe it as the twists and turns that Caine wrote in the plot or maybe the fact that this series seems to be getting darker and grittier by every book. I'm not sure what is going to happen next as it seems Byrn is being pit against powers which are getting bigger and bidder.
Forget vampires, werewolves, fangs and claws, explore to the world of guns, drugs and evil corporations. Two Week's notice satisfies all your craving for a mind blowing, heart thumping Urban fantasy with a kick of Sci Fi with a heroine who will touch your heart strings and a romance which is believable. Meet butlers who shoot guns, dish washing military men and armoured car driving crazy scientist. This book was one of the best Urban Fantasy I have read this year and I'm on pins on needles waiting for the Terminated, the next Revivalist novel.
Releases on 24th of September in the U.K
Advance copy provided by Allison and Busby.
Read more of my reviews at Escapism from Reality
My ratings: 5 out of 5 stars.
Bryn Davis is trying to cope being dead and coming back. she is running her Mortutaory, running a support group for Returne addicts and trying to figure out a relationship with the Patrick MacCallister. So, when members of her support group start dying one by one and the FBI sending her to do random jobs she can't help but think there may be something else going on entirely. Is it Pharamadene again, the government or perhaps something even bigger which may just be too much for Bryn.
Bryn has now become one of my favourite heroines. I loved her in this book. She was is so much more relatable in this than she was in Working Stiff.She is still coping with what happened to her since Pharmadene went down. She has been picking pieces of her life and trying to make a to life as normal life as possible. I have to give her the credit for being the tough fighter she is. No matter was is thrown at her she doesn't cry, whinge or even try to run away from it. She know she may have a gruesome end but she is fighting her way through. She is someone with strength of character which I loved to see. I always liked my heroines strong with a bit of personality thrown in and Bryn has them both. Somehow, I found her a lot more relatable than the last book. It is clear that what she went through is clearly life altering(quite literally) but now it hits her full force. The wrongness of it all, the wrongness that was her, starts to change her. I feel we will get to she more development in her character as the series goes on.
"The first day I met you I thought you were complicated and dangerous. No matter how far I go with you, it seems there's more to find...”
If you thought Patrick McCallister was good in the first one, he is brilliant in this. He was so sweet, loving and caring. It was clear what he thought about Bryn and how much her well-being mattered to her. But don't be fooled by his soft ways because he is a killer inside and as easily he will be charming (in his own way) he will snap your neck in the next. I love how he has this two sides to him one in which he is the perfect gentleman and the other where he puts on his military facade complete with body armour, guns and grenades and of course his guarded expression. The tender moments between him and Bryn were heart melting and when he had his guard down around Bryn.....all I can say I had been fanning myself while reading it. For those, rooting for this couple, I'll say that your wait is rewarded. There is progress between them and that's all I can say.
"I like women who take control,'" he said, as his lips came close again, but didn't touch. 'I also like women who know when to give it up.”
The plot simply blew my mind. The story line for this instalment of Revivalist contains non stop action. The scenes are really well written and it was so easy to imagine each fight scene. The anticipation and thrill had me sitting on the edge of my seat. Each action/fight scene was better and tenser than before which took your breath away. But as soon as you come up for air, Caine hits you with another plot twist that you are left breathless. The mystery was really well done and I could not have guessed who the villain was till it was revealed.
Once in a while I have come across some truly hideous, evil villains who have you questing the limits of human cruelty. Two Week's Notice introduced me on such villain was not only twisted but quite frankly, barking mad. I will not say much as I don't want to give away spoilers some scenes were gruesome and bone- chilling. All I can say is that, I will never think a spoon to be innocent ever again.
The side characters were awesome as well. I loved Joe Fideli's protectiveness for Bryn, Liam's familiarity, and Manny's craziness. Each and every one of them has been written with so much thought that each one of them have a story behind them.
"She had no idea what drew him to to her with such constant and consistent force, but it was always there,that buried attraction that only required a moment's slip of control to surface. I was wildly sexy, but more than the pure attraction of him there was a kind of beautiful strength to Patrick that she couldn't begin to define.”
This Series most certainly has taken a more darker note and I'm not sure where Caine is planning to take it. It seems to me that Bryn's situation is getting worse and worse with no end in sight. Will she rot away alive with no one to save her? She has been struggling desperately against all odds to survive.The whole team is fighting a losing battle where friends are turning out to be enemies and enemies unexpected allies.
Words may not be enough to convey how much I loved this book. Was it the 'real heroine Bryn or the blossoming romance between her and Patrick. Maybe it as the twists and turns that Caine wrote in the plot or maybe the fact that this series seems to be getting darker and grittier by every book. I'm not sure what is going to happen next as it seems Byrn is being pit against powers which are getting bigger and bidder.
Forget vampires, werewolves, fangs and claws, explore to the world of guns, drugs and evil corporations. Two Week's notice satisfies all your craving for a mind blowing, heart thumping Urban fantasy with a kick of Sci Fi with a heroine who will touch your heart strings and a romance which is believable. Meet butlers who shoot guns, dish washing military men and armoured car driving crazy scientist. This book was one of the best Urban Fantasy I have read this year and I'm on pins on needles waiting for the Terminated, the next Revivalist novel.
Releases on 24th of September in the U.K
Advance copy provided by Allison and Busby.
Read more of my reviews at Escapism from Reality
May 2, 2021
Wowza this series just seems to keep getting better. Could not put it down
July 25, 2012
Bryn Davis is back – after the FBI agreed to supply her with the Returné drug she needs in order to be able to live her life relatively normally and stress free. As long as she continues to take the Returné then she can’t be ‘killed’ except by incineration or decapitation. Any attempts will simply see her regenerate after a small amount of time, all injuries healing. However if the supply is cut off from her than she knows it’s a slow decay until a final death. The FBI has also retained the right to use her for information if they see fit and Bryn knows the knock at the door will come sooner rather than later.
On the personal front, her life is going well – the newly christened Davis Funeral Home is doing good business and keeping her busy with finding new employees and dealing with the recently bereaved. For mostly ‘safety reasons’ she’s now living with Patrick McCallister – although in separate bedrooms – and the two are working tentatively towards expanding their relationship. And Bryn is also running a loose support group for those who rely on Returné to keep themselves alive. It comes with its own array of stresses and problems, especially with people who have families and Bryn is doing her best to help others even as she continues to search for her sister.
Some of Bryn’s Returné support group members begin to disappear and the FBI appear and ask Bryn to investigate what should be a seemingly harmless company. However it seems that everything is far from harmless and straight forward and Bryn is forced to wonder if the government are starting to pick off the Returné population or if there is some new threat that has discovered the gift of eternal life and decided to remove it. Bryn’s world is about to become a whole lot more complicated and it’s going to be impossible for her to know who she can place her trust in, because pick the wrong person and she’ll wind up dead. Well, even more dead than she already is.
Two Weeks’ Notice is the second novel in Rachel Caine’s Revivalist series. I read the first novel, Working Stiff early this year and loved it, making this novel one of my most anticipated series releases of 2012. Rachel Caine really isn’t afraid to push the boundaries with this series – she did it in Working Stiff, treating us to experiencing our heroine declining without the drug that keeps her alive and she does it again here as Bryn takes advantage of the fact that she regenerates when ‘killed’ in certain ways in order to escape a desperate situation. The description of this scene is lengthy and vivid and it literally made me shudder in horror even as, in car-crash style syndrome, I couldn’t look away and frantically kept reading. Bryn is beginning to adapt to her new lifestyle and the fact that it broadens her limitations to almost boundless but that isn’t to say that she isn’t still struggling with it too. She knows that there are things she will never experience now, such as motherhood and she laments that the choice has been taken from her.
The chemistry that simmered in Working Stiff between her and Patrick ramps up more than a notch in this volume but it isn’t without its complications. The two have been taking it slow, keeping a lid on it but any pot with a lid on it boils over eventually! Almost as soon as they find new ground though, things are complicated by the return of someone from Patrick’s past, someone that Bryn didn’t even know existed and it changes things, making her question what she knows about Patrick. And Bryn already has a lot to worry about, given she feels personally responsible for the disappearance of some of the people from her Returné support group and trying to figure out precisely what the government and/or the defunct company of Pharmadene are really up to.
I feel that as a sequel, Two Weeks’ Notice delivered on every aspect – I was so taken with the idea of Working Stiff but I wasn’t quite sure how Caine was going to be able to draw it out. I see that in this book she clearly has so many ideas where it can go and new things she can inject into the story to keep it fresh and alive (no pun intended!). The scenario has endless possibilities for alliances and battles with a capacity for the teams to shift and alter depending on what the scenario is – this is evidenced in Two Weeks’ Notice when Patrick and Joe are forced to place their trust in someone previously they’d been attempting to hunt down to help them, believing they might just be the only people capable of doing what it is Patrick and Joe require.
It’s always a risk when you build up a book in your head, desperately wanting it to arrive so you can dive in and experience it. There’s always the chance that it won’t live up to the standards you’ve set and it’s even more fantastic when a book does, like this one did for me. Two Weeks’ Notice takes all the things I loved about Working Stiff and pushes them to the next level – there’s more action, more mystery, more romance, more creepiness. Oh is there more creepiness!
Now the long wait for the third novel begins.
On the personal front, her life is going well – the newly christened Davis Funeral Home is doing good business and keeping her busy with finding new employees and dealing with the recently bereaved. For mostly ‘safety reasons’ she’s now living with Patrick McCallister – although in separate bedrooms – and the two are working tentatively towards expanding their relationship. And Bryn is also running a loose support group for those who rely on Returné to keep themselves alive. It comes with its own array of stresses and problems, especially with people who have families and Bryn is doing her best to help others even as she continues to search for her sister.
Some of Bryn’s Returné support group members begin to disappear and the FBI appear and ask Bryn to investigate what should be a seemingly harmless company. However it seems that everything is far from harmless and straight forward and Bryn is forced to wonder if the government are starting to pick off the Returné population or if there is some new threat that has discovered the gift of eternal life and decided to remove it. Bryn’s world is about to become a whole lot more complicated and it’s going to be impossible for her to know who she can place her trust in, because pick the wrong person and she’ll wind up dead. Well, even more dead than she already is.
Two Weeks’ Notice is the second novel in Rachel Caine’s Revivalist series. I read the first novel, Working Stiff early this year and loved it, making this novel one of my most anticipated series releases of 2012. Rachel Caine really isn’t afraid to push the boundaries with this series – she did it in Working Stiff, treating us to experiencing our heroine declining without the drug that keeps her alive and she does it again here as Bryn takes advantage of the fact that she regenerates when ‘killed’ in certain ways in order to escape a desperate situation. The description of this scene is lengthy and vivid and it literally made me shudder in horror even as, in car-crash style syndrome, I couldn’t look away and frantically kept reading. Bryn is beginning to adapt to her new lifestyle and the fact that it broadens her limitations to almost boundless but that isn’t to say that she isn’t still struggling with it too. She knows that there are things she will never experience now, such as motherhood and she laments that the choice has been taken from her.
The chemistry that simmered in Working Stiff between her and Patrick ramps up more than a notch in this volume but it isn’t without its complications. The two have been taking it slow, keeping a lid on it but any pot with a lid on it boils over eventually! Almost as soon as they find new ground though, things are complicated by the return of someone from Patrick’s past, someone that Bryn didn’t even know existed and it changes things, making her question what she knows about Patrick. And Bryn already has a lot to worry about, given she feels personally responsible for the disappearance of some of the people from her Returné support group and trying to figure out precisely what the government and/or the defunct company of Pharmadene are really up to.
I feel that as a sequel, Two Weeks’ Notice delivered on every aspect – I was so taken with the idea of Working Stiff but I wasn’t quite sure how Caine was going to be able to draw it out. I see that in this book she clearly has so many ideas where it can go and new things she can inject into the story to keep it fresh and alive (no pun intended!). The scenario has endless possibilities for alliances and battles with a capacity for the teams to shift and alter depending on what the scenario is – this is evidenced in Two Weeks’ Notice when Patrick and Joe are forced to place their trust in someone previously they’d been attempting to hunt down to help them, believing they might just be the only people capable of doing what it is Patrick and Joe require.
It’s always a risk when you build up a book in your head, desperately wanting it to arrive so you can dive in and experience it. There’s always the chance that it won’t live up to the standards you’ve set and it’s even more fantastic when a book does, like this one did for me. Two Weeks’ Notice takes all the things I loved about Working Stiff and pushes them to the next level – there’s more action, more mystery, more romance, more creepiness. Oh is there more creepiness!
Now the long wait for the third novel begins.
January 2, 2019
I didn't love it. I'm a fan of the Morgsnville books and enjoyed the Weather series, but can't get into this. I fell asleep every time I tried reading it.
December 29, 2012
Originally posted on www.yareads.com, reviewed by Nichole.
In New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine’s “thrilling”* Revivalist series, Bryn Davis finds out that making a living can be rough if you’re already dead...
After dying and being revived with the experimental drug Returne, Bryn Davis is theoretically free to live her unlife—with regular doses to keep her going. But Bryn knows that the government has every intention of keeping a tight lid on Pharmadene’s life-altering discovery, no matter the cost. Thankfully, some things have changed for the better; her job at the rechristened Davis Funeral Home is keeping her busy and her fragile romance with Patrick McCallister is blossoming—thanks in part to their combined efforts in forming a support group for Returne addicts. But when some of the group members suddenly disappear, Bryn wonders if the government is methodically removing a threat to their security, or if some unknown enemy has decided to run the zombies into the ground…
I was a big fan of the first book in this series, Working Stiff, so I was really excited to read this book. Unfortunately, I don't have much good to say about it. It was really boring throughout the entire thing, I didn't feel any connection to the characters, and I was quite frankly grossed out.
The main character, Bryn, grated on my nerves from the very first page. I didn't overly love her in Working Stiff, but I never exactly disliked or even hated her. I couldn't stand her in this book! She was annoying and whiney, and I just could have done without her. I also didn't fall in love with the romance between Bryn and Patrick, which is really interesting since I loved them in the first book. I don't know if it's because I couldn't stand her or just because of the writing style, but I was really let down.
If you are really grossed by gore and blood and all that nasty stuff, then this is not the book for you. Don't get me wrong, I like The Walking Dead and a little bit of action and nastiness in my books, but this was just disgusting. I'm sorry, but I don't want to read about someone's eyes getting scooped out (yes, that really does happen.) It was nasty on a whole different level, and I was not okay with it. I feel the need to wash my eyes out right about now.
The ending of this book was so awful and so disgusting that I skimmed that last chapter. I don't even know how the ending went down because I was SO grossed out! Nasty! I don't want to ruin the ending for all of you guys and girls who are going to read the book, but it gets GROSS! I'm talking dead people, zombie chompers, eyeball scoopers, decaying bodies, chewing on arms GROSS. I will not be continuing this series because I don't even want to see where else Rachel Caine can take this crazy storyline. Yuck!
In New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine’s “thrilling”* Revivalist series, Bryn Davis finds out that making a living can be rough if you’re already dead...
After dying and being revived with the experimental drug Returne, Bryn Davis is theoretically free to live her unlife—with regular doses to keep her going. But Bryn knows that the government has every intention of keeping a tight lid on Pharmadene’s life-altering discovery, no matter the cost. Thankfully, some things have changed for the better; her job at the rechristened Davis Funeral Home is keeping her busy and her fragile romance with Patrick McCallister is blossoming—thanks in part to their combined efforts in forming a support group for Returne addicts. But when some of the group members suddenly disappear, Bryn wonders if the government is methodically removing a threat to their security, or if some unknown enemy has decided to run the zombies into the ground…
I was a big fan of the first book in this series, Working Stiff, so I was really excited to read this book. Unfortunately, I don't have much good to say about it. It was really boring throughout the entire thing, I didn't feel any connection to the characters, and I was quite frankly grossed out.
The main character, Bryn, grated on my nerves from the very first page. I didn't overly love her in Working Stiff, but I never exactly disliked or even hated her. I couldn't stand her in this book! She was annoying and whiney, and I just could have done without her. I also didn't fall in love with the romance between Bryn and Patrick, which is really interesting since I loved them in the first book. I don't know if it's because I couldn't stand her or just because of the writing style, but I was really let down.
If you are really grossed by gore and blood and all that nasty stuff, then this is not the book for you. Don't get me wrong, I like The Walking Dead and a little bit of action and nastiness in my books, but this was just disgusting. I'm sorry, but I don't want to read about someone's eyes getting scooped out (yes, that really does happen.) It was nasty on a whole different level, and I was not okay with it. I feel the need to wash my eyes out right about now.
The ending of this book was so awful and so disgusting that I skimmed that last chapter. I don't even know how the ending went down because I was SO grossed out! Nasty! I don't want to ruin the ending for all of you guys and girls who are going to read the book, but it gets GROSS! I'm talking dead people, zombie chompers, eyeball scoopers, decaying bodies, chewing on arms GROSS. I will not be continuing this series because I don't even want to see where else Rachel Caine can take this crazy storyline. Yuck!
December 12, 2013
Two Weeks' Notice
4 Stars
It’s business as usual for Bryn Davis at the funeral home until the FBI pull her in with a “request”, and she finds herself immeshed in a new conspiracy fighting against a lethal foe with ties that are a little too close to home.
A good continuation to the series but fair warning The Revivalists is not for the faint of heart or the weak of stomach. The tone is dark and gritty, and the descriptions are quite gory and gruesome, particularly toward the end.
The plot starts out a little slow as Bryn copes with the aftermath of events from Working Stiff but the action heats up quickly and Bryn is soon dodging bullets, surviving explosions and escaping deranged interrogators at government facilities. There are also developments in her personal life as she and Patrick grow closer both emotionally and physically.
The secondary characters are engaging, especially Patrick’s right hand, Joe Fidelli, and his left, the Alfred-like Liam. The villain is seriously disturbed, which says a lot since the sickos from book #1 were bad enough, and there is a wicked little twist associated with the character as well.
The third and final book is already out and it will be interesting to see how Bryn handles the changes wrought in this installment.
4 Stars
It’s business as usual for Bryn Davis at the funeral home until the FBI pull her in with a “request”, and she finds herself immeshed in a new conspiracy fighting against a lethal foe with ties that are a little too close to home.
A good continuation to the series but fair warning The Revivalists is not for the faint of heart or the weak of stomach. The tone is dark and gritty, and the descriptions are quite gory and gruesome, particularly toward the end.
The plot starts out a little slow as Bryn copes with the aftermath of events from Working Stiff but the action heats up quickly and Bryn is soon dodging bullets, surviving explosions and escaping deranged interrogators at government facilities. There are also developments in her personal life as she and Patrick grow closer both emotionally and physically.
The secondary characters are engaging, especially Patrick’s right hand, Joe Fidelli, and his left, the Alfred-like Liam. The villain is seriously disturbed, which says a lot since the sickos from book #1 were bad enough, and there is a wicked little twist associated with the character as well.
The third and final book is already out and it will be interesting to see how Bryn handles the changes wrought in this installment.
November 30, 2012
Ok, this was a tough read.
The first half of the book was nothing special, it was really losing me, it's not that there wasn't action, but sometimes too much mystery can make you lose interest instead of peruse the story to figure it out.
The other half though, was brutal. It was exactly the kind of thing that attracted me to this series in the first place, just brutal and agonizing and beautifully horrible. This story makes you love the heroine and sympathies with her on so many levels. And let me just say how glad I am by the change in Bryn's character, she is tougher now, while in the first book she was just a victim.
This book s not for the weak, this series s not for the soft hearted, the scenes are full of gore and punishment and revenge. The people in it will do anything to survive.
READ IT, but be sure to prepare yourself for a wild gruesome ride.
The first half of the book was nothing special, it was really losing me, it's not that there wasn't action, but sometimes too much mystery can make you lose interest instead of peruse the story to figure it out.
The other half though, was brutal. It was exactly the kind of thing that attracted me to this series in the first place, just brutal and agonizing and beautifully horrible. This story makes you love the heroine and sympathies with her on so many levels. And let me just say how glad I am by the change in Bryn's character, she is tougher now, while in the first book she was just a victim.
This book s not for the weak, this series s not for the soft hearted, the scenes are full of gore and punishment and revenge. The people in it will do anything to survive.
READ IT, but be sure to prepare yourself for a wild gruesome ride.
March 20, 2013
3.5 Stars
I'm a fan of this series & the unique world Caine has created. I loved Working Stiff, but I just couldn't get into this one. The story was good and there was plenty of action, yet something was missing for me. I dare say this book had more going on than the previous, so I'm a little stumped with my lack of enjoyment. Still, it was a good read and I'd definitely recommend it.
Also, Bryn gets a chilling unsolicited upgrade. I can't wait to see how it plays in the future!
I'm a fan of this series & the unique world Caine has created. I loved Working Stiff, but I just couldn't get into this one. The story was good and there was plenty of action, yet something was missing for me. I dare say this book had more going on than the previous, so I'm a little stumped with my lack of enjoyment. Still, it was a good read and I'd definitely recommend it.
Also, Bryn gets a chilling unsolicited upgrade. I can't wait to see how it plays in the future!
March 15, 2015
Things get even darker and more violent than the last book. Clearly this author has zero faith in either governments or corporations to not get corrupted at the drop of a hat (or, well, umm, the prospect of unlimited wealth and power; yeah, if anything’s going to be an incentive to torturing civilians, that would be it.)
So down the bloody rabbit hole we go!
It begs the question how there can be any sort of ending to this trilogy that isn’t just a danse macabre for everybody, but now I’m at the point where I can look away from the car wreck and am going on to the third book just to see what happens.
August 22, 2016
3.5
Toujours plein de surprises, et une auteur qui n'épargne pas ses personnages
http://www.nyx-shadow.com/2016/05/fun...
I was in love with the original background of this book, and in this one, it's always a great time. If the plot is more complex, less evident, I regret than the main character, Bryn, doesn't change.
She is too passive and I have sensed that she just... observe. Others characters make decisions, good or bad, but they try. Brynn doesn't seem have a real plan to achieve her goal.
But I take great time anyway.
It was a great book and I'm impatient to read the last one.
Toujours plein de surprises, et une auteur qui n'épargne pas ses personnages
http://www.nyx-shadow.com/2016/05/fun...
I was in love with the original background of this book, and in this one, it's always a great time. If the plot is more complex, less evident, I regret than the main character, Bryn, doesn't change.
She is too passive and I have sensed that she just... observe. Others characters make decisions, good or bad, but they try. Brynn doesn't seem have a real plan to achieve her goal.
But I take great time anyway.
It was a great book and I'm impatient to read the last one.
October 3, 2012
Is it a thriller? No, maybe urban fantasy. Wait, it's a romance. Nope, back to thriller.
This novel was disjointed and failed to engage me at any time. I enjoyed Working Stiff, but Two Week's Notice has killed my interest in the characters and the series, which is a more detailed death than any of the background characters got in this book.
This novel was disjointed and failed to engage me at any time. I enjoyed Working Stiff, but Two Week's Notice has killed my interest in the characters and the series, which is a more detailed death than any of the background characters got in this book.
February 5, 2013
I know the plot twist at the end of this book is giving some readers a problem, but I didn't have an issue with it. I think it moves the characters and storyline along, and I liked this book just as much as the first in the series.
August 21, 2015
AWESOME...A MUST READ,,,,
March 21, 2013
Ugh, zombies.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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