Early Review: Two Weeks' Notice by Rachel Caine

Two Weeks' Notice
Revivalist #2
Rachel Caine
Release: August 7, 2012
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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…

Review:

Keep calm, and watch for decomposition.

Two Weeks' Notice surpasses the first book in this series, which I already loved, with more action and a stronger connection between Bryn and Marcus. Caine really outdoes herself with this one.

I love this series. It's a little different that most of the urban fantasy that I read because. . . its not urban fantasy. There are no paranormal elements in this series and Bryn's return to the living, although sometimes referred to as being 'zombie-like', is through a scientific drug that keeps her alive. There is no munching on brains here. I feel like I must get that out of the way because its important for readers to know what they are reading. Going into this book expecting an urban fantasy about zombies might leave you disappointed.

NOW, that's out of the way. Let's talk about how much I lurved this book! I love the mature writing style Caine uses for this series. There are no stupid decisions made by characters that should know better, no unnecessary secret keeping used as a plot device, and no obvious answers that the characters just can't seem to come to. Instead, Caine's characters are smart, strong, and normal.

I made even more of a connection to Bryn in this book than the last because we get to see how she is coping with being a Returne addict/victim. In the previous book it was all very new, but here we get to see what day to day life will look like for Bryn for the rest of her 'life'. The daily pain-inducing experimental shots that keep her alive are just a part of what she must endure. Knowing that she will live on and stay the same while everyone she knows will age and eventually die is difficult to cope with for Bryn and the others on Returne. I liked that Caine including some other Returne users and showed us how hard things were for them. It broadened the world of this series a little bit. Even worse, Bryn can't even live a normal life because the government is a constant threat to her existence.

Normal life has passed her by, at light speed; she'd cashiered out of the military and hadn't had time to form casual friendships before she'd taken the job at Fairview. . . and then her life had ended. Well, maybe not ended, but certainly morphed into something that was not normal even if it was sometimes amazing. When had she last had a simple, glorious evening of movies, pizza, and beer with friends? Or even had one of those by herself?

Bryn and Marcus' relationship goes to the next level in this one (yes, yes, that means what you think it means) and I was super excited to see them acting more like a couple. They have more tender moments and more. . . er . . other moments than before.

When he let her arms go again, he did it slowly, sliding his fingers all the way down the smooth, taut skin to her shoulders. As she reached for him again, he put his hands around her waist, pulled her forward, and spun her around with dizzying speed to face the door. She gasped and slapped both hands flat on the surface, about to push off, but he was close against her, heat like a bonfire at her back. Those suddenly gentle fingers traveled up her arms agin, and he whispered in her ear, "Now do you trust me?"

Marcus along with Bryn's bodyguard Joe are a big part of this series and I adore them both, although I have a love for "call it like I see it" Joe. Bryn always has one or both at her back while she searches for her missing - and recent Returne 'victim' - sister, investigates what is happening to disappearing Returne users, and figures out who in the government to trust.

Some of those scenes were totally cringe-worthy. Jumping out of a building several stories high? Not a problem when you're on Returne. Dealing with the injuries of that fall. . . still painful as shit. Having all of her bones set so they don't heal wrong during her speedy healing process? Yikes.

"That," Joe said in a hushed voice, "may be the most disturbing fucking thing I have ever done, and that's. . . saying something. Bryn? You still with me?"

There was also a torture scene toward the end of the book that will give me nightmares about spoons for a little while. . .

Like I said above, I really love this series and I hope readers will give it a try now that they know what to expect. Bryn is a strong lady, not with a katana or magical powers, but with a pistol and some army-trained fight moves. Her dog, Mr. French, is also pretty badass in his own doggy way and Marcus' butler (although you'd better not call him that) rounds out a cast of characters that I look forward to seeing agin in book three!

Recommended for fans of: smart heroines, good action, French bulldogs, UF/Sci-fi crossovers, any silverware except spoons, and butlers who can shoot.