Book Review: Arson

ARSON GABLE FEELS LIKE A FREAK. HE CANCREATE FIRE. HE NEVER ASKED FOR IT. HE NEVER WANTED IT. BUT HE CAN'T SHUT IT OFF.

Before now, three things were true: he both loved and despised his grandmother; his life was going nowhere; and he was alone. But when a strange girl-who feels more normal behind a mask than inside her own skin-moves in next door, Arson hopes to find something he's never had: purpose. After years of living in fear, he will be forced to confront his haunting past and embrace the unknown as he walks the fine line between boy and monster.

Edgy, realistic, and breathtaking, Arson, the chilling chronicle af an isolated teenager with unimaginable ability, is set to ignite the hearts and minds of a new generation.

Arson
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 318 (ebook)
Part of Series: Arson #1
Purchased: For Review for tour
Rating: 4/5 stars
Buy: Book Depository || Amazon (US) || Amazon (UK)

REVIEW:

I know that it's going to sound shallow, but what really intrigued me into reading the book was the cover. I, actually, saw the cover, then said "yes" to my participation and then I read the summary, which, by the way, is really interesting. First time there is a character creating fire and there are not other characters in the book, who can manipulate the other elements.

Now, about the book:

Firstly, there are the characters.

Arson is one of those loner guys that don't have friends, he comes from a weird family status, since he's living with his grandparents and he is one of those brave guys who can stand every bad reaction from the others and still don't get angry and start kicking butts, or in this case burn them till they're ashes. He has a big problem with his powers, since there is none around who can teach him how to use them and he does his best to hide his secret. As I said, brave.

Emery is the weird masked girl. Reading about her was easy. She is pretty simple, one of those girls you can easily hang out with, but then there is the mask. Most of the times I was totally forgetting it and imagining I nice pretty girl, but that was wrong. The mask serves a purpose and it's really sad when she finally says her story and you - in this case Arson - learn why she's so obsessed with it.

Minor characters are Emery's parents, which you follow around quite a bit, but their lives and their actions serve a purpose and lead Emery into taking some decisions that change both, hers and Arson's, lives.
And then there is Arson's grandmother. Well, her, I hated her. I don't care about her psychological problems or whatever else, I just wanted to grab her head and smashed it at the wall. Learning the things you learn at the end might make you sympathize her, but not me.

Secondly, there were not many descriptions. You are following around the characters and you get some, but not like the ones I'm used to. What I noticed was that the author was making many great metaphores.

Lastly, the plot. In the beginning and most of the part of the book, things are semi-simple. There are many "waves". Things are calm, then something rocks the water, then something tranquil again. And then we are reaching the end. I'm serious when I'm saying that during the last chapters my eyes were wide open and my mouth was hanging there completely numb from all the disclosures.

Bottom line, despite being really fast that makes it difficult to put it in a straight line and some bad characters, I liked it. I liked the plot and I could justify most of the characters actions, because they seemed really human. The end leaves you with so many questions that I can't wait to read the next book. So, who doesn't want to read a young-adult paranormal novel written by a male author? I, for once, was really curious.

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