The Red, it Filters Through.. REVIEW of "Rage" by Jackie Morse Kessler

Why this book?: "Hunger" was SO good, I couldn't wait until the sequel came out.. I requested it through Netgalley.
Disclaimer: I received a galley of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a review.

Type: Young Adult, Series, Cutting, Book Two, War, Apocalypse, Four Horseman, Death is one rad dead dude

About the book: Missy is a cutter. She doesn't want to die, she just needs to bleed out the anger, hurt, and pain until she can breathe again. Sure, she thought it was odd when a rocker dude showed up at her door and gave her a sword, but she was able to put it out of her mind. But after Missy ends up being the brunt of a cruel joke, she takes her cutting habit too far - and too deep. Now Death has come calling, and he says she only needs to accept the sword and become War, one of the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. But Missy never imagined that being War meant she would constantly be at war with herself.

My Review: Another excellent novel in the Horsemen of the Apocalypse series. Ms. Kessler featured Famine in the first novel, "Hunger," (click the title to see my review) which was a teenaged girl dealing with anorexia. And now "Rage" features another equally tough subject - cutting. As much as some people would like to ignore the existance of these two afflictions, they ARE out there, and teens deal with these subjects and more all the time. Stories like these, where teens deal with these issues and overcome them, are exactly what young adults should be reading. And it doesn't hurt that there is an excellent story to go with it.

I love Missy as a character - and her reason for cutting seems real and genuine. You can really tell that the author did her research - also proven by the author's note at the end of the book. As with the previous novel, the characters of the other horsemen are compelling - as in I am incredibly compelled to learn more about them, and I eagerly anticipate more Horsemen stories.  Another riveting read by an author that has once again proved herself invaluable to the YA community!

Cover Loving: Excellent cover! And goes with the first book in the series - Hunger (Riders of the Apocalypse).

Recommendation: Fans of paranormal Young Adult Fiction will love this series. And anyone that enjoys a good read that deals with tough subjects should pick up "Rage" and "Hunger."

Final Rating: FIVE out of FIVE (5/5). Another excellent book in the series. Wonderful story, excellent portrayal of painful events and touchy subjects. Definitely something to pick up!

Have you read "Hunger" or "Rage" by Jackie Morse Kessler? Does this sound like something you would want to try? Share your thoughts in the comments! Want to pre-order "Rage"? Get it at Amazon.com! "Rage" by Jackie Morse Kessler releases April 4!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~ 

And it rode a black horse - Review of "Hunger" by Jackie Morse Kessler

 Why this book?: A friend and fellow librarian suggested it after she read it. I'm rather glad I took her advice.

Disclaimer: This is a library book. I did not receive this book, nor anything else, in exchange for a review.

Type: Young Adult, Series (I think), Paranormal, Apocalypse, Life issues that make you shake, Death is kinda cool in the grunge rocker sort of way.

About the book: Lisabeth Lewis is not anorexic. Suicidal, maybe, but not anorexic. She's too fat to be anorexic, she just works out and counts calories. Lisa thought it was another weird dream, some weird twisting of her hungry thoughts - but no. Death really was at her door, and he really did name her Famine, one of the four horsemen. Armed with a set of scales and a black horse, Lisa must become one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, or face Death as more than just a coworker.

Review: Wow. This book is just... wow. So much power packed into such a small container. At only 174 pages, Hunger is deep, soulful, and packs one heck of a punch. I don't really know what I thought it would be about when I starting reading, except that the Horsemen of the Apocalypse were involved, but the story blew me out of the water. This isn't just a teen novel where a girl has an eating disorder, finds herself, and gets over it - "Hunger" is so much more than that. And what a scary, accurate portrayal of anorexia it is - Lisa weighing herself, hearing the Thin Voice tell her how many calories are in everything, the numb feeling, the loss of balance and the lightheadedness. I've read some scary stories, but this story was positively bone chilling.

Lisa is.. fascinating. I assume it was due to her anorexia and suicidal tendencies that made Death choose her as the new Famine, but maybe Death just picked someone at random. But who better to fulfill the role? Lisa's transformation into the Horseman was frightening and oddly.. right, fitting maybe. And Kessler's portrayal of the other Horsemen, Death especially, kept me on the edge of my seat with fascination and excitement. I might even say I'm in love with this book... and maybe a little with Death, there needs to be more Death.

Cover Loving: Definitely. A simple, yet gorgeous cover, perfect for "Hunger."

Recommendation: Oh yes. The second I finished this book, the word "Original" came to mind. And that's what it is - something new and fresh, something tragic and beautiful, and just right, just perfect.

Final rating: FIVE out of FIVE (5/5). It's been a while since I gave something a perfect rating, but this book definitely deserves it. "Hunger" is one of the keeper shelves. And I hope to check out "Rage" (War's story) coming later this year.

Have you read "Hunger"? Share your thoughts in the comments. Want to read it? Pick up your copy today from Amazon.com via the link on the left.

Until next time, campers..
~!~ Amanda ~!~