Nocturnal Book Reviews

I apologise to the author as it took me much longer than anticipated to review this book. I think one of the main reasons for this is that despite compelling writing, try as I might I just couldn't like the main characters.

First of all, this is 18+ mature YA. There is plenty of sex and violence. I was taken aback by it, although the author did give a fair warning about the contents of the book.

Hope moves into Cherry, CA with her alcoholic father and younger twin-brothers leaving her friends and dreams behind. Straight away she becomes involved into the strange dynamics of this town. One group organising rock concerts in the park and participating in them is being vilified by the whole town, accused of witchcraft and murder.

Her first day in town, Hope meets Slade, who is a part of this group and an amazing singer, and they feel instant attraction. He is a classic bad-ass - tattoos, black leather, etc.

Hope also meets Tucker, a hunky son of a Mayor of Cherry. Tucker goes to the same Art School as Hope who is a very talented singer. Her grandmother and Tucker's mom actively try playing matchmaking with them.

Despite the predictable popular love triangle, magic, sex and violence the whole book is pretty bizarre, because both Slade and Tucker are dicks (sorry, there is no polite way of saying that). They might say the right things but their actions are so self-centered, so sickeningly negligent of Hope's well-being, I'm frankly at loss why would anyone like them?

Tucker is a spoiled rotten rich teenager with a bitchy stepmother and a psychotic dad. Slade might be poor and rebellious but at heart he is a manipulative little bastard.

I think my problem is that I felt bad for Hope whose naivete made her fall for a guy like these two. The girl is courageous and is not afraid to stand up for herself, but she made stupid stupid choices and I couldn't bring myself to like her for that. I know I'm supposed to suspend my disbelief and just enjoy the story, and I know for a fact that a lot of people did.

However, I've seen too many men like that in real life. It's not funny and it's not attractive.

Also Karsen, hell of a best friend... Too much sex, just too much.

I'd better stop ranting.

I think at seventeen I would have found this book daring and exciting, but now? I'm too old to fall for it, peeps :)

Don't let my rant discourage you. Decide for yourself what you like.