Nocturnal Book Reviews

Egalley thanks to Simon & Schuster


Synopsis from Goodreads
It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...
Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better--the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend. 
On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed. In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay.
Em and Chase have been chosen. 

Publication date 30/08/2011

OK, let me point this first, that like everyone else I am guilty of judging a book by its cover. Look at it! It's gorgeous (I mean the American cover, I'm not keen on the UK one). Of course, I couldn't resist reading it.

The writing is absolutely beautiful as well. It flows smoothly and draws a very clear picture of what's happening. The winter as my LJ friend noticed is described particularly well. It's all very haunting and filled with despair and confusion and tons of teenage angst. Well, therein lies my problem.

Plot bunnies, I loathe you. Let's see.

A girl commits suicide, and then the Furies come to town. Among all people they target Chase who played a cruel joke on a girl who humiliated him and refused his friendship first. They also target sweet and confused Em, whose only fault is falling a victim to a careful seduction by her best friend's boyfriend, who just you know does. such. things. regularly. for fun.

Really, no really? We have two confused but inherently good people having their hearts ripped apart, being sadistically hunted and tortured for succumbing to peer pressure or to a lying worthless scumbag?

Yes, I was furious. Zach (the scumbag) reminded me to a fault one of my exes, and it all went downhill from there.

Chase and Em were described beautifully. You can't help but feel for them while their world is falling apart.

Apart from Chase, Zach, Em and JD (Em's best boy-friend, who was absolutely wonderful) everyone is pretty much barely sketched, even the Furies. There is no explanation for them all, only a vague mention of three girls always playing havoc in Ascension, a convenient mention by a random friend of a dead girl, who with no apparent reason studies them. Here is your plot bunny #1.

Second bunny is the end. It didn't make sense to me. The time frame for the arrival of JD felt too improbable, I can't go into details and don't want to give more spoilers that I've already given. In fact the whole book didn't make much sense to me. However, the writing was stunning and I enjoyed it very much and would read another book by Elizabeth Miles, although maybe not Fury #2.

Review cross-posted at The Bookworm Society.

Да, да, книга очень ожидаемая, и я совсем не смогла воспротивиться потрясающей обложке, и наконец-то её прочитала.

Что я могу сказать? Великолепный слог, Элизабет Майлс безумно красиво пишет, да так, что перед глазами прямо и встаёт картинка. Вот в этом-то и была моя проблема.

Чейз и Эм - нормальные, добрые и в душе неиспорченные подростки. Да, он сыграл жестокую шутку со своей бывшей подружкой, которая сама же унизила его на публике и не хотела с ним знаться, пока была популярной. Да, Эм влюбилась в Зака, бойфренда своей лучшей подруги, которые специально играл с ней и спланировал её влюблённость, потому как мерзавец играется так постоянно. потому как. ему скучно. и хочется. и можется.

И вот именно эти двое оказались жертвами Фурий? Правда?

Да, ярость здесь присутствовала. Моя. Особенно потому что мерзавец Зак напомнил мне одного из моих эксов, причём один в один.

Чейз и Эм замучены и затравлены садистскими Фуриями, даже страдают совершенно левые люди. Выпрыгивают рояли из кустов, когда одна девушка, которая удобно занимается исследованием Фурий, объясняет Эм что почём и  намекает, что три девушки всегда вносили хаос в их городок. Но дальше этого ничего не идёт.

Концовка тоже вышла нелепая и неправдоподобная по временным рамкам. В общем, красивый слог, великолепные красочные описания, которыми стоит насладиться если закрыть глаза на сюжет. Я почитаю что-то ещё у писательницы, но, наверное, не вторую часть Фурий.