Arson is struggling in life. He feels lonely, even though he has a crush on Mandy, the most popular girl in town. His grandmother beats him but he loves her. He lives with her since his parents are dead. It's something he can't forget either as his grandmother always beats him for it. His mother died while giving birth to him. Then there's his unique power. He can start fires with his mind.
Then Emery moves in next door. A girl who never takes off her mask. She was horribly burnt as a child and hides her scars behind the mask. She's also a loner, but when she meets Arson, at first they don't seem to like one another. But over time, the two of them seem to connect in some way. But with Arson trying to learn to control his power and Emory unsure if she can compete with popular girl Mandy for Arson's affections, things get a bit hairy.
There's great character development and it takes awhile to learn about some of the secrets in Arson and Emery's past - including their parents. Vega is a brilliant writer and although it was slow going at times, as the first book in the series, it's to be expected. The scene has to be set and the characters have to be presented. I felt sorry for Emery and Arson with their struggles but I have high hopes for the next book in the series, Ashes. A great young adult suspense with a splash of paranormal.
Then Emery moves in next door. A girl who never takes off her mask. She was horribly burnt as a child and hides her scars behind the mask. She's also a loner, but when she meets Arson, at first they don't seem to like one another. But over time, the two of them seem to connect in some way. But with Arson trying to learn to control his power and Emory unsure if she can compete with popular girl Mandy for Arson's affections, things get a bit hairy.
There's great character development and it takes awhile to learn about some of the secrets in Arson and Emery's past - including their parents. Vega is a brilliant writer and although it was slow going at times, as the first book in the series, it's to be expected. The scene has to be set and the characters have to be presented. I felt sorry for Emery and Arson with their struggles but I have high hopes for the next book in the series, Ashes. A great young adult suspense with a splash of paranormal.
Reviewed by Breia "The Brain" Brickey for TeensReadToo.com
Arson Gable is a strange boy with an equally strange life. He lives alone with his grandmother, who has some mental issues that make life difficult. Arson can also create fire. He has a job in an ice cream parlor that's going nowhere and no friends.
Arson's life changes the day a new family moves in next door. It's a couple with a daughter who wears a mask because of an accident that occurred when she was a child. Secrets abound in this story, not only for Arson and the girl, but for their families, as well.
Many readers may see the start of the story as slow, but Estevan Vega took his time and lets you get to know the characters, as well as their motivations. ARSON was an intriguing mystery that will have you looking forward to the next installment. This story was crafted over four years, and it definitely shows.
This is not your ordinary mystery/horror/supernatural novel. You can't help but love the main characters. I hope we don't have long to wait for the rest of this wonderful story. Although parts of the tale were dark, adults and teens alike are sure to enjoy it. I would definitely recommend ARSON to my own teen.
Arson Gable is a strange boy with an equally strange life. He lives alone with his grandmother, who has some mental issues that make life difficult. Arson can also create fire. He has a job in an ice cream parlor that's going nowhere and no friends.
Arson's life changes the day a new family moves in next door. It's a couple with a daughter who wears a mask because of an accident that occurred when she was a child. Secrets abound in this story, not only for Arson and the girl, but for their families, as well.
Many readers may see the start of the story as slow, but Estevan Vega took his time and lets you get to know the characters, as well as their motivations. ARSON was an intriguing mystery that will have you looking forward to the next installment. This story was crafted over four years, and it definitely shows.
This is not your ordinary mystery/horror/supernatural novel. You can't help but love the main characters. I hope we don't have long to wait for the rest of this wonderful story. Although parts of the tale were dark, adults and teens alike are sure to enjoy it. I would definitely recommend ARSON to my own teen.
