Janet S. (janscronce) reviewed on 4/19/2015 + 19 more book reviews

Oh, this book had a huge amount of promise. Actually, the STORY had a lot of promise, the book never stood a chance. Koethi Zan writes like someone half her age and with a third of her education. There's no style, no fluidity and no ear for dialog. The major rule of writing that is taught in even your most basic high school class is to show rather than tell. The Never List does the direct opposite... Intentionally maybe? Because how does a book like this get by editors and agents and publishers if the whole format and ckunker-style isn't on purpose? The story itself and the premise behind it is intriguing. Terrifying and creepy even. But the whole thing falls flat about 30 pages in. All of the horror and torture hinted at are never revealed, and because of this, because it's alluded to rather than shown, it's difficult to grasp the full spectrum of emotion that we're meant to feel. There are so many details and questions left unanswered. SO. MANY. And sadly, by the final pages, I didn't really care one way or another.

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