Review & Giveaway: RAGE by Jackie Morse Kessler

Ready to talk a little YA today? A little Horsemen of the Apocalypse? Read on for guest reviewer Lynn Rush's take on Rage, the new book by Jackie Morse Kessler, and check out the contest at the end of the post!

ABOUT THE BOOK: Missy didn’t mean to cut so deep. But after the party where she was humiliated in front of practically everyone in school, who could blame her for wanting some comfort? Sure, most people don’t find comfort in the touch of a razor blade, but Missy always was . . . different. That’s why she was chosen to become one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: War. Now Missy wields a new kind of blade—a big, brutal sword that can cut down anyone and anything in her path. But it’s with this weapon in her hand that Missy learns something that could help her triumph over her own pain: control. A unique approach to the topic of self-mutilation, Rage is the story of a young woman who discovers her own power and refuses to be defeated by the world.

LYNN'S REVIEW:

Now, I’m not a fan of books that have heavy themes, but this book had a really unique twist on the concept of self-mutilation. While keeping to the seriousness of the behavior, it threw in a touch of dark humor and realism that kept me interested.

     The paranormal part was intriguing, too. The Four Horsemen concept was a creative twist. And boy, I loved Death. He was a great character. Just a hint of a possible romance between him and Missy kept me hanging on.

     I’ve never read anything by Jackie Morse Kessler, but I enjoyed her writing. With painful clarity I was able to understand the main character, Missy. I felt the agony and rolled with the anger, sadness, love, and hurt Missy experienced. Sometimes I wanted to put the book down because of it, but that’s a sign of great writing as far as I’m concerned. I love complex characters like Missy.

     It’s a difficult read, though, that touches on a tough topic facing many young adults, so it might not be for everyone. I think the fact that the story started out with action right away helped me overlook my hesitations on reading a book about such a heavy topic. Not to mention the wicked-cool sword.

Thanks, Lynn! Kessler's first Apocalypse book, Hunger, dealt with eating disorders, with a portion of the proceeds going to the National Eating Disorders Association. A portion of the proceeds from Rage will be donated to the organization called To Write Love On Her Arms.

ABOUT LYNN RUSH: Lynn writes paranormal romance and is an active member of Romance Writers of America and its Futuristic, Fantasy & Paranormal chapter.You can read more about Lynn and her writing at her website, or catch up with her on Facebook or Twitter.

Want to win a copy of Rage? You know the drill: +1 for comment, +1 for blog follow, +1 for Twitter follow @Suzanne_Johnson, and +1 for Tweet or Retweet. Go!