31 October, 2011

Halloween Review: Fury by Elizabeth Miles

Book: FURY
Author: ELIZABETH MILES
Genre: PARANORMAL YA
Published: August 2011, SIMON PULSE


Series: Fury Trilogy #1
Source: Publisher, no other compensation given for an honest review

From Good Reads:
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.


My Review:
FURY was a different kind of YA novel, and it was so refreshing reading something that didn't seem cookie cutter. Em and Chase are not the typical main character that is found these days. No demon-fighting skills, no moral superiority, and definitely no clue what is coming for the two of them. They are the total opposite of hero(ine)s. They've done wrong, and their payback is coming.

Elizabeth Miles showcases a pretty good debut novel. While the tone of the book very much reflected the setting (winterized small town in New England), there was enough happening that the pace didn't seem too slow, nor did I find myself skimming. Every mistep that either main character made was integral to the plot, and Miles sure knows how to expose the fallibility of confused (and sometimes cruel) teenagers.

Em was not a very likable or sympathetic character. But, she wasn't meant to be. She had drawn down the attention of the Furies, and they can only be summoned when true vengeance is to be had. However, I did actually feel sorry for Chase as I read more and more about his situation. He wasn't any less guilty of his crime than Em, but somehow the different nature seemed less repugnant, even if it wasn't. Either way, the fact that I felt so strongly toward both characters says much for Miles' writing and characterization, which was top-notch.

Though this book is the first in a trilogy, the only complaint that I might lodge is that there isn't much face time for the namesakes of the novel, the Furies. Three mysterious girls are introduced, and the reader can easily deduct that they are behind the downfall of Em and Chase, but there's really not many pages devoted to them. Hopefully this will change as the trilogy progresses. Even though the targets of the Furies wrath will probably get center stage, as female characters, I did find myself wanting them to have some of the time spent on Em's story. In the end, I was left wanting and anticipating more.


4/5 for plot
3.5/5 for characters
4/5 for language

My Rating: 11.5/15 (3.5 stars)

Highly Recommend, if you liked:

Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton
Wildefire by Karsten Knight
The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney


Find the author at:
Blog | Twitter | GoodReads | Facebook

Purchase book at:
Barnes and Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | Amazon | Audible

Available formats: Print (Hardcover), NookBook, Audiobook, Kindle

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