What do you think?
Rate this book
Killian Kendall #1
Bleeding Hearts
When Killian's new friend Seth is brutally murdered and he is seriously injured in the process the police think it's just a random mugging. Killian thinks there may have been a darker motive and, with Seth's father, sets out to uncover the truth behind the possible hate crime. Before his investigation is over he will uncover hatred and corruption in small town America. Bleeding Hearts takes a different approach to the traditional mystery. Blending gay romance, mystery and suspense with a powerful coming of age story, Josh Aterovis has created characters and a story that readers everywhere will love.
Nook
First published January 1, 1999
1 person is currently reading
465 people want to read
About the author
Josh Aterovis
9 books50 followersJosh Aterovis has been writing award-winning queer fiction for twenty years. He fell in love with mystery novels in the fourth grade when he discovered the Nancy Drew series in his school library. He soon moved on to Agatha Christie and other titans of the genre, which led to a lifelong love affair with whodunits. His books have won multiple awards from the StoneWall Society, and he is a former Lambda Literary Award finalist for Gay Mystery.
Aterovis lives in one of the quirkiest cities in America — Baltimore, Maryland — with his two birds, Edgar and Virginia Poe (Eddy and Ginny for short), where, besides writing, he is also a visual artist and immersive theater maker.
Aterovis lives in one of the quirkiest cities in America — Baltimore, Maryland — with his two birds, Edgar and Virginia Poe (Eddy and Ginny for short), where, besides writing, he is also a visual artist and immersive theater maker.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 20, 2018
Seth Connelly has moved to a new city in Maryland. On his first day at his new school, he meets Killian Kendall. Killian hangs out with a few friends, one of whom is Asher Davis, and they sometimes tease Seth. Killian is not sure about being friends with Seth, but, reluctantly, he spends some time with him and a friendship begins. Killian learns that Seth has dealt with both the good and bad of being gay, from the moment he realized he was, and Seth also awakens something in Killian which he must now face—that he is gay too.
It takes a tragedy for Killian to see how bigoted and hateful not only his schoolmates can be but his own father too, so he struggles with the thought of coming out. He knows he’s not ready and so he makes a pact with Gilly Sheridan to be his cover. Not only does this turn out to be a huge mistake, but the Sheridan family is strange and dysfunctional. He meets Gilly’s aunt, who is different from the rest of the Sheridans, and she claims that he has a “gift”.
With Killian facing Seth’s murder, he is determined to find who committed this horrific crime. As more deaths occur, Killian and Asher find themselves in danger as they’re caught up in the dark, disturbing, and gruesome crimes.
I’ve read very few YA novels, but when I read the blurb for the fourth Kendall Killian series installment, The Truth of Yesterday, I was curious. Since I hate not reading a series from the beginning, I started with this first novel, Bleeding Hearts, and must say Josh Atervois did a really good job of making his teenage characters interesting. I hope I’m addressing the storyline correctly, but to me this is a coming of age story which also covers many life occurrences. The plot involves a young man, Seth, who opens up Killian’s mind and heart to face that he’s gay. Asher, Killian discovers, has also been keeping a secret, and Killian and Asher both learn not to hide who they are and to stand up for others and their beliefs. Killian also faces the way his views change towards his parents, especially his mother’s strength and his father’s abusiveness. He also finds a loving father figure in Adam Connelly, Seth’s father, and gains a brother in Kane.
As for the murder mystery, it’s dark and well plotted. Aterovis addresses various forms of abuse that lead up to a sad and horrible ending. All in all, I was impressed with this first novel and have plans to read the next three books in this series. I’m looking forward to seeing what Josh Aterovis has planned for Killian, and where life takes him.
Reviewed by Maryann for The Novel Approach
It takes a tragedy for Killian to see how bigoted and hateful not only his schoolmates can be but his own father too, so he struggles with the thought of coming out. He knows he’s not ready and so he makes a pact with Gilly Sheridan to be his cover. Not only does this turn out to be a huge mistake, but the Sheridan family is strange and dysfunctional. He meets Gilly’s aunt, who is different from the rest of the Sheridans, and she claims that he has a “gift”.
With Killian facing Seth’s murder, he is determined to find who committed this horrific crime. As more deaths occur, Killian and Asher find themselves in danger as they’re caught up in the dark, disturbing, and gruesome crimes.
I’ve read very few YA novels, but when I read the blurb for the fourth Kendall Killian series installment, The Truth of Yesterday, I was curious. Since I hate not reading a series from the beginning, I started with this first novel, Bleeding Hearts, and must say Josh Atervois did a really good job of making his teenage characters interesting. I hope I’m addressing the storyline correctly, but to me this is a coming of age story which also covers many life occurrences. The plot involves a young man, Seth, who opens up Killian’s mind and heart to face that he’s gay. Asher, Killian discovers, has also been keeping a secret, and Killian and Asher both learn not to hide who they are and to stand up for others and their beliefs. Killian also faces the way his views change towards his parents, especially his mother’s strength and his father’s abusiveness. He also finds a loving father figure in Adam Connelly, Seth’s father, and gains a brother in Kane.
As for the murder mystery, it’s dark and well plotted. Aterovis addresses various forms of abuse that lead up to a sad and horrible ending. All in all, I was impressed with this first novel and have plans to read the next three books in this series. I’m looking forward to seeing what Josh Aterovis has planned for Killian, and where life takes him.
Reviewed by Maryann for The Novel Approach
June 22, 2011
The story told in a nutshell:
Killian Kendall is in a phase of his life where one person shifts his world on its axes. When he sees his new friend murdered on the ground and he himself is attacked it is a battle to survive. For Killian there is angst, horror, love and new family to deal with. Nothing stayed the same after the attack, for better or for worse…
My first impression after a chapter:
Talk about an opening line! Aterovis kicks off this story with an attention grabbing paragraph. The desperation is rife in that scene and I wanted to know; who, what and how!
Killian Kendall:
The story is told from Killian’s point of view and the story became stronger for it. His personality put such a mark on how I experienced reading this story. No cardboard characters are to be found in Bleeding Hearts but Killian’s voice brimmed with angst, doubt but also love and courage. I witnessed the changes Killian had to go through, the situations he had to deal with and the choices he had to make. Josh Aterovis really delved the reader into his protags heart mind and soul and in doing so I formed such a strong connection to Killian. I was unable to put Bleeding Hearts down and turned the pages in bated breath.
Asher Davis:
Asher is Killian’s best friend and their relationship is growing in to something different. He is a jock but with a surprising different mentality and at first glance I really liked him. After a while he started to give me mixed signals and it didn’t really get better. He developed that stoplight mentality where the teenage angst-ridden mind got the upper hand; ‘yes, I love you – no, I can’t be your boyfriend.’ ‘Yes, I want you to be my forever – no, I can’t be with you.’ Asher is so riddled with doubt it made me antsy. While it is teenage behavior to the core where he has to find himself, it irked me and I couldn’t completely shake that feeling throughout the story.
The emotional journey:
The tension throughout the story was pounding on my nerves in a fantastic way. The internal angst from Killian as he discovers and accepts he’s gay correlates with the external threats. There are bullies and a murderer on the loose who keep a constant threat level in the main characters lives. Sometimes the emotions where subtle and sometimes it was a volcanic eruption but I couldn’t get enough of what the author was dishing out. The journey for many in Bleeding Hearts is difficult but I connected to them and they took me on the road to a better place. I’m engrossed when the emotional aspect of a story can absorb me and this one did it from start to finish!
The circle of family and friends:
Each one had a significant main or secondary role to play and they added an incredible depth to the world of Killian. Each evoked emotions in me. I hated Killian’s father. I celebrated the strength Killian’s mother possesses. I absolutely emphasized with Adam, Seth’s father, and how he dealt with all the heartache. Kane, Seth’s younger brother, was endearing. Jesse and Zach were bullies I could get angry over. The unsub freaked me out and then there were the Sheridan’s. They are a family who pushed my hot buttons and then some. The layers within that family first made me think “wow, such a Nora Roberts loving family’ but I was infuriated by the end. I was almost breathing fire and so sad at the same time. And then there where the numerous ‘coming out’ moments. I think all in all six young men came out in this story and it was bordering on too much, eating away at the impact of such moments.
The diabolical unsub plotting away:
At the beginning the plot unfolded itself with a bang but then it got low-key, making room for the interpersonal relationships to deepen. The unsub isn’t even that much in to play again until I’m a little over halfway into the story. Yet then Josh Aterovis really amps up the suspense! I was holding my breath as I read the chapters away because while I had my suspicions the author really kept me guessing until the very end. The unsub is twisted in the mind. Since this is a story from the first person point of view I never got to read the unsubs thoughts. Nevertheless, by the end it was all revealed and the shock effect was that much greater!
My synonyms for:
Engaging – in-depth – angst – tension-filled – first love – thrilling and fantastic characters.
My overall reaction:
When Lis pimped this series to me I was instantly intrigued and when I read the first page of Bleeding Hearts I knew it was going to be an incredible reading experience! Killian Kendall is a character who leaped of the pages and straight into my heart. Combine him with a dose of realism, a rich cast of characters and a powerful plot and you have a thrilling story. Bleeding Hearts provoked strong reactions and emotions, and Josh Aterovis struck gold with this series! Aterovis engaged me with the subjects incorporated and the fully developed characters!
4.5 stars
The quotes for you to sample:
Killian Kendall is in a phase of his life where one person shifts his world on its axes. When he sees his new friend murdered on the ground and he himself is attacked it is a battle to survive. For Killian there is angst, horror, love and new family to deal with. Nothing stayed the same after the attack, for better or for worse…
My first impression after a chapter:
Talk about an opening line! Aterovis kicks off this story with an attention grabbing paragraph. The desperation is rife in that scene and I wanted to know; who, what and how!
Killian Kendall:
The story is told from Killian’s point of view and the story became stronger for it. His personality put such a mark on how I experienced reading this story. No cardboard characters are to be found in Bleeding Hearts but Killian’s voice brimmed with angst, doubt but also love and courage. I witnessed the changes Killian had to go through, the situations he had to deal with and the choices he had to make. Josh Aterovis really delved the reader into his protags heart mind and soul and in doing so I formed such a strong connection to Killian. I was unable to put Bleeding Hearts down and turned the pages in bated breath.
Asher Davis:
Asher is Killian’s best friend and their relationship is growing in to something different. He is a jock but with a surprising different mentality and at first glance I really liked him. After a while he started to give me mixed signals and it didn’t really get better. He developed that stoplight mentality where the teenage angst-ridden mind got the upper hand; ‘yes, I love you – no, I can’t be your boyfriend.’ ‘Yes, I want you to be my forever – no, I can’t be with you.’ Asher is so riddled with doubt it made me antsy. While it is teenage behavior to the core where he has to find himself, it irked me and I couldn’t completely shake that feeling throughout the story.
The emotional journey:
The tension throughout the story was pounding on my nerves in a fantastic way. The internal angst from Killian as he discovers and accepts he’s gay correlates with the external threats. There are bullies and a murderer on the loose who keep a constant threat level in the main characters lives. Sometimes the emotions where subtle and sometimes it was a volcanic eruption but I couldn’t get enough of what the author was dishing out. The journey for many in Bleeding Hearts is difficult but I connected to them and they took me on the road to a better place. I’m engrossed when the emotional aspect of a story can absorb me and this one did it from start to finish!
The circle of family and friends:
Each one had a significant main or secondary role to play and they added an incredible depth to the world of Killian. Each evoked emotions in me. I hated Killian’s father. I celebrated the strength Killian’s mother possesses. I absolutely emphasized with Adam, Seth’s father, and how he dealt with all the heartache. Kane, Seth’s younger brother, was endearing. Jesse and Zach were bullies I could get angry over. The unsub freaked me out and then there were the Sheridan’s. They are a family who pushed my hot buttons and then some. The layers within that family first made me think “wow, such a Nora Roberts loving family’ but I was infuriated by the end. I was almost breathing fire and so sad at the same time. And then there where the numerous ‘coming out’ moments. I think all in all six young men came out in this story and it was bordering on too much, eating away at the impact of such moments.
The diabolical unsub plotting away:
At the beginning the plot unfolded itself with a bang but then it got low-key, making room for the interpersonal relationships to deepen. The unsub isn’t even that much in to play again until I’m a little over halfway into the story. Yet then Josh Aterovis really amps up the suspense! I was holding my breath as I read the chapters away because while I had my suspicions the author really kept me guessing until the very end. The unsub is twisted in the mind. Since this is a story from the first person point of view I never got to read the unsubs thoughts. Nevertheless, by the end it was all revealed and the shock effect was that much greater!
My synonyms for:
Engaging – in-depth – angst – tension-filled – first love – thrilling and fantastic characters.
My overall reaction:
When Lis pimped this series to me I was instantly intrigued and when I read the first page of Bleeding Hearts I knew it was going to be an incredible reading experience! Killian Kendall is a character who leaped of the pages and straight into my heart. Combine him with a dose of realism, a rich cast of characters and a powerful plot and you have a thrilling story. Bleeding Hearts provoked strong reactions and emotions, and Josh Aterovis struck gold with this series! Aterovis engaged me with the subjects incorporated and the fully developed characters!
4.5 stars
The quotes for you to sample:
The rest of the body came into view. And a nice body it was. I’d never seen him before so he must have been new. He stood about my height, maybe a little taller and slightly more built. He had red-gold hair that seemed to stick up in every direction and elfin features. In fact, he looked amazingly like an elf. Even to his incredibly green eyes. I wondered if they were colored contacts. Then I wondered why I cared. Why was I so intrigued by this guy?
April 5, 2012
I really wanted to like this book because the coming out element had charm and sensitivity, but the mystery did not work for me at all and I couldn't connect to any of the characters except Killian, and even he had a few obnoxious Gary Stu qualities. Everyone talked like they'd spent 5 years mainlining Oprah (seriously, no teenage boy - gay, bi, or straight - talks about his feelings that much and with such stilted psychobabble language) and the adults in the story were either perfectly accepting and loving or they were abusive monsters. There was no middle ground and most of the characters were shallow and lacked three dimensions. There was a good story buried somewhere in this book but the potential wasn't enough to make me want to read the other books in the series.
Read
April 23, 2009When I bought this book its genre was mystery teen. So not romance. And I usually don't buy any other genre then romance. But I like teens story, always had, teens are so young and innocent and full of hope. And so I was very tempted to buy this book, but I hesitated a moment, since the blurb said that a young guy was killed in the first part of the book. But then I though, how much I can feel for a character who stays on the book for only few pages? And so, thinking that I will be not too touched by this fact I bought the book. And I was wrong. Oh no, not in buying the book but in thinking that I would not be involved by Seth's death. I almost cry, and if I really not cried in that precise moment, I cried some page later.
Killian is an average 16 years old guy in a small town USA. He is from a wealthy family, an apparent happy family. But lately Killian starts to see his father with different eyes and he thinks his mother is only a paper doll wife without personality of her own. And then the first day of school he meets Seth, new on town. Seth is up front from the first day, he is gay and he wants to be friend with Killian. Killian knows that he will have trouble frequenting Seth, but then maybe it's a way to prove who he is, that he is different from all the other guys, people who treat him like wallpaper.
But then Seth kisses him and Killian is shocked: Seth says that he believes that also Killian was guy, and maybe he is right. Killian has to answer to some questions by his own and then maybe he will ask to Seth something else. Yes, cause if Killian is gay, then he is for sure not in love with Seth, cause the guy he pictures in his mind is Asher, his best friend from childhood. But Asher is straight, worst he hungs out with the guys who harrass Seth. And so maybe, since Killian is a young boy, and he is very curious, he will allow to Seth to do something more than a kiss... but before they can do anything else, Seth is killed and Killian stabbed soon after.
The police thinks that Seth's murder is a muggling went wrong, Killian and Seth's father think different, and then Killian's father throws his son out of home when he learns his son is gay. Adam, Seth's father, takes Killian with him and for Killian will start a new life, with him experimenting his newfound sexuality, and making a lot of error but also having some nice experience whom he least expects. But Seth's killer is out there and he has not finished yet.
There are a lot of kisses in this book but not even a little sex scenes... I'm disappointed? Hell, no!!! I like a lot all that kisses and above all I like a lot who Killian chooses to exchange that kisses, even if I will not say who he is, you should read the book to discover it. Yes, cause another very interesting side of the book is that it's a mystery inside another mystery: there is the big one question, Who is Seth's killer, but there is also the other little question around, Who will be Killian's boyfriend? I for sure, as romantic as I am, liked better to find out the second one, but for who loves a good mystery, I bet you to find out before the end the answer to the first one.
Josh Atevoris is a relly good discovery: I found him cause we share some books in LibraryThing and when I saw his profile, and I saw he wrote two books, I decided to give him a try. And when one of my discovery comes out to be a soo good one, I'm even more happy!
Now I have to read the second in the Killian Kendall mystery and I read that Josh Aterovis just wrote also 3 and 4 even if I still don't know how to find them.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1933720344/?...
Killian is an average 16 years old guy in a small town USA. He is from a wealthy family, an apparent happy family. But lately Killian starts to see his father with different eyes and he thinks his mother is only a paper doll wife without personality of her own. And then the first day of school he meets Seth, new on town. Seth is up front from the first day, he is gay and he wants to be friend with Killian. Killian knows that he will have trouble frequenting Seth, but then maybe it's a way to prove who he is, that he is different from all the other guys, people who treat him like wallpaper.
But then Seth kisses him and Killian is shocked: Seth says that he believes that also Killian was guy, and maybe he is right. Killian has to answer to some questions by his own and then maybe he will ask to Seth something else. Yes, cause if Killian is gay, then he is for sure not in love with Seth, cause the guy he pictures in his mind is Asher, his best friend from childhood. But Asher is straight, worst he hungs out with the guys who harrass Seth. And so maybe, since Killian is a young boy, and he is very curious, he will allow to Seth to do something more than a kiss... but before they can do anything else, Seth is killed and Killian stabbed soon after.
The police thinks that Seth's murder is a muggling went wrong, Killian and Seth's father think different, and then Killian's father throws his son out of home when he learns his son is gay. Adam, Seth's father, takes Killian with him and for Killian will start a new life, with him experimenting his newfound sexuality, and making a lot of error but also having some nice experience whom he least expects. But Seth's killer is out there and he has not finished yet.
There are a lot of kisses in this book but not even a little sex scenes... I'm disappointed? Hell, no!!! I like a lot all that kisses and above all I like a lot who Killian chooses to exchange that kisses, even if I will not say who he is, you should read the book to discover it. Yes, cause another very interesting side of the book is that it's a mystery inside another mystery: there is the big one question, Who is Seth's killer, but there is also the other little question around, Who will be Killian's boyfriend? I for sure, as romantic as I am, liked better to find out the second one, but for who loves a good mystery, I bet you to find out before the end the answer to the first one.
Josh Atevoris is a relly good discovery: I found him cause we share some books in LibraryThing and when I saw his profile, and I saw he wrote two books, I decided to give him a try. And when one of my discovery comes out to be a soo good one, I'm even more happy!
Now I have to read the second in the Killian Kendall mystery and I read that Josh Aterovis just wrote also 3 and 4 even if I still don't know how to find them.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1933720344/?...
April 23, 2011
3.5 stars
It was really hard for me to rate this story, because I feel like I was reading two books at the same time and, while one was very, very good, the other didn't work quite as well.
The part that worked is story of Killian's acceptance of his sexuality, his coming-out and forming of his new family. Killian's narrative voice was occasionally so convincing - it acted almost as a time machine. I remembered how being a teenager was terrible and wonderful at the same. And Killian is a real teenager: not a child anymore, but still not quite an adult, at one moment - whiny, at the other - foolishly brave, drama-prone and exhilarated alternately. And, really, like all the teenagers he's both heartbreaking and funny. I liked this part very much, because the story was truthful to its narrator who is all of the things I mentioned above. Killian struggles with his emotions, big decisions, different love interests, stumbles and makes mistakes. He's kindhearted and overall appealing and I was invested in the story primarily because I liked him. I wasn't even distracted by some exaggerations in this part of the story, like all the crying which became really old really fast. While some of it could be explained by raging hormones and trauma, it was a bit over-the-top for a bunch of teenage boys. Also, the number of gay characters which appeared by the end of the book defied the reality, but that too was forgivable in the face of Killian's charm.
The part that didn't work was a mystery. The mystery was very much secondary to Killian's story, but that wasn't actually the problem. There was a lot of talking about the mystery among the characters. I would have liked a little more (all right, a lot more) showing. But, even that was understandable to some extent, because the mystery wasn't the actual focus of the novel. What really didn't work was the resolution of the mystery - part Rebecca, part soap opera - together with the villain's big speech. I think even the author realized how over-the-top the resolution was since he made Killian compare the events to Jerry Springer's show. The fact that we were once again told about the background of these events by Killian made the entire mystery plot more frustrating and, frankly, almost redundant. Almost, since it was the murder which set off the things in motion in the first place.
The mystery fan in me might be disappointed, but I still enjoyed the book quite a bit. The writing style was easy to follow and Killian's personal story was engrossing. Killian is a very sympathetic character and I will certainly pick up the other books in this series because I'm curious to see how both author and Killian mature. Recommended.
It was really hard for me to rate this story, because I feel like I was reading two books at the same time and, while one was very, very good, the other didn't work quite as well.
The part that worked is story of Killian's acceptance of his sexuality, his coming-out and forming of his new family. Killian's narrative voice was occasionally so convincing - it acted almost as a time machine. I remembered how being a teenager was terrible and wonderful at the same. And Killian is a real teenager: not a child anymore, but still not quite an adult, at one moment - whiny, at the other - foolishly brave, drama-prone and exhilarated alternately. And, really, like all the teenagers he's both heartbreaking and funny. I liked this part very much, because the story was truthful to its narrator who is all of the things I mentioned above. Killian struggles with his emotions, big decisions, different love interests, stumbles and makes mistakes. He's kindhearted and overall appealing and I was invested in the story primarily because I liked him. I wasn't even distracted by some exaggerations in this part of the story, like all the crying which became really old really fast. While some of it could be explained by raging hormones and trauma, it was a bit over-the-top for a bunch of teenage boys. Also, the number of gay characters which appeared by the end of the book defied the reality, but that too was forgivable in the face of Killian's charm.
The part that didn't work was a mystery. The mystery was very much secondary to Killian's story, but that wasn't actually the problem. There was a lot of talking about the mystery among the characters. I would have liked a little more (all right, a lot more) showing. But, even that was understandable to some extent, because the mystery wasn't the actual focus of the novel. What really didn't work was the resolution of the mystery - part Rebecca, part soap opera - together with the villain's big speech. I think even the author realized how over-the-top the resolution was since he made Killian compare the events to Jerry Springer's show. The fact that we were once again told about the background of these events by Killian made the entire mystery plot more frustrating and, frankly, almost redundant. Almost, since it was the murder which set off the things in motion in the first place.
The mystery fan in me might be disappointed, but I still enjoyed the book quite a bit. The writing style was easy to follow and Killian's personal story was engrossing. Killian is a very sympathetic character and I will certainly pick up the other books in this series because I'm curious to see how both author and Killian mature. Recommended.
March 16, 2023
I am not very good at writing reviews and not very experienced either. So I just say what I liked and didn't in this book.
Didn’t like's:
I didn’t like the main character (MC). The guy seemed to be too ideal: he was cute, he was modest, he was brave, he fought for the right things, he could sing (yes, he sang to his boyfriend), he had three boys who liked him a lot (two of them were sure in love with him), etc, etc. Don’t you think he is kind of Marty Sue?
I didn’t like the investigation. Because there was no investigation. They found out who was the murderer in the end without doing anything about this (oh, yes, MC asked one question and the answer didn’t help at all). I thought it was a detective story. ((( In fact, the author could name anyone as a murderer without changing the whole storyline except the end.
I didn’t like his mother. How can a mother leave her child with a person she knows for less than a month? And in the same town where his very aggressive father lives who had already hit the child?!! I wonder also about the financial aspect of this… did she give money for her child?
And they cried a lot!!! Ok, the MC was shocked: his friend had been killed, he found out he was gay; his father hit him and told him to leave their house… but his boyfriend, Asher! It seemed he cried on every occasion.
I think I didn’t like some other things as well but it is 2 weeks since I read it and I don’t remember everything.
Like's:
There are still some things I liked. I liked their “love square”(though I think it is not realistic that one person is loved by so many people but other things were fine). The MC liked both guys and at some point, it was difficult for him to understand whom he wanted. He was young, and just found out he was gay and I think it is ok he got confused. I like the storyline with a girl, who tried to pretend to be his friend, helping him (being his beard), and in fact, she still hoped that he would love her. It is so like us, girls!))) And I like that author managed to show that though the MC didn’t want to hurt anyone, he did. Cause Asher’s cousins seemed to be really hurt. That is life.
So I give 2 stars. Maybe 2,5. I read the story very quickly, it wasn’t boring but everything in this story irritated me!!! I wanted to hit some of the characters, and not once!!!
(Oh, yeah, and they went to the house where the murderer was waiting for them without even leaving a note! Very clever, guys!)
Update 10 years later: Now I am much older I think it is ok to cry if you want to cry. and mothers have their own difficulties too. There was still no detective investigation, so the rating is the same.
Didn’t like's:
I didn’t like the main character (MC). The guy seemed to be too ideal: he was cute, he was modest, he was brave, he fought for the right things, he could sing (yes, he sang to his boyfriend), he had three boys who liked him a lot (two of them were sure in love with him), etc, etc. Don’t you think he is kind of Marty Sue?
I didn’t like the investigation. Because there was no investigation. They found out who was the murderer in the end without doing anything about this (oh, yes, MC asked one question and the answer didn’t help at all). I thought it was a detective story. ((( In fact, the author could name anyone as a murderer without changing the whole storyline except the end.
I didn’t like his mother. How can a mother leave her child with a person she knows for less than a month? And in the same town where his very aggressive father lives who had already hit the child?!! I wonder also about the financial aspect of this… did she give money for her child?
And they cried a lot!!! Ok, the MC was shocked: his friend had been killed, he found out he was gay; his father hit him and told him to leave their house… but his boyfriend, Asher! It seemed he cried on every occasion.
I think I didn’t like some other things as well but it is 2 weeks since I read it and I don’t remember everything.
Like's:
There are still some things I liked. I liked their “love square”(though I think it is not realistic that one person is loved by so many people but other things were fine). The MC liked both guys and at some point, it was difficult for him to understand whom he wanted. He was young, and just found out he was gay and I think it is ok he got confused. I like the storyline with a girl, who tried to pretend to be his friend, helping him (being his beard), and in fact, she still hoped that he would love her. It is so like us, girls!))) And I like that author managed to show that though the MC didn’t want to hurt anyone, he did. Cause Asher’s cousins seemed to be really hurt. That is life.
So I give 2 stars. Maybe 2,5. I read the story very quickly, it wasn’t boring but everything in this story irritated me!!! I wanted to hit some of the characters, and not once!!!
(Oh, yeah, and they went to the house where the murderer was waiting for them without even leaving a note! Very clever, guys!)
Update 10 years later: Now I am much older I think it is ok to cry if you want to cry. and mothers have their own difficulties too. There was still no detective investigation, so the rating is the same.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2012
This was one of the most emotional murder mystery stories that I have read all year.
The characters were well thought out, with each character carefully allowed to develop within the story. I was bonded immediately to the MC Killain and our murder victim Seth. I was impressed with how even after the death of Seth in the first couple chapters, his character was allowed to be developed and play a role in the story, through the exploration of the other characters relationship with him. To the point that I felt the loss of Seth more intensely as the story moved on.
The Romance interest in this story took its time as our MC explored his feelings about his sexual identity and his love interests. While there were times that I wanted to rush over the whole 'I want this boy, but I want that one, but then there is the next one..' I was glad that I did not skim too much during that drama as finding out who Killian would choose and why, was worth the wait.
The murder mystery side of this story was solid through out the length of the story. It kept me guessing until the end, and once the murder was revealed I found myself saying "of course!" I had suspected that person but ended up pushing it off in favor of another suspect as the plot had grown.
There is a lot of suspense in this story. Oh man my heart was racing as I read in a near frantic pace the last few chapters!
On another note: I had started reading this under the assumption that it was a typical young adult romance story. It is not! In fact its really not one that I would recommend for anyone under the age of 17 years of age. Not be cause of the sexual nature as it never gets into any details and the couples never do more then have a serious 'make out' scene, but because of the deeply emotional topics, such as the death of a friend, hate crimes against homosexuals, suicidal thoughts of the main character, physical abuse (descriptive actions of such) by the MC Father, and other serious issues.
I caution potential readers, this is an emotionally charged read. I recommend reading this at the same time you read something lighthearted, but it is a really really good read!!!
The characters were well thought out, with each character carefully allowed to develop within the story. I was bonded immediately to the MC Killain and our murder victim Seth. I was impressed with how even after the death of Seth in the first couple chapters, his character was allowed to be developed and play a role in the story, through the exploration of the other characters relationship with him. To the point that I felt the loss of Seth more intensely as the story moved on.
The Romance interest in this story took its time as our MC explored his feelings about his sexual identity and his love interests. While there were times that I wanted to rush over the whole 'I want this boy, but I want that one, but then there is the next one..' I was glad that I did not skim too much during that drama as finding out who Killian would choose and why, was worth the wait.
The murder mystery side of this story was solid through out the length of the story. It kept me guessing until the end, and once the murder was revealed I found myself saying "of course!" I had suspected that person but ended up pushing it off in favor of another suspect as the plot had grown.
There is a lot of suspense in this story. Oh man my heart was racing as I read in a near frantic pace the last few chapters!
On another note: I had started reading this under the assumption that it was a typical young adult romance story. It is not! In fact its really not one that I would recommend for anyone under the age of 17 years of age. Not be cause of the sexual nature as it never gets into any details and the couples never do more then have a serious 'make out' scene, but because of the deeply emotional topics, such as the death of a friend, hate crimes against homosexuals, suicidal thoughts of the main character, physical abuse (descriptive actions of such) by the MC Father, and other serious issues.
I caution potential readers, this is an emotionally charged read. I recommend reading this at the same time you read something lighthearted, but it is a really really good read!!!
July 7, 2014
The mystery was unbelievable (that's not a compliment folks) and silly. There was no indication or clues about it until the end where the author sprung it to the reader like that. The romance was weak. Killian was panting after one guy and then suddenly, after one phone call, decided he loves another? I don't think so. Not so convincing. I tried to excuse it on him being a teenager and all and remind myself this is why I hate reading YA so I should cut it some slacks but no- It wasn't just good. I liked how brave he was though. I liked how he knew the right thing to do and tried real hard to stick to it.
The only thing I loved about this is Seth. He is a beautiful character. Strong, confident, and vulnerable. On the short chapters that I have known him- his death had hit me hard. I felt angry and resented everyone who made the life of this wonderful guy, who are worth more than the rest of the scumbags in his community, a living hell. It's so sad that a beautiful person like that suffered to like that. It made me cry and weep and hate all the injustice of it.
Then It went all downhill from that. From our MC to the mystery and the romance. And obviously, I don't think I'd read the next installment however I may check out the author.
The only thing I loved about this is Seth. He is a beautiful character. Strong, confident, and vulnerable. On the short chapters that I have known him- his death had hit me hard. I felt angry and resented everyone who made the life of this wonderful guy, who are worth more than the rest of the scumbags in his community, a living hell. It's so sad that a beautiful person like that suffered to like that. It made me cry and weep and hate all the injustice of it.
Then It went all downhill from that. From our MC to the mystery and the romance. And obviously, I don't think I'd read the next installment however I may check out the author.
June 20, 2011
The story told in a nutshell:
Killian Kendall is in a phase of his life where one person shifts his world on its axes. When he sees his new friend murdered on the ground and he himself is attacked it is a battle to survive. For Killian there is angst, horror, love and new family to deal with. Nothing stayed the same after the attack, for better or for worse…
My first impression after a chapter:
Talk about an opening line! Aterovis kicks off this story with an attention grabbing paragraph. The desperation is rife in that scene and I wanted to know; who, what and how!
Killian Kendall:
The story is told from Killian’s point of view and the story became stronger for it. His personality put such a mark on how I experienced reading this story. No cardboard characters are to be found in Bleeding Hearts but Killian’s voice brimmed with angst, doubt but also love and courage. I witnessed the changes Killian had to go through, the situations he had to deal with and the choices he had to make. Josh Aterovis really delved the reader into his protags heart mind and soul and in doing so I formed such a strong connection to Killian. I was unable to put Bleeding Hearts down and turned the pages in bated breath.
Asher Davis:
Asher is Killian’s best friend and their relationship is growing in to something different. He is a jock but with a surprising different mentality and at first glance I really liked him. After a while he started to give me mixed signals and it didn’t really get better. He developed that stoplight mentality where the teenage angst-ridden mind got the upper hand; ‘yes, I love you – no, I can’t be your boyfriend.’ ‘Yes, I want you to be my forever – no, I can’t be with you.’ Asher is so riddled with doubt it made me antsy. While it is teenage behavior to the core where he has to find himself, it irked me and I couldn’t completely shake that feeling throughout the story.
The emotional journey:
The tension throughout the story was pounding on my nerves in a fantastic way. The internal angst from Killian as he discovers and accepts he’s gay correlates with the external threats. There are bullies and a murderer on the loose who keep a constant threat level in the main characters lives. Sometimes the emotions where subtle and sometimes it was a volcanic eruption but I couldn’t get enough of what the author was dishing out. The journey for many in Bleeding Hearts is difficult but I connected to them and they took me on the road to a better place. I’m engrossed when the emotional aspect of a story can absorb me and this one did it from start to finish!
The circle of family and friends:
Each one had a significant main or secondary role to play and they added an incredible depth to the world of Killian. Each evoked emotions in me. I hated Killian’s father. I celebrated the strength Killian’s mother possesses. I absolutely emphasized with Adam, Seth’s father, and how he dealt with all the heartache. Kane, Seth’s younger brother, was endearing. Jesse and Zach were bullies I could get angry over. The unsub freaked me out and then there were the Sheridan’s. They are a family who pushed my hot buttons and then some. The layers within that family first made me think “wow, such a Nora Roberts loving family’ but I was infuriated by the end. I was almost breathing fire and so sad at the same time. And then there where the numerous ‘coming out’ moments. I think all in all six young men came out in this story and it was bordering on too much, eating away at the impact of such moments.
The diabolical unsub plotting away:
At the beginning the plot unfolded itself with a bang but then it got low-key, making room for the interpersonal relationships to deepen. The unsub isn’t even that much in to play again until I’m a little over halfway into the story. Yet then Josh Aterovis really amps up the suspense! I was holding my breath as I read the chapters away because while I had my suspicions the author really kept me guessing until the very end. The unsub is twisted in the mind. Since this is a story from the first person point of view I never got to read the unsubs thoughts. Nevertheless, by the end it was all revealed and the shock effect was that much greater!
My synonyms for:
Engaging – in-depth – angst – tension-filled – first love – thrilling and fantastic characters.
My overall reaction:
When Lis pimped this series to me I was instantly intrigued and when I read the first page of Bleeding Hearts I knew it was going to be an incredible reading experience! Killian Kendall is a character who leaped of the pages and straight into my heart. Combine him with a dose of realism, a rich cast of characters and a powerful plot and you have a thrilling story. Bleeding Hearts provoked strong reactions and emotions, and Josh Aterovis struck gold with this series! Aterovis engaged me with the subjects incorporated and the fully developed characters!
4.5 stars
The quotes for you to sample:
Killian Kendall is in a phase of his life where one person shifts his world on its axes. When he sees his new friend murdered on the ground and he himself is attacked it is a battle to survive. For Killian there is angst, horror, love and new family to deal with. Nothing stayed the same after the attack, for better or for worse…
My first impression after a chapter:
Talk about an opening line! Aterovis kicks off this story with an attention grabbing paragraph. The desperation is rife in that scene and I wanted to know; who, what and how!
Killian Kendall:
The story is told from Killian’s point of view and the story became stronger for it. His personality put such a mark on how I experienced reading this story. No cardboard characters are to be found in Bleeding Hearts but Killian’s voice brimmed with angst, doubt but also love and courage. I witnessed the changes Killian had to go through, the situations he had to deal with and the choices he had to make. Josh Aterovis really delved the reader into his protags heart mind and soul and in doing so I formed such a strong connection to Killian. I was unable to put Bleeding Hearts down and turned the pages in bated breath.
Asher Davis:
Asher is Killian’s best friend and their relationship is growing in to something different. He is a jock but with a surprising different mentality and at first glance I really liked him. After a while he started to give me mixed signals and it didn’t really get better. He developed that stoplight mentality where the teenage angst-ridden mind got the upper hand; ‘yes, I love you – no, I can’t be your boyfriend.’ ‘Yes, I want you to be my forever – no, I can’t be with you.’ Asher is so riddled with doubt it made me antsy. While it is teenage behavior to the core where he has to find himself, it irked me and I couldn’t completely shake that feeling throughout the story.
The emotional journey:
The tension throughout the story was pounding on my nerves in a fantastic way. The internal angst from Killian as he discovers and accepts he’s gay correlates with the external threats. There are bullies and a murderer on the loose who keep a constant threat level in the main characters lives. Sometimes the emotions where subtle and sometimes it was a volcanic eruption but I couldn’t get enough of what the author was dishing out. The journey for many in Bleeding Hearts is difficult but I connected to them and they took me on the road to a better place. I’m engrossed when the emotional aspect of a story can absorb me and this one did it from start to finish!
The circle of family and friends:
Each one had a significant main or secondary role to play and they added an incredible depth to the world of Killian. Each evoked emotions in me. I hated Killian’s father. I celebrated the strength Killian’s mother possesses. I absolutely emphasized with Adam, Seth’s father, and how he dealt with all the heartache. Kane, Seth’s younger brother, was endearing. Jesse and Zach were bullies I could get angry over. The unsub freaked me out and then there were the Sheridan’s. They are a family who pushed my hot buttons and then some. The layers within that family first made me think “wow, such a Nora Roberts loving family’ but I was infuriated by the end. I was almost breathing fire and so sad at the same time. And then there where the numerous ‘coming out’ moments. I think all in all six young men came out in this story and it was bordering on too much, eating away at the impact of such moments.
The diabolical unsub plotting away:
At the beginning the plot unfolded itself with a bang but then it got low-key, making room for the interpersonal relationships to deepen. The unsub isn’t even that much in to play again until I’m a little over halfway into the story. Yet then Josh Aterovis really amps up the suspense! I was holding my breath as I read the chapters away because while I had my suspicions the author really kept me guessing until the very end. The unsub is twisted in the mind. Since this is a story from the first person point of view I never got to read the unsubs thoughts. Nevertheless, by the end it was all revealed and the shock effect was that much greater!
My synonyms for:
Engaging – in-depth – angst – tension-filled – first love – thrilling and fantastic characters.
My overall reaction:
When Lis pimped this series to me I was instantly intrigued and when I read the first page of Bleeding Hearts I knew it was going to be an incredible reading experience! Killian Kendall is a character who leaped of the pages and straight into my heart. Combine him with a dose of realism, a rich cast of characters and a powerful plot and you have a thrilling story. Bleeding Hearts provoked strong reactions and emotions, and Josh Aterovis struck gold with this series! Aterovis engaged me with the subjects incorporated and the fully developed characters!
4.5 stars
The quotes for you to sample:
The rest of the body came into view. And a nice body it was. I’d never seen him before so he must have been new. He stood about my height, maybe a little taller and slightly more built. He had red-gold hair that seemed to stick up in every direction and elfin features. In fact, he looked amazingly like an elf. Even to his incredibly green eyes. I wondered if they were colored contacts. Then I wondered why I cared. Why was I so intrigued by this guy?
April 12, 2020
The book started out quite nicely. However, it turned into a story burdened with too much emotion and cheesy psychology. This was a very immature effort in writing. I am a firm believer that just because a person can write does not mean they should write. This author ran out of original ideas before the book was a quarter of the way through. I would not recommend this book to anyone. If the book had a subtitle, it would be Pity Party.
February 20, 2010
Bleeding Hearts is a young adult coming of age mixed with mystery, murder, angst, and teenage first love. The simplistic prose is likely to appeal to both teenagers and adults, creating an easy to read and enjoy story. As the first book in a series, the story tends to focus on the narrator and his sexuality while the mystery is woven in almost as a subplot. In some ways this works very well and in other parts, the story suffers but overall Bleeding Hearts offers a charming young man on the cusp of new horizons with infinite possibilities. This book and likely the series will appeal to those fans of the young adult genre that are looking for some deeper issues presented without overwhelming intensity.
Killian Kendall is the first person narrator and a sophomore in high school. On the first day of school he meets Seth, a new boy that admits immediately he’s gay. Despite the homophobic atmosphere of the town and high school, Killian befriends Seth. All too soon violence strikes at the two new friends leaving Killian gravely injured and Seth dead. Everyone seems to have dismissed the crime as a random act but Killian is not so sure. He decides to ask a few questions around school but soon becomes embroiled in personal drama as his own sexuality comes into question and he soon has a few too many admirers.
For the majority of the story, the focus is on Killian’s acceptance of his sexuality and then dealing with a sudden plethora of wannabe partners. The mystery subplot does come into play much more prominently towards the end and the connections made from Seth and Killian’s friendship have long lasting affects. Killian’s characterization and growth dominate the book and the plot tends to indulge his angst and immature emotions. Given his age and difficult time of understanding then accepting his sexuality, especially in a hostile environment of both home and at school, Killian’s roller coaster emotions are often understandable. He does tend to cry a lot and there is a fair amount of angst and whining involved, but nothing overwhelmed the book. Mostly Killian is kept sympathetic as he struggles to understand his own confused desires in the midst of his family’s disapproval and the one friend who could understand dying.
Seth’s death sparks off many repercussions. For starters Killian comes out as gay very soon which forces him to live with Seth’s father, Adam, who later becomes his legal guardian. There is a minor thread about Killian’s overbearing father but this is mostly dropped other than to mention his father ends up in jail at the end of the book. I’m not clear why Killian’s father is in jail but he’s built as a typical abusive, overbearing, domineering man. Killian then struggles with coming out at school, a potential relationship with his best friend, another potential relationship with a new friend, and a beard that wants more than a pretend relationship. This love quagmire dominates the plot of the book for the most part as Killian tries to come to terms with all the changes in his life. He tends to be self absorbed and make a lot of mistakes but these are innocent and out of immaturity and inexperience. He has a few too stupid to live moments – especially at the end – but this is pretty typical for teenagers.
Due to the many personal relationships, the actual mystery is talked about but not explored for the majority of the story. There are numerous clues and a lot of foreshadowing, to the point that I easily figured out the evil culprit pretty early on. There aren’t too many options so the real mystery becomes when will Killian figure it out and what will he do. Well this isn’t the strength of the book as the ending is improbable and slightly eye rolling, but Killian as a narrator has a lot of youthful charm and charisma. Besides the murder aspect, part of the book feels unfocused and drifting as the teenage angst and drama carries the story forward. There are a lot of elements the story tries to tie together such as teenage bullying, coming out, hostile home environment, homophobic school, several possible love interests, murder, stalking, new guardians, new younger brother (with issues there), and several sexually confused teenagers. The book starts with Seth being the only gay character and ends with at least half dozen gay or confused young men and adults introduced. So there is a lot going on from the start to finish. For the most part the writing keeps the book on track and moving with easy to read prose and an engaging, interesting narrator.
Bleeding Hearts presents a lot of issues and mostly tackles them well with a few hiccups. The strength is the great character of Killian, strong descriptive setting, and inherent empathy towards the subject. The story moves easily so you won’t be able to put it down and the wealth of possibility sets up what could be a great series. I can’t wait to read more about Killian and his exploits as he grows and matures. If you’re looking for a solid young adult coming out story that handles intense issues but never lets the drama overwhelm the story, check this out. Hopefully you’ll like it as I did.
Killian Kendall is the first person narrator and a sophomore in high school. On the first day of school he meets Seth, a new boy that admits immediately he’s gay. Despite the homophobic atmosphere of the town and high school, Killian befriends Seth. All too soon violence strikes at the two new friends leaving Killian gravely injured and Seth dead. Everyone seems to have dismissed the crime as a random act but Killian is not so sure. He decides to ask a few questions around school but soon becomes embroiled in personal drama as his own sexuality comes into question and he soon has a few too many admirers.
For the majority of the story, the focus is on Killian’s acceptance of his sexuality and then dealing with a sudden plethora of wannabe partners. The mystery subplot does come into play much more prominently towards the end and the connections made from Seth and Killian’s friendship have long lasting affects. Killian’s characterization and growth dominate the book and the plot tends to indulge his angst and immature emotions. Given his age and difficult time of understanding then accepting his sexuality, especially in a hostile environment of both home and at school, Killian’s roller coaster emotions are often understandable. He does tend to cry a lot and there is a fair amount of angst and whining involved, but nothing overwhelmed the book. Mostly Killian is kept sympathetic as he struggles to understand his own confused desires in the midst of his family’s disapproval and the one friend who could understand dying.
Seth’s death sparks off many repercussions. For starters Killian comes out as gay very soon which forces him to live with Seth’s father, Adam, who later becomes his legal guardian. There is a minor thread about Killian’s overbearing father but this is mostly dropped other than to mention his father ends up in jail at the end of the book. I’m not clear why Killian’s father is in jail but he’s built as a typical abusive, overbearing, domineering man. Killian then struggles with coming out at school, a potential relationship with his best friend, another potential relationship with a new friend, and a beard that wants more than a pretend relationship. This love quagmire dominates the plot of the book for the most part as Killian tries to come to terms with all the changes in his life. He tends to be self absorbed and make a lot of mistakes but these are innocent and out of immaturity and inexperience. He has a few too stupid to live moments – especially at the end – but this is pretty typical for teenagers.
Due to the many personal relationships, the actual mystery is talked about but not explored for the majority of the story. There are numerous clues and a lot of foreshadowing, to the point that I easily figured out the evil culprit pretty early on. There aren’t too many options so the real mystery becomes when will Killian figure it out and what will he do. Well this isn’t the strength of the book as the ending is improbable and slightly eye rolling, but Killian as a narrator has a lot of youthful charm and charisma. Besides the murder aspect, part of the book feels unfocused and drifting as the teenage angst and drama carries the story forward. There are a lot of elements the story tries to tie together such as teenage bullying, coming out, hostile home environment, homophobic school, several possible love interests, murder, stalking, new guardians, new younger brother (with issues there), and several sexually confused teenagers. The book starts with Seth being the only gay character and ends with at least half dozen gay or confused young men and adults introduced. So there is a lot going on from the start to finish. For the most part the writing keeps the book on track and moving with easy to read prose and an engaging, interesting narrator.
Bleeding Hearts presents a lot of issues and mostly tackles them well with a few hiccups. The strength is the great character of Killian, strong descriptive setting, and inherent empathy towards the subject. The story moves easily so you won’t be able to put it down and the wealth of possibility sets up what could be a great series. I can’t wait to read more about Killian and his exploits as he grows and matures. If you’re looking for a solid young adult coming out story that handles intense issues but never lets the drama overwhelm the story, check this out. Hopefully you’ll like it as I did.
April 8, 2010
Honesty from the outset~ I love me some teen crime fic. Makes me feel all nostalgic and stuff for Trixie Beldon and Scooby Doo.
First things first~
Killian Kendall appears to be like any other 16 year old kid, but his life takes a dramatic turn when he befriends the new guy at his school, who happens to be openly gay. Being drawn to and hearing Seth’s background, Killian begins to question the relativelyquiet and safe life he has lived to date; the least of these being that he too might be gay. When Seth is murdered and he is left for dead in the same attack, Killian finds the strength to not only be honest to himself and others about who he really is, including the truth about his sexuality, but to bring Seth’s murderer to justice. Thus begins a roller coaster of a ride which is the making of this young man.
Sounds angsty and a bit thrilling, doesn’t it? There’s no doubt it’s definitely that. What more could you expect, though, when an author has the guts to combine a coming out teen story with a bit of romance, a hint of paranormal and a strong dash of damned fine mystery plot. The bottom line is that it works, which I think is a credit to the writing skills of this new-to-me author and the character he has created in Killian Kendall. As you may have gathered, I thought the stand out thing about Bleeding Hearts was Killian himself. I was engrossed – actually Ithink the word is smitten – by him and his story.
One of the reasons why I found Killian so convincing as a character is because the author avoided the trend in some gay YA books ofthe coming out magically making the teen happy and whole. Yes, I may have raised a brow at the relative ease to which Killian’s future is resolved after he admits his sexuality to his parents, but by no means did he become a ‘perfect’ character. He was still confused, still making mistakes, still growing up. We’ve all been there and done that as teens which is what makes Killian all the more believable and appealing.
It’s always such a pleasure for me as a reader when I find a character engaging enough that I’m actually glad to be on their journey with them, albeit one with lots of highs and lows. (Accompanying those lows is lots of crying, btw. It might not be to some readers’ tastes, but bear with it as it is, no matter how annoying, always appropriate to the context of the story.)
As to the mystery part of Bleeding Hearts? Wave hates it when I give spoilers so all I’ll say is that it was pretty much edge of your seat stuff and the caretaker definitely didn’t do it. ;)
A couple of issues/warnings~
My biggest issue with Bleeding Hearts was that I thought it did fall a bit into the trap of being a first book in a series insomuch that it was packed full of setting and character development. This did not make the story convoluted by any stretch of the imagination; however, there were times I wished there was more of a focus one aspect over the other. For example, towards the end of the story I was far more interested in the mystery as opposed to what was going on in the private lives of the characters and I was a bit disappointed there wasn’t more of a lead up/building of tension to the Big Reveal. I should add here that I’m a reader who prefers the mystery storyline over the private one when it comes to crime fiction so this could also have been my own prejudice playing out. *shrugs*
My recommendation:
Those of you who enjoy reading YA, enjoy reading crime fiction or are just plain intrigued by the combination of the two should go out and get Bleeding Hearts. Be warned, though, you will be forking out the hard earned $$ for the next books because the Killian Kendall Mystery series is addictive.
First things first~
Killian Kendall appears to be like any other 16 year old kid, but his life takes a dramatic turn when he befriends the new guy at his school, who happens to be openly gay. Being drawn to and hearing Seth’s background, Killian begins to question the relativelyquiet and safe life he has lived to date; the least of these being that he too might be gay. When Seth is murdered and he is left for dead in the same attack, Killian finds the strength to not only be honest to himself and others about who he really is, including the truth about his sexuality, but to bring Seth’s murderer to justice. Thus begins a roller coaster of a ride which is the making of this young man.
Sounds angsty and a bit thrilling, doesn’t it? There’s no doubt it’s definitely that. What more could you expect, though, when an author has the guts to combine a coming out teen story with a bit of romance, a hint of paranormal and a strong dash of damned fine mystery plot. The bottom line is that it works, which I think is a credit to the writing skills of this new-to-me author and the character he has created in Killian Kendall. As you may have gathered, I thought the stand out thing about Bleeding Hearts was Killian himself. I was engrossed – actually Ithink the word is smitten – by him and his story.
One of the reasons why I found Killian so convincing as a character is because the author avoided the trend in some gay YA books ofthe coming out magically making the teen happy and whole. Yes, I may have raised a brow at the relative ease to which Killian’s future is resolved after he admits his sexuality to his parents, but by no means did he become a ‘perfect’ character. He was still confused, still making mistakes, still growing up. We’ve all been there and done that as teens which is what makes Killian all the more believable and appealing.
It’s always such a pleasure for me as a reader when I find a character engaging enough that I’m actually glad to be on their journey with them, albeit one with lots of highs and lows. (Accompanying those lows is lots of crying, btw. It might not be to some readers’ tastes, but bear with it as it is, no matter how annoying, always appropriate to the context of the story.)
As to the mystery part of Bleeding Hearts? Wave hates it when I give spoilers so all I’ll say is that it was pretty much edge of your seat stuff and the caretaker definitely didn’t do it. ;)
A couple of issues/warnings~
My biggest issue with Bleeding Hearts was that I thought it did fall a bit into the trap of being a first book in a series insomuch that it was packed full of setting and character development. This did not make the story convoluted by any stretch of the imagination; however, there were times I wished there was more of a focus one aspect over the other. For example, towards the end of the story I was far more interested in the mystery as opposed to what was going on in the private lives of the characters and I was a bit disappointed there wasn’t more of a lead up/building of tension to the Big Reveal. I should add here that I’m a reader who prefers the mystery storyline over the private one when it comes to crime fiction so this could also have been my own prejudice playing out. *shrugs*
My recommendation:
Those of you who enjoy reading YA, enjoy reading crime fiction or are just plain intrigued by the combination of the two should go out and get Bleeding Hearts. Be warned, though, you will be forking out the hard earned $$ for the next books because the Killian Kendall Mystery series is addictive.
September 15, 2011
This book is written from the POV of Killian Kendall, a 16 year old who starts questioning things about himself after meeting new student Seth. Seth makes quite a first impression.
"Just then the door opened and a head popped in. The rest of the body came into view and a nice body it was. I'd never seen him before so he must have been new. ...In fact, he looked amazingly like an elf. Even to his incredibly green eyes. I wondered if they were colored contacts. Then I wondered why I cared. Why was I so intrigued by this guy?"
If you've read the blurb, you know what happens to poor unfortunate Seth. The rest of the story deals with Killian looking for answers about Seth's death & dealing with being possibly gay. The mystery does take a back seat a lot of the times & the focus is mainly the coming of age story. This has lots of teen age angst, crying & humor & enough adult & teen age villains to go around. I think the fickleness of teenage affections is captured quite nicely here as Killian suddenly finds himself the objection of attraction from more than one direction. This part of the story was very nicely done.
We do eventually get back to the mystery which ends in a very dramatic soap opera fashion that wasn't really in keeping with how most of the story was told. This part of the story was not entirely successful. There were some very minor paranormal hints in this book and I understand that the latest book in the series will go more fully in that direction. Killian does have enough charm to keep me interested in reading more of the series which hopefully at some point will be available as ebooks.
"Just then the door opened and a head popped in. The rest of the body came into view and a nice body it was. I'd never seen him before so he must have been new. ...In fact, he looked amazingly like an elf. Even to his incredibly green eyes. I wondered if they were colored contacts. Then I wondered why I cared. Why was I so intrigued by this guy?"
If you've read the blurb, you know what happens to poor unfortunate Seth. The rest of the story deals with Killian looking for answers about Seth's death & dealing with being possibly gay. The mystery does take a back seat a lot of the times & the focus is mainly the coming of age story. This has lots of teen age angst, crying & humor & enough adult & teen age villains to go around. I think the fickleness of teenage affections is captured quite nicely here as Killian suddenly finds himself the objection of attraction from more than one direction. This part of the story was very nicely done.
We do eventually get back to the mystery which ends in a very dramatic soap opera fashion that wasn't really in keeping with how most of the story was told. This part of the story was not entirely successful. There were some very minor paranormal hints in this book and I understand that the latest book in the series will go more fully in that direction. Killian does have enough charm to keep me interested in reading more of the series which hopefully at some point will be available as ebooks.
November 3, 2014
This is a loaner from a co-worker to whom I lent Light.
So: I lent a co-worker my copy of Light by 'Nathan Burgoine. In the Acknowledgments, he noticed a name he knew: Josh Aterovis. So when he returned Light he mentioned that he had read some of Aterovis' work, and would I like to borrow one? I said "sure!," and he was wise enough to lend me the first Killian Kendall title (it always annoys me to start mid-series.
Ok, enough back-story. We're here for a review, darnit!
I enjoyed this. I found the whole thing somewhat uneven, but on the whole I think a high 3 is a reflective score. There were times when Killian's voice was forced and too old, and other times when I thought it rang perfectly true (bearing in mind, of course, that I've never been a 16 year old male). Some of the story was distractingly vague or shallow, while much of it was quite credible. I thought the anxiety of coming out was probably quite well done (although perhaps a bit hurried, given how short the book is).
I certainly liked it well enough to read the next one (especially if I can borrow it).
So: I lent a co-worker my copy of Light by 'Nathan Burgoine. In the Acknowledgments, he noticed a name he knew: Josh Aterovis. So when he returned Light he mentioned that he had read some of Aterovis' work, and would I like to borrow one? I said "sure!," and he was wise enough to lend me the first Killian Kendall title (it always annoys me to start mid-series.
Ok, enough back-story. We're here for a review, darnit!
I enjoyed this. I found the whole thing somewhat uneven, but on the whole I think a high 3 is a reflective score. There were times when Killian's voice was forced and too old, and other times when I thought it rang perfectly true (bearing in mind, of course, that I've never been a 16 year old male). Some of the story was distractingly vague or shallow, while much of it was quite credible. I thought the anxiety of coming out was probably quite well done (although perhaps a bit hurried, given how short the book is).
I certainly liked it well enough to read the next one (especially if I can borrow it).
March 7, 2012
Killian Kendall is a young man attending high school in Maryland and is quite content to be overlooked. That is until he meets an out gay boy in his drama class and befriends him only to begin wondering about his own sexual preferences. However, this coming out story quickly takes a morbid turn when a scheduled rendezvouz in the park has Killian discovering his friend's body and getting stabbed himself by the fleeing attacker.
This is the second Killian Kendall mystery that I've read and they're a unique blend of coming out fiction and detective story. The prose is generally workmanlike and serves the story well although there are some spots that seem overearnest and a bit amateurish. Still, its better than a lot of the writing I've encountered lately from much larger publishing concerns.
This is a good page-turning read and worth the time. Don't expect "capital L" literature but if you like detective stories or coming out stories, check this one out.
This is the second Killian Kendall mystery that I've read and they're a unique blend of coming out fiction and detective story. The prose is generally workmanlike and serves the story well although there are some spots that seem overearnest and a bit amateurish. Still, its better than a lot of the writing I've encountered lately from much larger publishing concerns.
This is a good page-turning read and worth the time. Don't expect "capital L" literature but if you like detective stories or coming out stories, check this one out.
February 1, 2012
I enjoyed this book; the story was a compelling mystery that had an ending I didn't expect (though it took Killian a while before he figured out who the killer was despite it being right in front of his face for several pages). Aterovis' prose was written very well and it kept me turning the pages. My one complaint was with the dialogue; it seemed to me that every so often, the dialogue would become too after-school special-y and not at all how real people would talk. I also had a problem with the fact that it seemed like almost every single male teenager that came into contact with Killian turned out to be gay. This takes place in a small town, so it seems a bit unrealistic. But aside from that, I really enjoyed the book. It's a fun coming-out story mixed with a fantastic mystery. I'm excited to read the sequel.
June 15, 2014
I don't mind a bit of angst, sturm, drang - but the incessant weeping, wailing, crying bouts of the male characters in this novel were over the top. Teenage boys simply do not act the way these boys do. Gay, straight or confused - way too many tearful sessions. It's as if they're female characters in male drag (sorry ladies - I expect to be thrashed soundly for that).
Other than that, it's soap opera pure and simple. And lots and lots of characters. There's also an overlying mystery for the heroes to solve with misdirection, etc.
It could've been better and should've been better. Since male readers are in the minority for gay fiction, my objections shouldn't dissuade the majority of the readers from enjoying Mr. Aterovis' book.
Other than that, it's soap opera pure and simple. And lots and lots of characters. There's also an overlying mystery for the heroes to solve with misdirection, etc.
It could've been better and should've been better. Since male readers are in the minority for gay fiction, my objections shouldn't dissuade the majority of the readers from enjoying Mr. Aterovis' book.
May 31, 2014
3.5
This was a re read for me, but due to my first read being so long ago it was almost like a first time read.
This is an exciting YA story. There is mystery and murder. There is love and friendship. Mostly there is the story of a young boy having his whole world turned upside down.
While for me this starts out a good solid read I did find the finale just a little over the top. Just a little too much in the conclusion left me feeling a little disappointed.
But that will not stop me reading the next Killian instalment. I'm looking forward to seeing Killian grow.
This was a re read for me, but due to my first read being so long ago it was almost like a first time read.
This is an exciting YA story. There is mystery and murder. There is love and friendship. Mostly there is the story of a young boy having his whole world turned upside down.
While for me this starts out a good solid read I did find the finale just a little over the top. Just a little too much in the conclusion left me feeling a little disappointed.
But that will not stop me reading the next Killian instalment. I'm looking forward to seeing Killian grow.
June 25, 2012
One of my students requested this book for prose competition. We took a risk and read excerpts of this book for competition. The student advanced with this piece even though some judges thought it was a bit controversial. We had to contact the author for specific information and he responded. Good book, good author.
April 9, 2014
This book baffled me. It doesn’t know what it is; detective/murder mystery, coming out story, teen angst romance…the problem is that each category is too weak to carry the book.
The story would have been helped by a tighter focus and a strong editing eye.
Three Stars.
The story would have been helped by a tighter focus and a strong editing eye.
Three Stars.
September 18, 2011
3.5 stars for this BOM pick in the YA M/M Romance group. There were lots of characters to keep track of and a few plot holes but overall I thought it was a good coming-of-age tale. I'm looking forward to the other books in the series.
November 20, 2012
A good coming of age, discovering your sexuality book with a murder mystery thrown in.
I identified with the characters practically from page one. The problems Killian encountered with his father made me want to beat him, (his father), two inches from an inch of his life.
I identified with the characters practically from page one. The problems Killian encountered with his father made me want to beat him, (his father), two inches from an inch of his life.
dnf
May 8, 2013This was a bit 'soap opera' for me. Don't get me wrong; I've just mainlined a year of DOOL on YouTube so I love me a good soapie. But this was supposed to be a mystery/thriller. The dialogue sounded nothing like a teenage boy, and the writing, in general, was a little amateurish.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2011
This is a good read - engaging, with characters that pull you in. Nice twist at the end, and a fun author to read!
June 20, 2013
Seems like forever ago since I first read Bleeding Hearts when Josh posted it to the nifty archives. It was one of my favorites. I just started reading the series again and it hasn't lost a thing.
June 3, 2011
Great read. Love the characters!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews