J.L. Bryan studied English literature at the University of Georgia and at Oxford, with a focus on English Renaissance and Romantic literature. He also studied screenwriting at UCLA. He lives in the metro Atlanta sprawl with his wife and son. He is the author of the Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper books and some other assorted novels like Inferno Park, The Unseen, Jenny Pox, and basically a lot of supernatural stories, some of it dark, some of it very dark, some of it less dark than that.
Jenny has a deadly touch. It's not a pretty death either. It consists of boils, puss, and all that good stuff. Now we meet Tommy - his touch induces nightmares. Your worst nightmares. So in other words, the touch of fear. Fear, considered human's strongest and oldest emotion, is an incredibly fascinating notion especially when used as a tool, so I knew I was in for a good time!
We meet Tommy right away. We get the story of his heartbreaking past, and how his life is about to intertwine with Jenny's. Instead of shying from his touch, he manipulates people to get his way. I hated him. I really did - and I loved it! If there is one thing I have to applaud JL Bryan for, it's his villains. From Ashleigh to Tommy, the villains in this series are masterfully crafted. They will anger you and exasperate you; You. Will. Want. Them. To Die! And if you think you've seen the last of Ashleigh, think again!
Even though it's named Tommy Nightmare, the story is not exclusive to Tommy. We see quite a bit of Jenny and Seth along with some new characters. The one I found the most interesting was Heather. I'm always curious about the general repercussions of horrific events such as the ending in Jenny Pox, and not only are we shown the law enforcement's reaction, we get the actual POV of someone at the CDC: Heather is a CDC investigator and 200+ unexplained deaths in small town, nowhere has gotten her attention. Theories ranging from the plague to bioweapon, I'm especially happy that the aftermath didn't get shrugged off with a mere paragraph, but looked into, questioned, and studied. This also becomes very important in the story as it gives Jenny even more people to fear.
Amounting to strong plot developments, flashbacks are a frequent occurrence in this sequel. We learn a lot about Jenny's past where we see that everyone's character is not always as it seems. We get a deeper understanding of the powers that these people wield, as well as a better perception of who they really are. These flashbacks combined with a multitude of different perspectives makes it a pretty hefty novel; there's a lot to keep track of along with considerable story building. The frequent shifting does cause the pace to slow down at times, but I was impressed at how well it all flows together, giving us a vastly exciting and an overall action-packed novel.
The chemistry filled romance between Seth and Jenny is tamed down in this book. The "new" spark has calmed, plus Jenny is distraught over what she did on top of the doubts being implanted by a certain someone. This is in no way a negative point, though - at least to me. It's realistic and natural for a relationship at their age. Plus, I was never a huge fan of Seth. He's easy to manipulate, I don't mean by Ashleigh which is expected but rather by his parents and friends. I much prefer the tougher, more assertive types. Let's just say that I was very pleased by the ending!
Equally as entertaining as Jenny Pox, Tommy Nightmare is an excellent sequel to a fantastic series. I strongly recommend it to all my fellow horror fans! I do have to warn you that even though they're teenagers, the series is considered an 18+ horror novel as it has some (epic) adult content.
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I really enjoyed this second book in the Jenny Pox series. The concept is so original. It's like a history-contemporary-horror-YA-paranormal-thriller-romance. While I loved Jenny Pox, I think this book is even stronger. The transitions between the different characters POV's are effortless in this one. Looking forward to the next book in the series already!
After reading Jenny Pox, I just had to check out Tommy Nightmare. Initially I thought this story would be following Tommy with, hopefully, some side chapters to update me on Jenny and Seth's path. It started out that way, and I was instantly hooked to Tommy's story. He starts out as a child in foster care under the guardianship of a horrible, deeply religious man who abuses the children, and even his wife.
The story then took multiple side-roads, introducing new characters ranging from CDC investigators to those who share powers similar to Jenny, Seth, and Ashleigh. I loved all the characters. They each had their own unique voice and history, making it hard not to love them, good or bad. Tommy was one of those for me. He was so bad, but I wished he could be good. I guess it just wasn't in the cards.
Seth and Jenny just can't catch a break. Seth is following his father's orders to go to a college of his choice, and Jenny is struggling with the decision to join him and risk spreading her disease to others, or just staying behind with her dad. She is also struggling with doubts about their relationship, especially since the outbreak from the last book and all the changes to come. And since Ashleigh is such a detestable, determined character, she finds a way to wriggle back into their lives and continue her own plans of destruction, focusing mainly on bringing Jenny to her knees.
I did have a few qualms with this one. First, Jenny's dad can't seem to look at her the same way he used to. It's as if he had had a choice in the matter, between Jenny fighting against a town bent on killing her, and laying down to die, he would rather have her lay down. He just can't forgive her. Second, Seth seems pretty dim-witted this time around, not seeming to recognize or care that Jenny is struggling to make sense of things and having a difficult time coping with change. Third, this was Tommy's book and I felt like not enough time was spent on him. I wanted to learn more, see more from his p.o.v. It started out that way, but quickly segued into Jenny's story.Not that I minded, because I love Jenny, but I had expected more development in the other direction.
Overall, I love this series. I wish it was longer. Three books just doesn't seem like enough, but I am so looking forward to finding out the rest of the character's history, and what is in store for them in the future. I have a feeling history is about to repeat itself.
After finishing Jenny Pox, I was hooked and needed to read the next installment in this very unique and compelling series. I would also love to say right from the beginning that I loved this one even more than the first book.
In the first pages we get introduced to a new character Tommy who has the gift/curse of giving people nightmares and fear when he touches them. We first see how Tommy's life was when he was 12 and lived with a foster family. ... I had tears in my eyes already after the first few pages. I felt so very very sorry for this boy! Also, I was thankful JL Bryan included this inside before we got to know the older Tommy. It makes you understand this boy so much better and feel for him even though he's not the nicest character...
The Story picks up where Jenny Pox ends. Jenny and Seth have to deal with the aftermath of the showdown and especially Jenny struggles a lot with what she has done. Also Homeland Security is in town trying to figure out what happened. While Seth and Jenny are busy with dealing, but also trying to look forward and beyond High School. Tommy comes to town looking for Ashleigh... and he's coming not alone.
Two more characters will be briefly introduced that I'm sure will have a bigger role in the third book.
JL Bryan manges to surprise me with twists and turns which kept me turning the pages faster and faster!! Very surprising things will happen I didn't expect at all but found absolutely awesome! Unexpected love, triangles and alliances made this story very captivating and incredibly compelling.
I was also glad that although some truly horribly things happen nothing was as scary as the last showdown in Jenny Pox. I think Tommy Nightmare exceded my expectations and makes me wish the third book would be already out.
I really love his story telling, his writing and the characters he creates. His characters are never black and white and there is a lot of grey involved. This made me care for them even though some of them might be normally considered bad...
I hope JL Bryan will write another YA/New Adult series after this... I for myself can say I'm a real fan now :))
I can't say this wasn't as good as Jenny Pox, but it definitely wasn't as engaging. For me, anyway. It's interesting to note, however, that I'm nearly halfway through the third and these books really flow pretty seamlessly from one to the next. I love the refreshing effect of contemporary YA written by a man. That may sound sexist and anti-feminist, but I really do admire the way men write, especially their characterization. Most of the YA I read by female authors is so contrived and one-track, not to mention silly and borderline nonsensical....it's strange because female authors tend to put far too much emphasis on romance while men are capable of writing about it as it should be written; as just another part of the story.
If I had to compare this series to anything else, I'd say it's sort of like fledgling Stephen King for young adults.
Tommy Nightmare returns us to a world that causes anxiety and dread to curl up and make themselves at home in our guts, any brief moment of happiness overshadowed by a tangible sense of unease as we know Mr. Bryan has no qualms with putting his characters through physical and emotional turmoil. We plunge forward, blowing through pages held tightly with knuckles gone white from strain, fearing what's in store next might just be worse for Jenny than what she's already experienced, and we emerge from the story with worry lines etched into our faces where there were none before as evidence of our involvement with the story. Tommy Nightmare is not an emotionally easy read, instead it's one where we know things will only get worse before they get better, but Mr. Bryan gives us a flicker of light just when the darkness starts to consume us, and we cling to its tiny brilliance as we hope for Jenny to find the happiness she so deserves.
The reappearance of Ashleigh–a character so detestable we will our hatred of her to be strong enough to singe every appearance of her name from the pages so we don't have to see it any longer–causes us to groan in disgust while begrudgingly admitting to an appreciation of a character who can inspire such an intense reaction. Every word out of her mouth and every action she takes ratchets our apprehension up a notch, knowing her every move is calculated and planned in order to inflict the most pain on the object of her wrath. She's hauntingly villainous, her ability to inspire love with a touch warped beyond all recognition as she uses it to enslave and manipulate, and we read every page hoping someone will share our immunity to her grotesque charm.
Despite being the title character, Tommy's role in this story is surprisingly small, his opening scene enough to raise our hackles and bring forth our protective instincts, but his actions after those first few pages skew our perception of him so we are left in an emotional limbo as to whether or not he's deserving of our affection. We want desperately to believe in him since he's Ashleigh's opposite and therefore capable of resisting her touch, but his easy compliance to her every suggestion without that coercion keeps us wary and defensive. In addition to Tommy, we are introduced to several new characters, each with a unique ability that piques our curiosity and makes us want to read faster in order to find out how they fit into the magnificent puzzle Mr. Bryan has so painstakingly developed.
Tommy Nightmare is highly recommended for older young adult audiences as the sexual content, though not hugely prominent, is a bit more detailed in nature, and the suffocating darkness at times threatens to overwhelm. Luckily for us however, this story, though often a heavy burden to bear when Jenny is mistreated and betrayed again and again, ends by bringing a hesitant smile to our lips as Ashleigh's plans for Jenny are temporarily interrupted by the appearance of a new character. Though we know inevitably the smile will fade as quickly as it came when we get our hands on the next book, it's enough to mildly relax the muscles we've held rigid in reaction to the emotional maelstrom into which these characters thrust us.
If you’ve read the first book, Jenny Pox, you’ll love Tommy Nightmare. Bryan brings back key characters from the first book and adds to the mix a handful of exciting new characters with their own unique talents to amp up the suspense.
Although Tommy Nightmare doesn’t pick up at the exact point where Jenny Pox left off, it does continue the story of what happened at Fallen Oak after Jenny murdered nearly half the town’s people. It was great to meet up again with Jenny and Seth and in a way, also with Ashleigh. She is one of the most terrifying villains I’ve come across. Imagine a teenage girl wielding the power of love and using that to manipulate her parents and an entire town of people to bend to her will. That doesn’t sound too terrible now, does it? But the way Bryan wrote it, it is downright petrifying. Tommy and Esmeralda, each with their own powers, were a great addition to the story, but Ashleigh and Jenny were undoubtedly the stars. With the introduction of Alexander, hence the title of the third book, Alexander Death, things just got so much more intense towards the end.
I loved the parts where Jenny had dreams about one of her previous lives in the Roman era. That was a nice touch to the story. I enjoyed this book so much I stayed up the whole night reading until I had finished it at dawn. There were a few minor things that bugged me and which were a little hard to overlook, but it didn’t dampen my enjoyment of the story and I’m eagerly anticipating reading Alexander Death. Tommy Nightmare can be read as a stand-alone, but it will make you curious enough to read the first book to find out what happened between Jenny, Ashleigh and Seth; and also to get to know these three characters more.
In this fantastic sequel to “Jenny Pox” we meet Tommy whose touch creates fear the same way that Jenny’s induces the plague. Specifically, Tommy’s touch shows your worst nightmares that reduce most people he interacts with to a pile of mush. Unlike Jenny, Tommy embraces his power creating a fantastic villain. Tommy easily could have been portrayed as a completely unfeeling, harsh character, but instead we learn his heartbreaking past and how/why it will intertwine with Jenny’s. I still hated him though!
In an interesting tip to realism, the events from the previous book are not forgotten. Instead, Jenny is dealing with the fallout from the previous book while the town is under investigation. This causes Jenny to be more withdrawn from everyone, including Seth, creating new trials for both of them to overcome. At fear of revealing too much, between the recent events and flashbacks, this is a fantastic sequel that will have you wanting to read the next in the series!
Warning: Contains horror and violence
Who Should Read it? Fans of fantasy in a contemporary setting or horror.
I wanted to give Tommy Nightmare only 4 stars, but I usually try to star my reviews based on what I felt as I read them, and this one is just as hard to put down as Jenny Pox. It's not as good IMHO because Jenny had that certain Mean Girls elements, like the skinny, creepy, abused girl stealing her perfect, big-breasted archenemy's boyfriend. In Tommy, I feel like most of that cute, YA romance part is lost. And in return, we get flashbacks and more flashbacks, that while interesting, they start getting annoying; also many different POVs, which I felt slowed down the pace of the story.
However, the story itself, the new characters, and the new discoveries are still quite able to get you hooked. And it's got the same wonderful dark humor that J.L. Bryan gave us in Jenny, with Darcy possessed giving some of my favorite speeches. So yes, it's got some things that weren't perfect, but while I read it all I could think was to get going and figure out what happens next. It's another great read and provided me many hours of entertainment.
Freaking amazing once more! J.L. Bryan knows how to write a paranormal story with gruesome realism and twists that makes me want to keep reading on and on and on. With the introduction of Tommy, a terrifying paranormal who's power I would never want to experience, this book continues the story of Jenny Morton, who has her own deadly powers. Discovering she's not the only one out there is starting to make life difficult, especially since Seth, her boyfriend with supernatural powers of his own, wants to go to college in a bigger city. She doesn't want to follow, and someone else wants her out of the picture for good.
Jenny's story continues to intrigue me. Her down to earthiness is refreshing, but her powers are only just beginning to surface. Will she be able to control herself in the face of adversity? The introduction of new characters was awesome. Can't wait to see what is in store with more chaos to come for sure.
The mesmerizing battle of the dueling powers continues in Tommy Nightmare. But another battle surfaces within. Triggered by love, one battles to hang on to the humanistic qualities embraced and the newcomer, for the first time, sees a choice for a different path than the one that has been traveled.
J.L. Bryan additional characters turn up the intrigue. The more the merrier. But maybe in some instances, not so much. Time will tell.
I know we've made no secret of our love for JL Bryan and his book, Jenny Pox, here at the Bookworms, but I can say, without a doubt, that this sequel was FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC!!! Personally, I went from being unsure as to how Mr. Bryan was going to turn his amazing, what I considered to be a stand-alone, book into a series, but I'll tell you something. Mr. Bryan is CLEARLY smarter than I am because not only did he live up to the wonderment that was Jenny Pox, he truly surpassed it.
Tommy Nightmare picks up where Jenny Pox left off and introduces a new character with a new "power".
This series has a mix of everything and I think a lot of people will enjoy it. I highly recommend this series for anyone who wants to read something original and gripping.
*There are zombies in this for all you zombie folk too!
Once again JL Bryan has wrote an amazingly told story continuing Jenny Pox. I was instantly drawn into Tommy Nightmare...taken hostage.. and did not return to my regular brain until Tommy Nightmare was complete. Tommy -Nightmare- was given the name by the people closet to him. Although they did not love him. His foster parents and foster siblings gave him this name because. He literally would "Scare you to death".. After some things take place. Tommy decides he has had enough. Leaving that life behind Tommy finds himself in jail. Where he discovers Ashleigh from her tv broadcast. Being drawn to her. He takes it upon him self to find her. Taking his curse, and using it on the guards, he escapes prison and takes the journey to find Ashleigh. Jenny Pox finds her self feeling grief, anger and a very hard time dealing with the deaths of Fallen Oaks. Since they are connected to Jenny in a BIG way. Seth has not really been any help lately. It seems that they are slowly slipping away from each other. Seth cannot find it in himself to tale his parents about Jenny. Jenny sees this as a big problem. This makes me sad. I feel that they are so cute together. They are opposites, but together they are one. The Fallen Oaks community is on lock down. Everyone is being interrogated and tested by the CDC. They are on the hunt to find out WHY half the community has suddenly died... Jenny & Seth find themselves staying on the low. Trying to figure out what they should do. Tommy, finding out the Ashleigh has been murdered, seeks out the murders. Finding Jenny & Seth.. Tommy does his deed of 'fearing' them, but he leaves with a little taste of the Pox! Jenny gave him a little taste of what she could do. Tommy finds Esmerelda, the girl he left all those many years ago when he left the Tanner's. Esmerelda remembers Tommy instantly. With his Grey eyes. Finding out Esmarelda has a gift also, she can speak/listen to the dead. For Tommy this is a very good thing for him. Since he has found the remains of Ashleigh... You can only imagine..Ashleigh's back. Yes, the ulitmate villian is back. And she's really is not in a forgiving mood. Although maybe you can't tale she is back... Because she is... ummm.. not 'helself'. After dying, Ashleigh is pissed off and ready for revenge. And revenge she will get. (I REALLY, DO not like her. Oh, I could jump in the pages of this book and slap the s#!t right out of her... ugh) Through out the book you will get glimpses in the life of Alexander. A new character who can control the dead. Think zombies (but he is controls them), living dead puppets! Alexander is the one, who is in Jenny's dreams. Literally, Jenny has been having some major crazy dreams. And he may just be the one for Jenny. (Seth, please stop being douchey. Or you just may loose your her) I loved meeting all the new characters. Jenny Pox was an amazing story, and Tommy Nightmare was just what book 2 needed to take it to the next level. I love this series. JL Bryan has created a world with these fascinating characters that I have grown to love. (And some Hate). I cannot wait to read the next installment of Jenny Pox, and find out more about Alexander. Book 3 titled Alexander Death is on my shelf, and ready to read. Do not pass up on this series. It is a chilling, amazing story that will take you hostage.. and leave you yearning for more. JL Bryan has an amazing gift in writing amazing books!!! "I am just a monster.""You're a beautiful monster." Alexander gave her a smile. His eyes reflected the stars and the black sky. "And I love you for what you are." Get this book now! If you have not read Jenny Pox, HERE is my REVIEW for Book 1!
**WARNING: Review contains minor spoilers for the first book in the series, Jenny Pox.**
The first book in the Paranormals series, Jenny Pox, was one of my favorite reads of 2011. It was something completely original and fresh. I became completely absorbed in the world that J.L. Bryan had created and was extremely impressed with his writing style and plotting. Tommy Nightmare is a very worthy sequel to Jenny Pox. It continues with the terrifying, thought-provoking writing and complex worldbuilding that took made the first book so engrossing.
This installment begins by introducing readers to an abused foster child named Tommy who, like Jenny and Seth, discovers that he has supernatural abilities, specifically the ability to create and control fear in any who touches him. Bryan then does a decent balancing act with multiple plots involving Tommy and his search for his "opposite" (the late Ashleigh Goodling) and the aftermath of Jenny's pox-laden revenge on her hometown.
The ending of Jenny Pox was one of the most intense, adrenaline-pumping conclusions I've read in a long time. So I was interested to see what would happen after half of the town was killed (in pretty gruesome fashion) by the Jenny pox. Hundreds of mysterious deaths has captured the attention of the federal government and they have sent disease specialists to check everything out. This situation introduces readers to Heather, a CDC investigator, who seems to be figuring out the truth behind the deaths despite her superiors' suggestions otherwise. I look forward to seeing how she continues her investigation in the next book.
I liked the way that Bryan handled the Jenny/Seth romance in this second installment. They are beyond the first impressions part of the relationship and things are getting a bit more complicated. I will admit that I'm not the biggest fan of Seth and his actions in this book definitely did not endear him to me, but I like how the author is portraying his character. I don't think we are supposed to be rooting for him though that is my opinion.
Jenny continues to be a hell of a protagonist and I just feel so badly for her at all times. One of my favorite aspects of this book was how the author emphasized that Jenny felt guilty for her part in the deaths of all the townspeople despite the fact that they were trying to kill her and had always mistreated her. She is a very admirable heroine and readers will find themselves easily rooting for her.
Another intriguing part of Tommy Nightmare is the way that Bryan provided more background on the Paranormals and their past lives. We learned at the end of Jenny Pox that Jenny, Seth, Ashleigh, and others were powerful, supernatural beings that have been reincarnated throughout history with various degrees of success. Now that Jenny and Seth are aware of this fact, we see them begin to explore this aspect of their existence which I'm very intrigued about.
In conclusion, the world of The Paranormals continues to build while existing characters are developed and new ones are introduced to create a varied, exciting cast. Ashleigh Goodling continues to be one of the most intriguing villains I've ever read (even after death) and adding the creepy, tortured Tommy to the group just makes everything more terrifying. Really looking forward to reading Alexander Death especially with the way this one ended!
In this second book of The Paranormals Trilogy, we meet Tommy. He is another person like Jenny, Seth, and Ashleigh. His touch brings about fear. He can kill or simply mess up a person's mind for a short period of time. Tommy is as pathetic as Jenny but he has a harder heart so he went straight into the villian column quick. As of the end of the last book, we find out a little about what Jenny, Seth, and Ashleigh are. It's just enough to start us with the understanding that they are not fully human. They were born like humans but they are actually reincarnated over and over since the beginning of time. They don't remember their lifetimes but they eventually find one another and kill each other off. They have well established patterns with different identities.
Tommy is in jail when he sees Ashleigh on tv. He feels a connection to her and knows he must find her. He breaks out of prison and heads to South Carolina. Tommy knows his touch is deadly and he has already figured out that he is not the only one. When he was a child, he met a girl who could communicate with the dead by touch. Her name is Esmeralda and Tommy wants to get his hands on her too.
Meanwhile, Jenny has 'maybe' killed Ashleigh and about 200 other townfolk with her Pox. They deserved it but it's still not a good thing for our heroine. Jenny and Seth are trying to put the pieces of their lives back together and keep the CDC and Homeland Security off their backs. Enter Tommy looking for Ashleigh who is dead. He remembers that Esmeralda can communicate with the dead so he grabs Ashleigh's bones and sets out to find Esmeralda. This puts us up to 4 additional beings like Jenny and they all have horrible powers of destruction. The collision course they are on is massive and is once again gonna be messy. There are a few interesting surprises such as Alexander and his interest in Jenny. This character is pretty much in the background observing in this book but he is clearly one of them and he has a nasty touch.
Although the book is named for Tommy, Jenny is really the focus. She is in a mess of trouble with a woman at the CDC determined to find her and pin a few hundred murders on her. She also would not mind sticking Jenny in a lab to be studied. Seth must make a decision about his future. Does he go to college and do what his family expects? Will he find a way to keep Jenny by his side although she is a mass murderer? Does he dare go against his family and the many secrets they have hidden over generations? Does Jenny dare to dream of a future with Seth? Is Jenny beginning to remember what and who she is? Is Tommy going to find a way to bring Ashleigh back? Is there a hero to be found in any of these characters? All these questions are posed and answered in a fast paced story that had me gripping my Kindle with brute force.
BTW, I don't think I said this about the first book but it's really as funny as it is dark. I laughed as much as I cringed. Once again, I must state -- not YA. It's not erotica but there is tasteful and not so tasteful sex scenes. once again, this one is 5 stars.
Krisha’s Thoughts Brief synopsis: Tommy Nightmare is book #2 in The Paranormals series by JL Bryan. Right from the start we are introduced to a young Tommy. We quickly understand that he has had a crappy childhood and also has powers like our three main characters from Jenny Pox. As you can tell by his name, he creates horrific nightmares just by his touch. It takes a chapter or two to find out where he falls in with the aftermath of the Fallen Oaks incident. From there, we see pov’s from both new characters and old. I read this book in one sitting because I could not wait to see what was going on!
I started this book before my counterpart at Inkk did. Being the girl that likes to read spoilers, I did keep myself from reading other reviews but did read the backs of the books. I remember Katie calling, super excited, that our beloved Jenny was back in this book. It’s easy to assume from the title that this story would only be about Tommy. I feel it was an interesting transition from book 1 to book 2 because we don’t pick up where we left off. I do think Bryan is very creative in his ability to keep the story moving forward while adding depth to his characters. It’s hard to tell specifics because every piece of information I could give you would be a spoiler! Just be ready for some unexpected situations that has the whole story doing a complete 180o. Another great read from JL Bryan and can’t wait to read the next two in the series.
Katie’s Thoughts: Tommy Nightmare picks off right where Jenny Pox leaves off. J.L Bryan has definitely mastered the skill of flowing from one book to the other without effort. The plot was amazing! Just when you thought we got rid of “ I wanna rule the world” Ashleigh, guess again. Ashleigh clearly refuses to let death stop her and is determined to take Jenny down more than ever.
And if that wasn’t enough issues for Jenny, we also have three other Paranormals in town (Tommy, Esmeralda, and Alexander) plus the CDC and Homeland security!
I really love this series, and again super thankful to Loretta @ Between the Pages for getting me hooked on Jenny Pox.
I don’t know why but when I started reading Tommy Nightmare, I had no idea it was going to be a continuation of Jenny Pox. Maybe it was because it had Tommy on the cover and on the title, and the first chapter was all about Tommy… but as soon at they started talking about Seth and Jenny, I threw a mini parade in my mind. Needless to say, I was super excited! The Paranormal Series really is one of the best series I have read in a while!
Check out our other reviews On our Blog -Katie & Krisha
Smashtastic Synopsis: Tommy Nightmare opens up with 12 year old Tommy in foster care. We learn that life is not good for Tommy. He is beaten by his religious wackadoo foster father and none of his foster brothers want anything to do with him because of the extreme fear he makes them all feel. A terrible incident occurs and Tommy finds a way out of his hellish home.
Tommy grows up and finds himself in prison. He notices Ashleigh on TV, and is inexplicably dawn to her. He uses his fear-inducing charm to break free, and finds himself in Fallen Oak. Tommy isn’t happy to discover that his “opposite” has been sent to an early grave, and he sets out to give Jenny and Seth something to really fear.
Interest in the book: Well, since I couldn’t put down Jenny Pox, it was obvious that I would jump directly to the next book in the series.
Characters: As evil as Tommy seemed to be, I was rooting for him. Not to kill of Jenny and Seth, but to find happiness. I hoped throughout this novel that his story would end on a positive, though Ashleigh got her claws in deep, yet again. Speaking of Ashleigh, just when you think a manipulative bitch can’t get more manipulative, the authors slaps you with total domination in heels. I’m all for Girl Power, but Ashleigh needs someone to teach her ass a lesson, ya hear? Jenny really matures in this novel. She’s become more brave but also more fearful, especially where her loved ones are concerned. There is a really touching scene between Jenny and her father that really choked me up. And we’re introduced to yet another character, Alexander, who literally creeped me out. Wondering his role in the last book, Alexander Death, sent my imagination into a frenzy!
Worldbuilding: I really enjoyed the author’s ability to keep the ball rolling as if Jenny Pox and this story were in the same book. The world expands in Tommy Nightmare as we are introduced to more characters, and the plot deepens as the stakes rise!
Lasting Impressions: Other than wanting to punch minor character Wooly in the face every time he opened his pie hole, I really, really enjoyed this book. I like how the story left characters scattered and angry, leaving so many possibilities for the final installment!
Smashtastic Entertainment Scale Damn near Perfect! Wicked Enjoyable Great Potential Mediocre Somewhat boring/confusing/lame Not very interesting Boo
I loved the first book in J.L. Bryan's The Paranormals Series, Jenny Pox. With a unique storyline and fabulous characters, most especially Jenny who is incredibly easy to like and empathise with, I was completely enthralled.
With Tommy Nightmare, J.L. Bryan has taken a bunch of characters I loved, and hated, in the first book and put them back into the mix as well as introducing more characters into the story, increasing the paranormal aspect of the book and creating a more obvious connection between all the characters across their multiple lifetimes.
Tommy is the first new character, and the almost-star-of-the-show, that is introduced in a prologue where as small child he is mistreated by an abusive and radically religious foster father. Tommy's ability is fear, and he uses it to get what he wants, and to get himself out of the trouble he seems to inevitably find himself in.
I assumed, incorrectly, that Jenny and Seth wouldn't play such a big part in Tommy's story, but as the story progressed, the focus was equally on Tommy and his new friends, and on Jenny and Seth. Jenny is still the realistic character that she was in the first book. Although she is plagued by self-doubt and more than a dash of self-loathing, J.L. Bryan writes her in a way that didn't make me want to tell her to grow a pair, it made me sympathise with her even more as things happen that are completely out of her control. Her relationship with Seth is also facing some very adult problems which makes it even more realistic.
Tommy Nightmare felt much darker than Jenny Pox, and the stakes are definitely raised as the story progresses and more of the history of The Paranormals emerges throughout the book. There are flashes of Jenny's far far distant past, and there are more and more abilities turning up all the time (including something to do with my walking-dead buddies, yeah!).
I didn't quite love Tommy Nightmare as much as I loved Jenny Pox, and I think in part that's to do with the fact that Tommy isn't really a likable character although I know it wasn't the authors intention to make him into a good guy. However, Tommy Nightmare ends on a climatic note that really makes me want to read the next book in the series, Alexander Death.
In a world awash with paranormal story-lines, J.L. Bryan has taken a unique idea and turned it into a fantastic series of books, with realistic, likable and despicable characters and multiple twists and turns.
TOMMY NIGHTMARE is the second book in the JENNY POX series and proves to be a quicker, more action-packed read than the first installment. The "new villain," the nightmare-inducing Tommy, has a more empathetic background than did Ashley Goodling from the first book, and is painted in subtler tones.
The action picks up logically where the first book left off, with Jenny "Mittens" Morton and boyfriend Seth dealing with the aftermath of the climactic conclusion of the first novel, in which Jenny really unleashed her power for the first time.
Tommy comes off like a very anti-BOND villain at first, striking out very directly in the initial going, but then showing more thoughtfulness and reticence as the plot plays out. Like JENNY POX, TOMMY NIGHTMARE features a beginning, a middle, and a resolution, but this time out the resolution feels a bit more like a set-up/lead-in to the next installment, due out in Fall 2011.
Many familiar players return, and several intriguing new characters are introduced, but with some of the familiar characters being seemingly swept aside, the book feels a bit more like a stage-clearing action and set-up for something to come that hasn't quite arrived yet.
The book leaves quite a few more dangling plot threads than did the first, but that could be due to the sales success of JENNY POX and the author's decision to transform the book into a series; much of what seems to be left dangling could simply be set up for character arcs that will play out in book three or beyond.
If the series goes longer than a trilogy, however, it will prove interesting to see how author Bryan pulls this off. While JENNY POX played out as a nice, quiet little story set in a very small town, TOMMY NIGHTMARE ramps up the scope of the tale quite a bit and, if the series goes long, it will prove interesting to see how the author resets the tale's scope.
That said, the standard warnings about JENNY POX still apply to TOMMY NIGHTMARE; although the book stars a main cast of young-adult age, the tale's content is more mature than some parents will care for younger teens to be exposed to, so there's your heads-up, parents.
Once again, in my Kindle edition, a few formatting errors involving shifting margins did pop up. Since the book was only recently released, it's likely that this has not been corrected yet.
These provisos aside, TOMMY NIGHTMARE is a highly entertaining, quick read that will leave most folks anticipating Book 3.
This review contains spoilers for book 1. Just so you know.
I loved book 1 in this series. I thought it was dark and creepy and that it perfectly captured the casual alienation that people can unwittingly be subjected to. I'll admit that Jenny's ... let's call them 'issues'... Jenny's issues made her alienation less casual and more of a necessity. It doesn't make it any easier for her to bear, however. Maybe it even makes it worse because she knows that she'll never have a normal life as long as her touch brings the plague.
Now that I've gushed about book 1, what did I think of book 2? In two words: LOVED IT! We learned about opposites in book 1 but J.L. Bryan has given us a whole new set of variables with this book. The introduction of complimentary powers opens up a huge world for Jenny. It gives her options that she didn't have before.
As for the characters, we're also given a slew of new folks as well as the ones we'd already met. Jenny, of course, is reeling from the plague she caused at the end of book 1. Although her actions can be justified as self defense (hey, the town had already killed Seth and were hellbent on killing her), she feels guilt over what she did. Seth, meanwhile, isn't very supportive of her. His stance is that the town deserved it for what they had done to the two of them. This bothers me because the town was under Ashleigh's power at the time. She incited them to those acts. She stirred them up with her love-whammy and made them do things that they wouldn't have done under normal circumstances. The way Seth brushes off the fact that Jenny killed several hundred people makes him feel callous and uncaring. Speaking of Seth... Dude, grow a backbone. If you want a life with Jenny you're going to have to stop hiding her from your family. No good can come from being ashamed of the person you're with. I'm just sayin'.
We also get to meet Tommy, Ashleigh's opposite. He's had a pretty craptastic life and Ashleigh's found a way to use him from beyond the grave. Let's face it, that's sucktastic on so many levels. We also get introduced to Esmerelda, who can speak to the dead... or listen to the dead, really.... and Alexander, who has control over the dead. Alexander, of course, is the titular character for book 3 and with the way this book ended I'm dying to see what he's going to be up to.
I've mentioned before how completely blown away I was by Jenny Pox, so I had high expectations heading in to Tommy Nightmare. Happily, it measured up. Tommy is genuinely terrifying in moments, moving in others, and juuuust complicated enough that I mourned every time he made an evil decision. I'm not willing to count him out of the game just yet.
While Bryan has introduced a fun new villain in Tommy, that doesn't mean he's short-changing the girls. Jenny is every bit as real and amazing as she was in the first book, and Bryan introduces a new girl in the form of an old love of Tommy's. Furthermore--spoiler alert--we also see the return of Ashleigh Gooding, who is every bit as noxious and calculating in this book as she was when we first met her. My favorite part of these books is how neatly Bryan writes the relationship between Ashleigh and Jenny--they never lose their petty, high-school nastiness for all that they're immortals fighting a war with incredible, potentially world-ending powers. Jenny was punished in the first book for her refusal to attempt to understand her powers while Ashleigh was so busily strengthening hers, and she's still struggling with much the same problems in Tommy Nightmare. Granted, her power is much more difficult to safely test than Ashleigh's, as people either die or are permanently disfigured by her touch rather than finding themselves love-stoned for a few hours. Jenny's entire arc in this book is, once again, that of trying to stay one step ahead of her own abilities, this time with the added knowledge of just how destructive she can be. This would be repetitive if not for the added drama of Jenny's secret being released into the world and the additional supervillains thrown into the fray. Jenny has to grow up, whether she wants to or not, because she's going to be eaten alive if she doesn't. And, by the end of the book, she seems to realize that she can't just stay in Fallen Oak and be a perpetual child forever, not when Ashleigh is once again on the move and is determined to destroy Jenny's life utterly before continuing with her plans for--I'm not kidding--world domination. Unfortunately, she's now in the sway of someone even more dangerous than Ashleigh or Tommy, and she's not in a good emotional place. Jenny Morton is poised to become Batman with mittens.
Tommy Nightmare is another book that I have had for a while and only just got around to reading, and I really wish I had read it sooner. In the first few pages we are introduced to Tommy and how he got his nickname 'Tommy Nightmare'. His touch alone can bring nightmares to others, sometimes even killing them from fright. Tommy has been entrusted to Mr and Mrs Tanner by the stae of Oklahoma, but after Mr Tanners father dies for fright Tommy steals money and runs away.
I found myself really enjoying Tommy Nightmare from the moment I started reading and managed to finish it in two sittings. I liked how we get to see the aftermath of the 'Jenny Pox' and how it is being dealt with. The town has been closed off and Heather, an expert epidemiologist is brought in to investigate the outbreak which as both Seth and Jenny worrying about the testing that is being done to find the cause. New characters are introduced that have gifts, Esmeralda, Alexander and Tommy, and we learn more about opposing powers and how they work but that doesnt mean the having an opposite power works out. Sometimes mingling powers is the best and more powerful way to get things done and I can't wait to see how this plays out in Alexander Death. I liked how Ashleigh makes a reappearance but she is even more manipulative than ever and I really dislike how she treats people, her friends and the people she wants things from. I felt sorry for Darcy and how she was played in this book, but part of me thinks if she just stood up for herself then maybe she would have had a better chance of evading Ashleigh and not getting involved in the whole mess.
JL Bryan has done an amazing job on making Tommy Nightmare creepy and mysterious. I never knew what plan Ashleigh would come up with to destroy Seth and Jenny and was constantly kept on my toes over what would happen next. The multiple points of view for chapters and new characters introduced did not overwhelm the story, in fact they added to it and made it that much better. I am really looking forward to seeing what happens next in Alexander Death.
I fell in love with Jenny Pox. I loved her story. The first few chapters of this book are spent introducing us to Tommy and his special ability to spread fear. We learn of his horrible childhood and his troubled youth. We follow him on his quest to find Ashleigh Goodling his opposite and Esmerelda the death talker. He finds both despite Ashleigh being dead. Then the three of them hatch a plan to take down Jenny and Seth. We also meet briefly Alexander Death. What I loved: Jenny is even more troubled now that she has killed half the town. Her memories of her past lives does not ease her suffering. They further her resolve to never use her power. She often dreams of her ancient life in Greece. She finds not only a man who she thinks is Seth there but also Ashleigh and Tommy. There her powers are used to take down the leader of Athens by the King of Sparta (Seth?). I loved these flashbacks. They were so rich. They added to the story rather than distracted the reader from the main plot line. Ashleigh/Darcy/Esmerelda are the same dasterdly villian we love to hate. The ending was once again surprising and a bit unexpected. At first you think Alexander is coming for Jenny. Then we think he is coming for Esmerelda. Who he picks is not who I thought it would be. Jenny complements him and Esmerelda is his opposite. So it's a toss up until the end. Uhh there are zombies---duh! I love zombies even if they are just briefly used. The writing was fantastic again. Once we got into the heart and soul of the story I couldn't put it down. What I didn't like: Tommy's first half of the book seemed to drag for me. That is probably because I wasn't invested in his story like I was Jenny and Seth's. Jenny and Seth seem to be growing distant in this book. I missed thier chemistry. This is the author's design though. His introduction of Alexander is really going to throw us, Jenny and Seth for a loop. Which I am looking forward to. I'm a sucker for a good love triangle. Once again this book is not really intended for young readers. I would say the material is YA-M/Adult. Or in movie terms NC-17.
One thing is absolutely clear to me... J.L. Bryan does NOT mess around. He can have me shuddering in terror and disbelief within seconds of beginning one his books! Win.
Tommy 'Nightmare' earned his name through the unfortunate event, that when he touches someone they are suddenly overcome with fear... Tommy lives with his foster family of three brother (who don't go anywhere near him) and Mr. & Mrs. Tanner.
Mr. Tanner is a cruel, hateful, cold-hearted man (if you can call him that... I, however have a few other choice words) who puts Tommy through a living hell everyday.
Tommy ends up in jail... where he sees ASHLEIGH on TV, preaching about abstinence! He can't shake the feeling that he knows her, or is supposed to know her! That SHE is the answer to all his questions... So he breaks out of jail to hunt her down!
Meanwhile, back in Fallen Oaks Seth and Jenny are dealing with the CDC that have come to town after an unexplainable outbreak of... disease... that wiped out most of the town a few days prior.
When Tommy shows up in Fallen Oaks only to find Ashleigh gone... he is furious. He finds out who is responsible, and immediately seeks out Jenny and Seth. The meeting doesn't go well after Tommy attacks them, and Jenny unleashes her Jenny Pox on him.
Tommy survives... and goes in search of Esmerelda - the girl of Tommy Nightmare's dreams... ;)
Jenny and Seth have been growing apart *tears* and Seth won't stand up to his parents who want him to go away to college and don't even know he is dating Jenny! MAJOR Seth fail. And then we meet Alexander... we catch extremely intriguing glimpses of him throughout the book, and you know... in Jenny's dreams! *dying*
JL Bryan completely and UTTERLY blew me away for a second time in less than two weeks! His ability to interweave Jenny Pox and Tommy Nightmare so completely seamlessly was absolute perfection. Bryan's characters are amazing, his writing is beyond extraordinary.
Tommy Nightmare is absolutely captivating, you will be BEGGING JL Bryan for the third book... I know I have been. *sigh*
Tommy Nightmare is the second book in the Paranormals series by J.L. Bryan, the book picks up right where we left Jenny and Seth after the unbelievable ending of Jenny Pox.
This time around we are also introduced to a couple of new characters, Tommy. His touch conjures fear in the other person's mind and Esmeralda who can talk with the dead. We see these two characters first meet as young children, now years later after seeing Ashleigh on tv Tommy feels an unexplainable urge to find her. After discovering Ashleigh's remains he remembers the girl who can contact the dead and tried to track her down in order to talk to Ashleigh.
In the mean time there is also a massive Homeland Security investigation happening in Fallen Oaks, no one can seem to explain the tragic events that happened at the end of Jenny Pox.
I don't want to give too much of the plot away, even though we have some new characters Seth and Jenny are still in this book as well. The point of view switched between the characters throughout the book. In this case I really enjoyed seeing the world and what was going through everyone's eyes. It made all the characters that bit more real to me.
The story itself is brilliant, I didn't think that Jenny Pox could be topped but Tommy Nightmare is just as good, if not better than Jenny Pox. The book flowed wonderfully from the first one, almost as if the two books were one. Usually with sequels there a time gap between books, or a massive recap. Not this time around the story picked up right away after that one night that changed everything in Fallen Oak.
There was a few unexpected twists in this book that I didn't see coming, especially towards the end. This was another book that I pretty much read in one day, purely because I couldn't put it down. I got so wrapped up in the story, the next thing I knew the book was finished and it was 3am! This is one of these books that you can completely get swept away in, and I loved it!
Anyone who follows me knows that I am an avid J.L. Bryan fan, and that certainly hasn't changed with this book, In Jenny Pox, the story ends with a unexpected twist that only just begins to explain Jenny and her strange gift, leading straight into Tommy Nightmare. This books begins immediately following the conclusion of the first, so there is no missing time or vagueness before getting into the story. I hesitate tp talk too much about the actual plot for fear of spoilers, but I will say that the entire concept of it is very unique and enthralling. Many of the characters from the first are back for the second, with the addition of three new characters with extraordinary gifts.
The point of view switched from character to character throughout the story with ease and it added so much to the story. All of them were very well-developed with just enough of their backstories created to explain them as the kind of people they were in the framework of the story. I like Bryan's characters because none of them are purely good or evil. Some are basically good people who do questionable things. Others are clearly not so good, but do good things, at least in the moment. It makes for interesting characters that really keep the story moving and engrossing.
I absolutely loved the first book, and questioned whether or not it was going to be possible to top that. Tommy Nightmare took the story to the next level. I forsee an epic battle in the next installment, due out in the fall of 2011. I like a story that brings me into it so much that I dream about it!! If you haven't read Jenny Pox, then I would definately suggest reading it first because much of this great story would be lost. But I trully recommend both of these books. I personally can't wait for the next Jenny Pox book!
In Tommy Nightmare, we discover that Jenny, Seth and Ashleigh aren’t the only people with powers. In fact, there are quite a few more people. When we’re introduced to Tommy in the first chapter of the book, he’s an innocent foster child, unaware of his abilities when an awful accident occurs. As traumatizing as this is for Tommy, J.L. Bryan makes this scene and many others just as cringing as he did in Jenny Pox. Growing older, Tommy sees a T.V. interview of Ashleigh Goodling, Jenny’s arch enemy, and suddenly he’s feeling this pull to Ashleigh that he cannot get enough of.
On the other spectrum of things, Fallen Oak is a mess and forensics are everywhere trying to figure out what the heck happened to all these people. Meanwhile, Jenny is having constant flashbacks of her past lives as she continues to fight, accept and understand her abilities as more than hopefully a destructive weapon.
I was impressed once again with all of the unexpected places that J.L. Bryan took Tommy Nightmare. My only disappointment with this book was Jenny’s relationship with her father. You see throughout Jenny Pox that they’re close, not only due to being father/ daughter but because that’s the only real human contact she has, but it’s as if that connection is disengaged. It’s sad, because I feel like much more could have been done with that bond. I was also surprised how small of a roll that Tommy actually played in the book. The beginning opens up with him and he is the start of a huge chain of events, but he isn’t the main storyline. This isn't noted as bad thing about the book, just simply an observation. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as J.L. Bryan is definitely not afraid to put his characters through hell and back all for our pleasure and reading excitement. Tommy Nightmare proved to be a very worthy sequel to Jenny Pox.
This book starts off almost right after the crazy events of the last one. The national guard and some scientists from the CDC have come and sealed off the town and are trying to investigate exactly what has happened. One character, Heather, is a new POV for some chapters of the book. I liked that idea actually, seeing what was happening on the other side of things aside from Jenny and the people of the city and her thoughts on what disease could have struck.
There are a few more characters with abilities added in this book and I thought they were awesome. Tommy has the ability to pass along waking nightmares and control fear in others, even to the point of making them do what he wants. Sound like someone else we know? Then there’s a quick introduction to Alexander and what he can do which was pretty creepy. Zombies! And of course Esmeralda who could hear the dead in bodies among other things. Another character makes a surprise appearance and the mayhem starts again!
Jenny keeps having dreams of past lives and what she did with her powers back then. During the day she is still horrified about what she ended up doing in the last book and for a while she wants to turn herself in. But being with Seth still makes her happy and he doesn’t want to lose her. However there are certain people trying to break them apart because they are opposites in powers and make each other stronger.
This book was very good, the first was still my favourite, simply because of the ending in the last one. But don’t pass this book up, it’s definitely a great addition!
Recommended for fans of paranormal and horror, and not recommended for younger readers (mature themes again in this one).
Why did I wait so long to pick it up? I loved "Jenny Pox" and this is a great follow-up. "JP" ended on such a tough note, I never dared to imagine that Bryan would actually go there, and then he did, and then he added this brilliant mythology that no one saw coming yet which totally fits... Anyway, "Tommy Nightmare" picks up where the first book ended but it introduces a few new characters, among other name-giver Tommy, who can inject fear and nightmares with his touch. We learn a lot more about The Paranormals which is quite exciting - I hope the next books will continue this streak and will give a well-rounded picture of the mythology. The plot and especially the finale will pull you in as much as "JP" did, maybe even more since the pace is faster due to more characters. The story really shines with the great characters and their unique abilities, they have their struggles and their dark sides, here the novel is really good, in portraying this darkness as part of full personalities, they are not simply evil. Well, mostly not. Because here is where the novel lacked, most of the protagonists are full fleshed, all but Ashleigh and Seth, who come out way too simple and sadly appear as pure evil vs. pure goodness, and that is even a bigger shame since the others are so 3-dimensional. I really hope Bryan will give us more for them in the next book, it is needed (especially for Seth, he is too bland). That aside, this series turns out great, the fantastical elements dominate over the real life issues (something that blended so extraordinarily well in "JP") but since this fantasy that unfolds is so captivating and original I am fine with that turn. I quite enjoyed how these mystical powers get examined by science and modern law, the clash that is bound to happen should be epic. Next book please!!