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Vicious Rumer
‘An exhilarating read’ – SFX
‘Introduces a truly badass heroine to the world of YA’ – Book Riot
Rumer Cross is cursed. Scraping by working for a dingy London detective agency, she lives in the shadow of her mother, a violent criminal dubbed the ‘Witch Assassin’ whose bloodthirsty rampage terrorised London for over a decade.
Raised by foster families who never understood her and terrified she could one day turn into her mother, Rumer has become detached and self-reliant. But when she’s targeted by a vicious mobster who believes she’s hiding an occult relic, she’s drawn into the very world she’s been fighting to avoid.
Hunted by assassins and haunted by her mother’s dark legacy, Rumer must also confront a terrible truth: that she’s cursed, because no matter what she does, everybody she’s ever grown close to has died screaming.
‘Introduces a truly badass heroine to the world of YA’ – Book Riot
Rumer Cross is cursed. Scraping by working for a dingy London detective agency, she lives in the shadow of her mother, a violent criminal dubbed the ‘Witch Assassin’ whose bloodthirsty rampage terrorised London for over a decade.
Raised by foster families who never understood her and terrified she could one day turn into her mother, Rumer has become detached and self-reliant. But when she’s targeted by a vicious mobster who believes she’s hiding an occult relic, she’s drawn into the very world she’s been fighting to avoid.
Hunted by assassins and haunted by her mother’s dark legacy, Rumer must also confront a terrible truth: that she’s cursed, because no matter what she does, everybody she’s ever grown close to has died screaming.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 3, 2018
12 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
August 29, 2018
3.5 Stars
"I've killed more people than I can count but I never meant to."
Vicious Rumer is a dark, gritty thriller featuring a 19 year old girl named Rumer who believes she has been cursed since birth by her notorious assassin mother who disappeared after Rumer`s birth. Everybody that gets close to Rumer dies, forcing her to live in the shadows until she is suddenly thrust into the very world her mother dominated.
"The dark's comforting. The shadows are an ally.
I'm one of them and they embrace me like a sister."
Non-stop action that borders on over-the-top at times, this story allows no time to take a breath between conflicts. The theme of the story requires some suspension of disbelief and while I enjoyed getting to know Rumer, I couldn't personally relate to her at all, I doubt anybody could. The writing is a bit choppy at times with short sentences and some inconsistencies in minor details.
This book is aimed at the YA crowd and I've no doubt that that demographic will love Rumer. She's a badass and completely unlike the typical female characters in this genre. She's certainly no pining damsel in distress, in fact, Rumer is the one doing the saving in this story.
I was provided an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
"I've killed more people than I can count but I never meant to."
Vicious Rumer is a dark, gritty thriller featuring a 19 year old girl named Rumer who believes she has been cursed since birth by her notorious assassin mother who disappeared after Rumer`s birth. Everybody that gets close to Rumer dies, forcing her to live in the shadows until she is suddenly thrust into the very world her mother dominated.
"The dark's comforting. The shadows are an ally.
I'm one of them and they embrace me like a sister."
Non-stop action that borders on over-the-top at times, this story allows no time to take a breath between conflicts. The theme of the story requires some suspension of disbelief and while I enjoyed getting to know Rumer, I couldn't personally relate to her at all, I doubt anybody could. The writing is a bit choppy at times with short sentences and some inconsistencies in minor details.
This book is aimed at the YA crowd and I've no doubt that that demographic will love Rumer. She's a badass and completely unlike the typical female characters in this genre. She's certainly no pining damsel in distress, in fact, Rumer is the one doing the saving in this story.
I was provided an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2018
A new author to me and I thoroughly enjoyed this rather dark, but bang on “Urban Fantasy come horror” tale from Joshua Winning – with a mad good main protagonist in Rumer who is highly engaging with an, erm, interesting past.
I loved the “horror movie” vibe the author brings to this horror thriller mash up – Rumer reminded me of one of those bad ass heroine’s running from the man with the axe in any number of 80’s horror films, as she attempts to extricate herself from a tangled web, in which the haunting presence of her serial killer mother hovers ever over her. Loving as I do a good cross genre read, this one hit a lot of marks.
Immersive writing, unpredictable plotting and a brutal sense of reality even though it is fantasy, Vicious Rumer was a great one sitting one afternoon read. I’d quite like more.
Recommended.
I loved the “horror movie” vibe the author brings to this horror thriller mash up – Rumer reminded me of one of those bad ass heroine’s running from the man with the axe in any number of 80’s horror films, as she attempts to extricate herself from a tangled web, in which the haunting presence of her serial killer mother hovers ever over her. Loving as I do a good cross genre read, this one hit a lot of marks.
Immersive writing, unpredictable plotting and a brutal sense of reality even though it is fantasy, Vicious Rumer was a great one sitting one afternoon read. I’d quite like more.
Recommended.
January 10, 2019
There is only one thing worse than trying to live up to the expectations of a parent and that is trying to live down who they were. Rumer tries but fails to keep her head down, she knows who she is and when people hunt her down then she has to protect herself, so people get hurt or killed. Her mother was top of the league in the criminal world and had dumped her as a baby.
Trouble always found Rumer and it was going to get worse. She had tried to make good and worked in a detective agency but continually being tracked down was wearing thin. There had to be more to what was going on.
This is one gruesome and horrific read. It is brutal and menacing, fully of action and one extraordinary and unique storyline like I haven’t read before. If you can handle the detailed descriptions of the vicious kind then you are in for one hell of a brilliant read. The book isn’t that long either and I found that at the pace I was turning the pages it was going to be a one sitting read.
I can’t say that I was too keen on Rumer to begin with, cause I can see where people thought she had her mum in her, but as the story sped along she grew on me. Boy there are pages of twisted people, one with a specific goal, the ultimate prize of all.
I wish to thank Joshua Winning for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
Trouble always found Rumer and it was going to get worse. She had tried to make good and worked in a detective agency but continually being tracked down was wearing thin. There had to be more to what was going on.
This is one gruesome and horrific read. It is brutal and menacing, fully of action and one extraordinary and unique storyline like I haven’t read before. If you can handle the detailed descriptions of the vicious kind then you are in for one hell of a brilliant read. The book isn’t that long either and I found that at the pace I was turning the pages it was going to be a one sitting read.
I can’t say that I was too keen on Rumer to begin with, cause I can see where people thought she had her mum in her, but as the story sped along she grew on me. Boy there are pages of twisted people, one with a specific goal, the ultimate prize of all.
I wish to thank Joshua Winning for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
August 31, 2018
Rumer Cross has been cursed all of her life. She was not meant to survive as a child, and therefore everyone she loves or encounters suffers from the curse that is her life. Her mother, Celene Cross, died shortly after Rumer's birth, but her memory lives in history as one of the most violent criminals London has ever seen. Celene, nicknamed the Witch Assassin, has left her reputation for Rumer to deal with long after she perished. As Rumer grew up in-and-out of foster families, she grew a thick skin, and learned that she only has herself to trust.
As an adult, Rumer encounters Reverend Mara, a mobster who is now terrorizing London. He believes that Rumer holds the Crook Spear, and he claims it as his own. Rumer doesn't know what this man is talking about, but that doesn't prevent this criminal in seeking out vengeance against her. Celene's past is in Rumer's DNA, and whether she likes it or not, she will have to dive into this world of crime to survive.
Vicious Rumer is typically not a book that I would pick up, because it has very supernatural undertones, but it's fun and vastly original. I've never picked up a book that has such original storytelling in my life. Vicious Rumer is very action-packed —I'd even go so far as to say that it can be too action-packed at times. We rarely get a break from conflict, nor do we really get to sympathize with her. However, this story did keep my attention from beginning to end—I finished it in one sitting.
If you're looking for a fast-paced, dark, and creepy supernatural read, Vicious Rumer is definitely something you should consider.
As an adult, Rumer encounters Reverend Mara, a mobster who is now terrorizing London. He believes that Rumer holds the Crook Spear, and he claims it as his own. Rumer doesn't know what this man is talking about, but that doesn't prevent this criminal in seeking out vengeance against her. Celene's past is in Rumer's DNA, and whether she likes it or not, she will have to dive into this world of crime to survive.
Vicious Rumer is typically not a book that I would pick up, because it has very supernatural undertones, but it's fun and vastly original. I've never picked up a book that has such original storytelling in my life. Vicious Rumer is very action-packed —I'd even go so far as to say that it can be too action-packed at times. We rarely get a break from conflict, nor do we really get to sympathize with her. However, this story did keep my attention from beginning to end—I finished it in one sitting.
If you're looking for a fast-paced, dark, and creepy supernatural read, Vicious Rumer is definitely something you should consider.
August 28, 2018
I received this book for free from the Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The nitty-gritty: A tense and violent thriller with surprisingly sympathetic characters and surprises at every turn,
Vicious Rumer
will be a hit with readers who like their stories on the gritty side.
I did a thing I don’t normally do: I accepted a review request directly from an author, and I actually had a blast reading his book! I had seen Vicious Rumer around the internet, so when Winning asked if I’d like to read it, I didn’t really hesitate at all. This was a crazy story, fast-paced and violent, with a protagonist who captured my heart despite her very rough edges.
I'm not going to say much about the story because I do want to avoid spoilers, so forgive me if this recap is rather vague! Rumer Cross has been on her own most of her life, having been abandoned by her mother at birth and put into foster care. She’s been shuffled from one family to another over the years, all bad experiences, until she finally lands with a caring couple who show her what a family should be like. But Rumer was born under a curse, and everyone she cares for dies if they’re around her for long. Her mother was the infamous mob assassin Celene Cross, whose body was pulled from the Thames after a job gone wrong. Rumer simply wants to escape the shadow of her mother, so she lives on the streets, stays away from people as much as possible, and does the odd “shadowing” job for a private detective named Julian.
But one day while working a job, she’s caught, thrown into a van, and taken to a warehouse for interrogation. It turns out a mob boss named Mara thinks she has something he wants, a mythical weapon called the Crook Spear. Rumer has no idea what he’s talking about, but it doesn’t take long for her to start putting the pieces together. One thing’s for sure: all the clues lead back to Celene Cross and her horrible past.
As Rumer tries desperately to stay alive, in the midst of several factions who are determined to kill her in order to find the Crook Spear, she’ll cross paths with several key people from her past. Are the rumors about the nature of the Crook Spear true? If so, Rumer knows she has to be the one to find it first, because it might be the key to ending her curse for good.
This story was crazy! I suspect your enjoyment will probably hinge on whether or not you end up liking the main character, Rumer, because she’s a tough character to love. Luckily, I found her to be a refreshing change of pace, and despite the moments when I couldn’t stand the things she did, or the decisions she made, Rumer really grew on me, and by the end of the story I wanted her to find peace and happiness. The story is told in first person present tense, so it had an immediacy about it that fit the pacing. Rumer’s life is in danger from the first page to the last and that pace rarely slows down, and Winning's tight writing and punchy dialog were key in making the pacing nearly flawless.
I also loved the characters who surround Rumer, both good and bad. Rumer never lets people get too close to her because she knows they’ll eventually end up dead, but there are a handful of characters that are special to her, and I loved those moments when things slow down a bit and we get to know the side of Rumer that she keeps hidden. There’s Troll, a boy from her past who sees past her anger; her foster parents Frances and George, who give her a safe place to land for the first time in her life; and Bolt, a man who Rumer saved from a burning building. None of the characters in this story lead easy lives, but Winning gives all of them glimpses of happiness at times, although that happiness is always fleeting.
Winning’s story jumps around from past to present, but he gives the reader a road map by labeling his chapters with titles like “Two Years Before the Hammer” or “One Day Before the Hammer”—obviously centering all of Rumer’s most poignant life moments around what happens with the hammer (and you’ll have to read the story to find out what that is!). I thought it was a brilliant structure that gives us intel about Rumer’s past and how she ended up the way she did by slowing revealing these emotion-fraught moments. Non-linear timelines are tough to get right, and Winning did a great job.
As far as negatives go, there were only a couple of small things that distracted me. Rumer’s interior dialogue does get a bit repetitive at times, especially when she’s trying to figure out what the Crook Spear is. There’s also a moment near the end of the book where she's standing outside smoking a cigarette, and I swear that was the only time in the story that she smokes. Although maybe I just missed the other moments, but it did seem a little jarring to me.
The action at the end gets even more intense as Rumer collides with her past and present in a huge showdown. The story didn’t go where I expected it to, and I certainly didn’t know how things would turn out for Rumer until the last page. This was a thrill ride from start to finish and I look forward to reading more from this talented writer.
Big thanks to the author for supplying a review copy.This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
I did a thing I don’t normally do: I accepted a review request directly from an author, and I actually had a blast reading his book! I had seen Vicious Rumer around the internet, so when Winning asked if I’d like to read it, I didn’t really hesitate at all. This was a crazy story, fast-paced and violent, with a protagonist who captured my heart despite her very rough edges.
I'm not going to say much about the story because I do want to avoid spoilers, so forgive me if this recap is rather vague! Rumer Cross has been on her own most of her life, having been abandoned by her mother at birth and put into foster care. She’s been shuffled from one family to another over the years, all bad experiences, until she finally lands with a caring couple who show her what a family should be like. But Rumer was born under a curse, and everyone she cares for dies if they’re around her for long. Her mother was the infamous mob assassin Celene Cross, whose body was pulled from the Thames after a job gone wrong. Rumer simply wants to escape the shadow of her mother, so she lives on the streets, stays away from people as much as possible, and does the odd “shadowing” job for a private detective named Julian.
But one day while working a job, she’s caught, thrown into a van, and taken to a warehouse for interrogation. It turns out a mob boss named Mara thinks she has something he wants, a mythical weapon called the Crook Spear. Rumer has no idea what he’s talking about, but it doesn’t take long for her to start putting the pieces together. One thing’s for sure: all the clues lead back to Celene Cross and her horrible past.
As Rumer tries desperately to stay alive, in the midst of several factions who are determined to kill her in order to find the Crook Spear, she’ll cross paths with several key people from her past. Are the rumors about the nature of the Crook Spear true? If so, Rumer knows she has to be the one to find it first, because it might be the key to ending her curse for good.
This story was crazy! I suspect your enjoyment will probably hinge on whether or not you end up liking the main character, Rumer, because she’s a tough character to love. Luckily, I found her to be a refreshing change of pace, and despite the moments when I couldn’t stand the things she did, or the decisions she made, Rumer really grew on me, and by the end of the story I wanted her to find peace and happiness. The story is told in first person present tense, so it had an immediacy about it that fit the pacing. Rumer’s life is in danger from the first page to the last and that pace rarely slows down, and Winning's tight writing and punchy dialog were key in making the pacing nearly flawless.
I also loved the characters who surround Rumer, both good and bad. Rumer never lets people get too close to her because she knows they’ll eventually end up dead, but there are a handful of characters that are special to her, and I loved those moments when things slow down a bit and we get to know the side of Rumer that she keeps hidden. There’s Troll, a boy from her past who sees past her anger; her foster parents Frances and George, who give her a safe place to land for the first time in her life; and Bolt, a man who Rumer saved from a burning building. None of the characters in this story lead easy lives, but Winning gives all of them glimpses of happiness at times, although that happiness is always fleeting.
Winning’s story jumps around from past to present, but he gives the reader a road map by labeling his chapters with titles like “Two Years Before the Hammer” or “One Day Before the Hammer”—obviously centering all of Rumer’s most poignant life moments around what happens with the hammer (and you’ll have to read the story to find out what that is!). I thought it was a brilliant structure that gives us intel about Rumer’s past and how she ended up the way she did by slowing revealing these emotion-fraught moments. Non-linear timelines are tough to get right, and Winning did a great job.
As far as negatives go, there were only a couple of small things that distracted me. Rumer’s interior dialogue does get a bit repetitive at times, especially when she’s trying to figure out what the Crook Spear is. There’s also a moment near the end of the book where she's standing outside smoking a cigarette, and I swear that was the only time in the story that she smokes. Although maybe I just missed the other moments, but it did seem a little jarring to me.
The action at the end gets even more intense as Rumer collides with her past and present in a huge showdown. The story didn’t go where I expected it to, and I certainly didn’t know how things would turn out for Rumer until the last page. This was a thrill ride from start to finish and I look forward to reading more from this talented writer.
Big thanks to the author for supplying a review copy.This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
May 8, 2018
This dark humorous story has you rooting for a very well rounded, down on their luck in life, and CURSED character.
We follow Rumor through past and present chapters of who she is, why now and what lead her through life to be who she is. Rumor through some not so pleasant past experiences grows up to be a London detective who gets kidnapped by the mob who are looking for an ancient relic that grants immortality.
With a little bit of Horror,Fantasy, and Badassery whats not to enjoy about this read!
We follow Rumor through past and present chapters of who she is, why now and what lead her through life to be who she is. Rumor through some not so pleasant past experiences grows up to be a London detective who gets kidnapped by the mob who are looking for an ancient relic that grants immortality.
With a little bit of Horror,Fantasy, and Badassery whats not to enjoy about this read!
June 15, 2019
Vicious Rumer is an upcoming crime horror book from author and film journalist Joshua Winning.
The book is written from the point of view of Rumer Cross, a nineteen year old girl living in London. Rumer begins the book working for a detective agency, where she is employed to follow people around, catching evidence of her targets cheating on their wives, screwing over their employers, or generally just being jerks.
Rumer had bounced around between foster homes and the streets growing up, which has made her into hard and cynical young woman. Along with this, she has also had to deal with the legacy of her long dead mother, a mob assassin and criminal known as the ‘Witch Assassin’, responsible for some of the most bloodthirsty crimes the country has ever seen.
When Rumer is kidnapped by a vicious crime lord who believes that she’s hiding a bizarre occult relic Rumer’s simple life is thrown into turmoil. On the run and hunted by criminals and killers Rumer must try to find out who is after her, what it is they’re after, and how to stop them. Along the way Rumer must also confront the possibility that she might be cursed; a horrific legacy left behind by her occult obsessed mother that kills anyone who becomes close to her.
Vicious Rumer manages to combine real world elements of crime thriller and the occult in interesting ways to create a story that feels like it belongs in the real world, yet also skirts into the mystical with little difficulty. Two of the main story threads of the book concern the mysterious artifact that the bad guys are after, and Rumer’s apparent curse, both of which are recurring narratives throughout the book.
Despite there being such a heavy focus on the occult and magic, Killing Rumer never makes anything overt. There are no people practicing black magic, there isn’t anyone throwing spells at each other or anything like that, but come the end of the book you’re left wondering if magic and the occult actually do exist in this universe.
It’s a clever and compelling tightrope that the author treads, managing to make numerous situations that support the idea that the supernatural does exist, whilst also offering very real world explanations that makes the whole thing seem ridiculous. Even the very last moments of the book manages to throw in one last complication that makes you question the events that you’ve just read, and what might actually be real.
Rumer is an interesting and very human character, one that has her fair share of flaws and makes mistakes throughout the story. Whilst at first she comes across as someone a little too cold as the story progresses and you learn more about her and her past it becomes easy to understand how she ended up being the person she is.
She feels vulnerable beneath her hard exterior, a young woman desperate to find her place in the world and to be able to be happy, yet struggling against the fears and insecurities of her troubled past. This makes her a very real and relatable character, one that you’ll find yourself very invested in.
Vicious Rumer is an engaging mystery story that incorporates several other genres in interesting ways, creating a unique experience. A must read.
The book is written from the point of view of Rumer Cross, a nineteen year old girl living in London. Rumer begins the book working for a detective agency, where she is employed to follow people around, catching evidence of her targets cheating on their wives, screwing over their employers, or generally just being jerks.
Rumer had bounced around between foster homes and the streets growing up, which has made her into hard and cynical young woman. Along with this, she has also had to deal with the legacy of her long dead mother, a mob assassin and criminal known as the ‘Witch Assassin’, responsible for some of the most bloodthirsty crimes the country has ever seen.
When Rumer is kidnapped by a vicious crime lord who believes that she’s hiding a bizarre occult relic Rumer’s simple life is thrown into turmoil. On the run and hunted by criminals and killers Rumer must try to find out who is after her, what it is they’re after, and how to stop them. Along the way Rumer must also confront the possibility that she might be cursed; a horrific legacy left behind by her occult obsessed mother that kills anyone who becomes close to her.
Vicious Rumer manages to combine real world elements of crime thriller and the occult in interesting ways to create a story that feels like it belongs in the real world, yet also skirts into the mystical with little difficulty. Two of the main story threads of the book concern the mysterious artifact that the bad guys are after, and Rumer’s apparent curse, both of which are recurring narratives throughout the book.
Despite there being such a heavy focus on the occult and magic, Killing Rumer never makes anything overt. There are no people practicing black magic, there isn’t anyone throwing spells at each other or anything like that, but come the end of the book you’re left wondering if magic and the occult actually do exist in this universe.
It’s a clever and compelling tightrope that the author treads, managing to make numerous situations that support the idea that the supernatural does exist, whilst also offering very real world explanations that makes the whole thing seem ridiculous. Even the very last moments of the book manages to throw in one last complication that makes you question the events that you’ve just read, and what might actually be real.
Rumer is an interesting and very human character, one that has her fair share of flaws and makes mistakes throughout the story. Whilst at first she comes across as someone a little too cold as the story progresses and you learn more about her and her past it becomes easy to understand how she ended up being the person she is.
She feels vulnerable beneath her hard exterior, a young woman desperate to find her place in the world and to be able to be happy, yet struggling against the fears and insecurities of her troubled past. This makes her a very real and relatable character, one that you’ll find yourself very invested in.
Vicious Rumer is an engaging mystery story that incorporates several other genres in interesting ways, creating a unique experience. A must read.
April 20, 2018
What a ride this book is; from the opening chapter to the last you are grabbed by your throat and dragged on an exhilarating (and often brutal) journey. Cursed at birth and abandoned by her ruthless mother who was known as the “Witch Assassin”, you could say that Rumer has had an unsettling start to life. Bouncing between foster homes and misunderstood by those around her she becomes a recluse, a shadow. Her skills at being unseen soon gets her employment within a London detective agency. Things take a turn for the strange when Rumer is kidnapped by a mobster who is convinced she holds the secret to the location of an ancient relic that grants immortality. Her life depends on finding The Crook Spear and evading the ghosts of her past that are nipping at her heels.
I loved Rumer – I’d definitely wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of her though. She is ruthless and ready to do anything to get the truth but she also has a wicked sense of humour so you can’t but help warm to her. After the upheaval of her early years you can forgive her brittleness and reluctance to form friendships, after all, those she grows close to have an uncanny habit of dying violently!
A kick ass thriller with elements of horror and humour; this is not a book for the faint hearted due to the gore factor. Vicious Rumer would make an awesome film and the soundtrack was rattling around my mind throughout reading. Also, just to add that the the book’s cover is pop art perfection.
Highly recommend!
I loved Rumer – I’d definitely wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of her though. She is ruthless and ready to do anything to get the truth but she also has a wicked sense of humour so you can’t but help warm to her. After the upheaval of her early years you can forgive her brittleness and reluctance to form friendships, after all, those she grows close to have an uncanny habit of dying violently!
A kick ass thriller with elements of horror and humour; this is not a book for the faint hearted due to the gore factor. Vicious Rumer would make an awesome film and the soundtrack was rattling around my mind throughout reading. Also, just to add that the the book’s cover is pop art perfection.
Highly recommend!
May 5, 2018
Rumer is a damaged 19 year old trying to survive in a lonely and dangerous world.
The book begins with a chilling start, a hammer attack. Rumer is screaming and holding a hammer. How did she find herself in this situation?
There is no lapse in the energy and tension throughout. The book jumps back and forward in time which works really well, thanks to the skill of the author. We learn the reasons why Rumer is so damaged and so alone.
I hope that there will be a sequel to this book, Rumer is a brilliant character and I would love to hear more from her.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The book begins with a chilling start, a hammer attack. Rumer is screaming and holding a hammer. How did she find herself in this situation?
There is no lapse in the energy and tension throughout. The book jumps back and forward in time which works really well, thanks to the skill of the author. We learn the reasons why Rumer is so damaged and so alone.
I hope that there will be a sequel to this book, Rumer is a brilliant character and I would love to hear more from her.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 15, 2018
Rummer Cross, was born dead, ok that sounds strange, but so is Rummer feisty. dark, and the type of girl you'd want on your side, in any kind ,and everywhere Rummer goes, trouble follows..
A dark, horror/ fantasy, Vicious Rummer, is not your run of the middle fantasy/ horror story, it's so much more, it's about family, and finding yourself, oh yes and a curse..
Humour,(dark) Black Magic, friendship, it's all here, along with a little bloodshed...Loved it.. Thanks Pigeonhole x
A dark, horror/ fantasy, Vicious Rummer, is not your run of the middle fantasy/ horror story, it's so much more, it's about family, and finding yourself, oh yes and a curse..
Humour,(dark) Black Magic, friendship, it's all here, along with a little bloodshed...Loved it.. Thanks Pigeonhole x
October 27, 2018
This is the first novel I've read by Joshua, and I can see straight away that I like the way he writes Rumer's character. There's something jagged and edgy about Rumer - and the writing style - that comes across as nitty and gritty and just so-very-readable. The story is about Rumer Cross, a young adult from London. The opening scene is quite striking (I won't give away any spoilers only that it involves a hammer) and from the get-go, I'm reeled into her story, her choices, values and how she got in the place she's in now.
All I know from getting deeper into her story is that she's cursed, but she's strong. She was abandonded by her mother when she was born and it's haunted her ever since. Her mother's profession has haunted her to, from her title as The Witch Assassin. She had a rocky upbringing, bouncing from foster homes all her life. I got the impression that she was a lost soul, but wanted to find a place she can belong with people she can love, but anyone who's ever gotten close has ended up dead. There's a darkness that surrounds the plot of Vicious Rumer, as we learn that someone is hunting Rumer for a lost item they believe she has, that ties into her history and mother's past. As she fights to come to terms with her life and the people targeting her, it's make or break for her and everything she knows.
Overall, Vicious Rumer is unlike any book I've read before. Whilst sometimes I did get lost in the plot, there wasn't a moment where I wasn't completely fascinated with everything that arose, the bewitching history of Rumer's past and the way the writing never failed to keep me on the edge of my seat with anticipation. This was one of the best YA-meets-Thriller I've read in a long time (maybe even ever) and I'd recommend it extremely highly. If your reading jam is dark, edgy YA's with a strong female heroine, Joshua Winning has you covered with this incredible read! Amazing four stars.
All I know from getting deeper into her story is that she's cursed, but she's strong. She was abandonded by her mother when she was born and it's haunted her ever since. Her mother's profession has haunted her to, from her title as The Witch Assassin. She had a rocky upbringing, bouncing from foster homes all her life. I got the impression that she was a lost soul, but wanted to find a place she can belong with people she can love, but anyone who's ever gotten close has ended up dead. There's a darkness that surrounds the plot of Vicious Rumer, as we learn that someone is hunting Rumer for a lost item they believe she has, that ties into her history and mother's past. As she fights to come to terms with her life and the people targeting her, it's make or break for her and everything she knows.
Overall, Vicious Rumer is unlike any book I've read before. Whilst sometimes I did get lost in the plot, there wasn't a moment where I wasn't completely fascinated with everything that arose, the bewitching history of Rumer's past and the way the writing never failed to keep me on the edge of my seat with anticipation. This was one of the best YA-meets-Thriller I've read in a long time (maybe even ever) and I'd recommend it extremely highly. If your reading jam is dark, edgy YA's with a strong female heroine, Joshua Winning has you covered with this incredible read! Amazing four stars.
February 20, 2020
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Never a dull moment. A damaged lead you can root for.
Cons: The short-sentence style probably fits the book, but may not work for everyone. The main villain is a bit over-the-top.
WARNING! Violence and gore.
Will appeal to: Readers who like action and unhinged but resourceful heroines.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I was offered a review copy by the author. This didn't influence my review.
ON THE EDGE
I don't read a lot of modern thrillers - old-time mysteries are more my thing (think Agatha Christie and her tribe). But this story appealed to me because 1) it promised a damaged but kickass heroine, and 2) there might, or might there? be a supernatural angle to it. Now, I believe that my rating reflects more my personal genre tastes than the actual quality of this work, plus some things went definitely in a different direction than I expected (I can't be more specific here because SPOILERS). Then again, I don't regret reading this one, and to be honest, I found myself on the edge of my seat a few times following Rumer's (mis)adventures, though of course she had to make it somehow - at least till the end of the book 😉. But then again, at what cost? The story doesn't spare her danger and pain, and we get to see how resourceful she is in spite of that, but we have no idea how much more damaged, or alone, she may become in the end... [...]
Whole review here.
Pros: Never a dull moment. A damaged lead you can root for.
Cons: The short-sentence style probably fits the book, but may not work for everyone. The main villain is a bit over-the-top.
WARNING! Violence and gore.
Will appeal to: Readers who like action and unhinged but resourceful heroines.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I was offered a review copy by the author. This didn't influence my review.
ON THE EDGE
I don't read a lot of modern thrillers - old-time mysteries are more my thing (think Agatha Christie and her tribe). But this story appealed to me because 1) it promised a damaged but kickass heroine, and 2) there might, or might there? be a supernatural angle to it. Now, I believe that my rating reflects more my personal genre tastes than the actual quality of this work, plus some things went definitely in a different direction than I expected (I can't be more specific here because SPOILERS). Then again, I don't regret reading this one, and to be honest, I found myself on the edge of my seat a few times following Rumer's (mis)adventures, though of course she had to make it somehow - at least till the end of the book 😉. But then again, at what cost? The story doesn't spare her danger and pain, and we get to see how resourceful she is in spite of that, but we have no idea how much more damaged, or alone, she may become in the end... [...]
Whole review here.
October 7, 2018
I have heard so much about this book and was super excited to be given the chance to review it! “Vicious Rumer is by Author Joshua Winning.
“Rumer Cross is cursed. Scraping by working for a dingy London detective agency, she lives in the shadow of her mother, a violent criminal dubbed the ‘Witch Assassin’ whose bloodthirsty rampage terrorized London for over a decade.
Raised by foster families who never understood her and terrified she could one day turn into her mother, Rumer has become detached and self-reliant. But when she’s targeted by a vicious mobster who believes she’s hiding an occult relic, she’s drawn into the very world she’s been fighting to avoid.
Hunted by assassins and haunted by her mother’s dark legacy, Rumer must also confront a terrible truth: that she’s cursed, because no matter what she does, everybody she’s ever grown close to has died screaming.”
This book was so much more than what Ii was expecting. The characters were well-developed, the story moved at a wonderful pace. There was violent, there was intense. There was Rumer! She was very likeable, and I also found myself feeling sorry for her. I don’t want to give too much away so I won’t go into depth, but I will say that you need to check this book out ASAP!
**I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
“Rumer Cross is cursed. Scraping by working for a dingy London detective agency, she lives in the shadow of her mother, a violent criminal dubbed the ‘Witch Assassin’ whose bloodthirsty rampage terrorized London for over a decade.
Raised by foster families who never understood her and terrified she could one day turn into her mother, Rumer has become detached and self-reliant. But when she’s targeted by a vicious mobster who believes she’s hiding an occult relic, she’s drawn into the very world she’s been fighting to avoid.
Hunted by assassins and haunted by her mother’s dark legacy, Rumer must also confront a terrible truth: that she’s cursed, because no matter what she does, everybody she’s ever grown close to has died screaming.”
This book was so much more than what Ii was expecting. The characters were well-developed, the story moved at a wonderful pace. There was violent, there was intense. There was Rumer! She was very likeable, and I also found myself feeling sorry for her. I don’t want to give too much away so I won’t go into depth, but I will say that you need to check this book out ASAP!
**I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
June 5, 2018
A brutal Neo Noir thriller.
When I began reading this book I could tell from the very beginning that this felt very noir. The way the heroine (Rumer) spoke was a little different and yet I loved it. She is a great character and I honestly hope this becomes a series.
This book is set in London and from page 1 it takes off and only slows down in my opinion when it does flash backs. The flash backs themselves give great character backstory but slowed down the pace of the story just a little bit. Each character in this novel is very well written, complex and uniquely their own. It is hard to talk about this book without giving away any spoilers, so the simple plot of this story is Rumer works for a detective agency shadowing people and she’s really good at her job until one day she is kidnapped by a Crime Boss who believes she’s in possession of an item. What follows is a story with twists that kept me turning the page.
The writing in this novel is amazing. The stunning descriptions left me with visuals that this novel should instantly become a movie. The characters are each fascinating in their own way that make you care about them and also want to see them in future novels.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves mysteries, crime thrillers, and tough heroines.
When I began reading this book I could tell from the very beginning that this felt very noir. The way the heroine (Rumer) spoke was a little different and yet I loved it. She is a great character and I honestly hope this becomes a series.
This book is set in London and from page 1 it takes off and only slows down in my opinion when it does flash backs. The flash backs themselves give great character backstory but slowed down the pace of the story just a little bit. Each character in this novel is very well written, complex and uniquely their own. It is hard to talk about this book without giving away any spoilers, so the simple plot of this story is Rumer works for a detective agency shadowing people and she’s really good at her job until one day she is kidnapped by a Crime Boss who believes she’s in possession of an item. What follows is a story with twists that kept me turning the page.
The writing in this novel is amazing. The stunning descriptions left me with visuals that this novel should instantly become a movie. The characters are each fascinating in their own way that make you care about them and also want to see them in future novels.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves mysteries, crime thrillers, and tough heroines.
June 3, 2018
You know when you think you’re cursed - well meet Rumer who quite possibly could be.
I read this a while ago and you really do feel the sense of danger (and smells) Rumer gets in when Joshua Winning takes you on a whirlwind, blood riddled journey through London in this consuming crime thriller.
You see Rumer is, well like you. She has a job but not for the faint hearted. She’s a private detective see (see what I did there) but whereas we all have a past, Rumer’s is steeped in the occult and the criminal underworld.
When Rumer’s own past and the mysterious surroundings about her mother come back to haunt her it really gets quite vicious for Rumer and it ain’t easy to go through with what happens to her.
Buy this if you’re looking for something different and help support a new and exciting author who presents twisted tales with added, erm twists
I read this a while ago and you really do feel the sense of danger (and smells) Rumer gets in when Joshua Winning takes you on a whirlwind, blood riddled journey through London in this consuming crime thriller.
You see Rumer is, well like you. She has a job but not for the faint hearted. She’s a private detective see (see what I did there) but whereas we all have a past, Rumer’s is steeped in the occult and the criminal underworld.
When Rumer’s own past and the mysterious surroundings about her mother come back to haunt her it really gets quite vicious for Rumer and it ain’t easy to go through with what happens to her.
Buy this if you’re looking for something different and help support a new and exciting author who presents twisted tales with added, erm twists
May 13, 2018
Vicious Rumer was a really fun and exciting read! With almost nonstop action from the very first page its a really quick read and I got really invested in the story really fast. Winning does a great job of setting the scene and fleshing out the characters. The descriptions are very old school noir and while they occasionally miss their mark, the style was overall enjoyable. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a fast paced, action packed mystery or to someone who enjoys a dash of the occult in their fiction.
August 5, 2018
Really enjoyed this, I'm a sucker for noir and this kept the noir feel all the way through. Rumour is a deeply flawed character but well written, so even when I was shouting at her for making bad decisions I completely understood why she made them.
I would definitely read a prequel - I would like to see more of Rumour's shadowing ability, which was mentioned but not shown much in this story. One of the strongest parts for me was Rumour infiltrating the mansion towards the end, showing off some of her skills.
I would definitely read a prequel - I would like to see more of Rumour's shadowing ability, which was mentioned but not shown much in this story. One of the strongest parts for me was Rumour infiltrating the mansion towards the end, showing off some of her skills.
July 24, 2018
Vicious Rumer by Joshua Winning is a roller coaster of tough girl loner setting right the wrongs wreaked on society by criminals, top of her list being her mother. If you like chases, fighting, gory scenes and give as good as you get, this book will appeal to you.
April 25, 2018
A book that gets its claws in and drags you with it to the end! A bit depressing overall for my taste, but very compelling.
May 24, 2018
A high paced novel whose main character is dark and exciting, she's been driven to the edge by a cruel and brutal world. I really enjoyed it.
April 25, 2018
Review 4.5 rounded up to 5*
This is an intriguing crime thriller set in London, England. I loved it!
Rumer is a fascinating character. I found myself not only liking her, but also feeling sorry for her, though I also wanted to shake her at times too. She is nineteen years old, but seems more mature. This is due to her upbringing I think. She has grown up in foster care, knowing that her mother was a notorious assassin. Unfortunately, she believes herself to be cursed as everyone she comes to care for dies in the most terrible ways. Working for a private detective as a shadow (someone who follows, watches and listens to garner information), she is thrown into a life and death struggle when a mobster turns his attention in her direction seeking an occult relic last known to be in the possession of her mother, who died several years previously.
Although not YA like the author's previous works, this is an intriguing crime thriller that instantly caught my attention when I read the synopsis. Knowing that I would also be taken on an amazing journey was a bonus.
I started reading and didn't put the book down until I'd completed it. The story is told through Rumer's eyes and in first person. I found myself fascinated with Rumer and her life. I cannot imagine how knowing that you are the progeny of a criminal/assassin (even if deceased) would affect your life. Rumer emotionally distances herself from everyone in the hope that she will not 'kill' like her mother. She carries around a huge burden of guilt for things that she has no control over too. Understandable in some ways, annoying in others hence my desire to shake her at times.
There are several interesting characters introduced. Rumer's employer is Julian Hart and runs Hart Detective Agency, but he is only in a few scenes so didn't really get a feel for this character. Reverend Mara is the name of the mobster who is after Rumer and I found him to be a strange character. He is obsessed with locating an occult weapon called the Crook Spear. Then there is Bolt, an ex-policeman who befriends Rumer. I would have liked to have gotten to know him a lot more as there seems to be some chemistry between him and Rumer and would have liked for the author to have explored this a bit more. There are also a few other characters introduced, like George for instance and someone thought to be long dead.
Vicious Rumer is a pulse pounding read full of action, danger and violence. There are several twists and turns that surprised me and I found myself on an emotional roller coaster ride from beginning to end. I did find some scenes disturbing, particularly the one containing George and I shed a couple of tears for not only him, but Rumer too.
The occult weapon with the weird name is not what I thought it would be. However, so as not to spoil it, I will not say what kind of weapon it is. I will say that when it was disclosed I was completely thrown; I had a completely different weapon in mind. The end of the story sent chills up my spine. There could potentially be a sequel as it finishes ambiguously and ominously.
Joshua Winning has written an intriguing crime thriller with a kick-ass heroine. I love his fast paced writing style, and the story flowed beautifully. He is one of only a handful of male authors who I have added to my favourite authors list and I can't wait to see what he will come up with in the future.
Due to the nature of the story (danger, violence, bloodshed), I do not recommend this book to young readers or those of a nervous disposition. I do, however, highly recommend this book if you love crime thrillers with kick-ass heroines. - Lynn Worton
This is an intriguing crime thriller set in London, England. I loved it!
Rumer is a fascinating character. I found myself not only liking her, but also feeling sorry for her, though I also wanted to shake her at times too. She is nineteen years old, but seems more mature. This is due to her upbringing I think. She has grown up in foster care, knowing that her mother was a notorious assassin. Unfortunately, she believes herself to be cursed as everyone she comes to care for dies in the most terrible ways. Working for a private detective as a shadow (someone who follows, watches and listens to garner information), she is thrown into a life and death struggle when a mobster turns his attention in her direction seeking an occult relic last known to be in the possession of her mother, who died several years previously.
Although not YA like the author's previous works, this is an intriguing crime thriller that instantly caught my attention when I read the synopsis. Knowing that I would also be taken on an amazing journey was a bonus.
I started reading and didn't put the book down until I'd completed it. The story is told through Rumer's eyes and in first person. I found myself fascinated with Rumer and her life. I cannot imagine how knowing that you are the progeny of a criminal/assassin (even if deceased) would affect your life. Rumer emotionally distances herself from everyone in the hope that she will not 'kill' like her mother. She carries around a huge burden of guilt for things that she has no control over too. Understandable in some ways, annoying in others hence my desire to shake her at times.
There are several interesting characters introduced. Rumer's employer is Julian Hart and runs Hart Detective Agency, but he is only in a few scenes so didn't really get a feel for this character. Reverend Mara is the name of the mobster who is after Rumer and I found him to be a strange character. He is obsessed with locating an occult weapon called the Crook Spear. Then there is Bolt, an ex-policeman who befriends Rumer. I would have liked to have gotten to know him a lot more as there seems to be some chemistry between him and Rumer and would have liked for the author to have explored this a bit more. There are also a few other characters introduced, like George for instance and someone thought to be long dead.
Vicious Rumer is a pulse pounding read full of action, danger and violence. There are several twists and turns that surprised me and I found myself on an emotional roller coaster ride from beginning to end. I did find some scenes disturbing, particularly the one containing George and I shed a couple of tears for not only him, but Rumer too.
The occult weapon with the weird name is not what I thought it would be. However, so as not to spoil it, I will not say what kind of weapon it is. I will say that when it was disclosed I was completely thrown; I had a completely different weapon in mind. The end of the story sent chills up my spine. There could potentially be a sequel as it finishes ambiguously and ominously.
Joshua Winning has written an intriguing crime thriller with a kick-ass heroine. I love his fast paced writing style, and the story flowed beautifully. He is one of only a handful of male authors who I have added to my favourite authors list and I can't wait to see what he will come up with in the future.
Due to the nature of the story (danger, violence, bloodshed), I do not recommend this book to young readers or those of a nervous disposition. I do, however, highly recommend this book if you love crime thrillers with kick-ass heroines. - Lynn Worton
April 10, 2018
At first glance, Rumer Cross comes across as a brittle, acerbic type. She has had a tough upbringing, and this has left all manner of scars. As far as the rest of the world is concerned Rumer Cross is not a person to be messed with and she is quite happy with that arrangement. Her exterior may be hard as nails, but it becomes increasingly obvious that inside, Rumer is fundamentally broken. She feels a personal responsibility for all the deaths she witnessed in her short life. Is she truly cursed or is she just terribly unlucky?
As if being plagued by death wasn’t bad enough, Rumer also has family issues. Her mother, Celene, was known as the “Witch Assassin”. Rumer is more than keen to avoid anything to do with mommy dearest, but the killer’s legacy will not remain confined to history. All Rumer really wants is to be normal but what with curses and semi-mystical killers in her life that is never going to happen. What can you do when your parent was a legendary hit-woman with a brutal reputation?
The other characters are all just as well realised.
There is Bolt, an acquaintance of sorts. Calling him a friend would be way too risky for either of them. Let’s just say, he is the only constant in Rumer’s life. Much as she may wish to shun all human contact, there is something deep within her that craves even the smallest amount of compassion. Bolt might just be the only person that can provide anything close to that.
Every good hero deserves a good villain, and Rumer is no exception. Reverend Mara is a gang boss who has become convinced Rumer is the solution to all of his problems. There is a delightfully unhinged quality to the Revered. I do love a protagonist who appears cool, calm and collected but you can tell that just under the smooth exterior there is a maniac who could surface at any given moment.
It’s probably worth mentioning at this point that Vicious Rumer does contain some pretty violent and graphic moments. Put it this way, the first page in the novel starts with a torture scene involving a hammer. Those of a delicate constitution may wish to look away. Personally, I loved it. Winning isn’t messing around, this is purposefully adult fiction and it shows.
Disused industrial estates, crumbling tower blocks and rundown cemeteries give Winning’s vision of London a bleak, almost lonely tone. Crime and violence are rife, and the various locations heighten that sometimes inhospitable feeling. Rumer lives in a world where life and death are the flip side of the same grubby coin. The author is shining a light on London’s dark underbelly. We are getting a glimpse behind the curtain of civility to view a city in its rawest, most undiluted form.
Much as I’ve enjoyed Joshua Winning’s other novels, for me Vicious Rumer is a move to the next level. It feels like the author has really hit his stride and is delivering on the promise he displayed in his earlier work. Vicious Rumer is a rare treat. Dark, demented and dangerous to know, I can guarantee you’ll love Rumer Cross – just pray that you never ever meet her. I love it when an author discovers a character and it makes their writing click. Joshua Winning has created someone that readers are really going to enjoy. I can only hope this isn’t the last we’ve seen of Miss Cross.
As if being plagued by death wasn’t bad enough, Rumer also has family issues. Her mother, Celene, was known as the “Witch Assassin”. Rumer is more than keen to avoid anything to do with mommy dearest, but the killer’s legacy will not remain confined to history. All Rumer really wants is to be normal but what with curses and semi-mystical killers in her life that is never going to happen. What can you do when your parent was a legendary hit-woman with a brutal reputation?
The other characters are all just as well realised.
There is Bolt, an acquaintance of sorts. Calling him a friend would be way too risky for either of them. Let’s just say, he is the only constant in Rumer’s life. Much as she may wish to shun all human contact, there is something deep within her that craves even the smallest amount of compassion. Bolt might just be the only person that can provide anything close to that.
Every good hero deserves a good villain, and Rumer is no exception. Reverend Mara is a gang boss who has become convinced Rumer is the solution to all of his problems. There is a delightfully unhinged quality to the Revered. I do love a protagonist who appears cool, calm and collected but you can tell that just under the smooth exterior there is a maniac who could surface at any given moment.
It’s probably worth mentioning at this point that Vicious Rumer does contain some pretty violent and graphic moments. Put it this way, the first page in the novel starts with a torture scene involving a hammer. Those of a delicate constitution may wish to look away. Personally, I loved it. Winning isn’t messing around, this is purposefully adult fiction and it shows.
Disused industrial estates, crumbling tower blocks and rundown cemeteries give Winning’s vision of London a bleak, almost lonely tone. Crime and violence are rife, and the various locations heighten that sometimes inhospitable feeling. Rumer lives in a world where life and death are the flip side of the same grubby coin. The author is shining a light on London’s dark underbelly. We are getting a glimpse behind the curtain of civility to view a city in its rawest, most undiluted form.
Much as I’ve enjoyed Joshua Winning’s other novels, for me Vicious Rumer is a move to the next level. It feels like the author has really hit his stride and is delivering on the promise he displayed in his earlier work. Vicious Rumer is a rare treat. Dark, demented and dangerous to know, I can guarantee you’ll love Rumer Cross – just pray that you never ever meet her. I love it when an author discovers a character and it makes their writing click. Joshua Winning has created someone that readers are really going to enjoy. I can only hope this isn’t the last we’ve seen of Miss Cross.
April 7, 2018
I've just finished reading Vicious Rumer by Joshua Winning. So how was it? Worth buying? I should coco. I suppose with the caveat that it's a pretty action-packed (the faint-hearted should read that as 'violent') and slightly creepy/dark psychological thriller. And I couldn't quite work out if it's intended to be YA or just has a teenage girl as the main character. Given that I normally hate YA, either the answer is no or it manages to be all things to all people!
A dark atmosphere overhangs Vicious Rumer. Often it's actually set in the dark, but there's more to it than that. The structure and writing make it feel eerily supernatural throughout, despite none of the action actually doing anything impossible. Which was fantastically unsettling.
It is very tightly written so the pace is high throughout, and yet there is still a constant air of mystery. The strange character of Celene Cross, Rumer’s mother, is consistently unclear. Deliberately so ... I think. Is she real, or a ghost? For me, as the reader, I was left unsure. In a good, mysterious, supernatural kind of way. I found this aspect of the writing brilliant - I could never point my finger and say well look that shows she's alive, or the opposite. Having grown up with her mother's early death overhanging Rumer, our heroine's whole persona is defined as being her mother's daughter, which creates significant conflict within her. Unsurprising, as Celene was one of London’s most notorious assassins, and her body was found in the Thames when Rumer was very young. What exactly happened has been a focus for the girl during her childhood to the extent that she has a shrine of news articles devoted to trying to work out Celene's death, and life. And the feeling that her mother is always in the shadows of her life is genuinely gripping. Ghost or not, the ambiguity works well. And Winning doesn’t just cop out with an ‘it was all a dream ending’, but does leave things ripe for a follow up story....
The story definitely is quite bloody - strangely, two books I’ve read recently have engaged in hammer violence (I literally mean violence with a hammer, that's not some Hammer House of Horror reference). And in a couple of places this horror aspect was a bit far-fetched. Well, actually, maybe not - it is horror after all. But the action stunts did strike me as a bit much. Given the context of the story though, it was only a little bit much. Rather like the jet plane stunt Bruce Willis manages in Die Hard 4 where he jumps off a crashing jet's tail fin onto a broken motorway ramp and slides down it escaping the plane's explosion: ludicrous but you've gotta love it in the context of the movie. There's nothing quite that mad in this novel, but given that Rumer is a teenage girl eking out a life in London's invisible underbelly, and has previously only really engaged in following people, the guns and blood and fights did seem a bit of a sudden jump in her life. But that's the point I guess - suspend disbelief coz that's the reason the story tells of this time in her life; there's no Die Hard 0 - 'McClane walks the beat'.
A dark atmosphere overhangs Vicious Rumer. Often it's actually set in the dark, but there's more to it than that. The structure and writing make it feel eerily supernatural throughout, despite none of the action actually doing anything impossible. Which was fantastically unsettling.
It is very tightly written so the pace is high throughout, and yet there is still a constant air of mystery. The strange character of Celene Cross, Rumer’s mother, is consistently unclear. Deliberately so ... I think. Is she real, or a ghost? For me, as the reader, I was left unsure. In a good, mysterious, supernatural kind of way. I found this aspect of the writing brilliant - I could never point my finger and say well look that shows she's alive, or the opposite. Having grown up with her mother's early death overhanging Rumer, our heroine's whole persona is defined as being her mother's daughter, which creates significant conflict within her. Unsurprising, as Celene was one of London’s most notorious assassins, and her body was found in the Thames when Rumer was very young. What exactly happened has been a focus for the girl during her childhood to the extent that she has a shrine of news articles devoted to trying to work out Celene's death, and life. And the feeling that her mother is always in the shadows of her life is genuinely gripping. Ghost or not, the ambiguity works well. And Winning doesn’t just cop out with an ‘it was all a dream ending’, but does leave things ripe for a follow up story....
The story definitely is quite bloody - strangely, two books I’ve read recently have engaged in hammer violence (I literally mean violence with a hammer, that's not some Hammer House of Horror reference). And in a couple of places this horror aspect was a bit far-fetched. Well, actually, maybe not - it is horror after all. But the action stunts did strike me as a bit much. Given the context of the story though, it was only a little bit much. Rather like the jet plane stunt Bruce Willis manages in Die Hard 4 where he jumps off a crashing jet's tail fin onto a broken motorway ramp and slides down it escaping the plane's explosion: ludicrous but you've gotta love it in the context of the movie. There's nothing quite that mad in this novel, but given that Rumer is a teenage girl eking out a life in London's invisible underbelly, and has previously only really engaged in following people, the guns and blood and fights did seem a bit of a sudden jump in her life. But that's the point I guess - suspend disbelief coz that's the reason the story tells of this time in her life; there's no Die Hard 0 - 'McClane walks the beat'.
April 8, 2018
I read an early copy of Vicious Rumer when Josh was starting up his Unbound campaign for the book. I was familiar with Josh’s other work, mainly the first two books in his YA series The Sentinel Trilogy. I really liked those, so I was excited to read his latest. And while I wasn’t disappointed, I do have to say that I was surprised, because Vicious Rumer is oh so very different from
Sentinel
and
Ruins
. It’s far darker and more violent and while its protagonist is still in her teens it is a far more mature book in its concepts.
The main draw of the book and the main reason I’d recommend it to people is the titular protagonist Rumer. She is fascinating and complex, besides being a complete badass. To start with that last aspect: Rumer is not afraid to use violence to save herself and is scarily good at it too. She ascribes this to her parentage, as her mum was the notorious Celene Cross a.k.a. the Witch Assassin. We see Rumer doing things and making decisions that we would usually ascribe to really bad and awful people, yet Josh manages to keep her sympathetic and even relatable.
Because Rumer is damaged. An orphan, she’s been brought up in various foster homes, which often were as awful as foster homes often are in books. And the few times she has opened her heart to others, let them and maybe even loved them, she just as quickly lost them, either through accident or illness. This has led to Rumer believing that she is cursed and that all who get close to her will die. As a result, when we meet her, she is a closed-off young woman with harsh edges and little trust in humanity. She tries to come off as tough-as-nails and uncaring, yet we also see that she longs for connection and to be seen for who she could be.
From the small cave-like room where she hides out and where she has created a memorial wall to her mum, papered with articles about her mum and how she died, to her reaching out to her former foster father and reconnecting with her former friend Bolt, these are all signs of Rumer wanting to understand who and what she is. Because as it turns out, there might be something supernatural about Rumer too.
The larger plot is action-packed and leads Rumer to not only discover more about her background, but also to square off against an evil kingpin. I adored the Reverend Mara as a villain, he was both awful and awesome at the same time. Once Rumer links back up with Bolt, the action triples and really moves at a breakneck speed.
Vicious Rumer is unpredictable, brutal and utterly compelling. It’s not for the squeamish or faint of heart, but otherwise you should definitely check it out if you like your thrillers with a dash of mystery and the supernatural.
This book was provided for review by the author.
The main draw of the book and the main reason I’d recommend it to people is the titular protagonist Rumer. She is fascinating and complex, besides being a complete badass. To start with that last aspect: Rumer is not afraid to use violence to save herself and is scarily good at it too. She ascribes this to her parentage, as her mum was the notorious Celene Cross a.k.a. the Witch Assassin. We see Rumer doing things and making decisions that we would usually ascribe to really bad and awful people, yet Josh manages to keep her sympathetic and even relatable.
Because Rumer is damaged. An orphan, she’s been brought up in various foster homes, which often were as awful as foster homes often are in books. And the few times she has opened her heart to others, let them and maybe even loved them, she just as quickly lost them, either through accident or illness. This has led to Rumer believing that she is cursed and that all who get close to her will die. As a result, when we meet her, she is a closed-off young woman with harsh edges and little trust in humanity. She tries to come off as tough-as-nails and uncaring, yet we also see that she longs for connection and to be seen for who she could be.
From the small cave-like room where she hides out and where she has created a memorial wall to her mum, papered with articles about her mum and how she died, to her reaching out to her former foster father and reconnecting with her former friend Bolt, these are all signs of Rumer wanting to understand who and what she is. Because as it turns out, there might be something supernatural about Rumer too.
The larger plot is action-packed and leads Rumer to not only discover more about her background, but also to square off against an evil kingpin. I adored the Reverend Mara as a villain, he was both awful and awesome at the same time. Once Rumer links back up with Bolt, the action triples and really moves at a breakneck speed.
Vicious Rumer is unpredictable, brutal and utterly compelling. It’s not for the squeamish or faint of heart, but otherwise you should definitely check it out if you like your thrillers with a dash of mystery and the supernatural.
This book was provided for review by the author.
May 1, 2018
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley and Unbound Digital.
This review was originally posted at www.cafemanon.nl
I’ve never read anything by Joshua Winning before picking up this eARC of Vicious Rumer. His writing style was completely new to me and I was blown away by it. This book is so pure, dark and with rough edges.. I didn’t even know I liked this sort of novels until now.
Vicious Rumer is the story about Rumer Cross, a 19 year old girl who lives in London. It all starts with Rumer standing in front of a guy with a hammer in her hands, screaming “Tell me what she wants!” … Well, if that doesn’t get your attention, I don’t think anything will. Only two pages in and I was already asking questions; Who is ‘she’? Why is Rumer holding a hammer? What is happening?
Rumer is a fierce protagonist. She is cursed at birth and abandoned by her mother. Her mother, Celene Cross, was known as “The Witch Assassin” and to say Rumer has had a rough childhood is an understatement. She has been placed in numerous foster homes, all but one she disliked. Her past and the curse haunt her. This has made Rumer ruthless and suspicious, but who can blame her. Everyone who has ever gotten close to her has died and she blames herself for it.
“Our past doesn’t define us, Rumer. It’s always a part of us, like a foreign accent or a wrinkle, but we can grow beyond it.”
The book is fast-paced and it had sort of a comic book vibe. The villains were a bit over the top and some of the settings were too. But this didn’t bother me and, actually, I liked it. The story has a young adult horror feel to it, but it also has a lot of humour, and it was exhilarating from start to finish.
This review was originally posted at www.cafemanon.nl
I’ve never read anything by Joshua Winning before picking up this eARC of Vicious Rumer. His writing style was completely new to me and I was blown away by it. This book is so pure, dark and with rough edges.. I didn’t even know I liked this sort of novels until now.
Vicious Rumer is the story about Rumer Cross, a 19 year old girl who lives in London. It all starts with Rumer standing in front of a guy with a hammer in her hands, screaming “Tell me what she wants!” … Well, if that doesn’t get your attention, I don’t think anything will. Only two pages in and I was already asking questions; Who is ‘she’? Why is Rumer holding a hammer? What is happening?
Rumer is a fierce protagonist. She is cursed at birth and abandoned by her mother. Her mother, Celene Cross, was known as “The Witch Assassin” and to say Rumer has had a rough childhood is an understatement. She has been placed in numerous foster homes, all but one she disliked. Her past and the curse haunt her. This has made Rumer ruthless and suspicious, but who can blame her. Everyone who has ever gotten close to her has died and she blames herself for it.
“Our past doesn’t define us, Rumer. It’s always a part of us, like a foreign accent or a wrinkle, but we can grow beyond it.”
The book is fast-paced and it had sort of a comic book vibe. The villains were a bit over the top and some of the settings were too. But this didn’t bother me and, actually, I liked it. The story has a young adult horror feel to it, but it also has a lot of humour, and it was exhilarating from start to finish.
January 20, 2019
Abusive foster homes, mean girls at school, the effort to live down a parent's criminality, some belief in the supernatural, multiple attempts on her life – Rumer Cross experiences it all, and more. In Vicious Rumer, by Joshua Winning, this nineteen-year-old girl believes she is cursed, and that she wasn't wanted to survive infancy.
Rumer spends her young life trying to live down her assassin mother's reputation, while the son of a man her mother, Celine, murdered is on the hunt for Rumer. Celine has been dead for years, but people still want Rumer, believing she has a powerful artifact.
Because everyone who gets close to Rumer dies or is killed, she believes she kills people. Many times, she says some version of “I kill people, but I don’t mean to.” This only reinforces her belief in the curse.
Vicious Rumer is a dark novel aimed at the young adult population. She is a true badass, so they will likely love her. With non-stop action, and constant threats on her life, I have to respect her, too. The book is also a sad commentary on the lives of abandoned children, and the fearful, loveless lives they often live, as well as on bullying, about which we adults have not done enough.
What Makes This Book Reviewer Grumpy?
As often happens these days, spell correction has probably changed some words that should have not been changed, such as “scrabble” when the context calls for “scramble”. Then there are the usual things:
Using “further” (denotes more) in place of “farther” (denotes distance);
misplacement of the word “only” within sentences;
missing commas;
split infinitives.
Rumer spends her young life trying to live down her assassin mother's reputation, while the son of a man her mother, Celine, murdered is on the hunt for Rumer. Celine has been dead for years, but people still want Rumer, believing she has a powerful artifact.
Because everyone who gets close to Rumer dies or is killed, she believes she kills people. Many times, she says some version of “I kill people, but I don’t mean to.” This only reinforces her belief in the curse.
Vicious Rumer is a dark novel aimed at the young adult population. She is a true badass, so they will likely love her. With non-stop action, and constant threats on her life, I have to respect her, too. The book is also a sad commentary on the lives of abandoned children, and the fearful, loveless lives they often live, as well as on bullying, about which we adults have not done enough.
What Makes This Book Reviewer Grumpy?
As often happens these days, spell correction has probably changed some words that should have not been changed, such as “scrabble” when the context calls for “scramble”. Then there are the usual things:
Using “further” (denotes more) in place of “farther” (denotes distance);
misplacement of the word “only” within sentences;
missing commas;
split infinitives.
April 17, 2018
I was approached by the author, Joshua Winning, as he was interested, whether I’d review his book on my blog. The summary with three sentences, that Joshua provided, grabbed my attention as it was promising a bad-ass heroine, so I agreed to post my honest review in exchange for a book. Joshua is an author and film journalist. Vicious Rumer is the third book written by the author. When asked, what inspired Joshua to write this book, he answers: “A lot of things inspired me to write the book, but in particular I’m a huge fan of The Craft and the way it looked at female relationships – and the idea that the main girls have been branded in some way ‘damaged’. With Vicious Rumer, I was interested in exploring the idea of inheriting damage from our family, and whether anybody can really change. Hopefully that came through in the book!” I think by now you might already be very giddy to hear more about the book.
The protagonist Rumer Cross is cursed. Everyone close to her dies. She was abandoned by her mother, a legendary criminal, right after she was born. Since then she had many foster families, but it never lasted long. Rumer leads a rather solitary life, because she is afraid that other people will suffer. She works for a detective, being a shadow. She manages it quite well – being invisible. Until one day she is kidnapped by a major criminal, who is convinced that she took something that belongs to him.
You can read my full review on my blog here: http://www.notesofabookdragon.com/201...
The protagonist Rumer Cross is cursed. Everyone close to her dies. She was abandoned by her mother, a legendary criminal, right after she was born. Since then she had many foster families, but it never lasted long. Rumer leads a rather solitary life, because she is afraid that other people will suffer. She works for a detective, being a shadow. She manages it quite well – being invisible. Until one day she is kidnapped by a major criminal, who is convinced that she took something that belongs to him.
You can read my full review on my blog here: http://www.notesofabookdragon.com/201...
April 15, 2018
I wasn’t sure what to expect when starting to read this book, and now I’m finished I can certainly say that the synopsis doesn’t even begin to describe the superb characters and plot, nor does it convey just how the pace carries you towards its conclusion. Rumer is a character reminiscent of Jessica Jones but even more badass, who believes she is cursed to have everyone close to her die. The guilt and loneliness she feels makes the reader want to be very protective of her, however Rumer is the last person to accept help from anyone, and would probably punch you in the throat if you tried to hug her! The relationship with her Mother is a complex thing, but not in the standard way of any family. My favourite description of her Mother’s voice was like “shards of glass sprinkled on ice cream”. The situations Rumer ends up in would be enough to tip anyone over the edge and yet she is a survivor. There’s such vivid description throughout this book that the reader is pulled in to experience everything that Rumer has to deal with, stench of rotting corpses and all! It’s clear that the author has a love of comics and graphic novels, there’s little nods to spot along the way. This makes Rumers story one of action and adventure, with a dark haunting edge to it that makes you think there are hidden powers at work in her story. I truly hope there will be a sequel one day and recommend this book as a great read to get lost in.
April 14, 2018
Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they are not after you. Rumer Cross is haunted by the curse of her gangster mother - the Witch Assassin - who abandoned her the moment she was born. Celeste Cross was in her day the most wanted woman in London until she turned up floating face down in the Thames. Rumer spent her childhood in foster families who couldn't cope with her until she ran away and began to live her life in her own self-sufficient and unpredictable way. Except that everyone around her seems to die and she thinks it's her fault. Living as a shadow, working for a small time detective agency, Rumer muddles along, always looking over her shoulder for those out to get her, until she is targeted by the strange and nasty Mara, who dumps her in a pit of bodies and supposedly leaves her to die. But Rumer's past has ensured she is made of sterner stuff and thus begins a roller-coaster ride of car chases, grisly violence, beatings and bloodshed. But don't be put off. The tongue-in-cheek writing will leave you part breathless and part squirming at the over-the-topness of it all. A highly entertaining read that will leave you wanting a sequel.
April 14, 2018
Vicious Rumer is a dark thriller that is thoroughly entertaining. Written in the voice of nineteen-year-old Rumer Cross, we see life through her eyes. And it's not easy. But her bad-ass attitude and self-deprecating humour help her survive the curse she was born with. Her mother, absent from birth, features prominently in her life, as she tries to become her own person, take control of her own future, and protect the people she feels close to.
Joshua Winning has created very relatable characters. They may be a little over the top, but the style of the books lends itself to that, with its slightly surreal quality. Rumer is a strong female character, and you never pity her, only cheer her on, as she battles her demons in a search for peace. It's action-packed writing, with some great descriptions, and is a gripping read. I was lucky to be given the opportunity to read the book with The Pigeonhole online book club, along with Joshua.
Joshua Winning has created very relatable characters. They may be a little over the top, but the style of the books lends itself to that, with its slightly surreal quality. Rumer is a strong female character, and you never pity her, only cheer her on, as she battles her demons in a search for peace. It's action-packed writing, with some great descriptions, and is a gripping read. I was lucky to be given the opportunity to read the book with The Pigeonhole online book club, along with Joshua.
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