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Arson #1
Arson
ARSON GABLE FEELS LIKE A FREAK. HE CAN CREATE FIRE. HE NEVER ASKED FOR IT. HE NEVER WANTED IT. BUT HE CAN'T SHUT IT OFF.
Before now, three things were true: he both loved and despised his grandmother; his life was going nowhere; and he was alone. But when a strange girl--who feels more normal behind a mask than inside her own skin--moves in next door, Arson hopes to find something he's never had: purpose. After years of living in fear, he will be forced to confront his haunting past and embrace the unknown as he walks the fine line between boy and monster. Edgy, realistic, and breathtaking, ARSON, the chilling chronicle of an isolated teenager with unimaginable ability, is set to ignite the hearts and minds of a new generation.
Before now, three things were true: he both loved and despised his grandmother; his life was going nowhere; and he was alone. But when a strange girl--who feels more normal behind a mask than inside her own skin--moves in next door, Arson hopes to find something he's never had: purpose. After years of living in fear, he will be forced to confront his haunting past and embrace the unknown as he walks the fine line between boy and monster. Edgy, realistic, and breathtaking, ARSON, the chilling chronicle of an isolated teenager with unimaginable ability, is set to ignite the hearts and minds of a new generation.
318 pages, Paperback
First published May 4, 2010
22 people are currently reading
947 people want to read
About the author
Estevan Vega
17 books126 followersI’m a writer. Well, technically an author, because they say that you magically become an author (i.e. true creative) if you’ve published something, and you’re a writer if you haven’t (you know those closet aspiring geniuses who just scribble stuff into notebooks and hide it from the world?). But I still call myself a writer. I’m one of 4 brothers. The middle son. I guess that’s supposed to make me uber weird and dysfunctional, but the jury’s still out on that one. I love mint chocolate chip ice cream. Like, really love it. Watching movies and going to rock shows are 2 of my favorite pastimes, and I am addicted to telling stories.
It all started because a 5th grade teacher decided to become a meddler in my life. That’s right, one of my least favorite authority figures at the time assigned us to write these 1 page short stories for class. We had the freedom to create whatever we wanted (within reason), but the assignments were do every day, and upon completing the school year, the plan was that we’d all bind them to compile a book. Well, at the time I hating reading, hated writing, and wanted to be a comic book artist. I figured I’d one day work for Marvel or Disney or something. And I was pretty good at sketching too. But I always found it hard to create my own characters, and I often just settled for copying somebody else’s masterpiece.
Something was missing.
Well, then a 2nd meddler enters the picture. My pops. He starts helping me with the stories. And by helping me, I really just mean I was there more as a consultant and a constant nuisance, ensuring proper grammar was employed. He was the real writer, in my mind. I just wished I could be him. My teacher started grading the stories, and I was floored to see A+ after A+. And she liked my stories enough…ahem, our stories enough, to read them in front of the class. The response was terrific. My classmates actually gave a crap. They wanted to know what happened next. So I turned 1 story into about 12 or so, and made a little book out of it. Looking back, it’s probably terrible. But the point is…I was hooked on the game.
My father and I began discussing book concepts until finally, in 6th grade, I set out to write a “real” book, all by myself. 3 years later, Servant of the Realm was born. It was so under the radar it wasn’t even funny, but I was just stoked to have my book searchable on the internet. It’s a pretty cool feeling when you’re 15. 3 years later, I released The Sacred Sin, a much darker story about a detective on the hunt for a serial killer who can steal souls. (THE FORSAKEN is the revamped version. I literally rewrote every page, and added about 100 more pages to the story. So if you haven’t picked that baby up, you might wanna.) 3 years after that–I know, 3 is the magical number, it seems–ARSON was unleashed. This story is closest to my heart because it came from a very unique place and time in my life. It’s like I grew up while writing it.
Well, sorta…
Flash forward to now. I’ve got 5 novels and several short stories out. I’ve been interviewed on TV, radio, and the internet. I’ve done several blog tours, have my own Youtube channel, twitter page, FB page, so quite frankly, there’s really no reason for you not to stalk me. I’m still that sort of college kid looking for his path while already on a path. I love to write. I love to ask the big questions, to create raw, flawed characters who do incredible things. And I’m reminded every day why I do what I do, why I write, why I tell stories…because of you. Because of something greater than myself. Because if I didn’t, I’d probably go insane.
Welcome to my dysfunctional world.
Spread the fire!
It all started because a 5th grade teacher decided to become a meddler in my life. That’s right, one of my least favorite authority figures at the time assigned us to write these 1 page short stories for class. We had the freedom to create whatever we wanted (within reason), but the assignments were do every day, and upon completing the school year, the plan was that we’d all bind them to compile a book. Well, at the time I hating reading, hated writing, and wanted to be a comic book artist. I figured I’d one day work for Marvel or Disney or something. And I was pretty good at sketching too. But I always found it hard to create my own characters, and I often just settled for copying somebody else’s masterpiece.
Something was missing.
Well, then a 2nd meddler enters the picture. My pops. He starts helping me with the stories. And by helping me, I really just mean I was there more as a consultant and a constant nuisance, ensuring proper grammar was employed. He was the real writer, in my mind. I just wished I could be him. My teacher started grading the stories, and I was floored to see A+ after A+. And she liked my stories enough…ahem, our stories enough, to read them in front of the class. The response was terrific. My classmates actually gave a crap. They wanted to know what happened next. So I turned 1 story into about 12 or so, and made a little book out of it. Looking back, it’s probably terrible. But the point is…I was hooked on the game.
My father and I began discussing book concepts until finally, in 6th grade, I set out to write a “real” book, all by myself. 3 years later, Servant of the Realm was born. It was so under the radar it wasn’t even funny, but I was just stoked to have my book searchable on the internet. It’s a pretty cool feeling when you’re 15. 3 years later, I released The Sacred Sin, a much darker story about a detective on the hunt for a serial killer who can steal souls. (THE FORSAKEN is the revamped version. I literally rewrote every page, and added about 100 more pages to the story. So if you haven’t picked that baby up, you might wanna.) 3 years after that–I know, 3 is the magical number, it seems–ARSON was unleashed. This story is closest to my heart because it came from a very unique place and time in my life. It’s like I grew up while writing it.
Well, sorta…
Flash forward to now. I’ve got 5 novels and several short stories out. I’ve been interviewed on TV, radio, and the internet. I’ve done several blog tours, have my own Youtube channel, twitter page, FB page, so quite frankly, there’s really no reason for you not to stalk me. I’m still that sort of college kid looking for his path while already on a path. I love to write. I love to ask the big questions, to create raw, flawed characters who do incredible things. And I’m reminded every day why I do what I do, why I write, why I tell stories…because of you. Because of something greater than myself. Because if I didn’t, I’d probably go insane.
Welcome to my dysfunctional world.
Spread the fire!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
July 15, 2011
This book is a very atypical paranormal romance, although from the summary it seems stereotypical. Arson Gable is a loner who lives with his psychotic grandmother in a remote cabin in the woods. He has no friends, and his only interaction with other people is at his minimum-wage job at the local ice-cream shop. That's alright with Arson because he's a freak. Whenever he's angry, upset, or hurt, a fire starts in him, a fire that demands to be let out. Arson is used to being a loner, until a new family moves in nearby. Emery, the daughter of the new family, is a freak like him. She wears a mask due to cover up the scars from an accident in her childhood, and her parents, an alcoholic minister and a frustrated nurse, are always fighting and her family is falling apart. Slowly, Arson and Emery build a tumultuous friendship, as they can open up to each other in ways they haven't been able to to anyone else.
This book was unusual, and I didn't anticipate any of it. The POV, instead of focusing on one character, jumped from character to character. And it just didn't focus on Arson and Emery, but Arson's grandmother and Emery's parents had chapters dedicated to themselves too. It was interesting, as YA novels are usually superglued to the teenage perspective. The drama wasn't just based on teenage romance, but it included some heavier themes, such as aging, loss, failure, extramarital affairs, dissatisfaction, topics that were tackled from an adult perspective. I just wasn't expecting it in a YA novel, and if the writing was more cohesive, I would have really enjoyed it. But instead I felt the shifting perspectives were a tad disjointed and forced. I didn't know where the plot was going, and the characters were difficult to understand. I either disliked them, or had no positive feelings about them whatsoever.
I just didn't understand the purpose behind the novel. What was it trying to say, trying to do? Whatever it was, was odd and I didn't enjoy it. The novel didn't mesh with the last few page of the book, which was much more typical YA paranormal fare. Then the cliffhanger, what was that? I was just so confused. I have no idea where this series is going, and not in a good way.
In the end, the book was messy and I didn't enjoy it. I'm not sure if I'm reading the sequel.
This book was unusual, and I didn't anticipate any of it. The POV, instead of focusing on one character, jumped from character to character. And it just didn't focus on Arson and Emery, but Arson's grandmother and Emery's parents had chapters dedicated to themselves too. It was interesting, as YA novels are usually superglued to the teenage perspective. The drama wasn't just based on teenage romance, but it included some heavier themes, such as aging, loss, failure, extramarital affairs, dissatisfaction, topics that were tackled from an adult perspective. I just wasn't expecting it in a YA novel, and if the writing was more cohesive, I would have really enjoyed it. But instead I felt the shifting perspectives were a tad disjointed and forced. I didn't know where the plot was going, and the characters were difficult to understand. I either disliked them, or had no positive feelings about them whatsoever.
I just didn't understand the purpose behind the novel. What was it trying to say, trying to do? Whatever it was, was odd and I didn't enjoy it. The novel didn't mesh with the last few page of the book, which was much more typical YA paranormal fare. Then the cliffhanger, what was that? I was just so confused. I have no idea where this series is going, and not in a good way.
In the end, the book was messy and I didn't enjoy it. I'm not sure if I'm reading the sequel.
December 1, 2011
A gentle start is not to be expected when going into this book. We get thrown into the midst of Arson's complicated and unorthodox life blind as a bat. It takes a bit to get situated in the story. But it shortly becomes quite the intriguing tale.
Arson, who lives with his senile grandmother, is just trying to live his life. When he becomes acquainted with his new neighbour, a strange girl who wears a creepy mask at all times, his life becomes even more complicated. Oh and by the way, he can create fire with his mind… I found the concept really fascinating. I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get a lot of insight into Arson's ability, however. I would have loved to see more of what he can do, or why. I'm not disheartened though, there are some events that transpire at the end that lets us know further details are on its way. This installment focuses more on establishing Arson's relationship with his neighbour, Emery. Their relationship - though peculiar - is realistic and entertaining. I consider Emery as much a main character as Arson. And a very interesting one at that! Emery has been hiding behind her mask for years. This isn't a pretty masquerade ball mask either, think Micheal Myers! *shutters* I was incredibly intrigued by Emery. She has a fun, snarky personality and a mysterious past that I couldn't help but want to know everything about. What also surprised me in this book was how we got to see Aimee's perspective - Emery's mother. That's right! An adult's perspective, and one with marital issues to boot! The older YA and adult crowd are most likely to welcome this unique angle as much as I did.
While I really enjoyed getting to know Arson and Emery, I was a bit annoyed with the secondary characters. Mandy, the stereotypical it-girl who has this perplexing crush on Arson was a bit hard to swallow. I couldn't picture this happening at all which may be due to getting no real understanding of her intentions. I was also a bit confused by Arson's grandmother's. I wasn't sure if she had abilities, like Arson, that made her this way or if she was just old. I think some backstory would have made a world of a difference to really bring this book from good to great.
Like most cliffhanger endings, this one was exciting and left me wanting more. If my assumptions are correct, book 2 - Ashes - is going to be more focused on the paranormal aspect of the story and give us a little of what is missing in Arson. I'm happy that I already have it ready to go as I look forward to getting some answers!
Arson, who lives with his senile grandmother, is just trying to live his life. When he becomes acquainted with his new neighbour, a strange girl who wears a creepy mask at all times, his life becomes even more complicated. Oh and by the way, he can create fire with his mind… I found the concept really fascinating. I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get a lot of insight into Arson's ability, however. I would have loved to see more of what he can do, or why. I'm not disheartened though, there are some events that transpire at the end that lets us know further details are on its way. This installment focuses more on establishing Arson's relationship with his neighbour, Emery. Their relationship - though peculiar - is realistic and entertaining. I consider Emery as much a main character as Arson. And a very interesting one at that! Emery has been hiding behind her mask for years. This isn't a pretty masquerade ball mask either, think Micheal Myers! *shutters* I was incredibly intrigued by Emery. She has a fun, snarky personality and a mysterious past that I couldn't help but want to know everything about. What also surprised me in this book was how we got to see Aimee's perspective - Emery's mother. That's right! An adult's perspective, and one with marital issues to boot! The older YA and adult crowd are most likely to welcome this unique angle as much as I did.
While I really enjoyed getting to know Arson and Emery, I was a bit annoyed with the secondary characters. Mandy, the stereotypical it-girl who has this perplexing crush on Arson was a bit hard to swallow. I couldn't picture this happening at all which may be due to getting no real understanding of her intentions. I was also a bit confused by Arson's grandmother's. I wasn't sure if she had abilities, like Arson, that made her this way or if she was just old. I think some backstory would have made a world of a difference to really bring this book from good to great.
Like most cliffhanger endings, this one was exciting and left me wanting more. If my assumptions are correct, book 2 - Ashes - is going to be more focused on the paranormal aspect of the story and give us a little of what is missing in Arson. I'm happy that I already have it ready to go as I look forward to getting some answers!
August 8, 2012
Review also at Ja čitam, a ti?
From the book summary you can guess that this is not typical paranormal book, with typical story and typical characters. You're right about that. Arson is very different character who grows up in unusual environment. When Emery, girl who is also unusual, showed up in his life you see that even though they are maybe different (but then again how can you say that someone is different, what is norm for being "normal") by some standards they are still teenagers, who deal with problems and growing up in process.
I personally have been able to divide things in this books to those that I like and I don't like. That's how my review will look like.
What I didn't like....It took me a lot of time to get into this book. The writing is unusual and maybe not the best for me. It has its advantages but I needed a lot of time to get used to it. I couldn't enjoy the story. Maybe this book was too dark for my taste, but then again this is horror and I knew that, so we can remove that one. Last thing is that after reading more than half of the book I finally got some real action. That took time.
What I liked...This story is wrote from different POVs and that made me so happy. You're jumping from one POV to another and that's how you met characters. That's probably the thing that kept me reading this book. After reading like 100 pages I just wanted to know the whole story about Arson and then when I got to the point that I'd maybe discover something - new POV came and I continued reading. Now I'm happy because of that. Speaking of the whole picture of this story I like that most of it is told in dialogues, not as usual in long narrative parts. This way is more dynamic. I also like the characters! They were probably the best part of this book. And then last 60 pages. They were just bum! It came out of nowhere! I was like this
until the end of the book. The best part of whole story. Plenty of action and everything I missed in the first part of the book.
From the book summary you can guess that this is not typical paranormal book, with typical story and typical characters. You're right about that. Arson is very different character who grows up in unusual environment. When Emery, girl who is also unusual, showed up in his life you see that even though they are maybe different (but then again how can you say that someone is different, what is norm for being "normal") by some standards they are still teenagers, who deal with problems and growing up in process.
I personally have been able to divide things in this books to those that I like and I don't like. That's how my review will look like.
What I didn't like....It took me a lot of time to get into this book. The writing is unusual and maybe not the best for me. It has its advantages but I needed a lot of time to get used to it. I couldn't enjoy the story. Maybe this book was too dark for my taste, but then again this is horror and I knew that, so we can remove that one. Last thing is that after reading more than half of the book I finally got some real action. That took time.
What I liked...This story is wrote from different POVs and that made me so happy. You're jumping from one POV to another and that's how you met characters. That's probably the thing that kept me reading this book. After reading like 100 pages I just wanted to know the whole story about Arson and then when I got to the point that I'd maybe discover something - new POV came and I continued reading. Now I'm happy because of that. Speaking of the whole picture of this story I like that most of it is told in dialogues, not as usual in long narrative parts. This way is more dynamic. I also like the characters! They were probably the best part of this book. And then last 60 pages. They were just bum! It came out of nowhere! I was like this
until the end of the book. The best part of whole story. Plenty of action and everything I missed in the first part of the book.
September 24, 2012
See full review here!
I received this book from the author. Here is my honest review:
Maybe this book just isn't my cup of tea, but I really did not connect with the characters at all. The story is all over the place due to multiple third person POVs, but it was at random intervals, so I never got a good grasp on anyone. And I totally knew what was going on with Grandpa. But what's up with Grandma? And why is Arson the way he is? WHAT is he? Too many unanswered questions. I get that it's a series, but I don't actually want to continue.
I am struggling with this, because the sentences were put together well, and a lot of it read like poetry. But when you put it all together you don't get a very good story. There were a lot of weird things going on: the girl in the mask, Arson's screwed up family, Mask-Girl's really screwed up family, Arson's screwed up "relationship" with Mandy, Arson's relationship with Mask-Girl (I'm sorry, her name is Emery..), etc etc. It just all seemed for naught. There was some depth missing that made me not care very much about the characters in this book.
Either way, this is definitely different. It's not overly romantic in the least, and the characters deal and struggle with a lot. They're all outcasts in some way. So try this out if you like stories with a lot of unanswered questions, like WTF is happening at the very end of this story when they're in the hospital.. seriously.
I received this book from the author. Here is my honest review:
Maybe this book just isn't my cup of tea, but I really did not connect with the characters at all. The story is all over the place due to multiple third person POVs, but it was at random intervals, so I never got a good grasp on anyone. And I totally knew what was going on with Grandpa. But what's up with Grandma? And why is Arson the way he is? WHAT is he? Too many unanswered questions. I get that it's a series, but I don't actually want to continue.
I am struggling with this, because the sentences were put together well, and a lot of it read like poetry. But when you put it all together you don't get a very good story. There were a lot of weird things going on: the girl in the mask, Arson's screwed up family, Mask-Girl's really screwed up family, Arson's screwed up "relationship" with Mandy, Arson's relationship with Mask-Girl (I'm sorry, her name is Emery..), etc etc. It just all seemed for naught. There was some depth missing that made me not care very much about the characters in this book.
Either way, this is definitely different. It's not overly romantic in the least, and the characters deal and struggle with a lot. They're all outcasts in some way. So try this out if you like stories with a lot of unanswered questions, like WTF is happening at the very end of this story when they're in the hospital.. seriously.
March 31, 2010
Arson was an amazing book. I read so many good reviews for it before I even got it and I couldn't wait to read it. Now, after finishing it, I can't wait for the sequel. Estevan Vega did a wonderful job making Arson a book full of mystery, romance, and characters you won't be able to get out of your head.
I have to say that, in my opinion, the best part of Arson was the writing. It's one of the most crucial factors when it comes to whether or not I like a book and in this case, I loved it. From the very first page, I was drawn into the story because it was so beautifully written.
The characters in Arson were all different than what I had expected. Arson, Emery, and Grandma Kay were the hardest for me to understand. As the book progressed and I learned of all their secrets, I began to know them better but some of the things they did still mystify me. I hope to learn a lot more about each character in the next book.
Another great thing about Arson was the ending. It totally blew me away. I never saw any of it coming. It's definitely a big cliff hanger but that just means that I will have to get the sequel as soon as possible. =]
Overall, Arson is unlike any book I have read and if you don't mind a little creepiness I recommend reading it. I am so glad that I got the chance to read it and I will now patiently wait for the sequel!
I have to say that, in my opinion, the best part of Arson was the writing. It's one of the most crucial factors when it comes to whether or not I like a book and in this case, I loved it. From the very first page, I was drawn into the story because it was so beautifully written.
The characters in Arson were all different than what I had expected. Arson, Emery, and Grandma Kay were the hardest for me to understand. As the book progressed and I learned of all their secrets, I began to know them better but some of the things they did still mystify me. I hope to learn a lot more about each character in the next book.
Another great thing about Arson was the ending. It totally blew me away. I never saw any of it coming. It's definitely a big cliff hanger but that just means that I will have to get the sequel as soon as possible. =]
Overall, Arson is unlike any book I have read and if you don't mind a little creepiness I recommend reading it. I am so glad that I got the chance to read it and I will now patiently wait for the sequel!
August 25, 2010
Reviewed by Breia "The Brain" Brickey for TeensReadToo.com
Arson Gable is a strange boy with an equally strange life. He lives alone with his grandmother, who has some mental issues that make life difficult. Arson can also create fire. He has a job in an ice cream parlor that's going nowhere and no friends.
Arson's life changes the day a new family moves in next door. It's a couple with a daughter who wears a mask because of an accident that occurred when she was a child. Secrets abound in this story, not only for Arson and the girl, but for their families, as well.
Many readers may see the start of the story as slow, but Estevan Vega took his time and lets you get to know the characters, as well as their motivations. ARSON was an intriguing mystery that will have you looking forward to the next installment. This story was crafted over four years, and it definitely shows.
This is not your ordinary mystery/horror/supernatural novel. You can't help but love the main characters. I hope we don't have long to wait for the rest of this wonderful story. Although parts of the tale were dark, adults and teens alike are sure to enjoy it. I would definitely recommend ARSON to my own teen.
Arson Gable is a strange boy with an equally strange life. He lives alone with his grandmother, who has some mental issues that make life difficult. Arson can also create fire. He has a job in an ice cream parlor that's going nowhere and no friends.
Arson's life changes the day a new family moves in next door. It's a couple with a daughter who wears a mask because of an accident that occurred when she was a child. Secrets abound in this story, not only for Arson and the girl, but for their families, as well.
Many readers may see the start of the story as slow, but Estevan Vega took his time and lets you get to know the characters, as well as their motivations. ARSON was an intriguing mystery that will have you looking forward to the next installment. This story was crafted over four years, and it definitely shows.
This is not your ordinary mystery/horror/supernatural novel. You can't help but love the main characters. I hope we don't have long to wait for the rest of this wonderful story. Although parts of the tale were dark, adults and teens alike are sure to enjoy it. I would definitely recommend ARSON to my own teen.
September 30, 2010
This is the first book I've ever read that I've given a 5-star review to, yet I want to throw it against the wall. Normally, this type of behavior is reserved for books I couldn't really tolerate. In this case, my patience cannot tolerate waiting for a sequel after the massive cliffhanger I read at the end!
The first thing I have to do is compliment Estevan Vega, who's storytelling abilities is beyond his years. For most books that I read and review, I reserve a little time at the end of the night to read. I couldn't do that with Arson. Every time I tried to put it down, I found myself sneaking back to it to read just one more chapter, that always ended up being five or so. It wasn't that there were abrupt stops at the end of the chapters and you absolutely have to continue - you just never want to stop because you want to know more about the characters.
The characters aren't exactly fleshed out completely in the beginning, you learn more about them the more that you read. As a matter of fact, you're still learning about the characters up until the very end of the book ... and you still want to know more. Both Arson and Emery come from not-so-glamorous families and backgrounds. It was definitely refreshing to read about more real characters that deal with bad situations instead of the usual rich, snobby kids that are whining because their daddy didn't buy them something they wanted. These characters go through more than their fair share of problems, but it makes it all the more realistic. We're not dealing with fairy tales, we're dealing with sucky things that happen in real life. You can definitely empathize with the characters - even Arson and Emery's family members.. though I can't say I empathize with Mandy at all. I just wanted to slap her every time she showed up in the novel.
There is a slight paranormal feel to the book. Well, obviously, because you're dealing with a character that can make fire with a single bad thought. However, it's more personal than just paranormal. It's more of a story of a boy dealing with his burden (fire), his guilt (mom died during childbirth), and his grandmother and her not-so-normal, bi-polar and violent behavior. Oh, and the love developing between Arson and mask-wearing Emery. I love these beautifully flawed characters. They really compliment each other well.
The climax at the end was something that was a little expected (we had to get some fire action), but it definitely twisted into a direction that I didn't see coming. I loved it! Then, there was the happy moment and the end-end ... which is a HUGE cliffhanger that made me stare at the book for a few moments, wondering how exactly it was I was going to go without knowing more until the sequel comes out!
I honestly don't think words in a review could do this book justice. If you like great storytelling with a little darker tone to it, READ THIS BOOK. You won't regret it. Promise.
The first thing I have to do is compliment Estevan Vega, who's storytelling abilities is beyond his years. For most books that I read and review, I reserve a little time at the end of the night to read. I couldn't do that with Arson. Every time I tried to put it down, I found myself sneaking back to it to read just one more chapter, that always ended up being five or so. It wasn't that there were abrupt stops at the end of the chapters and you absolutely have to continue - you just never want to stop because you want to know more about the characters.
The characters aren't exactly fleshed out completely in the beginning, you learn more about them the more that you read. As a matter of fact, you're still learning about the characters up until the very end of the book ... and you still want to know more. Both Arson and Emery come from not-so-glamorous families and backgrounds. It was definitely refreshing to read about more real characters that deal with bad situations instead of the usual rich, snobby kids that are whining because their daddy didn't buy them something they wanted. These characters go through more than their fair share of problems, but it makes it all the more realistic. We're not dealing with fairy tales, we're dealing with sucky things that happen in real life. You can definitely empathize with the characters - even Arson and Emery's family members.. though I can't say I empathize with Mandy at all. I just wanted to slap her every time she showed up in the novel.
There is a slight paranormal feel to the book. Well, obviously, because you're dealing with a character that can make fire with a single bad thought. However, it's more personal than just paranormal. It's more of a story of a boy dealing with his burden (fire), his guilt (mom died during childbirth), and his grandmother and her not-so-normal, bi-polar and violent behavior. Oh, and the love developing between Arson and mask-wearing Emery. I love these beautifully flawed characters. They really compliment each other well.
The climax at the end was something that was a little expected (we had to get some fire action), but it definitely twisted into a direction that I didn't see coming. I loved it! Then, there was the happy moment and the end-end ... which is a HUGE cliffhanger that made me stare at the book for a few moments, wondering how exactly it was I was going to go without knowing more until the sequel comes out!
I honestly don't think words in a review could do this book justice. If you like great storytelling with a little darker tone to it, READ THIS BOOK. You won't regret it. Promise.
November 22, 2015
Arson is an unique 17-year old who can create fire with his mind. He lives with his bipolar grandmother, whom he has a love-hate relationship with, and works at an ice-cream shop. He's haunted by his dreams and doesn't have much control over his supernatural power, though he's working on it. He feels so alone but all that changes when Emery moves into the house next door. Emery has problems of her own; her parents are fighting, they keep moving, never to stay in the same place for long, and she always wears a mask.
Each being a loner, Arson and Emery don't immediately hit it off but slowly learn to let each other in. Both are very candid with each other. I love Emery's up front honestly and wittiness; her remarks made me laugh.
Both the blurb and the cover for Arson caught my immediate attention. The story is unique and compelling. Arson is told from a 3rd person narrative but Vega's direction and character shift is easy to follow. The beginning was a little rough around the edges for me. I didn't feel a connection with the story at first. I found it difficult to stay focused and in tune with Arson (I had to start over from the beginning and read it again). But things quickly picked up on page 21, when Arson is at work and Mandy walks in, and well made-up for the rough start.
The ending to have had a bit of a comic book feel to it. I can't wait for the sequel to where Vega takes the story next. Arson has a killer cliffhanger ending. I kept turning the last page, over and over again, thinking there has to be more of the story left in this book somewhere...? But no, that was it. Lucky for Vega, he is currently working on the sequel. I may hound him from time to time until he gets it done....I am anxiously awaiting the sequel *hint hint*. I'm definitely getting my hands on that sucker as soon as it comes out!
Vega's writing is raw, gritty and dark yet there is a soft side hidden between the text. There were even some times when I laughed out loud. He certainly has a craft for depicting a world like no other. His writing proves that he is wise beyond his years. This is Vega’s third novel and he’s only 21! He’s definitely an author to watch out for!
Review originally posted on The Book Vixen.
Each being a loner, Arson and Emery don't immediately hit it off but slowly learn to let each other in. Both are very candid with each other. I love Emery's up front honestly and wittiness; her remarks made me laugh.
“It's a mask.” [...] “What, you've never seen a mask before?”
“I have, but not one like this. It's freaky. You know, for a girl. You friends with Michael Myers?”
Both the blurb and the cover for Arson caught my immediate attention. The story is unique and compelling. Arson is told from a 3rd person narrative but Vega's direction and character shift is easy to follow. The beginning was a little rough around the edges for me. I didn't feel a connection with the story at first. I found it difficult to stay focused and in tune with Arson (I had to start over from the beginning and read it again). But things quickly picked up on page 21, when Arson is at work and Mandy walks in, and well made-up for the rough start.
The ending to have had a bit of a comic book feel to it. I can't wait for the sequel to where Vega takes the story next. Arson has a killer cliffhanger ending. I kept turning the last page, over and over again, thinking there has to be more of the story left in this book somewhere...? But no, that was it. Lucky for Vega, he is currently working on the sequel. I may hound him from time to time until he gets it done....I am anxiously awaiting the sequel *hint hint*. I'm definitely getting my hands on that sucker as soon as it comes out!
Vega's writing is raw, gritty and dark yet there is a soft side hidden between the text. There were even some times when I laughed out loud. He certainly has a craft for depicting a world like no other. His writing proves that he is wise beyond his years. This is Vega’s third novel and he’s only 21! He’s definitely an author to watch out for!
Review originally posted on The Book Vixen.
August 5, 2011
I have had the good fortune of having interviewed this author a little while back and have enjoyed listening to him passionately emote about his writing process; I was sold right then and there. The young man can write. His characters are well thought out; they work well together in the plotline and his narrative is just as intense as he is. Arson is a read that is tight, concise, and fun. If you are looking for a really good read this weekend, here you go. Oops I forgot the link to the blogtalk show and the synopsis, check them out below:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/gelatiss...
About the novel:
“Arson Gable feels like a freak. He can create fire. He never asked for it. He never wanted it. But he can't shut it off. Before now, three things were true: he both loved and despised his grandmother; his life was going nowhere, and he was alone. But when a strange girl—who feels more normal behind a mask than inside her own skin—moves in next door, Arson hopes to find something he's never had: purpose. Using what he fears most about himself, Arson must face his consuming past and confront the nightmare that is his present as he walks the fine line between boy and monster. Dark, moody, and breathtakingly relevant, Arson, the chilling chronicle of an isolated boy with unimaginable ability, is sure to ignite the hearts and minds of a new generation.”
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/gelatiss...
About the novel:
“Arson Gable feels like a freak. He can create fire. He never asked for it. He never wanted it. But he can't shut it off. Before now, three things were true: he both loved and despised his grandmother; his life was going nowhere, and he was alone. But when a strange girl—who feels more normal behind a mask than inside her own skin—moves in next door, Arson hopes to find something he's never had: purpose. Using what he fears most about himself, Arson must face his consuming past and confront the nightmare that is his present as he walks the fine line between boy and monster. Dark, moody, and breathtakingly relevant, Arson, the chilling chronicle of an isolated boy with unimaginable ability, is sure to ignite the hearts and minds of a new generation.”
April 25, 2010
Everyone can create fire with a lighter or match. Arson Gable can produce fire without the aid of either. Torn between his emotions and the current path he has taken in life, Arson feels like he is all alone in the world. When he lets his guard down and actually befriends the new girl next door, Emery, he finally realizes that he can connect with others. Both are hiding behind qualities they are ashamed of and together they just might be able to overcome the obstacles before them. Will this new relationship help Arson calm the fires or will he end up consumed by flames?
I could not put this book down. Literally, I was unable to pry my fingers away from the pages. I was able to connect with Emery on a level that is so unlike any other character I have read about. Estevan is a genius when it comes to plots and I can't wait for the sequel!
October 3, 2014
***NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS***
Arson Gable isn’t like other seventeen year old boys, he lives with his abusive bipolar grandmother, has a past that haunts him and oh he can also start fires with his mind. His life is a story of social awkwardness and abuse. He doesn’t think anyone will ever accept him or understand him until he meets Emery, the girl with the mask. Emery was badly burned as a child and hides her scars behind a mask she almost never removes. She for the most part avoids people, but Arson is different. Or so she thinks until she meets Mandy the popular manipulative pretty girl. With her life falling apart around her as her parents’ marriage falls apart before her eyes is it really worth taking a risk on Arson when it’s someone like Mandy she’ll have to fight to do so? Will Arson’s past destroy what they might have before it even begins?
I don’t like rating books especially when I can’t bring myself to give a high rating, but the book just didn’t do it for me not even in a mild way. The few things I can say that the author has going for him is he’s very good at maintaining a mix of distant and close third person point of view. The mix between the two is done smoothly and isn’t awkward in any way. The book was free from typos, though it was filled with fragmented sentences otherwise the grammar was good. For the most part he’s very good at description and setting a scene. However the most action packed scenes were almost straight out of Carrie or Carrie 2 and therefore lacking originality, and those action packed scenes were minimal. Also I was pretty disappointed with the ending to put it mildly. The first half of the book is basically an introduction to characters with tons of back story obsessing from each of them. That portion of the book is mostly listening to people’s thoughts drone on and on. About sixty percent into the book it starts to turn into almost an awkward teenage love story, the plot starts almost becoming a plot instead of just a character study and I think okay this is what I’ve been waiting for – something to happen only to have that small amount of actual story I received just obliterated by a not so happy ending. Okay so it wasn’t just not happy, it was cruel, abrupt and almost open ended because what was being talked about versus what occurred seemed contradictory. I can’t really explain it without spoiling the story completely, but trust me if you’re a fan of a happy ending this isn’t the book for you. I know I’m in the minority on my opinion because I saw the lists upon lists of five star reviews on Goodreads. And I have to apologize because I couldn’t find a lot of redeeming qualities in this book and don’t really belong on a blog tour for the book but having waited until the last minute to read the book it was a little too late to tell them it might be best for someone else to review it. Other than the one dimensional secondary characters there wasn’t a single developed character that wasn’t angst ridden. While the book was missing the important back story, that would have made it easier to understand especially with the twist ending that I didn’t see coming (well I saw the Carrie scene coming but what came after was a complete shock to me) it was filled with pretty much irrelevant obsessing by every main character. Joel was a drunk who lost his position as a minister because of drinking on the job. He may still be a part of his family but due to all the time he put the church before his family he doesn’t really have their support. Aimee was disillusioned with her husband and her life, she can’t connect to her daughter, she still has feeling for her high school sweetheart who is her boss and she resents the destruction her husband’s alcoholism has caused in their lives. Emery’s face was burned in her youth and rather than have anyone see it she wears a mask pretty much all the time and seldom lets anyone close to her. Her own parents can’t seem to look at her without a sense of revulsion. Kay aka Grandma is off her rocker, she sees visions of herself as a girl stealing away her husband, she has a bipolar personality and hasn’t come to term with the fact her husband died a while ago. She in fact still has tea with the imaginary dead man. She blames her grandson for the death of his mother and is violently abusive toward him. Then there’s Stephen aka Arson Gable who starts fires with his mind and is somehow responsible for something fire related happing to a little girl seven years ago, he’s an awkward misfit who attempts to drown himself daily. Most of his time is spent thinking, he does little other than think and obsess over his past and his present. He’s depressed to say the least and he takes angst to an entirely new level. Why am I talking about characters before plot - because more than half the book is the characters thinking. There’s an awkward almost love story between Arson and Emery in the middle, some mean teenagers and an ending that doesn’t follow with anything before in the book. I only enjoyed about twenty percent of the book and that was during the love story section, the Carrie scene wasn’t too bad, it was exciting and well described but what came after made no sense since the character introduced then were never previously mentioned or explained. The book is mostly telling and not showing and I got really tired of listening to characters constantly obsess over things. I’m not even really sure what genre this fits in, at first I thought ok, it’s some sort of literary story of abuse and broken people, then I thought maybe a paranormal romance and then at the end I was thinking is this supposed to be a horror novel? The main horror was how awkward the poor main character was.
As I said beyond the characters listed above the secondary characters were flat and one dimensional. Mandy was outright stereotypical with nothing to separate her from every other mean girl portrayed in fiction or movies. While the characters listed above were somewhat well developed there wasn’t a lot of strengths to these characters and they were very difficult to relate to.
Overall, what can I say, a lot of people loved this book, check out Goodreads and you’ll see that I’m not wrong in that. However I wasn’t one of them and I personally couldn’t recommend it. However since I am in the minority in my opinion it could be worth picking it up to peruse so you can decide for yourself what you think.
Arson Gable isn’t like other seventeen year old boys, he lives with his abusive bipolar grandmother, has a past that haunts him and oh he can also start fires with his mind. His life is a story of social awkwardness and abuse. He doesn’t think anyone will ever accept him or understand him until he meets Emery, the girl with the mask. Emery was badly burned as a child and hides her scars behind a mask she almost never removes. She for the most part avoids people, but Arson is different. Or so she thinks until she meets Mandy the popular manipulative pretty girl. With her life falling apart around her as her parents’ marriage falls apart before her eyes is it really worth taking a risk on Arson when it’s someone like Mandy she’ll have to fight to do so? Will Arson’s past destroy what they might have before it even begins?
I don’t like rating books especially when I can’t bring myself to give a high rating, but the book just didn’t do it for me not even in a mild way. The few things I can say that the author has going for him is he’s very good at maintaining a mix of distant and close third person point of view. The mix between the two is done smoothly and isn’t awkward in any way. The book was free from typos, though it was filled with fragmented sentences otherwise the grammar was good. For the most part he’s very good at description and setting a scene. However the most action packed scenes were almost straight out of Carrie or Carrie 2 and therefore lacking originality, and those action packed scenes were minimal. Also I was pretty disappointed with the ending to put it mildly. The first half of the book is basically an introduction to characters with tons of back story obsessing from each of them. That portion of the book is mostly listening to people’s thoughts drone on and on. About sixty percent into the book it starts to turn into almost an awkward teenage love story, the plot starts almost becoming a plot instead of just a character study and I think okay this is what I’ve been waiting for – something to happen only to have that small amount of actual story I received just obliterated by a not so happy ending. Okay so it wasn’t just not happy, it was cruel, abrupt and almost open ended because what was being talked about versus what occurred seemed contradictory. I can’t really explain it without spoiling the story completely, but trust me if you’re a fan of a happy ending this isn’t the book for you. I know I’m in the minority on my opinion because I saw the lists upon lists of five star reviews on Goodreads. And I have to apologize because I couldn’t find a lot of redeeming qualities in this book and don’t really belong on a blog tour for the book but having waited until the last minute to read the book it was a little too late to tell them it might be best for someone else to review it. Other than the one dimensional secondary characters there wasn’t a single developed character that wasn’t angst ridden. While the book was missing the important back story, that would have made it easier to understand especially with the twist ending that I didn’t see coming (well I saw the Carrie scene coming but what came after was a complete shock to me) it was filled with pretty much irrelevant obsessing by every main character. Joel was a drunk who lost his position as a minister because of drinking on the job. He may still be a part of his family but due to all the time he put the church before his family he doesn’t really have their support. Aimee was disillusioned with her husband and her life, she can’t connect to her daughter, she still has feeling for her high school sweetheart who is her boss and she resents the destruction her husband’s alcoholism has caused in their lives. Emery’s face was burned in her youth and rather than have anyone see it she wears a mask pretty much all the time and seldom lets anyone close to her. Her own parents can’t seem to look at her without a sense of revulsion. Kay aka Grandma is off her rocker, she sees visions of herself as a girl stealing away her husband, she has a bipolar personality and hasn’t come to term with the fact her husband died a while ago. She in fact still has tea with the imaginary dead man. She blames her grandson for the death of his mother and is violently abusive toward him. Then there’s Stephen aka Arson Gable who starts fires with his mind and is somehow responsible for something fire related happing to a little girl seven years ago, he’s an awkward misfit who attempts to drown himself daily. Most of his time is spent thinking, he does little other than think and obsess over his past and his present. He’s depressed to say the least and he takes angst to an entirely new level. Why am I talking about characters before plot - because more than half the book is the characters thinking. There’s an awkward almost love story between Arson and Emery in the middle, some mean teenagers and an ending that doesn’t follow with anything before in the book. I only enjoyed about twenty percent of the book and that was during the love story section, the Carrie scene wasn’t too bad, it was exciting and well described but what came after made no sense since the character introduced then were never previously mentioned or explained. The book is mostly telling and not showing and I got really tired of listening to characters constantly obsess over things. I’m not even really sure what genre this fits in, at first I thought ok, it’s some sort of literary story of abuse and broken people, then I thought maybe a paranormal romance and then at the end I was thinking is this supposed to be a horror novel? The main horror was how awkward the poor main character was.
As I said beyond the characters listed above the secondary characters were flat and one dimensional. Mandy was outright stereotypical with nothing to separate her from every other mean girl portrayed in fiction or movies. While the characters listed above were somewhat well developed there wasn’t a lot of strengths to these characters and they were very difficult to relate to.
Overall, what can I say, a lot of people loved this book, check out Goodreads and you’ll see that I’m not wrong in that. However I wasn’t one of them and I personally couldn’t recommend it. However since I am in the minority in my opinion it could be worth picking it up to peruse so you can decide for yourself what you think.
March 15, 2017
It's the first book of a trilogy, with strange but interesting characters. It has some supernatural stuff going on, and is actually pretty decent. It ended good so now I have to keep going to see what happens next.
August 13, 2020
I DNF'd this but I'm marking it complete because I got almost to the end. I could not stick with it. IT was bad bad bad.
April 9, 2010
Estevan Vega - a name that if you don't know it, remember it, you are sure to see a lot of it in the future. It wasn't long ago that I was approached by this amazing young author, in regard to his then latest release, The Sacred Sin. After reading the synopsis, I was immediately intrigued and instantly hooked, not to mention the fact that someone of such a young age penned this amazing book. Fast forward to the present time... I have eagerly been awaiting the newest release from Mr. Vega and I have to say that it has been more than worth the wait. Feast your eyes upon the cover of Arson and your mind is sure to run rampant, visualizing all sorts of horror and terror. In all honestly, that is the sort of storyline that I was anticipating. However, Arson is not a story of horror and terror, per say, at least not what one would consider in regard to A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween or any of the well known Stephen King and Bentley Little tales. Rather, Arson is a story of two young people whose lives are basically torture and torment. Their demons are not monsters or murders, but rather inner demons which pulsate and yearn for normalcy.
Constantly told that his mother's death was entirely his fault and if he were not to have been born, his beautiful and vibrant mother would still be alive today, Arson Gable is raised by his Grandmother, isolated and friendless. However, that all changes when a new family moves in next door, complete with a young girl around Arson's age. Emery is not your ordinary, average girl; she lives her life, literally, behind a mask. After a horrible accident left her deformed, as a young child, Emery has hidden behind this scrap of leather, rather than letting the world feast their eyes upon her face and its imperfection.
While spending his days working at the local ice cream parlor and fantasizing about the local hottie, Mandy, Arson is also struggling with a dark secret. A secret that makes him like no other - he has the ability to start fires with his mind. Over the years, Arson has learned to control this curse, however when rage consumes him, control can often become beyond his reach. No one, other than his grandmother, knows of this curse, but that will soon no longer be the case.
Arson is a story that deals with many issues that young adults face: peer pressure, uncertainty, family conflict and insecurity. In addition to being a story that is all-consuming and incredibly human, Arson does have elements of suspense and psychological terror. The ending is amazing and will leave the reader burning for the next installment in this continuing saga.
Estevan Vega's writing voice is one that is incredible and not easily forgotten. His style is rather poetic, at times blunt, and just plain irresistible. The talent that Mr. Vega displays is one that people, well beyond his years, have yet to tap into. His writing is tight, characters well developed and written in a way that truly draws the reader into their very souls. I was immediately captivated by both the characters of Arson and Emery and found myself often drowning within their emotions. A writer with that kind of power is one that will go a very long way in his/her career. With that being said, I cannot wait to read what Estevan Vega has in store for his readers next. If you have not read this author yet, you are truly missing out on a memorable experience!
Constantly told that his mother's death was entirely his fault and if he were not to have been born, his beautiful and vibrant mother would still be alive today, Arson Gable is raised by his Grandmother, isolated and friendless. However, that all changes when a new family moves in next door, complete with a young girl around Arson's age. Emery is not your ordinary, average girl; she lives her life, literally, behind a mask. After a horrible accident left her deformed, as a young child, Emery has hidden behind this scrap of leather, rather than letting the world feast their eyes upon her face and its imperfection.
While spending his days working at the local ice cream parlor and fantasizing about the local hottie, Mandy, Arson is also struggling with a dark secret. A secret that makes him like no other - he has the ability to start fires with his mind. Over the years, Arson has learned to control this curse, however when rage consumes him, control can often become beyond his reach. No one, other than his grandmother, knows of this curse, but that will soon no longer be the case.
Arson is a story that deals with many issues that young adults face: peer pressure, uncertainty, family conflict and insecurity. In addition to being a story that is all-consuming and incredibly human, Arson does have elements of suspense and psychological terror. The ending is amazing and will leave the reader burning for the next installment in this continuing saga.
Estevan Vega's writing voice is one that is incredible and not easily forgotten. His style is rather poetic, at times blunt, and just plain irresistible. The talent that Mr. Vega displays is one that people, well beyond his years, have yet to tap into. His writing is tight, characters well developed and written in a way that truly draws the reader into their very souls. I was immediately captivated by both the characters of Arson and Emery and found myself often drowning within their emotions. A writer with that kind of power is one that will go a very long way in his/her career. With that being said, I cannot wait to read what Estevan Vega has in store for his readers next. If you have not read this author yet, you are truly missing out on a memorable experience!
January 12, 2014
With intriguing-sounding characters and a plot full of potential, my hopes were high for Arson. Where I found the characters to be less than compelling, and the plot's potential was never truly reached, I am walking away feeling slightly disappointed but hopeful for Arson's sequel, Ashes.
Arson is a spinelessly pathetic protagonist. Having been belittled for most of his life by his ailing grandmother, he has very little self-confidence. He harbours guilt over his mother's death, due to his grandmother's insistence that it was his birth which caused her passing, and his fear of his ability causes him to distance himself from others his age. He is unable (or unwilling) to stand up for himself, letting others push him around and call him names like 'freak,' and he's constantly berating himself for being different. He spends the majority of Arson wallowing in self-pity, reliving a particularly traumatizing moment where his ability to create fire resulted in harming a little girl. If I had been able to relate to Arson in any way, I might have felt pity for his situation but I couldn't get over his whininess.
I felt similarly about Emery. Having been disfigured by fire during a childhood accident, Emery chooses to wear a Michael Meyers-like mask to cover up her scars; so instead of people staring because of her disfigurement, they stare because of her "disgusting" mask (as her mother calls it). Her home life is dysfunctional - with her parents dealing with alcoholism, infidelity and divorce - and she spends most of her conversations with Arson complaining about it. If I had been better equipped to understand Emery and her choice to wear the mask, I might have felt more of a connection to her. But her strange behaviour and emotional instability ended up giving me reader's whiplash as I tried to make sense of her breakdowns.
A lack of understanding is the root of my problems with Arson. Did Arson's grandmother also possess some sort of ability, or was she becoming senile in her old age? Had she always mistreated him, or was her emotional abuse the result of a more recent tragedy? Why was she so concerned with Arson being near water? If Arson has had his abilities his whole life, why did he wait until he was in his later teen years to begin to learn how to use it? What was the point of Arson's relationship with Mandy? Why did Emery insist on wearing her mask? I actually also found myself wondering why Arson had been written as a paranormal/fantasy novel, as the root of this novel is a contemporary coming of age story about two damaged teenagers who begin to heal after being brought together. It wasn't until the last ten percent of the story that we actually get to see Arson use his powers - and then Arson ends on a cliffhanger!
But even with the issues I had with Arson, I still kind of enjoyed it. I liked watching Emery force Arson to interact with his community, and some of their moments together came across as completely genuine. I was fascinated by Arson's grandmother, which is why I think I'm so frustrated that her role was given such little explanation. I also waited in anticipation for Arson's powers to unleash themselves, only for it to happen just as the story was ending. With how Arson ended, I'm hopeful for it's sequel Ashes as I think the answers and excitement I was looking for with Arson will finally make an appearance.
Arson is a spinelessly pathetic protagonist. Having been belittled for most of his life by his ailing grandmother, he has very little self-confidence. He harbours guilt over his mother's death, due to his grandmother's insistence that it was his birth which caused her passing, and his fear of his ability causes him to distance himself from others his age. He is unable (or unwilling) to stand up for himself, letting others push him around and call him names like 'freak,' and he's constantly berating himself for being different. He spends the majority of Arson wallowing in self-pity, reliving a particularly traumatizing moment where his ability to create fire resulted in harming a little girl. If I had been able to relate to Arson in any way, I might have felt pity for his situation but I couldn't get over his whininess.
I felt similarly about Emery. Having been disfigured by fire during a childhood accident, Emery chooses to wear a Michael Meyers-like mask to cover up her scars; so instead of people staring because of her disfigurement, they stare because of her "disgusting" mask (as her mother calls it). Her home life is dysfunctional - with her parents dealing with alcoholism, infidelity and divorce - and she spends most of her conversations with Arson complaining about it. If I had been better equipped to understand Emery and her choice to wear the mask, I might have felt more of a connection to her. But her strange behaviour and emotional instability ended up giving me reader's whiplash as I tried to make sense of her breakdowns.
A lack of understanding is the root of my problems with Arson. Did Arson's grandmother also possess some sort of ability, or was she becoming senile in her old age? Had she always mistreated him, or was her emotional abuse the result of a more recent tragedy? Why was she so concerned with Arson being near water? If Arson has had his abilities his whole life, why did he wait until he was in his later teen years to begin to learn how to use it? What was the point of Arson's relationship with Mandy? Why did Emery insist on wearing her mask? I actually also found myself wondering why Arson had been written as a paranormal/fantasy novel, as the root of this novel is a contemporary coming of age story about two damaged teenagers who begin to heal after being brought together. It wasn't until the last ten percent of the story that we actually get to see Arson use his powers - and then Arson ends on a cliffhanger!
But even with the issues I had with Arson, I still kind of enjoyed it. I liked watching Emery force Arson to interact with his community, and some of their moments together came across as completely genuine. I was fascinated by Arson's grandmother, which is why I think I'm so frustrated that her role was given such little explanation. I also waited in anticipation for Arson's powers to unleash themselves, only for it to happen just as the story was ending. With how Arson ended, I'm hopeful for it's sequel Ashes as I think the answers and excitement I was looking for with Arson will finally make an appearance.
January 31, 2011
Reviewed by Cynthia for MM's-
I’ve been curious about Arson since I first read its synopsis and saw its creepy cover. I thought that the story would be mainly about the boy that has the ability to create fire with his mind but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it was about more that than.
I thought Arson would be more of a paranormal novel but to me it was a lot more contemporary with a little bit of paranormal which made for a great story. It focuses more on Arson's struggle trying to keep a low profile around his peers so nobody will notice his ability or what he believes to be a curse. We really don't get to see a lot of his fire ability, just a few glimpses when he tries to get some control over it. Arson is part of a very dysfunctional family, he lives with his grandmother who seems to really hate him sometimes and blames him for the death of his mother which makes Arson feel worse about himself and hate his powers even more. This grandmother had the craziest mood swings, she would be nice and sweet towards Arson one minute and then just go completely evil on him. Those were probably the scariest parts of the book because you really didn't know what this woman would do next and I was just as scared of her as Arson was.
When Emery moves next to Arson's house he finds someone almost as different and an outcast just like him. I really loved Emery, I think more than any other character in the story, and there aren't many good ones in this one. She just had a way that would just win anyone over if you looked past the mask that she wears and gave her a chance, she was brave, smart, fun and easy to talk to. Arson finds this same qualities on her and finds someone he can really talk to with ease and be his true self around her, she makes him come out of his shell and brings a little happiness into his very depressing life. I loved that these two damaged characters grow closer to each other even with all the craziness going on around them and at home.
Estevan Vega throws a few unexpected surprises into the mix, he makes you think that something else is going on in the story and that you think you know what's going to happen next just to be proven wrong. I loved that! With every few pages we get to see the story unravel and see what's really going on in Arson's life and his past. I was glad that we actually get to see Arson's powers come into action towards the end, and they were just as amazing and dangerous as the premise lets you believe. The ending takes the story into a completely different direction, more on the paranormal side. I thought all along that this would be a stand alone novel, and it had the feel of it while reading it, but it leaves you with a heartbreaking cliffhanger of an ending and lots of questions. I can't wait for the next one! I'm really looking forward to seeing where this story will go next and what will happen to Arson and Emery.
I’ve been curious about Arson since I first read its synopsis and saw its creepy cover. I thought that the story would be mainly about the boy that has the ability to create fire with his mind but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it was about more that than.
I thought Arson would be more of a paranormal novel but to me it was a lot more contemporary with a little bit of paranormal which made for a great story. It focuses more on Arson's struggle trying to keep a low profile around his peers so nobody will notice his ability or what he believes to be a curse. We really don't get to see a lot of his fire ability, just a few glimpses when he tries to get some control over it. Arson is part of a very dysfunctional family, he lives with his grandmother who seems to really hate him sometimes and blames him for the death of his mother which makes Arson feel worse about himself and hate his powers even more. This grandmother had the craziest mood swings, she would be nice and sweet towards Arson one minute and then just go completely evil on him. Those were probably the scariest parts of the book because you really didn't know what this woman would do next and I was just as scared of her as Arson was.
When Emery moves next to Arson's house he finds someone almost as different and an outcast just like him. I really loved Emery, I think more than any other character in the story, and there aren't many good ones in this one. She just had a way that would just win anyone over if you looked past the mask that she wears and gave her a chance, she was brave, smart, fun and easy to talk to. Arson finds this same qualities on her and finds someone he can really talk to with ease and be his true self around her, she makes him come out of his shell and brings a little happiness into his very depressing life. I loved that these two damaged characters grow closer to each other even with all the craziness going on around them and at home.
Estevan Vega throws a few unexpected surprises into the mix, he makes you think that something else is going on in the story and that you think you know what's going to happen next just to be proven wrong. I loved that! With every few pages we get to see the story unravel and see what's really going on in Arson's life and his past. I was glad that we actually get to see Arson's powers come into action towards the end, and they were just as amazing and dangerous as the premise lets you believe. The ending takes the story into a completely different direction, more on the paranormal side. I thought all along that this would be a stand alone novel, and it had the feel of it while reading it, but it leaves you with a heartbreaking cliffhanger of an ending and lots of questions. I can't wait for the next one! I'm really looking forward to seeing where this story will go next and what will happen to Arson and Emery.
March 19, 2010
A thrilling ride, that has some realistic look at life. When I first received Arson in the mail, I wasn't sure what to expect. The story was very different, then what I imagined it to be. But in the end, that made me very happy.
Even though Arson has a bit of paranormal elements to it, it's a very good look at some problems that some people might face in life. Whether your the adults or kids. One of the situations in the story, that a character named Emery faces, was a bit like something that happened to me awhile back. Because of that, I really understood Emery's POV. She was the character in the book, who I was the most attached to. More so, then Arson. But I believe, that how the author handled the problem was a bit unbelievable. Whereas Arson's Grandmas dilemma, was totally realistic. It was also the most emotional/believable part of the book.
An intriguing thing about this story, was it reminded me of Beauty and the Beast. Mainly Robin Mckinley's version. In her version she characterizes Beauty (Belle) as a girl who is insecure about herself, and the Beast doesn't understands why. For he sees her true Beauty. In Arson, Emery wears a mask and Arson considers himself a monster. But even when Emery develops as a character, he is able to see her true beauty. Which I thought was pretty interesting. Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairy tale of all time. And I don't know if this is true, but I'm sensing that one of the messages that Arson is trying to communicate is: "Beauty is more than skin deep". Which is a very true statement!
The novel is told in third person, which was a nice touch. It was great to see the different takes on each situation. Estevan Vega is a wonderful author, and Arson most definitely shows that. From the way he writes to the way he takes a situation and turns it into something authentic. But even though the novel was relevantly fast pace and sustained my interest, there were a few things that I thought could of been more developed. The biggest problem I had with the novel was the dialogue. At times it felt unbelievable, and because of that it was hard to connect with the characters. Especially between Emery and Arson. The only other thing that I thought could of been more fleshed out was Arson's powers. They were a bit hard to imagine.
I enjoyed the realism in Arson and how it was captured so perfectly. The ending was the best, most exciting part. And something tells me that Arson's sequel will be more based on paranormal, then the first book. The ending will have you literally craving for more, it won't leave your mind. And the best part is, you don't see the ending coming. It's a total plot twist, which made me love this book even more.
So everyone is this one your wish list? Cause if it's not, then you should most certainly add it. You won't be disappointed.
Even though Arson has a bit of paranormal elements to it, it's a very good look at some problems that some people might face in life. Whether your the adults or kids. One of the situations in the story, that a character named Emery faces, was a bit like something that happened to me awhile back. Because of that, I really understood Emery's POV. She was the character in the book, who I was the most attached to. More so, then Arson. But I believe, that how the author handled the problem was a bit unbelievable. Whereas Arson's Grandmas dilemma, was totally realistic. It was also the most emotional/believable part of the book.
An intriguing thing about this story, was it reminded me of Beauty and the Beast. Mainly Robin Mckinley's version. In her version she characterizes Beauty (Belle) as a girl who is insecure about herself, and the Beast doesn't understands why. For he sees her true Beauty. In Arson, Emery wears a mask and Arson considers himself a monster. But even when Emery develops as a character, he is able to see her true beauty. Which I thought was pretty interesting. Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairy tale of all time. And I don't know if this is true, but I'm sensing that one of the messages that Arson is trying to communicate is: "Beauty is more than skin deep". Which is a very true statement!
The novel is told in third person, which was a nice touch. It was great to see the different takes on each situation. Estevan Vega is a wonderful author, and Arson most definitely shows that. From the way he writes to the way he takes a situation and turns it into something authentic. But even though the novel was relevantly fast pace and sustained my interest, there were a few things that I thought could of been more developed. The biggest problem I had with the novel was the dialogue. At times it felt unbelievable, and because of that it was hard to connect with the characters. Especially between Emery and Arson. The only other thing that I thought could of been more fleshed out was Arson's powers. They were a bit hard to imagine.
I enjoyed the realism in Arson and how it was captured so perfectly. The ending was the best, most exciting part. And something tells me that Arson's sequel will be more based on paranormal, then the first book. The ending will have you literally craving for more, it won't leave your mind. And the best part is, you don't see the ending coming. It's a total plot twist, which made me love this book even more.
So everyone is this one your wish list? Cause if it's not, then you should most certainly add it. You won't be disappointed.
October 10, 2010
From rage comes fire, at least in Arson Gable’s case.
Arson creates fire and it’s consuming him, but he can’t make it stop. He’s always felt alone, his grandmother loves him one minute and despises him the next. His mother died when he was born, fueling his grandmothers hatred of him and he has no idea who his father is. He works a dead end job at an ice cream parlor and has no friends, until a strange girl moves in next door.
That girl is Emery and her life hasn’t been all that fun either. She wears a mask to cover scars of an incident that happened in her childhood, even though her parents hate it and it’s left her ridiculed. Arson & Emery end up becoming close, but something nasty is about to happen that will change both their lives forever.
I was blown right out of the water by Arson, it was hugely engaging! Talent at such a young age freaks me out and make no mistake Estevan Vega is talented. His writing sucks you in and paints a clear picture of the life Arson & Emery live, on the outskirts of the “cool” crowd.
Towards the end of the book, I was talking to the characters like they existed, they seemed that real to me. “Don’t go, don’t do it!” Yes, it was a page turned, one full day of reading and I was done. But damnit if it didn’t end in an epic cliffhanger, so Estevan write faster, I need to know whats next!
The characters were very realistic, take away the fire and you still have a boy uncomfortable with his own skin and a girl who shows strength but inside is just as screwed up as the rest of us were as teenagers. Add family problems to the mix and you’ve got the teenage years we all lived through.
Arson’s grandmother is very much like the grandmother from VC Andrews Flowers in the Attic. You hate her right from the get go, no matter what she does. I loathed her with the fire of a thousand suns and really hoped Arson would set her on fire, alas it wasn’t to be. Grandma is scary, trust me. I got the creeps something fierce.
I loved Emery, she’s snarky even though she’s been through and continues to go through so much. She keeps that attitude as a mask of sorts, underneath the visual mask she wears. Arson, what can I say about Arson? How he continues to live, after all the horrible things he’s been through is amazing. And I have a feeling, the worst is yet to come for Arson.
Why a 4 star rating? The speed kind of fell flat mid book, I was waiting for “something” to happen. Of course that something happens at the end, but it took awhile to get to that point. Overall, I loved it but wished the pace would have kept steady. That said, I am patiently waiting, (maybe not so patiently) for the second book in the series.
Add to it, the author is 21. I can’t imagine writing something so emotional & true at that age. Kudos Estevan!
Arson is a twisted, emotional journey and well worth the read!
Arson creates fire and it’s consuming him, but he can’t make it stop. He’s always felt alone, his grandmother loves him one minute and despises him the next. His mother died when he was born, fueling his grandmothers hatred of him and he has no idea who his father is. He works a dead end job at an ice cream parlor and has no friends, until a strange girl moves in next door.
That girl is Emery and her life hasn’t been all that fun either. She wears a mask to cover scars of an incident that happened in her childhood, even though her parents hate it and it’s left her ridiculed. Arson & Emery end up becoming close, but something nasty is about to happen that will change both their lives forever.
I was blown right out of the water by Arson, it was hugely engaging! Talent at such a young age freaks me out and make no mistake Estevan Vega is talented. His writing sucks you in and paints a clear picture of the life Arson & Emery live, on the outskirts of the “cool” crowd.
Towards the end of the book, I was talking to the characters like they existed, they seemed that real to me. “Don’t go, don’t do it!” Yes, it was a page turned, one full day of reading and I was done. But damnit if it didn’t end in an epic cliffhanger, so Estevan write faster, I need to know whats next!
The characters were very realistic, take away the fire and you still have a boy uncomfortable with his own skin and a girl who shows strength but inside is just as screwed up as the rest of us were as teenagers. Add family problems to the mix and you’ve got the teenage years we all lived through.
Arson’s grandmother is very much like the grandmother from VC Andrews Flowers in the Attic. You hate her right from the get go, no matter what she does. I loathed her with the fire of a thousand suns and really hoped Arson would set her on fire, alas it wasn’t to be. Grandma is scary, trust me. I got the creeps something fierce.
I loved Emery, she’s snarky even though she’s been through and continues to go through so much. She keeps that attitude as a mask of sorts, underneath the visual mask she wears. Arson, what can I say about Arson? How he continues to live, after all the horrible things he’s been through is amazing. And I have a feeling, the worst is yet to come for Arson.
Why a 4 star rating? The speed kind of fell flat mid book, I was waiting for “something” to happen. Of course that something happens at the end, but it took awhile to get to that point. Overall, I loved it but wished the pace would have kept steady. That said, I am patiently waiting, (maybe not so patiently) for the second book in the series.
Add to it, the author is 21. I can’t imagine writing something so emotional & true at that age. Kudos Estevan!
Arson is a twisted, emotional journey and well worth the read!
November 1, 2011
Review by Sabrina: It took a little bit to get into this story. It was a little disjointed in the beginning. It was hard to get into the flow of the story, but once you were there it went just fine. This book is really angsty. Arson loathes himself and tries to fit in, but deep inside knows he is different. The Grandmother is really off her rocker. One minute she is sweet Grandma, the next minute she is a lunatic shouting things, and back again. The girl, Emery, is an out of control teenager. She was involved in an accident when shew as younger and now wears a scary mask so she doesn't feel vulnerable. While we have all toyed with the illusion that if no one can see who we really are, it wont hurt. We also all know how much of a pile of *()* that is. This girl manages to live that dream and you almost want to admire her for it. Except then she starts being an obnoxious teenager with the mentality that no one could possible understand. I have run into this with quite a few teenager and I think the author captured this mentality quite well. You almost admire her for how she braves the world, but then you see the way she treats people around her and you stop rooting for her. Her parents are having their own issues. You feel almost sad for them, until you realize they are doing it to themselves while simultaneously doing it to each other. There is not one great character. All are terribly flawed. I read a lot of comic books and this is actually a trait that I really like. I like knowing that everyone has something that needs monitoring to keep in check or you wouldn't recognize the person you become... But towards the end of this book, it got to be too much. Arson has the only redeeming quality shown in this book- and that does not come out til the very end of the book. The end of the book starts to get really disjointed again, the shift in perspectives happens frequently. Then the climax hits and the book is over... I think because it is a first book it is supposed to end in a cliffhanger but this one was... not a good one. It just made me mad. Not mad that I have to wait to read it... just mad.
I have heard that this author is quite young, early twenties, and I look forward to watching this author get more comfortable with a wider range of emotions. This is a YA novel, perhaps a younger generation would feel differently about this book. I may be in my mid twenties, but the teenage boy is not something I have ever pretended to understand.
Quote: "...You’ve cracked the case. Some sophomoric teenager thinks he has all the answers. When you’re my age and you’ve seen the world for what it truly is, seen human beings for what they are, maybe then you’ll get it. Life isn’t black and white, Arson. It’s filled with shades of gray. So don’t pretend like you have any idea what it’s like, because you don’t.”
I have heard that this author is quite young, early twenties, and I look forward to watching this author get more comfortable with a wider range of emotions. This is a YA novel, perhaps a younger generation would feel differently about this book. I may be in my mid twenties, but the teenage boy is not something I have ever pretended to understand.
Quote: "...You’ve cracked the case. Some sophomoric teenager thinks he has all the answers. When you’re my age and you’ve seen the world for what it truly is, seen human beings for what they are, maybe then you’ll get it. Life isn’t black and white, Arson. It’s filled with shades of gray. So don’t pretend like you have any idea what it’s like, because you don’t.”
January 10, 2012
"The stories didn't seem to care who he was or what he could do; it didn't matter. In their world, he wasn't alone. In their world, a freak like them-like him-could become a hero."
I'm a huge horror fan. Michael Myers, Freddy, Jason, I love them all! So really, the cover and the title of the novel were enough to make me want to read it! A creepy grandmother, strange boy who lights things on fire and a girl who wears a scary mask. Really, what's not to like?
Estevan Vega's created an amazing story set in a lonely little town that follows the story of Arson, a strange boy who can set things on fire with his mind. He's a kid who's had a messed up childhood. He lives with his crazy (also scary) grandmother, works in an ice cream parlor and is crushing on the most unattainable, popular girl from his school. No matter how he hard he tries, Arson can never fit in. Nobody's ever nice to him, no one likes him. Obviously, he's lonely. At least he was until the strange girl who wears a mask moved in next door - Emery.
"What, you've never seen a mask before?
"I have, but not one like this. It's freaky. You know, for a girl. You friends with Michael Myers?"
Emery's got her own story and it's amazing how the plot connects the two strange kids and makes them fall in love!
Arson is just the beginning of this series, it gives us the background of the boy, his life and his strange powers. The story take place from different people's views and it literally gave me chills. The book has this whole House of Wax, Jason Voorhees vibe going on, especially Arson's crazy/downright creepy grandmother (although in Jason's case it was his mother)! However, in our story, Arson isn't a psycho or a serial-killer. He's a confused, lonely boy who has been made to believe that he's evil. The awesome part is that you get to see into everyone's heads and listen to their darkest thoughts and deepest secrets.
The real story,however, begins at the end of Arson and continues in Ashes (I can't wait to start reading it!).
Arson's fascinating and unique novel that'll definitely give you goosebumps. If like me, you're also a little bored of the whole vampire/werewolf-human-happily ever after stories and you're looking for something more different and intense, then this is it. If you've read and liked Jenny Pox, you would love Arson!
April 19, 2010
Arson by Estevan Vega is an exciting ride that gives the reader a realistic look at two teenagers with lives that are anything but ordinary. I have to say, Arson was not what I expected to my (pleasant) surprise. It contained all my favorites- mystery, romance, hope and intriguing characters.
Arson, a 17 year old boy, can create fire with his mind. He lives with his slightly psychotic grandmother and works at a cute ice cream shop in town. Though he is unsure of his supernatural power, he works on controlling it. He is constantly coping with the death of his parents- his grandmother and dreams won't allow him to forget the circumstances of their deaths. And just like the majority of teens out there- he's dealing with all these feelings alone and the loneliness is getting to him. That is, until Emery, the masked and mysterious girl next door and her argumentative parents move into town. Emery is facing problems of her own- constant moving from one place to another, parents consistently bickering, an alcoholic father... oh, and lets not forget she wears a mask. All the time.
So, we've got our two loner teenagers. Their first encounter made me laugh out loud- Emery "saves" Arson from drowning himself- she nose dives into the water to pull him out. Little does she know it is a common past time for Arson to relax face down in the water to get his thoughts together. It was a cute, awkward moment. Emery handled herself well ;) Even though these two didn't initially hit it off, they eventually find themselves enamored of each other. I found myself relating to Emery more than Arson and the rest of the characters. Despite the mask, I found her emotions and honesty the most likable- realistic? I am not sure if I can put my finger on the right word right now, but Emery is by far my favorite character here... Though she bit at my nerves at first. Maybe that is why I liked her so much.
This story is written in the third person and is very easy to follow once you get into it. I did find the first few chapters hard to relate to... I just could not connect with the story or characters at first. Maybe it was the introduction of Emery that changed things for me. Arson was edgy and has an insane cliff hanger ending. Good luck not dropping your jaw in shock- he sets you up perfectly for the sequel. This is all impressive for an author who is only 21. Way to go Estevan- and this isn't even your first book!
Arson, a 17 year old boy, can create fire with his mind. He lives with his slightly psychotic grandmother and works at a cute ice cream shop in town. Though he is unsure of his supernatural power, he works on controlling it. He is constantly coping with the death of his parents- his grandmother and dreams won't allow him to forget the circumstances of their deaths. And just like the majority of teens out there- he's dealing with all these feelings alone and the loneliness is getting to him. That is, until Emery, the masked and mysterious girl next door and her argumentative parents move into town. Emery is facing problems of her own- constant moving from one place to another, parents consistently bickering, an alcoholic father... oh, and lets not forget she wears a mask. All the time.
So, we've got our two loner teenagers. Their first encounter made me laugh out loud- Emery "saves" Arson from drowning himself- she nose dives into the water to pull him out. Little does she know it is a common past time for Arson to relax face down in the water to get his thoughts together. It was a cute, awkward moment. Emery handled herself well ;) Even though these two didn't initially hit it off, they eventually find themselves enamored of each other. I found myself relating to Emery more than Arson and the rest of the characters. Despite the mask, I found her emotions and honesty the most likable- realistic? I am not sure if I can put my finger on the right word right now, but Emery is by far my favorite character here... Though she bit at my nerves at first. Maybe that is why I liked her so much.
This story is written in the third person and is very easy to follow once you get into it. I did find the first few chapters hard to relate to... I just could not connect with the story or characters at first. Maybe it was the introduction of Emery that changed things for me. Arson was edgy and has an insane cliff hanger ending. Good luck not dropping your jaw in shock- he sets you up perfectly for the sequel. This is all impressive for an author who is only 21. Way to go Estevan- and this isn't even your first book!
August 20, 2010
When you are different life can be difficult, not only that, but sometimes unbearable. When you add in a small town setting it makes escape seem impossible. Unfortunately for Arson Gable, he falls into both categories. His life has been incredibly hard and with the absence of both his parents and only his grandparents left to raise him he's left feeling completely alone. Alone, until a strange girl in a mask moves in next door and presents the opportunity to feel welcomed, a part of something. It also presents the possibility of something much more dangerous and possibly life threatening to them both.
Though Arson Gable has an incredible ability, creating fire with only a thought to ignite it, he's not much different than most teenagers who haven't made the cut with the in-crowd. Always on the fringes of kids his age, constantly searching for answers to his problems and hoping for some kind of acceptance. Whether it be from a popular girl, acquaintances at work or a new neighbor, Arson (as would many teenagers) will take what he can find...to a point. His natural ability only adds to the passion of his desires and longings, which propel the story forward with an amazing pace and stunning ending.
It's the friendship of a new neighbor that brings Arson the comfort he's seeking. Emery is Arson's perfect counter-part, she compliments all he is lacking and brings out the best in his character. She gives him a sense of being and purpose, someone who truly understands him and what he's going through. Both come from broken homes in some way or another, have difficult pasts to overcome and need each other desperately. Though Emery wasn't always my favorite character in the book, it's the development of their relationship that kept me going and needing to keep reading the book.
Arson is a beautiful, dare I say, coming of age novel with an original voice. The setting, a small town and a teen on the fringes, is one many teens will be able to relate to in some way. It's Arson Gable's longing for acceptance, his choices and relationship with Emery that stand out for me in the end. As a note I should mention there are scenes in the book that younger audiences may not be mature enough to handle, primarily doing with Arson's ability to create fire, but definitely still appropriate for a young adult audience. Vega's writing mixed with the voice of Arson is something I truly enjoyed, I'm looking forward to reading more and am hoping for a sequel soon!
Though Arson Gable has an incredible ability, creating fire with only a thought to ignite it, he's not much different than most teenagers who haven't made the cut with the in-crowd. Always on the fringes of kids his age, constantly searching for answers to his problems and hoping for some kind of acceptance. Whether it be from a popular girl, acquaintances at work or a new neighbor, Arson (as would many teenagers) will take what he can find...to a point. His natural ability only adds to the passion of his desires and longings, which propel the story forward with an amazing pace and stunning ending.
It's the friendship of a new neighbor that brings Arson the comfort he's seeking. Emery is Arson's perfect counter-part, she compliments all he is lacking and brings out the best in his character. She gives him a sense of being and purpose, someone who truly understands him and what he's going through. Both come from broken homes in some way or another, have difficult pasts to overcome and need each other desperately. Though Emery wasn't always my favorite character in the book, it's the development of their relationship that kept me going and needing to keep reading the book.
Arson is a beautiful, dare I say, coming of age novel with an original voice. The setting, a small town and a teen on the fringes, is one many teens will be able to relate to in some way. It's Arson Gable's longing for acceptance, his choices and relationship with Emery that stand out for me in the end. As a note I should mention there are scenes in the book that younger audiences may not be mature enough to handle, primarily doing with Arson's ability to create fire, but definitely still appropriate for a young adult audience. Vega's writing mixed with the voice of Arson is something I truly enjoyed, I'm looking forward to reading more and am hoping for a sequel soon!
April 20, 2010
From my Blog:
Okay first I just want to say "WOW". I'm worried that my review won't even do this book any justice. It's written so beautifully...yet so twisted and dark. I love it. I'm a lover of the weird and unusual.
First let's talk about Arson character. He can create fire. I felt so sorry for him in the beginning with his crazy grandmother, his sucky job and this curse that makes him feel like a freak. It was just freaking depressing! Then here comes Emery who makes me want to give her a huge hug. When I first picked up this book I thought it was Arson on the cover. I never would have guessed a female character would be wearing that. She feels more comfortable in this Jason mask than she does in her own skin. She has so much spunk and she's so strong but extremely sensitive when it comes to Arson. Her love for him is beyond words. The mask makes her seem rough around the edges at first, but eventually we see that she's just a girly girl with real feelings like the rest of us. Them two together make such a weird but deep relationship. Ever since that day, years ago, he stopped using his power for fear of being called a freak or the devil but when Emery's in danger he doesn't hesitate to set things off! Now that's what I call true love lol.
This could easily cross over to Adult mystery/thriller. I definitely would not call this your everyday YA book. The adults in this book have a voice that is so clear. I love that this entire book wasn't about Arson and his ability to create fire. It had a real plot. Real issues were here, especially surrounding the adults. Excellent character development. For the first time in a while I read a book where I felt like I really KNEW these characters. Vega takes us into their private thoughts which is all a piece of a puzzle. Is it possible to make a mystery/thriller/paranormal/romance all in one book?? YES! I wouldn't believe it myself but it's been done and I was literally on the edge of my seat the whole time. I honestly cannot wait for the sequel. Don't go through summer without picking this one up! This book is definitely a shelf keeper (if only I had the space).
Okay first I just want to say "WOW". I'm worried that my review won't even do this book any justice. It's written so beautifully...yet so twisted and dark. I love it. I'm a lover of the weird and unusual.
First let's talk about Arson character. He can create fire. I felt so sorry for him in the beginning with his crazy grandmother, his sucky job and this curse that makes him feel like a freak. It was just freaking depressing! Then here comes Emery who makes me want to give her a huge hug. When I first picked up this book I thought it was Arson on the cover. I never would have guessed a female character would be wearing that. She feels more comfortable in this Jason mask than she does in her own skin. She has so much spunk and she's so strong but extremely sensitive when it comes to Arson. Her love for him is beyond words. The mask makes her seem rough around the edges at first, but eventually we see that she's just a girly girl with real feelings like the rest of us. Them two together make such a weird but deep relationship. Ever since that day, years ago, he stopped using his power for fear of being called a freak or the devil but when Emery's in danger he doesn't hesitate to set things off! Now that's what I call true love lol.
This could easily cross over to Adult mystery/thriller. I definitely would not call this your everyday YA book. The adults in this book have a voice that is so clear. I love that this entire book wasn't about Arson and his ability to create fire. It had a real plot. Real issues were here, especially surrounding the adults. Excellent character development. For the first time in a while I read a book where I felt like I really KNEW these characters. Vega takes us into their private thoughts which is all a piece of a puzzle. Is it possible to make a mystery/thriller/paranormal/romance all in one book?? YES! I wouldn't believe it myself but it's been done and I was literally on the edge of my seat the whole time. I honestly cannot wait for the sequel. Don't go through summer without picking this one up! This book is definitely a shelf keeper (if only I had the space).
November 10, 2010
C'mon Goodreads! Please give us half stars. My rating for Arson would be 3 1/2 stars if I could use that.
Review:
Arson is a 17 year old boy who can create fire with his mind.
Strong emotions set him off and he has been trying to control his power. He lives with his mentally ill grandmother who treats him as an abomination and is quite cruel to him at times, so there isn’t much support or help for him at home. Other kids think he is a freak and avoid him so he lives a very lonely, isolated life.
Arson finally meets Emery, his new neighbor, during a very funny encounter. Emery wears a mask and has a few secrets of her own. Through their shared pain they form a tentative bond. I loved watching them slowly break down each other’s walls and learn to let someone in and trust another human being. Emery is smart, funny, guarded and vulnerable. Once she decides to trust Arson she goes all out and her honesty is refreshing. I’ve grown tired of reading about characters who won’t just say what their thinking.
Author Estevan Vega has a very unique way of looking at things. I felt he was channeling his inner Edgar Allen Poe. The story is often bleak and sometimes painful to read but for me that’s a good thing – I enjoy creepy.
One thing I didn’t like was how frequently and abruptly the story shifted to the other characters POV’s. Emery’s mother/father, Arson’s grandmother all get storylines and it often felt like I was reading three different books. All interesting, but not necessarily working well together or maybe I just wanted more of Emery and Arson.
By the end, the emotion, the action and the mysteries all come together and now I want to know what happens next. Arson ends on a cliffhanger but it’s not a frustrating one. I’m interested to see where the author takes this story and if it focuses more on Arson & Emery, Arson's powers, and if the different plot threads tie together.
Liked: The interactions between Arson and Emery are the high point. The ending left me very curious about Arson’s gift/curse. Loved the cover.
Nitpick: See above – I wished the story had stayed more focused on those two characters. Too many POV's .
Review:
Arson is a 17 year old boy who can create fire with his mind.
Strong emotions set him off and he has been trying to control his power. He lives with his mentally ill grandmother who treats him as an abomination and is quite cruel to him at times, so there isn’t much support or help for him at home. Other kids think he is a freak and avoid him so he lives a very lonely, isolated life.
Arson finally meets Emery, his new neighbor, during a very funny encounter. Emery wears a mask and has a few secrets of her own. Through their shared pain they form a tentative bond. I loved watching them slowly break down each other’s walls and learn to let someone in and trust another human being. Emery is smart, funny, guarded and vulnerable. Once she decides to trust Arson she goes all out and her honesty is refreshing. I’ve grown tired of reading about characters who won’t just say what their thinking.
Author Estevan Vega has a very unique way of looking at things. I felt he was channeling his inner Edgar Allen Poe. The story is often bleak and sometimes painful to read but for me that’s a good thing – I enjoy creepy.
One thing I didn’t like was how frequently and abruptly the story shifted to the other characters POV’s. Emery’s mother/father, Arson’s grandmother all get storylines and it often felt like I was reading three different books. All interesting, but not necessarily working well together or maybe I just wanted more of Emery and Arson.
By the end, the emotion, the action and the mysteries all come together and now I want to know what happens next. Arson ends on a cliffhanger but it’s not a frustrating one. I’m interested to see where the author takes this story and if it focuses more on Arson & Emery, Arson's powers, and if the different plot threads tie together.
Liked: The interactions between Arson and Emery are the high point. The ending left me very curious about Arson’s gift/curse. Loved the cover.
Nitpick: See above – I wished the story had stayed more focused on those two characters. Too many POV's .
August 23, 2012
Originally Reviewed At:Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Blog Tour
Reviewer: AimeeKay
I liked Arson…in the beginning. There were secrets about Arson and his family that kept me turning the pages. Plus I liked Emery. She was fascinating.
Nevertheless, as I got farther into the book I began to become irritated. The story keeps hinting at Arson’s ability be we don’t actually get to see anything of it until the last few chapters in the book. Instead the book seems to focus on everything else that is going on around Arson; his crappy job, his unstable grandmother, Emery’s parents and their failing marriage. Some of it made sense. Arson’s life IS one of misery and misunderstanding, so I see the author is showing us how miserable and isolated Arson truly is. But I didn’t see why it had to focus so much on Emery’s parents. I thought the book was about Arson, not about a failing marriage. It eventually started wear on my nerves because I started to loathe her parents by the end of the novel.
In fact, the only character I really had any interest in at all by the end was Emery. Yes she was self righteous, and more than a little big off, but she didn’t whine about EVERYTHING, she stood up for herself. She had a backbone, something that seemed to have been beaten out of Arson. I understood how he was manipulated by his grandmother. However, I don’t understand how he keeps letting Mandy play with his head. Especially after he decides he is in love with Emery.
It was just extremely frustrating. The majority of the book felt drug out, there is some action at the end, and then it just drops off in a straight cliffie. I don’t know if I would want to read the next book in the trilogy. If it focused more on Arson and Emery, maybe, I still really didn’t understand why it spent so much time on Emery’s parents. I give it 2 and 1/2 out of five controllers. Overall, I don’t think the author focused enough of the books attention on the main characters or the paranormal part of the story. A grave tragedy.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Blog Tour
Reviewer: AimeeKay
I liked Arson…in the beginning. There were secrets about Arson and his family that kept me turning the pages. Plus I liked Emery. She was fascinating.
Nevertheless, as I got farther into the book I began to become irritated. The story keeps hinting at Arson’s ability be we don’t actually get to see anything of it until the last few chapters in the book. Instead the book seems to focus on everything else that is going on around Arson; his crappy job, his unstable grandmother, Emery’s parents and their failing marriage. Some of it made sense. Arson’s life IS one of misery and misunderstanding, so I see the author is showing us how miserable and isolated Arson truly is. But I didn’t see why it had to focus so much on Emery’s parents. I thought the book was about Arson, not about a failing marriage. It eventually started wear on my nerves because I started to loathe her parents by the end of the novel.
In fact, the only character I really had any interest in at all by the end was Emery. Yes she was self righteous, and more than a little big off, but she didn’t whine about EVERYTHING, she stood up for herself. She had a backbone, something that seemed to have been beaten out of Arson. I understood how he was manipulated by his grandmother. However, I don’t understand how he keeps letting Mandy play with his head. Especially after he decides he is in love with Emery.
It was just extremely frustrating. The majority of the book felt drug out, there is some action at the end, and then it just drops off in a straight cliffie. I don’t know if I would want to read the next book in the trilogy. If it focused more on Arson and Emery, maybe, I still really didn’t understand why it spent so much time on Emery’s parents. I give it 2 and 1/2 out of five controllers. Overall, I don’t think the author focused enough of the books attention on the main characters or the paranormal part of the story. A grave tragedy.
February 20, 2010
Arson is a beautifully written, coming of age tale about the hardship of life and relationships with a paranormal twist. It literally stunned me. At first glance, it sounds pretty simple. A boy who can summon fire falling in love with a who wears a mask, most likely due to fire related injuries. That’s what you’re thinking, right? If you are, you’re very wrong.
This has to be one of the most demented novels I’ve ever read, and I mean that in the best way possible. Arson tells the stories of all the characters; the main character’s madcap grandmother, the eccentric new girl, Emery, who hides behind a mask and her parents, a shunned minister and his straying wife who hold a world of problems between them. And Arson, the protagonist who tries to control his destructive emotions for the sake of his unwanted gift. Though each character doesn’t quite intertwine, their personalities and issues force more weight upon Arson and Emery’s shoulders, only intensifying their relationship further.
Estevan Vega is insanely talented. After only the first page, I was shocked by the grace and flow of his words. Arson is gritty, raw and horrifyingly honest yet it’s written with such elegance. Though it had it’s random moments, I was so engrossed with this story.
The ending might cause you to drop book in shock, as I literally did. It’s such an unpredictable twist, but it sets up perfectly for the sequel that I will be impatiently awaiting. Overall, Arson was an edgy, ruthless and gorgeous story that I can only recommend to mature readers.
This has to be one of the most demented novels I’ve ever read, and I mean that in the best way possible. Arson tells the stories of all the characters; the main character’s madcap grandmother, the eccentric new girl, Emery, who hides behind a mask and her parents, a shunned minister and his straying wife who hold a world of problems between them. And Arson, the protagonist who tries to control his destructive emotions for the sake of his unwanted gift. Though each character doesn’t quite intertwine, their personalities and issues force more weight upon Arson and Emery’s shoulders, only intensifying their relationship further.
Estevan Vega is insanely talented. After only the first page, I was shocked by the grace and flow of his words. Arson is gritty, raw and horrifyingly honest yet it’s written with such elegance. Though it had it’s random moments, I was so engrossed with this story.
The ending might cause you to drop book in shock, as I literally did. It’s such an unpredictable twist, but it sets up perfectly for the sequel that I will be impatiently awaiting. Overall, Arson was an edgy, ruthless and gorgeous story that I can only recommend to mature readers.
February 20, 2011
From shutupimreading.blogspot.com
Arson was so unlike anything I've ever read. And it worked.
I'll admit that for the first 100 pages or so, it wasn't grabbing me. Then, out of nowhere, it did. Fully. I guess I had to give myself time to adjust to the uniqueness of the novel and connect with the characters.
And the characters. Geesh they were so...everything. Layered. Different. Easy to relate to. I don't know why, but it's so easy to fall for these characters that have inner and outer wounds that they can't escape from. Even when they make mistakes, you can't be too mad at them. I love it when I connect so well to the main characters, Arson and Emery. The rest were okay, but they were my favorites.
I'm not entirely sure what to call this genre. It had a fire boy, along with a girl unable to cope with the past, two very dysfunctional families, and subtle religious undertones....It wasn't an action-packed paranormal like I'd expected, but more a beautiful story that's easy to get invested in.
I'm pretty sure this is the start to a potentially amazing new series. Basically, read Arson. It's a story that will stay with you.
Book Report:
Plot: Slow moving at first, but ends up being gripping.
Characters: I love Arson and Emery, but the others are pretty crazy.
Writing: So good.
Ending: There's a sequel, right?!?
How kid friendly is it? Slight drinking and drug use and mentions of sex, but it's never graphic at all.
Should I read it? If you need action, then no. But if you can appreciate a great story, definitely.
Overall: 4 stars
Arson was so unlike anything I've ever read. And it worked.
I'll admit that for the first 100 pages or so, it wasn't grabbing me. Then, out of nowhere, it did. Fully. I guess I had to give myself time to adjust to the uniqueness of the novel and connect with the characters.
And the characters. Geesh they were so...everything. Layered. Different. Easy to relate to. I don't know why, but it's so easy to fall for these characters that have inner and outer wounds that they can't escape from. Even when they make mistakes, you can't be too mad at them. I love it when I connect so well to the main characters, Arson and Emery. The rest were okay, but they were my favorites.
I'm not entirely sure what to call this genre. It had a fire boy, along with a girl unable to cope with the past, two very dysfunctional families, and subtle religious undertones....It wasn't an action-packed paranormal like I'd expected, but more a beautiful story that's easy to get invested in.
I'm pretty sure this is the start to a potentially amazing new series. Basically, read Arson. It's a story that will stay with you.
Book Report:
Plot: Slow moving at first, but ends up being gripping.
Characters: I love Arson and Emery, but the others are pretty crazy.
Writing: So good.
Ending: There's a sequel, right?!?
How kid friendly is it? Slight drinking and drug use and mentions of sex, but it's never graphic at all.
Should I read it? If you need action, then no. But if you can appreciate a great story, definitely.
Overall: 4 stars
March 16, 2010
Rating: 4.5
Arson, was such a heartbreaking and emotional read. Estevan's way with words blew me away. The premise and character development ignited these fictional characters to turn realistic in my imagination. Every chapter was thought out and meshed well with the suspense and mystery. Arson, the main character, was a treat. He was so complex yet so simple. He was born with the ability to create fire. A curse in his eyes. Arson never asked to be seen as a "freak," all he yearned for was love. His grandmother, which he lived with, was a weird character. Mentally, she wasn't all there. I hated when Arson would get caught in her crossfire of crazyness. He was the type of person you just wanted to hug after his story was revealed.
Fortunately for him and me, Emery came along. At first, she was just the strange masked girl next door. I cannot tell you how much I loved her personality. She was so sassy and always full of sarcasm. Nothing seemed to ruin her mood even though her family life was a downer. I enjoyed the growing friendship between them. It was truly beautiful seeing Arson connect with somebody on an emotional level. Towards the end of the book, holy crap, crazy twists I wasn't expecting. I have so many questions! There was such a cliffhanger that I wish I seriously had the sequel in my hands, I hope Estevan finishes it soon. Overall, an intense, suspense filled book written by a gifted young author.
Arson, was such a heartbreaking and emotional read. Estevan's way with words blew me away. The premise and character development ignited these fictional characters to turn realistic in my imagination. Every chapter was thought out and meshed well with the suspense and mystery. Arson, the main character, was a treat. He was so complex yet so simple. He was born with the ability to create fire. A curse in his eyes. Arson never asked to be seen as a "freak," all he yearned for was love. His grandmother, which he lived with, was a weird character. Mentally, she wasn't all there. I hated when Arson would get caught in her crossfire of crazyness. He was the type of person you just wanted to hug after his story was revealed.
Fortunately for him and me, Emery came along. At first, she was just the strange masked girl next door. I cannot tell you how much I loved her personality. She was so sassy and always full of sarcasm. Nothing seemed to ruin her mood even though her family life was a downer. I enjoyed the growing friendship between them. It was truly beautiful seeing Arson connect with somebody on an emotional level. Towards the end of the book, holy crap, crazy twists I wasn't expecting. I have so many questions! There was such a cliffhanger that I wish I seriously had the sequel in my hands, I hope Estevan finishes it soon. Overall, an intense, suspense filled book written by a gifted young author.
October 28, 2011
Estevan Vega is my new fav author. I enjoyed Arson so much (both the book and the character) that I purchased the sequel, Ashes, before I even finished Arson! I always give credit to those that can bring fresh new ideas to the paranormal genre...so kudos to Mr. Vega!
From the very beginning, I was drawn into Arson's less than perfect world. And with Vega's ability to switch POV's effortlessly (which I think was essential and a great move by Vega, as the story needed to be told through multiple characters), I was able to emerse myself into the lives of the other characters in the story. The characters were flawed, raw, and hardened, but still managed to reach out for salvation (love).
While on the surface it appears to be a horror/paranormal novel, Arson was rather touching, actually.
From the very beginning, I was drawn into Arson's less than perfect world. And with Vega's ability to switch POV's effortlessly (which I think was essential and a great move by Vega, as the story needed to be told through multiple characters), I was able to emerse myself into the lives of the other characters in the story. The characters were flawed, raw, and hardened, but still managed to reach out for salvation (love).
While on the surface it appears to be a horror/paranormal novel, Arson was rather touching, actually.
December 18, 2011
(a similar version of this review can be found here at Into the Hall of Books: http://www.intothehallofbooks.com/201...)
Arson has to have the coolest cover I've ever seen, so naturally - me being me - I wanted to read it. You guys, Arson Gable completely won me over in the biggest way possible. I absolutely loved his story and thought he was a wonderful character...and he became even better when his friend Emery showed up. Here...let me back up a little bit...
Why you need to read Arson as soon as possible. Like, right NOW:
1. The Characters. Excellent characters. Some of them I loved and some of them I didn't love so much...but I think that was the point. The main focus, for me, was Arson and Emery...and they stole my heart.
Arson's Grandma is another interesting character. She's just plain awful, but I'm not sure that she means to be. In the beginning of the book, she seems to be downright evil...almost gaining a sick pleasure from punishing Arson harshly for seemingly very negligent things. As the story progresses, however, we learn more about Grandma and we realize why she acts the way she does. Arson's relationship with her is so tortured - on the one hand, he loves her very much. She's raised him since the death of his mother (even though she blames him for her death). On the other hand, he hates her because she is so cruel to him.
There are also Emery's parents, Joel and Aimee. These two are tough to read because they are in a marriage-gone-bad. Joel and Aimee are written perfectly...still married but estranged and barely hanging by a thread, even to the point where Aimee is repulsed by Joel because he still loves her so much. Their story is fascinating and heartbreaking and very true to life.
ALL of these characters are developed slowly throughout the story, almost nugget by nugget. It was my job as the reader to put all of the pieces together so that by the end of the book I knew fleshy, three-dimensional characters. It did take the whole book for the most of them, but I really enjoyed it that way. By the end of the story, I really felt like I knew all of these characters.
2. Mystery. Good gracious, there are little pieces of mystery around every corner in this book! Arson deals with horrible guilt over some event from his past that we are allowed only brief glimpses into a few times...Emery wears her mask to hide scars that result from some event that changed her life forever...Grandma acts super strange and goes from making perfect sense in one breath to making no sense whatsoever in the next breath...and What is going on with Joel and Aimee?...What is the deal with all of these people? The great thing about these scenarios is that - like with the characters - details are revealed in bits and pieces, so that by the end of the book we get the bigger picture. By the end of the story, most of the mysteries are solved...although there are some that are left open to (hopefully!) flow into the next book, Ashes.
3. Paranormal. Okay, yes, there are obviously paranormal aspects to this book. I mean, Arson starts fires with his mind. But like most everything else, the details of this ability are revealed bit-by-bit, in glimpses. But BOY OH BOY the paranormal comes full circle in a big, raging way at the end! WHOA. And there is fire involved. And it is awesome. That's all I'm saying...
4. The Structure. Alternating POV: not only between Arson and Emery, but it seems like everyone has a little bit of this story to tell. While Arson and Emery are the main storytellers (and yay for this!), it is nice to hear from everyone. After all, there is a lot going on in this book and the stories are almost layered...so this narrative structure is nice and flows very easily. The pacing is good - not too fast, not too slow. This is important in a book like this where there is so much story and it is handed out slowly...I was never lost and it never lost my interest. I was admittedly a teensy bit confused in the first few pages, but this very quickly resolved and once it did, it was non-stop from there until the end!
5. Romance. Come on, you guys! It was bound to happen, right? The two loners find comfort in each other and their differences. These two can be completely themselves around one another and not feel like freaks. Eventually, they let their walls down and their odd friendship turns into a comfortable friendship, and eventually that turns into a crush. Before we know it, these two are in love...and I'm not talking about a silly YA romance. I mean an I-would-do-anything-for-you kind of love. From the start to the last word of this book, this relationship - as quirky as it was - was perfect and amazing and written ridiculously well. I love it so much.
6. The End. Um, can somebody say CLIFFHANGER? Thankfully, the next book is already out or I would be beating down Estevan Vega's door. I am as serious as I can be! I need Ashes THIS INSTANT.
7. The Cover. THE COOLEST cover I've ever seen on a book. Ever. Estevan Vega, you win the prize!
I don't really know that my words can adequately tell you guys how much I love Arson Gable and his story. He is such a unique character with a freakishly weird ability and an interesting relationship with an equally odd girl next door. The people he comes in contact with are not nice to him and they are not nice to the girl he loves. And things happen because of this.
In this story, everyone has issues. It is one of the things that makes it so wonderful. Even the scenes that aren't Arson-and-Emery-centered are important and well thought-out and amazing. This is honestly one of the most honest and brilliantly written books I've read in a very long time.
I want everyone to read Arson. I want extra copies so I can put them in the hands of people I know. And I want to know what happens next in this story as soon as possible. I need Ashes! Something tells me there are big things coming up in that book...and I want to know what they are.
**I received a review copy from the author, Estevan Vega, and StoneHouse Ink, in exchange for an honest opinion and review. I received no compensation for my thoughts. Thank you SO MUCH!
Arson has to have the coolest cover I've ever seen, so naturally - me being me - I wanted to read it. You guys, Arson Gable completely won me over in the biggest way possible. I absolutely loved his story and thought he was a wonderful character...and he became even better when his friend Emery showed up. Here...let me back up a little bit...
Why you need to read Arson as soon as possible. Like, right NOW:
1. The Characters. Excellent characters. Some of them I loved and some of them I didn't love so much...but I think that was the point. The main focus, for me, was Arson and Emery...and they stole my heart.
**Arson. Can start fires with his mind, but doesn't understand how or why he can do this. Because of thisawesomeawful ability, Arson feels like a freak. He hates it. A loner, he rarely interacts with anyone other than his Grandma and his interaction with her is not all that great. Reading Arson (the character) was so hard because it is not easy to watch someone hate himself so much. It becomes much easier to read him when Emery shows up.
**Emery. Moves with her parents into the vacant house near Arson. A bit of a freak herself, Emery always wears a mask to cover some disfiguring facial scars. Emery seems very sure of herself but really she has a very crumbly life, with her parents fighting all the time and all of her dad's other problems. Arson is enamored with her, and slowly these two become interesting friends.
Arson's Grandma is another interesting character. She's just plain awful, but I'm not sure that she means to be. In the beginning of the book, she seems to be downright evil...almost gaining a sick pleasure from punishing Arson harshly for seemingly very negligent things. As the story progresses, however, we learn more about Grandma and we realize why she acts the way she does. Arson's relationship with her is so tortured - on the one hand, he loves her very much. She's raised him since the death of his mother (even though she blames him for her death). On the other hand, he hates her because she is so cruel to him.
There are also Emery's parents, Joel and Aimee. These two are tough to read because they are in a marriage-gone-bad. Joel and Aimee are written perfectly...still married but estranged and barely hanging by a thread, even to the point where Aimee is repulsed by Joel because he still loves her so much. Their story is fascinating and heartbreaking and very true to life.
ALL of these characters are developed slowly throughout the story, almost nugget by nugget. It was my job as the reader to put all of the pieces together so that by the end of the book I knew fleshy, three-dimensional characters. It did take the whole book for the most of them, but I really enjoyed it that way. By the end of the story, I really felt like I knew all of these characters.
2. Mystery. Good gracious, there are little pieces of mystery around every corner in this book! Arson deals with horrible guilt over some event from his past that we are allowed only brief glimpses into a few times...Emery wears her mask to hide scars that result from some event that changed her life forever...Grandma acts super strange and goes from making perfect sense in one breath to making no sense whatsoever in the next breath...and What is going on with Joel and Aimee?...What is the deal with all of these people? The great thing about these scenarios is that - like with the characters - details are revealed in bits and pieces, so that by the end of the book we get the bigger picture. By the end of the story, most of the mysteries are solved...although there are some that are left open to (hopefully!) flow into the next book, Ashes.
3. Paranormal. Okay, yes, there are obviously paranormal aspects to this book. I mean, Arson starts fires with his mind. But like most everything else, the details of this ability are revealed bit-by-bit, in glimpses. But BOY OH BOY the paranormal comes full circle in a big, raging way at the end! WHOA. And there is fire involved. And it is awesome. That's all I'm saying...
4. The Structure. Alternating POV: not only between Arson and Emery, but it seems like everyone has a little bit of this story to tell. While Arson and Emery are the main storytellers (and yay for this!), it is nice to hear from everyone. After all, there is a lot going on in this book and the stories are almost layered...so this narrative structure is nice and flows very easily. The pacing is good - not too fast, not too slow. This is important in a book like this where there is so much story and it is handed out slowly...I was never lost and it never lost my interest. I was admittedly a teensy bit confused in the first few pages, but this very quickly resolved and once it did, it was non-stop from there until the end!
5. Romance. Come on, you guys! It was bound to happen, right? The two loners find comfort in each other and their differences. These two can be completely themselves around one another and not feel like freaks. Eventually, they let their walls down and their odd friendship turns into a comfortable friendship, and eventually that turns into a crush. Before we know it, these two are in love...and I'm not talking about a silly YA romance. I mean an I-would-do-anything-for-you kind of love. From the start to the last word of this book, this relationship - as quirky as it was - was perfect and amazing and written ridiculously well. I love it so much.
6. The End. Um, can somebody say CLIFFHANGER? Thankfully, the next book is already out or I would be beating down Estevan Vega's door. I am as serious as I can be! I need Ashes THIS INSTANT.
7. The Cover. THE COOLEST cover I've ever seen on a book. Ever. Estevan Vega, you win the prize!
I don't really know that my words can adequately tell you guys how much I love Arson Gable and his story. He is such a unique character with a freakishly weird ability and an interesting relationship with an equally odd girl next door. The people he comes in contact with are not nice to him and they are not nice to the girl he loves. And things happen because of this.
In this story, everyone has issues. It is one of the things that makes it so wonderful. Even the scenes that aren't Arson-and-Emery-centered are important and well thought-out and amazing. This is honestly one of the most honest and brilliantly written books I've read in a very long time.
I want everyone to read Arson. I want extra copies so I can put them in the hands of people I know. And I want to know what happens next in this story as soon as possible. I need Ashes! Something tells me there are big things coming up in that book...and I want to know what they are.
Arson will appeal to fans of:
Fire
Slowly developing friendship-into-romance
Alternating POV
Great pacing with multiple subplots
Mystery/Thriller with some Paranormal
Character-driven stories
Suitable for all-ages YA as well as adult readers
Arson by Estevan Vega is currently available for purchase.
(Do NOT be worried about the CLIFFHANGER ending,
as book two, Ashes, is currently available for purchase as well!)
**I received a review copy from the author, Estevan Vega, and StoneHouse Ink, in exchange for an honest opinion and review. I received no compensation for my thoughts. Thank you SO MUCH!
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