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4saradouglas's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this book was pretty great. The story was interesting and we got a very fresh perspective. I thought Lyga did a great job getting us into the mind of Jazz, a boy raised by a serial killer. There were so many subtle thoughts and actions that showed perfectly that Jazz is VERY different from us, no matter how hard he fights it. I thought the action towards the middle got just a little slow and the ending was a bit of a confusing rush, but there was the hint at a sequel, so I'm quite pleased. Great book overall!
chemwitch's review against another edition
3.0
I haven't slept, I'm in the middle of a read, and I'm at work. What a great time to write a review!
This book had... a lot going on.
Our MC is Jasper "Jazz" Dent, son of a serial killer. Throughout the book he struggles with the "nature vs. nurture" question that psychologists have been asking for decades. Does being raised by a serial killer mean you'll become one? I didn't necessarily like Jazz. He is whiny and thoughtless and cruel and dark. He thinks he knows everything and everyone else knows nothing. His behavior is occasionally disgusting and he is a great protagonist to this story.
Our side characters are Howie and Connie. Howie is Jazz's best friend and a severe hemophiliac. He's... kind of gross and crude. He's also meant to be a 17 year old boy, so I'll buy it. He means well and tries to keep Jazz from going too dark. He's a comic relief character. Connie is Jazz's girlfriend. She is a total bad ass who keeps Jazz grounded and reminds him that people can be dark without being evil. I love her and would die for her. Connie for President 2020.
The biggest part of what makes this book a three-star read is the plot. I saw the twist coming from a mile away, and I'm not terribly good at guessing twists. The murder felt almost shoe-horned in, between the angst and the romance and the angst. Did I say angst twice? I hated to see Jazz triumph over actual police officers. There was just a lot shoved into a YA novel and it felt like any of these ideas on their own would have been fine.
Also, the entire cast of characters seems fine, just fine with the disgusting treatment of Jazz's grandmother. He literally drugs her. It's gross. Which fine, it can be argued he's an edgy boi or whatever but the whole cast just doesn't give her a second thought. Ew?
1/13/19: 3.5 stars. Decently entertaining. I would die for Connie. Rtc
This book had... a lot going on.
Our MC is Jasper "Jazz" Dent, son of a serial killer. Throughout the book he struggles with the "nature vs. nurture" question that psychologists have been asking for decades. Does being raised by a serial killer mean you'll become one? I didn't necessarily like Jazz. He is whiny and thoughtless and cruel and dark. He thinks he knows everything and everyone else knows nothing. His behavior is occasionally disgusting and he is a great protagonist to this story.
Our side characters are Howie and Connie. Howie is Jazz's best friend and a severe hemophiliac. He's... kind of gross and crude. He's also meant to be a 17 year old boy, so I'll buy it. He means well and tries to keep Jazz from going too dark. He's a comic relief character. Connie is Jazz's girlfriend. She is a total bad ass who keeps Jazz grounded and reminds him that people can be dark without being evil. I love her and would die for her. Connie for President 2020.
The biggest part of what makes this book a three-star read is the plot. I saw the twist coming from a mile away, and I'm not terribly good at guessing twists. The murder felt almost shoe-horned in, between the angst and the romance and the angst. Did I say angst twice? I hated to see Jazz triumph over actual police officers. There was just a lot shoved into a YA novel and it felt like any of these ideas on their own would have been fine.
Also, the entire cast of characters seems fine, just fine with the disgusting treatment of Jazz's grandmother. He literally drugs her. It's gross. Which fine, it can be argued he's an edgy boi or whatever but the whole cast just doesn't give her a second thought. Ew?
1/13/19: 3.5 stars. Decently entertaining. I would die for Connie. Rtc
daggerandrosae's review against another edition
5.0
OH MY GOD THIS BOOK
okay jasper is literally one of the best characters I've ever came across? I laughed and cried and died at the same time. AND THE FINAL PART I WAS SCREAMING AND MY MUM PROBABLY HATES ME RIGHT NOW.
Honestly, if you love dark characters, sociopaths, secrets, criminal minds stuff, strong black girls and funny adorable friends READ THIS!!
can't wait to read the second one!
okay jasper is literally one of the best characters I've ever came across? I laughed and cried and died at the same time. AND THE FINAL PART I WAS SCREAMING AND MY MUM PROBABLY HATES ME RIGHT NOW.
Honestly, if you love dark characters, sociopaths, secrets, criminal minds stuff, strong black girls and funny adorable friends READ THIS!!
can't wait to read the second one!
sam_505's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
jephapha's review against another edition
5.0
Lyga's writing is so-so, but his storytelling is gripping. This book draws you in and doesn't let go, and it has you turning the pages quickly as each chapter comes and goes, as if you can help find the killer if only you can get to the next page that much quicker. While this was a re-read, I was just as intrigued and on the edge of my seat as the first time I read this.
caitlinxreads's review against another edition
3.0
This is about Jasper, the son of one of the most notorious serial killers in the world. This novel is about Jazz trying to prove he isn't like his father by solving murders.
The mystery was compelling, but I didn't like a single character.
The mystery was compelling, but I didn't like a single character.
onceuponthesewords's review against another edition
4.0
Please read all the trigger warnings before starting this!
I was immediately intrigued by the summary, and I absolutely devoured this book. There were a handful of graphic scenes that made me sad/angry (especially the animal abuse one, sigh). I don’t get freaked out easily, but I couldn’t read this one at night sometimes because I couldn’t stomach some of the scenes.
That being said, there was never a dull moment in this book. All of the conflicting emotions going on inside Jazz’s brain made the story interesting too.
I didn’t guess the plot twist, and that ending was WOW. Now excuse me while I go IMMEDIATELY pick up the second book.
I was immediately intrigued by the summary, and I absolutely devoured this book. There were a handful of graphic scenes that made me sad/angry (especially the animal abuse one, sigh). I don’t get freaked out easily, but I couldn’t read this one at night sometimes because I couldn’t stomach some of the scenes.
That being said, there was never a dull moment in this book. All of the conflicting emotions going on inside Jazz’s brain made the story interesting too.
I didn’t guess the plot twist, and that ending was WOW. Now excuse me while I go IMMEDIATELY pick up the second book.
ctin2's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
thebookhaze's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really good book in the way it explored a person's humanity. Who hasn't entertain thoughts of killing someone they hated at one time or another? We all have, except we also know (most of the time) that we wouldn't actually do it, that we're just venting on our frustrations.
Jasper Dent however, has to second guess himself all the time, whenever he gets mad enough to feel rage, he thinks that he must be a bad person because he's thinking of killing the other person. I felt for him, and I thought he was a very well-adjusted person despite his upbringing and all the bad things he's had to go through.
Even the manipulation that he does, which he thinks is a bad thing, is actually pretty normal. Most people do it, consciously or not, and some are just better at it than others. This book gives a very interesting glimpse into the psyche of a regular human being who's normal but worries about every little nuance of his thoughts and character, just because of his genes.
We all are mad, in our own ways, some more than others, but worrying about being mad can actually drive you mad. =)
Jasper Dent however, has to second guess himself all the time, whenever he gets mad enough to feel rage, he thinks that he must be a bad person because he's thinking of killing the other person. I felt for him, and I thought he was a very well-adjusted person despite his upbringing and all the bad things he's had to go through.
Even the manipulation that he does, which he thinks is a bad thing, is actually pretty normal. Most people do it, consciously or not, and some are just better at it than others. This book gives a very interesting glimpse into the psyche of a regular human being who's normal but worries about every little nuance of his thoughts and character, just because of his genes.
We all are mad, in our own ways, some more than others, but worrying about being mad can actually drive you mad. =)
franuary's review against another edition
4.0
The reveals in this book were way too simple to figure out, but this is an issue in most YA mysteries honestly. Why aren't YA authors giving teens a little more credit? It's kind of sad when the reader figures everything out before this supposedly awesome killer hunter. Still, I loved Jasper as a character, and I look forward to reading more in this series.
I recommend this to anyone who has seen an episode or two of The Following and loved the concept, but was annoyed by the seemingly never-ending stream of serial killer groupies. This reads like a good parts version of that show (albeit with no Kevin Bacon, sadly).
I recommend this to anyone who has seen an episode or two of The Following and loved the concept, but was annoyed by the seemingly never-ending stream of serial killer groupies. This reads like a good parts version of that show (albeit with no Kevin Bacon, sadly).