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writerlibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
The darkest and bleakest novel in the series yet. Henry faces life after Josh's death. He stumbles into a web of intrigue, violence, deception and power. Caught between his grief and being accused of murder, Henry makes his way through darkness. This is not a happy book but it is Nava's most important plot, he doesn't cut corners, doesn't cheat on the bleak outcome. It's a hard read but a good one. Most definitely 3 1/2 stars.
claudia_is_reading's review against another edition
5.0
This is probably the most heart-stopping book in the series. Filled with danger, action and a permanent sense of dread and helplessness, I simply couldn't stop listening.
Josh is dead, and Henry wasn't as ready to face that fact as he thought he would be. Add to that a battle with Josh's parents regarding his last will and you'll see why Henry wasn't in a good place to start with.
But then, he gets obsessed with a young man who reminds him of Josh, and after a date that ends disastrously, the young man gets murdered and Henry is the main suspect. From then on, the story takes a break-necking pace: more bodies, horribly mutilated, show-up; people disappear and the worst of Hollywood's world is shown in stark relief.
The story is dark, the darkest yet in a series not characterized by its lightness, and for a long time, despairing, as it seems that Henry and his allies are surrounded by corruption, derailed at every turn and that they will be unable to bring justice to the victims.
The Henry we see here is not the one we're used to seeing. He's vulnerable and he makes foolish decisions because of it. He is haunted by his own mortality and his brush with death. The themes of hate and self-hatred are heavy here, heavier than ever and the characters... they are so well constructed! You understand them, even when you hate and despise them.
The conclusion was satisfactory in a very twisted way, but also realistic. Karma, as they say, is a bitch.
Thom Rivera keeps doing an excellent job with the narration. I'll have to add him to my list of favourite narrators :)
Josh is dead, and Henry wasn't as ready to face that fact as he thought he would be. Add to that a battle with Josh's parents regarding his last will and you'll see why Henry wasn't in a good place to start with.
But then, he gets obsessed with a young man who reminds him of Josh, and after a date that ends disastrously, the young man gets murdered and Henry is the main suspect. From then on, the story takes a break-necking pace: more bodies, horribly mutilated, show-up; people disappear and the worst of Hollywood's world is shown in stark relief.
The story is dark, the darkest yet in a series not characterized by its lightness, and for a long time, despairing, as it seems that Henry and his allies are surrounded by corruption, derailed at every turn and that they will be unable to bring justice to the victims.
The Henry we see here is not the one we're used to seeing. He's vulnerable and he makes foolish decisions because of it. He is haunted by his own mortality and his brush with death. The themes of hate and self-hatred are heavy here, heavier than ever and the characters... they are so well constructed! You understand them, even when you hate and despise them.
The conclusion was satisfactory in a very twisted way, but also realistic. Karma, as they say, is a bitch.
Thom Rivera keeps doing an excellent job with the narration. I'll have to add him to my list of favourite narrators :)
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