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lauralee012's review
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
This was on the romantic side of things, we experience Connie and Jazz expand their relationship when she figured out his past and it was simply beautiful. She also has family issues that I am intrigued to find out about in the actual story. Very entertaining for the length.
books_and_therapy's review
3.0
I recently read book 1 in the I Hunt Killers trilogy and I loved Connie and Jasper together, so when I learned of this short story I obviously had to read it. It was super cute! It's so refreshing to see an interracial couple in YA. These two are so cute together and it was great reading this one from Connie's POV. If you haven't delved into the I Hunt Killers trilogy I highly recommend that you do!
elvenavari's review
4.0
Readers don’t like backstory huh? Well, this reader loves any backstory you’ll give her! Jazz’s neutral mask performance shares so much about this character, especially since I’ll read the full trilogy.
fremom3's review
5.0
These prequels are great. I know some people have been complaining they they are too short, but Lyga gets his point across, gives you that extra information that he didn't want to interrupt the flow of his novels by including. He is a masterful writer.
lpcoolgirl's review
5.0
Fantastic short story, loved being in Connie's head as she finds out that Jazz is Billy's son. Great short story, and loved the acting!
anthroxagorus's review
4.0
Unpolished, but a cute read. I like the idea of reading about their falling in love, but would’ve preferred the drama of their first date, or... something a bit... more...
canada_matt's review
4.0
Before taking the plunge into the trilogy Barry Lyga created around the ‘I Hunt Killers’ theme, I wanted to take the time to better understand the characters who appear on the page by exploring the collection of prequel short stories on offer. Those who have read my previous reviews on said stories will see that Lyga has developed some of the characters and the setting of the series in them, providing me, the new reader, something on which to grasp. This story turns the focus on Connie Hall, the new girl in town and seemingly part of the only black family. While she remains coy with everyone about her dating Jasper ‘Jazz’ Dent, she is oblivious as to why keeping it a secret might have been the best idea. It is only when curiosity reachers its limit that Connie seeks information about her boyfriend and learns that he is the son of the notorious Billy Dent, a serial killer who was arrested a few years before. Lobo’s Nod cannot stop talking about him and branding Jasper for the sins of his father. Connie seeks to digest this news but will not react as the others have. Rather, she takes Jasper along to her drama group meeting and has him participate in a neutral mask activity, where he cannot use facial expressions to represent him. Jasper presents a scene to the group, opening their eyes but also Connie’s mind as she makes the all-important lasting decision about the boy she’s been dating and thinking about so much. Lyga does well to provide the reader with a great understanding of the confused Connie and struggling Jasper while also keeping a number of questions on the table for the full-length novels to come. Recommended for series fans and those who want to enjoy a brief respite from their daily lives.
I am pleased to have heeded the recommendation of my friend, who asked that I give this collection my attention. When a read a short blurb from Lyga about his creation of these pieces as a means of filling in the gaps of backstory, I knew I was right to have taken the time to read them first. Now, with this information in my reading quiver, I am armed to better understand the characters as they cross my path and can provide a thorough analysis of their interactions with less of a need to speculate. Connie’s character comes to life on the page, allowing the reader a better understanding of her plight as a child who has moved around so much, but also being the one person in Lobo’s Nod who is unaware of the gossip that has pervaded the town and branded Jasper Dent. She seeks to carve out her own choices with regards to this boy and this will surely help explain some of her future actions when I get to the stories. Jasper is also given some spotlight time as he seeks to explore himself, particularly in the drama exercise, though the reader is left to wonder what’s going on in his head, something that I am sure few have taken the time to ponder. Whatever it might be, there is much to be said about him and the development of a strong relationship backstory here. The narrative flowed really well and I was pleased to see such a connection to the two central characters, as well as some of the peripheral ones, including Dent’s best friend, Howie. I am ready to tackle the final short story piece and then jump headlong into the stories myself, for I am sure they tell quite a tale themselves. Armed and ready for action, I think it will be quite the ride!
Kudos, Mr. Lyga, on another great piece. Your writing seems to transcend the YA genre it has been given, straddling the line between teenage issues and writing adults can appreciate.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
I am pleased to have heeded the recommendation of my friend, who asked that I give this collection my attention. When a read a short blurb from Lyga about his creation of these pieces as a means of filling in the gaps of backstory, I knew I was right to have taken the time to read them first. Now, with this information in my reading quiver, I am armed to better understand the characters as they cross my path and can provide a thorough analysis of their interactions with less of a need to speculate. Connie’s character comes to life on the page, allowing the reader a better understanding of her plight as a child who has moved around so much, but also being the one person in Lobo’s Nod who is unaware of the gossip that has pervaded the town and branded Jasper Dent. She seeks to carve out her own choices with regards to this boy and this will surely help explain some of her future actions when I get to the stories. Jasper is also given some spotlight time as he seeks to explore himself, particularly in the drama exercise, though the reader is left to wonder what’s going on in his head, something that I am sure few have taken the time to ponder. Whatever it might be, there is much to be said about him and the development of a strong relationship backstory here. The narrative flowed really well and I was pleased to see such a connection to the two central characters, as well as some of the peripheral ones, including Dent’s best friend, Howie. I am ready to tackle the final short story piece and then jump headlong into the stories myself, for I am sure they tell quite a tale themselves. Armed and ready for action, I think it will be quite the ride!
Kudos, Mr. Lyga, on another great piece. Your writing seems to transcend the YA genre it has been given, straddling the line between teenage issues and writing adults can appreciate.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons