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A review by jennifermreads
Bent Heavens by Daniel Kraus
5.0
Received advanced reader copy from publisher via Baker & Taylor book supplier
More than two years ago, Liv Fleming's father Lee stumbled into the town square, naked and speaking incoherently about “biological evidence” and being abducted by aliens. Soon after this, Lee went missing. His daughter Liv has tried to move on and accept that he's dead. But, her longtime, childhood friend Doug is clinging to the Sunday tradition they have maintained since Liv’s dad disappeared: they check the traps Lee left behind to catch the aliens. On the Sunday Liv decides to tell Doug she wants to stop checking the traps, they find a creature in one of the traps that proves Lee was telling the truth. Now, Doug and Liv have to decide: do they turn the creature over to authorities? Or do they handle it themselves and try to find out what happened to Lee?
Just another alien story, you say? Yeah, yeah, you say, teens tromping through the woods and find an alien that changes all their beliefs? What else is new & different? Do you think the synopsis is all of Daniel Kraus’s story? Um … one great big, huge, gigantic, NO!
After having done so much reading, I find myself figuring out plot points far sooner than I’d like. Surprises are golden and rare in my reading world. I’m happy to say that Bent Heavens gave me some surprises. It had me gaping at one climax (seriously…thank goodness no flies were in the vicinity to go darting down my throat!) and I was kept guessing until just words before the other big reveal. Any detailed discussion and review of the plot will just lead to spoilers and completely decimate enjoyment of the tale. Readers will need to go into this book just knowing that it isn’t your typical alien-story and you will be surprised, your mind will be blown, and your jaw will drop.
And the included author’s note will make you sick to your stomach.
More than two years ago, Liv Fleming's father Lee stumbled into the town square, naked and speaking incoherently about “biological evidence” and being abducted by aliens. Soon after this, Lee went missing. His daughter Liv has tried to move on and accept that he's dead. But, her longtime, childhood friend Doug is clinging to the Sunday tradition they have maintained since Liv’s dad disappeared: they check the traps Lee left behind to catch the aliens. On the Sunday Liv decides to tell Doug she wants to stop checking the traps, they find a creature in one of the traps that proves Lee was telling the truth. Now, Doug and Liv have to decide: do they turn the creature over to authorities? Or do they handle it themselves and try to find out what happened to Lee?
Just another alien story, you say? Yeah, yeah, you say, teens tromping through the woods and find an alien that changes all their beliefs? What else is new & different? Do you think the synopsis is all of Daniel Kraus’s story? Um … one great big, huge, gigantic, NO!
After having done so much reading, I find myself figuring out plot points far sooner than I’d like. Surprises are golden and rare in my reading world. I’m happy to say that Bent Heavens gave me some surprises. It had me gaping at one climax (seriously…thank goodness no flies were in the vicinity to go darting down my throat!) and I was kept guessing until just words before the other big reveal. Any detailed discussion and review of the plot will just lead to spoilers and completely decimate enjoyment of the tale. Readers will need to go into this book just knowing that it isn’t your typical alien-story and you will be surprised, your mind will be blown, and your jaw will drop.
And the included author’s note will make you sick to your stomach.