Review: Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler

Rage (Horseman of the Apocalypse: The Rider's Quartet #2) by Jackie Morse Kessler

Missy didn’t mean to cut so deep. But after the party where she was humiliated in front of practically everyone in school, who could blame her for wanting some comfort? Sure, most people don’t find comfort in the touch of a razor blade, but Missy always was . . . different.

That’s why she was chosen to become one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: War. Now Missy wields a new kind of blade—a big, brutal sword that can cut down anyone and anything in her path. But it’s with this weapon in her hand that Missy learns something that could help her triumph over her own pain: control.

A unique approach to the topic of self-mutilation, Rage is the story of a young woman who discovers her own power and refuses to be defeated by the world.

Review:

Rage is the second Horsemen of the Apocalypse novel and it was just as heartbreaking and intense as the prequel- if not more. While Hunger dealt with eating disorders, Rage tackled an even harder issue. Cutting.

Missy cuts to let out the pain and anguish of her life and to just deal with everything. Her story was shocking and hard to read and some of the descriptions were so vivid I felt sick to my stomach. Missy experienced so much embarrassment and heartbreak for one so young. At sixteen she had already lost so much and all it took was one person to push her over the edge. The cruelty dealt to Missy that fateful night was sickening and my heart went out to her at that moment. No one should have to go through what she did at the hands of their peers. I am lucky to have an amazing family and wonderful group of friends, but Missy didn’t have that and so her cutting went on for a long time, unnoticed by those who could help her. When Death comes knocking, Missy accepts the blade and becomes the newest Horseman of the Apocalypse- War.

War is a terrifying and hard job to endure and Missy must cope with not only her own problems, but those of the world. By becoming War Missy learns about the pain of others and how they would do anything not to have this pain; while Missy purposely injures herself. The main character’s journey from page one until the last was a hard one to read and Missy experienced a lot over the course of the novel, but also learned a lot about herself and those around her.

I felt it hard to connect with Missy, but I am glad I read her story. Watching her struggles with her own demons, trying to contain War from taking over, and the torment from her schoolmates was an experience and it will haunt me for a long time. I applaud Jackie Morse Kessler for tackling yet another intense and emotional topic and making it into a story that will leave readers shocked and gutted. I did not “enjoy” this addition to the series as much as Hunger, but I would recommend picking it up. It has taken me some time to try and find the words to write this review, but I am anxious to read the third book in the series. I know I need to be prepared with some tissues by my side!

Overall: 3 out of 5 stars

April 8, 2011/Harcourt Graphia/213 Pages/Young Adult/Book Two

Source: Publisher (ARC)

Other books in the series: Hunger

Review: Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

Hunger (Horseman of the Apocalypse: The Rider's Quartet #1) by Jackie Morse Kessler

“Thou art the Black Rider. Go thee out unto the world.”

Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

Traveling the world on her steed gives Lisa freedom from her troubles at home: her constant battle with hunger, and her struggle to hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her to go places where hunger is a painful part of everyday life, and to face the horrifying effects of her phenomenal power. Can Lisa find a way to harness that power — and the courage to battle her own inner demons?

Review:

Hunger was a highly original and extremely unique debut. I’ve never before read anything about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse so this was especially interesting to me. Although the novel mainly focused on a young girl and her struggles with an eating disorder, the reader was also able to understand more about the Horsemen (Death, Pestilence, War, and Famine).

To begin with, I couldn’t always relate to Lisa, the main character. She was dealing with an eating disorder and at times I couldn’t believe what she thought of herself and what she was considering. Luckily, the more time she spent as Famine the more Lisa realized how lucky she really was and how important it is to be healthy and do the right thing.

The plot was very different from anything I’ve ever read. The idea of an anorexic teenager becoming Famine was so original and awesome. I loved experiencing everything with Lisa although some parts of the novel brought tears to my eyes. Starvation is such a huge problem in our world today and reading about the village who’s crops were destroyed by rats was heartbreaking. Hunger contained a very positive message underneath all the death and hunger. This novel was gritty and heartbreaking and by the end I just had to sit down and think about it all.

My favorite part of the novel was reading about the Horsemen. Death was a terrific character and one of the most developed in the book. He was honest and actually quite funny. The other (human) characters were not as developed as the Horsemen but I did like them. Lisa’s boyfriend James was honest and kind and truly cared about Lisa and only wanted the best for her. Suzanne, Lisa’s ex best friend, was another character that wanted Lisa to get help but Lisa only had ears for Tammy. I hated Tammy. Although I felt for what she was going through, her actions were disgusting and the way she convinced Lisa to become anorexic was horrible!

Overall, I liked Hunger. It was something completely new to the YA genre and provided a fresh outlook on eating disorders and how they effect not only the person suffering from them, but their friends and family as well.

The next book in the series, Rage, is going to be about War and I’m really looking forward to reading it come 2011. Jackie Morse Kessler is definitely an author to watch!

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

October 18, 2010/Harcourt Graphia/180 Pages/Young Adult/Book One

Source: Publisher/BEA 2010

Other books in the series: Rage (2011)