The Bad Influence Speaks

BIS Book Review: Not Even There

by J. Scott Sharp

 

"Betrayal is sneaky. Sometimes, a person doesn't know they've deceived someone until it's too late, or maybe they do and don’t want to admit to it. If a person betrays someone in front of their face, it's a safe bet that they never gave a shit any way. At least that’s what I thought."

 

In this short story by Sharp, sixteen year old Roger plays a dual role in a tragic incident of betrayal that is based on an age old triangle, two men who love the same woman. I can still remember all the days of uncertainty that made up the high school years. Every win is the highest peak. Every loss is the most devastating thing possible. Every reaction to it all will consume your entire being. Moderation isn't even in the vocabulary.

Sharp executes this tragic piece with precision and heart as he takes you back to the pains of high school and young love. I'm not sure whose part of the story hit harder, Roger's or David's. The end even has a "wait, did I just read that right" twist that you won't see coming.

I wouldn't recommend this for a young teen, but college age and up.

 

BIS Rating: 3 nightlights

BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed

Pick it up for the Kindle on Amazon or  Nook at Barnes and Noble for $0.99.

 

Disclosure: The author provided a free e-copy to me for review.

Excerpt from Inferno: Brynna's letter to a bully

In Inferno,book 4 in Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Chronicles of Nick (out next year), one of her characters is still dealing with the horrifying bullying that took place in Infamous. The situations she depicts and how her characters deal with them are reasons why I heartily recommend Chronicles of Nick to everyone.

This is an excerpt from Brynna’s letter to a bully.

Dear Tormentor,

Today, you made me cry. You made me feel like the lowest piece of dirt that has ever walked this earth. You stole a piece of my heart and soul, and my self-esteem. Just when I had finally managed to convince myself that I wasn’t quite the ugliest or dumbest person alive, you came in and reaffirmed that never ending playback in my head that insults me even when you’re not around. The same playback that tells me, over and over, life sucks, and it’s never going to get any better no matter what I do, because I don’t deserve anything better. I am nothing and nothing is all I’ll ever be. Even when I try my very best, like I did today, it’s not good enough to make me human or worth something in the world’s eyes. I don’t need you or anyone else to reaffirm something I already know about myself.

My hurt didn’t show on the outside because I learned a long time ago to make sure that you couldn’t take that pleasure, too; that you and the others who think you’re funny or witty or cute, or are too afraid of you to do anything more than follow along, couldn’t see how much pain you’ve caused me. The times in the past when I made the  mistake of letting you see my tears, all of you laughed at me over them, and you made it worse. You made me choke on my dignity, and hate that which had been a source of pride until you mocked it.

You have kicked me in my heart, and ravaged what little self-worth I had managed to scrape together.

But that’s okay, because that is what makes me stronger than you and your followers. I don’t have to point out someone else’s flaws. I don’t need to put someone else down or mock someone in order to feel better about myself, or to prove my worth, authority, power or intelligence. The mere fact that you do proves that we who refrain from such cruelty are a superior species. We are the ones who have evolved beyond simple animal behavior that makes a base creature attack something it doesn’t understand; something that is different or not as strong.

It doesn’t take superior intelligence to tear down someone and/or their hard work. To mock their best effort or a physical trait that can’t be helped. It doesn’t prove that you’re more intelligent or better in any way. A stick of dynamite can level a building, but it can’t build one.

You can read the rest of the letter and Kenyon’s comments on it at her website here.

BIS Book Review: Infamous

Chronicles of Nick, Book 3
by Sherrilyn Kenyon

 

Nick Gautier's life becomes more complicated and unbelievable as he realizes he has the potential to become the most evil and destructive creature in the universe. And a few months ago, all he thought he had to worry about was disappointing his mom, wearing tacky shirts and getting beat up at school. Will he be able to keep hold of his humanity or will he lose it all?

 

 

I am a huge Kenyon fan. I'll be upfront about that. I've read her Dark Hunter series for years and became hooked on The League when it was republished. Even with all that I was worried when the first of her young adult series, the Chronicles of Nick: Infinity, came out a 3 years ago. I wasn't sure she would be able to incorporate everything I love about her work into a young adult format, but I was so wrong. All the humor, sarcasm, and style remain; all that is missing is the sex (and hey, he's a teen so it's not there yet).

 

From what I've read she intends to have a book in this series for every year of Nick's life up until he became a Dark Hunter, so 10 books to cover ages 14 to 24. I'm not sure she's only going to have 10 books to make that goal. The first 3 seem to cover from 14 to 15.

 

While I liked Nick in the Dark Hunter series, he was never my favorite. Now with his own series, you get to know him better and see the background and thoughts behind all the snark. I think he may end up becoming my favorite of all her characters. He is smart, has a great if self deprecating humor, and a good heart. That does seem to be her template for heroes though. They are all smart, good looking, snarky, and must overcome a horrible past to be able to accept love. Even with that template, the books never feel formulaic or repetitive. She brings a fresh feel each and every time.

 

She also generally has a lesson or moral to her tales. For parents, the underlying themes are great ones for kids to learn.

Life was so strange. Seldom did it make sense. As her brother would say, 'life isn't a puzzle to be solved. It's an adventure to be savored. Let every challenge be a new mountain to climb, not an obstacle to get in your way and stop you. Yeah, it'll be hard, but once you reach the summit of it, you'll be able to see the world for what it really is. And at the top, it never seems to have been as difficult a feat to climb there as you first made it out to be. Most of all, you'll know that you beat that mountain, and that you rule it. It does not rule you.'

 And, this one, which is in all of her writings. I wish more people thought of life like this.

People aren't just ants rushing around over a crust of bread. Every life, no matter how isolated, touches hundreds of others. It's up to us to decide if those micro connections are positive or negative. But whichever we decide, it does impact the ones we deal with. One word can give someone the strength they needed at that moment or it can shred them down to nothing. A single smile can turn a bad moment good. And one wrong outburst or word could be the tiny push that causes someone to slip over the edge into destruction.

Words matter as do even the smallest actions. Even when you're tired, smile, and share a few friendly words. Say please and thank you. Be kind. Everyone has bad days and your actions may be the only pleasant thing in that person's day. This is something that hits me whenever I read one of her books.

 

Every time I start thinking life might be looking up it knocks me down and kicks me. When I read one of Kenyon's books, it gives me hope because her characters face so many horrible things, but they keep moving forward through the pain and fear trying to be better people. They remind me that what doesn't kill you may hurt a lot, but it still makes you stronger.

 

BIS Rating: 5 nightlights

BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed

Buy Chronicles of Nick: Infamous by Sherrilyn Kenyon here through Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

BIS Book Review: The Girl Who Chased the Moon

by Sarah Addison Allen

Every once in a while you read a book that changes you, a book that causes you to reevaluate how you view life.  This book is one of those books.  While it is more of a young adult book, it is smoothly written with an engrossing plot.

 

Mullaby, North Carolina, is a small southern town where magic walks and the past is never forgotten. Emily Benedict, a teenager, moves to town she has never heard a bout to live with her grandfather, a reclusive giant, after the death of her mother.   Her mother's past in the town brings problems for Emily, but no one wants to talk about what happened. As Emily struggles to learn the truth, she discovers that in the struggle of finding her mother's past she is also finding herself.

 

I would recommend this book to anyone, teen or adult.  It makes intelligent and substantial points about the impact of a life when you are strong enough to be who you are. Allen aptly demonstrates that magic can be real and the world can be a wondrous place. 

 

BIS Rating: 5 out of 5 nightlights

Amazon.com: The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed