A review by kblincoln
Outcast by Adrienne Kress
4.0
I've read the Friday Society Steampunk YA novel by Kress and liked it, but felt the somewhat cliched flavor of the characters weren't as appetizing to my seasoned palate.
However, I'm liking Outcast a lot more. It's still a bit unbelievable in terms of what the YA characters can get away with (not to mention the wholly evil villain, etc) but in this book the mystery of the who and what the Angels are; as well as what Gabe might turn into, totally keep the book's pacing alive.
Riley Carver is a loner. She's not exactly a nerd, but she sure isn't one of the cheerleader popular kids, either. She's had her best friend, Chris, the only one who got her weird sense of humor and she felt comfortable with. But last year that all changed. He kissed her...and then he was Taken.
Riley's town has a conspiracy, keeping secret that for the past few years "angels" descend upon their town and take people up into the sky never to be seen again. They've kept this from the media and from the outside world.
But Riley's never gotten over Chris. So when one of the "angels" comes for her, she shoots it in the face and discovers they're not at all what the adults think they are.
I found it a struggle with my willingness to suspend disbelief about how effortlessly Gabe fit into school and Riley's home life-- but other than that I guess nothing else bothered me. Watching Riley try to "get over" Chris at the same time as risk her heart liking a popular guy like Gabe was fun; the whole mystery of the angels and the white apparition kept me going to the end (when things got a bit expositiony, but oh well) and the slow push-and-pull of Riley's friendship with cheerleader Lucy was great as well.
This is a fun, completely appropriate for younger YA (just kissing) audience Paranormal Romance flavored a bit more with conspiracy-mystery and a completely self-centered villain in control of an entire town.
This Book's Snack Rating: Cheddar Kettle Chips for the crunchable nomminess of Gabe and Riley with a creamy-smooth Angel mystery in a small town
However, I'm liking Outcast a lot more. It's still a bit unbelievable in terms of what the YA characters can get away with (not to mention the wholly evil villain, etc) but in this book the mystery of the who and what the Angels are; as well as what Gabe might turn into, totally keep the book's pacing alive.
Riley Carver is a loner. She's not exactly a nerd, but she sure isn't one of the cheerleader popular kids, either. She's had her best friend, Chris, the only one who got her weird sense of humor and she felt comfortable with. But last year that all changed. He kissed her...and then he was Taken.
Riley's town has a conspiracy, keeping secret that for the past few years "angels" descend upon their town and take people up into the sky never to be seen again. They've kept this from the media and from the outside world.
But Riley's never gotten over Chris. So when one of the "angels" comes for her, she shoots it in the face and discovers they're not at all what the adults think they are.
I found it a struggle with my willingness to suspend disbelief about how effortlessly Gabe fit into school and Riley's home life-- but other than that I guess nothing else bothered me. Watching Riley try to "get over" Chris at the same time as risk her heart liking a popular guy like Gabe was fun; the whole mystery of the angels and the white apparition kept me going to the end (when things got a bit expositiony, but oh well) and the slow push-and-pull of Riley's friendship with cheerleader Lucy was great as well.
This is a fun, completely appropriate for younger YA (just kissing) audience Paranormal Romance flavored a bit more with conspiracy-mystery and a completely self-centered villain in control of an entire town.
This Book's Snack Rating: Cheddar Kettle Chips for the crunchable nomminess of Gabe and Riley with a creamy-smooth Angel mystery in a small town