{Fury} Fury by Elizabeth Miles

Sometimes sorry isn't enough....

It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...

Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better--the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend. 

On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed.

In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay. Em and Chase have been chosen.

Title: Fury {Fury, book 1}

Author: Elizabeth Miles

Publication: 30th August 2011

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

352 pages

Fury is the first book of a trilogy.

My review

A beautiful cover, a recommendation by Lauren Oliver herself, it was enough for me to want to read this novel. Unfortunately, I have mixed feelings about this book. Some parts were really exciting whereas some others were a bit disappointing. I had huge expectations for Fury, so that may explain why I'm a bit disappointed in this novel.

The narration is alternated between Emily and Chase and the main problem is that I was not able to sympathize with them at all. I was not attached to the characters and I didn't care about what would happen to them. In fact, it's a bit weird and I have some difficulties to explain it. On the one hand, I could not relate to them, they didn't touch me, but on the other end, what happens to them seemed completely out of proportion and I was a bit revolted by that.

I had problems to accept what they have to deal with. Yeah, Em has kissed and fooled around her best friend's boyfriend, I know it's wrong, reprehensible, unacceptable, and all. But, in my opinion, HE is the jerk, it's really not Em who is quite naive and has fallen in love with the wrong guy. And I agree, it's true that Chase is not always a good boy. He has certainly made a lot of errors, but does he really deserve what happens to him? I'm not sure. Without trying to excuse them, for me, they were teenagers' common mistakes. Mistakes that may certainly harm others, but mostly epitomizes this period of life, often thankless and harsh.

What I mean is that there are worse things to emphasize in the world, but it's true that they are certainly less "glamorous" in order to write a story. The beginning of the plot is very slow and it was quite difficult for me to dive into the story. Things finally accelerates as we approach the middle of the book. The second half is full of surprises and twists, until the ending and the ultimate cliffhanger.

Last but not least, the surprise - or what could be considered a big revelation that happens at the very end of the book - is immediately spoiled before reading this novel. Indeed, if you have read the summary and the title, is it really difficult to guess what are the three girls? I thought that the reader would know all this since the beginning, but this element is actually a part of the last revelation. What a surprise!

On a more positive note, Fury's pitch and plot are really original and captivating. I found the idea very interesting and felicitous. The second half of the book is full of action and it's easier for the reader to get into the story. I read this second half quite fast as I was more fascinated. The ending is also really interesting and promising for the rest of the trilogy.

Fury is quite different from other young-adult novels. It is darker, perhaps more mature and it is closer to horror books. Elizabeth Miles perfectly writes, and especially towards the end of the book, her characters' fear and distress, as well as the feeling of anxiety and being stalked, Fury almost induces claustrophobia in the reader. It also describes with great accuracy the delicate period of adolescence: the mistakes, often stupid, that everyone can do and the pain we may sometimes inflict to others, voluntarily or not. Teenagers may be cruel and heartless with others, frequently without even realizing it and I speak knowingly. Finally, feelings and emotions are rather well-described and I was occasionally touched by some events. Fury doesn't follow the traditional patterns of young-adult novels. Indeed, dramas and tragedies sprinkle the story and everything does not always end well.

To sum up, this novel is a little disappointment for me, perhaps because I expected too much from it but it was nonetheless an entertaining and refreshing read. I'm not entirely convinced by this first instalment, but I think I will give a chance to the sequel as the conclusion, and the second half of the book, made me want to know the rest of the story. I'm quite curious to see how things will evolve for the characters.

A copy was provided by the publisher against my completely honest review. Thank you.