Again, good book. I can definitely identify with this book more than Hunger, because while I do not have an eating disorder, I am a cutter, so I can totally understand where Missy is coming from when she explains why she cuts, because those are my reasons, too.
Now, I have never cut nearly as badly as Missy did in this book, and I don’t think, even if I was chosen to be War, go as far as she did, but then again, I don’t know. All I know is that throughout this book, Death kept saying, “Words have power, but so do actions,” which is so true. I cut because people use words like bitch, idiot and psycho to tear me down, and missy cut when people used words like cutterslut and freak to tear her down.
But actions can be powerful, too. People can use those words to tear you down, but you don’t have to give in. that’s what I’ve been working on for the past year or so. Not giving in. Some days it’s harder than others, but I try.
also, I'm not sure Missy fully appreciates... well, et me explain: Yeah, her sister is a bitch, her ex-boyfriend is a complete asshat, and she her and best friend haven't really spoken for years (but that's kinda her fault) but the thing is, they all NOTICED she was a cutter. to this point, people only know that I cut when I tell them. I'm not as bad as Missy is, but I'm better at hiding it, and the one thing I really, really wish is that people would be able to tell I'm not fine, even though I act like I am. Seriously, NO ONE is as happy as I pretend to be all the time, and SOMEONE should notice, but no one ever does. Unless I tell them. I wish that would see I'm a cutter before It ell them, because that would mean they're seeing ME not the wall I put up that's disguised as a person.
just my thoughts on that, of course.
because I don't want to end this review talking about myself cutting, I'm going to say that one thing I really love about this series, though, is that it is NOT the standard, cookie-cutter girl-meets-vampire story!
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I thought it was good but it got a little too personal with what happened to me. I felt like I was the main character Missy and that made me question lots of things ( )

Jackie Kessler's story of Melissa Miller is one part gutting, one part touching with a sprinkle of violence. Even though I haven't experience first hand what Melissa is going through, after reading this story I can't help but understand it better. Jackie Kessler does a great job of allowing the reader to view the world through Melissa's eyes and to experience her pain and her shame. There were times that I felt as though I was walking in Melissa's shoes, I account this to great storytelling. Now, having read this book, I'm not going to go around saying I know what it is like to be a self-injurer. However, the narrative gives you a glimpse into the life of one, and a realistic one at that.

On the fantasy side, I appreciated Melissa as War. The analogies between the two different blades that she uses were interesting, and allowed more insight into Melissa and what she felt. The story happens over a short period of time, there isn't much dialogue but for the story, this works. I had a bit of trouble understanding the relationship between Melissa and the Sword, but that was cleared up in the end.

This isn't a happy-go-lucky kind of book, while it touches on fantasy a lot of the issues it talks about are real. I can see this book (and series) as a great discussion piece on the things that teens (and some adults) deal with but might not necessarily want to say out loud. It's recommended reading, but not something to take lightly.

[review of arc via netgalley]
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I'm abstaining from giving this book stars of any kind for basically one reason. As I was going along I though I don't like this book, I shared my complaints with a fellow reader who responded without isn't that how those books are suppose to be. After finishing it and giving that some thought I came to the conclusion that 27 year old me does not like this book but junior high/ high school me would have loved it and that is really who this book is for.

Missy is a self injurer and whenever things are too much to handle she cuts herself with a razor. One night after a terrible party where she is exposed to the entire school and Missy cuts too deeply. In comes Death offering her the job of War the red horsemen of the Apocalypse. Missy takes the job and finds herself in an internal battle with the spirit of War and with herself.

At times Missy was very difficult to relate to. Understanding the impulse to injure yourself as a way of feeling control is difficult to understand, particularly since as a general rule people fear pain. I think that writing about a cutter is just more difficult. I did think that the author did a good job of showing the kind of alienation and the huge emotions that she was experiencing both before and after everyone knew what Missy was doing.

I absolutely loved the interactions between all of the Horsemen, it was nice to see Famine again although I wish they had let us know earlier that she retired from life b/c I was really confused trying to remember what happened. I thought Pestilence was scary in a very cool way. I am hoping that the next book is about him I really love how Missy's powers are all about passion, not just literal war and arguing; and again seeing how Missy was able to use her powers to help not just harm was pretty cool.

I think that so far this series is doing a great job. While they are obviously issue books they don't feel like issue books because of the fantasy component of the Horsemen. I also think this series works well to bring a series of issues to a group of kids that wouldn't necessarily read "issue" books. ( )