Book Review : Arson by Estevan Vega

Arson by Estevan Vega

Product Details

• Perfect Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Tate Publishing (May 4, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1615666036
• ISBN-13: 978-1615666034

Arson Gable feels like a freak. He can create fire. He never asked for it. He never wanted it. But he can't shut it off. Before now, three things were true: he both loved and despised his grandmother; his life was going nowhere; and he was alone. But when a strange girl--who feels more normal behind a mask than inside her own skin--moves in next door, Arson hopes to find something he's never had: purpose. Using what he fears most about himself, Arson must face his consuming past and confront the nightmare that is his present as he walks the fine line between boy and monster. Dark, moody, and breathtakingly relevant, Arson, the chilling chronicle of an isolated boy with unimaginable ability, is sure to ignite the hearts and minds of a new generation.


When I first saw the cover of Arson, I was intrigued. When I read the synopsis and found out that it was about a kid who could create fire, I was very excited. When I started the first page, I thought that it went well, and I anticipated for a huge event - or something of that sort - to happen. After more than 100 pages, I started to wonder if there would be any at all. I couldn't see where the story was going, but I kept reading anyway.

Towards the end of the novel, finally, something huge happened. I loved how the author wrote it - so frightening, powerful and exciting. However, that was the only part that I loved reading. I admire Estevan's writing style, and he's really talented, but I can't see the point of the whole story except for a boy called Arson Gable who could create fire but hated his ability and had a grandmother with multiple personality disorder (I think so), a girl named Emery who hid behind a mask the whole time, and Emery's parents who were always at at each other's throats.

The part where Arson was attracted to Emery was kind of nice. He loved her even though he knew that the face behind the mask was not a perfect one. The way Arson saved his girl was awesome. He embraced his talent (or curse, whatever he thought about it) and used it to fight against the evil, vindictive people.

In a nutshell, this book is moderately enjoyable, and I think there is still room for improvements regarding the plot and storyline. I wanted to give this book 2.5 stars at first, but considering that I really liked the "huge event" and the cover is awesome, I finally decided to give it 3 stars. I will consider reading another book by Estevan Vega if there's chance.

Rating:

Vega was born in 1989 in Connecticut, where he currently resides. Growing up, he fell in love with sketching comic book superheroes, watching movies, and listening to rock music. While his passion for art still remains, he now focuses his time on creating rather than copying someone else’s work through a picture. When he was 12, he knew he wanted to be a writer, so he began Servant of the Realm, what would become his first published book. Though the book wasn’t a national best-seller, it became the catalyst for everything that was to come. The Sacred Sin, a dark, psychological thriller about a soul-stealing madman, was released three years later to considerable acclaim.

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