Terry

[Nym182]

Yes, here we have the protagonist of a story that really does not make sense!

right? I would think a protagonist would lose a little bit of sleep over someone he accidentally/purposely killed...

Yes, he should have at least felt guilty about it!

You know it's odd, but I don't think they even bring it up again after Carly burns down the den...

[Nym182]

I don’t think a main character has to be likable as much as they have to be engaging. Adam going full villain may have been more engaging, but their unhealthy relationship was also interesting to watch evolve. It’s not that I liked it or loved it, as a reader it made me think.

I think I would have liked/accepted it better if the author did it in a way that condemned that type of relationship... I never felt like the author wanted the reader to see their relationship as unhealthy, more like trying to paint a "love conquers all" type thing.

Yeah, an interesting approach from the author. Breaking away the stereotypical YA protagonists.

Who knows, maybe Carly will come to her senses in an upcoming book.

[Nym182]

She did that because she felt that Adam needs to turn over a new leaf in this life and that is all good save the fact that you can not run away from the consequences of your actions.

yeah, I get what the author was trying to do but it just made Carly a weaker character as a result... I think she just handled this part very poorly.

Yes I definitely agree with you. She was the sensible girl in the story. For her to make such a bad decision surely put her character down.

Exactly! Not a good role model for younguns...

[Nym182]

Yes definitely outrageous. Though most serial killers are victims of abuse or such nothing was the case with Adam. So portraying Adam as scared really made no sense.

yeah, scared is not how I describe Adam at all haha

Yeah he is way too narcissistic for that!

True dat! The only thing he's scared of is Carly breaking up with him.

[Nym182]

I do not think that the Terry situation was handled well. Her poor family was left without any closure and the story just moved on. I think that paints Carly and Adam in a really bad light considering they're the main characters and supposed to be likeable.

I agree, and they tied up the Terry loose end by having Carly burn down the den and all the evidence... and his shrine to his mother... I assume it's the author trying to symbolize Carly burning the evil out of Adam and making him a better person, but you are right, it just makes the two lead characters worse!

Yes, the sex den was bad but its cover-up was worse!!

yeah, the author seems to opt for the easy fix for those loose ends.

[Nym182]

I agree that it doesn't happen in an ideal, normal, or healthy relationship. But the sad truth is that these kinds of relationships are proliferating in our time and day.

My problem is the author seems to not have any issue with it! I feel like she wanted to create a "love conquers all" type of relationship between Adam and Carly, like the reader should see their relationship as a goal and does nothing to acknowledge how unhealthy their relationship actually is.

Yes true! and she took the hairpin and just when I thought she will confront Adam about it she burns the whole shed!

Doesn't even give him a slap on the wrist! Just covers it up and hopes he will be different.

[Nym182]

That's a fair point to add. It's a little frustrating for me because he is more inconsistent and unbelievable to an extent but also sometimes people are, even in books and life. But for this book...I don't know, maybe he could have been inconsistent with some characteristics or certain things....but still be believable as a character...I don't know ha...
I know sometimes in books some characters stay inconsistent and unbelievable but maybe not a leading character? Maybe in future books, he becomes more so?? More stable perhaps?
Has anyone read the next book? "Split Adam"?

I absolutly detested the way the author handled the den and Terry. It also made Carly seem weaker as a character as she had no qualms about just covering it up and not even talking to him about it.

Yes, it was poorly handled. Carly should think about the fact that Terry has people who cared about her.

Exactly! Carly doesn't even meat but has no qualms about her boyfriend killing a girl her age.

[Nym182]

That's what seems to make sense to me. You're right, he was prepared to go down that dark path, considering how out of his way he was going. To drive there, miss the turns, drive all the way out. I mean the fact that he had that place in itself says a lot.

But I do think the story ends up worse for that fact by tying up that loose end by having Carly burn down all the evidence and then forgetting the whole thing. The den and Terry were poorly handled by the author and did more harm to the story then good.

Yes, the author should bring it back later in the story and make Adam face his consequences.

I hope that's how it plays out! How far do you think you'll make it in this series?

[Nym182]

I agree that it doesn't happen in an ideal, normal, or healthy relationship. But the sad truth is that these kinds of relationships are proliferating in our time and day.

My problem is the author seems to not have any issue with it! I feel like she wanted to create a "love conquers all" type of relationship between Adam and Carly, like the reader should see their relationship as a goal and does nothing to acknowledge how unhealthy their relationship actually is.

Sometimes, it's difficult to cater to all strata of readers. You just have to decide what message you want to strongly deliver through your book. I perfectly understandable your sentiment.

And I understand your POV as well!

[Nym182]

How Terry's death was handled was really weird and did make me wonder about Adam and Carly as a couple. They never even mention it to each other. I agree about the parents never getting closure. It just looked like Terry didn't matter to the plot anymore so why mention her at all!

I found that part to be very unsettling! Carly just burns down the den because she feels like he deserves a fresh start... hopefully she's not planning on becoming a judge...

[gilliansisley]

I think I would have liked/accepted it better if the author did it in a way that condemned that type of relationship... I never felt like the author wanted the reader to see their relationship as unhealthy, more like trying to paint a "love conquers all" type thing.

Yeah, an interesting approach from the author. Breaking away the stereotypical YA protagonists.

Who knows, maybe Carly will come to her senses in an upcoming book.

We can only hope. I'll have to find out from other people if that's the case, because I'm not going to read to find out for myself!

[gilliansisley]

yeah, scared is not how I describe Adam at all haha

Yeah he is way too narcissistic for that!

True dat! The only thing he's scared of is Carly breaking up with him.

Oh, Adam is for sure a future serial killer in the making and it's grosssssss. I felt like I was watching the prequel to a Criminal Minds episode. He's killed once, he'll do it again!

[Howlan]

right? I would think a protagonist would lose a little bit of sleep over someone he accidentally/purposely killed...

Yes, he should have at least felt guilty about it!

You know it's odd, but I don't think they even bring it up again after Carly burns down the den...

I think the author can bring it up later if Adam's goes through some crisis.

[Howlan]

I think I would have liked/accepted it better if the author did it in a way that condemned that type of relationship... I never felt like the author wanted the reader to see their relationship as unhealthy, more like trying to paint a "love conquers all" type thing.

Yeah, an interesting approach from the author. Breaking away the stereotypical YA protagonists.

Who knows, maybe Carly will come to her senses in an upcoming book.

Yes that would be kinds interesting too!

[Howlan]

yeah, I get what the author was trying to do but it just made Carly a weaker character as a result... I think she just handled this part very poorly.

Yes I definitely agree with you. She was the sensible girl in the story. For her to make such a bad decision surely put her character down.

Exactly! Not a good role model for younguns...

Yeah Carly may not be suitable for a role model.