Perversion or relationship?

[Nym182]

That is actually what’s making me not want to continue with the book. It’s just too weird for me... the whole thing with the mum (stepmom)... should I keep on reading then? I thought we were dealing with incest

I finished this whole book, and let me tell you stop reading while you still can. sh*t keeps getting more and more disturbing, and I want those hours of my life back spent reading this horrifying book.

I actually took your advice. I’m not going to go back to this book.
I mean, there are so many books out there, why spend time on sth I know I won’t enjoy.

Good call! You aren't missing much, I promise!

[Noosh]

I finished this whole book, and let me tell you stop reading while you still can. sh*t keeps getting more and more disturbing, and I want those hours of my life back spent reading this horrifying book.

I actually took your advice. I’m not going to go back to this book.
I mean, there are so many books out there, why spend time on sth I know I won’t enjoy.

Good call! You aren't missing much, I promise!

In The overall rating for the book discussion, many ppl say they love the book. At first I thought I was the only one who didn’t like it, but this discussion proved me wrong.

[Brenda Creech]

Right? Like... if this is where the author is starting us off, who knows what's coming up! (frankly, I'm still a little nervous haha... probably why I am most likely not gonna read the next one.. maybe)

I know. Part of me says not to bother reading the next one, but another part wants to find out where it all goes next!
And I don't even care for sci-fi!!

Exactly! I kinda wanna know how this car crash ends

I do too!

[gilliansisley]

That is actually what’s making me not want to continue with the book. It’s just too weird for me... the whole thing with the mum (stepmom)... should I keep on reading then? I thought we were dealing with incest

I finished this whole book, and let me tell you stop reading while you still can. sh*t keeps getting more and more disturbing, and I want those hours of my life back spent reading this horrifying book.

Haha, standing in solidarity together!

[gilliansisley]

I think my mind blocked that part out haha... but you are right, there are quite a few scenes that fit a little bit better into some softcore porn than a YA book...

In all the discussions you and I have had about the problems with this book, Nym, I too blocked that part out! It was just oo much, there were too many other, more disturbing things going on (which makes me ill saying!)

I want to ask the author why they thought mutual incestuous thoughts would be a good thing to have one of their main characters have! How in the world are we supposed to see them as "good guys".

So damn true-- how were these feelings supposed to help us resonate with Adam, and feel bad for him after all the terrible things he's done? I'm not sure what the goal was with this character, realistically.

[gilliansisley]

They DO kinda explain why Adam has those thoughts, but it was a pretty weak explanation in my opinion. For the most part, it's just kinda cringy... but there are some weird sexual details that don't really serve a purpose to the story. They definitely made me pause and

It was an extremely weak explanation, and really the whole "sexual attraction to his mom" thing was very much unnecessary. It did not contribute any value to the plot.

"OHHHHH there was a SERUM! Well that's ok then!"

EXACTLY. The same as, "OHHHH you have magical powers you can't understand? That explains why you kidnapped, almost raped and basically killed Terry. That's totally okay!"

[gilliansisley]

Adam had definitely already developed an obsession with his stepmom that was highly disturbing. If Carly had not shown up I'm sure things would've escalated and it was difficult enough to read that part.

Wasn't even his stepmom. His adoptive mom. By all mean just his mom, period. And hell yes, I agree, after what he did to Terry I have no doubt he would have killed his dad and probably sexually assaulted his mom because he's a no-questions-asked psychopath.

Yeah, Adam grew up with Jo as his mom... Doesn't matter that he was adopted. And from what Jo feels, she might not have really fought against it if he did act on those feelings.

Yeah, that was his mom, end of story. Just because they weren't biologically related, it's still creepy AF. Doesn't make it okay!

[gilliansisley]

No, Adam like this is definitely not necessary. It is just the author adding some unusual toches to darken his character.

Agreed. I feel it was trying too hard to make him "dark and moody", and ended up being a poorly executed attempt at a moody teen, and when into serial-killer-in-the-making territory.

Agreed! The author painted Adam too dark and there is no redemption for him.

No way, there's no chance that anything he could have done would have redeemed himself. He was a psychopath from the getgo, and that was never going to be "changed by teenage love". Just awful.

[Lisa A Rayburn]

That is actually what’s making me not want to continue with the book. It’s just too weird for me... the whole thing with the mum (stepmom)... should I keep on reading then? I thought we were dealing with incest

Yes and no. From a purely biological perspective, it wouldn’t be considered incest. From a sociological standpoint, it very well might be regarded as incest, especially if the step-parent actually helped raise the child. Legally? I think the laws would vary.

You are right on some of these points... I think if it ever came out that she had feelings for him he would be taken away from her since he is technically a minor and they would view her as a predator taking advantage of her adoptive son.

Hmm...I never thought of the mom as a predator. To me, her revelation was just sickening, pure and simple. Looking at it from that side, though, I think you're right. That certainly shines a new light on "who is the predator' in this book.

[Lisa A Rayburn]

Adam had already developed a disturbing obsession with his stepmom, but when later she reciprocated his feelings, I just cringed pretty hard. Such confusing contents should not be a part of a YA book.

I think that's what turned the corner on whether or not he would act on his obsession if Carly hadn't come along. Once his stepmom let it be known that she returned his feelings, that would have been the 'death knell' for his resistance (he didn't have all that much, to begin with).

right? I also think that if Adam eventually acted on his feelings, Jo probably wouldn't have given much resistance to his advances.

I think so too. Being so much older than him, she probably would have known enough to 'play' his emotions as a teen. She might have put up 'token' resistance specifically for that reason.

[Howlan]

Adam’s fascination with JoAnn made me uncomfortable and had me thinking that this book should have been categorised in the Adult category, not YA. Please someone tell me if he improves further down the book because I am still undecided if I should continue reading it.

He falls hard for Carly and soon his step-mom is just his mom. I was weirded out about it too.

Yeah it was not properly done!

[Howlan]

I would like to think that he wouldn't have acted on his feelings for his adoptive mother. However, when she later confessed to sharing those feelings it caused some serious cringing on my part. This sounds like a plot for the erotica section on Amazon, not a young adult book!

I think my mind blocked that part out haha... but you are right, there are quite a few scenes that fit a little bit better into some softcore porn than a YA book...

Yeah, soft porn which is not properly executed.

[Howlan]

That is actually what’s making me not want to continue with the book. It’s just too weird for me... the whole thing with the mum (stepmom)... should I keep on reading then? I thought we were dealing with incest

I completely agree. It is just plain weird and it is making me want to quit this book. I don't know what to do!

To be fair, the second half of the book is a little more... tame? Appropiate? one of those words... and they do kinda explain the attraction, but poorly in my opinion.

The second half actually felt like a YA novel.

[Howlan]

I think that at the beginning of the story Adam had already "fallen" for his mom. And I think eventually he would have acted on it as well... Considering that he eventually acted on his feelings to kidnap Terry.

I would not say that he had fallen for her. He had an unusual attraction towards her.

idk, he seemed fallen to me... I don't think it was just an "unusual attraction", it was more of an obsession... and it considering that Adam has already shown that he doesn't mind taking the next step (as he did with Terry) it would follow suit that he won't be satisfied with just thinking about his feelings about his mom.

Yeah but he actually was able to contain himself, a bit late but still. I think Adam is just stupid and narcissistic. He had incestuous feelings but I do not think he had fallen for her.

[Howlan]

They DO kinda explain why Adam has those thoughts, but it was a pretty weak explanation in my opinion. For the most part, it's just kinda cringy... but there are some weird sexual details that don't really serve a purpose to the story. They definitely made me pause and

Yes, but it was a first-rate advertisement for the serum of the Iksha though!

I'm always down for a serum that'll keep me young for longer haha

Eternal youth certainly has high demand!