Perversion or relationship?

[Howlan]

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".

Yes it does not make any sense!

[Nym182]

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!

Is it weird that I was more accepting of Jamie and Cersei from game of thrones?

[Howlan]

Yes the weird sexual overtones were really unnessesary.

I'm not sure I agree, though I don't think it's appropriate for a YA audience. Those 'weird sexual overtones' are part of what pulls the book solidly on the 'dark' side as opposed to the light and fluffy feel of many YA books. However, I don't think the author had to use that particular relationship to give the book the creepy overtone. There are a myriad of ways that could have been done.

Even if you take out the incest part, there were still details in this book that were unnecessarily sexual that had no importance to the actual story. For example, Adam walks in on Carly showering and pulls the shower curtain back and just watches her shower. Also, Carly wearing a sexy outfit (randomly) when interrogating Vicki and Carly casually deciding to wear socks because the guy shes going to hang out with has a known foot fetish.

Quite diverting and really bad stuff to deal in .

[Howlan]

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!

Is it weird that I was more accepting of Jamie and Cersei from game of thrones?

Jamie and Cersi looks much tamer than Adam if he would have crossed the line.

[Howlan]

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.

Yeah and it would have been perfectly acceptable as they were the effects of the serum!!

[Howlan]

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.

Yes, this book was definitely with lot od good twists and thrilling. But these deliberate actions of Adam were just plain disgusting.

[Howlan]

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.

Yes, I wonder what the author was trying to do!

[Howlan]

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!"

We are talking about a serial killer who has sniffed blood here!

[Howlan]

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.

There has to be some terrible karma saved up for him.

[Howlan]

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.

Agreed. It was really sickening to read about it.

[Howlan]

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.

I honestly was in shock at how many good reviews this book got... For a while, I thought maybe I had read a different book!

I also had that feeling though, I'm also glad I am not the only one!

Yes I could see lines of 4 stars in the reviews.

[Howlan]

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.

The first half of the book just consisted of me thinking "are we supposed to be cool with this or what?"

I was thinking along the lines of " This is how villains are made"

[Brenda Creech]

Exactly! I kinda wanna know how this car crash ends

I do too!

Are you also cursed/blessed with persistent and overwhelming curiosity?^.^

Yes, I am! Sometimes that's a good thing and sometimes it's not!

[Howlan]

I do too!

Are you also cursed/blessed with persistent and overwhelming curiosity?^.^

Yes, I am! Sometimes that's a good thing and sometimes it's not!

That's mostly a good thing! Keeps things interesting.

[Kelyn]

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!!

Yes I recognize that. The hunger of "what happens next!"

I love sci-fi, that's why I started reading the book in the first place. Little did I know what was actually coming. Unfortunately, there have only been a handful of times in my life where I didn't finish reading a book. Just one of my OCD things I guess.