Perversion or relationship?

[Kelyn]

If Carly hadn't come into the scene I think Adam would've kept spiraling out of control. His feelings towards his mother were not normal and he didn't know how to handle himself. I think his emotions would have got the better of him and he would keep acting out in worse and worse ways.

Yes, it would have been really disturbing and the book would have been erotica instead of YA

It shouldn't have been dubbed YA in the first place. Even though I don't think it qualifies as erotica and certainly not porn (there are far more explicit books out there in almost every bookstore's romance section), having his resistance crumble and beginning an actual relationship with his mom would have taken it up (down?) several levels in tone. I agree that it would probably have led to his acting out in other areas/ways as well.

[Howlan]

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.

And I started reading this book because it was a YA and it sounded like an action-thriller. Never thought it would begin with such craziness.

[Oyedeji Okikioluwa]

Honestly, Adam's awkward feelings for JoAnn almost make me stop reading the book. However, I understand that the author's build up on Adam's character is to show his dark side.

[Howlan]

Honestly, Adam's awkward feelings for JoAnn almost make me stop reading the book. However, I understand that the author's build up on Adam's character is to show his dark side.

Yes it was a major turn off.

[Nym182]

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.

Right? I never thought I would read that sentence!

[Nym182]

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!!

The serum is the perfect incest scapegoat!

[Nym182]

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.

Agreed!

[Nym182]

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!

It's like she took a character from another book and tried to make him fit in.

[Nym182]

"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!

I totally blocked out that he sniffed the blood...

[Nym182]

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.

I hope so!

[Nym182]

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.

Right? Jo returning those feelings just took it too far...

[Nym182]

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.

It's got a lot of good reviews on Amazon as well!

[Nym182]

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"

I mean, I guess I will give the author some credit for thinking outside the box by trying to give Adam the quickest turn around from evil psychopath to an all-around good guy.

[Nym182]

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!

I agree! haha I very rarely put down a book even if I hate it

[Nym182]

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.

I agree! Although, it does get me in trouble every once in awhile