Book Review: Arson by Estevan Vega

Arson by Estevan Vega
Genre: Young Adult Ficiton
Release Date: May 4, 2010
Publisher: Tate Publishing (where you can purchase online)
Pages: 336
Received From: Author (Thanks Estevan!)

Summary: 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.

My Review: Arson, was such a heartbreaking and emotional read. Estevan's way with words blew me away. The premise and character development ignited these fictional characters to turn realistic in my imagination. Every chapter was thought out and meshed well with the suspense and mystery. Arson, the main character, was a treat. He was so complex yet so simple. He was born with the ability to create fire. A curse in his eyes. Arson never asked to be seen as a "freak," all he yearned for was love. His grandmother, which he lived with, was a weird character. Mentally, she wasn't all there. I hated when Arson would get caught in her crossfire of crazyness. He was the type of person you just wanted to hug after his story was revealed.

Fortunately for him and me, Emery came along. At first, she was just the strange masked girl next door. I cannot tell you how much I loved her personality. She was so sassy and always full of sarcasm. Nothing seemed to ruin her mood even though her family life was a downer. I enjoyed the growing friendship between them. It was truly beautiful seeing Arson connect with somebody on an emotional level. Towards the end of the book, holy crap, crazy twists I wasn't expecting. I have so many questions! There was such a cliffhanger that I wish I seriously had the sequel in my hands, I hope Estevan finishes it soon. Overall, an intense, suspense filled book written by a gifted young author.

My Rating:
Author's Info:

As a young boy, Estevan Vega never really felt interested in the written word. Far more fascinating things like comic book superheroes and sketching fantastical beings caught his eye and captured a wild spirit. But in the fifth grade, writing short essays for a standoffish teacher ignited a fire that is still burning. Using his witty and imaginative father as a springboard for ideas, Vega set out to write a full manuscript. His dream to become a published author came forth when he was just 15 years old, releasing his first literary creation, Servant of the Realm, to the world, a story about a teenager who sees the future deaths of those he loves and tries to change it. "There is something therapeutic and natural about breathing life into the mundane, or finding escape through odd characters and strange concepts," says Vega. The Sacred Sin, his second book, was published when he was 18, and shows a darker edge and deeper intensity than his first effort. The Sacred Sin bleeds with honesty and emotion, and tells the story of Jude Foster, a cynical self-loathing detective, assigned to bring down a serial killer capable of stealing victim's souls without ever touching them. Stopping this ghost killer, fighting against his demons, his inner darkness, may be the only path toward sanity and a new beginning. With a curiosity for the supernatural, as well as a feeling of disconnection from the complacency of mankind, Vega’s story-lines dwell somewhere in between fiction and reality, a place where the world is as blurred and irregular as human choice and consequence. His latest book Arson was published by Tate Publishing and is currently working on the sequel. Vega resides in Connecticut, a small New England state most people forget about. Estevan Vega is the middle son of four, and he is a sophomore in College.

For more info on Estevan, visit his site(s):
Website: http://www.estevanvega.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/estevanvega

Other books by Estevan:
Servant of the Realm
The Sacred Sin

This is random but the song's lyrics reminded me of Arson: