Just finished reading Fury by ElizabethMiles.  I must say this was a very engaging read, well written, quite unique and compellingly different.  I didn’t really know what to expect with this book but the whole Fury concept based on ancient Greek mythology was great.

The story is based around Em, Chase and Zach – or at least they are the primary characters – and is a tale of revenge (actually I think it’s more a tale of retribution).  Em is part of the ‘in crowd’ and her best friend Gabby is the pack leader and girlfriend to the school heartthrob Zach.  But Em is lusting over Zach and he appears to return the feeling so when Gabby goes away for a winter break she leaves the door wide open.  Chase is also one of the popular guys, even though he’s from the wrong side of the tracks, but he’s always very aware of how precarious his position is and how easily he could be brought down, plus, he has a bit of a grim secret.  So, the scene is set and in walk the Fury’s.  Three beautiful girls but they’re not really all they seem and they’re intent on payback.

I suppose the school scene at Ascension is nothing we haven’t seen (Mean Girls) or read (Before I Fall) before.  You basically have your in crowd run by bitchy girls who have the ability to make some of the other students’ lives hell.  I mean, the girls in this book don’t come across as bad as some but to be honest scheming to take your best friend’s boyfriend is pretty low and frankly just wrong and yet Em doesn’t seem to feel hardly any guilt at all.  Zach is just basically a low life, wealthy, privileged and spoilt and who sees every girl as another notch on the bedpost – even the best friend of his girlfriend.

Em’s next door neighbour and not so secret admirer is JD.  JD is an excellent character who I really liked.  He is a genuine friend and tries his best to help Em and keep her from falling foul of Zach’s design.

On top of this we have an alternative storyline revolving around Chase who seems to be slowly unwinding – especially when he learns that one of the students from school has tried to commit suicide.  When Chase meets a beautiful red haired, green eyed girl he thinks his luck is picking up but in actual fact his luck has just run out.

I definitely had conflicting feelings reading this book – Sometimes I really didn’t like the characters and then at others I found myself feeling sorry for them (not Zach – I never liked or felt any compassion for him at any point during the story).  There’s Em who has basically proved herself to be the worst type of friend but who does eventually see the error of her ways and does try to redeem herself.  Chase – sometimes I was appalled at his duplicitous behaviour – he was ashamed of his mother and felt degraded by his living conditions.  I can understand him having aspirations but I never felt that he had any family love at all.  That being said I was literally cringing over his eventual downfall and to be honest I think price he finally paid just seemed harsh – I just couldn’t help feeling sorry for him.

What I particularly liked about this book was the writing.  Such a lovely writing style that flowed so well.  It really is difficult to believe that this is a debut novel when the story telling is this good.  On top of this we have a really dramatic ending and there are some genuinely creepy, hair standing up on the back of your neck moments.  I also liked the Fury’s they’re sort of deliciously bad.

In terms of criticisms – I think that one area that people will struggle with when reading this book is their dislike of the characters – it is difficult to like them because of their own mean spirited behaviour.  That being said, personally I think that’s the point.  You’re not supposed to like them otherwise it would be difficult to accept their eventual come-uppance.  But, it is a struggle sometimes to read a book where you’re just naffed off with the characters or staggered by their naivety or downright stupidity.  Also, it’s difficult to accept the level of retribution that is eventually dished out and you can’t help wondering if the Fury’s couldn’t find a better focus for their attention rather than boyfriend stealers!

Criticisisms aside though I really enjoyed this.  I was gripped with all the build up and it put me in mind of a sort of mild horror where you’re watching what’s happening between your fingers, you’re thinking ‘no don’t do that’ but you know it’s inevitable.  So, thinking more than you should about your best friend’s boyfriend or acting mean or cruel and making somebody’s life miserable – well, maybe you should think twice about your actions – you have been warned!  Apparently what goes around comes around.

I would have no hesitation in recommending Fury and I will look forward to No.2 with eager anticipation!

Fury