Thursday 2 December 2010

READING: Deception (Haunting Emma #1) by Lee Nichols

Deception by Lee Nichols

Publication Date: June 8th 2010
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Paperback, 336 pages

Buy it via Book Depository


When Emma Vaile's parents leave on mysterious business trip, it gives her the perfect excuse to be a rebellious teen. Throw some parties, get a tattoo (or maybe just a piercing), and enjoy the first few weeks of her junior year. Then her best friend stops talking to her, the cops crash her party, and Emma finds herself in the hands of a new guardian—her college-age "knight in J.Crew armor," Bennett Stern—and on a plane to his museum-like mansion in New England.


After enrolling at Thatcher Academy, Emma settles in by making friends with the popular legacy crowd. But she can't shake the strange visions that are haunting her. She has memories of Thatcher she can't explain, as if she's returning home to a place she's never been. Emma doesn't trust anyone anymore—except maybe Bennett. But he's about to reveal a ghostly secret to Emma. One that will explain the visions . . . and make Emma fear for her life.


I find it really hard to write down a review about Deception...In overall,i liked it but coming to think of it,i was having a small problem at the beggining of this book.There were a number of things i found really hard to believe at but suprisingly,those didn't spoil the book for me.Let me explain...

At first,i was constantly thinking "You must be joking,right?".The main heroine,Emma,as soon as the book begins,is presented as home alone,completely abandoned by all of her family.But that isn't something new...Her parents are used to leave her alone and Emma doesn't find it odd...I did though.Especially when soon after the reader knows that something strange is going on with Emma's past,something that should mean that her parents should take better care of her...I tried to overcome that,though i didn't fully succeed,not even when i finished the book and some answers were given...I just hope that Nichols has a really good explanation for her parents' behavior in the sequel.As i said,i tried to forget about that,but for the first half of the book,things get happening that i just couldn't believe them at all.I don't want to elaborate further in fear of spoilers,so i will just generally say that,some of Emma's reactions to things could have been more believable if they were a little bit more explained.I mean,come on,who would be that insane to follow someone (granted you know that someone and have a crush on him,but let's not forget,he is in bad terms with your family) to another state,without questioning his motives further especially when you believe that he's lying and has forged your parents' signature.I can understand that she was hopeless not to turn in a foster home or something but she just accepted it just like that...I don't know,i may be really trying to find some plausibility in everything i read and tht's not something absolutely necessary but,that's who i am...I like my characters to justify their actions and not just act the way that serves the plot better and easier...

Anyway,apart those parts of the book where i found a little bit unbelievable,the book was really good.Nicholson's writing style is fresh and really easily read ,something that i always like in books.The plot was good and unique and maybe that was why i was so bothered by some of the small inconsistencies.Since the book was so good on the major parts,i found it a bit sloppy for the details to be random.Since Nicholson clearly has the talent to create beautiful stories,she could make her characters justify their actions.

Emma was a nice character.Kind hearted,easy going and smart.Benett is also good,though absent in the better part of the book,but still he's a good male leading character.Strong and independent and with the will to fulfill whatever mission he believes in.I really liked him i have to say and found him a more believable character even if he was absent.The romance between them...just beautifully written!Although you don't get huge romance doses i believe that Nichols managed to maintain a perfect balance between the romantic,the mystery and the everyday life of her characters part.

All in all,it was a book worthy your time to read if you overcome some of the unbelievable parts of the plot.MAybe if you're not a schizo like me,you won't even mind or notice what bothered me so.Whatever the case might be,Deception is a really interesting YA novel with a plot that i found rather unique among the vampire and were hype.


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