Review: What great fiction is supposed to do - empower and enlighten
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 6, 2014
It's rare in a dual POV novel when both characters hold equal weight and one doesn't dominate the plot more than the other. For me, Marcus' chapters touched me just as much as Amber's. They've both survived traumatic, life-changing events that can only be described as horrific. Amber was kidnapped by someone she knew. Marcus was abused at the hands of his stepfather. For two people to have encountered such evil at such a young age, it's remarkable that they lived to tell the tale.And what a story they have to tell. They each react differently to what they've been through. Amber withdraws, succumbing to her nightmares, constantly looking over her shoulder. Marcus lashes out, hooking up with random girls to dull the pain, throwing himself headfirst into a gang turf war. But when Marcus sees the distress Amber's in, he recognizes it and responds. He knows what it's like to be a tortured soul. He sees himself in her.Marcus feels an overwhelming need to protect Amber probably because he thinks he can't be saved. He'll help her battle her demons by refusing to examine his own. It's an offbeat form of therapy that works for a while, until the ghosts of his past reemerge to haunt him, refusing to stay buried in the recesses of his mind. If he's going to help her work through her trust issues and ease her guilty conscience, he's going to have to hold himself to the same standard or his efforts will be in vain. He can't fix her without fixing himself.Sexual abuse. Rape. Victimization. These are heavy topics, and Stina Lindenblatt handles them with grace. For a first time author, she demonstrates a refined skill for addressing sensitive subjects that many writers might hesitate to approach. She does so fearlessly, embodying her characters with all of the pain and self-awareness that accompanies such shocking revelations of identifying with one's abuser and keeping quiet about it instead of speaking out. Healing can only come by passing through the hurt, and by having Amber and Marcus go through theirs together, the reader can't help but forge a bond to these strong and resilient protagonists. They give hope to those going through similar situations of tragedy and recovery. And that's what great fiction is supposed to do - empower and enlighten.