Review: Arson by Estevan Vega

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. (YA-Paranormal)

Review:

Arson is a 17 year old boy who can create fire with his mind.
Strong emotions set him off and he has been trying to control his power. He lives with his mentally ill grandmother who treats him as an abomination and is quite cruel to him at times, so there isn’t much support or help for him at home. Other kids think he is a freak and avoid him so he lives a very lonely, isolated life.
Arson finally meets Emery, his new neighbor, during a very funny encounter. Emery wears a mask and has a few secrets of her own. Through their shared pain they form a tentative bond. I loved watching them slowly break down each other’s walls and learn to let someone in and trust another human being. Emery is smart, funny, guarded and vulnerable. Once she decides to trust Arson she goes all out and her honesty is refreshing. I’ve grown tired of reading about characters who won’t just say what their thinking.
Author Estevan Vega has a very unique way of looking at things. I felt he was channeling his inner Edgar Allen Poe. The story is often bleak and sometimes painful to read but for me that’s a good thing – I enjoy creepy.
One thing I didn’t like was how frequently and abruptly the story shifted to the other characters POV’s. Emery’s mother/father, Arson’s grandmother all get storylines and it often felt like I was reading three different books. All interesting, but not necessarily working well together or maybe I just wanted more of Emery and Arson.
By the end, the emotion, the action and the mysteries all come together and now I want to know what happens next. Arson ends on a cliffhanger but it’s not a frustrating one. I’m interested to see where the author takes this story and if it focuses more on Arson & Emery, Arson's powers, and if the different plot threads tie together.
Liked: The interactions between Arson and Emery are the high point. The ending left me very curious about Arson’s gift/curse. Loved the cover.
Nitpick: See above – I wished the story had stayed more focused on those two characters. Too many POV's .

Rating: 3 out of 4 This is a quirky tale but I enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to the sequel.

Estevan Vega signed my copy "Dysfunctional is the new normal". I think that sums the book up as well as anything I could come up with.

Source: I recieved the book from the author for my honest review. Thank you!
Authors website: Estevan Vega
Twitter: @EstevanVega
Buy the book: Arson