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Arson (Arson #1)

3.69 of 5 stars 3.69 · rating details · 250 ratings · 139 reviews

ARSON is the first book in a Young Adult Paranormal series. Book two, ASHES, is also available now.

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...more

Paperback, 318 pages

Published 2011 by Stonehouse Ink (first published May 4th 2010)

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Dec 29, 2012 Sony rated it 1 of 5 stars

This was one of the most disappointing books I've ever read. I say that because it started off with a bang. The first third of the book is brilliantly executed. Vega gave rich detail, mystery, a refreshing and uncanny realistic tone that pulled me right into his characters' world. The reader is introduced to a young man called Arson who lives in isolation both figuratively and literally. The reader doesn't know why he feels so alienated, but is told he's "different". He lives alone with an abusi...more This was one of the most disappointing books I've ever read. I say that because it started off with a bang. The first third of the book is brilliantly executed. Vega gave rich detail, mystery, a refreshing and uncanny realistic tone that pulled me right into his characters' world. The reader is introduced to a young man called Arson who lives in isolation both figuratively and literally. The reader doesn't know why he feels so alienated, but is told he's "different". He lives alone with an abusive and mentally ill grandmother. As the book progresses, it's revealed why Arson is so different, and we start to learn who he really is and then some new characters show up in the form of neighbors.

This is where things start to go downhill. Several things ruined this book but the biggest problem I had while reading this story was the author's attempt to pull me into too many worlds. The constant switch in POV is so very annoying. I didn't realize how jarring POV switch could be until I read this novel. Not only does he switch POV in the same chapter, which I suppose can be done well by a good writer, but he also switches POVs in mid paragraph! There's no way a skilled editor should have missed that. So while I blame the author, I mostly blame whoever edited and published this book and told Vega that it was OK to write like this.

The next thing that ruined this book for me is the poor character development and TERRIBLE dialogue. Arson goes from a socially awkward isolated boy to a love-struck and confused teenager man-child in like a page. The girl that he falls for wears a mask due to some horrific accident, so there's all sorts of peek-a-boo-I-want-to-show-myself-to-you-but-I'm-too-scared-to-be-vulnerable melodrama going on. The conversations between Arson and the girl are really really contrived and unnatural. They just don't sound like real people! If that isn't enough, Vega piles on more drama by making her family dysfunctional and introducing a third girl who could distract Arson's attention.All of these people have their own POV (except for the distracting extra girl).

The final thing that really kills this book is that in the midst of all the formulaic and forced drama, there's something building inside of Arson. He has a special ability that can be destructive (take a guess what it is), and with every new emotional conflict and adventure, he has to struggle to control this thing for fear that it will destroy things and people around him. The constant hints and building towards the finale are so overdone and blatant, that I just wanted it to happen already, and when it did, it's so so disappointing. But I wasn't surprised by that point. The writing had become progressively worse. The lush detail had turned into purple prose. Vega throws around nonsensical metaphors and similes that made me scratch my head and roll my eyes. Eventually I just wanted to stop reading.

'Arson' may have sounded like an intriguing idea on paper, but the execution ruined it. (less)

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Aug 08, 2012 Tanja (Tanychy) St. Delphi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tour

Review also at Ja čitam, a ti?

From the book summary you can guess that this is not typical paranormal book, with typical story and typical characters. You're right about that. Arson is very different character who grows up in unusual environment. When Emery, girl who is also unusual, showed up in his life you see that even though they are maybe different (but then again how can you say that someone is different, what is norm for being "normal") by some standards they are still teenagers, who de...more Review also at Ja čitam, a ti?

From the book summary you can guess that this is not typical paranormal book, with typical story and typical characters. You're right about that. Arson is very different character who grows up in unusual environment. When Emery, girl who is also unusual, showed up in his life you see that even though they are maybe different (but then again how can you say that someone is different, what is norm for being "normal") by some standards they are still teenagers, who deal with problems and growing up in process.

I personally have been able to divide things in this books to those that I like and I don't like. That's how my review will look like.

What I didn't like....It took me a lot of time to get into this book. The writing is unusual and maybe not the best for me. It has its advantages but I needed a lot of time to get used to it. I couldn't enjoy the story. Maybe this book was too dark for my taste, but then again this is horror and I knew that, so we can remove that one. Last thing is that after reading more than half of the book I finally got some real action. That took time.

What I liked...This story is wrote from different POVs and that made me so happy. You're jumping from one POV to another and that's how you met characters. That's probably the thing that kept me reading this book. After reading like 100 pages I just wanted to know the whole story about Arson and then when I got to the point that I'd maybe discover something - new POV came and I continued reading. Now I'm happy because of that. Speaking of the whole picture of this story I like that most of it is told in dialogues, not as usual in long narrative parts. This way is more dynamic. I also like the characters! They were probably the best part of this book. And then last 60 pages. They were just bum! It came out of nowhere! I was like this
description

until the end of the book. The best part of whole story. Plenty of action and everything I missed in the first part of the book.
(less)

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Dec 01, 2011 Giselle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal

A gentle start is not to be expected when going into this book. We get thrown into the midst of Arson's complicated and unorthodox life blind as a bat. It takes a bit to get situated in the story. But it shortly becomes quite the intriguing tale.

Arson, who lives with his senile grandmother, is just trying to live his life. When he becomes acquainted with his new neighbour, a strange girl who wears a creepy mask at all times, his life becomes even more complicated. Oh and by the way, he can creat...more A gentle start is not to be expected when going into this book. We get thrown into the midst of Arson's complicated and unorthodox life blind as a bat. It takes a bit to get situated in the story. But it shortly becomes quite the intriguing tale.

Arson, who lives with his senile grandmother, is just trying to live his life. When he becomes acquainted with his new neighbour, a strange girl who wears a creepy mask at all times, his life becomes even more complicated. Oh and by the way, he can create fire with his mind… I found the concept really fascinating. I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get a lot of insight into Arson's ability, however. I would have loved to see more of what he can do, or why. I'm not disheartened though, there are some events that transpire at the end that lets us know further details are on its way. This installment focuses more on establishing Arson's relationship with his neighbour, Emery. Their relationship - though peculiar - is realistic and entertaining. I consider Emery as much a main character as Arson. And a very interesting one at that! Emery has been hiding behind her mask for years. This isn't a pretty masquerade ball mask either, think Micheal Myers! *shutters* I was incredibly intrigued by Emery. She has a fun, snarky personality and a mysterious past that I couldn't help but want to know everything about. What also surprised me in this book was how we got to see Aimee's perspective - Emery's mother. That's right! An adult's perspective, and one with marital issues to boot! The older YA and adult crowd are most likely to welcome this unique angle as much as I did.

While I really enjoyed getting to know Arson and Emery, I was a bit annoyed with the secondary characters. Mandy, the stereotypical it-girl who has this perplexing crush on Arson was a bit hard to swallow. I couldn't picture this happening at all which may be due to getting no real understanding of her intentions. I was also a bit confused by Arson's grandmother's. I wasn't sure if she had abilities, like Arson, that made her this way or if she was just old. I think some backstory would have made a world of a difference to really bring this book from good to great.

Like most cliffhanger endings, this one was exciting and left me wanting more. If my assumptions are correct, book 2 - Ashes - is going to be more focused on the paranormal aspect of the story and give us a little of what is missing in Arson. I'm happy that I already have it ready to go as I look forward to getting some answers!(less)

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Dec 24, 2012 Book Chick City rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror, young-adult

Reviewed by Laura for Book Chick City. Rating 7/10 on the blog.

'Arson' is a deep and moving book about Arson Gable, a seventeen year old orphan who lives with his Grandmother and has the ability to create fire with his mind.

Living in remote America, other than his job in an ice cream parlor, Arson lives in relative isolation. That is until the Pheonix family move in next door, and suddenly Arson's near empty life is awakened. Enter Emery, a scarred yet gutsy girl, who feels safer wearing a mask...more Reviewed by Laura for Book Chick City. Rating 7/10 on the blog.

'Arson' is a deep and moving book about Arson Gable, a seventeen year old orphan who lives with his Grandmother and has the ability to create fire with his mind.

Living in remote America, other than his job in an ice cream parlor, Arson lives in relative isolation. That is until the Pheonix family move in next door, and suddenly Arson's near empty life is awakened. Enter Emery, a scarred yet gutsy girl, who feels safer wearing a mask over her face when she greets the world.

Emery challenges the way Arson lives his life. Forcing him out of his current existence, from a trip to the bowling alley, to volunteering at the local hospital. All small steps that force him to connect with the local community. And as Arson begins to connect and inevitably fall in love, he begins to start to come to terms with his troubled past and present.

Arson's ability aside, at the root of this novel is a coming of age story about two teenagers both damaged in some way; one emotionally and the other physically.

It also tackles the complexity of family relationships: what it means to love and hate someone all at the same time. As well as difficult issues facing many young adults such as abuse and alcoholism. Arson's relationship with his elderly Grandmother is painful, as is Emery's with her dysfunctional and breaking parents.

 For a long time throughout the novel, I wondered what the purpose of Arson's ability was, as it felt like nothing more than a manifestation of teenage angst. If the author had given Arson a box of matches instead, I believe it would of had about the same impact as his pyrokensis on 90% of the novel. And as the book neared its end, I wondered how on earth all of the threads were going to come together.

Then came the conclusion. A compelling, horror filled ending that left me thinking – where on earth did that come from. It seemed to come out of nowhere as though the author had tried to tie the threads together a little too fast. It was shocking and ended on a cliffhanger that leads me to believe there must be a sequel to come.

Verdict:

'Arson' is extremely well written book, packed with stunning imagery. It was dark, intense and at times disturbing. Its navigation through some very difficult issues means that it wasn't always an easy read, but is compelling never the less.

My one small wish is that Vega had taken a little more time to build the ending as I think it would of had more of the impact he was hoping for.

(less)

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Sep 24, 2012 Mickey (I'm A Book Shark) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: author-review, 2012, ereader

See full review here!

I received this book from the author. Here is my honest review:

Maybe this book just isn't my cup of tea, but I really did not connect with the characters at all. The story is all over the place due to multiple third person POVs, but it was at random intervals, so I never got a good grasp on anyone. And I totally knew what was going on with Grandpa. But what's up with Grandma? And why is Arson the way he is? WHAT is he? Too many unanswered questions. I get that it's a series,...more

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Jul 13, 2012 Kelly rated it 2 of 5 stars

With intriguing-sounding characters and a plot full of potential, my hopes were high for Arson. Where I found the characters to be less than compelling, and the plot's potential was never truly reached, I am walking away feeling slightly disappointed but hopeful for Arson's sequel, Ashes.

Arson is a spinelessly pathetic protagonist. Having been belittled for most of his life by his ailing grandmother, he has very little self-confidence. He harbours guilt over his mother's death, due to his grandm...more With intriguing-sounding characters and a plot full of potential, my hopes were high for Arson. Where I found the characters to be less than compelling, and the plot's potential was never truly reached, I am walking away feeling slightly disappointed but hopeful for Arson's sequel, Ashes.

Arson is a spinelessly pathetic protagonist. Having been belittled for most of his life by his ailing grandmother, he has very little self-confidence. He harbours guilt over his mother's death, due to his grandmother's insistence that it was his birth which caused her passing, and his fear of his ability causes him to distance himself from others his age. He is unable (or unwilling) to stand up for himself, letting others push him around and call him names like 'freak,' and he's constantly berating himself for being different. He spends the majority of Arson wallowing in self-pity, reliving a particularly traumatizing moment where his ability to create fire resulted in harming a little girl. If I had been able to relate to Arson in any way, I might have felt pity for his situation but I couldn't get over his whininess.

I felt similarly about Emery. Having been disfigured by fire during a childhood accident, Emery chooses to wear a Michael Meyers-like mask to cover up her scars; so instead of people staring because of her disfigurement, they stare because of her "disgusting" mask (as her mother calls it). Her home life is dysfunctional - with her parents dealing with alcoholism, infidelity and divorce - and she spends most of her conversations with Arson complaining about it. If I had been better equipped to understand Emery and her choice to wear the mask, I might have felt more of a connection to her. But her strange behaviour and emotional instability ended up giving me reader's whiplash as I tried to make sense of her breakdowns.

A lack of understanding is the root of my problems with Arson. Did Arson's grandmother also possess some sort of ability, or was she becoming senile in her old age? Had she always mistreated him, or was her emotional abuse the result of a more recent tragedy? Why was she so concerned with Arson being near water? If Arson has had his abilities his whole life, why did he wait until he was in his later teen years to begin to learn how to use it? What was the point of Arson's relationship with Mandy? Why did Emery insist on wearing her mask? I actually also found myself wondering why Arson had been written as a paranormal/fantasy novel, as the root of this novel is a contemporary coming of age story about two damaged teenagers who begin to heal after being brought together. It wasn't until the last ten percent of the story that we actually get to see Arson use his powers - and then Arson ends on a cliffhanger!

But even with the issues I had with Arson, I still kind of enjoyed it. I liked watching Emery force Arson to interact with his community, and some of their moments together came across as completely genuine. I was fascinated by Arson's grandmother, which is why I think I'm so frustrated that her role was given such little explanation. I also waited in anticipation for Arson's powers to unleash themselves, only for it to happen just as the story was ending. With how Arson ended, I'm hopeful for it's sequel Ashes as I think the answers and excitement I was looking for with Arson will finally make an appearance.

Find this review on my blog, Radiant Shadows!(less)

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Jul 15, 2011 Morgan F rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, 2010, otis-library, fantasy, urban-fantasy, its-a-boy, medium-sized, connecticut, thriller, fiction, bildungsroman, read-2011, summer, suckfest

This book is a very atypical paranormal romance, although from the summary it seems stereotypical. Arson Gable is a loner who lives with his psychotic grandmother in a remote cabin in the woods. He has no friends, and his only interaction with other people is at his minimum-wage job at the local ice-cream shop. That's alright with Arson because he's a freak. Whenever he's angry, upset, or hurt, a fire starts in him, a fire that demands to be let out. Arson is used to being a loner, until a new f...more This book is a very atypical paranormal romance, although from the summary it seems stereotypical. Arson Gable is a loner who lives with his psychotic grandmother in a remote cabin in the woods. He has no friends, and his only interaction with other people is at his minimum-wage job at the local ice-cream shop. That's alright with Arson because he's a freak. Whenever he's angry, upset, or hurt, a fire starts in him, a fire that demands to be let out. Arson is used to being a loner, until a new family moves in nearby. Emery, the daughter of the new family, is a freak like him. She wears a mask due to cover up the scars from an accident in her childhood, and her parents, an alcoholic minister and a frustrated nurse, are always fighting and her family is falling apart. Slowly, Arson and Emery build a tumultuous friendship, as they can open up to each other in ways they haven't been able to to anyone else.

This book was unusual, and I didn't anticipate any of it. The POV, instead of focusing on one character, jumped from character to character. And it just didn't focus on Arson and Emery, but Arson's grandmother and Emery's parents had chapters dedicated to themselves too. It was interesting, as YA novels are usually superglued to the teenage perspective. The drama wasn't just based on teenage romance, but it included some heavier themes, such as aging, loss, failure, extramarital affairs, dissatisfaction, topics that were tackled from an adult perspective. I just wasn't expecting it in a YA novel, and if the writing was more cohesive, I would have really enjoyed it. But instead I felt the shifting perspectives were a tad disjointed and forced. I didn't know where the plot was going, and the characters were difficult to understand. I either disliked them, or had no positive feelings about them whatsoever.

I just didn't understand the purpose behind the novel. What was it trying to say, trying to do? Whatever it was, was odd and I didn't enjoy it. The novel didn't mesh with the last few page of the book, which was much more typical YA paranormal fare. Then the cliffhanger, what was that? I was just so confused. I have no idea where this series is going, and not in a good way.

In the end, the book was messy and I didn't enjoy it. I'm not sure if I'm reading the sequel. (less)

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Mar 28, 2011 TheBookVixen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010, c-b

Arson is an unique 17-year old who can create fire with his mind. He lives with his bipolar grandmother, whom he has a love-hate relationship with, and works at an ice-cream shop. He's haunted by his dreams and doesn't have much control over his supernatural power, though he's working on it. He feels so alone but all that changes when Emery moves into the house next door. Emery has problems of her own; her parents are fighting, they keep moving, never to stay in the same place for long, and she...more Arson is an unique 17-year old who can create fire with his mind. He lives with his bipolar grandmother, whom he has a love-hate relationship with, and works at an ice-cream shop. He's haunted by his dreams and doesn't have much control over his supernatural power, though he's working on it. He feels so alone but all that changes when Emery moves into the house next door. Emery has problems of her own; her parents are fighting, they keep moving, never to stay in the same place for long, and she always wears a mask.

Each being a loner, Arson and Emery don't immediately hit it off but slowly learn to let each other in. Both are very candid with each other. I love Emery's up front honestly and wittiness; her remarks made me laugh.

"It's a mask." [...:] "What, you've never seen a mask before?"

"I have, but not one like this. It's freaky. You know, for a girl. You friends with Michael Myers?"

Both the blurb and the cover for Arson caught my immediate attention. The story is unique and compelling. Arson is told from a 3rd person narrative but Vega's direction and character shift is easy to follow. The beginning was a little rough around the edges for me. I didn't feel a connection with the story at first. I found it difficult to stay focused and in tune with Arson (I had to start over from the beginning and read it again). But things quickly picked up on page 21, when Arson is at work and Mandy walks in, and well made-up for the rough start.

The ending to have had a bit of a comic book feel to it. I can't wait for the sequel to where Vega takes the story next. Arson has a killer cliffhanger ending. I kept turning the last page, over and over again, thinking there has to be more of the story left in this book somewhere...? But no, that was it. Lucky for Vega, he is currently working on the sequel. I may hound him from time to time until he gets it done....I am anxiously awaiting the sequel *hint hint*. I'm definitely getting my hands on that sucker as soon as it comes out!

Vega's writing is raw, gritty and dark yet there is a soft side hidden between the text. There were even some times when I laughed out loud. He certainly has a craft for depicting a world like no other. His writing proves that he is wise beyond his years. This is Vega’s third novel and he’s only 21! He’s definitely an author to watch out for!

You can find this review, and many more, on my blog The Book Vixen.(less)

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Jan 15, 2013 Tanya J. rated it 5 of 5 stars

ARSON is a breath of fresh air in the young adult genre. Vega takes his readers on a thrill ride that is meant to jostle them in every direction, much like the main protagonist that the book is named after.

I personally love the shifts in third person point of view that Vega writes the novel in; I'm writing my novel in changing viewpoints as well. It's good to see other young authors use different writing techniques in light of the first-person POV splurge in paranormal YA fiction that seems to...more

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Dec 09, 2012 Wanda Panda Hartzenberg rated it 5 of 5 stars

Arson book one in the Arson trilogy by Estevan Vega

Estevan Vega caught my attention with a standalone novel of his I read earlier on in 2012.
The story with Arson as the protagonist made me a fan for life.
A story where the protagonist, Arson is something more than human yet less than a man. Where Emery has been turned into a freak and into a non-person by her own volition by wearing a mask.
A story where the surname of the family next door is Phoenix, reminiscent of the birds that old and ugly di...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Amanda rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, a-young-adult, g-fantasy-paranormal

I expected a lot out of this book. Probably more than I should have. It isn't to say that I didn't enjoy it, it was OK and I think the premise of this book is kind of neat. It just falls flat in places.

Mr. Vega does a great job with descriptive writing. He is very descriptive and you can easily place yourself in the world he has built. You get a very good view into Arson's home life and Emery's story.

Where I felt the book went wrong was in trying to incorporate so many voices. It felt like the...more

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Aug 23, 2012 Diayll rated it 2 of 5 stars

Originally Reviewed At:Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Blog Tour
Reviewer: AimeeKay

I liked Arson…in the beginning. There were secrets about Arson and his family that kept me turning the pages. Plus I liked Emery. She was fascinating.

Nevertheless, as I got farther into the book I began to become irritated. The story keeps hinting at Arson’s ability be we don’t actually get to see anything of it until the last few chapters in the book. Instead the book seems to foc...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Michelle novelsontherun rated it 4 of 5 stars

RATING : 4.25 INTRIGUING STARS!!

Arson Gable lives with his grandma, in a cabin by the lake. Arson is different. I spent a lot of the book trying to understand grandma and her ways. She was a rollercoaster of a woman. She dealt punishment her way.

This was a most compelling story.

Emery is the new neighbour. She wears a mask. Her parents Joel the minister and Aimee are going through a very bad patch. Joel has so much love to give, now, but when Aimee needed it most.

Arson works at the local icecr...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Preet rated it 4 of 5 stars

Arson was definitely not what I was expecting it to be. It’s one of those books I enjoyed while still being iffy about it by the end.

We start off being introduced to Arson, a somewhat loner kid who has made some mistakes in his past and has to now live with them. Though I learned a great deal about him, I kind of wished the actual story had focused on him a bit more. However, I also really enjoyed the character of Emery because her personality was so fun. I loved how she had this immediate conne...more Arson was definitely not what I was expecting it to be. It’s one of those books I enjoyed while still being iffy about it by the end.

We start off being introduced to Arson, a somewhat loner kid who has made some mistakes in his past and has to now live with them. Though I learned a great deal about him, I kind of wished the actual story had focused on him a bit more. However, I also really enjoyed the character of Emery because her personality was so fun. I loved how she had this immediate connection with Arson, but Vega still built on their relationship so it didn’t have an insta-love quality to it at all.

What’s so different about this book is that it gives a few character stories. It was different to have a parental view in a book like this and was something I was kind of surprised to see. However, I think it made the main story a tad sporadic as I read. It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy the side stories, I just didn’t see what it had to do with the other parts of the book by the end.

Though the ending made a seriously WTF moment in the best of ways because it made a set up for the following books, I can’t say I loved it. This is only due to the fact that it felt kind of random. There was absolutely no hint to it within the story, and I think I would’ve appreciated it a bit more if it was at the very least referenced once before the ending.

Even though I had some issues with the story, I really enjoyed Vega’s writing style. He has the perfect combination of mixing gritty with a slight soft underline. That’s how I would explain the character of Arson. He had this darkness to him, but I never felt he was a bad person or anything. I always kind of had this soft spot for him for no real reason because he was written in a way that I could still connect with him. I mean, I won’t be burning anything with my body anytime soon, but I’d totally be down to have a cool little adventure or some strawberry cheesecake ice cream with Arson.

Overall, I’m definitely reading the next book in the series because the ending was evil and I must know what happens next. If you’re looking for a story that will hook you quickly and have you begging to know more, get your hands on Arson now. Thanks to AToMR Book Tours for providing me a copy for review.(less)

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Aug 01, 2012 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tour, kindle, review-on-blog

Arson goes much deeper than just the surface. This is a book about two dysfunctional families. Arson and Emery both have a lot of their plates. They are just 17 years old and already they have to deal with a lot. Emery lives behind a mask and Arson can start fire and he seems terrified of his ability.

Arson and Emery both acted more grownup than their adult counterparts. Emery's mom is flighty and downright rude, and her dad is falling apart. No one wants to take any accountability for their act...more

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Aug 01, 2012 Shaheen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Arson is an unexpectedly dark and edgy novel that had me hooked from the very first chapter. Although the story is mainly about seventeen year old Arson Gable, who can create fire with his mind, glimpses into the complicated lives of those around him – his grandmother Kay, his neighbour Aimee and Joel, and of course, their daughter Emery make the book more substantial.

Arson wants to die. He hates his strange power – he believes it killed his mother at his birth and causes his grandmother to call...more Arson is an unexpectedly dark and edgy novel that had me hooked from the very first chapter. Although the story is mainly about seventeen year old Arson Gable, who can create fire with his mind, glimpses into the complicated lives of those around him – his grandmother Kay, his neighbour Aimee and Joel, and of course, their daughter Emery make the book more substantial.

Arson wants to die. He hates his strange power – he believes it killed his mother at his birth and causes his grandmother to call him a devil. In some ways Arson is beyond depressed: he is broken. When a new family moves in to his street, he finds himself intrigued by the daughter – Emery – who wears a mask to hide her face. Emery is also depressed, but handles it much better than Arson and genuinely tries to be happy. Their mutual loneliness pulls them together and they slowly heal one another’s hurts and start dating (sort of).

Estevan Vega explores isolation and loneliness in a multitude of ways in the novel. Not only through his two protagonists, but those around them as well. Arson’s grandmother suffers from a mental illness (not going to speculate on that it was because I don’t know) and treats Arson horribly because he’s a devil in her eyes. Emery’s parents are extremely unhappy in their relationship and have moved to make a new start on life. In contrast to them there is Abe – a man dying of lung cancer in the hospital that Emery’s mother Aimee works at and where Emery and Arson volunteer their time. He has lots of regrets with how he lived his life and keeps telling Arson and Emery to be braver, love harder, take more risks.

Arson is very much a problematic character for me. I understand that he is shy and depressed, but he acts extremely stupidly around both Emery and Mandy, the hot girl he has always had a crush on. He really has no idea what is going on most of the time and it frustrated me. His constant moroseness got under my skin a few times – he has plenty of opportunity throughout the novel to have fun but no, he wasn’t letting go of his issues, choosing instead to pile them onto Emery in an effort to push her away. It would be so awful to have a friend, now wouldn’t it? In contrast, Emery is a great character. Determined and sarcastic, she really thinks that Arson and her can hit it off and become good friends, and she’s absolutely right, if only he would give her a chance. She also has a healthy sense of self-worth and doesn’t let Arson treat her badly, which I enjoyed.

The plot of Arson is enjoyable but left a little lacking in terms of explaining Arson’s powers. I feel like I finished the story with no real inkling of how he does what he does, and why. It is also unclear if the peculiar trait runs in his family ( in my mind it’s likely it does) and I hope this is explored further in the next book. Since this is a very short read, it makes sense that all the action is right at the end, but I still wish there had been a better conclusion to the story. I’m fine with cliffhangers, but to me it felt like the author simply stopped writing without really concluding anything.

I can’t stress how much I enjoyed this book, regardless of the little hiccups I had with it. It is well executed and an engaging read, I recommend it to anyone looking for an atypical YA novel. I’m surprised at how much ground Estevan Vega is able to cover in this short work, and am looking forward to reading Ashes soon.

You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic .(less)

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Jul 31, 2012 carole rated it 4 of 5 stars

Arson is a dark and twisted book by an incredibly talented author. The build up and flow of Arson's story is haunting while mesmerizing and allows the reader to lament for this unfortunate character. It's a story that I found to be mainly about relationships and self worth, a mostly realistic novel but with a hint of paranormal suspense. The author knows his subjects and creates a real life story that features a thrilling and not so real element.

Arson Gable knows he's not normal. His character i...more Arson is a dark and twisted book by an incredibly talented author. The build up and flow of Arson's story is haunting while mesmerizing and allows the reader to lament for this unfortunate character. It's a story that I found to be mainly about relationships and self worth, a mostly realistic novel but with a hint of paranormal suspense. The author knows his subjects and creates a real life story that features a thrilling and not so real element.

Arson Gable knows he's not normal. His character is battered and emotionally damaged, and he's living with guilt that he's never been taught how to deal with. Growing up with a grandmother who is physically and emotionally abusive, not to mention a little delusional, Arson has created this shell around himself until he can no longer feel. His life brightens a bit when a new family lives next door, and with it comes Emery (a wonderfully constructed character, the perfect addition to this intense drama). The phrases that come out of Emery's mouth are sarcastic and pungent. Her life is as messy as his and soon they find a real and slightly damaged (with the baggage they both are lugging around) relationship. Arson and Emery, coupled with the multiple characters of Estevan Vega's mind, this book is a complex network of emotional story lines.

Estevan Vega writes with purpose. He tells this story well, and tells it from everyone's point of view. His angles on various relationships and stages of life made me feel like their were multiple authors to this book. He has every personality down to an art.

Throughout the book we continued to learn things with the characters as they grow. Their flaws and characteristics develop as the story builds, and the piercing ending was the perfect conclusion and cliffhanger. It's hard not to get involved. I really enjoyed this book and think that Estevan is one writer to watch!

This book has a shocking there-will-be-a-book-two ending that leaves the reader searching for information on how the story continues. The sequel, Ashes, is also available. This book is magnificently constructed and full of real feelings and people.(less)

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Jul 30, 2012 Splash Of Our Worlds *Yiota* rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reviewed by Nina

I know that it's going to sound shallow, but what really intrigued me into reading the book was the cover. I, actually, saw the cover, then said "yes" to my participation and then I read the summary, which, by the way, is really interesting. First time there is a character creating fire and there are not other characters in the book, who can manipulate the other elements.

Now, about the book:

Firstly, there are the characters.

Arson is one of those loner guys that don't have friends...more Reviewed by Nina

I know that it's going to sound shallow, but what really intrigued me into reading the book was the cover. I, actually, saw the cover, then said "yes" to my participation and then I read the summary, which, by the way, is really interesting. First time there is a character creating fire and there are not other characters in the book, who can manipulate the other elements.

Now, about the book:

Firstly, there are the characters.

Arson is one of those loner guys that don't have friends, he comes from a weird family status, since he's living with his grandparents and he is one of those brave guys who can stand every bad reaction from the others and still don't get angry and start kicking butts, or in this case burn them till they're ashes. He has a big problem with his powers, since there is none around who can teach him how to use them and he does his best to hide his secret. As I said, brave.

Emery is the weird masked girl. Reading about her was easy. She is pretty simple, one of those girls you can easily hang out with, but then there is the mask. Most of the times I was totally forgetting it and imagining I nice pretty girl, but that was wrong. The mask serves a purpose and it's really sad when she finally says her story and you - in this case Arson - learn why she's so obsessed with it.

Minor characters are Emery's parents, which you follow around quite a bit, but their lives and their actions serve a purpose and lead Emery into taking some decisions that change both, hers and Arson's, lives.
And then there is Arson's grandmother. Well, her, I hated her. I don't care about her psychological problems or whatever else, I just wanted to grab her head and smashed it at the wall. Learning the things you learn at the end might make you sympathize her, but not me.

Secondly, there were not many descriptions. You are following around the characters and you get some, but not like the ones I'm used to. What I noticed was that the author was making many great metaphores.

Lastly, the plot. In the beginning and most of the part of the book, things are semi-simple. There are many "waves". Things are calm, then something rocks the water, then something tranquil again. And then we are reaching the end. I'm serious when I'm saying that during the last chapters my eyes were wide open and my mouth was hanging there completely numb from all the disclosures.

Bottom line, despite being really fast that makes it difficult to put it in a straight line and some bad characters, I liked it. I liked the plot and I could justify most of the characters actions, because they seemed really human. The end leaves you with so many questions that I can't wait to read the next book. So, who doesn't want to read a young-adult paranormal novel written by a male author? I, for once, was really curious.(less)

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Jul 29, 2012 Krystal rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a bit of an odd story in that the reader learns about the plot and characters as the book continues and knows little to nothing right away. Arson and Emery are more or less the main characters. The author does not delve into their pasts right away, the book is written in the here and now. Arson and Emery do not have the easiest of lives, but they make do. Their characters engage in a bit of a romance during the novel. Arson is a very sympathetic character. When he has a "dark" thought,...more

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Jul 29, 2012 Stephanie Ward rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

'Arson' is a really interesting book that focuses on the idea of a person being able to create fire. The teenage hero has a confusing and hard life which is made all the more difficult by his unique ability to make fire. He has to deal with the truth of his past all while trying to understand what is happening to him. Adding to the story of Arson is the strange new neighbor who seems to have secrets of her own. What is she hiding from and what will become of them both?

The storyline of Arson is u...more

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Jul 30, 2012 Laura Hartley rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was immediately drawn to Arson by its captivating cover. I was just mesmerised by the perfect blue eyes and the hand of fire and I just had to find out more about this book.

This book really took me by surprise and it was not at all what I was expecting. Just a few chapters in and already I was hooked onto the story and desperate to find out more. The story was a lot deeper than I had imagined that it would be and the storyline with Arson's grandmother whose emotions change from sour to sweet q...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Merisha28 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite

I received this book in exchange for a honest review.

I was blown away by this book. The author had me hook, line, and sinker after the first chapter. This is an exciting and mysterious fast paced read. This book was not what I expected and I was happily surprised. You will fall in love with the characters and have sympathy when something happens to them. This book contains mystery, suspense, romance, and a bit of the supernatural laced with reality.
I love his writing style, because it makes you...more

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Jul 01, 2012 Book Whales rated it 3 of 5 stars

Originally posted @ Book Whales

I can't say I hate this book but I can't say I like it too. Maybe there are really some books out there that isn't for you and this book is that one for me. I think this book is just polarizing either you like it or you don't like it.

What I like about it:

- The fact that he has a power is something I like. And it is fire. Although somewhat destructive (I prefer waterbending haha) I think it is still a cool power.
- The protagonist is a male.
- The fact the he has som...more

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Mar 31, 2012 The Haunted Rose rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: YA Fantasy Lovers

Recommended to The Haunted Rose by: Estevan Vega

Shelves: arson

Cover Thoughts-
The cover is the strange girl's mask that Arson meets and I believe it is the perfect idea for the cover. I like it a lot.

First Thought-
Something completely new for me but still YA! I am getting tired of all the paranormal vampires and witches and zombies. I feel like my brain will explode if I don't read something new but good.

What I liked-
Arson. I love Arson. He's a 17 year old boy that doesn't act all immature and he is very sensitive. You can feel almost every emotion: Like hi...more Cover Thoughts-
The cover is the strange girl's mask that Arson meets and I believe it is the perfect idea for the cover. I like it a lot.

First Thought-
Something completely new for me but still YA! I am getting tired of all the paranormal vampires and witches and zombies. I feel like my brain will explode if I don't read something new but good.

What I liked-
Arson. I love Arson. He's a 17 year old boy that doesn't act all immature and he is very sensitive. You can feel almost every emotion: Like his guilt for living when his mother died and his is pain and loss enduring his grandmother's wrath when his grandfather dies. I don't know how he supports his grandmother with they way she treats him. Then there is Emery. Her family is equally as unstable and somehow her and Arson seem to find each other. I cried once in the book when Emery finally takes her mask off and Arson tells her she is beautiful and that was diffidently my favorite part. Also the ending was very unexpected. I was blown away!

What I disliked-
I expected Emery to be a little more bitter. She is scarred and traumatized stuck in a home with no love or stability. I wanted to see her distrusting and sheltered but she just instantly bonded with Arson. I also didn't understand Mandy's part in the mix. Why would a popular girl risk her reputation with a freak and then try to burn Emery's face off...again? I guess she was a little drunk maybe but even the most harsh people aren't going to shove somebody's face in a fire. Maybe she was joking? But I have never known a teenager with everything to almost kill somebody for fun.

Overall Readability-
It was a pretty fast read. I don't think I ever read a page that didn't show real emotion. I could feel every word almost as if I was Arson but my favorite character is Emery. :) It was something new and I enjoyed it very much and I can't wait to read the next one!

My Final Thought-
Emery! Oh my gosh how could you end a book on that? Where did this come from? Must read second book! NOW!

4 out of 5 Haunted Roses

You can see my blog review here- http://thehauntedrose.blogspot.com/20...(less)

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Mar 29, 2012 Star (The Bibliophilic Book Blog) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Arson Gable isn't your average teenager - he creates fire and can't always control himself. His grandmother blames him for the death of his parents and is alternately abusive and smothering. He has no friends, just people he has to tolerate to get through the day. Until he meets Emery - the girl with the mask to hide herself away from the world (and protect herself). Two loners come together to make something greater than themselves, if they can get beyond their own insecurities and pasts.

Arson'...more

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Nov 01, 2011 Romancing the Book rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, paranormal

Review by Sabrina: It took a little bit to get into this story. It was a little disjointed in the beginning. It was hard to get into the flow of the story, but once you were there it went just fine. This book is really angsty. Arson loathes himself and tries to fit in, but deep inside knows he is different. The Grandmother is really off her rocker. One minute she is sweet Grandma, the next minute she is a lunatic shouting things, and back again. The girl, Emery, is an out of control teenager. Sh...more Review by Sabrina: It took a little bit to get into this story. It was a little disjointed in the beginning. It was hard to get into the flow of the story, but once you were there it went just fine. This book is really angsty. Arson loathes himself and tries to fit in, but deep inside knows he is different. The Grandmother is really off her rocker. One minute she is sweet Grandma, the next minute she is a lunatic shouting things, and back again. The girl, Emery, is an out of control teenager. She was involved in an accident when shew as younger and now wears a scary mask so she doesn't feel vulnerable. While we have all toyed with the illusion that if no one can see who we really are, it wont hurt. We also all know how much of a pile of *()* that is. This girl manages to live that dream and you almost want to admire her for it. Except then she starts being an obnoxious teenager with the mentality that no one could possible understand. I have run into this with quite a few teenager and I think the author captured this mentality quite well. You almost admire her for how she braves the world, but then you see the way she treats people around her and you stop rooting for her. Her parents are having their own issues. You feel almost sad for them, until you realize they are doing it to themselves while simultaneously doing it to each other. There is not one great character. All are terribly flawed. I read a lot of comic books and this is actually a trait that I really like. I like knowing that everyone has something that needs monitoring to keep in check or you wouldn't recognize the person you become... But towards the end of this book, it got to be too much. Arson has the only redeeming quality shown in this book- and that does not come out til the very end of the book. The end of the book starts to get really disjointed again, the shift in perspectives happens frequently. Then the climax hits and the book is over... I think because it is a first book it is supposed to end in a cliffhanger but this one was... not a good one. It just made me mad. Not mad that I have to wait to read it... just mad.

I have heard that this author is quite young, early twenties, and I look forward to watching this author get more comfortable with a wider range of emotions. This is a YA novel, perhaps a younger generation would feel differently about this book. I may be in my mid twenties, but the teenage boy is not something I have ever pretended to understand.

Quote: "...You’ve cracked the case. Some sophomoric teenager thinks he has all the answers. When you’re my age and you’ve seen the world for what it truly is, seen human beings for what they are, maybe then you’ll get it. Life isn’t black and white, Arson. It’s filled with shades of gray. So don’t pretend like you have any idea what it’s like, because you don’t.”(less)

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Sep 11, 2011 Jamie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-trade, own

Oh my goodness! I've seen reviews for this book all over the book blogging community and it really caught my attention. The cover has just enough "creep factor" that I had to get my hands on it. I mean just look at the cover! A Freddy Krugerish "mask" and flames! Anyway....moving on.

What really turned me on about this book was the writing. From the very first sentence until the very last sentence the way that it was written kept me engaged and reading and pretty much putting my life on hold beca...more

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Aug 29, 2011 Jenn of Frequent Reader, Infrequent Blogger rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: review-written, mystery-thriller

***NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS***

Arson Gable isn’t like other seventeen year old boys, he lives with his abusive bipolar grandmother, has a past that haunts him and oh he can also start fires with his mind. His life is a story of social awkwardness and abuse. He doesn’t think anyone will ever accept him or understand him until he meets Emery, the girl with the mask. Emery was badly burned as a child and hides her scars behind a mask she almost never removes. She for the most part avoi...more ***NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS***

Arson Gable isn’t like other seventeen year old boys, he lives with his abusive bipolar grandmother, has a past that haunts him and oh he can also start fires with his mind. His life is a story of social awkwardness and abuse. He doesn’t think anyone will ever accept him or understand him until he meets Emery, the girl with the mask. Emery was badly burned as a child and hides her scars behind a mask she almost never removes. She for the most part avoids people, but Arson is different. Or so she thinks until she meets Mandy the popular manipulative pretty girl. With her life falling apart around her as her parents’ marriage falls apart before her eyes is it really worth taking a risk on Arson when it’s someone like Mandy she’ll have to fight to do so? Will Arson’s past destroy what they might have before it even begins?

I don’t like rating books especially when I can’t bring myself to give a high rating, but the book just didn’t do it for me not even in a mild way. The few things I can say that the author has going for him is he’s very good at maintaining a mix of distant and close third person point of view. The mix between the two is done smoothly and isn’t awkward in any way. The book was free from typos, though it was filled with fragmented sentences otherwise the grammar was good. For the most part he’s very good at description and setting a scene. However the most action packed scenes were almost straight out of Carrie or Carrie 2 and therefore lacking originality, and those action packed scenes were minimal. Also I was pretty disappointed with the ending to put it mildly. The first half of the book is basically an introduction to characters with tons of back story obsessing from each of them. That portion of the book is mostly listening to people’s thoughts drone on and on. About sixty percent into the book it starts to turn into almost an awkward teenage love story, the plot starts almost becoming a plot instead of just a character study and I think okay this is what I’ve been waiting for – something to happen only to have that small amount of actual story I received just obliterated by a not so happy ending. Okay so it wasn’t just not happy, it was cruel, abrupt and almost open ended because what was being talked about versus what occurred seemed contradictory. I can’t really explain it without spoiling the story completely, but trust me if you’re a fan of a happy ending this isn’t the book for you. I know I’m in the minority on my opinion because I saw the lists upon lists of five star reviews on Goodreads. And I have to apologize because I couldn’t find a lot of redeeming qualities in this book and don’t really belong on a blog tour for the book but having waited until the last minute to read the book it was a little too late to tell them it might be best for someone else to review it. Other than the one dimensional secondary characters there wasn’t a single developed character that wasn’t angst ridden. While the book was missing the important back story, that would have made it easier to understand especially with the twist ending that I didn’t see coming (well I saw the Carrie scene coming but what came after was a complete shock to me) it was filled with pretty much irrelevant obsessing by every main character. Joel was a drunk who lost his position as a minister because of drinking on the job. He may still be a part of his family but due to all the time he put the church before his family he doesn’t really have their support. Aimee was disillusioned with her husband and her life, she can’t connect to her daughter, she still has feeling for her high school sweetheart who is her boss and she resents the destruction her husband’s alcoholism has caused in their lives. Emery’s face was burned in her youth and rather than have anyone see it she wears a mask pretty much all the time and seldom lets anyone close to her. Her own parents can’t seem to look at her without a sense of revulsion. Kay aka Grandma is off her rocker, she sees visions of herself as a girl stealing away her husband, she has a bipolar personality and hasn’t come to term with the fact her husband died a while ago. She in fact still has tea with the imaginary dead man. She blames her grandson for the death of his mother and is violently abusive toward him. Then there’s Stephen aka Arson Gable who starts fires with his mind and is somehow responsible for something fire related happing to a little girl seven years ago, he’s an awkward misfit who attempts to drown himself daily. Most of his time is spent thinking, he does little other than think and obsess over his past and his present. He’s depressed to say the least and he takes angst to an entirely new level. Why am I talking about characters before plot - because more than half the book is the characters thinking. There’s an awkward almost love story between Arson and Emery in the middle, some mean teenagers and an ending that doesn’t follow with anything before in the book. I only enjoyed about twenty percent of the book and that was during the love story section, the Carrie scene wasn’t too bad, it was exciting and well described but what came after made no sense since the character introduced then were never previously mentioned or explained. The book is mostly telling and not showing and I got really tired of listening to characters constantly obsess over things. I’m not even really sure what genre this fits in, at first I thought ok, it’s some sort of literary story of abuse and broken people, then I thought maybe a paranormal romance and then at the end I was thinking is this supposed to be a horror novel? The main horror was how awkward the poor main character was.

As I said beyond the characters listed above the secondary characters were flat and one dimensional. Mandy was outright stereotypical with nothing to separate her from every other mean girl portrayed in fiction or movies. While the characters listed above were somewhat well developed there wasn’t a lot of strengths to these characters and they were very difficult to relate to.

Overall, what can I say, a lot of people loved this book, check out Goodreads and you’ll see that I’m not wrong in that. However I wasn’t one of them and I personally couldn’t recommend it. However since I am in the minority in my opinion it could be worth picking it up to peruse so you can decide for yourself what you think.(less)

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Aug 05, 2011 Giovanni Gelati rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have had the good fortune of having interviewed this author a little while back and have enjoyed listening to him passionately emote about his writing process; I was sold right then and there. The young man can write. His characters are well thought out; they work well together in the plotline and his narrative is just as intense as he is. Arson is a read that is tight, concise, and fun. If you are looking for a really good read this weekend, here you go. Oops I forgot the link to the blogtalk...more

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Aug 04, 2011 Stacey O'Neale rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review was completed by Camille Morales, staff reviewer with the YA Fantasy Guide.

This book is about a boy named Arson. He can create fire with his mind. His grandmother is insane. He likes the hottest girl in town. His mother died at birth, and his grandmother hates him for it.
Arson is a freak. He thinks he is, because of his fire ability and all. And he’s guilty. In my opinion, if he stopped acting like an idiot every time he saw Mandy (the hot girl), then maybe he’d be likable and relat...more

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About Estevan Vega

I’m a writer. Well, technically an author, because they say that you magically become an author (i.e. true creative) if you’ve published something, and you’re a writer if you haven’t (you know those closet aspiring geniuses who just scribble stuff into notebooks and hide it from the world?). But I still call myself a writer. I’m one of 4 brothers. The middle son. I guess that’s supposed to make me...more I’m a writer. Well, technically an author, because they say that you magically become an author (i.e. true creative) if you’ve published something, and you’re a writer if you haven’t (you know those closet aspiring geniuses who just scribble stuff into notebooks and hide it from the world?). But I still call myself a writer. I’m one of 4 brothers. The middle son. I guess that’s supposed to make me uber weird and dysfunctional, but the jury’s still out on that one. I love mint chocolate chip ice cream. Like, really love it. Watching movies and going to rock shows are 2 of my favorite pastimes, and I am addicted to telling stories.

It all started because a 5th grade teacher decided to become a meddler in my life. That’s right, one of my least favorite authority figures at the time assigned us to write these 1 page short stories for class. We had the freedom to create whatever we wanted (within reason), but the assignments were do every day, and upon completing the school year, the plan was that we’d all bind them to compile a book. Well, at the time I hating reading, hated writing, and wanted to be a comic book artist. I figured I’d one day work for Marvel or Disney or something. And I was pretty good at sketching too. But I always found it hard to create my own characters, and I often just settled for copying somebody else’s masterpiece.

Something was missing.

Well, then a 2nd meddler enters the picture. My pops. He starts helping me with the stories. And by helping me, I really just mean I was there more as a consultant and a constant nuisance, ensuring proper grammar was employed. He was the real writer, in my mind. I just wished I could be him. My teacher started grading the stories, and I was floored to see A+ after A+. And she liked my stories enough…ahem, our stories enough, to read them in front of the class. The response was terrific. My classmates actually gave a crap. They wanted to know what happened next. So I turned 1 story into about 12 or so, and made a little book out of it. Looking back, it’s probably terrible. But the point is…I was hooked on the game.

My father and I began discussing book concepts until finally, in 6th grade, I set out to write a “real” book, all by myself. 3 years later, Servant of the Realm was born. It was so under the radar it wasn’t even funny, but I was just stoked to have my book searchable on the internet. It’s a pretty cool feeling when you’re 15. 3 years later, I released The Sacred Sin, a much darker story about a detective on the hunt for a serial killer who can steal souls. (THE FORSAKEN is the revamped version. I literally rewrote every page, and added about 100 more pages to the story. So if you haven’t picked that baby up, you might wanna.) 3 years after that–I know, 3 is the magical number, it seems–ARSON was unleashed. This story is closest to my heart because it came from a very unique place and time in my life. It’s like I grew up while writing it.

Well, sorta…

Flash forward to now. I’ve got 5 novels and several short stories out. I’ve been interviewed on TV, radio, and the internet. I’ve done several blog tours, have my own Youtube channel, twitter page, FB page, so quite frankly, there’s really no reason for you not to stalk me. I’m still that sort of college kid looking for his path while already on a path. I love to write. I love to ask the big questions, to create raw, flawed characters who do incredible things. And I’m reminded every day why I do what I do, why I write, why I tell stories…because of you. Because of something greater than myself. Because if I didn’t, I’d probably go insane.

Welcome to my dysfunctional world.

Spread the fire!(less)

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Quotes from Arson

“The stories didn't seem to care who he was or what he could do; it didn't matter. In their world, he wasn't alone. In their world, a freak like him - like him - could become a hero.” — 3 people liked it

“Arson tried to grab him before his face hit the dirt, but it was too late. “Don’t touch me. This is where I belong.”
“Fine.” Arson shrugged, lying down beside him on the ground.
“What are you doing?”
“Helping you,” Arson said, placing his hands behind his head. “The first session’s free.” — 1 person liked it

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avg rating	preview: Arson Goodreads rating: 3.69 (250 ratings)
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