Vigilante Nights by Erin Richards

Jun 10, 2013 Jeann (Happy Indulgence) rated it did not like it

Shelves: review-copy, blog-tour

This review has been posted on Happy Indulgence Books. Check it out for more reviews!

With such an interesting premise, Vigilante Nights was a struggle to get through. I would have abandoned it early on if it wasn’t for this review I had to do.

Lucas is a damaged teenage boy who has an empathetic connection with his fraternal twin. His twin sister, Silver, dies in a car crash and he can still see and talk to her in ghost form. She pushes him to form a vigilante club to avenge her death and to This review has been posted on Happy Indulgence Books. Check it out for more reviews!

With such an interesting premise, Vigilante Nights was a struggle to get through. I would have abandoned it early on if it wasn’t for this review I had to do.

Lucas is a damaged teenage boy who has an empathetic connection with his fraternal twin. His twin sister, Silver, dies in a car crash and he can still see and talk to her in ghost form. She pushes him to form a vigilante club to avenge her death and to right wrongs while he’s at it.

You’d think the main focus would be the whole vigilante thing, but it isn’t. It’s part supernatural with Lucas interacting with Silver’s ghost, part pursuing gangs and trying to avenge Silver’s death, and part romance with him picking up Tara.

I could not connect with Lucas at all. It’s like this boy doesn’t even think, and neither do his friends. They didn’t consider the dangers or stupidity of getting involved in gang busting at all. Why would you face some gang members with 1 switch blade? Why do these teenage boys have access to guns, and somehow carry it around with them? When people start to get hurt, why is there no emotional depth, guilt or ceasing of these stupid and dangerous activities?

The largest thing that put me off the novel, was the strange language used throughout the book. Lucas walks, talks and thinks like a dude bro, and looking at early reviews, it looks like I’m not alone on this.

Everything that comes out of his mouth is an attempt to be hip. “Kev gave me the DL. That prick Raymond’s gunnin’ for a bruising…Hey, catch you on the flipside.” Seriously, who talks like that? The narrative is pretty much the same vein as the speech and painfully jammed with puns, overused references, lame rhymes, the works. It just screams of trying too hard to be cool. Check out this particularly painful section:

“Our perfect illusion of delusion. What straight guy in his right mind would let Tara – the sun who eclipsed my frozen moon – go? Let everyone think I was nuts. Shouldn’t strain too many brains….Acid burned in my Swiss cheese stomach.”

I also had a real problem with where Lucas’s priorities were. Despite the death of his sister, he is preoccupied with making his sister’s douchey ex-boyfriend pay for trying to force himself on her. He seemed way more upset about this than his sister’s death. There was barely any mourning, emotional depth, or regret at all.

I’m probably not in the target market for this, and perhaps a young teenage boy may connect far better with the protagonist than I did. He’s a prankster who used to be a jock and goes in with his fists first, mind later. But then again, I think that good books can be enjoyed by any gender, regardless of who they are written for.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Jun 29, 2013 Cassi aka Snow White Haggard rated it did not like it

Shelves: galleys, read-in-2013

Review is below my PSA. Review is about the book.

Vigilante Nights is a book I probably should've DNFed (Did Not Finish for those who don't know). However, the book seemed casually racist so I wanted to finish so I could talk about that without drawing out the trolls who insist on finishing a book before reviewing it. I think the racial problems were probably unintentional and due to clumsy writing, but nonetheless were a huge issue with the book.

Basic story, Lucas's twin sister Silver dies in ...more

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Jul 19, 2013 Arlene rated it liked it

Recommended to Arlene by: Blog Tour

Shelves: ya-contemporary, young-adult, arc, read-2013

Rating Clarification: Closer to 2.5 Stars

In Vigilante Nights, we meet Lucas Alexander the day he’s in a fatal car accident that kills his twin sister Silver. Lucas and Silver share a bond that doesn’t sever even after her death. He can still feel her presence and hear her voice as he struggles to overcome the guilt of losing someone so close.

There were several factors that played out that night, which caused the accident, but Lucas focuses his energy on revenge. He pulls his friends into a ...more

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Apr 25, 2013 H.J. Harley rated it really liked it

The moment I found out about this book by Ms. Richards I wanted to get my hands on it. I don't have much time to read these days so I'm selective. I am so glad I picked Vigilante Nights to spend my reading time on. The world building sucks you in and Silver is just my favorite. That sassy beautiful inside and out teen and her twin Lucas, the overprotective brother just pulled at my heart. I don't write reviews that spoil so it makes it even harder for me to share my enthusiasm. But rest assured, ...more

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Jul 08, 2013 Jen rated it it was amazing

Vigilante Nights is Ms. Richards' YA debut. The story is told from the POV of Lucas Alexander who, after one tragic car, loses his twin sister Silver, his future playing college football, and the Camaro he spent his time and money fixing up. With his life in ruins, Lucas forms a teenage vigilante club to deal with the gang who he feels is responsible for his death. Old and new friends, relatives, and potential love help him on this quest for vengeance, but the unexpected twists and turns in the Vigilante Nights is Ms. Richards' YA debut. The story is told from the POV of Lucas Alexander who, after one tragic car, loses his twin sister Silver, his future playing college football, and the Camaro he spent his time and money fixing up. With his life in ruins, Lucas forms a teenage vigilante club to deal with the gang who he feels is responsible for his death. Old and new friends, relatives, and potential love help him on this quest for vengeance, but the unexpected twists and turns in the quiet resort town of Sea Haven leave readers guessing who can be trusted.

While I am not an avid reader of YA, the emotional breach created by a death in the family is something both young and old can relate to. One reason, I don't like YA is the absence of adults - which always makes me wonder where these adults have run off to. Not in this book. Ms. Richards did a great job of keeping the family structure alive with not only Lucas struggling with the death of his sister, but the devastating toll it had on the family as a whole. His posse of friends (stooges or Nomads, as noted in the story) provided a delightful peek into the world of teenage boys with all their jostling, fun, and raging testosterone.

There were moments when I burst out laughing at Lucas' thoughts. My favorite was when Lucas snags a burglar and as sirens blare and the thief is hauled away, the new next door neighbor, a kid around his own age, gives Lucas two thumbs up. To which, Lucas thinks: "Hooray for my one fan." It's a simple statement, sad in it's loneliness as the boy struggles to find his place in the world, yet funny because there is sardonic joy at the attention.

There's probably a little bit of Lucas in all of us. Someone who wants to right wrongs, who hurts at injustice, and at the same time, wishing life would just go back to normal when everything around us seems to be spiraling out of control. Lucas made me laugh, cringe, and almost cry.

4.5 of 5 stars, rounded up for all those unexpected poignant moments. Ms. Richards has brought us another gem.
*ARC received for review* ...more

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Aug 07, 2013 Adriane Marshall rated it really liked it

Wow. So the beginning of this book just kinda of throws you into the story. And man does it take off, literally. Lucas looses his twin sister to an illegal street racing accident after escaping from what he thinks is a gang initiation. This sets him into a sequence of events where he forms a posse of sorts to hunt down people who are doing bad things.

Added to this, Lucas can still communicate with his dead twin sister. Kinda weird, huh?

So, I wasn’t sure that I would like this one, I have to ...more

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Mar 28, 2013 Nathan Barker rated it really liked it

Based on the blurbs from the publisher, I feared that this wasn't going to be my cup of tea. Literary YA fiction doesn't generally thrill me. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I couldn't put it down. This turned out to be, essentially, a nicely paced thriller with some lightweight supernatural elements. I wouldn't categorize it as a future 'classic' of the YA genre but I certainly found it to be an enjoyable read.

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Apr 29, 2013 Dayla rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, thriller, young-adult, family, fun-read, netgalley, mystery, murder, not-perfect-but-fun, friendship

Review first appeared on my blog: Book Addict 24-7

I received a finished copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Vigilante Nights by Erin Richards is a young adult contemporary novel with a touch of romance, a hint of the paranormal, and a handful of vendetta. Richards’s writing style is quick, to the point, and attention-grabbing. Not only does the reader get hooked on the story right after the protagonist’s life-changing experience, but s/he will want to know what will happen ...more

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Jul 03, 2013 Melissa (i swim for oceans) rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, paranormal, own-arcs, crime

View the full review here:
http://www.iswimforoceans.com/2013/07...

Lucas and Silver were inseparable. Their bond as twins connected them throughout their lives and, when tragedy strikes, the bond seems to endure past the grave. Lucas should have enough on his plate to deal with - needed to heal, recover and grieve the death of his sister, but something...or someone...is holding him back. Lucas swears he can see and hear Silver everywhere. She is always there, and she seems to be trying to tell View the full review here:
http://www.iswimforoceans.com/2013/07...

Lucas and Silver were inseparable. Their bond as twins connected them throughout their lives and, when tragedy strikes, the bond seems to endure past the grave. Lucas should have enough on his plate to deal with - needed to heal, recover and grieve the death of his sister, but something...or someone...is holding him back. Lucas swears he can see and hear Silver everywhere. She is always there, and she seems to be trying to tell him something. And so, he resolves to do just one thing, even if it's the last thing he does. He'll avenge Silver's death at all costs.

Have you ever felt a sort of innate connection with someone that seems to know no bounds? Vigilante Nights is a unique novel that explores this phenomenon in a gut-wrenching, emotionally turbulent manner. Author, Erin Richards, writes in a powerful manner, exposing her characters - flaws and all - for the readers to see. By baring the soul of both the characters and the plot, Vigilante Nights thrusts readers headlong into a powerful journey for redemption, revenge and, ultimately, peace.

I hadn't heard much (or anything, really) about Vigilante Nights when I received it for review. Nevertheless, the concept intrigued me. The bond between twins is something I always coveted as a child. I suffered from middle-child syndrome (yes, I know...I'm so deprived), and the idea of having a twin, or someone that shares that deep connection was utterly appealing. The story is told from Lucas's point of view, which was a really strong, albeit risky, move to make. By doing so, the author is closeting us within his mind and, if done poorly, we could feel very trapped and the story could be stifled. Luckily, this perspective really worked for the subject matter of the novel, as we have the unique opportunity to truly grasp the depth of Lucas's pain and rage. Plus, it gives us a chance to understand the true reasoning behind forming the group of vigilantes hell-bent on destroying those responsible for Silver's death. Vigilante Nights doesn't lack tension or drama either. It's a classic whodunit tale, but the twists and turns threw me for a loop every time. I wasn't really sure who was ultimately the culprit in Silver's death, but I find that to be a good thing because it made me continue reading, and I was never bored. The book moves steadily, ramping up the tension as we go until we reach the pinnacle of this story of revenge and then, with a quiet sigh, find a beautiful sort of peace in the ending, which was very fitting. I will say that my one grip with the book was that it's classed as a bit of a paranormal or supernatural tale, but that element isn't really all that prominent in the book. Frankly, I think the book could have done without it and been just as, if not more, powerful.

All in all, I really enjoyed Vigilante Nights, and I hope it finds a bigger reviewing crowd in the blogosphere. The author's writing is solid, as is the story, so I'm sure it will impress many a reader. I give it a 4 out of 5, and I recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction and light paranormal.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book. ...more

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Jul 20, 2013 Christine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley, blog-tour

Real Rating: 4.5 stars

I received an ebook copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

VIGILANTE NIGHTS started out not with a whimper, but with a bang. I've always wanted to use that phrase and man, it couldn't be more accurate of how this novel started. You're immediately thrust into the life changing night of May 12 where Lucas and his twin sister are driving home down a long stretch of road. After his car stalls, Lucas' life changes forever.

If you're looking for a novel that will Real Rating: 4.5 stars

I received an ebook copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

VIGILANTE NIGHTS started out not with a whimper, but with a bang. I've always wanted to use that phrase and man, it couldn't be more accurate of how this novel started. You're immediately thrust into the life changing night of May 12 where Lucas and his twin sister are driving home down a long stretch of road. After his car stalls, Lucas' life changes forever.

If you're looking for a novel that will suck you in immediately, getting straight to the action, this book is for you! I had my heart taken out and thrown into the dirt within the first chapter. The story moves along in a break-neck pace, loaded to the brim with action and hair raising moments. Quite frankly, gangs scare me and because this novel is heavily focused on them, I had my reservations about reading this. I'm so glad I ended up signing up for the tour. Lucas had a fantastic voice and is one of my favorite main characters I've read about so far this year. After losing his other half, you can feel his sorrow and pain with every sentence. It's heartbreaking. He is so strong, despite everything. You come to love his determination in avenging his sister's wrongful death, even though he's asking for a death wish himself. While some of the things he decides to do drove me insane because of how stupid and thoughtless they were, you can't help but rooting him on. He's the good guy anybody would love.

Richards creates a unique cast of characters. You can tell that Lucas has a great group of people backing him up. I'm not so sure they really thought about the implications of their decisions, either, but like Lucas, you want the good guys to win! Raymond, Silver's psycho ex-boyfriend gave me the heebie-jeebies. He's one of those slime ball characters you just loathe with every fiber of your being. Richards did a fantastic job creating this character. Towards the end of the novel, he does something terrifying, leaving you on the edge of your seat, reading incredibly fast to see what happens. I think this is one of Richards' strong points. She writes the story in a way that you are never bored and never sure who to trust. It's climax after climax, leaving the reader breathless. This is a book that clearly goes under the category of "unputdownable."

I didn't think I would like this novel. Why on earth would somebody go after a gang? Are they insane? I also didn't want to read about a scary gang initiation. But Richards creates a story that anyone would love. While it is scary and it is heart-pounding, it's the theme of love, determination, grief, and letting go that really draws the reader in. After losing everything, Lucas has to come to terms with his new life, After Accident. He has to learn to accept his grief and loss, and how to move on. You'll be grabbing your tissues, trust me. This is a fantastic YA debut from Richards. I can't wait to see what story she has to tell next.

This review can be found at: The Bookish Daydreamer ...more

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Jun 11, 2013 Ally rated it really liked it

Shelves: first-reads

I won a copy from Goodreads First Reads. Thanks for the giveaway, Erin Richards!

I'll try not to reveal anything big.

Okay, first of all, mental bond? Lucas and Silver are Fraternal Twins. If there were Identical Twins, the story would make much more since, because identical twins share the same DNA and are practically the same. It sounds kind of illogical, but I'll let it go. I'll say its a brother-sister bond/shared-the-same-space(aka uterus)-before-birth bond.

Anyway, let's get to the book.

I won a copy from Goodreads First Reads. Thanks for the giveaway, Erin Richards!

I'll try not to reveal anything big.

Okay, first of all, mental bond? Lucas and Silver are Fraternal Twins. If there were Identical Twins, the story would make much more since, because identical twins share the same DNA and are practically the same. It sounds kind of illogical, but I'll let it go. I'll say its a brother-sister bond/shared-the-same-space(aka uterus)-before-birth bond.

Anyway, let's get to the book. Vigilante Nights is brilliant for a Young Adult book. It faces the pressure and craziness of teenages in horrible areas. It's a mystery book with twist and turns at every path, fake or real. Vigilante Nights had me guessing who was the real person who cause the death of Luca's sister, Silver. For all those romance book lovers out there, Vigilante Nights is a romance, too. And it is a story of revenge. (Now we are going all Emily Thorne/Amanda Clarke)

The plot of Vigilante Nights was fascinating. As I said before twist and turns run Vigilante Nights. Just as you thought the book was over, a major event happens. It was surprising while being dangerous for many of my favorite characters.

Supernatural is a natural part of Vigilante Nights. Silver, like in "The Ghost and The Goth" by Stacey Kade, is following Lucas Alexander. Not exactly like Alona though.

The ending was amazing. It was beautiful, although I won't tell you why. Let just say it involves with peace.

The changes in relationship between characters were amazing. An accident can change so much. An accident can change so little. The influence affects everyone. It's like a wave.

Characters:

Lucas Alexander: The twin brother of Silver Alexander. An ex-quarterback. Intelligent. Sherlock Holmes. Ruined by a car accident. The same car accident which took the life of his beloved sister. Like a good brother, he is protective of Silver. He has this anger inside of him. With the support and love from Tara, he semi-heals, but the ghost of Silver still haunts him. Lucas goes through this character change. From a bad boy, in the beginning, to the protector of the weak, in the end. It was a spectacular change to see.

Silver Alexander: The twin sister of Lucas Alexander. An interesting character, in my opinion.

Rating: Four out of Five

-Alice of Wonderland

...more

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Jul 24, 2013 Christine rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: ages 13 and up

Recommended to Christine by: NA

Did you ever wonder why in the THE OUTSIDERS the Socs wanted to gang-bang the Greasers? In VIGILANTE NIGHTS Erin Richards explores that question as she tells the flip-side of the story from the viewpoint of an upper-middle class teen white boy.

Lucas, a football star, and his twin sister, Silver, witness a gang initiation one night. When Lucas and Silver try to escape the gang, Lucas's prized Camaro stalls in the middle of a popular drag racing street. Silver is killed and Lucas is permanently Did you ever wonder why in the THE OUTSIDERS the Socs wanted to gang-bang the Greasers? In VIGILANTE NIGHTS Erin Richards explores that question as she tells the flip-side of the story from the viewpoint of an upper-middle class teen white boy.

Lucas, a football star, and his twin sister, Silver, witness a gang initiation one night. When Lucas and Silver try to escape the gang, Lucas's prized Camaro stalls in the middle of a popular drag racing street. Silver is killed and Lucas is permanently injured in the crash.

I don't want to give away any spoilers, so I'll talk about the story craft.

Erin Richards creates believable characters in Lucas, Silver and their parents. Silver's haunting presence after her death is realistic and not over-the-top. Lucas's quest for revenge and answers is understandable. His emotional arc overlaying the plot arc is just right in that it takes time for Lucas to reach the stage of letting go, forgiving himself, and acceptance of what is. The action and plot is fast-paced.

I gave VIGILANTE NIGHTS a 4 rating for two reasons: I, personally, don't care for or read Romance novels partly because of the purple prose. Erin made some interesting words choices that I admired, but the Romance sections slipped into flowery descriptions that seemed inconsistent for a first person male protagonist narrative. This stylistic choice probably won't bother those who read Romance novels. The other issue, for me, was that the story seemed racist against Mexicans in some places. Although I realized the author was trying to show the attitudes of the middle to upper class white boys and why Lucas, in particular, wanted to rid his community of Hispanic gangs.

Overall I felt VIGILANTE NIGHTS is a story of merit and I could see it taught in schools as a companion piece to THE OUTSIDERS for lively literary discussions.

Disclosure: I am a Merit Press author and received ARCs of Erin Richards book through OneFour KidLit and Netgallery.com in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Jun 26, 2013 Bayan Basri rated it really liked it

Shelves: my-book-boyfriends, favorites, no-love-triangle-thank-god, ya-paranormal, favorite-mysteries, strong-heroin, characters-in-school, male-only-pov, ghosts, stand-alone

I. Am. Blown. Away.

This book exceeded my expectations by miles. The blurb looked interesting but it never prepared me for the awesomeness to come.
The plotline had a blend of mystery, action and drama. Every aspect of this book was relevant to the plot and I never felt as if there was something just dumped to the story and was never explored.
The pace of the book was just perfect. I didn't feel like anything was going too fast or too slow.

Lucas before the accident (BA) was your typical jock. ...more

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Jul 20, 2013 Unabridged Bookshelf rated it really liked it

Vigilante Nights is a story about coming back from losing everything, and taking revenge on those who took it. Lucas loses his twin the night a gang initiation started a spiral of events, which take Silver, his future in football, and almost his very sanity. Trying to cope with the loss of Silver, Lucas begins to hatch a plan to take back the town from the gang violence and crimes that had been plaguing the town. He convinces his friends to help him form their own gang, a vigilante gang bent on ...more

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May 22, 2013 Tara rated it really liked it

This is the third Erin Richards book that I've read and I enjoyed the first two so much I really wanted to see how she handled a YA. Granted, I'm not exactly the target audience for a YA but I truly enjoyed, Vigilante Nights.

The narrative, told from the protagonist, Lucas's point of view, was interesting and brought two rich classics to mind; The Catcher in the Rye and The Outsiders. The first, because we get a very personal and meaningful glimpse into a young man who's been damaged, inside and ...more

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Apr 06, 2013 Deborah Cordes rated it it was amazing

Intense and fast-paced, Erin Richards's VIGILANTE NIGHTS grabbed me from the start and never let go. I'm not a big fan of novels written in the first person, but the hero's story was beautifully crafted - and could not have been told in any other way. I readily and heartily empathized with Lucas's heartbreak, his need for revenge, his passion for life, and his inherent goodness, shining forth during the darkest times. I was fascinated by Ms. Richards's subtlety as I followed his journey and ...more

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Oct 10, 2013 Cary Morgan rated it it was amazing

Dark, sad, disturbing, and . . . wonderful! Erin Richards takes the reader on a ride they won’t soon forget. When a twin is left behind through the evil of others, the bond they share lives on, teaching, encouraging, inspiring, and in the long run, healing. This is a tale of survival, both physical and psychological, after tragedy and loss. While dealing with dark topics, Vigilante Nights is beautiful and inspiring and left me very, very glad to have met the characters, lived in their world for ...more

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Jun 30, 2013 Paula Ratcliffe rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arcs, for-review, read-in-2013, young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 26, 2013 Eric Devine rated it really liked it

A story of revenge compounded by guilt with a blend of the supernatural. Strong language and racial slurs are pervasive, so not for the easily offended. Lucas is one angry teen, but his anger is a means to an end. Face-paced and gritty.

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Jul 12, 2019 Daniel rated it did not like it

Shelves: young-adult

This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 1.0 of 5

Lucas and his twin sister, Silver, are accosted by a local gang one night. Just when they think they are about to get escape this gang initiation they discover that they are stopped on a road that is used as a local drag racing strip and they wind up in a horrible accident. Lucas wakes up from his coma to discover that his body is a mess and he'll never get to college as an athlete, and worse yet, Silver has died from her This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 1.0 of 5

Lucas and his twin sister, Silver, are accosted by a local gang one night. Just when they think they are about to get escape this gang initiation they discover that they are stopped on a road that is used as a local drag racing strip and they wind up in a horrible accident. Lucas wakes up from his coma to discover that his body is a mess and he'll never get to college as an athlete, and worse yet, Silver has died from her injuries. With the ghost of Silver urging him on, Lucas is now motivated for revenge against the gang who killed his sister, and against her boyfriend whom he always thought very little of. Lucas puts together his own gang of vigilantes with the ghost of Silver overseeing everything.

Oh, but this was lousy.

Maybe this wasn't the worst subject matter for a book, especially given that it's a YA book and we know that YA books often tend to be overly dramatic, but it's pretty close. An entire book build on the theme of revenge or vengeance? That's pretty tough.

What really brings this book down are the characters. Everyone is extremely one-dimensional. Our main character, Lucas, is such an odd choice for a leading character. He's driven by only one emotion and action - revenge. He talks like a surfer dude, which brings his credibility down two or three notches, and it never felt legitimate ... it never felt like the character talking, but rather the author trying to be a character she clearly couldn't identify with. Perhaps that's not the case, but that's how it came off.

And because the gang members who were partially responsible for Silver's death and Lucas' injuries were members of a Hispanic street gang, Lucas come across as racially prejudiced and refers to them as 'spics.'

I'm sorry, but that's just not appropriate in this era ... especially for younger readers.

The opening was well written and held promise for an interesting story, but it never grew beyond that interest. This was easily one of the flattest, most one-dimensional books I've read in a long time. This is definitely not recommended.

Looking for a good book? You won't find it here.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Aug 10, 2013 The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club rated it did not like it

Shelves: netgalley, rosa-reviews

We are The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club, to know more about this book, go to the post in our website:

Review by Rosa: Vigilante Nights by Erin Richards

If you are interested, you can visit our website:

The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club

The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club's Review:

Review:

Hi guys, it’s been a while since I last wrote a review here, but here I am again. Let’s get down to business.

First of all, I wanted to remind you that this is my personal opinion and if I didn’t ...more

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Jun 12, 2013 Marie rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, young-adult, romance, netgalley, june-2013, contemporary, male-mc, paranormal-supernatural, ghosts

Many thanks to F+W/Adams Media for the galley copy (via NetGalley). Quotes are from an advanced review copy and are subject to change before publication.

Seventeen-year-old Lucas Alexander loses his twin sister Silver in a car accident involving drag racers and a Mexican gang. Spurred on by her ghost, he vows to get revenge and forms a vigilante group intent on serving justice their way.

I liked absolutely nothing about this story. Lucas is an incredibly shallow, immature, arrogant, douchey Many thanks to F+W/Adams Media for the galley copy (via NetGalley). Quotes are from an advanced review copy and are subject to change before publication.

Seventeen-year-old Lucas Alexander loses his twin sister Silver in a car accident involving drag racers and a Mexican gang. Spurred on by her ghost, he vows to get revenge and forms a vigilante group intent on serving justice their way.

I liked absolutely nothing about this story. Lucas is an incredibly shallow, immature, arrogant, douchey dude-bro (complete with Ed Hardy apparel, I kid you not) who shares/shared an emphatic bond with his sister, a bond that he deems important but seems to gloss over in his narrative, since feeling and expressing such profound emotions is considered wussy in his book. Lucas develops a connection with a new neighbor, Denny, and immediately puts down their instant kinship by claiming he "wasn't going Brokeback on him," because heaven forbid that two guys become good friends. He also quickly falls in love with Denny's sister Tara and it is a classic case of a guy who lost his lofty status in school (star quarterback, class clown/prankster) falling for a girl he never considered to be his type (one of the things Lucas likes about Tara is how often she reads books). The way Lucas rhapsodizes about Tara is so laughably awful; it is hard to take his so-called sensitivity seriously since he spends so much time trying to be macho. For example:

Exhibit A

The weight of the world crumbled across my shoulders, down my arms. Sunshine smothered the ebony darkness, liberating me from an emotional prison. Spouting off poetry again, I should start taking estrogen pills to rush along my transformation.

Exhibit B

Yes, I could admit it. I had fallen into that elusive emotional vat called love. It oozed into every pore, every cell of my battered body. It coated me in the purity of the moonlight orbiting my world. I had no frigging clue love turned people into poets. I needed to do some He-Man stuff to get my testosterone back.

My disdain for this book doesn't completely revolve around Lucas. The storytelling leaves a lot to be desired, for it took too long for anything substantial to happen regarding the vigilantes' revenge. Any time they encountered a Mexican gang I wondered if it would be an exercise in racism or stereotyping. There is also a teacher, Mr. Dalton, who seems to hate Lucas in the way Mr. Rooney hated Ferris Bueller, though the antagonism was wasted and led to nowhere. Ms. Richards also seems to try too hard to make the characters sound like teenagers, either by using dated slang such as "hella," or updating phrases to make it more relevant to today's youth, like "I'm sick to death of the MP3 on repeat" (I suppose this is the "cooler" way to say someone or something is like a broken record). Basically, it felt like this:

And as we all know,

Since I've seen positive reviews of this book, it is certainly very possible that every single thing about Vigilante Nights just rubbed me the wrong way. Taste is subjective after all, and I suppose my palette isn't like everyone else's. ...more

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May 04, 2013 Kayla De Leon rated it liked it

*A COPY WAS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*

Vigilante Nights took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions. It starts off with Silver Alexander being killed in a car accident as she and her brother were trying to escape from a gang initiation rite. Lucas and Silver were twins who shared a deep, emphatic bond so it was no surprise that the minute Lucas woke up from a coma, he was out for revenge. Lucas could still interact with Silver’s ghost and this further fueled his *A COPY WAS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*

Vigilante Nights took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions. It starts off with Silver Alexander being killed in a car accident as she and her brother were trying to escape from a gang initiation rite. Lucas and Silver were twins who shared a deep, emphatic bond so it was no surprise that the minute Lucas woke up from a coma, he was out for revenge. Lucas could still interact with Silver’s ghost and this further fueled his desire for vengeance. Coupled with the loss of his football scholarship since he tore up his leg during the accident, the need for revenge as a sort of closure was undoubtedly natural.

In the book, Silver describes karma as a boomerang as it will always go back to you. The author was very consistent with this message as every time Lucas makes progress with his getting even scheme, a setback is thrown his way. I liked how Erin Richards gave us a very strong protagonist who didn’t use his disability as a way to get pity or as a roadblock that hindered him. There were a lot of times wherein Lucas would show raw emotion especially when he was talking to Silver’s ghost. Even though he frequently tried to show that he was capable of taking down the gang, we can still see the scars brought on by the accident.

As our narrator, Lucas was very human. I mean, yes, he is a human but it’s not always that you get to encounter a fictional figure who could practically breathe. However, I was at odds with the vocabulary used in the book. Teen slang was utilized and sure, it did sound like a teenager talking, but it felt too manufactured and trying hard. From the perspective of a teenager, it was really alienating since we don’t normally use slang every five seconds. It made Lucas’ character suffer as he frequently sounded like a tramp instead of an intelligent and capable teenager. Us teens use big words too as we are often pretentious suckers, of which I am guilty.

Tara was a character who ate at my tolerance and replaced it with an intense dislike. She starts out as this bookworm but gradually evaporates and becomes nothing more but Lucas’ girlfriend. She had no personality whatsoever and I really wanted her to embrace her own individuality, but by the end of the book, she was merely a girl. In contrast with Lucas’ vivid personality, Tara felt like the gum on the sole of your shoe, which you can’t get rid of. Her qualities weren’t explored and her love for books ends as quickly as it started.

I also didn’t like Tara and Lucas’ relationship. It was really cheesy and maybe it’s just me, but I was cringing at some points.

“Tara edged my darkness with sunshine, warming the wintry, lonely muck of my innards.”

Because of Tara’s flatness as a character, I wasn’t that involved in their relationship and I was left unimpressed by their “chemistry”. I felt as if Tara wasn’t even her own person but rather a figure who served as the object of Lucas’ arousal.

Vigilante Nights was gritty and from the get-go, it is a captivating piece of work. The moral conflict of violence being an endless cycle and revenge as merely a boomerang was a very thought provoking concept masterly translated onto the page by Erin Richards. ...more

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Jul 24, 2013 J.N. rated it liked it

Shelves: first-reads, 2013-reading-list

Many thanks to Adams Media for giving me the chance to read and review this book from the Goodreads First Reads program.

***The following review may have slight spoilers. Read at YOUR own risk***

Vigilante Nights started out great. The beginning was exciting and held my attention well. After the accident, I found myself enjoying the book pretty well. I also liked the bit of paranormal activity in this otherwise realistic-seeming story. In the beginning, I could imagine this being amazing.

But then Many thanks to Adams Media for giving me the chance to read and review this book from the Goodreads First Reads program.

***The following review may have slight spoilers. Read at YOUR own risk***

Vigilante Nights started out great. The beginning was exciting and held my attention well. After the accident, I found myself enjoying the book pretty well. I also liked the bit of paranormal activity in this otherwise realistic-seeming story. In the beginning, I could imagine this being amazing.

But then I encountered the racism. At first I thought it was just me, but other reviews have also touched upon it. I'm not sure if it was intentional or what, but it really annoyed me. If a character has already been labeled as being from a certain race, don't keep reminding the reader. We've got it, I promise. If you're not sure, subtle hints work just fine (describing looks, etc). There's no need to point out what race a familiar character is every time we encounter them again.

But you know, I could have overlooked all that until one line was read and still bothering my conscience. The main character has been approached by a Mexican gang. Of course, the gang smells like tacos. And then, "What else would a Mexican gang smell like?" I honestly wanted to stop reading at that point. It was such a ridiculous stereotype that I wasn't quite sure what to think about it. I managed to move on, but that line has been bothering me throughout the entire book. That made me like the book less.

The characters themselves are mostly well fleshed out and realistic. Lucas, Silver, Tara, Denny, Alyssa, and Lucas' parents were especially easy to like, though I do admit that there were times where Lucas annoyed me. I'm not a guy, and though I think the author did a great job with the male POV, it seemed a bit overdone at times--mostly when Lucas started to feel like he was less of a man for showing emotion. I know some men still feel this way, but Lucas really seemed to have a huge issue with it and I just couldn't figure out why.

I loved Silver. She brought amusement into every scene. The rest of the cast was okay, but no one I especially loved. I also really didn't care for the romantic relationship all that well, though it was intriguing at the start.

What I really liked about this was the plot about the gang, and of Lucas avenging his sister. I felt like the romantic relationship kind of derailed the story at times. The next-to-last 25% (before the incident with the girls at the mall) also began to drag, but the last 25% of the book didn't disappoint.

The writing was strong, and as I've already mentioned, did a great male perspective. I'd give the book 3.5 stars. I honestly would have probably given this a higher rating if the hints of racism/stereotyping hadn't been there. While I didn't love it, it was pretty good and is definitely an intriguing read.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review. ...more

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Jul 05, 2013 Audrey Wilkerson rated it it was ok

Shelves: books-reviewed, 2013-books-read

The Low Down: Driving home late one evening on a dark county road, Lucas and his twin sister, Silver, find themselves in the middle of what seems to be a gang initiation. Trying to get away in his rebuilt Camaro, the crowd disperses only when they see what is coming directly at them: a street race. Before they know it, the Camaro it totalled and Silver is dead.

Lucas and Silver always had a twin connection anyway, but now it has gone to the extreme: Lucas can see and speak with Silver’s ghost. The Low Down: Driving home late one evening on a dark county road, Lucas and his twin sister, Silver, find themselves in the middle of what seems to be a gang initiation. Trying to get away in his rebuilt Camaro, the crowd disperses only when they see what is coming directly at them: a street race. Before they know it, the Camaro it totalled and Silver is dead.

Lucas and Silver always had a twin connection anyway, but now it has gone to the extreme: Lucas can see and speak with Silver’s ghost. And all they both want is justice.

Whadja Think?: The first thing I noticed about this story was the voice. It is told in first person by Lucas, and, to be honest, he didn’t sound like a boy/brother. For me, when reading first person, not only are the comments that person’s, but so are the descriptions. So when the description is “She danced her fingers on her silver bangles into a tinkling vibration,” I can’t reconcile those words with the picture in my mind of a high school football jock driving a Camaro. Had this been told in third person, that description would have been perfect. I felt like there were many, many instances similar to this of things that I just couldn’t imagine Lucas ever thinking.

On a related note, he also said things that I couldn’t believe a brother would say. For example, describing his sister as “one the hottest and smartest chicks at school.” That one was weird.

To be plain, there were a lot of things that should have been edited out...like talking about “my three-sixty mood reversal” and made-up word usages like he “finagled a bag over his shoulder” “scales of honor” and something that felt like “a lead sarcophagus pressed on my heart.” These are examples of just some of the things that I am more used to seeing in a self-published story, not a “real book.”

Lucas sounds like a professor who lapses into slang to be cool. He goes from “How did one have telepathy with a dead person?” straight into “Hella freaky.” There were many times where the sentences just sounded awkward and not age-appropriate.

Now, I get that the catalyst is the gang initiation and they chose Hispanics to be the gang members, but the anti-Mexican business got on my nerves. Maybe if the story had been better, it would have at least felt real (I'm looking at you, The Outsiders). But saying that someone’s breath “reeked of tacos” was so stupid and jarring that I had to mention it.

And someone is wearing a scrunchie?

Bottom Line: This book did nothing for me. The drama felt forced, there was no depth and I feel like I wasted my time.

Vigilante Nights by Erin Richards was published today by Merit Press. A free copy of this book was given to Ink and Page in return for an honest review. Big thanks to Merit Press and the Author.

Rating: 2

Genre: Young Adult Fiction Fantasy Contemporary
Ages: 12 and up
You Might Want to Know: Some profanity. ...more

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Apr 09, 2014 Nate Morris rated it really liked it

After reading Vigilante Nights by Erin Richard I can say that I really enjoyed the book and they way it was told. The book was told in the perspective of a high school student and that would include all of the slang and improper grammar which I thought was very esoteric and interesting. The book was about a High school superstar football player named Lucas and his twin sister named Silver. One day they were driving and then was stopped by a group of gang members and then something happened. After reading Vigilante Nights by Erin Richard I can say that I really enjoyed the book and they way it was told. The book was told in the perspective of a high school student and that would include all of the slang and improper grammar which I thought was very esoteric and interesting. The book was about a High school superstar football player named Lucas and his twin sister named Silver. One day they were driving and then was stopped by a group of gang members and then something happened. Lucas and Silver was hit buy a car drag racing on the same street where they were stopped. This causes Lucas to go in a comma and wake up to the news that his twin sister has died because of the crash. Now Lucas wants to start a group that fights the gangs to avenge the death if Silver, this turns into the Vigilante Nights. I do not want to go more in depth with the summary because that would give the story away but the main question is that will Lucas actually succeed in avenging his twin.

Throughout the book there were somethings that I really enjoyed. The first thing that I mentioned was how Erin Richard used the type of teenager slang that a lot of people use today. It made the story able to relate to because you see how the characters react to certain situations and you can see yourself doing the same thing. One other thing that I enjoyed was how the author made the death of Silver never leave the surface and she was not forgotten. Throughout the book there are plenty of occasions when Lucas would sit there and in-vision Silver there sitting telling him what to do and who to trust. I thought this was interesting because it made one of the main characters an appropriation that stayed around the whole story. There was one thing I did not like which was how in some of the chapters the author would go over a topic that could be potential to solving the problem but then would go over right over it. I think the book would be better if she would have put more detail and focus on some topics so that the reader will be able to understand the test. This would be great because after some chapters I would be confounded and would re read the chapter to understand it.

Overall I would recommend this book to everyone from the age 15-20. People who like violence and drama would really enjoy this book because it has a lot of both because of the gangs and death. Also they would like it for the same reason I did because of the language that the book uses that we use in conversation today. It has a teenage perspective so almost everyone would be able to relate to those type of problems and how to react to them. All and all Vigilante Nights written by Erin Richards was an amazing read and people around the world should read this gut pounding book.
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Sep 11, 2013 Kat rated it it was ok

Kat's Review

I was intrigued by the premise of this novel- the whole teenage revenge thing, but after reading the book, I kind of wish the supernatural element was left out. After Lucas awakes from the accident and realizes that his sister is dead but he can still communicate with her, he heads down a path of revenge strongly encouraged by his sister Silver. The problem for me was that Silver was an immensely unlikable character, and I just wanted her to go away. I know that sounds awful, but ...more

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Aug 30, 2013 LaQuita rated it liked it

I can say this was a book with an action-packed storyline. The characters are easy to connect with. I would not read it again or a follow-up to it…if there was one. You get a mixed review from me. I didn't hate it…I didn't love it. Essentially, I can only say I read a lot of young adult books but this just didn't connect with me at all. I am not the target audience so that's not a problem.

I have read this book and I can tell you that I do not normally look at other people's reviews of books ...more

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Jul 30, 2013 Lynn Maddalena rated it it was amazing

I was hooked on the first sentence, and by the end of chapter one, I realized that I was covered in a thin sheen of sweat. VIGILANTE NIGHTS took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions that I still can’t shake.

Revenge is a forbidden goal, but when gang violence causes the death of his twin sister, Silver, Lucas sets wheels in motion to get even with the responsible members. Encouraging him from beyond is none other than the ghost of Silver the Bad-Ass Angel. He is joined in his righteous quest ...more

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Nov 12, 2014 Nyree rated it it was ok

The book Vigilante Nights was a very fast paced book. I couldn't fully get a grasp of what was really going in the story, however, I did like how the author showed how Lucas overcame certain things, especially when Silver was kilt. I do think that the author could have slowed down the pace so readers could understand what was going on in the story and be able to realize what was going on in the book. If the pace was slowed down a little, I think that I could have been more interested in reading ...more

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