Perverse

by Larry Rodness

19 year old Emylene Stipe, a 2nd generation Goth, is shaken to the core when her make-believe world turns out to be real.

Genres: Vampires, Paranormal

354 pages, ebook

First published December 2, 2012

Reviews

[Gillian Mcclean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perverse centres on Emylene Stipe, the teenaged Goth protagonist who is the offspring of Goth parents. Although most of the plot takes place when Emylene is a young adult, it simultaneously reads like an ordinary and yet extraordinary female coming of age story.

The adolescence to adulthood turmoil, peculiarities of the Goth subculture and elements of the supernatural blend well to provide a believable context for the reader to accept the unusual characters and circumstances Emylene encounters. Rodness cares enough to provide explanations of Goth notions, so that uninitiated readers like yours truly don't have to search the Internet to understand the references that are made. We can at least appreciate, even if we don't agree with, the manner Emylene chooses to deal with them.

Perplexing situations found early in the story urges the reader to keep searching for their meanings alongside the main character. As for the pace, I would have preferred less time spent on character development at the beginning and more time unravelling the complexities of the plot towards the end.

Notwithstanding a few typos that may be corrected on future print runs, the quality of the writing — or perhaps it was my interest in the story — seemed to increase as the story unfolded. I found myself drawn into the tale, eagerly anticipating my next opportunity to read on.

Overall Rodness' colourful use of language to depict a host of out-of-the norm events made this an entertaining literary journey.

[Kathy Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest, nonreciprocal review. I have never read a book of the Gothic YA genre before, and was not expecting to have it hold my interest at all. That being said, I was very pleased that I was able to enjoy this book. The main character (a protagonist) named Emylene and her friend Nancy are introduced in the beginning and through some interesting twists and turns we begin to see the imagination of this author unfold. I was appreciative that the author provided insight into the Gothical world to an uneducated reader like myself.

The beginning started out a little slow for my taste but midway through with some very shocking, dark plot twists, the story became very intense and drew me in with anticipation.

I don't really know yet if I liked "Emylene" but this author did a good job of imaginative storytelling. It definitely hooks you and I was satisfied with the ending.

[Megan Orito · Rating 4 out of 5]

One day, the author of this book left me a message on my book blogs page. He was inquiring if I could do a review about his new book. Since I’ve been really into YA these days, I can’t help but say yes although I honestly don’t know how to write a well-brought-up book review... Hehehe. So here’s my version of a book review for an author. Perverse is my first book to be reviewed. This will always have a spot close to my heart.

All of us go through that special tunnel between being young and vibrant and carefree AND being a full grown adult. It’s always been the other versus another, her against him. Emylene Stipe, a nineteen year old girl, is stuck in the tunnel. She is still on the verge of knowing where she really stood in the world and how to rebel against its uncertainties. Being a teenager is hard enough, but even the most superlative form of that word won’t even be apt when you’re a “second-gen” goth. Her parents, Vandy and Theo, has already exposed so many of the world’s imperfection, thus, Emylene has to decide on how rebel against a family of rebels. She is torn between becoming a civil servant or the uncivil servant.

On an event one midnight summer, Emylene found her first (and only) friend, Nancy Nostradamus. She’s also a “second-gen” goth and her family had their name changed legally. Each year, Goths gather to sort of confirm their legitimacy, to claim their rights so as to protect themselves from the cruelty of those who think Goths are antisocial, attention-seeker and stupid.

Emylene’s parents were the acknowledged leaders of the community; Emylene of course is like their princess and even if that gave her a few special privileges, it also meant having to face through certain expectations a girl her age doesn't think she’s ready enough to handle. The moment she turned 19, she moved to a new place, far enough for her to practice independence but also close enough to go back to their place when tough times come. She got a job at a textile shop located just on the ground floor of her apartment building; she depends on her salary for rent. For fun, she often has dinner with a Greek man whose nose is narrow enough it could probably slice an envelope. His name is Stelio. She thinks he’s very different and she’ll know how different he is very soon...

Things will start to turn upside-down once she purchases and brings home a very interesting painting which will soon be her home for a couple of months... and then the real story unfolds as Lazslo brings her back to the real world full untold mysteries.

Oh my goodness!!! I can really say this book by Larry Rodness is one of my favorites It’s not just interestingly exciting but very out of the ordinary. It has a very original telltale about the history of Goths, which I’m sure every girl wants to know. If there’s one thing I've learned about the society, it’s how sick it is when it comes to judging a person because of his or her outer appearance. Goths these days aren't that much accepted because non-goths probably think they’re just a flock of attention-seekers who dresses black from head to toe. But what others can’t see on the outside is far more important, there’s more than what meets the eye.

This may be about Goths but there are lots of lessons which you can get when you spare a few hours out of your day in order to read this book... one is, a thing about love. I believe in love so much, in the idea of finding your one true love. In this story, it taught me love too has its limitations. Fate is very tricky, often very deceitful but you should love yourself so much more than the other so that you’ll know what to do in those fraudulent times. You must not let love win when you know it can lead to something that can harm the human race. You must not dwell on what used to be when you know very well that it isn’t what is anymore. Do not be selfish; think about what will happen next. (of course I’m pertaining to the story’s ending which I didn’t really expect... too much for me to handle. Hahaha. If I were Emelyne, I think I’d kill him for doing such thing. Ugh.)

Why you should read this? You’ll enjoy... you can’t find a boring chapter. If you need something that will distract you from the very cruel summer sun here in the Philippines, this would be great choice. You just won’t stop reading until you get to the last page.

PS: Thank you, Larry Rodness, for sending me a copy of this very attention-grabbing book of yours. I enjoyed it a lot. Sorry for the late review. (explanation attached on the message I sent you via book blogs) Please don’t stop writing. Kisses from the PH.

Love,
M x

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creative! Imaginative! Clever and intense! Perverse by Larry Rodness has what it takes to be called all of that and more! Have you ever heard of a second generation Goth? That idea alone had me! Emylene Stipe is a Goth Princess, daughter to the ‘royalty’ of the Toronto Goths. Her Goth society prominent parents held sway over the city from their Goth club. Little did Emylene know that her world was going to shift into another dimension when she purchased an old sketch that seemed to call to her, there was NO way the picture was changing or moving, right? And what is it about the strange old shopkeeper who sold her the sketch? After bizarre things begin to happen, Emylene knows there is something about the picture that transcends the world as she knows it. The shop keeper, Lazlo, tells her of a curse that only she can break, and it involves the sketch. Laszlo and Emylene must team up to help save Toronto from the chaos that has been unleashed upon it. But can she trust him? What if things don’t go right?
Full of fantasy and darkly intriguing, Perverse is a fresh escape from reality into a world that Larry Rodness has brought forth with vivid details, a little humor and a lot of eerie moments. His ability to hold my attention throughout is to be commended as he deftly drew his characters and unfolded his plot, creating twists and turns that rival the best mazes. Great YA reading with a dash of mystery, fantasy, and a strong heroine who you can’t help but love, right down to her black nail polish! Thank you for allowing me to review this work! 4.5 well-earned stars! Publication Date: December 31, 2012

[Claire Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, inspired, twists and turns but with a sadly normal ending. The author kept me guessing and i was surprised with a few twists that didn't turn out how i thought it would. I enjoyed the writing style and found that it flowed well. Has been left open for another should he choose to.

[Julie Darley (Never judge a Book by its Movie) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I signed up for this tour because I was fascinated by the cover, it is very beautiful. I was also intrigued by the short synopsis. Some of the best books I’ve read have been because of those two reasons.

The story starts off strong enough, Larry has a great style that builds a vivid picture, as well as developing solid characters. Emylene was a very likable character and I loved her friendship with Nancy. However, when Emylene moved into her own apartment and began working in the fabric store I became confused. She seemed to transform into a surly teenager with no focus.

I liked Stelio, a much older Greek man who woos Emylene with a black rose and interesting conversation. Everything changed when Stelio notices a charcoal painting in a store window, he disappears and Emylene becomes frustrated.

Buying the painting is her undoing. One night she notices the picture is ‘alive’ and rescues the terrified Mira. Then everything gets weird & I became more confused as the story unfolded. Don’t get me wrong, I think Larry wrote a solid story with a different take on the whole vampire genre. It had interesting concepts and is definitely not your Momma’s Twilight.

I just was not expecting it to take the turns it did, and while the story didn’t gel with me it will certainly entertain lovers of anything vampire. What I liked about it was the integration of ancient fables. The vampires are never referred to as such but as Vrykolakas, I also liked the whole love story of Laszlo and Mira (it was a tragic indeed) but it just wasn’t for me.

If you are looking for something that’s a little different in Supernatural/Vampires I would give this book my recommendation.

Read more of my reviews at Never Judge a Book by its Movie http://www.juliedarley.com

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover alone would make me want to read this book - it is a very good representation of how I see Emylene.

Those of you who are familiar with my reviews know that I do not give you details about the book that would give any element of surprise away, or at least I do my best not to, because I want you to read it and experience things just as I did. The 'synopsis' provided on GoodReads really doesn't give me much to work with - but it is exactly what I saw before I decided to read this book.

I'm not sure if this is a standalone or if we may see a more of Emylene in the future, I like to think we will.

What I liked: New twist to an old tale. I also enjoyed the fact that although I figured some things out in advance, there were a few surprises that I didn't see coming.

What I didn't like: It is hard for me to actually put my finger on it, but there was something in the way the story flowed that wasn't as 'smooth' (for lack of a better word) as I would have liked it to have been. It may be that I wanted more definition of how the first part of the book related to the main part of the story. Emylene wonders about a possible connection between her earlier experimentation and what she is facing, but that is as far as we got.

Would I recommend this book: Yes! I love it when someone takes something I've heard of before and makes it uniquely their own story. Larry does this well in this book! Not only will you look at Goths with a different understanding, but you will enjoy exploring the twists and turns that his delightfully wicked mind lays out for you.

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perverse is a supernatural tale by Larry Rodness.

First Paragraph:

""Perverse" was Emylene Stipe's signature response to just about everything. Others her age were more apt to say "cool" or "wicked" or "awesome", but you knew Emylene was in the house when you heard, "Loved that band last night- so perverse", or "She's hanging with that dude? Perverse!" Or, "I hate people who eat with their mouths open, they're so perverse."

PLOT

Emylene Stipe is a Toronto-living, nineteen year-old goth, who is known as the 'goth princess' to her friends due to her parents high status. They fight for all rights goth, and proudly lead the dark wave. But Emylene's problem is wondering how to 'rebel against a family of rebels'. She's reached those argumentative you-don't-understand-me years, and she's itching to take on the authority figures that are her parents.

As with many teens she butts heads with them a lot, and everyone is at the end of their tether. Eventually Emylene moves out- giving everyone some well needed breathing room. Living only a dozen blocks away gives her independence, with security.

Her newest passion is Stelio- a forty year-old Greek who speaks right to Emylene's heart, starting with the first black rose he leaves hanging on her doorknob. When the two are wandering down the street one day, Emylene notices Stelio tense when he lays eyes on a charcoal sketch in an old antique shop. He makes nothing of it, but of course Emylene has to have it.

She hangs the barren, snowy landscape on her bare, bleak wall, entranced by the solitary cypress tree in its centre. But the sketch has secrets, ones little Emylene will soon discover, starting with footprints in the drawn snow, and the beautiful young girl who left them.

REVIEW

I went into this book knowing very little about it. I tend to be of the mind frame that the less you know, the better. Anyway, this meant I was not aware this was a 'vampire book', but I found it a refreshingly bearable use of the urban legends. Yes ladies and gentlemen, what we have here is a story about (or maybe 'including' is better?) vampires- known here as Vrykolakas. This may be a mild spoiler as we're not given this information until about a third of the way through the book, but it's a little hard to talk about the book without mentioning them.

I want to say this first, vampires have had a very bad rap since becoming a trend some years ago. More specifically, since they shifted from blood-thirsty creatures of terror to romanticised, teenage fantasy boy hunks. The progression is not necessarily a bad thing in itself (if done well- which unfortunately was not often the case), but the over saturation definitely was. Soon most everyone was sick of the fanged denizens of the night.

These vampires, while they may not be 'traditional', at least have the concept of one. Of creatures who seduce their prey, while malevolence burns in their eyes. While they never reach 'horror vampire' status, they are at least a far cry from 'romantic, sparkly' vampires too. Personally, I find terrifying vampires who want to rip my throat out, far more interesting than teen idol vamps. We have enough teeny-boppers sucking the life out of us already- without having to read about them in what was once a majestic and revered genre. I for one am glad to be getting back to it.

Now, first and foremost this may appear to be a story of the supernatural, but a lot of emphasis and time is placed on prejudices. The age-old fact that many people fear those who are different, or things they don't understand. A lot of the story focuses on Emylene's feeling of being an outcast (as many teens do), but on a more extreme level using her 'goth-ness' as a metaphor for many other forms of bigotry.

There is also some exploration of social and political issues, as well as satire on desire and obsession- if a little exaggerated. The lies we tell to convince ourselves and those around us that one more 'hit' won't hurt. It looks at the very nature of addiction. There is no black and white, no clear answer. Social stigma has been around since the dawn of humanity, and addiction was not far behind. Everyone has one- usually more. Some less harmful than others, but all as all-consuming as each other. The book also briefly touches on why we seem to need addictions. Are we so unhappy in our daily lives that we have to create an escape or false happiness through objects or actions?

It becomes a force of habit, a placebo, Pavlov's dog. It makes us feel good, because we associate it with emotions from previous times. Whether or not that is real happiness is up for debate, but suffice to say that as a species we can never be addiction free. But (depending on the form of the addiction) maybe that's not a bad thing. We all have cravings, and to ignore all of them would be unhealthy. So the question becomes not so much about kicking the addiction, but in choosing the ones that are the least harmful, and of moderation. Anything can be addictive- sex, drugs, coffee, exercise, reading, etc. As a species we are naturally inclined to overindulgence, making us susceptible to addiction. This book goes a little into the 'darker' addictions, and exactly how far we are willing to go, and how much we will tolerate to satisfy the cravings. The vampires act as a 'channel' for addiction, prejudice, etc, etc, discussing the very real topics, while making them more ambiguous and universal through non-existent beings.

Anyway, this book seems 'act-driven'. It's almost like three different stories blended together. Each interconnected, but separate. It's not so much that the POV switches (though occasionally it does), but more of the focus shifting. You start with Emylene's, then the focus switches to another character, and finally another (I won't say who because they could be considered spoilers). Each time a new story is introduced, we get taken further back into the past- through the different generations and circumstances that brought them together. The main focus is still on Emylene, but when the other two get their turns, she becomes more of a secondary character.

The end was a little too easy in my opinion. It came together just a little too neatly. You spend some two hundred or so pages getting to that point, and it's all over in just a few. Though the last line adds a final element of mystery, and possibly a hint at a sequel (though I like the open ending as is).

On a brief side note, I felt the antique shop owner who sold the sketch to Emylene in the first place, was a little stupid considering that he knew exactly what it held within its image. How hard would it have been to say, "It's not for sale"? But then I suppose we wouldn't have a story.

Overall I enjoyed this story. I breezed through the smooth-flowing writing quickly, and the only times I felt any kind of 'road block' was when the story meandered slightly when the story switches its focus character.

As I said earlier, I am very glad to see violent, demonic vampires again. This is the first 'vampire book' in a long time that I have enjoyed at all- let alone actually liked.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. This is not a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% my own.

[roxtao · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perverse was a really surprising read. Don’t worry, there’s nothing perverse in this book :) I admit, I wasn’t expecting very much when I started it. The synopsis didn’t make me really, really curious and I was thinking the title was meant to be too shocking. My thoughts didn’t changed much when I started the book and even through the first few chapters. Perverse seemed to be a nice read, but it wasn’t impressing me that much. The action starts a bit too slow and even now, thinking about the beginning, I still have the sensation that at least some of the initial chapters weren’t necessary. But slowly, I started discovering that the things were moving in an unexpected direction, that what was happening in the story wasn’t matching with what I thought would happen. And from that moment, the whole story gets a different rhythm, it becomes more surprising, more compelling and the reader’s interest and curiosity keep growing. The action twists at every few pages, the tension is growing, the characters become slippery, their intents blurry and the author manages to surprise you frequently.

We meet a heroine at the border between teen age and adulthood, who’s still struggling to find herself. And this is even harder considering that her parents are that kind of extravagant people, who already tried almost everything you could try in a lifetime. Moreover, there are no major conflicts between them and their daughter, so the teen age revolt and the identity crises somehow lose their importance and Emylene seems to be still far from her path, no matter how hard she’d try to find it. We witness some of the most important moments of her life, a lost friendship, some attempts to do something important with her life, a relationship that’s apparently unimportant and that seems to go nowhere. Nothing really special until now. But an ordinary thing changes everything. The acquisition of a present proves to be the trigger to a whole new set of unexpected and unusual events. We meet a new and mysterious character, whose portrait oscillates between a positive and a negative image. At the beginning, there are some suspicions around Emylene’s new friend, but later, you begin to trust her. And just when this happens, everything precipitates once again and the whole story narrated until than seems to have an abrupt and unexpected ending.

The following chapters bring to the forefront a new protagonist, a new world and until the reunion with Emylene, the readers have no idea what’s coming. Further, the story develops some dark fantasy shades, laced with some horror and mystery accents. The author outlines a scenario more complex, highly original. We are witnesses of some stories from the past that continue to this day, the whole picture becomes more appealing and exciting. And finally, the last piece of the puzzle provides a really surprising perspective over the entire book, which is revealed in a new light and almost every thread from the beginning is now completed and every mystery is revealed in an unexpected way. The story is built in a surprisingly manner and keeps you curious throughout the whole book, as the author is not following almost none of the classical patterns.

I don’t necessarily see the point of some of the accentuated issues. The membership of Emylene and her parents to the Goth culture is actually not so important as it might seem in the beginning. The book would have been just as interesting even if they were some ordinary characters, so I’m still confused about the author’s purpose. I don’t know if the mentions about the Goth culture are meant to attract the reader’s attention and differentiate the book in an ocean of fantasy books or if the author wanted to write a book about people who adopt this culture and he realized that there’s not too much to say about it, so then he turned the novel into a story with a different, more complex topic. However, the overall result is endearing, so if you have the opportunity to read the book, do not hesitate to do so.

Although the characters are not very easy to read, especially the secondary ones, I liked the way the author uses them in order to make you see the roles we often play without realizing, the masks we wear, the way we just change for a society that’s always unhappy, losing ourselves because of this. I liked Emylene’s parents’ courage to reinvent themselves when they have reached their limits and then, returning to the initial ways when the new approach seems to be wrong. Also, I was thrilled to discover that the author doesn’t offer a classic happy ending, where everything is magically solved. Indeed, the major disaster is avoided – for now at least, but some ordinary problems remain, the relationships between the characters don’t change and their personalities don’t suffer unrealistic transformations. The author offers only the suggestion that things seem to start moving in the right direction, and that is enough.

The epilogue scenes are similar to the flashing endings of some horror movies, surprising the reader just when he was breathing relieved that everything was finally solved.

I have to thank the author, Larry Rodness for offering me the novel, in exchange of a honest review.

PROs:

- Despite the slow and almost dull beginning, the story is having a 180 degrees turn, the plot is suddenly entertaining and the suspense is thrilling. Also, the interesting approach of a classical myth offers a compelling story that will surely surprise you.

CONs:

- Although in the end some of the initial aspects actually prove to be extremely important, some chapters still don’t seem to be really significant. Moreover, those pages are exactly in the beginning, so a less patient reader could feel discouraged to continue reading, feeling that he wouldn’t get a story interesting enough.

[Jeff Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the second half of Perverse by Larry Rodness in one sitting. The story captivated me. I did expect it, though. I’ve read several of Rodness’s books. They all start out slow and even and build quickly to an intriguing story. Perverse is the modern-day story of Emylene Stipe, a teenager living a Goth lifestyle emersed in a Goth enclave in a big city. She buys an unusual painting and takes it home. Problems arise, the next morning the painting has changed. The story takes on a weird flavor from then on. And, that’s one of the things I like about a Larry Rodness story. There is an element of horror (lite horror) and a big mix of weirdness. Reminds me of the old TV show The Twilight Zone, weird. This book would make a great movie. For me, I enjoyed Perverse. Five stars for both Larry Rodness and for Perverse. Jeff Bailey, author of Not On My Watch.

[Diana (Offbeat Vagabond) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original review here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2013/04/indie-book-review-perverse-by-larry.html

Perverse follows a young woman named Emylene. Emylene is the Goth princess. She knows something is missing from her life, but she doesn't know what. She doesn't think she is special. Until one day she comes across a painting that speaks to her. That painting is no ordinary painting. That painting will change Emylene's life forever and maybe for the worst.

Wow, this is quite an interesting read. I loved how much we got to see into our main character's head and the Goth lifestyle. It was a great coming-of-age story mixed with an exciting paranormal story. I wasn't even sure how paranormal this book was going to be. It starts off like a realistic story of a woman who needs to find herself and grow up. Her discovery definitely forces her to do that.

I liked Emylene later down the road in this book. I was not a fan of hers at all in the beginning. She pissed me off to be honest. She uses being a Goth as a way to act like a self-righteous b***h. Her parents are the owners of a very popular underground Goth club. She is the daughter and is called the Goth princess and she see acts as such. She thinks she is above others and people have to think like her for her actually like them. She really irritated me. FYI, people don't want to be your friend because you are Goth, people don't want to be your friend because you are selfish and self-absorbed. I have had plenty of Goth friends and I mean actual Goth, not the ones playing dress up. Even if our views were different, they never acted like they were superior to me. I am so glad Emylene grew up in this book, if anyone needed it, she did.

The book's pacing was a bit slow in the beginning. But that is mainly because we are learning so much about the character and her relationship with her parents. I really enjoyed the parents in this book. They were fun and offbeat. You can tell they love each other. I didn't really understand Emylene's resentment towards them at times. I understand about rebelling against your parents, but my goodness Emylene. Too crazy, just too crazy. You will see when you get to it. Then there was the almost affair she has with a man named Stelio. Stelio is the one who starts the domino effect in this book. It is something so simple, but it all comes together in the end. But this was also apart of Emylene's childishness, she knew Stelio was married and she still wants to be with him. When she makes a certain discovery, she is angry at him and calls him a liar. Umm, hello! Doesn't the fact that he is lying to you to his wife already indicate he is a liar? I really wanted to smack some sense into this girl. I am sorry, but I just have to get that off my chest.

I loved how the way the supernatural is introduced into this book. The mix of vampires and demons was quite interesting and unique. I loved how Rodness played with this. It made the book more enjoyable. The vampires are quite demonic in nature and work more like an infection that gets worse over time. The way they grow and spread is well put together. I loved it.

Now, even though I had issues, I had a lot of fun with this book. It wasn't perverse, this isn't a book on love or anything. It was also another great way Rodness played with this book that I really enjoyed. The plot was great and I love the complexity of the world and the characters no matter how infuriating. It is a great book that deals with growing up and changing when you have to face something huge, well in this case, huge and super evil. I recommend this to anyone who likes great character development and a great paranormal story.

[Warmisunqu Austen · Rating 4 out of 5]

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La perversidad existencialista y el mundo gótico
Perverse de Larry Rodness

La historia consta de dos partes, la primera, el autor nos introduce en el mundo de Emylene, un universo gótico, para muchos puede resultar tedioso pero para mí fue fascinante porque era mi primer contacto con esa realidad, sus características, sus interacciones, sus costumbres, etc.
Y la segunda parte de la historia, el contacto con el vampirismo y lo sobrenatural, para quienes os gusta el tema de vampiros, lo váis a disfrutar, está enlazado a dos grandes historias de amor, romances trágicos y desgarradores.
Entre estas dos partes, el autor toca temas como la rebeldía de una adolescente gótica y su búsqueda por encajar en una sociedad opresora. Emylene intenta controlar su vida, ser dueña de sus actos y no sentirse una extraña en su propio mundo, buscaba entender lo más oscuro de la naturaleza humana, y en esa búsqueda su destino estaba pasándole factura.
Otro punto que toca el autor es sobre la sociedad como ente en la existencia humana, más allá del vampirismo y cómo coexistir, está el propio comportamiento de las personas y sus demandas existenciales, como los juegos de azar, el alcohol, sexo y prostitución, ¿necesidades básicas de la naturaleza humana o una forma de escapar de la presión que ejerce la sociedad en cada individuo?, desde el adolescente que ya va sintiendo esa presión hasta el adulto que tiene que hacer frente a las demandas de la sociedad en que vive. Existe una perversidad existencial inherente en cada persona en mayor o menor grado que nos hace actuar como tal y formando parte de este ente llamado sociedad.... en fin, es interesante el planteamiento que ofrece esta obra versus la ligereza y el misterio que abarca lo sobrenatural y el vampirismo.
El ritmo de lectura es al principio es lento pero no por ello menos interesante y a medida que va avanzando aumenta la velocidad hasta un punto de volverse trepidante.
La trama de la historia es una especie de thriller con alta dosis de suspense y carga emocional. No se descubre toda la verdad hasta la última escena.
La historia es atractiva con personajes de lo más espeluznantes, sus caracterizaciones están bien construidas y profundizando en sus lados más oscuros.
Duras pruebas tiene que enfrentar Emylene, al final puede descubrir que pueden existir segundas oportunidades para poner las cosas en su lugar y seguir siendo ella misma en su esencia.
El nivel de fantasía es propio de una historia sobrenatural y de vampiros, sorprende la alta dosis de intriga, describiendo los hechos con mucha creatividad e imaginación.
El nivel de erotismo no es elevado, solo se menciona levemente, no hay escenas de sexo, se mencionan algunas fantasías sexuales y sueños eróticos pero sin ser explícitos.
Realmente una historia intensa, sobre todo por ese tono existencialista que se deja connotar.

[Jessica Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review taken from http://ramblingsonreadings.blogspot.com

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Genre: YA Paranormal

Publisher: Itoh Press

Pages: 354

Best for: 16+

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Good Reads Summary:

19 year old Emylene Stipe, a 2nd generation Goth, is shaken to the core when her make-believe world turns out to be real.

This is honestly a hard book for me to review. The rating doesn’t really accurately reflect the overall quality of the book, which was very good. The writing was great, the plot and characters were well-developed, and it didn’t follow the over-done formula for most YA vampire books.

My biggest problem with this book was that I didn’t really identify with any of the characters. That may not be a problem for some readers, but it made it a difficult read for me. Because the main character led an “alternative” lifestyle, it was hard for me to relate to anything she did. It wasn’t that I hated her character or anything, but our paradigms for life are VERY different.

Fortunately, Emylene was a dynamic character, so I found myself liking her more around the 3/4 mark, but that was a LONG way in for me to keep reading a character I wasn’t too fond of. Now, I of course would get bored reading about people who are exactly like me; I’m simply saying that we were SO different that it made it hard for me to enjoy getting to know her.

There was a lot of storytelling in this book (as in, one of the characters embarks on a VERY long story about their past), which wasn’t too bad, but most of the plot explanation was given in these stories. It wasn’t like, run into a vampire, BAM start having vampiric things happen everywhere blah blah actions and events start explaining the heart of the conflict. It was more like, sort of run into a vampire, then get told this story about vampires by an old dude for 5 hours and find out that the main conflict is from this really old story. Not my favorite way to discover the conflict. Not the stories weren't interesting, the stories just seemed to slow the plot way down.

HOWEVER, I thought that some of the devices used were very interesting. There were some magic elements that were very clever (Other-Town, the sketch) and I really enjoyed the fantasy world that Rodness was creating. It was also nice to see some different legend building for vampires (or Vrykolakas); I’m curious if this was straight from Rodness’ imagination or if this is truly from Greek folklore.

A clever take on the vampire story, if nothing else. There’s some odd character interaction, but at the end of the day, the writing is solid, the story is interesting, and the characters are dynamic.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first saw this book cover and read the very short synopsis, I knew that I had to read this book.

I was busy with another book at the time, but put it aside for this one, which is not something I would normally do, but it had piqued my interest and I just had to read it.

I also don't normally read books with a vampire-type theme, but I am so very, very glad I read this one as it is different, in every way.

About the story:
The main character is Emylene Stipe - a 19 year old second generation Goth living with her parents in Toronto, where her parents own and run a Goth club.

Emylene is a rebel. A rebel, rebelling against rebellious parents - can't get more rebellious than that.

Our young Goth rebel eventually moves out of the family home, and into her own space. She finds a job and carries on with her life until she meets an older man, who was different to anyone she had ever met before. All was well until he went on a business trip and she never saw him again. On an impulse she bought a drawing in an old antique shop which he had shown an interest in prior to his `disappearance'. This one act unleashes a series of events that will change her, her family and the life of everyone around her.

As she tries to make sense of what is happening, she learns about the history of her family, and the Vrykolakas that entered her life so unexpectedly.

My thoughts:
This was a really great story that kept me interested from page one until well after I turned the last page.

It is well written, and flows beautifully. I especially enjoyed the great characters, and enjoyed the history behind the story of the Vrykolakas character in the story. The insight into the Goth culture was, for me, a bonus.

Given that the book is about an un-dead creature, the story is surprisingly not overly violent, nor is it overly sexual. The balance is perfect and well written.

I would not hesitate to recommend this to anyone interested in this genre. It was a very, very good read and I enjoyed it - a lot.

[TheCosyDragon · Rating 1 out of 5]

This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon . Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.

Emylene is a second generation Goth princess. Little does she know that she is soon going to be trapped in a picture frame for 2 years while her new best friend takes over her position and turns the world to bad.

I spent the first chapter wondering when the perspective and tone of the novel was going to turn into present tense. In the second chapter I figured that this was a very long prologue. By the third chapter, I'd basically given up, and resigned myself to the awkward storytelling.

I can't say why I kept reading this novel - it annoyed me a fair bit in the way things were told to me, rather than shown, and also Emylene seemed just plain stupid. Seriously girl, get a hold of yourself! She was so prissy and rude I wouldn't have minded if she died.

If this wasn't an ebook, I would have been drawn in by the beautiful cover art anyway. It's a simple design it's true, but also all the more attractive for it. The transformations of Emylene seem hollow when compared to her original self. She should have stayed true to herself from the beginning!

Another element that disturbed me was the frequent references to sex and death, particularly in conjuntion. I believe this is a book aimed at teenagers - and I would find it inappropriate for my own teenager to read such things.

It wasn't clear to me at the end how they survived the fire. See, I'm being nice and vague so you don't know who I mean! But anyway, it's a bit confusing as to why all of the specific type of creature would die, if the other progenitor was still living.

I wouldn't recommend this novel, unless you're a complete sucker for everything vampire. I was drawn in because of the Goth concept, but the blurb didn't deliver in a satisfying way for me.

I received this book free in ebook form for review purposes. I was in no way compensated for this review.

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book to give an honest review.

This is one of those books that you do not want to judge the cover of the book. This was a very different book for me to read as far as it deals with people taking on the life style of being goth. Which I don't believe I have read in a book before.
I enjoyed how the author used a lot of character building and used names that I have never heard before. Like Laszlo and Emylene. Now with the main character Emylene her name kept throwing me off so I ended up naming her Emily in my head.
The story line was very different and that is something I enjoyed. We follow Emylene in her quest to rebel and branch out from under her parents. And then the real story begins. She is known as the Goth Princess because of her parents status within the Goth community.
While Emylene is doing her own thing she comes across a picture and that is when all the things in her life go upside down! Things that she never thought to be real are real. She meets Laszlo later on in the story and he plays a big part and needs her help. I wished he would have taught Emylene how to fight. Though there is a little action I felt as though there could have been more. Especially because they are dealing with the supernatural. It was constantly "run." The girl has got to learn how to defend herself. But I guess with not as much action written within the story there was no need.
I did like how you get Laszlo's back story and then the person who caused this whole thing his story as well.

Now Emylene I got that she is a young adult, but the arguments that she had with her mother just didn't feel real to me. I know that sounds super silly but I couldn't connect with the arguments that they had.

Overall a great read that I truly enjoyed, the ending and I actually had to flip the page to make sure I read it correctly. It was a ending I really didn't expect especially have the scene in the club.

[Kayleigh Meade · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having been approached by Larry Rodness to review Perverse, I was intrigued by the blurb. It's not often I read about Goths, let alone second-generation Goths!

Being honest though, I wasn't overly impressed with the beginning of the book. While it wasn't bad, I was a little disconcerted by the disconnected narrative of Emylene's life that led up to the start of the plot. There's setting the scene, and then there's over-egging it a bit. I didn't understand why such a big deal was made about Emylene being a 'princess' (except maybe to explain why she acted so spoilt), and certain characters (such as Nostra-Dame) have no bearing on the ultimate plot, so I'm sorry to say that if I hadn't agreed to review it, I probably would have put it down.

However, upon hitting the middle of the book, the plot got decidedly better and I found it really enjoyable. It was fairly different to anything I'd read before, and I loved the idea of there being a certain part of town that offers your wildest dreams at night in exchange for a piece of your soul and a slightly hungover feeling. Then, there were different aspects of Goth lifestyle I found interesting and were explained well by Rodness. Once it got going, it was fast-paced, and Emylene became less annoying as she had more of a purpose. There's also a sense of dystopia the further in I got (revenants taking over parts of town and slowly expanding), and you should know how much I love those by now!

So, while I admit it was a weak start, the book gets a healthy 3 stars from me for pulling it back and creating an unusual and interesting plot.

If you liked this review, please check out my blog!

[Shaz X · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review at Sharon's Book Nook!

*Copy of book provided by author in return for an honest review*

I started reading Perverse not really knowing what to expect. What I found was a complete surprise packet and a thoroughly enjoyable read. I have not read any paranormal books for a while and this was a nice welcome back into the genre.

Perverse is well written and spins a very interesting tale about a Goth Girl and the beliefs of that lifestyle becoming her reality. The imagination used to create this story is great and the vast amount of detail in this book is fantastic. I was on the edge of my seat at times reading this story and it did not disappoint.

All the characters are fascinating in this story and I found myself wanting to know more about them. Thankfully the author delivers and gives a great deal of information on each of them. Emylene is the main character who is 19, a Goth Princess (2nd Generation Goth) and has left home to rebel against her parents and find her own way in the world, not really expecting to take the path it does. I won’t go into too much detail and give the story away but she stumbles upon a painting in a shop which had sparked the interest of the man whom she had befriended and purchased this painting for him. Unfortunately she does not see him again and then her whole life changes.

Overall a pleasantly surprising read. It has enough intrigue and mystery occurring to keep the story moving along. The ending ties up most of the loose ends, however there has been a small opening left and it leaves you eager for more.

Great read, give this one a try!

[Steen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to start off by saying that I absolutely love the cover of this book! I could totally see it hanging on one of my walls.

I really like how I was pulled into the story right away. Emylene is 19 years old and born to Goth parents. Her parents own a Goth night club downtown which makes Emylene pretty much royalty to the Goth community. She decides that she needs to break out on her own and rents an apartment. One day she is compelled to purchase a drawing of a cabin in the woods from an antique store. The next day she wakes up and sees something strange. There are footprints in the snow that were not there the day before.

This is such an interesting concept and I didn't expect the story to go in the direction that it did. I love when that happens! It was interesting to learn as Emylene did, who the girl in the drawing was, through Emylene's interactions with new acquaintances.

Emylene's world really was turned upside down, even losing a few years of her life, and having to deal with the aftermath of releasing a Vrykolakas (basically a vampire-like supernatural creature) upon the world. The twists kept coming and the ending was not at all what I had expected it to be.

This book was really good; I loved it. The story, the characters, and seeing how a Vrykolakas viewed the world, were all very intriguing. It's actually refreshing reading a supernatural story that is 'dark' in nature instead of 'fluffy' (for lack of a better word) that seems to be the common trend these days.

(I was asked by the author to read and review this book honestly. I am so glad that I did!)

[Lynelle Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received the book from the author for an honest review.

Interesting and well executed plot that keeps you glued to the book till the last page. Or as Emelyne would have said "Perverse".
We meet Emelyne at the age of nineteen leaving her parents home to stand on her own feet like any ordinary young person that seeks independence. Her natural ability to rebel against everything in life did not prepare her for the life changes she would experience when meeting Stelio. A second generation Goth, this young lady new much about the darker side of life but nothing could prepare her when a framed picture came to life and altered her own drastically. As a Goth, she was trained by her parents to question everything, especially the very important one about Death. Soon death became a reality when her neighborhood, family, friends and neighbors acted strangely, and it was up to her to save the day.
Meeting Laszlo with an outrageous tale but yet so believable that she had to trust him to save everything dear to her. Her cunningness, strong will and wit stood out the most making her character believable and likable.
Taken back in time as you learn more about the evil Stelio and the connections between him and Laszlo. Giving you a glimpse in the world of revenge and Vampyres. The Mira character a good villain that kept the plot alive and entertaining.
Every scene a building block in the plot keeps the book filled with twists and intrigue. Well written as good and evil embark on capturing the soul of the human being.

[Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this as part of the blog tour and in exchange for an honest review.

The blurb I received for this book had me intrigued; hence why I signed up for a review post in this tour.

However, upon starting to read Perverse I found myself feeling a bit underwhelmed and unsure about the book. I't starts off slowly, but the page picks up about halfway through and then the action begins to kick in. By action I mean "Vrykolakas (Vampyres)".
The Vampyres in Perverse are portrayed a little closer to the terrifying blood sucking demons that I love to see and read.

Once the pace picked up I found it a lot easier to keep reading. I felt the change in pace and the Vampyres had managed to save this book from being my first DNF.

Most of the characters are well developed and relevant to the overall plot. I did feel that one character from the earlier chapters that seemed expendable was Emylene's friend "Nostra-Dame".

I think that due to the slow start of this book that some less patient readers may feel a little discouraged to continue reading; as I admitted I almost gave up.

Larry Rodness had a smooth flow to his writing which is easy to read;even if a little slow at times. But his smooth style is present even when the pave picks up.

My overall thoughts and feelings about Perverse are mixed and uncertain. Maybe I just need to read another of Larry Rodness' books to get a better feel for his style. It's because of this uncertainty that I'm only rating Perverse 3.5* .

[Amanda Shelley-Masters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book! I love all things goth and all things vampire so when it came to this book everything was just win win...lol...the book had some amazing twists and turns and a very wonderful ending! I totally didn't see any of it coming!

Emylene Stipe is a Goth Princess, Literately, her parents are like Goth royalty and they own the biggest Goth club in all of Toronto. When out shopping one day Emylene buys an old sketch and takes it home to hang on her apartment wall, but little does she know the sketch is more then it seems and inside is a whole other world. Determined to salve the mystery of the sketch Emylene unleashes chaos, magic, and horror into her world.

Laszlo Birij was by all appearances a simple shop keeper, but appearances can be deceiving. The day Emylene Stipe walked into his store to purchase the sketch he knew there was something special about her and that she might be the one to break the curse. All Laszlo wants is to be with his beloved Mira again. Laszlo and Emylene team up to help save the town from the chaos that has been unleashed upon it, but if things don't go according to plan they may loose everyone they love or worse be turned into the things that they are hunting.

Larry Rodness is a fantastic writer! I loved the imagery and they detail into everything. I could see in my mind everything that happened as if it was a movie playing. Fantastic work Larry!

[K.C. Sprayberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second generation Goth, Emylene Stipe, embodies the spirit of the powerhouse movement her parents oversee. She rebels against a family of rebels with numerous ear and lip piercings. Emylene searches for ways to define her Goth existence, yet never gains understanding until she meets a woman in a painting, a woman without a name, who becomes Mira … yet, Mira hides secrets that could destroy all Emylene holds dear.
Larry Rodness crafts a story that is very slow to start. It's not until the reader is a hundred pages into the tale that it picks up speed. There, the reader learns the backstory, in which Vrykolakas prey upon humans.
The extremely long, rambling narratives did little to move the story along. At times, these narratives distracted from the plot, and it was only by moving backward that I was able to keep up with the main theme, that of overcoming these beings which suck the lifeblood from their victims. There was a lot of telling rather than showing of the story. Yet, by staying the course, the reader will finally come into the action, where Emylene and others will have to make their stand and overcome the threat to humanity. This is a good vampire tale, if one is deeply into that culture.
Despite the slow start, I found the rest of this novel quite intriguing.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.

[BooksAmL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the cover, however i give the book an overall 4 stars out of 5. Despite i have never read a book this type before, surprised me that could exceed my expectations.
The book is very creative, love the authors imaginations and how he has done his researcher on goth, The book is about a girl that at the begging struggles in the goth world, but i will leave you with this quote that describes her very well: "Emylene is a second generation goth that is starting to look at to what she really believes and how she truly wants to fit in to the world. A series of events and encounters brings to her a mysterious painting, a new friend, and a world she never knew could possibly exist, all while turning her life upside down".
I love every detail, is just enough to explain the plot and the story of the book, also how the author introduces first the girl to us and a little about her life until getting to the true thesis of the story.
Trust me even if you are not in goth or anything related to it, you will like this book, and also learn more about their life. I have to admitted had a really bad impression about goths and everything that surrounds their world, but after reading the book it completely change my mind.

[Tammy Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was asked by Mr. Rodness to do a review I was intrigued by the blurb. No blurb of so few words had ever grabbed my attention and had drew me into a book. I had to know how this story played out so I agreed to the review. I can tell you I did not in any way regret that decision. Perverse is not exactly the story I thought I would read. Throw away any preconceived ideas about vampires sparkly or otherwise because they do not exist in this book. There is no room for fairy tales and the happily ever-afters that some maybe after as that is not Emylene's story. Emylene is one tough cookie! I loved how attached I became to her and how her battles seemed to become my own. I completely ate up this story I have read some really great books about vampires but none that had me wanting to steak them through the heart as this one did. Perverse is an awesome book it is written with such vivid detail that I easily watched this story play out in front of me as I read along. No cliffhanger ending but a complete and unexpected one. I would welcome more stories like this one from Mr. Rodness anytime!

[Finitha Jose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmph! . . . I am not exactly a fan of vampire stuff (well, except for 'Twilight Saga'), and this cover page almost scared me off. But tempting is the offer of a free book and so here I am. Larry is indeed blessed with an enchanting language, the narrative is so gripping that it is impossible to put it down without finishing.
Some of the plot can be predicted, but not the climax. And isn't their some truth in Laszlo's question? If there is a devil that sucks your blood out and turn you into a blood longing vampire, shouldn't there be a God to cure the virtuous? Too bad this book too follows the age old dictum; once a vampire, always a vampire.
The total atmosphere is eerie, which suits to the theme. But I would have preferred some comic relief in between. There is the absence of a parallel plot which is often felt as the story goes on in the same place circling around a few characters. On the whole a good book for one time reading and much better if you are travelling.

[Diane Lynch Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emylene Stipe, is a nineteen-year-old, rare second generation Goth. Her parents are extremely influential within the Goth community, making her Goth Royalty.

Her life changes when she purchases a drawing at an antique store. Emylene releases a woman from the sketch whom she names Poinsetta. Imagine her surprise when Poinsetta turns her life upside down making Emylene question her entire belief system.

Perverse is a thought-provoking action packed novel. I love the whole idea around the footprints in the painting containing Poinsetta. The concept is unique and intriguing.

The characters are well-developed and interesting. Rodness does an excellent job showing the characters growth throughout the novel; especially Emylene who questions her life and values.

This book gets better and better as you read it. Perverse has a lot of interesting twists and turns. When I say lots, I mean lots.

ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review.

[Simone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. Emylene Stipe, is considered a Goth Princess by the Gothic community. Her parents Theo and Vandy run a very profitable Goth nightclub where they are considered royalty. On a quest, parcially to find herself, and to rebel, Emylene moves into an apartment of her own, this is when her life gets turned upside down. She meets a young girl with no name with huge secrets that could destroy Emylene’s world.

This isn’t a sunshine and roses romantic vampire story. Those are pretty predictable and I was really pleased to see something fresh and unique. This was an intriguing novel that held me captive for hours on end. Emylene is a really gutsy main character; she has bravery beyond her years. This was an amazing novel, rich in history that keeps you guessing until the very end. This is a must read and one of my favorites for this year.

[Dawn Baca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fantastic Story
Larry Rodness weaves another amazing story in Perverse. The attention to detail comes through in every page. If you are open to a new take of old world legends that is not trite and common, this is worth looking at. It is a unique take on the usual Vampire world. It’s truly an intriguing read. From the first page to the last, a compelling story emerges.
It is beautifully written, and is filled with dynamic and well developed characters.

A young teenage rebel striving to find her place in the world different from that of her Goth parents and upbringing, an older man who is there to help guide her, a strange old world painting that changes everything. It is an interesting blend of current events, and being carried away into the past at times.

The mystery that pulls you in continues throughout the story.
I received this book for an honest review.

[F.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great read from start to finish,even though when I first read the first chapter I was hesitant about reading on.But, the main Character (Emylene) was a rebellious teen who I was kind of intrigue by.Also, I wanted to see what was the outcome of her character.I wasn't disappointing when I read on.
Emylene moves out on her own and that's when her world as a goth princess turns up side down,sort to speak.A painting comes into play she meets an older gentlemen and the city where she lives is being taking over by vampires.
From the plot,the characters,the location I was intrigue with every aspect of the book.I wanted to know what happen to the main character in the book,as well as other characters that help the book to be so enjoyable to read.