[Subdue] The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness - 2.5 stars

[Pam]

What if you aren’t the Chosen One? What if you’re Mikey? Who just wants to graduate and go to prom and maybe finally work up the courage to ask Henna out before someone goes and blows up the high school. Again.

2.5 stars rounded up

I was pretty into this for the first 60% or so, even though nothing was really happening and I wasn't sure if there was supposed to be a deeper point I was missing. And then just as the fact that nothing was happening was starting to make the book drag...all KINDS of stuff started happening. None of which I was really into; all of which had me convinced I was not getting whatever allegory this author was lying down. 

As a former Buffy the Vampire fan, I usually like these Chosen One adjacent/subversion stories. There was some humor around that sprinkled in here and there that I enjoyed, but for the most part I did not see what point the author was trying to make with the paranormal stuff. (The oblivious adults thing did have merit, but that would be a pretty minor detail to base a whole book around.)

I mean, I guess it's about not letting yourself feel like a side character and choosing your own story, but I don't see what the meta storyline added to that. Maybe this is just a me thing, and someone who has needed that messaging at some point in their life would get more out of it?

I did like what I think the author was trying to do with the Henna and maybe even Jared stuff, but I still don't think that landed.

So I'm just not sure what to think of this. I can't even decide if I'm going to read more from this author or not...