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Sep 03, 2013JCLChrisK rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
This book has convinced me that Ilsa Bick creates fictional characters for one purpose: to make them suffer, graphically and horrifically. She tells a good story with an onslaught of adrenaline and suspense that is compelling, but she dwells so lovingly on her constant descriptions of violence, from its contemplation and anticipation to the guns and other tools of its trade to its execution and implementation to its effects and consequences. She depicts a completely bleak image of humanity as lacking in all compassion, generosity, and selflessness and coats it in violence porn. Even as I kept reading to find out what would happen next, I kept asking myself just what I was getting out of the experience. And I'm not really sure. Bick is too good a writer for me to dock her down to two stars for my lack of enjoyment, but I doubt I'll be finishing the series.