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    Rage
    Rage
    Rage
    Ebook230 pages6 hours

    Rage

    By Jackie Morse Kessler

    3.5/5

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Jackie Morse Kessler’s Riders of the Apocalypse series follows teens who are transformed into the Four Horsemen of the  Apocalypse.In the second book of the series, Rage, a teenage cutter becomes War, one of the Riders of the Apocalypse.Missy didn’t mean to cut so deep. But after the party where she was humiliated in front of practically everyone in school, who could blame her for wanting some comfort? Sure, most people don’t find comfort in the touch of a razor blade, but Missy always was . . . different.That’s why she was chosen to become one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: War. Now Missy wields a new kind of blade—a big, brutal sword that can cut down anyone and anything in her path. But it’s with this weapon in her hand that Missy learns something that could help her triumph over her own pain: control.A unique approach to the topic of self-mutilation, Rage is the story of a young woman who discovers her own power and refuses to be defeated by the world.Rage includes a teaser chapter of the next book in the Riders of the Apocalypse series, Loss.
     
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateApr 4, 2011
    ISBN9780547574615
    Rage
    Author

    Jackie Morse Kessler

    Jackie Morse Kessler is the author of the the Riders of the Apocalypse quartet for teen readers, along with several paranormal and dark fantasy books for adults. She lives in upstate New York. Visit her website at www.jackiemorsekessler.com.

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    Reviews for Rage

    3.5/5

    88 ratings21 reviews

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    • 2/5
      I thought it was good but it got a little too personal with what happened to me. I felt like I was the main character Missy and that made me question lots of things
    • 5/5
      Jackie Kessler's story of Melissa Miller is one part gutting, one part touching with a sprinkle of violence. Even though I haven't experience first hand what Melissa is going through, after reading this story I can't help but understand it better. Jackie Kessler does a great job of allowing the reader to view the world through Melissa's eyes and to experience her pain and her shame. There were times that I felt as though I was walking in Melissa's shoes, I account this to great storytelling. Now, having read this book, I'm not going to go around saying I know what it is like to be a self-injurer. However, the narrative gives you a glimpse into the life of one, and a realistic one at that.

      On the fantasy side, I appreciated Melissa as War. The analogies between the two different blades that she uses were interesting, and allowed more insight into Melissa and what she felt. The story happens over a short period of time, there isn't much dialogue but for the story, this works. I had a bit of trouble understanding the relationship between Melissa and the Sword, but that was cleared up in the end.

      This isn't a happy-go-lucky kind of book, while it touches on fantasy a lot of the issues it talks about are real. I can see this book (and series) as a great discussion piece on the things that teens (and some adults) deal with but might not necessarily want to say out loud. It's recommended reading, but not something to take lightly.

      [review of arc via netgalley]
    • 3/5
      Missy is a self injurer and whenever things are too much to handle she cuts herself with a razor. One night after a terrible party where she is exposed to the entire school and Missy cuts too deeply. In comes Death offering her the job of War the red horsemen of the Apocalypse. Missy takes the job and finds herself in an internal battle with the spirit of War and with herself.

      At times Missy was very difficult to relate to. Understanding the impulse to injure yourself as a way of feeling control is difficult to understand, particularly since as a general rule people fear pain. I think that writing about a cutter is just more difficult. I did think that the author did a good job of showing the kind of alienation and the huge emotions that she was experiencing both before and after everyone knew what Missy was doing.

      I absolutely loved the interactions between all of the Horsemen, it was nice to see Famine again although I wish they had let us know earlier that she retired from life b/c I was really confused trying to remember what happened. I thought Pestilence was scary in a very cool way. I am hoping that the next book is about him I really love how Missy's powers are all about passion, not just literal war and arguing; and again seeing how Missy was able to use her powers to help not just harm was pretty cool.

      I think that so far this series is doing a great job. While they are obviously issue books they don't feel like issue books because of the fantasy component of the Horsemen. I also think this series works well to bring a series of issues to a group of kids that wouldn't necessarily read "issue" books.
    • 1/5
      I had previously read "Hunger", which was about a girl fighting an eating/image disorder who becomes the Horseman Famine. This one follows the same formula, and is maybe a little bit worse. The first one dealt very well with eating disorders, keeping plausible and never going for TV-movie melodrama. Maybe because the author had an ED. Not so with War's chosen psychological disorder.In this one, the girl is a cutter/self-injurer. But I've studied this, and cutters cut to get the emotions out. They feel helpless, with situations they can't control. They can't control their rage, but they can control the pain, and thus control themselves. This does not apply to our main character -- her family life is ideal: two parents, non-screwed up sister. She plays soccer. And she does not demonstrate being emotionally stunted or repressive, a la Bruce Banner.It also seems that key events would have higher consequences. For example, at a party, the main character disrobes in anticipation of a sexual encounter with a boy who's already spurned her once (and she's convinced in an extremely implausible teen-ness way). But it's all a cruel trick, as the students burst in and take pictures and videos of her, a la "Carrie". In the real world, that's sexual assault, child abuse, sexual abuse on a minor, and other crimes I'm sure I'm missing. Half the students would get arrested, and the story would blow up nationwide. Instead, it's glossed over, and wrapped up at the end by finding some other kid to make fun of and forgetting about her. Not plausible. We're living in a world where kids can sexually abuse themselves (by sexting pictures if they're under eighteen).Like Hunger, it also takes place over an extremely short period of time. There's a lot of runaround and nothing much happens. There's a lot of internalized thinking that feels like padding. The girl is War, for crying out loud. It seems like something exciting should happen, but I can find a key event except for the beginning and ending.
    • 4/5
      I started reading this book as a breather in between two books of a giant series. It was much needed, especially since I was expecting a lot from Rage as I liked Hunger quite a lot. Rage did most definitely not disappoint me. It gripped me right from the start, since I have a soft spot in my heart for bullied people. I was bullied for the better part of my school years, and I know it as true torture. I have never turned to self harm, but I know that it wouldn't have been entirely impossible.I was very invested in Missy and truly and honestly wanted to see her succeed. Also I wanted to see her punch Adam's teeth in even though I don't actually have one single violent bone in my body. Some people just have it coming. Anyway, Kessler excels at describing the struggles a teenage girl might have to deal with. She is able to portray every emotion as gut-wrenchingly real. Still, in my opinion Missy is able to overcome her troubles too easily. Overcoming self doubt and withstanding bullies is not done in a single weekend, believe me. That is the main issue I had with this book. Yes, it is most likely supposed to send some form of hope. But becoming a stronger person is not easy, and trying to deal with bullies is even harder. I wish Kessler would have covered a bigger time span in this novel. If that had been the case, I would gladly have awarded Rage with a full rating.
    • 2/5
      Melissa Miller, sixteen-year-old soccer player and self-injurer, discovers that she’s the instantiation of War—horse and all—during a very bad weekend. Liked the concept, found the execution too full of overblown prose.
    • 5/5
      What a powerful story! After the incident at the party I was ready to assume War myself. Missy deals with the pressure of high parent expectations, parental neglect, and a real loser of an ex-boyfriend by cutting herself. The cutting gives her a sense of control and relief. When she is saved from cutting an artery by Death and offered War's sword, she first shuts the door in Death's face.She also has to continually deal with an ex-boyfriend that she still loves but who only wants to humiliate her. And she teased and harassed by other students at her school. She has learned to seal her emotions away and not look like their comments are hurting her. Her only comfort at school is the soccer team where she is the goalie. But when many of the girls on the team turn against her, she loses her only safe spot.It takes time for Missy to come to grips with the idea of being War. She talks about it as having a really steep learning curve. But she is strong enough to do the learning. I liked the idea that she has a bit of a crush on Death. I also liked the glimpses of Famine and Pestilence that we got in this story. The whole story is about control. Control is her key to controlling War. She needs to feel that she has control in her life too.I think that this was an excellent story that could help someone understand what makes a person choose to cut them self. The fantasy setting made the emotions much more intense than a straightforward contemporary novel with the same theme. This is an excellent companion to Hunger. And it makes me even more eager to read Loss.
    • 3/5
      The second in Jackie Morse Kessler’s Horsemen of the Apocalypse series. The first book Hunger was about an anorexic girl and her ‘audition’ or job interview as Famine, one of the other Horsemen while Rage introduces Missy, a teenage cutter who just might be the next War.Death, in his Kurt Cobain mask, is back as the ringleader again, the one who introduces Missy to the existence of the Horsemen and the possibility of her joining them.A strong soccer player who hopes to be her teams starting goalie next year, Missy doesn’t have much else going for her. Wearing black to school everyday she’s tired her best to cut herself off from the biting comments from the other students.The one thing that Missy has found helps is cutting. A secret she keeps from everyone—her teammates, her family, and the friends she no longer really has, it’s the thing she thinks she can control.Until Death shows up and gives her another opportunity.Rage had a lot, a lot of parallels to Hunger: (the obvious being a teenage girl who has a problem but doesn’t quite acknowledge that she has a problem), both girls give the horses names and thank them (which surprises the horses) and take note of the fact the horses don’t need to be brushed, etc like regular horses; etcSome parallels (including Famine’s contempt from War and vice versa) makes sense given the Horsemen’s character and their personality but some of it makes a reader feel like they’re reading the first book again, only slightly varied.Missy is a harder character to connect with, however, than Lisabeth was. It’s almost as if there is a brick wall between Missy and the reader. Several times there’s a crack in the wall or a hole, but it never quite comes down.The other, secondary characters, seem to be written entirely as Missy perceives them (negatively, that is) so they have very little to no redeeming qualities.I love the intention of this series. More books need to address the topics of self injury (cutting), bullying, and eating disorders. This second book just never quite connected, though. The first book was much stronger and felt very real (and personal).I know I’m going to read the third book, though, because the series and its concept shows too much promise not to.(Read thanks to NetGalley and the publisher)
    • 3/5
      Book two in the Riders of the Apocolypse series. Missy Miller cuts so she can breathe, to let the bad blood (the feelings)out. After her ex humiliates her at a party she goes a step too far before death steps in and offers her a job as War. Missy embraces her newfound powers and lets her rage and vengance free until she has to stop and think about who she is and what she wants to be. Does she have control? I was looking forward to this book, and to be fair I did read it in one sitting so it must be compelling, however I was left feeling a little disappointed. I felt the story was not well developed. Missy was the only character of mention and the others just appeared to fill space in the storyline. I was disappointed that her fellow students never seemed to learn the lessons that they so needed to learn (especially Adam the boyfriend.) I also felt that the story ended up hanging with nowhere to go so it ended abruptly with all lose ends nicely tied in. I wait dubiously for the next book.
    • 4/5
      Who would have ever thought that a book about self-harm and the four riders of the apocalypse could be a good idea? This book was not just good, it was terrific. The main character, Missy, engendered pity in the reader, yet the reader was never quite sure whether or not to like the main character. The supporting characters were perfect fits in the novel, from charismatic death to Missy's meaner sister. The plot is outstanding, a self-harming teenager who is constantly at war with herself becoming War, a rider of the apocalypse; Death is show-cased as a bit of a savior, preventing Missy from dying to give her a chance to make peace with herself and become a Horseman. The evil, cruel classmates set the scene for Missy's anger and hatred, emotions the reader may actually approve of in this situation. The author has managed to allow the reader to better understand the emotions and/or actions behind cutting, even though the concept will remain foreign to the majority of us. This book is terrific and will be enjoyed by teens/young adults/adults.
    • 4/5
      When Melissa Miller can't breathe she takes a razor to her skin and bleeds the pain away. She is only 16 but already her body is covered in scars. One day a delivery man comes to the door and offers her a package. Should she open it when on the brink of death she will accept the office of one of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse - War. My own high school experience was so incredibly uneventful that I had no idea it could be such a traumatic time and while I have heard of self-harming before it was always something that happened to someone else somewhere far away. Jackie Kessler made it real in such a way that by the time I was halfway through I've already decided to look up other books by Jackie Kessler, especially the first one in the Horsemen of the Apocalypse series. Fortunately, if Rage is any indication, while the books are connected by who the protagonists become it is not necessary to read them in order. Melissa is easy to sympathize with, partially because the world inside her head is so dark and disturbing - half the time I just wanted to hug her to reassure her that she wasn't alone. She is intelligent and funny and has a sharp tongue but she is also very hurt and lonely. The extent to which the other characters are developed is in direct correlation with how important and influential they are in Missy's life. Those who matter are vivid, those she sees as little more than scenery are barely fleshed out. I suppose it is a common way to view the world for a teenager and with Missy talking about the things that happen but not explaining them the story reads rather like a diary, which made for much more intimate storytelling. Another thing I found appealing is how non-preachy this book is. One would almost expect one of the characters to begin pontificating at some point and here there's none of that. It's actually very good fun despite the dark subject matter. And how could it not be fun when the Grim Reaper himself looks like Kurt Cobain, plays guitar and says things like "rock on"? I really liked the ending because there wasn't closure like there is in majority of books. Life goes on and Missy has to take every day one breath at a time, just like the rest of us do. There's no real closure until you actually die and it's the same for everybody - you, me, Missy and War. If you are a teen or getting there or have a person of that age in your life I recommend that you read this book. I'd like to think that it may help recognize the signs of self-harming in others, find the courage to get help or the strength to put down the blade for good. ARC of this book obtained through NetGalley.com
    • 5/5
      Whoever could have thought that pairing issues of self-abuse with fantasy elements such as The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse would be a good idea? Jackie Morse Kessler did. Her series isn’t just good, either: It’s GREAT. Last year, I read and reviewed Hunger, which was about an anorexic girl chosen to become Hunger, the Black Rider. Her latest novel, Rage, centers around a cutter asked to take up the mantle of The Red Rider, War. The next book, Loss, will deal with a bullied boy who is tricked into becoming Pestilence, the White Rider. The final book, Breath, revolves around Death, The Pale Rider, though in what way, we don’t yet know. I love the way these issues are blended into fantasy novels. Teenagers suffering from such issues who wouldn’t read realistic fiction will find their way to the fantasy/paranormal books, find these books, and realize they aren’t alone. That in itself is powerful, because sometimes, this is the only way these issues can be heard. They’re written in such a way that the novels don’t seem “preachy,” which allows readers to better connect and feel for the characters. I also admire the way a portion of the proceeds from each book goes to support organizations such as the National Eating Disorders Association and To Write Love On Her Arms.Rage is about a girl named Missy who has withdrawn from life after breaking up with her boyfriend. The only time she’s able to feel anything is when she cuts. She’s tormented at school; because she dresses in a lot of black, she’s called foul names such as “cutterslut” and “emo cutter girl.” Everything comes to a head at a major party, when life as she knows it is completely and utterly destroyed. Unlike in Hunger, there’s more of a balance within Missy. She actually wants to be War and takes up the mantle. She knows that she has issues, that cutting can kill her. She sees that her path leads to darkness. I liked how Missy was focused on more things and knew that what she was doing was wrong, but just...couldn't stop. I also like the way she embraced being a Horsemen right away, but struggled with the nature of what she had to do. Because Missy actually wants to accept her lot, we see much more of her journey. Some of the most powerful images come when she struggles to balance her own wants and needs with those of War, whom she now embodies. This was my favorite part of Missy’s journey in Rage. In Hunger, on the other hand, I most appreciated the way Kessler took us through the stages of a disorder, when Lisa didn't even know she had one. She was always denying it and couldn’t even recognize that she had symptoms such as a fuzzy tongue, lost hair, etc. that were slowly killing her. I liked different things about each novel, but both were powerful in their own way.Death is still my favorite character, and I can’t wait until we get to his book. Kessler just finished writing Loss and has hinted that we get to see a completely different side of the Pale Rider. He’s her favorite character as well, so I can’t wait to see how he shines in book three (let alone his own). I’m so excited to read about his story and find out what makes him so interesting. I really enjoy reading about all the different Horsemen in each book and then seeing them again later on. While some Horsemen change, others stay the same, and it’s like returning to well-loved characters with each new book. I can’t wait to see where everyone is and how they have evolved in Loss.
    • 4/5
      WOW! Rage was one powerfully emotional story. This book was definitely summed up well by it's title. Each page of this book dripped with Rage. Melissa Miller raged against her life. Melissa raged against her parents, her friends, her school, her ex. Mostly though, Melissa raged against herself.It was a new experience for me, reading about a self-mutilator. I found Melissa very easy to relate to and understand because I was friends with a girl who cut herself when we were in high school. Melissa's character was so well developed, that I really cringed when she was humiliated at the party like it was my own humiliation. I'm sure for some she will also be a hard character for some to relate to, because she is full of so much hate that it's hard to take sometimes.I love that Melissa would have an internal struggle between herself and "war" the Horseman of the Apocalypse that she was becoming. War wanted a bloodbath everywhere that she went, and Melissa had to use a lot of control to keep Wars impulses in check. This series is really a great way to put a paranormal spin on tough issues. I've never read a book about self-mutilation, or another series about the Four Horseman, so both are completely unique to me, which is another plus!
    • 3/5
      Melissa “Missy” Miller feels like her life is spinning completely out of control as her boyfriend dumps her, then humiliates her in front of their entire class by showing the world her scars. To deal with the pain, she cuts more and more, until she cuts too deep and is offered an ultimatum by the Pale Rider, Death: die forever, or accept her new role as the new War, the Red Rider of the Apocalypse.Missy’s new “job” puts her in contact with not only external battles but internal ones as well. For War is very persuasive and is always trying to convince Missy to let go and unleash her fury on all those who have hurt her and deserve to be hurt in return. To tame War and herself, Missy must come to terms with what is out of her control…and what is.I was really impressed with Hunger, the first book in this new series that combines mythological influences with serious modern issues. However, I have to be honest and say that the second book, RAGE, didn’t work for me quite as much.I cannot say anything bad about this series’ intentions. These issues—anorexia and self-injury, body image and bullying—should be taken with the utmost seriousness, and yet Kessler uses such a wonderfully unique way to talk about these issues, which might have been beaten to death in more academic or psychological fields. The idea of these new Riders having to overcome their own issue in order to fully embrace their role and help out others is wonderful. Throw in some persnickety steeds and a wry-voiced Death, and you’ve got an utterly cool blend of the magical and the all-too-real.RAGE didn’t quite fulfill its mission for me, though. For some reason, I found it really hard to connect with Missy. Not that her situation does not provoke sympathy, for it does, oh it does. But she was so defined by her pain, by her humiliation, that she felt less like a real person and more like a literal “poster girl” one holds up to a crowd of bored “at risk” high school students and says regarding her, “YOU SEE WHAT CAN HAPPEN? YOU DON’T WANT THINGS TO TURN OUT LIKE THIS.” Not a very effective teaching strategy by any means. RAGE felt, to me, like it was concentrating much more on the message it was trying to send and less on developing unique characters or a compelling plot. Supporting characters were flat and not very convincing: for example, I knew I was supposed to feel angry at Missy’s bullying classmates’ words and actions, but at the same time I felt it was more for show—kind of a “this is what bullies are supposed to do and sound like” act. The message got in the way of the story, I guess.If you read and enjoyed Hunger, I encourage you to give RAGE a try. Perhaps it’s been a while since I’ve read Hunger; perhaps you will find less issue with RAGE than I did.
    • 5/5
      My goodness, if Hunger didn't capture you, Rage will. Rage is what it is. Filled with lots of anger, jealously, and betrayal. Rage is a great book you will not put down. Missy is a cutter, fueled by the pain that she feels she cuts. After cutting too much, Missie had to make a choice. And she chose to become War.Ms. Morse has such a way of writing her books that you not only can you connect and understand the characters, but you feel all the emotions as well. Rage is a great book that is filled with real pain and anger. Missie is a typical teenager with a problem. I like how the reader gets a good insight on Missie and her pain that she feels. As a reader, we get into the mind of Missie and see as to why she cuts. The cutting is gruesome, but it allows the reader to connect and understand Missie. Once Missie explain why she did what she did, I felt for her. I like how Ms. Morse is able to bring the character to a realization of what they are doing through becoming a horsemen. It's like a way to see themselves through their own eyes.I love the horseman Death. In this book we get to see and learn more about him. Also we some more clues as to who he looks like. And let me says ladies, he is sooo cute!!!Rage is beautiful, haunting book about pain that once you feel it you can not let go. It has a great plot that leaves you wanting more. Ms. Morse has once again, captured me by the heart. It not only let me see and feel cutting, but it gave me a better understanding of it.
    • 2/5
      I was completely enamored with the first book in this series, Hunger. Because I enjoyed it so much, I was really looking forward to Rage. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. With Hunger, I felt that the main character’s issue, an eating disorder, tied really well to her becoming Famine. What Kessler was trying to achieve in the novel, provoking thought while entertaining, worked very well. I enjoyed the characters and couldn’t put Hunger down.My experience with Rage was different for several reasons. First, I did not like Missy at all. I found her to be a very unsympathetic character. She was over-the-top angsty. I expected a certain amount of angst considering she is 1.) a teenager and 2.) a cutter, but she was so overblown and unlikeable that I couldn’t make myself like her or care about her situation.Second, while a girl who is so clearly full of anger and is cutting herself when overwhelmed by her emotions might seem like a perfect fit to become War, it just didn’t work for me. In Hunger, the central character’s eating disorder coalesced with her becoming Famine perfectly. The story clicked together in all the right ways and places. Rage was the complete opposite. I felt like the author was forcing the story together. It didn’t naturally flow from Point A to Point B. Missy becoming War and where that takes her completely did not mesh. It had the effect of jamming the wrong puzzle pieces together.Overall, I was disappointed with this book. I will still check out the next installment in this series, which is entitled Loss. I hope that Rage was just an unfortunate installment in this series and the rest of the series will be as amazing as Hunger was.
    • 5/5
      My thoughts:This story is powerful, compelling, and terrifying. From the first sentence which is shocking to the end - where I found myself in tears - I couldn't put this one down! This is a tale of sorrow and sadness, suffering, struggle and pain. It is also a story of acceptance and triumph, forgiveness, love, and the power of belief in yourself. Again, as with the first book, I am impressed. The story is well written. The topic is tragic, compelling, and way too real in today's society. As with Hunger, I think that Jackie Morse Kessler has captured a subject that is more common than anyone wants to admit, many people fear, most deny, and all are challenged in dealing with. She has made her story thoughtful, insightful, encouraging, realistic, and respectful to anyone who may come in contact with the issue of self-injury/self-mutilating. She lends an understanding that I would never have achieved without reading this book. I feel that it is a must read for teens and adults alike. I would recommend it to anyone.
    • 5/5
      (crossposted to goodreads and witchoftheatregoing.wordpress.com)This was a very difficult book for me to get through. And when I mean difficult, I don't mean in the "poorly written, oh god do not want" sort of way, but more in the way of "hitting too close to home".I am a former self-injurer, and I knew that the second book in the Horseman Quartet was going to have War as a cutter, but I hadn't prepared myself mentally and emotionally for the extremely well-written and almost graphically vivid imagery contained therein.Continuing in the vein of "Hunger", "Rage" explores what it's like to have a self-injuring condition as a teenager. It's not easy. It's not pretty. And thankfully, it's not glamourized in this book - I really have to thank Kessler for that. If there are any do-overs I could have as a teenager, I'd have to choose NOT self-injuring myself in order to be emotionally healthy. Kessler's book just reinforces that and perfectly (I mean really, to the letter) describes why I used to cut, and what the end-game goal is: to be in control of who's inflicting the pain, and how far you're willing to go in order to attain that goal.A side note: Death as Kurt Cobain? Love it. It's just so perfect, so tragic, and so sad - but it makes total sense.If you haven't read the first book in this series, please read it before reading this one. If you're not familiar or unsure on how self-injuring works, I think the first book is where you need to start before moving on to "Rage". These books are intense, and that's a good thing. Kessler makes her heroines survivors, not victims - and that in itself in YA fiction is pretty rare in of itself.It takes a long time to quit self-injury. With all of the chemical interactions involved in the brain, just like anyone who would get addicted to anything else, you have to go through rehab. A different sort of rehab, but rehab nonetheless. So many YA books that address the topic of self-harm (be it cutting or eating disorders) skip over this part and tend not to differentiate between the different therapies needed in order to get well. If anything, it makes them smaller, makes their heroines (and less often, heroes) victims, and that's something I just can't stand. Cutters cut because we need to control the pain and not be the victims but the victors of whatever situation that's driven us to do so in the first place. It always makes me see red when I see YA authors that obviously have no experience (or who haven't researched the topic enough) with self-harm write a book with a tragic heroine with a self-harm problem. Self-harm is tragic, but we don't have to be victims about it. Thank you, Ms. Kessler, for reminding us about this.I have been "sober" from self-harm now for nearly ten years. I wish that "Rage" had been around ten years ago, when I possibly needed the most.To those who still self-harm: this book will support you, and remind you that there is life beyond the control of the blade.
    • 5/5
      Rage by Jackie Morse KesslerReviewed by Moirae the fates book reviews.Missy didn’t mean to cut so deep. But after the party where she was humiliated in front of practically everyone in school, who could blame her for wanting some comfort? Sure, most people don’t find comfort in the touch of a razor blade, but Missy always was . . . different.That’s why she was chosen to become one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: War. Now Missy wields a new kind of blade—a big, brutal sword that can cut down anyone and anything in her path. But it’s with this weapon in her hand that Missy learns something that could help her triumph over her own pain: control.A unique approach to the topic of self-mutilation, Rage is the story of a young woman who discovers her own power and refuses to be defeated by the world. (Synopsis by good reads)Rage, the second book in the new series by Kessler is very good. This book deals with Missy Miller a 16-year-old girl who cuts herself. Missy is constantly teased and has to put of up with a lot of garbage from her school mates and her own sister.When Missy becomes War, she unleashes a terror that she didn’t know she had. I enjoyed the inner struggle she had with herself and the conversations she had with War. I think it added to the story. Kessler did an amazing job at showing why Missy cut herself and how she deals with her self-injuring.The book takes reads all over the world and we get to see what war has done all over the world, but not just in a war zone like one might think. There were some scenes that were hard to read. The reader feels like they are right there with Missy and that they are being tormented just as she was.I would say that if you have cut yourself in the past or if you are a cutter, that you need to be in a safe place before reading this book.Over all rating:***** 5 out of 5 statsCover Art:I think the cover art is just as good as the previous book.Obtained:I received an ARC for review from the publisher via net galley. Thank you.
    • 4/5
      Although this is the second book in the series, I have not read the first, but was able to follow along with the story just fine. Missy, a very troubled teen, is a self-mutilator, and after a disastrous party, takes her razor to her skin and cuts a little too deep. Death offers her a deal, become a Rider of the Apocalypse, War. This book serves as a lesson in the mindset of those who cut without being preachy. Proceeds of the book will be donated to To Write Love On Her Arms, a charity dedicated to helping self-injurers and those who are suicidal.
    • 4/5
      This is a gritty and dark novel, but it drew me in and didn't let go. Missy was in a lot of pain, and she deals with pain and anger by cutting (self-mutilation). It gets pretty graphic, but it is an accurate representation of what a cutter feels and why. Missy has a pretty good friend that tries to be there for her, her sister and her fight, but you can see her sister cares, and her parents are clueless and works a lot but they at least try to have some family time. Her ex-boyfriend found out about her cutting and made her life hard for her, and this leads to some depression. If you read Hunger, you met the other horsemen, and I was a fan of Death then, but this book makes him even more favorable in my eyes. He is funny, sauve, dark and charming. Him and Missy- who is charged with the seat of War, work closely together and they have a dynamic relationship. There is a big struggle with Missy about control, what she is supposed to do with her charge. She is able to find some sort of balance, and although the ending isn't really a fairy tale ending- I thought that it was perfect for the storyline. It gave hope, but not some unrealistic over-night cure and acceptance.

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    Rage - Jackie Morse Kessler

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