I found my mind wandering while I was reading this book. I felt the pace was a little slow at times but it eventually picked up. Overall, it was an enjoyable story. ( )

This book is AMAZING and perfect for Halloween! Twisted and delightfully descriptive and creepy. Anders plays in a metal band in rural, wooded Minnesota. Thea is a shadow at his every performance at the local coffeehouse. Everyone whispers that her aunt is a witch. Everyone says Thea is his stalker. Which, pretty much, she is. But is Thea trying to protect Anders, is she obsessed with him, or is she out to hurt him?

The writing is soooo good, the use of unreliable narrators leaving you questioning yourself most of the way through the book. Is there something supernatural going on? What is it? Who is really the bad guy? I devoured this one. It would make an amazing, creepy Halloween read, and the combination of paranormal and music/rock band was awesomesauce!

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
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teen fiction (creepy monsters plus rock and roll teens)
I quit around page 87, it started ok but the suspense wasn't really driving anything forward--something wrong with the pacing or something? It was all: here's teenage rockstar (unsigned, because he doesn't want to take credit for his songs), here's this stalker girl who seems to be protecting the dude from unseen malignant spirits of the woods, here's some more hints at what is happening, here's more hints, more hints, more hints, more hints, more hints, more hints, more hints, more hints, more hints, more hints, more hints, more hints, more hints, more hints but no real action.

There weren't any f__ing monsters by page 87, just more hints, no action and nothing really was being revealed. Sheesh!

it's probably an ok story if you have the patience to sit through it. The characters weren't that interesting though.

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Actual Rating: 4.25

This was a fun and spooky read. It's a nice twist on the "devil at the crossroads" sort of deal. I listen to a lot of metal and I definitely appreciated that a) the author referenced relevant bands and b) that Anders was a metal snob (but that's because I am sometimes a music snob in general and I felt vindicated by his opinions.)

Thea had the worst lot in life and my heart aches all over for her. I can't say much else without ruining the unreliable narrator effect that the author is going for for Thea's character, but I love her creepy little self so much. And her relationship with the guys at the coffee shop was the perfect touch to humanize her.

I kind of wish there was going to be a sequel - it almost ended open enough that I could see one coming, but honestly I think that's just because I want a different ending for one of the characters and it just didn't happen in this book. ( )

Okay friends, this book was a ride! Let's start with that, because I'm still trying to put together all my thoughts into a coherent review and that's forefront on my mind. It's always a breath of fresh air to read something outside the lines, to read something that is atmospheric and intriguing. That's this book, perfectly described. Last Things is what I've been waiting for, and it was a darn good way to start the month.

Let's talk characters. Anders Thorson is now one of my favorite male characters. Why, you ask? He's a teenage boy, in a rock band, who isn't a brooding jackass. Anders is sweet. He loves his family, and his cat. He loves his guitar, his band, and is adorably humble when it comes to his talent. He isn't the kind of guy who uses girls, but instead is genuinely interested in one and too shy to reciprocate anything. In other words, Anders is an excellent character. I loved him from the moment I met him and, even as his dark secrets started to spiral into the open, I was 100% behind him. He's a character you can root for, and that makes this book such an easy read. Add in the fact that he's also the "damsel in distress" in this book, and you have my heart.

Yes friends, the woman saves the man in this book. Thea, if it's possible, is an even more intriguing character than Anders. I love how the story starts out with her shrouded in mystery. It's not obvious whether she's stalking Anders, or protecting him. As the story progresses though, and you start to see into Thea's past, things get more layered than I could have hoped for. Thea is strong. There's no two ways about it! She's the type of character who will give up everything if necessary, for the good of someone else. Watching her interactions with the world around her, and with Anders, was just perfection. The link between them drove the book forward, and I both helplessly and eagerly held on.

The fact that this story also revolves around music, and the ties that it has to emotions, made me so happy. As West wrote out Anders' songs, I could actually hear them in my head. I could feel the emotions that were pouring out of him, and I could sense the energy in the room when he performed. This is a book that is rife with atmosphere. The pages crackle and sizzle, the woods press in too close and too dark. It fascinated me that I flew through this book, and yet I felt connected to it too. Such a wonderful way to read a story.

Long story short, this was a lot of fun to read and I'm highly recommending that you put this on your TBR if it isn't there already. It's well worth your time! ( )