I wanted to like this book so much more. Three teenage rock fans from Florida get into death metal, go to LA for the Glam scene, then end up in Norway during the height of the Black Metal craze. A metal version of Forrest Gump.
The characters are unlikeable. They never really click as a unit. Their conversations are always antagonistic or purposefully misleading. They never say what they feel. That gets old quick.
The cameos felt forced. The climax was very rushed. And the epilogue was terrible. Kira, who is way too Manic Pixie Dream Girl, is so poorly resolved that I feel she will still have problems unless she gets into therapy or rehab. I was hoping to read that in the epilogue, but sadly there is no sign of real growth among any of the characters. And what happened to the international authorities and the other victims?
Lastly, as a Tampa resident, there is no such place as Downtown Ybor City (pg 68) and if one were to take the quickest route to Venice from Tampa International Airport (southbound I-275), I-75 is way more than 15 minutes away (pg 252).
So much potential.
Grade 3.5. A 3 is too low, but I feel like a 4 is too high.
