The Fury

May 13, 2013
Smith follows his Escape From Furnace series with this epic struggle of good versus evil—a massive tome reminiscent of Stephen King’s sprawling classics—in which a group of teens are hunted and hated by the world they must save. British teenagers Cal, Brick, Daisy, and Rilke are horrified when, out of nowhere, everyone who sees them begins to fly into feral rages, intent on killing them. Forced to band together for their own safety while they figure out what’s happening to them, they fight for their lives, deal with internal strife, and engage in an all-out battle against a force of nature set on devouring all of creation. Smith paints a graphic, visceral picture of alienation, confusion, and destruction with this emotionally layered adventure. The slow-burning narrative, lengthy buildup, lack of concrete explanations, and weirdly metaphysical moments may throw off some readers, but Smith is an expert at balancing tension and hope, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. While this might have worked better split into several volumes, it’s still an intense, fascinating read. Ages 12–up. Agent: Sophie Hicks, Ed Victor.

June 15, 2013
A devourer from beyond threatens all teens hold dear. Cal, Daisy and Brick have just been attacked, spit upon and bitten by both people who care about them and complete strangers--and it's not stopping. As the violence escalates, they learn that teens around the world are being inexplicably targeted by their friends, families and strangers. Taking refuge at an abandoned amusement park, the teens try to provide a safe haven for other victims of this strange fury. However, when a dark void begins destroying parts of London and one of the teens changes into a supernatural being, the refugees realize that the source of their problems may not be an earthly one. Smith crafted a sinister world with a diabolical villain, emotional tension and a touch of the supernatural in the prison-break series Escape from Furnace. He's attempted to do the same thing with a heftier dose of the supernatural in this doorstopper but with much less success. The narrative is fractured, shared among a host of storytellers, none of whom is particularly engaging. Daisy and Cal share the reversed-fortunes-of-popularity trope, while Brick's unloved-ginger story is a peculiarly British idiom. Ultimately, the supernatural elements feel like MacGuffins, there to propel meandering action toward meaningless resolution. Better consigned to the void than the shelf. (Thriller. 12 & up)

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September 1, 2013

Gr 7 Up-The Fury seemingly infests everyone but a small group of teens. Coming within 30 yards of other people sets off an instantaneous change, causing them to become rabid, violent monsters. The kids take refuge in a crumbling, abandoned amusement park to avoid contact with the "ferals." Meanwhile, an undead corpse has unleashed an otherworldly storm that is consuming central London. As the teens discover new powers growing within them, they learn that they are to fight the storm and save humanity, even if humanity wants them dead. While fantasy gives a writer license to violate the laws of physics, it still must have an internally consistent logic and, in some way, be believable. Smith's explanation for "The Fury," that humans unconsciously detect the otherness of the teens; descend instantly into a mindless, murderous rage; and then completely forget all of it, just doesn't click. Why the teens develop their powers at vastly different times is also never explained. An exciting climax is followed by a denouement that just seems silly. But, like Smith's other works, this one is packed with action and violence and will appeal to many readers, especially teen males. Fans of the the author's "Escape from Furnace" series (Farrar) will ignore the flaws and enjoy the tension and thrills.-Anthony C. Doyle, Livingston High School Library, CA

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2013
Grades 7-10 This isn't a joke. My girlfriend just tried to kill me, for no reason. Brick isn't the only teen suddenly faced with this situation; it's happening all over England. He finds a few kindred spirits, and together they each unleash an inner angel in order to defeat the dark power that causes normal people to be possessed by a mind-altering fury that moves them to murder. Action-packed short chapters whip this book along at breakneck speed, while the point of view bounces between a motley cast of teen characters who are tasked with saving the world from a creature known only as The Fury. There are noteworthy pauses in the action, as when one of the main characters talks to a priest about the nature of religion and angels, and during the final battle when one of the teens transforms into a glowing sphere of light. These pauses enhance rather than interrupt the flow, giving the book a surprisingly upbeat ending.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)