Fury

June 20, 2011
Is vengeance deserved when one girl kisses another's boyfriend? When one student humiliates another? And what level of vengeance is appropriateâmore humiliation? Isolation? Death? Miles's debut novel explores the notion that "people really do get what they deserve," with mixed results. The attempted suicide of Sasha Bowlder, the humiliated student, is the starting point for two voyages of self-discovery: Emily Winters, who wrestles with her attraction to her best friend's boyfriend, and Chase Singer, burdened by his trailer-park origins and a dark secret about Sasha. They are first haunted, then openly approached by three beautiful, frightening women who hand out red flowers and cryptic dooms that neither can escape. Combined with the hothouse pressure of junior year, the tension causes both Em and Chase to crack. Much of the story resembles a teen horror flick, and in the end, the book veers from its "eye for an eye" trajectory, and the Furies become a foe to be vanquished instead of an unstoppable force. Readers won't understand why Em and Chase have been targeted any more than they doâthat question is left to future books. Ages 14âup.

On the surface, this may seem like a simple high school drama. The star quarterback hides his poverty from the popular kids; a girl falls for her best friend's boyfriend; another girl attempts suicide because of bullying. But all is not as it appears since the Furies (yes, of Greek mythology) are in the small Maine town of Ascension, wreaking vengeance upon students. Emma Galvin's husky voice is appealing and grounds the paranormal story elements, balancing reality with the supernatural. Whether depicting a crowd at a party or an immortal being taunting a human, Galvin never breaks the spell, allowing listeners to suspend their disbelief that the ancient goddesses would trouble themselves with rural high school students. Listeners will find themselves caught up in this tale of revenge. G.D. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

November 1, 2012
Gr 8 Up-In Ascension, Maine, saying sorry doesn't cut it. After Sasha Boulder, a high school student, unsuccessfully tries to commit suicide, weird things start happening to Emily Winters and Chase Rivers. While her friend, Gabby, is on vacation, Emily hooks up with her boyfriend, Zach. Soon she is being stalked by three revenge-seeking, unearthly beings known as Furies. She receives letters saying that sometimes saying sorry isn't enough and has several life-threatening episodes. Chase starts dating a beautiful girl named Ty. Before long, he gets stood up, publicly humiliated, and worse. Can the two find a way to stop the curse of the Furies before it's too late? Elizabeth Miles's intriguing novel (S & S/Simon Pulse, 2011) is brought to life by the narrator, Emma Galvin. Her uniquely crafted, realistic voice for each of the characters captures the heart of their personalities and emotions. Her transitions between suspense, action, and plot twists are smooth and keep listeners engrossed. Fans of horror, mythology, and suspense novels will enjoy this and eagerly await the sequel. A must-have.-"Kira Moody, Whitmore Public Library, Salt Lake City, UT"

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