The Frenzy by Francesca Lia Block

Pages: 258
Publisher: Harper Teen
Age Group: Young Adult
Challenges: N/A

Love is a werewolf, influenced by the moon and terror, and always about to change.

Liv has a secret.

Something happened to her when she was thirteen. Something that changed everything. Liv knows she doesn’t belong anymore—not in her own skin, not in her family . . . not anywhere. The only time she truly feels like herself is when she’s with her boyfriend, Corey, and in the woods that surround her town.

But in the woods, a mysterious woman watches Liv. In the woods, a pack of wild boys lurks. In the woods, Liv learns about the curse that will haunt her forever. The curse that caused the frenzy four years ago. And that may cause it again, all too soon.

While Corey and Liv’s love binds them together, Liv’s dark secret threatens to tear them apart as she struggles to understand who—or what—she really is. And by the light of the full moon, the most dangerous secrets bare their claws. . . .

Stars: 2.5/5

Cover: B

Plot:

Olivia (Liv) doesn't fit in at school (except with her gay best friend, Pace, and her boyfriend, Corey) and she feels like the black sheep in the family. She has a layer of hair all over her body, so she is pretty much ostracized. 

Liv feels like a monster practically the entire book, and doesn't really know what she is until she comes across a woman that answers all of her questions for her. 

Liv is too scared to tell her parents who and what she really is, and who her boyfriend of three years is, and as the story goes on she has to come to grips and accept who she is.

I didn't find anything especially exciting about the plot. It was just kind of there. There weren't really any super exciting things happening until the very last event.

I just think the plot could have been improved on immensely to be more interesting.

Characters:

I felt no connection the characters whatsoever. I think the book would have been better if I at least felt any sympathy for Liv, or felt anything towards the characters for that matter. 

Like the plot, they were just there.

Writing:

By the first page, I could tell that I didn't like the way this book was written. I don't really know how to describe it: it was awkward, and Liv's thoughts were pretty repetitive, and it felt like someone younger than me could have written it.

Now, I'm not trying to bash Francesca's writing, because some people love the way she writes, but it's just not for me.

Ending:

The ending was the best part of the book. It had the most action; the most excitement.

I just wish it would have happened earlier.

Cover:

The cover to this is okay. I LOVE the shade of purple on the spine and the back, and how the model's green eyes pop, but something about this cover just didn't do it for me.

Lovely Line:

No lines really popped out at me while I was reading this book.

The Final Verdict:

I wouldn't recommend that you don't read this, but if you decide you want to read it, I would be cautious. Maybe check it out from the library or something.

I didn't hate this book. Don't get me wrong, it definitely wasn't close to my favorite book. But I still would recommend it to people, if they like the way Francesca Lia Block writes.

I'll probably read another one of her books just to be sure that it was her that I didn't like, and not the book.

FTC: I got this book from Zoe.