Temptation By Travis Thrasher

He’s given up. What can he do? Summer is here but he can’t spend his time having fun with friends for a of couple reasons.
First, he has Summer school. Yeah! Just what every graduating Senior thinks of doing over his last Summer break.
Second, what friends does he have? Rachel, Poe and, of course, Jocelyn have all left him in one-way or another. Iris is gone, his mom might as well be gone--as she falls deeper and deeper into her need for vodka—and his father never was there to begin with.
So why fight? “Keep low”, that is what Chris has been told. So he is. Keeping low. He is staying out of trouble, giving up, going with the flow. Until Lily walks into his life. Following the same routine of the previous two books Chris falls for the new high school beauty. Chasing Lily around Chris keeps out of trouble but when their relationship goes sour Chris has time to get himself into trouble. Learning of the town’s history, his ancestors and the people in the town, Chris once again finds himself in trouble. But with visions, relationship/family problems, and of course the mystery of Solitary Chris will learn more then he wanted to, yet feel utterly lost in the book Temptation.

I can’t decide if I like or hate Lily, Chris’s new girl friend. She toys with Chris and gives the most predictable plot yet in “The Solitary Tales” making this book perhaps the most disappointing so far. I was ready for another gripping, creepy, thrilling, adventure with Chris Buckley but was disappointed and surprised by the turn Thrasher took with this novel. It was the happiest story so far; lots of warm happy feeling moments compared to the last two books. I also feel the ‘temptation’ part of the book was not needed for a young adult book, it didn’t add to the plot in the long run. (I want to make clear with that statement, this book is perfectly PG but does hint at some things that are not G.)

Now the reader does learn why things are happening, and what makes Chris so special in Temptation. These few answers do help one to understand what has happened and is happening better but it also (like Travis Thrasher has done before, in an amazing way.) opens the door for even more, deeper, questions.

Thrasher ends Temptation well though, with a promise for a race against the clock ending for Chris I am looking forward to the last book in “The Solitary Tales”.

C+

Gravestone by Travis Thrasher

I was able to receive an advance copy of Temptation, the next book in "The Solitary Tales" by Travis Thrasher and will be posting the review for it April 1st, Temptation official release date.  If you would like to read the review for Solitary, book 1, simply click HERE

Did that just happened? The cliff-hanger ending of Solitary left me wanting more of Travis Thrasher's young adult series and eager to read the second book in the series, Gravestone. Thankfully Gravestone did not disappoint. Filled with mystery, discovery, action, love and fear Gravestone is a perfect sequel to Solitary.

Starting up right where Solitary left-off, one continues the journey through Christ Buckley’s normal day-to-day life, or lack there of. On top of what every 16 year old must face Chris has to deal with his parents divorce, mother’s alcoholism, lack of trustworthy friends, turmoil over Jocelyn, and a deep seeded fear that seems to cover the small town of Solitary. Chris needs help; that is a fact. He also needs a license and a job; that too, is a fact. So when his mom finds him a job in a small tucked away inn, that pays extremely well, he takes it. The little old innkeeper starts asking Christ uncomfortable questions when Chris’s cousin, Jared, comes to the rescue. Finally Chris has someone to rely on and answer some of his dying questions about what is going on in Solitary.
Lastly, where would Chris be without some emotional conflict on top of this adrenaline filled lifestyle he has? Enter adorable young Kelsey and another interesting girl to create a love triangle that is almost depressing.

Thrasher, once again, did a great job with his characters. Sticking to many of the people we have come to love (and hate) from Solitary I was able to pick up quite easily from where I left off. Also the introduction of new characters; Iris, Kelsey, Jared, Mike, and others kept the book fresh.

The dinky little hick town Solitary is expanding a bit as well. We visit a few of the suburbs that surround the town and learn about what goes else is around and under town. This was well done; otherwise, we would have a book filled with flashbacks from past scenes instead of learning new facts with these new places.   

Lastly the plot was amazing, fast, creepy and gripping. Even though it was over 400 pages long I don’t think any part was overly slow, especially the bits about Aunt Alice or the Inn.

Gravestone is a great sequel that keeps the past relevant while making the reader look ahead to try understanding what is going on in Solitary and why is Christ so special.

B+

Solitary by Travis Thrasher

~ Not for readers under 13, this book is a little scary and covers mature topics. ~

Chris is 16, his parents have just divorced and his mother is moving him from Chicago to her hometown, Solitary. In this hick of a town Chris falls for the high school beauty, Jocelyn. Problem is it seems no one wants him to date her and evil forces are at work to stop them.

This book is in first person, I felt was a good and a bad thing.
Good because we got to know Chris a lot better than we would have in third person. We also learned a lot about his mother, and her drinking problem; which I feel is a real problem that needs to be talked about, not covered up.
The bad thing is a lot of the book was about his feelings and thoughts for Jocelyn. Now you might be thinking, "Why is that bad?".  I didn't care for it, it reminded me of a sappy love story. I would have liked more action and less, "I can't stop thinking about her." - chapter 5. As well as other comments like it throughout the book. If this was meant to be a romance book then that is fine, just I thought the book was suppose to be mystery/horror/thriller.
All in all Chris and his mother, Jocelyn, Poe, Rachel, Newt, Gus and all the characters were well developed as needed. Travis did a great job there.

The plot had me confused through most of the book. The climax was a little slow for me, though the last 30 pages are great with an epic twist. For me most of the plot was based on high school dating and some mystery/cult on the side. Thrasher did throw in some scenes that I don't think were needed other than to speed up the story and show creepiness. The visit to Aunt Alice was one, loved that chapter, and a few of Chris’s self-missions were thrown in to build suspense and entertain us.

Solitary is set in South Carolina, not my favorite state to begin with, and for sure not my favorite after reading this book. The natural “creepy” that Thrasher gave that town still has me awed.

The messages that the book taught were good, one is that Chris and Jocelyn should/could be just good friends. I liked that. He also touched on inner beauty over outer beauty. Plus the comments about hope were good, something I could think about after reading the book. 

I liked the book, it was humorous, insightful and had a great final twist. Travis also has given me new insight about short chapters; two chapters are only 3 words. Solitary maybe a little more romance than I like, but I am still looking forward to reading more by Thrasher.

B