Estevan VegaBesprekingen

For me, the book was slow to start and might I add a little much on the sexually oriented scenes...HOWEVER, once the story picked up about halfway through, I was engaged thoroughly, rushing to reach the ending. My lingering question is actually about the ending. It's a bit of a mystery, and makes me wonder if a second book will be written or ...POOF....that's it? Interesting story premise with characters you will come to care for...Emery is full of fire, and Arson...literally is. Definitely an interesting read....

I've had Estevan Vega's book Arson on my wishlist forever. I'm still anxiously waiting for my library to buy a copy, but when he offered me the opportunity to review his new set of short stories I jumped at the chance! I've heard nothing but good things about his writing and I went into this with high expectations.

Wow, is all I have to say. Truly. These three short stories are not only well-written, but each one is filled with such emotion and so poignant. It's like being teased with a little bit of your favorite candy. You want so much more after you're done! My favorite by far was Baby Blue. This short story had so many emotions packed into one story. It made me sob. Every now and then I come across a story that makes me take stock of my life and what is around me. This was one of those stories. In their own ways Vanilla Red and The Man In The Colored Room were both fantastic as well. Definitely different, which made them a delight to read.

Let me say this. Estevan's writing is superb. It is dark and has almost a smoky quality to it. His characters pop off the page in even his short stories. If this is what he has in store for me, I am now waiting even more impatiently to get my hands on a copy of Arson. Well done Estevan. Thank you so much for sharing your fantastic writing with us!

Let me start out with a simple statement. I liked Arson, but I loved Ashes. Loved it so much that I devoured it from cover to cover in a matter of hours. To those of you who might have started on Arson Gable's journey, but haven't yet had a chance to dive into this book, hurry up and snag a copy! Once again the driving force of this book is the darkness that is inside people. Arson and Emery each battle the internal voices that are driving them mad. Bad. Good. The lines are so blurred now it's all in question. Estevan Vega has created a world that is equal parts inside these character's head, and inside the penitentiary like asylum that contains them. Ashes is a much darker read, and it delves much further into who these characters actually are.

Arson and Emery are of course back in this sequel, but new characters make a debut too. There's Adam, a fellow prisoner and confidant. Then of course there are the captors, whose story is sinister to say the least. Finally, we get to see further into the enigma that is Emery's parents. Their story blends seamlessly in, as they hunt down the people who took their daughter. It also gives the reader a fabulous look at the guilt, the raw humanity, that is inside Emery's father. I think their story added a nice layer right on top of everything else. The POV changes multiple times in the story, to allow the reader to see through many eyes. Not to worry though. The changes are seamless and I thought that every character had a unique enough voice to make them easy to distinguish from one another.

Pieces of the puzzle that make up Arson and Emery's story are slowly revealed, and there is just enough reference to the last book to keep a reader quickly refreshed and ready to dive back in. There is so much action in Ashes, but it is evenly paced so that you always get just enough to keep you reading until the next piece of the puzzle falls into place. Is Arson something more than he once thought? Does he have the power to be more than just a freak who makes fire? What is it about his past that he just can't seem to remember? You'll find out my friends. You'll find out.

In a cruel twist, which I'm sure was entirely intentional, once again the story is open just enough at the end to allow Arson's story to continue on. In all honesty, I can't wait. Ashes is the perfect blend of all of my favorite things. Darkness, power, morality, love, and so much more. Trust me, if you haven't picked up this series yet and you have been debating it, do it now. Estevan Vega weaves a story that is well worth your time.

The highest compliment I can give Arson is that it is unlike anything I've read so far this year. That's a huge deal. I'm not even sure how to classify this book to be completely honest. It's not entirely paranormal, although there are elements. It's a little bit thriller, mixed in with a little bit contemporary. In all honesty, Arson is it's own beast, and I loved it for that.

Arson Gable is one unique young man. He was born in fire, and out of that came the ability to create fire as well. However as cool as that might sound, it's really not. Arson has no way to control his ability and it causes him all sorts of troubles. Added on top of this is the fact that his only family is his grandmother, who may or may not still be living in reality. Arson has to navigate the road to manhood alone, and it almost breaks him multiple times. With so many facets visible to the reader, Arson Gable is a deeply wounded and flawed boy. His personality literally thrums off the page. If you can fall in love with him, you'll be completely immersed in his struggle.

To be sincere though, I almost didn't make it far enough into the book to really understand Arson because the beginning of the book is a little odd. Not bad, just kind of broken and a little slow. Once I read through the whole book I completely understood where Vega was coming from. Being in Arson's head doesn't always make sense at first. It isn't until the pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place that you completely understand where this boy really came from. In fact, when Emery came into the picture is really when I was most invested. I won't spoil, but she is the perfect companion for Arson. The two of the compliment one another beautifully, even as they confusedly stumble down a road that seems to end only in darkness.

It was the ending of the book that really threw me off, but intrigued me at the same time. Honestly, by the time I devoured the last half of Arson, I was more than ready to see where this duo went next. The beginning may have started out slow, but the middle and end of the book well make up for it, as do Vega's stunning characters. I give this one a solid four stars and you should know I'm already halfway into Ashes, the second book in the series. To be honest, this won't be a book for everyone, but if you're ready to step into the darkness and discover something unique, you'll be happy to meet Arson Gable.

Originally Reviewed At:Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Blog Tour
Reviewer: AimeeKay



I liked Arson…in the beginning. There were secrets about Arson and his family that kept me turning the pages. Plus I liked Emery. She was fascinating.



Nevertheless, as I got farther into the book I began to become irritated. The story keeps hinting at Arson’s ability be we don’t actually get to see anything of it until the last few chapters in the book. Instead the book seems to focus on everything else that is going on around Arson; his crappy job, his unstable grandmother, Emery’s parents and their failing marriage. Some of it made sense. Arson’s life IS one of misery and misunderstanding, so I see the author is showing us how miserable and isolated Arson truly is. But I didn’t see why it had to focus so much on Emery’s parents. I thought the book was about Arson, not about a failing marriage. It eventually started wear on my nerves because I started to loathe her parents by the end of the novel.



In fact, the only character I really had any interest in at all by the end was Emery. Yes she was self righteous, and more than a little big off, but she didn’t whine about EVERYTHING, she stood up for herself. She had a backbone, something that seemed to have been beaten out of Arson. I understood how he was manipulated by his grandmother. However, I don’t understand how he keeps letting Mandy play with his head. Especially after he decides he is in love with Emery.



It was just extremely frustrating. The majority of the book felt drug out, there is some action at the end, and then it just drops off in a straight cliffie. I don’t know if I would want to read the next book in the trilogy. If it focused more on Arson and Emery, maybe, I still really didn’t understand why it spent so much time on Emery’s parents. I give it 2 and 1/2 out of five controllers. Overall, I don’t think the author focused enough of the books attention on the main characters or the paranormal part of the story. A grave tragedy.

I received this book in exchange for a honest review. ~WaAr~

The second installment to the Arson trilogy is AMAZING! The author does a wonderful job continuing the action packed, and suspenseful story. I just want to say OMG! The story is left on a cliffhanger. I'm left wanting more and trying to think about what is going to happen. You will fall in love with the characters and be waiting anxiously for the last installment! This book contains romance, action, suspense, horror, and mixed with some supernatural. It is a wonderful YA READ. I can't wait to read more from this amazing author who writes with passion. I look forward to great things from him!

The book starts up 3 months after it left off in Arson. Emery's parents are trying to cope and still trying to find her. Emery and Arson are going through Heck at the Salvation Asylum, which is where the government funds experimentation on people. It seems that everyone has ulterior motives behind their action, especially the government and doctors. What is so special about Emery, Arson, and Adam? What links them together? Will Arson and Emery find a way back toward each other? I give this book a 5 star review since it won't let me give any higher! :) This is a MUST MUST READ!

I received this book in exchange for a honest review ~WaAr~

This book is a collection of short stories by the author : Baby Blue, Vanilla Red and The Man in the Colored Room. These shorts are more on the dark side for anyone expecting anything different.
Baby Blue is the softer out of the three showing you if you don't take chances that you will lose them. Vanilla Red kind've creeped me out since you were seeing and reading the perspective of a murderer. The Man in the Colored Room is about a man named Colin who wakes up in an unknown room and finds out how he comes to be there. I give this 5 stars since it is very unique.

I received this book in exchange for a honest review ~WaAr~

This short is a look inside a murders mind. It is very intriguing and creepy. The man remains nameless through the story but he is very sick and weird. This short reminds me of something Nathan Squiers would write. lol. This is so not my normal read, but I was intrigued! I give it a 5 star.

I came across this book in my inbox. If the cover wasn’t enough to intrigue me, the synopsis just put it over the top! Honestly, I didn’t know what to make of this book when I first started reading it. There wasn’t really much of a lead up. It was just all the sudden – BAM! – awesome story time! I kind of developed a love/hate relationship with it as I read. I know some people might think that is a bad thing, but it really isn’t. To me, it means the story has FEELING.

Arson – who is quite freaking awesome – has the most fitting name EVER. Why? The dude can just conjure up some fire with his mind. (YES PLEASE! This would totally come in handy in all aspects of my life! Where can I sign up for this?!) Here is someone who is just trying to… well, live. He isn’t moving forward.. or backwards for that matter and he has the insanely “horrid” task of his love/hate relationship with his grandmother. Eventually, something good will happen to him!

That something good comes in the form of Emery, his neighbor who wears a mask… and by mask, I mean hideous mask. Intrigued now aren’t you?! I thought the relationship between the two of them was an epic kind of beautiful. I loved watching everything happen. (You know, on the magic movie reel inside my head!) It was very real. By real I mean I could relate. It wasn’t so over the top that I couldn’t picture it happening to someone in real life. When it comes to Emery though, I LOVE her. Everything about her fascinates me. She has the personality of some of my friends, which makes her pretty awesome in my book (:

My favorite part of this book would have to me Emery’s mother. The book even gives HER perspective on this. Yes, an ADULT perspective. How often do you see that man!? Kudos on that Mr. Vega. Originality at it’s finest! The other thing that really caught me with this book was the ending. Normally, I am not one for cliffhangers, simply because I am impatient and want to know RIGHT THEN what is going to happen! However, Vega did it with skill. I actually loved the cliffhanging ending in this book. I cannot wait to read Ashes! (be sure to check back for that review!)

My ONLY pet peeve with this book was one of the secondary characters, Mandy. She is seriously one of those people that you just want to shank in the eye.. with your stiletto. No joke, she was THAT bad.. I literally cringed every time she had a part in the book! Then again, the book wouldn’t have been the same without her, so it was just one of those things I had to deal with.

Arson is an unexpectedly dark and edgy novel that had me hooked from the very first chapter. Although the story is mainly about seventeen year old Arson Gable, who can create fire with his mind, glimpses into the complicated lives of those around him – his grandmother Kay, his neighbour Aimee and Joel, and of course, their daughter Emery make the book more substantial.

Arson wants to die. He hates his strange power – he believes it killed his mother at his birth and causes his grandmother to call him a devil. In some ways Arson is beyond depressed: he is broken. When a new family moves in to his street, he finds himself intrigued by the daughter – Emery – who wears a mask to hide her face. Emery is also depressed, but handles it much better than Arson and genuinely tries to be happy. Their mutual loneliness pulls them together and they slowly heal one another’s hurts and start dating (sort of).

Estevan Vega explores isolation and loneliness in a multitude of ways in the novel. Not only through his two protagonists, but those around them as well. Arson’s grandmother suffers from a mental illness (not going to speculate on that it was because I don’t know) and treats Arson horribly because he’s a devil in her eyes. Emery’s parents are extremely unhappy in their relationship and have moved to make a new start on life. In contrast to them there is Abe – a man dying of lung cancer in the hospital that Emery’s mother Aimee works at and where Emery and Arson volunteer their time. He has lots of regrets with how he lived his life and keeps telling Arson and Emery to be braver, love harder, take more risks.

Arson is very much a problematic character for me. I understand that he is shy and depressed, but he acts extremely stupidly around both Emery and Mandy, the hot girl he has always had a crush on. He really has no idea what is going on most of the time and it frustrated me. His constant moroseness got under my skin a few times – he has plenty of opportunity throughout the novel to have fun but no, he wasn’t letting go of his issues, choosing instead to pile them onto Emery in an effort to push her away. It would be so awful to have a friend, now wouldn’t it? In contrast, Emery is a great character. Determined and sarcastic, she really thinks that Arson and her can hit it off and become good friends, and she’s absolutely right, if only he would give her a chance. She also has a healthy sense of self-worth and doesn’t let Arson treat her badly, which I enjoyed.

The plot of Arson is enjoyable but left a little lacking in terms of explaining Arson’s powers. I feel like I finished the story with no real inkling of how he does what he does, and why. It is also unclear if the peculiar trait runs in his family ( in my mind it’s likely it does) and I hope this is explored further in the next book. Since this is a very short read, it makes sense that all the action is right at the end, but I still wish there had been a better conclusion to the story. I’m fine with cliffhangers, but to me it felt like the author simply stopped writing without really concluding anything.

I can’t stress how much I enjoyed this book, regardless of the little hiccups I had with it. It is well executed and an engaging read, I recommend it to anyone looking for an atypical YA novel. I’m surprised at how much ground Estevan Vega is able to cover in this short work, and am looking forward to reading Ashes soon.

You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic.

Wow, to say I was blown away by this book and this author is like saying I tolerate reading. The plot is fast and action packed. The dialogue at times funny and ironic but mostly real and sinister. The story flows with effortless ease and leaves the reader turning page after page. No sparkly vamps, no epic love stories not even a traditionally happy ending. A love story though, yes, an ending, yes. Supernatural, oh my yes, but the evil kind, the mass murder kind. The kind you should not let in!
I am at a loss as to what to say less I give a plot twist away. But what I can and will say is this. If you are a horror fan, this book is so for you. But remember, don’t let it in! I give this book an 8 star rating. It is a book I would and already have recommended as a must read to my best friend. I walked through the house making one after the other cup of coffee without letting go of my kindle, and lastly and most importantly, I personally can't wait to read more by this author.

This book total blew me away. While the first book was really a set up for this Ashes, Ashes gave me a whole new reading experience! The plot line, new characters, and a great back round history that left me begging for more.
One thing I enjoy in books is the back round history to the characters. In Arson, the reader got bits and pieces of Arson's past but not really a full explanation. Ashes, gave the reader the history I was dying to know. Who where Arson's parent? How did he come by this ability? Are there more others out there just like him? I love that Mr. Vega gave such a fulfilling history to the characters that the reader has no choice but to turn the pages faster and faster!

Another great twist to this book are the new characters. Yes, characters that bring up a whole new world to question!! I for one, was super excited to read more about these characters. And the secrets! WOOHOO! This book left me hanging off the edge of my seat. I don't want to say any more less I spoil it.

Now there are several ongoing love interest here. Some I expected as others really surprised. There were characters doings that I didn't like but felt it played out well with the story line. I really like how Mr. Vega kept the story going on with lots of plot twist and turns. Nothing in this book ever gets boring. It just keeps on getting better and better.

Take my word for it and read this series. I can tell you that Arson is a build up story to Ashes which leaves a burning impression on your hands. Yes, the book is that hot.

Arson is just one of those books that pulls you in from the very beginning. Plague by being called a freak, the reader's curiosity is intensified by what overcomes this young man to be called such a thing. Is he really a freak. Or are those around him the freak. Since after all, there are the ones who are different.

What I like most about this book are the characters. Arson has had a hard life. I love the way the author Mr. Vega strongly depicted this young man life for his readers. It is really easy to step in this book and let your imagination run free. Mr. Vega created such a unique and intense world that it is simply impossible not to get into the book.

The plot line of this book keeps getting better and better as the reader dives deeper into Arson's life. I enjoyed seeing the things that happen to him to make him who he is today. But, I also enjoyed seeing Arson become a man, take charge in his life and not let anyone else dictate it. Arson has been under everyone's thumb doing as they bid, and now Arson has had enough.

I really did not expect to see a love interest in this book though I thoughtful enjoyed it. It was good to see some love and peace within a book that is full of dark and hurtful things. This love gave a whole new element of hope where the reader did not see one. And the ending, well...that was another surprise that I did not see.

Arson is a great tale of young man life just beginning. I love the back round history to the characters as well as seeing of what is able to become of Arson. This a dark novel of fire and life just waiting to burn. As I read deeper into Arson's life, I know that he is about to set ablaze a fire that no one has seen before.

*cursing/sexual content*

If you've followed my reviews for the past few months, then you know how much I loved Arson. And when I thought that there was no way to improve on such an amazing story, Vega has decided to go and prove me wrong in Ashes. It's darker, grittier and so much more than what I expected it to be. Plus, it had just enough detail and reference to Arson that it was a slice of cake to delve right back into Arson's world.

One of the first things that I noticed in this book is that we get to know Arson a lot better, both past and present. He's always been a character of interest, but that's taken to a whole knew level in this book. Not only do you get to know him more, but you empathize with him so much that you feel everything that he feels and experience everything that he goes through right with him.

Of course, Emery is also back and you witness what she goes through as well. Both she and Arson go through a lot, not only physically but mentally as well - all while not knowing what has happened to each other. We're also introduced to a new character, Adam, who promises to get Emery out of the facility.

The POV changes a lot through the story. However, where most stories would get confusing and difficult to follow, Estevan writes the perspective changes so well that switching is as easy as counting 1-2-3. It doesn't take you out of the story at all. On the contrary, it adds more layers to the story so we can see how everyone is effected by Arson and Emery's disappearance from their own lives and their entrance into Salvation Asylum. As we advance in the story, we not only learn more about the characters but also about the true purpose of the Asylum. The ending will both leave you breathless and longing for even more of Arson's world.

Like his other stories, Vega's description and detail in this book are so vivid that you feel as though you've dived right into the dark world that he has created. Every page is chock full of amazing storytelling that keeps you flipping from beginning to end - hanging on to the very end of your seat the entire time.

Locked away with little or no hope of escaping both Arson and Emery are trapped in an asylum that has them questioning their sanity. Is any of it real? And is there any hope that either of them will see each other again? As Arson discovers more fully who he is and what he’s meant for his story becomes one that could affect not only his small family and Emery, but the world as well.

Ashes is exactly the kind of book I would have read in my teens. This may shock some of you, but as a teen I read primarily horror novels. From Anne Rice to Richard Matheson to HP Lovecraft and more, there was hardly a horror book I left alone. As a teen there was no such thing as young adult fiction and I basically read whatever my Dad had & recommended. It worked out great because we shared quite a few of the same interests in books and music. Enter today’s standards and I’m sure the books I read back then wouldn’t make the YA cut. Which brings me to the dilemma with Ashes, is it YA or adult fiction? In my personal opinion I’d easily recommend it to a mature teen who loves a good scary paranormal read, but in that same vein I’d also hand it to an adult horror reader as well. I think that applies to quite a bit of YA fiction, but in the case of horror YA maybe even more so. I’d hate for a reader to turn Ashes down because they thought it was not in the right “category”.

As for the story…it was just as I remembered with Arson, full of action and great characters. This being the second book in the series I was personally looking forward to getting to know both Emery and Arson better and seeing where their relationship went after their abduction at the end of the first book. That certainly happened, but what I didn’t expect was the additional characters including Emery’s parents, Lamount, Adam, Saul Hoven and many more. The addition was great in terms of plot twists and the future of the series, but at times I did wish there were only one or two narrators instead of four or five. Besides that, the story was amazing and I loved the idea of placing much of the story in an asylum. Very creepy indeed.

Ashes, the second novel in the Arson series by Estevan Vega, is packed full of action, plot twists and of course a creepy setting. Vega is a fantastic new voice in the world of horror fiction and one that readers will thoroughly enjoy. With the fate of the world at stake I’m eager to see where Adam will lead Arson, if either is truly hoping to save the world and of course who will get the girl in the end. This is a series to watch for and I’m excited to continue reading it as soon as the next book is released!

My original review was posted at There's A Book.

ASHES, by Estevan Vega, is the thrilling sequel to the Arson series that will keep your eyes and hands glued to the pages. We pick up right where Arson left off, where Arson and Emery are trapped in a strange facility that seems to be doing experiments on supernatural occurrences in humans. Along with following Arson and Emery's stories, Vega artfully jumps from character to character to give the reader a wide look on this phenomenal and unique story.

It's hard to believe how young Vega is when reading his stories. His vision not only covers the teen characters but expands to the adult characters with ease. We not only read about what the two main characters are feeling throughout their ordeal, we also see the ripple effect of their disappearance in other characters. I really liked the story between Emery's parents and getting to understand the motivations of the scientists in the Sanctuary. The swift POV changes were really fantastic to read.

I liked getting the detailed story of Arson's birth and how that affected him while in the Sanctuary. Vega slowly unraveled this story and towards the end turned it into something unexpected but really awesome. Overall, fans of the series will not be disappointed and I'm excited to read more from Vega.

Review by: Sabrina

It took a little bit to get into this story. It was a little disjointed in the beginning. It was hard to get into the flow of the story, but once you were there it went just fine. This book is really angsty. Arson loathes himself and tries to fit in, but deep inside knows he is different. The Grandmother is really off her rocker. One minute she is sweet Grandma, the next minute she is a lunatic shouting things, and back again. The girl, Emery, is an out of control teenager. She was involved in an accident when shew as younger and now wears a scary mask so she doesn't feel vulnerable. While we have all toyed with the illusion that if no one can see who we really are, it wont hurt. We also all know how much of a pile of *()* that is. This girl manages to live that dream and you almost want to admire her for it. Except then she starts being an obnoxious teenager with the mentality that no one could possible understand. I have run into this with quite a few teenager and I think the author captured this mentality quite well. You almost admire her for how she braves the world, but then you see the way she treats people around her and you stop rooting for her. Her parents are having their own issues. You feel almost sad for them, until you realize they are doing it to themselves while simultaneously doing it to each other. There is not one great character. All are terribly flawed. I read a lot of comic books and this is actually a trait that I really like. I like knowing that everyone has something that needs monitoring to keep in check or you wouldn't recognize the person you become... But towards the end of this book, it got to be too much. Arson has the only redeeming quality shown in this book- and that does not come out til the very end of the book. The end of the book starts to get really disjointed again, the shift in perspectives happens frequently. Then the climax hits and the book is over... I think because it is a first book it is supposed to end in a cliffhanger but this one was... not a good one. It just made me mad. Not mad that I have to wait to read it... just mad.

I have heard that this author is quite young, early twenties, and I look forward to watching this author get more comfortable with a wider range of emotions. This is a YA novel, perhaps a younger generation would feel differently about this book. I may be in my mid twenties, but the teenage boy is not something I have ever pretended to understand.

Quote: "...You’ve cracked the case. Some sophomoric teenager thinks he has all the answers. When you’re my age and you’ve seen the world for what it truly is, seen human beings for what they are, maybe then you’ll get it. Life isn’t black and white, Arson. It’s filled with shades of gray. So don’t pretend like you have any idea what it’s like, because you don’t.”

http://www.romancing-the-book.com/2011/08/book-tour-review-arson-by-estevan-vega...

I received this e-book for review from Partners In Crime Tours as part of the author's virtual book tour. I did not receive any compensation for my review, and the views expressed herein are my own.

Arson is a 17-year-old boy who has an unusual ability: He can make fire! He needs to remain in control of his emotions to avoid something disastrous from taking place.

Raised by his senile and abusive grandmother, Arson lives like a hermit only leaving home to work at the ice cream parlor or go to school.

When a teenage girl his own age moves in across the street, Arson is intrigued by the girl (Emery) who wears the strange mask. What is she hiding behind that mask? The two social outcasts find friendship and more with each other.

Vega has created an interesting pairing with Arson and Emery. Arson is more shy and withdrawn, and it is hard not to feel sympathy towards him for the upbringing he has had. He comes out of his shell when he meets Emery, who I think is a fantastic character! You would think that Emery would be shy and aloof, but no! She has spunk and is not afraid to speak her mind! I think the mask gives her the courage to do that because people can't really read her.

The book deals with real problems which teenagers will be able to relate to: peer pressure, alcoholism, their parents' marital strife, first love.

The book ends rather abruptly, and Vega has obviously set us up for a sequel. I wonder what Vega has next in store for Arson and Emery?

MY RATING: 4 stars! I liked it!

RECEIVED FROM: Partners in Crime Tours For Review

***NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS***

Arson Gable isn’t like other seventeen year old boys, he lives with his abusive bipolar grandmother, has a past that haunts him and oh he can also start fires with his mind. His life is a story of social awkwardness and abuse. He doesn’t think anyone will ever accept him or understand him until he meets Emery, the girl with the mask. Emery was badly burned as a child and hides her scars behind a mask she almost never removes. She for the most part avoids people, but Arson is different. Or so she thinks until she meets Mandy the popular manipulative pretty girl. With her life falling apart around her as her parents’ marriage falls apart before her eyes is it really worth taking a risk on Arson when it’s someone like Mandy she’ll have to fight to do so? Will Arson’s past destroy what they might have before it even begins?

I don’t like rating books especially when I can’t bring myself to give a high rating, but the book just didn’t do it for me not even in a mild way. The few things I can say that the author has going for him is he’s very good at maintaining a mix of distant and close third person point of view. The mix between the two is done smoothly and isn’t awkward in any way. The book was free from typos, though it was filled with fragmented sentences otherwise the grammar was good. For the most part he’s very good at description and setting a scene. However the most action packed scenes were almost straight out of Carrie or Carrie 2 and therefore lacking originality, and those action packed scenes were minimal. Also I was pretty disappointed with the ending to put it mildly. The first half of the book is basically an introduction to characters with tons of back story obsessing from each of them. That portion of the book is mostly listening to people’s thoughts drone on and on. About sixty percent into the book it starts to turn into almost an awkward teenage love story, the plot starts almost becoming a plot instead of just a character study and I think okay this is what I’ve been waiting for – something to happen only to have that small amount of actual story I received just obliterated by a not so happy ending. Okay so it wasn’t just not happy, it was cruel, abrupt and almost open ended because what was being talked about versus what occurred seemed contradictory. I can’t really explain it without spoiling the story completely, but trust me if you’re a fan of a happy ending this isn’t the book for you. I know I’m in the minority on my opinion because I saw the lists upon lists of five star reviews on Goodreads. And I have to apologize because I couldn’t find a lot of redeeming qualities in this book and don’t really belong on a blog tour for the book but having waited until the last minute to read the book it was a little too late to tell them it might be best for someone else to review it. Other than the one dimensional secondary characters there wasn’t a single developed character that wasn’t angst ridden. While the book was missing the important back story, that would have made it easier to understand especially with the twist ending that I didn’t see coming (well I saw the Carrie scene coming but what came after was a complete shock to me) it was filled with pretty much irrelevant obsessing by every main character. Joel was a drunk who lost his position as a minister because of drinking on the job. He may still be a part of his family but due to all the time he put the church before his family he doesn’t really have their support. Aimee was disillusioned with her husband and her life, she can’t connect to her daughter, she still has feeling for her high school sweetheart who is her boss and she resents the destruction her husband’s alcoholism has caused in their lives. Emery’s face was burned in her youth and rather than have anyone see it she wears a mask pretty much all the time and seldom lets anyone close to her. Her own parents can’t seem to look at her without a sense of revulsion. Kay aka Grandma is off her rocker, she sees visions of herself as a girl stealing away her husband, she has a bipolar personality and hasn’t come to term with the fact her husband died a while ago. She in fact still has tea with the imaginary dead man. She blames her grandson for the death of his mother and is violently abusive toward him. Then there’s Stephen aka Arson Gable who starts fires with his mind and is somehow responsible for something fire related happing to a little girl seven years ago, he’s an awkward misfit who attempts to drown himself daily. Most of his time is spent thinking, he does little other than think and obsess over his past and his present. He’s depressed to say the least and he takes angst to an entirely new level. Why am I talking about characters before plot - because more than half the book is the characters thinking. There’s an awkward almost love story between Arson and Emery in the middle, some mean teenagers and an ending that doesn’t follow with anything before in the book. I only enjoyed about twenty percent of the book and that was during the love story section, the Carrie scene wasn’t too bad, it was exciting and well described but what came after made no sense since the character introduced then were never previously mentioned or explained. The book is mostly telling and not showing and I got really tired of listening to characters constantly obsess over things. I’m not even really sure what genre this fits in, at first I thought ok, it’s some sort of literary story of abuse and broken people, then I thought maybe a paranormal romance and then at the end I was thinking is this supposed to be a horror novel? The main horror was how awkward the poor main character was.

As I said beyond the characters listed above the secondary characters were flat and one dimensional. Mandy was outright stereotypical with nothing to separate her from every other mean girl portrayed in fiction or movies. While the characters listed above were somewhat well developed there wasn’t a lot of strengths to these characters and they were very difficult to relate to.

Overall, what can I say, a lot of people loved this book, check out Goodreads and you’ll see that I’m not wrong in that. However I wasn’t one of them and I personally couldn’t recommend it. However since I am in the minority in my opinion it could be worth picking it up to peruse so you can decide for yourself what you think.

The premise of this book sounded wonderful. However, in the back of my mind I was thinking of "Carrie" or "Firestarter". Wow, was I ever way off. This book had so many layers to it. You have Arson's issues at home, at work and with the new neighbor. You have the new neighbor, Emery who is dealing with her personal issues, the issues at home and her issues with Arson. I found both Emerson and Arson characters that I loved. At times I wanted to hit them in the head and say, "Hey, get a clue". The pacing of the events in this book was right on target. As much as I wanted things to happen quicker because I was on the outside looking in I knew events could not happen faster. The reader needs all of the different layers to keep the suspense and story moving forward. When I'd finished the book I told my husband that I both loved it and hated it. I loved the storyline. I hated the way it ended. Don't get me wrong, it was a perfect ending. I hated the way it ended because now I have to wait for the second book. Estevan Vega was a new author for me. When asked to participate in the tour I immediately read the synopsis and knew I had to read the book. Now that I've read the book I know I have to read his other works.

WHEN COLORS BLEED, by Estevan Vega, is a collection of short stories from the author of Arson. I am a huge fan of Arson and I anticipate the release of the second book in the series. So when I was asked to read Vega's collection of short stories I was excited to get started.

These stories are not happy, so for those thinking they will be can prepare for quite the opposite. These stories are dark and explore the not so nice part of people and situations that humanity faces. My favorite story out of the three was Baby Blue. I was curious about Thomas Rayford and his consistency in returning to visit the baby blue suit and Casey. At times I forgot that this story was written by a guy. Vega got into the head of Casey so well I could have sworn it was written by a female. I applaud his ability to explore and write Casey honestly.

The other two stories were equally well written but got a bit dark and twisty as the stories unfolded. I definitely stepped out of my comfort zone in that aspect but I was extremely pleased with the outcome of the book.

You can definitely read this collection in one sitting, and the only thing that I was disappointed in was that the book ended with only three stories, I wanted more!! I look forward to reading more short stories and novels from this young and talented author.

Cover note: This cover is gorgeous! I love how it shows something beautiful breaking down into something not so nice looking. The rose cracking and bleeding really follows the undertones of the book.

ARSON, by Estevan Vega, was an exceptional story about a peculiar boy and his remarkable gift of creating fire with his mind. Vega took my mind right out of its comfort zone and threw me for a loop with this amazing story.

What I loved more than anything about this book were the main characters, Arson and Emery. They were two peas in a pod together and their relationship blossomed wonderfully. They had much in common with not-so-perfect family lives and both being outsiders. Emery seemed a bit bizarre with her obession with her mask, but Arson immediately wanted to know who was behind it, unlike others who just stared and ridiculed. Emery, in turn, wanted to know what made Arson tick. I like reading books about those on the "other side of the tracks" with troubled families and the like. It takes me to another understanding of people outside popular groups and the need to be in them.

The development of the minor characters was equally interesting. I thought I had most of them pegged from the beginning but I was wrong. From the beginning, I wanted to learn about the immediate mood changes of Grandma Kay. I had my own idea about it, but Vega pulled the metaphorical rug from right under me. The realizations of who these characters were in the latter part of the book quicken my reading pace to figure it out.

The element of fire in this book was very interesting. Arson knew he had to control his emotions to keep the fire in check, but at times the build-up was excruciating. Vega explored the depths of Arson's guilt and distress about his gift so fully, it was at times very emotional and disheartening. But the consquences of not freely exploring his gift created devesating results.

The cover art is really fantastic with elements of Emery (mask) and Arson (fire). The pulling together of these ideas makes this book jump right off the shelf.

The last couple chapters unraveled some new situations, and a massive cliffhanger that makes me need to read the sequel as soon as possible. Overall, this book was incredibly unique and creative, and I highly recommend it.

Let me tell you that the collections of stories in this book are good. Very good. Each had a different feel to them but with the colors is all expressed different emotions.

Baby Blue: This story is achingly wonderful. The amount of emotions and story packed into a short story, is wonderful. The characters you can relate right away and let you fee like you are in their shoes.

Vanilla Red: I love getting into this man's mind. The thoughts in his head were crazy but made sense at the same time. Absolutely beautiful.

The Man in the Colored Room: This one was a little funny at first but then turned serious. You felt Collins struggle with the truth and why he ended up where he was. The plot of this story and the way it turned so suddenly was great.

Overall, this collection of short stories was enough to blow me away! All the plots, characters, emotions, swirled around me in a never ending tornado of great writing!

I was quite surprised about these three short stories. They really made you think and they draw you into them and the whole time it has you guessing what the end result will be. All of them are tragic and haunting.

Baby Blue tells the story of a Casey who works at a department store. A strange man visits once a week and asks to try on the same suite and shirt. They build a comfortable relationship. Then one day he buys the suit and Casey is shocked by what she reads in the paper the next day. Extremely heartbreaking in the end. Vanilla Red is creepy! It takes you into the mind of a psycho and what his thinking was when he murdered a woman. Very jumbled thoughts and crazy thinking!! The Man in the Colored Room we find ourselves in a room with a cup of coffee and a man named Collin. I was wondering was this a kidnapping or a man having a bad trip. Of course it was neither! Collin is visited by a man named Jack and Jack lays out Collin's life. Tells him was his addiction worth losing his family. Collin wants to change and says he will change but it is too late.

Estevan Vega completely blew me away with his novel Arson when I read it last year. So when Estevan contacted me to read his short story collection, When Colors Bleed, I jumped on it immediately - no questions asked.

Each story is similar in that they have the usual dark undertone (no sunshine and rainbows here), yet they're each unique stories that stand on their own. I found myself completely taken by each of the stories. BABY BLUE had me in tears, VANILLA RED made the part of me that loves reading about murder and mayhem squeal with giddiness, and THE MAN IN THE COLORED ROOM had me guessing what was going on until the very end. While each was vividly different from the others, they all had the same result: they made me fall absolutely in love with the collection itself, eager to read more.

No matter which story you read, Vega's writing put you right dead in the center of the story. You experience everything that the characters experience. Feel everything they feel. No matter what their story is, or their motives, you somehow are able to empathize with each and every one of them. There's always a trait in each of the characters that you can relate to that makes the story that much more real for you.

With a little over 70 pages, When Colors Bleed can easily be read in one sitting. Be warned: once you've read these deliciously addicting tales, you'll want more. It can't be helped. That's just the way it is. I'm realizing it's just part of the Vega-effect.