This is the second in the Horseman of the Apocalypse Quartet and like she did in the first novel (which, if you haven’t check out already, you really should) Ms. Kessler tackles a difficult subject. While the title of the book is ostensibly Rage, I think you could, also, quite comfortably call it Pain.There is such a depth of pain in Missy that the only way she can find relief from the emotional storm is by physically hurting herself. That is a big deal, guys. Imagine being in her shoes. Having your family unable to understand what they are putting you through with their expectations, their pressure – not understanding why the people who should be your friends treat you so badly. I dare say that many of us have been in that exact same situation at one point in our lives. However, with Missy things are exacerbated to extremes. She is bullied in such brutal ways that you have to stop and wonder, perhaps even deny a bit, that children have the capacity to be that cruel – but the truth is, you only need to turn on the TV to see real life examples of cruelties that children do to each other.On the surface of it, Rage is a story about a girl trying to find herself despite the demand of anger, demands of revenge that her inner self makes on the outer self. Beyond that however, Rage is a question. Just like Hunger was. The book questions humanity. It questions human beings and our societies – it is a plaintive question that asks – is this really what you are? Is this what we have progressed to? Is this evolution?On the technical side of things, Ms. Kessler, once again, writes a gripping book. The paranormal plays a greater role this time around and you get to see Death more fleshed out. I like how Ms. Kessler gave personalities to the horses. It adds another layer to the novel, the relationship between the horse and his rider. There is a bit of a tendency toward melodrama but I think I was reading the arc over at Netgalley so that should be sorted out before the book is released.Either ways, I think this is a book worth reading. And then talking about. It may help you understand people who are generally talked about in hushed whispers or not at all.
