123) Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

The Blurb -

Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she's been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

A wildly original approach to the issue of eating disorders, Hunger is about the struggle to find balance in a world of extremes, and uses fantastic tropes to explore a difficult topic that touches the lives of many teens.

My Review -

Ever since I heard about this book I wanted to read it. So when I got the chance to review this I couldn't stop myself. Jackie Kessler's Hell on Earth series introduced me to the paranormal element of the succubus and now she has introduced me to another new angle in the genre. We have all heard of The Four Horsemen and they have even come up in the TV show Supernatural. However Jackie's take on The Riders is very different but at the same time extremely brilliant.

At first I wasn't sure what to expect but knew that the title Hunger was going to explore the character of Famine. I was surprised and impressed by the way this book evolved and hope that a lot of people take the time to read this Young Adult debut where the harsh reality of life and a real problem of teenage girls all over the world is laid out for everyone to see. No holds barred this book is a realistic tale mixed with some fantasy which doesn't make it any easier to swallow.

This is no sugar coated love triangle or fairy tale where the main character is strong, wonderful and perfect. Hunger is a bucket of cold water being thrown over you. I only hope that the book makes an impact on the age range it is aimed at because it is the Young Adults who are the ones who need to see that things are not always like Twilight and The Vampire Diaries in this world.

Bravo to Jackie for bringing a somewhat delicate and sometimes misunderstood illness to light and keeping it real. A portion of the proceeds for this book will be donated to the National Eating Disorders Association so make sure you buy a copy. Hunger is emotional, addictive and special it a brilliant and well thought out story that you won't forget.

Hunger is due for release on the 18th of October and Rage, the second book in the series, will be out next Spring. I can't wait to see what Jackie has in store for us in that one.