Sense Thieves (1) - Touched by Corrine Jackson
As the title already tells us, Touched by Corrine Jackson is the first of three books of the Sense Thieves Trilogy (in French not released, in German Touched - Der Preis der Unsterblichkeit). I read it in German were it contained 401 pages. Age: 15 to death (girls). Originally published 2012
Remy O'Malley fights everyday just to survive. From her violent stepfather, from her “gift”. But when her biological father turns up out of the blue to take her away to Blackwell Falls, Remy's problems multiply. Because hiding is far easier when she's anonymous – which is impossible in a small town – and when no one cares about her. And because the devil you know is better than the one you don't – or ones in plural. Because her predators have multiplied. But why do the Blackwells hunt her? They can't know – can they? While Asher Blackwell begins to take an unhealthy interest in her, Remy's stepfather is on the run again. With her mother's diary, revealing everything about Remy's strange gift...
This book was really interesting. First to what I didn't like: The style. It's not that it was bad, but there is room for improvement. Remy is afraid. She's afraid of being loved, of trusting someone and of loving back. It would have made sense to improve a few scenes in the beginning, simply to invert a few sentences between someone doing something nice for Remy and her developing hope. Then, when she begins to trust the people around her, the sentences could become shorter, her reaction less... well, violent in a way. And then, they could disappear. Her development could have been shown over time.
And that was the only thing that bothered me. Apart from that, everything was gorgeous.
Especially the domestic violence – not that it exists, that sucks, but how it's managed in here. Remy's fear, her reactions, her hate and all her shame. These things are very well described, realistic and in a way that shows how strong Remy is and how much she and every other person in an equally bad situation would suffer. It also makes way for Remy's later development. So: Very very well done.
Dean, the stepfather, is a very... well, interesting character. He's evil and cruel. But the motives and how he uses single actions like the lightener to torture Remy with mind games make him realistic. He's the perfect villain, but still a real person. Someone whom you could meet in your life (which is actually quite a terrifying prospect). But it raises the credibility of this book.
Anna, the mother who let Dean do this to her daughter, who let Remy down again and again, is like Dean in this prospect: she's a credible character. Weak and damaged, full of self-hate and a not very shiny past – human. Not a book character (okay, that, too) but someone who could exist.
I like Ben, Remy's real father. He is a good man and his “letting Remy down” is explained. And he does make it up, in the end. I like the way he feels with Remy, how guilty he is for everything. And I like how Remy begins to trust him. She begins to fall in love with the family and her place in it.
The rest of her new family would be Laura and Lucy. Laura is a typical mother figure and Lucy is probably the best sister you could imagine. She's sunshine through and through, non-judgemental and knows how to keep secrets – and how to stick up for someone.
Well, so far for the O'Malleys. Now to the Blackwells.
Asher himself seems like he's far too good to be true. He's the knight in the shining armour, who rescues Remy not only from her stepfather, but also from her loneliness and, at times, from himself. Or at least he tries to. He's very very sweet to her. And it's really funny when he reads her mind! Especially in the beginning, when she doesn't know it.
Gabriel is fascinating as well. All rough but inside, he's not a bad person either. He cares deeply for his family, but still lets them go their own way. He's the oldest and the caretaker of the Blackwells, the guy for everything. The one everyone automatically turns to, when “shit's about to get real”. And it's funny how he and Remy always fight. He doesn't trust her at first and tries to intimidate her, but once she managed to earn his respect, he kind of adopts her as well.
I don't know what to make of Lottie. Sure, she hates Remy, but in the end, she's isn't really a character with an “evil” label either. She has many facets, most are revealed later on.
The Blackwell's powers are so very interesting. Especially the immortality aspect – how they gained it, how especially Asher struggles and what price they pay. Imagine that. That has to be so terrible! And it makes sense that the ones they murdered are the only ones who can make them feel better. Still, poor Healers. They are in a shitty position.
As for Remy's talents and her usage: Damn. Well. Done. Whenever she touches someone, she heals every thing they have – a cold, a bruise, a broken bone, cancer... But the price she pays is high: She takes over the illnesses etc. herself. Which isn't a cakewalk. She's extremely powerful and uses her gift selflessly, even if it means risking her life. And when her body takes over, she breaks a rip before she hurts Asher. This makes her vulnerable, but it's balanced again – because she can swap her wounds and diseases to the people around her, too. Which she only does when she or someone she loves is in crucial danger. She's one of the strongest and most altruistic characters I ever read about. And I know that this sounds cheesy, but she actually helps me if I have huge problems and feel overwhelmed. Somehow, she inspires strength and courage – and I could imagine that she can have that effect on anyone who reads about her. So: If you are a book lover and if reading books affects you, then you should read the Sense Thieves Series when you struggle with something. But be careful with heartbreak. Remy has to struggle in that department as well, but especially this part has some very romantic scenes in it.
Apart from being inspiring, this book can change your perspective of yourself, of your values and of immortality. It's dramatic, but still can make you laugh. The characters are very realistic, the ideas original and the content without mistake.
In brief:
In the end, I give this book stars for content, ideas, characters, one for the domestic violence and Remy's management of it, another one for the relationships and last but not least the world. This means I give the SOA. And that without giving a star for style, one of the base categories. That's how much the book gets under your skin.
Sequel: