Book: Haze by Brandon J. Barnard

★★★/★★★★★

I managed to finish this book weeks ago and I know it took me forever to write a review (sorry!) but here it is now.

Set in London year 2071 where air pollution was so high that people need to wear a gas mask when going outside, the novel followed the life of Jack Decker, an office assistant who didn't like his job. He was socially awkward without any friends that was until he met Haze who was too busy stuffing her mouth with doughnuts the first time they met. Jack grew fond of her and eventually started to fall for her. There were also flashbacks that gave us more of Jack's past.

What I liked most in this book was the mystery surrounding Jack as well as Haze. Though there were instances that I've predicted what would happen next, it was still good to be surprised at times. Another thing I really liked was Jack's DDing! (That's Digital Diving, by the way) It's some sort of VR that lets you dream anything you want and anything inside it would feel real, like you're really there! How cool is that? At some point we saw Jack sharing a DD experience with Haze which deepened his feelings for her. Here we also saw Haze giving us an idea of what-if-you're-dreaming-inside-a-dream kind of thing.

 "This aspect of Digital Diving brought along different emotions for everyone. Some felt secluded, others felt a lack of atmosphere, and Jack felt right."

 I didn't feel any strong connection with Haze but it didn't mean I didn't like her. She was a so-so and maybe it's because she wa predictable. Her character was underdeveloped and I think it would've been better if we saw more of her story. Jack, on the other hand, was relatable but his character was inconsistent and it was somehow confusing.

Now let's get to the things-I-didn't-like/get part. First, it was set in a post apocalyptic London which I think didn't really play a great part in the story. I mean, it could've been set in a modern day and it wouldn't matter. Or maybe I just didn't see the connection? And then the pacing was a bit off at times and I felt like the flashbacks were only inserted to make the story longer. There were also grammars errors and sometimes the dialogues felt unnatural. Or maybe it's just me. again. And then there was the issue about his mental health which I think was taken lightly.

That said, I think Haze has a great potential if the plot is developed even more and the writing is improved. It's a really interesting concept and I think it can still be polished into something better!

*I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*

Book: I Hunt Killers (Jasper Dent #1) by Barry Lyga

★★★★/★★★★★

"Sons aren't their fathers. Not the good, not the bad. Sons get second chances. You don't have to be what your dad is."

I always enjoy thriller and this one I enjoyed so much. I loved it! Jasper "Jazz" Dent is not your typical boy next door and believe me when I say that you wouldn't want him to be the boy next door. Well, he's not a killer, his father is, but that's the point. Just because his father is a killer, everybody thinks he is, too.

What drew me in (aside from reading a good review from a friend's blog) was Jazz's situation, being the son of a serial killer. Of course, it was given that everyone else would think "he's like his father" but he wanted to prove them all wrong. He wanted everyone to see that he can be different, that he can be good even though his father was evil. But growing up with a father like Billy Dent, the world's worst serial killer, Jazz has seen and heard and learned everything a serial killer can do. Billy has taught him things a normal kid mustn't learn. And now that his Dear Old Dad was locked up and a new serial killer was in town, Jazz told himself that he would catch this killer using what his Dear Old Dad has taught him. Because Jazz believed that he wasn't the monster his father think he was. Or what he thought he was.

"He made me what I am," Jazz said. "Bad and good alike. You can't deny that, Con."

"And my parents made me what I am. So what? We get stuff from our parents, but we also get stuff from the world around us. From the people around us. And at the end of the day, we're us."

It broke my heart whenever Jazz thought that he was like his father. That he can kill everyone and that it would be okay. That he can manipulate people and he can easily kill them.  He could, but everytime he stopped himself because there was still a part of him that didn't want to be like his father. His father might have nurtured him to be a killer but a part of him still fought to be otherwise. And that's what made me love him even more. Because he chose to fight despite everything his father has taught him.

"People matter. People are real."

Another thing I love about this book was reading how the mind of a serial killer works. I actually learned a thing or two (and I'm not sure if it was a good or bad thing). The details of the murders were also disturbing and it kinda scared me thinking that there were people who could actually think of doing those things. But nonetheless, I loved the book! 

The plot, the characters and everything else was written perfectly. I can't think of a way it could have been better!