Review: Dead Rules by Randy Russell

Title: Dead Rules

Author: Randy Russell

Series: N/A

Format: Hardcover (376 pages)

Release Date: June 21, 2011

Genre(s): Paranormal Romance, Drama, YA, Thriller/Horror/Suspense

Rating:

 

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Summary

Till death
Jana Webster and Michael Haynes were in love. They were destined to be together forever.

Do
But Jana's destiny was fatally flawed. And now she's in Dead School, where Mars Dreamcote lurks in the back of the classroom, with his beguiling blue eyes, mysterious smile, and irresistibly warm touch.

Us
Michael and Jana were incomplete without each other. There was no room for Mars in Jana's life—or death—story. Jana was sure Michael would rush to her side soon.

Part
But things aren't going according to Jana's plan. So Jana decides to do whatever it takes to make her dreams come true—no matter what rules she has to break.

Source

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Review

Plot: The plot is very simple, Jana Webster has died and can not fully grasp her surroundings until her still living boyfriend, Michael, is along with her in Dead School. The plot seemed innocent at first. To me, Jana was so in love with Michael, she wished he would be beside her as she went through this process anyone would be scared about. However, as the story progressed, I knew it was more of an obsession than love. We follow Jana for a majority of the time, but it isn't until we see other characters' POVs that we see something is wrong. Jana will do and has done anything to get Michael to be beside her in the afterlife. The plot takes a bunch of twists and turns with many of the characters to keep you intrigued along with Jana's.

Character(s): Jana - I don't know if it is me, but again, I couldn't connect with Jana. It really felt like you were just reading her story. I was invested more in the other characters and what was going to happen, but Jana was too extreme for me to relate or feel empathetic towards. She's so blind by what she assumes is her happily ever after, she doesn't focus on what's in front of her. I don't know if this is due to the fact she just doesn't want to grasp that she died or that she really was obsessed with him, but it seemed so ridiculous the measures she would go to for a boyfriend. But maybe that was just it, maybe she truly does feel he is the only thing she has.
Mars - I can't say much about him with giving stuff away, but I can say looks can be deceiving. Mars seems like a total sweetheart and misunderstood because of his position of a Slider. He gets left behind and is the in between for Jana to get to Michael, which is a shame. I loved his story more and wish it could have been fully in his view with just Jana as the new girl and seeing her story play out through his eyes. But at the same time, it is a nice lesson to show to not be blinded by what you know but take risks with people or to not believe that there is only one form of happiness in one person. Mars is such an intriguing character and I wish there was more of him than I got.

Cover: The cover describes the theme of the book. It is elegantly disturbing. The eyes of the girl kind of remind me of Jana's character. She is visually beautiful and elegant, but there's a darkness and disturbance from her childhood and experience that makes her appearance terrifying at times.

Closing Thoughts: I'm giving this book a three out of four because this is the only time I thought a book truly needed a sequel. Many times, I just want another installment, but this one kind of needs one. The ending was left so open for all of the characters and there was no true development of Jana other than her knowledge to certain things that occurred. Plus, I want to know what happens to Mars in the long run. Even if Jana is not in it, I want to know his story. It is a beautiful book and I'll recommend it if you're looking for more of a dark read, but just be ready for many questions risen and only some answered.

Where to find Randy:

Website l Facebook l Twitter l Goodreads

Peace and Fangs,

Alisha