Better as an adult book

Howlan · Post by **Howlan** » 27 Feb 2020, 14:30

Drakka Reader wrote: ↑27 Feb 2020, 14:04 The book simply seemed a little too dark and sexual to be aimed at young adults. I like the idea of dark themes and the like, but those themes felt wrong in a young adult book.

Yes I totally agree with you.

Browlyns · Post by **Browlyns** » 27 Feb 2020, 15:45

The overall plot of the book fits perfectly the young adults, no adult relates well with super power characters this catches the young people's minds well. Besides, most high school kids are exposed or know about the sexual under tones that are in this book.

supraja_prasad · Post by **supraja_prasad** » 27 Feb 2020, 22:35

I feel this is more suited to be an adult novel. There is so much darkness and themes that I would not have wanted to read as a young adult. Heck, Adam's relationship with his mom, Terry and how she met her end, and the way Adam seems to obsess over Clary with the exception of that one friend who he is okay with, is just plain sad. Imagine if young, growing read this at an impressionable age and think that this is okay... That's a no, right there. And that's the answer is it not?

Howlan · Post by **Howlan** » 27 Feb 2020, 22:43

Browlyns wrote: ↑27 Feb 2020, 15:45 The overall plot of the book fits perfectly the young adults, no adult relates well with super power characters this catches the young people's minds well. Besides, most high school kids are exposed or know about the sexual under tones that are in this book.

Ya valid point. But it can't be to that extent as Adam is here.

Howlan · Post by **Howlan** » 27 Feb 2020, 22:43

supraja_prasad wrote: ↑27 Feb 2020, 22:35 I feel this is more suited to be an adult novel. There is so much darkness and themes that I would not have wanted to read as a young adult. Heck, Adam's relationship with his mom, Terry and how she met her end, and the way Adam seems to obsess over Clary with the exception of that one friend who he is okay with, is just plain sad. Imagine if young, growing read this at an impressionable age and think that this is okay... That's a no, right there. And that's the answer is it not?

Impressionable young minds should really not read this stuff.

Nikolas Farmakis · Post by **Nikolas Farmakis** » 28 Feb 2020, 05:37

I agree with you. I think that the book would have been better as an adult book, as that would have given the author more freedom to write.

Nikolas Farmakis · Post by **Nikolas Farmakis** » 28 Feb 2020, 05:38

I also think that the Young Adult genre does not fit in well with the plot of the novel and the events described in the book.

Howlan · Post by **Howlan** » 28 Feb 2020, 08:55

Nickolas Farmakis wrote: ↑28 Feb 2020, 05:37 I agree with you. I think that the book would have been better as an adult book, as that would have given the author more freedom to write.

Yes, it would have made the story more interesting.

Howlan · Post by **Howlan** » 28 Feb 2020, 09:00

Nickolas Farmakis wrote: ↑28 Feb 2020, 05:38 I also think that the Young Adult genre does not fit in well with the plot of the novel and the events described in the book.

Yes, it was quite unexpected.

Ari Martinez · Post by **Ari Martinez** » 28 Feb 2020, 10:23

This book should definitely be an adult book. There are themes such as, sex, rape, murder, etc. that I think went too far. The author might have as well written it for adults, even if the characters were still teenagers, I don't think it would have mattered.

Rwill0988 · Post by **Rwill0988** » 28 Feb 2020, 21:13

It was one of my main issues with the book. It felt like the characters should be older. That way certain aspects of the story are slightly less creepy. Also, with young adult I tend to look at the message the book sends to its audience. This book, especially in regards to Terry, doesn't send a message I'd encourage.

Peppermint52 · Post by **Peppermint52** » 29 Feb 2020, 13:44

I too found the sexual part of the book disturbing, I also included in my review, the book would be better suited for people 18 years of age and over.

a-b-c- · Post by **a-b-c-** » 29 Feb 2020, 14:32

No, I think it sounds like teenagers even if they are just joking about what they have heard, or watched on TV, or seen in the movies.

leiabutler · Post by **leiabutler** » 01 Mar 2020, 14:28

Ooo very good call! Totally agree with you that it would have worked tons better in an adult book. Felt uncomfortable when reading because it felt like it was leaning towards more adult themes yet confining itself in something meant for young people.

Tchrjokes456 · Post by **Tchrjokes456** » 01 Mar 2020, 16:02

Nym182 wrote: ↑06 Feb 2020, 15:28 One of the thoughts that kept occurring to me as I read this book was that Opaque would have been much better if it was not a YA book.

I dig gritty and dark books like anything by Bret Easton Elis or Stephen King, so when it turned as dark as it did I had mixed feelings. I enjoyed it but did not think that it fit in a YA book.

Between the darkness of Adam and the sexual undertones, I really think that Leigh-Reign would have made a much better book if she had leaned into the darkness. It would have made the strange sexual parts of the book less strange, especially if they were expanded on. I didn't like the scenes where Adam watches Carly wash or Carly's admittance that she wore socks to prevent stirring up Kane's foot fetish (what high schooler has a foot fetish?) in the context of a story about high schoolers.

Do you think writing it a YA book held the author back? Would you have preferred to read this as a sci-fi thriller?

I definitely agree with you that the author could have explored a lot more if not constrained by the genre. Adam would have had a lot more potential to validate the "monster" feeling before he found redemption with Carly. It would have been good to add more conflict with Carly's parents, too. I think if Dauma had found out about Adam's past, she would have had some very choice words for her daughter.