Series: The Fury Trilogy #1
Author: Elizabeth Miles
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Mythology
Elements: Furies
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Format: Hardcover
ISBN-13: 978-1442422247
Published: August 30th, 2011
Source: Library
Rating: ★★★
Sometimes sorry isn't enough....
It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...
Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better—the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend.
On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed.
In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay.
Em and Chase have been chosen.
Emily Winters is one of the IN crowd. She could have any guy she wants. But the guy she does want just happens to be her best friend's boyfriend. And he's showing an interest he really shouldn't be showing. When Em's BFF goes on vacation, she spends some quality time with the BF. And as they get closer strange things start happening. Em better watch out, or she's gonna get burned.
Chase Singer seemingly has it all---he's popular, quarterback of the football team, and recently met the most beautiful girl. But behind that facade is the real Chase---he lives in a trailer, doesn't have much money, and has a terrible secret. As his carefully constructed mask begins to crumble around him, Chase starts to come unraveled himself.
Ty, Meg, and Ali are the furies, or the Angry Ones. Tisiphone, Megaera, and Alecto. The furies are merciless in their pursuit of punishment. And the punishment must fit the crime. You definitely don't want to ever gain the attention of these three girls.
Theme
There are three themes that correspond with the three characters I mentioned earlier.
In Em's case, she betrays her best friend and cheats with said best friend's boyfriend. I guess, technically, that's two themes, but I'm putting them together as one. Em knows what she's doing is wrong and that is will hurt her BFF, but she truly believes that the BF, Zach, really cares for her. When she finds out that he's just been playing her, she ends it, but the damage has already been done.
The theme in Chase's case is, you could say, a type of bullying. I can't say too much or I might give something away, but Chase does something that drove an old childhood friend to suicide.
And it's obvious that with Ty, Meg, and Ali the theme is vengeance or punishment. As it is a fury's job to punish those who have done something wrong, they go after Em and Chase respectively for the wrong they both have done.
Plot
The plot switches between the POV's of Emily and Chase.
I think I would describe this book as a psychological thriller with elements of horror and the supernatural.
The mythology of the furies was used expertly in the character names, personalities, and behaviors. Though their names are shortened and modernized, you can still tell who is who. Ty is Tisiphone, Meg is Megaera, and Ali is Alecto. Their personalities and behaviors match up pretty well with their legendary selves as well.
Tisiphone is known as the avenging one who is the voice of revenge and the avenger of murder. So it makes sense how Ty in Fury is the spear point in exacting revenge against Chase who ultimately caused a suicide.
Megaera is known as the grudging or unwilling one who burns with envious anger and punishes for infidelity. Meg and Ali are the ones who exact punishment against Em for her cheating and betrayal.
Alecto is known as the unceasing one who is never-ending in her anger and castigates mortal crimes. Ali really is relentless when she interacts with Em, and seeing as infidelity can be considered a moral crime, it only makes sense that Meg and Ali work together to punish Em.
Setting
The story is set in Maine during the winter. Winter is sort of eery in itself. It's cold, ruthless, unrelenting, and quiet. The earth in its rest. It's easy to imagine something scary happening in such a setting. Winter is hauntingly beautiful, just like the furies are in the story. The furies themselves are like Winter; cold, ruthless, and quiet. Unrelenting in their purpose. For a story such as Fury, it doesn't seem right for it to takes place in any other season.
My Final Thoughts:
I thought that the beginning of the book was a little slow, which made it hard to really get into the story. Once the story started to pick up and more action was happening, it was really enjoyable. I love the mythology of the furies and how it's used in the book. The author has them appear in a modern setting and modernized their names, so it's like old meets new. I like how Em grows a backbone after her encounter with the furies. It's going to be interesting to see what happens in the next book, Envy, with Zach. He definitely deserves the wrath of the furies.
Elizabeth Miles grew up in Chappaqua, New York, not far from New York City. She graduated from Boston University in 2004, and has worked ever since as a journalist for an alternative newsweekly. She has been honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. Elizabeth serves on the board of trustees of Portland Players, a community theater and second home. She loves pizza; she can often be found running around on stage while scantily clad; and a cold winter night in Maine is one of the creepiest and most beautiful things she can think of. Fury is Elizabeth’s first novel.
Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2011 to my book review blog, Zodiac Book Reviews.
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