A review by debthebookworm
Vestige by Deb Hanrahan

Did not finish book. Stopped at 54%.
I got through 54% of this, and I can't take it anymore.

First, this is a Biblical-style tribulation story. That's not a problem in and of itself. It's the way it's gone about. From the "golden" child being the blond, blue-eyed teenager who was in a group of misfits bullying a homeless man to dogs going to heaven but not cats, the subtext of the writer sends a message.

Second, the characters are just dumb. You're a priest who doesn't believe what you're preaching. Believable. A priest who doesn't know the Bible enough to understand why at least half of the population disappeared overnight and doesn't believe he's actually seeing the devil after he wakes up BURNING? Implausible. That's actually where I gave up. But also, you're the child of a survivalist mother who texted you, "It's happening" before SHE disappeared, and nothing in you says, "Maybe I should go look at Mom's notes to see which apocalypse we're in?" Ridiculous.

Also, the speed at which the rationing of food and mark of the beast tags happens seemed rushed. It was only 2 or 3 days.

Speaking of rushed, the forced romance between Micah and Clarke was painful and full of clichéd moments. Micah saw Clarke's ANKLE and thought, "This girl needs protecting." Then, he keeps trying to hug and touch her after she's said no, but kisses her to stop her from crying. It reeks of chivalrous over-stepping that typically a guy will write, but it's coming from a woman, so it's even worse. 

I've spent far too long trying to give this book a chance, and I cannot any longer.

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