[Review] Touch by Jus Accardo

Title: Touch
Series:  Denazen Series
Author:  Jus Accardo
Genre:  ya, supernatural, mutants, conspiracy
Format:  Ebook, 262 pages
Publication Date:  November 8, 2011
Published By:  Entangled Publishing
Source:  ARC from NetGalley

Synopsis from Goodreads

When a strange boy tumbles down a river embankment and lands at her feet, seventeen-year-old adrenaline junkie Deznee Cross snatches the opportunity to piss off her father by bringing the mysterious hottie with ice blue eyes home.

Except there’s something off with Kale. He wears her shoes in the shower, is overly fascinated with things like DVDs and vases, and acts like she’ll turn to dust if he touches her. It’s not until Dez’s father shows up, wielding a gun and knowing more about Kale than he should, that Dez realizes there’s more to this boy—and her father’s “law firm”—than she realized.

Kale has been a prisoner of Denazen Corporation—an organization devoted to collecting “special” kids known as Sixes and using them as weapons—his entire life. And, oh yeah, his touch? It kills. The two team up with a group of rogue Sixes hellbent on taking down Denazen before they’re caught and her father discovers the biggest secret of all. A secret Dez has spent her life keeping safe.

A secret Kale will kill to protect.

My Thoughts

I'm not going to lie...I totally picked this book for the cover. Have any of you out there ever watched the television series Roswell? Well if you have you might have noticed the same thing I did...

That's right...Max! (Played by Jason Behr.) I seriously believe that if a movie deal is made for this book that Jason Behr should play Kale. I would definitely pay to see that! So yeah...there's my confession...laugh at me if you will.

Now on to the review!

This book was absolutely amazing! If it wasn't for Divergent already stealing that place in my heart, I think Touch would be my top read of 2011. But it still has the much honoured place of runner-up (as far as I am concerned).

The story kind of reminded me up a mash-up between X-Men and Heroes (a television series I adore). In fact...if you know the series at all then you might understand my next comment. There is a neat character in Touch that seriously reminds me of Sylar from Heroes. If you have watched the series, and have read the book, tell me if you thought the same thing.

This book had some fabulous characters, both main and supporting. I cared about almost each and every one of them. I didn't want anything bad to happen to any of them (except those one or two really nasty ones of course). I fell in love with Kale instantaneously. His naivety and tenderness shine through despite everything he has been trained to believe and do. This provides the appropriate direct opposite to the female lead, Dez, who is a fiery young woman hell-bent on making her father's life a living Hell as much as possible. At first Dez annoyed me a bit with her out-of-control attitude and constant use of foul language. Over time I discovered the reasons behind her actions and was able to grow and mature along with here throughout each and every page, and it was a journey well worth taking. (And I'd do it again in a heartbeat.)

I also appreciate that the authour didn't feel it necessary to hold us hostage with a nasty cliffhanger to get us to read the next book in the series. To tell you the truth, I give way more credit to the authors who can make me want to read the next book(s) in their series without leaving me in a gut-wrenching "Oh my God what next!" kind of spot. So kudos to Jus Accardo. She is one of the few who have gotten this right!

My rating?