Books and Literature for Teens: Another Faust by Daniel & Dina Nayeri

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Another Faust by Daniel & Dina Nayeri

A devilish debut by a brother-sister team invites us into the world of the elite Marlowe School, where some gifted students are having a hell of a year. One night, in cities all across Europe, five children vanish — only to appear, years later, at an exclusive New York party with a strange and elegant governess. Rumor and mystery follow the Faust teenagers to the city’s most prestigious high school, where they soar to suspicious heights with the help of their benefactor’s extraordinary "gifts." But as the students claw their way up — reading minds, erasing scenes, stopping time, stealing power, seducing with artificial beauty — they start to suffer the sideeffects of their own addictions. And as they make further deals with the devil, they uncover secrets more shocking than their most unforgivable sins. At once chilling and wickedly satirical, this contemporary reimagining of the Faustian bargain is a compelling tale of ambition, consequences, and ultimate redemption. - from book jacket

........

Another Faust was filled splendid detail and glamours characters, but the overall story fell flat for me. I tried really hard to concentrate throughout the book, but some of the details were so long, my mind would wonder and then I'd have to start all over again.

I understood that the characters were robotic on purpose since they "sold their soul" to the devil, but they were still human and I was expecting them to be a little more personable. They weren't though, they felt too unrealistic.

Many confusing things happened throughout the book which made the storyline feel even more foggy. Some things I understood about how greed and hatred can consume people (I think that was what one of the main points), but I don't enjoy books that are dark and mysterious like that.

Though it took Brice the entire book just to figure out what was going on, it did have a good ending. I must say, because of the exordinary detail, I would try another Nayari book, but one that is not a gothic novel.

Overall, I wouldn't waste eye strain unless you're a gothic novel fan-but even then, I don't think I would recommend because mainly, you're more than likely to get bored with it.