The Bodies We Wear

by Jeyn Roberts

[inlibrisveritas]

The Bodies We Wear is a moody book that is reminiscent of Gotham, it always seems to be raining and the seedy portion of town seems to be bigger than the non-seedy part. Just like Gotham this brings a whole new life to the story itself, making the story feel as bleak as the main character, Faye, believes it to be. In someways it makes the lighter portions shine brighter than that might have otherwise. The Bodies We Wear is dark contemporary with a very light touch of paranormal.

Faye, our focus, is girl who has died and come back. After being forced to take a very addictive and deadly drug called Heam at age eleven, she struggles to maintain normalcy while actively seeking revenge on those who tried to kill her (and succeeded in killing her best friend). At school she must appear to be a normal albeit withdrawn student, or risk expulsion. Heam addicts (recovering or otherwise) are seen as less than people and most are not given second chances, this is the bleak existence that Faye lives and she’s bitter because of it. I won’t say that I liked Faye for most of the story, but I definitely understood her. I got the reason why she wanted revenge and in the beginning I wanted it for her, but I’m so happy with her development over the course of the books part in thanks to Chael. Chael is a mysterious boy who keeps showing up and getting in her way. Like her guardian, Gazer, he wants her to seek a true life instead of one ruled by hate. I loved the small amounts of light these two try to shed on her world, even when she keeps her eyes closed to avoid it.

I was a bit surprised at the paranormal twist since it didn’t seem like a story that needed one, but I liked where it went and I was pleased that it didn’t permeate the story as a whole. This is my first book by Jeyn Roberts and I really love her style so I’m definitely going to have to check out more of her books in the future.