Vigilante Nights by Erin Richards Review

Title: Vigilante Nights
Author: Erin Richards (Twitter)
Publisher: Merit Press
Publish Date: July 18, 2013
Genre: YA, Contemp, Paranormal
Pages: 303
Source: Publisher

After a hideous car wreck, Lucas wakes from a coma to find that his world is gutted. Not only is his beloved twin sister, Silver, gone forever, but Lucas is broken in body and spirit. He will never be a college athlete, and is robbed of what he now realizes was the most important bond of his life. Although they weren't identical twins, Lucas and Silver shared a bond so fierce it defied reason, and was nearly supernatural.

After her death, that bond seems to endure when Lucas sees Silver everywhere he turns. Either he's crazy, or Silver is trying to tell him something about the California gang initiation they stumbled into that cost Silver her life. Lucas is bent on revenge, turning on Raymond, Silver's former boyfriend; the one Lucas never wanted her to date. He forms a posse of vigilantes to take out the gangsters responsible for Silver's death, but he risks not only his own life, but the love of the new girl on his block, who knows more about Lucas and Silver than can be accounted for by mere chance.

Lucas and Silver were inseparable. Their bond as twins connected them throughout their lives and, when tragedy strikes, the bond seems to endure past the grave. Lucas should have enough on his plate to deal with - needed to heal, recover and grieve the death of his sister, but something...or someone...is holding him back. Lucas swears he can see and hear Silver everywhere. She is always there, and she seems to be trying to tell him something. And so, he resolves to do just one thing, even if it's the last thing he does. He'll avenge Silver's death at all costs.

Have you ever felt a sort of innate connection with someone that seems to know no bounds? Vigilante Nights is a unique novel that explores this phenomenon in a gut-wrenching, emotionally turbulent manner. Author, Erin Richards, writes in a powerful manner, exposing her characters - flaws and all - for the readers to see. By baring the soul of both the characters and the plot, Vigilante Nights thrusts readers headlong into a powerful journey for redemption, revenge and, ultimately, peace. 

I hadn't heard much (or anything, really) about Vigilante Nights when I received it for review. Nevertheless, the concept intrigued me. The bond between twins is something I always coveted as a child. I suffered from middle-child syndrome (yes, I know...I'm so deprived), and the idea of having a twin, or someone that shares that deep connection was utterly appealing. The story is told from Lucas's point of view, which was a really strong, albeit risky, move to make. By doing so, the author is closeting us within his mind and, if done poorly, we could feel very trapped and the story could be stifled. Luckily, this perspective really worked for the subject matter of the novel, as we have the unique opportunity to truly grasp the depth of Lucas's pain and rage. Plus, it gives us a chance to understand the true reasoning behind forming the group of vigilantes hell-bent on destroying those responsible for Silver's death. Vigilante Nights doesn't lack tension or drama either. It's a classic whodunit tale, but the twists and turns threw me for a loop every time. I wasn't really sure who was ultimately the culprit in Silver's death, but I find that to be a good thing because it made me continue reading, and I was never bored. The book moves steadily, ramping up the tension as we go until we reach the pinnacle of this story of revenge and then, with a quiet sigh, find a beautiful sort of peace in the ending, which was very fitting. I will say that my one grip with the book was that it's classed as a bit of a paranormal or supernatural tale, but that element isn't really all that prominent in the book. Frankly, I think the book could have done without it and been just as, if not more, powerful. 

All in all, I really enjoyed Vigilante Nights, and I hope it finds a bigger reviewing crowd in the blogosphere. The author's writing is solid, as is the story, so I'm sure it will impress many a reader. I give it a 4 out of 5, and I recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction and light paranormal.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.