Title: Violence Begets
Author: PT Denys
Genre: YA LGBT Fiction
After a tragic accident devastates his family, 16-year-old Rick St. James starts his junior year of high school without any friends in a suburb of Salt Lake City, Utah. When he meets Kevin Vincent, he’s too distracted by the promise of new friends to see that Kevin has secrets of his own.
Having created an environment where he’s feared and admired by his classmates, Kevin finds pleasure in using his good looks and violence to control and manipulate those around him. Secretly, he cruises the gay club scene, turning tricks to earn money so he can party and get high.
As Rick’s dad becomes increasingly violent and abusive at home, the two form a surprising and volatile trust. In this battle of wills, their precarious friendship will either keep their lives from blowing up around them or possibly light the fuse that will cause the explosion.
After reading this, I feel emotionally drained. What an amazing book. It’s tragic but beautiful, as are the characters. The story just about broke my heart and it’s so intense! I was sitting on the edge of my seat the entire time. The boys went through so much and their lives were so horrible, that every glimpse of light in their life made me happy for them. They deserved so much better than the deal they got. The ending just about did me in, though.
Bedazzled Reading 