capriceum

This is the oldest book in my TBR list, added back in 2012 when I was still an edgy high school senior. I still remember the day one of my acquaintances recommended it to me. I was determined to finally check it off my list this year.

So, right off, the frequent use of the n-word rubs me the wrong way. But I recognize that it's necessary for the authenticity of the characters given the context. It's never really used in a way that doesn't make sense, so I find it acceptable, I guess. And I'm pretty sure the author is black, which makes all the difference, of course.

I liked that we get a psychological overview of basically all the characters in the book. Huskins often mentions the mental health ramifications of events in the book. It's a refreshingly real way of presenting characters, especially given the situation and background of the main characters. The fact that these two emotionally immature girls can feel the emotions of others makes things even more interesting. Through them the reader gets a glimpse at the inner life of everyone, including the human traffickers.

The plot comes to a beautiful head with a firefight between the police and the bad guys, and there's some wickedly sweet imagery that reminds me of the way Alma in the F.E.A.R. games can telepathically bring people's nightmarish thoughts into reality. I can see why my acquaintance recommended this to me after reading those scenes. I was all into sadistic stuff in high school, and this book has peak levels of sadism.