Tragic Review

Firstly I have to say that Tragic was completely unexpected for me.  I had serious amounts of cover love when I first saw it, but I thought all that glitters cannot be gold.  I was expecting something that was terrifying, but I am happy to report that I was pleasantly surprised with what J.A. Huss delivers in Tragic. 

Rook Walsh is TRAGIC

Because life so far – just sucks. Some girls get parents. Rook got the foster care system. Some girls get Prince Charming. Rook got an abusive frog. Some girls get lucky…

Rook got a second chance.

And she took it. Because when fate throws you a bone – you grab it with both hands and run.

Antoine Chaput knows the minute he spies Rook in his photography studio that she’s got The Look. The dark and desperate look he must have to land the exclusive TRAGIC media contract.

Rook is paired up with top model, Ronin, and he’s everything her abusive ex-boyfriend wasn’t. Patient, gentle, happy, attentive, and sexy! He knows exactly what to do to make Rook blush for Antoine’s camera.

Rook’s luck changes in an instant and suddenly she’s the darling of the modeling world. It’s a dream job to go with a dream guy and all she has to do is look pretty and follow directions. But there’s always a price to pay – and Rook is about to get the bill.

New Adult Contemporary Romance *Mature Content* Recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations and language usage

Review:  I went into tragic thinking that I was going to come out emotionally stripped. From the synopsis it sounded like Rook's life is just an epic pile of shit, and it just keeps coming.  But, we actually meet Rook when her circumstances are about to change for the good and confusing.  An opportunity literally falls on her head, and for the money she desperately needs to survive she will do anything. 

Huss does a wonderful job of setting up the scene in Tragic.  She creates some really kick ass characters, that jump off of the pages.  Half of the time I felt like I was in the scenes with them.  I'm still mulling over my qualms with this book, because while I feel that Rook was very trusting in a very intensely weird situation, I had to step back and think, "Well where else is she going to go."  She literally has to stay with Antoine and Ronin because she literally has nothing. 

So, while I may cringe at her not following her gut instincts sometimes, I understand the purpose of how her character is written and why she stays. 

As far as the other characters in the book go, I loved Elise.  She was the balance in to the crazy of the other characters that was needed.  I was slightly surprised that Antoine didn't really have as much focus as I thought he was going to.  I was expecting him to be very front and center, but he wasn't; from the way he was described however, I have a feeling that a whole lot more crazy has yet to have been unleashed. 

Now for Ronin, who warrants his very own section.  Ronin was sweet, charming, and utterly confusing.  I think Huss characterized him very well, in showing that while he thinks he has all his crap together, he's still really young and might not have everything figured out in regards to Rook.  Plus he's hot.  Need I say more than that?

J.A. Huss has created a brilliant story with rich characters.  I really appreciated that there wasn't a huge, make you want to tear your hair out cliffhanger at the end, even though this is a series.  Tragic is a scintillating read that will hook even the pickiest of New Adult readers, with a plot that is very much unique and intriguing.  If you haven't picked up Tragic yet, you should.  I highly recommend it. 

4.5/5 Oh Yeah I liked it a lot!