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Publisher: Harcourt Graphia (April 18th, 2011)
ARC: 228 Pages
Series: Horsemen of the Apocalypse #2
Book from: Publisher*

Missy didn’t mean to cut so deep. But after the party where she was humiliated in front of practically everyone in school, who could blame her for wanting some comfort? Sure, most people don’t find comfort in the touch of a razor blade, but Missy always was . . . different.

That’s why she was chosen to become one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: War. Now Missy wields a different kind of blade—a big, brutal sword that can cut down anyone and anything in her path. But it’s with this weapon in her hand that Missy learns something that could help her triumph over her own pain: control.

A unique approach to the topic of self-mutilation, Rage is the story of a young woman who discovers her own power and refuses to be defeated by the world.

Review (by Jessica)
RAGE, by Jackie Morse Kessler instantly draws you when main character Melissa “Missy” Miller confronts Death, and slams the door in His face. Missy has a fate that she must accept or she will surely die. Missy being a self-injurer she cuts, shallow and deep. Painful always. Bleed out the bad as she puts it, but one night after an ex-boyfriend tricks her into a mortifying situation she cant take it anymore and she cuts too deep. Only Death's voice can coax her to push through and open a white package that will unveil her future as War. One of the four riders of the Apocalypse.

I was sucked into this books almost instantly. The cover drew me in, with a fierce sword and beautiful colors. Instantly I was drawn to Missy's self-injuring personality, I found I could relate to some of her emotional states. She seemed like a normal teenager dealing with identity issues and not quite fitting in completely in school, dealing with bitchy girls, and a ruthless ex-boyfriend. Missy doesn't let cruel nicknames stop her from doing what she wants but when her ex, Adam starts talking to her about missing her, her entire world rapidly spins out of control.

At a party the very same night, she makes an appearance to keep up any shreds of popularity she has, and Adam makes a move toward her, with her emotions running high she stupidly follows him to an upstairs bedroom and she strips down to nothing but her scar covered skin and then her entire world shatters when Adam signals it is the time for everyone to rush in and snap pictures and videos of her scarred body. She rushes home to find Death waiting for her but again she ignores him, she needs to cut, bleed out the bad. Over and over she cuts but the bad wont go away. I wanted to scream to tell her to stop, tell her that it would end badly, then the words hit and I was ready to throw the book away!

Death was in her head telling her what to do to save herself! My image of Death went from a black robed skeletal guy to a teenage rocker with a white horse! He's seems to be pretty hot. He gives Missy a choice, and Missy wield's War's sword in the end, and becomes a horseman of the Apocalypse. She still fights a war within herself for the dominance of the violent nature of War and her nature where she wants to do whats right and not hurt people! Death, the most powerful and most attractive rider, had me wanting to be a rider so bad.

This books sucked you in and doesn't let go. At the end my jaw was left hanging open, practically begging for more. This is a perfect mix of the self-injury and paranormal genres. I am eagarly awaiting Kessler's next book, no matter what it is. Sh

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