Toxic: Review

Synopsis:

When a Six saved Kale's life the night of Sumrun, she warned there would be consequences. A trade-off. Something taken for the life they gained. But Dez never imagined she'd lose the one thing she'd give anything to keep... And as if it's not enough Dez finds her immunity to Kale fading, the Six brought in to help Kale learn to control his killer touch starts drooling on him the moment they meet. Worse than that? Jade can touch Kale. But bimbo Barbie is the least of Dez's problems.

After Dez and Kale got away at Sumrun, her father lost not only his most powerful weapon but an important piece of the Supremacy project. Forced by Denazen to remedy the situation, he poisons Dez and offers her a choice--surrender to Denazen for the cure...or die. Determined to find a solution that doesn't involve being bagged and tagged--or losing someone she loves--Dez keeps the poison a secret. But when a rash of Denazen attacks hit a little too close to home, Dez is convinced there's a traitor among them. Jade.

Sacrifices, broken promises, and secrets. Dez will have to lay it all on the line if there's any hope of proving Jade's guilt before they all end up Residents of Denazen. Or worse, dead...

***

I like Touch and it's one of the better novels I've read this year. Unfortunately it's not the same in its sequel, Toxic. In fact it's one of the most frustrating novels I've read EVER. Many times I found that I want to throw the book across the room just because it's annoying on some levels and the so-very-flawed plot.

First is the plot. Which is a less-of-a-problem comparing to what I'm going to talk about next. The plot is so very predictable, unlike Touch. (SPOILER!) I can totally guess that Jade (aka punk-ass bitch) is not the traitor even though she's so very annoying (End of Spoiler). I also know that something bad will happen at the end of the book without even reading the second half of the book. Yeah, it's predictable like that. I still enjoy the story, but it's lost the spark and the element of surprise.

And now the bitch-out part, which I can barely hold it in. Because this, this love triangle thing is one of the worst thing I've ever seen. Jade is manipulative, annoying and bitchy. Using Kale's innocence to hurt Dez makes me want to hit her in the face. Dang it, I wish she will die horribly, and that was saying something. Several times I have to put down the book just to calm my anger and disgust. I'd never, ever hate a female character so much that I want to kill her myself, in my own cruel way. 

Kale is not much better either. There are countless times when I shout out, "Kale, come on, can't you be less insensitive and innocent?" Oh yeah, his sparkling purity is his greatest sin. I understand that Kale doesn't know much about the world outside Denazen, but dang it, this is HIS feelings we're talking about. Don't you tell me Kale doesn't know how he feels. And is he so innocent that he doesn't know kissing another girl while your girlfriend's watching is asking for death? Insensitive much? I won't go that far to say he's a man-whore or something like that because I understand he's too innocent to know better. But that doesn't mean I'm not frustrated with him and sometimes want to kick him just to make him see some sense. My view towards him drops like angels in the Fall. And Dez... Dez is slightly better than these two, but I can't believe that after everything Kale has done to hurt her, she's still into him. Hard. I'm not against the idea of her into him, but seriously I think Dez is losing her self-respect. Come on, where's the girl power in Touch? 

Plot development? Not much to even talk about. Surprise? Barely. Romance? It's better to kick myself in the head. Yeah, I think I might just grow more and more frustrated with the series.

Rating: 5/10

P.S. I'm reading Tremble now and Toxic is nothing compare to Tremble in terms of frustration. Well, let's just say right now, I kinda hate Kale. Yeah. And worse, I'm not sure the feeling will go away anytime soon.