Critic Reviews

Any Comments to Leave about the Reviews, Please Post to My Fan Page: Elicia Clegg Page                          Review listed in order of being posted:        "This book is deeply disturbing and downright creepy.  Christian readers should just plain avoid it, for it is nothing like what Philippians 4:8 says we should think about.  The worddevil is spoken of one too many times in just the first chapter.  Audaciously enough, it is even capitalized.  There are even swear words--even the big f-one--in the first chapter.  The book is about a messed up girl who got kidnapped, went through a nut house, and then tried in vain to reenter society.  The story is not redemptive, and it sould just be pushed aside.  Smart Book Review   "Why then did she feel so old, aged beyond her tender years; and just what did innocent and tender years constitute? Devin's fingers came up, touching her parted lips. Her mouth breathed as she whispered into the cold, empty air. 'The hunt..'” This is the reflection of Devin, the main character of Elicia Clegg's novel Vexation. The story delivers all that this ominous statement promises. Devin, months earlier, was kidnapped in front of her high school at the tender age of fifteen and forced to commit heinous crime in games created by her captor, referred to as Grandfather, to write his books. Eventually Devin escapes, but with only a limited grasp on reality, unable to mentally escape Grandfather's mental control. It is exactly this mental instability which Clegg uses to effectively disorientate her readers, causing them to constantly question whether these flashbacks are real memories or simply the sick imaginings of a disturbed young girl. It doesn't help Devin's mental state that those at home are hiding much as well. Her best friends (Melissa, Jen, Rachel, and Stephanie) turn on her for the sake of popularity in a way that sets off a mental breakdown in Devin. Devin's relationship with her parents is not much better. She constantly questions their love for her after she returns. After a while Devin's continued fear of Grandfather's ability to hurt her family causes her to run away to Utah where she moves in with an old friend she runs into. For a while life in Utah, seems simple and safe. However, eventually even her simple life in a small town turns out to have more beneath the surface than it seems. The close friends she has joined all have secrets they are each harboring from the others. And soon it becomes apparent that her past imprisonment may be coming back to haunt her in an unexpected manner. Though much of the subject matter is dark and depicted in raw, blunt language, there is a vein of hope which winds its way through the novel, making the reader feel compelled to keep turning the for the hope of a turn of events. This is well- counter balanced with chapters sporadically flashing back to either Devin's memories of her captivity or scene of the boy was trapped with Cole, in his struggle to keep Devin safely away from Grandfather. The uncertainty of it all is reinforced by the piecemeal way in which the reader receives the information about Devin's captivity with at first only vague references and memories from Devin and short scenes with Cole. By the end, everything is questionable from what is real love to the morality role of writing a novel. Grandfather plays god with real people in order to write his stories. This experience deeply affects the way Devin views her own writing and writing in general. When asked one day why she stopped writing she thinks, “Writing is dangerous; it gets inside of you. You first write someone up; then you give then feelings. Suddenly, they become alive. Real as you and me. You are controlling them, their destiny. Playing God. What happens when you lose sight of if you are real or the character is real? What happens when you forget that you are sitting at a typewriter and not inside a book?” This question is left unanswered by Devin and one the reader is forced to confront by the unescapable fact that the worlds of fiction and reality have been merged.   ***Diary of A Book Nerd Blog             I was sent this novel to review and typically I don't like what I am sent, but I review it anyway.  This book caught my attention from the moment I opened the envelope.  Designed with an innocence and backdrop of danger...the cover drew me in and as I read I fell in love with Devin's story.        Vexation, another name for confusion is what Devin is faced with when each move she takes is watched, controlled, alone, and can be a fatal mistake.  A suspenseful read about a girl who must come face to face with her abductor, a man bent on power, glory and immortality. **Ami   hotgossiphotreviews.com                                                                                                                                       Vexation is about a girl who is kidnapped and then has her mind messed with so bad that she is not sure who she really is any more. Is she good, is she evil? She manages to escape, but did she escape with her mind still intact?  Or is she still being carefully watched by an evil man called the Grandfather?    What really did happen to Devin?    At first I felt this book was a bit slow to read. But then I didn’t know what the heck was going on. It’s like watching a movie and always asking the person next to you what is going on. You’re lost and confused until the story starts unfolding and then still not sure what is going to happen at the end until the end gets here.    I think that is what the author wanted when she wrote this book. It left you constantly trying to guess what this story is about, which of course made you want to keep reading.    I think this is a good book for teens as well as parents to read. It shows us how twisted some people are and how predators can get into our heads and really mess with us, and no matter how hard we try, we still can’t always protect the ones we love.    Patty Foltz                *Way2Kool Designs*                      www.way2Kooldesigns.com            Suspense Magazine     Local Book Clubs

o   I wonder how is it that you came up with this kind of story?  I loved it.  ***Debbie

o   I really like the story line, I couldn't put it down, but I need to know, was it edited at all?   ***Kim

•  I think it was a good book, check it out.   ***TeenageReader14

• Captivating, I enjoyed reading a book I can't set down.  This book is a must read.  The ending was a complete surprise, twists and turns throughout.  ***Italco

• Loved that sexy bad boy character Cole  ***FireRate

• I'm always leery of new authors, but I got this book two days ago and finished it.  It took me back to high school, the imagery was so real.   ***Wizard73

• This book kept me guessing right up to the end  ***Mercedes K

o   Vexation is a wonderful piece of work that will capture your mind and slip into a great suspense novel.  It keeps you guessing as to what is real or not.  Elicia Clegg did a fantastic job in creating Devin's world and inner thoughts.  I think most teens and adults can relate to Devin's views and experiences.  However with the twist of Grandfather...this makes for fantastic reading that you will not want to put down until you finish it.    ***Filod Young

• This engaging, suspenseful book will twist your mind as the  author takes you on a journey through the eyes of the young beautiful Devin.             ***Joey F. 
•  Okay, so I really liked the book.  If I could rate it I would give it a 5 star! But, sadly....I can't.  So, here are some of the things I like and dislike.

      Good Job Elicia!!!                          ********Payton

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