Blood Tithe, by Glenn Soucy, tracks five-year-old Jeremy from typical kid to teen vigilante.
Before Jeremy falls into a tunnel of mysterious acid, he and best friend Sammy spend hours at the river daring blood-sucking leeches to latch on to their toes. After surviving his plunge into corrosive liquid, Jeremy becomes a freak, an easy target for the school bully. He also develops strange powers.
His mother and sister grow increasingly afraid of Jeremy and withdraw from him. The boy who loves climbing trees, fishing, and playing catch with his dad harbors a dark secret capable of destroying his entire family. The more he seeks to deny his special abilities and win back the love of his family, the more danger he inadvertently causes them.
Because compassion beats within his young heart, Jeremy releases an old man from a forgotten prison cell. The Howler, as Jeremy calls him, proves more monster than man. Somehow, Jeremy survives his encounter with the heartless, soul-less enemy.
Now a teen and in love for the first time, Jeremys life finally seems upbeat and complete. Until the Howler returns.
The characters remain true to type and painfully real from the beginning to the end. Action never falters and terror lurks on every page. Blood Tithe, simply put, is brilliant. It is full of unexpected twists including a life truth that even the Howler never saw coming.
Blood Tithe, by Glenn Soucy, tracks five-year-old Jeremy from typical kid to teen vigilante. Before Jeremy falls into a tunnel of mysterious acid, he and best friend Sammy spend hours at the river daring blood-sucking leeches to latch on to their toes. After surviving his plunge into corrosive liquid, Jeremy becomes a freak, an easy target for the school bully. He also develops strange powers. His mother and sister grow increasingly afraid of Jeremy and withdraw from him. The boy who loves climbing trees, fishing, and playing catch with his dad harbors a dark secret capable of destroying his entire family. The more he seeks to deny his special abilities and win back the love of his family, the more danger he inadvertently causes them. Because compassion beats within his young heart, Jeremy releases an old man from a forgotten prison cell. The Howler, as Jeremy calls him, proves more monster than man. Somehow, Jeremy survives his encounter with the heartless, soul-less enemy. Now a teen and in love for the first time, Jeremys life finally seems upbeat and complete. Until the Howler returns. The characters remain true to type and painfully real from the beginning to the end. Action never falters and terror lurks on every page. Blood Tithe, simply put, is brilliant. It is full of unexpected twists including a life truth that even the Howler never saw coming.