Randy Russell

From the moment I started this book all I could think was Tim Burton could make a killer movie out of this. It's dark and macabre but has a quirky charm. One of my favourite lines from the book was in the first few pages and it really showcases Jana's personality and the strange atmosphere the book invokes, so I thought I would share it. " If I strangle you right now as hard as I can, will you quit talking like that?" Jana asked" Now this could be said in a number of ways and not be weird, show more but she says it in a very serious way and it totally cracked me up.
I feel like this book is ultimately about how people perceive things, and intead of a coming of age tale it's a coming to grips with your demise tale. Like how the love you felt in a relationship can be your whole world and the most important thing to you, but be suffocating and irrational to someone else. Or feeling your death was brought on by some indiscretion on your part, where someone else feels it was just your time. You watch everyone deal with their deaths in different ways, some just going with the flow, some struggling, some seeking redemption, and even some plotting to help others meet their maker.
The characters in the book were great, even ones with small parts. There was a wide range of personalities that were as unique as each of their deaths, they all brought there own flavour and purpose to the story.
Dead Rules was really fun to read and I loved every single page of this book, I can't wait to read more by Randy Russell. This book gets 5 out of 5. show less

This book was pitched to me as a cross between Romeo and Juliet and Heathers. That was certainly enough for me, and I'm guessing it's going to be enough for a lot of you as well. If it's not, or if you're unfamiliar with the genius that is Heathers (or you're talking to a group of teens who've yet to see it), don't worry. Dead Rules is great, and familiarity with neither Heathers nor Romeo and Juliet is necessary in order to understand this book.

Jana is absolutely heartbroken to be away show more from Michael in the afterlife. She is one of those girls who does not exist outside of her relationship. She even introduces herself as Jana, of Webster and Haynes (as in Jana Webster and Michael Haynes). I have to admit that I kind of hate those girls. In the beginning of this book, Jana was no exception. Luckily she pairs up with Mars Dreamcote (yes, it conveniently rhymes with dreamboat) pretty quickly. I don't know that I would have been able to stick it out through a whole book of her otherwise, and that would have been a shame. This book is more than just Jana and her longing for Michael. It's also about Jana's adjustment to the afterlife, Mars's lack of adjustment, Arva, Beatrice, Christie, Wyatt(!), the grays, and the virgins.

The social hierarchy of Dead School, like that of any high school, is complicated to outsiders, and I liked watching Jana figure out how to navigate and then ignore it. The sliders vs. risers was something that I wished was explained a little bit more, but it's clear that Jana (and we) find out everything that the students know about why most people end up in one of these two groups. Any more information would have made this a completely different book as it would have required more sleuthing and less Michael's-death planning. Getting all her information from other students definitely enhanced the story. As Jana gets to know her roommates, Mars's slider buddies, and other folks around campus, she also gets to hear their death stories, and I LOVED reading everyone's death stories. They very nicely ranged from the ridiculous to the very, very serious/tragic.

Overall, Dead Rules is a fun read! It's less romance-y than your average paranormal romance. In fact, it kind of pokes holes in the idea of blind devotion and teenage lurv that lasts for all eternity. That and the dark humor made it a great fit for me, and I think other readers who roll their eyes at flowery proclamations and super-serious feeelins will love it too. Those looking for the story of a love that continues beyond the grave may not.

Book source: ARC provided by the publisher. show less

Dead Rules is a fun, fresh life-after-death novel. When Jana dies in a freak bowling accident, she wakes up on a school bus. She's on her way to Dead School, where teens go when they die since they haven't lived enough to prove whether they are heading up or down. Jana's less concerned with being dead than she should be. The only thing that matters to her is the loss of her constantly attached-at-the-hip boyfriend Michael.

Michael's alive. For now. As a riser, Jana is less tethered to the show more Planet than the sliders. Meaning, she can't effect things on Earth the way the bad kids can. She needs to kill Michael so they can be together again, so she actively tries to get demerits in the hopes of being demoted to slider. Along teh way she makes some friends, becomes rather attracted to a slider named Mars, and learns that maybe Romeo and Juliet got it wrong.

Jana is uber annoying in the beginning of Dead Rules. She's obsessed with a capital STALKER when it comes to her boyfriend. She loves him so much she needs to kill him so they can be together forever. And soon, since he'll forget about her and their love if she doesn't get him back immediately. Oh, sweet, completely messed up Jana, how you make me want to strangle you. Mourn your still living boyfriend. Move on with obviously interested Mars. Just stop being a psycho girlfriend already.

Michael is a douche who Jana idolizes for no obvious reason. Super hot Mars clearly cares about her, but since Michael is the be-all-and-end-all of guys, she dismisses him. The school, the other students, the many stories of how each person died, every single thing about Dead Rules is wonderful. Except Jana. Who needs to be kicked in the head for being THAT girl. I even enjoyed her insanity for a while, but it went on for far too long.

Darkly comedic and utterly refreshing, Dead Rules is a wonderful debut novel. I'll be on the look out for more novels like this one from Randy Russell in the future. show less

RATING: another 3.5-ish.

And... here's yet another book that turned out to be a bit different than what I was expecting (I really should start paying more attention to book synopsis'). You know, with the whole 'dead school' business, I thought the main character was going to be learning to control supernatural powers and all.

Well, I was wrong. "Dead Rules" is more of a creepy, horror-ish story about how love can be obsessive and destructive. The whole setting reminded me of "Angel Beats" show more which was nice since I loved the whole "school-for-dead-teenagers" idea that was presented in the anime.

This book explores the same concept; Jana Webster died in a freak bowling accident and ended up in "dead school". Why, it's unclear but apparently dying doesn't exempt one from finishing high school. Of course "dead school" is not like regular school... or at least the classes aren't; the social division seems to be pretty similar.

But Jana isn't interested in any of that. She only wants Michael, her perfect boyfriend to join her... in death. And she'll do whatever it takes to make sure she gets her wish.

So... good concept, yes? A strange school where the teachers teach weird things and people are almost literally divided into "most and less likely to succeed" groups. What they must achieve, however, is a mystery - although it's not difficult to guess.

Pity the author decided to focus the story on Jana's love life. Don't get me wrong, he does it a lot better than most YA authors. The romance is certainly believable and Jana's unhealthy obsession is portrayed in a chillingly realistic manner. But... the world is so interesting I almost resented the author's choice of plot. I think he could have done a lot more with the story if Jana had tried to understand her new life and the purpose of the school instead of spending the entire book trying to contact her boyfriend.

Even if the book doesn't tell the story I most wanted to read about I still liked it. Russell created brilliant, original main characters - Jana and Mars - who are very different from your usual protagonists. This book is very character-driven and it works mainly because although Jana is creepy and slightly off her rocker we still empathize with her a bit as she is inherently nice even if she's... well, crazy.
Mars is another surprise. He seems like your typical "bad boy" character but is so much more.

Overall, "Dead Rules" was a fun, almost compulsive read; I liked the idea behind the book but the execution could have been better. show less