AUTUMN VS WELL DESERVED

Autumn Leaves Contemplates the Character of Raven as She Takes on “Well Deserved” by Miko Christiaansen

TITLE: Well Deserved

AUTHOR: Miko Christiaansen

GENRE: Horror

PAGES: 110

PRICE: Ebook $4.99, Paperback $10.00

“Well Deserved” is the story of Raven, a vigilante who kills pedophiles after learning that her best friend, Marie, was assaulted by her stepfather. Though Raven killed him, her lust for blood and vengeance is left unsatisfied, keeping her seeking out her “next fix”: a new listing on the directory of sexual offenders. Raven’s continued obsession with killing and controlling the people around her leads to a major rift in her relationship with Marie. It is only with the introduction of the character Nick, a handsome detective, that Raven finds another outlet for her obsession, this time with lust and love. Can Nick’s protection ensure Raven’s safety as she continues to knock off perverts? Or has she finally past the point of salvation?

I spent a lot of time pondering the nature of Raven’s character as I read. In the intro, Raven is described as a trauma survivor and that this is her story. We know that Raven commits her first murder on behalf of her best friend. What we do not see is the trauma that Raven herself is recovering from. This makes her a very interesting character, if a bit challenging to pin down. As a reader and based on Raven’s continuous need for vengeance, I can only assume that perhaps she suffered similar trauma to that of Marie.

What made it sometimes difficult to empathize with Raven is her profound need to control those around her, particularly Marie. When Marie has to move due to her mother’s work, Raven feels betrayed and abandoned. When she does see Marie again for a visit, she very quickly asks Marie if she has found a new best friend. This causes Marie to become defensive and a tension in their relationship is born which never truly fades away.

Another thing I found surprising about Raven’s character is her attraction to Nick, who, of course, is more than who he seems to be. What puzzles me about their relationship is that Raven and Nick meet officially merely days after Raven has turned 18 and Nick is 26, fully an adult man and 8 years her senior. But, like life, not every aspect of a story will always resonate with a reader.

What Christiaansen has done very well here is to effectively capture and represent the voice of a troubled teen, trying to figure out how to do the right thing when perhaps she – Raven – has not developed or has not been properly taught how to do so in a healthy way. “Well Deserved” reads as if Raven is telling the story herself, through the eyes and with the language of a teenage girl. Trauma sufferers react emotionally because trauma itself is an injury. Trauma, left untreated, can change and confuse who we are. This is one of the reasons why it is so difficult, and perhaps unfair, to apply moral judgements on the actions of someone dealing with trauma.

If you like “Well Deserved” by Miko Christiaansen, check out “Your Body, My Choice” by Rayne Havok.

Autumn Leaves is a Canadian author and poet. Her poem “Siren’s Song” was published when she was 15. Autumn is in love with the dark and has an affinity for all things horrific and disturbing. Autumn is also an avid horror reader and book reviewer. Her favorite author is Jack Ketchum. She lives with her children and army of fur babies on a small island off the coast of Maine.

PLEASE NOTE: The views and opinions of the staff of Memento Mori Ink do not necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or Crystal Lake Publishing, nor do the views or opinions of Crystal Lake necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or its staff. Thank you for understanding.