Eighteen-year-old Theodore Perkins, "Theo", is practically modern-day nobility. His bloodlines stem from those of British aristocrats. Theo’s father, Archibald, believes the Perkins family is divine, above everyone else in society. His archaic ways do not reflect the modern Canadian society they live in.
Theo and his brother Alexander, "Alè", hate everything the Perkins family stands for. Money, greed, power, and nepotism do not sit well with the new generation of Perkins. The recipe of two brothers determined to bring down their family dynasty and their father‘s determination to preserve it brews a lethal level of tension within their household.
Theo is constantly torn between forging his own life and dealing with the inherited Perkins problems. No amount of money can fix the Perkins’ problems; only Theo can.
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Scibetta creates a layered family saga, exploring the romance and tragedy of the wealthy Perkins family. The author offers complex characterizations that will keep readers turning the pages. The frenetic finale is undeniably rousing, yet it's tempered by a somewhat sugar-coated ending.
Prose: The family relationships here are brilliantly illustrated and emotionally charged. The text touches on weighty issues of parental abuse and suicide.
Originality: Scibetta's narrative is populated with sharply described dysfunctional relationships. The novel impresses most when it descends into an avalanche of frenzied violence.
Character/Execution: Scibetta explores the unorthodox family dynamics at play in the Perkins household. Archibald Perkins is the boisterous, domineering villain of the piece. Theo's romantic relationship with Wes, however, may ultimately strike readers as unremarkable.
Date Submitted: August 01, 2023
