Author Libba Bray’s striking yet distinctive metamorphosis from the Victorian-era Gemma Doyle Trilogy introduces readers to

an entirely new character: Cameron…and boy, does he have a story to tell.

At 16 years old, slacker Cameron cannot relate to his “perfect” family, does not have many friends, and is probably the most invisible guy in school. One day, however, Cameron receives the worst shock of his life; he has “mad cow” disease and has only a few months to live. With the help of his pink-haired “guardian angel” Dulcie, his Hispanic dwarf friend Gonzo, and an ancient Viking god named Balder, Cameron partakes in the most epic road trip of his life in order to find the missing Dr. X, a man who could hold the cure to Cameron’s survival.

From the jazz-singing clubs of New Orleans to escaping a happiness cult, to battling a Dark Wizard and starring in a stereotypical MTV reality show, Cameron explores the hidden realms of America and discovers what matters the most in life. Beneath the novel’s brilliant use of satire and comedy lies the ubiquitous message of life and how one must live to their fullest.

Cameron will finally learn how to love, how to stand up for himself, and most importantly, how to be who he really is. Surprisingly, it is the threat of death that finally teaches Cameron how to live. But does he really live? Or is it just hallucinations? Is it all just a figment of his “mad cow” disease brain?

Libba Bray does an excellent job in conveying the inner thoughts of a teenager; her realistic dialogue and suspenseful plots paint a mental picture in one’s mind of Cameron’s triumphs. This page-turner will keep you guessing until the very end and even after the final chapter comes to a close. To each his own happy ending.