Jenny Pox is written by author J L Bryan. As are many books, it is the story of a girl. Jenny is a curse, a plague. Her simple touch can kill, causing the recipient to become victim to the plague. Her touch killed her mother and the doctor and nurse who brought her into this world. Jenny's biggest fear is that she might accidentally kill someone. Because of this fear she lives apart from everyone but her father. She has never known the touch of human skin or the intimacy of a kiss. She touches no one and so the world is safe. All that changes when she realizes there is but one person in the world she can touch. Seth Barrett is her opposite. He is the miracle and she is the curse. They are immediately drawn to each other but there is one problem. Seth's girlfriend Ashleigh wields a terrible power. She wields the power of love and as a result no one can refuse her. Seth and Jenny must find a way to stop Ashleigh from enslaving the world.
Jenny Pox is well written and intriguing. I thought, upon reading the synopsis, that it would be a typical Teen Paranormal Romance but I was wrong. The author delves deep into the psyche to illustrate a completely believable high school experience.
I find the use of Christianity as a means of manipulation as fair comparison to the world. Ashleigh uses Christianity as well as her power to make people love her to twist the town into submission. It is a reminder that not all those who speak highly of God carry that message in their hearts and that though love is beautiful it is also ugly. However, I am not a "believer" and so I was not offended. Those who are Christian would do well to realize that not all who claim to be Christian are true to the religion. Some may be offended by this and the sexual content of the book as well as the gore. This book isn't for lightweights. If you're easily offended then you won't enjoy it. But for the rest of us it's a fantastic read. It will draw you in and have you begging Ashleigh to stop her evil ways. You will be yelling at Jenny to stand up for herself and belittling Seth for being weak to Ashleigh's touch.
