Customer Reviews

Burn

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Bond agent Jasmine Reyes is willing to give anybody a second chance. Her latest client is graffiti artist Macho Booker, who reminds Jasmine of her own deceased twin brother Jason. But when a $10,000 bail is posted, and Macho vanishes without a trace, Jasmine will stop at nothing to find him. But she may have bit off more than she can chew when Jasmine finds out a devastating secret about Macho's employer Dr. Adriano Suarez. Suarez is a modern day Robin Hood providing affordable healthcare to New York's poorest residents. But he doesn't want his questionable practices exposed or for Jasmine to find out how much he's connected to Macho's disappearance. Jasmine also has her own personal issues when her past demons slap her in the face.

Burn is an ambitious and innovative novel by Black Artemis. Artemis tackles many issues in the novel such as affordable health care, HIV/AIDS, and the justice system. I really like the excellent character development in this novel. I thought that Jasmine Reyes' profession as a bond agent was a refreshing and unique change from other women protagonists. Incorporating the whole graffiti culture into the story was not only entertaining but enlightening as well. This novel also shows how one's past mistakes can catch up to them when you least expect it. Burn is full of breathtaking, real life drama that pulls no punches. Black Artemis knows how to tell a story and helps us to open our eyes to a culture we might not have known to exist.

Girl Friday!

Burn by Black Artemis is a book about a female bail bondswoman named Jasmine Reyes. Jasmine is not your average run-of-the-mill girl; she is a take-charge woman and when she puts up a bond for your release you better make every court appearance or else!

Burn is a well-told street tale which includes social commentaries such as the AIDS epidemic, lack of good quality health care, and the justice system. Take a journey with Jasmine as she chases down bail jumpers, gets in fights, tries to save lives and runs her own business. Risking her life in what is known as a man's job, Jasmine takes to one of her clients, and her mission is to make sure he is returned to society safely.

Several of the characters in this story were very artsy and dramatic; readers could definitely relate to them. Black Artemis deftly incorporates a secondary storyline about street art and the trials and tribulations that some of these groups go through to showcase their creativity via 'tagging' and basically to be accepted.

I recommend this book to young high-school students who are trying to find their way in society today.

Cheryl H
APOOO BookClub

I just finished reading "Burn" this weekend, purposely missing my train stop 'cause I was at the end of the book. "Burn" was a real juicy page-turner. I liked how complex and tough Jasmine was. I loved Felicidad and how she was portrayed - real, multi-dimensional and funny without being the cliched tranny clown. All the characters felt fully realized and the plot was hot! I learned alot about the bail bond business. I could totally see "Burn" turned into a movie.

Reviewed by Ronald J. Martin for Reader View (6/06)



As the reader rides shotgun with bondswoman Jasmine Reyes you follow her life: court appearances, bail jumpers, cigarettes, whiskey, keeping clients in line, love affairs, and office politics are all a small portion of a regular day at Reye's Bonds.

Jasmine is the bail agent with a heart. She believes in second chances and will post bail pro bono for clients with low flight risk and good possibility of rehabilitation.

When Jasmine runs into Malcolm "Macho" Booker, a graffiti writer charged with armed robbery for his theft of spray paint, she gets a wake up call from the past. Macho reminds her of her late twin brother, who was also a graffiti artist and killed himself while in lockdown.

Malcolm is a low flight risk, and has a contract to do his graffiti legally for a local health clinic. So after Jasmine posts the bail and Macho takes off, she has a mystery to solve and $10,000 on the line!

She has a feeling that Malcolm's running away might have something to do with the high rolling humanitarian doctor running the clinic, who might not be as saintly as most think.

This book was a good read and has an ending that ties up the loose ends, which in my opinion is a good writing style. If you like books that tell a story and don't just setup for part two then you won't be disappointed.

Unfortunately some of the social commentary had me groaning out loud. A lot of it was really out of place and seemed to come out of left field (pun intended). For example, discussing the faults of Mayor Giuliani in a book about graffiti is appropriate. He was a big enemy in the world of a graffiti writer and it makes sense to bring it up. On the other hand, having the main character Jasmine discuss with her employee the issue of Gender Identity Disorder and if it exists or not, was a pretty far stretch and didn't advance the plot.

"BURN" takes the reader twisting and turning on a journey that is entertaining and also explores a plethora of social issues.

Please note that this is an ADULT fiction book. Coarse language and adult themes are used. I would recommend it for the 20-30 age range with an interest in graffiti and hip hop.

Received book free of charge.