Anti-Bullying Week 2014 My Review of Veil of Anonymity by Lauriane Povey

Veil of Anonymity

Marcus James is dead.

He never wanted to hurt anybody. He never planned for this to happen. He never wanted Marcus dead. It just … happened … went too far. He couldn’t stop himself. So absorbed in his own dysfunctional world, selfishly concerned his own needs, he kept himself in denial about what, in truth, he was actually inflicting upon Marcus. He was a bully. He can see that now. But now is too late. Now he’s a killer.

Using anonymous texts and threats the bully destroyed Marcus, reveling in the devastation that unfolded. Yet still, he was capable of deluding himself into believing he was doing no wrong; after all, he’d never even spoken to Marcus. It was simply a game to him. Little did he know, the consequence of losing was certain death, but winning held an even less desirable fate. Because, once caught up in the evil grip of cyber bullying there is no referee, no-one in control, not when the attacker is anonymous and hiding within, and behind, the virtual maze that is the cyber world.

What caught me off guard about this story is that it is told from the bully's perspective and it walks you through what he is thinking and the actions he takes. It seems that even the smallest of things set him off. We learn little to nothing about Marcus, his family or friends. This story focuses on the bully and his actions.

I realized when I finished the book how powerful the message is. Although I have to admit it's when the bully steps into physical actions and not so much "cyber" actions that really got to me. The emotions that come through the writing are very raw. At times making me upset and disgusted as to why he could not walk away. He simmers and obsesses with his own life and emotions of the moment that you can feel his anger.

I have never read a story about an internet troll that knows exactly what he is doing, and enjoying it. The fact that it made me angry and increasingly so after the bully gets further and further obsessed with terrorizing Marcus, his family and friends shows that the author is a talent with characterization.  I recommend because of it's raw realness and emotions.   4 stars

 www.laurianepovey.co.uk
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