Touch by Jus Accardo

When a strange boy tumbles down a river embankment and lands at her feet, seventeen-year-old adrenaline junkie Deznee Cross snatches the opportunity to piss off her father by bringing the mysterious hottie with ice blue eyes home.

Except there’s something off with Kale. He wears her shoes in the shower, is overly fascinated with things like DVDs and vases, and acts like she’ll turn to dust if he touches her. It’s not until Dez’s father shows up, wielding a gun and knowing more about Kale than he should, that Dez realizes there’s more to this boy—and her father’s “law firm”—than she realized.

Kale has been a prisoner of Denazen Corporation—an organization devoted to collecting “special” kids known as Sixes and using them as weapons—his entire life. And, oh yeah, his touch? It kills. The two team up with a group of rogue Sixes hellbent on taking down Denazen before they’re caught and her father discovers the biggest secret of all. A secret Dez has spent her life keeping safe.

A secret Kale will kill to protect

The first thing that was very noticeable about this story was the voice of the main character. She is very spunky, active and strong spoken. There was nothing about her that I didn't like. She meets the male love interest within the first couple of pages. Kale has just escaped from Denazen where he was being used by the company for the powers that his touch has on others. Since Kale has been raised in the facility and it is all he knows, the outside world is completely new and his character is very naive and because of his powers he is tip toed around like a ticking bomb. The contrast between the two and the relationship that they build together was as much based on friendship as it was companionship. Sure, there are some pretty heavy and hot make out scenes but no complaints here!
The story is action packed and takes on from the first chapter. Deznee is very much a dare-devil and emotional button pusher. ( I mean she does things on purpose to get a reaction from people.) She speaks her mind and does whatever she wants. Kale is her opposite, although he has the power to kill, because of where he was raised his emotions are very guarded scared. I got the feeling that Kale felt more emotionally as the protector in the relationship, even though Dez acted more like it. Hope that makes sense, Kale was guarded because of his past, but Dez is more carefree and willing to make sacrifices for what she believes in.
After Dez saves Kale she takes him home and he tells her a story about her father that Dez although thinks it's far-fetched believes him without too much convincing. Her father has been putting on a charade of being a lawyer but the firm that he is running has nothing to do with what she always assumed. When her father comes home armed with a gun ready to kill Kale, the two run.
This is one of those books where I used the term "I could not put it down" there were amazing weaved plot twists, unforseen adventures and something everyone wishes for in a series, no cliffhanger.
This is one of the most unique stories I have read in a long time. The idea of the Sixes (people with powers) and the abilities they have were very imaginative and well blended, they just seemed to make sense and really belonged in the story. I have read books this year with teens that have powers (White Cat by Holly Black) but it's a spin on the old concept of superhumans/superheros/villans etc. One that I think the Young Adult world could use more of.
Just when you think that the story is going to go one way, it goes another. Right when you think they are going to get away, they don't. Right when you think that they are onto something, they got stumped. And the best part of all, nobody is who you think they are.
I think this story was told masterfully and it's over long before your ready for it to be.
Touch (A Denazen Novel, Book 1)
Stay tuned, Saturday Nov 5th I have an Interview with Jus Accardo!