Best Teen & Young Adult Thrillers & Suspense
Red Queen , by #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Aveyard, is a sweeping tale of power, intrigue, and betrayal, perfect for fans of George R.R. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard—a growing Red rebellion—even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. Mare's resigned herself to the fact that she'll always serve the Silver, a genetically gifted group of people with supernatural abilities. A chance encounter with the prince causes Mare to suddenly find herself at the royal palace as a servant, where she discovers in front of everyone that she also has a unique gift. The king and queen quickly cover up Mare's anomaly by presenting her to the rest of the Silvers as a long-lost princess and betroth her to their second-born son. There's a bit of teen romance, but luckily the characters are self-aware enough to realize its frivolity among the story's more important plot points. A solid debut from Aveyard and a welcome addition to the plethora of speculative teen lit.—Kimberly Castle-Alberts, Hudson Library & Historical Society, OH "A sizzling, imaginative thriller, where romance and revolution collide, where power and justice duel. " [Aveyard] sets her audience up for a gaspworthy twist that reconfigures nearly every character's role and leaves Mare with no one to trust but herself... Readers will be intrigued by a world that reflects today's troubling issues concerning ethnic inequality, unfair distribution of wealth, pollution, warfare, political corruption, and the frightening power of the media."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Mare and her family and friends despise Silvers, who treat Reds like dirt and have Reds fight an unending war with a neighboring country for them. Things That Frustrated Me: The heroine: my biggest frustration with this book was the lack of character development in Mare. The romance: There were (count 'em) THREE love interests for Mare in this book. The tropes: The problem with obvious writing is that if you have a story hat relies on a lot of tropes (poor girl who's special and different; prince who is not thrilled about being prince and just wants to be normal, world that is separated into classes that needs to be overthrown), you can guess what's going to happen, and your mind tends to wander. It's frustrating because I couldn't help but notice and compare this book to a ton of other YA books (I thought of The Selection, Divergent, Hunger Games, even Harry Potter while I was reading), and the book never went beyond or did anything better or different with those tropes. I enjoyed getting into this world through Mare's eyes - as a Red, she really doesn't know much about it, and it's both interesting to see it develop and to see her thoughts on it in her unique position. I felt like I knew more about them than I did about Mare by the end of the book. Brimming with action and classic speculative fiction tropes, this is a good book for younger teens new to fantasy or looking for a book with magic to devour like popcorn."
"I didn’t read what it was about at all, I just bought the kindle edition because I’ve heard of it and it was on sale."
"The Red Queen grabs the reader and pulls them into a world separated into factions, the Silvers and the Reds."
"I liked the twist on evolution and the class struggle between the Reds and the Silvers, differences compounded by different colors of blood (literally) and the presence, or lack, of supernatural powers."
"I do realize that part of the issue I have with the book is that I was expecting something different in the storyline, and I didn't like the outcome at all. I liked her flaws in the beginning of the story, and I loved the characters that surrounded her, and the premise. Instead of growing as a person, she goes backwards and then spends the last of the book feeling sorry for herself and what's been done to her, and merely touches on the pain she's inflicted on others."
"But the writing is not particularly artistic, and the emotional portraits of the characters are flat and immature."
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo returns to the breathtaking world of the Grishaverse in this unforgettable tale about the opportunity—and the adventure—of a lifetime. “ Six of Crows is a twisty and elegantly crafted masterpiece that thrilled me from the beginning to end.” – New York Times -bestselling author Holly Black. “ Six of Crows [is] one of those all-too-rare, unputdownable books that keeps your eyes glued to the page and your brain scrambling to figure out what’s going to happen next.” –Michael Dante DiMartino, co-creator of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra. “There's conflict between morality and amorality and an appetite for sometimes grimace-inducing violence that recalls the Game of Thrones series. “There’s a level of emotional and historical sophistication within Bardugo’s original epic fantasy that sets it apart.” — Vanity Fair. “Bardugo crafts a first-rate adventure, a poignant romance, and an intriguing mystery!” —Rick Riordan, bestselling author of the Percy Jackson series. They are to nab the creator of jurda parem, a highly addictive product that enhances the innate paranormal powers of the Grisha peoples, in the hopes of creating weapons of war that will upset the balance of power and destroy the economies of rival governments. While the unresolved ending may frustrate some teens, the promise of a sequel will give them hope that this unsettling, captivating, magical journey will continue.—Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The twists and turns Bardugo had done to this book is what I loved about it, though there are a few predictable parts as well. So many times I had to gasp or had my mouth drop from the twists and it was just an amazing experience. This book has characters from the poc and lgbt+ community with personalities that you can't help but come to love. There are so many things I wanna say about Wylan and how precious he is as a character, especially in the second book, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone who plans on reading it. The plot of this book was what initially attracted my attention and was the reason why I purchased it. They're more focused on getting out alive from their mission and although the romance is subtly touched on with the characters, you'll find yourself not really caring about it because you'll want to know what's happening in the book. It wasn't overly detailed to the point where I'll get tired and bored, but it was enough to get a good image of the setting. The book itself is black but the side of the pages are red and it may just be me, but I found it just absolutely gorgeous. DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK IF YOU'RE TIRED OF YOUR TYPICAL YA STORY PLOTS THAT REVOLVE AROUND ROMANCE AND THE LIKE."
"And I have to say that this is one of the best book for cast members I’ve ever read. Our sexy little gang leader of the Dregs with a conniving mind, quick hand, and even quicker wit. His back story had me in tears, his hind had me grinning like a fool, and his heart had tripping all over itself. INEJ is an outside member of the Dregs, gathering information and secrets by being nothing more than a ghost – Wraith – slinking around unnoticed through alleyways and rooftops. NINA is our beautiful Grisha: a flirty smart ass who o can bring death with a squeeze of her fist. Meet JESPER, our trigger happy gunman with a pull towards the gambling halls. There are just too many quotes and sayings and sections that I absolutely adored to try to fit them all in this review. The simple parts of romance weaved into this book were so perfect, and so beautiful, and so, oh-oh-oh. THAT HE WAS TWISTED, CROOKED, WRONG, BUT NOT SO BROKEN THAT HE COULDN’T PULL HIMSELF TOGETHER INTO SOME SEMBLANCE OF A MAN FOR HER. WE’LL SET FIRE TO RAISINS OR WHATEVER YOU HEATHENS DO FOR FUN.”. “ZEALOT,” SHE SAID WEAKLY."
"The characters in this book are just (I keep wanting to use the F word this book is so good) so complex and well-crafted that I ended up not only totally loving each member of Kaz's crew but also totally freaked out each time one of them was in danger."
“ Pretty Little Liars meets The Breakfast Club ” (EW.com). in this “flat-out addictive” ( RT Book Reviews ) story of what happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive. On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention. Before the end of detention Simon's dead. An EW.com Best YA Book of the Year Selection A Buzzfeed Best YA Book of the Year Selection. A Popcrush Best Young Adult Book of the Year Selection. A New York Public Library's Best Book for Teens Selection. A CBC Teen Choice Book Award Nominee. A Bustle.com Best Young Adult Book of May 2017. A Goodreads Best Young Adult Book of the Year Nominee. A YALSA Best Fiction Book Nominee. A YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers “You’ll tear through this juicy, super-fun (if murder can ever be fun?). " A whodunit with a Breakfast Club twist ...following four unique voices on a chase to find the killer, this one will keep you guessing until the very, very end. “ An addictive, devour-in-one-sitting thriller with so many twists and turns you'll be wondering until the very end: Who really killed Simon ?”—Kara Thomas, author of The Darkest Corners and Little Monsters ★ "[As] McManus's intense mystery unfolds... each character becomes more complex and nuanced, adding richness and depth to the suspense. ". "A smart, twisted, and unpredictable YA mystery that will have readers guessing until the very end. A New York Times BestsellerAn EW.com Best YA Book of the Year SelectionA Buzzfeed Best YA Book of the Year SelectionA New York Public Library's Best Book for Teens SelectionA Popcrush Best Young Adult Book of the Year SelectionA CBC Teen Choice Book Award Nominee A Bustle.com Best Young Adult Book of May 2017 A Goodreads Best Young Adult Book of the Year NomineeA YALSA Best Fiction Book NomineeA YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers“ Pretty Little Liars meets The Breakfast Club .... so make room for One of Us Is Lying in your bags, because this is one carry-on you won’t want to put down." “ An addictive, devour-in-one-sitting thriller with so many twists and turns you'll be wondering until the very end: Who really killed Simon ?”—Kara Thomas, author of The Darkest Corners and Little Monsters ★ "[As] McManus's intense mystery unfolds... each character becomes more complex and nuanced, adding richness and depth to the suspense. ". "One of Us Is Lying is flat-out addictive ...[McManus] weaves an authentic, suspenseful mystery that readers can imagine taking place at their very own high school. ”—RT Book Reviews. "A smart, twisted, and unpredictable YA mystery that will have readers guessing until the very end.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This started off like a typical young adult mystery book and I didn't get into the writing style right away, to be honest."
"I was sold immediately when i heard the premise was the breakfast club plus murder mystery, but damn that was waayy more than i expected!"
"Awesome mystery and realistic fiction TEEN read!"
"My niece loved the book and finished it less than a week."
"this book was so good i binge read it over the course of one weekend."
"It’s greatest book!"
"OMG!"
"I have been really into mystery novels recently so when I found this book, I was excited to see if it was good or not."
Best Teen & Young Adult Epic Fantasy eBooks
In Emily R. King’s thrilling fantasy debut, an orphan girl blossoms into a warrior, summoning courage and confidence in her fearless quest to upend tradition, overthrow an empire, and reclaim her life as her own. “King’s debut is built on a solid premise that draws on Sumerian mythology for inspiration…The tale maintains a consistent thread as King embarks on a deep examination of sisterhood, first between Kali and her best friend Jaya, and later when she must fight the rajah’s other wives to keep her place within the palace.” — Publishers Weekly. “Richly imagined and gracefully written, The Hundredth Queen is a vibrant tale of forbidden love and personal sacrifice.” —Becky Wallace, author of The Keepers’ Chronicles. She’s a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and an active participant in her local writers’ community.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"What makes little sense is that Deven understands the world as it is, yet immediately breaks convention and is willing to risk his life by granting favors to Kalinda. Once in the palace, Kalinda faces the expected danger from her Sisterhood rival Natesa as well as Lakia, first among the Rajah’s wives. Ms. King’s elegant style deftly describes the action, weaving pictures that effortlessly wrap the reader in the story. IN CASE YOU WANTED TO KNOW – Ms. King steers away from using any sort of foul language, and you could read this story to a child without worry. However, this is a three-and-a-half star book at best, and though the talented description of the action is strong, the lack of developed characters prevent the total ranking from reaching four."
"If this were a film, and it likely will be one day, it would be rated G, except for violence [Revised at suggestion of commenter 'Amazon Customer.']. Let me hasten to add, however, that I enjoy many of the programs on Hallmark, especially the When Calls the Heart. The Hundredth Queen, however, is just a tad too extreme in that focus, for my reading pleasure. What also is revealed in those first few pages is that the heroine in this story told in first-person has certain vulnerabilities and has not mastered skills thought to be common for her age and time. This is told in a skillful matter and can easily be overlooked and forgotten by the reader. It might have required another hundred pages to more fully develop the characters, but I would also like to have heard some down-to-earth squabbles and complaints from Kalinda. It should reach number one status quite early on Amazon and stay in the Top 10 for quite some time. To give a feel for the editing, and the style and flow of this work, I am posting a brief excerpt below. Healer Baka finishes with my friend, and her calm eyes meet mine. I try to ignore the healer’s adept hands roaming around my body, but it is impossible not to be anxious about potentially being shown to the rajah. Natesa lobs a withering glance over her shoulder at me from where she stands in the front line. A thimble’s worth of shame spills over me, but with one sideways glance at Jaya’s cheek, fury burns my guilt to smoke. They are replicas of the goddess Ki, petite and round, soft yet firm, fit yet feminine. Priestess Mita, who watched the inspection from the rear of the chamber, confers with Healer Baka. Stories depict Enki as a daughter who walks in perfect obedience to her parents, Anu and Ki. Bottom Line: As I stated at the outset, this was a story that leaves the reader feeling good."
Best Teen & Young Adult Spy Story eBooks
Philip Pullman returns to the parallel world of his groundbreaking novel The Golden Compass to expand on the story of Lyra, "one of fantasy's most indelible characters." Malcolm's parents run an inn called the Trout, on the banks of the river Thames, and all of Oxford passes through its doors. When she asks Malcolm to keep his eyes open, he sees suspicious characters everywhere: the explorer Lord Asriel, clearly on the run; enforcement agents from the Magisterium; a gyptian named Coram with warnings just for Malcolm; and a beautiful woman with an evil monkey for a daemon. "People will love the first volume of Philip Pullman's new trilogy with the same helpless vehemence that stole over them when The Golden Compass came out." It’s been nearly two decades since Pullman wrote The Amber Spyglass , so it was both thrilling and terrifying ( please be amazing, please be amazing… ) when I first cracked open The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage and began to read. Neither prequel nor sequel to His Dark Materials trilogy—Pullman calls this an “equel” and La Belle Sauvage is the first volume of a companion trio that can stand on its own. There are some familiar faces—most notably an infant Lyra Belacqua and her daemon Pantalaimon--and a particularly delightful new one: a boy named Malcolm whose kind heart, curious mind, and unerring sense of good, are the reason baby Lyra makes it to the safety of Jordan College. As in his earlier books, Pullman explores themes of religious and political freedom, the nature of good and evil, science and philosophy. The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage is a glorious adventure that delivers heart-in-your-throat moments and much to think about as we wait (not so patiently) to see what will happen next… --Seira Wilson "Reading this novel is like standing in a room in which suddenly all of the windows have blown open at once." The story becomes darker, deeper and even more engrossing when a cataclysmic flood overtakes Southern England. "— Bustle " The Book of Dust passes by in one tumultuous wave of literature, that leaves you queasy, but wanting the next volume as quickly as possible. La Belle Sauvage reveals the incredible ways in which 'ordinary' children can react whenplaced in extraordinary circumstances: with kindness, bravery and cunning. ". — Vox "This tense, adventure-packed book will satisfy and delight Pullman's fans and leave them eager to see what's yet to come" — Publishers Weekly , starred review. " Magisterial storytelling will sweep readers along; the cast is as vividly drawn as ever; and big themes running beneath the surface invite profound responses and reflection." "Pullman demonstrates that his talent for world building hasn’t diminished, nor has his ability to draw young characters—here, Malcolm, who is layered enough to carry an adventure through multiple dimensions."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The Book of Dust, Phillip Pullman's "equal" (both before and after His Dark Materials) is a delight--a wonderfully welcome return to the familiar but strangely different parallel world of Lyra Bellacqua, Lord Asriel and the chilling Mrs Coulter. They're little angels compared to the positively terrifying Sisters of Obedience who are running what is essentially a child abuse and slavery racket. In addition to Organized Evil (religion), there is just plain wickedness, personified in the wonderfully smarmy and grotesque character of Gerard Bonneville complete with a leg-gnawing hyena daemon. Malcolm reminds one of the adage "still waters run deep" and like Lyra and Will Parry he is young enough to be naive but a bit reckless in his bravery; not classically educated but instinctively intelligent, and always curious. He and his daemon Asta (who hasn't settled into a single form yet) create a character whose depth and humanity is surprising in one so young but entirely believable. He and his motley crew--the scholar Hannah Relf, Gyptian Coram von Texel and Alice the kitchen maid are a formidable force for Good. There are no gay angels falling in love or Serafina Pekkalas bashing about on a "broom" of pine branches, no Subtle Knives, peculiar Texans or talking polar bears with a drinking problem dressed in armor."
"As in the previous trilogy, His Dark Materials, Malcolm, like everybody in this imagined world, has his own daemon, an opposite sex animal familiar tied to him both geographically (if the familiar moves away from her master, the master must follow) and psychically. He knew that would be a silly thing to say, so he held his tongue, but that was his impression all the same: it was unexpected that something so small should be so perfectly formed. Asta pretended to snap at a small insect and thrust it down the baby daemon’s gaping mouth, which satisfied him, making Malcolm laugh harder, and then the baby laughed so hard she got the hiccups, and every time she hicked, the daemon jumped. “ 'There, there,' said Sister Fenella, and bent to pick her up; but as she lifted the baby, Lyra’s little face crumpled into an expression of grief and terror, and she reached round for her daemon, nearly twisting herself out of the nun’s arms. Astra was ahead of her: she took the little chick in her mouth and flew to place him on the baby’s chest, at which point he turned into a miniature tiger cub and hissed and bared his teeth at everyone. All the baby’s dismay vanished at once, and she lay in Sister Fenella’s arms, looking around with a lordly complacency. La Belle Sauvage (the name of Malcolm’s most treasured possession, a canoe) inhabits the same world of magic-physics as the preceding trilogy –sub-atomic dust leaking in through cracks of the world, scientists’ exploitation of the uncertainty principle, a weird but believable instrument that lies half way between astrology and physics and is called the alethiometer, which measures truth but uncertainly. Like those books, La Belle Sauvage offers small (turns of phrase, particular descriptions of places or people) and large (scary, powerful bad guys, and good guys with interesting characters and pasts; a large-scale, almost cosmic fight for noble goals) pleasures."
"Being new to Philip Pullman's style, it took me a minute to engage in this book."
"While I don't know if it gave me that same "Wow" factor as when I read "The Golden Compass" for the first time, "The Book of Dust" is a really excellent read, and great return to Lyra's Oxford."
"I'm not normally a fan of fantasy fiction, with a handful of exceptions (Game of Thrones)."
"We now look at two people who did the most to ensure that Lyra would have the chance to achieve her full potential."
"This is the prequel to His Dark Materials, and give the background story."
"Its good, the story Pullman spins grabs you but even more, makes you think about the cosmic world we live in."
Best Teen & Young Adult Sci-Fi Mystery eBooks
Fans of Divergent, Hunger Games and the Maze Runner will crave this world of dark secrets, intrigue and thirst for a better tomorrow. Winner of the best indie book of 2016 at ReadFreely and a chart topping Young Adult Dystopian book on Amazon with over 5 MILLION pagereads . When secrets about her own past unfold, she begins to doubt the ideals she was raised to hold dear. and in others because its terrifyingly amazing at how the system used to govern in the book is so perfect and yet completely flawed. A system where intellect rules and is used to make the world a safer healthier place. (and yes i put as many exclamation points as deserved) ~Fran's Book Love Blog. "Penner's world building is spectacular!" "If you guys love technology, adventure, romance and mystery then this is the book for you!!! Jenetta Penner developed a love of sci-fi at an early age and decided on a whim to read 40 young adult books in the same genre.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Avlyn is of the age where decisions have to be made--career, mate, move out of parent's apartment into your own--big issues. While this is a dystopian society where intellect is the highest good,the plot could make you uncomfortable with our own meritocracy, conflict between emotion and rationality, and what each of us will do to be socially accepted & "fit in"."
"It is a good book and well worth the read, if this is genre you enjoy or your teaching political science classes."
"I'll admit it, I'm a 32-year-old mom who indulges in YA books. "Configured" is a unique world with engrossing characters and a wonderful story that has me ready for more!"
"I cannot wait to read the next book in the trilogy.... although I may have to hold off until the 3rd book is ready too -- this way I can just keep on reading."
"The plot is very dense and could have been explained in greater detail (more pages), but the reader is drawn into an fascinating world."
"The characters were enjoyable, character growth developed throughout the story, interactions and dialogue were realistic and easy to relate to."
"I enjoyed the VR , the sims, the tech, and the whole system in the story."
"Will definitely be reading book 2."
Best Teen & Young Adult Detective Story eBooks
#1 Bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars John Green crafts a brilliantly funny and moving coming-of-age journey about true friendship and true love. Weeks before graduating from their Orlando-area high school, Quentin Jacobsen's childhood best friend, Margo, reappears in his life, specifically at his window, commanding him to take her on an all-night, score-settling spree. Just as suddenly, she disappears again, and the plot's considerable tension derives from Quentin's mission to find out if she's run away or committed suicide. Margo's parents, inured to her extreme behavior, wash their hands, but Quentin thinks she's left him a clue in a highlighted volume of Leaves of Grass. The title, which refers to unbuilt subdivisions and copyright trap towns that appear on maps but don't exist, unintentionally underscores the novel's weakness: both milquetoast Q and self-absorbed Margo are types, not fully dimensional characters. Green's prose is astounding—from hilarious, hyperintellectual trash talk and shtick, to complex philosophizing, to devastating observation and truths.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Paper Towns by John Green tells the story of Quentin, otherwise known as Q. Q and his next door neighbor Margo used to be best friends and, as they’ve grown up and become high school seniors, they have turned into acquaintances."
"I read this book because I seen the trailer for it at the theater, and thought it looked good. My Thoughts : Margo Roth Spiegelman is an enigma, especially for Quentin."
"It had adventure, mystery, a love triangle, a real page turner that you won't be able to put down."
"I am in awe of this book. I am in awe of John Green as a writer who does not insult the intelligence of his young readers."
"I have sent each one of my two travel companions a copy of Paper Town in hopes that it could kindle (no pun intended) something inside of them."
Best Teen & Young Adult Romantic Mystery eBooks
Gliding over the treacherous Green in a shaky aircraft that she has no idea how to land, Violet Bates is still in shock. She has barely time to catch her breath before she is sucked into a perilous journey at breakneck speed - to uncover secrets guarded for centuries and find the only two people that matter. "Wonderful story line, it keeps you on your toes with exciting twists and turns through the entire book." "The Gender Secret is an exhilarating, heart stopping, mind blowing and jaw dropping read from the beginning to the end." "An absolutely stunning follow up to a heart pounding, innovative novel from my favorite author!!" The characters continue to grow, the story line exploded with intrigue, and it all left me hungry for more !" "I love Ms. Forrest's writing style and how she seems to capture the character's emotions so beautifully!"
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I enjoyed book 2, but I did figure out some things a head of time."
"This book has ypu on your toes from start to finish."
"this story would make such a great series of movies."
"Viggo and Violet return in a new adventure that puts both of their lives on the line."
"I was skeptical at first but once I started reading I was sucked right in and finished both books in 3 days."
"Not having to set up the main characters allowed this novel to get straight into the action and it never once slowed down."
"The only bad thing about her books is they pull me in so hard that I'm left waiting for the next one to come out!lol."
"Bella keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat the whole book."
Best Teen & Young Adult Law & Crime Fiction eBooks
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price--and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. They are to nab the creator of jurda parem, a highly addictive product that enhances the innate paranormal powers of the Grisha peoples, in the hopes of creating weapons of war that will upset the balance of power and destroy the economies of rival governments. While the unresolved ending may frustrate some teens, the promise of a sequel will give them hope that this unsettling, captivating, magical journey will continue.—Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Bought this book the day it came out, and only this past week have I finally read it....well actually I downloaded the audiobook. The way Kaz interacted with others, and how Inej is able to slip silently into the shadows...how much I wanted to hug Matthias tightly and never let go. As for the audiobook version - the people who voiced Leigh's wonderfully crafted characters really brought them to life. Six of Crows was my first venture into the world of Audiobooks, and I feared that I would miss a lot of the story, not being able to comprehend it fully without seeing the words on the page. The way the people read the characters and the overall production of the audiobook made it so easy to follow along and listen to the book come to life."
"I quickly became submersed in the world that is Six of Crows, living vicariously through Kaz Brekker's crew (NIna, Inej, Mathias,Jesper, and Wylan)."
"As you can read on the cover, the book is about “six dangerous outcasts, and one impossible heist.” Those of you who love stories about gangs of less than upstanding citizens, sting operations, and movies like Ocean’s Eleven, should be pulled in by those words alone. My only complaint about the book is that I raced through it in two days, and then was left dying to get my hands on the next in the series, the equally beautifully clad Crooked Kingdom, due out September 27."
"With a diverse cast and a diverting, fast-paced narrative, this reads like a heist movie set in a fantasy land."
Best Teen & Young Adult Fantasy & Supernatural Mystery eBooks
Red Queen , by #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Aveyard, is a sweeping tale of power, intrigue, and betrayal, perfect for fans of George R.R. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard—a growing Red rebellion—even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. Mare's resigned herself to the fact that she'll always serve the Silver, a genetically gifted group of people with supernatural abilities. A chance encounter with the prince causes Mare to suddenly find herself at the royal palace as a servant, where she discovers in front of everyone that she also has a unique gift. The king and queen quickly cover up Mare's anomaly by presenting her to the rest of the Silvers as a long-lost princess and betroth her to their second-born son. There's a bit of teen romance, but luckily the characters are self-aware enough to realize its frivolity among the story's more important plot points. A solid debut from Aveyard and a welcome addition to the plethora of speculative teen lit.—Kimberly Castle-Alberts, Hudson Library & Historical Society, OH "A sizzling, imaginative thriller, where romance and revolution collide, where power and justice duel. " [Aveyard] sets her audience up for a gaspworthy twist that reconfigures nearly every character's role and leaves Mare with no one to trust but herself... Readers will be intrigued by a world that reflects today's troubling issues concerning ethnic inequality, unfair distribution of wealth, pollution, warfare, political corruption, and the frightening power of the media."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Mare and her family and friends despise Silvers, who treat Reds like dirt and have Reds fight an unending war with a neighboring country for them. Things That Frustrated Me: The heroine: my biggest frustration with this book was the lack of character development in Mare. The romance: There were (count 'em) THREE love interests for Mare in this book. The tropes: The problem with obvious writing is that if you have a story hat relies on a lot of tropes (poor girl who's special and different; prince who is not thrilled about being prince and just wants to be normal, world that is separated into classes that needs to be overthrown), you can guess what's going to happen, and your mind tends to wander. It's frustrating because I couldn't help but notice and compare this book to a ton of other YA books (I thought of The Selection, Divergent, Hunger Games, even Harry Potter while I was reading), and the book never went beyond or did anything better or different with those tropes. I enjoyed getting into this world through Mare's eyes - as a Red, she really doesn't know much about it, and it's both interesting to see it develop and to see her thoughts on it in her unique position. I felt like I knew more about them than I did about Mare by the end of the book. Brimming with action and classic speculative fiction tropes, this is a good book for younger teens new to fantasy or looking for a book with magic to devour like popcorn."
"This book was suspenseful, action packed, had some flirtation, deceit & was a very good book."
"The Red Queen grabs the reader and pulls them into a world separated into factions, the Silvers and the Reds."
"I liked the twist on evolution and the class struggle between the Reds and the Silvers, differences compounded by different colors of blood (literally) and the presence, or lack, of supernatural powers."
"I do realize that part of the issue I have with the book is that I was expecting something different in the storyline, and I didn't like the outcome at all. I liked her flaws in the beginning of the story, and I loved the characters that surrounded her, and the premise. Instead of growing as a person, she goes backwards and then spends the last of the book feeling sorry for herself and what's been done to her, and merely touches on the pain she's inflicted on others."
"But the writing is not particularly artistic, and the emotional portraits of the characters are flat and immature."