384p.
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Published: 8/5/14
Source: NetGalley and publisher for review
Revenge is a dish best served cold.
Edie Kramer has a score to settle with the beautiful people at Blackbriar Academy. Their cruelty drove her to the brink of despair, and four months ago, she couldn't imagine being strong enough to face her senior year. But thanks to a Faustian compact with the enigmatic Kian, she has the power to make the bullies pay. She's not supposed to think about Kian once the deal is done, but devastating pain burns behind his unearthly beauty, and he's impossible to forget.
In one short summer, her entire life changes, and she sweeps through Blackbriar, prepped to take the beautiful people down from the inside. A whisper here, a look there, and suddenly... bad things are happening. It's a heady rush, seeing her tormentors get what they deserve, but things that seem too good to be true usually are, and soon, the pranks and payback turns from delicious to deadly. Edie is alone in a world teeming with secrets and fiends lurking in the shadows. In this murky morass of devil's bargains, she isn't sure who—or what--she can trust. Not even her own mind...My thoughts:
The story starts off with a girl thinking about suicide. In fact she is just about to do it when Kian comes into her life and gives her the opportunity to change things. While I like the opening concept, I did have some problems with the beginning of the story. Although I did like Edie her main goal is to make the mean kids at school pay. Now this is perhaps just me, but I detest mean girl (or guy) stories. I hate it when the victim becomes the perpetrator. What saved this part for me is that Edie couldn't truly commit to the mean girl part and found herself having sympathy for her tormentors. Still, it isn't a story I would have wanted to read.
So then the second half of the book happened...
Wow. This part was creepy and read like a horror story. I became more invested into the story and wanted desperately for Edie to find the perfect solution out of her mess. Not sure who we are dealing with so not sure how it could have played out differently. I really enjoyed Edie in this part of the story even though I thought she was still too liberal with her wishes. I think she should have searched for more information on who is playing this "game" and what that "game" entails. She may not have gotten her answers, but I would have liked a bit more of a quest for those specific answers. She does seem like a smart girl, so I have no doubt she will gain those answers eventually.
I give this book 3 1/2 stars. While I was not a fan of the first half of the book, I still found myself engaged. I was a fan of the second half of the book. The twisty world these people inhabit make for one wild ride. I do need that next book to see how or if Edie can beat the game.
It's nice to see that the second part was better. I need to try this one I'm quite curious about all her books and I liked the ones I read.
ReplyDeleteI think you will really like this one, especially the second half. :)
DeleteYeah, I was more interested in the supernatural aspect than the mean girls part of it. Still, I think it's a good start to an interesting series.
ReplyDeleteThe mean girls part did play an important role, it's just me who doesn't like those kinds of stories. I also think that it is a good start!
DeleteI really liked the creep factor in this one.
ReplyDeleteOh so did I and I'm a wimp! LOL
Delete"I hate it when the victim becomes the perpetrator. "
ReplyDeleteYES! That is me exactly Melissa! It's why I can't typically deal with revenge-based books, but I love Ann Aguirre so I wanted to give this one a try. And I loved what the story turned into. The whole game fascinates me, and I can't wait to see where things go:)
Edie does get mean, but doesn't go as far as the perpetrators so I still could connect with her. I so agree with you on the second half. SO interesting!
DeleteIt seems like everyone is reviewing this book today! 3.5 stars seems to be its average rating though, so I'll probably wait until the next installment is released before I decide whether I'll be reading these or not.
ReplyDeleteIf I was just rating the second half it would have gotten a higher rating. :) She is worth reading this book. :)
DeleteWow, I have seen this one around so much and it sounds like such a good premise, but I thought it would be more creepy than I like to read normally
ReplyDeleteIt's creepy but not to the point that it is too scary. You had to feel a bit creeped out for the bad guys to really seem bad.
DeleteThe romance wasn't perfect but it worked enough for me. I want to know more about this "game".
ReplyDeleteI am feeling meh about this one
ReplyDeleteI got to about 30 or 40% and I need to go back. I'm glad it gets better in the second half!
ReplyDeleteI've heard so many mixed reviews of this that I hardly know whether to pick it up or just skip it. I'm not a fan of slow beginnings and I always have better luck with Aguirre's adult, opposed to young adult, works so perhaps I'll put this on hold until I know how the trilogy plays out. I'm glad your patience paid off for you on this one, Melissa!
ReplyDeleteThe second 1/2 was the strongest for me Melissa and I am anxious to see how this develops.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this book. I thought it was quite different fro other ya and standed out with the whole, "game" situation. I'm anxious to learn more form the second book and see exactly what this game is.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you mean girls drama doesn't quite do it for me anymore, but the supernatural parts of this story definitely had me going. Glad you enjoyed the second half more!
ReplyDeleteHm.. I DNFd this at 40%. A lot of people say the 2nd half is the best, so it KIND OF makes want to finish it. BUT ... ugh, I couldn't take anymore of Edie and all the ridiculous stereotypes. Every person in that book is a stereotype. I just got old.
ReplyDelete