Scan barcode
melbsreads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content warnings: death of a parent (in the past), fire (in the past), gun violence, grief, confinement
A student had been pushing me to read this book for, like, a solid 18 months before I finally got around to actually picking it up. And, like, it was...FINE? But I did find a lot of elements of the story to be a little on the predictable side. I also didn't love Grace as a protagonist, and I don't think I'm sufficiently invested to keep reading the other two books. But who knows, maybe I'll change my mind down the track...
A student had been pushing me to read this book for, like, a solid 18 months before I finally got around to actually picking it up. And, like, it was...FINE? But I did find a lot of elements of the story to be a little on the predictable side. I also didn't love Grace as a protagonist, and I don't think I'm sufficiently invested to keep reading the other two books. But who knows, maybe I'll change my mind down the track...
suncaida's review against another edition
5.0
I am so impatient for the next book! It's that good.... and leaves you on a great and killing cliffhanger.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
kshae10's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
theloststreetmouse's review against another edition
4.0
Ally Carter can do no wrong. Everytime she starts a new series I fall in love with the characters and the plot. I loved this book. Her writing is so effortlessly entertaining that I immediately get sucked into the story and just want to jump into the pages of the book. I am so excited to see what this series has in store. I would highly recommend this book.
addyisreading's review against another edition
4.0
This book was great!! The beginning was kind of slow but the end was crazy!! I recommend for people who like murder mystery’s, government, and We were liars by E. Lockhart ❤️❤️
hannahnana73's review against another edition
4.0
Wow that ending was just.... wow.
Buddy read with my fellow [a:Ally Carter|56224|Ally Carter|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1421526957p2/56224.jpg] fan Naomi:)
That ending was completely unexpected and once again this is yet anothet A Carter book with a completely original, unthinkable plot!
I really liked Ms Chancellor - one amazingly unpredictable 60 yr old! And Alexei & Noah were pretty cool tho I hope we dont end up with a love triangle... Meghan had an INCREDIBLY BAD sense of colour but those spy kills completely make up for her barbie doll ways... Rosie is one sweet daredevil - a nicer version of Grace... I did hate how the Grandfather didnt believe in Grace but then after the big reveal ig that's understandable...
Grace. The only reason why this book didnt get 5 stars. Yeah i get that she's been through a lot but whyyy does she have to be well Grace. The way she just blocked out all her friends, recklessly tried to die, and just did SO MANY crazy things without thinking properly was just SO ANNOYING *shudder*
So yeah - other than the main MC the book was pretty cool
Buddy read with my fellow [a:Ally Carter|56224|Ally Carter|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1421526957p2/56224.jpg] fan Naomi:)
That ending was completely unexpected and once again this is yet anothet A Carter book with a completely original, unthinkable plot!
I really liked Ms Chancellor - one amazingly unpredictable 60 yr old! And Alexei & Noah were pretty cool tho I hope we dont end up with a love triangle... Meghan had an INCREDIBLY BAD sense of colour but those spy kills completely make up for her barbie doll ways... Rosie is one sweet daredevil - a nicer version of Grace... I did hate how the Grandfather didnt believe in Grace but then after the big reveal ig that's understandable...
Grace. The only reason why this book didnt get 5 stars. Yeah i get that she's been through a lot but whyyy does she have to be well Grace. The way she just blocked out all her friends, recklessly tried to die, and just did SO MANY crazy things without thinking properly was just SO ANNOYING *shudder*
So yeah - other than the main MC the book was pretty cool
reader4evr's review against another edition
3.0
I started off listening to this on audio but since I listening to it on a regular basis for a long period of time, I kind of got bored with it. I ended up finishing the book by reading the last 10 chapters.
The mystery just didn't hold my interest and the main girl was kind of annoying.
The mystery just didn't hold my interest and the main girl was kind of annoying.
mehsi's review against another edition
4.0
Received this book from Netgalley/publisher in exchange for an honest review!
3.5 stars. Sorry but various factors + cliffhanger ending makes me give this book not a 5 star but a 3.5.
Let's start with the characters. We got a whole bunch, but our main character is Grace/Gracie. She is coming back to live in Embassy Row in Adria. Her dad and brother are both in military so they can't really take care of her. Her mom died due to an event happening many years back. An event that clearly took its toll on Grace. Grace is wild, a bit crazy and mostly trying to be a good girl, but for some reason she does things that no one else would do. My favourite one would be her diving off cliffs to get to a certain place. I mean, what person would just suddenly dive of a cliff. Sure she had a reason, but I am sure there are better ways then to just jump of a high cliff.
At the start of the book I was a bit hesitant about Grace, her attitude and how she spoke to people, I just didn't like her. However, quite soon (when we find out more about her and her past), I started liking her. And that stayed throughout most of the book, up until certain revelations, and then I started to doubt things. Especially considering how many false baits and hints we get. Is what is revealed real or not? Is this truly what Grace did, or is it another delusion/false bait. I guess we will have to wait until the next book to find out though.
But all in all, I can say I really liked Grace, and I was rooting for her. Hoping she would find out the truth, find the guy who did it. And I also was hoping she could feel home with her granddad again, hoping she would make friends again with people (and also with people she knew from her childhood).
For the other characters. I can say I didn't like Alexei is mostly a dick and I hated his attitude. I know he probably meant it all like niceness and protectiveness and a sense of duty, but sorry, he annoyed me. He kept pestering our main character, using her nickname that she clearly didn't want him to use. He stalks her and he is just bleh. I do hope they don't get in a relationship in the next book or how many other sequels come out.
Then we have Noah, Rosie, Megan, Grandpa and Ms. Chancellor. They were all pretty good characters, though my dislike/like for them swayed with each revelation. Rosie was just pure awesomeness though. A 12-year old girl just born to be either a ninja or a spy. I loved how during one scene she helped out Noah and Grace. They didn't even know they were followed. :)
The story was pretty good, but also highly confusing. One reason why I didn't give a full 5 stars. I won't spoil, but I will say this: Don't trust anything, don't take anything for granted and nothing is what it seems. You will be in a rollercoaster that is, in the beginning at least, light and clear, but as you get further and further on the track it will ride into a tunnel and everything will get dark, with only occasional light spots. And believe me you won't get off the rollercoaster with the ending. The ending is pretty open. There are revelations and then it ends.
There are quite a few sentences and scenes that had me laughing out loud.
All in all it was a good mystery book, however with all the twists and turns and false baits I just got annoyed and it took away a bit of my liking for the book.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
3.5 stars. Sorry but various factors + cliffhanger ending makes me give this book not a 5 star but a 3.5.
Let's start with the characters. We got a whole bunch, but our main character is Grace/Gracie. She is coming back to live in Embassy Row in Adria. Her dad and brother are both in military so they can't really take care of her. Her mom died due to an event happening many years back. An event that clearly took its toll on Grace. Grace is wild, a bit crazy and mostly trying to be a good girl, but for some reason she does things that no one else would do. My favourite one would be her diving off cliffs to get to a certain place. I mean, what person would just suddenly dive of a cliff. Sure she had a reason, but I am sure there are better ways then to just jump of a high cliff.
At the start of the book I was a bit hesitant about Grace, her attitude and how she spoke to people, I just didn't like her. However, quite soon (when we find out more about her and her past), I started liking her. And that stayed throughout most of the book, up until certain revelations, and then I started to doubt things. Especially considering how many false baits and hints we get. Is what is revealed real or not? Is this truly what Grace did, or is it another delusion/false bait. I guess we will have to wait until the next book to find out though.
But all in all, I can say I really liked Grace, and I was rooting for her. Hoping she would find out the truth, find the guy who did it. And I also was hoping she could feel home with her granddad again, hoping she would make friends again with people (and also with people she knew from her childhood).
For the other characters. I can say I didn't like Alexei is mostly a dick and I hated his attitude. I know he probably meant it all like niceness and protectiveness and a sense of duty, but sorry, he annoyed me. He kept pestering our main character, using her nickname that she clearly didn't want him to use. He stalks her and he is just bleh. I do hope they don't get in a relationship in the next book or how many other sequels come out.
Then we have Noah, Rosie, Megan, Grandpa and Ms. Chancellor. They were all pretty good characters, though my dislike/like for them swayed with each revelation. Rosie was just pure awesomeness though. A 12-year old girl just born to be either a ninja or a spy. I loved how during one scene she helped out Noah and Grace. They didn't even know they were followed. :)
The story was pretty good, but also highly confusing. One reason why I didn't give a full 5 stars. I won't spoil, but I will say this: Don't trust anything, don't take anything for granted and nothing is what it seems. You will be in a rollercoaster that is, in the beginning at least, light and clear, but as you get further and further on the track it will ride into a tunnel and everything will get dark, with only occasional light spots. And believe me you won't get off the rollercoaster with the ending. The ending is pretty open. There are revelations and then it ends.
There are quite a few sentences and scenes that had me laughing out loud.
All in all it was a good mystery book, however with all the twists and turns and false baits I just got annoyed and it took away a bit of my liking for the book.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
notapanda's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0