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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A fun adventure in a great setting.
Check out my full review at <a href="https://foreveryoungadult.com/book-report/the-wilde-trials-mackenzie-reed/">Forever Young Adult</a>.
Check out my full review at <a href="https://foreveryoungadult.com/book-report/the-wilde-trials-mackenzie-reed/">Forever Young Adult</a>.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
TL;DR: The Wilde Trials was a great young adult mystery/thriller. It’s been a minute since I read YA in this genre but this made me want to pick up more of them! The setting of the Wilde Manor was perfectly atmospheric, the puzzles fun, the mystery intriguing and even the teenage drama was entertaining. Overall, if you’re looking for a well-paced mystery with empathetic characters who are easy to root for, I would recommend checking this out.
I enjoyed The Wilde Trials more than I expected to and it reminded me of why I enjoy YA mysteries so much. They’re easy to devour in one sitting and have just enough stakes to be intense and intriguing without being too dark or drawn out. For all the danger our protagonists may find themselves in, these books are simply “good time” popcorn reads and I love them! While it was easy to see how things would unfold, I still enjoyed the twists and turns this took. I found it to be a great story about sibling bonds and the age-old lessons of learning where you fit in and accepting who you are. You can expect there to be teenage drama and angst, but thankfully, it wasn’t too over-the-top and neither did it take over the overall story.
I enjoyed The Wilde Trials more than I expected to and it reminded me of why I enjoy YA mysteries so much. They’re easy to devour in one sitting and have just enough stakes to be intense and intriguing without being too dark or drawn out. For all the danger our protagonists may find themselves in, these books are simply “good time” popcorn reads and I love them! While it was easy to see how things would unfold, I still enjoyed the twists and turns this took. I found it to be a great story about sibling bonds and the age-old lessons of learning where you fit in and accepting who you are. You can expect there to be teenage drama and angst, but thankfully, it wasn’t too over-the-top and neither did it take over the overall story.
I loved the setting and thought the overgrown and falling-apart Wilde Manor was perfect for creating a dark and creepy atmospheric read. With the looming forest along the manor’s periphery, decaying buildings spread across the manor grounds, and potential hidden passageways behind thin walls, everything about this perfectly fit the ‘mysterious’ vibe. Despite knowing that the manor is a short bus ride away from the school grounds, it still felt completely isolated and exactly like the kind of place where just about anything can go wrong! 🫣 But also, that library… It sounded as creepy as it was beautiful and I could picture it vividly in my mind.
Chloe was an interesting protagonist but I’m honestly still not sure how I felt about her. She’s portrayed as so many things by different people—selfish, self-serving, kind-hearted, and brave. Unfortunately, I didn’t think those traits shone particularly well in the writing. Yes, she has grit, is determined, and doesn’t cower in the face of school bullies, but we are told all of that and not shown it, which made it feel like something was missing. She does have a wonderful bond with her sister though and I’m glad that the reason behind why she’s participating in the Wilde Trials was consistent throughout. I will say that Chloe’s arc perfectly captures the teenage angst and confusion about fitting in, finding your place, etc., and I think the author did a great job of also bringing that through in all of the characters we meet.
An element that I wasn’t expecting to enjoy as much as I did was the romance between Chloe and her ex, Hayes. Despite them professing to hate each other’s guts, it’s clear to the reader that there are many unresolved feelings. Chloe and Hayes might’ve been completely oblivious to each other’s true feelings—lost as they were in their anger and confusion, but appreciated the frank conversation they had about how they ended up where they are. This romance was surprisingly sweet and I enjoyed seeing the flashbacks of their relationship before it fractured.
That all being said, the Wilde Trials does require a great deal of suspension of disbelief because I don’t know where or when this type of “game” would be allowed IRL. I can’t believe there’s any school that would send a bunch of teenagers to live in a crumbling manor for a week without proper adult supervision—and I’m not talking about college kid supervision either. Not to mention that a student has previously died on the same grounds where they’re being made to do potentially life-threatening challenges to win $600,000… 👀 Other than that, there were also some moments when the logic didn’t logic and Chloe made questionable decisions and hasty judgements that didn’t make sense! I was also admittedly a bit let down by the resolution of the mystery. It felt slightly anticlimactic although I don’t think the motive was unrealistic because sadly, it’s not something we haven’t seen before. It’s rather depressing to think about because it speaks to the toxicity of the system we’re raised to participate in and yet, nothing changes. 😮💨
Overall, despite certain (minor) things that didn’t work for me, I thought this was a solid read and I’m glad to count it as one of the first books I read at the start of a new year!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Literally the ideal YA dark academia x survive the woods and solve a murder mystery novel. Second chance romance as well? I’m a sucker for character development.
For the sake of this review and to properly appreciate Chloe’s nickname as well as the book cover, we’re calling her Clover. Clover needs to win the Wilde Trials, these seven trials set in the wilderness and designed by past Champions, to earn enough money for her sister’s cancer treatment. Her ex, Hayes, is opposed to the Wilde Trials since his brother died in it 3 years ago. Now they’re both in the Trials and have to team up because somebody is targeting Clover and Hayes needs help finding what happened to his brother.
The mystery. The tension. I literally read this book in ONE SITTING because it was THAT good. I felt like my head was screwed on backwards and I needed to find out what happened next and who was responsible. And don’t even get me started on the secret tunnels. I do need some. Literally loved the whole concept and execution of this book so much. Perfection.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
For the sake of this review and to properly appreciate Chloe’s nickname as well as the book cover, we’re calling her Clover. Clover needs to win the Wilde Trials, these seven trials set in the wilderness and designed by past Champions, to earn enough money for her sister’s cancer treatment. Her ex, Hayes, is opposed to the Wilde Trials since his brother died in it 3 years ago. Now they’re both in the Trials and have to team up because somebody is targeting Clover and Hayes needs help finding what happened to his brother.
The mystery. The tension. I literally read this book in ONE SITTING because it was THAT good. I felt like my head was screwed on backwards and I needed to find out what happened next and who was responsible. And don’t even get me started on the secret tunnels. I do need some. Literally loved the whole concept and execution of this book so much. Perfection.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to NetGalley, author Mackenzie Reed, and HarperCollins Children's Books: Storytide for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
A fun read!! I love any YA challenge mysteries, especially ones set at boarding school. I thought this was an addictive read that kept me on my toes. I really enjoyed Chloe as a protagonist, and I thought the side characters were great as well. Everyone felt like actual teenagers, and the pacing of the story worked well for the events that were happening. I liked the romance/ex-romance between Chloe and Hayes and rooted for them the entire read. I do think everything progressed a little too neatly and wrapped up way too cleanly for this to be a believable mystery, but there were a couple of good twists throughout. I also wish a bit more time would have been spent developing the history of Wilde Academy beyond what was stated because it seemed like that was going to play a role in the overall story when instead it fell to the background. If readers are a fan of The Inheritance Games or Truly Devious, I think they will enjoy The Wilde Trials; I look forward to reading more of Reed's work!
A fun read!! I love any YA challenge mysteries, especially ones set at boarding school. I thought this was an addictive read that kept me on my toes. I really enjoyed Chloe as a protagonist, and I thought the side characters were great as well. Everyone felt like actual teenagers, and the pacing of the story worked well for the events that were happening. I liked the romance/ex-romance between Chloe and Hayes and rooted for them the entire read. I do think everything progressed a little too neatly and wrapped up way too cleanly for this to be a believable mystery, but there were a couple of good twists throughout. I also wish a bit more time would have been spent developing the history of Wilde Academy beyond what was stated because it seemed like that was going to play a role in the overall story when instead it fell to the background. If readers are a fan of The Inheritance Games or Truly Devious, I think they will enjoy The Wilde Trials; I look forward to reading more of Reed's work!
The Wilde Trials are about to commence and Chloe wants to participate. She doesn’t want to win for the bragging rights … she wants to win for the $600,000! Everyone knows that the competition is hard, but this year seems to be elevated to a new level. When Chloe is blackmailed during the competition, she is forced to partner with other contestants to uncover the answer to another mystery. Who will win this competition? What happened to Hayes’s brother?
The Wilde Trials is a stand-alone mystery that had the potential to be amazing, yet didn’t satisfy my urge to be thrilled. Reed created a plausible story and great characters, but individual scenes seemed forced. This could be because there have been a lot of books released in this specific niche genre recently and by comparison, it wasn’t up to par. The Wilde Trials is a fun read if you need a good escape.
The Wilde Trials is a stand-alone mystery that had the potential to be amazing, yet didn’t satisfy my urge to be thrilled. Reed created a plausible story and great characters, but individual scenes seemed forced. This could be because there have been a lot of books released in this specific niche genre recently and by comparison, it wasn’t up to par. The Wilde Trials is a fun read if you need a good escape.
I was very entertained by all the characters and the plot. It was a fast paced book and I thought the trials were really well done.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
“Welcome to the Wilde Trials.”
🏕️
Chloe Gatti needs money for her sister, who is sick. She will do anything to win her school’s annual survival competiton that gives the last person standing $600,000. Too bad she’s going to the competition with her ex-boyfriend and his best friend. The whole reason they broke up was because Hayes’ brother died three years’ prior in the competition and he didn’t want the same thing to happen to her so Chloe has no idea why he’s even in the trials at all. Once there, Chloe receives a blackmail note and they begin sabotaging each trial in the hopes that Chloe will drop out, but as the trials continue Chloe’s life is put in danger each time. Will she make it to the end or will her blackmailer kill her before that?
🪵
This YA book was equal parts adventure, dark academia, thrillers & romance! I enjoyed the suspense throughout the novel. Fans who loved Their Vicious Games, The Inheritance Games and Truly Devious will also enjoy this title when it releases January 21!
CW: blood, death, blackmail, long term illness, death of a sibling (recounted), emesis, violence, physical assault
🏕️
Chloe Gatti needs money for her sister, who is sick. She will do anything to win her school’s annual survival competiton that gives the last person standing $600,000. Too bad she’s going to the competition with her ex-boyfriend and his best friend. The whole reason they broke up was because Hayes’ brother died three years’ prior in the competition and he didn’t want the same thing to happen to her so Chloe has no idea why he’s even in the trials at all. Once there, Chloe receives a blackmail note and they begin sabotaging each trial in the hopes that Chloe will drop out, but as the trials continue Chloe’s life is put in danger each time. Will she make it to the end or will her blackmailer kill her before that?
🪵
This YA book was equal parts adventure, dark academia, thrillers & romance! I enjoyed the suspense throughout the novel. Fans who loved Their Vicious Games, The Inheritance Games and Truly Devious will also enjoy this title when it releases January 21!
CW: blood, death, blackmail, long term illness, death of a sibling (recounted), emesis, violence, physical assault
Oh, yeah, this was such a fantastic read, loved watching these characters navigate the trials, I had to keep reading and find out what was going to happen next!
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 rounded up.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the eARC!
Mackenzie Reed really knows how to make a well-paced and exhilarating story! I really thoroughly enjoyed this book, from start to finish. There was such a strong pull of plot mixed with character development that just hit in the right spots. And I love her writing style SO MUCH. I swear, just reading that first page made me smile.
So this time, my favorite character was Woolf. What? How? Right? It's so weird but I'm over here like "Yes, give me that silly brutish guy who is such a fiercely loyal best friend." I laughed at almost everything he said and then some. He was so interesting as a character and I'm glad he ended up getting more screen time than I originally thought he would!
The two main characters in this one were also delightful: we get an ambitious and unlikeable FMC (my favorite kind!) in Chloe who just... gosh, Reed knew what she was doing when she made her the protagonist. The perfect protagonist for this book. If you've read One of Us is Lying, she reminds me SO much of Bronwyn (who I also love dearly). Then we get such a refreshing and unusual MMC in Hayes. He's not easy to pinpoint - and I can't think of a comparable character either. He's like... one of those internal silent brooding types but also intense when it comes to those he loves. I thought the two of them worked splendidly together.
I think why I give this a 4.5 instead of a perfect 5... is just because I don't think it was quite on par with The Rosewood Hunt. There was something about the found family in that book that didn't get an equal in this one... It was there but not as prevalent.
I did guess the ending but Reed was very good at foreshadowing just enough that it wasn't super obvious! I really enjoyed sleuthing it out.
Oh, one other thing is I can only think of one other book that sort of feels similar - and that's Lauren Oliver's Panic. I will say though that this book was WAY better.
All in all, a must read for any mystery fans and for anyone looking for a fun and intriguing YA.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the eARC!
Mackenzie Reed really knows how to make a well-paced and exhilarating story! I really thoroughly enjoyed this book, from start to finish. There was such a strong pull of plot mixed with character development that just hit in the right spots. And I love her writing style SO MUCH. I swear, just reading that first page made me smile.
So this time, my favorite character was Woolf. What? How? Right? It's so weird but I'm over here like "Yes, give me that silly brutish guy who is such a fiercely loyal best friend." I laughed at almost everything he said and then some. He was so interesting as a character and I'm glad he ended up getting more screen time than I originally thought he would!
The two main characters in this one were also delightful: we get an ambitious and unlikeable FMC (my favorite kind!) in Chloe who just... gosh, Reed knew what she was doing when she made her the protagonist. The perfect protagonist for this book. If you've read One of Us is Lying, she reminds me SO much of Bronwyn (who I also love dearly). Then we get such a refreshing and unusual MMC in Hayes. He's not easy to pinpoint - and I can't think of a comparable character either. He's like... one of those internal silent brooding types but also intense when it comes to those he loves. I thought the two of them worked splendidly together.
I think why I give this a 4.5 instead of a perfect 5... is just because I don't think it was quite on par with The Rosewood Hunt. There was something about the found family in that book that didn't get an equal in this one... It was there but not as prevalent.
I did guess the ending but Reed was very good at foreshadowing just enough that it wasn't super obvious! I really enjoyed sleuthing it out.
Oh, one other thing is I can only think of one other book that sort of feels similar - and that's Lauren Oliver's Panic. I will say though that this book was WAY better.
All in all, a must read for any mystery fans and for anyone looking for a fun and intriguing YA.