mmadill227's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Murder
burstnwithbooks's review against another edition
5.0
YEEEEEEEESSS!!!!! Mystery. Murder. Murder mystery. Synesthesia. Messed up rich people. What's not to like?
marcopoloreads's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fun read! However, overall, it was nothing special. It left me with more questions than answers, and it dragged on for ages. I had issues with a lot of the choices the main character made as well because they didn't make sense to me; her character overall was questionable.
ps_a22's review against another edition
5.0
This novel was amazing. It was such a page-turner and I just couldn’t put it down.
First of all, there is Nikki Kill. She, along with her synesthesia, was so admirable. I just couldn’t get enough of her. From her nonchalant attitude to mad martial arts training, I just couldn't get enough of her. All her qualities were incredibly admirable. She was someone I wanted to know more about.
Then there was the whole mystery element that played out beautifully. Everything was so interconnected and I just kept getting baffled chapter after chapter. There was always something new around the corner and I couldn't stop being surprised by the things that were happening. The plot was on point because everything event had hidden clues hiding between the previous pages. This made the novel so much more lovely.
Even though the ending was realistic, I didn’t like it. It doesn’t sit well with me when my favourite characters, who just turn out to be incredibly hot, start dying off. But it wasn't open-ended, thank goodness, and still had a faint trace of a cliff-hanger.
All in all, an awesome crime/thriller novel. Highly recommended and must read. The clues in the pages will drive you crazy.
First of all, there is Nikki Kill. She, along with her synesthesia, was so admirable. I just couldn’t get enough of her. From her nonchalant attitude to mad martial arts training, I just couldn't get enough of her. All her qualities were incredibly admirable. She was someone I wanted to know more about.
Then there was the whole mystery element that played out beautifully. Everything was so interconnected and I just kept getting baffled chapter after chapter. There was always something new around the corner and I couldn't stop being surprised by the things that were happening. The plot was on point because everything event had hidden clues hiding between the previous pages. This made the novel so much more lovely.
Even though the ending was realistic, I didn’t like it. It doesn’t sit well with me when my favourite characters, who just turn out to be incredibly hot, start dying off. But it wasn't open-ended, thank goodness, and still had a faint trace of a cliff-hanger.
All in all, an awesome crime/thriller novel. Highly recommended and must read. The clues in the pages will drive you crazy.
sc104906's review against another edition
2.0
Peyton Hollis was beaten nearly to death, and the last person she called before being found almost dead was Nikki. The two have seemingly no connection. Nikki needs to find out what happened and why Peyton reached out to her. Using her synesthesia, Nikki works to solve the mystery behind what happened to Peyton.
Interesting take on crime solving, with a potentially scientific layer, as opposed to supernatural.
Interesting take on crime solving, with a potentially scientific layer, as opposed to supernatural.
reviewsfromabookworm's review against another edition
3.0
This had some interesting aspects but I was mostly confused by the whole thing.
threeseagrass's review against another edition
2.0
2 stars.
[b: Shade Me|25773842|Shade Me|Jennifer Brown|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1434994162s/25773842.jpg|45264386] had so much potential. I've devoured Jennifer Brown's books in the past and this was no exception. It was very well written. The atmosphere of suspense she created throughout the story kept me hooked so long that before I knew it half my flight home had already passed.
But that is, unfortunately, the only good thing about this story. I was surprised I disliked it so much despite being enthralled from the first page. I think this is one of those stories that I would have worshipped as a young teenager, but that has just become too predictable, obvious, and frustrating.
Here's the thing. Nikki, our main character, is pretty badass. She knows martial arts; she can kick ass. She's seen some pretty horrible things. She has synesthesia. She sees the world differently from everyone else, in colours. She is also TSTL. I don't know what it is about her character that bothered me per se. Little things bothered me, including the way she disrespected her father, her stupidity in sleeping with a prime suspect of a murder case, and her blatant refusal to talk to the police about information she had on a murder investigation.
And speaking of this suspect - in my opinion it was entirely obvious who at least one of the murderers was for the entire novel. It was also quite clear that this person would have had an accomplice. Halfway through the novel, it becomes quite clear who the accomplice is.
Now, a lot of her actions can probably be explained by something she experienced in her childhood. I would probably also have a healthy distrust for the police after such an experience. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't tell them what I know. It literally would have done no harm at all - she could have continued her investigation and still let the police know what she had found. Not only that, but WHY WOULD YOU LEAVE YOUR FINGERPRINTS ON EVIDENCE? I don't care if the chances of somebody finding it would be slim. Put gloves on, wrap your hoody around your hand, SOMETHING. Just such quick fixes to little annoying things would have gone far in making me like her.
But the thing that irked me the most was Nikki's attachment to a murder suspect. I'm putting this under a spoiler tag just in case..
Finally, there were some sub-plots that were not resolved. What about Nikki's mother and this mysterious person who might know something about what happened to her? What about the accomplice to the murder? The lack of explanation on this part left me feeling a little frustrated at the end.
So while the writing was fantastic, as usual, the story just didn't live up to my expectations. Still, everyone should read [a: Jennifer Brown|432859|Jennifer Brown|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1253828305p2/432859.jpg]'s other novels. They are amazing.
I received an Advance Review Copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
[b: Shade Me|25773842|Shade Me|Jennifer Brown|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1434994162s/25773842.jpg|45264386] had so much potential. I've devoured Jennifer Brown's books in the past and this was no exception. It was very well written. The atmosphere of suspense she created throughout the story kept me hooked so long that before I knew it half my flight home had already passed.
But that is, unfortunately, the only good thing about this story. I was surprised I disliked it so much despite being enthralled from the first page. I think this is one of those stories that I would have worshipped as a young teenager, but that has just become too predictable, obvious, and frustrating.
Here's the thing. Nikki, our main character, is pretty badass. She knows martial arts; she can kick ass. She's seen some pretty horrible things. She has synesthesia. She sees the world differently from everyone else, in colours. She is also TSTL. I don't know what it is about her character that bothered me per se. Little things bothered me, including the way she disrespected her father, her stupidity in sleeping with a prime suspect of a murder case, and her blatant refusal to talk to the police about information she had on a murder investigation.
And speaking of this suspect - in my opinion it was entirely obvious who at least one of the murderers was for the entire novel. It was also quite clear that this person would have had an accomplice. Halfway through the novel, it becomes quite clear who the accomplice is.
Now, a lot of her actions can probably be explained by something she experienced in her childhood. I would probably also have a healthy distrust for the police after such an experience. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't tell them what I know. It literally would have done no harm at all - she could have continued her investigation and still let the police know what she had found. Not only that, but WHY WOULD YOU LEAVE YOUR FINGERPRINTS ON EVIDENCE? I don't care if the chances of somebody finding it would be slim. Put gloves on, wrap your hoody around your hand, SOMETHING. Just such quick fixes to little annoying things would have gone far in making me like her.
But the thing that irked me the most was Nikki's attachment to a murder suspect. I'm putting this under a spoiler tag just in case.
Spoiler
Nikki sleeps with Dru, the brother of the girl who was murdered, soon after the crime was committed. Red Flag #1. The guy has bruises on him that he claims were from basketball. It was quite clear that Peyton, the girl who was murdered, had fought back her attacker. IS IT THAT IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER? But wait, it gets better, Red Flag #2. Later on Nikki is following clues that Peyton left for her in photos and lo and behold Dru features in a photo that CLEARLY IMPLICATES HE WAS AT THE MURDER SCENE. But does Nikki care? No, she just continues on sleeping with him and causing trouble for his very rich family. This all leads to a major clusterfuck at the end of the novel that was just absolutely insane.Finally, there were some sub-plots that were not resolved. What about Nikki's mother and this mysterious person who might know something about what happened to her? What about the accomplice to the murder? The lack of explanation on this part left me feeling a little frustrated at the end.
So while the writing was fantastic, as usual, the story just didn't live up to my expectations. Still, everyone should read [a: Jennifer Brown|432859|Jennifer Brown|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1253828305p2/432859.jpg]'s other novels. They are amazing.
I received an Advance Review Copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
jessiek04's review against another edition
5.0
CW: Assault
(Note: I am not a teenager, so please consider this review accordingly.)
Despite Nikki's poor decision-making skills and sluggishness when it comes to connecting the dots, she is a very intriguing character, and I like her. This book requires some suspension of disbelief when it comes to fight scenes, but I would still recommend it. Looking forward to reading the next one!
(Note: I am not a teenager, so please consider this review accordingly.)
Despite Nikki's poor decision-making skills and sluggishness when it comes to connecting the dots, she is a very intriguing character, and I like her. This book requires some suspension of disbelief when it comes to fight scenes, but I would still recommend it. Looking forward to reading the next one!
tobyyy's review against another edition
3.0
Number one thought: I’m not sure that synesthesia works quite like that...
Also why are you not letting a detective do his job? And why oh why is he — a 25+ year old male — attracted to you, a 17-year-old high schooler? Skeeeevy....
But an interesting story. Nikki is definitely a badass protagonist in a lot of ways, if a kind of stupid one at times.
Also why are you not letting a detective do his job? And why oh why is he — a 25+ year old male — attracted to you, a 17-year-old high schooler? Skeeeevy....
But an interesting story. Nikki is definitely a badass protagonist in a lot of ways, if a kind of stupid one at times.
bethrb's review against another edition
2.0
What right did I have to yank his family skeletons out of their closets?
Book: Shade Me, Nikki Kill Book 1
Cover: Really cool. It was what got me to buy a copy for work and to eventually read it. The whole series is beautiful.
Unhelpful one sentence summary: Rebel teen Nikki Kill is drawn into the mystery surrounding the attack on one of her schoolmates and makes bad decisions along the way.
Out of Context Spoiler:
Spoiler
Liked:
- I always like seeing Synthesesia being used in fiction and Nikki using her Synthesesia as a crime-solving tool? Amazing.
- Nikki had a lot of potential as a character.
- Unfortunately, that's about all that I liked.
Disliked:
- Where do I start - We're in spoiler territory from here on out.
- Nikki's police work leaves something to be desired. Even after thinking 'hey I think I'm contaminating the scene' she still messes up the scene and steals VITAL evidence.
- Her distrust of the police doesn't make a whole lot of sense? I get her mother's murder was never solved but should that prevent the police from even trying to investigate? Especially when the cop is repeatedly shown to be right and competent. Insofar as this fictional police force, they seem to be pretty on top of things considering a teenage delinquent keeps messing with their case.
- She straight up bludgeons a teenager with a rock until he passes out and then is kind of proud of the result? Any kind of trauma to the brain is BAD but Nikki is never chastised or anything for it. She then never calls this evidence to the attention to the police and seriously hinders their investigation.
-Spoiler
So child sex trafficking is a major plot pot point in this story and the fact that the family are trafficking CHILDREN never seems to cause the outrage it should. Luna's a child!! Peyton's a child!! They were being trafficked by their parents and that's really messed up!! One of their Johns even hints that he knew she was a child too. This really bothered me!!! And the way Nikki spoke about the situation was so crass and unsympathetic and I get that Luna is awful but she doesn't deserve that.
-Spoiler
Above John implied that he was allowed to rape Nikki (a teenager!) because he'd paid to do whatever he wanted to her body *shudders* That Nikki was even able to get a job as an escort using her real name at the agency was so stupid. Google exists?
- For someone who is supposed to be really intuitive, Nikki was so incredibly blind to the baddies.Spoiler
There were only a handful of characters introduced to us and despite all evidence constantly pointing to Dru and literally everyone pointing out that he was GUILTY Nikki still took the opportunity to sleep with him a handful of times and felt the right to be outraged when his part in the crime to be revealed. At one point Nikki thinks that she and Dru might be related and still fancies herself in love with him which was... uncomfortable. And unrealistic. They'd known each other a matter of days and the whole time she knew he was lying to her. And gave her no reason to trust him. Sigh. Which brings us to...
-Spoiler
'I felt partly responsible for his death' YEAH NO KIDDING
-Spoiler
This is probably a personal thing and I know Officer Martinez is the main LI of this series and yeah he seems sweet and stuff but I would once again like to point out that Nikki is a TEENAGER who is IN SCHOOL and while she may be 18 (an adult) it doesn't change the fact he's older and more mature than her. This sort of thing doesn't bother me in sci-fi or fantasy settings but when it's in the real world in a real world situation it's all a bit squicky.
Recommened to: Man I don't know I haven't read anything like this before.