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zoilac's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, and Mental illness
eden_blossom's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
karinreadsalot's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse and Abandonment
batgirl_bethany's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
4.75
JLB is a goddess. I should have known from how well she writes mind games that she knew a lot about psychology, but I never would have guessed that she taught it. But I loved this book just as much as I loved the Inheritance Games series. She’s a must buy Author now. Good Soup.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Kidnapping
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Torture, and Kidnapping
mikathereviewer's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Summary of my review: Nice plot twists that are not predictable (only hard), interesting characters with lots of backstory, no flat characters, perfect pacing, no plot holes, even though everything gets explained we don't get translations for foreign words/sentences, the ending was a let down
‘When you changed one assumption, you changed everything.’
- Cassie
There is foreshadowing of plot twists but very very subtle. You have to read between the lines to actually get them before the plot twist reveal. Which I looove. I hate books that are so obvious with their plot twists, I mean the last foreshadowing of Lia for the first plot twist kinda got me, but it was good nevertheless! And really you have to think. It's not like the typical story you read on autopilot and still get the plot twist 'cause it was way too obvious. These plot twists are fresh!
The last plot twist was so crazy. It was like a double plot twist. And the first one I got it, but the second one? I was close but couldn't decide between two characters but they were alike so guess I theoretically also solved this one before we got the plot twist? But seriously this book deserves to be called; Having a shocking plot twist. As it was (at least for me) not that obvious as most books would do and it was more fun guessing. The plot twists are so cool!!
The whole story was facinating we also have no plot holes and everything gets explained (unless these French words which is a bit annoying). We also get explanations for the conclusion of each chatacters when they investigate. Everything made perfect sense, no stupid decions made by characters and it just felt so good. Good to read something like this in a while. We also had no flat characters and got LOTS of backstory. They are all so interesting and their quirks too (especially Sloan's!).
Lia is actually a useless natural 'cause detecting lies is not always possible. Especially with psychopaths. They have way higher dopamine levels in their brain and they lack any emotions or feelings that can hint/detect a lie. A lie detector is actually only an anxiety detector as people tend to get nervous when they lie as they are afraid to get caught lying. Psychopaths have a smaller amygdala, which is responsible for fear and anxiety and a reduced connections between the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), which is responsible for guilt, empathy, etc. Lia is supposed to detect lies from any individual which isn't possible as she can't detect any fear, facial expression changes, et cetera in a psychopath as they show NO remorse and NO fear. So if she is supposed to do it for a psychopath which also have a higher chance of murdering and even becoming serial killers, she would be quite useless.
The whole love triangle was so hard to read. Don't get me wrong, love triangles are actually one of my favourite tropes, BUT Michael just seemed so off and I just didn't like how he kinda played with Cassie's feelings.
I also was a bit annoyed by the fact that we got French and Italian words and even whole sentences but never a translation. That frustrated me a lot, for a book that explaines so much, but not this.
The ending was definitely amazing, but it felt a bit like an actual ending. Like not a 'sequel coming soon' ending. Just an end. And that was a bit of a let down. Like what is supposed to happen in the next book?
What I think of each character in this book
Cassie (Cassandra Hobbes): You're the main character of course we like you. Also, you are smart, don't be insecure about being different!!
Michael (Townsend): I KNEW IT
Dean (Redding): You are soo interesting. Love your backstory!
Lia: You give me mixed feelings
Sloan: You deserve more screen time honestly. We barely see you and you sound interesting to!! (Oh and stop drinking coffee you go nuts girl)
Judd Hawkins: You are such a mood hahahfgahsya
Agent (Tanner) Briggs: Without you we wouldn't have this story. Thank you for kidnapping Cassie 🤭
Director Sterling: Without you we wouldn't even had the sketch of this book. Thank you
Agent Locke: Love how you always win the arguments with Agent Briggs
Lorelai: I know you are the real villain in this story. ADMIT IT!
You: I know that's not just a mind thing. You are real.
I really had fun reading this book, I can only recommend it. Especially if you like murder mysteries as it reminded me of one strongly. It's also a series so you have more than enough story to read and perhaps fall in love with. Actually got this book recommended too, by someone who has this book as her favourite book and I can totally see why. So far not part of my 'favourite books' yet, but that might change.
20. July 2024
‘When you changed one assumption, you changed everything.’
- Cassie
There is foreshadowing of plot twists but very very subtle. You have to read between the lines to actually get them before the plot twist reveal. Which I looove. I hate books that are so obvious with their plot twists, I mean the last foreshadowing of Lia for the first plot twist kinda got me, but it was good nevertheless! And really you have to think. It's not like the typical story you read on autopilot and still get the plot twist 'cause it was way too obvious. These plot twists are fresh!
The last plot twist was so crazy. It was like a double plot twist. And the first one I got it, but the second one? I was close but couldn't decide between two characters but they were alike so guess I theoretically also solved this one before we got the plot twist? But seriously this book deserves to be called; Having a shocking plot twist. As it was (at least for me) not that obvious as most books would do and it was more fun guessing. The plot twists are so cool!!
The whole story was facinating we also have no plot holes and everything gets explained (unless these French words which is a bit annoying). We also get explanations for the conclusion of each chatacters when they investigate. Everything made perfect sense, no stupid decions made by characters and it just felt so good. Good to read something like this in a while. We also had no flat characters and got LOTS of backstory. They are all so interesting and their quirks too (especially Sloan's!).
Lia is actually a useless natural 'cause detecting lies is not always possible. Especially with psychopaths. They have way higher dopamine levels in their brain and they lack any emotions or feelings that can hint/detect a lie. A lie detector is actually only an anxiety detector as people tend to get nervous when they lie as they are afraid to get caught lying. Psychopaths have a smaller amygdala, which is responsible for fear and anxiety and a reduced connections between the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), which is responsible for guilt, empathy, etc. Lia is supposed to detect lies from any individual which isn't possible as she can't detect any fear, facial expression changes, et cetera in a psychopath as they show NO remorse and NO fear. So if she is supposed to do it for a psychopath which also have a higher chance of murdering and even becoming serial killers, she would be quite useless.
The whole love triangle was so hard to read. Don't get me wrong, love triangles are actually one of my favourite tropes, BUT Michael just seemed so off and I just didn't like how he kinda played with Cassie's feelings.
I also was a bit annoyed by the fact that we got French and Italian words and even whole sentences but never a translation. That frustrated me a lot, for a book that explaines so much, but not this.
The ending was definitely amazing, but it felt a bit like an actual ending. Like not a 'sequel coming soon' ending. Just an end. And that was a bit of a let down. Like what is supposed to happen in the next book?
What I think of each character in this book
Cassie (Cassandra Hobbes): You're the main character of course we like you. Also, you are smart, don't be insecure about being different!!
Michael (Townsend): I KNEW IT
Dean (Redding): You are soo interesting. Love your backstory!
Lia: You give me mixed feelings
Sloan: You deserve more screen time honestly. We barely see you and you sound interesting to!! (Oh and stop drinking coffee you go nuts girl)
Judd Hawkins: You are such a mood hahahfgahsya
Agent (Tanner) Briggs: Without you we wouldn't have this story. Thank you for kidnapping Cassie 🤭
Director Sterling: Without you we wouldn't even had the sketch of this book. Thank you
Agent Locke: Love how you always win the arguments with Agent Briggs
Lorelai: I know you are the real villain in this story. ADMIT IT!
You: I know that's not just a mind thing. You are real.
I really had fun reading this book, I can only recommend it. Especially if you like murder mysteries as it reminded me of one strongly. It's also a series so you have more than enough story to read and perhaps fall in love with. Actually got this book recommended too, by someone who has this book as her favourite book and I can totally see why. So far not part of my 'favourite books' yet, but that might change.
20. July 2024
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Stalking
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
greenknightemrys's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
naisdayz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.5
This must have been the third attempt of me starting this book, and I finally managed to push through. Judging by the premise, this should have been love at first sight. Teenagers join the FBI to solve (more-or-less) cold cases? Said teenagers have psychological abilities that help them solving said cases?
Unfortunately, that's not how it was for me. The book takes a while to get going and starts off pretty slow, and the writing style took me a while to get into. It's very YA (which is coming from someone who reads and enjoys a lot of YA novels).
I also couldn't stand the love triangle. Now, I don't mind romantic subplots in mystery novels (Ravi and Pip from AGGGTM have my whole heart), but this just... Got on my nerves.
Once it picked up, though, it got dark and twisty very quickly. I wouldn't have seen the plot twist coming if it had been advertised with neon signs throughout the entire book.
Overall, my feelings are pretty mixed. I will start the second book today, and I'm hoping I won't have to read a whole lot of nothing to get to the good parts this time.
Unfortunately, that's not how it was for me. The book takes a while to get going and starts off pretty slow, and the writing style took me a while to get into. It's very YA (which is coming from someone who reads and enjoys a lot of YA novels).
I also couldn't stand the love triangle. Now, I don't mind romantic subplots in mystery novels (Ravi and Pip from AGGGTM have my whole heart), but this just... Got on my nerves.
Once it picked up, though, it got dark and twisty very quickly. I wouldn't have seen the plot twist coming if it had been advertised with neon signs throughout the entire book.
Overall, my feelings are pretty mixed. I will start the second book today, and I'm hoping I won't have to read a whole lot of nothing to get to the good parts this time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse
lkristin2018's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
brooklyn0426's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
Loved this book! Super easy read, great pacing, loved the characters. Bought book 2 & 3 before I even finished the first book so I wouldn't have a gap between.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
skyhazzard's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This wasn’t one of the books I’d usually pick up but I had a fun time reading it. It had a bit of a creepy edge getting to hear from the killer and also when they’d try to be in the mindset of the killer trying to figure out why they did what they did. It was really quick and engaging though.
I did sus out the killer though which, as always, shocks me. Guess I need to believe in my creeper instincts more. I didn’t know the motive though but once that was revealed it made a lot of sense.
I did sus out the killer though which, as always, shocks me. Guess I need to believe in my creeper instincts more. I didn’t know the motive though but once that was revealed it made a lot of sense.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Abandonment