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A review by naisdayz
The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
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