That Dangerous Energy

by Aya de León

Coming from a troubled youth, Morgan Faraday grabs every opportunity to up-level her life. So she definitely plans to keep oil-company heir Sebastian Reid interested...all the way to the altar. He's brilliant and supportive and is turning his billion-dollar company green to make up for his ancestors' exploitation. With him, Morgan can have love, money, and the power to make the world better. And securing her future is far more important than the attractive environmental activist she suddenly has unexpected feelings for... But once Morgan gets a glimpse of Sebastian's secret allies and confidential emails, she's stunned to find he's only talking a good game. His company is responsible for several ecological disasters, and a chance encounter makes it clear to her the lengths he'll go to stay on top. To gather enough evidence to expose him, she will have to rely on her quick wits and new friends to stay one step ahead of a corporate conspiracy. But as the danger comes closer, will she put herself first and run, or face down the risk, even at her cost of her life?

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Feminism, Audiobook, Climate Change, Climate Change Fiction

Audio CD

Published February 9, 2023

Reviews

[SuperWendy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I enjoyed a previous book by this author, which is why I picked up this one - and whoa boy, it did not go well. You've got a heroine whose sole purpose seems to be to bend to the whims of some man - be it the billionaire boyfriend who turns out to be an Evil Energy Tycoon or the Crunchy Granola Climate Change Activist who basically uses her to dig up dirt on Evil Energy Tycoon Guy.

While the book is an interesting mix of current events and pop fiction, the preachiness in the story is off the charts. The climate change theme is handled with the all the subtlety of an Acme anvil getting dropped on Wile E. Coyote's head. And the drama at the end is pure theatrics, overblown and over the top courtroom schlock.

But worst of all - I could have done without the dig at romance novels. Do romance novels romanticize billionaires? Yes. Are readers smart enough to know the difference between romance billionaires and Bezos, Musk and Facebook Boy? Also, yes. So let's leave the digs at an entire genre at the door thank you very much.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

That Dangerous Energy by Ava de León is a good mystery thriller that brings together a story of romance, spying, environmental activism, and more!

The pace was quite fast. I would have loved to see more development in the story to the hot/cold behavior of Sebastian in this rich guy trope.

The story also gave me insight on why activists do what they do when it comes to our environment. I knew global warming was an impactful topic, but I didn't really Know Know ( you know what I mean?). It reopened my eyes!

Thank you to @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Glenda Nelms · Rating 4 out of 5]

That dangerous energy is my first Aya de Leon book. This page turning thriller novel covers the topic of Climate change and environmental activism. De Leon balances action and information. Morgan attended fashion school and designs her own clothes. Quilting is her main Art, she uses quilting to reuse fabric and telling a story

Morgan Faraday is flying cross-country with $7 in her wallet when her flight is cancelled. The kindness of a stranger allows her to sleep in a hotel after a good dinner. She tries to ignore her attraction to him; she is, after all, dating a billionaire who could enable her to pursue her art without worrying about paying for lodging and food. But as she begins to realize that Sebastian's money comes from fossil fuel and the exploitation of the planet, Morgan realizes she can make a difference--by revealing Sebastian's plans.


There's a backstory about Morgan's family history.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book came with a book I won in a goodreads drawing.

Despite its patina of modern feminism and left wing politics, this is really just an old fashioned romance. The more things change...

[Victoria Hamel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first time I have read anything by Aya de Leon, but it won't be the last. I really enjoyed this book, it has a very satisfying ending. This book is a romantic thriller that focuses on fossil fuels, energy consumption, and climate change. Aya de Leon does a great job of balancing information and action, especially when it came to the textile arts. Yes I know this book is a corporate climate change thriller but a nice chunk of it describes what Morgan does as an artist. Morgan designs her own clothes and went to fashion school, but her passion is quilting. The scenes describing how she created a quilt to enter a contest is very interesting for someone who knows almost nothing about quilting. I love how quilting is a form of art and a practical way to not only tell stories but also a way to reuse fabric instead of discarding it. Quilting fits in well with the theme of the book that time is running out to affect climate change.
The pacing of the book is wonderful, and I appreciated that the characters are nuanced and have depth, there is no knight in shining armor or a perfect badass hero--which makes everyone in the story more relatable.

And as an aside, the color scheme on the cover and the artwork of it is gorgeous!

Five Stars for this romantic thriller it was a great ride!

Thank you #Netgalley for the ARC! #ThatDangerousEnergy

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tackling the issues and discussions surrounding climate change, this book is addictive and extremely unputdownable. While on the short side, it definitely tells a fully fleshed out story and we get a little bit of everything - climate discussion, activism, romance, some spying, and a MC who starts off naive and timid, but really grows into herself and shows up in her activism. Aya de León is a feminist writer you should DEFINITELY be reading!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. I attribute my interest in it by the cover and summary. To my surprise the story was full of suspense and centered around global warming. The girls rock in this story and show just how bad ass we are.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book in addition to another Goodreads giveaway. It says its from and up and coming feminist author. Wow. Okay. Well, this book was ridiculous. Goes from girl trying to land a rich man, find out rich man is bad, suddenly develop an extreme interest in climate change from another cute guy, become a 'spy' to take down the rich man, live happily ever after with cute guy. This is a feminist author? The main character literally changes herself for men, over and over, and has no identity for herself. The whole thing just seemed kind of silly.

[Sharon Velez Diodonet · Rating 4 out of 5]

"But in reality, as our country is finally coming to understand, that level of wealth had the danger of leading to corruption, leading individuals to believe they can do anything and are exempt from the laws of our nation."

Thank you @cocoachapters and @kensingtonbooks for the gifted copies. Check out my stories for a chance to win a copy.

That Dangerous Energy by Aya DeLeon was a fast paced, crime novel that dealt with many contemporary and historical themes. I loved that it was female driven spy story that dealt with the climate crisis. DeLeon introduces the characters layer by layer and once the action kicks in, it's non-stop heart thumping until the end. DeLeon's writing is insightful and revelatory. The character development is strong and the fast-paced plot will keep you glued to the pages. The flashbacks to the main protagonist's family history added a nice touch to her personal growth story. I loved that this one was oozing with feminist energy throughout and showed how women can also be complicit in patriarchy and misogyny. It was interesting to see how DeLeon weaves identity and poverty into this story and shows how they affect choices women are forced to make.

I highly recommend this one if you're interested in:
💥 Afro-Boricua authors or Afro-Latinx representation/identity
💥 climate crisis and activism
💥intersectional feminism
💥 crime fiction & spy stories
💥 the role of Black women in activist movements
💥 anti-racism work
💥 corruption of power
💥 female driven thrillers & suspense
💥 Brooklyn, NY flavor
💥 fast paced crime fiction with a noir feel

[Taylor Browne · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’ve seen this gorgeous book floating around and you’ve been on the fence about reading it, take this as a sign to grab you a copy. This was my first introduction to Aya de León and I was not disappointed. This was a great story that tackles the conversation of morality. We meet Morgan, a struggling artist in NYC, who appears to have hit the jackpot with her Billionaire boyfriend who is willing to finance her life. The only thing Morgan really wants aside from being able to focus on her sewing full time is to not have to worry about money. Everything seems like it’s headed in the right direction until a chance encounter with a stranger who hips her to the true nature of her boyfriend’s billion dollar company.

I found Morgan to be an admirable character that left a lasting impact. While her boyfriend Sebastian had more than enough money to ease all of her worries, she realized that all money isn’t good money. It speaks volumes to one’s character when they truly stand up for what they believe. We watch as she transforms from a stay at home girlfriend into a spy and a sleuth to get to the bottom of her boyfriend’s supposed unethical practices. If you enjoy light mysteries with some action and a bit of romance, this read is definitely for you!

[The Kentucky Fried Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

That Dangerous Energy by Ava de León is a good mystery thriller that brings together a story of romance, spying, environmental activism, and more!

Available 12/28/2022

The pace was quite fast. I would have loved to see more development in the story to the hot/cold behavior of Sebastian in this rich guy trope.

The story also gave me insight on why activists do what they do when it comes to our environment. I knew global warming was an impactful topic, but I didn't really Know Know ( you know what I mean?). It reopened my eyes!

Thank you to @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Doreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

12/27/2022 3.5 stars rounded up. I dig the concept of justice hustlers. Full review tk at CriminalElement.com.

[Candice Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

That Dangerous Energy opens on an intriguing snippet of family history. Morgan's great-grandmother escaped Spain and her husband in the dead of night, the only option available to her since women couldn't seek a divorce. And then with a hard pivot, we're dropped right into the middle of another escape. Morgan's on the move with ~something~ in her pocket. Two security guards are tailing her until she gets wise and drops her million-dollar engagement ring on the subway tracks. The what and why of it all aren't clear to us. We're just along for the ride. Then we jump back two months.

This book has such a strong beginning, from the interwoven snippets about the women in Morgan's family to the first hint of whirlwind romance when Morgan and Kevin connect as strangers stranded in St. Louis on a flight delay. The family history shows us the resilience of the women in Morgan's family even as it captures the impact of racism and sexism on their lives throughout the 20th century. None had a storybook happily ever after. Men did them wrong, and society did its worst. These flashbacks are balanced out by the promise of Morgan's potential love story. It's cute, banter-y, and feather-light-- just a connection that could become something.

Amid these moving parts, we also learn about Morgan's hustle, something that prevents her from acting on her interest in Kevin-- a billionaire who her friend is training her to snag. As a struggling fashion designer who really wants to focus on the quilts that are her life's passion, Morgan can't afford to turn away a golden opportunity to focus on her art. And so her best friend Dashawna, an experienced sugar baby, guides her through the process of keeping an oil mogul's attention once she's caught it.

The story draws a clear through line between climate change and racial violence. Here, Morgan's boyfriend Sebastian sits on his piles of money while greenwashing the family business to his benefit. It's only once Morgan catches wind of some of Sebastian's lies that she decides to take what she knows to The Movement, aka Kevin, who it turns out is an activist. Morgan's tip isn't enough, so she agrees to spy on him and get evidence that could make a difference. The tension of spying, keeping up with her art, and having to perform for Sebastian takes a toll on Morgan, and that comes through on the page. Her trials are many. She's starting to see the cracks in her relationship, even if she never mistook it for love, and she's fully disenchanted with Sebastian's lies about taking his father's company in a more responsible direction.

As Morgan agrees to spy and gets fully invested in climate activism, the story completely fell apart for me on multiple fronts. I was shocked and disappointed given my enjoyment of one of de Leon's other books and how well things were going so far with this one. So let me explain where things went wrong.

My first problem is that this book is billed as not only a thriller but a romance, and I was increasingly uncomfy that Kevin sees Morgan as a means to an end for the movement, and her safety is something he largely worries about in relation to his own interest in her. At one point, he suggests she use her "feminine wiles" to get invited to an event where she needs to spy, ignoring the daily trauma of what she's already putting herself through to keep up the ruse. The physical intimacy that was once a chore is now something worse-- something she has to survive for the cause, no matter her loathing. The good news is we do get to see Morgan call him on all this, which was VERY satisfying. The bad news is how Morgan reacts to this falling out... and also how Kevin is still endgame. If things had escalated between them naturally from their first meeting, which was so cute, I think it could have been this wonderful love story. But the spy situation complicates it-- especially because Kevin's hatred of Sebastian first extends to Morgan and then becomes something that clouds his judgment and his feelings for her.

On Morgan's end, she doesn't lose sight of the end goal, but she does lose sight of who Sebastian is in light of her fight with Kevin, and it's a frustrating pivot. Just when it seems the spying is rapping up and Morgan can go free, we receive the unwelcome gift of a love triangle where we already know the ending because of the opening scene. While Morgan lounges on the beach with Sebastian and starts to build a connection with him, we see her entertain the alluring mind game it's so easy to play: maybe I CAN have it all without breaking my moral compass. And that's the fairy tale she has a hard time letting go of-- more than any romantic one. It's a powerful message, and I only wish it weren't tainted by all the last-minute romantic shenanigans tying up the latter half of the book.

We get one more round of thriller vibes when we reconnect with the opening scene in the timeline. And then the end is kind of a court drama? Which I was on board with as far as finding solutions to the problems at hand. But it was a hard swerve tone-wise and recapped the story in detail at some points, further slowing down what was once a snappy, focused story. Worse, Morgan reconnects with Kevin after he apologizes for his behavior, but I wasn't ready to be on his team again as they ride off into the sunset. In its final moments, the book also manages to solve climate change, so wow. It was a lot.

It's so hard to know what to feel about this whole thing. Because I like a book that dares to envision a better future for us, but everything else is a bit of a jumble. So many kernels of strong story elements are ultimately awkward or annoying in execution. The romantic elements, I've covered. There's also this weird moment of attempted trans solidarity where Morgan notices a woman's big biceps and wonders if she's trans and is basically like "If so... cool." The sentiment? Nice. The whole scene? Awkward to the point of defeating its purpose. In terms of the broader message, I became increasingly bothered that the book portrays "The Movement" as if it's a flattened, unilateral beast instead of a multifaceted, not always harmonious hydra of a thing. So while Morgan's actions serve the greater good and an oil tycoon is an obvious target for all kinds of activists, Kevin and increasingly Morgan start seeing things in a moral black and white that keeps them motivated but feels kind of naive. Since I was on board with their politics (see: climate, racism, wealth disparity), it created this weird dissonance that I wasn't as enthusiastic about their clarity around a messy situation. It smacks of fanaticism. And maybe that level of dedication is necessary to get the results they did? So you see, I'm conflicted.

This book kicked off with brisk writing, an intriguing premise, and multiple layers. But once it shed the story of Morgan as an artist, as a daughter, and as someone struggling to get by in favor of the story of Morgan The Activist, it left space for an unnecessary love triangle and other questionable romantic decisions, traumas left unaddressed, and somehow, the nitty-gritty of a legal battle. And that's just a taste of the whiplash I felt reading it. So here I am, struggling to explain why this book wasn't what I needed it to be in the end.

[Kristiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aya de León delivers a wonderful page turning thriller! I couldn’t put this book down, I was so concerned about the characters. León tells an engaging thriller wrapped in the reality of climate change, race, and the danger of billionaires. She weaves an entire family history into this novel that was touching and true.

Morgan Faraday is a struggling textile artist who is angling her way to becoming a billionaire’s live-in girlfriend. Sebastian Reid is the CEO and heir of an oil company, who could change Morgan’s life with the space and time to work on her art. But when Morgan’s eyes are opened to the damage Sebastian’s company does to the environment she’s forced to choose between the life she imagined and the work she could do for climate change activists.

The book opens with Morgan running away from the life she’s made with Sebastian and jumps back in time to explain how she got there. The storytelling is great, interweaving Morgan’s family over several generations. The characters are great and I couldn’t wait to find out how everything turned out.

[Darline Saeidifar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh! This book and it’s characters irritated me (Sebastian, Morgan, Dashawna and Kevin)! I didn’t enjoy this book at all. I did read all of it just to see how it would end, and the ending didn’t make me like it anymore. The main character, Morgan have no morals or loyalty. It was just too much for me with the lack of dishonesty, how quick her ( Morgan) feelings changed, the fact that she was only really using Sebastian, cheating on her “boyfriend.” Characters like that doesn’t appeal to me. Yea, I just didn’t like she (the author) portrayed those characters, especially Morgan and her friend, Dashawna.

[Quastarcella Borom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this book touches on so many issues we are facing today in some way. Dealing with things that we have had ingrained in us from our upbringing, society the,media and the "ones who get away with it". Definitely an eye opening read. My new favorite writer.👏👏👏

[Belen Bonilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

HERE FOR IT!! I picked up this book for the action and the drama and it did not disappoint. I loved the way Aya de León walked us through Morgan’s story and the story of Lourdes. The ending is clearly fiction because it feels like this would never happen in real life but this is definitely the ending we all deserve for racial and climate justice. Also we love a Black female heroine 🫶🏽

[Karen Mahtin · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Mal Warwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readers may know Aya de León as the author of the four books published to date in her Justice Hustlers series of thrillers. Four have appeared to date among her eleven novels. But all her work so far shares an outspoken progressive perspective and highlights an activist approach to today’s social problems. Her latest effort, That Dangerous Energy, is about tackling climate change. It’s a subject that cries out loudly for action. Unfortunately, the solution she suggests in the novel is romantic and ill-conceived. De León doesn’t seem to understand the fossil fuel industry, which is at the heart of her story, or how any large corporation operates, for that matter.

GETTING INTO BED WITH BIG OIL—LITERALLY
That Dangerous Energy follows the life of romantic young Morgan Faraday as she works her way into the bed of Sebastian Reid. He’s the CEO of one of the world’s largest oil companies, and she’s dazzled. He’s a billionaire, too. And, unsurprisingly, White. Morgan is Black—multiracial, really—and, of course, beautiful. Their relationship begins on a tender and promising note, and soon Morgan is fantasizing about marriage. In fact, her “bestie” Dashawn constantly feeds her with tips about how to land the man. But Morgan’s hopes are dashed when she accidentally discovers that Sebastian is a liar. He presents himself to the world as an enlightened leader, intent on greening his company. But she comes to learn that it’s greenwashing. (Big surprise!) And Sebastian is breaking the law to secure a huge government contract. Soon Morgan begins actively spying on him—and funneling the evidence to the environmental protestors who have targeted him and his company.

JUGGLING RELATIONSHIPS WITH TWO MEN
To complicate matters, Morgan falls in love with a young man named Kevin, who is one of the leaders of the environmentalists picketing Sebastian’s offices. They meet on an airplane and fall into bed in short order. Once Kevin learns she’s in a relationship with Sebastian, he manages to convince her to spy on him. Eventually, he persuades her to work with him to bug Sebastian’s home office—and they do so, turning up damning evidence of criminal behavior on Sebastian’s part. But she hasn’t given up on him. She believes she may be able to “turn” him into a force for good. After all, he had merely inherited the company from his father, a notorious shark in business. And he really seems to her to be trying to make the company more eco-friendly. Before long, Morgan is juggling her relationships with the two men.

Since I don’t want to spoil the story, I won’t explain how de León resolves Morgan’s dilemma and shows her taking action to tackle climate change. Suffice it to say that the events she portrays are, in a word, preposterous. Aya de León is a brilliant poet and on-stage performer, and the one earlier book of hers that I’ve read was a good read. Unfortunately, this one wasn’t.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aya de Leon teaches poetry and spoken word at the University of California, Berkeley. For ten years, she toured as a spoken word artist but settled down in Berkeley to raise a family and write novels. She is now the author of ten books. De Leon also blogs and writes for numerous online publications. She is a graduate of Harvard College and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Antioch University Los Angeles. Born in Los Angeles in 1967, de Leon is the daughter of the musician Taj Mahal and his first wife, Anna de Leon, owner of a jazz club in Berkeley and a former member of the Berkeley School Board.

[Nkaiferi Ifiok · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope. I am at the age when I refuse to submit myself to unnecessary punishment in the name of finishing a book I started. Life is short and I won't waste it.

I have zero patience for stupid people who go out of their way to justify their foolish actions then turn around and complain when they're living the consequences of their choices. Yes, I didn't finish the book, but I read enough of it and this was the message I received.

This was the ultimate book of contrived stakes.
If living in New York City is too expensive, move back home to where your mother, grandmother and great-grandma live, maybe? Not permanently, but at least until you figure things out. Instead homegirl chose to sleep with a man she didn't even like just because he spent money on her, and then she had the audacity to complain about how obnoxious he was. Like, dude, you chose to be an object for sale, and you're upset that you're treated like merchandise???? And don't even get me started on the enabling friend that encouraged her into this nonsense.

As if this concept wasn't lame enough, the billionaire boyfriend is made into a villain because
-he inherited his father's petroleum company
-greenwashing, apparently
-lobbying aka the standard for politicians in the US
Wow. So evil.

Despite my heavy eyerolls, I was willing to go along with the book and she how they would take down this billionaire until what's-her-face was on the cusp of breaking up with the oh-so-terrible boyfriend, but then changed her mind at the last minute because he shed a handful tears and she was like "OMG, maybe I can change him!" Because, you know, women can change the behaviours of fully grown men who hold all the power in the relationship. I actually felt my brain cells die while reading the book at that moment, from the very core of my being came a resounding NOPE! We're not doing this.

I have shared my thoughts on the book. Read at your own risk.

[PF · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC.

Aya de León really twisted the romance stereotype on its head with this one. Note that the romance part is mashed up with a spy-thriller bit as well. The short take-home points are that this is a fun read with a lot of clever plot points from a writer who (in my perspective) either took some shortcuts with this piece or was being pressured by the publisher to keep it shorter than what it needed to really bring the main points home in a believable way, however the style was completely in line with how romances are usually written. Let's just say I wish the whole story was ... more. More plot, more words, more character development, more description, more dialog.

It's hard to write this without spoilers, but I'm going to try. Romances often contain a billionaire lover trope which usually includes a poor-little-rich-boy segment. That is there, but with a twist that surprised me into laughter the first time it came up. The interweaving of the historic perspectives and generation story into the modern day spy thriller was delightful. I would love to see another novel more focused on the great grandmother, Lourdes.

I appreciated the resistance to the tropes and the predictable or expected outcomes. Turning the rich lover trope on its head was just one place that occurred. The poor girl being rescued was another trope that fell on its face. The fighter who wins against all odds was another trope that was twisted into a more realistic outcome, while still preserving hope, and intelligently providing perspectives and insights into the problems with the tropes the story is confronting.

I love that this is an #OwnVoices story. I savor the evocative descriptions of Jamaican foods. And, as a quilter and a quilt lover, I must mention that beautiful exquisite quilts play a critical role in this story.

[AMAO · Rating 5 out of 5]

That Dangerous Energy by Aya de León
Published December 27, 2022


<3 I was about to abandon it because it felt it was too slow burning until it wasn't... It had action, suspense, thriller, #smutmance and some LOL LMAO sarcastic humour! All of this around the issues of #colorism #globalwarming #interracialdating #poverty #uberaffluence #domesticviolence #verbal #EMOTIONAL ABUSE involving, planes, trains and automobiles AND an epic made for TV primetime courtroom saga... made for a memorable #audiobooking experience! <3


Coming from a troubled youth, Morgan Faraday grabs every opportunity to up-level her life. So she definitely plans to keep oil-company heir Sebastian Reid interested...all the way to the altar. He's brilliant and supportive and is turning his billion-dollar company green to make up for his ancestors' exploitation. With him, Morgan can have love, money, and the power to make the world better. And securing her future is far more important than the attractive environmental activist she suddenly has unexpected feelings for...

But once Morgan gets a glimpse of Sebastian's secret allies and confidential emails, she's stunned to find he's only talking a good game. His company is responsible for several ecological disasters, and a chance encounter makes it clear to her the lengths he'll go to stay on top. To gather enough evidence to expose him, she will have to rely on her quick wits and new friends to stay one step ahead of a corporate conspiracy. But as the danger comes closer, will she put herself first and run—or face down the risk, even at her cost of her life?

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Morgan Faraday is flying cross-country with $7 in her wallet when her flight is cancelled. The kindness of a stranger allows her to sleep in a hotel after a good dinner. She tries to ignore her attraction to him; she is, after all, dating a billionaire who could enable her to pursue her art without worrying about paying for lodging and food. But as she begins to realize that Sebastian's money comes from fossil fuel and the exploitation of the planet, Morgan realizes she can make a difference--by revealing Sebastian's duplicity.

As Morgan transitions from kept woman to spy, she spends more time with the hot environmental activist, who is none other than the kind stranger who paid for her hotel room. This book is a page-turning suspense novel that raises discussions about the environment, corporate responsibility, and the pursuit of wealth at all costs. Morgan's family's backstory is not completely relevant, other than to establish she didn't come from wealth. #ThatDangerousEnergy #NetGalley

[Alise · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Climate justice is racial justice"

Overall I think the premise and story were a great idea but in some places I wished the pacing was different. There is a lot of identity specific monologues and history at the beginning of the pages (questioning her blackness, how people perceive her race, etc.) that don't come into play during the story except one off-hand exchange. It appeared a little forced in and didn't seem vital to the story at all. Perfectly fine questions to add and include but in this type of plot, something that is dedicated a lot of time should come into play later (imo).

The characters of the book were well done and enjoyable to read about. Our main character isn't necessarily likeable but her complexity does keep the story moving at many points. The supporting cast of friends/allies is really good. This book reads like a really good heist procedural and it was a fun ride. It makes a lot of points about climate change and environmental racism that fit really well in the plot.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I WON Still Waters (FBI K-9, #7) from Goodreads Giveaway. When I received that book in the mail I also received this book! It is an interesting read but I am 71 and have been hearing about the end of the world since I was little - I recall asking my Mom about it and she said she had been hearing the same thing her whole life. I know the weather is changing - but can't you also "blame" the sunspots or volcanoes or earthquakes or whatever?? Also, during the "pandemic" the scientists proved that no one is perfect and they make huge mistakes and then story about them so why believe them? The US is probably the most energy-efficient country in the world - why don't we hear about China or India or Russia for climate change issues since they are THE WORST??!!! This book did not change my mind and Morgan changed her's way too quickly, especially since she was falling for Kevin!!!

[Katie Avalos · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reads as a series of plot points with a bit of story in between rather than a story that really flows and seems true to its characters. The very best parts are the snippets from the past about the main character's family, but those all but disappear after the first quarter of the book. Those characters feel fleshed out and whole. The actual main characters feel one dimensional, just pawns used to drag the plot from point to point. That said, I found myself invested enough to read through until the end to see where it would all end up. I wouldn't reread this or give it to a friend, but it was fine as an unsolicited free book from the publisher which is how it came to be in my possession.

[Derek Siegel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting premise, but after introducing its characters "The Dangerous Energy" plateaus until the final quarter, when de León goes full action/thriller mode, which is when she's at her best. Something else I noticed is that the novel has fewer supporting characters, which is another staple of the author's writing - charismatic, memorable side-characters. Dashawna and Yolanda are great but at the complete periphery. So we're left with arrogant and controlling Sebastian, less arrogant and less controlling Kevin (who apologizes but is still a leftist f*** boy), and Morgan, whose political awakening is lovely to watch but who ultimately ... isn't my favorite heroine from Aya de León. If you haven't read anything from her, start with "Uptown Thief" and "The Boss."

[Barbara Rhine · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I absolutely LOVED about this book was that its plot centers around the climate crisis! And it comes out with a happy ending! And an oil baron has to change his ways! And it's all accomplished by a woman--or actually two, who plan things together. So I wouldn't call this literary fiction; closer to the romance genre. But the theme is absolutely crucial, and very well-done. And since it's not literary it is easy to read. The heroines are both black and class-conscious, and very awaree of how to use their sexual allure to their own advantage. All this makes Aya de León's book totally unusual and compelling. So why not five stars? Well, the prose is a bit self-conscious and obvious, rather than always deep. Sorta like this review. Yet do read this book. It's worth it!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this one!
Aya’d novels are always entertaining and have covered several topics in current events and given them spotlight while entertaining the reader.
Morgan thinks she wants the lavish life but at what cost? When she meets Kevin a protester, he shows her that the life she may be walking into could be a dangerous one. Morgan spies on her billionaire energy mogul boyfriend and begins unraveling all the secrets and wrong doings of his company. I think this was my favorite of the last three novels but I love how they all work together and hope there is another in this unofficial series