Drawn

by Cecilia Gray

A wholly original tale of friendship and betrayal through the eyes – and lies – of one extraordinary girl.

Sasha has a secret – that she can make you spill your secret with nothing more than a question. Her strange gift makes her a burden to her foster family and a total freak of nature. Not that Sasha cares. Why should she when no one cares about her?

Then the CIA knocks on her door. They want to give Sasha a new identity and drop her into a foreign country to infiltrate a ring of zealous graffiti terrorists. They want to give Sasha something to care about.

To survive a world where no one is who they seem, Sasha needs to make people trust her. But when that trust blossoms into love, Sasha is forced to decide between duty and friendship, between her mind and her heart, and whether to tell the truth or keep her secrets.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Fantasy, Paranormal, Teen, Urban Fantasy

325 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 12, 2013

About the author

Cecilia Gray writes stories about first love, second chances, and forever friendships. She--much like her characters--resides in quite a few places.

Reviews

[Cora Tea Party Princess · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 Words: Family, Infiltration, teenager, Superpower, Superhero.

This was a great quick read. I really enjoyed it! I especially liked the little strips at the beginning of each chapter.

This story was a different perspective, and it wasn't really something I'd considered. And I loved the complications that came with this very different situation.

I think this is probably the book that really pushed me to give comics a go. I liked how each chapter started with that little graphic, which was new to me. I'd never really liked things like that before.

I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. I thought that the plot was interesting if a little farfetched. I do feel like the story could have been a bit more fleshed out. Although the main character has a super power, this book doesn't really feel paranormal. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but the story doesn't go into much detail about the "how" of her power.

However there are very cute comic strips before each chapter that I felt did a good job at giving glimpses of the main characters past.

This book held my interest well, and I thought that it was a pretty fun(if predictable) read. The ending left things a little more open than I am accustomed to, but I was still satisfied with it. 3.5/5

Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Maja (The Nocturnal Library) · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 star
Oh, how deceiving looks can be! (I just love being overly dramatic sometimes, don’t you?) With the cover and the blurb as impressive as these, Drawn can easily pull in even the most skeptical of readers – and in my case, it did. Everything about this book looked right on the surface. The cover is alluring, the premise so very intriguing, and the short graphic introductions to each chapter promised a unique reading experience. However, it soon became clear that Drawn is nowhere near as good as I was hoping it would be. Instead, it is slightly amateurish novel that may appeal more to middle grade readers.

How many fabulous, but poorly executed ideas can you think of right this second? I bet I could come up with at least a dozen off the top of my head, and yet very few have had such promising beginnings and have ended up disappointing me to such extent. The protagonist, Sasha, is a human lie detector – her voice can make anyone say what they’re thinking out loud. Because of her talent, Sasha lives a very lonely life. Her parents abandoned her when she was a baby and she moved from home to home, friendless, until she was assigned to a female FBI agent who took care of her and used her to solve cases.

Considering Sasha’s unique ability, the mission she was sent on in Drawn, and by the CIA, no less, seemed ridiculously easy and entirely unnecessary. Her job was to infiltrate a group of graffiti artists and uncover the identity of the infamous Kid Aert, and how convenient that the daughter of Sasha’s handler – a girl who befriended her despite constantly blurting out embarrassing truths around her – was already a part of said group. Of course, as she befriends this group of French artists, Sasha ends up with an internal conflict – do her job like she’s always done, or protect the only friends she’s ever had?

The attempt to build Sasha into a complex character, bitter for being abandoned by various parental figures and constantly used by the government, failed spectacularly. Not for a second did I feel her loneliness and insecurity as I was undoubtedly supposed to. Instead, she came across as unapproachable and somewhat obnoxious.

As a general rule, I try to find at least something positive to say, and in this case, it would probably be the setting, except for all the errors it brought with it. Sasha’s assignment takes her to Belgium, a country we don’t see much of in YA, which I’d normally be thrilled about. However, although I don’t speak much French, even I could notice all the language disasters – the kind of errors Google Translate would do.

To make the long story short – I can’t, in good conscience, recommend Drawn to anyone. This is not Gray’s debut, but it certainly reads like someone’s first high school attempt at writing a novel, and I think we can all agree that those should be kept hidden.

[Bèbè ✦ RANT ✦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Copy received from the publisher for an honest opinion and does not influence my review in any way.**

Rejected by her parents, Sasha is used to people ignoring her because of her unique gift. After five seconds of her speaking, people say exactly what’s on their mind. After childhood full of rejection and hurt, she is working for FBI. After successful mission, she is sent to Brussels, Belgium to work on assignment to try and catch graffiti artist who is believed to be involved in some political exposure.

”Famous artist once said that graffiti flourishes in the darkest places. At the time, I thought he meant where he worked. Alleys. Dark corners. But I think he meant inside himself.

Inside me. Inside me. Don’t fear the darkness. The darkness is what makes us good at what we do.”

Sasha really impressed me. Being a reject and knowing that once you speak, people will reject you is tough. Being called a freak was something that she was used to but it still hurt her. But she was strong. I know that some readers posted reviews of saying that they didn’t understand why Sasha liked Sebastian so much or why she wondered why people always hangout together. Well I saw the connection between them. Not instantly but you could see that they could really connect with each other because they felt the same way. Same was with VIvi and Sasha – she didn’t know how to have friends but she learned.

Overall, this was a story worth reading. It does seem like it’s hit or miss with the Goodreads community but personally, I enjoyed it.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sasha has always been the freak of the bunch as when she was born, she was discovered to have the ability to be a truth detector. Within meeting someone for the first 5 seconds if they did not say what they wanted fast - she would be able to reveal what they really wanted to say out loud. When she was younger she was taken to a lab to be tested and then eventually she was handed over to the FBI to become one of their assets . Now at 16 , Sasha has been busy working with Agent Chelsea Tanner but after a dangerous case - Sasha has been re-assigned to Seattle, Portland to work undercover with the CIA . The mission is to track down a Political Activist graffitti artist known as Kid Aert. So Sasha hightails it to Seattle and meets Viv and her friends Seb and Slammer. Strange things start occuring and Sasha believes one of them may be connected to the Kid Aert . What will happen though when the one she falls for turns out to be closer to artist than she could ever imagine ? Read as Sasha must decide between betraying her new friends or the FBI/CIA and her country ?

[Tati · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Gray Life, LLC for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was an okay read. While it didn’t make me feel outright bored, I found myself glancing at the bottom of my Kindle’s screen to see how long I still had to go. It was very promising, but, for some reason, it just didn’t deliver.

Sasha, the main character, didn’t really strike a chord with me. She is not someone I’d want to be friends with. The plot also felt a bit confusing at times. Maybe it was my sleep deprivation speaking, but I couldn’t really get why it was so important for a ring of graphiti terrorists to be dismantled. I mean, I’d say that the CIA has biggest cases that could benefit from a girl that makes people spill their secrets with her voice.

Rating: 2 out of 5

[Kara · Rating 1 out of 5]

This review (and others) can also be read here: http://diaryofateenwriter.wordpress.c...

A wholly original tale of friendship and betrayal through the eyes – and lies – of one extraordinary girl. 

Sasha has a secret – that she can make you spill your secret with nothing more than a question. Her strange gift makes her a burden to her foster family and a total freak of nature. Not that Sasha cares. Why should she when no one cares about her?

Then the CIA knocks on her door. They want to give Sasha a new identity and drop her into a foreign country to infiltrate a ring of zealous graffiti terrorists. They want to give Sasha something to care about.

To survive a world where no one is who they seem, Sasha needs to make people trust her. But when that trust blossoms into love, Sasha is forced to decide between duty and friendship, between her mind and her heart, and whether to tell the truth or keep her secrets.

★☆☆☆☆

1/5 stars

Drawn by Cecilia Gray was not what I was expecting at all -- and not in a good way. The good thing about this novel was that it was short, and even though it pains me to say something like that, that was the first thought that popped into my head when I finished the last page. I wish this could have been the amazing read I wanted from it, but it fell far from my expectations, which isn't good because I didn't have many expectations from the start. Let's recap the storyline: Sasha, a teenage girl who works for the CIA has a gift to make people tell the truth. A light paranormal element layered upon a fast paced thriller with even lighter romantic elements. That sounds great, doesn't it? Hmm, well, it didn't work for me. Her ability felt out of place under the circumstances, and, well, kind of annoying. I could have done without it.

This didn't read like a professional novel. I mean, don't get me wrong, it was polished . . . but it wasn't particularly well written. There was nothing that stood out from the pack of young adult novels I read. The characters weren't strong and kick-ass like I'd expected; the novel didn't have the depth I wanted. If a novel doesn't have depth, then there needs to be another redeeming factor -- something like good writing, charismatic characters, fun storyline. For me this didn't have any redeeming qualities, which was why I couldn't give this any more than one star. (Also, the ending was very very predictable. So much in fact that I rolled my eyes.)

Here's another thing that bothered me: the characters. The novel was only 157 pages long (including title pages and whatnot), and sometimes, if a novel is that short, the writer needs to characterize their characters very well so that the readers can connect with them. I couldn't. I tried to -- I really did -- but none of them stood out enough for me to care much about them. The ending was also abrupt and by the end of it I still had a plethora of questions.

Interesting premises, failed execution.

Thanks to Netgalley for this e-book.

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me just put something out there this book had sooo much potential to be good,even a 4 star read but the ending ruined it for me.It was a little too predictable.

Seriously the whole back story was kick-ass.FBI teenage girl who becomes a CIA teenage girl,gets in a difficult position between her feelings and her hob.The romance could have worked amazingly in this one but no,it had to be done wrong!If this was a series I would be definitely frustrated but at least in the next book we would had all the things figured out.But this one is a standalone which makes a huge difference,the difference is,"THAT'S IT"!We don't and we won't ever find out what happens.This book's ending is one of the most disappointed,pretty close to the huge Requiem ending disappointment.



"A famous artist once said that graffiti flourishes in the darkest places.At the time,I thought he meant where he worked.Alleys.Dark corners.But I think he meant inside himself.Inside me.Inside you.Don't fear the darkness."

The writing was good,the whole book was really fast paced and in my case one-day's read,after all this book is only 166 pages.But I couldn't put it done because I needed to known what happens what will happen and what happened in the past.The illustrations really helped but I kinda found them not appropriate for the book.Don;t get me wrong,the illustrator did an absolutely good job but....I guess I wanted them to be more "adult" and creepy after all that's FBI and CIA we are talking about.The book had more a cheesy,good YA vibe than what you expect from the synopsis of it.You expect action,a bad-ass heroine but noooo..



The characters were fun to read about.Sasha sometimes was a bit annoying,she has power,a strong power and doesn't use it.I mean,come on girl you can do better than that but it was bearable.
Sebastien the graffiti terroristReally liked him,his relationship with Sasha was cute and adorable.
Vivi,I have no idea what to think of her.Lame answer I know but seriously no idea,I am between loving her and hating her.
Chelsea..yeah I liked her.Didn't LOVE her but definitely liked her.
I guess the whole thing with this book is the end..ugh!




NOTE:**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.

[A Reader's Heaven · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

Sasha has a secret – that she can make you spill your secret with nothing more than a question. Her strange gift makes her a burden to her foster family and a total freak of nature. Not that Sasha cares. Why should she when no one cares about her?
Then the CIA knocks on her door. They want to give Sasha a new identity and drop her into a foreign country to infiltrate a ring of zealous graffiti terrorists. They want to give Sasha something to care about.
To survive a world where no one is who they seem, Sasha needs to make people trust her. But when that trust blossoms into love, Sasha is forced to decide between duty and friendship, between her mind and her heart, and whether to tell the truth or keep her secrets.

*2.5 stars*

Beginning this book, I felt like there was something really important about to happen - not just in the story, but with YA fiction itself. Great cover artwork, a very interesting blurb that stood out against some of the other YA going around at the time and a cool "superpower" that could have had all sorts of possibilities.

Sadly, for most of this story, I was glancing to the bottom of the screen to see how far I had to go. I attempted this story three times but never quite got into it. It felt like a 400-page novel got condensed down to 150 pages and all the important stuff got left out. Like character development. Sasha had plenty of scope for fleshing out a very unique character but, instead, she felt flat and one-dimensional - she has this power and that's about all we learn about her.

It is a shame that this story fell down in the execution - maybe the author could consider fleshing it out some more and making it a fuller novel (and maybe change the ending - like there was any surprise there!) There was so much potential that I would definitely read a new version with more depth, fuller characters and a strong heroine.

I would never say "Don't read this book" - if you want a short YA story to read and don't want to think too hard, this could be your cup of tea.


Paul
ARH

[Lynai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Also posted in It's A Wonderful Bookworld.

I was looking for a random read, and if not for the cool cover, I wouldn’t have picked this book. And of course, there was the blurb which immediately caught my attention because, teenage girl? With a secret? CIA? As a reader who fancies everything that’s mystery, I thought that this could be the right story to keep me out of my reading slump.

Drawn is not at all bad as a random read. And since I had absolutely no expectations about the story or the writing, I was easily pleased. The comic strips before each chapter added to my appreciation of the book. The main character, Sasha, was understandably angst-y, and her personality and superpower reminded me of the Noise in Patrick Ness’s Chaos Walking Trilogy and Lisbeth Salander of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

The plot was easy to follow and the writing was uncomplicated. The revelation of the identity of Kid Aert may not have surprised me at all because I had actually figured out who he was early on in the story, but still I enjoyed the unfolding of the events leading to the discovery. There was no hard action but the encounters of Sebastian with Sasha’s superpower and the “goose” replies that followed were funny and engaging.

All in all, I liked Drawn. It is a story of friendship and family and belongingness. I am sure my high school Nancy Drew loving self would have loved this too.

[Alyson {Error Nebula} · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have you ever felt like a book can't disappoint you, with a gripping beginning, interesting plot and cool powers?

I also though that this book is going to blow me away, that it would remind me of the FBI series I like so much. It wasn't my cup of coffee.

Sasha has a very unique power- all people around her say out loud their deepest, darkest secrets without meaning to.Being abandoned by her parents, moving from one family to another, until she is found by the CIA.
Given a new hope and life, Sasha is now on a journey to solve mysteries all over the globe.

Sasha was a very basic character, that the only thing going for her was her power, which was nice and unique and in my opinion, and could be perfect for working with the CIA.

But I also felt she was a bit too demanding and bratty for an orphan. An orphan would be grateful for anything they get, but Sasha was whining a lot about having to go to Europe.

I liked how the backstory is shown by little comic pages in the beginning of each chapter. Still, it didn't help as we go twenty-five percent into the book, and nothing happens.

This book had a lot of potential, but it wasn't fulfilled until the end.

2 STARS

Liked:
-CIA
-Powers
-Europe
-Comic Pages

Disliked:
-Sasha
-No progress with the story

Review on my blog!:)

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has gone into the 'Did not finish' pile I am afraid. I gave it 2 stars because I felt the beginning was superb and well written, but from then on I lost interest. I felt the synopsis isn't wrote very well in that you expect a book with some mystery, maybe a little fun but in the YA genre. Instead I felt for most YA readers (Especially those of that age), they would struggle finishing it as it just wasn't gripping enough and at times slow moving. I rarely review books I do not finish, but felt as my main issues with this book was expecting one thing and getting another I wanted to leave my review.

2 stars, but as I said I didn't finish the book and I doubt I will go back to it either - sorry.

[c · Rating 4 out of 5]

dont we all want to be important? to be wanted?

[Kimber · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a trimmed down version of my review, to view the full review visit The Book Ramble.

I received a copy of this book from Gray Life LLC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sasha is born with a vocal cord defect that makes people tell her their innermost thoughts. She is hired by the CIA and FBI to get confessions out of people. Eventually she is taken on a special assignment to bring down a dictatorship by having a famous graffiti artist start a revolution against the dictator. On this journey, Sasha learns to have a family, make friends, value herself for more than her vocal defect, and maybe even love. The plots a little rough, a little confusing, but Drawn is enjoyable, sweet, with some interesting twists and turns.

I thought Sasha was an interesting character. She's an orphan and her journey to discover what family means is one of the more interesting parts of the book. I found it really interesting, and it really added some much needed depth to the character. Honestly, some parts of the character confused me. First of all, her magic power is explained somewhat poorly. There was so little explanation I would have preferred no explanation at all because it might have made the book more believably "sci-fi", but the explanation offered just made me more confused. Other elements of her character were a little lacking, because she's sort of...a blank slate, without much characterization. As the quest for family and friends got underway there's a lot of development included so that was good.

Most other characters in the book are severely under developed, some to the point of being caricatures. Viviane especially is kind of a caricature of an activist in my opinion. Sasha's foster mother, Chelsea, had some deeper characterization but was still lacking a lot. Even the characterization she does have is unexplained in the way it should have been, which you'll find is something of a theme with this book.

The plot itself is somewhat rough, confusing, often poorly explained. I thought the idea of using a teenager to get through to the young artist and use him was a good idea, her special gift wasn't really necessary for this in my opinion. However, the whole thing is overall just badly explained. I didn't understand why they needed the artist because the explanation offered doesn't make much sense. If you can overlook that, the rest is fun and interesting. The relationships that Sasha develops are really what carries the plot, and a lot of the other stuff could have been scaled back or rewritten to make more sense, or just not be including.

Art is a big part of this book. The book is actually mixed medium, part graphic novel part prose. I felt that this was really unnecessary. The graphic novel parts are used as flashbacks and tell Sasha's back story. I think it would have been more effective to just write the flashbacks instead of illustrate them. More on the art, the images that Sasha comes up with as protest images don't make sense, because while it was easy to understand that they are riffs on famous paintings, there's no explanation as to why this would make anyone care about animal rights. This is of course following the theme of the lacking explanations in the book.

Despite all of the problems, I do think this book was a good book. I think it could have been polished a lot more, because there is a lot of wasted potential. The writing is good, the plot is interesting, but there are a lot of holes or bits that just needed more developing. I do think it's worth a gander, but I don't think it's top of the list reading. Check it out if you're interested though, because it might surprise you.

[Rebecca (Unbound Pages) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review and more can be found on my blog, The Library Canary.

***I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. This has in no way changed my opinion of the book. The review below is my open and honest opinion.***

I really love the show Covert Affairs which follows a young CIA agent. So when I read the synopsis for this book and saw CIA and that the main character could force people to tell the truth I was super excited. Unfortunately, it was kind of a letdown.

The main character, Sasha, can force people to say what they’re thinking. There is something about her vocal waves that makes people speak their minds unless they wait five seconds before speaking. This was an interesting concept and definitely useful in an interrogation room. Initially Sasha is working for the FBI, but then she gets tapped on the shoulder by the CIA and travels to Belgium to work a mission.

The mission is to get in with a bunch of graffiti artists (Sasha is a talented artist) and manipulate them into hitting certain targets that the CIA wants them to hit. She is told to target some North African Embassy (I think). This was a bit confusing. I don’t know if it was just because I was reading an ARC, but whenever they said the name of the target it was just a dash in the book. So from my understanding, I believe it is the North African Embassy, but I could be wrong. So anyway, they are supposed to use the graffiti to point out the embassy’s questionable policies to rally the people against them. Kind of lame. At least that’s what I thought. I thought her mission would be cooler. Something more badass. But nope. She’s just running around with a bunch of kids spray-painting pictures of pigs on billboards and buildings.

Even though the plot was lacking, I did enjoy the main character. Sasha has always been kind of an outsider. She was abandoned as a baby and never had many friends. Things tend to get awkward when she gets too close to people because of her ability to make them say what’s on their mind. But when she takes the CIA mission, she makes a friend for the first time in her life: her handler’s daughter, Viv. I loved Viv’s character. She was super nice, passionate, and bubbly. Viv really helped Sasha come out of her shell and she showed Sasha how important it is to have family and friends in your life.

The romantic interest Sebastian was okay. Nothing about him really stuck out for me except his French accent which of course was super sexy. That was something I really enjoyed about the book: the French. There were small snippets of French spattered throughout since it was set in Belgium. I took four years of French in high school (though I seriously suck at it) and enjoyed figuring out what the sentences meant. I actually got most of them, surprising myself.

For me, the plot of this book was just not exciting enough. I thought there would be more action and higher stakes, but there wasn’t. And I literally figured it out 29% into the book which is always super upsetting. Oh and the ending was terrible. I liked where Sasha ended up, but there were so many other things that didn’t get tied up. There was even one character that may or may not have been dead. We literally don’t know if he’s alive. And it’s a standalone so I guess we’ll never find out. It was abrupt and left me feeling completely unsatisfied. My advice: skip it. Happy reading all!

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Reviews:

**I received this as an eARC through Netgalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. In no way does that influence the thoughts or opinions reflected. I did not get paid to post this review**



REVIEW

Words canNOT express how much I LOVED this book!! When I first saw it I thought "Oh that sounds like it might be good" so I requested it and then I was stoked to get the email saying APPROVED. Then I opened the book and right before chapter one there was this comic-esque drawing. Now based on that terminology I think it's obvious that I do not read comics so when that was the first thing I saw I was a little nervous. If you feel the same let me just say that it should NOT stop you from picking this book up as soon as you can and reading it! Also I know it says "Take a journey into the gritty world of political espionage.." which can seem like it might be a snooze but it's really not! It doesn't get horribly caught up in the political side, it explains just enough so you get the idea but without putting you to sleep.

Sasha is the MC and she is one fascinating chick. One thing I liked about her is that she was still very "teenager-ish" and unsure of herself even though she tried to play it off like she's this hard shell of a girl, it makes her relatable. We don't know her whole story but can tell she has had a hard time. Her gift/superpower is getting people to tell the truth which in turn makes people subconsciously nervous of her (since they don't know she's causing it) causing them to keep their distance. It definitely makes it hard for her to have normal connections with people. When the book starts off the only relationship she has is with her FBI Handler/Guardian Chelsea. They seem to make a really good pair but due to some mispoken truths during the beginning of their partnership Sasha doesn't completely trust Chelsea's reasons for being around. To the rest of us it's obvious that Chelsea loves Sasha and I spent most of the book yelling that fact at her. When Sasha is given an assignment by the CIA she is transferred and implanted with a family where she makes her first real friend in her new handler's daughter Vivi. I really loved the relationship between the two girls although Vivi can blurt out some really harsh things. Through Vivi, Sasha meets Sebastion, a very hunky exhibit of a man who causes my Sasha's heart to flutter.

The relationships are well made and the conflict going on inside of Sasha really has you feeling for her. Especially when the job and her new relationships start to conflict with each other. There is an element of suspense while Sasha is hunting down her "asset" and once we realize who it is there is a whole new sense of dread. The ending was one huge whirlwhind that I couldn't stop, even at the end. I'm having a definite book hangover from this one, I need to know what's happening!!

The story is very fast paced and easy to read. Relationships and interactions between the characters are well developed. Like I said you instantly feel for Sasha and want to be a part of her team, to let her know how awesome she is. I can't stress enough how much you need to read this book. Seriously!!!

[Ruthsic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sasha has a secret – that she can make you spill your secret with nothing more than a question. Her strange gift makes her a burden to her foster family and a total freak of nature. Not that Sasha cares. Why should she when no one cares about her?

Then the CIA knocks on her door. They want to give Sasha a new identity and drop her into a foreign country to infiltrate a ring of zealous graffiti terrorists. They want to give Sasha something to care about.

To survive a world where no one is who they seem, Sasha needs to make people trust her. But when that trust blossoms into love, Sasha is forced to decide between duty and friendship, between her mind and her heart, and whether to tell the truth or keep her secrets.

Drawn is a contemporary-like story with a dash of paranormal. Sasha is a human lie detector - with just her voice, she can make someone fess up what's on their minds. Cool ability but doesn't help her socially because it is switched on 24/7. Having been in and out of foster homes for her entire childhood, she knows getting close to people is a work in vain, because ultimately they will say something hurtful and regretful to her. So, she builds up these walls and just concentrates on how she can use her ability for the greater good. Being fostered by an FBI agent for the last four years, she is trained in being an agent. When the opportunity comes along to be a spy, she gets excited. She has to find a particular graffiti artist, known for his politically-effective works and turn him into an asset for the CIA. Being close to age, she is great for the role. But soon she finds out that maybe what she wanted to be was not what was best for her.

Sasha's character is very introverted, because of her ability and she is quick to think that others will reject her. When she arrives in Brussels and her handler's exuberant daughter wants to be friends with her, she avoids it at first thinking it will anyway hurt later on. Art, however, connects them and soon they are hitting the town and painting it with graffiti. She gains a valuable asset in Vivi, but also a good friend - which she doesn't realize until later on. Vivi's friend Seb is a love interest, but even there she holds back because she doesn't want to deal with the broken heart later on. The author has written each character in such good detail - you know Vivi, Seb and Chelsea and how they are feeling so well, even if Sasha herself doesn't see it. The story ultimately shows that between the heart and duty, sometimes what is right and what is good are not always the same. It was a celebration of liberty of a person from her fears and learning to trust others.

A unique feature of the novel was that sections were marked off with a short comic strip chronicling Sasha's early years. While the artwork in the comic wasn't really good, it however added a nice touch to the story. I would also have loved if the ending wasn't left so open-ended but it was sort of bittersweet too. I give it 3.5 stars out of 5.

Received a copy from Gray Life in exchange for an honest review.

[Zareena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Drawn starts out in an interrogation room with Sasha and her partner Chelsea, while both of them are interrogating a serial killer. Sasha is just a 16 year old girl and since I didn't read the blurb before I started reading (it's been on my Kindle for a while) I forgot what exactly the book was about. Well, Sasha has a secret - the ability to make you spill your secrets with just her voice and we see her gift in action while questioning the killer. Then she's reassigned to Brussels with a CIA agent to infiltrate a graffiti group and influence the top man, Kid Aert, to politically influence people in favour of the USA.

The crime and under-cover aspects of this makes it a really good spy book. Besides Sasha's "gift" is also her talent for drawing comics, which is one of the main reasons why she was chosen for the job. So she's sent to Brussels to live with her new partner's family.

Sasha is so brave and strong, and she makes a great heroine. Because of her gift she can't avoid hearing what people really think about her so for her whole life she's been pretty much alone and it's so sad to see her go through life knowing that the chances of her ever having real friends are extremely low. She's super independent but the mix of a 16 year old girl and a spy in-training was really well executed, so that she was professional but I could still relate to her.

In Brussels Sasha maneuvers her way into the graffiti group via her partner's daughter, Vivi, and slowly she begins making friends. but as she gradually opens up to her friends she also has to decide between her job and the people she's come to like. The story is exciting and the scenes where they carry out their graffiti pieces on buildings were thrilling.

The main thing that bugged me about Sasha though were her feelings towards her ex-partner, Chelsea. Chelsea was with her for four or five years and over that time she kind of became Sasha's mom; but when Sasha leaves she assumes that Chelsea is glad to be rid of her, even though it's obvious that's not the case. When Chelsea and Sasha do both realise that they are a family though, you can feel the love coming off the pages and I was happy for Sasha.

Amidst the secrecy and grafitti, there is a bit of romance which always makes me happy. Sebastian is a grafitti artist/animal activist and it was sweet seeing some of Sasha's fantasies about meeting a guy start to come true, even though she knew it wouldn't work out with her career. As I said before, the plot is great and there's a twist around the half-wayI definitely didn't see coming.

The book was pretty good up until the very end and I found it disappointing. The book didn't feel like it wrapped up properly and because it's a standalone there there won't be an explanation in a sequel either. Overall though it was a good read but the ending made the rating lower than it would have been.

YA
3.5 stars

*Thank you very much to the publisher for providing me an e-copy via Netgalley!

[Olivia (Stories For Coffee) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Drawn is a story about a sixteen year old orphaned girl named Sasha who works for the FBI since she has special abilities they need to help solve cases. Sasha can make people say what they’re thinking out loud by using her voice waves which was very intriguing to read about. This power she possesses easily hooked me into the novel to find out more about her life as she lived with her FBI partner who acted as her foster mother. One day after solving a case with her partner, the CIA offers Sasha a job to live in Belgium to work on a case with a new agent. This mission was to stop a graffiti artist trying to use propaganda to rile up citizens to fight for causes.

In Belgium, she becomes friends with a guy named Sebastien she meets at a bar and a snarky girl named Vivian who she lives with. Both of these friends use graffiti to protest animal cruelty and wanted to use art to get people to support their ideas. With Sasha’s deep love for comic books and drawing, she assists them with their outings to post graffiti art around the city. I really enjoyed these two characters who empowered Sasha and helped her find herself by supporting her hobbies like true friends would.

Throughout the entire story, I also liked reading about Sasha as she surveyed areas around her for potential weapons and exits. It really showed her skills she gained when she worked in the FBI. I also loved reading about her love for comic books and superheroes which was basically an escape for her which made her a relatable character since everyone wants to find an escape from reality. What I really hoped for was more background on her life as a foster child, but in the end was disappointed to find out that there was no real discussion on her past before working for the FBI.

This novel, which I believe should be read by young teens around the age of 13 to 15, was a quick read but lacked description in the action scenes towards the end of the story. I wished they were written better to help me connect with the story in a deeper way and would give me that action feeling spy novels give me. One other thing that bothered me was her mission in general. Finding a graffiti artist for the CIA seemed a little juvenile and should have been dealt with by the police in my opinion.

At the end of this novel, which did have decent plot twists and hints of humor, thanks to Vivian’s character, I felt that I wasn’t left with any real closure. I wish there was a sequel to wrap up the questions I was left with that made me wonder what happened to the supporting characters the author kind of forgot about. Even though this story was missing some details I wanted to be included, it was not a terrible book to read. It was based around the power of friendship, the appreciation for art, and the act of standing up for what you believe in which I liked. I do recommend it to curious young readers who need a nice pick-me-up book that can be finished in a short amount of time on a weekend or vacation.

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quest Reviews
The premise for this novel is a little out there. Okay, brace yourself. The book follows a 15 (almost 16) year old orphan girl, Sasha, who works for the FBI. She has anomalous vocal chords that cause people to blurt out what they're thinking. When the story opens, Sasha is tapped by the CIA to work in Brussels to work on a "black propaganda" case. The CIA hopes to infiltrate European graffiti artists — in particular an artist called Kid Aert — and influence them into painting images that promote U.S. interests. Posing as an exchange student and living with her CIA handler's family, Sasha makes friends with Vivi, her handler's daughter and Vivi's friend Sebastien. They happen to be graffiti artists who specialize in animal rights messages. Working on this case, Sasha discovers herself, grows in confidence, finds friendship and family and love, etc.
The premise is kooky, isn't it? What hooked me out of all of it was the mention of graffiti. I have a soft spot in my heart for novels that focus on art. I was also looking for a graffiti-artist fix after reading Graffiti Moon. It definitely piqued my curiosity, thinking about how the author would mix supernatural truth-detection with political vandalism. Ultimately, though, Drawn did not live up to my expectations and I found little enjoyment in it.


Firstly, there is the nonsensicality of the plot. Not every detail in a novel has to make sense, but Gray pushed the envelope too far. It doesn't connect that the CIA would bother itself with European graffiti artists. The black propaganda aspect was intriguing, but Gray might have worked with that in a different way that seemed more believable.

As for the supernatural-ability element, it seemed to exist merely as a hook. The origins of Sasha's vocal cord mutation talent are never explored, which makes this plot point seem like it fell from the sky.

Most damaging to the story were several HUGE coincidences that can only be called overt deus ex machina. I don't want to provide details that will spoil the story for any potential readers, but Sasha receives a number of breaks in her case that defy belief and sense, being ridiculously convenient.

For all of these weaknesses, however, there were a few qualities to the novel that won my admiration. The writing had a lot of heart to it. It was apparent that Gray was invested in her characters and her plot, and a lot of that emotion came through in the writing. In particular, Sasha's relationship with her ex-handler, Chelsea, was very affecting. The comics that preluded each chapter were cute and funny, despite being unsophisticated.

I'm disappointed that I could not write a more favorable review. I had high hopes coming into this book, with its emphasis on art and what drives people to express themselves visually. I'll have to keep looking for a good art-driven novel.

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

See review @ Bookcharmed

If you read the blurb above and expect a fun YA mystery filled with espionage and action (like I did), then I’m sorry to say you’re most likely going to be very disappointed (like I was). Sasha is sent on an assignment in Brussels, Belgium for her special truth-extracting powers and talent in art to infiltrate the underground graffiti scene, identify the artist known as Kid Aert, and somehow persuade them into doing propaganda for the US.

The storyline has potential, but I lost interest pretty quickly somewhere in the middle of the book, especially when most of the book decided to focus on Sasha's high school life and romance instead. I did enjoy Sasha's blossoming friendship with Viviane, the teenage daughter of the undercover CIA agent whom Sasha is staying with in Brussels. Vivi is bubbly, outgoing, and trusting. She's someone Sasha, who has always pushed people away and never had a close friend, needs in her life. On the other hand, Sasha's romance on Sebastian just seemed tacked on. There really isn't anything special about Sebastian's personality to make me believe that Sasha would be attracted to him so quickly. In fact, I'm not sure Sebastian has much of a personality in the first place. It's another case in which lust is mistaken for love.

Her CIA assignment itself is also extremely easy to solve for the reader which makes it doubly frustrating that Sasha took so long to arrive to the same conclusion. It was already difficult to suspend my disbelief that Sasha first started working for the FBI at the age of twelve, and even at the age of sixteen, Sasha was never able to convince me she was mature enough to handle her position.

One of the biggest problems is that Sasha herself has the special snowflake syndrome. I can understand why she has trust issues and difficulties forming close relationships with others considering her past and her special power of making people say whatever's on their mind, whether it's polite or not. I can't help but side-eye her, however, when she starts to question why people like to group together and do simple things like go to the bathroom together or eat lunch together. News flash, Sasha: They're not doing it because they're sheep. They're doing it because they're friends.

I actually wished the book had focused more on Sasha and her relationship with her foster parent, Chelsea, instead. Rather than just tacking it on at the beginning and end, I would've liked it more if the entire story was just about the both of them kicking ass and taking names in the FBI together. That would've had a lot more potential.

[Kimber Wheaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Drawn is a fun story with some romance, a touch of the paranormal, and lots of action. One of my favorite things about this novel is the comics at the beginning of each chapter. Not only are they cute, but they give the reader insight into the life Sasha has lived, the angst her strange power causes not only in her but everyone around her.

Sasha is a fifteen year old girl who is abandoned at birth and shuffled around from foster family to foster family, all due to her amazing gift; something in her voice forces a person to say whatever their brain is thinking within five seconds of her speaking. Odd power, debilitating to any relationships. She is completely alone, even when surrounded by people. Those who know about her power walk on eggshells, counting to five mentally before speaking. Those who don't know are still uncomfortable around her since they say things they don't intend.

In the beginning of the story, Sasha is partnered with an FBI agent, questioning violent criminals to force a confession. She's been doing this for several years. It's hard to imagine what that poor girl goes through on a daily basis. The story centers around her transfer to the CIA and her re-assignment to Belgium to infiltrate the world of a famous graffiti artist. In Belgium, Sasha learns what it's like to have a friend, a cause, and even a love. She's forced to make a crushing decision that would be traumatic for an adult, and should never be forced upon a teenager.

Sasha is a great character; I enjoyed following her on her journey of self-discovery. This novel focuses more on Sasha's developing relationships and less on her CIA assignment, which wasn't what I expected going in. In a lot of ways, this is a coming of age novel, since Sasha learns so much about herself and what she really wants out of life. The whole CIA assignment was a bit strange, especially with the way her mission ended. For someone highly trained by our government, she was entirely too slow in figuring out the case.

The ending left me feeling a bit flat. I don't know quite what I expected, but I felt like I was left hanging, like part of the last chapter was missing. While I don't need everything wrapped up with a pretty bow, I want to know the fate of the main characters, all of them. That said, I still really enjoyed reading this novel. If you're looking for an interesting story with a great female protagonist, add Drawn to your TBR list. It's appropriate for everyone high school and up.

[Chris Torretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fan girl time right!!!? I mean… holy hell! I was slightly worried because I absolutely die over Cecilia Gray’s work but this one sounded so totally different that I was hesitant.

I should not have been!

I’m so glad I started this. The only downside was I started it at night. I would recommend starting when you have time to finish in a sitting! You will not want to put it down!!

Now, I already love Cecilia’s writing, however, these characters REALLY got to me. Sasha’s freakiness was a wonderful twist but added so much to the story and to her. Sadly most of her life she has been pushed off to different orphanages or just plain ignored at school and that makes for a tough (or at least what looks to be tough) exterior. I really felt for her from word one.

And to go with all of that, she’s just quirky! I really like how she looks for exits and weapons in every building she enters. And a few times I found myself laughing out loud when she did this.

Exit – a leap out the window. Weapon – a sharp fountain pen. The nun takes to the blackboard and chalks up a balanced equation for the math lecture. Scratch that. Weapon – boredom. Set to kill.

Weapons – the table’s butter knife. Pretty lame. Unlike James Bond, I do not know twenty ways to kill a man with a butter knife.

And she is just as quirky in her mind…

“Yes, sir,” I say because mother-effing awesome is for my inside voice.

The other characters are just as much fun to get to know but I’m pretty sure Vivian was my fav outside of Sasha. She’s just as quirky but more importantly seems fun to be around even with her penchant for the animals. I do love animals so this just made me love her all the more.

She kicks the door closed, walks over to me, and sets down the earbuds. “Do I need to back away slowly?” she asks.

And my favorite…

“You don’t even wear silk.”

“What’s wrong with silk?”

“Silkworms, hello. Poor, exploited little wiggly invertebrates.”

There was one small twist that I started figuring out but it took me until like two pages before I read it to figure it out! And Cecilia left hints. Very subtle but enough to where everything makes sense.

The only downside… I want more! I was literally wanting to cry when this ended. Well, due to the fact that it ended and the note it ended on! But seriously Cecilia… I want more!

[Nicole (Reading Books With Coffee) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Drawn...what to say about Drawn? I really like the idea of a girl who has a voice that can make you spill your secrets. It's one interesting ability, and it's a really interesting take on that ability.

She really is the perfect person to work for the FBI or the CIA. I'll admit that the FBI Sasha helping out the FBI since she was 12 to be a bit unbelievable...but at the same time, I was totally willing to overlook that, since it's the set-up for the rest of the book.

I like the graphic novel part of the book and how each chapter was introduced by a panel from a graphic novel. Given that Sasha likes to draw and is into comics, I thought it made Drawn interesting, even though there wasn't a lot of emphasis on Sasha's love of drawing.

I was expecting more mystery and espionage, and I was expecting a little more action than what we got in the book. Still, I liked that she did make a friend or two. I was also expecting something longer, and I think more time on her assignment with the CIA would have been nice, because there were times when I felt like the book was just going from one point to the next.

Sasha was an interesting character- mostly because of her ability, but also because her interest in art. I get why she's not close to anyone, because her voice- understandably- makes people uncomfortable. But for the most part, I felt like I really didn't get to know who Sasha is. And there were times when I felt like I didn't really care about Sasha. I think part of that is that Drawn felt like the beginning of her story, and I'd be interested to see if there's a sequel, just because Sasha's story seemed unfinished.

Still, I really like that she's pretty much a human lie detector and travels to Belgium for her assignment with the CIA. Belgium isn't a country you tend to see in YA, so it was a nice change. And as much as I loved Belgium as a setting, it didn't leave me with a memorable impression of the country.

Final Thoughts: I did like Drawn, especially Sasha's ability and the fact that it was set in Belgium, a country you don't tend to see in YA books. unfortunately, it was hard to care about Sasha at times, and I was expecting more mystery and espionage than what we got in the book. Drawn gets 3 stars.

*I got Drawn from netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review

[Rinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a while longer to get to this book than I intended, especially as it is relatively short, and by that point I’d pretty much completely forgotten what it was about! Therefore I decided to dive into it with little knowledge, and was pleasantly surprised.

The basic premise is that Sasha, our protagonist, was abandoned as a baby and grew up in various foster homes. Due to a strange power of hers that makes people who hear her voice speak whatever is on their mind at that moment, she didn’t last long with many families, who were afraid of what she could do. Sasha ends up working for the CIA, as an agent in training, who want to use her strange gift to their advantage. After living happily with one agent for several years, she is suddenly placed on a case in Belgium and has to relocate, leaving behind everything familiar.

Drawn was a sweet story, if not hugely well-developed. It had a really interesting premise – a girl able to make people speak their minds, recruited by the CIA – and I would love to see it as a full novel rather than the 150 odd pages it currently is. This would also have allowed more time to develop the characters from the cookie cutter characters they are, particularly Vivianne as the teenage rebel. Sasha as a protagonist was interesting, with her artistic talents as well as the more unusual, and I really like one particular personal element that was added at the beginning of every chapter: comic strips of Sasha’s life, drawn by Sasha herself. She felt more real, more 3D, although unfortunately she was one of very few developed characters. The reason for Sasha having to go to Belgium seemed a bit far-fetched: the CIA getting involved in graffiti terrorist? Really? But I suppose it had to also be something suitable for younger audiences. The ending was lacking, but again I think the book would really have benefitted from being longer.

This was very much a story about building friendships and trust, about first love and working out who you really are and where you belong. Those were the elements I enjoyed, more so than the mystery of the identity of Kid Aert. A sweet, short story that I would love to see developed into a full novel.

I received a copy of this book for free from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Originally posted on my former blog, Rinn Reads.

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

**I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

Initial Thoughts: A really well done story. I read it in one sitting and loved the idea and plot. It felt like I was really there and it was really easy to connect with the main character Sasha. It was an easy and enjoyable read!

The Characters: Sasha is the main character and while there are others like Vivi and Seb, a huge focus is on Sasha and really how she wants to be normal. Even though the story is about trying to infiltrate the graffiti artists ring, the underlying part is about her trying to figure how and where she belongs. Sasha can make people tell her their secrets, but she's never had a family or a real life even. She was bounced around as a child and even ended up in some government lab until she's about twelve when she starts working with the FBI for about four years. Vivi becomes Sasha's first friend in the book. I really liked Vivi and how she was portrayed as an animal activist using graffiti with Seb and another guy named Smacker. I also liked Seb and thought he was a sweetie.

The Story: The book starts off with Sasha working with the FBI. She's been working and living with Agent Tanner who is practically her mom. But then the CIA comes in and wants Sasha to go to Belgium undercover so she does. The CIA agent she works with has a daughter - Vivi, which is how she comes to know her. Vivi also happens to be a graffiti artist which makes it easier for Sasha to try to find out how Kid Aert is, because they are a famous graffiti artist, and get them to target whatever needs to be targeted. So throughout the book, Sasha is trying to not only discover who Kid Aert is, but she is also trying to discover who she is and where she belongs in life. And in the end she finds out both.
For the romance, there isn't a whole lot to say but Sasha does like Seb and vice versa but there isn't too much going on and it doesn't really go anywhere.

End Thoughts: The book ends with Sasha back in the states and since it's a standalone, you have don't really know what happens next which is something I'd like to know more of. I'd have to say that's the only down side but otherwise a good story and a fun read! 4 stars.

[Paola · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5


This was such a pleasant surprise! I was drawn to the premise of this novel but I wasn't sure what to expect. One of the most unique aspects of Drawn is that there are comic strips at the beginning of each chapter. This adds a quirky and interesting aspect to the rest of the novel. They depict Sasha's early life, which is not really discussed in detail in the story itself. If you are confused about the presence of the comic strips, don't worry! They are tied to the story in a deeper level. Our main character is chosen to infiltrate a group of graffiti "terrorists" because of her artistic ability and her love for comic books. I like how her love for art is depicted throughout the novel. I think it adds a cool layer to her otherwise cold personality. The other interesting aspect of the novel is the premise. Sasha's voice alone makes people tell their deepest secret. She has grown isolated from the world because no one is comfortable around her. She is bitter, confused by the concept of love, and not entirely sure if she wants to be normal. She travels to Brussels, Belgium to carry out an undercover assignment. Now, I'm a sucker for novels set in different places around the world so this was a huge plus for me. I love the descriptions of the scenery and the cultural aspects that made an appearance at random times throughout the story.

As far as the plot, it was fast-paced and interesting. It retained my attention and it allowed me to finish it rather quickly. I feel like this was a solid four stars until I got to the end. Apparently, this is a standalone and that confused the hell out of me once I finished the novel. I don't think the end wrapped anything up. I have a lot more questions than answers and that does not make me happy. Also, I anticipated a monumental climax but that didn't really happen. The key scene at the very end felt short and slightly out of character. However, I enjoyed the story so I hope a sequel pops up at some point in the future.

Note: I received access to the eARC of this novel through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Stacy Sabala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review- Drawn by Cecilia Gray
Sasha is a special person. She has an exceptional ability. She is able to get people to tell the truth. Unfortunately it has affected every relationship she has ever had. Her parents abandoned her and she was bounced from foster home to foster home. She caught the notice of the FBI. They recruited her when she was twelve. They gave her a handler, who became her guardian, named Chelsea Tanner. Sasha was now known as the human lie detector and helped with cases. She and Chelsea became partners.
After an important case was coming to a close, Sasha and Chelsea were approached by the CIA. They wanted Sasha to work on a case in Belgium. They were looking for a graffiti artist and Sasha was just the person to do it. Sasha would do her best because she needed to. She didn’t have anything if she didn’t have her work. A regular life was not for her.
She moved in with a CIA agent and his family. She became “friends” with the agent’s daughter. Sasha was then included into her circle of friends. These friends were graffiti artists and Sasha was sure they would lead her to the one she was looking for.
However, she began to feel part of the group and care for the circle that became her friends. In fact her feelings for a certain boy, Sabastien, were extremely confusing for her. She didn’t think they were real and she wasn’t capable of having a relationship like that. She had a job to do and using these artists was part of it. Of course, the closer she got the more she questioned herself.
I really like this author. She is a new find for me. I have read and loved her Jane Austen Academy stories. This book is the first in a new series. I instantly felt sorry for Sasha. She knows she is being used by the agencies. She feels that she can’t have a normal life or normal relationships. She needs someone to love her though. I really hope to see Sabastien show up again in future books. This is an excellent story that is well written. I recommend this book to any young adult reader. I give it a 4 out of 5.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sasha has a special ability: her voice makes people say exactly what they're thinking. The effect only lasts for 5 seconds, so waiting that long will allow people to speak normally. She currently uses her ability as an FBI-agent-in-training to get criminals to confess to their crimes. She's mostly happy where she is, especially with her guardian and handler Chelsea. Sasha has been with Chelsea for a few years, longer than anyone else has lasted. Her parents abandoned her and every foster family has done the same as her ability caused arguments and other difficulties. But then the CIA makes her an offer she can't refuse - literally, it's take it or be benched - to go undercover in a foreign country, infiltrate a group of graffiti artists, and turn them on government selected targets. She loves to draw and the job is perfect for her, but will she be able to keep it professional (and not blow her cover) when she makes her first ever friends?

I really enjoyed this book, although the end left too many things open and unfinished for a standalone novel. There were 1-3 page comic sections at the beginning of every chapter that gave bits of Sasha's backstory, and it added a lot to the story for them to be running parallel. Sasha was likeable; a good combination of confidence in her spy-type skills and unsure of herself socially. Her friends Vivi and Sebastien were well done and fairly rounded, although the former more so than the latter. This book seemed like it was going for a romantic relationship but I was happily surprised when it turned out to be more focused on friendship. I'd recommend this title to anyone who likes a good spy story or low-key adventure (not much action!), from middle school aged on up. It reminded me a bit of A Girl Named Digit.
I received a digital galley of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Charli - To Another World · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this review and many others at To Another World

I received a free copy of this book from the author via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. This does not affect my review/opinions in any way. Thank you!

I'm still not entirely sure about this book and it was definitely a book that people would either love or hate! Due to my stupid tablet, I had to reread 30% of this before, so, hopefully, that will be benefictial to the review.

The book wasn't exactly my normal type of book, and to begin with, I was unsure of it. I also wasn't sure on what was happening. Once I got into it, though, and the plotline thickened, I found it quite an enjoyable, mysterious read. It certainly got better in the second half.

The plot was rather hard to get my head around; it was original (which is always a good thing in the YA community these days) but a little confusing. The basics of it were that Sasha had a secret, a gift, but the CIA then came to employ here, in a foreign country.

I wasn't particularly keen on the protagonist, Sasha; she was quite stiff and to the point. Gray showed her thoughts in good detail, though, which gave us more insight to her. I loved many of the secondary characters in the book... Each one's personality shined through, and they were all back grounded sufficiently.

I absolutely adored the comic strips, of Sasha's past, at the start of every chapter! They were gorgeous and gave me so much more understanding into Sasha and her secret.

It intrigued me, although it dragged at points, it had an unsolvable mystery within it.

I also found that Gray described everything specifically, and Sasha appeared to particularly talk about food...

"I give the fries every ounce of my attention to avoid
eye contact... I palm a handful from the edges, chewing even
as they burn the roof of my mouth..."

Overall, Drawn was an interesting read; although it wasn't of my usual style. I also think YA readers slightly older than me would enjoy it more!