What do you think?
Rate this book
Christy #1
Adrenaline Rush
A kidnapper. A group of adrenaline junkies.A teen spy who must become the prime target.Christy’s first Catch a madman.
Someone is kidnapping thrill-seeking high school seniors across the country, and it’s up to Christy to stop him. She must take on a fearless alter ego and infiltrate a group of adrenaline junkies bent on pushing life to the limit, complete with their death-defying stunts.
Except that two groups fit the profile. Christy must discover the real target before it’s too late.
If she chooses the wrong group, more teens will disappear. But choosing right puts her as the prime target—with no guarantee that she’ll make it out alive.
totally possible. Survive and don't fall in love. If you love kick-butt teen spies, chilling suspense, and clean romance, you’ll love the WATCHED
WatchedProtectedCreatedAdrenaline RushHotwireFatal ExchangeSecretsRedemption LostScepter
Someone is kidnapping thrill-seeking high school seniors across the country, and it’s up to Christy to stop him. She must take on a fearless alter ego and infiltrate a group of adrenaline junkies bent on pushing life to the limit, complete with their death-defying stunts.
Except that two groups fit the profile. Christy must discover the real target before it’s too late.
If she chooses the wrong group, more teens will disappear. But choosing right puts her as the prime target—with no guarantee that she’ll make it out alive.
totally possible. Survive and don't fall in love. If you love kick-butt teen spies, chilling suspense, and clean romance, you’ll love the WATCHED
WatchedProtectedCreatedAdrenaline RushHotwireFatal ExchangeSecretsRedemption LostScepter
269 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2013
24 people are currently reading
451 people want to read
About the author
Cindy M. Hogan
43 books297 followersUSA Today Bestselling author, Cindy M. Hogan is the author of edge of your seat, young adult suspense novels that always have a dash of romance, because every book should have hot guys and girls in them. Her first series, the Watched Series, skyrocketed her to number one bestselling author and she hasn’t let up since with over 20 novels to her name.
She never sits down to write, instead, she walks and talks into a recorder and lets her computer transcribe her words. Editing is her enemy, but she loves the final results, so she’ll always dig in.
Her one dream is to own and bake in a German style bakery with a cute to-go window for Gelato. In the meantime, she’ll continue to do the thousand other things she loves like teaching, all things outdoors, painting, and gardening—she’s never met a flower, tree, bush or vegetable she doesn’t like—except maybe okra and beets. As long as she’s got a book playing in her ear, she even enjoys weeding. She may be deranged.
She loves to create, but can’t seem to sit still for long, even to read a book. Instead, she listens to books so she can read and create at the same time. She’s a non-stop worker and enjoys every minute of it.
Her most loved creation is her two amazing daughters and wishes they were teens again. She loves to be home, but her husband is a traveler and drags her family around the world, where she finds an endless supply of story ideas, characters, settings, and more often than not, walks away with a suntan or ends up in a cool castle. She is also inspired by the unpredictable teens she teaches. If she is not creating things other than books, you’ll find her snuggled up with the love of her life watching a movie or planning their next party.
Most of all, she loves to laugh.
To stay up to date on all things Cindy M. Hogan, join her book group HERE.
http://www.subscribepage.com/sweptawa...
She never sits down to write, instead, she walks and talks into a recorder and lets her computer transcribe her words. Editing is her enemy, but she loves the final results, so she’ll always dig in.
Her one dream is to own and bake in a German style bakery with a cute to-go window for Gelato. In the meantime, she’ll continue to do the thousand other things she loves like teaching, all things outdoors, painting, and gardening—she’s never met a flower, tree, bush or vegetable she doesn’t like—except maybe okra and beets. As long as she’s got a book playing in her ear, she even enjoys weeding. She may be deranged.
She loves to create, but can’t seem to sit still for long, even to read a book. Instead, she listens to books so she can read and create at the same time. She’s a non-stop worker and enjoys every minute of it.
Her most loved creation is her two amazing daughters and wishes they were teens again. She loves to be home, but her husband is a traveler and drags her family around the world, where she finds an endless supply of story ideas, characters, settings, and more often than not, walks away with a suntan or ends up in a cool castle. She is also inspired by the unpredictable teens she teaches. If she is not creating things other than books, you’ll find her snuggled up with the love of her life watching a movie or planning their next party.
Most of all, she loves to laugh.
To stay up to date on all things Cindy M. Hogan, join her book group HERE.
http://www.subscribepage.com/sweptawa...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
June 19, 2023
I love a good teen spy story, and Adrenaline Rush was exactly that. The main character was likable, and the story was intriguing. My only complaint is that there were a ton of characters. A lot of them were introduced at once, and I kept getting them confused. For the basis of the story, it was necessary, but it was still confusing, nonetheless. While I enjoyed Adrenaline Rush and think it is worth reading, I don't think that I will be reading the rest of the series. If I do, it won't be immediately. However, I recommend you read this novel if you are reading this review!
December 18, 2013
Overall: 3.5 Stars
Christy is a young spy, getting ready for her mission. She will need to pretend to be Misha - a thrilling, no-fear, flirty daredevil who will need to get in with the other daredevil group. Her Division believes that they will be kidnapped and Christy will be perfect agent for this mission.
With her “pretend” parents who do not have any respect for her, she finds herself in situation where she needs to decide if she will trust her mind or her gut. Her hut is telling her that the group that she’s involved with is not the right group. However, with the events that follow – she will be the only one who can save the situation.
It’s weird for me to describe Christy since she was playing Misha who was reckless and fun. I loved Misha. But Christy – not so much. She let her feelings get in the way and at times it really didn’t feel like she was a spy but more just a regular teenager who wanted to be a big girl. the story was truly mesmerizing. I loved reading about the events that occurred in the book.
Christy is a young spy, getting ready for her mission. She will need to pretend to be Misha - a thrilling, no-fear, flirty daredevil who will need to get in with the other daredevil group. Her Division believes that they will be kidnapped and Christy will be perfect agent for this mission.
With her “pretend” parents who do not have any respect for her, she finds herself in situation where she needs to decide if she will trust her mind or her gut. Her hut is telling her that the group that she’s involved with is not the right group. However, with the events that follow – she will be the only one who can save the situation.
It’s weird for me to describe Christy since she was playing Misha who was reckless and fun. I loved Misha. But Christy – not so much. She let her feelings get in the way and at times it really didn’t feel like she was a spy but more just a regular teenager who wanted to be a big girl. the story was truly mesmerizing. I loved reading about the events that occurred in the book.
January 14, 2015
This is a very well written story. Cindy is a great writer and the fact that I stuck with this book is proof of that. My issue with this book had nothing to do with the writing. I had a hard time relating to some of the characters and story line. This is a group of adrenaline junkies who are kidnapped by a crazy man. I didn't love reading about some of the things that happened and skimmed several chapters. Once I was half way in I was hooked and really enjoyed it but the first half of this story was tough for me to get through.
While I do enjoy a good mystery/thriller I admit this isn't my favorite genre. Those who do love a good thriller will likely enjoy this story. As soon as I finished this book I did start the next one in the series Hotwire. I'm enjoying it much more.
Rating: 3.5 Stars - Good Book
Content: Clean except for violence
Source: Review Copy
While I do enjoy a good mystery/thriller I admit this isn't my favorite genre. Those who do love a good thriller will likely enjoy this story. As soon as I finished this book I did start the next one in the series Hotwire. I'm enjoying it much more.
Rating: 3.5 Stars - Good Book
Content: Clean except for violence
Source: Review Copy
October 23, 2013
I've been a huge Christy fan from the beginning. To see where this girl has gone from the very first book to now is an amazing ride.
At the beginning of this book, Christy's an adult but still struggling because some of the older agents don't want to give her credit. But Christy's smart and her instincts don't play her wrong. She manages to accomplish her assignment: get kidnapped.
That's when the story really gives a twist. In fact, it was such a twist that it left my head spinning. The true nature of Christy's undercover mission blew my mind. And she is faced with some very, very hard ethical choices.
4 1/2 out of 5 stars.
At the beginning of this book, Christy's an adult but still struggling because some of the older agents don't want to give her credit. But Christy's smart and her instincts don't play her wrong. She manages to accomplish her assignment: get kidnapped.
That's when the story really gives a twist. In fact, it was such a twist that it left my head spinning. The true nature of Christy's undercover mission blew my mind. And she is faced with some very, very hard ethical choices.
4 1/2 out of 5 stars.
February 15, 2014
A follow up sequel to Hogan’s YA “Watched trilogy”, Christy is back to save the day in a thriller mystery reminiscent of many Bond movies (albeit with a younger, less confident voice).
Read full review in the 2014 February issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2014 February issue of InD’tale Magazine.
February 4, 2015
Misha, or really known as Christy, is an 18 year old spy for the Division. Her first real mission is to stop a kidnapping and prove to the Division that she is as good as they say she is. She needs to get herself kidnapped by posing as an adrenaline junkie high schooler and get information on the operation of the kidnapper before being extracted. However, how could she complete her mission when her own team, except Jeremy, her handler, doesn't believe in her?
This may be Christy's first big break but this could also be her last mission ever. She needs to save both adrenaline junkie groups whom may be the next target. However, would she be able to save herself first before saving her friends?
I fell in love with this book the very first time I read the first chapter. I didn't read the synopsis before reading and I was honestly surprised by the plot. I was expecting slice-of-life kind of genre again but it's not. I missed reading these kinds of story, where the main character is an innocent looking spy. This book seriously gave me life and I remembered what I'm missing out for reading too much paranormal books.
What makes this book so great is that it's young adult but it's not so naive, which is usually the case. I paused my young adult reading because of the naivety of most of them. This book is not that naive at all and the plot and ending is really good. At first, I got put out because of the clown-initiation part that was super weird. I thought this would be those books with super corny plots. However, I was wrong.
I think the only thing wrong in this book is the lack of planning for the assassination and escape which is a bit understandable considering the length of the book.
As for the characters, I think Christy is a bit too trusting for my taste. I mean anyone could be a spy for Sterling but she suddenly trusts everyone even Dakota, who is seriously suspicious. By the way, I love Christy's super photographic memory. I wish I have that skill so I don't need to study that much. Also, the background story is not present! What makes a book good is a good background story and Christy doesn't have one. *sniff* I really wanted to know more about Christy. (I just researched a bit on this book. I didn't know it has a series before Christy becomes a spy, the Watched series, so I think that's where we're going to get the background story.)
There are some more stuff I wanna talk about, mostly the ending, but I can't do that because I'll spoil the book for you. My advice for you is.... Read the Book!
I wished the author made a series out of this.
PS: I would like to thank the author for giving me a copy of the book.
This may be Christy's first big break but this could also be her last mission ever. She needs to save both adrenaline junkie groups whom may be the next target. However, would she be able to save herself first before saving her friends?
I fell in love with this book the very first time I read the first chapter. I didn't read the synopsis before reading and I was honestly surprised by the plot. I was expecting slice-of-life kind of genre again but it's not. I missed reading these kinds of story, where the main character is an innocent looking spy. This book seriously gave me life and I remembered what I'm missing out for reading too much paranormal books.
What makes this book so great is that it's young adult but it's not so naive, which is usually the case. I paused my young adult reading because of the naivety of most of them. This book is not that naive at all and the plot and ending is really good. At first, I got put out because of the clown-initiation part that was super weird. I thought this would be those books with super corny plots. However, I was wrong.
I think the only thing wrong in this book is the lack of planning for the assassination and escape which is a bit understandable considering the length of the book.
As for the characters, I think Christy is a bit too trusting for my taste. I mean anyone could be a spy for Sterling but she suddenly trusts everyone even Dakota, who is seriously suspicious. By the way, I love Christy's super photographic memory. I wish I have that skill so I don't need to study that much. Also, the background story is not present! What makes a book good is a good background story and Christy doesn't have one. *sniff* I really wanted to know more about Christy. (I just researched a bit on this book. I didn't know it has a series before Christy becomes a spy, the Watched series, so I think that's where we're going to get the background story.)
There are some more stuff I wanna talk about, mostly the ending, but I can't do that because I'll spoil the book for you. My advice for you is.... Read the Book!
I wished the author made a series out of this.
PS: I would like to thank the author for giving me a copy of the book.
December 7, 2014
I loved the Watched series and am reviewing the second book in this series tomorrow, so I was excited to see this book come up for review so I could read it first. I liked how the Watched series ended and the boy she wound up with so I was a little sad to see he's no longer in the picture. It makes sense with her crazy lifestyle and it's clear that she's moving on to a new love interest, but it still made me sad. You don't need to read the Watched series first, but if you want background on Christy and why she's a spy, where her family is, prior love interests, how she meets Jeremy, etc., you will want to read those books prior to starting this series.
This book held my attention from the beginning. Christy is a spy and needs to get kidnapped so they can stop a madman. There are two groups she's looking at. I thought the first one was crazy, but the second group was even crazier. She manages to get kidnapped and the story really picks up at that point. She's put into a bizarre situation, which is quite disturbing at times. And the circus--what an imagination!
Having followed Christy before and seeing mistakes she made, I didn't expect her to be a perfect spy and she wasn't, but she still learns quickly and is able to figure things out. She lets her feelings get in the way a little more than she should, but again, she's young and learning. I like that she's in intense situations but she's had training and has a team that is helping her.
Jeremy is her handler and they're both older now so she's starting to feel differently towards him than she used to. This took time for me to adjust to since I always thought there was a huge age difference between them and didn't suspect this would happen during Watched. I love Jeremy, though, so I'm interested to see where their relationship will head in the future.
I certainly felt an adrenaline rush while reading this book. There were parts where I couldn't breathe because I was so worried about what would happen next. This was different than what I was expecting and there were lots of twists and turns which kept it interesting. I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more about Christy!
I received a copy of this book to review. My opinion is 100% my own.
Mel's Shelves
This book held my attention from the beginning. Christy is a spy and needs to get kidnapped so they can stop a madman. There are two groups she's looking at. I thought the first one was crazy, but the second group was even crazier. She manages to get kidnapped and the story really picks up at that point. She's put into a bizarre situation, which is quite disturbing at times. And the circus--what an imagination!
Having followed Christy before and seeing mistakes she made, I didn't expect her to be a perfect spy and she wasn't, but she still learns quickly and is able to figure things out. She lets her feelings get in the way a little more than she should, but again, she's young and learning. I like that she's in intense situations but she's had training and has a team that is helping her.
Jeremy is her handler and they're both older now so she's starting to feel differently towards him than she used to. This took time for me to adjust to since I always thought there was a huge age difference between them and didn't suspect this would happen during Watched. I love Jeremy, though, so I'm interested to see where their relationship will head in the future.
I certainly felt an adrenaline rush while reading this book. There were parts where I couldn't breathe because I was so worried about what would happen next. This was different than what I was expecting and there were lots of twists and turns which kept it interesting. I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more about Christy!
I received a copy of this book to review. My opinion is 100% my own.
Mel's Shelves
October 18, 2014
3.0 stars
I received a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first Christy novel, so I don't know how you would experience this book if you have read the Watched series, but for a newbie it started out as a great deal of fun! A teenage spy infiltrating a group of adrenaline junkies in order to be kidnapped? Count me in!
This book takes a love triangle to a whole new level. It's not so much a triangle as it is a circle with Christy in the middle, surrounded by all the hot boys that smile at her (damn you teenage hormones!). But you know what? The girl inside of me loved it, despite all the eye rolling and awkwardness and 'no - not again, no triangle!' - feelings. It's my guilty pleasure. There, I've said it.
Back to the story: it is a fast paced, fun read with action and romance, and Christy (or her alias Misha) is, most times, a smart and likable character. Up to 3/4 of the book I would have given it a solid 4.0 stars rating. Then it got a bit preachy, and it's made obvious that Christy is a believer. If the author just had stuck with the occasional morning prayer, it really wouldn't be a problem. But from that moment on, Hogan took every opportunity to slap the reader in the face with one prayer or conversation about God after the other. I'll give you one example:
The narration of the audiobook however, was a pure delight to listen to. Laci Morgan really did a superb job. If you were planning on reading this, I would highly recommend you to try the audiobook. You won't be disappointed.
I received a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first Christy novel, so I don't know how you would experience this book if you have read the Watched series, but for a newbie it started out as a great deal of fun! A teenage spy infiltrating a group of adrenaline junkies in order to be kidnapped? Count me in!
This book takes a love triangle to a whole new level. It's not so much a triangle as it is a circle with Christy in the middle, surrounded by all the hot boys that smile at her (damn you teenage hormones!). But you know what? The girl inside of me loved it, despite all the eye rolling and awkwardness and 'no - not again, no triangle!' - feelings. It's my guilty pleasure. There, I've said it.
Back to the story: it is a fast paced, fun read with action and romance, and Christy (or her alias Misha) is, most times, a smart and likable character. Up to 3/4 of the book I would have given it a solid 4.0 stars rating. Then it got a bit preachy, and it's made obvious that Christy is a believer. If the author just had stuck with the occasional morning prayer, it really wouldn't be a problem. But from that moment on, Hogan took every opportunity to slap the reader in the face with one prayer or conversation about God after the other. I'll give you one example:
"I prayed for (...). That she would have strength and that extra angels would be send to watch over her and bless her."Really? Come on. I don't want to give away spoilers, but in the context of the story, I found it ridiculous. It really took away some of the pleasure I experienced before.
The narration of the audiobook however, was a pure delight to listen to. Laci Morgan really did a superb job. If you were planning on reading this, I would highly recommend you to try the audiobook. You won't be disappointed.
October 23, 2013
Combine a bizarre twist to the typical high school-type setting with a most colorful, yet nauseating villain, and this book can’t help but live up to its name.
I found the premise of Adrenaline Rush creative and intriguing: a super-talented spy, the youngest the agency has ever produced, goes undercover as a high school girl to try and breakup a kidnapping ring. That alone lured me to read. But when I discovered that I had already fallen in love with the protagonist, Christy in Cindy Hogan’s Watched series, it was a definite must read.
While Christy acclimated to her undercover role and waited for the kidnappers to make their move, the story dragged a bit. The writing seemed to “tell” more than “show” the story, more so than in her previous series, and more than I generally prefer. But those small disappointments were more than compensated for when the real action hit and the adventure sucked me in.
Christy’s abduction and subsequent incarceration into the maniacal scheme of a severely deranged mind is when the story came alive for me. I devoured the remainder of the book, experiencing multiple adrenaline rushes of my own.
I found the premise of Adrenaline Rush creative and intriguing: a super-talented spy, the youngest the agency has ever produced, goes undercover as a high school girl to try and breakup a kidnapping ring. That alone lured me to read. But when I discovered that I had already fallen in love with the protagonist, Christy in Cindy Hogan’s Watched series, it was a definite must read.
While Christy acclimated to her undercover role and waited for the kidnappers to make their move, the story dragged a bit. The writing seemed to “tell” more than “show” the story, more so than in her previous series, and more than I generally prefer. But those small disappointments were more than compensated for when the real action hit and the adventure sucked me in.
Christy’s abduction and subsequent incarceration into the maniacal scheme of a severely deranged mind is when the story came alive for me. I devoured the remainder of the book, experiencing multiple adrenaline rushes of my own.
November 22, 2014
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
18 year old spy, Christy goes undercover in a high school to bust a kidnapping ring. I enjoyed going undercover with Christy on her first mission. This story really is an adrenaline rush and moves at a good pace.
The story had twists and turns I wasn't expecting. In my wildest dreams I never would have guess what was happening to the kids that had been kidnapped. I do have to say there was a small part of this book that that I found to be horrific and it had a huge impact, as I'm sure was the author's intention. Those moments were made more horrific because the author was not overly graphic in her descriptions, leaving a lot to the imagination. Ms Hogan writes well.
This young adult read was a great change of pace from the dramatic romance/erotic fiction I often read and I really enjoyed it.
18 year old spy, Christy goes undercover in a high school to bust a kidnapping ring. I enjoyed going undercover with Christy on her first mission. This story really is an adrenaline rush and moves at a good pace.
The story had twists and turns I wasn't expecting. In my wildest dreams I never would have guess what was happening to the kids that had been kidnapped. I do have to say there was a small part of this book that that I found to be horrific and it had a huge impact, as I'm sure was the author's intention. Those moments were made more horrific because the author was not overly graphic in her descriptions, leaving a lot to the imagination. Ms Hogan writes well.
This young adult read was a great change of pace from the dramatic romance/erotic fiction I often read and I really enjoyed it.
October 28, 2014
This is a very high paced book. It starts with a bang and keeps going until the end. It wasn't exactly my type of book but my teenage daughter would love it. Christy, who in this book is under the name Misha, is a spy. She is trying to find out who is kidnapping kids who love to do crazy stuff for the adrenaline rush. She has a photographic memory and special gut feelings that make her a good agent. Her team aka parents are not so sure about her abilities because she is young. Jeremy her handler believes she can do it. The story has some twist and turns that I did not expect. I would highly recommend this book to someone who loves action especially a teenager. The writing was age appropriate.
August 5, 2016
While I love continuing Christy's story I learned that I don't care for stories of demented madmen. The villain in the story is a true psychotic madman. While it ended well there were way too many unanswered questions for me as to why the bad guy was the way he was. Is that weird? I hated him much but still wanted to know more about him. I couldn't get this read done fast enough. It was to out there for me.
October 31, 2014
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Like it’s name implies this books is full of things that leave you with a rush. Christy is a quick witted bubbly personality. She has the cocky quick on her feet that I love as well. The way the book reads was great and cannot wait for the next one. As well as some of the twist all the way, enjoyable read.
Wicked Reads Review Team
Like it’s name implies this books is full of things that leave you with a rush. Christy is a quick witted bubbly personality. She has the cocky quick on her feet that I love as well. The way the book reads was great and cannot wait for the next one. As well as some of the twist all the way, enjoyable read.
Wicked Reads Review Team
December 9, 2013
YAY! More Christy!
I was sad that Rick wasn't in it though. :( It was like Cindy couldn't have a distraction for the rest of the book. I really missed him, everything ended so well with them in Created!
Cindy has some wild ideas!
I was sad that Rick wasn't in it though. :( It was like Cindy couldn't have a distraction for the rest of the book. I really missed him, everything ended so well with them in Created!
Cindy has some wild ideas!
June 25, 2019
I love these christy books. I think they are very tastefully done and Hogan does a good job of building her characters.
In this one, Christy is asked to infiltrate a group of high school students who are adrenaline junkies to find a nefarious group of people who are kidnapping groups of children from different schools around the country. Of course, Christy is able to infiltrate this particular group and gets kidnapped and it is her story about how she not only gets out, but takes down the entire kidnapping ring. Good read.
In this one, Christy is asked to infiltrate a group of high school students who are adrenaline junkies to find a nefarious group of people who are kidnapping groups of children from different schools around the country. Of course, Christy is able to infiltrate this particular group and gets kidnapped and it is her story about how she not only gets out, but takes down the entire kidnapping ring. Good read.
January 4, 2017
This is the first book I have read by this author. It is just a little different than books I usually read. When I started reading it I didn't think that it would that the turn that it did later in the book. After the story got started it kept the story unfolding without any slow points. I liked the storyline better that I thought I would. I recommend it for anyone who likes thrillers or action lines.
April 22, 2024
fast
This is an intense and thrilling mission that has a great cost. I don’t think I could survive the experience without horrible haunting nightmares. I should give this 5 stars but I knocked one off to remind me that the material is weighty and not for every audience. Especially those traumatized by someone close. Just read with caution.
This is an intense and thrilling mission that has a great cost. I don’t think I could survive the experience without horrible haunting nightmares. I should give this 5 stars but I knocked one off to remind me that the material is weighty and not for every audience. Especially those traumatized by someone close. Just read with caution.
February 22, 2023
Fast YA spy story. Christy infiltrates a school posing as a new girl. Gets kidnapped, there’s a real crazy man in charge, a isolated compound, neck monitors, and some crazy high school dare devil stunts.
August 4, 2017
this book was amazing from beginning to end. forced to go out of her comfort zone to solve a case becoming a wild child love it
August 13, 2019
This was an adrenaline rush! Fast paced great plot and a fantastic surprise ending. Loved it!!
December 17, 2019
Pretty predictable but it still kept my interest. I am wanting to read the next book in the series.
Read
April 30, 2020My aunt gave me this book for my birthday and I loved it! I'm planning on reading some of this authors other books some time.
January 19, 2021
Although the story is not perfect I have still really enjoyed this series!
March 7, 2022
Just what you want in a YA suspense/thriller spy novel: twists and turns galore, and a very unexpected ending. This is a great follow-up to the Watched trilogy. Go, Christy!
May 15, 2024
It was alright. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't like "I loved this so much!" I dont know how to explain my feelings outside of that. It was pretty good overall.
June 6, 2024
DNF - stopped reading after Christy decided to kill an innocent person because completing the mission was more important to her than sparing someone's life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2025
2.5 really. Interesting premise and solid start, but muddled middle and abrupt end with some jarring tone transitions in between.
July 14, 2020
I enjoyed this book. It takes a while to unravel what exactly is going on as the intel Christy has to work with is limited. The character of Sterling is such a disturbing man, but the details that go into his character help to make him the villain that everyone can hate and helps to put others in perspective. I think something will probably happen between Christy and Jeremy sooner than later as there seems to be an attraction from both sides.
December 24, 2014
There have been a series of twisted incidences where a group of teenagers with specific interests have been abducted without another word. And there’s suspicion that they will strike again. To find out who is behind all of these abductions, Christy, a secret agent, poses as a fearless adrenaline junkie to catch the abductor’s attention and find a way to thwart their plans. But there’s a catch: there are two groups that match the profile of the kidnapped teenagers. Which group will be the one in danger?
When I first read the summary, I was quite intrigued by the plot. Although I normally stick with paranormal and contemporary romance, the few action and suspense novels that I’ve read didn’t let me down so I decided to pick this one up.
It started out well enough to pique my interest, but as I continued to progress through the novel, I began to feel that some aspects of the book could have been developed more.
From the occasional line in the book and with external resources, I realized that this book wasn’t the first book in a series. But rather, Christy had other adventures in another time. However, as this is the only one with her that I’ve read, I felt like there were some parts that were lacking, such as a character background. What drove her to become a secret agent? What about her family? I feel that these aspects could have expanded to allow the reader to be able to relate more to Christy. That and to give readers an idea of what makes Christy, well, Christy.
Jeremy, her handler, has a close connection with her and she trusts him above anyone else. But as a reader, there wasn’t anything that really stood out for me for Jeremy. Or any of the other characters either. They weren’t very memorable for me. Each adrenaline junkie has a particular interest/talent, such as being able to pick locks or a computer-whiz, but again, I felt that the characters could have been swapped for each other and no one would be the wiser. Christy’s fake parents weren’t much better either. As older secret agents, they are skeptical that Christy is able to handle the case with her young age, but we don’t know anything else about them. They give Christy the occasional advice, but even then, it felt rather forced, like the author inserted those lines in to remind the reader that Christy had backup.
I did like the idea of a circus of terror being involved behind the abductions, as I couldn’t imagine otherwise why a group of thrill-seekers would be targeted. But again, the downside for me was the lack of impact the characters had on me. For instance, when it seemed evident that one of Christy’s friends died in one of the events, she probably had a line or two where she was horrified/grieving, but then it was like a blank slate. Back to robotic feelings. I understand that there’s not much time to worry about others when your own life is at risk, but I think it would be more relatable to readers if Christy went into shock or screamed or did something remotely relatable to how it would be like if you saw your friend die horrifically in front of you.
Although this novel had potential and a good idea, I think the characters were what ruined it for me. The supporting and minor characters seemed like clones and Christy’s unrelatable character made it difficult for me to progress through the book. Due to this reason, I don’t think it is very probable for me to continue with the rest of the series.
I received this book through ebooks for Review in exchange for an honest review.
When I first read the summary, I was quite intrigued by the plot. Although I normally stick with paranormal and contemporary romance, the few action and suspense novels that I’ve read didn’t let me down so I decided to pick this one up.
It started out well enough to pique my interest, but as I continued to progress through the novel, I began to feel that some aspects of the book could have been developed more.
From the occasional line in the book and with external resources, I realized that this book wasn’t the first book in a series. But rather, Christy had other adventures in another time. However, as this is the only one with her that I’ve read, I felt like there were some parts that were lacking, such as a character background. What drove her to become a secret agent? What about her family? I feel that these aspects could have expanded to allow the reader to be able to relate more to Christy. That and to give readers an idea of what makes Christy, well, Christy.
Jeremy, her handler, has a close connection with her and she trusts him above anyone else. But as a reader, there wasn’t anything that really stood out for me for Jeremy. Or any of the other characters either. They weren’t very memorable for me. Each adrenaline junkie has a particular interest/talent, such as being able to pick locks or a computer-whiz, but again, I felt that the characters could have been swapped for each other and no one would be the wiser. Christy’s fake parents weren’t much better either. As older secret agents, they are skeptical that Christy is able to handle the case with her young age, but we don’t know anything else about them. They give Christy the occasional advice, but even then, it felt rather forced, like the author inserted those lines in to remind the reader that Christy had backup.
I did like the idea of a circus of terror being involved behind the abductions, as I couldn’t imagine otherwise why a group of thrill-seekers would be targeted. But again, the downside for me was the lack of impact the characters had on me. For instance, when it seemed evident that one of Christy’s friends died in one of the events, she probably had a line or two where she was horrified/grieving, but then it was like a blank slate. Back to robotic feelings. I understand that there’s not much time to worry about others when your own life is at risk, but I think it would be more relatable to readers if Christy went into shock or screamed or did something remotely relatable to how it would be like if you saw your friend die horrifically in front of you.
Although this novel had potential and a good idea, I think the characters were what ruined it for me. The supporting and minor characters seemed like clones and Christy’s unrelatable character made it difficult for me to progress through the book. Due to this reason, I don’t think it is very probable for me to continue with the rest of the series.
I received this book through ebooks for Review in exchange for an honest review.
October 25, 2014
I have not read the Watched series, but I was given a free copy of this audiobook for an honest review.
This book had some high points. Christy is a likeable teenage protagonist. Her adventures as a spy are a bit unbelievable, but she is trying to do the right thing and help people. She's smart and mature, not insecure and whiny or bratty. The story moves along at a fast pace with lots of tension, which is a plus in escapist fiction. I loved the idea of the two dueling thrill-seeking high school groups - Madness and the Avengers, and I thought that the teenage characters were interesting. That said, The Circus of Feats is creepy and the villain is unusual.
The downsides? The writing comes off as a bit unfinished. There are a few noticeable continuity problems, where plot points are referred to that have been cut, or the wrong person is named, etc. Sections of the spywork are laid out in great detail, and then other times Christy/Mischa makes intuitive leaps or just "magically" resolves a conflict without seeming to have to figure things out. She has a lot of convenient talents (karate, fighting, chemistry, photographic memory) that perhaps I would not have found so improbable if I had read the character in earlier books, but was rather jarring to me listening to this one. While Sterling is a unique villain, what's with the getting undressed to his boxers to eat or having a regular circus as well as the Circus of Feats? Several of his quirks never have a satisfactory payoff for as powerful as he is proposed to be (he attemptsto assassinate the President!). What's the deal with the magical healing cream? Maybe that is the source of Sterling's wealth? Christy/Mischa's spy pseudo-parents seemed to be either incompetent (the tracker) or working for the opposition (secret faxes we never get to read, doubting her, not being there to help) - but they just fade into background and never have any real impact on the story. Christy/Mischa seemed very scientific, minded most of the story, relying on her instinct, but then there are also awkward passages about her faith and trust in God (or lack of it). The characters needed to either commit to a religious view or an agnostic/gut instinct view and not waffle.
I do want to note that the audiobook narration was well done, well sound-edited, and enjoyable.
I also think I may be a bit old for this book's target audience and younger readers might have been more forgiving. All in all, I wish that the book had focused on the strongest area where the characters read most clearly and believably: in the high school environment and with the two thrill-seeking gangs instead of the rather unbelievable super-secret bunker full of teenage assassins. If the author wants to take a stronger stance on the religious/faith aspect, that could be more consistently emphasized (since the good kids are not drinking or having sex, and there seems to be a moral code that is being rewarded here). Or alternatively, go even darker with the book and center more on the evil madman and this Circus of Torture. One stance or the other would make the book stronger.
This book had some high points. Christy is a likeable teenage protagonist. Her adventures as a spy are a bit unbelievable, but she is trying to do the right thing and help people. She's smart and mature, not insecure and whiny or bratty. The story moves along at a fast pace with lots of tension, which is a plus in escapist fiction. I loved the idea of the two dueling thrill-seeking high school groups - Madness and the Avengers, and I thought that the teenage characters were interesting. That said, The Circus of Feats is creepy and the villain is unusual.
The downsides? The writing comes off as a bit unfinished. There are a few noticeable continuity problems, where plot points are referred to that have been cut, or the wrong person is named, etc. Sections of the spywork are laid out in great detail, and then other times Christy/Mischa makes intuitive leaps or just "magically" resolves a conflict without seeming to have to figure things out. She has a lot of convenient talents (karate, fighting, chemistry, photographic memory) that perhaps I would not have found so improbable if I had read the character in earlier books, but was rather jarring to me listening to this one. While Sterling is a unique villain, what's with the getting undressed to his boxers to eat or having a regular circus as well as the Circus of Feats? Several of his quirks never have a satisfactory payoff for as powerful as he is proposed to be (he attemptsto assassinate the President!). What's the deal with the magical healing cream? Maybe that is the source of Sterling's wealth? Christy/Mischa's spy pseudo-parents seemed to be either incompetent (the tracker) or working for the opposition (secret faxes we never get to read, doubting her, not being there to help) - but they just fade into background and never have any real impact on the story. Christy/Mischa seemed very scientific, minded most of the story, relying on her instinct, but then there are also awkward passages about her faith and trust in God (or lack of it). The characters needed to either commit to a religious view or an agnostic/gut instinct view and not waffle.
I do want to note that the audiobook narration was well done, well sound-edited, and enjoyable.
I also think I may be a bit old for this book's target audience and younger readers might have been more forgiving. All in all, I wish that the book had focused on the strongest area where the characters read most clearly and believably: in the high school environment and with the two thrill-seeking gangs instead of the rather unbelievable super-secret bunker full of teenage assassins. If the author wants to take a stronger stance on the religious/faith aspect, that could be more consistently emphasized (since the good kids are not drinking or having sex, and there seems to be a moral code that is being rewarded here). Or alternatively, go even darker with the book and center more on the evil madman and this Circus of Torture. One stance or the other would make the book stronger.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews