The Verdant Cage: Roman

Verdant #1

by Jess Lourey, Michaela Link (Translator)

Das hier ist das Paradies. Oder?

Sei dankbar für die Mauern. Folge den Regeln. Stell keine Fragen.

Alles, was Rose kennt, sind ihr Heimatdorf Noah's Valley und die himmelhohen Mauern, die es zu allen Seiten umgeben. Niemand hat das Dorf je verlassen. Warum auch? Dahinter lauern unvorstellbare Gefahren, in Noah's Valley hingegen herrschen Frieden und Harmonie – aber auch blinder Gehorsam.

Doch als Rose' Mutter ermordet wird und ihr Bruder Jonas noch am Tatort dafür verurteilt und in den Tod geschickt wird, hinterfragt Rose zum ersten Mal die strengen Gesetze des Dorfs. Ist das hier wirklich das Paradies?

Auf der Suche nach dem wahren Täter entdeckt Rose immer mehr Risse in der Fassade ihrer perfekten Welt. Unerwartete Unterstützung erhält sie dabei ausgerechnet von Gryphon, dem Sohn des Dorfoberhaupts. Und mit jedem dunklen Geheimnis, das sie aufdecken, wird die Frage drä Basiert ihre gesamte Existenz auf einer ungeheuerlichen Lüge?


Der Auftakt der atemberaubenden Dystopie-Trilogie mit düsteren Geheimnissen, erster Liebe und dem Beginn einer Rebellion, die alles verändern wird. Perfekt für alle Fans von »Maze Runner« und »Die Bestimmung«

Genres: Fantasy, Dystopia, Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Romance, Fiction

542 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 7, 2026

About the author

My name is Jess Lourey, and I write about secrets.

The story of my first published novel is both devastating and transformative, something I speak about in my TEDx Talk (https://youtu.be/a5vSLh3oPXI). I've come a long way since then. I'm proud to call myself a bestselling, twice Edgar-nominated, and twice Goodreads Readers Choice Awards shortlisted author who has won the ITW Thriller, Minnesota Book, and Anthony Awards. I write crime fiction, young adult, nonfiction, children's books, and book club fiction.

I've reached over a million readers since 2020. I'm also a former writing and sociology professor who still loves to teach transformative creative writing workshops built around my Rewrite Your Life method.

I live in Minneapolis with a rotating batch of foster kittens (and occasional foster puppies, but man those goobers are a lot of work). Pop on over to Lourey's Literati, my VIP Reader group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/38538...) and/or sign up for my molasses newsletter (https://jessicalourey.com/newsletter) for the latest news, giveaways, and insider information.

p.s. You can find the Unspeakable Things epilogue here: https://jessicalourey.com/survey-two.

Reviews

[Grapie Deltaco]

*This Advanced Copy was sent to me in exchange for an honest review*

1.5⭐️ (rounded up)

The opening paragraph is: “Red signifies life. Blossoms. Berries. Blood. That’s why everyone in the Valley will be wearing it today, almost four hundred bodies draped in crimson. They’ll gather in the village square like a bounty waiting to be plucked, red and ripe and silent.”

The first thing we know about anyone in this village is they are all wearing red today. It’s repeated more than once in the first paragraph…so tell me why on page TWO we get: “Thankfully, I don’t think Jonas notices. He’s wearing red. Of course. We all are.”

Sorry what color is everyone wearing??

This book’s only saving grace is how fast paced it is.

Weirdly repetitive, painfully predictable, and underwhelming from the jump.


CW: murder, death, grief, forced marriage, violence, human sacrifice

[Dwon]

if the sounds of a narrator taking deep breaths unrelated to the story bothers you, skip the audio version for this one

[Jenna D.]

4.5 STARS!! The way this book filled a hole I didn’t know I needed absolutely amazes me!! Now as I’m reading, I couldn’t place my finger on what it reminded me of. Then about halfway through it clicked, this book is giving City Of Ember vibes with the most amazing fantasy aspects. More to come as I let this all soak in 😍

[Lexi]

DNF: 4%

Nothing ruins a book more than its audiobook companion. It’s the way they let the reader constantly hear the narrator breathe. No. Seriously. After every paragraph, you literally hear the narrator suck in a deep breath and lease it before moving forward. Gross!!! Plus, this isn’t as entertaining as I thought it would be. 😬😬😬.
~~~~~~~
***Pre-Read:*** For the last few years, May have ALWAYS been the MOST stressful month for me. As much as I want to curl up in bed every hour, I am determined to keep things moving. Starting with this Libby hold that I only have 6 days left to read. 🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️.

[Ali | flippin_and_sippin_mn]

The Verdant Cage
Jess Lourey
Pub: 4/7/26

The Wall was built to keep them safe. Or so they thought.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙧 𝙪𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙚? 🤯
I freakin loved it! I would have consumed the whole book in one sitting if I could have. Sleep and sustenance be damned I just wanted to keep reading this book. 😂

The Verdant Cage is one of those reads that hooks you and refuses to let go. I was so caught up in the story, the characters and this world that Lourey so fantastically crafted! The absolute gasp I let out when the twist of all twist hits… Well done Lourey. WELL DONE!

The writing is fantastic, the characters are so well developed, and the pacing perfectly keeps you craving the next page.

The ending had me screaming give me more now!

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩?
To be totally honest dystopia is a genre I do not read, and I devoured this one. Which confirms, I will read anything Lourey writes.

𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠?
Readers who love;
💚 Fantasy
💚 Dystopian Thrillers
💚 YA
💚 Hunger Games/Maze Runner
💚 Bingeworthy Reads

A huge thank you to Jess Lourey and Entangled Publishing for the advanced copy. I already cannot wait to get my hands on the gorgeous finished copy.

[anovelaccount (Kayla)]

PHEW! This book is seriously a crazy ride and has SO much going on, start to finish. Like, almost too much. There is no dull moment in this story and it even starts with quite a bang.

This is a YA dystopian thriller and when I say I have been LOVING dystopian books lately, boy do I mean it! This one, in my opinion, is most similar to The Maze Runner and gave me a lot of those vibes, all while definitely doing its own unique thing.

Honestly, even with so much going on, the plot held its own and I was so thoroughly entertained. The world building is fantastic (loved the houses and how Jess lists them all at the end), I loved so many of the characters, and there are tonssss of plot twists—some predictable, some definitely not. I was shocked consistently throughout even when I thought I knew what was going on.

It’s also just the right amount of creepy, at least for me! The story has a persistent theme of foreboding throughout the entire thing—and then at the end will leave you absolutely salivating for book two. There’s so many threads to this book and I’m not sure where any of them are heading 😂 so I am truly so excited to read the next book!!

I will say, I’m a little hard to please with main characters (it’s a me thing, really), and Rose drove me crazy at times with her naïveté and making truly senseless choices. Likewise, Gryphon was a bit of a pushover for me and I just wanted more from him overall.

But those things aside, I really think most people will LOVE this book, especially if you’re a fan of the 2010s YA book/movie scene. But I mean, who wasn’t?

[Maggie Lynn]

This book was… bland. There’s not really any other way to put it.

A good idea for a plot, to be sure. But the characters fell incredibly flat, and I couldn’t find myself caring about any of them. I flat-out skimmed over any pages regarding Gryphon and Rose’s “relationship”.

The story itself was mediocre. The “mystery” was poorly handled, not put together very well, and often just felt simultaneously rushed and boring.

Juvenile writing paired with poor scene structure, forgettable characters, a plot that was less that satisfying, and a genuinely terrible ending.

I didn’t dislike the book, but I certainly didn’t like it. It was just bland, forgettable.

[Tammy - Books, Bones & Buffy]

The nitty-gritty: Lovers of YA dystopian stories won't want to miss this series opener, a fast-paced, action-packed tale with plenty of surprises in store.

The Verdant Cage has been getting lots of great buzz, so I was eager to experience it for myself. And I really enjoyed it, especially the last quarter of the book. Yes, it’s YA and has some of the inherent issues and elements I don’t enjoy, but overall I was sucked into the story and honestly, I am chomping at the bit for the sequel. Readers will notice many familiar dystopian tropes, which is probably why it’s being compared to such books as The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner, but I think it stands pretty well on its own too.

The story takes place in a closed community called Noah’s Valley, a compound surrounded by high walls that is home to about four hundred citizens. Each family is assigned to a particular trade, and rules are strictly enforced for the safety of the people. One of those rules is a practice called Harvesting, where once a month, a random citizen is selected to go up the Wall—presumably to their death—for the good of the community.  Rose Allgood is an Apothecary, and she and her family tend to the sick. Marriages are arranged, and Rose is about to marry her childhood friend Gryphon, who is part of the Guardians, a group who patrols the nearby forests and keeps everyone safe. Rose is sad to leave her family and her trade, because once she’s married, she’ll be trained as a Guardian instead. But she knows that following the rules is the most important thing in Noah’s Valley, and she would never question them.

But as Rose is walking down the path to meet her betrothed, shouts ring out in the crowd. Rose’s mother lies dead in a pool of blood, and her twin brother Jonas stands over her with a knife. Jarek, the head of Noah Valley’s Council, immediately accuses Jonas of murder and demands he be Harvested, and in the blink of an eye, Rose realizes she’s just lost both her beloved mother and brother.

Convinced that Jonas would never commit murder, let alone kill their mother, Rose sets out to find the real killer and to figure out a way to save Jonas—who might be still alive. But there are secrets in Noah’s Valley, and Rose’s world is about to come crumbling down.

The Verdant Cage has many mysteries to solve: what really happens to people who are Harvested? Who killed Rose’s mother? What are the “beasts” in the forest that the Guardians claim to be battling? And what is the secret information Jonas was about to tell Rose before things fell apart? Rose is determined to answer all these questions, and of course to do that she must break some rules. Luckily she isn’t so rigid that she won’t, and I was very happy to see the way she slowly comes to realize that things are not as they seem in Noah’s Valley and begins to take action. Lourey sets a brisk pace and it doesn’t really let up, as the reader is led from one mystery and revelation about the compound to the next.

The settlement in Noah’s Valley has a strong cult feel, which made me very uncomfortable. Citizens must attend chapel and mandatory meetings, marriages are arranged, and those who break the rules are whipped in public (!). Food stores are closely monitored and each family is given rations each month. You just know that with a set-up like this, there is going to be a rebellion against authority, and I loved seeing the change in Rose as she comes to terms with the fact that people she’s trusted all her life have been hiding things from her.

There are a lot of characters in this book, and I did have trouble at times keeping everyone straight. Rose makes a bunch of new friends after she stumbles upon a secret, and for me, it was hard to tell them all apart, since their individual personalities are kind of glossed over. We do get to know Gryphon’s parents fairly well, and I hated both of them! (you’re supposed to) Jarek is cruel and his wife Misia is even worse. I hated the way she treated Rose, who has to move in with the Tzu family and share a room with Gryphon, even before they are married. I think I would have loved Jonas if we’d gotten to know him better, but alas, he doesn’t even make it to chapter three.

The “romance” was interesting, and I have to use quotes because there’s very little of it. Gryphon seems to hate Rose and is horrible to her, so the dynamic is “enemies to lovers,” but don’t expect the “lovers” part of that statement in this book. There’s a lot of push-pull, lack of communication, unspoken truths and more, and when the two do finally kiss, it literally comes out of nowhere. So if you’re looking for a satisfying romance, you won’t find it here, although I am holding out hope for the sequel.

As for a couple of things that didn’t work for me, the story is written in first person present tense, a style I really dislike. I don’t know if I’ve ever read a YA that isn’t written that way (I’m exaggerating, they must be out there somewhere!), which is one reason I usually avoid this age group. Lourey’s writing is also overly dramatic at times (weird exclamations like “Curse the clouds!” actually made me laugh), but she definitely has writing chops, so take my complaints with a grain of salt. She’s clearly a seasoned writer and her pacing is first rate.

There are a couple of great twists near the end, and both set things up for the next book. I absolutely loved the ending, and to say I need the sequel now is an understatement! According to the author’s website, there will be three books in the series. The Violet Maze comes out next year, and with the way things ended in The Verdant Cage, I’m expecting another thrilling and dangerous adventure.

Big thanks to Sparkpoint Studio and the publisher for providing a review copy.

[Tiffany]

I enjoyed the book as a whole. However, I feel the ending was a little rushed and I didn’t have the closure I needed. I would like to see a second book to finish the story.

[Kalin]

Omg that ending! Flew thru this.
Secluded, lies & arranged marriage
Twists you wont see coming!
🎧📖

[Bec]

Story 2.75 stars
Narration 2 stars

On the surface this appears like it's fast paced and like a lot is happening, but when I sit back and think about it, hardly anything has actually really happened in the first 35%. The romance was so abrupt and forced. I had considered DNFing at 50%, but it does pick up more around 55%, it was ok enough to finish, but I don't care enough to continue the series. I think had I read this when I was 14-17 I probably would have loved this.

There are a lot of loud breathing and mouth sounds from the narrator that should have been edited out, and I mean a lot, and it is distracting, but other than that the narrator does a nice job.

[Jaimie Melka]

I tried listening to the audiobook, and I'm not quite sure if it was the narrator or writing that I found to be a snooze fest. I was expecting the writing and vocabulary to be darkly whimsical, given the setting and plot. Instead, many of the word choices, such as "heterochromia" felt too matter-of-fact and textbook-y, which ultimately created the wrong vibe for me.

It's disappointing because the premise seemed so interesting! Oh well, not every book can rock us to the core 🤷‍♂️...

[takeeveryshot]

very funny for this book to be sold as “upper ya” when every single character reads like they’re 12 years old

[Laraine]

This was SO unique. It gave me slight The Giver vibes with its use of euphemisms (Harvested = ☠️), but with a darker, thriller edge. I loved the concept of this walled, rule-bound society that feels safe on the surface until you realize what’s really happening within and what’s waiting Beyond. The story wastes no time pulling you in. It opens with a true OMG moment, and from there, the suspense never lets up. As Rose begins to question everything she’s been taught, the plot moves fast, unraveling secrets, lies, and a past no one is supposed to remember. The twists were TWISTING, and I genuinely couldn’t put this down. You can absolutely tell this was written by a thriller author because the atmosphere is eerie, the pacing is tight, and the foreshadowing keeps you on edge the entire time. And that ending?? A full-on cliffhanger. I will be first in line for book two because I need to know what happens next. I am so happy dystopian is back!!

[Kim Reads (Read Your Writes Book Reviews)]

Noah’s Valley is a village of roughly four hundred people, surrounded by a wall. No one gets out, and no one gets in. It was created when the outside world began to fall, with the best and the brightest being selected to continue humanity. It is a thriving community with everyone working together and knowing their place. For 120 years, Noah’s Valley has been peaceful and has flourished. That is, until Henrietta Allgood became the first ever murder victim. Immediately after, her son Jonas is condemned as the killer, without a trial, and ordered over the wall, into the Beyond, a place no one returns from.

Seventeen-year-old Rose Allgood is a good girl. She’s been labeled as a tattle-tale, a goody two-shoes by her peers. Her mother has long instilled in her that rules are to be followed and you shouldn’t draw attention to yourself. For twelve years, that is exactly what Rose did. Now, Rose is prepared to clear her brother’s name and find her mother’s killer by breaking the rules she has always followed and held dear.

The Verdant Cage is the first book in a young adult dystopian thriller series from Jess Lourey. I am obsessed with this book and need the next book now. Which says a lot, since this book wasn’t on my radar initially. Now, I just can’t get enough.

The first sentence immediately intrigued me. More so because I thought it was an odd sentence. I wanted to know what was happening. The quick answer. ALOT! Jess has created an easily visualizable world where, on the surface, the four hundred or so people in Noah’s Valley are happy and thriving. But as Rose looks into her mother’s murder, cracks start to be revealed, and suspicions mount. Things are definitely not what they seem, and for too long, the citizens of Noah’s Valley have turned a blind eye.

Rose is an extremely likeable character. At no point in time did I dislike her or not understand her, which I found refreshing. Usually, in books, the main character will do something you, as the reader is screaming at them not to do, because you know it’s just going to lead to disaster. Not Rose. While I think she’s braver than me, she did everything just right. Or as close as she could with the information she had. Jess has surrounded Rose with a well-rounded cast of characters, both good and bad. Rose has a budding romance with Gryphon, whom through the story has his own discoveries. I loved the mystery. The whodunit, as well as the why, was surprising. A lot happens within the pages of The Verdant Cage. Jess put you on the same emotional rollercoaster that she puts Rose on. You will laugh. You will cry. And you will be shocked.

While there is a map of Noah's Valley at the front of the book, I wish it were more detailed. Like showing the actual locations of the town square, the houses, farm land, etc. I think that would have been really helpful in understanding where events took place within the story.

It should be noted that The Verdant Cage contains abuse (adult and child), death, and light horror elements.

~ Favorite Quotes ~

“What you inherit is not who you are. What you choose to carry–that’s what makes you.”

“We all need people. Life’s too heavy to bear alone.”

“Hope’s a dangerous thing.”

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

“Never fight only for yourself, not when others were waging the same battle.”

“Don’t borrow blame that’s not yours.”

“A good heart always breaks a bad law.”

**Received an ARC of the book from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it. Also personally purchased a hardcover edition.**

[Mella aka Maron]

DNF at 23% into the audiobook.

I REALLY wanted to like this. I love dystopians! But besides the huge thing that happened at the end of chapter one, NOTHING has happened so far. I just feel so nothing towards this book. :( I don't like the MC nor the MMC nor the society nor the INCREASINGLY VAGUE EVERYTHING. You'd think that if this girl was 17/18 she would know more about the history of her village.

Ah, but there's the kicker. I read the spoiler on a review online and I get it. Going to be honest, I am glad I didn't read to that because I would have been like, "that's it? That's your big twist?"

Anyway, I am SO glad I found that spoiler review so I could know I would hate this twist hahaha.

[Michelle (easy.vesey.reads)]

This was one of my anticipated reads for this year and I ended up enjoying it! While I think the execution of the story didn’t fully live up to my expectations, there was still a lot I did enjoy. Some of the characters annoyed me and I didn’t really care for the romance part of the book but the mystery and the dystopian plot was done really well. And wow what a cliffhanger. I originally thought this was a standalone but now I can see that there is potential for the story to continue.

Thank you so much to Entangled: Mayhem for the advanced copy!

[Jessica]

This is not a stand alone novel. I felt like readers should be aware.
I was disappointed. The language was fairly juvenile. Yes I know it's YA. So were Maze Runner, Hunger Games, and Divergent. No excuse.
The relationship between Rose (MC) and her love interest is extremely toxic - lies, terrible communication, violating each other's will, physical violence. But somehow the author expects us to root for Rose and Gryphon. Ick.
Also the story isn't what I would call original.

[⋆°.☾⋆Rae.ೃ࿔*:⋆]

review to come ✨

[Zoé Rijnders]

I was struggling so hard to finish the book as I was determind to not DNF it. But it was not worth it in the end. Is started very slow and when the story actually started around like page 200 it still did not grab me full

[Marina Marcello]

Thanks so much Entangled for the e-ARC of The Verdant Cage! When I heard dystopian, that was all I needed. I started this book one evening before bed, intending to read a chapter or two. 27% later and I had to tear myself away in order to get some sleep! This story was immediately engrossing, and the pace never let up, there was zero lag. The main character is discovering her rage over injustice, and I absolutely love that character trait. Her forced proximity, enemies to lovers arc is exactly what you want in unrequited yearning.

As the action picked up even more, it was hard to see where this story was headed. Nothing was predictable. While I wouldn’t say there were twists, there were definitely wrenches in the characters’ plans that buffeted them through the climax. So while I was rooting for certain outcomes that seemed plausible for the plot, this story did not end at all as expected. Book two, I cannot wait for you! In the end this was four stars for me, and I do recommend it to any dystopian lover out there!

[Shannon Miz]

TW at start: "The Verdant Cage is an atmospheric dystopian thriller. As such, the story features scenes that might not be suitable for all readers, including violent and threatening situations, physical harm, death including death of family, and coercive power structures. Readers sensitive to these elements should take note before entering Noah’s Valley."

If you've been here for awhile, you know that the dystopian YA of the late aughts/early teens was my absolute jam. And I have been giddy excited to see it popping back up- only this time, updated, and more relevant than ever. That is certainly what we have here in The Verdant Cage. Now, the comps definitely drew me in (and I think  The Grace Year is a solid one) but I also felt some excellent Matched vibes, as well as some age-old The 100 grey morality/changing of the guard/"no good choices" drama that I adore. I don't want to say too much about the comps though, because I feel like that would spoil stuff, and trust me, you do not want to be spoiled, for this is an excellent adventure!

Anyway, I loved the characters, and the story was simply unputdownable. The whole thing was absolutely giving commentary on our current worldwide mess, and I loved how the author was able to mirror the very real problems we're facing into a smaller scale society that readers can easily wrap their minds around.

"We all wake up at different times and for different reasons. What matters is what we do after we hear the call.”

The twists and turns are fabulous, I could not wait to find out everything about this world and the society. I also really enjoyed watching main character Rose start to see that maybe just putting her head down and following the rules is not the best choice- and seeing the relationships she forms along the way grow, too.

Bottom Line: Loved it so much I pre-ordered it, and also, I need the sequel yesterday.

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight

[Amber Ward (fablesandflights)]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Young Adult Dystopian Thriller, anyone? The Verdant Cage sucked me in from the very beginning with the tone, characters, and ominous atmospheric vibes. The world building is immersive and the tension is palpable. At one point, I thought I had it all figured out, but I was so wrong! This was fun and really kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time and the final reveals paid off so well! It’s thought provoking and tense. This is YA M. Night Shyamalan meets Maze Runner, so if dark intense high-stakes dystopian worlds are your jam, you will enjoy this!

Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Teen Publishing for the eARC! 🫶🏼

[Ria Bowe]

This was absolutely incredible! I really enjoyed the plot and the character development. At some points it felt like a back and forth of “if you don’t let me do this, I’m gonna poison you” and I ate it up every time. It was very much dystopian and I didn’t realize that till halfway, thinking she was going to have some dormant power (there was none). But Rose is a character who matches her namesake. Every rose has its thorns and Rose is just now discovering hers. 4.5 stars!

It actually reminded me of the movie City of Embers with the job and marriage system.

[Loreen ♡]

"So sleep, my darling, don't you be scared, the Wall made us whole, love, and so we were spared."

August Between the Covers Bookclub book 2026

This was like the movie "The Village" meets "Attack on Titan" but without the titans.

It was fast paced which I liked but there were many abrupted moments that just didn't flow well.

I didn't really connect with any of the characters? I felt bad sure, but I can't help it with my empath heart.

I thought the ending did drag. Like it just kept going. There did not need that many chapters after things were figured out.

Romance was forced to me. It didn't feel natural and honestly was one sided. Rose did not give two F's about Gryphon.

It kepted me on my toes I will admit because I wanted to know what was going on, but overall I kinda felt eh about it.

[Briana Moroney]

3.5⭐️ I’ll be honest, I think I went into this with super high expectations which may have impacted the way it actually landed for me. The story started off strong, I think got a little slow in the middle, and then picked up in the end. The middle made it hard to keep reading which makes me sad because I wanted to love this one. A very interesting concept, and seems like it was left for a potential book 2! I’d be curious to see if the next book was better.

[Sally Hakim]

4.25 stars! This book captivated me from the beginning! Who knew a dystopian thriller was what I needed in my life. Loved the big plot twist and the world building. A lot was happening, and a lot was left unsaid, so I’m hoping there’s a second book coming soon!

[Stacy]

twist yes everything else not so much

[Jemily]

This book reeled me in and wouldn’t let me go! I loved the leafy and woodsy City of Ember vibes with a hint of Handmaids Tale.

[Lucy Larsen]

I will admit with this one that I was super excited going into it and immediately disappointed within a few chapters.

The number one thing that bothered me about this story was the tension. The whole story was high tension, lots of twists, very stressful, and yet it was boring because of that. There were almost no moments of reflection or calm and so very quickly this crazy stressful and intense story just became boring, and I felt like I was just reading the same thing over and over again and it was just going on and on and on.

I also found that I didn’t like the main character very much. She felt very flat like she didn’t really have much substance to her as a character. A few of the other characters had more depth to them than she did. I also felt like she was often acted upon rather than acting, and the few times that it did seem like she did make a decision on her own and do something, it was just reacting to something someone else had told her recently. The spicy level was also a level 1.

Overall, I would rate this book a 2.5 out of 5 star rating, rounded up to 3 for Goodreads. I’m not really sure I want to read the second one despite the cliffhanger ending.