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Alexandra Gastone #1
They Call Me Alexandra Gastone
"An intricate, debut spy thriller...readers will keep turning pages, and the surprise ending will have them anxiously awaiting a sequel." ―Booklist
"...the intersection of action, espionage, and drama makes for readers will gladly sit back and watch Alexandra navigate the obstacle course that comes with playing her role too well. It's a strong debut for New Zealand author Maclagan." --Publisher's Weekly
"Death-threats, global takeover, double-agents, hidden files and a blown cover―by the time you get to the shocking conclusion of this cliff-hanger, you won't know who to trust..." ―Girls' Life
"A solid debut that has both heart and smarts. Clever, solidly paced, and power-packed with a killer voice. They Call Me Alexandra Gastone is a blast to read. A perfect balance of mystery, romance, and betrayal. Bring on the sequel!" ― Lindsay Cummings, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Zenith
When your life is a lie, how do you know what's real? Alexandra Gastone has a simple graduate high school, get into Princeton, work for the CIA, and serve her great nation.She was told the plan back when her name was Milena Rokva, back before the real Alexandra and her family were killed in a car crash. Milena was trained to be a sleeper agent by Perun, a clandestine organization from her true homeland of Olissa. There, Milena learned everything she needed to infiltrate the life of CIA analyst Albert Gastone, Alexandra's grandfather, and the ranks of America's top intelligence agency. For seven years, "Alexandra" has been on standby and life's been good. Grandpa Albert loves her, and her strategically chosen boyfriend, Grant, is amazing.But things are about to change. Perun no longer needs her at the CIA in five years' time. They need her active now. Between her cover as a high school girl―juggling a homecoming dance, history reports, and an increasingly suspicious boyfriend―and her mission in this high-stakes spy game, the boundaries of her two lives are beginning to blur.Will she stay true to the country she barely remembers, or has her loyalty shattered along with her identity?
"...the intersection of action, espionage, and drama makes for readers will gladly sit back and watch Alexandra navigate the obstacle course that comes with playing her role too well. It's a strong debut for New Zealand author Maclagan." --Publisher's Weekly
"Death-threats, global takeover, double-agents, hidden files and a blown cover―by the time you get to the shocking conclusion of this cliff-hanger, you won't know who to trust..." ―Girls' Life
"A solid debut that has both heart and smarts. Clever, solidly paced, and power-packed with a killer voice. They Call Me Alexandra Gastone is a blast to read. A perfect balance of mystery, romance, and betrayal. Bring on the sequel!" ― Lindsay Cummings, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Zenith
When your life is a lie, how do you know what's real? Alexandra Gastone has a simple graduate high school, get into Princeton, work for the CIA, and serve her great nation.She was told the plan back when her name was Milena Rokva, back before the real Alexandra and her family were killed in a car crash. Milena was trained to be a sleeper agent by Perun, a clandestine organization from her true homeland of Olissa. There, Milena learned everything she needed to infiltrate the life of CIA analyst Albert Gastone, Alexandra's grandfather, and the ranks of America's top intelligence agency. For seven years, "Alexandra" has been on standby and life's been good. Grandpa Albert loves her, and her strategically chosen boyfriend, Grant, is amazing.But things are about to change. Perun no longer needs her at the CIA in five years' time. They need her active now. Between her cover as a high school girl―juggling a homecoming dance, history reports, and an increasingly suspicious boyfriend―and her mission in this high-stakes spy game, the boundaries of her two lives are beginning to blur.Will she stay true to the country she barely remembers, or has her loyalty shattered along with her identity?
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 20, 2015
39 people are currently reading
2491 people want to read
About the author
T.A. Maclagan
2 books516 followersT.A. Maclagan is a Kansas girl by birth but now lives in the bush-clad hills of Wellington, New Zealand with her Kiwi husband, son and four pampered cats. With a bachelor’s degree in biology and a Ph.D. in anthropology, she’s studied poison dart frogs in the rainforests of Costa Rica, howler monkeys in Panama and the very exotic and always elusive American farmer. It was as she was writing her ‘just the facts’ dissertation that T.A. felt the call to pursue something more imaginative and discovered a passion for creative writing. They Call Me Alexandra Gastone is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
April 22, 2018
It has been quite some time since I really enjoyed YA. And this one did it, somehow. Or maybe I'm such a sucker for wonderful grandparents story.
Another thing going for it is the subtle antipropaganda indoctrination which one can see around the text. Q: No longer a child, I now knew why I’d been shown the images, and I also knew they weren’t all true. (c)
Warnings should go with this!
1. The political background here is abismal. America is a bodygard to some invented Olissa country. It's bodygarding its citizens quite a lot, in some cases supposedly straight to death. But in death they are allowed to keep their cultural diversity. Which is totally generous.
Q: They were just a bodyguard of sorts. It wasn’t the US government’s fault American companies were behaving badly. Companies behaved badly all the time, all over the world. (c) Yeah, right.
2. The US guards Olissa against Iraq and Russia. And I won't even go into the geography of this. Obviously it's difficult to invent a country and place it somewhere not laughable.
Q:
Albert grinned ear-to-ear. “I got a call today.”
“Yeah?”
“It was from my friend at Princeton. You got in! You’ll get the formal offer of admission in a week or two. Lex, I’m so proud of you,” said Albert, reaching across to pat my hand. “You’re going to make a wonderful addition to the school, and I know you’ll love it there as much as I did.”
I threw a hasty smile onto my face and somehow found some enthusiasm for a response. “That’s awesome, Grandpa. I can’t believe it.” My stomach was knotted. I should have started with Albert’s bad news. With only a few days left of being Alexandra, good news about the life I could have had felt like being kicked in the gut. I would never go to Princeton. I wasn’t even going to finish high school.
“Princeton’s playing football against Harvard in a couple weeks. The Ivy matchups are always fun, and I was thinking we might do a little road trip and catch the game? I know you probably don’t think it’s super cool to hang out with your grandpa, but I can treat you to some Princeton sweatshirts and show you the best place to grab pizza. What do you say?”
I could feel my face burn as I fought back tears. It hurt to see Albert so excited. He was going to be devastated when I simply vanished. “Of course I’ll go to the game with you. And Grandpa, you know I love hanging out with you. You don’t need to bribe me. I’m going to miss you so much when I’m gone. I lo—”
“Good, I was hoping you’d say that,” said Albert, reaching into the front pocket of his blazer. “Because that brings me to my second bit of good news.” Albert reached across the table and handed me an envelope. “I know you’ve wanted this for a long time, and I’ve been putting you off, but with the news about Princeton, I thought it was time you got your way.”
Without even opening the envelope, my heart caught. I knew what was inside. Since coming to live with Albert, we’d taken two trips a year, one over Christmas break and the other during summer. Although Albert was democratic about book club night, he hadn’t been regarding our trip destinations. He always asked for my opinion, but then chose to ignore it in favor of trips that were educational and thought provoking. For the last three years, I’d been begging for an adventure vacation in New Zealand, full of hiking, white water rafting, horse trekking, and bungee jumping. I’d campaigned hard, but Albert had always put me off. Given his age, I never really blamed him.
Despite my best efforts, a few stray tears escaped. “You didn’t,” I said, opening the envelope.
Albert laughed. “I most certainly did. We’re going this Christmas. Two weeks in Godzone. That’s what the Kiwi’s call New Zealand. It’ll be summer so the weather is going to be great, and we’ll do all those activities you’ve wanted to do, although I’m absolutely not bungee jumping. You can do it, but don’t try to pressure me into it with one of your bribes or bets.”
I laughed, wiping away a few more tears.
“I hope those are tears of joy and excitement,” said Albert.
I smiled and nodded. Although I had to leave him, I knew I’d made the right decision in choosing to save Albert. I was lucky to have as many years with him as I did. “You need to bring me down off the high I’m on. What was your bad news?” I asked, grabbing my can of ginger ale.
Having just deposited a forkful of food into his mouth, Albert held up a finger as he quickly chewed and then swallowed. He wiped a napkin across his mouth as he cleared his throat. Albert’s expression was pained. “I’m afraid I have to rescind my invitation to the gala. I know you were excited to go, but I learned today the threat level surrounding Kasarian’s visit was increased. There’s chatter a group called Perun will strike. All plus-ones for lower-tiered guests have been elim—”
I choked on my ginger ale at Albert’s mention of Perun and had to pound my chest to clear it. My mind immediately swam with questions. How did Albert know of Perun? Made up of sleeper agents, Perun’s public profile was almost non-existent. There shouldn’t have been any chatter unless… I stared at Albert dumbfounded, my thoughts spinning out of control. Was I wrong about Varos? Had he actually been caught? Had he caved under torture and given me up? Did the man sitting across from me know who I was? Was he testing me?
“Oh,” I said, not really knowing how to respond. Although I kept my face impassive, my muscles coiled, ready for flight. I had a “go” box buried near the dog park. If I ran at top speed, I could grab it and be gone in less than ten minutes.
Albert patted my hand again. “I’m sorry.”
I trembled at his touch and slid my hand away, hiding it in my lap. Needing to run from Perun, I’d been in an impossible situation, and Albert had just handed me an out. His news about the gala was good, if true. But that kind of luck didn’t just happen in the spy world.
“Per-en?” I asked, purposefully stumbling over the pronunciation. “Never heard of them.”
Albert nodded solemnly, “Pear-une. A group of radical Olissan rebels. They’ve been silent for years, but with Aroyan narrowly losing the election… Well, I guess they see an opening.”
“Hmmm,” I said, shaking my head in understanding. Albert looked calm and collected and not at all like someone who was about to jump across the table and slap on some handcuffs. “Well, that’s disappointing about the gala, but I understand.”
I smiled at Albert hesitantly. Had I really just won the spy world’s version of the lotto? Was I really that lucky? Could I allow myself to get excited about Princeton? About New Zealand? My heart quickened at the thought of keeping my life as Alexandra. And what if Grant got into Penn? He’d only be an hour away.
I picked up the tickets to New Zealand and tapped them on the table. Surely, Albert wouldn’t have shown them to me if he knew. Or told me about Princeton. I knew Albert. He wouldn’t bait me—he wasn’t that cruel.
I smiled again, this time with measured excitement. “You know how you could make the gala up to me,” I said, grabbing my fork, a sense of relieved giddiness taking hold.
Albert eyed me. “And how would that be?”
I held my fork high in the air and then swooped it down to my plate. “You could go skydiving with me in New Zealand,” I said with a laugh.
Albert rolled his eyes. “I love you, but I’m not doing that either. Not in a million years.”
I studied Albert for a moment; studied his look of loving yet annoyed affection. My giddiness dissipated, replaced by feelings of warmth and peace. I reached across and put a hand on Albert’s arm, “I love you, too, Grandpa.”
(c)
Q:
“Your grandpa is awesome. He told everyone it was not the time or place for an argument. An eighteenth birthday only rolls around once, so we needed to spank our inner moppets.” Martine paused. She looked like she wanted to ask something, but wasn’t sure if she should. Finally she spoke. “What the hell is an inner moppet? I mean I get the gist, but still…”
(c)
Q:
...I like my job. It has its perks.”
“What are those? Distrust, fear, isolation, an early death?
(c)
Another thing going for it is the subtle antipropaganda indoctrination which one can see around the text. Q: No longer a child, I now knew why I’d been shown the images, and I also knew they weren’t all true. (c)
Warnings should go with this!
1. The political background here is abismal. America is a bodygard to some invented Olissa country. It's bodygarding its citizens quite a lot, in some cases supposedly straight to death. But in death they are allowed to keep their cultural diversity. Which is totally generous.
Q: They were just a bodyguard of sorts. It wasn’t the US government’s fault American companies were behaving badly. Companies behaved badly all the time, all over the world. (c) Yeah, right.
2. The US guards Olissa against Iraq and Russia. And I won't even go into the geography of this. Obviously it's difficult to invent a country and place it somewhere not laughable.
Q:
Albert grinned ear-to-ear. “I got a call today.”
“Yeah?”
“It was from my friend at Princeton. You got in! You’ll get the formal offer of admission in a week or two. Lex, I’m so proud of you,” said Albert, reaching across to pat my hand. “You’re going to make a wonderful addition to the school, and I know you’ll love it there as much as I did.”
I threw a hasty smile onto my face and somehow found some enthusiasm for a response. “That’s awesome, Grandpa. I can’t believe it.” My stomach was knotted. I should have started with Albert’s bad news. With only a few days left of being Alexandra, good news about the life I could have had felt like being kicked in the gut. I would never go to Princeton. I wasn’t even going to finish high school.
“Princeton’s playing football against Harvard in a couple weeks. The Ivy matchups are always fun, and I was thinking we might do a little road trip and catch the game? I know you probably don’t think it’s super cool to hang out with your grandpa, but I can treat you to some Princeton sweatshirts and show you the best place to grab pizza. What do you say?”
I could feel my face burn as I fought back tears. It hurt to see Albert so excited. He was going to be devastated when I simply vanished. “Of course I’ll go to the game with you. And Grandpa, you know I love hanging out with you. You don’t need to bribe me. I’m going to miss you so much when I’m gone. I lo—”
“Good, I was hoping you’d say that,” said Albert, reaching into the front pocket of his blazer. “Because that brings me to my second bit of good news.” Albert reached across the table and handed me an envelope. “I know you’ve wanted this for a long time, and I’ve been putting you off, but with the news about Princeton, I thought it was time you got your way.”
Without even opening the envelope, my heart caught. I knew what was inside. Since coming to live with Albert, we’d taken two trips a year, one over Christmas break and the other during summer. Although Albert was democratic about book club night, he hadn’t been regarding our trip destinations. He always asked for my opinion, but then chose to ignore it in favor of trips that were educational and thought provoking. For the last three years, I’d been begging for an adventure vacation in New Zealand, full of hiking, white water rafting, horse trekking, and bungee jumping. I’d campaigned hard, but Albert had always put me off. Given his age, I never really blamed him.
Despite my best efforts, a few stray tears escaped. “You didn’t,” I said, opening the envelope.
Albert laughed. “I most certainly did. We’re going this Christmas. Two weeks in Godzone. That’s what the Kiwi’s call New Zealand. It’ll be summer so the weather is going to be great, and we’ll do all those activities you’ve wanted to do, although I’m absolutely not bungee jumping. You can do it, but don’t try to pressure me into it with one of your bribes or bets.”
I laughed, wiping away a few more tears.
“I hope those are tears of joy and excitement,” said Albert.
I smiled and nodded. Although I had to leave him, I knew I’d made the right decision in choosing to save Albert. I was lucky to have as many years with him as I did. “You need to bring me down off the high I’m on. What was your bad news?” I asked, grabbing my can of ginger ale.
Having just deposited a forkful of food into his mouth, Albert held up a finger as he quickly chewed and then swallowed. He wiped a napkin across his mouth as he cleared his throat. Albert’s expression was pained. “I’m afraid I have to rescind my invitation to the gala. I know you were excited to go, but I learned today the threat level surrounding Kasarian’s visit was increased. There’s chatter a group called Perun will strike. All plus-ones for lower-tiered guests have been elim—”
I choked on my ginger ale at Albert’s mention of Perun and had to pound my chest to clear it. My mind immediately swam with questions. How did Albert know of Perun? Made up of sleeper agents, Perun’s public profile was almost non-existent. There shouldn’t have been any chatter unless… I stared at Albert dumbfounded, my thoughts spinning out of control. Was I wrong about Varos? Had he actually been caught? Had he caved under torture and given me up? Did the man sitting across from me know who I was? Was he testing me?
“Oh,” I said, not really knowing how to respond. Although I kept my face impassive, my muscles coiled, ready for flight. I had a “go” box buried near the dog park. If I ran at top speed, I could grab it and be gone in less than ten minutes.
Albert patted my hand again. “I’m sorry.”
I trembled at his touch and slid my hand away, hiding it in my lap. Needing to run from Perun, I’d been in an impossible situation, and Albert had just handed me an out. His news about the gala was good, if true. But that kind of luck didn’t just happen in the spy world.
“Per-en?” I asked, purposefully stumbling over the pronunciation. “Never heard of them.”
Albert nodded solemnly, “Pear-une. A group of radical Olissan rebels. They’ve been silent for years, but with Aroyan narrowly losing the election… Well, I guess they see an opening.”
“Hmmm,” I said, shaking my head in understanding. Albert looked calm and collected and not at all like someone who was about to jump across the table and slap on some handcuffs. “Well, that’s disappointing about the gala, but I understand.”
I smiled at Albert hesitantly. Had I really just won the spy world’s version of the lotto? Was I really that lucky? Could I allow myself to get excited about Princeton? About New Zealand? My heart quickened at the thought of keeping my life as Alexandra. And what if Grant got into Penn? He’d only be an hour away.
I picked up the tickets to New Zealand and tapped them on the table. Surely, Albert wouldn’t have shown them to me if he knew. Or told me about Princeton. I knew Albert. He wouldn’t bait me—he wasn’t that cruel.
I smiled again, this time with measured excitement. “You know how you could make the gala up to me,” I said, grabbing my fork, a sense of relieved giddiness taking hold.
Albert eyed me. “And how would that be?”
I held my fork high in the air and then swooped it down to my plate. “You could go skydiving with me in New Zealand,” I said with a laugh.
Albert rolled his eyes. “I love you, but I’m not doing that either. Not in a million years.”
I studied Albert for a moment; studied his look of loving yet annoyed affection. My giddiness dissipated, replaced by feelings of warmth and peace. I reached across and put a hand on Albert’s arm, “I love you, too, Grandpa.”
(c)
Q:
“Your grandpa is awesome. He told everyone it was not the time or place for an argument. An eighteenth birthday only rolls around once, so we needed to spank our inner moppets.” Martine paused. She looked like she wanted to ask something, but wasn’t sure if she should. Finally she spoke. “What the hell is an inner moppet? I mean I get the gist, but still…”
(c)
Q:
...I like my job. It has its perks.”
“What are those? Distrust, fear, isolation, an early death?
(c)
May 23, 2015
loved it, to b the first time writing this kinda work its excellent stuff..the only downside the b/f was annoying...love the spy/cia stuff n not many authors can pull this off..plus love how all the charcters just develop around this central being w/ no stop action, intense n a little plot twist at the end, made u anxious for the nxt series...GOOD START!!!
May 30, 2015
"For the blood of the fallen. For the blood of the living. For Olissa we fight."
Heck yeah!! What a badass book. Have you ever read a book that while reading it, you just have that strong feeling... that feeling that says 'YESS THIS BOOK SHOULD BE A MOVIE' It was like I was watching a film throughout the book, and I can't take my eyes off the screen.
Whether she's Milena or being Alexandra Gastone, its clear that I love this character, I remember this love towards a character before, it was when I was reading Vampire Academy and I was obsessed with Rose and I don't want anything in life but to be friends with her. Yep, that's what I feel towards Alexandra or 'Lex'. Her thoughts and emotions is very genuine and I don't think there was a time in the novel when I was frustrated or annoyed by her. Nope, all I have is pure admiration. I can't even put myself in her shoes because, well, I don't want to. She is battling with the question LOVE OR DUTY?
The plot was so intricately done. It all seems so real that even a hint of doubt didn't creep in. It was so obvious that T.A.MacLagan researched this concept thoroughly. Her characters are all well written. There were turns and twists that I didn't see coming. There was a right amount of drama balanced with action and romance that affected me a lot. They Call Me Alexandra Gastone is such a smart book. Its definitely a new series to watch out for!!!
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April 7, 2015A solid debut that has both heart and smarts. Clever, solidly paced, and with a killer voice, THEY CALL ME ALEXANDRA GASTONE is a blast to read. Bring on the sequel!
July 13, 2015
Check out this and other reviews on my blog, Here's to Happy Endings!
Alexandra Gastone has a seemingly great life to all those on the outside. She has a boyfriend, she does well in school, and she lives with and is close to her grandfather, who works in the CIA. She is on track for college (Princeton is the plan), and she herself wants to work for the CIA.
However, everything is not quite what it seems.
Who is Alexandra, really?
It turns out, "Alexandra Gastone" is really a spy from Olissa, where she was born and raised. Her true name isn't Alexandra Gastone at all, but Milena Rokva, who is a sleeper agent and has been sent to America to infiltrate the CIA within five years. Only that plan doesn't seem to hold anymore, because she is told that she will need to begin now, not in five years.
So how does this go for "Alexandra"? Does she betray the "grandfather" she has come to love as her own family? What about the amazing relationship she has with her boyfriend? Will she allow the people she cares about most to get hurt, or does she decide to take matters into her own hands and come up with a different solution?
This book is truly unlike anything I've read. While I don't particularly read a lot of thrillers or "spy" books, I found They Call Me Alexandra Gastone to be a real treat. It is full of action, suspense, and yes, even a little romance (the relationship between "Alexandra" and her boyfriend, Grant, is adorable and I loved them as a couple). I had grown to care about the characters in the book a lot, especially Grandpa Albert, who was such a sweet, caring man who would do anything to make his granddaughter happy. You could tell they had a great relationship, even though Alexandra wasn't who he thought she was.
The entire plot of this book was so well written, and you could tell that the author T.A. Maclagen definitely put a lot of time and research into the subject matter of the book. While the book does end on a cliffhanger, it seemed fitting for it to end that way, because it leaves room for a sequel and for the storyline to continue. It was definitely a surprising book, and one that I have to recommend to anyone who loves YA fiction, even if the genre itself isn't something you'd normally reach for!
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Alexandra Gastone has a seemingly great life to all those on the outside. She has a boyfriend, she does well in school, and she lives with and is close to her grandfather, who works in the CIA. She is on track for college (Princeton is the plan), and she herself wants to work for the CIA.
However, everything is not quite what it seems.
Who is Alexandra, really?
It turns out, "Alexandra Gastone" is really a spy from Olissa, where she was born and raised. Her true name isn't Alexandra Gastone at all, but Milena Rokva, who is a sleeper agent and has been sent to America to infiltrate the CIA within five years. Only that plan doesn't seem to hold anymore, because she is told that she will need to begin now, not in five years.
So how does this go for "Alexandra"? Does she betray the "grandfather" she has come to love as her own family? What about the amazing relationship she has with her boyfriend? Will she allow the people she cares about most to get hurt, or does she decide to take matters into her own hands and come up with a different solution?
This book is truly unlike anything I've read. While I don't particularly read a lot of thrillers or "spy" books, I found They Call Me Alexandra Gastone to be a real treat. It is full of action, suspense, and yes, even a little romance (the relationship between "Alexandra" and her boyfriend, Grant, is adorable and I loved them as a couple). I had grown to care about the characters in the book a lot, especially Grandpa Albert, who was such a sweet, caring man who would do anything to make his granddaughter happy. You could tell they had a great relationship, even though Alexandra wasn't who he thought she was.
The entire plot of this book was so well written, and you could tell that the author T.A. Maclagen definitely put a lot of time and research into the subject matter of the book. While the book does end on a cliffhanger, it seemed fitting for it to end that way, because it leaves room for a sequel and for the storyline to continue. It was definitely a surprising book, and one that I have to recommend to anyone who loves YA fiction, even if the genre itself isn't something you'd normally reach for!
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 6, 2015
***This review has also been posted on Addicted to YA Fiction so check it out for more reviews! :)
Disclaimer: This book was provided by Full Fathom Five Digital via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
**This is a DNF review of They Call Me Alexandra Gastone
So I was kind-of excited about this book and when I initially started reading, I thought I would probably end up finishing this ARC and giving it at-least 4 stars. But my excitement slowly petered out and I realized that I didn't want to finish this book.
The main character annoyed me. Milena, the MC who is pretending to be a girl named Alexandra Gastone, tells us everything. Now, don't get me wrong, I like getting a peek inside the MC's head and seeing how they function. But this was literally inner monologues every five minutes. She questions her decisions, her plans for the future, feelings toward a friend...and it was too much. I thought this was a thriller so I expected a lot more action.
Overall, it just didn't feel that interesting to me. The premise swept me off my feet but there wasn't enough action to hold my attention. I feel like a bit of a black sheep actually because there are so many positive reviews about this book but this book just wasn't for me. (I'm not even sure exactly where I stopped reading but I think I got through about half of the book before deciding to ditch.)
Disclaimer: This book was provided by Full Fathom Five Digital via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
**This is a DNF review of They Call Me Alexandra Gastone
So I was kind-of excited about this book and when I initially started reading, I thought I would probably end up finishing this ARC and giving it at-least 4 stars. But my excitement slowly petered out and I realized that I didn't want to finish this book.
The main character annoyed me. Milena, the MC who is pretending to be a girl named Alexandra Gastone, tells us everything. Now, don't get me wrong, I like getting a peek inside the MC's head and seeing how they function. But this was literally inner monologues every five minutes. She questions her decisions, her plans for the future, feelings toward a friend...and it was too much. I thought this was a thriller so I expected a lot more action.
Overall, it just didn't feel that interesting to me. The premise swept me off my feet but there wasn't enough action to hold my attention. I feel like a bit of a black sheep actually because there are so many positive reviews about this book but this book just wasn't for me. (I'm not even sure exactly where I stopped reading but I think I got through about half of the book before deciding to ditch.)
September 12, 2015
I received a free copy of this book from the pubisher via NetGalley.
While enjoyable, this book sadly didn't meet my expectations.
You can read my full review on my blog.
While enjoyable, this book sadly didn't meet my expectations.
You can read my full review on my blog.
June 18, 2015
4.5*
After having the book blast on 'They call me Alexandra Gastone' a couple of months back, I was immensely intrigued by the synopsis. In this day and age, the story line is anything but far fetched and it definitely drew a cord watching the unrest in the Middle East that has been brewing for such a long time.
Of course the book is not referring to this conflict specifically (though it may have draw inspiration from it in part). Rather, It sets a very strong portrait of the thoughts and feelings a young woman has, being raised with ideals and saddled with a mission that may not have her (or a much wider populace's) best interests at heart. A reminder, if you will, of the heart ache that vengeance and misguided ideals can bring and that we cant see both sides of the same coin at once.
They call me Alexandra Gastone starts with Milena 'aka' Alexandra (or Lex for short). Lex has been placed as an undercover sleeper op in a important position at only 7 years old. Her goal is to grow into a prime position within the countries intel and gather it for her own. Though doing something for your home country is not as simple as it is cracked up to be when motives are unclear and you suddenly get faces with hurting the people who have played a role in your life for as long as your own blood family has.
Lex is a very interesting character. I adore the fact that she is smart enough to question, yet loyal enough to hold on to her ideals. She is not reckless or stupid but she is damaged, giving her some definite flaws. Overall, she is a great persona to read through and I find myself drawn to the realism that comes with her thought patterns and actions.
“Family is what could motivate a man to knowingly house a spy. it could give him the fortitude to look her in the eye and pretend he cared.”
The little bit of politics and world building surrounding the countries unrest is cleverly done and there is a good diversion of other characters to keep the story from becoming bogged down or to dark. I could really find myself feeling for Grant and got quite attached to Albert.
The story is told in First Person, all from Lex's perceptive. It's a contemporary YA though probably better suited to the more mature YA reader due to violence and the more subtle emotional undertones. There is romance too, though it does not overshadow the other aspects and weaves in with the main story well.
I'd played a part for so long, who was I? A spy? A granddaughter? A high school student? A friend? A liar? A traitor? I was all of these people, and the contradictions where starting to rip me apart.
There where quite a few plot twists and revelations, shifting the story toward completely different outcomes in total contrast to what I had expected. It's also one of the reasons I have given it a high mark. It's incredibly well done. The storyline flows nicely and keeps you engaged throughout to find out what will happen next.
On that note, a word of warning. Even though this book ends at a good spot, it also does on a major cliffhanger. I am very curious what is to come still and can only image what T. A. Maclagan will conjure up next. I believe the series will have 2 parts and there are quite a few directions it can take...
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely. It's a refreshing story with loads of plot twists, espionage a good dash of romance and action!
July 4, 2015
3.5 stars
I started out really not liking this book, because as far as the spy things go, there was NOTHING aside from the very first couple of pages. When I read spy novels, I expect at the very least a couple things that make me think "James Bond" or "Gallagher Girls" or...something. But Alexandra(?...I mean, according to the title, they DO call her that, even if she really...isn't.) doesn't really do a whole lot of that at first, and when she does, it's rather subdued in comparison to many different spy novels.
That's the point, I guess. Alexandra doesn't WANT to be a spy. She wants to be Alexandra, the granddaughter of a nice old man with a normal-ish life. But she doesn't have that, because she works for a terrorist organization in a country called Olissa.
I have to be honest, I don't think Alexandra is *that* good of a spy. She makes a few royal screwups here and there, which doesn't make that much sense considering the rigorous training she was put through. I was thinking, when I first started, that her character would be more like Natasha Romanov, who can seemingly do no wrong. But it's okay, I guess. My fault for assuming things.
Her character does get better as the book goes along. Her conflicting feelings are a major part of the story, and it really is a bit of a Catch 22, which is super interesting to read about. Should she serve Perun, which wants her to do terrible things to people she loves, or should she betray them and face grave consequences? It only got worse when I found out exactly how she came to be an agent for Perun. The poor kid really got the short end of the stick.
But, like I said, the plot does take a while to get to the point where I was really into the story. I feel like the beginning was really dragging. Alexandra's normal life was exentuated, with only little bits of "spy things" sprinkled in, and that really annoyed me. I WANT ACTION AND HEARTBREAK AND SECRET MISSIONS AND I WANT THEM NOW.
I think someone else with less previous expectations would enjoy this book more than I did, because everything I was expecting really hindered my enjoyment of what the story ended up being.
I started out really not liking this book, because as far as the spy things go, there was NOTHING aside from the very first couple of pages. When I read spy novels, I expect at the very least a couple things that make me think "James Bond" or "Gallagher Girls" or...something. But Alexandra(?...I mean, according to the title, they DO call her that, even if she really...isn't.) doesn't really do a whole lot of that at first, and when she does, it's rather subdued in comparison to many different spy novels.
That's the point, I guess. Alexandra doesn't WANT to be a spy. She wants to be Alexandra, the granddaughter of a nice old man with a normal-ish life. But she doesn't have that, because she works for a terrorist organization in a country called Olissa.
I have to be honest, I don't think Alexandra is *that* good of a spy. She makes a few royal screwups here and there, which doesn't make that much sense considering the rigorous training she was put through. I was thinking, when I first started, that her character would be more like Natasha Romanov, who can seemingly do no wrong. But it's okay, I guess. My fault for assuming things.
Her character does get better as the book goes along. Her conflicting feelings are a major part of the story, and it really is a bit of a Catch 22, which is super interesting to read about. Should she serve Perun, which wants her to do terrible things to people she loves, or should she betray them and face grave consequences? It only got worse when I found out exactly how she came to be an agent for Perun. The poor kid really got the short end of the stick.
But, like I said, the plot does take a while to get to the point where I was really into the story. I feel like the beginning was really dragging. Alexandra's normal life was exentuated, with only little bits of "spy things" sprinkled in, and that really annoyed me. I WANT ACTION AND HEARTBREAK AND SECRET MISSIONS AND I WANT THEM NOW.
I think someone else with less previous expectations would enjoy this book more than I did, because everything I was expecting really hindered my enjoyment of what the story ended up being.
June 19, 2015
Alexandra is a sleeper agent into a CIA agent's home. She has been posing as the man's(Albert's) granddaughter for seven years and is deeply ingrained in her new life to the point that she is starting to develop real feelings for Albert and her boyfriend, Grant. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to juggle both lives. When Perun decides to activate her to kill a man and bring her grandfather down w Alexandra has to make a difficult decision that could change everything.
This was a fast-paced novel that I could literally not stop reading. Alexandra is very impressive in her skills and dedication to the Perun cause. However, when she begins to doubt the group's intentions she makes way for lots of problems. I fell in love with Alexandra from the first page and I was able to connect with her struggle to maintain her mission while also keeping those she loved safe. I also loved Albert. The thing that I loved about this book is it seemed realistic when showing the struggles that the main character went through. Usually these books start with the main character having been indoctrinated to the point that she or she has turned into a cold killer but Alexander's struggles seemed to me a more realistic picture of what it would be like to be in that situation. The book had twists and unexpected turns, the author did a great job of making you connect with the main characters and the ending was a cliff hanger that obviously makes way for a second book. I highly recommend this book and think this is a wonderful debut from an author that will produce more great books in the future.
I received this book from NetGalley as an ARC for an honest review.
This was a fast-paced novel that I could literally not stop reading. Alexandra is very impressive in her skills and dedication to the Perun cause. However, when she begins to doubt the group's intentions she makes way for lots of problems. I fell in love with Alexandra from the first page and I was able to connect with her struggle to maintain her mission while also keeping those she loved safe. I also loved Albert. The thing that I loved about this book is it seemed realistic when showing the struggles that the main character went through. Usually these books start with the main character having been indoctrinated to the point that she or she has turned into a cold killer but Alexander's struggles seemed to me a more realistic picture of what it would be like to be in that situation. The book had twists and unexpected turns, the author did a great job of making you connect with the main characters and the ending was a cliff hanger that obviously makes way for a second book. I highly recommend this book and think this is a wonderful debut from an author that will produce more great books in the future.
I received this book from NetGalley as an ARC for an honest review.
June 26, 2015
**I received an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review**
Melina was being transformed into Alexandra through learning her mannerisms and plastic surgery. She was to be a spy for her country. She was also beaten so it was believed that she had been in a car accident. She was to Albert Gastone's granddaughter. He was a member of the CIA, although he could retire. Alexandra, who was really Melina, now had a really great boyfriend and was popular.
Melina was a caring person. Even though she was not supposed to, she formed ties. She also had kept her patriotism for her country until she found out that who had trained her wasn't who they portrayed to be. She also couldn't see Albert hurt. She grew through this story from the twists and turns. She even learned how to love again.
I loved this story, but hope another book will be written to find out about her further adventures. I highly recommend it.
Melina was being transformed into Alexandra through learning her mannerisms and plastic surgery. She was to be a spy for her country. She was also beaten so it was believed that she had been in a car accident. She was to Albert Gastone's granddaughter. He was a member of the CIA, although he could retire. Alexandra, who was really Melina, now had a really great boyfriend and was popular.
Melina was a caring person. Even though she was not supposed to, she formed ties. She also had kept her patriotism for her country until she found out that who had trained her wasn't who they portrayed to be. She also couldn't see Albert hurt. She grew through this story from the twists and turns. She even learned how to love again.
I loved this story, but hope another book will be written to find out about her further adventures. I highly recommend it.
August 29, 2015
While this book didn't have quite as much action as I was expecting, I found it totally fascinating. Milena/Alexandra made for a very compelling main character, and watching her try to navigate her role as a sleeper agent and a high school student was really interesting. There were a lot of twists and turns, great tension, and a good setup for a sequel. Can't wait to read more about these characters!
October 22, 2016
*Source* Amazon
*Genre* Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller
*Rating* 3.5-4
*My Thoughts*
“For the blood of the fallen. For the blood of the living. For Olissa we fight.”
They Call Me Alexandra Gastone is the first installment in author T.A. Maclagan's Alexandra Gastone duology. 17-year old Milena Rokva was given away by her father when she was only 7 years old. She was given to an organization called Perun who may be called freedom fighters in some circles. They claim to be fighting for Olissa independence from the US, who stood in while other countries tried to take over the country. Milena was trained to become a sleeper agent, and took the place of the real Alexandra Gastone when her family was killed..
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Published May 20th 2015 by Full Fathom Five Digital
*Genre* Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller
*Rating* 3.5-4
*My Thoughts*
“For the blood of the fallen. For the blood of the living. For Olissa we fight.”
They Call Me Alexandra Gastone is the first installment in author T.A. Maclagan's Alexandra Gastone duology. 17-year old Milena Rokva was given away by her father when she was only 7 years old. She was given to an organization called Perun who may be called freedom fighters in some circles. They claim to be fighting for Olissa independence from the US, who stood in while other countries tried to take over the country. Milena was trained to become a sleeper agent, and took the place of the real Alexandra Gastone when her family was killed..
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Published May 20th 2015 by Full Fathom Five Digital
July 15, 2015
Check out more reviews at Little Miss Bookmark!
Alexandra is a high school cheerleader, a great student, a doting girlfriend and a loving granddaughter. Only she isn't Alexandra. And she isn't any of those other things either. She is a spy ... a sleeper agent and she's just biding her time until she is activated by her home country. The time is coming soon and Alexandra is determined to avenge the death of a loved one and serve her country.
Spy books are some of my favorites to read. Years ago, I decided I was done with reading only James Patterson and Nicholas Sparks and I decided to pick up something TOTALLY out of my reading comfort zone. I saw a book by this new author named Vince Flynn. It was a spy book and I was totally hooked. I devoured all of the Vince Flynn books that I could find. Unfortunately, this amazing author passed away in 2013 and I've not picked up a spy book since. Until this one. I figured that it was time to give this sub-genre another try (even though it feels a bit like I'm cheating on Vince Flynn).
I won't lie, I expected to not like this book. I know, I know ... why pick it up then, right? I just had such high expectations that I figured that I was wasting my time but you know what? I was wrong. Don't tell my husband I said that because I've convinced him that I'm NEVER wrong. But in this case, I was. I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed it a lot. And it was so close to being a 5-star book for me that it's crazy.
I found the characters ... interesting. I didn't really know what to make of Alexandra at first. I loved the way that the author really delved into Alexandra's history and let you know why she was the way that she was. The character development was just as amazing for everyone else in the book as well. I was left with no questions about why the were the way that they were or what their motivations were. Everything was pretty clear.
The storyline itself was very intricate and the author was able to weave this amazing story out of quite a few different strands of the story and you end up with this amazingly interesting plot that keeps you guessing right up until the very last page. There were quite a few surprises that I wasn't expecting that really kept me on my toes. I'm very excited for the next installment in this series and I'll be one of the first in line to get my hands on it. I think I've found a new author to follow and I've found that there isn't just one spy writer for me.
* I received this novel in exchange for an honest review *
June 24, 2015
I got this book through NetGalley.
When I requested this book, I knew that I was going to enjoy it, because I love espionage thrillers. What I didn't know is that I was going to enjoy it so much. I definitely recommend this book to all the people who like YA espionage books.
While not an adult book, it's more mature than I expected. I don't mean it in the sense of graphic, because while death and murder are mentioned, they're not very detailed in their description.
I didn't know that this book was likely to be a first book in a series until I reached the end, because it's not as slow as first books usually are. It helps that the premise is very straightforward and simple for an espionage story, until things get more complicated. Alexandra is not actually Alexandra but Milena, a girl who takes Alexandra's place after her parents and her are killed in a car crash. As the real Alexandra didn't have a close relationship with her grandfather and children change so fast, nobody is supposed to notice anything odd. Milena is part of a secret organisation of Olissa, an imaginary ex-Soviet country.
What I didn't like was the ending. When I say that I didn't like it, I mean it in a good way, because that cliffhanger is evil. Ever since a certain piece of information was revealed (saying what would be a huge spoiler though), I was looking forward to seeing a certain character's reaction to it. However, the book ends right after this character is told that bit of information. I don't know whether there's going to be a second book or not, but this book ends in a way that made me think that there's going to be at least one more.
The one thing that I found a bit odd, considering that the girl has been trained and is not someone who suddenly finds herself in the middle of an international espionage situation, is that she gets a tattoo. Sure, the place is usually covered by average clothes, but it's very visible with certain kind of dresses and t-shirts. I would have thought that she would be more careful with anything that might make identification easier, especially as it's not something that she does to make her cover more believable.
When I requested this book, I knew that I was going to enjoy it, because I love espionage thrillers. What I didn't know is that I was going to enjoy it so much. I definitely recommend this book to all the people who like YA espionage books.
While not an adult book, it's more mature than I expected. I don't mean it in the sense of graphic, because while death and murder are mentioned, they're not very detailed in their description.
I didn't know that this book was likely to be a first book in a series until I reached the end, because it's not as slow as first books usually are. It helps that the premise is very straightforward and simple for an espionage story, until things get more complicated. Alexandra is not actually Alexandra but Milena, a girl who takes Alexandra's place after her parents and her are killed in a car crash. As the real Alexandra didn't have a close relationship with her grandfather and children change so fast, nobody is supposed to notice anything odd. Milena is part of a secret organisation of Olissa, an imaginary ex-Soviet country.
What I didn't like was the ending. When I say that I didn't like it, I mean it in a good way, because that cliffhanger is evil. Ever since a certain piece of information was revealed (saying what would be a huge spoiler though), I was looking forward to seeing a certain character's reaction to it. However, the book ends right after this character is told that bit of information. I don't know whether there's going to be a second book or not, but this book ends in a way that made me think that there's going to be at least one more.
The one thing that I found a bit odd, considering that the girl has been trained and is not someone who suddenly finds herself in the middle of an international espionage situation, is that she gets a tattoo. Sure, the place is usually covered by average clothes, but it's very visible with certain kind of dresses and t-shirts. I would have thought that she would be more careful with anything that might make identification easier, especially as it's not something that she does to make her cover more believable.
June 5, 2015
**I received a copy in exchange for my honest review**
When your life is a lie, how do you know what’s real?
The book follows Alexandra as she is dropped as a sleeper agent into a CIA agent's home. Alexandra has been posing as the man's granddaughter for roughly seven years and she is deeply ingrained in her new life. So much so that she is starting to develop real feelings for Albert and her boyfriend, Grant. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the ruse. So when Perun decides to activate her to kill a man and bring her grandfather down with her? Alexandra has to make a difficult decision that could change everything.
This was a fast-paced novel that I could literally not stop reading. Alexandra is very impressive in her skills and dedication to the Perun cause. However, when she begins to doubt the group's intentions she makes way for a ton of problems. I fell in love with Alexandra from the first page and I was able to connect with her struggle to maintain her mission while also keeping those she loved safe. Albert seems like the best grandfather ever (even if Alexandra is not supposed to love him) and I always loved their interactions. I appreciated how every part of this book seemed natural and the author did an amazing job bringing the characters to life through the text.
I never got annoyed with the main character and I loved her relationship with Grant. Maclagan did a magnificent job presenting an engaging story. Throughout the entire book I thought about how awesome it would be if it were made into a movie! I mean those fight scenes and Alexandra's struggle would be amazing! I believe that everyone who is a living, breathing person should read this book since it is just too awesome to be kept a secret. This book is a quick read with non-stop action that blows the reader away. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series.
And if this is not going to be a series?
I will be in a book-depression for a long amount of time.
I expect great things from this author!
When your life is a lie, how do you know what’s real?
The book follows Alexandra as she is dropped as a sleeper agent into a CIA agent's home. Alexandra has been posing as the man's granddaughter for roughly seven years and she is deeply ingrained in her new life. So much so that she is starting to develop real feelings for Albert and her boyfriend, Grant. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the ruse. So when Perun decides to activate her to kill a man and bring her grandfather down with her? Alexandra has to make a difficult decision that could change everything.
This was a fast-paced novel that I could literally not stop reading. Alexandra is very impressive in her skills and dedication to the Perun cause. However, when she begins to doubt the group's intentions she makes way for a ton of problems. I fell in love with Alexandra from the first page and I was able to connect with her struggle to maintain her mission while also keeping those she loved safe. Albert seems like the best grandfather ever (even if Alexandra is not supposed to love him) and I always loved their interactions. I appreciated how every part of this book seemed natural and the author did an amazing job bringing the characters to life through the text.
I never got annoyed with the main character and I loved her relationship with Grant. Maclagan did a magnificent job presenting an engaging story. Throughout the entire book I thought about how awesome it would be if it were made into a movie! I mean those fight scenes and Alexandra's struggle would be amazing! I believe that everyone who is a living, breathing person should read this book since it is just too awesome to be kept a secret. This book is a quick read with non-stop action that blows the reader away. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series.
And if this is not going to be a series?
I will be in a book-depression for a long amount of time.
I expect great things from this author!
February 15, 2017
Wow! I l.oved this sooo much. Alexandra (Milena) is so my kind of girl. I gobbled it up in one sitting and now I'm desperate for the next one! Fantastic read!
Reviewed for netgalley.com
Reviewed for netgalley.com
December 4, 2015
What an exciting debut. I didn't want to put it down. That ending tho! Please tell me there will be another one.
February 21, 2017
3 stars
This was lent out to me by a friend via ebook format and I hadn't realized that this story only existed via ebook. I thought it would be a lot longer than it actually was and that's such a disappointment! I was so into the plot and I get now why it felt like it was skipping over important bits because it had no time - it was so rushed but I was intrigued! I wanted more and sad there wasn't any. I think for that reason, I didn't purchase the second book, even with that cliffhanger.
Nothing is really explained in detail, just roughly touched upon and there's a few plot holes but if it were to be republished I would reread in a heartbeat. The plot has a lot of potential, it's a shame it didn't really hit it.
Wouldn't reread, maybe recommend?
This was lent out to me by a friend via ebook format and I hadn't realized that this story only existed via ebook. I thought it would be a lot longer than it actually was and that's such a disappointment! I was so into the plot and I get now why it felt like it was skipping over important bits because it had no time - it was so rushed but I was intrigued! I wanted more and sad there wasn't any. I think for that reason, I didn't purchase the second book, even with that cliffhanger.
Nothing is really explained in detail, just roughly touched upon and there's a few plot holes but if it were to be republished I would reread in a heartbeat. The plot has a lot of potential, it's a shame it didn't really hit it.
Wouldn't reread, maybe recommend?
October 12, 2015
What a book! I was enthralled with it from the first page.
Imagine being seven taken from your family to a school and trained to be a sleeper spy. Then shipped off at 10 with the aim of analysing all those around you, acting as someone that would be able to develop contacts, a position and profile that would most benefit your organisation, while waiting to be activated to serve your country. This is exactly what happened to Milena and boy was it great to read.
"Outside of your life with Gastone, you are to assess the strategic value of those you meet. Befriend those of worth, and discard the rest"
This was easily a five star book for me until about ¾ of the way through. A tangent plot was added that I didn’t feel was needed because the outcome would have been the same if it wasn’t introduced – it just kind of annoyed me. It over complicated things and the book would have been a better read without it. In saying that it was still a damn good book!
There were also a few plotlines that were brushed over and I found that some of them didn’t tease me enough. One in particular I completely forgot about until I started writing this review. Clearly there is going to be a second book in the works because some of the minor tangents are going to rear their ugly heads. I wanted more from these –I didn’t feel they had got to the point where I’m tearing my hair out in agony because I didn’t know what was going to happen next.
Milena was an amazing character – she carefully constructed layers of personality to develop Alexandra – always conscious that she couldn’t be Milena. She squashed Milena’s desires down so Alexandra’s personality traits could shine through. Milena liked to dance and had one day dreamed to be a ballerina, Alexandra failed at ballet at seven and had no interest in it, Milena’s favourite subject is English while Alexandra loves Math. These thoughts and many more are constantly whirring in Milena’s head – she never slips up – conscious that if she does it could mean her life.
Milena’s relationship with Alexandra grandfather Albert was something special. Always on the defensive she is conscious that at any moment he could discover her true identity – he is a CIA operative after all. Yet, their relationship has grown into something unique with Milena clearly caring for the man beyond her duty.
The most amazing relationship was between Milena and her boyfriend Grant – whose dad also happens to be a CIA operative. Milena was constantly reciting – close by far, close but far, when it came to this devilish handsome popular geek. He had a way of breaking through Alexandra’s defences in search of Milena. He was spontaneous and would catch her off guard trying to delve into her true essence and it made for spectacular reading. I can’t wait to see where this relationship is headed.
“Grant and I had a connection. I could build up as many emotional walls as I wanted, but he kept sneaking past every one of them.”
The book regularly referenced the Swan Lake story – guess it was Milena’s love of ballet shining through. Milena often thought of her self as both Odette and Odile. Although I’m vaguely familiar with the story – I wanted a more detailed explanation as I found myself looking it up for more detail after I finished the book.
This book was amazing and I loved every minute the characters were compelling well constructed and the detail used to create them was spectacular. The story itself was interesting, lively, and potent and I couldn’t absorb it quick enough.
Love you long time.This review was originally posted on Birds that ♥ words
Imagine being seven taken from your family to a school and trained to be a sleeper spy. Then shipped off at 10 with the aim of analysing all those around you, acting as someone that would be able to develop contacts, a position and profile that would most benefit your organisation, while waiting to be activated to serve your country. This is exactly what happened to Milena and boy was it great to read.
"Outside of your life with Gastone, you are to assess the strategic value of those you meet. Befriend those of worth, and discard the rest"
This was easily a five star book for me until about ¾ of the way through. A tangent plot was added that I didn’t feel was needed because the outcome would have been the same if it wasn’t introduced – it just kind of annoyed me. It over complicated things and the book would have been a better read without it. In saying that it was still a damn good book!
There were also a few plotlines that were brushed over and I found that some of them didn’t tease me enough. One in particular I completely forgot about until I started writing this review. Clearly there is going to be a second book in the works because some of the minor tangents are going to rear their ugly heads. I wanted more from these –I didn’t feel they had got to the point where I’m tearing my hair out in agony because I didn’t know what was going to happen next.
Milena was an amazing character – she carefully constructed layers of personality to develop Alexandra – always conscious that she couldn’t be Milena. She squashed Milena’s desires down so Alexandra’s personality traits could shine through. Milena liked to dance and had one day dreamed to be a ballerina, Alexandra failed at ballet at seven and had no interest in it, Milena’s favourite subject is English while Alexandra loves Math. These thoughts and many more are constantly whirring in Milena’s head – she never slips up – conscious that if she does it could mean her life.
Milena’s relationship with Alexandra grandfather Albert was something special. Always on the defensive she is conscious that at any moment he could discover her true identity – he is a CIA operative after all. Yet, their relationship has grown into something unique with Milena clearly caring for the man beyond her duty.
The most amazing relationship was between Milena and her boyfriend Grant – whose dad also happens to be a CIA operative. Milena was constantly reciting – close by far, close but far, when it came to this devilish handsome popular geek. He had a way of breaking through Alexandra’s defences in search of Milena. He was spontaneous and would catch her off guard trying to delve into her true essence and it made for spectacular reading. I can’t wait to see where this relationship is headed.
“Grant and I had a connection. I could build up as many emotional walls as I wanted, but he kept sneaking past every one of them.”
The book regularly referenced the Swan Lake story – guess it was Milena’s love of ballet shining through. Milena often thought of her self as both Odette and Odile. Although I’m vaguely familiar with the story – I wanted a more detailed explanation as I found myself looking it up for more detail after I finished the book.
This book was amazing and I loved every minute the characters were compelling well constructed and the detail used to create them was spectacular. The story itself was interesting, lively, and potent and I couldn’t absorb it quick enough.
Love you long time.This review was originally posted on Birds that ♥ words
May 23, 2015
It’s impossible to be yourself when you’re too busy being someone else. Milena Rovka has lived the last five years in a spy facility, training to be someone else when the time comes. Plastic surgery and a few scars change who she is and her mission is set: become Alexandra Gastone, graduate high school, get into Princeton, and infiltrate the CIA. The only problem is that she can’t have any emotional connection to the people in her new life—and then she does. War lines get blurred quickly, and she doesn’t know what side she wants to be a part of. Can she disappear before one of them chooses for her?
I don’t think I’ve read anything quite like this book before. As strange as it sounds, spy movies and books have never made it on the top of my list of things that I had to watch or read. However, something about this book made me pause and want to read it. This was not just a brilliantly written story on the possibilities of the government, but a devastating story about a girl trying to find who she is when she’s only been told to be someone else.
From the beginning, Milena had a contagious spirit. Since the book was told in her point of view, the things that she didn’t share with the her new world were commonly thought about. Her desire to be the things she had envisioned for herself before her life was ripped from her played a pivotal role in the person she became. She had a sympathetic spirit and not only mourned her loss but that of the people she deceived. In the end, the parts of her that were Milena and not Alexandra are what saved her.
One of the key points in her deception revolved around the person she had a relationship with. Grant fit the part perfectly: the son of a CIA agent. Without anyone else’s knowledge, being in a relationship with him helped expedite the plan Olissa concocted seven years prior. But it was difficult not to fall in love with Grant, and Melina couldn’t help having an emotional connection to him. Through him, I understood how strenuous and exhausting living her lie became. She couldn’t make real friends because they couldn’t know the real her; she couldn’t fall in love because he only knew the persona she created.
They Call Me Alexandra Gastone is not only a piece on government propaganda, though it does make you wonder what really goes on, but a heart wrenching tale of a girl striving to break through her confinement. Not only did I empathize with Milena, but I understood the condition she was in, though I will never have to face that myself (hopefully—this book was insane). Her character may have gone through experiences that are completely foreign to the common person, but Maclagan managed to make her understandable, relatable.
This is a book that you will definitely want to add to your list and an author you’ll want to be on the look out for. It’s a remarkable debut that will leave the reader spiraling and dying for a sequel.
I don’t think I’ve read anything quite like this book before. As strange as it sounds, spy movies and books have never made it on the top of my list of things that I had to watch or read. However, something about this book made me pause and want to read it. This was not just a brilliantly written story on the possibilities of the government, but a devastating story about a girl trying to find who she is when she’s only been told to be someone else.
From the beginning, Milena had a contagious spirit. Since the book was told in her point of view, the things that she didn’t share with the her new world were commonly thought about. Her desire to be the things she had envisioned for herself before her life was ripped from her played a pivotal role in the person she became. She had a sympathetic spirit and not only mourned her loss but that of the people she deceived. In the end, the parts of her that were Milena and not Alexandra are what saved her.
One of the key points in her deception revolved around the person she had a relationship with. Grant fit the part perfectly: the son of a CIA agent. Without anyone else’s knowledge, being in a relationship with him helped expedite the plan Olissa concocted seven years prior. But it was difficult not to fall in love with Grant, and Melina couldn’t help having an emotional connection to him. Through him, I understood how strenuous and exhausting living her lie became. She couldn’t make real friends because they couldn’t know the real her; she couldn’t fall in love because he only knew the persona she created.
They Call Me Alexandra Gastone is not only a piece on government propaganda, though it does make you wonder what really goes on, but a heart wrenching tale of a girl striving to break through her confinement. Not only did I empathize with Milena, but I understood the condition she was in, though I will never have to face that myself (hopefully—this book was insane). Her character may have gone through experiences that are completely foreign to the common person, but Maclagan managed to make her understandable, relatable.
This is a book that you will definitely want to add to your list and an author you’ll want to be on the look out for. It’s a remarkable debut that will leave the reader spiraling and dying for a sequel.
August 10, 2015
At A Glance
No too much spying but lots of deep emotion.
The Good
They Call Me Alexandra Gastone was all about Alexandra Gastone aka Melina. Who would have thunk with that title, right? hehe. Don't go into this one expecting a major spy thriller. This is very much an emotional read about a spy who doesn't want to be a spy.
I got caught up in this story really fast. It seems slow, but Alexandra was so interesting it was hard to be bored. She struggles through the book in choosing between her allegiance to her country, Olissa, and doing bad deeds for the radical group that trained her or admitting her growing love for her new life, family, and for the US. Hard choice for a girl who became a sleeper agent at age 11 and was trained to hate America earlier than that.
Alex was the star of the show. The person she became was really beautiful. Despite her upbringing, her capacity for love and sincerity was amazing. Albert was a great grandpa to her. So supportive and thoughtful. I would have loved to have had a relationship like that with my grandpa. Grant, Alex's boyfriend, was the BEST. He was the perfect boyfriend in every way. I felt really bad for him because he got the raw end of the deal in this story.
The action and spying picked up near the end. I never saw the twist coming. So shocked! I am assuming this will be a series and I would continue it if so.
The Bad
I expected something different. There isn't much action, spying, or espionage. There is some, it just wasn't enough for my expectations.
Alex's inner monologues were a bit much. I both loved and hated them.
The Snuggly
Grant and Alex don't get too sexual (very YA), but they are adorable together. I wish they had more real time together.
Final Thoughts
I felt very satisfied with They Call Me Alexandra Gastone. I wanted a little more spy stuff but I like how everything ended. Very recommended.
Quotes
“Family is what could motivate a man to knowingly house a spy. it could give him the fortitude to look her in the eye and pretend he cared.”
“I'd played a part for so long, who was I? A spy? A granddaughter? A high school student? A friend? A liar? A traitor? I was all of these people, and the contradictions where starting to rip me apart.”
This review was originally posted on Bad Bird Reads
No too much spying but lots of deep emotion.
The Good
They Call Me Alexandra Gastone was all about Alexandra Gastone aka Melina. Who would have thunk with that title, right? hehe. Don't go into this one expecting a major spy thriller. This is very much an emotional read about a spy who doesn't want to be a spy.
I got caught up in this story really fast. It seems slow, but Alexandra was so interesting it was hard to be bored. She struggles through the book in choosing between her allegiance to her country, Olissa, and doing bad deeds for the radical group that trained her or admitting her growing love for her new life, family, and for the US. Hard choice for a girl who became a sleeper agent at age 11 and was trained to hate America earlier than that.
Alex was the star of the show. The person she became was really beautiful. Despite her upbringing, her capacity for love and sincerity was amazing. Albert was a great grandpa to her. So supportive and thoughtful. I would have loved to have had a relationship like that with my grandpa. Grant, Alex's boyfriend, was the BEST. He was the perfect boyfriend in every way. I felt really bad for him because he got the raw end of the deal in this story.
The action and spying picked up near the end. I never saw the twist coming. So shocked! I am assuming this will be a series and I would continue it if so.
The Bad
I expected something different. There isn't much action, spying, or espionage. There is some, it just wasn't enough for my expectations.
Alex's inner monologues were a bit much. I both loved and hated them.
The Snuggly
Grant and Alex don't get too sexual (very YA), but they are adorable together. I wish they had more real time together.
Final Thoughts
I felt very satisfied with They Call Me Alexandra Gastone. I wanted a little more spy stuff but I like how everything ended. Very recommended.
Quotes
“Family is what could motivate a man to knowingly house a spy. it could give him the fortitude to look her in the eye and pretend he cared.”
“I'd played a part for so long, who was I? A spy? A granddaughter? A high school student? A friend? A liar? A traitor? I was all of these people, and the contradictions where starting to rip me apart.”
May 18, 2015
They Call Me Alexandra Gastone by T.A. Maclagan is a young adult novel. Milena Rovka is a young girl who was born in Olissa. At age seven her father took her to Compound Perun. Perun is a school that trains children to be spies. By the time she was eleven she had been trained and had plastic surgery to change her face. Milena Rovka no longer exists. She is now Alexandra “Lex” Gastone. Perun is having her replace the real Alexandra Gastone whose grandfather, Albert Gastone, works at the CIA. The real Gastone family ends up in a car accident with both parents dead. The new Alexandra is given identical injuries and placed in the car.
Fast forward a seven years and Lex is now seventeen. Lex is a senior in high school, has a little three-legged dog named Orkney, and has a boyfriend named Grant. Lex meets with her handler, Varas once a month to check in and pass along information. Varas has not contacted her this month and Lex is a little worried. She also notices a tail on her one day and wonders what is going on. It turns out that the President of Olissa is visiting the United States. Perun wants Lex to poison him and frame Albert for the crime. After a year they will get Lex out of prison and tell her she can then go back to her family in Olissa.
Lex cannot go through with it. She finally gets to see Varas. Varas is on the run and hiding from Perun spies. He tells Lex that Perun is not what she thinks it is. They are not out to do what is best for their country. It turns out that Perun is a group of radical Olissan rebels who are trying to control on energy. Before Lex can run with Varas, she finds out that Albert has known she was a spy the whole time. They want her to help take down Perun. What is Lex going to do? Can she help stop them from killing Olissa’s President?
They Call Me Alexandra Gastone is just the first book. We are left with a little cliffhanger at the end of the story (which is very frustrating). It did not, though, stop me from enjoying this book. I give They Call Me Alexandra Gastone 4.25 out of 5 stars. I could have done with a little less of the teenage romance part of the book. She is a spy! How can she think she can have a normal romance with a regular teenager? Especially when they are getting ready to go to different colleges (before she was asked to poison the President of Olissa). I look forward to finding out what happens next!
I received a complimentary copy of They Call Me Alexandra Gastone from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
Fast forward a seven years and Lex is now seventeen. Lex is a senior in high school, has a little three-legged dog named Orkney, and has a boyfriend named Grant. Lex meets with her handler, Varas once a month to check in and pass along information. Varas has not contacted her this month and Lex is a little worried. She also notices a tail on her one day and wonders what is going on. It turns out that the President of Olissa is visiting the United States. Perun wants Lex to poison him and frame Albert for the crime. After a year they will get Lex out of prison and tell her she can then go back to her family in Olissa.
Lex cannot go through with it. She finally gets to see Varas. Varas is on the run and hiding from Perun spies. He tells Lex that Perun is not what she thinks it is. They are not out to do what is best for their country. It turns out that Perun is a group of radical Olissan rebels who are trying to control on energy. Before Lex can run with Varas, she finds out that Albert has known she was a spy the whole time. They want her to help take down Perun. What is Lex going to do? Can she help stop them from killing Olissa’s President?
They Call Me Alexandra Gastone is just the first book. We are left with a little cliffhanger at the end of the story (which is very frustrating). It did not, though, stop me from enjoying this book. I give They Call Me Alexandra Gastone 4.25 out of 5 stars. I could have done with a little less of the teenage romance part of the book. She is a spy! How can she think she can have a normal romance with a regular teenager? Especially when they are getting ready to go to different colleges (before she was asked to poison the President of Olissa). I look forward to finding out what happens next!
I received a complimentary copy of They Call Me Alexandra Gastone from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
February 18, 2021
They Call Me Alexandra Gastone is the first book in the young adult spy & mystery series by T.A. Maclagan. The series is aptly titled the Alexandra Gastone series. I think I will need to read the second book in the series to be able to fully develop my thoughts because one of my main issues with They Call Me Alexandra Gastone is that I thought it was going to be more of a spy book, and the series very well might be, but this first installment felt more foundational to me, setting up the stage and allowing the readers to really get to know Alexandra and her inner dialogue and conflicts. While I did enjoy those aspects of the book, I felt like they might have taken up a bit too much over the overall storyline, leaving not very much time for the typical spy and espionage aspects of the story I was expecting. Again, this might be a short term issue with the following books in the series being able to focus more on the spy/espionage aspect now that we know the players, the world and the set up. Time will tell. I am interested in continuing one with the series, but I am not sure when exactly I will be picking up the second book.
In They Call Me Alexandra Gastone, we meet our main character Alexandra or Milena. Milena is a sleeper agent, trained by her homeland of Olissa and planted in the life of the CIA analyst Albert Gastone. The main focus of They Call Me Alexandra Gastone is not how she infiltrates the CIA and her being an active agent, but is more so about Alexandra/ Milena herself. This book is very inner dialogue heavy, so be [prepared to jump into her thoughts very frequently. I really enjoyed the inner conflict that our heroine was facing. Her loyalty to Olissa goes head to head with the love she is having over her new life with Albert, her boyfriend and the US in general. It was a really fascinating conflict and it was my favorite aspect of the story. When I pick up book two it will be because I want to see more of how Milena sorts out her desires and determines what she wants to do, and less for the spy plot. I will be interested to see if there is more spy action in the second book, but I think this is much more of a character driven mental aspect of spying novel than it is about some of the more physical and confrontational aspects of being a spy.
They Call Me Alexandra Gastone was a really interesting read, and one that I really enjoyed. I liked Milena. At times I found her inner dialogue to be a bit much, but I really appreciated the direction it led the story in. It got me thinking in a way I was not expecting to when I first picked up this book.
In They Call Me Alexandra Gastone, we meet our main character Alexandra or Milena. Milena is a sleeper agent, trained by her homeland of Olissa and planted in the life of the CIA analyst Albert Gastone. The main focus of They Call Me Alexandra Gastone is not how she infiltrates the CIA and her being an active agent, but is more so about Alexandra/ Milena herself. This book is very inner dialogue heavy, so be [prepared to jump into her thoughts very frequently. I really enjoyed the inner conflict that our heroine was facing. Her loyalty to Olissa goes head to head with the love she is having over her new life with Albert, her boyfriend and the US in general. It was a really fascinating conflict and it was my favorite aspect of the story. When I pick up book two it will be because I want to see more of how Milena sorts out her desires and determines what she wants to do, and less for the spy plot. I will be interested to see if there is more spy action in the second book, but I think this is much more of a character driven mental aspect of spying novel than it is about some of the more physical and confrontational aspects of being a spy.
They Call Me Alexandra Gastone was a really interesting read, and one that I really enjoyed. I liked Milena. At times I found her inner dialogue to be a bit much, but I really appreciated the direction it led the story in. It got me thinking in a way I was not expecting to when I first picked up this book.
May 20, 2015
**This book was given to me in exchange for my honest review**
I didn't really know what to expect when I started this book. While it's not the most original premise that I've come across, the story is still unlike anything that I've come across in a long while. And I found it refreshing. I've never heard of T.A. Maclagan, but I think she's going to be a fantastic writer of some amazing stories because I really enjoyed this one.
What drew me to this story was the title. THEY CALL ME ALEXANDRA GASTONE sounds very curious but very matter of fact. I wanted to read the book from the title alone. This story follows a young girl, whose original name is Milena Rokva, who is trained as a sleeper agent. She takes on a different identity of Alexandra Gastone to gain the trust and intel of a CIA agent who she become a foster child of. But her life becomes more difficult when she starts to fall in love with her new life -- foster parent, boyfriend, best friend and everyone else. Along the way, she makes some discoveries that lead her to question her loyalties to her country.
I didn't really find myself falling in love with the plot of the story, as much as I was really loving the relationships with the book. Alexandra (Milena) had a lot of emotional and mental turmoil when it came to balancing her two identities and her relationships on each side. I definitely sympathize with her predicament and couldn't help but root for her from page one. I really enjoyed her growth throughout the story, especially when it came to discovering who she was -- outside of her duty and loyalty to her country.
The supporting characters, in Albert Gastone and in Grant, were really crucial in Alexandra's development but also in the progression of the story. I like that Maclagan tried to demonstrate the push and pull of Alexandra's double life in using both Albert and Grant throughout certain points of the book. I think without that dynamic, the story would have lost of a lot of its credibility.
There were a few moments that felt a little slower or not as impactful, but for the most part, the pacing and progression were just right. While I didn't get much from the plot and the world, this is definitely a equally compelling book because of the characters, as well as the world.
Overall, I am pleased with this read. I had fun. And...based on how the book ended, I expect to see more from these characters...
I didn't really know what to expect when I started this book. While it's not the most original premise that I've come across, the story is still unlike anything that I've come across in a long while. And I found it refreshing. I've never heard of T.A. Maclagan, but I think she's going to be a fantastic writer of some amazing stories because I really enjoyed this one.
What drew me to this story was the title. THEY CALL ME ALEXANDRA GASTONE sounds very curious but very matter of fact. I wanted to read the book from the title alone. This story follows a young girl, whose original name is Milena Rokva, who is trained as a sleeper agent. She takes on a different identity of Alexandra Gastone to gain the trust and intel of a CIA agent who she become a foster child of. But her life becomes more difficult when she starts to fall in love with her new life -- foster parent, boyfriend, best friend and everyone else. Along the way, she makes some discoveries that lead her to question her loyalties to her country.
I didn't really find myself falling in love with the plot of the story, as much as I was really loving the relationships with the book. Alexandra (Milena) had a lot of emotional and mental turmoil when it came to balancing her two identities and her relationships on each side. I definitely sympathize with her predicament and couldn't help but root for her from page one. I really enjoyed her growth throughout the story, especially when it came to discovering who she was -- outside of her duty and loyalty to her country.
The supporting characters, in Albert Gastone and in Grant, were really crucial in Alexandra's development but also in the progression of the story. I like that Maclagan tried to demonstrate the push and pull of Alexandra's double life in using both Albert and Grant throughout certain points of the book. I think without that dynamic, the story would have lost of a lot of its credibility.
There were a few moments that felt a little slower or not as impactful, but for the most part, the pacing and progression were just right. While I didn't get much from the plot and the world, this is definitely a equally compelling book because of the characters, as well as the world.
Overall, I am pleased with this read. I had fun. And...based on how the book ended, I expect to see more from these characters...
July 2, 2015
Copy supplied by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
There were parts of this book that I really enjoyed. It has all the right ingredients - an interesting premise, a well drawn lead who has to battle with her own internal conflict, action, a host of excellent supporting characters - and yet something went wrong for me in the actual recipe. One draw back was a very uneven pace. I was 70% of the way through the book before it finally kicked into gear, having sputtered, revved and died a number of times before that. In a book about a sleeper agent becoming an active spy poor pacing is a real handicap.
Another issue was that the supporting characters - Albert and Lex's secret best friend - were far more engaging than I found Lex. I found myself wanting to spend more time with them rather than finding out what Lex does next. Lex herself is wobbly; she swings from competent to conveniently maladroit as the plot requires. I'm sure spies, especially young, untried spies, do make mistakes, however Lex made you think that she just wasn't cut out for spying at all. We see very little of her fabled skills, which was disappointing and a bit misleading when you've been primed to expect them. For an MC we are supposed to believe is cast in the 'strong female' mould, she has surprisingly little agency. The plot pushes on her and nearly squashes her flat. Perhaps all this is to underline how conflicted she is, torn between serving her country and making a decision based on how she really feels, but to me it didn't come off that way. Instead she seemed a bit vague.
Parts of the plot just didn't make sense. There was a pendulum effect between not foreshadowing at all and spelling everything out in advance. Again, annoying in a book that should be trading off its taut, pacey plot line.
I am glad I pushed to finish it. The scenes of Melina's Oline induction and training were gritty and gripping. The character interactions were generally good - although I just didn't buy the relationship with grant at all. The prose was easy and fluid. I just really think this needed a few more passes to make it ready for public consumption.
It ends on a very irritating and contrived cliff hanger. I presume there is a series in the offing. Personally I won't go out of my way to read the next book, however if you want a light teen 'thriller' in a low key vein of Ali Carter's spy girl novels, you may well really enjoy this.
There were parts of this book that I really enjoyed. It has all the right ingredients - an interesting premise, a well drawn lead who has to battle with her own internal conflict, action, a host of excellent supporting characters - and yet something went wrong for me in the actual recipe. One draw back was a very uneven pace. I was 70% of the way through the book before it finally kicked into gear, having sputtered, revved and died a number of times before that. In a book about a sleeper agent becoming an active spy poor pacing is a real handicap.
Another issue was that the supporting characters - Albert and Lex's secret best friend - were far more engaging than I found Lex. I found myself wanting to spend more time with them rather than finding out what Lex does next. Lex herself is wobbly; she swings from competent to conveniently maladroit as the plot requires. I'm sure spies, especially young, untried spies, do make mistakes, however Lex made you think that she just wasn't cut out for spying at all. We see very little of her fabled skills, which was disappointing and a bit misleading when you've been primed to expect them. For an MC we are supposed to believe is cast in the 'strong female' mould, she has surprisingly little agency. The plot pushes on her and nearly squashes her flat. Perhaps all this is to underline how conflicted she is, torn between serving her country and making a decision based on how she really feels, but to me it didn't come off that way. Instead she seemed a bit vague.
Parts of the plot just didn't make sense. There was a pendulum effect between not foreshadowing at all and spelling everything out in advance. Again, annoying in a book that should be trading off its taut, pacey plot line.
I am glad I pushed to finish it. The scenes of Melina's Oline induction and training were gritty and gripping. The character interactions were generally good - although I just didn't buy the relationship with grant at all. The prose was easy and fluid. I just really think this needed a few more passes to make it ready for public consumption.
It ends on a very irritating and contrived cliff hanger. I presume there is a series in the offing. Personally I won't go out of my way to read the next book, however if you want a light teen 'thriller' in a low key vein of Ali Carter's spy girl novels, you may well really enjoy this.
November 29, 2015
This book had me from the first page and all the way through. They Call Me Alexandra Gastone is a perfectly paced thriller to keep you flipping pages, it has an incredibly smart plot with twists you couldn't foresee. I loved reading this and can't wait for the sequel.
The plot in this novel was incredibly smart. The whole book had me mindblown. I'm still sitting here, flabbergasted, thinking "did I read this?" and "I loved reading this, give me more!" Its about this girl, Milena, who is working as a spy for a small country, Olissa. as a spy she steals the identity of Alexandra Gastone, who died in a not-so-accidental car accident. Milena/Alexandra has a far fetched yet believable story I fell into.
The characters in this piece of work were amazing. I connected with pretty much everyone. We have Alexandra/Milena who is a badass character who is the voice of this story. She has a personality that conflicts with her job (emotions and opinions), which is great, she is a smart character with an incredibly interesting story. We have Alexandra's guardian, Albert, who conveniently is the grandfather who is part of CIA. Albert has quite the passionate spirit which makes him the best parent. He has playful times with Alexandra including book club, and trips around the world. I wish Albert couldve been my grandpa. There was also Grant, son of a CIA member who is also Alexandra's boyfriend. Their relationship is amazing and incredibly shippable. Grant is a cute nerd I would date. I was happy the plot didn't go around their relationship. Lets not forget about the other operatives, who were like a second family to Milena/Alexandra, from the little we have heard, they sound like a pretty fun group, each unique and admirable.
You can definitely tell T.A. Maclagan did her research and spent her time with this amazing debut. The plot has the smarts. The write has been done so well.
T.A. Maclagan has perfectly captured the voice of Milena/Alexandra. The characters were so deep and I could connect with ALL of them. Even the naughty naughty ones. The background story was so interesting. It all left me in awe and I definitely recommend this for any YA lovers, especially to fans of Ally Carter and any other espionage novels. I have nothing else to say but I need the second book, and you need to read this debut!
The plot in this novel was incredibly smart. The whole book had me mindblown. I'm still sitting here, flabbergasted, thinking "did I read this?" and "I loved reading this, give me more!" Its about this girl, Milena, who is working as a spy for a small country, Olissa. as a spy she steals the identity of Alexandra Gastone, who died in a not-so-accidental car accident. Milena/Alexandra has a far fetched yet believable story I fell into.
The characters in this piece of work were amazing. I connected with pretty much everyone. We have Alexandra/Milena who is a badass character who is the voice of this story. She has a personality that conflicts with her job (emotions and opinions), which is great, she is a smart character with an incredibly interesting story. We have Alexandra's guardian, Albert, who conveniently is the grandfather who is part of CIA. Albert has quite the passionate spirit which makes him the best parent. He has playful times with Alexandra including book club, and trips around the world. I wish Albert couldve been my grandpa. There was also Grant, son of a CIA member who is also Alexandra's boyfriend. Their relationship is amazing and incredibly shippable. Grant is a cute nerd I would date. I was happy the plot didn't go around their relationship. Lets not forget about the other operatives, who were like a second family to Milena/Alexandra, from the little we have heard, they sound like a pretty fun group, each unique and admirable.
You can definitely tell T.A. Maclagan did her research and spent her time with this amazing debut. The plot has the smarts. The write has been done so well.
T.A. Maclagan has perfectly captured the voice of Milena/Alexandra. The characters were so deep and I could connect with ALL of them. Even the naughty naughty ones. The background story was so interesting. It all left me in awe and I definitely recommend this for any YA lovers, especially to fans of Ally Carter and any other espionage novels. I have nothing else to say but I need the second book, and you need to read this debut!
February 19, 2016
"When your life is a lie, how do you know what's real".
Well one thing that I know as real, this book was really good...no lie! I highly enjoyed it and finished it in one sitting, it was like I was watching a movie, in fact, this would translate really well over to the big screen- Hollywood? Movie Deal? Thoughts?
Alexandra aka 'Milena' was such a wonderful character, and I felt the struggle that she had with her duel persona, as well as the feelings she had developed with the people in her 'false' life were portrayed beautifully. You could really relate to the struggle she was having (even though she is a kick-ass trained-to-kill spy, something I am most certainly not...or am I?).
I think the only thing that irked me with the book was the made-up country Olissa that Milena originated from, which was then built into our current world . To me, Olissa had a Russian feel, and I wonder, why not make Milena's homeland a real country? Every other country and place mentioned was real, and it just confused me a little. I can understand why this might be so, as it might be easier to meld a new world and it's characters to into the real one, rather than building around a real history. This was a very small irk in the scheme of things though.
Now don't expect Mission Impossible when you read this book. This isn't full of explosions and non-stop action. This more explores Alexandra's struggle as a sleeper-agent in USA and trying to keep something of real self 'Milena' alive and relevant, as well as her growing realisation of her real love for her 'grand-pa' who is in the CIA, as well as her friends and boyfriend. This does however involve a kick-ass strong heroine who you will enjoy following through the story, an interesting plot, and a possibly shady sinister organisation that may or may not have nefarious plans for Alexandra, if not the world.
And the ending... what an ending, what a twist (no hints from me here, get the book and read it people!). Boom! It ended the way I hoped it would, plus more. I really, really hope that there is a continue on from this book, otherwise this will be like Dark Angel all over again for me!
Note:- I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.-
Well one thing that I know as real, this book was really good...no lie! I highly enjoyed it and finished it in one sitting, it was like I was watching a movie, in fact, this would translate really well over to the big screen- Hollywood? Movie Deal? Thoughts?
Alexandra aka 'Milena' was such a wonderful character, and I felt the struggle that she had with her duel persona, as well as the feelings she had developed with the people in her 'false' life were portrayed beautifully. You could really relate to the struggle she was having (even though she is a kick-ass trained-to-kill spy, something I am most certainly not...or am I?).
I think the only thing that irked me with the book was the made-up country Olissa that Milena originated from, which was then built into our current world . To me, Olissa had a Russian feel, and I wonder, why not make Milena's homeland a real country? Every other country and place mentioned was real, and it just confused me a little. I can understand why this might be so, as it might be easier to meld a new world and it's characters to into the real one, rather than building around a real history. This was a very small irk in the scheme of things though.
Now don't expect Mission Impossible when you read this book. This isn't full of explosions and non-stop action. This more explores Alexandra's struggle as a sleeper-agent in USA and trying to keep something of real self 'Milena' alive and relevant, as well as her growing realisation of her real love for her 'grand-pa' who is in the CIA, as well as her friends and boyfriend. This does however involve a kick-ass strong heroine who you will enjoy following through the story, an interesting plot, and a possibly shady sinister organisation that may or may not have nefarious plans for Alexandra, if not the world.
And the ending... what an ending, what a twist (no hints from me here, get the book and read it people!). Boom! It ended the way I hoped it would, plus more. I really, really hope that there is a continue on from this book, otherwise this will be like Dark Angel all over again for me!
Note:- I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.-
August 2, 2015
They Call Me Alexandra Gastone is a story filled with more twists and turns that keep the reader seriously engaged. I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for review. I love espionage stories and this story fits nicely into that label. It has something for all readers, a bit of romance, a bit of action and a lot of intrigue and mystery. Milena is a girl whose father abandoned her to a group called Perun in the country called Olissa where they live in what looks like it is in the Middle East based upon the descriptions. It is a city that has been torn apart by war and continuously being invaded by the countries that surround it because it is not strong enough to protect itself on its own. The U.S. stepped in many years ago and have been there supporting and helping to protect them for 10 years. Perun is a group of underground freedom fighters that wants to oust the current ruler and oust the U.S. who they believe has overstayed its welcome.
Perun has created what amounts to a sleeper cell of children raised to infiltrate the highest levels of the U.S. government through family members of individuals that are powerful in the government. Milena is assigned to become Alexandra Gastone, whose immediate family died in a car accident but, she has a living grandfather that is powerful in the CIA which is where they hope she will grow to be placed when she goes to assume Alexandra's life at the age of 12. Milena goes through major reconstructive surgery and intense training to become ready for her assignment. She assumes Alexandra's place and literally becomes Alexandra to the point that when she is called to active service and the plan is changed from her to infiltrate the CIA and pass on secrets that will help Perun to overthrow Olissa's government to something drastic will Milena do her duty or has she lived as Alexandra so long that this is the life she chooses? There is a serious surprise at the end that really threw me and finding out where this goes next is going to be excellent! Review can be seen at LadyTechie's Book Musings LadyTechiesBookMusings.blogspot.com
Perun has created what amounts to a sleeper cell of children raised to infiltrate the highest levels of the U.S. government through family members of individuals that are powerful in the government. Milena is assigned to become Alexandra Gastone, whose immediate family died in a car accident but, she has a living grandfather that is powerful in the CIA which is where they hope she will grow to be placed when she goes to assume Alexandra's life at the age of 12. Milena goes through major reconstructive surgery and intense training to become ready for her assignment. She assumes Alexandra's place and literally becomes Alexandra to the point that when she is called to active service and the plan is changed from her to infiltrate the CIA and pass on secrets that will help Perun to overthrow Olissa's government to something drastic will Milena do her duty or has she lived as Alexandra so long that this is the life she chooses? There is a serious surprise at the end that really threw me and finding out where this goes next is going to be excellent! Review can be seen at LadyTechie's Book Musings LadyTechiesBookMusings.blogspot.com
May 24, 2015
This book was full of action and really interesting characters. Despite a slow beginning, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enveloped in the storyline Maclagan has crafted.
The first half of the book was really slow, but once I hit midway I had to keep reading.
Each character had a lot of subtle personality that I really enjoyed. Grant, Lex's boyfriend, was a prime example of someone with dimension. Instead of being the stereotypical jock, he was perceptive and had a talent for photography, something small that really added to the story. I also loved Martine and the contrast she provided between the two versions Lex portrays. The Mistress and other Perum characters each also had their own flair.
Alexandra was a really cool character and someone that would be fun to be friends with despite her multiple personalities. She had an interesting dynamic with her peers, including her classmates that elect her prom queen and with Martine, the friend she met at a video game store. I really enjoyed reading about her and wanted her to make the right decision--if there was such a decision to be made.
There's a twist at the end that I didn't find at all predictable but added a new layer to the novel.
Though there were some points where I thought that Lex could have been more authentic in playing her role if she'd taken a few of her past attributes, seeing the interplay between the Alexandra she really is and the one she thinks she's supposed to be was fascinating.
Though there are a few adult themes, this is something I can see pre-teens finding absorbing, and it's written well enough for adults to enjoy, too.
I'm not sure if there'll be a follow-up as this could stand very firmly on its own ground, but if there is I'm definitely going to read it. This is a solid debut, and I look forward to more by Maclagan.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The first half of the book was really slow, but once I hit midway I had to keep reading.
Each character had a lot of subtle personality that I really enjoyed. Grant, Lex's boyfriend, was a prime example of someone with dimension. Instead of being the stereotypical jock, he was perceptive and had a talent for photography, something small that really added to the story. I also loved Martine and the contrast she provided between the two versions Lex portrays. The Mistress and other Perum characters each also had their own flair.
Alexandra was a really cool character and someone that would be fun to be friends with despite her multiple personalities. She had an interesting dynamic with her peers, including her classmates that elect her prom queen and with Martine, the friend she met at a video game store. I really enjoyed reading about her and wanted her to make the right decision--if there was such a decision to be made.
There's a twist at the end that I didn't find at all predictable but added a new layer to the novel.
Though there were some points where I thought that Lex could have been more authentic in playing her role if she'd taken a few of her past attributes, seeing the interplay between the Alexandra she really is and the one she thinks she's supposed to be was fascinating.
Though there are a few adult themes, this is something I can see pre-teens finding absorbing, and it's written well enough for adults to enjoy, too.
I'm not sure if there'll be a follow-up as this could stand very firmly on its own ground, but if there is I'm definitely going to read it. This is a solid debut, and I look forward to more by Maclagan.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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