What do you think?
Rate this book
Genius #2
Genius: The Con
Three teen geniuses from diverse backgrounds must work together to stop a vicious warlord, protect their families, and save the world in this fast-paced sequel to The Game.ON THE RUN! This fourteen-year-old self-taught engineering genius from Nigeria is in a race against time to save his village from a ruthless warlord. Painted This mysterious sixteen-year-old activist blogger and strategist from China is searching for a way to rescue her father from the corruption he's inadvertently been caught up in. This sixteen-year-old Mexican-American has proven himself to be one of the best programmers in the world, only to be falsely accused of stealing billions of government secrets for the terrorist hacking group Terminal.Pursued by the police, the FBI, and most dangerous of all, Kiran Biswas, visionary CEO and evil mastermind, three teen geniuses have to move fast and stay low as they race to find a missing brother, stop a vicious warlord, and save the world in The Con by Leopoldo Gout.Read the whole series! The The The Revolution
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2017
83 people are currently reading
1293 people want to read
About the author
Leopoldo Gout
13 books270 followersLeopoldo Gout, author of Genius, is a writer, artist, and filmmaker who hails from Mexico. After studying in London, Gout produced the award-winning film Days of Grace, which A. O. Scott of the New York Times called “potent and vigorous.” He is the executive producer of the number one new show of the summer, sci-fi drama Zoo on CBS and is partnered with James Patterson Entertainment to produce Maximum Ride. Leopoldo Gout resides in New York City with his wife and two children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
June 26, 2017
First there was the Game. Now our favorite Genius minds have an even bigger genius challenge: The Con. Just when you thought covert computing couldn't get any more complicated, you are already way behind the curve. Each of our heroic protagonist has a goal that means saving their families and escaping punishment for things they are being framed for.
"Painted Wolf" wants to stop greedy deal-makers. Oh, and (*sigh*) her father is onboard with the evil mastermind (The General) so she needs to protect the family name if possible...
"Tunde" knows an evil warlord (The General) has designs on his village in Africa and he needs to be stopped.
"Rex"
Rex 's parents have been deported to , but he is hot on his brother's trail for the help he can provide.
It doesn't take much for a businessman and a evil mastermind to get into profitable trouble together breaking laws in virgin lands in Africa... little did The General know three genius kids could engineer trouble for him!
"Painted Wolf" wants to stop greedy deal-makers. Oh, and (*sigh*) her father is onboard with the evil mastermind (The General) so she needs to protect the family name if possible...
"Tunde" knows an evil warlord (The General) has designs on his village in Africa and he needs to be stopped.
"Rex"
Rex 's parents have been deported to , but he is hot on his brother's trail for the help he can provide.
It doesn't take much for a businessman and a evil mastermind to get into profitable trouble together breaking laws in virgin lands in Africa... little did The General know three genius kids could engineer trouble for him!
June 22, 2017
I received a copy thanks a Goodreads giveaway. I have to say that I loved it!.
It's a page turner book. I bought the first book (Genius: The Game) and It's nice to have three smart POC characters.
It was a very entertaining story. It's definitely a story that makes you think. So I'd really recommend it. Can't wait to see what happens in next installment.
It's a page turner book. I bought the first book (Genius: The Game) and It's nice to have three smart POC characters.
It was a very entertaining story. It's definitely a story that makes you think. So I'd really recommend it. Can't wait to see what happens in next installment.
January 26, 2018
I liked this book because it picked up right where the last one left off and also because in the beginning of the book I thought that they were going to do 2 things but they only did one of those things and did something else. Then i found out that there is going to be a third book in this series which is great because I like all of the characters.
October 8, 2017
"Genius: The Con" by Leopoldo Gout is worth reading. It was an entertaining book that never seemed dull throughout the entire piece. It was published in 2017 one year after its prequel "Genius: The Game." Gout is better known for his work as a director and movie writer than as an author. From chapter to chapter Gout switches the point of view the story is told from. It always remains in the first person point of view but switches between three main characters. Gout also uses illustrations throughout the book similar to those in the prequel, but they are nowhere near as overwhelming. This book is about three teenage prodigies who have just competed in a competition with other prodigies under eighteen. They have been framed for a crime and are on the run. This book's genre can be considered an adventure but also has a science-fiction feel to it. I feel like the characters are not well developed due to the fact that this is a sequel. The phrases used by an African character named Tunde could be better explained. The plot is original but it does same some predictable parts (that I can not explain due to spoilers). There are some far-fetched moments such as the moment Cai and her father meet. Geography plays a large role. The three main characters came from three different continents and their background plays a role in the piece. I have read no book similar to this other than the prequel. The events that take place in Africa are similar to the forced labor that happened during colonization in the past. This book is similar in style to its predecessor "Genius: The Game." Both stories follow a major issue that has to be solved by the three main characters while each character has their own separate issue to solve. The most controversial part a reader should be aware of is the suffering of the people in Africa due to actions that would be a spoiler if revealed. The biggest theme of this story is people of any age can stand up to the evils of the world. I would recommend this book to high school age readers. Any level reader should be able to read and enjoy it while higher-educated readers may pick up on some of the technical actions performed by the main characters in this novel.
August 17, 2017
3.1 stars
I don't know if I liked this one better than the first one, but Rex's persona a lot more annoying in this novel. I went into this book hoping that it would be the final installment, but unfortunately it will not, and I am likely going to forget everything about this book by the time the third book comes out.
Sigh.
So some spoilers so that I'm not lost in the next book
I don't know if I liked this one better than the first one, but Rex's persona a lot more annoying in this novel. I went into this book hoping that it would be the final installment, but unfortunately it will not, and I am likely going to forget everything about this book by the time the third book comes out.
Sigh.
So some spoilers so that I'm not lost in the next book
March 7, 2022
3,75/5
bałam się, że poziom w drugim tomie spadnie.. jednak pozytywnie się zaskoczyłam! Autor wraca do nas z mnóstwem nowych plot twistów - po części przewidywalnych, ale jakich genialnych😩 Dowiadujemy się więcej informacji o OndScanie czy Terminalu (a także o ich członkach…) co jest ogromnym plusem, bo brakowało tego w Grze :D co tu jeszcze dodać.. mam nadzieję, że uda mi się przeczytać trzeci tom jak najszybciej! nie mogę się doczekać <3
bałam się, że poziom w drugim tomie spadnie.. jednak pozytywnie się zaskoczyłam! Autor wraca do nas z mnóstwem nowych plot twistów - po części przewidywalnych, ale jakich genialnych😩 Dowiadujemy się więcej informacji o OndScanie czy Terminalu (a także o ich członkach…) co jest ogromnym plusem, bo brakowało tego w Grze :D co tu jeszcze dodać.. mam nadzieję, że uda mi się przeczytać trzeci tom jak najszybciej! nie mogę się doczekać <3
August 13, 2017
My hopes for the first book didn't pan out and this second book turns into a standard action adventure trope. Not sure if I'll bother with a third book if that is ever written. Positives of the series is a diverse cast of characters and world wide locations.
August 19, 2018
(Many thanks to the publisher for sending me an eARC of Genius: The Con free of charge.)
If you don't like to start a series until it is completed, The Genius series by Leopoldo Gout is ready for your reading! (Oh, Patrick Rothfuss.) The third book in the series, Genius: The Revolution, was just released on August 7, 2018.
In the Genius series, we follow three geniuses through various exploits. At first, the stakes seem small, but the risk to themselves and others continues to build through both books. The story starts with The Game, which is a competition organized by a mysterious tech giant to pit the geniuses of the world against each other.
While I found the series intriguing, I was never really pulled in. I'm not sure it makes any sense, but this felt like it was trying a bit too hard to by a YA or middle grade novel, instead of just being a great story.
If you don't like to start a series until it is completed, The Genius series by Leopoldo Gout is ready for your reading! (Oh, Patrick Rothfuss.) The third book in the series, Genius: The Revolution, was just released on August 7, 2018.
In the Genius series, we follow three geniuses through various exploits. At first, the stakes seem small, but the risk to themselves and others continues to build through both books. The story starts with The Game, which is a competition organized by a mysterious tech giant to pit the geniuses of the world against each other.
While I found the series intriguing, I was never really pulled in. I'm not sure it makes any sense, but this felt like it was trying a bit too hard to by a YA or middle grade novel, instead of just being a great story.
December 5, 2019
“Genius: The Con” is all about the continuing adventures of Rex, Tunde and Cai from the first book, “Genius: The Game”. In the book, the three child prodigies work to overthrow a tyrannical general who has taken control of Tunde’s village. Meanwhile, Rex goes on a side adventure to India to uncover the truth about Kiran Biswas. This book is very exciting and full of plenty of action, puzzles and mysteries. It was a great transition from the first book to the final one, “Genius: The Revolution”. This book leaves the reader always wondering more. Overall, this was an excellent book and I definitely recommend reading it.
August 27, 2024
dobra, to było dużo lepsze niż 1 czesc, teraz mam wysokie oczekiwania co do 3 czesci
August 11, 2018
Worse than the first book. I started skimming the pages near the end, because I just wanted to get this book over with.
Thoughts as I was reading the book:
p. 166: Um, if Kiran didn't expect Rex to accept his offer and go with him, Kiran wouldn't have bothered showing up; Kiran would've just let the group have their little escapade in Africa.
p. 176: Yeah right: [Kiran] "I find people do their best work when they're out of their comfort zones (referring to having his computer people set up his company's servers in a room with taxidermied animal heads).
p. 177: When Painted Wolf demands to see proof from Kiran that he followed through on his word to delete all incriminating evidence from her friends and their family, Kiran hands her a cell phone so she can check...How can she not see a huge problem with this!? I wouldn't trust the information on his phone, especially when she already knows Kiran is creating his own 'dark' internet.
p.250: When Rex is trying to convince Lea to let him 'test drive' the autonomous car, he's giving her all sorts of logical reasons she should let him use it...and the one that finally works is, "Come on, it'll be cool. You'll see."!!!???? You've got to be kidding me.
p.252: Um, I would not program the destination into the car; I'm sure Kiran can track that.
Thoughts as I was reading the book:
p. 166: Um, if Kiran didn't expect Rex to accept his offer and go with him, Kiran wouldn't have bothered showing up; Kiran would've just let the group have their little escapade in Africa.
p. 176: Yeah right: [Kiran] "I find people do their best work when they're out of their comfort zones (referring to having his computer people set up his company's servers in a room with taxidermied animal heads).
p. 177: When Painted Wolf demands to see proof from Kiran that he followed through on his word to delete all incriminating evidence from her friends and their family, Kiran hands her a cell phone so she can check...How can she not see a huge problem with this!? I wouldn't trust the information on his phone, especially when she already knows Kiran is creating his own 'dark' internet.
p.250: When Rex is trying to convince Lea to let him 'test drive' the autonomous car, he's giving her all sorts of logical reasons she should let him use it...and the one that finally works is, "Come on, it'll be cool. You'll see."!!!???? You've got to be kidding me.
p.252: Um, I would not program the destination into the car; I'm sure Kiran can track that.
July 7, 2017
Sequel to Genius: The Game this book starts out right where the story left off, however, if you read on it does fill in the blanks so you don't necessarily have to have read book one, but it is a really good book and you will want to read it anyways after reading this one so why not go ahead and read them in order. :)
Painted Wolf gets Rex and Tunde out of dodge and into Tunde's village with his special EMP weapon for the local warlord that is holding Tunde's family and people hostage. But the three teens have also came with plans to hopefully defeat the warlord once and for all, but if it doesn't work they will kill everyone, and never find Rex's brother.
This is such a non stop action packed book, I just could not put it down. If you like techy stuff and books filled with action all the time this is for you. The three main characters are so cool I would love to tag along with them some time and just watch them do their thing and maybe learn something. I think Painted Wolf is my hero, but Rex is so cool on the computer, but I am more like Tunde with mechanical skills. So it is easy to find something of yourself in at least one of the characters and follow that along in the story so it is like you are there, in the action with them. So much fun!
Painted Wolf gets Rex and Tunde out of dodge and into Tunde's village with his special EMP weapon for the local warlord that is holding Tunde's family and people hostage. But the three teens have also came with plans to hopefully defeat the warlord once and for all, but if it doesn't work they will kill everyone, and never find Rex's brother.
This is such a non stop action packed book, I just could not put it down. If you like techy stuff and books filled with action all the time this is for you. The three main characters are so cool I would love to tag along with them some time and just watch them do their thing and maybe learn something. I think Painted Wolf is my hero, but Rex is so cool on the computer, but I am more like Tunde with mechanical skills. So it is easy to find something of yourself in at least one of the characters and follow that along in the story so it is like you are there, in the action with them. So much fun!
December 14, 2017
Now on the run, Rex, Painted Wolf, and Tunde must figure out how to get out of the US, save Tunde's village from the nefarious general, puzzle out Kiran's true end game, find a way to clear their names and outwit Kiran.
This book, like the first one, would make a fantastic movie (which makes sense, the author is a TV/movie person). It's like a brainiac Bourne movie complete with multiple exotic locales (NYC, Nigeria, Kalkutta (India), and China) but the teens get absolutely no official training, they're just dumped into the midst of some very tough circumstance and don't know who they can trust. They have nothing but their friendship, brains, and their tech skills to get themselves and the people they love out of some seriously dangerous spots. It's a very exciting read. At the same time Gout manages to make all three teens still feel like fairly normal people. They get freaked out when the average person would get freaked out (though given their different personalities, they tend to not all freak out at the same things...which is good), and they don't pull off anything that their previous actions haven't hinted that they could already do. It's an exciting and fun high octane read. There's not a lot of action in the physical sense, most of the "chase scenes" don't require much movement, they primarily involve brain cells racing to beat tech or a dead line or out maneuver the other guys. It's a smart read and keeps readers guessing about how our three heroes will get themselves out of the next sticky spot. I only guessed one of the twists ahead of time, which doesn't happen too often so I respect a book that can surprise me and keep me guessing. There has to be one more book in this series coming to wrap things up nicely. I'll be looking forward to it, and so will several of the students at my school (I had to drop reading several other books because one student NEEDED to have this in his hands asap).
Notes on content: Only one mild swear word I noticed. No sexual content beyond a small kiss. Violence is threatened, but no one gets seriously hurt.
This book, like the first one, would make a fantastic movie (which makes sense, the author is a TV/movie person). It's like a brainiac Bourne movie complete with multiple exotic locales (NYC, Nigeria, Kalkutta (India), and China) but the teens get absolutely no official training, they're just dumped into the midst of some very tough circumstance and don't know who they can trust. They have nothing but their friendship, brains, and their tech skills to get themselves and the people they love out of some seriously dangerous spots. It's a very exciting read. At the same time Gout manages to make all three teens still feel like fairly normal people. They get freaked out when the average person would get freaked out (though given their different personalities, they tend to not all freak out at the same things...which is good), and they don't pull off anything that their previous actions haven't hinted that they could already do. It's an exciting and fun high octane read. There's not a lot of action in the physical sense, most of the "chase scenes" don't require much movement, they primarily involve brain cells racing to beat tech or a dead line or out maneuver the other guys. It's a smart read and keeps readers guessing about how our three heroes will get themselves out of the next sticky spot. I only guessed one of the twists ahead of time, which doesn't happen too often so I respect a book that can surprise me and keep me guessing. There has to be one more book in this series coming to wrap things up nicely. I'll be looking forward to it, and so will several of the students at my school (I had to drop reading several other books because one student NEEDED to have this in his hands asap).
Notes on content: Only one mild swear word I noticed. No sexual content beyond a small kiss. Violence is threatened, but no one gets seriously hurt.
January 13, 2019
Genius: The Con
By: Leopoldo Gout
This book is the second book of a series. I would recommend reading the first book in the series: Genius: The Game, before reading this book.
This book is like a twisty road that always kept me on the edge of my seat.
The book starts out with a search for a long-lost brother, but turns into a game with the grand prize being the survival of a whole town.
The heroes of the book are 3 teenagers named Tunde, Rex, and Cai. They meet by creating an online forum that exposes some of the worlds bad people.
This book relates to the real world really well because, technology and greed are everywhere in the real world, and this book shows how greed mixed with technology can sometimes overwhelm people, and that can be very destructive. The book is set in modern the modern time period.
I loved this book because it kept me always wanting more and kept me on the edge of my seat. The plot has so many twists and turns which will throw the reader back and forth, from being excited, to being nervous.
I rate this book 4.5 out of 5.
The symbol I associate the book to is a mask. The reason I chose a mask is, there is much deviousness, double crossing, and backstabbing in this book, also there is lots of hacking and things about hacking in the book, and I think the mask fits both of these criteria’s.
By: Leopoldo Gout
This book is the second book of a series. I would recommend reading the first book in the series: Genius: The Game, before reading this book.
This book is like a twisty road that always kept me on the edge of my seat.
The book starts out with a search for a long-lost brother, but turns into a game with the grand prize being the survival of a whole town.
The heroes of the book are 3 teenagers named Tunde, Rex, and Cai. They meet by creating an online forum that exposes some of the worlds bad people.
This book relates to the real world really well because, technology and greed are everywhere in the real world, and this book shows how greed mixed with technology can sometimes overwhelm people, and that can be very destructive. The book is set in modern the modern time period.
I loved this book because it kept me always wanting more and kept me on the edge of my seat. The plot has so many twists and turns which will throw the reader back and forth, from being excited, to being nervous.
I rate this book 4.5 out of 5.
The symbol I associate the book to is a mask. The reason I chose a mask is, there is much deviousness, double crossing, and backstabbing in this book, also there is lots of hacking and things about hacking in the book, and I think the mask fits both of these criteria’s.
December 15, 2017
Reminds me of Oceans 11 in the type of story that it is.
I'm a little confused why they didn't hide in Teo's hidden room? It seems like it would have been the perfect spot for them to hide from the police.
Do these people not use modern computing tools? Rex's so convinced Kiran won't find his change when any version control diff tool would show him exactly the lines changed.
Surely he at least has a copy of the code before Rex touched it?
And they seriously wanted Rex just to decrypt 3 lines of code? Why didn't they just reverse engineer them?
Why were the people in the India facility so into Kiran's Kool-aid? I get enjoying working on cool tech, but why was no one questioning anything?
I guess the repeating question is if Terminal is good or bad. Hard to tell....
Lots of questions of self-identify for Cai/Painted Wolf.
The romance with Cai and Rex blooms a bit, but things move fairly slowly.
Tunde's machine is amazing. I bought that he built the jammer in book #1 in the time allotted. I'm not sure that I think his machine in this book is possible in the time allowed and with no access to anything but junkyard parts, especially since Tunde built it by himself.
I'm a little confused why they didn't hide in Teo's hidden room? It seems like it would have been the perfect spot for them to hide from the police.
Do these people not use modern computing tools? Rex's so convinced Kiran won't find his change when any version control diff tool would show him exactly the lines changed.
Surely he at least has a copy of the code before Rex touched it?
And they seriously wanted Rex just to decrypt 3 lines of code? Why didn't they just reverse engineer them?
Why were the people in the India facility so into Kiran's Kool-aid? I get enjoying working on cool tech, but why was no one questioning anything?
I guess the repeating question is if Terminal is good or bad. Hard to tell....
Lots of questions of self-identify for Cai/Painted Wolf.
The romance with Cai and Rex blooms a bit, but things move fairly slowly.
Tunde's machine is amazing. I bought that he built the jammer in book #1 in the time allotted. I'm not sure that I think his machine in this book is possible in the time allowed and with no access to anything but junkyard parts, especially since Tunde built it by himself.
July 20, 2018
The Con, book two in the Genius series, was as compelling and addicting as the first.
Another fun, action-packed, thought-provoking thriller that follows the three teenage geniuses who became real-life friends in the "game of minds" the "visionary" young CEO with ulterior motives thrust them into in book one.
Told again from the perspective of the three friends: Rex, a 14-year-old brilliant child of illegal immigrants is one of the world's best coders and is on a mission to find his "lost" brother. Painted Wolf is a crafty 16-year-old celebrated Chinese activist who exposes corruption. And Tunde is a 14-year-old self-taught Nigerian engineering genius whose village is threatened by an evil warlord.
Spoiler Alert: The Con begins immediately where Book 1 left off - the three geniuses on the run after being set-up, and follows them on a thrilling, multi-country journey to clear their names, save themselves and their families, stop the forces working against them, and save others from facing the same fate.
Addicting, captivating, and inspiring. A fun sci-fi series with characters who never waver in their loyalty and their desire to right the wrongs of the world. Great for 6-8th graders (and enough nuance and intrigue to appeal to older readers as well).
Another fun, action-packed, thought-provoking thriller that follows the three teenage geniuses who became real-life friends in the "game of minds" the "visionary" young CEO with ulterior motives thrust them into in book one.
Told again from the perspective of the three friends: Rex, a 14-year-old brilliant child of illegal immigrants is one of the world's best coders and is on a mission to find his "lost" brother. Painted Wolf is a crafty 16-year-old celebrated Chinese activist who exposes corruption. And Tunde is a 14-year-old self-taught Nigerian engineering genius whose village is threatened by an evil warlord.
Spoiler Alert: The Con begins immediately where Book 1 left off - the three geniuses on the run after being set-up, and follows them on a thrilling, multi-country journey to clear their names, save themselves and their families, stop the forces working against them, and save others from facing the same fate.
Addicting, captivating, and inspiring. A fun sci-fi series with characters who never waver in their loyalty and their desire to right the wrongs of the world. Great for 6-8th graders (and enough nuance and intrigue to appeal to older readers as well).
September 13, 2017
Um so this is an OK heist story. I still really like the main characters but there is basically no character development in this and the POVs sounded more similar than in book 1.
There are some structure and flow things that I found annoying here. First, the ending here seem arbitrary and probably what will be the final book could have been combined with this one. Because, despite how short this is, there is definitely parts and some random twists that feel like extras. Also, the formatting on the page and the pictures included that were really compelling in book 1 seemed unnecessary at best (most of the pictures could have been left out). Finally, the thing that I was constantly thinking about while reading this was that there were just too many "twists" and unknowns introduced here. While in book 1 the extra characters seemed to flesh out the world and make it more real, here almost all of them felt like plot devices and often not ones that made a lot of sense (ahem weird story by the fire).
There are some structure and flow things that I found annoying here. First, the ending here seem arbitrary and probably what will be the final book could have been combined with this one. Because, despite how short this is, there is definitely parts and some random twists that feel like extras. Also, the formatting on the page and the pictures included that were really compelling in book 1 seemed unnecessary at best (most of the pictures could have been left out). Finally, the thing that I was constantly thinking about while reading this was that there were just too many "twists" and unknowns introduced here. While in book 1 the extra characters seemed to flesh out the world and make it more real, here almost all of them felt like plot devices and often not ones that made a lot of sense (ahem weird story by the fire).
Read
May 14, 2019After the events of Genius: The Game, Tunde, Rex and Painted Wolf are on the run with targets on their backs. They are some of the most wanted individuals in America. That makes travel difficult, especially since they need to get to Nigeria in Africa.
Tunde has created the GPS jammer for General Iyabo, and they hope to use it against him. If they can pull off the con they have planned, Tunde’s village will finally be free of the general and his soldiers.
But in the short time Tunde has been away, the general has turned the village into a mining operation. The villagers are essentially slaves. Now it is even more crucial to get the general out of Akika Village. The kids also have issues to resolve with tech billionaire Kiran from the game that brought the three together. And Painted Wolf’s father is mixed into all of this as well. Rex’s brother Teo, is still missing. The kids have to be on their game if this con is going to work and if they are going to get themselves to a place where they can deal with Kiran and Teo
[Quote] Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius.
Tunde has created the GPS jammer for General Iyabo, and they hope to use it against him. If they can pull off the con they have planned, Tunde’s village will finally be free of the general and his soldiers.
But in the short time Tunde has been away, the general has turned the village into a mining operation. The villagers are essentially slaves. Now it is even more crucial to get the general out of Akika Village. The kids also have issues to resolve with tech billionaire Kiran from the game that brought the three together. And Painted Wolf’s father is mixed into all of this as well. Rex’s brother Teo, is still missing. The kids have to be on their game if this con is going to work and if they are going to get themselves to a place where they can deal with Kiran and Teo
[Quote] Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2017
3.5 stars
Three diverse MCs with their different POVs return for the sequel to Genius: The Game. This continues to be an intelligent YA series, with higher stakes this time around for Rex, Tunde, and Painted Wolf, as their families are being threatened. With a quick pace, clever inventions, and fascinating technology, there's much to keep you glued to the pages.
Personally, this one didn't hook me quite as much as the first book. Although the families of the MCs were threatened, I didn't get the same sense of urgency or intrigue I had with Genius: The Game, but judging by other reviews, I'm in the minority on this.
I'd recommend this series to those interested in science, technology, and engineering and readers who enjoy wicked smart main characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.
Three diverse MCs with their different POVs return for the sequel to Genius: The Game. This continues to be an intelligent YA series, with higher stakes this time around for Rex, Tunde, and Painted Wolf, as their families are being threatened. With a quick pace, clever inventions, and fascinating technology, there's much to keep you glued to the pages.
Personally, this one didn't hook me quite as much as the first book. Although the families of the MCs were threatened, I didn't get the same sense of urgency or intrigue I had with Genius: The Game, but judging by other reviews, I'm in the minority on this.
I'd recommend this series to those interested in science, technology, and engineering and readers who enjoy wicked smart main characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.
November 3, 2017
Wanted by the authorities for data theft, Rex, Painted Wolf, and Tunde are currently on the run. The Con’s opening pages are action-packed pulse-pounding fun… but also confusing. Those who haven’t read the first book in Gout’s series might struggle with the storyline here. Though it’s clear that the teens are on a mission (one is trying to locate a sibling, while another is trying to save his village), it takes a long time for the pieces to come together so that the narrative makes sense. The story alternates perspective from chapter to chapter, and visual cues remind the reader who is speaking (i.e. Painted Wolf’s sections appear with highlighted and emboldened words). For those who enjoy over-the-top scenarios with a mix of technology and a dash of romance. Recommended for readers aged twelve and older.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 13, 2017
I loved this book just as much as the first. It's packed with action and it's plot is exquisite. Again though, the romance is too sudden and doesn't have enough development. Besides that, this is a great book to read. Whether it's for a summer reading project or for leisure, this book will keep you on your toes, flipping through the pages as quickly as you can. I love the writing style and though there isn't much humor, it still is very enjoyable to read. I would definitely say that this is a good book to read and definitely worth the time. However, seeing as science-fiction isn't everyone's thing, I would recommend borrowing it from a library before buying it just to make sure. Now, the only horrible thing about it is that we have to wait for the next book in the series to come out.
July 28, 2017
Even though I liked this story, I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first one. At first I kept thinking it was the characters or the lack of drawings, but I finally decided that it was the plot. It just didn’t feel as realistic as the first book, not that that one was realistic towards the end. I just had a harder time believing that these three kids could pull off what they did and no one was suspicious at all. But I guess that is what makes a good thriller, and you want to believe that they can do anything.
See the rest of my review at https://elnadesbookchat.com/2017/07/2...
See the rest of my review at https://elnadesbookchat.com/2017/07/2...
August 12, 2017
Wow. Just, wow. This book is amazing. It is a thousand times better than the first novel, which was already good. I liked the first novel, I picked it up because the author visited our school. I liked it just enough to pick up the second, but the first wasn't great. This book surpassed it by miles. It is an impeccably well planed plot that never lets you put the book down. It has extremely likable and believable characters and the relationships they have with each other are equally likable and believable. This novel is a hidden gem. Please, do yourself a favor and pick it up before it gets crazy famous.
August 9, 2025
Overall Rating: 3.7 / 5
I was hoping this would be another great competitor to Spy School, maybe more tech-centric and nuanced. And it came pretty close. But the plot was just too all over the place. Maybe it was because I've never read the first installment, but still, there were a billion different scenes and places being thrown around even within paragraphs that didn't make any sense with each other. The premise was interesting, and I'll definitely want to read Book 1 first and see if it changes my opinion here, but unfortunately I just couldn't follow the path of the story well enough to find it enjoyable.
I was hoping this would be another great competitor to Spy School, maybe more tech-centric and nuanced. And it came pretty close. But the plot was just too all over the place. Maybe it was because I've never read the first installment, but still, there were a billion different scenes and places being thrown around even within paragraphs that didn't make any sense with each other. The premise was interesting, and I'll definitely want to read Book 1 first and see if it changes my opinion here, but unfortunately I just couldn't follow the path of the story well enough to find it enjoyable.
October 15, 2018
3 and a half probably, if you take away common sense, read the story and buy all the plot it is trying to sell then it will be excellent. I was excited to pick this up after finishing the first book quite some time ago and has high expectation for it.
If you don't question the plot and all actions by the main characters don't have to make sense this book will be great. Probably I am too old for this kind of teenage characters centred book, but I like the storyline, it is exciting and all just too many holes in the story.
If you don't question the plot and all actions by the main characters don't have to make sense this book will be great. Probably I am too old for this kind of teenage characters centred book, but I like the storyline, it is exciting and all just too many holes in the story.
October 18, 2018
I was in the middle of the book before I realized I was starting this book series out of order! It was written so well, that I still enjoyed this sci. fi. novel anyways. In this tech savvy book, three teenage geniuses from wildly different backgrounds work together to conquer a nefarious warlord in Nigeria in order to save their families. I'm looking forward to reading the entire series (this time in order), and I'm excited to add this book to my future classroom library! Definitely worth a read!
January 25, 2019
Genius: The Con
Leopoldo Gout
1/23/18
Tech Adventure/Drama
Main Characters: Rex, Painted Wolf (AKA Cai), Tunde
The main conflict of the story is to save Tunde's village from General Iyabo, to stop Kiran, and to rescue Teo. In doing so, they will prevent the slaughter of Tunde's people by him. But first, the gang had to escape New York through one of the most highly guarded areas in the US (JFK). Then, they had to solve their friend Tunde's problem by tricking General Iyabo into getting captured by UN forces. General Iyabo was stopped, but at the cost of Cai's father's freedom.
Leopoldo Gout
1/23/18
Tech Adventure/Drama
Main Characters: Rex, Painted Wolf (AKA Cai), Tunde
The main conflict of the story is to save Tunde's village from General Iyabo, to stop Kiran, and to rescue Teo. In doing so, they will prevent the slaughter of Tunde's people by him. But first, the gang had to escape New York through one of the most highly guarded areas in the US (JFK). Then, they had to solve their friend Tunde's problem by tricking General Iyabo into getting captured by UN forces. General Iyabo was stopped, but at the cost of Cai's father's freedom.
July 10, 2017
Maybe because I did not read the first novel, or maybe because I am not that into computers, but Leopoldo Gout's "Genius:The Con" was not a book that I found impossible to put down. I went days only reading a few pages, and it was long so I often had to force myself to read it. But I prescreen a lot of YA books and while this one only got a 2star rating from me, the teen in our house gave it a solid four stars, so I guess it plays for it's intended audience well.
July 25, 2017
I recommend reading this series in order (or re-reading book one if you don't remember it well. I think I would have enjoyed part one more if I had a fresh memory of book one. Things picked up for me in parts two and three, but it was slow in spots. The technical pieces went over my head. I still like the characters and care what happens to them.
I received an electronic ARC of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an electronic ARC of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews