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Seven-Sided Spy
In the midst of the cold war, the CIA’s finest and most fatal female agent, Diana Riley, vanishes. Kidnapped by the KGB and taken to the backcountry of North Carolina, she and her team of unsavory partners are forced to undergo illegal experimentation.
But, when the experiments leave them horribly deformed and unable to reenter society without someone crying monster, the previously glamorous and high-maintenance spies must escape KGB captivity and avoid recapture at the hands of Nikola, a ruthless KGB agent with an intense and well-justified grudge against her former flame.
But, when the experiments leave them horribly deformed and unable to reenter society without someone crying monster, the previously glamorous and high-maintenance spies must escape KGB captivity and avoid recapture at the hands of Nikola, a ruthless KGB agent with an intense and well-justified grudge against her former flame.
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First published January 15, 2018
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Hannah Carmack
6 books11 followers📕queer author & 💊ibd warrior who's still finding her guts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 18, 2018
Seven-Sided Spy is an intriguing debut novel about a diverse group of CIA and KGB agents during the Cold War. I started this thinking I was in for an action-packed spy thriller, and while this didn’t play out at all how I expected it to, I think I enjoyed the story more for that.
Set largely in the wilderness of North Carolina, this book follows two rival teams of spies: a group of CIA agents on the run, and the trio of KGB agents hunting them. Due to the unforeseen complications of scientific experiments, there’s a paranormal aspect to this story, too: the majority of the main characters have developed mysterious supernatural abilities. There are a number of action scenes (mainly clustered towards the beginning and the end), but I want to emphasize that this is by no means a plot-driven book. The primary focus here—and this novel’s greatest strength—lies in its character development. There are no clear moral distinctions between either of the teams, and as each person’s backstory is revealed through flashbacks, they become increasingly shrouded in shades of gray. They’re all flawed and complex and tragic and human, and their various platonic and romantic relationships were also well-crafted.
I only had two minor issues. As there were quite a lot of main characters—and each character also had a code name that they switched back and forth between—I was rather confused at first. It took me a while to figure out who everyone was. The pacing also felt a little disjointed. Since the beginning and end were so heavy on action, the middle was a little too slow for me at times.
Another thing I really appreciated about this book, though, was its inclusivity! I absolutely love finding historical fiction that highlights narratives that tend to be erased and ignored. Seven-Sided Spy has four queer leads (there aren’t specific labels used, but there are two sapphic women and two queer men) as well as two leads of color (one black American and one Brazilian). The novel places the narratives of queer people and POC at the forefront of the action, which is so so important and so nice to see.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read with an interesting cast of characters! I’m looking forward to reading more from Hannah Carmack in the future.
tw: eating disorder, self harm, character death, sort of body horror
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Set largely in the wilderness of North Carolina, this book follows two rival teams of spies: a group of CIA agents on the run, and the trio of KGB agents hunting them. Due to the unforeseen complications of scientific experiments, there’s a paranormal aspect to this story, too: the majority of the main characters have developed mysterious supernatural abilities. There are a number of action scenes (mainly clustered towards the beginning and the end), but I want to emphasize that this is by no means a plot-driven book. The primary focus here—and this novel’s greatest strength—lies in its character development. There are no clear moral distinctions between either of the teams, and as each person’s backstory is revealed through flashbacks, they become increasingly shrouded in shades of gray. They’re all flawed and complex and tragic and human, and their various platonic and romantic relationships were also well-crafted.
I only had two minor issues. As there were quite a lot of main characters—and each character also had a code name that they switched back and forth between—I was rather confused at first. It took me a while to figure out who everyone was. The pacing also felt a little disjointed. Since the beginning and end were so heavy on action, the middle was a little too slow for me at times.
Another thing I really appreciated about this book, though, was its inclusivity! I absolutely love finding historical fiction that highlights narratives that tend to be erased and ignored. Seven-Sided Spy has four queer leads (there aren’t specific labels used, but there are two sapphic women and two queer men) as well as two leads of color (one black American and one Brazilian). The novel places the narratives of queer people and POC at the forefront of the action, which is so so important and so nice to see.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read with an interesting cast of characters! I’m looking forward to reading more from Hannah Carmack in the future.
tw: eating disorder, self harm, character death, sort of body horror
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2018
A very intriguing novel by this first time author. The story is full of twists and turns where you could never really tell who were the good or bad guys. CIA or KGB.
For me it was a little bit of a hard read because I had a hard time keeping up with real names, code names, and who was who. The names are constantly changing between one or the other. As well as trying to keep up with what period of time the story was in. I normally have no problem with flashbacks in a storyline and quite enjoy them when they are relevant and they are in this storyline. It just got a bit confusing at times for me. Some characters are very well developed while others just seemed a little distant but you do get a sense of who they are. But maybe that is a spy thing.
The story is a very intriguing spy game with elements of the paranormal. I would recommend you give this first time author and Seven-Sided Spy a read. Maybe take notes to keep up with the spies real names and their code names.
@Netgalley @NineStarPress
For me it was a little bit of a hard read because I had a hard time keeping up with real names, code names, and who was who. The names are constantly changing between one or the other. As well as trying to keep up with what period of time the story was in. I normally have no problem with flashbacks in a storyline and quite enjoy them when they are relevant and they are in this storyline. It just got a bit confusing at times for me. Some characters are very well developed while others just seemed a little distant but you do get a sense of who they are. But maybe that is a spy thing.
The story is a very intriguing spy game with elements of the paranormal. I would recommend you give this first time author and Seven-Sided Spy a read. Maybe take notes to keep up with the spies real names and their code names.
@Netgalley @NineStarPress
February 2, 2018
This has to be one of the weirdest books I have ever read. My advise is to ignore the back cover.
It is set during the cold war when the spy network was at its peak with the CIA, KGB and MI5. The three countries are involved in this book. The best of the best from America and the UK are captured, kidnapped and experimented upon. The experiments make them in to something like monsters. They are hugely disfigured and have superhuman strength. Yes, they escape and are hiding out in the mountains in America.
The KGB send a team after them to recapture them but they fail. So they give their own team the drug and then resend them. So now we have monsters tracking monsters. A local hiker helps out the escapees by bringing them food and clothing. One of them has the ability to see into the future. Therefore everything they do is connected to his visions. But the visions are taking effect on his body and he is weakening quickly especially in the cold damp mountains.
The book is definitely intriguing and has many twists and turns. You actually start to feel sorry for all of them. Also, although it is very bwell written it's a hard slog. At times I found myself having to back track to understand what was going on. Yes I would recommend it if you want something totally different. Enjoy!
ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley*
It is set during the cold war when the spy network was at its peak with the CIA, KGB and MI5. The three countries are involved in this book. The best of the best from America and the UK are captured, kidnapped and experimented upon. The experiments make them in to something like monsters. They are hugely disfigured and have superhuman strength. Yes, they escape and are hiding out in the mountains in America.
The KGB send a team after them to recapture them but they fail. So they give their own team the drug and then resend them. So now we have monsters tracking monsters. A local hiker helps out the escapees by bringing them food and clothing. One of them has the ability to see into the future. Therefore everything they do is connected to his visions. But the visions are taking effect on his body and he is weakening quickly especially in the cold damp mountains.
The book is definitely intriguing and has many twists and turns. You actually start to feel sorry for all of them. Also, although it is very bwell written it's a hard slog. At times I found myself having to back track to understand what was going on. Yes I would recommend it if you want something totally different. Enjoy!
ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley*
June 5, 2018
This book was provided for free by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.
This was not what I was expecting, nor really what was advertised. What was I expecting? Well, spies. Queer spies. WLW spies. Maybe some cool sci-fi intrigue thrown in. But this book has a little inkling of those things mixed in with a lot of bad plot, bad characterization, and very little excitement.
This is a book about spies in which none of the spies act like spies in any way at all. They're constantly yelling, arguing, and falling for stupid traps. There's no nuance or calculation in their actions or dialogue. They can't keep a cover, can't win a fight, and forge stupid alliances. We're constantly told each character is a deadly warrior, but that never actually happens on the page. If this ended up being a book about a group of supposedly ace spies who were conned by their superiors and revealed as a bunch of morons, I would've enjoyed this book a lot more.
If you're looking for a romance, this won't do much for you. There's a previous relationship between Diana and Nikola and a current romance between KGB agents Roderick and Kal, but they aren't a huge part of the plot--whatever that ended up being. The relationship between the female characters was actually a weak point for the book. There was a huge undercurrent of girl-hate between the women--they were always catty with each other, even when they were supposed to be allies or friends. There was nothing about Diana and Nikola's relationship that said they even liked each other, nonetheless had a romance.
There were a few elements that kept me interested, but they never lasted long. Though they were out place, the "modifications" the spies were subjected to were pretty cool, especially Diana's. The only non-spy POV character, Ruby, was by far the most interesting, and she got the most satisfying conclusion. The ending itself isn't bad, either--not a HEA by any means, but one that worked for the plot.
I think the author bit off more than she could chew with this one. I never got a feeling for what type of book this was, who the audience should be, what we should feel for the characters. Since this a layered book with a lot of characters and movement, I tried to give it a slow, close read, but it still never connected for me. Not a hit for me. But Carmack's second book, Take Your Medicine, is much better, so I'm optimistic about her future works.
This was not what I was expecting, nor really what was advertised. What was I expecting? Well, spies. Queer spies. WLW spies. Maybe some cool sci-fi intrigue thrown in. But this book has a little inkling of those things mixed in with a lot of bad plot, bad characterization, and very little excitement.
This is a book about spies in which none of the spies act like spies in any way at all. They're constantly yelling, arguing, and falling for stupid traps. There's no nuance or calculation in their actions or dialogue. They can't keep a cover, can't win a fight, and forge stupid alliances. We're constantly told each character is a deadly warrior, but that never actually happens on the page. If this ended up being a book about a group of supposedly ace spies who were conned by their superiors and revealed as a bunch of morons, I would've enjoyed this book a lot more.
If you're looking for a romance, this won't do much for you. There's a previous relationship between Diana and Nikola and a current romance between KGB agents Roderick and Kal, but they aren't a huge part of the plot--whatever that ended up being. The relationship between the female characters was actually a weak point for the book. There was a huge undercurrent of girl-hate between the women--they were always catty with each other, even when they were supposed to be allies or friends. There was nothing about Diana and Nikola's relationship that said they even liked each other, nonetheless had a romance.
There were a few elements that kept me interested, but they never lasted long. Though they were out place, the "modifications" the spies were subjected to were pretty cool, especially Diana's. The only non-spy POV character, Ruby, was by far the most interesting, and she got the most satisfying conclusion. The ending itself isn't bad, either--not a HEA by any means, but one that worked for the plot.
I think the author bit off more than she could chew with this one. I never got a feeling for what type of book this was, who the audience should be, what we should feel for the characters. Since this a layered book with a lot of characters and movement, I tried to give it a slow, close read, but it still never connected for me. Not a hit for me. But Carmack's second book, Take Your Medicine, is much better, so I'm optimistic about her future works.
January 22, 2018
This is such an unusual story and although there were some direct clues in the blurb what I read was quite a surprise. I do enjoy stories that have that little bit of something different about them instead of the same structure and this one certainly had that. There were a bunch of some of the strangest characters in books that I have met about spies.
It is the nineteen sixties and the cold war is really bubbling away under the surface, with neither the CIA or KGB playing fair games. There isn’t just the battles of the two high powers going on but also personal conflicts between the people on the ground that have crossed paths before. A deadly game of cat and mouse as the KGB hunt the CIA agents down. Experiments are performed on the captured CIA team, which leaves them outcasts and isolated from the rest of society and having to hide in North Carolina.
Although grossly disfigured and still with the mutations developing further every day, the team were not only changing physically but also inwardly. Once a cold blooded, don’t question orders group were beginning to question the reasons behind what they were doing and who they really were as people. The characters do seem very complex to follow to start with as there are so many of them and even more so when their under cover names come into play .
Once I settled into the characters and who was who I loved the story more and more the further it progressed. I certainly don’t want to spoil the plot but the story wasn’t anything like I thought it was going to be. A fascinating read, Da Vinci I felt for more than any other. Totally unexpected outcomes for so many. A book that definitely leans more to the side of the paranormal than that of spy verses spy normal stuff.
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly
It is the nineteen sixties and the cold war is really bubbling away under the surface, with neither the CIA or KGB playing fair games. There isn’t just the battles of the two high powers going on but also personal conflicts between the people on the ground that have crossed paths before. A deadly game of cat and mouse as the KGB hunt the CIA agents down. Experiments are performed on the captured CIA team, which leaves them outcasts and isolated from the rest of society and having to hide in North Carolina.
Although grossly disfigured and still with the mutations developing further every day, the team were not only changing physically but also inwardly. Once a cold blooded, don’t question orders group were beginning to question the reasons behind what they were doing and who they really were as people. The characters do seem very complex to follow to start with as there are so many of them and even more so when their under cover names come into play .
Once I settled into the characters and who was who I loved the story more and more the further it progressed. I certainly don’t want to spoil the plot but the story wasn’t anything like I thought it was going to be. A fascinating read, Da Vinci I felt for more than any other. Totally unexpected outcomes for so many. A book that definitely leans more to the side of the paranormal than that of spy verses spy normal stuff.
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly
January 10, 2018
Actual Rating: 1.5 Stars
Trigger Warnings: Physical abuse, violence, talk of drug abuse, torture, self-harm, depression
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Seven-Sided Spy follows the story of Cold War era CIA agents who have been kidnapped by the KGB for secret illegal experimentation.
Let's just go right in and start with the big problems I had. If you plan on reading this book, just go ahead and nix ALL the expectations you have from reading the synopsis...because it is completely inaccurate. I am a history buff through and through, and I was so excited to read Cold War era historical fiction but there was very little actual information or events that involved the Cold War at all. A few large events, but they don't even tie in with the story or the plot so they could have been removed completely and it would not have mattered. Also, the character's perspective you think you will get the most is actually one of the ones you get the least, there was no organization, and it could have used many more rounds of editing. I went into this with the expectation of HISTORICAL FICTION, QUEER SPIES, SECOND-CHANCE ENEMIES TO LOVERS type of story. And what I got was definitely not any of that.
Okay, so, it did have queer spies. Usually, that in itself would be enough for me, but by the time the relationships mattered they'd totally buried by everything I didn't like about this book.
In the beginning, the writing was not bad, but it severely declined as time went on. There was little plot development. The book started and just threw me in without hesitating, then it proceeds to jump all over the place while I was still trying to work out what was going on. It was this strange mix of present and past, but all the memories are presented as stories the characters tell each other that are just thrown in at random. Also, the main characters spend 95% of the book hanging out in the forest doing absolutely nothing. Beyond that, as I was reading I could feel myself forgetting what was happening because there was absolutely no point to any of it.
The characters were severely lacking in development. I did not care about any of them, and despite there being about 8 point-of-view characters...I am pretty sure I can't describe any of them with any sort of detail beyond names and even those I get mixed up. Moreover, the characters were beyond wishy-washy. They were constantly changing and not fitting their original characterization and personalities, what little they had in the first place. Which made it difficult to understand the dynamic between the groups.
The only things I can say I actually liked were first few action scenes, I thought they were well written, exciting, and suspenseful, but even those become less well written by the end.
Overall, I would not recommend this book. I didn't gain anything from reading it. The characters and plot were poorly developed, and none of it felt real or genuine. The whole thing could have been set in the 21st century and would have affected the story very little. I think Hannah Carmack could be a good writer, but there was a severe lack of editing put into this novel.
Trigger Warnings: Physical abuse, violence, talk of drug abuse, torture, self-harm, depression
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Seven-Sided Spy follows the story of Cold War era CIA agents who have been kidnapped by the KGB for secret illegal experimentation.
Let's just go right in and start with the big problems I had. If you plan on reading this book, just go ahead and nix ALL the expectations you have from reading the synopsis...because it is completely inaccurate. I am a history buff through and through, and I was so excited to read Cold War era historical fiction but there was very little actual information or events that involved the Cold War at all. A few large events, but they don't even tie in with the story or the plot so they could have been removed completely and it would not have mattered. Also, the character's perspective you think you will get the most is actually one of the ones you get the least, there was no organization, and it could have used many more rounds of editing. I went into this with the expectation of HISTORICAL FICTION, QUEER SPIES, SECOND-CHANCE ENEMIES TO LOVERS type of story. And what I got was definitely not any of that.
Okay, so, it did have queer spies. Usually, that in itself would be enough for me, but by the time the relationships mattered they'd totally buried by everything I didn't like about this book.
In the beginning, the writing was not bad, but it severely declined as time went on. There was little plot development. The book started and just threw me in without hesitating, then it proceeds to jump all over the place while I was still trying to work out what was going on. It was this strange mix of present and past, but all the memories are presented as stories the characters tell each other that are just thrown in at random. Also, the main characters spend 95% of the book hanging out in the forest doing absolutely nothing. Beyond that, as I was reading I could feel myself forgetting what was happening because there was absolutely no point to any of it.
The characters were severely lacking in development. I did not care about any of them, and despite there being about 8 point-of-view characters...I am pretty sure I can't describe any of them with any sort of detail beyond names and even those I get mixed up. Moreover, the characters were beyond wishy-washy. They were constantly changing and not fitting their original characterization and personalities, what little they had in the first place. Which made it difficult to understand the dynamic between the groups.
The only things I can say I actually liked were first few action scenes, I thought they were well written, exciting, and suspenseful, but even those become less well written by the end.
Overall, I would not recommend this book. I didn't gain anything from reading it. The characters and plot were poorly developed, and none of it felt real or genuine. The whole thing could have been set in the 21st century and would have affected the story very little. I think Hannah Carmack could be a good writer, but there was a severe lack of editing put into this novel.
December 23, 2017
Seven-Sided Spy uses multiple perspectives to tell a complex story, and Carmack accomplishes this task well. The story itself is rather simple, despite the interesting context: three spies camp out on a mountain, while three other spies try to take them down. What elevates this story from a glorified camping trip to a very interesting read is the characters.
Each character has their own motivations, fears, and history, and the quiet moments of interpersonal interaction are the highlights of the story. As characters tell their stories, the reader becomes more aware of the faulty nature of oral storytelling; there is a stark juxtaposition between the author’s depiction of the characters and the way the characters talk about themselves, leaving an open question as to who each of them truly is.
All in all, this book kept me hooked and entertained from the beginning, and I would highly recommend it.
Each character has their own motivations, fears, and history, and the quiet moments of interpersonal interaction are the highlights of the story. As characters tell their stories, the reader becomes more aware of the faulty nature of oral storytelling; there is a stark juxtaposition between the author’s depiction of the characters and the way the characters talk about themselves, leaving an open question as to who each of them truly is.
All in all, this book kept me hooked and entertained from the beginning, and I would highly recommend it.
March 16, 2018
3.5 stars
I’ll be the first to admit history is not something I excelled at, so the time frame of Carmack’s Seven-Sided Spy – the Cold War – isn’t something I have any familiarity with. Having said that, Carmack’s use of slang and descriptions of fashion plunged me into the early 1960’s.
I’m also not a huge espionage-thriller type of guy, that’s more my husband’s shtick. But living with someone who loves that genre means I have had the opportunity to watch every single one of the James Bond movies, and let’s face it, when we’re talking Spy stories, everyone immediately thinks of 007.
What drew me into reading this story was a description I had seen, promising spies with X-men like abilities. Being a huge fan of the X-men, I had to give this a go.
Seven-Sided Spy is laid out quite different in that it follows Diana Riley, Codename: Hera, also known as “the goddess” through a rather tumultuous and dangerous job, fighting off Russian KGB agents, using all her feminine charms and deadly hand-to-hand combat skills. But Diana isn’t the only character that’s given page time. In fact, there are seven different spies, each with their own backstory. Carmack’s ability to create detail-oriented scenes is spectacular, which is surprisingly adept considering this is her debut novel. I got lost in the richness of the stories as they unfolded, and I was completely immersed in each of them. These sections of the book were by far, my favorite. Of note, I totally enjoyed Rigan Hevel, Codename: Marco and Sergei Durova, Codename: Kal’s histories. Not exactly sure why perhaps they felt more relatable to me? Regardless, definitely spots in the book I savored.
There’s a constant struggle back and forth between all of the various characters. Small victories and then followed with earth-shattering losses. Our heroine and her colleagues are captured by the enemy and then experimented on, which ultimately ends in our heroine and her associates developing super-human abilities. Unfortunately, it also means that their physical appearance is altered into inhuman forms making them unable to return to life amongst the regular population.
From there, I’m not saying much more, otherwise, I’ll ruin the twists and turns that this book takes.
There’s a decidedly steep learning curve while reading this book. Each of the characters goes by not only their given name, but also their codename, and some even have nicknames. I found myself flipping to the front of the book where the author has laid out each character and their codenames. At times, it was difficult to keep them all straight.
I also had some mental backflips to do as the timeline of the story not only occurs in the early 1960’s but also jumps further back into history as snippets of the characters former lives are revealed. If you like flashbacks, this is the book for you.
All in, the story is steeped in characters and lively with action, but sometimes a bit of a brain twister to keep everything organized.
I’ll be the first to admit history is not something I excelled at, so the time frame of Carmack’s Seven-Sided Spy – the Cold War – isn’t something I have any familiarity with. Having said that, Carmack’s use of slang and descriptions of fashion plunged me into the early 1960’s.
I’m also not a huge espionage-thriller type of guy, that’s more my husband’s shtick. But living with someone who loves that genre means I have had the opportunity to watch every single one of the James Bond movies, and let’s face it, when we’re talking Spy stories, everyone immediately thinks of 007.
What drew me into reading this story was a description I had seen, promising spies with X-men like abilities. Being a huge fan of the X-men, I had to give this a go.
Seven-Sided Spy is laid out quite different in that it follows Diana Riley, Codename: Hera, also known as “the goddess” through a rather tumultuous and dangerous job, fighting off Russian KGB agents, using all her feminine charms and deadly hand-to-hand combat skills. But Diana isn’t the only character that’s given page time. In fact, there are seven different spies, each with their own backstory. Carmack’s ability to create detail-oriented scenes is spectacular, which is surprisingly adept considering this is her debut novel. I got lost in the richness of the stories as they unfolded, and I was completely immersed in each of them. These sections of the book were by far, my favorite. Of note, I totally enjoyed Rigan Hevel, Codename: Marco and Sergei Durova, Codename: Kal’s histories. Not exactly sure why perhaps they felt more relatable to me? Regardless, definitely spots in the book I savored.
There’s a constant struggle back and forth between all of the various characters. Small victories and then followed with earth-shattering losses. Our heroine and her colleagues are captured by the enemy and then experimented on, which ultimately ends in our heroine and her associates developing super-human abilities. Unfortunately, it also means that their physical appearance is altered into inhuman forms making them unable to return to life amongst the regular population.
From there, I’m not saying much more, otherwise, I’ll ruin the twists and turns that this book takes.
There’s a decidedly steep learning curve while reading this book. Each of the characters goes by not only their given name, but also their codename, and some even have nicknames. I found myself flipping to the front of the book where the author has laid out each character and their codenames. At times, it was difficult to keep them all straight.
I also had some mental backflips to do as the timeline of the story not only occurs in the early 1960’s but also jumps further back into history as snippets of the characters former lives are revealed. If you like flashbacks, this is the book for you.
All in, the story is steeped in characters and lively with action, but sometimes a bit of a brain twister to keep everything organized.
January 4, 2018
I think this synopsis is pretty misleading. It makes you believe that Diana is the main character which is not really true. This story has a diverse cast of characters and we see through every character’s point of view, not just Diana’s. With that being said, I really liked seeing how every character was flawed and getting to know each one by learning their stories. Everyone’s stories came together at the end to create one large story.
Because of how large the cast was, it was easy to get confused with who was who. Luckily, I keep notes as I read so this wasn’t really a problem for me, but for someone who reads without note-taking, I can see how someone could confuse the characters quite easily. Because this is a spy story, each character had two names; a code name and their real name, and both of these names are used interchangeably throughout the book. If you decide to pick this book up, I definitely recommend keeping notes to keep everyone straight. Also, there are two different groups of spies. There are those who work for the CIA and those who work for KGB. It also helps to note who each spy works for.
The really cool part about this book was that each character had special abilities. They were so neat to read about. Not by choice, the spies who work for the CIA were kidnapped and shot up with steroids that gave them these abilities. One could see the future, one was like a fish, and some were indestructible. I really loved reading about what everyone’s powers were. This was definitely my favorite part of the book!
If you enjoy spy stories with a lot of action, I would definitely recommend this book. It was different from any book I have picked up before! I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy a book about spies, but come to found out, I do! I am giving this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to Hannah Carmack for providing me with an advanced copy in return for an honest review!
Because of how large the cast was, it was easy to get confused with who was who. Luckily, I keep notes as I read so this wasn’t really a problem for me, but for someone who reads without note-taking, I can see how someone could confuse the characters quite easily. Because this is a spy story, each character had two names; a code name and their real name, and both of these names are used interchangeably throughout the book. If you decide to pick this book up, I definitely recommend keeping notes to keep everyone straight. Also, there are two different groups of spies. There are those who work for the CIA and those who work for KGB. It also helps to note who each spy works for.
The really cool part about this book was that each character had special abilities. They were so neat to read about. Not by choice, the spies who work for the CIA were kidnapped and shot up with steroids that gave them these abilities. One could see the future, one was like a fish, and some were indestructible. I really loved reading about what everyone’s powers were. This was definitely my favorite part of the book!
If you enjoy spy stories with a lot of action, I would definitely recommend this book. It was different from any book I have picked up before! I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy a book about spies, but come to found out, I do! I am giving this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to Hannah Carmack for providing me with an advanced copy in return for an honest review!
December 25, 2017
Seven-Sided Spy is an action-packed story of hunters and prey. Though the question begs: who is truly the prey? This novel doesn't deal in absolutes or black-and-white good guys and bad guys as is often the case in CIA vs KGB stories (I think...). Everyone's just doing what they can to survive.
This is not my usual genre, and so I must admit that I may not be the best person to provide a fair review of a historical spy novel, but I'll do my best.
The story engages with several different narratives through both a forward-moving plot and an array of flashbacks. A key cast of about seven characters is not an easy juggling act for any author, but Carmack pulls it off fairly well.
If you're interested in books that are not particularly male or female dominated, but provide close to equal time to both, then this novel is one for you. I personally think it's a good thing to see more books out there that aren't confined by the sometimes rigid expectations of "lesfic" or "M/M".
That said, for me the blurb and the cover image combined set me up with a somewhat unrealistic expectation, as Diana is not explored in any more depth than the other characters in the story. Her F/F relationship also has probably the least amount of time-on-the-page of any of the diverse relationships, both sexual and otherwise. I don't see that as much of a problem as the blurb gives a really accurate feel for the thriller elements, but readers should realise that the book is not *only* about Diana and her ex-flame, but she is one equal part of a varied cast of characters that are male, female, gay, straight, and - though not explicitly labelled - an array of identities in between. I think this is a strength, and we need more books like this out there, but I also know that some people prefer a more traditional style of romance thriller, and this is not the type of book that you'll find in Seven-Sided Spy.
One of the other real strengths of this book is its action scenes, of which there are plenty. I'm terrible at following such sequences in most books, I usually just kind of bluff my way to the end of a fight scene and hope I can guess who's won from whatever happens after, but I didn't need to do that here. I could imagine the fighting play out in my head quite clearly.
Be prepared to be a little confused at times because of the large cast of characters, all of whom have two names (a real name and a code name), but stick with it because I had a pretty good grasp of who everyone was by the end. As someone who doesn't have much love for thrillers, and I am one of those few people out there who really doesn't like James Bond, this book did a surprisingly good job of holding my interest. A really solid debut novel from Hannah Carmack.
***I received an ARC of this novel***
This is not my usual genre, and so I must admit that I may not be the best person to provide a fair review of a historical spy novel, but I'll do my best.
The story engages with several different narratives through both a forward-moving plot and an array of flashbacks. A key cast of about seven characters is not an easy juggling act for any author, but Carmack pulls it off fairly well.
If you're interested in books that are not particularly male or female dominated, but provide close to equal time to both, then this novel is one for you. I personally think it's a good thing to see more books out there that aren't confined by the sometimes rigid expectations of "lesfic" or "M/M".
That said, for me the blurb and the cover image combined set me up with a somewhat unrealistic expectation, as Diana is not explored in any more depth than the other characters in the story. Her F/F relationship also has probably the least amount of time-on-the-page of any of the diverse relationships, both sexual and otherwise. I don't see that as much of a problem as the blurb gives a really accurate feel for the thriller elements, but readers should realise that the book is not *only* about Diana and her ex-flame, but she is one equal part of a varied cast of characters that are male, female, gay, straight, and - though not explicitly labelled - an array of identities in between. I think this is a strength, and we need more books like this out there, but I also know that some people prefer a more traditional style of romance thriller, and this is not the type of book that you'll find in Seven-Sided Spy.
One of the other real strengths of this book is its action scenes, of which there are plenty. I'm terrible at following such sequences in most books, I usually just kind of bluff my way to the end of a fight scene and hope I can guess who's won from whatever happens after, but I didn't need to do that here. I could imagine the fighting play out in my head quite clearly.
Be prepared to be a little confused at times because of the large cast of characters, all of whom have two names (a real name and a code name), but stick with it because I had a pretty good grasp of who everyone was by the end. As someone who doesn't have much love for thrillers, and I am one of those few people out there who really doesn't like James Bond, this book did a surprisingly good job of holding my interest. A really solid debut novel from Hannah Carmack.
***I received an ARC of this novel***
January 19, 2018
3.5 Stars
I’ll be honest, this didn’t end up being quite what I expected when I picked it up. When I think spy thrillers and espionage, I generally think James Bond-type stories, and I’m sure I’m not alone in that. This was much more character-driven than plot driven.
There’s a lot to like in here. I appreciated the way the characters on both sides were nuanced. There was really only one character I ended up labeling the true hero, and as expected, that’s the one who genuinely had a happy ending. Whether or not the others got what was due them is up to the reader.
While some people may struggle with keeping the characters sorted out, I had no trouble. Each one has two names, which feeds into the theme of people being multi-faceted. For something that could have been confusing, I think the author did a remarkable job of making sure we had the tools we needed to know who was who. The dual identities also serve to make each character sympathetic, regardless of which side they’re on.
That was another thing I liked. There are mostly no true good guys/bad guys. Although that element is usually firmly present in most spy thrillers, it’s not here. Over the course of the book, we learn how and why most of them became involved. Their motivations are varied and interesting. That’s probably the best part of the story.
I do have mixed feelings in other ways. For one thing, I never felt like some of the plot strands went much of anywhere. As interesting as the characters’ psychology was, I think I was looking for something with a more specific goal. There was no logic to why the spies were given the steroid that transformed them or what the plan was.
I also found it frustrating that most of the story takes place in the woods on a mountain. We see other places in flashbacks, but I’m not the sort of reader who wants my action stories so localized. It makes sense to the story, but it simply wasn’t my preference.
This definitely should not be tagged as “lesbian.” For one thing, neither of the two women appeared to be a lesbian. For another, their relationship was about the least fleshed-out thing in the entire story. I found the two men who had an ongoing relationship more compelling. This is a problem, making male love more interesting, deep, and well-rounded. It also feeds into some unpleasant stereotypes about women and cattiness. Some of the other LGBT content confused me, and frankly, I had some misgivings about Nikola’s and Hera’s characters in a number of ways.
I’m not sure how I feel about the ending. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but it didn’t leave me feeling entirely satisfied. There were some loose ends, which I did somewhat expect, but that wasn’t the problem I had with it. It’s hard to explain without giving everything away, but I finished the book feeling a bit like something was missing.
Overall, the writing is very good. If a psychological cross-examination of spies and the spies who love them is your thing, then this book will delight you. If you’re like me and want a bit more of a specific aim for your international espionage, then you might just as well go back to regular old James Bond.
For good writing and an interesting premise but a story that ultimately didn’t dazzle me, this gets 3.5 stars.
I’ll be honest, this didn’t end up being quite what I expected when I picked it up. When I think spy thrillers and espionage, I generally think James Bond-type stories, and I’m sure I’m not alone in that. This was much more character-driven than plot driven.
There’s a lot to like in here. I appreciated the way the characters on both sides were nuanced. There was really only one character I ended up labeling the true hero, and as expected, that’s the one who genuinely had a happy ending. Whether or not the others got what was due them is up to the reader.
While some people may struggle with keeping the characters sorted out, I had no trouble. Each one has two names, which feeds into the theme of people being multi-faceted. For something that could have been confusing, I think the author did a remarkable job of making sure we had the tools we needed to know who was who. The dual identities also serve to make each character sympathetic, regardless of which side they’re on.
That was another thing I liked. There are mostly no true good guys/bad guys. Although that element is usually firmly present in most spy thrillers, it’s not here. Over the course of the book, we learn how and why most of them became involved. Their motivations are varied and interesting. That’s probably the best part of the story.
I do have mixed feelings in other ways. For one thing, I never felt like some of the plot strands went much of anywhere. As interesting as the characters’ psychology was, I think I was looking for something with a more specific goal. There was no logic to why the spies were given the steroid that transformed them or what the plan was.
I also found it frustrating that most of the story takes place in the woods on a mountain. We see other places in flashbacks, but I’m not the sort of reader who wants my action stories so localized. It makes sense to the story, but it simply wasn’t my preference.
This definitely should not be tagged as “lesbian.” For one thing, neither of the two women appeared to be a lesbian. For another, their relationship was about the least fleshed-out thing in the entire story. I found the two men who had an ongoing relationship more compelling. This is a problem, making male love more interesting, deep, and well-rounded. It also feeds into some unpleasant stereotypes about women and cattiness. Some of the other LGBT content confused me, and frankly, I had some misgivings about Nikola’s and Hera’s characters in a number of ways.
I’m not sure how I feel about the ending. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but it didn’t leave me feeling entirely satisfied. There were some loose ends, which I did somewhat expect, but that wasn’t the problem I had with it. It’s hard to explain without giving everything away, but I finished the book feeling a bit like something was missing.
Overall, the writing is very good. If a psychological cross-examination of spies and the spies who love them is your thing, then this book will delight you. If you’re like me and want a bit more of a specific aim for your international espionage, then you might just as well go back to regular old James Bond.
For good writing and an interesting premise but a story that ultimately didn’t dazzle me, this gets 3.5 stars.
January 15, 2018
This was an interesting and unexpected read and, consequently, a bit difficult to review. It's really hard to explain without giving much away. During the Cold War, a group of CIA agents is captured by the KGB and experimented on. They escape but get trapped in a state park, leading to a standoff with three KGB agents.
The synopsis makes it seem like the majority of the story will be these two groups of agents matching wits, but there's really not a lot of plot here.There are a ton of flashbacks. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I'd say half the book is flashbacks to the agents' previous missions, which aren't even that detailed. As a result, the story is so choppy that I felt adrift most of the read.
The main problem is that there are too many characters for the story to focus on--at least eight. Everyone has code names and real names, and the narration flops between them, so it's sometimes hard to keep track. More than that, though, is that they all get points of view. In fact, some scenes even seemed omniscient, switching between characters' thoughts. Despite all these characters having points of view, it was so hard to get a read on their motivation. Okay, the CIA agents want to get away from the KGB, but they don't do anything about it in the present, and in the flashbacks, their motivations are even murkier. Why is anyone doing what they're doing? The synopsis gave me the impression that Diana is the main character, but after reading the whole book, I still barely have an idea of who she is or what her relationship with the KGB agent was like.
As far as the editing goes, there were many little typos or errors, such as comma splices or capitalizing the first word after a comma. I'm attuned to that sort of stuff anyway, but it felt like this manuscript needed another run-through to catch those things. The writing is decent and flows well, but some of the phrasing is awkward.
It's not that this wasn't an enjoyable read--I definitely liked aspects--but it was frustrating one. I think there are a lot of good ideas here but that the execution is lacking. I'd probably read more from Carmack in the future, but I don't think I'd recommend this to anyone except readers who really like spy novels.
Thanks to Hannah Carmack, Nine Star Press, and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
The synopsis makes it seem like the majority of the story will be these two groups of agents matching wits, but there's really not a lot of plot here.There are a ton of flashbacks. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I'd say half the book is flashbacks to the agents' previous missions, which aren't even that detailed. As a result, the story is so choppy that I felt adrift most of the read.
The main problem is that there are too many characters for the story to focus on--at least eight. Everyone has code names and real names, and the narration flops between them, so it's sometimes hard to keep track. More than that, though, is that they all get points of view. In fact, some scenes even seemed omniscient, switching between characters' thoughts. Despite all these characters having points of view, it was so hard to get a read on their motivation. Okay, the CIA agents want to get away from the KGB, but they don't do anything about it in the present, and in the flashbacks, their motivations are even murkier. Why is anyone doing what they're doing? The synopsis gave me the impression that Diana is the main character, but after reading the whole book, I still barely have an idea of who she is or what her relationship with the KGB agent was like.
As far as the editing goes, there were many little typos or errors, such as comma splices or capitalizing the first word after a comma. I'm attuned to that sort of stuff anyway, but it felt like this manuscript needed another run-through to catch those things. The writing is decent and flows well, but some of the phrasing is awkward.
It's not that this wasn't an enjoyable read--I definitely liked aspects--but it was frustrating one. I think there are a lot of good ideas here but that the execution is lacking. I'd probably read more from Carmack in the future, but I don't think I'd recommend this to anyone except readers who really like spy novels.
Thanks to Hannah Carmack, Nine Star Press, and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 25, 2017
I choose this book by mistake. I thought, I don’t even know why, that there was a romance involved in the story, but what a magnificent mistake to make, It was an amazing book. I loved it.
It is under the historical genre in the publisher, but I get a bigger paranormal influence than historical from it. I also think the mystery was an important element, and certainly something I enjoyed a lot about it. The plot was fantastic, it is full of twists. It was very exciting. The book description made me believe it was going to be center only on Diana, and maybe that’s what made me think there was romance involved ,because it also mention her former flame, Nikola. But it wasn’t only about her, the story was told from several points of view, what I found that really interesting and made it easier to know all of the characters.
It was almost impossible to choose a favorite character. Every single one of them had an interesting story to tell. I particularly liked the fact that none of them was perfect. There wasn’t good guys and bad guys, just individuals trying to survive under a very difficult situation.
I did have some issues about it, mostly related to the fact that sometimes, especially at the beginning, it was hard to tell when the story had gone to tell us something from the past and then get back to the present. After I advance a little in the book, it got easier to tell. It was bothersome at first, but nothing that made me enjoy the book any less.
Overall it was an amazing book. I loved it. This is, obviously, the first book from the author that I read, since is a debut novel, but I’m definitely going to keep an eye on this new author after this great first experience.
*ARC provided by NineStar Press through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review
It is under the historical genre in the publisher, but I get a bigger paranormal influence than historical from it. I also think the mystery was an important element, and certainly something I enjoyed a lot about it. The plot was fantastic, it is full of twists. It was very exciting. The book description made me believe it was going to be center only on Diana, and maybe that’s what made me think there was romance involved ,because it also mention her former flame, Nikola. But it wasn’t only about her, the story was told from several points of view, what I found that really interesting and made it easier to know all of the characters.
It was almost impossible to choose a favorite character. Every single one of them had an interesting story to tell. I particularly liked the fact that none of them was perfect. There wasn’t good guys and bad guys, just individuals trying to survive under a very difficult situation.
I did have some issues about it, mostly related to the fact that sometimes, especially at the beginning, it was hard to tell when the story had gone to tell us something from the past and then get back to the present. After I advance a little in the book, it got easier to tell. It was bothersome at first, but nothing that made me enjoy the book any less.
Overall it was an amazing book. I loved it. This is, obviously, the first book from the author that I read, since is a debut novel, but I’m definitely going to keep an eye on this new author after this great first experience.
*ARC provided by NineStar Press through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review
December 29, 2017
I was provided with a digital advanced reader copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Now that this is out of the way…
Seven-Sided Spy is a complex undertaking delving into multiple plot lines (moving forward, flashbacks) and an extensive cast of main characters. You’ll know some of the premise based on the description here on Goodreads, so I’ll just work into what I thought right now.
The premise of this book is an intriguing one to be sure, and the book itself is great for anyone interested in the spy world, espionage, thrillers, and similar. I would like to mention this book is quite complex in what it juggles, so even for an experienced reader it would be good to take it slow through this one and really think about what you’re reading.
I say this because I, like others, had some difficulty with remembering who everyone was in the book, since there are quite a few characters and each one has both a real name as well as a code name. I kind of wish I knew this when I started, because then I would have tried writing down who was who, which I think would have been a great help. The confusion with the characters, I think, is my biggest piece of criticism about the book. I personally would have liked things to have been a bit more clear-cut, but at the same time I wonder if the “messy” nature (for lack of a better word) might also be in an effort to mimic what the spy world was actually like? I have no experience as a spy, obviously, but I would imagine that world is all shades of grey rather than black and white. If this is the case then the book certain does an amazing job at it.
I’m not sure how I feel about the ending just yet—certainly didn’t see every element of it coming, which is a great thing, but at the same time there’s still something about it. Hard to describe, really, without spoilers.
So, as I mentioned earlier I think Seven-Sided Spy is worth the read for big fans of spy thrillers and similar type books—just be prepared to always think throughout in order to keep everything straight!
Now that this is out of the way…
Seven-Sided Spy is a complex undertaking delving into multiple plot lines (moving forward, flashbacks) and an extensive cast of main characters. You’ll know some of the premise based on the description here on Goodreads, so I’ll just work into what I thought right now.
The premise of this book is an intriguing one to be sure, and the book itself is great for anyone interested in the spy world, espionage, thrillers, and similar. I would like to mention this book is quite complex in what it juggles, so even for an experienced reader it would be good to take it slow through this one and really think about what you’re reading.
I say this because I, like others, had some difficulty with remembering who everyone was in the book, since there are quite a few characters and each one has both a real name as well as a code name. I kind of wish I knew this when I started, because then I would have tried writing down who was who, which I think would have been a great help. The confusion with the characters, I think, is my biggest piece of criticism about the book. I personally would have liked things to have been a bit more clear-cut, but at the same time I wonder if the “messy” nature (for lack of a better word) might also be in an effort to mimic what the spy world was actually like? I have no experience as a spy, obviously, but I would imagine that world is all shades of grey rather than black and white. If this is the case then the book certain does an amazing job at it.
I’m not sure how I feel about the ending just yet—certainly didn’t see every element of it coming, which is a great thing, but at the same time there’s still something about it. Hard to describe, really, without spoilers.
So, as I mentioned earlier I think Seven-Sided Spy is worth the read for big fans of spy thrillers and similar type books—just be prepared to always think throughout in order to keep everything straight!
January 6, 2018
I was a bit nervous going into this book. The first half starts slow, a bit like climbing up the mountain, and it's hard to see the future and figure out if the spies can balance out the nature part of things, but it's all a clever seduction so that by the end you're thoroughly hooked because this action narrative is on STEROIDS. Also, it is hella gay, in the best possible way. The first half is a bit light, but the second half is dense with flashbacks and twists and turns, and I think enough subtle characterization work is done while you aren't paying attention it makes the final pages stick out more. I thought it was going to end up being a character study nature porn more than anything, but the fight scenes improve as you go and the last one is just heart-wrenching. Your heart will race, if you still have one, and you will call the author a bad word at least once. An excellent, breezy read that will leave you coming up for air.
January 7, 2018
I received a copy of Seven Sided Spy from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review and was pleasantly surprised to find it’s science fiction element was a more prominent part of the story than I initially expected.
When I read the cover copy about once attractive spies deformed and on the run from the KGB, I thought normal scarring, not superhuman abilities and blue skin. The later is much more exciting, at least in my mind.
Yes, it has speculative elements, but Seven Sided Spy is also firmly grounded in reality and history. The slang, cars and clothing really ground me in the time period. The deep character development grounds me in humanity.
I loved how the characters’ past, present and future were all woven through the novel, but felt that at one point, having characters tell each other stories as a way to do that was used a little too much. It worked, though, because a lot of the “present” narrative was the characters stuck in the woods, trying to figure out when or if it would ever be safe to leave.
I honestly was not sure how this was going to end. I had a clear idea of how I wanted it to end, but my ideal ending would not have been the best for the stories true hero, so when I got to the end, the one I didn’t quite expect, it left me a little sad. It almost made me cry. However, it was also happy for at least for one characters. And it worked. I’m just a baby when it comes to endings.
While I am sure there are comparable novels like this one out there, I have not read once recently enough to make comparison. However, if you have ever wanted something like a darker, more grounded, queer Agent Carter, or if you just like spy novels with deep characters and a slight speculative element, then read Seven Sided Spy.
When I read the cover copy about once attractive spies deformed and on the run from the KGB, I thought normal scarring, not superhuman abilities and blue skin. The later is much more exciting, at least in my mind.
Yes, it has speculative elements, but Seven Sided Spy is also firmly grounded in reality and history. The slang, cars and clothing really ground me in the time period. The deep character development grounds me in humanity.
I loved how the characters’ past, present and future were all woven through the novel, but felt that at one point, having characters tell each other stories as a way to do that was used a little too much. It worked, though, because a lot of the “present” narrative was the characters stuck in the woods, trying to figure out when or if it would ever be safe to leave.
I honestly was not sure how this was going to end. I had a clear idea of how I wanted it to end, but my ideal ending would not have been the best for the stories true hero, so when I got to the end, the one I didn’t quite expect, it left me a little sad. It almost made me cry. However, it was also happy for at least for one characters. And it worked. I’m just a baby when it comes to endings.
While I am sure there are comparable novels like this one out there, I have not read once recently enough to make comparison. However, if you have ever wanted something like a darker, more grounded, queer Agent Carter, or if you just like spy novels with deep characters and a slight speculative element, then read Seven Sided Spy.
December 28, 2024
I received an eBook of Seven-Sided Spy from the author, Hannah. Thanks so much to her!!
You can also find this review on my blog HERE
Cover Art:
Honestly, I don’t like the cover. I don’t find covers with people on them appealing. I do like the forest background part though. It looks good against the bluish colour of the girl. I am also not sure exactly who the girl on the cover is. I’m guessing it is meant to be Diana, but not 100% sure.
Writing:
I liked most aspects of the writing. It flowed well but was a little slow at times however it wasn’t bad enough to really bug me. The book includes both past and present events. I enjoyed a few of the past sections but a few of them, I feel like could have been summed up in less pages. Some didn’t really add anything to the overall story and I didn’t see the point of them. But a few were necessary for the story, so I enjoyed those!
My main problem was that all of the chapters were so long! I prefer novels with short or varied sized chapters. That is simply personal preference and I didn’t mark it down for this. I just wanted to make people aware if you are like me and don’t like all huge chapters!
Plot:
As this is a thriller I won’t talk much about the plot as I feel like Thrillers you need to go in knowing nothing or at least very little!
I did enjoy the plot though. It was fairly action packed. As I said earlier it was a little slow at times. This was mainly at the start when we are learning about the world and setting everything up, but after about 30% it gets a pretty fast-paced except some of the past sections.
Characters:
There is a fair bit of diversity in this book. We have gay, bisexual, POC & also a character with an eating disorder (Bulimia).
As for the Bulimia, It is barely talked about. It is one of the past sections and basically all the happens is we see that she suffers from it and then another character tells her to stop and then we are back in the present and she no longer suffers from it. I’m not sure if the rep was done well for this one. I personally don’t have any experience with any eating disorders so I can’t say whether it was done well or not.
As for the characters themselves, I feel like discovering who they all are is part of the mystery of the book. So if you want you can keep reading, or choose not to. Skip to the Overall section if you didn’t want to spoil this part.
Each of the characters have atleast 2 names as they are spies. I will put both so there is no confusion!
Hera/Diana/Goddess was my least favourite character in the end. At the beginning, I didn’t mind her but in the end, this one is crazy!
Dresden/Tim was another unenjoyable character. He was just kinda rude and petty and annoyed me most of the time.
Niccolò/Da Vinci was an okay character. He kinda felt like a father figure to the others in their group. He felt very realistic for some reason. I think it may have been the constant struggle he was in and just trying to do the right thing but it not working out!
Marco/Rigan was probably my favourite character. He was interesting and really enjoyable.
Ruby/Robin was funny, quirky and I enjoyed seeing her being thrown into this craziness and how she dealt with it.
The rest of the characters didn’t get as much page time in their POVs. So I don’t have as many feelings about them as the others.
Nikola/Wesley is the one character that I don’t really know how to feel. I both liked her and didn’t like her at different times.
Kal/Sergei & Gulliver/Roderick are both enjoyable and I did really enjoy their friendship.
Overall:
Overall I enjoyed the writing but had a few small issues with it. The plot was really well done though and I liked the slight hint of a fantasy of sorts. I liked some and didn’t like some of the characters, but you can’t love everyone! So I’m fine with that.
Slight spoiler ahead!! The only thing I wish is there was more explanation about why some of the characters were given those abilities of such. There was no real background on that part. There was the background of the characters but barely any talk about why those things were happening to them. I just don’t get it and I’m pretty sure it’s a standalone, so we will never find out I guess!
You can also find this review on my blog HERE
Cover Art:
Honestly, I don’t like the cover. I don’t find covers with people on them appealing. I do like the forest background part though. It looks good against the bluish colour of the girl. I am also not sure exactly who the girl on the cover is. I’m guessing it is meant to be Diana, but not 100% sure.
Writing:
I liked most aspects of the writing. It flowed well but was a little slow at times however it wasn’t bad enough to really bug me. The book includes both past and present events. I enjoyed a few of the past sections but a few of them, I feel like could have been summed up in less pages. Some didn’t really add anything to the overall story and I didn’t see the point of them. But a few were necessary for the story, so I enjoyed those!
My main problem was that all of the chapters were so long! I prefer novels with short or varied sized chapters. That is simply personal preference and I didn’t mark it down for this. I just wanted to make people aware if you are like me and don’t like all huge chapters!
Plot:
As this is a thriller I won’t talk much about the plot as I feel like Thrillers you need to go in knowing nothing or at least very little!
I did enjoy the plot though. It was fairly action packed. As I said earlier it was a little slow at times. This was mainly at the start when we are learning about the world and setting everything up, but after about 30% it gets a pretty fast-paced except some of the past sections.
Characters:
There is a fair bit of diversity in this book. We have gay, bisexual, POC & also a character with an eating disorder (Bulimia).
As for the Bulimia, It is barely talked about. It is one of the past sections and basically all the happens is we see that she suffers from it and then another character tells her to stop and then we are back in the present and she no longer suffers from it. I’m not sure if the rep was done well for this one. I personally don’t have any experience with any eating disorders so I can’t say whether it was done well or not.
As for the characters themselves, I feel like discovering who they all are is part of the mystery of the book. So if you want you can keep reading, or choose not to. Skip to the Overall section if you didn’t want to spoil this part.
Each of the characters have atleast 2 names as they are spies. I will put both so there is no confusion!
Hera/Diana/Goddess was my least favourite character in the end. At the beginning, I didn’t mind her but in the end, this one is crazy!
Dresden/Tim was another unenjoyable character. He was just kinda rude and petty and annoyed me most of the time.
Niccolò/Da Vinci was an okay character. He kinda felt like a father figure to the others in their group. He felt very realistic for some reason. I think it may have been the constant struggle he was in and just trying to do the right thing but it not working out!
Marco/Rigan was probably my favourite character. He was interesting and really enjoyable.
Ruby/Robin was funny, quirky and I enjoyed seeing her being thrown into this craziness and how she dealt with it.
The rest of the characters didn’t get as much page time in their POVs. So I don’t have as many feelings about them as the others.
Nikola/Wesley is the one character that I don’t really know how to feel. I both liked her and didn’t like her at different times.
Kal/Sergei & Gulliver/Roderick are both enjoyable and I did really enjoy their friendship.
Overall:
Overall I enjoyed the writing but had a few small issues with it. The plot was really well done though and I liked the slight hint of a fantasy of sorts. I liked some and didn’t like some of the characters, but you can’t love everyone! So I’m fine with that.
Slight spoiler ahead!! The only thing I wish is there was more explanation about why some of the characters were given those abilities of such. There was no real background on that part. There was the background of the characters but barely any talk about why those things were happening to them. I just don’t get it and I’m pretty sure it’s a standalone, so we will never find out I guess!
January 15, 2018
Seven-Sided Spy by Hannah Carmack
Star rating: ★★★★ ☆ 4/5 stars
Format: ebook ARC
Summary: Three CIA agents are kidnapped by the KGB and experimented on. The results leave them with super-human abilities but leaves them disfigured. They escape but being disfigured they cannot return back society and must evade recapture.
Review: I received a free advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This book had a new take on the spy novel genre that I hadn't seen in another book. I liked the characters and the story overall. I enjoyed reading it and wanted more once it was finished. It's set in the early sixties, at the height of the Cold War.
I do wish that they could have spent more time outside of the woods. We get some flashbacks, but I would have liked to see more in "current" time with the CIA agents outside of the woods. I just would have liked to see them in the field with their new abilities.
I wish I understood everyone's dislike of Tim. Like I get he wasn't the best guy, based on him stalking his neighbor but everyone seemed to have personal beef with him and we don't get to The see what that is. So it left me pretty confused why he was so hated. I thought for a second he and Diana had a romantic history but later it seems like that was a bad guess. I'm just not sure.
Diana though, she was a pretty awful person. Seeing what she did to Nikola, girl deserved more than she got and in the end I couldn't root for her. Though the book does a great job of highlighting the morally grey area of espionage. The "good" guys aren't completely good and the "bad" guys aren't as bad as you would think they are.
Ruby and Rigan were by far my favorite characters. I would love to have just read about those two forever. I found myself wishing there had been more about them.
Overall this is a really great novel. I haven't read many spy novels but this one was really unique with a great storyline and characters.
Recommendation: If you like super powered humans and spies then this is a great novel to check out.
Challenge prompt: A book with alliteration in the title
Star rating: ★★★★ ☆ 4/5 stars
Format: ebook ARC
Summary: Three CIA agents are kidnapped by the KGB and experimented on. The results leave them with super-human abilities but leaves them disfigured. They escape but being disfigured they cannot return back society and must evade recapture.
Review: I received a free advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This book had a new take on the spy novel genre that I hadn't seen in another book. I liked the characters and the story overall. I enjoyed reading it and wanted more once it was finished. It's set in the early sixties, at the height of the Cold War.
I do wish that they could have spent more time outside of the woods. We get some flashbacks, but I would have liked to see more in "current" time with the CIA agents outside of the woods. I just would have liked to see them in the field with their new abilities.
I wish I understood everyone's dislike of Tim. Like I get he wasn't the best guy, based on him stalking his neighbor but everyone seemed to have personal beef with him and we don't get to The see what that is. So it left me pretty confused why he was so hated. I thought for a second he and Diana had a romantic history but later it seems like that was a bad guess. I'm just not sure.
Diana though, she was a pretty awful person. Seeing what she did to Nikola, girl deserved more than she got and in the end I couldn't root for her. Though the book does a great job of highlighting the morally grey area of espionage. The "good" guys aren't completely good and the "bad" guys aren't as bad as you would think they are.
Ruby and Rigan were by far my favorite characters. I would love to have just read about those two forever. I found myself wishing there had been more about them.
Overall this is a really great novel. I haven't read many spy novels but this one was really unique with a great storyline and characters.
Recommendation: If you like super powered humans and spies then this is a great novel to check out.
Challenge prompt: A book with alliteration in the title
January 12, 2018
This review also appears on my blog alexreadsboooks
________
Diana Riley, the CIA’s finest agent disappear in the middle of the Cold War, kidnapped by the KGB along with her partners Tim and Da Vinci. They come to in a KGB facility in North Carolina, altered and with strange new powers. They manage to flee, but their ordeal is not over.
The KGB sends one of their deadliest after them, Nikkola, a woman who has every reason to hate the woman she used to be in a relationship with. Can they escape her long enough to survive?
Thank s a lot to Hannah Carmack for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I was not quite sure what to expect from this when I started it. Thrillers aren’t my usual genre, and even if it’s queer I was not entirely sure I’d like it. But as it turned out I really did.
It’s probably a pity for any novels about spies that the last one I read before this was Casino Royale by Ian Fleming, which I couldn’t stand, and which kind of soured me on this particular subgenre. On the other hand it probably helped Seven-Sided Spy, because it reminded me why spy novels are actually pretty cool.
The story itself is pulled me right in, and I had a hard time putting it down, even when I really had to. i wouldn’t call it a fun story, but the characters are really interesting, and Carmack provides background information on all of them and their relationships with each other to that point through flashbacks. It was great to learn about all of them, and by the end of the novel I like I at least liked most of them.
Stylistically, I think it is a strong debut. There are b smaller bits where I personally feel like the writing hits some snags, but they’re few and far in between and it actually makes me want to see where Carmack goes from here and how she develops her writing. If Seven-Sided Spy is anything to go by, I’m sure it will be exciting.
________
Diana Riley, the CIA’s finest agent disappear in the middle of the Cold War, kidnapped by the KGB along with her partners Tim and Da Vinci. They come to in a KGB facility in North Carolina, altered and with strange new powers. They manage to flee, but their ordeal is not over.
The KGB sends one of their deadliest after them, Nikkola, a woman who has every reason to hate the woman she used to be in a relationship with. Can they escape her long enough to survive?
Thank s a lot to Hannah Carmack for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I was not quite sure what to expect from this when I started it. Thrillers aren’t my usual genre, and even if it’s queer I was not entirely sure I’d like it. But as it turned out I really did.
It’s probably a pity for any novels about spies that the last one I read before this was Casino Royale by Ian Fleming, which I couldn’t stand, and which kind of soured me on this particular subgenre. On the other hand it probably helped Seven-Sided Spy, because it reminded me why spy novels are actually pretty cool.
The story itself is pulled me right in, and I had a hard time putting it down, even when I really had to. i wouldn’t call it a fun story, but the characters are really interesting, and Carmack provides background information on all of them and their relationships with each other to that point through flashbacks. It was great to learn about all of them, and by the end of the novel I like I at least liked most of them.
Stylistically, I think it is a strong debut. There are b smaller bits where I personally feel like the writing hits some snags, but they’re few and far in between and it actually makes me want to see where Carmack goes from here and how she develops her writing. If Seven-Sided Spy is anything to go by, I’m sure it will be exciting.
January 21, 2018
Original review posted on briannasbookreview.weebly.com
Review: This novel begins with intriguing and action packed scenes that follow CIA agents as they are captured by the rivaling KGB. Unexpected turn of events kept me turning the page throughout this entire book, especially the aspects of paranormal experimental transitions that each CIA agent was forced to endure after they were captured. One thing I really enjoyed was the relationships each trio of agents had on both sides. They all had history together even across the CIA and KGB, which made the situation that much more tense through betrayal and deceit. Additionally, Hannah did an incredible job at providing character development with the use of flashbacks and detailed descriptions of character personalities. When the point of view changed, I could picture exactly the kind of person each character was and given the number of characters in this novel I can imagine being successful in this was extremely difficult. There were a few areas I think could have been improved, such as the transition from current perspective to flashbacks. I had a hard time keeping track of when the scenes were current and when they were flashbacks until I got further into the scenes. Maybe utilizing shorter chapters could have been helpful. Additionally, it took me a little bit to remember all of the real names and aliases, so I found myself thinking a bit too hard while reading a novel. Overall, I found Seven-Sided Spy to be incredibly enjoyable and I would recommend it to anyone who likes to read from multiple character view points and who likes action novels with character development.
Review: This novel begins with intriguing and action packed scenes that follow CIA agents as they are captured by the rivaling KGB. Unexpected turn of events kept me turning the page throughout this entire book, especially the aspects of paranormal experimental transitions that each CIA agent was forced to endure after they were captured. One thing I really enjoyed was the relationships each trio of agents had on both sides. They all had history together even across the CIA and KGB, which made the situation that much more tense through betrayal and deceit. Additionally, Hannah did an incredible job at providing character development with the use of flashbacks and detailed descriptions of character personalities. When the point of view changed, I could picture exactly the kind of person each character was and given the number of characters in this novel I can imagine being successful in this was extremely difficult. There were a few areas I think could have been improved, such as the transition from current perspective to flashbacks. I had a hard time keeping track of when the scenes were current and when they were flashbacks until I got further into the scenes. Maybe utilizing shorter chapters could have been helpful. Additionally, it took me a little bit to remember all of the real names and aliases, so I found myself thinking a bit too hard while reading a novel. Overall, I found Seven-Sided Spy to be incredibly enjoyable and I would recommend it to anyone who likes to read from multiple character view points and who likes action novels with character development.
January 22, 2021
To be honest, I started this book a couple years ago but only got one chapter in. This time, I restarted it and I was hooked from the beginning. Sometimes you just need to read a book at the right time for it to grab you. It’s funny how that works.
This book was unique in the fact that I liked all of the major characters in their own ways. They were all, simultaneously, good and bad. It certainly made for an interesting reading experience. The end of the book was even better when their stories all intertwined and everything was concluded.
The majority of this book takes place in the mountains, and it really made me want to go hiking. But, it’s winter here in the Midwest, so I enjoyed living through them.
There isn’t much else to say other than if you like an interesting book about spies, government, and stretching the boundaries of reality – you’ll enjoy reading this one.
4/5 Stars
This book was unique in the fact that I liked all of the major characters in their own ways. They were all, simultaneously, good and bad. It certainly made for an interesting reading experience. The end of the book was even better when their stories all intertwined and everything was concluded.
The majority of this book takes place in the mountains, and it really made me want to go hiking. But, it’s winter here in the Midwest, so I enjoyed living through them.
There isn’t much else to say other than if you like an interesting book about spies, government, and stretching the boundaries of reality – you’ll enjoy reading this one.
4/5 Stars
January 22, 2018
Part of Carmack's style (and something that is entirely personal for everyone) is the way Carmack weaves in stories within stories. There's our main plotline unfolding, yet at the same time, our protagonists are all drawn into their memories. As they interact with long lost rivals and uneasy alliances, they remember and reminisce on how they ended up where they are. The multiple perspective narrative style is integral to this historical web. We are allowed to see how these events unfolded and happened for everyone - why they are who they are and where they are.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from the author.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from the author.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
March 25, 2018
I have no idea how it took me so long to update my progress when I literally finished this in two sittings?? (This was only because I was reading this around the holidays and family always gets in the way of reading..) Phenomenal. Actually should pick up my hard copy and do a reread soon so I can update this review with all of my highlights!!!!!
February 5, 2018
Thank you very much to the author for sending me this book to review. I really enjoyed it. This book is a mixture of historical fiction and fantasy. Set during the Cold War, a group of CIA agents are kidnapped by the KGB, and when they escape, they realize that they are quite different from before. Forced to undergo illegal experiments, they find themselves to be more monster than human, which means that when they escape, they aren't sure where to go.
The characters were a lot of fun in this one, and the author weaves a tale of past and present so that the reader can keep up with what's going on, but can also understand the characters pasts. The story is well paced and I found myself intrigued by the characters.
Just a warning, there are some mature themes in this book, including a description of bulimia. So if that is something that may be triggering, or something that you do not want to read in your books, then this might not be the book for you. If that's ok, then I definitely recommend you checking this one out!
The characters were a lot of fun in this one, and the author weaves a tale of past and present so that the reader can keep up with what's going on, but can also understand the characters pasts. The story is well paced and I found myself intrigued by the characters.
Just a warning, there are some mature themes in this book, including a description of bulimia. So if that is something that may be triggering, or something that you do not want to read in your books, then this might not be the book for you. If that's ok, then I definitely recommend you checking this one out!
March 24, 2018
I was expecting more action for a spy novel but the characters spent most of the book trapped on a mountain. Although I did enjoy some of the flashbacks/stories that they revealed about themselves. Full review to come!
Full review on Stellar Kitten Book Reviews:
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Many thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book!
I want to start off saying that I was really looking forward to reading this book. I haven’t read too many thrillers but I was really excited for the spy and historical aspects of the story. The book started off with some interesting intergroup tension, where two of the team members (Hera and Dresden) were constantly butting heads and the third (Niccolo was stuck being the mediator. It all pretty much stemmed from a mistake Hera had made that led to Dresden losing some respect for her.
The story picks up quickly at first with the team being kidnapped and experimented on by the KGB. The changes that each character undergoes is shocking and takes some adjustment, but with the enemy looking for them after they escape, survival becomes their main objective. The team ends up hiding out in a forest/mountain area until they can get help… and that’s pretty much where the story gets stuck in for the rest of the book.
Honestly, when I read “spy thriller” I really expect some action, sneaking around, missions, badassery–but I didn’t get that from Seven-Sided Spy. Throughout the book, the characters share stories about old jobs and failed romances. Even these kind of failed to fill the “thriller” aspect I was expecting. The only real fighting/spy action that the book came in towards the very end of the book when two characters face off.
As for the characters themselves, I think they had potential to be interesting. Both team leaders were female and strong in their own way. Nikola had almost been Hera’s protege and now they were enemies. I was definitely curious about their relationship as there seemed to be so much history and animosity there. I think out of all the relationships theirs was the most complex, but it still wasn’t enough to keep me really invested in the story.
And while we’re talking about Hera, I wasn’t entirely happy with how her character devolved. I felt like Hera was the tactical strategist, the leader, the decisionmaker, but her character turned irrational at the end of the book. She was impulsive and slightly crazy. It felt like it just hit out of nowhere and it’s not what I had really expected of her personality. Yes, plot twists can be interesting but I still feel like there should be hints throughout the book and I didn’t really see any hints that pointed to Hera being so… petty?
While I did enjoy that we were able to read about Nikola and her team, it wasn’t as often as Hera’s. Still, I think reading about Nikola and Hera’s history made me more sympathetic to Nikola, despite her allegiance.
Overall, I think this was a book that had an interesting premise and set of characters but that just didn’t take that material and really develop it. The ending felt rushed and was really the only action we saw that I would classify as spy/thriller besides Hera and her team being kidnapped at the beginning of the book.
Seven-Sided Spy was released on January 15th so go check it out if you’re interested!
Full review on Stellar Kitten Book Reviews:
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❝ Hera, nicknamed the Goddess because of her codename and notoriety, was supposed to be an honor. She was the best field operative the CIA had to offer. She had an irrefutably high success rate, but she brought an endless string of theater with her.❞
Many thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book!
I want to start off saying that I was really looking forward to reading this book. I haven’t read too many thrillers but I was really excited for the spy and historical aspects of the story. The book started off with some interesting intergroup tension, where two of the team members (Hera and Dresden) were constantly butting heads and the third (Niccolo was stuck being the mediator. It all pretty much stemmed from a mistake Hera had made that led to Dresden losing some respect for her.
The story picks up quickly at first with the team being kidnapped and experimented on by the KGB. The changes that each character undergoes is shocking and takes some adjustment, but with the enemy looking for them after they escape, survival becomes their main objective. The team ends up hiding out in a forest/mountain area until they can get help… and that’s pretty much where the story gets stuck in for the rest of the book.
Honestly, when I read “spy thriller” I really expect some action, sneaking around, missions, badassery–but I didn’t get that from Seven-Sided Spy. Throughout the book, the characters share stories about old jobs and failed romances. Even these kind of failed to fill the “thriller” aspect I was expecting. The only real fighting/spy action that the book came in towards the very end of the book when two characters face off.
❝ “Diana gave orders, and when they weren’t followed, someone always paid. Under her cold surface, a rage was boiling, and Da Vinci knew it. ❞
As for the characters themselves, I think they had potential to be interesting. Both team leaders were female and strong in their own way. Nikola had almost been Hera’s protege and now they were enemies. I was definitely curious about their relationship as there seemed to be so much history and animosity there. I think out of all the relationships theirs was the most complex, but it still wasn’t enough to keep me really invested in the story.
And while we’re talking about Hera, I wasn’t entirely happy with how her character devolved. I felt like Hera was the tactical strategist, the leader, the decisionmaker, but her character turned irrational at the end of the book. She was impulsive and slightly crazy. It felt like it just hit out of nowhere and it’s not what I had really expected of her personality. Yes, plot twists can be interesting but I still feel like there should be hints throughout the book and I didn’t really see any hints that pointed to Hera being so… petty?
While I did enjoy that we were able to read about Nikola and her team, it wasn’t as often as Hera’s. Still, I think reading about Nikola and Hera’s history made me more sympathetic to Nikola, despite her allegiance.
Overall, I think this was a book that had an interesting premise and set of characters but that just didn’t take that material and really develop it. The ending felt rushed and was really the only action we saw that I would classify as spy/thriller besides Hera and her team being kidnapped at the beginning of the book.
Seven-Sided Spy was released on January 15th so go check it out if you’re interested!
October 28, 2018
DNF
Convoluted sentence structures.
Confusing narration.
Unsympathetic characters.
REALLY wanted to like this based on blurb.
Needs a second run at editing.
Convoluted sentence structures.
Confusing narration.
Unsympathetic characters.
REALLY wanted to like this based on blurb.
Needs a second run at editing.
May 29, 2018
2.5 Stars - This book was not for me. I thought this was going to be about spies, missions and love triangles, but nope. It was about spies having powers and being trapped in the woods. I didn't like any of the character and I was pretty bored reading it, I almost didn't finish it. Unfortunately, this was too Sci-Fi for me. The writing wasn't bad and I'm sure people that enjoy the Sci-Fi genre will maybe enjoy this.
Thank you to NineStar Press, LLC for providing me with an electronic ARC of this book via NetGalley. As usual, my reviews are my honest and unbiased opinions.
Thank you to NineStar Press, LLC for providing me with an electronic ARC of this book via NetGalley. As usual, my reviews are my honest and unbiased opinions.
July 25, 2018
Crosspost: TheReadingBelle.com
Historical Fiction is my favorite genre, I don't read as much anymore, but I get highly invested in periodic pieces. So, this is a LATE review...I was asked to review this book way back in 2017...like I said...I have been busy with my job and school, I don't get many opportunities to really take the time and blog. So, here is a short and ranty review.
Initially, I thought this was going to be an epic spy drama set in the Cold War Era. I agreed to review this book because of the synopsis. The author really sold her pitch. This has been the weirdest book I've read in early 2018.
I don't know how to explain it to you....I didn't even know what I read. This was definitely a spy drama. It involved government experimenting, and mutations...a lesbian relationship, and hardly any action.
So, the romantic relationships were random..and not well thought out. There was a love/hate relationship between Diana and the Russian Nikola. I didn't feel the chemistry between the women..nor did I suspect that they had a history with each other. The relationship wasn't fleshed out. Nor was the other one between the interracial couple.
Seven Sided Spy had far less action...the stakes were high, but it took me a good WHILE to finish this book. This book was not as how I imagined it to be. There were some creative choices that hindered this book from being a 3 star for me. I have no idea who this book is aimed for, what audience? Even to this day, I am still confused about what I read, and can't understand the rave reviews for this story. The plot is confusing, and the synopsis makes the book seem far more exciting, when that is far from the truth. This book was a choice...
Final Rating: 2 Stars
Historical Fiction is my favorite genre, I don't read as much anymore, but I get highly invested in periodic pieces. So, this is a LATE review...I was asked to review this book way back in 2017...like I said...I have been busy with my job and school, I don't get many opportunities to really take the time and blog. So, here is a short and ranty review.
Initially, I thought this was going to be an epic spy drama set in the Cold War Era. I agreed to review this book because of the synopsis. The author really sold her pitch. This has been the weirdest book I've read in early 2018.
I don't know how to explain it to you....I didn't even know what I read. This was definitely a spy drama. It involved government experimenting, and mutations...a lesbian relationship, and hardly any action.
So, the romantic relationships were random..and not well thought out. There was a love/hate relationship between Diana and the Russian Nikola. I didn't feel the chemistry between the women..nor did I suspect that they had a history with each other. The relationship wasn't fleshed out. Nor was the other one between the interracial couple.
Seven Sided Spy had far less action...the stakes were high, but it took me a good WHILE to finish this book. This book was not as how I imagined it to be. There were some creative choices that hindered this book from being a 3 star for me. I have no idea who this book is aimed for, what audience? Even to this day, I am still confused about what I read, and can't understand the rave reviews for this story. The plot is confusing, and the synopsis makes the book seem far more exciting, when that is far from the truth. This book was a choice...
Final Rating: 2 Stars
September 2, 2020
So the idea was sick. CIA vs KGB. fascinating. Cool idea. The entire rest of the story? Absolute hot garbage. To me. It was NOT for me. At all. There. What’s done is done.
January 11, 2018
The synopsis from the book is very misleading and not a go pod description of the story itself. It says it is about the Cold War but there is actually not that much about the Cold War. THe plot was not well developed and there were several parts that didn’t really tie into the story and it would have been better to leave them out. The characters didn’t have any development and there was not a lot of interaction or them doing something. Another problem I had with the characters was that they changed a lot - they didn’t stay true to themselves and it was hard to keep up with their changes. All in all I would not recommend this book.
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