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Mercy Point
In real life, they are enemies. Emma the know-it-all, Michael the bully, Fabian the coward, Tessie the weirdo and Sam the mystery. Online they are best friends, with one big thing in common: they are all sure they are adopted. When they finally meet, they are horrified to find that the people they have been sharing their souls with are the people they hate. They decide to never speak again.
But avoiding each other is difficult in a small mountain town with only one high school. It's also tough to ignore one another when they each begin to realise that what their parents are hiding is much more sinister than just adoption.
The five teenagers have a choice to make. Continue to live a lie, or come together to hunt down the truth, no matter how dangerous that may be. Because the real story of their parentage is much more terrifying than they ever could have imagined. It is a secret that goes to the very heart of the town itself.
But avoiding each other is difficult in a small mountain town with only one high school. It's also tough to ignore one another when they each begin to realise that what their parents are hiding is much more sinister than just adoption.
The five teenagers have a choice to make. Continue to live a lie, or come together to hunt down the truth, no matter how dangerous that may be. Because the real story of their parentage is much more terrifying than they ever could have imagined. It is a secret that goes to the very heart of the town itself.
Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2018
7 people are currently reading
479 people want to read
About the author
Anna Snoekstra
13 books466 followersAnna Snoekstra was born in Canberra, Australia in 1988. She studied Creative Writing and Cinema at Melbourne University, followed by Screenwriting at RMIT University.
Anna's short films and music videos have screened around the world. She has written an array of published and award winning short fiction. Her debut novel ONLY DAUGHTER was published in September 2016 (Mira). Her second novel LITTLE SECRETS will be published November 2017 (Mira).
Anna's short films and music videos have screened around the world. She has written an array of published and award winning short fiction. Her debut novel ONLY DAUGHTER was published in September 2016 (Mira). Her second novel LITTLE SECRETS will be published November 2017 (Mira).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
July 22, 2018
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
3.5 stars
Mercy Point is an unsteady tale, full of twists and shocks. It is a novel that works to reveal the hidden secrets and core identity of a group of teens living in the small Australian town.The combination of diverse characters, the slow reveal of deeply entrenched town secrets and a rich atmosphere dripping in suspicion makes Mercy Point a riveting young adult based thriller.
Mercy Point examines the existence of an online community that are the very best of friends, but enemies in person. When five teens who have only connected via social media finally meet in person, they find the only thing they have in common is the fact that they might all be adopted. It is hard to avoid one another, especially when they live in such close proximity and attend the same school. However, the overwhelming feeling that their parents are concealing something to do with their parentage is difficult to sweep under the carpet. As the group begin to search for the truth behind the lies that they have been told, danger enters their lives. This terrifying secret strikes right at the heart of their town and its residents, including their parents. Mercy Point is a treacherous journey into discovering who you truly are.
I have loved both Little Secrets and Only Daughter, the adult fiction releases written by the author of Mercy Point, Anna Snoekstra. I was thrilled to see Anna Snoekstra embrace a different genre and extended her writing to the YA thriller genre.
One area in which Anna Snoekstra excels is in her establishment and continuation of her setting. I found this was the case in Snoekstra’s previous novel, Little Secrets. Mercy Point is defined by an eerie and suspicious atmosphere. There are lots of grey areas and unknowns. I thought Snoekstra treated this aspect of the novel very well and it worked to suck me in to the unfolding narrative.
The narrative itself is well written, engaging and intriguing. The format, dividing the narration between different points of view based on four key characters works to build a broad picture of the overall story scenario. The characters, all teens from the same high school, are deliberately polarised. We have a bossy figure, a bully, a loner and mysterious player. A breakfast club almost, set in an Australian small town in the present day. I appreciated Snoekstra’s treatment of these varying characters and the dynamics that came hand in hand with this eclectic group of protagonists.
Snoekstra taps into the here and now of a teen’s world in current times, but I am sure adults can relate. Snoekstra sets her characters up in an online community, she shows us how easy it is to develop strong bonds online and how much harder it is for our teens to deal with face to face interactions. This one is challenged further by the stifling small town atmosphere and the secrets surrounding the identity of each of these teens. Mercy Point travels in a heady forward direction, serving up some solid twists and interesting revelations. Towards to the close of the Mercy Point I felt the inclusion of a sci fi /fantasy based sub plot didn’t really appeal to me personally, but it may draw in fans of this genre. The ending is quite an abrupt cliff-hanger, which serves up the possibility for a series continuation, if Snoekstra chooses to go this way with her first foray into the YA thriller genre.
A book about identity, family, friendships, connection, trust, revelations, small town politics and explosive secrets construes Anna Snoekstra’s young adult first offering. Mercy Point is recommended for readers aged 14 and up.
*I wish to thank Harper Collins Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Mercy Point, is book #80 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
3.5 stars
Mercy Point is an unsteady tale, full of twists and shocks. It is a novel that works to reveal the hidden secrets and core identity of a group of teens living in the small Australian town.The combination of diverse characters, the slow reveal of deeply entrenched town secrets and a rich atmosphere dripping in suspicion makes Mercy Point a riveting young adult based thriller.
Mercy Point examines the existence of an online community that are the very best of friends, but enemies in person. When five teens who have only connected via social media finally meet in person, they find the only thing they have in common is the fact that they might all be adopted. It is hard to avoid one another, especially when they live in such close proximity and attend the same school. However, the overwhelming feeling that their parents are concealing something to do with their parentage is difficult to sweep under the carpet. As the group begin to search for the truth behind the lies that they have been told, danger enters their lives. This terrifying secret strikes right at the heart of their town and its residents, including their parents. Mercy Point is a treacherous journey into discovering who you truly are.
I have loved both Little Secrets and Only Daughter, the adult fiction releases written by the author of Mercy Point, Anna Snoekstra. I was thrilled to see Anna Snoekstra embrace a different genre and extended her writing to the YA thriller genre.
One area in which Anna Snoekstra excels is in her establishment and continuation of her setting. I found this was the case in Snoekstra’s previous novel, Little Secrets. Mercy Point is defined by an eerie and suspicious atmosphere. There are lots of grey areas and unknowns. I thought Snoekstra treated this aspect of the novel very well and it worked to suck me in to the unfolding narrative.
The narrative itself is well written, engaging and intriguing. The format, dividing the narration between different points of view based on four key characters works to build a broad picture of the overall story scenario. The characters, all teens from the same high school, are deliberately polarised. We have a bossy figure, a bully, a loner and mysterious player. A breakfast club almost, set in an Australian small town in the present day. I appreciated Snoekstra’s treatment of these varying characters and the dynamics that came hand in hand with this eclectic group of protagonists.
Snoekstra taps into the here and now of a teen’s world in current times, but I am sure adults can relate. Snoekstra sets her characters up in an online community, she shows us how easy it is to develop strong bonds online and how much harder it is for our teens to deal with face to face interactions. This one is challenged further by the stifling small town atmosphere and the secrets surrounding the identity of each of these teens. Mercy Point travels in a heady forward direction, serving up some solid twists and interesting revelations. Towards to the close of the Mercy Point I felt the inclusion of a sci fi /fantasy based sub plot didn’t really appeal to me personally, but it may draw in fans of this genre. The ending is quite an abrupt cliff-hanger, which serves up the possibility for a series continuation, if Snoekstra chooses to go this way with her first foray into the YA thriller genre.
A book about identity, family, friendships, connection, trust, revelations, small town politics and explosive secrets construes Anna Snoekstra’s young adult first offering. Mercy Point is recommended for readers aged 14 and up.
*I wish to thank Harper Collins Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Mercy Point, is book #80 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
July 25, 2018
3 stars because it still kept me reading until the end, but surely there is a sequel to this.
Anyway, there were a few times where I thought that some events just suddenly happened, a fair few times it was quite convenient. I can’t stop thinking about that librarian, and Michael ‘flirting’ with her! Not all librarians are like this! 😭😅
There was also that not-so-love-triangle (actually perhaps square) with Emma, Sam and Michael (and maybe Fabian?). Maybe there is a thin line between love and hate, but it felt a bit plonked on in my opinion. But meh, that’s okay, Michael had his cute moments- the feels were real, albeit a bit sudden, when he felt hurt seeing Emma and Sam together 😭
Surely, there is a sequel, because it can’t end with an underground alien community preparing for war and a hostage of one the main characters! 😅
About the aliens, did anyone find it very ‘out there’ too? I didn’t register any indication that this was going to be a sci-fi thriller until the last 100 pages. Was it meant to be that way? Am I the only one feeling like the build-up to it wasn’t as successful? Or is this very shocking twist at the end an intentional tactic as the introduction to the second book?
So many questions. 😅 I might read the next one, but this book wasn’t too bad- just shockingly clichè whilst not clichè. 🤔
Thanks for reading 😂
Anyway, there were a few times where I thought that some events just suddenly happened, a fair few times it was quite convenient. I can’t stop thinking about that librarian, and Michael ‘flirting’ with her! Not all librarians are like this! 😭😅
There was also that not-so-love-triangle (actually perhaps square) with Emma, Sam and Michael (and maybe Fabian?). Maybe there is a thin line between love and hate, but it felt a bit plonked on in my opinion. But meh, that’s okay, Michael had his cute moments- the feels were real, albeit a bit sudden, when he felt hurt seeing Emma and Sam together 😭
Surely, there is a sequel, because it can’t end with an underground alien community preparing for war and a hostage of one the main characters! 😅
About the aliens, did anyone find it very ‘out there’ too? I didn’t register any indication that this was going to be a sci-fi thriller until the last 100 pages. Was it meant to be that way? Am I the only one feeling like the build-up to it wasn’t as successful? Or is this very shocking twist at the end an intentional tactic as the introduction to the second book?
So many questions. 😅 I might read the next one, but this book wasn’t too bad- just shockingly clichè whilst not clichè. 🤔
Thanks for reading 😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2018
Now I liked the beginning. And only the beginning.
Our four main characters had a wonderful depth to them and created a lifelike group of ill suited friends.
But that is all that I enjoyed.
The ending to Mercy Point was rushed, unsatisfactory and juvenile. The protagonists seemed to abandon the entirety of their development seen in the rest of the novel to follow blindly when they were clearly uncomfortable and stressed.
They meet the creatures in the last thirty pages; why let the most dramatic event happen without giving yourself ample time, as the author, to investigate? The coverup spoken very quickly by Emma's mother is notably ignored and not spoken of between the remaining three characters, when the entire plot has been to uncover their own origin.
I am incredibly disappointed. I wasted my time on this novel, the beginning had such promise but with an ending that leaves you more irritated by it's lack of depth where do you go from there?
Our four main characters had a wonderful depth to them and created a lifelike group of ill suited friends.
But that is all that I enjoyed.
The ending to Mercy Point was rushed, unsatisfactory and juvenile. The protagonists seemed to abandon the entirety of their development seen in the rest of the novel to follow blindly when they were clearly uncomfortable and stressed.
They meet the creatures in the last thirty pages; why let the most dramatic event happen without giving yourself ample time, as the author, to investigate? The coverup spoken very quickly by Emma's mother is notably ignored and not spoken of between the remaining three characters, when the entire plot has been to uncover their own origin.
I am incredibly disappointed. I wasted my time on this novel, the beginning had such promise but with an ending that leaves you more irritated by it's lack of depth where do you go from there?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2018
Was expecting this to be a great little standalone and think it could have worked perfectly as one, I was super thrown by the ending and it left me feeling meh about the story. It’s a super quick read though so that’s a plus I guess.
June 19, 2021
Years ago, the town had a mining tragedy that killed a lot of the townspeople and marks a point most people wish to forget as everyone lost someone that they loved in the accident. This book starts with Emma wanting to talk to her parents but can't find the words and so she turns to her online group where she can chat about everything and anything and feels so close to her online friends as they all have one thing in common - they were adopted. In the group, we have Emma - Miss Know-It-All, Fabian - the bullied, Michael - Bully, Tessie- the tall weirdo, and then Sam - the mysterious stranger. When the group decides to meet, imagine their surprise that the people they have shared their inner thoughts with are the ones they also hate the most. As the book goes along, Sam decides to get them to work together as he has come so far for them to stop now, and since he is the outlier of the group it works. When the group finally decides to work together as they all want to know where they came from, they will learn that their parents are hiding dark secrets and it all seems to be connected to the mining tragedy that happened in the town. This book took an interesting twist near the end when they choose to discover the closed mines and one, I didn't see coming. Mercy Point is not only a great YA thriller but also has an added Science Fiction twist to the story, that reminded me a bit of the films The Host and I am Number Four.
November 29, 2020
ARC kindly provided by A&R in exchange for an honest review.
Mercy Point is a well written book that details areas of modern day that many people wouldn't normally consider. The issue of loneliness and growing up thinking one thing and then finding another is often one that is difficult to elaborate on, however Snoekstra described these issues with fluidity, and it helped continue the story a long. The other main area that it touches upon is social media. With the constant reminder in our world that everyone isn't always who they seem, this book reflects on that in a well elaborated manner.
Whilst the topics were well researched and parts of the book had well entertained and timed humour, there was a feeling of, this book is going to fast, and, I don't quite understand how that fits in here. Whilst there were several moments where thoughts like these came to mind, the overall concept of the book was well achieved.
Another area of the book that was well done was areas that involved the fantasy/ sci-fi genre mix in them. The modern/reality of the book is not wasted, however the parts of the book that involved the aspects of the two genres were spectacularly added. There could have been more of these moments, but overall the genres were well matched.
Finally, the emotions in the book were well placed at moments, however multiple of the climactic moments either died out suddenly or were not used, not to say some all of them weren't used, but there were several moments where an anticlimax was suddenly dropped on us.
Over all the book was successful in covering genres and topics, and the book was enjoyable.
Mercy Point is a well written book that details areas of modern day that many people wouldn't normally consider. The issue of loneliness and growing up thinking one thing and then finding another is often one that is difficult to elaborate on, however Snoekstra described these issues with fluidity, and it helped continue the story a long. The other main area that it touches upon is social media. With the constant reminder in our world that everyone isn't always who they seem, this book reflects on that in a well elaborated manner.
Whilst the topics were well researched and parts of the book had well entertained and timed humour, there was a feeling of, this book is going to fast, and, I don't quite understand how that fits in here. Whilst there were several moments where thoughts like these came to mind, the overall concept of the book was well achieved.
Another area of the book that was well done was areas that involved the fantasy/ sci-fi genre mix in them. The modern/reality of the book is not wasted, however the parts of the book that involved the aspects of the two genres were spectacularly added. There could have been more of these moments, but overall the genres were well matched.
Finally, the emotions in the book were well placed at moments, however multiple of the climactic moments either died out suddenly or were not used, not to say some all of them weren't used, but there were several moments where an anticlimax was suddenly dropped on us.
Over all the book was successful in covering genres and topics, and the book was enjoyable.
Did Not Finish
August 23, 2018thank you to the publisher and netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book!
i tried so hard to finish this but everything about it is infuriating, the writing seems aimed more at middle school kids than young adults and to me it seems like the author is writing how they think teenagers think/talk but is completely missing the mark. it’s also taking a really long time to get to any real mystery stuff. i think the storyline is probably interesting but unfortunately i couldn’t get past the writing. dnf @ 53%
i tried so hard to finish this but everything about it is infuriating, the writing seems aimed more at middle school kids than young adults and to me it seems like the author is writing how they think teenagers think/talk but is completely missing the mark. it’s also taking a really long time to get to any real mystery stuff. i think the storyline is probably interesting but unfortunately i couldn’t get past the writing. dnf @ 53%
April 7, 2024
3 ⭐️ read this a couple years ago. Wasn’t boring all the time, but was odd. Had some good qualities since the characters had good chemistry with their ‘friendship’, but the writing wasn’t the best. Still would recommend to read maybe? If this is your genre?
I enjoyed the weird ending😂 creepy weepers. The last 100 pages i liked the best. I think because it just felt like something was actually happening. It honestly was rushed, but the creeps it gives you is satisfying.
I enjoyed the weird ending😂 creepy weepers. The last 100 pages i liked the best. I think because it just felt like something was actually happening. It honestly was rushed, but the creeps it gives you is satisfying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 29, 2020
Ermmmm...where’s the sequel at?!
According to Goodreads this book doesn’t have any others in the series, but I went review-scrolling and it appears that there will in fact be a second and possibly third book.
I think this is important to note because without knowing there is more plot coming I reckon I’d rate this slightly differently.
This book was WHACK. Like absolutely nuts - I cannot.
It’s starts off and you’re like, ok ok, mystery. I gots it. I understand.
I have since found out I DO NOT UNDERSTAND.
What the actual FERK.
I mean I’m down for weirdness but HON, DON’T CLIFFHANGER ME WITH NO NEWS OF A SEQUEL.
This book was great. First of all, props to character development and just characters in general, really. They made the story for me, and made me patient for the crazy hecticness that was the end of this book.
Genuinely shook.
I am shooketh.
If anyone has seen my sanity wandering round, I’d like it back, because this book STOLE it from me. (・Д・)
According to Goodreads this book doesn’t have any others in the series, but I went review-scrolling and it appears that there will in fact be a second and possibly third book.
I think this is important to note because without knowing there is more plot coming I reckon I’d rate this slightly differently.
This book was WHACK. Like absolutely nuts - I cannot.
It’s starts off and you’re like, ok ok, mystery. I gots it. I understand.
I have since found out I DO NOT UNDERSTAND.
What the actual FERK.
I mean I’m down for weirdness but HON, DON’T CLIFFHANGER ME WITH NO NEWS OF A SEQUEL.
This book was great. First of all, props to character development and just characters in general, really. They made the story for me, and made me patient for the crazy hecticness that was the end of this book.
Genuinely shook.
I am shooketh.
If anyone has seen my sanity wandering round, I’d like it back, because this book STOLE it from me. (・Д・)
July 29, 2018
UPDATE: After learning that there is actually a sequel to this (and a third book), I'm changing this rating to 3 stars just because I felt like it only being a first book to a trilogy justified how slow it was. I'm hopeful that the second and third books are better and less slow.
--
I won a copy from an Instagram giveaway held by the author, so... you can imagine how I kinda feel guilty for giving this a 2-star rating.
It was just... slow. And boring. But I guess that's due to the fact that I maybe had the wrong idea with what this book is about. I was expecting a thriller, but instead I was met with a contemporary that looked more at the lives of the four characters and how they interacted with the people around them, their relationships with their family and friends, instead of the actual truth behind their existence. The latter didn't come in until the last few chapters of the book.
This book had one thing going for it, and it was the revelation. It was insane. I was truly disappointed that it only came at the end and it wasn't what the majority of the book was about.
--
I won a copy from an Instagram giveaway held by the author, so... you can imagine how I kinda feel guilty for giving this a 2-star rating.
It was just... slow. And boring. But I guess that's due to the fact that I maybe had the wrong idea with what this book is about. I was expecting a thriller, but instead I was met with a contemporary that looked more at the lives of the four characters and how they interacted with the people around them, their relationships with their family and friends, instead of the actual truth behind their existence. The latter didn't come in until the last few chapters of the book.
This book had one thing going for it, and it was the revelation. It was insane. I was truly disappointed that it only came at the end and it wasn't what the majority of the book was about.
March 17, 2018
My rating: 2.5/5 stars
ARC kindly provided by A&R in exchange for an honest review.
I have to start this review off by saying how eye-catching the cover is, despite the dark colours, the contrast is quite stark and I personally think it really matches the story, though I must say I’m not exactly too sure who or what it is on the cover :P
The world setting of the story was really odd because it was like 99.99% real-world drama, but the whole plot was based on sci-fi and fantasy mixed together, if that makes any sense! I feel like the story could have been more enjoyable – for me at least – if the sci-fi and fantasy parts of the book were made more apparent. I believe the scene should have been set a bit more before the reader was plunged straight into the storyline. The lack of clarity in the theme just made it a hodgepodge of genres, although I could see where Snoekstra was heading and I liked the notion.
The first half of the book went pretty fast, though it felt like not much was happening, and the second half was too predictable, so that kind of ruined the fun and mystery :( I also felt that the ending was kind of abrupt and that there should have been more to neatly wrap up the ending. I know that this novel is a single-standing one, however it felt like the first in a series because Snoekstra had left so many possibilities in my mind of what might have happened.
I absolutely loved the diversification of the protagonists and Snoekstra ensured that each of their differences were duly noted and celebrated by the reader. What made this even better was the fact that there wasn’t only one main protagonist in the whole group and that everyone had something valuable to contribute in their own way. This made me think about how people see who you are so differently, whether it be in a positive or negative way, to how you see and believe yourself to be. This made me realise that the differences in perceptions all came down to the communication between the people.
On the whole I enjoyed myself while I was reading Mercy Point and would like to commend Anna Snoekstra on finishing such a great novel, as I’m sure it was no small feat.
Shreema
ARC kindly provided by A&R in exchange for an honest review.
I have to start this review off by saying how eye-catching the cover is, despite the dark colours, the contrast is quite stark and I personally think it really matches the story, though I must say I’m not exactly too sure who or what it is on the cover :P
The world setting of the story was really odd because it was like 99.99% real-world drama, but the whole plot was based on sci-fi and fantasy mixed together, if that makes any sense! I feel like the story could have been more enjoyable – for me at least – if the sci-fi and fantasy parts of the book were made more apparent. I believe the scene should have been set a bit more before the reader was plunged straight into the storyline. The lack of clarity in the theme just made it a hodgepodge of genres, although I could see where Snoekstra was heading and I liked the notion.
The first half of the book went pretty fast, though it felt like not much was happening, and the second half was too predictable, so that kind of ruined the fun and mystery :( I also felt that the ending was kind of abrupt and that there should have been more to neatly wrap up the ending. I know that this novel is a single-standing one, however it felt like the first in a series because Snoekstra had left so many possibilities in my mind of what might have happened.
I absolutely loved the diversification of the protagonists and Snoekstra ensured that each of their differences were duly noted and celebrated by the reader. What made this even better was the fact that there wasn’t only one main protagonist in the whole group and that everyone had something valuable to contribute in their own way. This made me think about how people see who you are so differently, whether it be in a positive or negative way, to how you see and believe yourself to be. This made me realise that the differences in perceptions all came down to the communication between the people.
On the whole I enjoyed myself while I was reading Mercy Point and would like to commend Anna Snoekstra on finishing such a great novel, as I’m sure it was no small feat.
Shreema
December 8, 2019
This book was ok. It’s basically a story about how 5 teens suspect they are all adopted, but when they each find out each other’s true identities, they want nothing to do with each other (Fabian, Tessa, Emma and someone else (forgot that dudes name) all go to school together and hate each other)) However, Sam doesn’t go to school with them and tries to keep them all together so they can solve the mystery of their parents. The reason I didn’t like this book was because it was SO obvious that Sam was bad. First of all, he was the only main character without a P.O.V. If he was just a normal dude, why didn’t he get a part of the story to talk his life and his emotions? Also, he was creepy from the start, always super eager and full on. Not sure if it was intentional, but I didn’t enjoy that. Last reason was Fabian coming out. I’m not homophobic at all, and like having Fabian like dudes, it was pretty obvious. BUT THE WAY IT WAS DONE. It could have been super nice but it just seemed like a random sentence that didn’t mean anything. Not sure how to explain this bit, if u read the book u probs understand what I mean tho.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2018
We bought this for our high school library as our students are really into mystery with secrets/lies thrown in at the moment and this looked like it met those criteria. And for the majority of the book it did. Five teens all find out they are adopted and go in search of the truth.
I found the TRUTH to be a laugh out loud / you've-gotta-be-kidding-me / fairly juvenile twist. If it was a Year 8 students writing I would edit the crap out of it and put words like "plausibility" and 'really?" all over their draft and then help them workshop different twists and a different ending. Apparently there is a sequel, which for those readers who loved it (and there are many) is a good thing. It won't be one I pick up though. I'm not sure about which Genre it should go in in our library - fans of Mystery/Suspense like myself may be very disappointed by the tangent this takes (which warrants a different genre altogether). Feedback on where to put it Genre-wise from people who have read and enjoyed it welcome. :-)
I found the TRUTH to be a laugh out loud / you've-gotta-be-kidding-me / fairly juvenile twist. If it was a Year 8 students writing I would edit the crap out of it and put words like "plausibility" and 'really?" all over their draft and then help them workshop different twists and a different ending. Apparently there is a sequel, which for those readers who loved it (and there are many) is a good thing. It won't be one I pick up though. I'm not sure about which Genre it should go in in our library - fans of Mystery/Suspense like myself may be very disappointed by the tangent this takes (which warrants a different genre altogether). Feedback on where to put it Genre-wise from people who have read and enjoyed it welcome. :-)
June 18, 2018
4.5/5
Mercy Point was an amazing page-turner; the last hundred pages just flew by. I really hope there is going to be another book, as the ending finishes on a cliffhanger and I feel like there is more to explore with the story. Mercy Point dabbles in a few genres while mostly being a thriller, it could be considered sci-fi/fantasy. The writing was engaging and the story is told from the perspective of the four main characters; Tessie, Emma, Michael, and Fabian.
I grew to love the characters over the course of the story. The strong friendship that develops between Tessie, Fabian, Emma, Sam, and Michael was enjoyable to read. Friendship and loneliness were two of the main themes throughout the novel. Sam is the only main character, who does not have any point of view chapters. This means we learn more about his character through each of the other characters perspectives. Mercy Point leaves you wanting more stories about these diverse characters because they were relatable and felt realistic.
Overall, Mercy Point was an amazing thriller which is definitely worth a read.
Thank you to HarperCollins Australia for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Mercy Point was an amazing page-turner; the last hundred pages just flew by. I really hope there is going to be another book, as the ending finishes on a cliffhanger and I feel like there is more to explore with the story. Mercy Point dabbles in a few genres while mostly being a thriller, it could be considered sci-fi/fantasy. The writing was engaging and the story is told from the perspective of the four main characters; Tessie, Emma, Michael, and Fabian.
I grew to love the characters over the course of the story. The strong friendship that develops between Tessie, Fabian, Emma, Sam, and Michael was enjoyable to read. Friendship and loneliness were two of the main themes throughout the novel. Sam is the only main character, who does not have any point of view chapters. This means we learn more about his character through each of the other characters perspectives. Mercy Point leaves you wanting more stories about these diverse characters because they were relatable and felt realistic.
Overall, Mercy Point was an amazing thriller which is definitely worth a read.
Thank you to HarperCollins Australia for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2018
Mercy point is a great book, it’s full of action and its a friller. Emma finds out she was adopted and she then meets the message board who are people living in the area in the same situation. Online they feel like a family but when they meet they hate each other. They have to choose whether to meet up to solve their adoption or don't meet up again at all. I would recommend this book to all teenagers as the protagonist in this goes through what every teenager does but they find a way to solve it, and overcome it.
Overall the book in my opinion was brilliantly set and written. It was full of action and at the end Snoekstra included sci-fiction and fantasy to the book which made me want to know what happened to them till the very end. I rate this book 4.5 stars out of 5, the only thing that i didn't really like was how it ended on a cliffhanger. Overall the book was super enjoyable it keep my hooked till the very end.
Overall the book in my opinion was brilliantly set and written. It was full of action and at the end Snoekstra included sci-fiction and fantasy to the book which made me want to know what happened to them till the very end. I rate this book 4.5 stars out of 5, the only thing that i didn't really like was how it ended on a cliffhanger. Overall the book was super enjoyable it keep my hooked till the very end.
December 14, 2018
2 1/2 stars. Though if I had been in a better head space it probably would have been 3 stars or more.
The premise (5 teens that are pretty sure they have been adopted but can't being themselves to confront their parents for one reason or another get together to work out the mystery or where they come from) was an interesting one, though for some of the characters that was a harder sell than others.
Some of the characters were a bit 2 dimensional - but I did rather like the way 4 of the main 5 were fleshed out (Emma's hearing aid, Michael's relationship with Fabian's cat, etc.), but I did find Sam and the secondary characters very one dimensional.
I enjoyed that the mystery didn't resolve in a standard way, but even with the twists I did see quite a bit of it coming - perhaps I have read too many other similar plotlines. Having said that, I think the intended audience (teens) will probably love this one and not be frustrated by the things that I, as an adult, was.
The premise (5 teens that are pretty sure they have been adopted but can't being themselves to confront their parents for one reason or another get together to work out the mystery or where they come from) was an interesting one, though for some of the characters that was a harder sell than others.
Some of the characters were a bit 2 dimensional - but I did rather like the way 4 of the main 5 were fleshed out (Emma's hearing aid, Michael's relationship with Fabian's cat, etc.), but I did find Sam and the secondary characters very one dimensional.
I enjoyed that the mystery didn't resolve in a standard way, but even with the twists I did see quite a bit of it coming - perhaps I have read too many other similar plotlines. Having said that, I think the intended audience (teens) will probably love this one and not be frustrated by the things that I, as an adult, was.
July 24, 2020
Mercy Point definitely has a lot of potential.
Set in a small mountain mining town. Five teenagers share a secret. Being adopted might be what bonds them online, but in life, they kinda hate eachother.
From the get go you can tell their only 14/15. Their attitudes, emotions and behaviors really shows that they're not overly mature. Emma was definitely the one who grated on my nerves the most.
Michael went through the most growth. He's character was the jerk but by the end he could almost be the hero.
The bond Tessa and Fabian created was absolutely beautiful. Their friendship became a highlight throughout the book.
Once you get passed the subtle immature behaviors the actual storyline was something I could get behind.
It definitely felt mysterious with a touch of dystopian I believe Anna Snoekstra is turning it into a series and I'm kinda curious where its going and how its going to end.
Set in a small mountain mining town. Five teenagers share a secret. Being adopted might be what bonds them online, but in life, they kinda hate eachother.
From the get go you can tell their only 14/15. Their attitudes, emotions and behaviors really shows that they're not overly mature. Emma was definitely the one who grated on my nerves the most.
Michael went through the most growth. He's character was the jerk but by the end he could almost be the hero.
The bond Tessa and Fabian created was absolutely beautiful. Their friendship became a highlight throughout the book.
Once you get passed the subtle immature behaviors the actual storyline was something I could get behind.
It definitely felt mysterious with a touch of dystopian I believe Anna Snoekstra is turning it into a series and I'm kinda curious where its going and how its going to end.
July 29, 2018
I really enjoyed this novel. Admittedly I found it hard to get into at first, for no other reason than I didn't like Emma's POV to begin with. However as more POVs were introduced and as the plot developed I quickly became hooked. The book is heavily character driven and extremely well developed in that sense. It's written as a thriller and has one heck of a plot twist at the end, and though I'll admit I did predict the plot twist before it happened it was still super tense and engaging to read! And everyone else I talked to was super shocked. I absolutely devoured the book and can't stop thinking about the ending. I already miss the characters so much.
This book is a great YA. It's a great Australian YA. The characters are relatable and it feels very home grown. I loved it a lot and am definitely so keen for the sequel, whenever that may come!
This book is a great YA. It's a great Australian YA. The characters are relatable and it feels very home grown. I loved it a lot and am definitely so keen for the sequel, whenever that may come!
July 31, 2018
I went into reading this with trepidation because I really didn't like the last book I read by this author, but wanted to give this one a go and I'm so glad I did because I really enjoyed it. From reading the reviews on here it seems it is either loved or not. Well I for one am hoping there is a sequel to this because by the time we get to the end and find out what the secret is that these teenagers have been searching for, that their parents have found the need to keep tightly held between them, we are left wondering what next? I wouldn't really put this in the thriller category, for me it sits more the mystery, suspense category and it sits here well. This story drew me in, held my attention and left me wanting more.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins AU for a copy in return for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins AU for a copy in return for an honest review.
December 7, 2018
I loved the beginning of this book and I thought the character relationships were interesting, especially that there was variation in the main characters. But I just feel like the ending did not fit the main story. It’s was great until maybe the last 100 pages, but after that it was too far fetched considering it was a thriller. But overall I thought the writing was cohesive and the author expressed herself well, the character development really added to the story but I think to big plot twist could’ve gone a different way. It was an enjoyable reading experience despite my concerns and would be great for someone just looking for a light, entertaining read.
August 28, 2023
I could not have predicted where this book was going to end up! At the beginning I was expecting something a little more YA crime, I'm not sure. But I was hooked. I loved reading a story set in Australia, and I also loved that one of the POV characters was Australian/Indonesia - I actually gave this book to my sister who is also Aussie/Indo because I thought she'd love to read about a girl like herself. It was a quick read, engaging til the end, and I enjoyed the characters!
3.5 rounded to 4 stars
3.5 rounded to 4 stars
December 6, 2022
while this had a good start off with the relationship between the chars, our evil guy was easy to be guessed - it was obvious. The ending and the twist too, I saw that coming from miles away. Wasn´t even played out good either, as the big revelation didn´t got dealt with in any way and explanations were dropped halfway.
April 9, 2018
Loved this book! It is so exciting - an absolute page turner. The teenage characters are all well-drawn, believable and you feel empathy for them. I also found the plot to be intriguing and original.
July 12, 2018
I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS!
A quick read and character driven. Mercy Point felt real in the sense that it felt like the setting was an authentic Aussie town. Thrillers aren’t usually my thing, but I was definitely invested in these character’s lives.
A quick read and character driven. Mercy Point felt real in the sense that it felt like the setting was an authentic Aussie town. Thrillers aren’t usually my thing, but I was definitely invested in these character’s lives.
June 2, 2019
I felt like I tricked into reading a novel that I didn’t want to read. Bait and switch. Or convenient plot twisting???
Oh and the place names bugged me. Why not keep the real names? And to keep ‘Winter Magic Festival’ but to change the other names??
Oh and the place names bugged me. Why not keep the real names? And to keep ‘Winter Magic Festival’ but to change the other names??
April 18, 2018
Exciting, different story with unexpected twists. Great characterisation.
September 18, 2018
Really engaging and I couldnt put it down 5 stars!
June 2, 2023
So good, the ending was entirely unexpected and had such a well done cliffhanger
July 1, 2021
reading this was a waste of time as I HATE Sci-Fi
August 20, 2018
I enjoyed most of this book, it had some interesting elements, but the 'ending' lost me. It didn't feel as though things were resolved, more as though it was setting up for a sequel. I hate starting a book that finishes with loose ends, especially if I don't realise that it is going to be the first in a series.
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