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Surviving Midas
As a daughter of an FBI agent, Katie knows the basics of child abduction prevention: don’t talk to strangers, don’t get into a car with anyone you don’t know, and don’t piss off Midas. But Dad broke the last rule, and now Katie is left to pay for it.
Just days after her fifteenth birthday, Katie is taken by Midas, the most elusive and efficient kidnapper the FBI has ever seen. None of Midas’s victims have ever been found dead or alive, and it does not take long for Katie to find out why. Midas dumps Katie into a compound filled with his other ‘trophies,’ children he has kidnapped, ransomed, and abandoned to the elements. The thin green armband around Katie’s wrist separates her from the other kids, marking her as valuable, but once Midas is through extorting Katie’s father, she will become as expendable as the others. Katie now has to choose whether to merely survive or risk her life trying to escape.
Just days after her fifteenth birthday, Katie is taken by Midas, the most elusive and efficient kidnapper the FBI has ever seen. None of Midas’s victims have ever been found dead or alive, and it does not take long for Katie to find out why. Midas dumps Katie into a compound filled with his other ‘trophies,’ children he has kidnapped, ransomed, and abandoned to the elements. The thin green armband around Katie’s wrist separates her from the other kids, marking her as valuable, but once Midas is through extorting Katie’s father, she will become as expendable as the others. Katie now has to choose whether to merely survive or risk her life trying to escape.
343 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 6, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 9, 2023
I was lucky to receive an ecopy of this book in exchange for a review. Not my usual kind of read as I'm definitely a YA fantasy girl, but I do love the occasional Teri Terry and Sophie McKenzie books, and this book definitely had the same heartbreaking vibes as many of those books! This had me hooked from start to finish, with the friendships developing between the characters alone making me want to read on, but the plot itself was also fast paced and thrilling, with a group of teens trapped in a camp for victims of human trafficking, run by an infamous criminal named Midas. Definitely expected there to be more escape attempts, but you could understand their main reasons for not doing so when they were thrown into their terrible routines of working. Main character Katie was stubborn and fiesty which I loved, and her relationship with the boy she has begun to care for grows in a way that is realistic for the circumstances they are in. There's no dreamy, oh I've been kidnapped but we will still be together. It was painful and raw and very believable. A beautiful story to start the year off with. If you love a good thriller this is for you!
January 23, 2023
Starts off like a nightmare of a summer camp experience. The villain seems bad, but not too big, his
henchmen stock minions, and I kind of expected the story of plucky Katie rallying the troops and pulling off a daring, but not too difficult escape. But Katie’s soft landing is because she’s needed breathing and healthy, for the moment. But she soon realizes what her fate will be once the precious green wristband comes off: certain death.
The henchmen lose their goonish exterior as the author turns up the heat, delving into questions of who can be trusted, until the reader isn’t sure who is the greater threat, the “Watchers” or the underage captives who have been worn down by years of abuse. Can Katie trust her hut mates? Could some of their captors actually be allies? Will there be a price she pays for working
with Jared, who works with the Watchers? Is she even safe being alone with him?
As Katie figures out the ins and outs of the camp, she meets characters that are bad because they’re
bad. Others that are bad because what else could they have done? Good ones that have made mistakes. And some that are determined to rise to the occasion, sacrificing for the weaker and younger. I really enjoyed how Hague could easily have gone the ash-can route, where everything is angst and cynicism. The main character and the supporters could have done the all “just survivors” thing, where they happen, reluctantly, to come out marginally better than the bad guys. Hague goes a refreshingly different route, and makes most of the characters out to be doing their best to be good in a bad situation.
And make no mistake, at its core, Surviving Midas is a story about a girl caught in human trafficking, and if you’ve never thought about what it is like for the tens of millions caught in that industry, this story gives you a bitter taste. Though the setting is a forced-labor camp, it is never far from the periphery what happens to girls, and also boys, when they’re surrounded by men with power, who view them as product. Dread drips onto the back of your neck as you watch Katie navigate her new “home” and hope she doesn’t get caught out of doors after dark—just trying to use the bathroom. Rage boils with every time some kid gets beaten. And you’re never quiet sure, if any of the kids you’ve grown attached to will survive Midas. You may not want to turn the page for fear of the other side. That being said, there is a fair bit of language and violence, here. To her credit, Hague turns away, allowing the worst of the horrors to take place off camera, sparing the characters’ dignity and us. Though, I would have preferred to have been spared more.
"Surviving Midas" is a thrilling and horrifying ride. You feel for the protagonists and root for them, willing them to hold out just a little while longer, while the clock works against them. Katie and the others make intelligent and emotionally compelling decisions, though realistically handicapped by the things they don’t know and the fact that most of them are under sixteen and cut off from everything they knew. By the last third of the book, the tension had risen to where I had a hard time putting the book down. If that is what you’re looking for, R W Hague will not disappoint.
henchmen stock minions, and I kind of expected the story of plucky Katie rallying the troops and pulling off a daring, but not too difficult escape. But Katie’s soft landing is because she’s needed breathing and healthy, for the moment. But she soon realizes what her fate will be once the precious green wristband comes off: certain death.
The henchmen lose their goonish exterior as the author turns up the heat, delving into questions of who can be trusted, until the reader isn’t sure who is the greater threat, the “Watchers” or the underage captives who have been worn down by years of abuse. Can Katie trust her hut mates? Could some of their captors actually be allies? Will there be a price she pays for working
with Jared, who works with the Watchers? Is she even safe being alone with him?
As Katie figures out the ins and outs of the camp, she meets characters that are bad because they’re
bad. Others that are bad because what else could they have done? Good ones that have made mistakes. And some that are determined to rise to the occasion, sacrificing for the weaker and younger. I really enjoyed how Hague could easily have gone the ash-can route, where everything is angst and cynicism. The main character and the supporters could have done the all “just survivors” thing, where they happen, reluctantly, to come out marginally better than the bad guys. Hague goes a refreshingly different route, and makes most of the characters out to be doing their best to be good in a bad situation.
And make no mistake, at its core, Surviving Midas is a story about a girl caught in human trafficking, and if you’ve never thought about what it is like for the tens of millions caught in that industry, this story gives you a bitter taste. Though the setting is a forced-labor camp, it is never far from the periphery what happens to girls, and also boys, when they’re surrounded by men with power, who view them as product. Dread drips onto the back of your neck as you watch Katie navigate her new “home” and hope she doesn’t get caught out of doors after dark—just trying to use the bathroom. Rage boils with every time some kid gets beaten. And you’re never quiet sure, if any of the kids you’ve grown attached to will survive Midas. You may not want to turn the page for fear of the other side. That being said, there is a fair bit of language and violence, here. To her credit, Hague turns away, allowing the worst of the horrors to take place off camera, sparing the characters’ dignity and us. Though, I would have preferred to have been spared more.
"Surviving Midas" is a thrilling and horrifying ride. You feel for the protagonists and root for them, willing them to hold out just a little while longer, while the clock works against them. Katie and the others make intelligent and emotionally compelling decisions, though realistically handicapped by the things they don’t know and the fact that most of them are under sixteen and cut off from everything they knew. By the last third of the book, the tension had risen to where I had a hard time putting the book down. If that is what you’re looking for, R W Hague will not disappoint.
January 5, 2023
I was given this book by the author in exchange for an unbiased review, so here it is! This is the first novel I've read by the author, and, overall, I enjoyed it.
Katie is fifteen, the daughter of an FBI agent, so she knows how to stay safe. Unfortunately for her, she's kidnapped by a domestic scumbag named Midas who's heavily into extortion through kidnapping. He also turns out to be a rather prominent politician and a very clever sociopath. But the story is mainly about Katie, who's taken to a secret compound with other kids her age--or younger--and that makes up the bulk of the story.
It seems farfetched that she couldn't escape, but these days, what with all the religious cults and controlling organizations out there, it is quite possible to kidnap someone and keep them hidden.
Katie goes through all sorts of indignities, but through her wits and her will, she manages to survive and the novel ends on a cliffhanger with her still in captivity, although her father is by now aware of her situation.
What I liked about the novel. The pace is fast, the chapters reasonably short, and the characters of Jared, Addison, Ivy, and others are sharply defined. Standouts in terms of characters are Midas himself, a calculating slimeball, and Clayton, his sociopathic underling. Katie is also well-rounded.
It also examines the Stockholm Syndrome, although that's never named, but all the same, the concept is explored. What would a teen or a younger kid do--or an adult--in order to survive? Fight against their captors or submit in the hope of fooling the kidnappers and escaping? We can see the plight of the kidnapped, and it is not pretty.
Little quibbles. I think the novel could have been a bit shorter, but then again, I'm used to reading shorter books, so that's a personal quirk of mine. Additionally, the viewpoint shifts from Katie to Jared near the end. It's not as jarring as I thought it would be, and other readers may not take issue with it.
Overall, it's a solid and chilling look at a childhood denied. The sequel should be just as good, so I'm waiting on that.
Katie is fifteen, the daughter of an FBI agent, so she knows how to stay safe. Unfortunately for her, she's kidnapped by a domestic scumbag named Midas who's heavily into extortion through kidnapping. He also turns out to be a rather prominent politician and a very clever sociopath. But the story is mainly about Katie, who's taken to a secret compound with other kids her age--or younger--and that makes up the bulk of the story.
It seems farfetched that she couldn't escape, but these days, what with all the religious cults and controlling organizations out there, it is quite possible to kidnap someone and keep them hidden.
Katie goes through all sorts of indignities, but through her wits and her will, she manages to survive and the novel ends on a cliffhanger with her still in captivity, although her father is by now aware of her situation.
What I liked about the novel. The pace is fast, the chapters reasonably short, and the characters of Jared, Addison, Ivy, and others are sharply defined. Standouts in terms of characters are Midas himself, a calculating slimeball, and Clayton, his sociopathic underling. Katie is also well-rounded.
It also examines the Stockholm Syndrome, although that's never named, but all the same, the concept is explored. What would a teen or a younger kid do--or an adult--in order to survive? Fight against their captors or submit in the hope of fooling the kidnappers and escaping? We can see the plight of the kidnapped, and it is not pretty.
Little quibbles. I think the novel could have been a bit shorter, but then again, I'm used to reading shorter books, so that's a personal quirk of mine. Additionally, the viewpoint shifts from Katie to Jared near the end. It's not as jarring as I thought it would be, and other readers may not take issue with it.
Overall, it's a solid and chilling look at a childhood denied. The sequel should be just as good, so I'm waiting on that.
February 14, 2023
I really enjoyed reading Surviving Midas! The book flowed smoothly and quickly and there was never a moment of: why was this included or this could have been left out. It doesn't go into each character with depth and sometimes a simple read like that is nice. Just spending time with the characters in their present moment was all you need to grow to care for them and become invested. I look forward to the next book!!!
August 18, 2023
I read an early iteration of Surviving Midas and I was drawn into it far more than I expected. The main character, Katie, is a typical teenage girl who is thrust into an unlikely horrible situation. She manages to get by using her wits and her father's reputation, but once she is deemed no longer useful, all bets are off. I really liked the characterization of the kids of the camp, particularly Jared and his sister, Leida. The author does a good job of showing a situation which has no winners, just everyone trying to do what they can to survive. Some of the bad guys have shades of gray, though of course the main villains in this book are entirely evil.
Things feel bad enough to keep you on edge but not so bad to give up hope or stop reading. There are realistic consequences for bad situations and reasonable doubt about what will happen next. I was desperate for the sequel (which is coming out soon!) and cannot wait to read the final installment of the trilogy (which is in production).
I did wonder how realistic the premise was, but once you get past that it's a very engaging and enjoyable read. Obviously, if you are triggered by things involving kidnapping, child trafficking, violence, etc. I would not recommend it, and I suggest using discretion for younger readers as well for that reason. There are some kind of brutal scenes that are not gratuitous but could still cause distress.
Overall, though, I recommend it and am eager for the next two to come out so I can recommend them as well!
Things feel bad enough to keep you on edge but not so bad to give up hope or stop reading. There are realistic consequences for bad situations and reasonable doubt about what will happen next. I was desperate for the sequel (which is coming out soon!) and cannot wait to read the final installment of the trilogy (which is in production).
I did wonder how realistic the premise was, but once you get past that it's a very engaging and enjoyable read. Obviously, if you are triggered by things involving kidnapping, child trafficking, violence, etc. I would not recommend it, and I suggest using discretion for younger readers as well for that reason. There are some kind of brutal scenes that are not gratuitous but could still cause distress.
Overall, though, I recommend it and am eager for the next two to come out so I can recommend them as well!
February 2, 2023
A Very Good Read
I really enjoyed reading this book. I'm not usually into YA fiction but I always read several works from New writers. It's well worth your time and the small investment for this one.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I'm not usually into YA fiction but I always read several works from New writers. It's well worth your time and the small investment for this one.
June 11, 2023
I was given the pdf of this book in exchange for writing an unbiased review, so here it is.
I don’t usually read books like this, as it’s very intense. But I COULD NOT put it down! I enjoyed every bit of it, and could even feel some of the character’s despair and hopelessness. I also found myself rooting for the MC and one of the other leads in the book, and I was constantly wondering what would happen next. Overall, I really enjoyed the book, and I think I would most definitely read it again. My only complaints are the amount of swears (nothing really bad, I wasn’t very worried and they honestly suited the book) and the rude cliffhanger at the end. So now I gotta wait until the second book to see how things go with Katie. 😤😭
I don’t usually read books like this, as it’s very intense. But I COULD NOT put it down! I enjoyed every bit of it, and could even feel some of the character’s despair and hopelessness. I also found myself rooting for the MC and one of the other leads in the book, and I was constantly wondering what would happen next. Overall, I really enjoyed the book, and I think I would most definitely read it again. My only complaints are the amount of swears (nothing really bad, I wasn’t very worried and they honestly suited the book) and the rude cliffhanger at the end. So now I gotta wait until the second book to see how things go with Katie. 😤😭
May 30, 2023
This book was quick paced and interesting all the way through. It kept me up late reading! I was impressed with the author's knowledge on a wide variety of topics, which made the book enjoyable and realistic. I cannot wait for the next book to come out and see what happens next to characters I care about. Definitely recommend this one!
May 29, 2023
This was my first time to read a book by this author, and I am so glad I did. Surviving Midas is a bit of mystery, crime, suspense, and drama all wrapped up neatly in a young adult package that has edge but not the over-the-top edge that some YA books tend to have these days.
I was drawn in to this story immediately — it kind of reminded me of The Maze Runner in some aspects — and I was rooting so hard for these characters. The main character, Katie, is the target of a psychopathic kidnapper because of her father's position in the FBI. And when she's taken, she discovers that dozens of other kids are being kept as trophies and slave labor at multiple secluded camps. These children of all ages are subjected to unimaginable horrors, and they soon learn that no one can be trusted. It will take Katie's brashness and fellow captor Jared's wit to get them out of this nightmare.
I recommend this book for ages 16 and up (I am 50 and enjoyed it, but I'm a longtime educator of teens and younger and enjoy reading YA). I am already dying to read Book 2, which will come out this fall.
I was drawn in to this story immediately — it kind of reminded me of The Maze Runner in some aspects — and I was rooting so hard for these characters. The main character, Katie, is the target of a psychopathic kidnapper because of her father's position in the FBI. And when she's taken, she discovers that dozens of other kids are being kept as trophies and slave labor at multiple secluded camps. These children of all ages are subjected to unimaginable horrors, and they soon learn that no one can be trusted. It will take Katie's brashness and fellow captor Jared's wit to get them out of this nightmare.
I recommend this book for ages 16 and up (I am 50 and enjoyed it, but I'm a longtime educator of teens and younger and enjoy reading YA). I am already dying to read Book 2, which will come out this fall.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2024
Surviving Midas is a thrilling read with relatable, likable characters who feel real. I couldn't put this book down and had to keep reading to find out what happens. It's rare that a book holds my interest this strongly and consistently. I want to be careful of spoilers, but I'll just say the direction it took surprised me, and I loved it.
The author really does such a good job of making us care and sheds a light on an important topic. Dark and serious, but also exciting, it's my favorite type of story, and I highly recommend it. I can't wait to see what else this author has to offer, and I will definitely be reading more by RW Hague.
The author really does such a good job of making us care and sheds a light on an important topic. Dark and serious, but also exciting, it's my favorite type of story, and I highly recommend it. I can't wait to see what else this author has to offer, and I will definitely be reading more by RW Hague.
November 28, 2023
I picked this up at a book launch event in town and, after reading the first few pages, I put my reading list on hold to read this one immediately. Very excited to hear that there is more coming from this author!
February 14, 2023
GoodReads won't add this to my account, but this is indeed my book! Feel free to check out my profile for more info.
January 14, 2024
Absolutely fantastic. Thanks for the arc Would Dec
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews