The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow ARC Review: In Which A Black Girl Helps Save the World

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BLURB

Can a girl who risks her life for books and an alien who loves forbidden pop music work together to save humanity?

Two years ago, a misunderstanding between the leaders of Earth and the invading Ilori resulted in the deaths of one-third of the world’s population.

Seventeen-year-old Janelle “Ellie” Baker survives in an Ilori-controlled center in New York City. Deemed dangerously volatile because of their initial reaction to the invasion, humanity’s emotional transgressions are now grounds for execution. All art, books and creative expression are illegal, but Ellie breaks the rules by keeping a secret library. When a book goes missing, Ellie is terrified that the Ilori will track it back to her and kill her.

Born in a lab, M0Rr1S (Morris) was raised to be emotionless. When he finds Ellie’s illegal library, he’s duty-bound to deliver her for execution. The trouble is, he finds himself drawn to human music and in desperate need of more. They’re both breaking the rules for love of art—and Ellie inspires the same feelings in him that music does.

Ellie’s—and humanity’s—fate rests in the hands of an alien she should fear. M0Rr1S has a lot of secrets, but also a potential solution—thousands of miles away. The two embark on a wild and dangerous road trip with a bag of books and their favorite albums, all the while making a story and a song of their own that just might save them both.

Review

* A special thanks to the publisher for this review copy*

The Sound of Stars took me through a plethora of emotions, most of which always seemed outside my grasp.

Janelle Baker is a human with an inordinate passion for books. But the world has been taken over by the Illori, a non-human life force. Under their dominion, books are forbidden, as well as anything remotely artistic. Possession of these items resulted in infractions that ultimately led to death. Morris is a lab-made Illori, a disgrace to his family because of his ability to feel, and his love of music. Janelle and Morris have similar missions, but it takes a missing book to bring their worlds crashing together.

Together, Janelle and Morris are the perfect story and the sweetest song.

Without being unnecessarily verbose, I rather enjoyed this book. The world-building is chef's kiss. It's fleshed out and well-written. The reader will understand the world they're being presented, and just as easily able to decipher how it all works.

Besides the world-building, the musical and literary elements parsed throughout the story were heart-warming and engaging. As a reader, the purpose behind the lyrics and songs might seem unclear initially. Once it's explained, it adds another layer of enjoyment to the story. It showed the dedication of the author to tell an authentic story.

The one thing that I could note as a negative, and it feels weird to say, are some moments where the MC, Janelle, pointed out the discrimination against Black people from the "previous" world. In a lot of the instances, it helped to build on the backstory of the heroine. In others, it seemed a rant that didn't ground itself into the story the way they intended it. As a Black woman, this is not something I want to note as a negative, or a dislike, but it's worth noting for this review. Racism is a tough thing to experience, let alone dictate, but Dow does a fairly good job of balancing it mostly.

There is romance in the book, and though I wouldn't note this book as wholly romance, the love that eventually blooms propel the story in new directions. It also later defines the character's growth and the overall plot.

As a whole, it is a great YA that kept me completely enthralled from beginning to end. It's an outstanding debut and one I would recommend. 

I didn't see anywhere that this would be a series, but the ending left a lot of questions begging to be answered. So, I hope there's more.

Fortuna Sworn by K.J. Sutton Book Review

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Blurb

We were meant to be seductive. We were designed to lure humans in. 

Fortuna Sworn is the last of her kind.

Her brother disappeared two years ago, leaving her with no family or species to speak of. She hides among humans, spending her days working at a bar and her nights searching for him. The bleak pattern goes on and on... until she catches the eye of a powerful faerie.

He makes no attempt to hide that he desires Fortuna. And in exchange for her, he offers something irresistible. So Fortuna reluctantly leaves her safe existence behind to step back into a world of creatures and power. 

It soon becomes clear that she may not have bargained with her heart, but her very life.

Review

* A special thanks to the author for this review copy*

*Please excuse any grammatical errors*

I adored this story. Every moment, every character, every moment of action was a treat I devoured.

Sutton has a way with characters. She not only makes the MC’s solid; she puts the same energy into the supporting characters. Her ability to pull a bunch of different characters, toss them onto a page, and get the reader invested in all of them, is some talent.

Fortuna is a Nightmare; a fantastical creature of many; in this story of the fae, goblins, and shapeshifters. She lives about as an ordinary a life as possible; except she can kill people with their fears. 

While avoiding a near-fatal end, she meets a fae, Collith. Collith wants to help her find her lost brother but at a cost. It is a cost that Fortuna is not readily willing to pay; even though she'd do anything for her brother. 

If the cost were my heart, Collith would have it a thousand times over. I could almost picture him in my mind's eye, due to the talent of Sutton’s brilliant character development. Those long lashes and fingers are embedded in my mind, as weapons of love and mass destruction. Don't get me started on the errant curl, that rests against his forehead. *Swoon* 

The push and pull between the two MC's almost took me out. I’m hanging by a thread as the cat and mouse game continues. There are issues to address and problems that remain to be solved; as this is a series. 

I’m wholly invested in the romance aspect of the story, but I am thrilled by the fantasy part of it. There’s a rich back story that’s just been barely dug into, but it provides enough of it to capture the reader’s attention and hold onto it. 

This book is really good. The world in which it is based is: lush and intriguing. The characters are multi dimensional. They’re fictional but leap off the page in otherworldly realness. 

The romance is a slow burn but it tantalizes and teases; while leaving the reader begging for more (See: Me). The pacing is chef's kiss, and it’s very well written. 

I had no doubts I would like the story after trying Sutton's YA, but this, is what I needed, and I didn’t even know it.

I’m super excited to see where the series goes, and I wish I had book two already. I'm very pleased and I highly recommend it.

No More Bad Dates by Kate O'Keeffe Book Review: Romance is Not This Book's Strong Suit

BLURB

Twenty-five-year-old Sophie McCarthy’s career is virtually nonexistent, her family expects her to “do something important” with her life, and she’s totally sick of dating the wrong guys: the self-absorbed, the arrogant, the borderline criminally insane.

After she’s unceremoniously dumped during the vows at her boss’s wedding, she and her two equally disappointed-in-love best friends agree to help each other find decent guys to date. Together, they form the No More Bad Dates Pact: stop dating the wrong guys and start dating the right ones—weirdos and jerks need not apply.

When Sophie’s roommate Jason Christie—a.k.a. doctor-in-training and serial nurse-dater—joins the pact, he vows to weed out the bad ones for her. But with his rejection of every guy Sophie meets, she begins to wonder if he’s got an ulterior motive. And anyway, why does she always have so much more fun with Jason than with the guys she’s actually trying to date?

While desperately seeking her “happy for now,” could Sophie stumble into her “happily ever after?”

REVIEW

No More Bad Dates was laugh out loud funny. I laughed at almost every turn. The characters were well developed, and it’s indicative of an author who knows how to tell a story. The characters and their backstories were well fleshed out. I felt invested in both the story and the characters. But, I was disappointed with the romance aspect.

The “No Bad Dates Pact” took up too much space in the novel, leaving no room for the actual real romance to develop—which was disheartening.

I waited for the entirety of the story for the “big get-together, and I wanted it to happen so bad. It was less slow-burn and more it just took too long. I really enjoyed this book don’t get me wrong, it’s solid in all the areas that mattered, except for the romance. Most readers won’t want to wait until 90+ percent for the main characters to reveal their love to each other—even if it plays out well.

Despite that, you get the standard HEA, and the ending is pretty satisfying. I just needed more romance. However, the author is worth a read. She’s a solid storyteller.

Reommended for people who like their romance with less mush.

The Last Post by Renee Carlino

SYNOPSIS

Laya Marston’s husband, Cameron, a daredevil enthusiast, always said this before heading off on his next adventure. He was the complete opposite of her, ready and willing to dive off a cliff-face, or parachute across a canyon—and Laya loved him for it. But she was different: pragmatic, regimented, devoted to her career and to supporting Cameron from the sidelines of his death-defying feats.

Opposites attract, right?

But when Cameron dies suddenly and tragically, all the stages of grief go out the window. Laya becomes lost in denial, living in the delusion that Cameron will come back to her. She begins posting on his Facebook page, reminiscing about their life together, and imagining new adventures for the two of them.

Micah Evans, a young and handsome architect at Laya’s father’s firm, is also stuck––paralyzed by the banal details of his career, his friendships, and his love life. He doesn’t know what he’s looking for, only that there is someone out there who can bring energy and spirit to the humdrum of his life.

When Micah discovers Laya’s tragic and bizarre Facebook posts, he’s determined to show Laya her life is still worth living. Leaving her anonymous gifts and notes, trying to recreate the sense of adventure she once shared with her late husband, Micah finds a new passion watching Laya come out of the darkness. And Laya finds a new joy in the experiences Micah has created for her.

But for Laya, letting another man in still feels like a betrayal to her late husband. Even though Micah may be everything she could wish for, she wonders if she deserves to find happiness again. 

Review

I don’t like "death" stories. The stories where either someone dies or the main character is suffering the death of a loved one. Sadness cloaks these types of stories like a wet blanket.

I was apprehensive about reading this book, but I'm glad I ignored my apprehension.

I was surprised to find that I could connect with this story the way I did. I’ve told you all before, and I’ll tell you again, I am a sucker for emotional reads. This book had emotion in droves.

Laya is happily married to Cameron. Things aren’t perfect but their shared love makes up for bad parts. She’s getting into her role as a doctor, and Cameron is still living the dare-devil lifestyle. It's this same lifestyle that takes Cameron's life, and Laya is there to witness it. Grief consumes Laya. She's leaving Cameron voicemails postmortem and leaving messages on his Facebook page. Everyone is worried about her.

Micah is in a slump. He's unsatisfied. His job doesn't pay enough, and he's not doing the work he feels called to do. Then he meets Laya. She's his boss' daughter. One look at her and Micah is a goner. He takes to her facebook page as a means of staying in touch with her. He discovers secrets about her and in an attempt to help her grieve, he oversteps.

Micah is an interesting character. He was too much and not enough, all at the same time. He was overwhelming in his approach to Laya. I wanted to chuck it up to him being love-struck, but I'm not sure. He was overbearing. He tried helping Laya overcome her grief, but she wasn't prepared for the onslaught of the emotions that came with his presence, or his attempts to help her.

I have to say though he was overbearing, the way he cared for and loved Laya was sort of cute. I liked Micah. He was instant love disguised as a man, but it worked for his character. It was  believable and worked for the story and the progression of the plot. I know a lot of readers won't like Micah's character, but I appreciated him towards the end. It brought the story full circle for me.

Laya was a conundrum. She was heavily shrouded in grief, it was a separate entity. The author handled her grief responsibly and realistically. It was a journey watching her grieve, and battle with her feelings for Micah.

The author allowed time for both characters to fully develop separately and then later, together. It was well-written. No doubt about it. This story won't be for everyone, but for those of you that like unconventional, emotional love stories--this will be the perfect read for you. The pacing of everything is perfect, with just enough drama to shake things up. Micah's sister, Melissa, is a riot. It was a pretty great read and another good one from Carlino.

Tikka Chance On Me (A Novella) by Suleikha Snyder: It's a No For Me Dawg

SYNOPSIS

He’s the bad-boy biker. She’s the good girl working in her family’s Indian restaurant. On the surface, nothing about Trucker Carrigan and Pinky Grover’s instant, incendiary, attraction makes sense. But when they peel away the layers and the assumptions—and their clothes—everything falls into place. The need. The want. The light. The laughter. They have more in common than they ever could’ve guessed. Is it enough? They won’t know until they take a chance on each other—and on love. 

REVIEW

I first tried Tikka Chance on Me, months ago, but found that I couldn’t get into the story. At the time I thought it was a mood thing; maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for it. But now that I’ve completed the story, I know why I couldn't finish the book. I don’t like it.

Let’s cover the backstory. Pinky works for her parent’s restaurant/bar.   She busts tables for her parents and it’s there she meets, Trucker. Trucker’s name is splayed across the stalls of the bathrooms, and his very name is a whisper across the lips of the many women he’s slept with. Pinky is smitten despite Trucker’s reputation. And it appears he feels the same. Stolen glances and an impromptu rendezvous at a Walmart parking lot find them both panting and pant-less in the back of Trucker’s truck.

This is where it goes south for me. Everything happens so fast, it’s a speedy ride straight to instant love Ville. Pinky and Trucker have a rushed and unexplained moment of hot sex in the back of a car. They have sex again and a secret gets out. There’s this conflict that brings their decisions and their feelings to a head.  I felt like I walked into a classroom mid-lesson. I was lost, in the sense that; I didn’t get what I needed to invest in the characters. Although I admired Pinky’s spunk, and Trucker’s smart mouth; the lack of depth and connection made them feel flat and left me wanting for more. There’s a lot that could have been developed, but unfortunately, that doesn’t happen.

It’s all very, “I need you,” but I don’t know why. Why did they feel like they couldn’t do without the other? What was it that made the other so memorable? You don’t get the explanation to that. It’s unfortunate.

The book is not terrible, the writing and the underlying humor and banter, if dug deeper into would have made this a solid novel. Unfortunately, there’s just instant love that’s not based on more than the idea that; because they’ve been “crushing” on each other for years—them being a couple makes sense. I wasn’t buying it.

I’m sorry, but it’s a no for me. 

Perv (A Filth Novel) by Dakota Gray: Hot, Hot, Hot!

SYNOPSIS

I'm honest about what I am. You want to screw until you can't see straight? I'm your guy. You want to experience the best oral orgasm of your life, don't pass go and collect two-hundred dollars. Eating you for dessert is my specialty. I live for that. Skinny, average or meat on your bones, I don't care. Blonde, brunette...white, Asian, black...

Are you pink where it counts? Then you're my type.

I'm your guy.

For the duration of our affair, I will call you Sugar because I can't bother to retain your name.

That's the kind of man I am, and you will know that going in. I make sure of it.

So it's not my fault her friend loved me, but She is going to make me pay for that.

And I'm too addicted to her taste to walk away.

REVIEW

Let me tell you how much I loved this book. I can literally count the ways.

Perv is a book, but it’s more than that. It’s an emotional journey of forgiveness, love and hot sex! I mean hot, hot sex!

Whew. *fans self*

Southern twanged, can’t keep his penis to himself, Nate, is a pervert. He sleeps around, a lot—and his favorite thing to do is give oral sex. He likes to own woman this way. He’s used to living this way, until he gets more than he can give from Robyn. He knows nothing about her, except she has a vendetta against him—and she’s sex on legs. Despite every alarm that is going off, he wants her badly, from just one taste. 

I can’t even gather my thoughts or my words. This was just what I needed. I mean, just what I needed. I’m tempted to write an ode to Dakota Gray for creating the story and the kinds of characters that speak to the very core of my romance loving heart. With romance stories I love cutesy as much as the next girl. But, the romance I really love is: gritty, messy, and hard—but is worth fighting for. Gray gave me that and then some. 

Nate is a nasty bastard but the complexities of his character is really what made him stand out. His ability to be a jerk that cared about things endeared him to me. I really appreciated the way the author really dug deep into his character, fully developing him. He wasn’t just a f**k boy who liked to have sex. He was more than that. He was more where it counted. 

Robyn is just, she’s the epitome of a bad ass. But what makes her character so relatable is her ability to remain strong, at least to the outside eye; while living in a perpetual state of grief. She’s not perfect no matter how perfect she seems to be on the outside. Her ability to bring Nate to his knees was goals to be honest. I loved everything about her character, and her smart mouth is a level of smart-ass I aspire to be.

The sexual tension between the two got so hot I think my Kindle literally singed my fingers. Whew. Gray writes sex in an intensity I hadn’t before seen. They have the sex. Not sex. THE SEX. 

Not to mention the emotional factor. There is a lot of internal and outward battling and I was so involved I read the book at work (shh!) because I just had to finish. This book was worth every second of my time, and I almost want to go back in time and start over—and treat my mind and eyeballs to this treat again.

Such a great book, with engaging and amazing writing. Please put this book in your face, today. Not yesterday. Tuhday.

Truly Madly Royally by Debbie Rigaud ARC Review: I Signed Up For Romance, Where's My Romance?

Synopsis:

Fiercely independent and smart, Zora Emerson wants to change the world. She's excited to be attending a prestigious summer program, even if she feels out of place among her privileged, mostly white classmates. So she's definitely not expecting to feel a connection to Owen, who's an actual prince of an island off the coast of England. But Owen is funny, charming...and undeniably cute. Zora can't ignore the chemistry between them. When Owen invites Zora to be his date at his big brother's big royal wedding, Zora is suddenly thrust into the spotlight, along with her family and friends. Everyone is talking about her, in real life and online, and while Owen is used to the scrutiny, Zora's not sure it's something she can live with. Can she maintain her sense of self while moving between two very different worlds? And can her feelings for Owen survive and thrive in the midst of the crazy? Find out in this charming romantic comedy that's like The Princess Diaries for a new generation.

Review:

Truly Madly Royally was a cute-ish read that lacked a certain something to take it fully over the edge.

Zora is a modern day activist, socialist and do-gooder.

Zora is attending a prestigious college to prepare for (possible) attendance in the fall. While doing this she manages a community program, fully built on the back of an idea she came up with—to better her community.

She’s also in prep to receive awards for her work and grants (hopefully *fingers crossed) to fund her program dutifully called the ‘Walk Me Home Program.’ Zora is what adults wish kids would be, and there is no hidden agenda involved.

While attending this prestigious school, she meets, Owen, the prince. A chance encounter leads to public scrutiny. Now she has to choose. Is being close to the Prince worth all the hassle it’s causing?

The worthiness is something the reader will struggle with. Was it all worth it? With a lack of cutesy moments, and overall depth outside of covert conversations and wry smiles—one can’t tell if it is.

The romance is severely lacking, only told in small sections and bursts (though cute-ish). It doesn’t carry the story and left this reader feeling a little short-changed.

Don’t be mistaken the characters are root-worthy, but the romance was disappointing.

As far as the plot, though the book seems to have an agenda, it’s slow getting there and leaves the reader feeling less satiated than expected. It seems to get nowhere. The ending is pretty meh in terms of the happiness factor. It’s a happy ending, but it’s less happy and more expectant.

With an almost ripped from the headlines plot,  from an obvious Harry and Meghan supporter; the book doesn’t excite in the way an upcoming royal nuptial would.

What it doesn’t lack, however, is black positivity. Positivity, that will excite readers young and old by delving into historical facts (True or not true, that is not clear without research) and overall black joy, the book does an outstanding job of being black positive—while keeping its authenticity.

Many young readers will relish in the inclusivity. But it lacks oomph and romance.

The writing is good, but it doesn’t make up for what it lacks.

Is it worth buying? Sure. Just don’t lean too heavily on the romance the cover portrays.

I Spy The Boy Next Door: Why Don't I Have These Kinds of Next Door Neighbors?

Synopsis:

Four p.m. spy sessions are the highlight of Mallory Taylor’s day. Observing the boy next door—one with a body and an attitude to match—has her perched beside her window so often it can't be healthy.

When she finally convinces her mom to let her go to public school, Mallory comes face to face with her neighbor, Troy Parker. And he makes it clear he wants nothing to do with her. His rejection awakens a newfound tenacity and maybe even a touch of recklessness. But when Troy starts to show up when she needs him the most, Mallory can’t help but wonder if there’s more to him than he’s let on.

Taking chances, breaking rules, and following her heart is all new to Mallory. And no one warned her just how fickle hearts can be. When she discovers that Troy isn’t at all the guy she imagined him to be, secrets rise to the surface that will change her life forever.

*This is a standalone mature YA/new adult contemporary romance.

Review:

I Spy The Boy Next Door is a delicious, heart-rumbling, heart-warming whale of a tale.

I mean if Troy could just pin me down with those ocean blues, that’d be great.

I’m very much a fan of the boy doesn’t want the girl (pretends not to), but the girl wants the boy, boy fights it, but they eventually wind up together trope.

Mallory is homeschooled and home-bound. But, that doesn’t stop the crush she has on Troy, The Boy Next Door.

Every day around 4, she watches him come running down the block all sweaty and hot. She’s fine with that, for now. But, her 18th birthday is approaching and she wants to go to school. Real school. The kind that requires she leaves the house. Much to her parent's chagrin, they let her go.

It’s in this letting go that Mallory finds herself and she also discovers that her crush is not so one-sided.

Troy was a boy of few words. But when he spoke and moved, it was arresting. From the way the author describes his come-hither stares, his just-barely-there smiles, I practically melted into a puddle of goo.

The romance in this one was an excruciating slow burn that had me panting for the hookup. When it does happen, it’s slow like the pouring out of ketchup in a class Heinz bottle.

But, it’s so good. So painstakingly good.

All of the characters are three dimensional and fitting and perfect for the story. I really enjoyed how the author built up relationships so efficiently and timely.

The story itself is perfectly paced and well-written, very.

And the climax to the story was surprising, I definitely wasn’t expecting it—and it gave the story a nice mystery quality.

Unpredictable, and stimulating, TBND is a great read—with an even better writer at the helm. Very enjoyable, I can’t wait to read more from this author.

After Ever: A Paradise Cove Story (Paradise Cove, #3) by Santana Blair: Writing Done Well

Synopsis:

Max Tucker can divide his life into two distinct parts: before and after. 

Before her, he was good at his job. No, he was better than good. As a rising star in sports agency with a reputation for getting what he wants when it comes to signing clients and making deals, he had a one track mind and that track was success. 

When his latest pursuit leads him away from California and to a quiet Virginian town, the last thing Max expects is to find the girl who makes him question everything he thought to be true. 

But when her life of silent shadows threatens any hope for a future together, it's up to Max to make the most important deal of his life. 

Because after isn't acceptable when he finally decides to live for Ever. 

Review:

After Ever is an emotional ride of a read; with serious depth and a solid backstory made to please.

Everleigh only knows fear. After getting out of a tumultuous relationship with Bobby, her abuser; she’s determined to fly under the radar. Arranged visits with her brother, work at the bookshop and home. A dull but reliable routine. That is until Max shows up at her shop, with a dead phone and an open heart.

Max works until exhaustion most days. On a work trip, he stumbles into a bookstore; hoping to get a little juice for his phone but he gets more than a charge for his phone. 

Neither Max nor Everleigh were looking for love. He was too busy. And, for Everleigh it was the farthest thing from her mind. She didn’t even talk, for goodness sakes. 

I adored that Everleigh didn’t speak. Not only was it a unique twist, but it also forced the author to dig deep and give the characters true emotions you could feel.

And, feel I did.

I was a complete mushball for a significant portion of the novel; sitting in the background like a voyeur, waiting for the two to connect.

The burn was slow, and the wait was worth it. Love took its time to bloom and grow in this novel—and the pacing was expert level.

The author seemed like a pro in this style of writing. The construction of the novel was on point. I was thoroughly impressed and satisfied with the character’s development and growth.

The secondary characters were solid and provided great detail to an otherwise bright story.

For those of you who prefer novels with sex, you won’t get that here. But, with covert kisses and sly glances—and some heavy petting, the novel doesn’t fall short because it lacked “sexy times.” The lack of it allowed the author to focus on the intimacy and emotional depth of the book and it paid off.

A solid novel, with all the right bits. After Ever is a great book, and I am excited to try more books from this author.

Devils Within by S.F. Henson

BLURB

Killing isn’t supposed to be easy. But it is. It’s the after that’s hard to deal with. 

Nate was eight the first time he stabbed someone; he was eleven when he earned his red laces—a prize for spilling blood for “the cause.” And he was fourteen when he murdered his father (and the leader of The Fort, a notorious white supremacist compound) in self-defense, landing in a treatment center while the state searched for his next of kin. Now, in the custody of an uncle he never knew existed, who wants nothing to do with him, Nate just wants to disappear.

Enrolled in a new school under a false name, so no one from The Fort can find him, he struggles to forge a new life, trying to learn how to navigate a world where people of different races interact without enmity. But he can’t stop awful thoughts from popping into his head, or help the way he shivers with a desire to commit violence. He wants to be different—he just doesn’t know where to start.

Then he meets Brandon, a person The Fort conditioned Nate to despise on sight. But Brandon’s also the first person to treat him like a human instead of a monster. Brandon could never understand Nate’s dark past, so Nate keeps quiet. And it works for a while. But all too soon, Nate’s worlds crash together, and he must decide between his own survival and standing for what’s right, even if it isn’t easy. Even if society will never be able to forgive him for his sins.

Like a teen American History X, S.F. Henson’s Devils Within is gut-wrenching, thought-provoking, no-holds-barred look at the plague of white supremacy in contemporary American culture that may have you examining your own soul. 

REVIEW

I don’t know what made me pick up Devils Within. Aside from the blurb, the content is probably something I should have avoided—out of fear of finding something within the book that might set something off in me. Some racial implication or misstep. But Devils Within is the first book I’ve read of its kind and it does for the race conversation something I’ve never seen done by a non-person of color.

Nate is a former Neo-nazi. He’s killed and hurt people. One of them being his father. He murdered him. Now, he’s trying to live an actual life—in a new town, with an uncle he never met.

Like this novel shows, you can move, but the past goes with you.

I didn’t know much about White supremacists groups—not anything of substance. As an African American, I can’t say I was eager to go down that rabbit hole. But, Hinton does a wonderful job of exposing the inner workings of these types of groups accurately, and in a way easy for an unlearned person to grasp—without being vulgar. Her conscious way of handling race on both ends is something worth talking about.

While exploring these difficult subjects, Hinton created characters that were multifunctional and dimensional. They didn’t merely exist to tell a story but to educate—which is the strongest weapon in the destruction of racism. 

Nate starts off in a psych ward of sorts—battling the demons that stemmed from his upbringing. This might have been unintentional, but it’s the resolution we’re used to seeing because of hate crimes. The white person gets off after having killed or victimized a person of color. They’re then sent to a mental institution for whatever mental issue they’ve chosen to blame their hate crime on. But, Hinton doesn’t romanticize or belittle this part. It seems fitting and real.

Once we get Nate out of that environment into the real world we really get to see the white supremacist mindset, thankfully in a gentler manner. If the reader had to deal with something so in-your-face it would have soured the book and I would have run for the hills.

We watch Nate deal with the aftermath of his racist excursions and his head-on dealings with other races and nationalities. 

The author does a stellar job of staying away from victimizing Nate; while also ensuring the victims remain the actual victims.

It weaves facts throughout the book in such a painfully painless manner—maintaining the book’s integrity and sticking to the truth.

The supporting cast, the uncle Dell—his Asian girlfriend, Bev—and the friends, Brandon guided this story in the right direction and helped to educate on racism and racists effectively and appropriately.

The way the story plays itself out was completely welcoming and raw. But, not raw enough to be difficult to read. Because let’s face it any conversations of race are hard to read and scary. 

I’m truly thoroughly pleased with the structure, delivery, and layout of this novel.

It’s handled correctly, and it caters to the young adult audience without treating the intended reader like a child.

I will note it probably will trigger for some readers but if you power through, it will be worth it.

A stunning and well-done take. I have no complaints. It’s a worthwhile, authentic and unique niche read. Highly recommended.