J's Musings

Book Review by Janhavi

I read this book in June last year on vacation, while sitting with myself on events that had taken place around that time. I started it to escape, but soon found myself entangled in the complex, real, intriguing world of the naturals.

For 12 year old Cassie, her mother isn’t dead. She can’t be. For 17 year old Cassie, her mother has been dead for a while, but she has to find the body atleast. With her hopes refusing to dwindle, life becomes more and more difficult as the mystery of her mother’s death refuses to unwind. But things change completely when she is uproached by the FBI to join them for a special program. She doesn’t know if this will help her move ahead and find some details, or if it will help her move on for once, from the mystery that won’t leave her.

For me, I only picked up this book because I liked the inheritance games, and this had a plot I would pick up anyway. But I never expected to like it as much as I did.

As a reader, the most important element of a story is always the characters in my opinion. Which JLB does beautifully. Despite being YA, I think Cassie breaks many stereotypes. She is like any other YA mc, but she is better. More real, more human, more prone to mistakes. Most importantly, her life doesnt revolve around boys in the middle of a crisis. 

I also appreciate how even in first person perspective, the naturals are the main characters, and not just Cassie. In my opinion its a thin line, but the right balance makes or breaks books. 

Cassie, as a character manages to keep you guessing about her till the end. I could tell she wasn’t morally gray, but she develops and reveals complexities as the story proceeds. 

Of all Naturals, Lia is what i would call the textbook definition of a complex character. You should hate her, but you won’t. She is too loveable, too vulnerable, too much, when she lets herself be. 

I think so much of the fun of reading this book is getting to know the characters and their stories, because it helps you understand their behaviour a lot better. 

As the series progresses, this becomes more prominent. 

For me, the writing was perfect. I like the pace, the writing is style is really easy to read. As always, JLB’s words flow like a river. 

The book does have some intense gore overall, but especially in the chapter titled YOU. These can be skipped, if you find it disturbing. It wont affect the story at all. 

Other than that 5 stars. Love the plot, the mystery, the characters, the writing, it is perfection in a book. 

I hope you enjoy the read!