BookAwards.com
Award-Winning Books from Today's Best Authors
A Free Resource for Book Lovers, Authors, Agents, Publishers and Journalists
Recommend this book:
Good Girls Stay Quiet
Jo Cassidy
2023 Bronze Medal
Kindle Edition
Check current price
Young Adult - Thriller
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
Good Girls Stay Quiet is a psychological thriller novel for young adults written by Jo Cassidy. Cora’s life was strictly controlled by her Daddy, but she realized that he was only thinking of what was best for her. Daddy had homeschooled her until the authorities insisted she attend high school. She liked school a lot but was always aware that she had to be on guard and never draw attention to herself. Daddy also warned her never to make friends or get involved. And she was lonely, so alone, with only her friend, Noah, the stuffed elephant Daddy bought her years earlier for company. Noah could talk, which was cool, but Daddy didn’t seem to be able to hear him. Good thing, that, since Noah often spoke his mind. There was a new guidance counselor at school whose questions almost made Cora wonder if she should actually tell the truth about Daddy and what her life was like. But the punishment would be more severe than even the worst beatings he had given her. And foster parents were the stuff of nightmares. No, better for her to be the good girl he had trained her to be, better and safer, or was it?
Good Girls Stay Quiet is a taut and compelling coming of age story that kept me reading until I had finished the book. This well-written and suspenseful tale grabs the reader and just doesn’t let go. One can’t help but fear for the well-being of Cora and wish that she’d speak out to someone who could rescue her from the deadly and escalating peril that is her home life with Daddy. Jo Cassidy’s plot is enthralling and all-too-real, and her characters, especially Cora and her friends, are expertly drawn and crafted. This is a marvelous book, which while geared toward a young adult audience, is well worth the attention of anyone looking for an enthralling psychological thriller. Good Girls Stay Quiet is most highly recommended.
Good Girls Stay Quiet is a psychological thriller novel for young adults written by Jo Cassidy. Cora’s life was strictly controlled by her Daddy, but she realized that he was only thinking of what was best for her. Daddy had homeschooled her until the authorities insisted she attend high school. She liked school a lot but was always aware that she had to be on guard and never draw attention to herself. Daddy also warned her never to make friends or get involved. And she was lonely, so alone, with only her friend, Noah, the stuffed elephant Daddy bought her years earlier for company. Noah could talk, which was cool, but Daddy didn’t seem to be able to hear him. Good thing, that, since Noah often spoke his mind. There was a new guidance counselor at school whose questions almost made Cora wonder if she should actually tell the truth about Daddy and what her life was like. But the punishment would be more severe than even the worst beatings he had given her. And foster parents were the stuff of nightmares. No, better for her to be the good girl he had trained her to be, better and safer, or was it?
Good Girls Stay Quiet is a taut and compelling coming of age story that kept me reading until I had finished the book. This well-written and suspenseful tale grabs the reader and just doesn’t let go. One can’t help but fear for the well-being of Cora and wish that she’d speak out to someone who could rescue her from the deadly and escalating peril that is her home life with Daddy. Jo Cassidy’s plot is enthralling and all-too-real, and her characters, especially Cora and her friends, are expertly drawn and crafted. This is a marvelous book, which while geared toward a young adult audience, is well worth the attention of anyone looking for an enthralling psychological thriller. Good Girls Stay Quiet is most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
The Last Ark
Lost Secrets of Qumran
Guy Morris
2023 Silver Medal
390 Pages
Check current price
Young Adult - Thriller
Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite
The Last Ark: Lost Secrets of Qumran by Guy Morris is book two in the SNO Chronicles series. Derek Taylor is on the run. Hunted by a murderous cult, he is searching for SLVIA, a DARPA AI that has escaped. Meanwhile, the US national defense systems are being undermined by a new kind of hack, and, while Taylor knows he should be looking into it, he needs to find the third temple, a temple SLVIA warned existed. His journey leads him to the Vatican and on to Israel, where he finds a copper scroll leading to Moses’ Ark, lost for over 2500 years. In Washington, Jenn Scott’s father is killed by one of Putin’s men, and when she is kidnapped, Taylor faces an impossible choice. Whichever way he turns, things are about to change forever.
The Last Ark: Secrets of Qumran by Guy Morris is a fast-paced thriller packed with action in a fantastic plot. There are several stories here, all part of a bigger plot that our main protagonist must uncover, and each thread is woven steadfastly into the intricate story. The dialogue is tight and engaging, not filled with unnecessary fluff, and it all adds to the story. The characters are engaging, likable, and easy to relate to and you’ll soon find yourself rooting for Derek Taylor. It’s often difficult to balance action and violence in a thriller – this one has the perfect mix and is one of the most thrilling, heart-pounding stories I have ever read. Although this is part of a series, I believe it could be read as a standalone story. If you love high-action political thrillers, you will love this story.
The Last Ark: Lost Secrets of Qumran by Guy Morris is book two in the SNO Chronicles series. Derek Taylor is on the run. Hunted by a murderous cult, he is searching for SLVIA, a DARPA AI that has escaped. Meanwhile, the US national defense systems are being undermined by a new kind of hack, and, while Taylor knows he should be looking into it, he needs to find the third temple, a temple SLVIA warned existed. His journey leads him to the Vatican and on to Israel, where he finds a copper scroll leading to Moses’ Ark, lost for over 2500 years. In Washington, Jenn Scott’s father is killed by one of Putin’s men, and when she is kidnapped, Taylor faces an impossible choice. Whichever way he turns, things are about to change forever.
The Last Ark: Secrets of Qumran by Guy Morris is a fast-paced thriller packed with action in a fantastic plot. There are several stories here, all part of a bigger plot that our main protagonist must uncover, and each thread is woven steadfastly into the intricate story. The dialogue is tight and engaging, not filled with unnecessary fluff, and it all adds to the story. The characters are engaging, likable, and easy to relate to and you’ll soon find yourself rooting for Derek Taylor. It’s often difficult to balance action and violence in a thriller – this one has the perfect mix and is one of the most thrilling, heart-pounding stories I have ever read. Although this is part of a series, I believe it could be read as a standalone story. If you love high-action political thrillers, you will love this story.
Recommend this book:
Eve's Covering
Elsie McKenney
2023 Gold Medal
Kindle Edition
Check current price
Young Adult - Thriller
Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite
Eve's Covering by Elsie McKenney is a young adult mystery. Eve's cousin, Alice, dies under mysterious circumstances, but no one will take Eve's concerns seriously, least of all the police. When her family is drawn into a religious cult, Eve finds it hard to accept their ideas and the people who want control over her life, and she rebels against it all. Following threats to her family, Eve joins the cult's mission, a Soviet Union orphanage. Except that isn't the real mission. Eve stumbles over the cult's sinister secrets and decides to rescue her friends who have all been gradually disappearing. But she knows too much and it's all over for everyone if the cult leaders catch her. Can Eve save the day and bring down the cult?
Eve's Covering by Elsie McKenney is based on the author's personal experiences and may be disturbing to some people. It is a unique story with a strong plot and an even stronger female lead, a character who will immediately get inside your heart and mind. The writing is intriguing, drawing you in and making you want to keep reading without stopping. The twists and turns and heart-thumping action will keep you guessing and the subplot just adds more mystery to an already fantastic story. The other characters are just as well defined as Eve, and each plays their part in the ploy. This is a gripping tale suited to all ages of readers, not just young adults, and the fact it is based on real life and touches on very real subjects makes it a must-read book. I look forward to reading more from Elsie McKenney.
Eve's Covering by Elsie McKenney is a young adult mystery. Eve's cousin, Alice, dies under mysterious circumstances, but no one will take Eve's concerns seriously, least of all the police. When her family is drawn into a religious cult, Eve finds it hard to accept their ideas and the people who want control over her life, and she rebels against it all. Following threats to her family, Eve joins the cult's mission, a Soviet Union orphanage. Except that isn't the real mission. Eve stumbles over the cult's sinister secrets and decides to rescue her friends who have all been gradually disappearing. But she knows too much and it's all over for everyone if the cult leaders catch her. Can Eve save the day and bring down the cult?
Eve's Covering by Elsie McKenney is based on the author's personal experiences and may be disturbing to some people. It is a unique story with a strong plot and an even stronger female lead, a character who will immediately get inside your heart and mind. The writing is intriguing, drawing you in and making you want to keep reading without stopping. The twists and turns and heart-thumping action will keep you guessing and the subplot just adds more mystery to an already fantastic story. The other characters are just as well defined as Eve, and each plays their part in the ploy. This is a gripping tale suited to all ages of readers, not just young adults, and the fact it is based on real life and touches on very real subjects makes it a must-read book. I look forward to reading more from Elsie McKenney.
Recommend this book:
Project Evelyn
J.C. Lahoe
2022 Finalist
Kindle Edition
Check current price
Young Adult - Thriller
Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite
An ancient secret society is behind an advanced scientific technological corporation and pulling strings that entangle a doctor and a young woman in human experiments that could change the dynamics of civilization, in the mind-boggling novel Project Evelyn by J.C. Lahoe. When a drunk driver crosses traffic and kills her family, Evelyn loses her arm. Not expecting her to live, a robotic corporation swoops in and erases her presence from the hospital's records. Abducting Evelyn and conveying her to their facility, Dr. Tim Ezrick performs a surgical procedure and attaches a mechanical arm to her shoulder. Evelyn unexpectedly survives, and Tim takes a personal interest in her. As the days, weeks, and months pass, Evelyn starts assisting Tim with his experiments and becomes a part of the center. Tim's superior, Dr. Shepard, following protocols and directives from an elite group hidden behind centuries of closed doors, begins pushing for live human experimental subjects. Feeling expendable, Tim and Evelyn are confronted with a moral dilemma if they want to stay alive. What choices do they have? Can Evelyn and Tim survive what is to come?
Project Evelyn by J.C. Lahoe is a spine-tingling science fiction thriller. It is an exciting and mind-bending story that had me on the edge of my seat from the first page until the last. The intricacies of the storyline are so diverse and captivating that I was completely immersed in the story and couldn't put the book down. The plot flows at a brisk pace, building a compelling story arc to subsequently reach an electrifying conclusion. It is an impactful and eye-opening tale when taking into consideration how the medical and robotic technology portrayed is not so far-fetched as it once was. With the elements of drama and suspense combined with the antagonists' deviant intent and advanced technological aspect of the book, the author has created a riveting novel that will entertain and delight science fiction fans from young adults on up.
An ancient secret society is behind an advanced scientific technological corporation and pulling strings that entangle a doctor and a young woman in human experiments that could change the dynamics of civilization, in the mind-boggling novel Project Evelyn by J.C. Lahoe. When a drunk driver crosses traffic and kills her family, Evelyn loses her arm. Not expecting her to live, a robotic corporation swoops in and erases her presence from the hospital's records. Abducting Evelyn and conveying her to their facility, Dr. Tim Ezrick performs a surgical procedure and attaches a mechanical arm to her shoulder. Evelyn unexpectedly survives, and Tim takes a personal interest in her. As the days, weeks, and months pass, Evelyn starts assisting Tim with his experiments and becomes a part of the center. Tim's superior, Dr. Shepard, following protocols and directives from an elite group hidden behind centuries of closed doors, begins pushing for live human experimental subjects. Feeling expendable, Tim and Evelyn are confronted with a moral dilemma if they want to stay alive. What choices do they have? Can Evelyn and Tim survive what is to come?
Project Evelyn by J.C. Lahoe is a spine-tingling science fiction thriller. It is an exciting and mind-bending story that had me on the edge of my seat from the first page until the last. The intricacies of the storyline are so diverse and captivating that I was completely immersed in the story and couldn't put the book down. The plot flows at a brisk pace, building a compelling story arc to subsequently reach an electrifying conclusion. It is an impactful and eye-opening tale when taking into consideration how the medical and robotic technology portrayed is not so far-fetched as it once was. With the elements of drama and suspense combined with the antagonists' deviant intent and advanced technological aspect of the book, the author has created a riveting novel that will entertain and delight science fiction fans from young adults on up.
Recommend this book:
Drone Child
A Novel of War, Family, and Survival
David H. Rothman
2022 Honorable Mention
196 Pages
Check current price
Young Adult - Thriller
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Drone Child: A Novel of War, Family, and Survival is a work of fiction in the military and action subgenres. It is suitable for the general reading audience and was penned by author David H. Rothman. The book is a revised edition of No Taller than My Gun. The book follows 15-year-old Lemba Adula after his abduction by the Congolese Purification Army, which uses the threat of violence against his family to force him to operate drones for them. Targeted due to his reputation as a genius, Lemba must use all his wits and cunning if he stands any chance of escaping and rescuing his sister from a sex trafficker.
This was a challenging but powerful read exploring the dread that comes from being a young person living in an area of conflict; the recruitment of child soldiers and the threat of sexual exploitation are particularly given a great deal of gravity from the point of view of a child affected by conflict. David H. Rothman has a compelling tale to tell and an important message to impart to readers about the reality of distant warzones. Lemba deserves highlighting as an excellent protagonist for this type of story; at once feeling physically in danger due to being a minor in a world of aggressive adults but also having power in his intellect and determination. A harsh but compelling discussion on the real-world plight of child soldiers, Drone Child should be lauded for the frank conversations it has the power to open for younger readers.
Drone Child: A Novel of War, Family, and Survival is a work of fiction in the military and action subgenres. It is suitable for the general reading audience and was penned by author David H. Rothman. The book is a revised edition of No Taller than My Gun. The book follows 15-year-old Lemba Adula after his abduction by the Congolese Purification Army, which uses the threat of violence against his family to force him to operate drones for them. Targeted due to his reputation as a genius, Lemba must use all his wits and cunning if he stands any chance of escaping and rescuing his sister from a sex trafficker.
This was a challenging but powerful read exploring the dread that comes from being a young person living in an area of conflict; the recruitment of child soldiers and the threat of sexual exploitation are particularly given a great deal of gravity from the point of view of a child affected by conflict. David H. Rothman has a compelling tale to tell and an important message to impart to readers about the reality of distant warzones. Lemba deserves highlighting as an excellent protagonist for this type of story; at once feeling physically in danger due to being a minor in a world of aggressive adults but also having power in his intellect and determination. A harsh but compelling discussion on the real-world plight of child soldiers, Drone Child should be lauded for the frank conversations it has the power to open for younger readers.
Recommend this book:
The Locket
Brittany Bessonett
2022 Bronze Medal
242 Pages
Check current price
Young Adult - Thriller
Reviewed by Tiffany Ferrell for Readers' Favorite
The Locket by Brittany Bessonett relates that nine years earlier Katie experienced a horrible sexual assault that changed her life. Constantly living in fear and dealing with the PTSD that followed, she kept away from the place where the attack occurred in the hope of living a relatively normal life. For this reason, she never stayed in one place for long, until she found herself in Victoria, Texas, finding a job that she enjoyed and a friendship she deemed worth keeping. Even her best friend's stepbrother is looking unthreatening, which is extreme growth on her part. Everything feels as if it’s falling into place until a stranger comes to her work, looking for her. Once again she’s on high alert and she is terrified that the man who destroyed her life was back to finish her off. Suddenly everyone she has come to know is being thrown into question, especially when the locket that was stolen during her attack turns up in an unexpected place. Will Katie ever get the closure that she needs, or will she be plagued to run from town to town having no one she can truly trust?
I found The Locket a very powerful read that puts you in the shoes of a sexual assault victim. As someone who has never personally had this happen, I found it realistic and you could understand where Katie was coming from and why she was the way that she was. Katie is a very relatable character because even if you have never suffered an assault, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can occur as a result of many different experiences or events in a person's life. I understood why it was hard for her to trust and make friends, as well as the need to keep moving. How it feels to have life finally seem to be going your way only to be shattered by something that triggers your memories takes you three steps back. I think Brittany Bessonett has done an amazing job bringing this subject to the fore and creating a character that many people can relate to in one way or another. I can’t wait to read more of Bessonett’s work.
The Locket by Brittany Bessonett relates that nine years earlier Katie experienced a horrible sexual assault that changed her life. Constantly living in fear and dealing with the PTSD that followed, she kept away from the place where the attack occurred in the hope of living a relatively normal life. For this reason, she never stayed in one place for long, until she found herself in Victoria, Texas, finding a job that she enjoyed and a friendship she deemed worth keeping. Even her best friend's stepbrother is looking unthreatening, which is extreme growth on her part. Everything feels as if it’s falling into place until a stranger comes to her work, looking for her. Once again she’s on high alert and she is terrified that the man who destroyed her life was back to finish her off. Suddenly everyone she has come to know is being thrown into question, especially when the locket that was stolen during her attack turns up in an unexpected place. Will Katie ever get the closure that she needs, or will she be plagued to run from town to town having no one she can truly trust?
I found The Locket a very powerful read that puts you in the shoes of a sexual assault victim. As someone who has never personally had this happen, I found it realistic and you could understand where Katie was coming from and why she was the way that she was. Katie is a very relatable character because even if you have never suffered an assault, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can occur as a result of many different experiences or events in a person's life. I understood why it was hard for her to trust and make friends, as well as the need to keep moving. How it feels to have life finally seem to be going your way only to be shattered by something that triggers your memories takes you three steps back. I think Brittany Bessonett has done an amazing job bringing this subject to the fore and creating a character that many people can relate to in one way or another. I can’t wait to read more of Bessonett’s work.
Recommend this book:
Ninety-Five
Lisa Towles
2022 Silver Medal
266 Pages
Check current price
Young Adult - Thriller
Reviewed by Keith Mbuya for Readers' Favorite
Barely accustomed to life as a student at the University of Chicago after transferring from NYU, Zak Skinner’s life takes one giant wild turn. It all starts with a fellow student, David Wade, introducing Zak Skinner to drugs. Before Zak knows it, he has developed a strong affinity for reality-altering substances. It is for this same reason that he allows David to take him to Jane’s house, where he consumes a powerful concoction that temporarily halts his ability to tell a hallucination and reality apart. This makes it especially hard for Zak to relate his encounters (after taking Jane’s concoction) to his best friend Riley later on. Soon, they both discover Zak had fallen victim to a dirty scheme driven by an underworld organization near the university. Somehow by getting them hooked on drugs and using blackmail threats, the organization forces its victims and targets to commit crimes. In a bid to find out more, Zak realizes he is being hunted by the organization. Get yourself Lisa Towles' Ninety-Five to learn more.
Lisa Towles does a remarkable job with Ninety-Five. The story’s fast pace and the quite complex plot blend very well. Lisa’s writing style is unique. Adopting the use of complex sentence structures, the storyline of Ninety-Five is quickly but steadily developed. Lisa’s ideas are aligned intriguingly. The story is told from the protagonist’s perspective, and this maintains a delicate line between the imagined and the real world. It was hard to tell whether Zak was experiencing things in reality or he was hallucinating. The transition between the many subplots and chapters is great. The plot is impressively engrossing and generally comprehensible. The details about campus life and the technology used in the story have depth and are convincing enough for the story. The characters are wonderfully developed. What I love most about Zak is his intelligence. Enthusiasts of fast-paced thrillers will love Ninety-Five. It is a magnificent piece of work.
Barely accustomed to life as a student at the University of Chicago after transferring from NYU, Zak Skinner’s life takes one giant wild turn. It all starts with a fellow student, David Wade, introducing Zak Skinner to drugs. Before Zak knows it, he has developed a strong affinity for reality-altering substances. It is for this same reason that he allows David to take him to Jane’s house, where he consumes a powerful concoction that temporarily halts his ability to tell a hallucination and reality apart. This makes it especially hard for Zak to relate his encounters (after taking Jane’s concoction) to his best friend Riley later on. Soon, they both discover Zak had fallen victim to a dirty scheme driven by an underworld organization near the university. Somehow by getting them hooked on drugs and using blackmail threats, the organization forces its victims and targets to commit crimes. In a bid to find out more, Zak realizes he is being hunted by the organization. Get yourself Lisa Towles' Ninety-Five to learn more.
Lisa Towles does a remarkable job with Ninety-Five. The story’s fast pace and the quite complex plot blend very well. Lisa’s writing style is unique. Adopting the use of complex sentence structures, the storyline of Ninety-Five is quickly but steadily developed. Lisa’s ideas are aligned intriguingly. The story is told from the protagonist’s perspective, and this maintains a delicate line between the imagined and the real world. It was hard to tell whether Zak was experiencing things in reality or he was hallucinating. The transition between the many subplots and chapters is great. The plot is impressively engrossing and generally comprehensible. The details about campus life and the technology used in the story have depth and are convincing enough for the story. The characters are wonderfully developed. What I love most about Zak is his intelligence. Enthusiasts of fast-paced thrillers will love Ninety-Five. It is a magnificent piece of work.
Recommend this book:
Swarm
Artificial Intelligence Decodes End Time Prophecies
Guy Morris
2021 Gold Medal
444 Pages
Check current price
Young Adult - Thriller
Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite
Swarm: Artificial Intelligence Decodes End Time Prophecies by Guy Morris is a deftly plotted and brilliantly written thriller that will entice fans of conspiracy and espionage. Derek Taylor is a fugitive hacker and contractor for the National Security Agency, using the name of a murdered friend to stay alive. His ties with a terrorist hacker group make him a primary target of an investigation by Lt. Jennifer Scott, who has political backing and resources. SLVIA is an AI program that escaped NSA Lawrence Laboratory and has never been recovered. Now, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) internet virus threatens national security and SLVIA warns Taylor about the breaking of the fifth seal of end-time prophecy. It means only one thing: impending doom. The stakes get higher when a dictator, the president of the United States, releases a defective AI weapon. Two people stand the chance of saving the world: Lt. Scott and Taylor. But can they work together while the impending danger grows stronger and SLVIA is at risk of annihilation?
Guy Morris has written a novel that is gripping and intense when it comes to the action and plot points. The characters are extraordinary and they are pulled from strong backgrounds, including the Joint Artificial Intelligence Command, the CIA, the US Senate and Congress, National Security, Artificial Intelligence Task Force, and many others. The writing is crisp and gorgeous, and I enjoyed the descriptions and how the author explores the intelligence and state of mind as well as the emotions of the characters. The author weaves details into the characters and the plot in a way that is fascinating. The vocabulary is rich and the imagery is exceptionally written. Swarm: Artificial Intelligence Decodes End Time Prophecies is cleverly plotted, gripping, featuring characters that are rock-solid and a conspiracy that feels real.
Swarm: Artificial Intelligence Decodes End Time Prophecies by Guy Morris is a deftly plotted and brilliantly written thriller that will entice fans of conspiracy and espionage. Derek Taylor is a fugitive hacker and contractor for the National Security Agency, using the name of a murdered friend to stay alive. His ties with a terrorist hacker group make him a primary target of an investigation by Lt. Jennifer Scott, who has political backing and resources. SLVIA is an AI program that escaped NSA Lawrence Laboratory and has never been recovered. Now, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) internet virus threatens national security and SLVIA warns Taylor about the breaking of the fifth seal of end-time prophecy. It means only one thing: impending doom. The stakes get higher when a dictator, the president of the United States, releases a defective AI weapon. Two people stand the chance of saving the world: Lt. Scott and Taylor. But can they work together while the impending danger grows stronger and SLVIA is at risk of annihilation?
Guy Morris has written a novel that is gripping and intense when it comes to the action and plot points. The characters are extraordinary and they are pulled from strong backgrounds, including the Joint Artificial Intelligence Command, the CIA, the US Senate and Congress, National Security, Artificial Intelligence Task Force, and many others. The writing is crisp and gorgeous, and I enjoyed the descriptions and how the author explores the intelligence and state of mind as well as the emotions of the characters. The author weaves details into the characters and the plot in a way that is fascinating. The vocabulary is rich and the imagery is exceptionally written. Swarm: Artificial Intelligence Decodes End Time Prophecies is cleverly plotted, gripping, featuring characters that are rock-solid and a conspiracy that feels real.
Recommend this book:
The Leviathan Trial
Oliver Madison
2021 Silver Medal
Kindle Edition
Check current price
Young Adult - Thriller
Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite
Picture 12 super-intelligent children, aged from pre-pubescent to their twenties, adopted, bred, and educated over the years by an eccentric billionaire. Except for the very young, each child has developed exceptional skills in varying areas. When the 90-year-old “father” suddenly dies, this mixed family is immediately locked in his massive mansion. Cell-phone communication is impossible. How will they escape? Each child wears a “Leviathan” key-pendant which will unlock specific rooms. But which room? Worse yet, the father’s dying plan is for them to use their highly developed skills to determine his rightful heir. But to do so, they must eradicate each other. It’s a horrible survival of the smartest contest. Who will survive and inherit billions and at what unmeasurable cost? And just who or what keeps flitting through the shadows?
If Hollywood is looking for a movie or TV series script where Hunger Games meets Escape Room, producers need to look no further than The Leviathan Trial by Oliver Madison. This is a Young Adult thriller on steroids! The premise of The Leviathan Trial is creepy and thoroughly engaging for those who love this kind of book. Death and danger lurk behind every door. Oliver Madison is a writer who is really enjoying where his clever mind is taking him and his readers. The action is fast-paced, the dialogue swift, and the settings elaborate and cinematic. Plot-wise and visually, this story just begs for film production. Little wonder it’s just been awarded a Silver Medal by Readers Favorite!
Picture 12 super-intelligent children, aged from pre-pubescent to their twenties, adopted, bred, and educated over the years by an eccentric billionaire. Except for the very young, each child has developed exceptional skills in varying areas. When the 90-year-old “father” suddenly dies, this mixed family is immediately locked in his massive mansion. Cell-phone communication is impossible. How will they escape? Each child wears a “Leviathan” key-pendant which will unlock specific rooms. But which room? Worse yet, the father’s dying plan is for them to use their highly developed skills to determine his rightful heir. But to do so, they must eradicate each other. It’s a horrible survival of the smartest contest. Who will survive and inherit billions and at what unmeasurable cost? And just who or what keeps flitting through the shadows?
If Hollywood is looking for a movie or TV series script where Hunger Games meets Escape Room, producers need to look no further than The Leviathan Trial by Oliver Madison. This is a Young Adult thriller on steroids! The premise of The Leviathan Trial is creepy and thoroughly engaging for those who love this kind of book. Death and danger lurk behind every door. Oliver Madison is a writer who is really enjoying where his clever mind is taking him and his readers. The action is fast-paced, the dialogue swift, and the settings elaborate and cinematic. Plot-wise and visually, this story just begs for film production. Little wonder it’s just been awarded a Silver Medal by Readers Favorite!
Recommend this book:
Ski Weekend
A Novel
Rektok Ross
2021 Bronze Medal
288 Pages
Check current price
Young Adult - Thriller
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Ski Weekend is a work of fiction in the thriller genre. It is aimed at young adults and was penned by Rektok Ross. The book follows a group of teenagers who are on a ski trip that goes terribly wrong when their SUV crashes and strands them in the mountains with no hope of calling help and limited food supplies. The lead character Sam is forced to take extreme measures to care for her brother after an attempt to seek out help leaves him with a broken leg and a fever that only gets worse as the crisis stretches out into days.
This is a suspenseful book that had me thoroughly hooked from page one, with the relationship between Sam and the other members of her group being quickly established as the group gets ready for their journey. The harsh conditions of a freezing mountain make for a brilliant backdrop to the story and Rektok Ross’s excellent prose and descriptive writing leads the reader to imagine the danger in the cold and dark surroundings. As the story unfolds, the desperation begins to set in with the characters, and their slow descent into the darker aspects of survival necessity had me on the edge of my seat. The emotional journey of Ski Weekend is relentless as the events of the story force Sam and her companions to make life-changing realizations about themselves in the face of the constant need for life or death decision-making that will haunt them forever if they are able to survive. I’d recommend this book to any young adult readers.
Ski Weekend is a work of fiction in the thriller genre. It is aimed at young adults and was penned by Rektok Ross. The book follows a group of teenagers who are on a ski trip that goes terribly wrong when their SUV crashes and strands them in the mountains with no hope of calling help and limited food supplies. The lead character Sam is forced to take extreme measures to care for her brother after an attempt to seek out help leaves him with a broken leg and a fever that only gets worse as the crisis stretches out into days.
This is a suspenseful book that had me thoroughly hooked from page one, with the relationship between Sam and the other members of her group being quickly established as the group gets ready for their journey. The harsh conditions of a freezing mountain make for a brilliant backdrop to the story and Rektok Ross’s excellent prose and descriptive writing leads the reader to imagine the danger in the cold and dark surroundings. As the story unfolds, the desperation begins to set in with the characters, and their slow descent into the darker aspects of survival necessity had me on the edge of my seat. The emotional journey of Ski Weekend is relentless as the events of the story force Sam and her companions to make life-changing realizations about themselves in the face of the constant need for life or death decision-making that will haunt them forever if they are able to survive. I’d recommend this book to any young adult readers.
Contact Author -
