Firebug by Lish McBride

Lish McBride has given readers an amazing protagonist and an excellent cast of characters revolving around her. Ava is fantastically sarcastic, delivering snarky comments to others in the books while directing hilarious thoughts and references to the readers. I laughed out loud several times in the course of this book, and not just because of Ava. 

 Ezra and Lock are her perfect foils, alternately baiting and looking out for her.  They work well as a team, supporting and antagonizing each other.  Readers will find themselves cheering them on with Ava, and wanting to smack them an instant later.  If that's not indicative of best friends, I don't know what is. 

 The rest of this motely crew is also great.  Whether friend or foe, human or otherwise, each person McBride presents to readers impacts the story line.  Although there is clearly going to be another book to go along with Firebug, there aren't many loose ends left flapping in the wind.  Inevitably there are questions, but none that will drive anyone crazy until the next volume. 

I, for one, am greatly looking forward to the next Firebug novel.  McBride is wickedly funny and Ava and company showcase her craftsmanship flawlessly. 

Firebug by Lish McBride: 5 out of 5 stars.

The Diamond Thief by Sharon Gosling

The adventurous story of Remy, a diamond thief and trapeze artist, will leave you breathless and wanting more.  Her desire to succeed as a thief in order to escape her oppressive life in the circus, and her need to help her friend Claudette make a better life for her daughter, is admirable.  Remy is strong, resourceful, and is willing to sacrifice herself in order to save those she loves- especially Thaddeus, the one person who is supposed to bring her to justice. 

The Diamond Thief by Sharon Gosling: 3 out of 5 stars, pending the sequel, because it felt a little unfinished to me. 

A Lonely Magic by Sarah Wynde

Wynde has built a world in which those in power struggle against each other, and the natural progression of their lives.  Fen is a sarcastic heroine who does her best to keep up with rapid changes (including an attempt on her own life, being transported into an underwater world, and having a tattoo that speaks to her) and doesn't like to rely too much on anyone but herself. 

A Lonely Magic is a little slow to get off the ground, after its intense opening.  It's worth going through, though, to get to all the chaos and mystery that follow.  Here you will find a diverse cast made up of humans and nonhumans, those grounded in magic and reality, and where no one might be exactly whom they seem. 

The cliffhanger ending guarantees at least one sequel, and I'll be waiting for it. 

A Lonely Magic by Sarah Wynde: 4 out of 5 stars.

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

At seventeen, Jasper Dent has seen and heard more horrifying things than any person ever should.  As a result, he's an engaging narrator with a small but trustworthy group of friends (okay, two- his best friend and his girlfriend) who takes care of his grandmother because it's the right thing to do. 

G. William Tanner is also an excellent character.  He looks out for Jazz, trying to make sure someone listens to and understands Jazz.  He's a father-figure without being a father-figure.  He offers guidance and lectures aplenty, sure, but he also gives Jazz the benefit of the doubt, treating him as an equal due to his horrific past.  Jazz knows things a teenager never should, and G. William Tanner respects what he knows. 

This galley copy also includes an interview with Barry Lyga, conducted by Libba Bray, that I hope makes it into the finished version of the novel.  In one of the questions Lyga is presented with a question of the gore and violence in I Hunt Killers, and he is a little surprised about it.  I agree with his assessment that it's actually Jazz's memories of the things his father said and taught him how to do that are far more chilling than any of the murder scenes depicted.  Even though you know they're fake, they can haunt you after you've finished reading. 

I am really looking forward to Game, the sequel to I Hunt Killers. 

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga: 5 out of 5 stars.

Killer Instinct (Naturals #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

A witty, suspenseful story that will keep you turning pages no matter what else needs to be done.  Cassie is an excellent narrator, giving readers an idea what it's really like to get inside the mind of a crazed killer.  The rest of the cast is just as good, even though the first-person narration prevents you from really knowing them.  Each person is unique and easy to relate to, making this a group you'll want to join for more than one book.

I missed the first book in this series, but Barnes is a great writer with unforeseen plot twists.  Although this is the second book in the series, it didn't lag anywhere as others tend to do.  I really enjoyed Killer Instinct, and I look forward to reading more mysteries involving this group of characters in future books.

Killer Instinct (Naturals #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes: 4 out of 5 stars.

I am the Mission by Allen Zadoff

Once again we join the nameless assassin on an assignment to end a threat to the nation.  This time, though, he's left hanging by those he trusts the most.  They're not sure he's reliable any more, and he doesn't know if he should blindly follow every directive he's given. 

Zadoff has a talent for writing fast-paced thrillers that delve into politics, activism, and social order.  The most remarkable aspect of this talent lies in creating these awesome stories for the teen set.  I am the Mission is full of action and the reader is taken through every aspect of the adventure by someone who knows what it is to be a modern teen- even if he's partially faking it. 

 Daniel (at least, that's his name for this book) is an excellent narrator and protagonist, voicing doubts and concerns about the program and its leaders.  He is always keeping himself apart, yet finding himself pulled further into the intrigue. 

I am really looking forward to the next installment of the Unknown Assassin.  I'm not sure how Zadoff could possibly make it better than this book, but I do know that I don't want to miss it.

I am the Mission by Allen Zadoff: 5 out of 5 stars.

Playing with Matches by Suri Rosen

In this completely engaging tale, Rain is only trying to make things right with her family and accidently becomes a traditional Jewish matchmaker.  There are a lot of great elements to this story, the first of which is Rain herself.  She is a strong protagonist, a witty and observant narrator, and fumbling through her life, just like the rest of us. 

The rest of the cast is just as good.  Even though you're not sure what the reason is, you can feel Leah's distance and dislike of Rain.  You're absorbed in the humiliation of being singled out by the headmistress and forced into a friendship in order to revive her academic career.  You get lost in the nuances of befriending through age barriers, ranging from mid-twenties to sixties and beyond. 

There is also a lot of information to gather from the narration.  I had no idea that traditional Jewish communities relied on matchmakers in order to form lifelong bonds.  After traveling along Rain's path to happiness (hers and everyone around her), I can see why.  What I liked most of all, I think, is nuance of the title.  Playing with matches is something Rain fell into accidentally, but the sparks she creates could set her entire world on fire.  She just doesn't know if it will bring a new beginning or familial devastation.

Playing With Matches by Suri Rosen: 4 out of 5 stars.