Friday 10 January 2014

The Naturals - Book Review


The Naturals
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes


What is it about:
Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But it’s not a skill that she’s ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they’ve begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie.

What Cassie doesn’t realize is that there’s more at risk than a few unsolved homicides— especially when she’s sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own.

Sarcastic, privileged Michael has a knack for reading emotions, which he uses to get inside Cassie’s head—and under her skin. Brooding Dean shares Cassie’s gift for profiling, but keeps her at arm’s length.

Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms closer than Cassie could ever have imagined. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive.


What did I think of it:
This is an entertaining read.

Cassie is a bit of a Mary Sue: Smart, pretty and desired by all, even though there are two other female teens as well (one who did date one of the boys before Cassie showed up, but now that Cassie is here, her chances are gone). And of course: Cassie is a redhead. It's either that or being a prefect blonde in YA it seems... Where are the dark haired girls and the brunettes? Why are they the cardboard sidekicks, there only to compliment the more awesome than awesome heroine?

Ok, now I've vented about that, on to the good stuff.

The story idea is really cool I think. Teens working for the FBI! I know it's not very likely, but I really enjoyed this set up and the overall story. Cassie gets training, gets secretly involved in a real case and gets herself in danger. Pure entertainment from start to finish.

The story is what kept me from tossing this book every time Cassie was being brilliant again. It was fun and enjoyable. The writing was very pleasant and fast paced, making this a book you can finish in an afternoon.

I enjoyed this book enough that I might reread it when I'm in the mood for something entertaining and I will investigate what other books Barnes has written.

Why should you read it:
It's an enjoyable YA read.


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2 comments:

Melliane said...

I loved this one but I didn't know this cover, it's a nice one!

Aurian said...

Sounds good, and sounds irritating because of the heroine. Not sure I want to read this.