Review: Game of Fear by Glede Browne Kabongo

Game of Fear by Glede Browne Kabongo

Release Date: February 24, 2016

Genres: Young Adult, Suspense, Thriller

Pages: 398

Source: E-book Gifted by Author

Goodreads Description:

The sophistication of Gossip Girl meets the nail-biting suspense of James Patterson

A desperate act, an explosive secret, and a diabolical enemy—all part of a treacherous game with no limits.

Overachieving good girl Abbie Cooper has her future all planned out. As senior year at her elite private school kicks off, she has one simple goal: get into the Ivy League. But at St. Matthews Academy, nothing is ever simple. The pressure is overwhelming, the secrets are dirty, and the games are wicked. Abbie has a dirty secret—one that could destroy her chances of getting admitted into Princeton, and the lives of those closest to her.

One morning, she discovers a note in her locker with the warning, “I know what you did”. Then a photo arrives in the mail. It captures her most shameful deed—the shocking blunder she can never erase, in glorious detail. Someone is out to ruin her, but who and why? The answer lies with the sender of the photo, a mysterious girl known only as The Avenger. For a price, she assures Abbie her secret will remain safe. There’s only one problem: The Avenger may not exist at all. If Abbie doesn’t uncover her true identity before acceptance decisions are made, it’s game over…

Notes about the book:

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Book Quote:

“I never once thought it was going to be easy with you, Abbie. I knew you were amazing the first time I saw you. I had just transferred to Saint Matthews. We were at general assembly. You had this look on your face like you were ready to take on the world, yet there was something sad about you. Anastasia Cruz was still here. The way she and Callie and Frances rallied around you, I wanted to know more abut the girl who could inspire such fierce loyalty from her friends."

 

My Review

This book immediately reminded me of the Confessions series by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. I really wanted to like this book more than I did. The suspense definitely had me from the very start. However, it just fell flat.

At the start of the book we are told about something that happened in Abbie's past, but we're not given all the details. We're eventually given the details of what was left out at the beginning. But I just felt like it could have been connected to present day better (and more completely). Throughout the rest of the book there is action that happens behind the scenes. We are not told directly about this action. It is mentioned as an afterthought. Sometimes this worked ok. But most times I felt cheated by how it was revealed.

I didn't connect well with the lead character Abbie. I just really didn't like her. I didn't like the boy she chose or the fact that she gave in to said boy when she was so adamant that she wouldn't go out with him. I do have to admit that the first kiss scene was good. I also have to say that Christian was a smooth talker. But I never liked Christian and wanted her to pick another boy.

I did like the suspense. I was a bit disappointed about what it was that the Avenger had against Abbie. But I suppose if it was anything worse Abbie would have been a hated character. I had my own theory about what was happening and I was wrong. So the author got me there.

However, I did not like the ending at all. I was disappointed that the Avenger just got away with everything. I also didn't feel that the events that took place after the graduation ceremony were realistic. I don't want to give away the details of the book. I felt like the author made an event happen in order to write another book.

This book had several moments where it could have been great (like the quote above), but it always seemed to fall short. The quote above is Christian professing his interest in Abbie. If he had continued in this vein, I would have fallen in love with Christian. However, he reverted to his old antics and became a player in my book even thought by this point Abbie was blind to it by this point in their relationship. I was really disappointed that they took their relationship to this level.

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