Latest Read: Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre

Mortal Danger (Immortal Game #1) by Ann Aguirre
Publication date: Aug. 5, 2014
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Category: Young Adult - Paranormal
Source: Received ARC from publisher (Thanks!)
Summary: Edie Kramer has a score to settle with the beautiful people at Blackbriar Academy. Their cruelty drove her to the brink of despair, and four months ago, she couldn't imagine facing her senior year. But thanks to a Faustian compact with the enigmatic Kian, she has the power to make the bullies pay. She's not supposed to think about Kian once the deal is done but he's impossible to forget. In one short summer her entire life changes and she sweeps through Blackbriar prepped to take people down. It's a rush seeing her tormentors get what they deserve, but things seems too good to be true and soon the pranks turn from delicious to deadly. Edie is alone in a world teeming with secrets and fiends lurking in the shadows. In this murky morass of devil's bargains, she isn't sure who—or what--she can trust. Not even her own mind. (Adapted goodreads.com)

My Thoughts

I feel like I should just say this now: I liked the concept of Mortal Danger but the execution.. not so much.

Edie Kramer is at her breaking point. She's always been picked on and ridiculed by her classmates at Blackbriar Academy. For her looks, her intelligence. But last year, they reach a whole new level of cruel and Edie feels like she can't take another day of that or even her life anymore. Just when she's about to make an irreversible decision, she's approached by a total stranger named Kian who offers her a deal. He'll grant her three wishes which can be used to make the bullies pay but in return, she will owe the "powers that be" a favor she can't refuse. This is where it gets slightly fuzzy? So the "powers that be" are centuries old demons who run a "company" for saving people at their breaking point in return for favors. And they do this because they're bored and are involved in a game with another set of demons who do the same thing. I still don't see or get the point of all that but basically Kian is like this mysterious, slightly stalkerish genie that Edie immediately finds hot (naturally!). And because the chance for revenge is too much to resist, Edie takes Kian up on his offer.

I think the whole "be careful what you wish for" theme is always an interesting one and that's what initially intrigued me. But her wishes, especially the first one, just made me sadder for Edie and the whole relationship with Kian was too insta-lovey and overly dramatic. What I did enjoy were Edie's family and the genuine friends she makes along the way. When Edie begins to change, her parents begin to open up to her. Not because they necessarily think Edie 2.0 is better but seeing the change in her makes them re-evaluate their parenting and there are some sweet moments between Edie and her mom which would've made a world of difference a year ago. Despite Edie's initial need for revenge, deep down she's a good person. If the focus had been more on Edie and how she viewed her self-worth instead of the romance (which I didn't like) or this random demon real life chess game, it would've been a much more compelling story overall.

Do I recommend?

I can't say that I do. Despite my misgivings, I kept reading until the end because I was hoping things would turn around. I do think the author's writing is engaging but the story itself lacked focus and just that something more to reel me in.

Happy reading!