Every Stolen Breath by Kimberly Gabriel

Every Stolen Breath by Kimberly Gabriel

Genre: YA mystery/thriller

Publisher: Blink

Publication date: November 5, 2019

Summary

The Swarm is unrecognizable, untraceable, and unpredictable—random attacks on the streets of Chicago by a mob of crazed teens that leaves death in its wake. It’s been two years since the last attack, but Lia Finch has found clues that reveal the Swarm is ready to claim a new victim.

Lia is the only one still pursuing her father’s killers, two years after attorney Steven Finch’s murder by the Swarm. Devastated and desperate for answers, Lia will do anything to uncover the reasons behind his death and to stop someone else from being struck down. But due to debilitating asthma and PTSD that leaves her with a tenuous hold on reality, Lia is the last person to mount a crusade on her own.

After a close encounter with the Swarm puts Lia on their radar, she teams up with a teen hacker, a reporter, and a mysterious stranger who knows firsthand how the mob works. Together, they work to uncover the master puppeteer behind the group. Though if Lia and her network don’t stop the person pulling the strings—and fast—Lia may end up the next target. (from Goodreads)

My thoughts

This YA thriller has a lot going for it: interesting premise, intense action, teen romance. The characters are a mixed bunch, though, and some of the twists are predictable. But for me, it was the type of predictable twist that I can accept and even enjoy, especially when I’m not expecting deep or insightful thoughts on the human condition (e.g., the type of reading mood I’ve been in recently as I’ve battled migraines.)

Sense and Self-absorption

Lia, as the main character, is rather self-absorbed. This is understandable. She’s a teen (what teen isn’t a bit like this?) and she’s still grieving the violent death of her father. She also has to deal with her debilitating asthma. Now she’s witnessed yet another deadly, seemingly-random attack from the Swarm. Her PTSD spins out of control. In normal circumstances, I think she’d be a sensible person; in these, her panic attacks and hallucinations make it difficult to think logically about what she needs to do and the logical consequences of her actions for herself and others.

For me, her preoccupation with her own life is understandable, if not necessarily likable. Grief is a healthy emotion; trauma is understandable. Yet they can also make us very, very self-centered.

Her two BFFs, Katie and Adam, seem like stereotypes of the quiet Asian girl and the gay, computer-hacker best friend. Neither felt very real to me.

A Tale of Two Boyfriends

Cullen, her archenemy-turned-fake-boyfriend-for-the-media, felt more developed. As the mayor’s son, he’s hyperaware of the power of social media and need to manipulate the press to cultivate one’s influence; for a teen boy, he’s a savvy political strategist. Or perhaps he’s just someone who’s been manipulated for his daddy’s “family friendly” political image a few too many times.

Of all the teens, Ryan left me with the most questions. Yes, he’s Lia’s insta-love interest. (More accurately termed “insta-attraction.” I don’t roll my eyes at this trope because I remember experiencing it as a young woman.) Yes, he’s a mysterious stranger who somehow knows her name. Yes, he throws her off a bridge into a river to save her life (or kill her, take your pick) at the end of chapter one. But he’s got answers to her questions–or does he? Is it possible that he’s misleading her?

Heart-stopping action

The action escalates quickly. While some of it felt a bit repetitive, Lia’s flights from danger (especially with street-smart Ryan along to correct her multiple screw-ups) got my heart pounding. I also enjoyed seeing how Lia and Adam, her hacker friend, try to track down info through modern technology. The Swarm is techno-savvy, and while she’s technologically-literate, her adversary is always one step ahead of her. Always.

The end is where we start from?

The ending brought mixed emotions for me. With certain questions left unanswered, it seemed to leave open the possibility of a sequel. Yet this book didn’t “feel” like it needed to be part of a series or a trilogy or have a sequel; it felt like a standalone. Would I read a sequel? Yes, if only to make certain that the people I wanted alive stayed alive!

To read or not to read?

Sure, go ahead. Overall, this is a fun novel. Suspend reality for a while, kick back, and enjoy the ride.

Note: I received a free copy of Every Stolen Breath from Netgalley and Blink in exchange for an honest review.