Sydney Cossette is an up-and-coming agent for one of the most elite spy agencies in the world - the Panacea Group. They do things that more official government agencies cannot do - i.e. they can get through the red tape.
Winter Young is a global musical superstar. Ever since breaking onto the scene he's consistently topped the charts and sold out stadiums. But ever since the death of his brother, Winter is beginning to feel like there's something missing, like he could be doing something more substantial with his life rather than making music.
Winter is set to play an exclusive birthday concert for the daughter of wealthy businessman Eli Morrison. Unbeknownst to Winter, Eli is thought to be a big player in the criminal underground. He's someone the Panacea Group as tried, and failed, to bring charges against for years.
With Winter playing this concert, the Panacea Group sees an opportunity: recruit Winter to gain access to Eli. Pair him with Sydney who will pose as his bodyguard and they're guaranteed to get the dirt they need for a conviction.
Winter and Sydney will have to put aside their differences if they want to get out of this alive.
I really liked the idea of a celebrity being recruited into a spy organization. I like the idea of the enemies-to-lovers storyline between Sydney and Winter. Although if I'm being honest, I would almost say I felt like it was more of an opposites attract type of situation.
There's a definite initial animosity between Winter and Sydney upon first meeting. She thinks he's only as deep as his public persona and Winter can feel the coldness radiating off Sydney and how she immediately closes herself off, but I wouldn't say that they're enemies by any means.
For me, I liked seeing these two vulnerable people - both with equally traumatizing family situations who retreated into their careers - find the person who gets them. True, they both have found-families so they are not entirely on their own, but seeing two people find that person that they click with is magical and I felt that with Sydney and Winter.
I wished there was more time for discovering between Sydney and Winter, but as it stands once the mission starts there's very little down time.
The pacing is driven. It's pretty much go, go, go from the first page. I like that Marie Lu doesn't make things straightforward. That, much like Sydney and Winter, perceptions are challenged. While I won't say that I was surprised by everything, there were some great unexpected moments.
I think my favorite parts were when things slowed down a bit. The near-quiet moments when Sydney and Winter get to just be themselves and aren't pretending. These moments are both full of romance yet heartbreaking. I think that the ending is near-perfect. Whatever else happened within the story, the more predictable moments, I could not ask for anything better than the end that it all leads to.
Everything I look at seems to indicate that this is the first book of a series. Part of me hopes that is true. The other part is so happy with where we got to in the end, that I'm ok leaving things where they stand. I do know that, together, Winter and Sydney are very magnetic characters and I can't imagine there aren't a few more adventures in store for them.
Winter Young is a global musical superstar. Ever since breaking onto the scene he's consistently topped the charts and sold out stadiums. But ever since the death of his brother, Winter is beginning to feel like there's something missing, like he could be doing something more substantial with his life rather than making music.
Winter is set to play an exclusive birthday concert for the daughter of wealthy businessman Eli Morrison. Unbeknownst to Winter, Eli is thought to be a big player in the criminal underground. He's someone the Panacea Group as tried, and failed, to bring charges against for years.
With Winter playing this concert, the Panacea Group sees an opportunity: recruit Winter to gain access to Eli. Pair him with Sydney who will pose as his bodyguard and they're guaranteed to get the dirt they need for a conviction.
Winter and Sydney will have to put aside their differences if they want to get out of this alive.
I really liked the idea of a celebrity being recruited into a spy organization. I like the idea of the enemies-to-lovers storyline between Sydney and Winter. Although if I'm being honest, I would almost say I felt like it was more of an opposites attract type of situation.
There's a definite initial animosity between Winter and Sydney upon first meeting. She thinks he's only as deep as his public persona and Winter can feel the coldness radiating off Sydney and how she immediately closes herself off, but I wouldn't say that they're enemies by any means.
For me, I liked seeing these two vulnerable people - both with equally traumatizing family situations who retreated into their careers - find the person who gets them. True, they both have found-families so they are not entirely on their own, but seeing two people find that person that they click with is magical and I felt that with Sydney and Winter.
I wished there was more time for discovering between Sydney and Winter, but as it stands once the mission starts there's very little down time.
The pacing is driven. It's pretty much go, go, go from the first page. I like that Marie Lu doesn't make things straightforward. That, much like Sydney and Winter, perceptions are challenged. While I won't say that I was surprised by everything, there were some great unexpected moments.
I think my favorite parts were when things slowed down a bit. The near-quiet moments when Sydney and Winter get to just be themselves and aren't pretending. These moments are both full of romance yet heartbreaking. I think that the ending is near-perfect. Whatever else happened within the story, the more predictable moments, I could not ask for anything better than the end that it all leads to.
Everything I look at seems to indicate that this is the first book of a series. Part of me hopes that is true. The other part is so happy with where we got to in the end, that I'm ok leaving things where they stand. I do know that, together, Winter and Sydney are very magnetic characters and I can't imagine there aren't a few more adventures in store for them.