This is the second novel in the Emily Calby series, but can be read as a standalone (which is what I did).
Emily Calby managed to survive the murderers who raped and killed her sister and mother. Now, for the past 4 years, she’s been on the run, living under a fake name with a fake guardian but a real mentor, Lucas Jackson. After getting caught with an illegal handgun, Emily gets carted off to a juvenile jail to await trial for a murder committed three years prior. In order to survive, she must adapt to her new life and the politics of the prison while fighting to prove her innocence.
I really, truly loved this one so much more than I expected to. The summary sounded good, so I decided to pick it up and give it a try. I’m so glad I did! I really loved the look inside a corrupt juvenile detention facility (obviously, I can’t speak for how accurate it may have been portrayed) but regardless, I feel like I learned so much. I also really enjoyed Emily’s character. If you read and enjoyed James Patterson’s Maximum Ride series, you’ll appreciate Emily. She reminds me of Max in so many ways- badass, smart, and resourceful, among other things. The look inside the justice system was very interesting, and the writing kept me fully engaged. I never once wanted to put the book down and read something else. There wasn’t a high mystery factor, but there was a little, tiny twist at the end.
All in all, I completely recommend this one to fans of the Maximum Ride series and those who enjoy courtroom dramas.
Warnings: Rape, murder, abuse, prison life, mental health issues
Thank you to NetGalley and Friction Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.