Karma or Cosmic Intervention?

"Hateful words had a way of worming beneath the skin,
until they became the unbearable echo in your head.
But I wasn't listening anymore."

--Ann Aguirre, Mortal Danger

Genre: YA Paranormal

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Pages: 372

Publication Date: August 5th, 2014

Source: ARC provided via publisher in exchange for an honest review

Find on Goodreads

Previous Books in Series: First book in series

Goodreads Description

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

In Ann Aguirre's Mortal Danger, 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 being strong enough to face 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 devastating pain burns behind his unearthly beauty, and he’s impossible to forget.

In one short summer, her entire life changes and she sweeps through Blackbriar, prepped to take the beautiful people down from the inside. A whisper here, a look there, and suddenly . . . bad things are happening. It’s a head rush, seeing her tormentors get what they deserve, but things that seem too good to be true usually are, and soon, the pranks and payback turns 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.

The Theme 

I love books that strike me on a personal level and this book was just what I needed when I read it. The discussion of inner beauty vs outer beauty and the way the world perceives it was fascinating. Ann Aguirre hit the nail on the head with Edie's point of view and her thoughts. There are good and bad sides to everything and being seen as good-looking or not-so-good-looking is definitely one of those. Watching Edie's transformation and the differences between being one or the other was amazing. Some things come easier to the so-called "beautiful" people but there are cons on the other side of that coin as well. More below...

The Development 

Edie and the other characters development was gradual and surprising in the best way. People are never one-dimensional and Aguirre digs into this kind of snap judgments on both ends of the bully spectrum. Edie was treated horribly...I mean, to the extent that she plans to end it. Her character growth and insight was lovely to read and I'm really looking forward to future books and where she will go from here.

The Lore 

I can't delve too much into the paranormal workings of this world but I will say I loved how this are is born. We don't get a ton of info but what we do get sets a pretty good foundation for the rest of the series.

The Romance 

I loved the humble beginnings of our hero and heroine and the idea that these two broken souls found their way to each other but it was a little too insta-lovey for me. Where the characters end up I was really happy with but I felt like it could have been a little more gradual in the beginning.

The X-Factor 

I liked this story. It was a quick read and I was invested into wanting to know what happens next but it didn't blow me away. It was good just not amazing. There wasn't anything super unique or particular that made me want to flail about the book. It was good but it just didn't wow me.

General Admission

I loved what this book represented and how bullying and self-worth was discussed. I think this book will work for people and they will get that intention or they won't and not enjoy it as much. It struck a personal chord for me at the right time so it agreed with me.