Discord

In this series opener, assassination is a family affair.Sixteen-year-old bisexual Kindra Weston is all too familiar with her family's line of business. She has a penchant for sharp knives and elaborately costumed undercover stealth work--greatly aided by her family's convenient "middle of the road skin tone" and ethnically ambiguous features--and she often does cleanup when her parents' dirty work gets messy. This is all under the supervision of her tight-lipped, authoritarian mom, who's kept the family business very professional and very close to the chest--unless, of course, that chest gets a bullet hole through it. Things go awry when Kindra's father, the family's lead assassin, misses a shot on a hit in New York City. With him temporarily out of the game, Kindra finds herself taking the lead in some of the business' "wet work," which leads to her kidnapping and the eventual unfurling of this complicated yet wholly enjoyable mystery. The plot moves quickly for the most part, and Cameron infuses her heroine and other characters with plenty of personality, sass, and coldhearted ruthlessness. There are biblical puzzles to be decrypted, Mafia-like family wars to be unraveled, mistaken personalities to be cleared, and many bodies to be piled up. The only disappointment readers might encounter is a lack of the kind of fantastical elements that the unconventional character names might inspire. Sexy and edgy, with plenty of surprises and fun. (Thriller. 12-18) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 1, 2016

Gr 9 Up-Kindra has never had a normal life. Instead of revolving around school and friends, her life consists of training and targets-the tools of her family's trade. With her parents, who have always been more like commanders than mom and dad, and her younger sister, Sera, Kindra carries out professional kills. But when her father misses a sniper shot for the first time in her life, everything starts to unravel, and the teen has to decide if she can trust anyone, even her own family. Cameron begins this action series with a story populated by powerful women and featuring a diversity of sexuality (Kindra is comfortably bisexual, and the supporting cast includes gay and asexual characters). Despite the interesting cast, the book doesn't find its footing until halfway through. The plot suffers from overly complicated espionage that loads readers with nonessential background information. These dull passages seem especially weak in comparison to the novel's exciting and well-crafted action scenes. It also requires an extra suspension of disbelief to imagine that any assassins, married or not, would involve children in their delicate and dangerous operations. Readers who can look past these faults long enough to reach the second act will enjoy the appearance of the potential love interest (also a girl) as well as some delightful plot twists. VERDICT An uneven but promising start to a series that provides a female-led alternative to popular titles like Robert Muchamore's "CHERUB" books.-Amy Diegelman, Vineyard Haven Public Library, MA

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