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Book of the Month: The Wilde Trials By Mackenzie Reed
By Brittany amalfi
It turns out I am back in my Young Adult Thriller era! It must have been The Naturals series for me because I have been hunting for some good ole YA thriller ever since I finished those books. Luckily, I was fed with Mackenzie Reed’s absolute masterpiece of a sophomore novel, The Wilde Trials, and let me just say this: you need to read this book.
A while back, I reviewed Reed’s debut book, The Rose- wood Hunt, and that set the stage for her spectacular on-the-
edge-your-seat thrillers. While not a sequel to The Rosewood Hunt, The Wilde Trials does take place in the same universe, and there are some fun easter eggs to be on the lookout for!
The Wilde Trials follows determined, whip-smart high school senior, Chloe Gatti, and her ambitious need to partici- pate in the Wilde Academy’s infamous Wilde Trials. Having attended the prestigious acad- emy on a scholarship, unlike her prosperous counterparts, Chloe has worked ten times harder to secure her place in Wilde Academy and to always be the smartest in the room. When her little sister is hit with a severe illness, Chloe knows that her family will need money to pay for all the medical expenses. So, with the Wilde Trial’s hefty cash prize on the horizon, Chloe will stop at nothing to win these games.
But of course, nothing about the Wilde Trials is easy, and only
the best of the best can come out on top, but Chloe isn’t wor- ried. She knows how to win. But of course, there are more sinis- ter motives at play here when it comes to her competitors. As soon as the games start, some-
one out in those woods begins to blackmail her with a secret that could cost her everything. Could it be the popular group of kids who love to torment Chloe on a daily basis? Her ex-best friend she had a huge falling out with? Or, worse. Her ex-boyfriend, Hayes, who never wanted her to participate in the trials in the first place?
The Wilde Trials was a fun and exciting read that had me engaged from page one. Reed’s description and dynamic sto- rytelling move Chloe’s story from point A to point B flaw- lessly. The ensemble cast of
characters also gives this book a touch of a lighthearted tone in a dramatic and dark setting, and I really loved Chloe as a main character as she was a lit- tle different from the traditional female main character. Chloe is
ambitious and intelligent, and she knows it. She doesn’t shy away from her qualities and ac- tually wears them proudly on her sleeve, which I truly appre- ciated seeing in Young Adult fic- tion as there are many teenagers out there who feel like they don’t fit in with the “norm.” It’s vital to have different main charac- ters with unique qualities so that young readers can feel repre- sented in a YA space and want to continue to read more.
The Wilde Trials is a gripping thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, second-guess- ing every twist and turn. With its razor-sharp suspense, unpre- dictable plot, and compelling characters, this novel is perfect for readers who love a story that keeps them hooked from start to finish.
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