Series: The Immortal Game #1
Published by Feiwel & Friends, Macmillan on 2014-08-05
Genres: Adolescence, Bullying, Coming of Age, Emotions & Feelings, Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology, Friendship, Girls & Women, Mystery and Suspense, Occult & Supernatural, Paranormal, Social Issues, Young Adult
Pages: 384
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
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 stunning cover most definitely drew my attention, then the promise of a paranormal story that sounds unique and I was excited. But what we get is actually so much more!
Starting with a big gasping moment, Mortal Danger immediately draws you in!
The story begins with an utterly broken Edie, and I must say that the first chapter already made my heart ache. Edie’s feeling of defeat and despair was nearly palpable through the pages. When beautiful mysterious Kian enters the picture, he makes her a deal she can’t resist. Fight back the bullies and change your life. She gets 3 wishes granted similar to a jinnie – but in return she must promise one big favour she has yet to discover what this will be. But Edie has nothing to lose anymore so she enters the Immortal Game!
As Edie is in her mind a far cry from being beautiful, her first wish is to be beautiful to finally move along the beautiful and rich people in her prep-school. Those kids that tormented her.
Bullying – and the true value of beauty and friendship!
I think Edie’s wish to be beautiful will hit some readers the wrong way. Is being beautiful really helping when you are being bullied? Is that the way around it? While I was a little shocked in the beginning, her wish totally made sense for Edie and if you follow the rest of the story Edie discovers that beauty is not everything, beauty will not change who you are and it will not make you happy! So I urge everyone who might be thrown off by this, please read on – there is so much more to be read between the lines!
What happened to Edie that it completely broke her, completely make me tear up! How horrible kids can be to each other, Â is never something I will understand, but sadly is happening every day at each school. Edie doesn’t tell us right away what happened until the last few chapters, it was only always hinted.
Edie had such a hard time at her school and never had any friends, so I was happy to see that she finally opened up to some kids and discovered some real and wonderful friendship!
Playing an Immortal Game with some true shocker and a little romance to ease it up!
The paranormal element was quite intriguing and unique. The theme of bullying to pack into a paranormal story was a great way to deliver such a heavy topic. Â However, I would have liked to understand a little more about The Immortal Game and I wish for a little more explanations than what we got. But as this is a trilogy I have hope for more.
The story comes with some real and true stocking moments that I didn’t see coming in this full force! There is quite a bit of death, that left me quite uneasy  but added to an overall thrilling storyline even more!
Kian was a wonderful way to ease down the tension and the shocking moments. He comes with his own barrage and is just a wonderful boy who is quite the anchor for Edie!
Bewitched Rating
Bottom Line
Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre is a very dark and edgy story about bullying, the real value of beauty and friendship packed into a thrilling paranormal story. The story has quite a few shocking moments that left me gasping. The paranormal world building had to take backseat to the bullying theme so that I was a little lost about what really is going on a few times. But, as more books are coming I’m hopeful this comes in the next books!
 
 
 
This is a heavy story that maybe not everyone will like, I however truly was amazed by the depth of this story and think that this Mortal Danger most definitely stands out among the “usual” Young adult book!
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You know, I can definitely see a teen with low self esteem wishing to be beautiful. I understand how that message might rub someone the wrong way, but I can see it fitting the character. And I’m glad that she learns that beauty isn’t everything! I haven’t started this one yet, but I’m glad to see that you enjoyed it and that there’s a triangle free romance to ease some of the tension. I’m a little worried about all the death! But it sounds intense and I’m excited to read it.
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YES! I loved this story. So different than many offerings out there and I blew through this one in one sitting. I felt for Edie, especially as she used a wish to be beautiful. Hard enough being a teen — thinking that beauty’s going to help you is definitely on many teenagers’ mind.
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I’m so glad to see you enjoyed this one, Danny. I’ve heard mixed things, but seeing this review has me very happy.
I already feel really bad for Edie. Poor girl. I tend to struggle with bullying in books because I’ve experienced it first hand, but it seems its well handled. Also, I think I completely understand Edie’s need to be beautiful.
The Immortal Games also sounds fantastic! I’m definitely curious.
Lovely review!
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I haven’t read this one yet ( on my tbr review pile) so I skimmed a bit, but I’m so glad you enjoyed Immortal Game, Danny! I’m really excited about it. I did see you mention about how Edie realizes beauty on the outside is not as important as what’s inside – having been bullied though, I can see how she wishes for it. I can’t wait to dig into this edgy, dark read. Awesome review 🙂
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I got the sampler with the first 5 pages and loved it! I’m really looking forward to this one quite a bit, even more after reading your review, cause I knew there was a much bigger depth to Edie’s wish that what we might expect at first.
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We’ve talked about this one my friend, and I’m so happy (though obviously not surprised) that you loved it as much as I did. We always enjoy the same books! The bullying aspect was horrifying, particularly a certain someone’s reaction when Edie told them about it,, but it only made me more involved in this story. Can it be time for book 2 now?
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I love it when a novel hooks you from the beginning! Sounds like this one has some surprises, not to mention depth because of the themes.
Nice review! I’ll have to look out for this book.
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I am so excited to read this! Thank you for reviewing I am looking forward to reading this!
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I just finished reading this last night and found a lot of it so interesting. I loved the paranormal bits but wished there could have been even more. Some of it was unexpected which was awesome. I’m glad you enjoyed it and great review 🙂
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Great review! I’ve actually read a lot of negative reviews of this one that originally put me off to this book, but I’m glad I got to see it from your perspective. I may have to pick this one up after all! 🙂
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