Cold Fury (utgåvan 2012)

Got to page 29 and it's very underwhelming. May try to pick it back up.

This review appears on my blog, Starting the Next Chapter.

Upon first meeting Sara Jane Rispoli, one might think they aren't going to be treated to such a gutsy character. Such a misconception is not bound to remain for long, however, as Sara Jane's past is recounted, revealing a girl tougher than anyone around her can possibly know. In this action-packed thriller, perseverance is everything as one teenage girl takes on a shadowy band of corrupt authority figures, a jealous uncle, and quite possibly the eeriest villain I've encountered in a book this year. I can only say that I was wrong to think that Cold Fury would be a slow, convoluted book. It turned out to be anything but!

If I were to sum up Sara Jane in one word, that word would be "backbone." Beneath her quiet exterior lies a fiery core that is capable of more than Sara Jane herself even realizes. As she takes on all those who would seize or harm her, the full extent of not only her strength, but her intellect shines through, making her a very intriguing character to follow. She isn't perfect by any means, but her strength makes her a compelling character, nonetheless. Such an intelligent, determined, and loyal main character is one well worth reading about.

The pacing of Cold Fury worried me in the beginning as I slowly waded through the narrative of Sara Jane's early years. However, things soon picked up and the information learned during that narrative proved to be very useful in understanding all that was going on throughout the rest of the book. In addition to pacing, Cold Fury has some exemplary settings. The numerous Capone doors (a really clever means of escape) and the unpredictable streets of Chicago made for such a fantastic backdrop. Each one fit the actions and tones of the story perfectly. I couldn't wait to see where Sara Jane would find herself next.

Cold Fury is one of the more action-filled books I've read this year and I'm very glad to have had the chance to read it. It made for a perfect change of pace from my typical fantasy/dystopian/supernatural reading habits, a very important thing for someone in a bit of a reading rut. If you have a fascination for spy or mob movies, you should definitely check out Cold Fury. With its imposing main character, action, and unique settings, you're sure to find something you like in the pages of Cold Fury. Trust me when I say that you won't be bored. ( )

I had trouble connecting with this book for the first 50-75 pages. I actually almost gave up at one point. The pacing was much slower than I had expected after reading the synopsis. I understand why the author took the time during the beginning of Cold Fury to build the Rispoli's backstory, but there were several aspects I just didn't find all that interesting. The author is a stellar writer who provides top notch imagery, but the pacing felt a little off.

I'm so very glad I didn't add this to the DNF pile because the second half of this book was quite a page-turner once the action picked up. I found the whole mob angle quite fascinating and loved the added paranormal element. The ending did feel a little rushed, but all in all this is a solid debut. I'll definitely pick up the next in the series when it is available. ( )

The cover of this book reflects the novel so well. I love how kick-butt the model looks and that there is a silver briefcase. I love that it looks like a poster to an action movie instead of the typical YA cover. No fancy dresses here- Sarah Jane is out to kick some hiney!

This is not the type of book I normally read. I am much more into faeries and vampires than I am a straight contemporary action novel. That being said, I have been trying to branch out with what I read- this was the perfect novel to branch out with.

Have you ever watched the Bourne series? Well the summary is absolutely right that this is a teen girl's Jason Bourne. The action was non stop and the writing was intensely clever. I never felt like this book was predictable or followed well-used plotlines.

The only part of this book I was a little confused about was the "cold fury". Was it intimidation? Was there something paranormal going on? I really don't think that there is any need to have anything paranormal in this book- it stands alone quite well. I really loved reading about all of the history of the mob in Chicago and how it still relates to the "mob" today.

I will note that this book discusses some pretty tough topics like kidnapping, bullying, suicide, and a whole whole whole lot of butt kicking.

Cold Fury was a roller coaster. It had its ups and downs but the end sealed it for me. It is a solid beginning to this thrilling series. I loved how the genre of this series is different from the usual YA novels. I LOVE crime/mystery novels/movies/shows and it finally transcending into the YA world just brings joy to my life! (a bit dramatic I know). Cold Fury has been on my wish list ever since I read the synopsis and I'm glad I was able to read it!

The story starts off when everything already happened. When Sara Jane already knows her family is entangled with the mob.. correction, her family IS the mob. So the bakery business her family runs is just a front. Also, her family has been kidnapped and she's all on her own. Oh, and she's a trained boxer. At the age of sixteen. How awesome is that? I was so excited to dive into the action straightaway but the next chapter takes us a couple of weeks before everything goes down. I was a bit unnerved at that because the story seriously slowed down. I wanted the action! the thrill! not Sara Jane in school, starting to like a guy, and worrying about a school dance. In a typical contemporary that would have been cute, but here? after getting a taste of the thrill at the beginning? not so much. Also Sara Jane keeps on eavesdropping on her parent's cryptic conversations along with her younger uncle's issues with her family because he isn't being included in all their secrets of the other family business. It took me a while to get through the 100 pages or so but I knew the book had promise and I loved Sara Jane's voice. She was definitely a powerful and smart female protagonist.

Sara Jane also possessed the "Cold Fury" which would be explained in a bit too much details (i ended up really confused) in the latter half of the book. Now when we finally get answers, we get them at an overwhelming rate that I ended up being a bit confused. There was a lot of history and people involved that I couldn't wrap my head around. However you don't really need to know that much information and throughout the book you gather the necessary info to keep you in the loop. When Sara Jane has finally gathered the info she needed and starts to take action, I couldn't put the book down. The amount of times she faced the bad guys and had to use her brains and boxing skills to fight them off or escape, I held my breath and couldn't flip through the pages fast enough! The last 100 pages or so were what made the book for me. I was on murky, meh ground but when the action finally started, I didn't care if it was a bit too late, it was worth the wait! ( )