[null, {"document_url": "https://readatmidnight.com/2015/08/20/mini-book-review-risk/", "unformatted_src": "https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1430732777l/24973955.jpg", "src": "https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1430732777l/24973955.jpg"}, null, null, null, {"document_url": "https://readatmidnight.com/2015/08/20/mini-book-review-risk/", "unformatted_src": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/22430444_135857243725999_1982677433500827648_n.jpg", "src": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/22430444_135857243725999_1982677433500827648_n.jpg", "alt_text": "I'm in the mood for a sprawling fantasy fare -- the last fantasy novel I read was Godsgrave!\n\u2022\n\u2022\n\u2022\nHas all the elements you would enjoy from Nevernight. However, the premise and the way it handled slavery - while not offensive - could use more depth. \u2022\n\u2022\n\u2022\nWhat are you all reading?\n\u2022\n\u2022\n#Bookstagram #bibliophile #bookphotography #bookblogger #books #tbr #currentlyreading #booksandflowers #booktography #booklover #bookworm #booknerdigans #booklion #bookstagrammer #bookstagramfeature #vscobooks #vscoreads", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 640}, {"document_url": "https://readatmidnight.com/2015/08/20/mini-book-review-risk/", "unformatted_src": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/21985006_1118912151574537_8827185634788507648_n.jpg", "src": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/21985006_1118912151574537_8827185634788507648_n.jpg", "alt_text": "I've been in a bit of a book reading slump since I finished Warcross (was not a fan of the ending, and overall I found the book underwhelming \ud83d\ude48)\n\u2022\n\u2022\n\u2022\nTrying to get back into it with #WonderWoman by Leigh Bardugo! Have you read this one? I saw the movie earlier on in the year and loved it, and the whole fish out of water scenes with Diana VS the modern age never gets old. It's handled so well in the book!\n\u2022\n\u2022\n\u2022\n#Bookstagram #bibliophile #bookphotography #bookblogger #books #tbr #currentlyreading #booksandflowers #booktography #booklover #bookworm #booknerdigans #booklion #bookstagrammer #bookstagramfeature #vscobooks #vscoreads", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 640}, {"document_url": "https://readatmidnight.com/2015/08/20/mini-book-review-risk/", "unformatted_src": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/21910158_340414033085935_5157082938726154240_n.jpg", "src": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/21910158_340414033085935_5157082938726154240_n.jpg", "alt_text": "I was really sick last week and did not manage to get any reading done. Trying to get back into the groove of things with #Warcross by Marie Lu - one of my most anticipated books of this year! \u2022\n\u2022\n\u2022\nHides Tanaka is the broody Asian book boyfriend YA deserves, more please! \u2022\n\u2022\n\u2022\nWhat are you all reading?\n\u2022\n\u2022\n\u2022\n#Bookstagram #bibliophile #bookphotography #bookblogger #books #tbr #currentlyreading #booksandflowers #booktography #booklover #bookworm #booknerdigans #booklion #bookstagrammer #bookstagramfeature #vscobooks #vscoreads", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 640}, {"document_url": "https://readatmidnight.com/2015/08/20/mini-book-review-risk/", "unformatted_src": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/21433309_1559489840800466_191309598689329152_n.jpg", "src": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/21433309_1559489840800466_191309598689329152_n.jpg", "alt_text": "I've been on an impromptu hiatus due to work commitments & family vacation, but I'm back \ud83c\udf89 Starting with a review of BECAUSE YOU LOVE TO HATE ME, the villains-centric anthology collaboration between some of YA and Booktube's most recognisable name \ud83d\ude08\n\u2022\n\u2022\n\u2022\nMy favourite story was Sera by Nicola Yoon - a chilling and visceral look into a female personification of War. I also adored Cindy Pon, Victoria Schwab, Adam Silvera, and Samantha Shannon's stories. \u2022\n\u2022\n\u2022\nHave you read it? Which were your favourite from the anthology?\n\u2022\n\u2022\n\u2022\n\u2022\n#Bookstagram #bibliophile #bookphotography #bookblogger #books #tbr #currentlyreading #booksandflowers #booktography #booklover #bookworm #booknerdigans #booklion #bookstagrammer #bookstagramfeature #vscobooks #vscoreads", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 640}, {"document_url": "https://readatmidnight.com/2015/08/20/mini-book-review-risk/", "unformatted_src": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/19764422_1727584887535472_4658629066079862784_n.jpg", "src": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/19764422_1727584887535472_4658629066079862784_n.jpg", "alt_text": "I recently discovered Sebastian De Castell and absolutely adore his fantasy novels. They're so much fun, filled with vibrant characters, and excellent fight scenes. He's a former fight/action scene choreographer, and it really shows in his writing!\n\u2022\n\u2022\n\u2022\nI actually prefer his adult series, The Greatcoats, a little more. But I am enjoying his foray into YA fiction with Spellslinger!\n\u2022\n\u2022\n\u2022\nWho are some authors you've discovered and loved this year?\n\u2022\n\u2022\n\u2022\n#Bookstagram #bibliophile #bookphotography #bookblogger #books #tbr #currentlyreading #booksandflowers #booktography #booklover #bookworm #booknerdigans #booklion #bookstagrammer #bookstagramfeature #vscobooks #vscoreads", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 640}, {"document_url": "https://readatmidnight.com/2015/08/20/mini-book-review-risk/", "unformatted_src": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/18948258_307959419665409_7461197769064054784_n.jpg", "src": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/18948258_307959419665409_7461197769064054784_n.jpg", "alt_text": "I'm currently reading WANT on audiobook, and was pleasantly surprised to stumble across Jason and Dai Yu in the short story, Blue Skies, within the Diverse Energies anthology. It's fate! \u2665\ufe0f \u2022\nThere are many reasons why you should check out WANT by @cindyponauthor - one of the things I love most is Jason/Dai Yu's relationship. They have a natural chemistry, and I can't resist a starcrossed love affair. Plus OTP with a courtship where they geek over classics (both Western AND Chinese lit) -- Y E S. \u2022\n\u2022\n\u2022\n#Bookstagram #bibliophile #bookphotography #bookblogger #books #tbr #currentlyreading #booksandflowers #booktography #booklover #bookworm #booknerdigans #booklion #bookstagrammer #bookstagramfeature #vscobooks #vscoreads #weneeddiversebooks #diversebooks #diversereads", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 640}, null]
Title: Risk

Author: Fleur Ferris

Series? No



Book World 

The plot deals with Taylor’s guilt: for being envious of Sierra, for having such horrible thoughts of her friends just before she went missing, for not recognising that they were being groomed by a sexual predator.  It also deals with her grief of losing a best friend.  The mystery of finding the culprit of this crime also played a brief role in the plot.  However, the main crux of the plot deals with raising awareness for cyber crime, rather than trying to solve this specific one.  I wish that I did not go into this expecting a thriller, as my expectations were drawn up short.


Anger pulses through my veins, but it is not anger at Jacob Jones. It is anger at me. My stupidity and carelessness. I should have swallowed my pride and gone with Sierra.

I really felt for Taylor as she lost her best friend, I also somewhat related to her envy of Sierra initially – we were all 15 once, after all.  However, I did not like how this comparison between herself and Sierra dominated her thoughts – especially when they were mostly concerned about the physical: e.g. how much make up Sierra was wearing, how much prettier she is, etc… All these insecurities were never answered during the book.

I did like how involved the parents were in this storyline.  Both Taylor and Sierra’s mum played an important role in the book and in Taylor’s emotional arc.  As always, I appreciate the inclusion of family members as they’re so often brushed aside in young adult novels.

Another thing I enjoyed was the relative lack of focus on the romance.  The story told definitely highlighted Taylor and Sierra’s friendship, and Taylor’s coming to terms with the dangers of the internet.  However, I felt that all of the side characters were really underdeveloped, not wholly unexpected in a 300 pages long book, I guess.


An issue I had with this book was the simple, direct, style of writing.  It left me a bit detached from the events which unfolded, though I felt I should have been a lot more affected.  It felt a bit more like a report telling me of the events, of how Taylor is feeling, without really showing me anything.  I will say that it makes for a very quick read.  The writing was also gripping enough to finish it in a single 2-3 hours sitting.

Maybe it’s easier to criticise Sierra. Maybe if it was her fault – if she did something wrong – it would be easier to make some sense of what happened.  But the cruel truth is, what happened to Sierra could have happened to any one of us.

I did appreciate that the book raised awareness on all of the potential stranger danger of this current age.  Loads of people own multiple forms of media, heck, as bloggers we should understand more than anyone how easy it is to trust and love people online.  However, be cautious is always a good idea, as you never know who might be behind that computer screen, and sadly the tragedy in this book is too commonplace in real life.

All in all, it was a great debut novel by an Australian author.  I actually loved it after my initial read through 2 weeks ago – but thinking back on it, I had issues with some of the writing and portrayal of teen drama.  However, if you’re looking for an emotional and gripping contemporary, this one will fit the bill!


 Published by aentee @ read at midnight

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28 thoughts on “Book Review: Risk”
