REVIEW! Deadly Little Games.

Deadly Little Games
Laurie Faria Stolarz



FROM THE COVER:

Camelia and Ben have discovered a powerful bond: They both possess the power of psychometry, the ability to sense things through touch. For Ben, the gift is a frightening liability. When he senses a strong threat or betrayal, he risks losing control and hurting people. Camelia's gift is more mysterious. When she works with clay, her hands sculpt messages her mind doesn't yet comprehend.

Before either teen has a chance to fully grasp these abilities, an unresolved family tragedy resurfaces in Camelia's life, irrevocably changing everything she cares about...

My rating: 4 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:

So good! A bit like the first and second installments, but not boringly so. There's clear development.

Camelia's more stubborn than ever, which is at times both annoying and frustrating. How many bad decisions does it take to realize you need to do things differently? Nevertheless she comes to better terms with her psychometry and learns from it. Ben remains the same: mysterious and incredibly sweet. I can't say I was a fan of Adam's return and inclusion, mainly because he just seems to be trying too hard to be nice and that makes him appear fake and transparent as a character. However, I really liked Camelia's parents and her friends, Kimmie and Wes. Her parents, although minor in their roles, developed some, especially her dad. Wes and Kimmie were just hilarious; their dialogue is very witty and sharp, which lightens the darker tones of the novel. Still, I wish something more would happen with them. They deserve more credit.

Another nice addition was Camelia's aunt, Alexia, who made an actual appearance in this installment. She doesn't have a huge part, but an important one nonetheless. I look forward to her progression and growth in the upcoming book, Deadly Little Voices (due out next Fall!).

The writing itself was nothing exceptional. The plot was a bit unsatisfying. What made it great were the characters.