Reviewer (text)
Thien-Kim H., Teen Board Member
Avery June West is bookish, lonely and a bit naive. She and her mom have moved constantly since she was a child, and her dad isn’t in the picture. Armed with a Plan to not make friends and thus avoid heartbreak, she feels completely alone at her new school. So what happens when she discovers a secret international society where she’s the most sought-after member?
The start of CONSPIRACY OF US is a bit lagging and dull, with a lot of descriptions (“his jawline [was] an angle rather than a curve”) and dramatic language ("it'd be better for him to ask someone else… anybody who wasn’t as screwed up as I was”). But who is “he”? There’s a lot of mention of this guy Jack Bishop even though we don’t really know who he is. But he knows who Avery is! He carries a picture of her in his pocket, even though they are not relatives or even friends. This does not make Avery issue a restraining order. Instead, she spends a few chapters pondering why he owns her photo, bumping into him in the hallway and then being upset that she cannot accept his sudden prom request because of the Plan.
An explanation will come later; almost immediately after the antics at school, the plot gains rapid speed. Jack and Stellan --- a person who vaporizes on a sidewalk --- are both very interested in Avery, and somehow all three are intertwined in this mystery. The boys reveal to Avery some very shocking information about her family, and she hops on a plane to Paris right away.
CONSPIRACY OF US is an action-packed and thrilling adventure with some girl power, drama and stylish details.
The explanations are confusing at first, but the storyline has potential and intrigue. There are actually two secret societies in this world. The Circle is a group of 12 families, one of whom believes Avery is their family, and the Order wishes to destroy the Circle and its values. Avery is now outcast-no-longer, because everyone wants her. They just don’t know where to find her.
The mystery spans several continents, and the prophecy hasn’t been solved for centuries. But our young protagonist, whose contact lenses hide violet eyes, may hold the answer --- or be the answer --- to this dangerous puzzle that will most definitely affect the entire world. Avery thought her biggest problem was prom, but now she is directly connected to “the most powerful people in the world.” Any expectation of realism should be thrown out the window now. I do like that Avery seems aware of how absurd the extreme suddenness and lavishness of this whole thing is (“It felt unreal, like a camera crew would show up at any moment and remind me that this wasn’t my life”). The winding clues and plot twists are a bit predictable at times, but the narrative is readable and adrenaline-fueled. The descriptions of Paris and Istanbul are detailed but limited to some famous monuments and a Prada shop.
The prose is polished and sensual, but it’s difficult to feel anything other than a rush of exhilaration and perhaps a bit of bewilderment. We are taken to gorgeous ballrooms and landmarks to meet celebrities and leaders, but while it’s exciting, the plot is clunky and the character development underwhelming. The story has some intriguing twists, though it can get cheesy and outlandish quickly. Avery says a lot of urgent, theatric things; Jack has put a “carefully patched-up hole in [her] heart tearing wide open” after being in the book for about three seconds and picking up a pen she drops in the hallway. The focus is on entertainment and atmosphere rather than substance. But it doesn’t really matter, because this is pure escapist fantasy. It's fun.
If you like the addition of violet eyes and random European accents, this is a high-energy tale that more than fulfills its expectation of providing escapism and glamour. I wasn’t too moved by the characters but I liked spending time with them in their world. It’s been pitched as Dan Brown meets YA, and will suit fans of Ally Carter, Jen Calonita, Amy Ewing and Kiera Cass. CONSPIRACY OF US is an action-packed and thrilling adventure with some girl power, drama and stylish details --- it’s a lot what a Taylor Swift music video would look like as a book.
Teaser
Part of a powerful and dangerous secret society called the Circle, Avery West's newfound family believe Avery is the key to an ancient prophecy. Some want to use her as a pawn. Some want her dead. To unravel the mystery putting her life in danger, Avery must follow a trail of clues from the monuments of Paris to the back alleys of Istanbul with two boys who work for the Circle ---beautiful, volatile Stellan and mysterious, magnetic Jack. Now she will have to choose not only between freedom and family--but between the boy who might help her save the world, and the one she's falling in love with.
Promo
Part of a powerful and dangerous secret society called the Circle, Avery West's newfound family believe Avery is the key to an ancient prophecy. Some want to use her as a pawn. Some want her dead. To unravel the mystery putting her life in danger, Avery must follow a trail of clues from the monuments of Paris to the back alleys of Istanbul with two boys who work for the Circle --- beautiful, volatile Stellan and mysterious, magnetic Jack. Now she will have to choose not only between freedom and family--but between the boy who might help her save the world, and the one she's falling in love with.
About the Book
Avery West's newfound family can shut down Prada when they want to shop in peace, and can just as easily order a bombing when they want to start a war. Part of a powerful and dangerous secret society called the Circle, they believe Avery is the key to an ancient prophecy. Some want to use her as a pawn. Some want her dead.
To unravel the mystery putting her life in danger, Avery must follow a trail of clues from the monuments of Paris to the back alleys of Istanbul with two boys who work for the Circle --- beautiful, volatile Stellan and mysterious, magnetic Jack. But as the clues expose a stunning conspiracy that might plunge the world into World War 3, she discovers that both boys are hiding secrets of their own. Now she will have to choose not only between freedom and family--but between the boy who might help her save the world, and the one she's falling in love with.
