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Sting
They call me the Scorpion because they don’t know who I really am. All they know is that someone is stealing from people with excess to help people with nothing survive another day.
But then a trusted friend reveals who I am—“just” Tessa, “just” a girl—and sends me straight into the arms of the law. All those people I helped…couldn’t help me when I needed it.
In prison, I find an unlikely ally in Pike, who would have been my enemy on the outside. He represents everything I’m against. Luxury. Excess. The world immediately falling for his gorgeous smile. How he ended up in the dirty cell next to mine is a mystery, but he wants out as much as I do. Together, we have a real chance at escape.
With the sting of betrayal still fresh, Pike and I will seek revenge on those who wronged us. But uncovering all their secrets might turn deadly…
But then a trusted friend reveals who I am—“just” Tessa, “just” a girl—and sends me straight into the arms of the law. All those people I helped…couldn’t help me when I needed it.
In prison, I find an unlikely ally in Pike, who would have been my enemy on the outside. He represents everything I’m against. Luxury. Excess. The world immediately falling for his gorgeous smile. How he ended up in the dirty cell next to mine is a mystery, but he wants out as much as I do. Together, we have a real chance at escape.
With the sting of betrayal still fresh, Pike and I will seek revenge on those who wronged us. But uncovering all their secrets might turn deadly…
400 pages, Paperback
First published March 3, 2020
About the author
Cindy R. Wilson
5 books217 followersCindy began creating worlds as a kid, entertaining her siblings with spontaneous ghost stories before bed. She filled notebooks with novels and ideas and realized quickly she wanted to be a writer as an adult.
Now Cindy lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and loves using Colorado towns and cities as inspiration for settings in her stories. She’s the mother of three girls who provide plenty of fodder for her YA novels.
Visit her website to learn more about her books or subscribe to her newsletter: https://wilsoncindyr.wixsite.com/mysite
Now Cindy lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and loves using Colorado towns and cities as inspiration for settings in her stories. She’s the mother of three girls who provide plenty of fodder for her YA novels.
Visit her website to learn more about her books or subscribe to her newsletter: https://wilsoncindyr.wixsite.com/mysite
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
March 5, 2020
3.5*
Sting is the first book I’ve ever read from Cindy R. Wilson. I haven’t read a dystopian novel since they were hot and the story of Tessa and crew made me really sad I haven’t picked up more along my reading journey. Sting has many themes that are reminiscent of your standard dystopian end of days YA novel. There’s a romance that includes a love triangle, there’s two separate sort of factions at odds with each other (Light and Dark), there’s a heroine who has what seems to be “the one to change the world” storyline, and a big baddie that has to be taken down. All that good stuff. I don’t want to give away too much about this one, because I feel like many things could be considered spoilers, so what I will tell you is that the dynamics between Tessa and her love interests was a bit different from most dystopian, even if it outwardly felt similar. I will also admit that it was slightly hard for me to connect with the characters, even though I was very connected to their mission, they themselves were harder to care about individually.
All in all this was a great read. I wouldn’t call it extremely unique, but if you are a fan of the YA dystopian genre, I feel that Sting is a well written and fun addition.
AVAILABLE NOW!
*ARC
Sting is the first book I’ve ever read from Cindy R. Wilson. I haven’t read a dystopian novel since they were hot and the story of Tessa and crew made me really sad I haven’t picked up more along my reading journey. Sting has many themes that are reminiscent of your standard dystopian end of days YA novel. There’s a romance that includes a love triangle, there’s two separate sort of factions at odds with each other (Light and Dark), there’s a heroine who has what seems to be “the one to change the world” storyline, and a big baddie that has to be taken down. All that good stuff. I don’t want to give away too much about this one, because I feel like many things could be considered spoilers, so what I will tell you is that the dynamics between Tessa and her love interests was a bit different from most dystopian, even if it outwardly felt similar. I will also admit that it was slightly hard for me to connect with the characters, even though I was very connected to their mission, they themselves were harder to care about individually.
All in all this was a great read. I wouldn’t call it extremely unique, but if you are a fan of the YA dystopian genre, I feel that Sting is a well written and fun addition.
AVAILABLE NOW!
*ARC
February 9, 2020
Sting is the third book I’ve read by Cindy R. Wilson and this writer is rocking my world. Her stories are imaginative and original.
Sting is set in a dystopian world where there are two sides to a city. The light (rich side) and the dark (deprived side). Tessa is a girl trying to survive who has a good heart. She wants to help anyone she can. Her blood family have died but she has her own chosen family. Cass is the sister she never had and River is her best friend.
Tessa offers hope in a world left behind. She is the scorpion. When things go wrong, Tessa is thrown into a world she never wanted to see. Now she’s lost and gain more than she knows.
To save her people she much learn what it means to loose everything.
This book is essentially in 3 parts which is why I haven’t told you too much about it. Each segment offers a new task and setting. I love dystopian world books and this had a lot of layers to the story. It is a romance but it’s also about trust, patience and seeing more than the eye believes.
Loved it. 5 stars out of 5. It’s excellent.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I would recommend all this authors book. Her debut Paper girl is a good place to start. All her stories are complete standalones.
Sting is set in a dystopian world where there are two sides to a city. The light (rich side) and the dark (deprived side). Tessa is a girl trying to survive who has a good heart. She wants to help anyone she can. Her blood family have died but she has her own chosen family. Cass is the sister she never had and River is her best friend.
Tessa offers hope in a world left behind. She is the scorpion. When things go wrong, Tessa is thrown into a world she never wanted to see. Now she’s lost and gain more than she knows.
To save her people she much learn what it means to loose everything.
This book is essentially in 3 parts which is why I haven’t told you too much about it. Each segment offers a new task and setting. I love dystopian world books and this had a lot of layers to the story. It is a romance but it’s also about trust, patience and seeing more than the eye believes.
Loved it. 5 stars out of 5. It’s excellent.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I would recommend all this authors book. Her debut Paper girl is a good place to start. All her stories are complete standalones.
March 4, 2020
A teen barely surviving, living from hand to mouth in a dark, dystopian world becomes a symbol of strength for the down-trodden masses as she dares to steal from the rich and give to the poor. Only the privileged live in the light, their lives filled with excess while Tessa struggles day to day in Cindy R. Wilson’s STING. It is her daring attitude, her generous nature and her quest to make a difference that finds her betrayed by her own Judas and locked away in a Hell on earth.
This is her story, the unlikely heroine, the rebel and how she discovers love and the destiny she never asked for as she uncovers deceit and greed at the highest levels of wealth and power. Can she change the world she lives in? Should she even try? Her life will be forfeit if caught…
I was absolutely riveted to every page. No high level angst, just powerful characters doing the best they can with what they have. A refreshing read about caring, sharing and taking risks for those who need a champion most! Written for young adults, but ageless in its appeal!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Entangled: Teen! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publisher: Entangled: Teen (March 3, 2020)
Publication Date: March 3, 2020
Genre: YA dystopian
Print Length: 400 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
This is her story, the unlikely heroine, the rebel and how she discovers love and the destiny she never asked for as she uncovers deceit and greed at the highest levels of wealth and power. Can she change the world she lives in? Should she even try? Her life will be forfeit if caught…
I was absolutely riveted to every page. No high level angst, just powerful characters doing the best they can with what they have. A refreshing read about caring, sharing and taking risks for those who need a champion most! Written for young adults, but ageless in its appeal!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Entangled: Teen! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publisher: Entangled: Teen (March 3, 2020)
Publication Date: March 3, 2020
Genre: YA dystopian
Print Length: 400 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
March 4, 2020
I was scrolling through the books on Net Galley one day, and stopped when I saw this great cover. The tag line: Revenge is poison, also did it’s job. It leapt off the page, and, when I read the blurb, I knew I had to have it.
Tessa. The Scorpion. Robin Hood of the Dark District.
She robs from the rich who live in the Light District and give to the poor in the Dark District.
Climate change has wreaked havoc on the world, making once was habitable, inhabitable. Their country is the place of last resort, and, of course, the privileged claim it as their own.
Tessa had started out the apocalypse on her own, but quickly added to her ‘family’. She does have a love interest in River, a best friend from the wrong side of the district, Elle, and Cass, a child, who she has taken in as if she were her very own. She feels now is not the time for love and romance and fights her attraction to River.
Tessa is a tinkerer, creating bots that she calls Scorpions. She sends them out ahead of the search party, scouting for danger. They scavenge for what little they have, on the verge of starvation, even setting traps for rats.
Everyone needs a champion in desperate times and Scorpion, a humble, young girl, rose to the challenge, believing that someone has to do something. She never saw herself as a leader and questions how that even became possible.
She is betrayed, ending up in prison, where she finds an unlikely ally. I saw the betrayal coming very quickly.
I love the inventory she takes at the beginning of each chapter.
I love the dystopian world Cindy R Wilson created. I felt the need, the desperation, the urgency for the characters. At times it unrolled like a movie playing in my mind, the writing making it so easy to visualize them skulking through the streets, patrolling, battling for survival.
This may be an ARC, but it read as if it could be the final product.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Sting by Cindy R Wilson.
See more at fundinmental
Tessa. The Scorpion. Robin Hood of the Dark District.
She robs from the rich who live in the Light District and give to the poor in the Dark District.
Climate change has wreaked havoc on the world, making once was habitable, inhabitable. Their country is the place of last resort, and, of course, the privileged claim it as their own.
Tessa had started out the apocalypse on her own, but quickly added to her ‘family’. She does have a love interest in River, a best friend from the wrong side of the district, Elle, and Cass, a child, who she has taken in as if she were her very own. She feels now is not the time for love and romance and fights her attraction to River.
Tessa is a tinkerer, creating bots that she calls Scorpions. She sends them out ahead of the search party, scouting for danger. They scavenge for what little they have, on the verge of starvation, even setting traps for rats.
Everyone needs a champion in desperate times and Scorpion, a humble, young girl, rose to the challenge, believing that someone has to do something. She never saw herself as a leader and questions how that even became possible.
She is betrayed, ending up in prison, where she finds an unlikely ally. I saw the betrayal coming very quickly.
I love the inventory she takes at the beginning of each chapter.
I love the dystopian world Cindy R Wilson created. I felt the need, the desperation, the urgency for the characters. At times it unrolled like a movie playing in my mind, the writing making it so easy to visualize them skulking through the streets, patrolling, battling for survival.
This may be an ARC, but it read as if it could be the final product.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Sting by Cindy R Wilson.
See more at fundinmental
March 4, 2020
I love it when a book surprises me and Sting did just that. What I thought was just going to be a good dystopian tale turned out to be so much more.
This world is separated into two parts — Lightside and Darkside. Rich and Poor. Tessa and her friends are from Darkside, doing their best to survive, while also doing a little extra to make sure the people around them also have a fighting chance. Barely any food, no jobs opportunities, essentially just the clothes on their backs mean Darksiders are pretty much confined to this fate of nothingness. Which is where The Scorpion comes in. Tessa as the Scorpion is Darkside’s very own version of Robin Hood, doing her best to take as much as she can away from the people who want for nothing. But with so many of Lightside’s enforcers around, it’s only a matter of time before she gets caught.
Sting is a tale in 3 parts, Tessa takes readers on a vengeance quest starting in Decay and working her way all the way up to the Lightside. The world that Wilson created was such an interesting one and while the difference between Lightside and Darkside is obvious in the names, there are plenty of not-so-subtle differences that certainly differentiate the two. Aside from the super creative world, there is also plenty of betrayal between Tessa and those she thought of as her friends, though she does manage to make some new and better ones along the way. There’s also some romance thrown in for good measure, and plenty of humor despite the darkness of this tale.
Sting was my first book by Cindy R. Wilson and it definitely won’t be my last. I really enjoyed this one and will definitely recommend it for anyone who likes a good dystopian tale with plenty of action and heart.
*eARC received via NetGalley.
This world is separated into two parts — Lightside and Darkside. Rich and Poor. Tessa and her friends are from Darkside, doing their best to survive, while also doing a little extra to make sure the people around them also have a fighting chance. Barely any food, no jobs opportunities, essentially just the clothes on their backs mean Darksiders are pretty much confined to this fate of nothingness. Which is where The Scorpion comes in. Tessa as the Scorpion is Darkside’s very own version of Robin Hood, doing her best to take as much as she can away from the people who want for nothing. But with so many of Lightside’s enforcers around, it’s only a matter of time before she gets caught.
Sting is a tale in 3 parts, Tessa takes readers on a vengeance quest starting in Decay and working her way all the way up to the Lightside. The world that Wilson created was such an interesting one and while the difference between Lightside and Darkside is obvious in the names, there are plenty of not-so-subtle differences that certainly differentiate the two. Aside from the super creative world, there is also plenty of betrayal between Tessa and those she thought of as her friends, though she does manage to make some new and better ones along the way. There’s also some romance thrown in for good measure, and plenty of humor despite the darkness of this tale.
Sting was my first book by Cindy R. Wilson and it definitely won’t be my last. I really enjoyed this one and will definitely recommend it for anyone who likes a good dystopian tale with plenty of action and heart.
*eARC received via NetGalley.
March 2, 2020
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Young Adult / Dystopian
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
Author Cindy R. Wilson's Sting is a blend of sci-fi, romance, and thriller. Sting is also a blend of The Count of Monte Cristo and Robin Hood, but is its own story featuring a female protagonist/heroine. The characters are compelling and deal with issues that teens can relate to, such as broken relationships and learning to form new bonds of trust with others. The world-building takes the basic building blocks of dystopian sci-fi and gives it a fresh spin with unique cultural elements, technology, and drama.
*Full Review @Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Young Adult / Dystopian
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
Author Cindy R. Wilson's Sting is a blend of sci-fi, romance, and thriller. Sting is also a blend of The Count of Monte Cristo and Robin Hood, but is its own story featuring a female protagonist/heroine. The characters are compelling and deal with issues that teens can relate to, such as broken relationships and learning to form new bonds of trust with others. The world-building takes the basic building blocks of dystopian sci-fi and gives it a fresh spin with unique cultural elements, technology, and drama.
*Full Review @Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
March 7, 2020
Sting is the first book I’ve read by Cindy Wilson but it won’t be the last. This book has some interesting characters and a story that kept me turning the pages to see what was going to happen next.
I thought the world building in this book was done well. In Victor, you have the Darkside where people are cutoff from electricity and basic things needed to survive and then you have The Light District where everything is, as you can imagine, bright and lively. There are parties and shopping, and no one really knows about the challenges the Darkside go through. Of course, this sets the stage for the story.
Scorpion (Tessa) is our main character and she has been on her own for a while living amongst the Darksiders. She’s known as Scorpion because of the scorpion bots she uses to scope out areas and she does what she can for those around her and there are a few people that she will do anything for because they have become her family over time. I thought Wilson did a good job of reflecting the relationship that Tessa had with each of these characters. Elle is the daughter of a powerful man in the Light District but opposed to the way things are run, Cass is essentially her little sister, and River is the boy she has feelings for but is afraid to really analyze what those feelings really mean.
Over time, Tessa has built a bit of a reputation amongst the people in the Dark District and that means that the leaders of The Light District see her as a danger and they have begun to make the missions she goes on to get supplies much more risky now that the Enforcers are out searching for her. When one of the people she trusted most betrays her, Tessa sacrifices her freedom to save Cass. This puts her a prison called Decay and under the watch of some very questionable men.
In prison, Tessa meets Pike. Pike has been in Decay for a while, but he has a plan to get out and now that Tessa is there, he decides she will be the perfect person to help him. As Tessa learns to navigate the prison, she realizes that her mechanical knowledge is what is going to help her get the warden to loosen up on her monitoring. By doing this, she sometimes gets a bit more freedom and that means she and Pike also have a bit more space to finalize their plan to escape and when they do, they find themselves trying to hide out in The Light District.
Once they get to the Light District, Tessa doesn’t know who she can trust from her old life. The one thing she does know is that she needs to find Cass. When the people in her new life begin to mix with those of her old life, she realizes just how much she has changed. I thought Wilson did a good job of reflecting the growth Tessa goes through over the course of the book. She’s not as standoffish and doesn’t try to hold herself apart from others. I also thought that Pike really balanced her out – he pushed her to not be so reactionary and while she didn’t always listen, it did start to influence her actions.
In the end, the story was one that kept me interested. The characters were developed well and while I questioned some pieces (i.e. how easy it was to get out of Decay), I thought the story was well done. I know I didn’t give a ton of detail in this review, and that is mostly because I think you should read the book and I also don’t like to give anything away. Just know that if you are looking for a Dystopian book with interesting characters, a bit of romance, and good overcoming evil, consider picking this one up.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.
I thought the world building in this book was done well. In Victor, you have the Darkside where people are cutoff from electricity and basic things needed to survive and then you have The Light District where everything is, as you can imagine, bright and lively. There are parties and shopping, and no one really knows about the challenges the Darkside go through. Of course, this sets the stage for the story.
Scorpion (Tessa) is our main character and she has been on her own for a while living amongst the Darksiders. She’s known as Scorpion because of the scorpion bots she uses to scope out areas and she does what she can for those around her and there are a few people that she will do anything for because they have become her family over time. I thought Wilson did a good job of reflecting the relationship that Tessa had with each of these characters. Elle is the daughter of a powerful man in the Light District but opposed to the way things are run, Cass is essentially her little sister, and River is the boy she has feelings for but is afraid to really analyze what those feelings really mean.
Over time, Tessa has built a bit of a reputation amongst the people in the Dark District and that means that the leaders of The Light District see her as a danger and they have begun to make the missions she goes on to get supplies much more risky now that the Enforcers are out searching for her. When one of the people she trusted most betrays her, Tessa sacrifices her freedom to save Cass. This puts her a prison called Decay and under the watch of some very questionable men.
In prison, Tessa meets Pike. Pike has been in Decay for a while, but he has a plan to get out and now that Tessa is there, he decides she will be the perfect person to help him. As Tessa learns to navigate the prison, she realizes that her mechanical knowledge is what is going to help her get the warden to loosen up on her monitoring. By doing this, she sometimes gets a bit more freedom and that means she and Pike also have a bit more space to finalize their plan to escape and when they do, they find themselves trying to hide out in The Light District.
Once they get to the Light District, Tessa doesn’t know who she can trust from her old life. The one thing she does know is that she needs to find Cass. When the people in her new life begin to mix with those of her old life, she realizes just how much she has changed. I thought Wilson did a good job of reflecting the growth Tessa goes through over the course of the book. She’s not as standoffish and doesn’t try to hold herself apart from others. I also thought that Pike really balanced her out – he pushed her to not be so reactionary and while she didn’t always listen, it did start to influence her actions.
In the end, the story was one that kept me interested. The characters were developed well and while I questioned some pieces (i.e. how easy it was to get out of Decay), I thought the story was well done. I know I didn’t give a ton of detail in this review, and that is mostly because I think you should read the book and I also don’t like to give anything away. Just know that if you are looking for a Dystopian book with interesting characters, a bit of romance, and good overcoming evil, consider picking this one up.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 7, 2020
I’ve been waiting not so patiently for this book to get out into the world. It’s been over three years since I signed the contract for my The Count of Monte Cristo retelling and now it’s finally polished and ready for everyone to read. I had a great time writing about adventure, revenge, and love, with a dystopian twist that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Hope you enjoy!
March 20, 2020
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to YA Bound Book Tours, Netgalley, and Entangled Teen for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.
Dang it! Apparently this was another Count of Monte Cristo retelling and I wouldn’t have known! Thank goodness Wilson actually indicated that one her review about her novel, because seriously I am just not up to date on what books are retellings, what aren’t, what the Count of Monte Cristo is, etc. But either way, even if you don’t know the original material like me, don’t let that stop you from reading this novel because you won’t need that backstory really. This stands on its own and it was great.
The Scorpion.
I’m seriously digging her alias because I for one would not want to mess with anyone that would name themselves after a creature like that. Scorpions are dangerous and should not be messed with under any circumstances in my opinion. It also makes her seem almost vicious in the fact that she will sting back. She isn’t just a docile creature that you can try to step on and ignore when things hit the fan, you know? So yeah, I dig it. And I definitely feel her anger and rage at being betrayed by some nobody pretty much and none of the people that she’s ever helped during this time of bad things happening even helped her.
It sucks, and while we are supposed to be the kind of people that don’t do anything just to get something out of it, we can’t help but think that way when nobody is willing to even bend a little bit to help us. You know what I mean? It just kind of makes you feel like you were taken advantage of for your resources and the goodness of your heart to be able to be in a position to do these things, but when the time came down to it, nobody felt that way about you.
Clearly I have some feelings about this kind of treatment in general so I felt even more upset when I read this book. But I loved it, and I think you will enjoy it too. This is my first novel from Wilson and I think it was a great introduction to her writing style for me.
Dang it! Apparently this was another Count of Monte Cristo retelling and I wouldn’t have known! Thank goodness Wilson actually indicated that one her review about her novel, because seriously I am just not up to date on what books are retellings, what aren’t, what the Count of Monte Cristo is, etc. But either way, even if you don’t know the original material like me, don’t let that stop you from reading this novel because you won’t need that backstory really. This stands on its own and it was great.
The Scorpion.
I’m seriously digging her alias because I for one would not want to mess with anyone that would name themselves after a creature like that. Scorpions are dangerous and should not be messed with under any circumstances in my opinion. It also makes her seem almost vicious in the fact that she will sting back. She isn’t just a docile creature that you can try to step on and ignore when things hit the fan, you know? So yeah, I dig it. And I definitely feel her anger and rage at being betrayed by some nobody pretty much and none of the people that she’s ever helped during this time of bad things happening even helped her.
It sucks, and while we are supposed to be the kind of people that don’t do anything just to get something out of it, we can’t help but think that way when nobody is willing to even bend a little bit to help us. You know what I mean? It just kind of makes you feel like you were taken advantage of for your resources and the goodness of your heart to be able to be in a position to do these things, but when the time came down to it, nobody felt that way about you.
Clearly I have some feelings about this kind of treatment in general so I felt even more upset when I read this book. But I loved it, and I think you will enjoy it too. This is my first novel from Wilson and I think it was a great introduction to her writing style for me.
January 9, 2022
Alrighty, then...
I adored: the cover; Pike ❤
I liked: the premise/idea; the writing; the first half of the book; River
I didn't much care for: the execution; the second half of the book; Tessa
I disliked: the pacing; the plot holes/ illogicalities, the convenient plot devices
I appreciate: that this is a standalone
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 29, 2020
#Sting #NetGalley
I had never read this author before and was more than pleasantly surprised at how entertaining her writing style is!! This is a very clean book. While it has some kisses, most of the book is centered around action and good versus evil. This book, while good and evil appears to be light and dark, you soon find out it is more of a yin-yang situation of some good in the bad and some bad in the good. Really you have to do a person by person like in life. This book makes it look superficial, but there are layers upon layers and it is very well done!
I would recommend this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC. for an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. These opinions are my own.
I had never read this author before and was more than pleasantly surprised at how entertaining her writing style is!! This is a very clean book. While it has some kisses, most of the book is centered around action and good versus evil. This book, while good and evil appears to be light and dark, you soon find out it is more of a yin-yang situation of some good in the bad and some bad in the good. Really you have to do a person by person like in life. This book makes it look superficial, but there are layers upon layers and it is very well done!
I would recommend this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC. for an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. These opinions are my own.
March 3, 2020
Do you like YA dystopian books that are a bit different? If so, you will like Sting. I didn't even realize that it was a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo until after I read it. It was an interesting, if not at sometimes odd, read that moved for the most part at a nice and steady pace.
In terms of romance, I am not a huge fan of love triangles, but I liked how Cindy Wilson had everything play out. This was action packed with a captivating story and interesting characters. I was glad that I was able to check out this book and highly recommend it for other YA dystopian romances- 4 outta 5 stars from me!
PS: Thank you to Cindy R. Wilson, Entangled Teen, Netgalley, and YA Bound Book Tours for allowing me an advanced copy of the book to read and review honestly!
In terms of romance, I am not a huge fan of love triangles, but I liked how Cindy Wilson had everything play out. This was action packed with a captivating story and interesting characters. I was glad that I was able to check out this book and highly recommend it for other YA dystopian romances- 4 outta 5 stars from me!
PS: Thank you to Cindy R. Wilson, Entangled Teen, Netgalley, and YA Bound Book Tours for allowing me an advanced copy of the book to read and review honestly!
March 4, 2020
Sting is a second book by Cindy R. Wilson that I had read. Paper Girl was AMAZING and I wanted more, here it's not the case. This book was Average to me.
The story is set in the dystopian world where the city where everything happens is torn into two pieces - Dark and Light.
Tess (The Sting) comes from the dark side and she tries to help other people survive. She's like Robin Hood to them in this Dystopian world.
The story will follow Tess and how she was dealing with everything that was put on her when things had not worked out as planned.
It was An ok read that had the potential to be an awesome one.
The story is set in the dystopian world where the city where everything happens is torn into two pieces - Dark and Light.
Tess (The Sting) comes from the dark side and she tries to help other people survive. She's like Robin Hood to them in this Dystopian world.
The story will follow Tess and how she was dealing with everything that was put on her when things had not worked out as planned.
It was An ok read that had the potential to be an awesome one.
March 10, 2020
This was the first book that I have read by Cindy R. Wilson and the moment I finished it I downloaded her other title, Paper Girl.
Sting was fantastic! I was hooked from the very first page. Our main character is Tessa, also known as Scorpion; she lives on the dark side where people are barely surviving, she has no living relatives but takes care of Cass, every day is a fight for survival, one she faces willingly, risking her life to steal from the Light and give to the Dark.
Tessa finds herself imprisoned but with the help from fellow inmate Pike she has revenge is on her mind as she plans to take down the city’s leader, I couldn't understand his motives but it all came down to selfishness and greed,
The world-building was done extremely well, the divide between rich and poor and the way that they both lived was interesting.
There is a love triangle which I don't always enjoy but in my mind there was a clear choice and it didn't grate on my nerves as I thought it would. Pike was a fantastic love interest.
The dynamic between the characters was wonderful, especially the bond shared between Tessa and Cass, Tessa took on the role of protector to not just those she cared about but everyone that was less fortunate.
There were many challenges faced by the characters and I was never quite sure who could be trusted. I loved every moment of it and instantly downloaded Paper Girl by Cindy R. Wilson, I thoroughly enjoyed her gripping writing style.
Thank you to Entangled Teen and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read and review Sting.
Sting was fantastic! I was hooked from the very first page. Our main character is Tessa, also known as Scorpion; she lives on the dark side where people are barely surviving, she has no living relatives but takes care of Cass, every day is a fight for survival, one she faces willingly, risking her life to steal from the Light and give to the Dark.
Tessa finds herself imprisoned but with the help from fellow inmate Pike she has revenge is on her mind as she plans to take down the city’s leader, I couldn't understand his motives but it all came down to selfishness and greed,
The world-building was done extremely well, the divide between rich and poor and the way that they both lived was interesting.
There is a love triangle which I don't always enjoy but in my mind there was a clear choice and it didn't grate on my nerves as I thought it would. Pike was a fantastic love interest.
The dynamic between the characters was wonderful, especially the bond shared between Tessa and Cass, Tessa took on the role of protector to not just those she cared about but everyone that was less fortunate.
There were many challenges faced by the characters and I was never quite sure who could be trusted. I loved every moment of it and instantly downloaded Paper Girl by Cindy R. Wilson, I thoroughly enjoyed her gripping writing style.
Thank you to Entangled Teen and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read and review Sting.
June 16, 2020
This is the first book I’ve read from this author, and I highly enjoyed it.
Scorpion leading the rebellion against the Light is very reminiscent of Hunger Games, but at the same time, provided its own take on the trope.
I found myself lost in these pages after the first few chapters, and followed along anxiously, not only the rebellion, but the love triangle aspect.
Overall, really enjoyed these characters and would recommend.
Scorpion leading the rebellion against the Light is very reminiscent of Hunger Games, but at the same time, provided its own take on the trope.
I found myself lost in these pages after the first few chapters, and followed along anxiously, not only the rebellion, but the love triangle aspect.
Overall, really enjoyed these characters and would recommend.
April 6, 2020
3.5 stars very close to a 4 star read.
May 2, 2020
I LOVED THIS BOOK!! I honestly had no idea what to expect when I got this ARC but wow this book was just what I needed. I loved all the characters and I keep finding myself thinking oh I need to get back to Sting and then get sad when I immediately realize I have finished the book already. It has some definite Hunger Game vibes especially with the trope that goes on (don’t want to spoil anything.) This is the first book I have read from this author and now I plan to go back and read more of her work! I highly recommend this book!
Thank you Entangled Teen for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you Entangled Teen for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review!
February 11, 2024
The Scorpion robs warehouses in the Light District. These raids help the denizens of the Dark District survive as more and more of the jobs they rely on disappear. But it only takes one person betraying her for the Scorpion to be killed off, replaced in the minds of the Enforcers with a teenage girl, replaced in their minds with Tessa and thrown in jail to rot far from the people she cares for. If she wants to get out, to even have the chance at revenge, Tessa will have to team up with the prisoner in the cell next to hers, an outcast from the very Enforcers she wants to stop, Pike. Will their escape allow them to pursue revenge or will the attempt doom them both?
In many ways, Cindy R. Wilson’s Sting feels very much like a book failed by its genre. It feels like a book that had romance ladled into it to avoid filling in the gaps in world building. Or like the author really wanted to dig into the basic social stratification ideas that are heavily used in cyber punk but then backed out for fear of really saying anything. But then it really seems to not know what to do with the romance angle either.
Throughout the first third or so of Sting the reader is introduced to the Dark District with its falling in buildings and denizens who can barely find enough to eat and the jail, Decay, which is being used to erase the jobs that people in the Dark District used to work, thus depriving them of a way to survive, but that has more regular meals and solid shelter than our protagonist can ever remember having had. Tessa wants out though, wants revenge, wants to get back to her sister and helping the people of the Dark District. To do that she has to follow Pike’s plan, which means that she and the reader wind up plopped into the Light District. The reader was shown the Dark District in ruins and told that the Light District was much wealthier, that they had electricity and excess food and all the industry. But then it winds up being so much more than that. The Light District is presented as this big glamorous thing with lights everywhere and brilliant colors on everything and expensive parties regularly.
While I am aware that cities exist with this level of social stratification and that there are people like the Enforcers who want to hurt others seemingly just because they can, it just seems comical here. There is a literal closed off border between the two districts of this one city, a closed off border with armed guards all hopped up on propaganda and undeserved power ready to hurt the Darksiders who might try and go to the Light District for a job or something. It winds up being one of those things that, I am certain that something like it exists, but as presented in Sting it all feels like short hand for actual world building. It feels like the differences needed to be made as stark as possible so that the plot could be remembered through all of Tessa’s random moments of angsting over falling for Pike or over the feelings she had for River.
I confess, a lot of my frustrations here are made much worse by the ending. It feels far too tidy. Too like Wilson was dedicated to that ending from the start and refused to adjust it in light of how dark her antagonist wound up being. It sort of casts everything that came before it in a very artificial light. It feels unearned in a couple of ways.
From a genre angle, as much as I want to compare it to cyber punk, the comparison does not fit well. It is not technology making the Darksiders’ lives worse. Technology really fails to feature heavily, Tessa’s scorpion bots aside. Everything that makes the Darksider’s lives worse is down to one single antagonist and his underlings. The romance plot is certainly key to Sting’s word count, but manages to feel unnecessary and over done. It tends to feel more like filler than important to the character’s arcs. The scenes where Tessa thinks about her feelings for Pike were, at best, frustrating interruptions to what felt like the actual plot even as it feels like the reader is never properly let in on what Pike’s plan is. I kept waiting for something about that to come up, for us to get a better look at how they were planning to deal with the antagonist and show that Pike is as clever as the reader is told he is, but then it never came up.
There was so much here that had the potential to be well done if only given more room for development. So much that should have been given another pass or two before this was sent to the presses. And it just makes the finished book so much more disappointing that the potential was there and not given the development it needed. It took me multiple weeks to finish Sting, not because it was terrible or insulting, but because it was so easy for me to just put it down and do something else. I found other things to do because Tessa getting torn up over her feelings got old just so, so quickly. I came closer to just not finishing Sting than I have any other book in the past three years. For that, it gets two stars.
In many ways, Cindy R. Wilson’s Sting feels very much like a book failed by its genre. It feels like a book that had romance ladled into it to avoid filling in the gaps in world building. Or like the author really wanted to dig into the basic social stratification ideas that are heavily used in cyber punk but then backed out for fear of really saying anything. But then it really seems to not know what to do with the romance angle either.
Throughout the first third or so of Sting the reader is introduced to the Dark District with its falling in buildings and denizens who can barely find enough to eat and the jail, Decay, which is being used to erase the jobs that people in the Dark District used to work, thus depriving them of a way to survive, but that has more regular meals and solid shelter than our protagonist can ever remember having had. Tessa wants out though, wants revenge, wants to get back to her sister and helping the people of the Dark District. To do that she has to follow Pike’s plan, which means that she and the reader wind up plopped into the Light District. The reader was shown the Dark District in ruins and told that the Light District was much wealthier, that they had electricity and excess food and all the industry. But then it winds up being so much more than that. The Light District is presented as this big glamorous thing with lights everywhere and brilliant colors on everything and expensive parties regularly.
While I am aware that cities exist with this level of social stratification and that there are people like the Enforcers who want to hurt others seemingly just because they can, it just seems comical here. There is a literal closed off border between the two districts of this one city, a closed off border with armed guards all hopped up on propaganda and undeserved power ready to hurt the Darksiders who might try and go to the Light District for a job or something. It winds up being one of those things that, I am certain that something like it exists, but as presented in Sting it all feels like short hand for actual world building. It feels like the differences needed to be made as stark as possible so that the plot could be remembered through all of Tessa’s random moments of angsting over falling for Pike or over the feelings she had for River.
I confess, a lot of my frustrations here are made much worse by the ending. It feels far too tidy. Too like Wilson was dedicated to that ending from the start and refused to adjust it in light of how dark her antagonist wound up being. It sort of casts everything that came before it in a very artificial light. It feels unearned in a couple of ways.
From a genre angle, as much as I want to compare it to cyber punk, the comparison does not fit well. It is not technology making the Darksiders’ lives worse. Technology really fails to feature heavily, Tessa’s scorpion bots aside. Everything that makes the Darksider’s lives worse is down to one single antagonist and his underlings. The romance plot is certainly key to Sting’s word count, but manages to feel unnecessary and over done. It tends to feel more like filler than important to the character’s arcs. The scenes where Tessa thinks about her feelings for Pike were, at best, frustrating interruptions to what felt like the actual plot even as it feels like the reader is never properly let in on what Pike’s plan is. I kept waiting for something about that to come up, for us to get a better look at how they were planning to deal with the antagonist and show that Pike is as clever as the reader is told he is, but then it never came up.
There was so much here that had the potential to be well done if only given more room for development. So much that should have been given another pass or two before this was sent to the presses. And it just makes the finished book so much more disappointing that the potential was there and not given the development it needed. It took me multiple weeks to finish Sting, not because it was terrible or insulting, but because it was so easy for me to just put it down and do something else. I found other things to do because Tessa getting torn up over her feelings got old just so, so quickly. I came closer to just not finishing Sting than I have any other book in the past three years. For that, it gets two stars.
March 14, 2020
This is a fun thrill ride from the opening pages through the pulse-pounding conclusion. Cindy R. Wilson creates fascinating characters and throws them into impossible situations against a rich dystopian backdrop. Scorpion is just a teenage girl who was unfortunately on the wrong side of the bride when the world came tumbling down. Living in a “bunker” in an abandoned gaming center, Tessa, aka the Scorpion, shares her “home” with Cass, a twelve-year-old orphan. The two form a tight family unit, which not only do whatever it takes to survive, but also helping others who live in the Dark District get what they need. This makes her public enemy number one of the Light Sight, which is under the control of Campbell, who also happens to be the father of her best friend, Elle. But when someone betrays her, Tessa is thrown into prison where she meets Pike, a former enforcer in training who wants to take down Campbell almost as much as Tessa does. The two form a friendship that borders on something more as they plan to escape and help the Dark Side and exact revenge on Campbell. But Tessa’s hate for Campbell is powerful and may get in the way of what she needs to do.
There are a lot of similarities between STING and THE HUNGER GAMES. So if you enjoy a good dystopian adventure of the oppressed rising up against their oppressor, a badass heroine with a younger sister figure she’ll do anything for, and a couple of swoony boys fighting over the protagonist, this is right up your alley!
Plot
The main plot centers on Tessa and her quest for revenge against Campbell, the man who has kept the Dark District in the dark. There are strong subplots involving Tessa’s search for Cass, and her relationships with both River, another darksider, and Pike, the lightsider she meets in prison. The story shines in all of these areas. The action is well-spaced ensuring perfect pacing and twists and turns kept me engaged. Some I saw coming, others not so much. Everything is expertly woven together to create a compelling story that is nearly impossible to put down.
Characters
The characters are superb! Scorpion will go down in history as one of my all-time favorite heroines. River, Pike, Cass and the rest are all deep, complex, compelling. Even the antagonists are more than just shallow stereotypes for the most part. Mongo and even Elle at times seemed sort of trope-y, but they served a necessary purpose. I love Tessa so much. She’s tough but vulnerable. Her inexperience with romance makes her stumble over her feelings for those around her, but her fierce loyalty is what endears her to me from the very beginning. Pike is my Peta. He’s also loyal, brave, smart, and he gets Tessa on a deep level. River is my sweet, sweet Gale. He loves Tessa so much, he’d do anything for her. Elle is complex and conflicted as the best friend and daughter of Tessa’s rival, and Campbell, well, he’s easy to believe these days as a greedy bastard who sees the poor people of the world as a drain on his power and wealth.
What I Loved About STING
1. Tessa. She’s the perfect blend of strength, fearlessness, loyalty, and vulnerability.
2. Pike. He’s wonderfully patient, brave, and would do anything for Tessa.
3. Action. There is a lot of it and it’s pulse-pounding and intense.
4. River. Another great guy who will risk everything for the people he cares about.
5. Twists and Turns. Really well done and caught me by surprise more than once.
What Didn’t Quite Work for Me
Nothing! Though I hope this is the first book in a series. It doesn’t end on a cliffhanger and I have no idea what the author would do in a second book, but I love this world and these characters so much, I don’t want to let them go.
Bottom Line
A thrilling dystopian adventure with plenty of romance!
Disclaimer
I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
There are a lot of similarities between STING and THE HUNGER GAMES. So if you enjoy a good dystopian adventure of the oppressed rising up against their oppressor, a badass heroine with a younger sister figure she’ll do anything for, and a couple of swoony boys fighting over the protagonist, this is right up your alley!
Plot
The main plot centers on Tessa and her quest for revenge against Campbell, the man who has kept the Dark District in the dark. There are strong subplots involving Tessa’s search for Cass, and her relationships with both River, another darksider, and Pike, the lightsider she meets in prison. The story shines in all of these areas. The action is well-spaced ensuring perfect pacing and twists and turns kept me engaged. Some I saw coming, others not so much. Everything is expertly woven together to create a compelling story that is nearly impossible to put down.
Characters
The characters are superb! Scorpion will go down in history as one of my all-time favorite heroines. River, Pike, Cass and the rest are all deep, complex, compelling. Even the antagonists are more than just shallow stereotypes for the most part. Mongo and even Elle at times seemed sort of trope-y, but they served a necessary purpose. I love Tessa so much. She’s tough but vulnerable. Her inexperience with romance makes her stumble over her feelings for those around her, but her fierce loyalty is what endears her to me from the very beginning. Pike is my Peta. He’s also loyal, brave, smart, and he gets Tessa on a deep level. River is my sweet, sweet Gale. He loves Tessa so much, he’d do anything for her. Elle is complex and conflicted as the best friend and daughter of Tessa’s rival, and Campbell, well, he’s easy to believe these days as a greedy bastard who sees the poor people of the world as a drain on his power and wealth.
What I Loved About STING
1. Tessa. She’s the perfect blend of strength, fearlessness, loyalty, and vulnerability.
2. Pike. He’s wonderfully patient, brave, and would do anything for Tessa.
3. Action. There is a lot of it and it’s pulse-pounding and intense.
4. River. Another great guy who will risk everything for the people he cares about.
5. Twists and Turns. Really well done and caught me by surprise more than once.
What Didn’t Quite Work for Me
Nothing! Though I hope this is the first book in a series. It doesn’t end on a cliffhanger and I have no idea what the author would do in a second book, but I love this world and these characters so much, I don’t want to let them go.
Bottom Line
A thrilling dystopian adventure with plenty of romance!
Disclaimer
I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 14, 2020
Inventory: One thoroughly enjoyable futuristic tale, a them-against-us struggle of haves and have-nots fighting a battle of dark and light, where the only two things that matter are hope and revenge.
Tessa has set close boundaries. Cass, someone Tessa saved from the streets, is her only family. The only one on the inside. While many know Tessa's alter ego, Scorpion not many know who she is, and her closest friends don't know her well enough to be trusted to see her scars.
Her closest friends are kept at arm's length because Tessa knows that resistance fighting is dangerous, and the more people you have, the more people you have to lose. While she has feelings for her friend River, Cass is the only one she trusts one-hundred percent. Because the thing about being a darksider is you have to keep your eyes wide open.
The heroine in this book has some incredible development as the plot evolves, and the struggles Cindy R. Wilson gives Tessa to face internally and externally provides the reader with a juxtaposition in the world she has created. The idealism and hope Tessa has for a better life for her people in the outer rings are at war with experience of imprisonment and the weight of consequence.
I could read the fight Tessa had with herself in many parts where she wanted to struggle for righteousness on behalf of people who couldn't fight for themself in a world where that should have meant justice. But in actuality, the righteous were the people who only understood one side of the struggle.
That Tessa made her way through the shallows and depths of these dark waters is a real credit to Wilson.
I feel that this is a great book. I enjoy the issues it speaks to socially. However, it's my opinion that many people will feel triggered by much of what this novel speaks of regarding penal systems, law enforcement, corruption, and government. I think this book has many high talking points for younger audiences to start conversations on many relevant current event topics.
Cindy R. Wilson's prison system is called the Decay, where criminals go and, more or less, are forgotten. And the impoverished ones go there to die. There are two different neighboring social regions the dark district and the light district, which are haves and have-nots. Have-nots are so poor we are talking about happy to eat rats, have a separate industry, that might include a rebellion to take down the corrupt Leader of the nearby Light District city Victor, Head Enforcer Campbell. Who happens to be a douche canoe of significant proportions.
I highly recommend this book. I loved it. My only arguable issue is that I needed something more--not sure what that was because I love this book, but I felt something was missing.
This book will be for you if you enjoy:
Tessa has set close boundaries. Cass, someone Tessa saved from the streets, is her only family. The only one on the inside. While many know Tessa's alter ego, Scorpion not many know who she is, and her closest friends don't know her well enough to be trusted to see her scars.
Her closest friends are kept at arm's length because Tessa knows that resistance fighting is dangerous, and the more people you have, the more people you have to lose. While she has feelings for her friend River, Cass is the only one she trusts one-hundred percent. Because the thing about being a darksider is you have to keep your eyes wide open.
The heroine in this book has some incredible development as the plot evolves, and the struggles Cindy R. Wilson gives Tessa to face internally and externally provides the reader with a juxtaposition in the world she has created. The idealism and hope Tessa has for a better life for her people in the outer rings are at war with experience of imprisonment and the weight of consequence.
I could read the fight Tessa had with herself in many parts where she wanted to struggle for righteousness on behalf of people who couldn't fight for themself in a world where that should have meant justice. But in actuality, the righteous were the people who only understood one side of the struggle.
That Tessa made her way through the shallows and depths of these dark waters is a real credit to Wilson.
I feel that this is a great book. I enjoy the issues it speaks to socially. However, it's my opinion that many people will feel triggered by much of what this novel speaks of regarding penal systems, law enforcement, corruption, and government. I think this book has many high talking points for younger audiences to start conversations on many relevant current event topics.
Cindy R. Wilson's prison system is called the Decay, where criminals go and, more or less, are forgotten. And the impoverished ones go there to die. There are two different neighboring social regions the dark district and the light district, which are haves and have-nots. Have-nots are so poor we are talking about happy to eat rats, have a separate industry, that might include a rebellion to take down the corrupt Leader of the nearby Light District city Victor, Head Enforcer Campbell. Who happens to be a douche canoe of significant proportions.
I highly recommend this book. I loved it. My only arguable issue is that I needed something more--not sure what that was because I love this book, but I felt something was missing.
This book will be for you if you enjoy:
February 18, 2020
**Review will be posted on my blog on 2/17/20**
**4.5 STARS**
Thank you to Entangled Teen and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this eARC.
And…I read this in one sitting! It’s been awhile since a book held my attention so much that I did not stop reading.
The city of Victor is divided into two sectors, the Darkside and Lightside. The “lightsiders” live in a world of light and glow in the dark fashion, they have enough to eat and have jobs to live a comfortable life. The “darksiders” live on the outskirts of the light, in the dark, with no food, jobs, and barely surviving. The Scorpion is known as a hero, somewhat like a female Robin Hood, stealing from the Lightside warehouses to bring supplies and food back to her people in the Darkside. But when she gets caught her world is turned upside down. Revenge is on her mind as she plans to take down the city’s leader, Campbell, without losing herself and the people she learns to love along the way.
What I Liked:
*The pacing of this story flowed so well it took me from beginning to end without stopping and kept me engaged in the story.
*The world is set in a place where the poor and wealthy is clearly divided. Tessa, is known as The Scorpion because she builds little bots with scrap pieces and she uses these bots to get information on warehouses she will steal from. But she steals items to give to the poor in the dark side. She is their hero, but to the lightsiders, she is their enemy.
*I liked seeing Tessa grow from this anonymous hero hiding under her ball cap, to becoming strong in prison and then changing again when she gets out. She has to transform to achieve her ultimate goal of revenge and exposing Campbell to take him down – and I did wish the scar on her stayed but I think it shows even when that was taken away from her, deep down she was still Tessa, one that was learning about who she was or who she was going to choose to be…but still Tessa.
*Tessa and Pike… I loved their relationship. I love how he was level headed where she wanted to rush in with guns blazing. He kept her centered and was a shoulder to cry on. Their relationship grew from friendship and that made me so happy.
*I like that everything tied up nicely! It’s been awhile since I read a standalone that just ends on a good note without me questioning so much or leaving an open ending.
Things That Made Me Go Hmm:
*I think the biggest thing about the book that might bum readers out…it has a love triangle! I know, I know…a love triangle. 😩 And I don’t mind love triangles, but if you do mind…well…this one has it. Tessa is immediately drawn to her best friend, River in the beginning of the book, like it starts off right away – you know they have history, it’s becoming a friends to lovers thing…and then bam. Things happen. 🤷🏻♀️ But then she meets Pike in prison and it isn’t insta-love…she’s confused, she’s dealing with some major emotions and events…she’s definitely allowed to be confused. But there were some parts I was like, no, please, don’t do the back and forth…PLEASE. 😅😩 Thankfully it IS resolved in the end.
Final Thoughts:
I enjoyed this book a lot. From the beginning to the end, it hooked me and I was loving Tessa and Pike’s growing relationship through their hardships, challenges and fears. They made an awesome team and I was so happy for Tessa in the end. There was a lot for me to take away from this story – the importance of hope for people in despair, helping those in need, keeping people you love safe and knowing when enough is enough. Tessa risked a lot to help the darksiders but in the end she also learned there was more to life she wanted than just being a hero. I look forward to reading more from this author.
**4.5 STARS**
Thank you to Entangled Teen and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this eARC.
And…I read this in one sitting! It’s been awhile since a book held my attention so much that I did not stop reading.
The city of Victor is divided into two sectors, the Darkside and Lightside. The “lightsiders” live in a world of light and glow in the dark fashion, they have enough to eat and have jobs to live a comfortable life. The “darksiders” live on the outskirts of the light, in the dark, with no food, jobs, and barely surviving. The Scorpion is known as a hero, somewhat like a female Robin Hood, stealing from the Lightside warehouses to bring supplies and food back to her people in the Darkside. But when she gets caught her world is turned upside down. Revenge is on her mind as she plans to take down the city’s leader, Campbell, without losing herself and the people she learns to love along the way.
What I Liked:
*The pacing of this story flowed so well it took me from beginning to end without stopping and kept me engaged in the story.
*The world is set in a place where the poor and wealthy is clearly divided. Tessa, is known as The Scorpion because she builds little bots with scrap pieces and she uses these bots to get information on warehouses she will steal from. But she steals items to give to the poor in the dark side. She is their hero, but to the lightsiders, she is their enemy.
*I liked seeing Tessa grow from this anonymous hero hiding under her ball cap, to becoming strong in prison and then changing again when she gets out. She has to transform to achieve her ultimate goal of revenge and exposing Campbell to take him down – and I did wish the scar on her stayed but I think it shows even when that was taken away from her, deep down she was still Tessa, one that was learning about who she was or who she was going to choose to be…but still Tessa.
*Tessa and Pike… I loved their relationship. I love how he was level headed where she wanted to rush in with guns blazing. He kept her centered and was a shoulder to cry on. Their relationship grew from friendship and that made me so happy.
*I like that everything tied up nicely! It’s been awhile since I read a standalone that just ends on a good note without me questioning so much or leaving an open ending.
Things That Made Me Go Hmm:
*I think the biggest thing about the book that might bum readers out…it has a love triangle! I know, I know…a love triangle. 😩 And I don’t mind love triangles, but if you do mind…well…this one has it. Tessa is immediately drawn to her best friend, River in the beginning of the book, like it starts off right away – you know they have history, it’s becoming a friends to lovers thing…and then bam. Things happen. 🤷🏻♀️ But then she meets Pike in prison and it isn’t insta-love…she’s confused, she’s dealing with some major emotions and events…she’s definitely allowed to be confused. But there were some parts I was like, no, please, don’t do the back and forth…PLEASE. 😅😩 Thankfully it IS resolved in the end.
Final Thoughts:
I enjoyed this book a lot. From the beginning to the end, it hooked me and I was loving Tessa and Pike’s growing relationship through their hardships, challenges and fears. They made an awesome team and I was so happy for Tessa in the end. There was a lot for me to take away from this story – the importance of hope for people in despair, helping those in need, keeping people you love safe and knowing when enough is enough. Tessa risked a lot to help the darksiders but in the end she also learned there was more to life she wanted than just being a hero. I look forward to reading more from this author.
March 6, 2020
**Come visit me at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
To be completely honest, I did not the read the synopsis for this book at all. Basically, I saw the author listen (who I have enjoyed reading books from in the past) and that this is listed as a dystopian YA version of the classic The Count of Monte Cristo and I was sold- no more words were needed to get me on board for this read. I really enjoy retellings of all kinds and I am so here for all the Count of Monte Cristo retellings! This is actually the second YA one I have read this month and I would gobble as many more as people want to write because it is such a good plot full of betrayal, revenge and justice.
The author is fantastic at character development and relationship dynamics, her characters all feel so real with depth and personality and by the end of the book I feel like I know them. The main character, Tessa, is motivated by her need to help people and to keep her small group alive by any means. She never meant to be a leader or a figurehead for a revolution, but by her good deeds and determination she has become the light that keeps her people motivated. But not only do we get to know the main character, but the side characters are so detailed and interesting as well- and even the villains had many facets.
Sting was also very much a romance, actually a love triangle that kind of hurt my heart. I almost always have a favorite love interest in love triangles, but I can honestly say that there was not really a clear, correct choice in this hard scenario. One one hand there is River, the life long friend who always had her back and Tessa was only just realizing how much he meant to her when her life was ripped apart. And then there is calm, mysterious Pike who helped Tessa through some dark times, giving her hope and encouragement to face her fears. Both guys were great choices but I will say that I am not even a little disappointed with who Tessa chose to give her heart to.
Overall this was a great read, able to be something entirely its own while at the same time paying tribute to one of my favorite classic stories. I recommend this to anyone who likes great characters and YA dystopian worlds.
To be completely honest, I did not the read the synopsis for this book at all. Basically, I saw the author listen (who I have enjoyed reading books from in the past) and that this is listed as a dystopian YA version of the classic The Count of Monte Cristo and I was sold- no more words were needed to get me on board for this read. I really enjoy retellings of all kinds and I am so here for all the Count of Monte Cristo retellings! This is actually the second YA one I have read this month and I would gobble as many more as people want to write because it is such a good plot full of betrayal, revenge and justice.
The author is fantastic at character development and relationship dynamics, her characters all feel so real with depth and personality and by the end of the book I feel like I know them. The main character, Tessa, is motivated by her need to help people and to keep her small group alive by any means. She never meant to be a leader or a figurehead for a revolution, but by her good deeds and determination she has become the light that keeps her people motivated. But not only do we get to know the main character, but the side characters are so detailed and interesting as well- and even the villains had many facets.
Sting was also very much a romance, actually a love triangle that kind of hurt my heart. I almost always have a favorite love interest in love triangles, but I can honestly say that there was not really a clear, correct choice in this hard scenario. One one hand there is River, the life long friend who always had her back and Tessa was only just realizing how much he meant to her when her life was ripped apart. And then there is calm, mysterious Pike who helped Tessa through some dark times, giving her hope and encouragement to face her fears. Both guys were great choices but I will say that I am not even a little disappointed with who Tessa chose to give her heart to.
Overall this was a great read, able to be something entirely its own while at the same time paying tribute to one of my favorite classic stories. I recommend this to anyone who likes great characters and YA dystopian worlds.
March 7, 2020
STING is an intriguing YA dystopian retelling of THE COUNT OF MONTE CHRISTO. The world has been ravaged by climate change, and limited space is left for people. Tessa lives in the Dark District, essentially on the outskirts of the richer part of the city, which is known as the Light (in part because they have electricity). The Darksiders have been ravaged and left without prospects, their schools barely functioning if at all, no real food or water, and the jobs in the factories they used to have were moved elsewhere, leaving no monetary potential.
Tessa is the Scorpion, named for the machines she creates that scout out areas of the Light District where she can steal food and other necessities to bring to the Darksiders. She is orphaned but has made a family for herself of a young girl she cares for, Cass, a boy named River who she has a crush on, and the newest recruit of Elle, who is helping them find storehouses. However, Tessa's world comes crashing down around her when Cass is threatened and she gives herself up to save her. Tessa is sent to the Decay, the prison of the District.
In the Decay, Tessa learns more about the Light and the policies that are making the Dark District impossible to survive. She also finds a partner to aid her in her quest for revenge.
What I loved: The story moves really fast, and Tessa is an interesting character. She truly felt like a teen who is trying her best to make the world a better place for the people around her. The plot is pretty unique, and I enjoyed the aspects of retelling THE COUNT OF MONTE CHRISTO in a whole new way.
What left me wanting more: There's a big love triangle, and it felt pretty forced in places. To keep the plot fast, there's a lot of info dumps at the beginning that made things feel a little less smooth. I would have liked a bit more background about how/why Tessa is the Scorpion to really build up why she has so many unique skills and where she came from.
Final verdict: Overall, this is an engaging and fast-paced YA dystopian with a unique premise. I would recommend for people who enjoy Cassandra Clare's THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS and the TWILIGHT series.
Please note that I received a review copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Tessa is the Scorpion, named for the machines she creates that scout out areas of the Light District where she can steal food and other necessities to bring to the Darksiders. She is orphaned but has made a family for herself of a young girl she cares for, Cass, a boy named River who she has a crush on, and the newest recruit of Elle, who is helping them find storehouses. However, Tessa's world comes crashing down around her when Cass is threatened and she gives herself up to save her. Tessa is sent to the Decay, the prison of the District.
In the Decay, Tessa learns more about the Light and the policies that are making the Dark District impossible to survive. She also finds a partner to aid her in her quest for revenge.
What I loved: The story moves really fast, and Tessa is an interesting character. She truly felt like a teen who is trying her best to make the world a better place for the people around her. The plot is pretty unique, and I enjoyed the aspects of retelling THE COUNT OF MONTE CHRISTO in a whole new way.
What left me wanting more: There's a big love triangle, and it felt pretty forced in places. To keep the plot fast, there's a lot of info dumps at the beginning that made things feel a little less smooth. I would have liked a bit more background about how/why Tessa is the Scorpion to really build up why she has so many unique skills and where she came from.
Final verdict: Overall, this is an engaging and fast-paced YA dystopian with a unique premise. I would recommend for people who enjoy Cassandra Clare's THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS and the TWILIGHT series.
Please note that I received a review copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
March 10, 2020
I am lost for words! I have devoured this story and I loved every chapter of it!
Cindy R. Wilson is amazing, simple as that. With “Sting” we have a story of two separated worlds – the Darkside and the Light District. One world needs a hero and here comes the Scorpion. She fights for justice, she fights to bring food and other supplies to the Darkside until someone betrays her and she ends up in Decay – the worst place she could ever be! However, she finds an ally, a friend and together they will try to bring down a corrupt system. Together, they will try to bring true light on both sides.
The writing hooked me up from the start. Each chapter starts with an inventory – what Tessa has on her in that moment. These first lines are fantastic and bring the reader closer to the character. And are also funny. Tessa is strong, determined and sometimes reckless. When she meets Pike in Decay she becomes more focused and learns to control her impulses. We have a love triangle as well, that confused me at some point because I liked both guys just as well. Yes, I love it…
But I cannot move past some items that could have been better adapted. Although I am happy we have a conclusion in this book (otherwise my heart would have stopped beating), I feel that the political system could have been better explained, as well as the reason why the world is in this state. The universe deserves more exploration. Even if we have 400 pages of story, 200 more wouldn’t have been enough. The action is not rushed at all, but the ending is too simple in my opinion. On one hand, I like the fact that the author kept it clean, with no unnecessary complications, but on the other I wanted more. The love triangle is intense in the beginning, but it was also easily solved.
Now you see my conflict? I love this book and I love the author. If you have not checked her books yet, please go ahead and do it now! But I cannot give 5 stars. I wanted so much more and there is room for so much more. So with my entire affection for “Sting” and Cindy R Wilson, I’m going ahead with 4 stars (though it pains me to do it). I recommend this book wholeheartedly.
Cindy R. Wilson is amazing, simple as that. With “Sting” we have a story of two separated worlds – the Darkside and the Light District. One world needs a hero and here comes the Scorpion. She fights for justice, she fights to bring food and other supplies to the Darkside until someone betrays her and she ends up in Decay – the worst place she could ever be! However, she finds an ally, a friend and together they will try to bring down a corrupt system. Together, they will try to bring true light on both sides.
The writing hooked me up from the start. Each chapter starts with an inventory – what Tessa has on her in that moment. These first lines are fantastic and bring the reader closer to the character. And are also funny. Tessa is strong, determined and sometimes reckless. When she meets Pike in Decay she becomes more focused and learns to control her impulses. We have a love triangle as well, that confused me at some point because I liked both guys just as well. Yes, I love it…
But I cannot move past some items that could have been better adapted. Although I am happy we have a conclusion in this book (otherwise my heart would have stopped beating), I feel that the political system could have been better explained, as well as the reason why the world is in this state. The universe deserves more exploration. Even if we have 400 pages of story, 200 more wouldn’t have been enough. The action is not rushed at all, but the ending is too simple in my opinion. On one hand, I like the fact that the author kept it clean, with no unnecessary complications, but on the other I wanted more. The love triangle is intense in the beginning, but it was also easily solved.
Now you see my conflict? I love this book and I love the author. If you have not checked her books yet, please go ahead and do it now! But I cannot give 5 stars. I wanted so much more and there is room for so much more. So with my entire affection for “Sting” and Cindy R Wilson, I’m going ahead with 4 stars (though it pains me to do it). I recommend this book wholeheartedly.
March 6, 2020
My first experience with Cindy R. Wilson's books and I am hooked. The blurb got my attention because The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favorite classics and I haven't read a retelling based on it before, so I am happy I had the opportunity to read this one.
The story is set in a dystopian world, where people are divided into two factions, The Light and The Darkside. Of course the most privileged are part of Victor, the city of Light where they live the best life, surrounded by opulence while the unfortunate ones are left to starve beyond the borders of the city. Tessa has been on her own since she was twelve, she lost her parents and was forced to survive amongst the Darksiders. She's a warrior at heart and will do anything to help those in need so she becomes a vigilante, a symbol of hope for the people in the dark. But someone in her group betrays her so Tessa finds herself was thrown into jail. The need for revenge fuels her to survive amongst the inmates and with the help of a new ally she plans her escape.
I love Tessa, she is fierce and heads strong, and has such a big heart. She always puts people's needs before her own. It was interesting to see how the love triangle between her, Pike and River evolved and I liked that the story didn't put too much emphasis on that. Her feelings for Pike developed organically and their connection was beautifully presented. The world-building was great and the characters were well presented and relatable. The plotline was suspenseful, intriguing and had enough angst to keep me engaged in the story. I loved how things turned out in the end.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot, it was emotional and entertaining and I recommended it to those who like dystopian YA novels with a twist!
*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.*
The story is set in a dystopian world, where people are divided into two factions, The Light and The Darkside. Of course the most privileged are part of Victor, the city of Light where they live the best life, surrounded by opulence while the unfortunate ones are left to starve beyond the borders of the city. Tessa has been on her own since she was twelve, she lost her parents and was forced to survive amongst the Darksiders. She's a warrior at heart and will do anything to help those in need so she becomes a vigilante, a symbol of hope for the people in the dark. But someone in her group betrays her so Tessa finds herself was thrown into jail. The need for revenge fuels her to survive amongst the inmates and with the help of a new ally she plans her escape.
I love Tessa, she is fierce and heads strong, and has such a big heart. She always puts people's needs before her own. It was interesting to see how the love triangle between her, Pike and River evolved and I liked that the story didn't put too much emphasis on that. Her feelings for Pike developed organically and their connection was beautifully presented. The world-building was great and the characters were well presented and relatable. The plotline was suspenseful, intriguing and had enough angst to keep me engaged in the story. I loved how things turned out in the end.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot, it was emotional and entertaining and I recommended it to those who like dystopian YA novels with a twist!
*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.*
March 6, 2020
Last fall, I was introduced to Ms. Wilson’s work through her book, Rival, and I liked it very much. At the time, I hoped to see more from her but I didn’t think that would happen so soon. I’m mighty glad I was wrong.
Once again, the author has crafted a story that tips the hat to both another fictional theme, The Count of Monte Cristo, and a legendary quasi-historical figure, Robin Hood. Tessa is a young girl who makes her way in a harsh world—one which we have brought upon ourselves through climate change—but always has an eye towards helping others who are less fortunate by appropriating supplies from those who live a life of privilege and plenty. Tessa has a somewhat surly attitude but she always wants to make life a little easier for those who barely survive day to day in the Dark District and she has formed a family of sorts among a little girl named Cass, a boy named River who is beginning to stir certain feelings in Tessa and Elle, a girl who resents her own origins in the Light District. Each night, they have to avoid the Enforcers who are directed to keep residents of the Dark District in their place.
Tessa has acquired a nickname, Scorpion, largely because of her quick, rapid forays into enemy territory and it’s both a hindrance and a source of pride but betrayal of the deepest sort gets her thrown in the prison known as Decay. After that, escape and revenge are all she wants. A fellow prisoner, Pike, has his own reasons to seek retribution but, for both, the future is a nebulous thing.
Appealing characters and a strong plot, along with a vivid setting, kept me reading into the night and I especially appreciated that this is a self-contained story…although I wouldn’t be averse to another adventure for Tessa and her family 😉
Once again, the author has crafted a story that tips the hat to both another fictional theme, The Count of Monte Cristo, and a legendary quasi-historical figure, Robin Hood. Tessa is a young girl who makes her way in a harsh world—one which we have brought upon ourselves through climate change—but always has an eye towards helping others who are less fortunate by appropriating supplies from those who live a life of privilege and plenty. Tessa has a somewhat surly attitude but she always wants to make life a little easier for those who barely survive day to day in the Dark District and she has formed a family of sorts among a little girl named Cass, a boy named River who is beginning to stir certain feelings in Tessa and Elle, a girl who resents her own origins in the Light District. Each night, they have to avoid the Enforcers who are directed to keep residents of the Dark District in their place.
Tessa has acquired a nickname, Scorpion, largely because of her quick, rapid forays into enemy territory and it’s both a hindrance and a source of pride but betrayal of the deepest sort gets her thrown in the prison known as Decay. After that, escape and revenge are all she wants. A fellow prisoner, Pike, has his own reasons to seek retribution but, for both, the future is a nebulous thing.
Appealing characters and a strong plot, along with a vivid setting, kept me reading into the night and I especially appreciated that this is a self-contained story…although I wouldn’t be averse to another adventure for Tessa and her family 😉
March 6, 2020
My first experience with Cindy R. Wilson's books and I am hooked. The blurb got my attention because The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favorite classics and I haven't read a retelling based on it before, so I am happy I had the opportunity to read this one.
The story is set in a dystopian world, where people are divided into two factions, The Light and The Darkside. Of course the most privileged are part of Victor, the city of Light where they live the best life, surrounded by opulence while the unfortunate ones are left to starve beyond the borders of the city. Tessa has been on her own since she was twelve, she lost her parents and was forced to survive amongst the Darksiders. She's a warrior at heart and will do anything to help those in need so she becomes a vigilante, a symbol of hope for the people in the dark. But someone in her group betrays her so Tessa finds herself was thrown into jail. The need for revenge fuels her to survive amongst the inmates and with the help of a new ally she plans her escape.
I love Tessa, she is fierce and heads strong, and has such a big heart. She always puts people's needs before her own. It was interesting to see how the love triangle between her, Pike and River evolved and I liked that the story didn't put too much emphasis on that. Her feelings for Pike developed organically and their connection was beautifully presented. The world-building was great and the characters were well presented and relatable. The plotline was suspenseful, intriguing and had enough angst to keep me engaged in the story. I loved how things turned out in the end.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot, it was emotional and entertaining and I recommended it to those who like dystopian YA novels with a twist!
The story is set in a dystopian world, where people are divided into two factions, The Light and The Darkside. Of course the most privileged are part of Victor, the city of Light where they live the best life, surrounded by opulence while the unfortunate ones are left to starve beyond the borders of the city. Tessa has been on her own since she was twelve, she lost her parents and was forced to survive amongst the Darksiders. She's a warrior at heart and will do anything to help those in need so she becomes a vigilante, a symbol of hope for the people in the dark. But someone in her group betrays her so Tessa finds herself was thrown into jail. The need for revenge fuels her to survive amongst the inmates and with the help of a new ally she plans her escape.
I love Tessa, she is fierce and heads strong, and has such a big heart. She always puts people's needs before her own. It was interesting to see how the love triangle between her, Pike and River evolved and I liked that the story didn't put too much emphasis on that. Her feelings for Pike developed organically and their connection was beautifully presented. The world-building was great and the characters were well presented and relatable. The plotline was suspenseful, intriguing and had enough angst to keep me engaged in the story. I loved how things turned out in the end.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot, it was emotional and entertaining and I recommended it to those who like dystopian YA novels with a twist!
February 8, 2020
The story of the Scorpion and her starting of a rebellion against a military leader are nothing new in the many dystopian worlds of YA fiction.
The way the Scorpion and other characters are written pulls the reader in, though.
Tessa, the Scorpion, is a very likable and badass heroine who is masterful in her knife-throwing and in building little, robotic scorpions. Her love interests River and Pike are each strong young men with personal reasons to fight as well as wanting to fight along and protect Tessa.
The overall worldbuilding is good, but it could be great if more was known and seen of the surroundings and workings of the Dark Side and the Light Side. Also more backstory would be helpful, too many things are left open or unfinished, which made me think of at least a second book in this world.
Most of all I wanted to know more about Tessa's and Pike's mothers, and of Pike himself. What's his full name? And why was he really in Decay, the great prison?
As it is, the story is highly enjoyable, Tessa and her love triangle with River and Pike has a good conclusion and at the end she seems to be happy.
It's just that the end is very shallow to me, it seems too easy, too happy. Too many things are left open and make me wish for a sequel just to find out the answers.
So, at the very end, I enjoyed the writing style and liked the characters very much. Just please, let there be a second book that ties all the open endings into a tight knot to make this a really great story.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The way the Scorpion and other characters are written pulls the reader in, though.
Tessa, the Scorpion, is a very likable and badass heroine who is masterful in her knife-throwing and in building little, robotic scorpions. Her love interests River and Pike are each strong young men with personal reasons to fight as well as wanting to fight along and protect Tessa.
The overall worldbuilding is good, but it could be great if more was known and seen of the surroundings and workings of the Dark Side and the Light Side. Also more backstory would be helpful, too many things are left open or unfinished, which made me think of at least a second book in this world.
Most of all I wanted to know more about Tessa's and Pike's mothers, and of Pike himself. What's his full name? And why was he really in Decay, the great prison?
As it is, the story is highly enjoyable, Tessa and her love triangle with River and Pike has a good conclusion and at the end she seems to be happy.
It's just that the end is very shallow to me, it seems too easy, too happy. Too many things are left open and make me wish for a sequel just to find out the answers.
So, at the very end, I enjoyed the writing style and liked the characters very much. Just please, let there be a second book that ties all the open endings into a tight knot to make this a really great story.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 3, 2020
From the very first page, this read grabs with an amazing character, who demands attention, as she takes on a villain one can't help but hate.
This was such a refreshing dystopian! While there is an unjust society with a huge divide between classes, this plot doesn't fall into the simplicity of blaming it all on a single, evil government. The heroine, of course, is strong, determined and quite the fighter. She carries the name of Scorpion, and the background to this added a nice touch. It was easy to root for her from the very beginning, and interesting to follow her as the situations she faced changed drastically. The side characters offered a nice richness and aren't all they seem to be. It's hard to know who to trust or what their true motives might be...and that kept things interesting.
It's hard to put this read down thanks to the fast pace. As soon as one problem is solved, a new one takes it's place. There are quite a few action scenes, which fit well with the Scorpion, and definitely keep the tension high. Romance is woven in as well, but it glides along side the main plot and offers several surprises too. Scorpion's feelings, on this end of things, are subdued and often come across more as something she isn't completely convinced about or even sure of herself. And this fits in perfectly with her personality and all the other things she's up against. It was definitely an enjoyable read.
I received an ARC and enjoyed the tale more than I thought I would. So, I'm glad to leave my honest thoughts.
This was such a refreshing dystopian! While there is an unjust society with a huge divide between classes, this plot doesn't fall into the simplicity of blaming it all on a single, evil government. The heroine, of course, is strong, determined and quite the fighter. She carries the name of Scorpion, and the background to this added a nice touch. It was easy to root for her from the very beginning, and interesting to follow her as the situations she faced changed drastically. The side characters offered a nice richness and aren't all they seem to be. It's hard to know who to trust or what their true motives might be...and that kept things interesting.
It's hard to put this read down thanks to the fast pace. As soon as one problem is solved, a new one takes it's place. There are quite a few action scenes, which fit well with the Scorpion, and definitely keep the tension high. Romance is woven in as well, but it glides along side the main plot and offers several surprises too. Scorpion's feelings, on this end of things, are subdued and often come across more as something she isn't completely convinced about or even sure of herself. And this fits in perfectly with her personality and all the other things she's up against. It was definitely an enjoyable read.
I received an ARC and enjoyed the tale more than I thought I would. So, I'm glad to leave my honest thoughts.
March 8, 2020
Tessa aka the Scorpion is a modern day Robin Hood. She takes from the rich and gives to the poor. Tessa is a good hearted person who likes helping other people to survive. She will put her own life in danger if it means saving one of her friends that have become like family to her. Tessa lost her family a long time ago.
Tessa’s world is divided. The city she lives in is divided with the lightsiders or the rich living in one half and the less fortunate or the darksiders living in the other half. Tessa steals food and other supplies from the lightsiders and gives it to the people who live in the darkside.
The lightsiders live in luxury not wanting for anything they have plenty of food and light while the darksiders live in darkness with barley enough food to keep them alive. It broke my heart to hear Tessa talking about food that she had never heard of much less tried. I remember her saying that she had bread with butter once. So sad.
But then Tessa’s life is turned upside down when she is caught or turned in by whom she has no idea and put in prison. Tessa meets a young man in prison, Pike and they become great friends. Pike is from the lightside of the city. If she had met Pike outside of prison they would never have become friends as they are from different sides of the city.
Tessa with the help of Pike makes plans to escape the prison. Tessa is very determined that she will get out. She needs to check on Cass, a little girl that she is taking care of. Cass like many others living in the darkside has no family either well except for Tessa.
Tessa is a strong girl who always puts others before herself. She is always thinking ahead but living in a world like hers she has to if she is going to survive. She always tries to make sure she has the supplies and the weapons needed to stay one step ahead of the Enforcers. She is very good at throwing knives and hitting her target.
Once I picked up Sting I had a very hard time putting it down. I love dystopian books. I loved the world that was created for Sting. I would love to read more stories set in this world with Tessa, Pike, River, Cass, Elle and many more. What are their stories? What is Pike’s story? Why was he in prison? What is River’s story? How did he end up where he did? What about Cass’s side of the story? What do all these characters have to say?
Sting is a great book that will touch your heart. If you like books set in a dystopian society then this is one book you need to check out.
Tessa’s world is divided. The city she lives in is divided with the lightsiders or the rich living in one half and the less fortunate or the darksiders living in the other half. Tessa steals food and other supplies from the lightsiders and gives it to the people who live in the darkside.
The lightsiders live in luxury not wanting for anything they have plenty of food and light while the darksiders live in darkness with barley enough food to keep them alive. It broke my heart to hear Tessa talking about food that she had never heard of much less tried. I remember her saying that she had bread with butter once. So sad.
But then Tessa’s life is turned upside down when she is caught or turned in by whom she has no idea and put in prison. Tessa meets a young man in prison, Pike and they become great friends. Pike is from the lightside of the city. If she had met Pike outside of prison they would never have become friends as they are from different sides of the city.
Tessa with the help of Pike makes plans to escape the prison. Tessa is very determined that she will get out. She needs to check on Cass, a little girl that she is taking care of. Cass like many others living in the darkside has no family either well except for Tessa.
Tessa is a strong girl who always puts others before herself. She is always thinking ahead but living in a world like hers she has to if she is going to survive. She always tries to make sure she has the supplies and the weapons needed to stay one step ahead of the Enforcers. She is very good at throwing knives and hitting her target.
Once I picked up Sting I had a very hard time putting it down. I love dystopian books. I loved the world that was created for Sting. I would love to read more stories set in this world with Tessa, Pike, River, Cass, Elle and many more. What are their stories? What is Pike’s story? Why was he in prison? What is River’s story? How did he end up where he did? What about Cass’s side of the story? What do all these characters have to say?
Sting is a great book that will touch your heart. If you like books set in a dystopian society then this is one book you need to check out.
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