I believe this was marketed as suspense, well it was in a way but it falls more of under the category of adventure, mystery, and mythology. I was taken aback by the sudden and it completely changes my mood towards it.

At first reading, I was looking for the very thrill of that intense suspense but I was given a different kind, it was okay. I have easily read through and could have finished it in one night but I find certain scenes repetitive and hard to focus on when it gives me that oh, this will happen again.

The story was told under M or Memphis and Ash’s point of views. M is a character filled with such knowledge, she had been traveling and unraveling mysteries with her dad. While Ash is a member of a cult the kind that M takes on so lightly because it was a myth. Or was it?

In an incident, their worlds are brought together by an unfortunate circumstance. Both have no choice but to go stick together, travel the world to find answers and to free the people they love and for their beliefs. But the thing is, them teaming up isn’t an alliance of sort but is filled with humongous distrust towards each other.

And that is where the suspense lies, both characters have trouble with trusting each other. That constant thought of whatever will these two’s endgame be? But coming into a bargain of a deal. They track down ancient pieces that could doom the world or save them all. Even with the deal, they’re holding onto, the suspicion arises still from time to time.

So, finding artifacts that may or may not result in saving the world or dooming the word? Just by the sound of it, it will take you places and if you seek for such adventures of hunting said artifact in old churches, temples, underground catacombs, you’ll enjoy this.

Characters and Script. M is one sharp and smart young woman, she is quick with her wits and buying herself time away from trouble. Ash with a mysterious past and clouded at times by his belief towards the Eye he’s not that bad himself. But don’t let his accent fool you.

The script and banter among characters had me a handful of laughs and vexing. What I liked the most was that the research going on. And the rich void of mythology information we are getting here. The analogy they made in solving which place is next, what about it, and how.

Setting. I Do Not Trust You takes us on traveling the world, from the States to Europe to Asia to Central America. Though the earlier places were depicted as colorful, but as I go alone through the end it felt rushed. It lost its latch on me. And I am having a hard time focusing on.

Overall. It gave strong vibes of Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider. It was filled with enigmatic twists and endless adventures. Landing in such a satisfactory conclusion. And rating.

The case of another pretty cover & interesting synopsis pulling me in while I browsed NetGalley.

Trouble was... I couldn't get into this story.
And to be honest, I found the main characters unlikeable.

Felt like I forced myself to read through chapter six, and the 23% mark.
I've no urge/interest to find out what happens next or how the story ends.

I've decided to put this title aside, as it wasn't for me.


I received this electronic book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this opportunity!

Unfortunately I had a difficult time getting into this one, and I don't think it had anything to do with the story itself, but more about how I just couldn't fall into it. The plot was rather interesting and there were many different paths for it to take, and for whatever reason the writing wasn't sucking me into it like I had hoped. Hopefully I can try again with this title down the road and be pulled into it more.

I enjoy books with adventure and strong female protagonists, and this has both.

I enjoyed the main character "M" and the book had a strong sense of mystery, action and puzzles for readers.

Still reeling from the death of her father, M is forced into adventure when a new interest explains he may not be dead after all. From there, M must use her cunning to discover the truth, and who to trust.

Ok. So. This book started out so fun. I was so immersed int he story that I may or may not have played hooky from work to fly through it. This is a story has history, and mystery (oh hey, that rhymed!) and you never know who you can and cannot trust, and its a treasure hunt and it feels kind of Indiana Jones if Indiana Jones were a super smart teenage girl. Now that I have gotten that giant run on sentence out of my system....
I got so bored.
In the beginning it had every thing I wanted. (Adventure in the Paris Catacombs?! YES PLEASE!) But... By the middle of the book it felt like it was just more of the same. The adventures stopped feeling original and started feeling like the authors were repeating themselves.
I'm going to give it 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4) because it started out SO strong. I would love to give it a solid 4, but I just got so bored, and that shouldn't happen in YA adventure.

“We make a good team. You with your shady French connections and me with my knowledge of the secret language of Horus priests—which the Eye has forgotten. Oh, and my extensive knowledge of world, not just Egyptian, mythology.”
“You forget that I also contribute money. Brat.”

This was a fun time. It needs to be said though that this is not the genre I thought it was. This is strictly mythology, while I thought it was more of a thriller type noel. That being said, I loved these characters so much that I actually kept reading despite the fact that I generally dislike books that are not thrillers. Because of the aforementioned dislike for the genre, I just didn't LOVE it as much as some of my favourite books. However, I still thoroughly enjoyed it, now have a deep love for M and Ash, and will definitely read the second book.

So let's talk plot.
M lives in Boston with her two legal guardians, Liza and Bob, because about a year ago her father died. Her father was an archeologist and M picked up a LOT of stuff from him. One of those things she picked up from him is an ancient map written in hieroglyphics. The map supposedly leads to pieces of a long-lost ancient statue. One day this dude (Ash) shows up and tells her that her dad is alive, kidnapped by baddies who want the statue, and she needs to give Ash the map. M is not stupid. M does not give him the map. Instead, they make an agreement to get the pieces using the map only M can read, and use said pieces to save her dad from the bad guys. Adventures and friendship and some real weird stuff happens. Too many spoilers and the twists just won't be fun anymore, so that's it for the plot.

Characters
Now this is where the book really had me. I'm not one for mythology, but two characters who are both likeable on their own and who start off at odds going on a continental road trip? Sold. M, short for Memphis, is fantastic. She's a badass with a bo staff, speaks a ridiculous amount of languages, and is fiercely loyal and stubborn. She is sassy and sarcastic and she really understands people. She loves her dad so much you can feel it through the pages, and she let's his predicament get to her a reasonable amount given the circumstances. She's emotional without being angsty, she's incredibly smart without being egotistical, and she's sassy without being mean. I liked her a lot. I also really liked her relationship with Ash. Ash is a devotee to Horus, and he is very British. He is stoic and stoney, he clearly has a checkered past, but it doesn't encompass him. He very much has a duty to perform, and he intends to do it. What I liked most about him though, is that all of his intentions are so pure. He wants to do what he thinks is the right thing the whole time, and even when "the right thing" changes, he still tries so hard to make everything okay. He is a pure little cinnamon roll and must be protected.

My favourite part of the whole book though, was the dynamic between M and Ash. They just get each other so well. M can read most people, so she can read Ash pretty easily, but he can also read her. They just have such a sweet dynamic going that you can't help but root for them. You can tell that even when they don't agree, they still care so much about the other one being okay and being happy. They're both witty (love me some witty banter), broken little nerds and they find a safe haven in each other that I just think is super sweet. Also a healthy dose of sexual tension when witty banter and forced alliances are involved, always a good idea. I am so rooting for this couple, and they are one hundred percent why I'll read the next one.

This book is crazy, it's got so much going on. The writing is really good, and the descriptions are well-done. And Holy Crap was this book well researched. I can't even imagine the amount of research that had to go into every aspect of this book. Each new place is a rich world of different mythology, culture, and history, and you can tell the authors put a lot of effort into getting it all right. I appreciate the amount of research that went into this because it really made each place in the story come alive. This book is a wild ride from start to finish, and it's got magic and mayhem all over, but the parts that are grounded in different religions felt so lush and real. You can really see the respect and interest that the authors clearly have.

This book was a really good book for a genre that isn't my thing, and I'm interested to see where the story goes from here. And as always, gotta love a gorgeous cover like that. Bless the people who design book covers honestly.

I love the cover of this book. The writing was good. I just didn't like the main character that much. And I didn't get into the story as quickly as I would have liked. It was slow going at times.

3.5 Stars

A young adult fantasy novel, I Do Not Trust You by Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz is about Memphis and Ash and their quest to save M's father and rescue the world from destruction at the hands of Mythological gods. Memphis "M" knows all about reading ruins, archeology trips, and everything related to Mythology. Ash is part handsome partner in crime and part secret cult member. The two don't click easily, but with a goal in mind that helps them both they set out together to find the pieces of a missing artifact.

Ancient lost languages? Check. Creepy cults? Check. A female heroine that readers have been comparing to Lara Croft? Check. COUNT ME IN. I couldn't say no to a book that features mythological fantasy mixed in with reality, taking us on a journey through the present day world, only there's cults that believe in ancient Gods and there's a huge threat of one of them coming back to life. Talk about creating a sense of urgency when it comes to a story. Told from alternating perspective, we get to know both M and Ash in great detail, gaining an understanding of their upbringing, the choices they had previously made, and seeing the thought process unfold as they make decisions that will change their futures.

Though the characters fall in the middle of the young adult and new adult, the story definitely reads like a YA book. I think it's easy enough to follow for Middle Grade and up readers, as much of the mythological concepts are explained in great detail. Plus, it's filled with action, friendship, and a significant message about perseverance and trust. I loved the various locations the two visited, though the timeline seemed quite crazy. I certainly wouldn't be as brave or independent as M! I Do Not Trust You was a fun break in my normal reading and I would recommend it to Mythology and Fantasy YA fans.

This story was a quick read for me, in spite of being outside the usual genres I read. While being outside my comfort zone may have affected my interest in the book, I can certainly see some of the students I work with enjoying this story.

A tough and intelligent character, secret societies, ancient languages, secrets and martial arts. Everything I love in one book!

I Do Not Trust You is the story of “M” (Memphis), who discovers that her father hasn’t passed away, but is being held captive by a cult. Now M must leave home and travel the globe, deciphering ancient languages and symbols, in an attempt to get her father back.

M is accompanied by “Ash”, a cult member with some deeply buried secrets of his own.

This Tomb Raider/National Treasure-type adventure was entertaining, though I was hoping for a bit more intensity in the journey and emotions. I’d definitely recommend it though, a great adventure and lots of fun.

I received an ARC of I Do Not Trust You from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review

'M' is an intelligent, witty, and martial arts-trained teenager who is determined to find her missing, presumed-dead father. Her counterpart, Ashwin Sood, alternate points of view while the two search the globe for M's father. Of course, Ash is full of mysteries and secrets himself, and along the way M teaches us much about culture and history, as well as having her doubts and skepticisms.

I actually really enjoyed this book. It was completely different from what I thought I was getting into based on the title and the cover. The title had me thinking murder/horror, a la "I Know What You Did Last Summer." The cover reminds me of many contemporary mystery/thrillers with stalkers or rapists. However, reading the book I was more reminded of Lara Croft and Indiana Jones, and it was amazing!! I really honestly enjoyed it. There is hardly anything like this (that I am aware of) in the YA world--and especially contemporary, so please, write more!

How did I feel about this book? Short answer: it's complicated. There were aspects that I really enjoyed, like the mythology and archeological sites, but I needed to suspend a lot of belief for this book to work. I also felt like the story progressed with very little conflict, despite the direness of their situation. Everything had a simple solution, and I would have preferred more risk and excitement. I love it when characters overcome challenges and obstacles!

I could tell the authors did a lot of research regarding the temples and various other sites Memphis and Ash travel to, but I was a little iffy on the language of Horus. I wish there has been more details surrounding this hidden language that only three people knew how to read. Was this a language the authors made up themselves, or was is based on fact and history? The language itself was never elaborated on, so I'm not sure about the specifics. Also, why were there only three people that could decipher the language, and how did her father learn? Maybe I missed something.

I wasn't fond of referring to Memphis as "M," but that was her preferred nickname for the majority of the book. It was just a weird thing to think as I read, and I actually like the name Memphis. She says only her friends and family call her M, but she never explains why.

Whenever Ash and M found themselves in a difficult situation, it was too easy for them to find a solution. They needed to search for an artifact that was underwater, and M happened to know a lady with a boat full of the equipment they would need. This lady also happened to be living in exactly the right place, and M was able to phone a friend. Speaking of the boat, Ash mentioned it belonged to a university and not the woman herself, but they never addressed what happened when they returned with a damaged boat. They were obviously able to get back to land, but how did they explain what happened?

When they were at another location, they thought the airports were being monitored and were afraid to buy plane tickets. Unsurprisingly, M knew a guy who knew a guy, and they were able to score seats on a private plane. It was too easy. Her phone seemed to full of endless contacts that could solve their every problem. Why weren't any of these people mentioned before? Why did she only think about them when Ash couldn't just throw money at it?

It also bugged me how quickly M and Ash were able to solve the riddles left in the hieroglyphs. They sped through the ancient map with relative ease, even though she's been working with Mike (this really random person she only ever texts for information) for nearly a year after her father's death. Additionally, this map is something her father worked on for years prior to his death, but they're able to solve it in a matter of days.

Ash's personal story had too many holes, and I'm surprised M wasn't able to see through them. The title is also misleading, because it's clear from the start that these two trust each other, even if they won't admit it out loud. They may have had two different motivations, but they were a team. Ash also has a unique quality that allows him to save M from two Nile crocodiles (very unrealistic part of the story), yet he doesn't use this same quality on the enemies they face. Why wouldn't that have been his first thought?

My feelings for I Do Not Trust You are complicated. It's probably not a book I will read again, but it was mildly entertaining while it lasted. (Side note: I think this book is listed as YA, but she's 18 and he's older, so I'm going to go with NA on this one.) Oh, and everyone uses Google a lot.

I tried to read this book multiple times but could not get into it. I was not a fan of the authors writing style.

I could not get into this book at all. It had an interesting premise but I had a hard time liking any of the characters or getting caught up in the story. Typically for me, I have to be invested in someone or something and there just wasn't that hook for me. I thank net galley for providing me with the ARC.

I decided to give this book a try. I did not like it at all. Found it to be very boring. Did not hold my attention at all even with trying to read it multiple times. This just was not the book for me. Will not post review due to my low rating. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book. Although I received the book in this manner, it did not affect my opinion of this book nor my review.

This story had so much potential, but where it was strong in premise, I found that it failed in execution.



There were two POVs, but the characters' voices were so similar that I couldn't keep track of which character was on stage. And I couldn't connect with either one of them. I'm all for unlikable girls, but M's character wasn't developed enough for me to feel anything for her.


The writing was flat. Lots of telling and none of the scenes were really fleshed out. The best parts of the story were the scenes with Mike (but don't even get me started on that whole revelation because I found it cringe-worthy) and the mythology aspects.


But the mythology wasn't enough to keep it interesting. There were no twists, no turns. Every obstacle was easily surmounted with an A + B = C formulaic plan. Mostly I think I was disappointed that this was marketed as a thriller, and it wasn't thrilling. But the most annoying part were the villains. Over-the-top cliche villains with no depth.


So this story wasn't for me, but plenty of other people liked it. If you like mythology and want to learn a little bit about many other cultures, specifically their holy places, maybe this is for you.

Memphis has a knack for lost languages. A skill that few posses and even fewer understand. The only person that could rival her knowledge is her father, who has passed and whom she misses dearly.

When Ash appears and tells her that her father isn't dead, Memphis holds out hope that the person she loves the most is still in this world.

Now it's up to Memphis to unravel the clues, protect the artifacts and rescue her father. The only problem, she doesn't know who she can trust. Two sides of the coin are vying for the information that she has, but she doesn't know which is telling the truth.

Title: I Do Not Trust You
Author: Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz
Genre: YA
Rating: 3 out 0f 5

Memphis grew up traveling the world with her father, visiting archeological digs and learning lost languages and cultures. But when her father died unexpectedly, her life changed to boring, normal school with people who think they know more than she does under the watchful eyes of her guardians, friends she never knew her father had.

Until one evening she realizes a shadowy figure is following her. When she catches him by surprise, Memphis meets Ash, sent by an ancient cult to discover the secret her father might have been able to solve. Memphis finds out her dad is still alive, held captive by another ancient cult also after the icons to be found if the secret is revealed.

There’s no way Ash can decipher the clues and find the icons himself. And Memphis doesn’t know where her father is being held. They’ll have to work together for them both to get what they want.

I Do Not Trust You had such an intriguing premise: adventure, ancient cults, archeological mysteries…but the delivery was a bit short on the adventure front. Memphis was a great character, just a touch naïve, which makes sense, considering she hasn’t had much interaction with people her own age. I loved her intelligence, and her determination. Ash…was just kind of “meh” for me. He wasn’t horrible, just kind of wishy-washy. But this was still a fun, quick read.

Laura J. Burns grew up on Long Island. Melinda Metz grew up in San Jose, California. I Do Not Trust You is the duo’s newest novel.

(Galley provided by St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

This is a difficult book to review, because it was interesting, but I struggled to connect to the characters and the story. The ideas for the plot felt intriguing and the writing was good, yet I couldn't quite enjoy I Do Not Trust You. Maybe just a case of the wrong book at the wrong time? It's not bad by any means, just not quite for me.

I wanted to like this so bad.
I like the fact that this story's concept is fresh and unique but the bad thing is that I couldn't get into it at all.
I didn't like the characters or the plot or the storyline.