**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.

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 a free copy of STING by Cindy R. Wilson on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Entangled and the author.

Five stars and here’s why:

Ms. Wilson does not disappoint with this story. It’s my first book by this author. She blends sci-fi, romance, and mystery to create a real page turner. STING is a YA thriller of a story that sort of blends Robin Hood and The Count of Monte Cristo. If you like Dystopian worlds with a fresh spin on current events, then this story is for you. I had a really hard time putting this book down! Highly recommend.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 I will say that the story of Tessa and crew made me really sad I haven’t picked up more along my reading journey. I will say that this book 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 say too much about this one, because I feel like many things could be considered spoilers, so what I will say is that the dynamics between Tessa and her loves interests was different from most dystopian, even if it outwardly felt similar. I will also say that it was slightly hard to connect with the characters for me even though I was 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 unique, but if you are a fan of the YA dystopian genre, I feel that Sting is a well written and fun addition.

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.

A great book aimed at Teenagers and young adults. I am a older woman but young at heart and rather enjoyed reading about a younger generation surviving on little while helping others who are suffering from hardship. The characters in Sting show great strength emotionally and physically as they band together to fight for survival. Tessa known as Scorpion is a strong young woman who would rather turn herself in and be sent to Decay so a young girl could be set free. Scorpion bonds with a young man in Decay and learns to fight for herself and others. Scorpion feels jaded when she sees some old friends, but things all seem to work out in the end.
My review is posted on Amazon.com.au, Christianbook.com, goodreads, Barnes and Noble, kobo, googlebooks and iBooks. Run date of 25 February 2020 the review will be posted/published at. A link to my review is also on my Facebook blog page, is https://www.facebook.com/BlueFalkon95-Readers-blog-104660277776984
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Entangled Publishing LLC through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#Sting #NetGalley

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!

The Quick Cut: A girl nicknamed the Scorpion is caught after a betrayal by someone she considered a friend. The slow process of retribution is started when she joins forces with another prisoner named Pike.

A Real Review:
Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What would you do in order to obtain revenge after a betrayal? Would you join up with someone who is your absolute opposite or take the long lonely road instead, no matter how long? For Tessa the Scorpion, the answer is joining forces with someone who lives the opposite life to hers, a mysterious man named Pike.

Tessa is the renowned thief known as the Scorpion, a person who steals from the well off Light District in order to provide for those starving in the Dark District. However, when everything goes awry and she's betrayed by one of her closest friends, she finds herself behind bars instead. Its in this prison that she meets a man named Pike: someone who has been there longer than her, looking to plan his escape. Tessa has lived the impoverished side of like while Pike has lived the life of luxury. Can these two put their differences aside to escape their prison? Or will the unexpected throw off their quick partnership?

I loved Cindy's "Paper Girl", so when I saw another book was available for review by her, I jumped on it immediately. Unfortunately, all those things that made Paper Girl so undeniably addictive are missing for me in this upcoming release. The characters here, although having a good reason for their cause, aren't endeared to the reader by learning what makes them tick. I get that Tessa has lived on the edge and only does what she does to provide for others, but where's the beating heart behind that cause? I kept waiting for more development into her character to happen and that just never occurred.

Tessa and Pike, as opposites, do make a great pair. They have a chemistry together that you can't miss and does make this story at least a little appealing. Their banter is smile worthy, which made this an easier read. However, their plight isn't unique to the dystopian world and there isn't anything here that added a new flavor to that subgenre. The haves versus the have nots is something already covered much better by other published works.

A book missing the beating heart behind their character's actions.

My rating: 2 out of 5

**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.

I throughly enjoyed this engaging, well written book. Once I started, I found I couldn’t stop and ended up reading past midnight to see how it ended. I enjoyed the journey of self discovery Tessa went on, even if I don’t approve of everything she did to get there. For starters, she seemed to fall in love with every boy her age that she met. She wasn’t the best at picking between them, either. And she might hate someone on one page and then forgive them on the next. It just wasn’t realistic and I wish these things could have been a more gradual process. That being said, I was impressed with how altruistically she behaved, putting others before herself. She really did care about her people. Her unique personality and capability of taking care of herself was also refreshing. This was a riveting and fluent read, one I would highly recommend. I always have been stingy with my stars, but I’d rate this book at 4.25/5.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. A special thanks to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC, for allowing me the means to do so.

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 love triangle in the book was a little Hunger Games feeling along with the fight with the head of the Light District. Tessa was very similar to Katniss. Pike and River were both likable. Elle was a little less but we really didn't get to see much of her true self in the story until the end. Story was mostly steady paced. Book was a little too long and I think it would have flowed better if it was not so drawn out.

This book is very similar to the Hunger Games and has that dystopian kind of world, although I would have liked to see some more world building in it. Overall, everything seems kind of surface level. There were some more intense scenes which I enjoyed, but other plot building events seemed like they were glossed over in a way and quickly covered. Tessa and Pike's romance seemed like it could have used a bit more tension and gone a little further. But in general, not bad--just some parts that could be better.

#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.

This novel is enjoyable to read. I was The book is written fluently and it's read. Tessa is good with knives, and she is very caring. She steals to help everyone who have nothing. But Tessa get betrayed and thn sacrifices herself to save someone. She gets into prison where she meet Pike. They develop a friendship, cause they both want to escape out the prison. Pike helps Tessa survive and by the plan for revenge. The writing style is pleasant and very fluently to read and I really think the story is well thought out and interesting.

This was so, so much fun! I really enjoyed the level of badass Scorpion is. The author delivers a rapid-paced, suspenseful, gripping, well-written and perfectly executed thriller mystery. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.

I can’t I highly recommend this book enough!