Espionage, tech, AI tracking and control, destiny and rivalry. Two stories lines. The first is about a daughter mother-in-law rivalry where they are connected in more ways than one. The novel’s second half is a more action packed and interesting than first. We follow two boys who grow to be spies in a rivalry that is an interesting dance. Both stories connect towards the end. Good. Would be great as a movie.

Thank you K. Isaka and Abrams/The Overlook Press for the, Seesaw Monster ARC. My opinions are my own.

Pretty good! I generally liked both of the 2 stories, but I really wish there were more connections between them. Some funny scenes and some interesting themes.

This was a good book! It was pretty much 2 stories throughout the book and I was waiting to see when they would connect. I think the author has a good writing style and it was interesting. I liked it

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

I went into this book blind but it wasted no time in hooking me. I have seen the movie Bullet Train, but it’s my first book by this author. Sure, they don’t bother to provide a backstory for what’s happening, but that just leaves room for the excitement upfront. In a way, it’s not bogged down by the need to have an explanation for everything, which leaves no room for your mind to poke holes. It’s a recreational read instead, it goes down easily.

Interwoven with the action is the core plot of a daughter in law and her mother in law locked in an eternal feud, and the dynamics that play out over the family. This was unique and intriguing, adding enough tension but lowering the stakes from the other plot line. The two sides balance each other well and create a good push and pull that keeps the story going and the reader turning pages.

If you’ve seen the movie Bullet Train, you kind of know what to expect. There’s a little bit of the John Wick action in it if you let your mind fill in the blanks.

The story came together after a few twists, and then I discovered the book is actually 2 separate stories linked together by a few things, including the theme of how two people can be linked together through destiny, for better or for worse.

The second story is actually set in the future in a lightly sci-fi setting, with a bit of new tech. Nothing like a Blade Runner, but enough to keep it interesting. This second story was even more intriguing than the first, with a few different elements adding to the mystery up front. As the story went on it became a bit convoluted for my tastes. If the book had committed from the start to tying up the threads of the story tightly and making sure everything had a reasonable explanation, I think I would have had more patience for what the end was trying to do.

Overall though, I enjoyed it, 4/5 stars.

*An uncorrected proof of this book was provided by the publisher at the reviewer’s request in exchange for a fair and uncompromising review.