This was a really well done novel, it had that suspenseful atmosphere that I was looking for and was engaged with what was happening. It uses the thriller element and that the young adult worked overall. Gledé Browne Kabongo was able to weave a strong tale and was glad I read this. It uses the school element perfectly and thought the characters were everything that I needed.

This was a really good YA mystery!
I really enjoyed the different POVs and I was intrigued the entire time. The ending was honestly really sad, but I loved how everything ended up coming together. I think this is a super strong book for the genre!

This YA mystery is set at a fictional boarding school, Branson Academy and is told from the POV’s of two students Mackenzie and Lucas. Initially it is a slow start that picks up as the book progresses. We hear a lot of background from Mackenzie of her life before she disappeared, she is a tech genius, and this sets the scene for the story and provides the main perspective for the reader to be immersed in the events which are occurring. Lucus is her good friend who once Mackenzie goes missing, sets out to find out why she has disappeared and the circumstances surrounding this. Another student chess guru Ivy, drip feeds chess comparations that mystify Lucas, but he is also aware that these must have major significance or why would Ivy be so mysterious and does she know more that she is letting on, Lucas soon realises that there are more sinister happenings at play and he is determined to find the answers but is his life also now in danger? He is now part of a game that he does not know the rules, or which moves he is meant to play next.

Short chapters make the book an easy read and I quite enjoyed it. You think you know what is going on but then the author changes direction which does make you think, there is a puzzle to solve, recommended.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.

Book:
A GAME OF MALICE by Gledé Browne Kabongo
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the Earc (Out Now!)

Review:
4⭐
Lucas and Mackenzie have been best friends since forever, so when something seems to be bothering Mackenzie, Lucas wants to know what. When Mackenzie disappears, Lucas teams up with the unexpected to solve her disappearance and bring her home.
A GAME OF MALICE was a quick, fast-paced read that I flew through it what felt like no time at all. The short chapters offered a quickness that allowed for the story to progress at a pace that was boom, boom, done---all without unnecessary details that slow down a story. I ended up really liking this book and how everything came together, though the ending was heartbreaking and shocking all at the same time.
As A GAME OF MALICE progressed, a Lucas' investigation progressed, I was at a loss for words almost. I didn't have any ideas relating to what happened. Why did Mackenzie disappear, and Who did it? It was like I couldn't wrap my head around it and solve the disappearance myself.
Kabongo's book offers a satisfying mystery that kept me engaged and flipping through the pages without second thought. Definitely a must-read for mystery lovers.

This book was a fun read. A brief summary is Mackenzie, a young tech prodigy, goes missing, and her friend Lucas does everything he can to find her but discovers some dark secrets that he regrets learning.

While the plot wasn’t groundbreaking, I still enjoyed it. The book started slow but picked up once Mackenzie went missing and the mystery began to unfold. My favourite part of the book is how the mystery unravelled and how pieces tied in together steadily. The pacing was well done, it was slow enough that it felt like a challenge but not slow enough that I ever felt bored. This was helped by reading Mackenzies POV before she went missing. Her chapters provided clues to her disappearance and made the story more intriguing. The writing throughout the book was easy to read, and the short chapters made it easy to keep reading for long stretches. However, the dialogue occasionally felt awkward and unrealistic, which disrupted my flow when reading and took me out of the story momentarily.

This is a good mystery book for YA. The mystery wasn’t too hard to solve, and the characters were intriguing, with most of them coming across as suspicious at some point throughout the book. I’d recommend this book to anyone for an entertaining and simple mystery.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

Thank you, BrowneStar Media for the copy of A Game Of Malice by Gledé Browne Kabongo. What an amazing book! I was immediately drawn into the story of Lucas and his missing classmate and friend Mackenzie. I loved Lucas’s backstory and am looking forward to reading more about it in the Fearless series. This is a YA book, but is so well-written with great characters and lots of secrets all ages will enjoy it, especially if you enjoy an unexpected reveal or two. 5 enthusiastic stars!

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.