Mackenzie M. Reed

I haven’t read The Inheritance Games, which I’d think this probably most often gets compared to, for me, this kind of felt like a season of The Outerbanks, different setting yes, but similar vibes, with a group of teens on something of a treasure hunt that takes some dangerous turns and requires a few improbable escapes.

The group here isn’t exactly friends in the beginning so that brings some entertaining tension to their dynamics. I enjoyed most of the characters, though for me, Quinn show more was definitely the standout, loved her attitude and the weapon hidden in her bun.

Lily and her cousin Daisy have both experienced a fair bit of loss so arguably there was room to go emotionally deeper here, but that’s not the kind of story this is, this wisely did just enough in that department and instead mostly just stuck to being the fun ride it’s intended to be. If, like me, you have a tendancy to burn yourself out on romances in beach/lake settings in the summer months, this would be a solid alternative to shake up your reading just a little bit, this does take place in the summertime and you do get a touch of romance but it’s mixed in with some suspense/mystery and adventure. show less

I recently read "The Rosewood Hunt," the debut novel by Mackenzie Reed, and it truly tugged at my heartstrings. The main character, Lily Rosewood, instantly drew me in with her resilience and bravery in the face of devastating loss. Having lost her father and grandmother, she grapples with profound loneliness and the shocking discovery that her inheritance is missing. Left with a trail of cryptic riddles, clues, and puzzles by her grandmother, Lily sets out on a journey to unravel the show more mystery of the vanished fortune. Throughout her quest, she leans on the unwavering support of her friends Quinn, Caleb, Leo, and Adrian as they race against time to outsmart adversaries. As the peril escalates, Lily is confronted with the possibility of betrayal from someone she holds dear. Amidst the harrowing challenges, she also finds herself navigating matters of the heart. "The Rosewood Hunt" is a poignant narrative of courage, companionship, and the unwavering pursuit of righteousness. This young adult novel held me spellbound from start to finish. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more by Mackenzie Reed. show less

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got a copy of this as an eGalley through NetGalley to review.

Thoughts: I really enjoyed this a lot. This was a fun and fast-paced scavenger hunt type mystery that is very easy to read and hard to put down. It's a wonderful YA contemporary fiction and does remind a lot of Jennifer Lynn Barnes' "Inheritances Games" but was different enough that it stands on it's own well and I really enjoyed it.

The book follows Lily Rosewood. She is hoping to show more take over the Rosewood luxury fashion empire from her grandmother (Gram), but things go awry when her Gram suddenly passes away and the Rosewood fortune goes missing. All Lily has is a series of clues that her Gram left both her and some other random teens throughout the city of Rosetown. Now Lily must join forces with these other kids to solve the mystery before her Gram's fortune and company get transferred to the wrong people.

This was a very intense and fast-paced read, so the book practically reads itself. I really liked Lily and the other characters in the book as well. The scavenger hunt they go on is a lot of fun and ends up being very dangerous. Lily and her co-hunters find that they are being hunted by men who seem bent on killing them rather than letting them solve these clues.

I enjoyed the writing style, the action, the mystery, and the witty dialogue. This is Mackenzie Reed's debut novel and she is an author I plan on keeping an eye on. This was a super fun read.

My Summary (5/5): Overall I really enjoyed this book a ton. If you are a fan of Barnes' "Inheritance Games" I think you will like this as well. This was fast paced, full of action and mystery, and had some fun characters in here too. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for Reed's future novels. show less

3.75 stars

This was a brisk and enjoyable YA read, with intriguing plot choices and a
great hook to boot. I see The Inheritance Games vibes that people have been touting for sure, but I do think that these titles manage to hold their own, slightly differing spaces within their shared scope of genre.

The thriller elements were not as high-stakes as billed, and I do think the story leans more drama than thriller. The pacing was quite quick as well, which led to certain arcs falling flat show more sometimes, primarily because this didn't leave much room to flesh out important nuances of relationship dynamics. Also, a lot of the key moments were presented in info dump form; they were more tell than show, and I would have preferred the latter.

That being said, this book was a truly FUN read. The vibes were immaculate, and I did find myself loving the found family crew situation a lot more than I initially thought I would.

All in all, a solid debut, and a great way to kick off the autumnal reading season.

Many thanks to HarperCollins Children's Books & NetGalley for access to the DRC! show less