We Were Kings

Reason read: I've owned it for awhile and it worked for TIOLI challenge to read a book which includes two words beginning with W. This book is an young adult book that I received free in 2022. It is a mystery. A twenty year old crime, an accelerated death penality, an elitist family sets the stage for this mystery. Nyla is racing against time to stop the execution. It was okay and actually seems to get high ratings. I found it mostly unbelievable and certainly set in a time period that will cause it not to age well.

I completely devoured We Were Kings. Although labeled as a YA thriller, I think all lovers of mystery and suspense books would like it. The book centers around Death Daze, a You Tube channel, started by Nyla Wagner with the purpose of proving the innocence of a family friend and convicted murderer on death row. Frankie is about to be executed so it is a race against time for Nyla to find out the real truth of what happened in the death of her aunt Cora King. This is a hard book to review for fear of giving too much away. From cover to cover, this book is full of family secrets, surprising twists and turns, and an ending I definitely never saw coming!! I also appreciated that this book was free of language. I appreciate this show more characteristic in any book especially one geared for young people.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. show less

audiosync title 2022

audio teen suspense (eerily not-too-distant dystopia characterized by intense political polarization) fiction with some romance (8 hrs) - CW: aggressive prison guards, death threats (online and off), hounding media journalists and stalkers

well-narrated, well-paced teen murder mystery where the protagonist's mom's best friend is innocent of the crime she's been sentenced to death for, and seemingly everyone connected to the victim is a suspect. A little long for an audio book (I kept zoning out during important conversations) but an enjoyable diversion.

SYNC: McKenzie Fetters's nearly breathless narration is a perfect match for this fast-moving can't-put-it-down YA mystery. Fetters's quick-paced performance intensifies the nonstop twists and turns. Early on, Nyla learns she is not who she believes herself to be. Her mother, a member of the monied King family, is up against the clock to save a lifelong friend from death row for a crime she claims she didn't commit. Feisty Nyla teams up with Sam to discover the truth. Her YouTube broadcasts polarize the issue and further strengthen the tension. As Nyla wends her way through convoluted family drama, she learns the death row woman is her birth mother, and her efforts escalate.

4.66 https://debbybrauer.org/#we-were-kings