Review: The Conspiracy of Us

Title: The Conspiracy of Us

Author: Maggie Hall

Pages: 336

Genre: Young Adult Mystery

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Publication Date: January 13th 2015

 

Synopsis via Goodreads:

A fast-paced international escapade, laced with adrenaline, glamour, and romance--perfect for fans of Ally Carter

Avery West's newfound family can shut down Prada when they want to shop in peace, and can just as easily order a bombing when they want to start a war. Part of a powerful and dangerous secret society called the Circle, they believe Avery is the key to an ancient prophecy. Some want to use her as a pawn. Some want her dead.

To unravel the mystery putting her life in danger, Avery must follow a trail of clues from the monuments of Paris to the back alleys of Istanbul with two boys who work for the Circle—beautiful, volatile Stellan and mysterious, magnetic Jack. But as the clues expose a stunning conspiracy that might plunge the world into World War 3, she discovers that both boys are hiding secrets of their own. Now she will have to choose not only between freedom and family--but between the boy who might help her save the world, and the one she's falling in love with.

 

REVIEW:

The Conspiracy of Us is a fast paced international thriller that you will get caught up in the mystery of.

 

I love spy and international thriller books so when I saw the synopsis for The Conspiracy of Us I was very intrigued. Then I saw that they recommended it for fans of Ally Carter and the book moved up the list as one of my most anticipated titles for 2015. Sadly, I think my expectations were too high. I enjoyed the book but it was lacking a depth that Ally Carter and other young adult spy writers have been able to pull off.

 

The part that saved the book for me was the mystery and the atmosphere. As I said before I love international thrillers. I loved the glamorous environment of Paris and the other places they travel in the book. I also found the aspect of the 12 families that "secretly" control/rule the world very compelling. There was plenty of action and I got caught up in the chase and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was also very intrigued by the prophecy plot. I thought it added a unique aspect to the spy plotline. The back story to the prophecy storyline actually ended up leading back to the time of Alexander the Great. I love historical plotlines so I thoroughly enjoyed this addition to the story and found it very interesting.

 

I know people have been worried about there being a love triangle, since it does mention two guys in the synopsis. I did not have a problem because Avery is really only romantically invested in one of the boys but with how the story ended I can definitely see a more evident love triangle developing in the sequel.

 

There were two things that made me not love the book though. As I said above, the book lacked depth. More specifically in its characters. I ended up not connecting with them at all and as a result I was less invested in them which led to being less invested in the story. I also found Avery came off as  juvenile at times and extremely naïve. There were times at the beginning when Avery was so oblivious to things going on that I was just sitting there like really?? She did grow up as the story went on though so by the end of the book it was not bothering me that much. I also found some of the story to be somewhat silly and juvenile as well. The biggest example I can think of is at the beginning when Jack and Stellan tell her they know her family and convince her to go with them. Convince is probably the wrong word to use since in the middle of prom they just show up and say they know her long last family and in seconds she leaves and hops on a plane to Paris with these boys she doesn't know. See what I mean by being naïve? The whole exchange there was not believable and came off as kind of ridiculous.

 

There was definitely some depth and maturity missing through out the book but the mystery and fascinating prophecy storyline caught my attention and it ended up being a fun ride.