Laced in Malice by Riley M. Gray Book Review

Title: Laced in Malice
Author: Riley M. Gray
Series: Laced #1
Publisher: Self Published
Pub Date: Nov 1, 2012
Genre: Young Adult, New Adult, Contemporary, Strong Sexual Situations
Pages: 295 on my nook
My Copy: E-book provided by author


Book Synopsis:

Behind the creepy castle like exterior of Birchtree academy is the sound of gossip, back stabbing and malice. When Zara’s dad takes on the new principle job at the elite boarding school, Zara knows she’ll be an outsider. She dreams of true love and marriage instead of possible frenemies and  secrets. Definitely not Birchtree material.

In the cusp of everything are the twins. Oliver and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Nixon are renowned for their different - yet equally effective - methods of torture. And both have their eyes set on goody, goody, Zara. Oliver wants to date her and Lizzie wants to befriend her?

At first Zara is caught in the Nixon’s spell, but it’s not long until cracks begin to show through their dazzling façade. An anonymous email account, which targets students with their own secrets, has focused it’s energy on Zara using weapons only the Nixon’s could have provided. But have they turned on her? Is there a hidden agenda behind Lizzie’s interest in Zara? It’ll take four months, three warnings, two released sex tapes, and one dead body for Zara to finally learn the truth. And the truth can either destroy the boy she’s fallen for - and his twin sister - or save them both.

Book Review:

A dark interesting twist on a Cruel Intentions and some Gossip Girl style kind of books. I found that this was really well written. Considering that I liked Cruel Intentions and have watched some early episodes of Gossip Girl, it has that type of vibe.

We are given an interesting take on the main character of Zara and how her journey beings. It begins with an interview. The interview was interesting as Zara has some beliefs. These beliefs are tested when she meets the Nixons. The Nixons are very good actors, but we aren’t aware of how devious and deceptive they are until the very end, but what makes them dangerous is the level of harm they cause.

You get to know Zara as she learns to navigate Birchtree and the way things work. The Nixons seem nice, but there’s a dark side to them that she doesn’t get until the very end. Yet there are clues to what they really are. Love how Zara and Oliver meet. It kind of is very laced with sarcasm and sexual innuendo. 

This is very much like Cruel Intentions but with a bit of Gossip Girl. They have the Voice which is exactly like the Gossip Girl who spreads the gossip at Birch tree. Yet there is something so appealing about Oliver that he makes you like him.  Nothing is ever easy for Zara.

Zara through the manipulation of Lizzie, as she calls herself is really deceptive and acts like she has her best interests at heart. Zara goes through a lot of different things and comes to wrestle with things a lot. Yet she learns that everyone else may have a different view on things.

As I was nearing the ends, there were some really interesting things that happened. She learned the ends that Lizzie would go to destroy someone. Zara suspects that Lizzie played a role in someone’s death. Yet it isn’t until Lizzie turns her rage towards Zara that she learned what depths Lizzie will go to ruin someone. Yet it affects Oliver in a very different way. He has started to care about her, Zara doesn’t believe him. It’s very interesting shift as she doesn’t trust him.

Trust is everything in a relationship and Zara is destroyed. This was a good YA contemporary.

Rating: