Nickel Plated by Aric Davis

The Blurb On The Back:

”It was weird to just get a contact out of nowhere. She was a kid, though, I could tell that from just the few minutes on the phone, and kids have a funny way of finding me. I’m pretty sure it’s just the world’s way of reminding me that I owe a debt for Dad. Whoever the girl was, she either needed help or was setting me up. I’ve run enough angles that I’m sure there are a few people would love to get a face-to-face. I’ll die before I go back to foster care, and I’m not ready to start dying just yet.”

Nickel is a survivor. Raised by the state in abusive foster homes, he escapes at the age of ten to live his life the way his father wanted him to: not as a civilian, but as a warrior. Nickel pays his way by blackmailing paedophiles he tracks down online, selling marijuana to high school students, and working as a private investigator in between. Money talks, but for kids, Nickel works for free.

This time, it’s Arrow, a beautiful high school girl, who needs help. She believes that her sister Shelby was kidnapped, even though her parents and the police have written her off as a runaway. Nickel takes the case, scouring the internet and the posh suburban streets to find the missing girl. What he uncovers are children for sale and adults with souls black as the devil. Soon Nickel realizes that finding Shelby is one thing – but surviving is another.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Aric Davis has written a gritty and edgy noir YA thriller with plenty of action and twists. Personally, I would have preferred it had the hero been a couple of years older – if only to give added credibility to some of his activities and take away some of the discomfort associated with his knowledge of paedophilia. However that said it’s a well-constructed novel with a set up for a sequel that I’d be interested in reading.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the free copy of this book.

Changeling: Demon Games by Steve Feasey

The Blurb On The Back:

Two girls trapped in the Netherworld. One teenage werewolf determined to save them. But is Trey Laporte tough enough to win the Demon Games?

For humans, the Netherworld is a place of terror and brutality. For Trey, it’s where his greatest enemy lies in wait. But a human girl has been stolen by a vile demon lord – and the vampire’s daughter, Alexa Charron, has gone after her. Only Trey is brave enough to cross to the Netherworld to save them. Only Trey is foolish enough to believe he can defeat the demon hordes and win their freedom ...

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

The fourth book in the CHANGELING series is another action-packed ride that picks up and develops story lines from the earlier books and really shows the characters growing and developing. There is a bit of a set-up feel to the overall storyline, but that set-up promises a stunning finale that I will definitely be reading.