Showing posts with label heist society. Show all posts
Showing posts with label heist society. Show all posts

Book Review: Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter
Publisher: Hyperion
Publication date: June 2011
Pages: 304
Source: Library
For: Fun

Series: Heist Society, Book 2


Kat's reputation, since the last major break-in she planned, has preceded her everywhere.  But, when she's asked to steal the Cleopatra Emerald - steal it and return it to its rightful owners - she's just a little bit nervous.  Not only is it hard to get a public glimpse of the emerald, it is also cursed.  Can she and her crew manage to get their hands on this slippery jewel or will the game finally be up for Kat?

Things I Liked:
Ally Carter has the ability to make a smart, fun, action-movie-like plot into a fantastic book.  I loved reading this, figuring out what Kat would do next and how she would pull off another fabulous heist.  I especially loved that Kat was doing all of this while trying to figure herself out.  She's vulnerable and she makes mistakes, and she's not sure who she is, but she knows what she's good at too.  I just had such a good time reading it that I can't wait for more thieving action.

Things I Didn't Like:
I did have some of the heist figured out (though, I was really thinking "she should have done this" and then learned...she did).  But none of that spoiled it for me.  Especially because Carter made me doubt what I thought before the end and managed to keep the intrigue and suspense all the way through.  Great story!

Read-alikes:
Start with Heist Society by Ally Carter
A bit like the Curse Workers series by Holly Black


BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none 

if there are, they are few and far between


mrg-factor: none 

v-factor: -> 
some action, nothing graphic

Overall rating: **** 


Why are books about thievery and mafia-ish societies so appealing to this law-abiding girl?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage


Book Review: Heist Society by Ally Carter

Heist Society is what Kat Bishop was trying to escape when she got into Calgon School.  But, when her father is accused of stealing something that he actually didn't (for a change), she must leave that life behind and do everything she can to save him.  Even if it means stealing back from whoever stole in the first place.

Heist Society

Things I Liked:
I had such a good time reading this book!  I felt like I was watching a fun movie like Ocean's Eleven or National Treasure.  The action was excellent, the characters so much fun, and the basic premise - Kat comes from a long line of thieves and can't seem to escape from the life - just made for an all-around enjoyable read.  In the end, I was definitely entertained.  Some fun quotes:

"Most of all, there had been a time when honor meant something at Colgon School, when school property was respected, when the faculty was revered - when the headmaster's mint-condition 1958 Porsche Speedster would never have been placed on top of the fountain in the quad with water shooting out of its headlights on an unusually warm evening in November." p 2
"After hours of watching the New England countryside roll by, and listening to Hale snore, Kat was finished with plotting and strategizing how to get her boarding school life back.  She was out of options, so she called upon every thief's oldest and most trusted method for getting what she wants: Ask nicely." p 17
Things I Didn't Like:
I thought Nick's part in the book was very flimsy.  His role seemed superfluous or maybe just not developed enough. Especially the explanation for his helping out Kat.  Not very believable if you ask me. It also seemed a bit light in terms of anything but the fun plot.  Still, I look forward to more from Carter in this series.


Read-alikes:
Carter's Gallagher Girls series felt very similar

Also, a little like the 39 Clues books by various authors as well

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
maybe one or two


mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
some action, not really violence


Overall rating: ****
 

What's your favorite not-yet-made-into-a-movie-but-totally-should-be book?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage


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