Series: Sekret #1
Author: Lindsay Smith
Publisher: Roaring Book Press
Release Date: April 1, 2014
Pages: 341
Source: ALA Midwinter
Summary from Goodreads:
An empty mind is a safe mind.
Yulia's father always taught her to hide her thoughts and control her emotions to survive the harsh realities of Soviet Russia. But when she's captured by the KGB and forced to work as a psychic spy with a mission to undermine the U.S. space program, she's thrust into a world of suspicion, deceit, and horrifying power. Yulia quickly realizes she can trust no one--not her KGB superiors or the other operatives vying for her attention--and must rely on her own wits and skills to survive in this world where no SEKRET can stay hidden for long.
An empty mind is a safe mind.
Yulia's father always taught her to hide her thoughts and control her emotions to survive the harsh realities of Soviet Russia. But when she's captured by the KGB and forced to work as a psychic spy with a mission to undermine the U.S. space program, she's thrust into a world of suspicion, deceit, and horrifying power. Yulia quickly realizes she can trust no one--not her KGB superiors or the other operatives vying for her attention--and must rely on her own wits and skills to survive in this world where no SEKRET can stay hidden for long.
Review
*Long exacerbated sigh* I have so many problems with this book I don't even know where to begin...
Let's start with the synopsis. "Yulia's father always taught her to hide her thoughts and control her emotions to survive the harsh realities of Soviet Russia." This statement is bullshit. On many accounts. But the one glaringly obvious from the beginning is that Yulia can't hide her thoughts or control her emotions. But I wish she could because all she could think about were boys and escaping and her emotions were all over the damn place. One minute she is super angry and defiant. The next she is too tired to feel anything. Another and she's accepting and willing to try. There was no consistency, but worse yet, there was no cause and effect. Her emotions were quite random and fleeting. I guess I have to mention that she did learn to shield her thoughts from others. How you ask? Khrushchev told her to play a song in her head (and think underneath that music) and BAM instant shield. Now let's all try to play a song in our head and think at the same time... And at one point she even had two layers of thoughts and music - like thoughts - ballad- thoughts - another ballad. What the-?
"But when she's captured by the KGB and forced to work as a psychic spy with a mission to undermine the U.S. space program, she's thrust into a world of suspicion, deceit, and horrifying power." Horrifying power, ok, I agree with that. I guess. Although I wouldn't say I felt horrified. But regarding her mission, WHAT mission? This book was all talk and no action. I remember pausing at page 170 and asking myself what the hell I had been reading cause sure as shit nothing noteworthy had happened yet. The mission took such a back seat to Yulia's seemingly random-ass back and forth thoughts and feelings that I didn't even know what the heck the mission was or what they were doing for it for the majority of the book. At page 229 I paused again and thought again that I didn't know what the heck they were doing. The few trips they had taken didn't really connect to a bigger purpose. There was no direction and certainly not enough focus on the actual plot until the very end (at best).
"Yulia quickly realizes she can trust no one--not her KGB superiors or the other operatives vying for her attention--and must rely on her own wits and skills to survive in this world where no SEKRET can stay hidden for long." What whit and skills? I mean, really.
And I have to mention the boy situation although I'd rather think about ANYTHING but. Despite Yulia thinking about boys for like 72% of this book ( I'd say 25% was spent thinking or attempting some stupid escape plan that was destined to fail and 3% was the actual plot) I can't really say there was a romance or love triangle. It was more like Yulia would seriously consider any boy in her line of vision. Ok, I guess to be fair there was only two. But it felt like 'Oh hey, there's Segei', 'I like Sergei' or 'Oh hey, look at Valentin playing the piano.' I like Valentin'. And naturally when she liked one, she didn't like the other. Ok, so maybe she was always building towards one but really the whole boy situation was painful, overdone and in no way believable or enjoyable.
What else... Oh, if you are hoping to watch her learn about her power and master it. Don't hold your breath. And If you want to read an intriguing Historical Fiction set in Russia with a Paranormal spy twist. Look elsewhere.
And the writing was weird and inconsistent (I am sensing a pattern of inconsistency here). At times I was reminded of Tehereh Mafi's writing - kind of choppy, maybe a little poetic. Except it really didn't work here.
Alright, I think I will stop there. I will say that I have seen others enjoy this book, and I have seen others who share some of my sentiments. I could be extra critical because of how disappointed I was in this book that had so much potential. But it is rare for me to be so harsh. So I'd recommend that you approach this one with caution.
Let's start with the synopsis. "Yulia's father always taught her to hide her thoughts and control her emotions to survive the harsh realities of Soviet Russia." This statement is bullshit. On many accounts. But the one glaringly obvious from the beginning is that Yulia can't hide her thoughts or control her emotions. But I wish she could because all she could think about were boys and escaping and her emotions were all over the damn place. One minute she is super angry and defiant. The next she is too tired to feel anything. Another and she's accepting and willing to try. There was no consistency, but worse yet, there was no cause and effect. Her emotions were quite random and fleeting. I guess I have to mention that she did learn to shield her thoughts from others. How you ask? Khrushchev told her to play a song in her head (and think underneath that music) and BAM instant shield. Now let's all try to play a song in our head and think at the same time... And at one point she even had two layers of thoughts and music - like thoughts - ballad- thoughts - another ballad. What the-?
"But when she's captured by the KGB and forced to work as a psychic spy with a mission to undermine the U.S. space program, she's thrust into a world of suspicion, deceit, and horrifying power." Horrifying power, ok, I agree with that. I guess. Although I wouldn't say I felt horrified. But regarding her mission, WHAT mission? This book was all talk and no action. I remember pausing at page 170 and asking myself what the hell I had been reading cause sure as shit nothing noteworthy had happened yet. The mission took such a back seat to Yulia's seemingly random-ass back and forth thoughts and feelings that I didn't even know what the heck the mission was or what they were doing for it for the majority of the book. At page 229 I paused again and thought again that I didn't know what the heck they were doing. The few trips they had taken didn't really connect to a bigger purpose. There was no direction and certainly not enough focus on the actual plot until the very end (at best).
"Yulia quickly realizes she can trust no one--not her KGB superiors or the other operatives vying for her attention--and must rely on her own wits and skills to survive in this world where no SEKRET can stay hidden for long." What whit and skills? I mean, really.
And I have to mention the boy situation although I'd rather think about ANYTHING but. Despite Yulia thinking about boys for like 72% of this book ( I'd say 25% was spent thinking or attempting some stupid escape plan that was destined to fail and 3% was the actual plot) I can't really say there was a romance or love triangle. It was more like Yulia would seriously consider any boy in her line of vision. Ok, I guess to be fair there was only two. But it felt like 'Oh hey, there's Segei', 'I like Sergei' or 'Oh hey, look at Valentin playing the piano.' I like Valentin'. And naturally when she liked one, she didn't like the other. Ok, so maybe she was always building towards one but really the whole boy situation was painful, overdone and in no way believable or enjoyable.
What else... Oh, if you are hoping to watch her learn about her power and master it. Don't hold your breath. And If you want to read an intriguing Historical Fiction set in Russia with a Paranormal spy twist. Look elsewhere.
And the writing was weird and inconsistent (I am sensing a pattern of inconsistency here). At times I was reminded of Tehereh Mafi's writing - kind of choppy, maybe a little poetic. Except it really didn't work here.
Alright, I think I will stop there. I will say that I have seen others enjoy this book, and I have seen others who share some of my sentiments. I could be extra critical because of how disappointed I was in this book that had so much potential. But it is rare for me to be so harsh. So I'd recommend that you approach this one with caution.
