I started this book back at the end of June this should tell you how much trouble I had with it. This book was ok nothing more nothing less for something listed as realistic fiction it sure has a lot of wish fulfillment in it. The characters I did not like very many of them I hated Malcolm a racist jerk who was just one step from being abusive. I just could not stand him it was black power this white people take things away that and he was very controlling and manipulative to Kiera the MC. I did not like Kiera that much she was in no way as bad as Malcolm and she had her redeeming qualities and things that I could like like her capacity to love and to be a very giving person. There were times I liked and disliked her sister Steph I liked her for being a protective sister to Kiera and disliked her for some of the things she said early on in the story.

The character I really liked and felt bad for on many occasions was Claire or Cicada in the game she felt like a very down to earth girl that you could get along with. The plot was a big mess the race pandering was really bad in this one but I liked the game parts even with how unrealistic it could be at times. With all of the race pandering it took a while to get to the point a boy was murdered over the game. I felt that it was unrealistic that she got a appointment with a lawyer too fast this is not an instant process. There were times I felt bad for Kiera she and Claire should of not blamed themselves for what happened that was in no way either of their faults there was no way you could predict something like that happening. The plot moved along a little slow there were many forgettable characters that I instantly forgot about right after moving from their POV.

The story went into a boring antagonist with little substance who wanted to get the game

Spoiler

shut down

and the person it ended up being I should of known it did make it more predicable once I did know. So overall this was an average book I may read something else by this author if it is less about race and more about the story and characters.