I loved Suzanne Young in high school but I wouldn't have gotten around to trying her newest series if I hadn’t stumbled across Girls with Sharp Sticks in a little op shop.

I found myself drawn into the world surprisingly quickly. Was it a little unoriginal? Absolutely. I think the ‘twists’ were utterly predictable but it barely bothered me. The delivery was well-paced, and the tension as Mena discovered more and more about the academy kept me hooked. What made it different from notably similar titles was its focus on solidarity. The entire plot centred on the girls banding together to support each other through their traumatic experiences and fight back. It was glorious. The lack of romance also didn’t hurt. Is there potential for Jackson and Mena? Sure, but it felt so down-to-earth with none of the typical YA dystopia’s traditional ride or die declarations.

Recommended for fans of We Set the Dark on Fire or Only Ever Yours who are looking for something more introductory and better suited to a younger audience.