Pretty fierce by Kieran Scott

Eighteen months ago Kaia's life changed forever - both her parents died while they were on a family holiday and Kaia returned to the United States to live with her grandparents.  The only bright spark in her life is her boyfriend, otherwise she lives a completely ordinary life ... and if you believe that then you have bought her cover story.  Kaia'a parents didn't die while on holiday, they died while they were on a mission.  Kaia and her parents have traveled the world, which sounds glamorous but the life of a professional assassins is both challenging and dangerous.  

The last year and a half have been painful and lonely, but they have also been quiet and uneventful.  All that is about to change because someone has just painted a big target on Kaia's back, forcing her to go on the run (with her completely unprepared boyfriend in tow).  Kaia has been keeping her real identity a secret, and it is something of a shock for Oliver to discover that Kaia is more than she appears - but to be fair so is he.  Life on the run is dangerous and exciting, but if Kaia can't solve the mystery of who is after them then she and Oliver may not live long enough to see who wants Kaia - and for what purpose.

Pretty fierce has been one of my favourite discoveries of 2017 for any age group and in any genre.  Kieran Scott has created two characters that you instantly click with, and a scenario that is just this side of too far-fetched.  It is not often that I find a book that sucks you in to the point that you resent interruptions, but Pretty fierce was one of those books.  This is a fast paced book with rapidly switching points of view which means Scott has been able to give Kaia and Oliver clear voices, and gives you a clear understanding of their thoughts / feelings / motivations without having to resort to the 'voice of God' third person narrative.  There are little moments and little secrets that feel very real and honest, and it isn't until you get near the end that you realise what is actually happening.  

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Scott's other book, What waits in the woods, and was a little worried that Pretty fierce would not be as good - but I was worried about nothing!  This is one of my top picks for young adult readers for 2017, it has the perfect blend of relatable characters and a storyline that keeps you hooked from start to finish.  Hopefully there are more great things to come from Scott as finding a niche in the increasingly crowded young adult novel market is getting harder and harder - an author that deserves to be discovered and shared because you don't know what a treat you are missing.  


If you like this book then try:

• What waits in the woods by Kieran Scott
• The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
• Killer instinct by S. E. Green
• Lost girls by Merrie Destefano
• Bang by Barry Lyga
• Holding smoke by Elle Cosimano
• I hunt killers by Barry Lyga
• Nearly gone by Elle Cosimano
• NEED by Joelle Charbonneau
• The naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
• The stranger game by Cylin Busby
• The Gardener by S.A. Bodeen
• Remember by Eileen Cook
• Burning blue by Paul Griffin
  

Reviewed by Brilla