The Swap

by Nancy Boyarsky

I loved this mystery!  There was a lot of action and surprises.  And the story line was new.

Gilded Cage

by Vic James

I requested this title from NetGalley.  When Istarted reading I realized it was a YA dystonian novel and almost stopped reading.  I decided several years ago that I didn't enjoy YA books anymore.  Most have too much teen-age angst and are written at a lower reading level.  However, Gilded Cage grabbed my attention and I continued reading and enjoying it.

I thought the book was well written with layers of complexity and interesting characters and story line.  The book is set in an alternate modern day England where Equals rule and the commoners have to spend ten years of their life in slave towns.  The Equals have Skills or the ability to do magic.

The chapters alternate between a few different characters.  I generally enjoy reading books that give perspective from different characters so I liked that.  Plus we meet different people in the different settings - some in the most powerful family's enclosure and some in a dirty factory town.

The book is well paced and kept my interest throughout even though there were some major events happening in my life.  As I neared the end I realized that everything wasn't going to be resolved in the next few pages at that this was book one in a trilogy or series.  I will definitely be watching for the next installment.