Review of Sound by Shelley Workinger

Sound (Book 3 in the Solid Trilogy)

Shelley Workinger

*A copy of this book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.*

Description: Clio Kaid's had one crazy summer.

After learning she was one of a hundred teens who were genetically modified before birth, she and the others departed for "camp" at a classified military site.

Besides discovering her own special ability, uncovering a conspiracy, and capturing a killer, she's also forged new friendships, found love, and managed to lose them both.

With no answers and the end of summer closing in, Clio's terrified of going home more lost than when she arrived.

Will she finally find everything she's been looking for?

Find out in this exciting conclusion to the Solid trilogy.

     Before the review, let me just say that this series has been so much fun to read, and I'm sad to see it end. (Buuuut the epilogue gives me hope that there will be a spin-off...seriously, an ending like that REQUIRES a spin-off!) I think that Clio's story ended in a good place, at a great time in her life, at the perfect point in this series.

     The story takes place where it left off in Settling (#2 in the series) where Clio has been alienated from her group of friends because of That Thing She Did Which Will Not Be Mentioned. ;) Rae, the newest addition to the group and the only one who has not shunned Clio, has been keeping her together and pushing her beyond her physical limits. It took a while, but I was super happy when the crew finally reunited, because I lovelovelove the snarky dialogue between them. It's hilarious, and like in the other books, I had my literal-LOL moments.

     The "theory of multiple abilities" is awesome, and to see it expanded in Sound was so cool. (If there is a spin-off, I'd love to read more about this.) Clio's detective skills combined with her very accurate gut instincts provided a tolerable, not-overwhelming sense of suspense, although I guessed from early on who the "villain" of the book was :)

     Watching (or, more correctly, reading) Clio grow as a character was something I've really enjoyed throughout this series. She went from snarky, no-mental-filter girl to snarky, no-mental-filter girl with admirable control over multiple super-abilities and a set of friends that every reader will envy. A girl who realized her flaws and fought to improve them, who challenged herself, both physically and mentally, and it paid off. 

     A gripe I have is that she ended up with the guy I was NOT rooting for. See, I tend to root for the dudes who don't end up getting the girl, and this happens so often that I've learned to expect it. It's like I have a reverse sixth sense, and I "sense" the wrong guy and my brain just stubbornly refuses to change its feelings. In the mortal instruments series, I was team Simon. In the vampire academy series, I was team Adrian. And in the strange angels series, I was team Christophe (although technically, there's still a possibility that my "team" will "win" ;D This series needs a spin-off as well!) So yeah, I was rooting for the wrong guy as usual.  *SPOILER ALERT: Skip the rest of this para if you don't want to know who Clio ends up with!!!*   I guess I'm just put off a bit by Jack's "perfectness." He never had a flaw! Or at least, Clio didn't mention it. He seemed unreal, and I just felt...idk, blegh-y? Is that a word? It is now. Anyway, I'm super fussy with my romances, and I wasn't into Clack. lol.  *hides from trash thrown by angry Clack supporters*)

    While I wasn't 100% happy with the romance, it certainly didn't detract from what a great read Sound was. However, the ending seemed anti-climactic. I was expecting a big finale, and I didn't get that feeling. There was an intense bit of action in the beginning/middle, and then the action at the end, but I wasn't reading on with my eyes glued to the pages in suspense. (I think it was disappointing because I knew who the bad guy was already...)

    Anywho, with all of that said, my overall feelings about Sound (and basically the series) was that it was well worth reading, and I would most certainly recommend it! This series is one of the few that I would be glad to recommend to both pre-teens and teens. Oh, and readers like myself who are getting to be too old for YA novels, but who appreciate the values and morals included in this series.

***A HUGE thank you to Shelley for giving me the opportunity to read and review such an enjoyable series! ***

My Rating: A Remarkable Read :)