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Every Stolen Breath is a tense, taut thriller about life, death and justice. Inspired by the Flash Mob violence in Chicago in 2011, this eerie whodunit examines just how far we’ll go in memory of the ones we love.

She’s the least likely sleuth in the world. Suffering from both debilitating asthma and PTSD from her father’s death, emotionally and physically fragile highschooler Lia (Amelia) Finch should most definitely not be investigating the Swarm. That flash mob of teens randomly and viciously attacks individuals without warning, murdering innocent pedestrians seemingly without cause. Or do they? Lia’s father, a prosecuting attorney, had been searching for the who and why behind the barbarous behavior of these thugs when he was killed by the very group he was scrutinizing. The mob went silent after his death and the inhabitants of the city believe themselves safe once more. Not Lia. Two years later, she is the only one still actively looking for her father’s attackers, which is why she discovers – and deciphers – the tweet telling when and where the Swarm’s next assault will be. She calls the police, leaving an anonymous tip, and heads to Navy Pier hoping to catch pictures or videos of the teens involved in the mob. Somehow, in a city filled with cameras, their activity has never produced a single scrap of visual evidence.

Lia was right as to the details of the attack but woefully unprepared for how quickly everything escalates and just what kind of danger she faces by being anywhere near the event. It’s pretty clear she’s going to be another victim of the violence-fueled pack when a mysterious boy helps her escape by throwing her into nearby Lake Michigan. She doesn’t remember how she managed to save herself, but she comes to at the mayor’s house, having apparently swum a mile to get to his dock. That brings with it its own problems, since she is not only unprepared to answer questions from the authorities as to just how she managed to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, she is also unprepared to deal with the mayor’s obnoxious, sarcastic son Cullen, whom she knows – and despises – from school. Fortunately, her ragged appearance and the severe asthma attack following such extreme physical activity force them to get her medical treatment before cross questioning her. Unfortunately, all the evidence Lia had gathered at the Pier – pictures of the assailants, footage of the attack – was either lost during her frenzied escape or erased by whoever hacked into her account as she was fleeing.

Later that night, finally at home and mourning the loss of all the information she gathered, Lia has a clandestine visitor. Noise alerts her to a stranger in the backyard but they are gone before she can catch them. They leave behind gifts though: her missing backpack, which she’d dropped on the Pier, and a cryptic warning written in the dust covering the lid of their grill – “back off”. She won’t do that until her father’s killers are brought to justice.

Determined to find answers, even if she dies trying, Lia prepares to fight on her own for the truth. Instead, she finds herself part of a surprising team of people willing to help uncover the facts about the Swarm. Made up of a young hacker, an intrepid reporter and Ryan, the boy who saved her life, Lia’s new gang will risk all to find out just who is instigating the deadly events terrorizing Chicago.

Written in first person format with clear, crisp prose, Every Stolen Breath is a mesmerizing story of a truly frightful situation. Needless to say, this isn’t a cheery book and there are moments of truly horrific violence, and while the author doesn’t give gory details, she does an excellent job of capturing the appalling nature of the mob’s brutal attacks. The group of teens surrounds people, creating an impenetrable wall through sheer numbers, and then literally beats them to death. The first person narration of being a witness to such events really ratchets up the tension, helping us share Lia’s fear, sorrow, helplessness and panic. Ms. Garbriel’s ability to make the emotions of her lead character visceral and real are the strongest aspect of the story. I found myself as desperate as Lia was to bring an end to the Swarm’s reign of terror.

Lia’s vulnerabilities make her an excellent narrator for this enthralling thriller. Her asthma attacks, which occur frequently, remind us that she can’t outrun or physically outmaneuver her opponents. Her only hope is to outwit them. Her PTSD, which comes complete with hallucinations, flashbacks and nightmares, gives an additional aura of delicacy to her already precarious state. Her mind is her greatest weapon in this fight and yet even that is flawed. Her stubborn perseverance in the midst of these difficulties is deeply admirable – but it added to my struggles with the believability of the story.

Teen detective tales tend to work best when the young sleuth has unique abilities or insight to use in solving the puzzle. Lia’s only skill seemed to be tenacity. She has to use the talents of others – the hacking expertise of her friend Adam, the research proficiency of her ally in the media and Ryan’s physical strength and insider knowledge of the Swarm – to stitch together sufficient information to uncover a key figure orchestrating the violence. This meant the other characters had to be oddly passive about the truly vile events taking place on the streets of their city. There was just no reason for this fragile (but determined!) teenage girl to be the point person for this problem.

Which meant that the writing of the secondary characters was, as a result, weaker than it should have been. I couldn’t understand the placidity of Lia’s mom, who drifts in and out of the story with almost no agency of her own. Cullen, the mayor’s son, also appears and disappears throughout the narrative, behaving in a rather bizarre manner, with his overall demeanor practically screaming deus ex machina. Ryan also confused me with his inertia, willing to help the frail Lia but seemingly unwilling to search out stronger allies. And I didn’t buy the budding romance between the two at all. They had no relationship aside from their fight for justice and didn’t know each other well enough to be in love. I feel almost guilty complaining about these flaws since the story does hold your interest while reading it, but this is the kind of book where once you put it down, you begin to question the why of almost everything that occurs.

Every Stolen Breath is a début novel, so the author can be forgiven for not getting everything just right her first time out. It’s a fast, gripping, thought-provoking read that falls just a little bit short of all it wants to achieve. I think fans of YA thrillers will find a lot to love here in spite of that.

I received a free copy for an honest review:

Three topics I want to talk about:
- The dangers of mental disorder associated labels
- The protagonist's sarcasm is beautiful
- Not too cliché
- Really original idea actually
- Wasn't stretched for the sake of being longer
- The pleasant blend of different genres that make up the unique vibe of the book

As you can see from the (extraordinarily sophisticated) list I made above that I'm totally going to discuss in order, I... actually really like this book. It was a book that I not only enjoyed for the sake of entertainment but also because of the deeper messages I can associate with.

Lia's treatment from the people around her - including even her closest friend and mother - really reminded me of the unfortunate topic of labels. I have heard this from countless people who have voiced this (which I cannot agree more): the labels that associate with mental disorders is completely unjust. When you have a cold, people would not look at you differently or treat you with prejudice especially after it's gone - there's no label in society for "people with cold". However, if people catch wind (even if it's a rumor) of you having any sort of mental disorder, you get labeled - and this label is embedded to you no matter how long as passed and whether you still have it or not. This is a truly tragic phenomenon that ruins people's lives and greatly hinders the progression of mental health improvement among people.

But even within just a grim topic, Lia makes everything better even for me as a reader. Her pure sarcasm toward the ignorance of people around is truly the most beautiful thing I have seen I've seen in a long time *sheds tear*:

"Both library assistants are absorbed with their computers. Before a social worker or principle comes to whisk me away to a private room where I can discuss my feelings on the tragedies of my life, I need to at least figure out who the rest of these men are".

Lia's brilliant narration arguably boosts the entertainment value of the book despite its grim themes around 50 - 70%, which makes it one of the biggest reasons why this book was a hit for me personally.

Another praiseworthy aspect of the book is in its originality, which is a byproduct between the incorporation of the futuristic-like storyline to young adult mystery and romance. The whole concept of "swarm" was really interesting - and frankly quite realistic for a story that took place in another replicate of our world that is not our own. This threat doesn't feel over-the-top and definitely has a symbolic undertone opens to the reader's interpretation.

Ultimately, I would recommend this book for people who are purely looking for entertainment and readers who are craving books with a deeper connotation.

Every Stolen Breath is a fast paced thriller that just never slows down.

Lia lives in Chicago with her mom. Lia's twin died shortly after they were born and she struggled to deal with the loss. So much so that she made up stories about her twin when she was younger. Her father was killed two years earlier by The Swarm. They're a mob group that somehow organized and beat one person to death in a crowd of people. After Lia's dad's death, the Swarm stopped killing. But all that changed. Lia has been spending her time trying to figure out why her dad was killed. He had been trying to prosecute a man that he believed was tied to it. He never believed the victims were random. Lia's father was killed and the man he was prosecuting committed suicide.

Lia goes to a private school where she has two best friends, Katie and Adam. Adam is a tech genius and has been helping Lia for awhile. The mayor's son, Cullen, goes to the same school. He's an ass to Lia and pretty much everyone else. During the first new attack at Navy Pier, Lia is seen by at least one member of The Swarm. He whispers in her ear on where to swim right before he throws her into the water. Lia ended up at the Mayor's house. He made a big deal about Lia after that. Cullen loved the cameras and he convinced Lia to spend time with him in front of them. The mayor seems to approve and sets up a date for them later on.

After the attack, the boy that through Lia over starts showing up around her. Ryan is there at times when she's in trouble. Lia was terrified of him, but over time, she grew to trust him. He told her stuff about her dad, The Swarm, and himself. Because Lia witnessed the attack and had been following the coded twitter messages from The Swarm, she became a target. So did everyone around her.

There are some brutal killings in this book and I was sad with each one. The author did a good job with making the story about the victims almost as much as The Swarm. But it was also a story about Lia. The girl with the bad lungs that almost died at birth. The girl who lost her dad and whose mom has been distant since. The girl who only has a couple friends. The girl who has mental health issues and sometimes hallucinates. The girl who was stronger than she should have been and who was determined to end The Swarm, even if she had to die to make it happen.

I gave this book 4 stars. Thank you to the publisher for my review copy.

Every Stolen Breath is a literal breath-taker. The intricacies with which Kimberly Gabriel wove The Swarm was awe-inspiring. It could have been because the majority of the time I was reading it, I was fighting off sleep (not because of the book but because of sheer exhaustion.), but I would not have guessed the person who did it.

Then again, I’ve never been any good at CLUE.

Every Stolen Breath’s plot was intense, and evocative, and so amazing. The character development of Lia was so great. I feel like maybe it could have been a little more apparent rather than how subtle it actually was.

It wasn’t super apparent until almost the end, how much she had actually changed, but it was definitely there. Her relationships with her mother, her two best friends and the guy who’s trying to help her really changed.

Like a lot.

Her mother starts off super distant but throughout the book shows moments of tremendous caring for her daughter. It was honestly really, really well done.

It’s a plot driven book, for the most part, meaning that the characters are trying to finish or find something to complete the overarching theme. It often means that the characters suffer. But not so in Every Stolen Breath

Nor do the descriptions suffer. I could see the Chicago skyline perfectly.

Honestly, I need another one. Please tell me there is more.

A daughter striving to get to the murderers of her lawyer father who was killed 2 years ago was the theme of this book. A flash mob was used to kill him, anonymity of 50 to 100 teens crowding a man in public place and hitting him to death. A scary thought.

A close brush with death when she witnessed the next murder brought Lia into the cross sights of the group, the Swarm. Teaming up with a hacker, a reporter and a stranger, Lia worked hard to uncover the evil puppeteer who used mobs as the killing weapon.

My first book by Kimberly Gabriel, and it was a fast read. Lia was a different main character suffering from Asthma and PTSD, frail in health but strong in determination. The title aptly reflected the byplay with her frequent asthma attacks. Nothing came in her way to avenge her father's death, her slow and steady and sometimes fearful steps in that direction endeared me to her.

The plot was quite twisted, and everyone suspect. The story read fast and I found myself getting sunk into the whirlpool of the murder mystery. The entire plot concept was suspenseful and quite scary, when I thought about it. The action kept increasing as the pages turned.

My niggles too turned up, a few lines at places felt inane.

This was completely a Lia driven story which kept me going right from the first page to the last. At the core of it, this was a murder mystery. And I love them.

Several years ago, I think I remember, these mobs were being organized on Twitter to attack helpless individuals. In Kimberly Gabriel's Every Stolen Breath, this becomes a reality — except these mobs are getting together to kill. Lia's dad was killed by one of these mobs several years ago, and now that she knows when they're going to attack next, she's determined to gather evidence so these guys can receive justice.

Only things aren't as easy as they appear. Lia finds herself in over her head. I love her strong, determined character. Even though she heads into situations that, while I'm reading, my head is screaming "don't do it!" she's not being reckless, which sometimes bothers me with characters like this. I really liked her determination and willingness to take risks.

The author pulls me into the Chicago setting. Even though I've only visited once (and have experienced the city virtually through books like Divergent) Ms. Gabriel is able to make me feel like I'm there.

The character's friendships seem realistic. While the book isn't focused on her high school life, there is a little drama at school that seeps into her quest to avenge her father's death. It was well-done. There was a little bit of developing romance in the story, which I also liked.

The book was suspenseful and I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. Even though I had an idea of what was going to happen towards the end, it didn't quite turn out as I expected it would.

If you're looking for a twisty, suspenseful book that you won't want to put down, I highly recommend Every Stolen Breath.

Every Stolen Breath by Kimberly Gabriel is a young adult thriller that is based on real events that took place in Chicago in 2011. Chicago really isn’t the only city with random acts of violence either as the idea behind this reminded me of news stories about gang initiations too so the entire book has a realistic creepy what if this happens vibe.

Lia Finch is the teenage daughter of one of the victims to a group only known as “the Swarm”. This organized group of teenagers is wanted for several murders in the city after having come together as a group in public areas swarming in on one victim and attacking until they die.

The police are no closer to solving the murders and tracking down the Swarm than they were a couple of years ago when the attacks began so Lia has been determined to get justice for her father. When Lia figures out how the group communicates she finds herself right in the middle of the most recent attack.

There is something about realistic fiction that just pulls me into a story even more, perhaps just the added fear of this could be anyone. Every Stolen Breath had that extra curiosity about it within an action packed fictional thriller. However, there are little details in here that I just didn’t feel were overly believable lowering my rating to 3 1/2 stars.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

A thrilling debut from author Kimberly Gabriel, "Every Stolen Breath" has a double meaning (like all the best titles do) :)

Main character Lia Finch will not rest until she exposes the source of The Swarm, a vigilante mob who murdered her father two years ago. Although she is doing everything she can think of, Lia is limited in her efforts because not only are her lungs compromised, trusting anyone at this point could be deadly.

Enter Ryan, connected somehow - but he still keeps rescuing Lia from dangerous situations. As Lia starts to connect the dots to unravel the mystery, the risk grows exponentially higher and may even affect the loved ones she has left. With an atypical storyline, numerous twists and turns (a big enough one I actually got upset for a minute), and engaging characters, this novel is a good read that I am happy to recommend.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Blink Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Many thanks to the Fantastic Flying Book Club for having me on this tour and to Blink for sending me an eARC to review!
Mysteries or Thrillers typically have to be really interesting in the synopsis in order me to pick it up. I want to be intrigued. I want to know that it’s going to be hard for me to put the book down. I was to be able to read the first page and know that I made a solid book choice. Every Stolen Breath did all of this. It was a perfect October read and it was one that I am excited to read again.
This book follows Lia, a sixteen year old finds herself the witness of a death mob… the same mob that killed her father two years prior. Since her father’s death, she’s been doing her own investigation which leads her to the Navy Pier during another attack; the first since her father’s. One of the members of the Swarm notices her and throws her off the pier in order to save her and brings her to the home of the Mayor. From there, the story gains traction -- one in which she is questioned as to what she knows and what she’s hiding from others. As she tries to hide from the media, the stranger who saved her keeps showing up to seemingly protect her and nothing is as it seems. Lia finds that there is so much that she doesn’t know, so much that she’s got her friends involved in, and there’s so much that she keeps doing that puts her in danger of being next. Under the scrutiny of the mayor and his people, the news reporters, and the Swarm stranger, she continues to search for the truth.
One of the things I liked about this book was the uncertainty of what was going to happen next. Lia is so adamant to find the truth, but she does it so blatantly even though she thinks she’s being stealthy. Because of this, you never knew what she was going to do, what the consequences would be, and what would happen to the people that she cares about. I also really liked the change in that becomes evident within the world that Gabriel has created. It seems as though because the last Swarm hit was two years prior that there was sense of ‘peace’ like the mob hits were over. When it happens again, the tone of the city and Lia’s actions are on edge. Like the peace they perceived was gone and everyone became worried that anyone could come out of nowhere and jump them. To be able to describe the tone and make it evident without blatantly writing it was really creative and I loved it.
I also really liked the twist at the end that I honestly wasn’t expecting regarding who was behind the Swarm… really not prepared. There was also another thing I wasn’t prepared for and was ready to throw my kindle across a room… but it’s okay. Just know it’s gonna be okay.
Probably my favorite thing in this book was Lia’s relationships with Adam and Ryan. Adam is her best friend. He stands by her no matter what and is an excellent hacker. He’s the one who helps her find clues about when the next attacks will happen. He’s also is the one that seems to try the most to make sure that she’s okay, included, and not just seen as the girl who has debilitating asthma and murdered father. Ryan ends up being the Swarm stranger that saves her on the pier. The dynamic between him and Lia, I’m still trying to figure that out, but I do think that he helps her truly come to terms that her dad was also keeping secrets that were meant to keep her safe. I actually really liked his character and that even though he did have a habit of saving her, he still never tried to stop her from following what she thought was right.
Every Stolen Breath is one of those books that is a super interesting read. All throughout, the premise is interesting, your heart breaks for the characters, and you just want to know who is behind everything. From the first sentence, you’re hooked and you can’t let go. I so enjoyed reading this book and the way it ends, I hope that there’s another book to follow. But even if there isn’t there’s too much happening in this book to not pick it up. Every Stolen Breath released on November 5, 2019.

This YA thriller has a lot going for it: interesting premise, intense action, teen romance. The characters are a mixed bunch, though, and some of the twists are predictable. But for me, it was the type of predictable twist that I can accept and even enjoy, especially when I'm not expecting deep or insightful thoughts on the human condition (e.g., the type of reading mood I've been in recently as I've battled migraines.) 

Lia, as the main character, is rather self-absorbed. This is understandable. She's a teen (what teen isn't a bit like this?) and she's still grieving the violent death of her father. She also has to deal with her debilitating asthma. Now she's witnessed yet another deadly, seemingly-random attack from the Swarm. Her PTSD spins out of control. This makes her preoccupation with her own life understandable, if not necessarily likable.

Her two BFFs, Katie and Adam, seem like stereotypes of the quiet Asian girl and the gay, computer-hacker best friend. Neither felt very real to me.

Cullen, her archenemy-turned-fake-boyfriend-for-the-media, felt more developed. As the mayor's son, he's hyperaware of the power of social media and need to manipulate the press to cultivate one's influence; for a teen boy, he's a savvy political strategist. Or perhaps he's just someone who's been manipulated for his daddy's "family friendly" political image a few too many times. 

Of all the teens, Ryan left me with the most questions. Yes, he's Lia's insta-love interest. (More accurately termed "insta-attraction." I don't roll my eyes at this trope because I remember experiencing it as a young woman.)  Yes, he's a mysterious stranger who somehow knows her name. Yes, he throws her off a bridge into a river to save her life (or kill her, take your pick) at the end of chapter one. But he's got answers to her questions--or does he? Is it possible that he's misleading her? 

The action escalates quickly. While some of it felt a bit repetitive, Lia's flights from danger (especially with street-smart Ryan along to correct her multiple screw-ups) got my heart pounding. I also enjoyed seeing how Lia and Adam, her hacker friend, try to track down info through modern technology. The Swarm is techno-savvy, and while she's technologically-literate, her adversary is always one step ahead of her. Always. 

The ending brought mixed emotions for me. With certain questions left unanswered, it seemed to leave open the possibility of a sequel. Yet this book didn't "feel" like it needed to be part of a series or a trilogy or have a sequel; it felt like a standalone. Would I read a sequel? Sure, if only to make certain that the people I wanted alive stayed alive! 


Overall, this is a fun novel. Suspend reality for a while, kick back, and enjoy the ride. 

Note: I received a copy of Every Stolen Breath from Netgalley and Blink in exchange for an honest review.

My review will be published on my blog on October 28, 2019.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers behind Every Stolen Breath for this advanced copy.
Rating: 3.5
The book does a good job building tension and suspense. I just wished afterwards it wasn’t because the character seemed to throw herself into SO MANY precarious situations. There also was no attempt by any adult to protect her from harm. Between these two things it was like “oh, no...here we go”.
I did like Lia and wanted to see her come out on top. And of course, I was totally into Ryan and the romantic storyline. I also enjoyed the setting of modern day Chicago.
All in all, this was a YA suspense thriller with a plucky young amateur detective that is a fast read (and if you suspend reality a little) is fairly enjoyable.

I couldn't put this book down. Gabriel brought high stakes to this story and created a character that you couldn't not root for. Lia might not have thought all of her actions through but her heart was in the right place and wanted to do it all for the right reasons. I loved this book!

Every Stolen Breath is a fast-paced, YA thriller that’s based on a real-life series of violent flash mob incidents in Chicago.

The main character, Lia, has been tracking the movements of the Swarm for two years since their last deadly attack (which killed Lia’s father). They finally reappear and her plan of taking them down goes into action.

Of course, being a teenager with limited resources makes it difficult for Lia to protect herself, let alone the entire city from Death Mobs staged by the Swarm. Making matters worse is the constant interference of the media.

Can Lia and her small circle of friends survive? You’ll have to read the book to find out. By the end, though, you’ll get a well-fleshed out story about corruption, secrets, intimidation, and murder.

Much of the book deserves praise for showcasing realistic portrayals of trauma and asthma attacks. The last few pages, though, got a bit too saccharine for me. They were also predictable, and it would have been so much better if the author had taken a harsher, more realistic approach.

Despite the last few pages, I really enjoyed this book. It probably would have gotten 5 stars from me if things had ended on a different note. I suspect many people will vastly prefer the ending the author chose, though, because realism isn’t what a lot of readers are looking for.

This book reminded me of The Hive with a bit of The Purge tossed in. Recommended for fans of YA thrillers who aren’t bothered by a bit of brutality.

Wow! What a book! Had me turning pages as fast as possible, because I had to know what was going to happen in this fast paced, thrilling book. Well written, intense, and absolutely intriguing. A must read for those who love thrillers that you can really get hooked in and have a hard time putting down!
Will make sure I highly recommend!

Based on the very real flash mob gang violence of Chicago, Every Stolen Breath is an adrenaline filled, race against the clock, absolute page turner! The kind of story where you never really know who or what to trust. The kind of story that messes with the mind and puts you on guard (and on edge) along with its characters. The kind of story you devour in one sitting and then wish you could read it again for the first time. The kind of story that you wish wasn't a standalone. I could gush for DAYS!

I loved Lia! Fierce, strong, smart, and determined, she is everything I want in a heroine. But the thing that truly made her real were her vulnerabilities - suffering from severe asthma (hence the title) and PTSD. You rarely see a strongly written female "flawed" in any sense - nevermind to this degree - and it was so refreshing to see here because it only added to her, never taking anything away from who she was.

If there was a character I loved more than Lia, it would have to be Ryan. Mysterious and harboring dangerous secrets, he is a stranger to Lia, but he knows way more about her and her life than he should. I adored them together and watching their relationship effortlessly unfold. Their scenes had my heart in my throat every time!

Rounding out the secondary cast of characters, you have your truly heinous beings and then those who just want to take advantage of an already bad situation for their own personal gain. Commonplace in today's society.

Every Stolen Breath is so well written, thought out, and fleshed out, making it a must have and must read! Definitely a new favorite. I can not recommend enough!

This is heart throbbing, riveting, fast-paced, incredible, mind-bending, surprisingly smart written, one of my favorite debuts of 2019! I’m so happy to announce we have new amazing author in the literary town. Let’s give a big applause for Kimberly Gabriel. This is not about generosity that I’m giving FIVE STARS because this book definitely deserved every each one of them.

Smart characterizations, thrilling twists, nail-biter action scenes wrapped up a soft romance and meaningful ending!

Metaphoric referral touch about Lia’s asthma to connect with its title is a great choice.

The plot is about Lia’s heart-breaking and thrilling journey to find her father’s killer. Everyone can be suspect, there is no one she can trust to open her heart for her secret mission.

Cullen, mayor’s son is arrogant asshole but he seemed like he wanted to help her. Ryan, her father’s partner in crime is also another dubious, shady character! You want to believe in him but your guts tell you the opposite.
And we have slapping contest winner: A despicable journalist who insists she is on her side and helped her father before.

It’s one sit read, devoured half of it when I was nursing only first glass of my Chablis (My husband made grocery shopping without his glasses and bought the wrong bottle but his mistake was my big win! Yay!)

Gripping, chilling read with a smart and badass heroine who defeats the authorities with her wits and bravery. I loved it so much!

Thank you NetGalley, Blink to share this wonderful book’s ARC COPY with me in exchange my honest review and special thanks to Kimberly Gabriel. I cannot wait to read her future works! Brava!

Every Stolen Breath by Kimberly Gabriel is about Lia whose father was killed by the Swarm (a death mob). The first chapter really sucks you in and after that…I just had to know everything.
I liked that Lia was tenacious in her agenda to stop the Swarm. We start off her having figured out how to track the Swarm and goes to prove her theory except she ends up right there in the middle of everything. Now she’s getting unwanted attention from paparazzi, the mayor’s son, a mysterious stranger, and even her friends. It’s a slippery slope because she doesn’t know who to trust. With her mental health deteriorating and lives at stake, finally, unable to do this on her own anymore, she is forced to trust/rely on others. We see some adults coming in to accomplish what she couldn’t, a very realistic approach to the story, but Lia isn’t off the hook. The last chapters really picked up, lives hang in the balance, and the ending... no spoilers here.
Thank you Netgalley and Blink #EveryStolenBreath #Netgalley
Publication Date 11/05/19
5 out of 5 stars

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for Every Stolen Breath and I dove right in! The story's fast, energetic, and keeps the reader turning pages with its sharp prose and chapter-ending cliffhangers. Gabriel brilliantly matches the pace of her main character's faulty breath with her sentence structure, proving a deft sense of how to subtly affect a read while also keeping the action on the page driving the story forward. As the protagonist gets breathless, so do we. Sentences shorten. Paragraphs condense. Action leaps forward. So often when I read, I find my inner editor wanting to slash irrelevant or repetitive content, but nothing's wasted here.

Though I'm a big fan of love stories, in this particular case, the romance took a back seat for me, and I think intentionally so. This is a story about a girl driven to uncover truth. That's the engine, and one I think readers will thoroughly enjoy following. There are just enough characters to build a suspect list while the story never gets bogged down with too many names to sort out. We always have visuals to anchor to and yet not a page goes by without something happening.

As a long-time Chicago-ite, I also loved seeing the city play such a huge role in the story. It's not just background. It's a character all its own. ESB is a great read for lovers of suspense and political intrigue. A strong-willed but flawed heroine. A hint of romance. A corrupt but compelling city. And a constant uncertainty about who's an ally and who's an antagonist. Great stuff. Look forward to seeing what Gabriel writes next!

Scary, fast paced story. Reminiscent of the Purge. Enjoyed it very much and would recommend to students looking for a thrill. Look forward to reading future books by author

This book was pretty compelling. Lia's lots of her father is felt throughout the book along with her urge to do something, anything to prevent further attacks