couldn’t really get into this - feel like we were just placed into the town and expected to run with it, couldn’t get to grips with the tension and yet nothing being revealed to us.

I am not sure that I can add more to this review than what the jacket says. A dark and disturbing read. The nightmare that are the slums of below the border and why people will risk much to get away from them and the lives that have to be lived and the jobs they have to do, . Even into the unjudging arms of Saint Death

Timely though this may be, especially given the current situation in Mexico and the US and the border regions, I have to say I would be hard pressed to call Saint Death a thriller. The concept was fascinating - the down and dirty of life with narcos, gangs, corrupt police and a desperation to do anything to cross the border in search of a new life. Unfortunately, I felt it just didn’t live up to what it could have been.

Saint Death certainly portrayed the stark, dangerous life of the most desperate people trying to scrape a living on the fringes of society in the border towns of Mexico. There is a constant feeling of threat and poverty, of desperation and a willingness to do whatever they have to to reach America. The atmosphere in the book is heavy and the mood throughout is heavy.

Unfortunately, I just felt this heaviness bogged the story down. It was slow moving, and for a book described as something of a thriller it was most definitely hard going. It most definitely offered promise but just didn’t deliver for me - what could have been gritty and breathless ended up being sluggish and predictable.

This is not a happy book, and to be fair, I’m a little unsure why I requested it in the first place, since I’m usually not too keen on reading ‘realistic’ stories (the world is depressing enough as it is). Well, no: I guess I requested it because I like Marcus Sedgwick’s stories, also I met him briefly at a book festival and he was definitely a cool guy. So, yes, I guess there’s that.

And, anyway, I enjoyed the story. Though I should’ve guessed it wouldn’t be a bed of roses for the characters (pay attention to the very first character we meet, too). It is both realistic and haunting—haunted as it is by the presence of Santa Muerte, who may or may not be present, and who can tell, and does it really matter? For the characters believe in her and in her powers, and quickly learn that you must be crazy to try and trick the White Girl.

The story is told in third person point of view, present tense, which I typically enjoy less than past tense for a simple reason: it’s difficult to use, and too many people fail at it. Here, it works, and lends itself to that haunting atmosphere I mentioned previously, making the story somewhat surreal… which, in turn, strengthens its gritty aspects even more.

This isn’t a happy world, and there isn’t much light at the end of the tunnel. Yet this is also a world where one can learn to retain their human dignity, and not give in to the darkness. A world where there are still good people in spite of all the bad ones. It is both hope and sadness—and death, who unites everybody in the end.

Faustino is looking for a way out of the violent slum where he lives in in a Mexican border town. Skilled at cards, he is drawn in to a dangerous card game to win money to save his friend, Faustino who owes a drug gang $1000.
Marcus Sedgwick l pulls no punches and touches on big global issues in this hard hitting YA novel.

Somehow I missed the fact this is classed as Young Adult, and to be perfectly frank it doesn’t really belong in that sub-genre.

It is gritty, hardcore and it forces reality right down the readers throat. It was one of those books you finish and think ‘wow.’ At the same time you can’t really identify why. It is just a whirlwind of brash hard-hitting realism.

Faustino is looking for a way out of his slum existence. He is tired of being surrounded by uncertainty, violence and death. Each day is a struggle and the only opportunities for any kind of advancement in life are being part of a gang or a possible escape across the border. However the Coyotaje isn’t always the solution desperate people think they will be. They are ruthless groups/gangs with only one concern, to make money. They feed on the desperation of the innocent.

The descriptive scenes of the gambling are right on the button. People with the itch always think they can find the gold at the end of the rainbow. Just one more hand of cards, just one more attempt to outwit lady luck. Ultimately Faustino holds the weapon of his own self-destruction.

Sedgwick doesn’t pull any punches, he just whacks the reader right around the head with a literary crowbar. It’s hard to pinpoint why it is such an unusual read, perhaps it’s the gritty realism and the lack of compromise. Sedgwick is relentless in the portrayal of his authentic characters and the setting. Kudos to him for the merciless ending.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of Saint Death.*

A novel that is very much different from other young adult books, Sedgwick aims to shed light on gang situations and how easy it is to fall into that darker culture. He also plays with the concept of inevitability and whether the saints really do play a part in our lives, introducing characters who both believe they are acting with the greater good in mind but falling foul of circumstance. I thought this book offered an approach on social commentary and encourages you to consider the lives of those you might not have thought about before.

*Full review available on the blog*

Regret that I lost access to this book when I had to replace my broken kindle. Many thanks for the opportunity and apologies.

A dark and disturbing book, the writing conjures up the hopelessness of Juarez perfectly.

I have to admit to having very mixed views on this. There were a lot of things I either loved or liked a lot but I didn’t find it an easy read and I feel like it took me a lot longer than it should have.

The writing is excellent, the story is fascinating, there are some truly gripping and emotional scenes and I loved the message behind it (one which seems very appropriate in the world right now), however there were more than a few things I struggled with.

Firstly the pacing, it seemed like this should have been a fast paced read, it’s about two friends Arturo and Faustino who need to find a lot of money fast or they’ll end up in serious trouble with one of the local gangs, but it’s not. There is quite a lot of scene setting and contextual information which while interesting really slows things down. I understand the message the author was trying to get across but feel like there should have been another way of achieving this without interrupting the flow of the story.

The other thing I struggled with was the lack of descriptions or explanations. For the majority of the book I wasn’t 100% certain what age Arturo was. Initially I thought he was older but I’m pretty sure he was in his teens. Similarly there’s a big section around a card game but no explanation of the rules or even a basic understanding of how it works. There’s also a lot of Spanish and more than a few cultural references that I just didn’t get and unfortunately I’m quite a lazy reader and don’t tend to go look things up.

There are some interesting characters but because of the broken way the story is told and the lack of information about a lot of them I found it difficult to connect. There would be moments where I would find myself being drawn in and then suddenly the story would be interrupted. I did have quite a lot of sympathy for Arturo and some of the scenes are heartbreaking but I also found him incredibly frustrating. I wanted things to go a different way but I suspect that this was kind of the point of the story.

I do admire what the author was trying to do and despite the criticisms I did enjoy it but I do wish it had been done in a slightly different way. This is probably very much a me thing though. I’ve read a lot of reviews where readers have looked into the culture and background and have gotten so much more out of it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC. As always all views are my own

I think this books is aimed at young adults, around 16, it is rather a grim story, about drug and people trafficking and gang violence. It is set in Anapra on the border of Mexico and the USA.
Arturo, a good but poor kid living in a shack, meets up with an old friend, who is in trouble having stolen drug money and is unable to pay it back.
This book is a study in despair and desolation suffered by the Mexicans, who are very poor, the drug gangs and the inequality of the people in contrast to capitalist America. No money, no hope, nothing to look forward to. It is hard hitting, but ultimately not a pleasurable read. There is nothing uplifting throughout the book, and although I know it’s not aimed at my age group, It left me feeling rather sad and depressed. I have read other books by Marcus Sedgewick and have enjoyed them, his books are usually powerful and compelling, but this one is not my favourite.

This book couldn't be more timely if it tried! Given all of the anti-immigration rhetoric we are subjected to daily, a book which looks at the horrific lives of those lived on the Mexican border reminds us all why migration happens in the first place. The book details 36 hours in the life of Arturo, a teenager living in the slums of Anapra close to the border with El Paso. In a short narrative, we are shown the beauty and horror that surround him, the overwhelming and insidious presence of the drug cartels and the utter hopelessness felt by many on a day to day basis. And yet, through all this, Arturo's is a story of hope. This is not an easy read. It is gut-wrenching and heartbreaking in equal measure, but it is a book that should be read and digested.

I heard Marcus Sedgwick talk about this book at Bath Children’s Literature Festival and so was so excited to be approved for it on NetGalley.
I was really interested in the book after having studied a lot about the US-Mexico border and being a Breaking Bad fan, a narrative that focused on the other side seemed right up my street.

The novel is focalised through Arturo and spans 24 hours from the moment his old friend, Faustino, comes to ask for his help as Faustino owes the cartel $1000. The only way Arturo can save his friend is to gamble, and try to win the money back. Despite being set in a short time span, the novel does explore the history and lives of the two boys, as well as life in Juarez and Anapra, where Arturo lives. However, the book is short, under 300 pages, and doesn’t develop the history of the characters as fully as I would have liked – it might have been good to learn about some of Arturo’s family history before he went to the city for example, otherwise it seems like it comes out of nowhere.

The gambling scenes were well plotted and entertaining, and many of the characters were intriguing as we hear them fleshed out more fully. Sedgwick has a literary tendency in his writing and the book is full of symbolism although sometimes this is made to obvious – we know the significance of the number 5 reoccurring without Arturo having to think it for us. In some places this literariness is effective, Faustino’s name for example referencing the deal he has made through recalling ‘Faustus’ or the imagery of Santa Muerte. However, in other places it felt out of place – interspersed online conversations debating the ‘state of the nation’ just seemed to jar and interrupt the story rather than adding something of value. As a teenager I would probably have loved these segments for making me feel engaged and knowledgeable about world affairs but now I feel like they we glaringly conspicuous and these issues could have been woven into the fabric of the novel more.

As a YA novel it was well-pitched, and I would expect nothing less from Sedgwick with such an extensive back catalogue. There is swearing, but doing it in Spanish adds authenticity to the setting, while equally, sex and violence are present and necessary rather than used gratuitously.

Overall it was a good story and a interesting plot and I definitely think it has big appeal as a YA novel.

Saint Death follows Arturo, a young man living in a shack on the border between US and Mexico. Living hand to mouth in an impoverished city, the story follows Arturo as he struggles to save himself and childhood friend from a dangerous situation and a poverty-stricken life.

From the moment I began reading I could tell this book was something special. Sedgwick describes the harsh, grim day-to-day life that poor Arturo battles through. The seamless writing flows between Spanish and English and lends its self perfectly to the setting.

I could tell there was more to the book than the simple, verging on non-existent story line, there was definitely a meaningful deeper message to the story, but unfortunately it was lost on me. I do love exploring books outside my usual choice of dystopian YA, but this book, although I knew it was something special it did go over my head.

I tried, honestly I did... But I just could not get into it, as much as I tried. As a general rule I always give a book 100 pages before I pass any form of judgement... and I did, I read about half of it.
I am not saying its a terrible book by any means, I have seen tons of good reviews for it. It just wasn't the book for me... I found the writing (although interesting) too hard going and the deep messages were lost on me.

Really interesting - a fascinating insight into the issues of young people growing up near the US border

I'm not sure whether I'd categorise this as a YA novel or not. It sits somewhere between YA and adult in that it is so dark and uncompromising in its themes. Hats off to Sedgewick though because he pulls no punches here. The story is not complex leaving you nowhere to hide and forcing you to confront the actions of the narrative. I can't say it was an entirely enjoyable experience - books for me are largely and unapologetically about escapism - but I think this covers important issues. It was illuminating and of course asks the question: who are the bad guys in the end?

This is an amazingly powerful book.
It is set in Juarez a town on the Mexican US border. There are gangs, drugs, crime, violence, corruption, murder, illegal immigration, robberies and a constant battle for power. This is where Arturo grows up, he lives in a world where this is everyday life, in his little shack.
His friend Faustino comes to see him after an absence on 10 months, with Eva and her 1 month old baby. Faustino has been caught up in the gang world and needs the help of Arturo or he will be killed.
The story then starts to pick up momentum and we start to see a country where religion has a large presence, from Christ the King on Mount Cristo Rey with his arms outstretched, to, Santa Muerte known as the White Girl, the Saint of Death, a rebel angel who is worshipped by criminals, police, prostitutes, politicians and the army amongst others.
Belief has alot to play in this story, tests of faith follow Arturo as he winds his way through 24 hours, the time he has to save his friends. He is put into positions where he has a choice. These choices are to test him to his limit, will he commit a crime to save his friends? What will he have to sacrifice? Or will he sacrifice anything at all ?
Marcus Sedgwick does not hold back with this book, he discusses the brutel conditions people living in the border towns have to deal with in their normal everyday lives, but it written with passion and heart. It moved me to the verge of tears in places, it is emotional and strong.
Thank you very much Netgally, Hachette Children's Group and Marcus Sedgwick for the chance to read this eARC.

A challenging book for young adults with strong philosophical themes; a heroic tragedy set in Mexico, The book investigates the power of capitalism and of the narco gangs, and the limited options of the poor. Well written, with vivid descriptions of poverty and violence.
Despite it all our hero Arturo keeps control, makes choices about how he acts and remains true to himself.

I struggled with Saint Death. I have enjoyed some of Marcus Sedgwick's books very much, but I didn't think this one worked very well.

This is a story of 24 hours or so in the life of Arturo, a poor man who lives, as so many others do, in a makeshift shack near Juarez on the Mexican side if the border with the USA. Life is wholly dominated by two factors: drug cartels whose power means that there is effectively no law, so they murder, rob, rape and intimidate as they please, and the factories which produce goods for US corporations, based in Mexico because of low wages and non-existent employment rights. The corrupting effect one everything is strongly portrayed; Arturo tries to remain honest, but becomes drawn into a darker world through loyalty to a friend in need of help.

It's a tough, bleak read, interspersed with quotations from people like Barack Obama, Noam Chomsky and others about the attitudes and economic forces which produce such places. There is a story with characters whose fate is charted, but in many ways this is a political polemic as much as a novel, with Sedgwick's stance being largely summed up in this sentence: "Juarez is what happens when greed makes money by passing things across the border dividing poverty and wealth." He excoriates the cartels, but also the rich people in the USA who keep them powerful by buying the drugs, and the US laws and corporations who exploit the poverty to increase their own wealth.

Even though I think Sedgwick makes very valid and timely points, as a novel I didn't think this really worked. It's more of a political cry of rage, really, and I found it pretty hard work to read. Only a lukewarm recommendation, I'm afraid.

(I received an ARC via Netgalley.)

What an unusual premise. The Mexican underbelly is not a subject I know much about so initially I found the story interesting. I was drawn by the main character and his strong will.. However, as the book progressed I found myself distracted by the addition text in between chapters. The themes are powerful and concerning. There is violence and bravery. Hardship and joy. Overall a shocking insight into what is happening in the world.