From the Bookshelf of SOS: Serious Overload of Series…

Mortal Danger (Immortal Game, #1)

Ann Aguirre

Start date: October 1, 2014

Finish date: October 31, 2014

Discussion: Book of the Month

Why we're reading this: Voted as our "Most Popular Books Published in August 2014" October BOM …more
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* BOM: Group Read History [2025]
By Steph , Serious series addict · 9 posts · 22 views

last updated Aug 30, 2025 12:41AM

* BOM: Comments & Suggestions
By Steph , Serious series addict · 38 posts · 229 views

last updated Mar 15, 2012 06:15PM

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What Members Thought

Mar 13, 2012 Steph rated it really liked it

Shelves: series-book1, age-group-ya-na, author-웃, author-favorite, series-ongoing, year-read-2014, sos-bom

After finishing this book last night I scrolled through the other ratings and reviews. I was surprised to see so many DNFs (did not finish) and low star ratings. In all honesty, I went into this book blind, which I often do; I didn't read the book's blurb before buying or reading it. While many have mentioned the blurb doesn't fairly represent the story, I feel it explains it well while trying to keep the mystery alive. The title and series name, however, are spot on, IMO.

That said, I believe E After finishing this book last night I scrolled through the other ratings and reviews. I was surprised to see so many DNFs (did not finish) and low star ratings. In all honesty, I went into this book blind, which I often do; I didn't read the book's blurb before buying or reading it. While many have mentioned the blurb doesn't fairly represent the story, I feel it explains it well while trying to keep the mystery alive. The title and series name, however, are spot on, IMO.

That said, I believe Edmund Wilson's quote to be true, “No two persons ever read the same book.” We each have different take-aways, different life experiences that inevitably affect our connections (or lack there of) with characters and their stories.

Misery leaves a mark on the world, Edie. All strong emotions do. Rage, terror, love, longing ... they're powerful forces.

Edith "Edie" Kramer's story in Mortal Danger is one that will tug on the heart of any reader. She's the target of intense bullying. Not only is she an outsider at school, but "... as long as [she] got straight As, [her parents] had little to do with [her]. They said they were rearing [her] to be self-sufficient. [To her,] it felt more like they were raising [her] to self-destruct." With no support system in her life, the constant ridicule and torment from her classmates almost sends her over the edge, literally. It's when she finds herself in extremis that Kian appears and makes her an offer she cannot refuse.

At Blackbriar Academy - an exclusive, private school that my parents thought guaranteed a bright future - it wasn't okay to be ugly, weird, or different. I was all of the above.

From the reviews I've read, it seems many readers started to have problems with the book following Edie's first wish. Was it hard for me to believe that a teenager who feels her problems center around appearance - hers and that of the "Teflon crew" - would think becoming beautiful will help solve those problems? No. I'm (too) many years away from my high school experience, yet I can still remember the beautiful people and how, from afar, their world seemed perfect. But, I didn't feel this meant the author was saying, "Beauty solves everything." In fact, as Edie herself quickly learns, those in the inner circle do not have perfect lives.

My feelings differed in other areas as well:
~ "Revenge is a dish best served cold."
While Edie's mission is to become "... a one-girl wrecking crew" when she returns to Blackbriar in the fall, things don't work out as she'd hoped. (view spoiler)
~ Insta-love factor
Yes, there is insta-love. It's a YA novel, so it was not unexpected. (view spoiler)
~ Instant personality changes
Unlike some, I didn't feel Edie's personality boost due to her new appearance was unrealistic. (view spoiler)

I loved the high spook factor of this book! It was unexpected and much appreciated. There are many hauntingly skin-crawling moments. I also enjoyed learning about the Immortal Game and some of its players, yet many questions remain. I'm looking forward to what's to come for Edie and Kian. ...more

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