Book Review: City of Hooks and Scars by Estelle Laure
I was so excited to find this book in my mailbox! Disney Publishing has been gifting readers with some amazing villain stories and City of Villains is easily my favorite series! Read on for a book review of City of Hooks and Scars (City of Villains #2.)
In this sequel to City of Villains by critically acclaimed author, Estelle Laure, teen detective Mary Elizabeth continues to unravel a dark conspiracy that has turned her best friend and boyfriend into villainous monsters―all while battling her own inner demons.
Picking up where City of Villains left off, this sequel finds Mary Elizabeth reeling from the battle at Miracle Lake in which she watched, horrified, as her boyfriend James and best friend Ursula turned into full-fledged, villainous monsters. Now James, Ursula, and Maleficent have gone underground―and are plotting their revenge. Mary Elizabeth is determined to find them and bring the truth to light, digging deeper into the dark underbelly of Monarch City and the history of magic, and uncovering a conspiracy theory that reaches farther than she could have imagined. But a city divided by politics and ideologies, a new love interest, and her own inner demons might just stand in her way.
What are the Villains planning in secret? And is she the next villain to rise?
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City of Hooks and Scars Review
In City of Hooks and Scars, readers are transported back to the Scar and one of its inhabitants Mary Elizabeth Heart. She is reeling from the huge battle at the end of City of Villains where she lost her best friend Ursula and boyfriend James who are now missing from their tight knot community. Mary knows something is foul in the City, and begins her investigation into finding out where her friends are by teaming up with a journalist named Jasmin and her old partner Bella.
City of Hooks and Scars doesn’t have the explosive action of City of Villains, but this isn’t a bad thing. The majority of the book focuses on Mary’s investigation plus how she deals with her trauma and PTSD from having to cut off James’ hand to free him from the cruel lab. Mary isn’t a stranger to loss and with the introduction of magic back into the Scar, she knows that she has to peel back the layers of the conspiracy.
Author Estelle Laure masterfully builds the suspense between Mary and the evil voice in her head that encourages her to be villainous. At first, it’s easy to chalk up Mary’s paranoia at being watched to the after-effects of the villain’s battle. Then, the reader realizes that Mary just hasn’t gotten a full view of just how powerful she is, not only as Mary Heart but as the Queen of Hearts.
One last note, how amazing is Phil Buchanan’s cover? It gives away just the right amount of details without being too spoilery!
Rating 4/5 stars
