Ebony Marshall is in her final year of high school. Five months, two weeks and four days . . . She can’t wait to leave the town where she’s known only as ‘Black’. Because of her name, of course. But for another reason, too.

Everyone says Black Marshall is cursed.

Three of her best friends have died in tragic accidents. After Oscar, the whispers started. Now she’s used to being on her own. It’s easier that way.

But when her date for the formal ends up in intensive care, something in quiet little Dainsfield starts to stir. Old secrets are revealed and terrifying new dangers emerge.

If only Black could put all the pieces together, she could work out who her real enemies are. Should she run for her life, or stay and fight?

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This book was my choice of “out of my comfort zone” for the TBRtakedown read’a’thon, not that thriller is out of my comfort zone but because I tend to dislike YA thrillers. I always end up yelling at the teenager trying to defeat multiple attackers or solve a crime themselves and want to shake them TO CALL THE DAMN POLICE AND STOP MESSING ABOUT.

But yay and hallelujah this book was fantastic and blew all my pre conceived notions out of the water. The plot is fast paced, the small town setting surrounded by woods was creepy, the feeling of everyone being evil made me unable to guess who was going to be the big reveal. AND our main character Ebony/Black CALLED THE POLICE AND RAN THERE thank you, even though it didn’t really help I appreciate some rational thought!

Black has been a social out cast at school for years, surrounded by rumors that she’s cursed because 3 of her close friends have died in accidents, the townspeople and class members are suspicious of her and bully her.

When three bullies set the new kid to ask Black to the school dance he ends up telling them where to go and actually being honest with Black about it being a dare, she agrees to go to the dance with him and things start looking brighter for a while.

There are constantly things going on, there’s a weird religious cult, bullying and rumor spreading, secrets surrounding her birth, and what happened the night of her mothers 25th birthday.

I am so happy I loved this book and can not wait to read Fleur Ferris’s other books. I actually met Fleur at the Penguin Showcase and listening to her speak made me so excited for this book and I wanted to love it so I’m glad I did.

4/5 stars

Have you read Black? What did you think? Do you read YA thriller or stick to adult?

I don’t think I’m going to go out and add a heap of YA thrillers to my TBR right away because I’m really wary of them.

If you have any recs for ya thrillers that don’t feature a main character that just makes things worst and tries to solve everything themselves let me know! I’ll definitely be reading Fleurs Risk and can’t wait for Wreaked to be released.