Wow...just WOW!

<i>Every Stolen Breath</i> is a thriller and then some. Pulling zero punches, this book grabs you by the throat from the very start and doesn't let up until the final pages. Seemingly no character is safe in this nail-biter. I've also never quite seen PTSD or asthma depicted with such brutal realism. (The PTSD scenes - and there are many - may be a trigger for some.)


CW: violence and PTSD.

I’ve been putting this book off forever and I have no idea why. It was riveting and fast-paced, perfectly plotted and so much smarter than I was expecting. I honestly forgot I was reading a young adult book. Amazing.

Every Stolen Breath is a promising debut novel from Kimberly Gabriel that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Two years after the brutal murder of her father at the hands of the Swam, Lia Finch isn’t any closer to finding the truth she so desperately seeks. But everything changes after she witnesses the Swarm’s next attack and finds herself thrust into the action … this time with a target painted on her back.

Lia is a gem of a main character. She’s been a fighter for as long as she’s been alive. Others constantly write her off due to her anxiety, PTSD, and severe asthma, but her tenacity makes her a force to be reckoned with. I found myself rooting for her every step along the way. Gabriel does a wonderful job of putting the reader in Lia’s shoes. When her PTSD blurs the lines between what’s real and what’s not, you’ll feel just as winded as Lia as she struggles to root herself back in the present.

“The Swarm” is a fascinating villain. There’s something especially chilling about seemingly random mob violence, even more so when you realize the attacks are loosely based off events that did transpire in Chicago in 2011. Gabriel doesn’t do any sugar coating, and Lia can’t help but constantly replay the traumatic events back in her head. It keeps you aware of the constant threat with every turn of the page.

I enjoyed this novel. With genuine characters, twists and chapter cliffhangers, and an intensity that only ratchets up as you go, Every Stolen Breath is a breeze of a read. Kudos to Gabriel for a strong debut novel, and I can’t wait to see what she cooks up next!

"I can’t help but wonder if I’m caught in some sick and twisted Alice in Wonderland dream where my world has turned upside down and nothing is as it seems."
Me too, for real! This sums up this book quite well. Every Stolen Breath is action packed, and thrilled me to the last.

I won't be doing a proper review for this title, as it was a did not finish for me. I got a few chapters in and was struggling in following along with what the story was getting at.

Whoa!! I can honestly say that this book is captivating, and raw. This author is by far one of my favorites now. I do not usually read YA novels but this one had me from page 1.

Every Stolen Breath by Kimberly Gabriel.

Oh my gosh where did this author come from???? I love this book! I hope there is more to come from Lia and Ryan!!! This ya to be one of the best books I’ve read in a very long time, one of the very few I couldn’t predict how it ended! I am ready for more from this author!!!

5 stars

I really enjoyed this one! I loved the mystery, the action, the twists, it was so good! I wish I would've read it sooner!

This book is intense, visceral, and raw in all the right ways. Lia is not the typical YA heroine, her body is physically weak, she is limited the entire story and yet she is the strongest character of the cast. The twists keep coming and the author dares to go where you don't think she will and everything is so much stronger for it.

Every Stolen Breath by Kimberly Gabriel is a standout when it comes to fast paced, exhilarating thrillers. And will definitely linger with me for a good time. The story follows our protagonist, Lia,16 who loses her father to the Swarm, a mob that conspires attacks and kills whoever comes closer to them. And as Lia, seeks out for vengeance, she learns secrets and lies that have the potential to shake the foundation of her city.

As I mentioned, Every Stolen Breath keeps you on the edge right from the start, and as the story starts building up the emotion intensifies. The characterization of Lia is on point, keeping in mind the fact that she is just a teenager, Kimberly has crafted her with utmost care, that doesn't make her a "know-it-all", and it is almost a treat to watch her work out the clues and build up her story almost single-handedly. LIA speaks volumes to me when it comes to "courage" and "standing up for what is right".

Cullen, the mayor's son was another character that felt so close to being real and he in my opinion can be considered as the poster kid for ones who vies for "public opinion". Cullen felt like a conflicted teenager to me and I definitely would love to have known more about his side of the story. His relationship with the Mayor kinda could've been explored more adding another layer to the story.

Ryan was another dubious character and although he stuck by Lia, most of the times, his image as a whole was questionable.

So, unequivocally the women in Every Stolen Breath steals the show, be it Lia's fighting spirit or Emi,the journalist's journey to unraveling the secrets out in the open!

<b>The Swarm in question, didn't feel like a fictional entity, but a force that could be evidently real and a phenomena that is plausible and present or something that might happen in the near future.

I thoroughly enjoyed this compelling, nail biting and thriller with a social message!

If you are looking for a thriller with a brilliant plot and a strong female MC this one is for you.</b>

I've been following Kimberly for a while, and I was excited to get this review copy. ESB is a well-crafted thriller that will keep you glued to the pages. I'm looking forward to more by Gabriel!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Every Stolen Breath
By: Kimberly Gabriel

*REVIEW* 🌟🌟🌟🌟
I am always intrigued by stories about technology and social media influence on our lives. Harkining back to every swarm and hive mentality you have ever heard of, here is a thrilling story about the consequences of thinking or not thinking for yourself. Social media is dangerous and much too influential. Every Stolen Breath is a fascinating concept for everyone to consider.

Favorite Quotes:

Then she hung up before I could think of an articulate rebuttal, leaving me sitting there, mouth gaping like some taxidermized fish.

It’s the side effect of attending a pretentious private school, where people treat Everybody’s Business like it’s a class they can ace and add to their transcripts.

I can’t help but wonder if I’m caught in some sick and twisted Alice in Wonderland dream where my world has turned upside down and nothing is as it seems.

Strength isn’t defined by who can hit the hardest in a fight, but by who’s still standing at the end.



My Review:

I rarely read YA and to be honest, I purposely avoid it, but I’m thrilled I had the foresight to make an exception for Kimberly Gabriel’s brilliantly plotted debut. I couldn’t seem to resist the intriguing synopsis and a colorful book cover that required a full stop and several minutes to thoroughly examine.

Ms. Gabriel’s storylines were diabolically clever and fiendishly crafted while populated with uniquely compelling and intriguing characters of all ages and levels of mistrust and suspicion. I was immediately sucked into Lia’s mono-focused and quivering vortex of distrust and dramatic catastrophic thinking. This mesmerizing tale was written from the first-person POV of an angsty sixteen-year-old asthmatic who proved to be rather unstable with significant features of PTSD including panic attacks, auditory and visual hallucinations, paranoia, delusions, and crippling anxiety and self-consciousness. She was also stubbornly persistent, grief driven, highly resourceful and had the arrogance of youth in her toolkit.

With cunning and deftly written twists and turns, Ms. Gabriel has made a stunning and flawless debut. As I was making my way through this tautly penned and complex tale, I had a striking epiphany of why I tend to eschew this genre while simultaneously realizing this book was well worth the disheartening and stark reminders of the painful sense of powerlessness and nettling subjugation and disregard experienced as a teenager with two XX chromosomes. While I vastly enjoyed her work, I still haven’t decided whether I should thank the author for the personal insight or swear a pox on her instead.

Every Stolen Breath
Kimberly Gabriel
Blink, November 2019
ISBN 978-0-310-76666-7
Hardcover

From the publisher—

The Swarm is unrecognizable, untraceable, and unpredictable—random attacks on the streets of Chicago by a mob of crazed teens that leaves death in its wake. It’s been two years since the last attack, but Lia Finch has found clues that reveal the Swarm is ready to claim a new victim.

Lia is the only one still pursuing her father’s killers, two years after attorney Steven Finch’s murder by the Swarm. Devastated and desperate for answers, Lia will do anything to uncover the reasons behind his death and to stop someone else from being struck down. But due to debilitating asthma and PTSD that leaves her with a tenuous hold on reality, Lia is the last person to mount a crusade on her own.

After a close encounter with the Swarm puts Lia on their radar, she teams up with a teen hacker, a reporter, and a mysterious stranger who knows firsthand how the mob works. Together, they work to uncover the master puppeteer behind the group. Though if Lia and her network don’t stop the person pulling the strings—and fast—Lia may end up the next target.

Inspired by the real-life “flash mob” violence that struck Chicago in 2011, Every Stolen Breath by debut author Kimberly Gabriel is a fast-paced and immersive thriller that shows just how hard one girl will fight back, knowing any breath might be her last.

It’s really hard to fathom how a vicious flash mob can happen, especially when you realize that 98% of the people involved would never do such a horrible thing on their own. The mob mentality is a very real thing and, yes, we can be sheep in the wrong circumstances.

What’s not hard to believe or understand is how a victim can be so messed up, mentally and emotionally, but also physically; Lia’s PTSD is almost a given but it has become a part of her, a part that she has to control as best she can while she pursues justice for her dad and for herself.

This is as intense a story as I’ve ever read and there were moments when I had to put the book down so I could catch my breath. Lia’s journey is frequently a train wreck but she is a girl who won’t be stopped and must be true to herself, no matter what dangers lurk seemingly around every corner. While I’ve never experienced anything even close to this situation, Ms. Gabriel drew me in with a tale I won’t soon forget.

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, November 2019.

When I started this book I thought I was getting your every day average contemporary story. But, what I found in these pages was one story I will not forget anytime soon. This story follows the main character Lia after her father was murdered by a mob of people called the swarm. I have to say that is my first story about a mob of people killing someone but man this could be a series that I would totally devour!

I loved Lia and her determination to find out who killed her dad and why. She was strong and empowering and she is who I would love to be when I grow up. She didn't stop and she went head first into the situation to get justice for those who couldn't get it for themselves.

The pacing in this one done very well. The story was smooth sailing in its showing/telling and I wouldn't have changed anything!! It ended on a great note and although I would have loved to see an Epilogue set maybe a year in the future but other than that I loved the ending. The romance in this one worked very well and I would love another story set in the past before this one to learn more about Ryan and those who were forced into the Swarm.

I also just realized that this was a debut title which I have to say that this doesn't feel like a debut at all!! It felt like it was from a seasoned author that knew what they were doing and now that I know that I will be auto buying stories from Gabriel from now on because WOW!!


Go Into This One Knowing: Light Romance, Murder by Mob group of people, Death of a Parent

I really enjoy the premise of this book. Really like how the author going into detail on Lia who suffers from asthma and PTSD. Overall I did like this book and can't wait to read more from this author.

In Every Stolen Breath, author Kimberly Gabriel leads readers on a heart-pounding thrill ride through a murderous Chicago where no one can be trusted. Lia Finch is a high school Chicagoan who is still dealing with the grief of her father’s brutal murder at the hands of the Swarm, a faceless group of teenagers who target seemingly random victims for death by beating. However, after witnessing a Swarm attack, Lia develops a theory: the Swarm’s vicious attacks are not random acts of violence, and they are not the gang-affiliated hits that the media portrays; instead, Lia believes that the Swarm is a carefully orchestrated weapon wielded by someone who wants to hold on to power. As Lia fights off feelings of paranoia to search for evidence to corroborate her theory, a chain of events is put into motion that threatens the lives of everyone she knows and cares about.

Every Stolen Breath was intensely readable, and it kept me guessing who was behind the conspiracy from start to finish. However, I didn’t devour this book as quickly as I thought I would, mainly because I struggled to fully invest in the plot. Pieces of Lia’s backstory, such as her twin sister’s death in infancy, seemed like they would grow to matter, yet they end up not adding up to much. Additionally, the references to Lia’s past mental health difficulties detracted from my enjoyment; was I to question Lia’s worries as paranoia or invest in her sleuthing abilities? Could I trust Lia as a reliable narrator, or was the Swarm a figment of her imagination, a way for her to deal with her father’s murder? I also didn’t understand why Gabriel insisted on calling Lia’s psychiatrist “Dr. What’s His Name,” which seemed to demean the mental health profession as well as marginalize the real need that many teens have for professional mental health help. While Lia’s struggle with asthma seemed realistic and offered valuable characterization and plot development, I feel like Every Stolen Breath would have been stronger without the other references to Lia’s past; having a character investigate the nameless mob that murdered her father while trying not to end up facing the same fate was enough to drive the plot without the tragic past and mental health references.

Despite these misgivings, though, I feel like Gabriel’s Every Stolen Breath would be a welcome addition to any school library where demand for mysteries and thrillers is high. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was stunning in the way the author took time to really break down the chain of events and everything leading up to why The Swarm does what they do and why. I enjoyed the very minimal romance between Ryan and the main character Lia as it added a little to the story but distract from the story arc. Gabriel gives the Swarm characteristics that makes them dangerous and mysterious and it really makes the reader feel like they are apart of the destruction of the group. I also loved the misleading hint drops to the governor and his son as possible agents. The entire book felt like a race that keep my brain reeling and ready to go!

This book is a fast paced nail bitter. The main character, Lia is trying to finish what her Dad started, and got him killed. She wants his killers brought to justice. Chicago is under the threat of The Swarm, who attack seemingly random tourists by a mob of teenagers beating up a person to death. Lia's wants to prove her dad was killed in retaliation in trying to find the out who at the head of The Swarm.

Before we come to the conclusion of the book more people will die, Lia is convinced she is next, yet trying to figure them out before they take another victim, or herself.

This is the type of book you don't want to put down. While it was exciting and full of tension, I often wanted to scream at Lia. She makes poor choices, she gets herself into situations that perhaps more rational people would not be in. Yet, with the PTSD going on, you can almost forgive her. Add in a unique quality to the book, the level of Lia's asthma. It makes you think she would take it easier in life, but she doesn't let anything hold her back.

If you like thrillers, this is not a book to miss.

Every Stolen Breath was a different read. I didn't expect the story to go the way it did. While I enjoyed most of it, there were a few things that bugged me and I did find myself bored at times. The twist at the end was really good.

I don't know if this would be considered dystopian or not, but it definitely gave me some Divergent vibes...maybe because both stories are set in Chicago.

All in all, Every Stolen Breath was a nice one-time read.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*