SHARD is a captivating YA Sci-Fi that focuses on the characters of Kaia, Connor and Dice. They—along with numerous other teenagers—have elemental powers derived from the periodic table. Kaia is recruited into their group of teenagers who save the world after its realised that Kaia shares this gift. She quickly gets acquainted with the others and is sent on her first mission. Danger and excitement follow.
SHARD is a story with a unique premise. Usually when we hear about stories with elemental magic, it’s focusing on the elements as in water, fire, wind and the earth, rather than the periodic table of elements. This drew me in, as I wanted to see just how it all played out.
Our main character, Kaia, can control the element silicone. Silicone is in all sorts—including glass and sand. Throughout the book, Kaia seemed to be a character with little personality. I found I couldn’t really connect to her. I understood her past. I understood her present. But I felt like I didn’t understand her. She lacked in depth and seemed to be stuck as a one dimensional, timid character afraid of anything and everything. We do see her grow as she gets to know her fellow elementals and as she gets to know her own power, but I still felt like I didn’t understand who she was as a character.
I loved the relationships between the characters—their banter and genuine love for one another was heart warming. It left me coming back for more. The action was entertaining and I felt I was really able to understand their powers and how they key into who the characters were as people. It did feel like a well rounded story with a satisfying beginning and ending that can easily lead into the sequel.
However, while I enjoyed this story, it was predictable. Although, that could just be because I’ve read books with similar set-ups. I guessed the main plot twist at maybe thirty percent in? There was another plot twist that completely threw me off guard, however, and I am still seething at it—it was a good plot twist, I just hated what happened because I am not soulless. Then, there was one more plot twist near the end that I felt like had so little build up. It was more of a revelation than a plot twist to be honest, because if it was intended to be a plot twist, it would have needed far more foreshadowing than it got to appear real.
Also, the recruitment of Kaia really threw me off. I understand that it’s a different world that operates under different rules, but there were less excessive ways to recruit someone that wouldn’t have incited so much panic and confusion. If that had happened to me, I’d have been furious for a very long time.
Overall, this was a genuinely entertaining read and I will definitely be coming back to read the next book. And hopefully the one after that.

Bam. The opening! This was a light, easy read, perfect for the new round of teens who think the Hunger Games is old news! The opening was a little abrupt for my taste, but still tasteful. It became sluggish towards the midpoint and it became a struggle to finish towards the end. Overall it was an enjoyable read that I think is perfect for the young teen audience it is aimed towards. I would say the story arc was slightly disappointing, but characters became intriguing and enjoyable. I hope that in future books, the characters enjoy a further development stage to make this even better.
I received an arc copy for review and leave this view voluntarily

"This is not a trick or a con."

Shard is the first book in a YA science fiction trilogy featuring a futuristic dystopian world on the brink of an ongoing terrorism attack and gave spotlight to a great case of characters and engaging theme.

While it read like other YA novels, it was action-packed and highly engaging and entertaining that I flew through it. There was just enough intrigue and angst spread across the story that it really was such a thrill to read, despite its more sinister story undertones. And I could absolutely see anyone who enjoys superhero movies to really enjoy this book too. It had that feel of X-Men but with more bizarre characters but equally heart-pounding action scenes.

This book is definitely something to watch out for, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to read stories such as these.

The story is about Kaia, a girl with special powers who gets taken in by a mysterious organization called “The Company.”

The relationship between Kaia and Connor is too fast paced for me. Connor is planning their relationship at 7% in the book.

Kaia and the other kids in the Company have special powers in which they can control the elements. You may be thinking of the usual elements you see in fiction, Fire, air etc. Instead the kids can control the periodic elements, which I found to be unique and interesting.

Dice was my favourite character of the book but also the most unbelievable. He’s only 15 and can create advanced technology that hasn’t even been invented yet. Despite that, his conspiracies and character were highly enjoyable to read.

Connor, Kaia and Dice had the most character development out of the kids. The others felt under-developed to me but that can change in book 2.

Kaia was the most unlikeable character. She got angry and upset over the smallest things. She would also have stereotypical thoughts about the other teens in the company.

I also found the “twist” to be very predictable.

The book was fast paced and was hard to put down, even though I had a few issues with it. At the end of the day I did enjoy it.

I would recommend it to people who enjoy fast-paced dystopian plots with realistic teens (minus Dice) and a little bit of insta-love.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was so disappointing.

I know it is for teenagers but the plot was poor.

What could have been so good just felt rushed with the characters lacking depth.

More interested in who liked who and very petty.

I just did not enjoy this.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

SHARD is the first in a new trilogy where Mission Impossible meets X-Men.....kinda. A group of teenagers able to control one element on the periodic table seems kinda like a lame premise, until you realize just how dope some of those powers can be. Yes; I, a 32 year old woman just used the word dope. The point of view in this story shifts mainly between Kaia(a girl who has just found out about her abilities) and Connor(a guy who has been in "the company" for a while). What missions will they be sent on and just heat exactly will they be doing? You'll have to read to find out!

Both of our mains have alot to offer the story and both of them are hilarious! No brooding boys or shy/I can't be a chosen one girls in this story. The powers/elements are explained in such a fun way, it's very refreshing to see and it all makes sense/is realistic. You could see something like this really existing in secret today. My big gripe is that my ship didn't sail (atleast not yet), but I am so looking forward to the next adventure for this rag tag team! Don't miss this action packed adventure.

I recommend this for anyone 10+ as it is a light read and doesn't have any themes that would be problematic for younger readers. If you like spy thrillers, conspiracy theories, books big on technology, or action you'll love this story. I'll just be sitting here waiting (im)patiently for book 2.

SHARD: Book One of The Shard Trilogy, is a fast-paced page-turner that draws you in from the first page, with its original plot and well-written characters with who you instantly connect with. Makes you want to read more of the series.

Shard introduces us to a world very much like our own, but in enough of an alternative timeline to make it significantly different from ours. This first book is truly a book of discovery 0 for the reader and the characters as they learn more about how to relate to each other, how to work together, and about their situation. When Kaia leaves on a school-related trip to France, and ends up being accused of terrorism, he whole live changes and everything she thought she knew about herself and her world is about to change! No matter what age you are - teenagers or above!) - you will be riveted to the pages of this book and will not be able to put it down. The characters a well-rounded, developed, and both witty and snarky, without losing any of their true teen nature. While this is obviously part of a trilogy (it says so right in the title!), it is a fully complete story, but I cannot wait to see what happens in Book Two!

This is such an amazing book!! It contains terrorism, conspiracies and alternate worlds.
It is so incredibly well written and it had me gripped right from the start

Kaia Davis has a real future in sight as she travels to France for a foreign exchange visit. She's been passed around foster parents for almost all her life but none of those placements has stuck. But this experience might be the one to turn things around for her. Then she's flagged as a terrorist on arrival at Charles de Gaulle airport only to be whisked away by another teenager, Connor, to a secret organisation where teens with special powers help rid the world of crime. Or something along those lines. It's not long before she comes to know several peers who already seem like a real family to her.

This is a variant of dystopian and teen hero fiction where the teen is saved from a prior life and through special ability is able to make a real difference in the world. I found the story started really well and I was hooked early on. But then it flagged quite a bit in the middle and I spent a lot of time thinking of how ludicrous it was for teens to be doing these missions. It's not like I haven't enjoyed stories like this before but I felt the story didn't quite build it up in a way that was believable, even in this alternate universe. That's how it went for a while until the last third of the book when it suddenly caught my interest again. I can't say this was sustained to the end but it did give a lift to my impression of the book.

Overall the story-telling was uneven and there were quite a few plot holes that couldn't be overlooked. The whole notion of how these teens came to be and to be where they were just didn't work for me. The backstory being told via flashbacks wasn't terribly effective for me either. It seems to be a common way of providing background in many books today, but it really must be done well to be effective. Here I found the transition between current action and backstory was really poor and appeared to just be inserted into the main story.

Despite the faults, I did find the characters engaging in many ways and I did feel some investment by the end of the book. There was a lot of untold story where things are left in volume one so there is potential to really improve the story. Hopefully the next leg of the journey will be an improvement over this part.

Overall, I found this story to be okay but could be better. I give it 2.5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Books Go Social for sharing an advanced reader copy for free. I am voluntarily providing this review.

This novel is jam-packed with action and explosions (both metaphorically and literally), fighting and flirting (sometimes in the same breath). The few times I could manage to put this book down were occasions in which I needed to stare blankly at the wall to process what I just read. Over 400 pages and read in one day! Gripping ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

While I loved the idea for the story, there was something lacking about this novel. There was too much dialogue for my liking and not enough description. The plot also could have been developed a little bit better. There were a few plot holes that were quite obvious. If The Company was spying on the kids, how come they didn't know about Dice's secret inventions and the whereabouts of his bunker? How come that Ms Smith was able to release poisonous gas in a very public and touristy place and yet there were no guards or anyone else on the premises when the kids were escaping? Also, who goes back in to retrieve a necklace, no matter the personal value, knowing well that they could die? I could probably go on for a little bit longer, but that doesn't seem very necessary. The point is that this could have been a very good novel, but the characters, the plot and the idea itself seem a bit rushed. While the enormous strings of dialogue do give you a bit of insight into the kids' minds and personalities, there should have been more description throughout the novel.

SHARD is a perfect Sci-Fi book for teens who like teenagers with superpowers doing what adults can't: saving the world.
The characters are well described, each one has its own personality and I, as a Brazilian, was very happy to see Gabriela. I really liked Brazil being represented outside the cliché, no samba, soccer or carnaval.
If you like books with a lot of action, humor and suspense/thriller, you'll like this one.

**I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for sending me the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

Please make this book into a movie! "Shard", by A.M. Pierre is the adventure book I needed to kick off my summer right.

Growing up Kaia had it rough, bouncing between foster families and homes. Heading back from a trip to France to her most recent home, Kaia learns about her special abilities and finds her people. The ensuing adventure proves that love and understanding overcome all evil.

Reading "Shard" reminded me that we are the people we are based on our experiences and our choices. When we are able to understand who we are and accept the responsibility for making personal choices we find ourselves. It is important to find our people in life. People who are like-minded and accept us in spite of our shortcomings. "Shard" shows the power of coming together as a team or family to overcome problems.

The question I ask myself is, would I read this book again. I read "Shard" through netgalley, and am planning to purchase a hard copy. Yes, I would absolutely read this book again and again. To emphasize my comment at the beginning, please make this into a movie, because I would love to watch that!

On paper, ‘Shard’ seemed like a good option or me as a reader. After finishing several consecutive complex adult fantasy series, I was looking for a quicker, lighter read, so a short YA dystopian seemed to fit the bill. There’s also the fact that I’m not a stickler for originality. Sure, I get tired of the same old cliches after seeing them a thousand times, especially if I wasn’t crazy about them in the first place, but if a story built on the bones of old tropes has good characters or a refreshing twist, I will usually enjoy it.

Additionally, I’m old enough to remember 9/11, and to have a fairly good memory of what the world was like before and the ways in which it changed afterward: the fear, the paranoia, the xenophobia, and the things they were used to justify. The question "What if it had just kept escalating?" was something I immediately found chilling, and an interesting premise upon which to base a dystopian story. Unfortunately, it turned out to just feel like a pretext for a pretty standard-issue YA dystopian world, without the true implications being explored with much depth.

The characters in this book were quite diverse - which is great! - but I felt that the story might have benefited from a sensitivity reader. While I’m white, and therefore have zero firsthand understanding of what it’s like to interact with law enforcement as a Black child, I felt that Kaia’s history of growing up as a Black girl in an even more authoritarian version of America than we live in today should have at least somewhat informed her thoughts and reactions when she was arrested in the airport, but didn’t seem to at all. I even went back to reread that section to make sure I hadn’t missed something, but there was nothing. I did a double-take when her skin color was first mentioned - and then I did another double-take at how it was mentioned. Comparing a Black girl’s skin to “mocha or hot chocolate” feels like another thing a sensitivity reader might have picked up on.

There were some funny, clever moments, the editing was good, and I liked that there were a number of different viewpoint characters, but this one just wasn’t for me. Around the time the girl hate showed up - Kaia had nasty thoughts about the other girls pretty much right away, including the requisite ‘mean girl’ stereotyping - I realized there was no way I was going to like it. This felt very much like a novel that might have come out in 2011, and even then I don’t think I would have found it fresh enough to hold my attention.

Conspiracies! Terrorism! SNARK!

In the first book of the Shard Trilogy, A. M. Pierre presents readers with a lovable, diverse, sarcastic, witty, anxious, SUPERPOWERED group of teens and commands us to love them. And love them, we do. The cocky one, the nervous one, the genius one: every character is distinct and beautifully written.

This novel is jam-packed with action and explosions (both metaphorically and literally), fighting and flirting (sometimes in the same breath). The few times I could manage to put this book down were occasions in which I needed to stare blankly at the wall to process what I just read.

If you're a fan of superheroes, found family, conspiracies, and yes, snark, then I'd highly recommend this one.

Anyway, thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Such an innovative new way to create superheroes; they control individual elements. Woah. Tons of adventures, nail-biting scenes, and hilarious interactions. Definitely a YA for your next read! I was FLOORED by the ending. Great writing and intricate backgrounds were created for every character. Would recommend!

Heya! This is my review for Shard by A.M. Pierre. I will be updating it as I read :)

June 1 2021
I just started this book today! Already the description is intriguing. I'm excited to join Kaia on her thrilling adventures. So far, it's a 5/5 for me.

This book was ok. I enjoyed it but it wasn’t my favorite. It took a bit for me to get into but I enjoyed it overall. Not bad but not my favorite.

This started well and had an interesting premise so I was disappointed with how it continued.
The main characters seem too focused on who they think is cute, the diversity in the book seems forced and there are some awkward descriptions & conversations.

Everything all seems to happen very quickly and there isn't much time for proper world-building or character development - the main character Kaia goes from not knowing she has any special powers to being able to control them 2 days later and then heading out on dangerous missions within a week!

Children may enjoy the fast pace and teenage subconscious monologues better than I.