What
do you do when you learn your entire childhood was a lie?
Reeling from the truths uncovered while searching for her sister in Italy, Anastasia Phoenix is ready to call it quits with spies. The only way to stop being a pawn in their game is to remove herself from the board. But before she can leave her parents’ crimes behind her, tragedy strikes. No one is safe, not while Department D still exists.
Now, with help from her friends, Anastasia embarks on a dangerous plan to bring down an entire criminal empire. From a fire-filled festival in England to a lavish wedding in Rio de Janeiro, Anastasia is determined to confront the enemies who want to destroy her family. But even Marcus, the handsome bad boy who’s been there for her at every step, is connected to the deadly spy network. And the more she learns about Department D, the more she realizes the true danger might be coming from someone closer than she expects…
Reeling from the truths uncovered while searching for her sister in Italy, Anastasia Phoenix is ready to call it quits with spies. The only way to stop being a pawn in their game is to remove herself from the board. But before she can leave her parents’ crimes behind her, tragedy strikes. No one is safe, not while Department D still exists.
Now, with help from her friends, Anastasia embarks on a dangerous plan to bring down an entire criminal empire. From a fire-filled festival in England to a lavish wedding in Rio de Janeiro, Anastasia is determined to confront the enemies who want to destroy her family. But even Marcus, the handsome bad boy who’s been there for her at every step, is connected to the deadly spy network. And the more she learns about Department D, the more she realizes the true danger might be coming from someone closer than she expects…
REVIEW
If you are looking for a thrilling twisted adventure with betrayal, secrets and a dash of romance, this is the read for you.
Proof of Lies was an action-packed espionage thriller that had me on the edge of my seat and, Lies That Bind, although not as fast-paced, was just as nail biting. The story begins where the first book ended. Ana and her friends have uncovered some terrible family secrets, and this only means more danger for the entire group. Many questions hang in the air, waiting for answers, and I was eager to find out every sordid detail.
This book was intense and exciting, with the beauty of Europe as the backdrop to all the tragedy and turmoil keeping these characters from living normal lives. On top of all the Department D drama, Ana had many personal decisions to make and she was faced with a reality that could very well see her losing the only person she'd ever had a romantic connection with, but if it meant keeping her sister safe she was willing to do so. It showed a level of maturity that I really liked about her. She wasn't all sappy teenager, she stepped up to the plate and made difficult choices.
While a bit of the plot line was kind of expected, after everything that happened in book one, there were a few new twits thrown into the mix and they certainly lit this book up.
I did feel that there were a few loose ends, though, and without giving too much away, I think the Antonio situation was dealt with far too easily, and I still had many questions about a certain female associate of his, as well as things with Regina. Having said that, I still thoroughly enjoy this book from start to finish.
Looking forward to more intrigue and suspense as the journey continues for Anastasia Phoenix.
About Diana Rodriguez Wallach
Diana
Rodriguez Wallach is the author of the Anastasia Phoenix Series, three
young adult spy thrillers (Entangled Publishing, 2017, ’18, ‘19). The
first book in the trilogy, Proof of Lies, was named by Paste Magazine
as one of the “Top 10 Best Young Adult Books for March 2017.” Bustle also
listed her as one of the “Top Nine Latinx Authors to Read for Women’s History
Month 2017.” Additionally, she is the author of three award-winning young adult
novels: Amor and Summer Secrets, Amigas and School Scandals,
and Adios to All The Drama (Kensington Books); as well as a YA
short-story collection entitled Mirror, Mirror (Buzz Books,
2013).
She is an advisory board member for the Philly
Spells Writing Center, a school-based Workshop Instructor for Mighty Writers in
Philadelphia, and has been a Writing Instructor for Johns Hopkins
University’s Center for Talented Youth since 2015. She holds a B.S. in
Journalism from Boston University, and currently lives in Philadelphia.
Author Links:
Author Website: www.dianarodriguezwallach.com
Author Blog: http://dianarwallach.tumblr.com
Author Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dianarwallach
