Book Review: Tempestuous by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes (Twisted Lit #1)

Tempestuous: A Modern-Day Spin on Shakespeare's The Tempest by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes
Publisher: Merit Press
Publish Date: December 18, 2012
Hardcover, 224 pages
ISBN: 9781440552649


 

My Review:
I read a review of Tempestuous months ago that made me want to read it and now I am really glad I did. It's a really cute story of a mean girl who gets in trouble for something she didn't do and in the course of one night while working at the mall hot dog stand, learns how she's been a nice girl all along. And the fun of the book is it's not done in a preachy way.

Miranda was popular to the core, hot boyfriend, Amex from Daddy and powerful girlfriends until a little scandal lands her working at the hot dog cart at the local mall and suddenly she's the social pariah. However one snowy night where everyone is trapped in the mall, Miranda's attitude begins to change. And it's that change that is so fun to watch. Well that and the other hijinks that are in store for the night. Lock a bunch of teenagers and mall employees in a snowed in mall where a lot of them don't like Miranda, Miranda is out for revenge and there is a robber on the loose and there are all grades of craziness that are bound to erupt. Miranda was a fun character, yes she's stuck up and looks down her nose at people at the beginning, but she seems to like Ariel and she likes to help people and then there is her situation so I couldn't help but like her. Add in the handcuffs, with Caleb and the craziness and I fell in love with her. Caleb is also a great supporting character along with Ariel, both were interesting and fun additions to the story. And of course there are the mean girls and the ex-boyfriend, lots of fun there as well.

And if the teenage angst (in a light way) wasn't enough to power the story, there is also a mystery to be solved. Where is Mike the missing employee and also who keeps breaking into mall stores? These crazy kids are on the job and determined to solve the mystery since there is no one to help but mall cop Grady. The mystery is good and adds to the interest of the story, it was a nice backdrop to everything else going on and kept the action moving at times. I think it was a great addition but didn't weigh the story down too much. It was just the right dose of mystery. The authors did an excellent job using this as part of the plot.

Fun to the core, Tempestuous is equal parts light and humorous with just a hint of teenage worry and angst plus an added spoonful of mystery. Overall it's one of the most fun books I have read lately. Nothing heavy here, just pure fun. And I really enjoy that in a book every now and then. This is the perfect beach read so grab a copy throw in your beach/pool/sit-outside bag and enjoy!

My rating: 4.5/5.0

About the Book:
Recently banished, unfairly, by the school’s popular crowd, former “it girl,” Miranda Prospero, finds herself in a brave new world: holding dominion amongst a rag-tag crew of geeks and misfits where she works at the Hot-Dog Kabob in the food court of her local mall. When the worst winter storm of the season causes mall workers and last-minute shoppers to be snowed-in for the night, Miranda seizes the opportunity to get revenge against the catty clique behind her social exile. With help from her delightfully dweeby coworker, Ariel, and a sullen loner named Caleb who works at the mall’s nearby gaming and magic shop, Miranda uses charm and trickery to set things to right during this spirited take on Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

About the Authors:

Website
Kim's Twitter
Amy's Twitter
Facebook
 
 
 

***I received this book through Amazon Vine for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  ***