Review: Potency by Aubrey Hadley

9:07 PM

Another day indoors (at least it's "warmed" up and is now negative 10 outside!) means another book!


The Maasai Mara Sleeping Syndrome has returned after a six-month hiatus. This time, it's popped up in New York, and it's wiped out an entire homeless shelter.

The same night of the outbreak, Harper, a seventeen-year-old girl, stumbles across a glowing figure in the desert outskirts of her neighborhood. As her suburb goes on lockdown, Harper finds herself isolated from her friends and family, and soon begins to suspect that the events — though thousands of miles apart — may have something in common.

Harper must find her bravery and embark on a plot-twisting adventure that will have her looking for answers in unexpected places... and worlds.

 Potency by Aubrey Hadley | Rating: ★★☆☆☆

I was sent an eARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. This does not change my view in any shape or form.

This book captured my attention from the moment it was up on NetGalley. The synopsis sounded like pure gold and really appeared to be up my alley, while still being quite different from what I usually go for. (Plus, how could anyone say no to such a GORGEOUS cover? I was like, grabby hands, yes, please, take me away, Aubrey Hadley!)

Sadly, Potency wasn't for me. I'm not going to sit here and bash the book, naturally, and want to remind you guys that taste is subjective and what doesn't work for me... might work for you. In all truthfulness, this wasn't a bad book. Potency has a lot of markings to it that would signal the fact that it's going to be a great read for many others and, frankly, it may just have been my mood as I read it. Or it may just not be my time for it.

That being said, I found myself drawn to the way that Hadley built up the story. Or laid things out. The potential was all there, and the way it was executed was lackluster for me. There were a lot of elements to Potency that I genuinely liked, but for the most part the story dragged on a bit much for my personal preference. It didn't keep my attention like I expected it to and, to put it as bluntly as possible, that is something that says less about the writer and her story and more about me as a reader.

In short, Potency wasn't my cup of tea, but it isn't a bad read per se. It merely wasn't for me and that's okay. As always, you should not take my (or any reader's) review as the gospel.

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