This is another one of those books that I inhaled. Now, we’re going to read it together as a family. My husband is a game programmer by trade, and my daughter learned how to read so that she could play Minecraft. She likes reading books, too, but I don’t delude myself on her passions. But she does stay up late reading, so that’s a win!

About the Book

Childhood friends Stef and Paul embark on an immersive virtual reality adventure, only to discover that The Disappearance of Eden Rose holds more than just puzzles and challenges. Encountering a mysterious character named Ollie James, they uncover a chilling link to a real-world tragedy: the unsolved deaths of numerous children over a decade ago. As they delve deeper, Stef and Paul realise they’re not just playing a game – they’re racing against time to unravel a shocking cover-up and undo its damage, risking their lives in pursuit of truth.

My Thoughts

I loved everything about this book. If I had any say in picking the next-gen sci-fi/fantasy giants, this would earn a spot among the greats. And the ending definitely hinted toward a sequel that I can’t wait to dig into, adding bonus points!

I loved the cute little friendship/budding relationship between our MCs, but I also loved that Stef was a strong, independent gal who didn’t feel the need to hide her smarts! Let us not raise another generation of girls who think that way! Whoohoo! Also, I was a little prickly about Paul’s attitude at first, but it was quickly pretty clear what was going on with him. Also, it was so cute how proud he was of his bestie! The mystery wrapped into the game was well-plotted but simple enough for kids/pre-teens. And the entire story was still super enjoyable for me. I used to read a ton of YA lit, but not as much lately. So, while I’m no longer an expert, I still read a ton, and this had an engaging story and great writing!

So, whether you want to get it for your kid or even share it with your kid, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. I am so grateful to the author and LBT for including me in this tour and I can’t wait to read more by this author!!

Who’s It For?

The tour material lists this book as a young adult book for ages 13 and up. I can see why, as it does deal with some mature themes such as theft, mysteries, skipping school, and lying to parents, among other subjects. However, while the characters are 16, the book doesn’t delve so deeply into these topics that I felt like my six-and-a-half-year-old couldn’t handle it. She can already read books on a fourth-grade level, and she really enjoys gaming and science-fiction, so I felt she could handle the book. Despite the teenage characters, I forgot how old they were as I was reading. They came off much younger, maybe in middle school or so, during the rest of the story.

Content Warnings: Crime, Fear, Kidnapping, Teen Death (off-page), Adult Situations, Mental Health Issues, Bullying, Skipping School, Lying to Parents

Question of the Day

Did you (or do you now) play video games? Any favorites?

Answer of the Day

I was a Mario, Paperboy, and Kirby girl all the way. I have not yet adapted to the new age. I play Minecraft with my daughter sometimes because she wants me to, but I do NOT get this whole “sandbox” thing as my husband calls it. Just playing to play… eh. I need a plot, man. I am a reader!! If it’s a game, it at least needs a point. I need to be able to win or come to some sort of conclusion or something.

About the Author

Stacy Buevich is a British writer and a film director with many award winning short films. She started writing novels during lockdown (wait did that really happen?), beginning with a magical mystery Maya Fairy, that she wrote for her daughter. Since then she has written several more and not planning to stop.

Amazon US: https://a.co/d/hhwijaS
Amazon UK: https://amzn.eu/d/cMUs6GS
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199636004-season-for-murder
Author’s Website: https://www.stacywritesbooks.com/