Review Detail

THE WILDE TRIALS by Mackenzie Reed is a YA mystery novel in which selected boarding school kids compete for a major cash prize, making them exempt from finals. For Chloe, though, it’s different. She needs the money to help pay for her sister’s treatments. The tricky part is that her ex-boyfriend’s brother died in the trials, so her determination to compete drives a wedge, and a major food fight, between them. And that’s also why she’s incredibly shocked when Hayes, her ex, gets picked as one of the twelve Challengers. Chloe can hardly face him, but that’s the least of her problems as someone starts sabotaging her chances at winning. Either she needs to figure it out fast, or she’ll be forced to admit Hayes was right — the Wilde Trials are dangerous.

This book is Mackenzie Reed’s sophomore novel and a great follow-up to The Rosewood Hunt. It’s well plotted, has an interesting setting and lore, and most importantly, is a lot of fun. What really makes this book work though is the relationship between Chloe, Hayes, and Woolf — Hayes’ best friend, who is also competing and will do anything to protect him. I really liked seeing their dynamics and how they change and shift with new information. Enemies-to-Lovers is a trope that could never be tired, and I love how Reed puts it to work here.

I did wonder why there weren’t any teachers who oversaw the events, or even the stay on the estate, and my other major critique is that a lot of the twists are fairly predictable. That said, I still enjoyed the ride. I loved getting to explore the tunnels, connecting the dots between clues, witnessing the angst between the exes, forming and breaking alliances — it was a blast, and also cemented Reed’s style as a writer. She is funny, smart, romantic, and mysterious, and all of that shows up on the page!

Overall, I’d highly recommend THE WILDE TRIALS. It’s perfect for those who want a mix of Panic and Maxton Hall. After this book, I can safely say I will pick up anything Mackenzie Reed writes!