Payback

By: Kristen Simmons

Publish date: 2 Feb 2021

Publisher: MacMillan-Tor/Forge

Tor Teen

Teens and YA

#Payback#NetGalley

100 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader

I would like to thank both Tor and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this. I am just sorry it took me so long to do so.

Good Read Synopsis:

The unpredictable truth will be revealed in Payback, the stunning conclusion to Kristen Simmons’ Edgar-nominated thriller series that started with The Deceivers…

Brynn Hilder has conned a lot of people. From the spoiled rich kids of Sikawa City to her mom’s loser ex-boyfriend, from a motorcycle gang to a senator’s son. If there was money to be gained, or a secret to uncover, she figured out how to get it done. And thanks to Vale Hall and its director, Dr. David Odin, she’s found a family of hustlers just like her.

Together, Brynn and her friends have overcome doubt, deceit, and betrayal to unearth the truth–a truth even a group of professional scammers couldn’t have predicted.

And now they must tackle the biggest con artist of them all: the man who brought them all together.

Book Review:

I really enjoyed the conclusion for this series, and I gave the book 4 stars. It is hard to review the final book in a series without giving things away if you haven’t read the other two books. I love the friendship in this series even though at times you wonder if they are truly friends or enemies. I also like how they stand by each other even when things don’t seem right. I also love how the families are portrayed in the books. Things are not as they seem in this book, and you just have to read on. Each and every one of the characters learn something in the end. I highly recommend the series and enjoy the wild ride.

(i received this e-arc from the publisher and netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

i was initially hooked by the idea of a modernised norse mythology retelling, but was let down soon after.

I love a good mystery/thriller! This book definitely helped to fill that void! However, I went into this one not reading the prior books in the series, so things were a bit confusing but overall I still really enjoyed!

It look me way to long to finally get around to the last and final book in this series! But I’m so glad that I did! This book was so exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat! I felt this was a great end to a series that really allowed all the characters to get the justice that they deserved! I love when a book has a wonderful found family and this book does it so well! I can’t wait to read more Kristen Simmons in the future!!!

I am happy to have finished this trilogy that i've been reading along with since the release of the first book. Was great to see everything come together at the end! Going to miss this group of characters.

This was a satisfying ending to this drama filled trilogy. I could see the growth in writing as I read this book. The stakes were a bit higher, I felt more thrills as the mysteries continued and the characters were all so dynamic and well written. This gives a lot more romance which was well-written as well!!

I still loved seeing the gang at Vale Hall and the family that they had, but I loved me some Brynn even more. She goes headfirst into getting payback. I loved how she has grown as a person and in her con-artistry. She is absolutely amazing!

If you are looking for a fun, drama-filled YA mystery with a bit of humor and good romance, I'd say definitely give this trilogy a solid go. You won't be disappointed.

*posting 9/14/21

This was a fantastic end to the series! It was full of twists and turns that had me racing to the end of the book. It was great seeing all the characters again and seeing how they'd grown. It was the ending I was looking for and I'm happy to be sharing my thoughts on it.

First of all, I really loved the plot. I've loved the overall plot throughout the series. I think it was such a fun rollercoaster trying to get a read on Dr. O and then finally finding out he was evil. I loved having the whole on-the-run vibe with the Vale Hall students that were kicked out. This book was the epic battle of wits against Dr. O that we had been building toward the whole series. It was intense and kept me entertained the whole way through.

Of course, the characters were also a major part of why I enjoyed the story so much. Brynn is my favorite. I love her character development so much. She grew a lot from the girl she was in the first book. Brynn went from seeing her experiences as a weakness to the actual strengths they were. I loved how she grew into her role as a leader and became more confident in herself.

The other characters also had great character development and I loved that they each had their own problems to solve besides just taking Dr. O down. It made me connect to them a lot more and feel more invested in the story when I cared so much about them all. The author did a great job of making her characters feel real throughout the series and I love how well written they were.

Another element I really enjoyed was the romance. of course, this is mostly aimed at Caleb and Brynn, but I also loved the other relationships that had developed up to this point. I liked the ups and downs. The challenges each couple faced made me invested in their survival. Caleb and Brynn were my main pairing, but I was also a huge fan of Charlotte and Sam. I liked how the pregnancy played into their relationship and that they were shown as capable, responsible young adults rather than making the pregnancy out to be a mistake. I also liked how Brynn was the experienced one in her relationship with Caleb. I think too many books have the guy being experience and it was very cute seeing Caleb all nervous about the whole thing. I liked seeing Brynn as a positive female role model not only for being a sexually experience girl who didn't play in the "slut" trop but also because she practiced safe sex. I think not enough YA books encourage safe sex so it was nice to see that detail put into the book.

As for the ending, I was completely impressed with how well everything came together. There were so many moving pieces and they took so many risks to try and take Dr. O down. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the intricately planned plots in this series give me Six of Crow vibes and I am all for it! Seriously, I loved the ending!

The Vale Hall series is so vastly underrated and deserves a lot more love. I would highly recommend it to those who love YA thriller/mysteries!

I fully expected to not like this series. I’m not sure why, I just didn’t think I would! Holy wow was I wrong, I got so invested in these characters and this story! Give me more.

I have always really enjoyed this world and Kristina writing. The story line has always been one of my favorites. I really liked the concept of the con artist school. It was definitely fun to read about the characters again and see how this story can to a close. I would recommend giving this series a shot.

After reading the first book, The Deceivers, I was very excited to get to read this e arc early! It didn't disappoint. I enjoy the idea of a secret school for con artists or professional liars, if you will. I like the characters, although, I'm not a huge fan of love triangles. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this!

Brynn has no idea how to move forward after the events of the last book, with all her future plans and expectations ripped out from beneath her. But what she knows for sure is that she has the best group of people at her back, to help her out of the mess she feels responsible for. One thing is for sure, you can never anticipate what a con-artist is really capable of.

Keep in mind that this is the third and final book in a trilogy that HAS to be read in order. Do not start here, you will miss a boatload and be super sad. And that being said, this review will be short so as not to spoil anything from this freaking intense, wonderful, stressful and exciting ride.

I adore found family stories, where a ragtag group of loners and outcasts find others who make them feel loved and wanted, and Payback was the best example of this. Where Brynn is 100% the main character and the only narrator, the side characters play such an important role in the plot as well as Brynn's personal growth. And I am such a fan of these side characters- Caleb the quiet steady love interest, Charlotte the outgoing loyal best friend, Henry who wears his emotions on his sleeve yet is always so upbeat, Sam the reliable genius, Grayson whose motives will alway make me questions his actions and Geri, the surprise to the group who was as prickly as they come and I loved it about her.

Overall this was a fantastic conclusion to a great series, I felt like I was stressed out and put through all the emotional rollercoasters to get here but I would not change a single thing about the ride. This conclusion wrapped up loose ends and gave me the warm and fuzzies I could have ever expected. I recommend the Vale Hall series for anyone who likes morally gray characters, fast paced plots, lots of twists and a nice heap of romance.

When I first got offered the chance to read The Deceivers a few years ago and learned that it was about a school for con artists I didn't hesitate! This series is so well done, the characters diverse, and the twists unpredictable.

Brynn doesn't trust anyone after what she's gone through at Vale Hall. She's performed some high stakes cons so far in the series but she has no idea what she's going to have to go through to pull off the biggest one of all. As people who can help her expose the truths of Vale Hall start dying off she starts to fear for not only her own life but her mother's and friends as well.

Payback was an emotional rollercoaster ride of twists and turns. One second you think you know what is going to happen and then all of a sudden the story takes a totally different direction. I enjoyed Brynn's development from the beginning of this series until the end. She becomes fearless in her endeavor to keep all those she cares about safe. As she starts to gather the evidence she needs to expose Dr. O she finds herself visiting some unsavory people from her past and allying herself with others she never thought she'd ever be able to trust. I enjoyed the friendships that were built throughout the series and I feel like it wrapped up nicely.

I will miss the characters of Vale Hall but will make sure to recommend them to anyone looking for a great series to read! This one definitely has adventure, intrigue, and unforgettable friendships.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

This novel makes me thinks of the quote, "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" except in addition to a woman being scorned I feel like hell hath no fury like a group of cons scorned! This novel picks up just a little bit after Scammed ended and this is riding a roller coaster the ENTIRE novel! But not the kind that makes you sick. My jaw dropped open multiple times during this novel because of one reveal after another until the wonderful and delicious ending of this novel.

Brynn, Caleb, Henry, Charlotte and Sam do NOT disappoint as I feel like this novel proves that family is really who you choose, not necessarily the blood. Vale Hall takes care of each other and the relationships change throughout the novel that sometimes you, as the reader, don't even know who to trust. This is definitely an emotional roller coaster but this trilogy is so worth it and was VERY enjoyed!

I was really sad that I couldn't get into this one, but I had a similar problem with the second book in the series. I LOVED the first one a lot but the magic wasn't quite there for me after that.

Pulse-pounding finale to the Vale Hall trilogy.

Vale Hall is an elite boarding school where a select few students (each plucked from troubled backgrounds) get to prepare for the future and colleges of their dreams. In truth, though, it’s a bit shadier than that. Vale Hall is really a clandestine training ground for con artists (run by Dr. Odin), and there is much that is expected of the scholarship students (among them, Brynn Hilder). Rule one: follow the rules.

Vale Hall is Brynn’s ticket out of Devon Park — a rough neighborhood that’s left Brynn with a childhood of emotional scars. It’s Brynn’s only shot at a future. And with so much at stake, the lines between right and wrong are becoming increasingly difficult to navigate — especially when the bad guys are no longer as clearly distinguishable from the rest of the pack. The question is: who and what is Brynn willing to sacrifice to protect her future, her friends, and to keep her mother safe? Brynn grew up running cons (learned the trade from her mother’s ex), but this con might just be the one to break her.

The plot twists are heart-stopping. The action is edge-of-your seat. There’s so much at stake here, not just for Sikawa City or Brynn, but for the entire cast of characters. Forever huggable Henry, morally gray Grayson, and the-first-boyfriend-we-all-wish-we’d-had Caleb Matsuki… and Charlotte and Sam, and, yes, even Geri! Simmons just has a way with characters — even her secondary stars get full-fledged character arcs! They glow on the page, making the dialogue some of the best I’ve read. Prepare to love, hate, care, and be emotionally invested. The Vale Hall trilogy is one of my must-read recommendations for all those who love YA suspense, mystery, a great heist story — or all three!

Kristen Simmon's book are always a fun time! I've been having such a great time reading this series and I am so happy to report that this trilogy conclusion was so great. Brynn has been on such a journey through all of these books and I really enjoyed following along on them all with her. I will definitely say that this is one of the more underrated trilogies out there and I wish more people would read these books!

Payback is the third and final installment in author Kristen Simmons Vale Hall trilogy. The Vale Hall series follows Brynn Hilder who is from a poor and rough neighborhood called Devon Park. She has runs cons and odd jobs to stay afloat and alive, finally thinking she has a chance at getting out when she is recruited to attend a secret private school specializing in hustles, schemes and overall mayhem. The school is led by Dr. Odin, a mysterious and powerful man who will stop at nothing for what he cares about. But things are changing quickly and Brynn must plan the con of a lifetime in order to save her mother and her friends.

Now that Brynn knows the lengths to which Dr. Odin will go to maintain his power and control after watching her boyfriend Caleb get expelled and erased, she knows that it's time to take him down. The safety of her own mother who was given a job at Wednesday Pharmaceuticals counts on what Brynn does next. Brynn, Margot Patel, Caleb Matsuki, Henry, Catherine, and Sam set out to recruit both current and former students who have been erased by Dr. Odin so they can come up with a plan to reveal his true face to the world. It's the only way they can think of digging themselves out of the trap he's set for them.

Margot, the leader of the rebellion, is an ex-Vale Hall con artist. Brynn learns that Dr. O is one step ahead of the rebellion. Students that Margot & Brynn targeted for help against Odin, are slowly being removed off the board. If Brynn and her friends think taking down Dr. O is going to be a cake walk, they need to be prepared for anything. Dr. O is a slimy snake who has many irons in the coal. When it is announced that he is going to be Sikawa City's next Senator, Brynn knows her time is ticking down quickly before they need to come up with an unbreakable plan to get everyone out alive.

I don't know how many times I've said I hated Grayson, but there are secrets revealed in this story that really explains who he is and the things he's had to do to survive. I dare say that the author doesn't spare any twists or surprises in this book. Especially when it comes to the adults who are actually on Brynn's side and not Dr. O's. Without offering a spoiler, I shall say that one in particular has been watching out for Vale Hall students even after they've been forced out of the school. There is a really adorable scene when Brynn finally gets her license thanks to this character.

You should definitely read these books in order, or, since all three books are now out, it would be an excellent time to bind read all three of them. The Vale Hall series, takes place at a school called Valhalla Hall, based on Norse Mythology, which to the outside world appears to be a prestigious boarding school with top notch academics. But Vale Hall is really a place for con artists who are told they can have anything they want if they follow the rules. This is a series of cons and intricately woven sub plots. This final story has so many twists, that the ending will blow your mind. Outside of her mother, Brynn has never had a solid family. Brynn makes the statement that she’s finally found her family, and that’s exactly how it feels when you discover friends who offer unconditional support through some harrowing and life-threatening situations.

Payback by Kristen Simmons is the 3rd book in The Vale Hall trilogy, and another great story. Brynn Hilder is a very smart teenage girl who is an expert at conning people, when she is recruited to attend the elite Vale Hall, a school for con artists, she jumps at the chance. At Vale everything is provided for, education, food, clothing, etc, as long as you do your assigned job. This book is a three part series, and I suggest you read them in order. Nothing is what it seems, I loved these books. It had me hooked from book one, page one, it was so exciting. I strongly recommend this book, you will not be disappointed. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A definite conclusion to an epic 3 part series woven with deceit, masterful cons, and secrets that are always brewing to be spilled at any moment, and the results could spell disaster. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire book, heck, this whole series. Sometimes I thought I knew what the truth was and how things would play out, then wham another plot twist. Vale hall is a school for con artists, but things are not always what they seem. Who is the con artist?

An amazing ending to a great series, it definitely ended it with more than a bang.
I should admit that after I read the first book I said that while I did really enjoy it, I had been hoping for a few more twists and this one gave me exactly that and more. One of my favorite things about this series it's that it's always had a "who can you really trust?" mystery to it and that is what makes it so great you never know what to expect.