The Hiding Girl: Emily Calby Book 1 (The Emily Calby Series)

This was a book that I couldn't put down which can be an inconvenient situation due to lack of sleep and general disarray of my normal routine. The content of the book was exciting, thrilling, terrorizing and satisfying which made the lost sleep and disarray meaningless. I've also read the second book which is at least equal to this one, maybe better.

Let me start by saying that I have a habit of starting a book and never finishing it. I could not put this book down! The plot was gritty yet entrancing. The characters were relatable yet also dark and unique. I would recommend this book 1000 times over!

Waiting on the The Girl in Cell 49B to arrive!

Well, well, well. What a most pleasant surprise. I'm not going to lie. I had my doubts about this book but this one was unputdownable. This story of survival and hope was beautifully written and a breath of fresh air. Unlikely friendships, impossible situations, overcoming the odds, characters you root for, the horrors of real life, and perseverance are just a few of this book's best qualities. I am floored by how amazing this book was and have already started the sequel. I will definitely be on the look out for more from this author.

Loved the characters - good girl forced to go bad, bad guy with a heart and good motives. This book keeps you on the edge of your seat. Well paced and never boring. Passed it on to my granddaughter even though the language in parts was rough. But it fit. I actually read the sequel to this book first which was excellent and led me to order Book 1.

I got the hiding girl and saw it was book 1 but thought maybe it could be a stand alone. No! Had to get book 2 in the series and neither one will disappoint you!!
Now waiting for book 3 to see what more happens with Emily and her life.
Definitely a must read series!!

Thrilling! This story starts out fast and it just keeps getting better and better until its awesome conclusion. We are introduced into the mind of Emily Calby, the Hiding Girl, a twelve year old who is forced to run for her life after her mother and sister are brutally killed. This book was fast paced, thought provoking, sad, funny and kept me on edge from beginning to end.

I don’t want to give any spoilers, so I won’t say too much about the story other than you should brace yourself for some emotional moments, especially if you’re a mother (reading this book as a mother myself, I found myself tearing up at what Emily has endured). Emily is a 12-year-old who’s had to grow up way too fast, and the reason (her past) is heart-wrenching. But she is resourceful, resilient, and so smart, which makes for an awesome character.

Actually, all the characters are great, and none of them are just there as generic fillers (which is often the case in other novels). Sometimes with other fiction novels, I find myself waiting for a character to develop more, or for him/her to become more integral to the plot, and then it never happens—it feels like a pointless waste or a letdown, and I’m left wondering why that character exists in the first place. That doesn’t happen with this book. No fluff! Box is straight to the point, and every character is there for a reason.

As with other Dorian Box work, there is some graphic content and explicit language, which makes for an intense read (which is a *GOOD* thing, in my opinion). This book may be about a 12-year-old, but it’s not for the faint of heart, and it’s definitely an adult read. I can’t wait for the next installment of the series!

The Hiding Girl is the first book in the Emily Calby series. I didn't know anything about this series prior to reading it, but after having done so I must admit that I am really interested in reading the rest of the series once it comes out! This book is an action packed thriller that had me rooting for Emily the whole time! Basically the story is about how Emily's entire family is murdered and she escapes the carnage and is now on the run. She teams up with an ex gang member who teaches her self defense and how she can protect herself in the future. Who murdered her family and why? Will she be the next victim or will she be able to get her revenge? These are just a few of the questions that are posed in this twisty thriller!

Thanks to NetGallery for allowing me to read a free E-Arc of this book in exchange of an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
First, I want to warn any readers about to read this book there are some trigger warnings: Cutting, Mental health, hints of rape/child rape (not explicit but implied), homelessness, and violence.
This was a great first book in what I think will be a wonderful series. The author did a wonderful job of creating a very intense story with complex characters. The story had drawn me in so deeply that I finished the book in less than one day.
At 12 years-old, Emily finds her world has been turned upside down. After the brutal murder of her mother and younger sister, she finds herself hiding on the streets from the men that are trying to kill her after she was able to escape them. Emily finds herself in need of a fake ID so she meets Lucus, an ex-gang member, who is willing to help Emily not only with her fake ID, but also with the help of Lucus' girlfriend, learn self-defense. As Lucus and Emily start out together as mentor/mentoree their relationship soon turns into a more father/daughter relationship. But as Emily's journey of revenge causes Lucus to get hurt, she finds herself being tested and surviving more than she ever thought possible.
This book had a well crafted story. The pacing was very good and I found myself wanting to know what was going to happen next. Emily was an amazing character that went through more than any person should ever have to go through in any lifetime. While Emily was suffering from the traumas that left her orphaned and on the streets, she never fully lost her spirit nor her willingness to survive. I enjoyed the development of Emily and Lucus' relationship. They came into each other lives at the perfect time. Lucus was a very complex character and I enjoyed reading about his backstory. The author did not shy away from the hard topics and issues Emily had to face, but was able to use them in a realistic way to move the story along.The ending of the book was so intense and satisfying. It allowed for this arc of the story to be wrapped up well, but left room for the next installment to pick up with our characters.
I would highly recommend this book to those who love a good thriller. I will be counting the days until the second book comes out to this awesome series!

Great read, should not be missed. All characters are sharply drawn and are appropriate to story, so that you care about them and their relationships to the protagonist and each other. A rarity in this type of fiction.