Book Title: The Clock Flower by Barbara Casey (Book 3 of The F.I.G. Mysteries)
Category: YA Fiction, 208 pages
Genre: Mystery / Fantasy
Publisher: Gauthier Publications, The Hungry Goat Press Imprint
Release date: February 2018
Tour dates: Feb 26 to March 30, 2017
Content Rating: PG-13 (There is light profanity and some threat of violence.)

 

Description

Dara Roux, abandoned when she was seven years old by her mother. Exceptionally gifted in foreign languages. Orphan. Accepted to Yale University.

Mackenzie Yarborough, no record of her parents or where she was born. Exceptionally gifted in math and problem-solving. Orphan. Accepted to MIT.

Jennifer Torres, both parents killed in an automobile accident when she was sixteen. Exceptionally gifted in music and art. Orphan. Accepted to Juilliard.

The three FIGs—Females of Intellectual Genius—as they are called, have graduated from Wood Rose Orphanage and Academy for Young Women after returning from New York City where Dara learned why her mother abandoned her all those years ago, and they are now attending universities where they can further their special talents. This means they will be separated from each other and from Carolina, their much-loved mentor and teacher who is “one of them,” for the first time in their young lives. They vow to try living apart for one semester, in the so-called real world that doesn’t include the orphanage; but if things don’t work out, they will come up with another plan—a plan where they can be together once again.

Dara is invited through Yale University to take part in an exciting archeological project in China. Jennifer, once again visualizing black and white images and the unusual sounds of another cadence that seem to be connected to Mackenzie, is engrossed in creating her next symphony at Juilliard. Mackenzie, because of her genius at problem-solving, is personally chosen by a US Senator to get involved in a mysterious, secret research project involving immortality that is being conducted in a small village in China—not too far from where Dara is involved with the archeological site. Once there, however, she finds herself facing a terrifying death from the blood-dripping teeth of an ancient evil dragon. Her best friends, the FIGs and Carolina, rely on their own unique genius and special talents to save her as she discovers the truth of her birth parents.

To read reviews, please visit Barbara Casey’s page on iRead Book Tours.

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My Review

I chose to read this book after receiving a free copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. I’ve read several books by Barbara Casey including the first 2 books in this series, The Wish Rider and The Cadence of Gypsies. These are my favorites by the author so far so I was happy to read the next book in the series.

The girls have graduated from high school and they’re all going their separate ways. They’re scared of course, like anyone starting college, but they’re so dependent on each other and Carolina that they don’t know how they’ll do. On the plane, they decide that if they can’t cope, they’ll figure out a way to be together. 

All three girls flourish in the different areas they’re gifted in and they even get to go to China over their winter break. Carolina goes with them not only because she was invited but because she needs to protect Mackenzie because she knows that Mackenzie is in some unknown danger.

Even though this is the third book in the series, it definitely stands on its own. In fact, there was so much backstory, that the current story seemed slow to me. They didn’t even make it to China until Chapter 21 out of 24 total chapters.  

Just as the last book focused on finding out about Dara’s birth mother, this book focuses on Mackenzie’s birth parents. She asks Larry to try to find out information about her birth parents. What he finds is intriguing but the final outcome is expected.

I liked The Clock Flower but not as much as the first 2 books. I’m looking forward to reading the next F.I.G. mystery.

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