so. 
 did i enjoy reading this book? 
 absolutely. 
 it was a fun and pacey novel but i gotta say - and this never happens - i guessed every little surprise twist and turn very early on. so for me, the pleasure of the unexpected discovery or blow-your-mind reveal was not at all a factor. BUT, if penn and teller can be gracious and enthusiastic week after week and still enjoy the shows put on for them without experiencing the element of surprise just because they enjoy the craft so much, then i can take a page outta their book and agree that surprise isn't everything, and style really does go a long way. this was my first unger book, and her style is solid - she's written an engaging, unusual story with vivid characters and many twisty turns and red herrings and even though by some total fluke she didn't lose me this time, i am definitely looking forward to reading another of her books and giving her a second chance to make a fool out of me. 
 i won't say anything else about the book because other people should have a chance to be surprised by it, so instead of words, enjoy a bunch of animals who are surprised: 
 he's not surprised yet, but he's a slow reader - he'll get there...