Another Faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri

Another Faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri is about a governess named Nicola Vileroy who preys upon five children's weaknesses, and ambitions.  She gives them each a special gift so that they have an advantage over the other children.  The children, ignoring the consequences of their gifts continue to use them to pursue their obsessions until two of the five discover the truth behind their gifts and their supposed adoption as children.

At first I found this book to be a little dry, too much typical teenage high school drama, but as the novel progressed it got darker and darker.  The characters were stereotypical, a bookworm, an ambitious teen, a vain pretentious girl, the high school jock, and the angsty poet.  Despite this the authors were able to make the reader fear the governess as she became greedier and as two of the children came closer and closer to the truth.  I would give this book a 7.5 out of 10 for the trapped nightmarish theme that burned through the novel and made you fear for your favorite characters.