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amberlfaris's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Classism, Racism, Violence, Murder, and Toxic relationship
triple_m's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Almost DNF’ed at the out of nowhere kissing in the woods in the beginning but I’m glad I stuck with it. The book really picked up when the games actually began (I mean, obviously, haha).
One thing I loved about this book was that I was unable to predict the ending. The stakes were high and the odds for a good ending felt very unlikely. Does she win the games? Will she survive? Will she somehow get out of it? Those questions really kept me engaged and excited to read how it would end.
I could’ve done without any romantic subplot but it wasn’t horrible.
One thing I loved about this book was that I was unable to predict the ending. The stakes were high and the odds for a good ending felt very unlikely. Does she win the games? Will she survive? Will she somehow get out of it? Those questions really kept me engaged and excited to read how it would end.
I could’ve done without any romantic subplot but it wasn’t horrible.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Racism, Blood, Classism, Misogyny, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Alcohol
sahramahtab's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Joelle Wellington's 'Their Vicious Games' is a gripping page-turner that kept me hooked from start to finish. The suspenseful plot, coupled with the uncertainty surrounding the main character's fate, made it an intense read. The narrative's exploration of racism, misogyny, and classism adds depth to the story, creating a brutally beautiful portrayal of societal issues. Despite the challenges, the satisfying sliver of justice in the end provides a poignant closure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Racism, Classism, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Confinement, and Toxic relationship
thirdeyeangel23's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
If Squid Games and Knives Out had a baby, it would be this book. Their Vicious Games may be one of the most suspenseful and insidious novels I’ve read to date. Adina had a promising future after graduating high school until a conflict with the school’s “it” girl drained her prospects and saw her Yale acceptance revoked. As a last ditch effort to reclaim her future, Adina secures a spot in a top secret game held by one of the town’s most prestigious families in order to gain their favor. But when the game is put into play, Adina realizes just how devilish these people’s games really are. This story is gripping in a way that chilled me to the bone while also pulling on every stitch of hope I had for the main character. The commentary on class, race, misogyny, and privilege throughout was poignant in a way that many fail to get just right. This book gave me heart palpitations, but it was so good I’d do it all over again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Racism, Misogyny, and Classism
takarakei's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Ace of Spades/The Hunger Games meets The Bachelor... in hell.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Racism, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Gaslighting, Classism, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Vomit, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcohol
honestlyyours77's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was a great read! It took a bit to get into the story as the beginning was a bit unpolished and repetitive. However, about 1/8th into the book it picked up a bit and swelled to where you didn’t want to put it down.
I love the twists as the story played out and the strength of the protagonist. Giving anything more would give spoilers which I do not care to do.
While this is YA fiction it is definitely fit for any reader who enjoys suspense.
*a note on diversity. While the book isn’t filled with diverse characters with the exception of the protagonist and a few others, it is intentional. It is a glimpse of the real world impacts on people of color. So while the story is thankfully fictional, the real world
Message and impact is not.
I love the twists as the story played out and the strength of the protagonist. Giving anything more would give spoilers which I do not care to do.
While this is YA fiction it is definitely fit for any reader who enjoys suspense.
*a note on diversity. While the book isn’t filled with diverse characters with the exception of the protagonist and a few others, it is intentional. It is a glimpse of the real world impacts on people of color. So while the story is thankfully fictional, the real world
Message and impact is not.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Racism, Sexism, Racial slurs, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Violence, Classism, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny
sarahmcg's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Their Vicious Games
4.5 ⭐️
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the free copy for review
This book is described as “Ace of Spades meets Squid Games with a sprinkling of the Bachelor…” I haven’t watched Squid Games, but I agree with the rest, and also add that this book gave me Hunger Games vibes.
The FMC, Adina Walker, is a black teen girl who attended the prestigious Edgewater Academy on scholarship. She gained acceptance to Yale, only to have her offer rescinded over one moment of lost control. She is hoping to regain her acceptance to Yale and the path forward in life she feels she has lost by participating in the Finish - a contest put on by Edgewater’s founding family, the Remingtons. She just needs to make it through the high-stakes competition, and when she wins, she will have the favor of the Remington family and their power and wealth will open doors for her that have been otherwise closed.
However, upon arriving at the Remington estate, Adina realizes she has been in the dark about how deadly the Finish is, and what the expectations truly are.
This book had me on the edge of my seat. It moves quickly, is propulsive, and violent. It had me gasping, and gave me goosebumps. The underlying commentary on racism, classism, the patriarchy, and performative allyship was so smartly crafted. This is why people should not underestimate YA novels! This is a horror novel, and satirical at that.
One of my favorite parts of this novel was the friendship between Adina and her roommate, Saint. Also, the ending had me like 🤯
I highly recommend this to those who love YA horror and satire/social commentary, final girls, and fast-moving, high-stakes competitions.
CW/TW: violence including murder, gun violence, blood, injury detail; sexism, classism, racism, misogyny (overt & micro aggressions), and emotional abuse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Classism, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, and Racism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Gaslighting
Minor: Alcohol and Vomit
sharib's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Racism, Classism, and Sexism
Minor: Misogyny, Drug use, Trafficking, and Sexual violence
sarah984's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I get the concept that this book was going for, but I just didn't like it. I think part of it is that the Squid Game comp gave me an idea what the book was like and then the actual book was not like that. All this over a man?? Most of the characters' motivations are obscured by the first person pov so I didn't really care either way what happened to them, characters made decisions when it was convenient for the narrative and not in a way that felt like it was following a character arc, and the writing for Saint, the only Asian character, felt really suspect to me (why was she wearing bondage gear??)
The ending felt very silly to me as well, I would have liked the book better if she had made that decision earlier during Simon Says.
The ending felt very silly to me as well
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Classism, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Murder, Bullying, Cursing, Grief, Confinement, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism
Minor: Vomit, Toxic relationship, and Animal death
tinybluepixel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Body horror, Bullying, Murder, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic friendship, Racism, Classism, Death, Grief, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence