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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
A really fast read—I kind of wish there had been more details, a lot of predicted twists in my opinion
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was fine... The premise really sold me, and in the beginning I found myself invested. However, there were just too many plot holes surrounding the actual trials (how was this still going on after someone died with the only supervision being recent graduates??? also $600,000 as the prize?!) and far too many characters to keep track of. Luckily characters went home throughout the trials, but still there were way too many people.
Anyway, I like the fact that they were trying to solve a past mystery. I liked the puzzles and challenges. And surprisingly I actually found myself rooting for the romance by the end.
This feels like it's aimed at fans of books like The Inheritance Games and Truly Devious but those books are far superior in my opinion.
Anyway, I like the fact that they were trying to solve a past mystery. I liked the puzzles and challenges. And surprisingly I actually found myself rooting for the romance by the end.
This feels like it's aimed at fans of books like The Inheritance Games and Truly Devious but those books are far superior in my opinion.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a lot of fun to read, and I definitely see the comparisons to Jessica Goodman and Maureen Johnson books! We're following Chloe as she enters her prestigious boarding school's annual competition, the Wilde Trials. Every year, 12 students compete in a wilderness competition for the title of Champion and $600k. A few years back, one of the Challengers died during the competition, and this is the first year that the original rules are back in effect, instead of the easier, safer version that followed his death. Chloe is determined to win, to prove that she deserves to be there, even as a scholarship student, and to use the money to help with her sister's cancer treatments.
Unfortunately for Chloe, this year's Challengers are full of her enemies: her ex-boyfriend, Hayes, (who's brother was the Challenger who died), her former bestie, and some of her biggest bullies. Which means that when someone starts sabotaging Chloe, her list of suspects is long. As she's investigating, she finds that Hayes' brother's death a few years before may not have been an accident, and that her saboteur and his might be one and the same.
Like I said, this was a lot of fun, and I enjoy any kind of challenge-based story. I did think it was kind of weird that this was billed as a wilderness competiton but all the contestants sleep inside and have their own rooms and days off. I was expecting them to fully have to survive in the woods, but once I got past that I had a good time. I did guess the reveals before they happened, but wished that the book had a been a bit longer in order to give everyone more room to explain motives, because a lot of them I was like "...really?" Although they are all teenagers, so that may have been intentional. I think actual teenagers will really enjoy this one, too. Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Unfortunately for Chloe, this year's Challengers are full of her enemies: her ex-boyfriend, Hayes, (who's brother was the Challenger who died), her former bestie, and some of her biggest bullies. Which means that when someone starts sabotaging Chloe, her list of suspects is long. As she's investigating, she finds that Hayes' brother's death a few years before may not have been an accident, and that her saboteur and his might be one and the same.
Like I said, this was a lot of fun, and I enjoy any kind of challenge-based story. I did think it was kind of weird that this was billed as a wilderness competiton but all the contestants sleep inside and have their own rooms and days off. I was expecting them to fully have to survive in the woods, but once I got past that I had a good time. I did guess the reveals before they happened, but wished that the book had a been a bit longer in order to give everyone more room to explain motives, because a lot of them I was like "...really?" Although they are all teenagers, so that may have been intentional. I think actual teenagers will really enjoy this one, too. Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.