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jj_29's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
emiann2023's review against another edition
4.0
Honestly this was an interesting book, but I feel like it lacked the sucker punch of the first book. And these books are incredibly short. While that is nice for a quick read, I feel like so much more could be flushed out and developed. Cade and Amber. Quintus. Tsuru.
char931's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
t_jenkins's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
3.5
kba76's review against another edition
4.0
Talk about leaving you hanging! A frustrating (yet fitting) end to a cracking story.
Picking up not long after the events of Book One, Cade learns that he is to act as the representative in a much bigger battle. It’s a threat he is ill-equipped to deal with, so the priority for the group at the start is to find armour.
Unfortunately, while searching for what they need the group are taken by slavers. Cade has to barter for his freedom - resulting in them being forced to participate in the emperor’s gladiatorial games.
What follows is fraught with danger, but wholly believable. Seen from Cade’s perspective we are made to witness a number of awful battles as he strives to complete the tasks put in front of him to secure what he needs to have a chance of success. We get a lot of awful scenes, but Cade’s honest reactions to these mean we never see them as anything other than a very necessary step towards what he needs to do to get home (or be in with a chance to).
There’s hints of romance, which you could see coming a mile off. There’s deepening bonds of friendship and there’s a clear sense that these characters we come to care about are mere pawns in a much bigger game.
I am so grateful to NetGalley for granting me access to this in exchange for my thoughts. Now I need to dig a little and see what the plans for part three are...I have questions that I’m really hoping will be answered!
Picking up not long after the events of Book One, Cade learns that he is to act as the representative in a much bigger battle. It’s a threat he is ill-equipped to deal with, so the priority for the group at the start is to find armour.
Unfortunately, while searching for what they need the group are taken by slavers. Cade has to barter for his freedom - resulting in them being forced to participate in the emperor’s gladiatorial games.
What follows is fraught with danger, but wholly believable. Seen from Cade’s perspective we are made to witness a number of awful battles as he strives to complete the tasks put in front of him to secure what he needs to have a chance of success. We get a lot of awful scenes, but Cade’s honest reactions to these mean we never see them as anything other than a very necessary step towards what he needs to do to get home (or be in with a chance to).
There’s hints of romance, which you could see coming a mile off. There’s deepening bonds of friendship and there’s a clear sense that these characters we come to care about are mere pawns in a much bigger game.
I am so grateful to NetGalley for granting me access to this in exchange for my thoughts. Now I need to dig a little and see what the plans for part three are...I have questions that I’m really hoping will be answered!
auora1484's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
littletiramisu's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Genocide, and Physical abuse
alexa_ayana's review against another edition
4.0
Setelah paham rule dasar game maut yang harus dihadapi Cade dan teman-temannya, cerita ini jadi jauh lebih menarik.
Walaupun sudah ada pengembangan untuk beberapa karakter, plot buku ke-2 ini masih simple dan kek diseret-seret. Hampir 70 persen buku ini dipenuhi dengan scene pelatihan calon gladiator dan sisanya detail pertandingan tiap babak. Dan bonus per tempuran melawan monster yang terasah singkat banget gak seimbang dengan terornya diawal buku.
Pendapat masih sama, tipe buku penuh aksi seru yang lebih memukau disajikan dalam bentuk film.
3.5/5
Walaupun sudah ada pengembangan untuk beberapa karakter, plot buku ke-2 ini masih simple dan kek diseret-seret. Hampir 70 persen buku ini dipenuhi dengan scene pelatihan calon gladiator dan sisanya detail pertandingan tiap babak. Dan bonus per tempuran melawan monster yang terasah singkat banget gak seimbang dengan terornya diawal buku.
Pendapat masih sama, tipe buku penuh aksi seru yang lebih memukau disajikan dalam bentuk film.
3.5/5
marinavarea's review against another edition
3.0
i'm not really an adventure type of reader but i quite enjoyed this book
- i'd say this book was better than the first one in the series (contender: the chosen) because we got to see the characters mature a bit more
- it was fast paced, something that i appreciate in adventure books
- the historical elements? amazing. i love how taran matharu managed to mix in the romans with twenty first century boys and hockey gals from the nineties and it turned out to be enternating and fun
- if you're younger than twelve i say go for it, you'll love it, and if you're a bit older, like i am, i'd also say go for it, but keep in mind that it's a middle grade book so if you're looking for the classic-ya fantasy with a swoon worthy romance, this is not it. there are subtle hints to a possible relationship but the romance end here.
- i'd say this book was better than the first one in the series (contender: the chosen) because we got to see the characters mature a bit more
- it was fast paced, something that i appreciate in adventure books
- the historical elements? amazing. i love how taran matharu managed to mix in the romans with twenty first century boys and hockey gals from the nineties and it turned out to be enternating and fun
- if you're younger than twelve i say go for it, you'll love it, and if you're a bit older, like i am, i'd also say go for it, but keep in mind that it's a middle grade book so if you're looking for the classic-ya fantasy with a swoon worthy romance, this is not it. there are subtle hints to a possible relationship but the romance end here.