Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

These Deadly Games by Diana Urban

8 reviews

ashylibrarian's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer meets Unfriended in a game-based horror novel of cheats, lies, and deception. 

This book did not always feel 100% realistic, but it was a wild journey, and I did have fun (most of the time) while reading it. 

There were plenty of times that I was super annoyed with Crystal (the MC) becuase she was being so completely reckless and not picking up on what An0nym0us1 was getting her to do. But Diana Urban did a stellar job creating scenes that kept me coming back and wanting to find out what happens next. 

I will likely recommend this title in the future, though it may not be my first grab. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Toxic friendship, Death, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence

Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Stalking, Alcoholism, Confinement, and Torture

Minor: Racism, Eating disorder, and Car accident

gssll_lpz's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Stalking, Domestic abuse, and Racism

Minor: Eating disorder and Fire/Fire injury

mollyalex's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Eating disorder

bookedandbusy's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I absolutely loved this book! It kept me at the edge of my seat and I didn’t know who to trust! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child death, Kidnapping, and Stalking

Moderate: Eating disorder, Death of parent, and Blood

inkdrinkershorde's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Child death, Kidnapping, Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Alcoholism, Torture, Confinement, and Death

Minor: Eating disorder, Car accident, and Death of parent

rachrreads's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

 **I received a physical arc from the author via a TikTok giveaway. **

“Let's play a game. You have 24 hours to win. If you break my rules, she dies. If you call the police, she dies. If you tell your parents or anyone else, she dies. Are you ready?”

I binged this on Sunday and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Through the whole book I was trying to guess who An0nym0us1 is. Right when I thought I’d figured everything out, another twist would be thrown my way. 

Crystal is an incredibly clever character and for the most part I found myself liking her. She cares deeply for her sister and would do anything to protect her. This is shown as Crystal’s desperation grows through the book. 

I would definitely recommend this if you like faster paced books with a great group of friends. You get a close look into Crystal’s relationship with each friend and small flashbacks throughout. 

I also loved the fact that these were a group of friends with a shared interest —in this case a video game. The video game aspect really sets up the competitive nature of the book as well.

While I did figure out the big twist, there was a lot that surprised me. This book is terrifying in the fact that I have no idea what I’d do in this situation. It really makes you think.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Blood, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Stalking, and Violence

Minor: Car accident

juliannar's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review!

Wow, I could not put this one down! I started it last night, and then finished it early this morning. The story was compelling, the characters can really draw you in, and you can feel the pain of everything Crystal has to do. Each riddle and game seemed so innocuous, but there were always dire consequences. Every twist and turn left me gasping and with wide eyes. 

I thought that it was really cool for video games to be such a big part of the story, and of Crystal's character. Reading about the hobbies characters have in books is really cool to me. 

Overall, I think if you would really enjoy this book if you are a fan of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, One of Us is Lying, and the Inheritance Games. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child death, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Grief and Stalking

looseleafellie's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This YA thriller follows esports aficionado Crystal Donovan, who must complete challenges set by a mysterious app to save her sister from a kidnapper. But when the app starts directing her to hurt — and even kill — her friends, Crystal must outwit the culprit and bring them to justice!

This book grabbed hold of me and would not let go! I was on the edge of my seat wondering what the killer would make Crystal do next, and how it would end in disastrous consequences. I felt like few places toward the middle weren’t as focused on the actual game as I would have liked, but overall I was hooked.

I did sort of guess the culprit by about the 50% mark, but there was another big twist regarding the killer’s identity that I didn’t see coming, so I was still shocked by the reveal! The plot also leans into making the main character — and the reader — question reality given that the killer covers their tracks so well, which I TOTALLY loved!

Overall, if you’re looking for a cracking YA thriller that plays tricks on your mind, keep an eye out for this one when it releases on February 1st!

Thanks to Wednesday Books for the ARC!

CWs: Kidnapping, murder of a friend, child death, grief, domestic abuse, cyberbullying, doxxing, stalking, panic attacks, gaslighting, suicide, and mentions of eating disorders and racism.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gaslighting, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Stalking

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Suicide

Minor: Eating disorder and Racism

I tagged this for suicide because

a character purposely blows up a house with themselves inside, though it is revealed later that they escaped alive

The domestic abuse (of the main character's dad abusing her mom) is recounted from the main character's perspective, and her mom's bruises are mentioned, but it isn't graphic to my recollection.