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bookishlychar's review against another edition
4.0
These Deadly Games is a twisty novel with high stakes and shocking turns. It pulls you in right from the beginning and leads you down a path you thought it would never take you. I read Diana Urban's first novel, and enjoyed it. Her second novel though, she really steps up her game and keeps you reading page after eerie page.
The lead character, Crystal, wasn't a character that we were made to love, but I found myself feeling for her with decisions she had to make. She came off as selfish and thinking only about herself, but when it came down to it, she really cared about her family and her friends. The author does a good job of making us feel the intense stress and worry that Crystal is feeling with her sister kidnapped and having to make decisions that you never want to make. The twists in the story are varied, some are predictable, and others more surprising. The novel is fast paced, keeping you on the edge of your seat about what will come next. Everything that the author puts into the story is well crafted and has meaning for the story. I enjoyed some of the hints of what was happening sprinkled throughout and enjoyed Crystal figuring out what was happening even more.
This is a good book, especially for those who like to read YA Thrillers. Diana Urban is a master as writing these types of YA thrillers and makes me want to keep turning the page. I will continue to read the books that she comes out with. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an open and honest review. All opinions are 100% mine.
The lead character, Crystal, wasn't a character that we were made to love, but I found myself feeling for her with decisions she had to make. She came off as selfish and thinking only about herself, but when it came down to it, she really cared about her family and her friends. The author does a good job of making us feel the intense stress and worry that Crystal is feeling with her sister kidnapped and having to make decisions that you never want to make. The twists in the story are varied, some are predictable, and others more surprising. The novel is fast paced, keeping you on the edge of your seat about what will come next. Everything that the author puts into the story is well crafted and has meaning for the story. I enjoyed some of the hints of what was happening sprinkled throughout and enjoyed Crystal figuring out what was happening even more.
This is a good book, especially for those who like to read YA Thrillers. Diana Urban is a master as writing these types of YA thrillers and makes me want to keep turning the page. I will continue to read the books that she comes out with. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an open and honest review. All opinions are 100% mine.
kenzie_s04's review against another edition
2.0
I did not enjoy this book. It hopped around so much and had chunks of scene that I just did not care about - which made me want to skim over them.
And Crystal just made me mad. So did Dylan. I was just angry at the characters the whole time. I didn't really resonate with any of them either... None of them were super fleshed out. It was just small facts about each character; Crystal wasn't familiar enough to me for me to really root for her.
I didn't finish it for the characters, I just wanted to know the how and why of the mystery that I hadn't figured out.
Personal opinion - It was our book club book and others enjoyed it.
And Crystal just made me mad. So did Dylan. I was just angry at the characters the whole time. I didn't really resonate with any of them either... None of them were super fleshed out. It was just small facts about each character; Crystal wasn't familiar enough to me for me to really root for her.
I didn't finish it for the characters, I just wanted to know the how and why of the mystery that I hadn't figured out.
Personal opinion - It was our book club book and others enjoyed it.
kgnade's review against another edition
3.0
I received an advanced reader copy of These Deadly Games from St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books via NetGalley, in return for my honest opinion.
These Deadly Games by Diana Urban is a story about friendship, family and trusting your instincts. Crystal Donavan loves playing games especially video games. This weekend Crystal and her close friends will be competing in a tournament that has a large cash prize- each team member has a different reason why they want to win the tournament.
The day before the tournament, Crystal receives a video of her younger sister bound and gagged. The anonymous kidnapper tells her she has 24 hours to save her sister’s life, as long as she plays the kidnapper’s game and follows the rules. Crystal can’t tell the police or her sister dies. Crystal can’t tell anyone or her sister dies. Crystal has to complete each game or task in the allotted time or her sister dies. The kidnapper is targeting Crystal’s friends, with each game she has to choose between her sister and one of her friends, while the kidnapper stays one step ahead. Soon Crystal doesn’t know who she can trust including herself but will stop at nothing to save her sister.
This was a fast, easy read perfect for fans of Karen M. McManus. These Deadly Games is available now.
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For more of my reviews visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/WhattheBook/ or http://whatthebook-reviews.tumblr.com/ or follow me on Instagram @whatthebook__.
These Deadly Games by Diana Urban is a story about friendship, family and trusting your instincts. Crystal Donavan loves playing games especially video games. This weekend Crystal and her close friends will be competing in a tournament that has a large cash prize- each team member has a different reason why they want to win the tournament.
The day before the tournament, Crystal receives a video of her younger sister bound and gagged. The anonymous kidnapper tells her she has 24 hours to save her sister’s life, as long as she plays the kidnapper’s game and follows the rules. Crystal can’t tell the police or her sister dies. Crystal can’t tell anyone or her sister dies. Crystal has to complete each game or task in the allotted time or her sister dies. The kidnapper is targeting Crystal’s friends, with each game she has to choose between her sister and one of her friends, while the kidnapper stays one step ahead. Soon Crystal doesn’t know who she can trust including herself but will stop at nothing to save her sister.
This was a fast, easy read perfect for fans of Karen M. McManus. These Deadly Games is available now.
#dianaurban #thesedeadlygames #netgalley #arcs #advancedreadercopy #ya #yabooks #youngadult #youngadultbooks #mystery #mysterybooks #thriller #thrillerbooks #mysterythriller #mysterythrillerbooks #readin2022 #stmartinspress #wednesdaybooks #whatthebook #bookreviews #readersofinstagram #bookaholic
For more of my reviews visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/WhattheBook/ or http://whatthebook-reviews.tumblr.com/ or follow me on Instagram @whatthebook__.
rodeorocks13's review against another edition
5.0
These deadly games is more than expected. Its dark and twisted. Our main Character Crystal has to follow a set of rules and complete games given to her by an anonymous person in order to save her sisters life. However, these aren’t your ordinary kids’ games. These ones have dark and final consequences that cause crystal to choose between two lives. Leaving her responsible for other deaths. And just how far would you go for family?
This was a hard to put down novel. I was wanting to know who would be targeted next and what Crystal might do. The characters were likeable enough and have deeper ties to each other. You get the story from present tense and some flash backs from past tense that help build a puzzle that Crystal must solve to end this.
I highly recommend readers for this one to be atleast fifteen and up due to the death and murder scenes.
I received an advanced copy through netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
This was a hard to put down novel. I was wanting to know who would be targeted next and what Crystal might do. The characters were likeable enough and have deeper ties to each other. You get the story from present tense and some flash backs from past tense that help build a puzzle that Crystal must solve to end this.
I highly recommend readers for this one to be atleast fifteen and up due to the death and murder scenes.
I received an advanced copy through netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
thereadrose's review against another edition
2.0
Eh, basic. If you’ve read anything like this before, then you know the ending. There were only two plausible endings and this book was no different.
zbrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Just as the description of the book says, Let’s Play a Game. Saw meets the world of video games and mystery. Crystal has 24 hours to save her sister while having to play An0nym0us1’s deadly game. Twists and turns abound as the reader is kept on the edge of their seat watching Crystal try to outwit and outplay An0nym0us1. I figured out who it was about two-thirds of the way through the book, but it didn’t deter me from finishing to see if I was correct. CW: death, violence, fire, murder, panic attacks/anxiety attacks, kidnapping.
stephisbooked's review against another edition
4.0
What an interesting concept for a game based thriller! I was really trying to out sleuth Crystal as she figured out who was behind the game. A few of the twists were pretty predictable but this had a solid ending that wrapped things up quite well. I didn’t love any of the characters though I’m not sure you’re suppose to since they all have a questionable past. YA books are tough for me to rate because I compare them to adult thrillers (or We Were Liars which I loved) even though I know I shouldn’t but either way this is a quick read for any YA thriller fan.
keriewaites's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an eArc in exchange for my honest review.
THESE DEADLY GAMES did not disappoint. This was a fun (and perfect for a day on the beach) read! I would definitely recommend to anyone who loves YA mysteries/thrillers. This book was one I didn’t want to put down once I started reading and it kept me on my toes. I guessed most of the big reveals in the book, but there were a few I missed. It’s always fun to read a book when you think you know what’s going on and then it turns out that it’s not quite what you think.
THESE DEADLY GAMES did not disappoint. This was a fun (and perfect for a day on the beach) read! I would definitely recommend to anyone who loves YA mysteries/thrillers. This book was one I didn’t want to put down once I started reading and it kept me on my toes. I guessed most of the big reveals in the book, but there were a few I missed. It’s always fun to read a book when you think you know what’s going on and then it turns out that it’s not quite what you think.