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Everybody keeps trying to compare this to Hunger Games, but I'm not with that comparison; it's more Fear Factor in book form. First of all, this is not a dystopian novel. Second, two alternating viewpoints: one female, one male. Third, I honestly didn't think anyone was going to die. Anyway...I'm really sure how I felt about this one. I mean, the challenges were good, but nothing really mind blowing (Why the world is the final challenge the same thing every year? Like, everything else is varied up until the final challenge, so why make the final one the same ole stale routine?) I saw one of the plot twists from a mile away. Heather was kind of blah to me. her obsession over her old boyfriend was pretty pathetic. Dodge was just stupid--revenge is cool and all, but he didn't grow or change from that need to have it. His "love" for Nat was also confusing and lacked some sort of passion; it was just like, Oh, she's cute and dainty and I think I love her. Yeah...ok. I do like realistic bleakness of the character's lives; life for Heather and Dodge ain't been no crystal stair. It went along well with the environment of the town. I will say I wanted more from this book, though. I keep waiting for Lauren Oliver to blow me away like she did with Before I Fall, but it all seems to be falling short. I'm not sure if I'd recommend this and I definitely wouldn't re-read.