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A review by caitlin_lore
These Deadly Games by Diana Urban
4.0
Is it just me, or are YA thrillers exactly the comfort read we all need right now?? There’s something about being pulled into a thriller that lets me forget about the world for a second & the newest from Diana Urban, THESE DEADLY GAMES, is no exception.
Crystal Donovan has 24 hours to play a game & win, otherwise her younger sister dies. The game starts off simple: a request via an app to swipe a test then bake some brownies. But as the game continues, Crystal realizes each task is targeting her friends, one by one.
Soon enough, the small requests turn deadly asking Crystal to choose between her sister and her friends…because in this game, someone has to die.
THESE DEADLY GAMES is Urban’s sophomore novel & just as thrilling as the first. I found myself absorbed in the story, unable to put it down because I just had to know why. While I did figure out who was running the game early on in the story, I loved that Urban weaves so many red herrings throughout, constantly making the reader doubt their own theories. It makes for a great whydunnit.
There was a tiny part of adult me that wasn’t sure the premise of the story was believable, but the psychological aspect of the novel is on point. Urban’s understanding of the human psyche digs into the heart of the characters & makes for a thrilling read as she alternates between the past & the present.
It’s out tomorrow, & if you’re a thriller lover, then this is one book you’ll want to pick up. I already know this will be a popular one in my classroom.
Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my review.
Crystal Donovan has 24 hours to play a game & win, otherwise her younger sister dies. The game starts off simple: a request via an app to swipe a test then bake some brownies. But as the game continues, Crystal realizes each task is targeting her friends, one by one.
Soon enough, the small requests turn deadly asking Crystal to choose between her sister and her friends…because in this game, someone has to die.
THESE DEADLY GAMES is Urban’s sophomore novel & just as thrilling as the first. I found myself absorbed in the story, unable to put it down because I just had to know why. While I did figure out who was running the game early on in the story, I loved that Urban weaves so many red herrings throughout, constantly making the reader doubt their own theories. It makes for a great whydunnit.
There was a tiny part of adult me that wasn’t sure the premise of the story was believable, but the psychological aspect of the novel is on point. Urban’s understanding of the human psyche digs into the heart of the characters & makes for a thrilling read as she alternates between the past & the present.
It’s out tomorrow, & if you’re a thriller lover, then this is one book you’ll want to pick up. I already know this will be a popular one in my classroom.
Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my review.