Title: Arena
Author: Holly Jennings
Genre: Action & Adventure, Dystopian Science Fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5 fairies
Where to buy: Amazon
Synopsis: A fast-paced and gripping near-future science fiction debut about the gritty world of competitive gaming…
Every week, Kali Ling fights to the death on national TV.
She’s died hundreds of times. And it never gets easier…
The RAGE tournaments—the Virtual Gaming League’s elite competition where the best gamers in the world compete in a no-holds-barred fight to the digital death. Every bloody kill is broadcast to millions. Every player is a modern gladiator—leading a life of ultimate fame, responsible only for entertaining the masses.
And though their weapons and armor are digital, the pain is real.
Chosen to be the first female captain in RAGE tournament history, Kali Ling is at the top of the world—until one of her teammates overdoses. Now, she must confront the truth about the tournament. Because it is much more than a game—and even in the real world, not everything is as it seems.
The VGL hides dark secrets. And the only way to change the rules is to fight from the inside…
About the Author: Holly Jennings is a self-proclaimed nerd and lover of all things geeky and weird. As the firstborn to a sports enthusiast, it was soon discovered that the only games she’d ever learn to master involved consoles and controllers. Her childhood was spent crushing virtual foes, racing on simulated tracks, and rescuing digital princesses. As a young adult, she fell in love with English class, speculative novels, and comic books, which inspired her to create stories of her own. Eventually, her passions converged and she started writing about the future of video games.
She lives in Canada.
Review: I was really intrigued when I read the synopsis for this book. A fresh take on the dystopian story, where the focus is on those providing the entertainment, not the state of the masses watching them. Jennings did not disappoint. You are drawn in without realizing it, and quickly form a bond with Kali Ling. The most chilling part of the book? It’s a believable future. A great read for dystopian lovers and gamers alike.
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