These Deadly Games by Diana Urban
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
**3.5-stars rounded up**
Admittedly, most of Crystal Donavan’s focus lately has been on the upcoming Mortal Dusk gaming tournament she will be competing in with her e-sports team.
So when her little sister, Caelyn, goes off on her one morning, accusing Crystal of only caring about her games, Crystal can’t really offer up much of a defense.
Although Caelyn’s harsh words sting, winning the tournament could literally change their lives. She’s really doing it for her family. There’s a lot of money on the line.
Nonetheless, dropping Caelyn at school for a weekend field trip, Crystal’s heart aches thinking about her little sister feeling neglected. She needs to make it up to her.
A short while later, Crystal receives a jaw-dropping, cryptic message through a mysterious app that has suddenly appeared on her phone. It says Caelyn has been kidnapped and to get her back, Crystal needs to play a little game.
The message includes video of Caelyn bound, gagged and scared. Even though it hardly seems possible, Crystal knows this isn’t a prank. It’s very real.
The games begin immediately and as she struggles through, Crystal begins to see the connection. Every game seems to be aimed at harming those closest to her; her best friends and teammates.
What’s worse, Crystal has to keep it a secret. The kidnapper has threatened to kill Caelyn if she tells anyone. Who could possibly hate Crystal enough to do this?
These Deadly Games is a wild ride. I am a huge fan of dangerous game tropes and this definitely didn’t disappoint in that regard.
I couldn’t believe how far this kidnapper was willing to go; what they were requesting of Crystal at times seemed impossible. I was at the edge of my seat, biting my nails, waiting to see what Crystal would choose to do at each turn in the road.
The narrative follows Crystal in the present, but also includes flashbacks from 5-years ago, to a traumatic event centered around Crystal and her friend group.
It’s an event they have never really healed from. Could this current threat be connected to that?
I enjoyed learning about these characters and felt they were well developed. The core group of kids played well off of each other’s personalities and I was definitely rooting for them to come out of this okay.
I also think Urban did a great job of including a wide range of potential suspects for the kidnapper. I feel like I suspected just about everyone at one point or another. I thought she executed that aspect of the suspense/build-up really well.
Additionally, I think the pace was really well done. The action kicks off fairly quickly and then the intensity builds steadily until the ultimate, explosive conclusion.
I definitely expect a sequel to this, although I have heard no official announcement of one yet. You better believe I will be snatching it up as soon as it is released!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Wednesday Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
I thought this was so much fun and would definitely recommend it to Readers who enjoy wildly-intense YA Thrillers!