Book Review | These Deadly Games

Crystal is an esports player bent on winning a tourney for its big cash prize. However, things get serious when someone wants to play games with her in real life. An anonymous cyberstalker demands her to complete a series of timed tasks in exchange for her sister’s release. Some of these tasks seem completely innocuous at first—like baking brownies. However, to Crystal’s horror, she eventually realizes that the mystery mastermind secretly aims to kill off her friends one by one and it’s up to her to try uncover their identity.

These Deadly Games by Diana Urban is a pulpy page-turner filled with twists and turns.

I’ll start off and say that the premise itself is fantastic and feels timely relevant in the growing age of streamers.

However, I just wasn't invested in the characters for this one. They feel shallow and focus on trivial things, detracting away from its sense of urgency and stakes. For instance, in one scene, Crystal has minutes left to complete a task and her sister's life is on the line, but instead she’s hung up on talking to her online nemesis.

Gripes aside, These Deadly Games would make for an entertaining popcorn read in the hands of the right reader.

Thank you, NetGalley and Wednesday Books, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Details:

Publication Date : February 1, 2022

Publisher : Wednesday Books

ISBN : 1250797195

Pages : 407

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