CRUEL REALITY: GAMES OF LIFE AND DEATH.

CRUEL REALITY: GAMES OF LIFE AND DEATH by C.J. WHITLEY.

AMAZON.CO.UK BLURB: Taken by masked men in the night, a host of British people find themselves at the mercy of unknown abductors. They cannot guess where they are going, or why they are going there. When they find an arsenal of medieval weapons in their new prison, horrific possibilities are imagined. When the cruel reality of their fate is revealed to them, they must learn a new way of life. Fight or die. There is nowhere to run.

FIRST SENTENCE { Chapter 1}: Mike's eyes opened slowly as he woke to a deafening roar.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 246}: Then he stopped chuckling, realizing that the very same thing could happen to him or any of the other warriors while out in the forest. If they were hiding and waiting in ambush, they could be betrayed in the same way. 

SOURCE: A Proof Copy received for review from the author.

MY THOUGHTS: Though as always left to the individuals discretion - in this case, I would have thought, an adult's discretion as to its suitability for younger readers - Cruel Reality is aimed at the Young Adult market and with very good reason. Though not what I thought of as gratuitous there are of necessity some themes that are unsuitable for young readers.

One of those books I admit I had second thoughts about accepting. A fairly lengthy tome of nigh on six hundred pages, would my attention be held throughout? Informed by the author (and I quote) 'A very brief way of describing it might be to say it is a bit like The Hunger Games, but set in the present day, real world'. Would it be too much like The Hunger Games OR, worse still, would it be written in such a way that whilst a book it was obviously written with a film deal in mind?

Not that I've read the books but I have seen the films and judging by these and these alone I think the author does himself a bit of a disservice. In my opinion better than The Hunger Games (the film adaptations at least) - whilst there is just as much action, I felt that there was more of an actual story to Cruel Reality.

A big book but with lots of short chapters. In my experience often a plus when it comes down to YA novels. 

Though definitely main protagonist Mike's story, there is in addition the occasional point of views from main female lead, Kay, and the entwined 'stories' of two others (I won't say what part they play in the book overall for fear of spoilers) which not only keeps the story fresh but, with a main male and female character, ensures the book as a great read no matter what your gender.

And as well as the action scenes - all well done which is surely testament to the author having had six months of sword and archery lessons - there are also lots of big themes throughout (the notion of leadership and fealty and, even, perceived sexism included). 

All factors which contributed to the plot flowing nicely. All ensuring the reader a roller coaster of a read, the family dynamics and tender, if largely understated, love story between Mike and Kay an emotional one.

But what of the characters?

Well developed each and every one of them. All manner of characters are covered and yet despite there being so many you really do come to know them as individuals and, if you are anything like me, will find yourself rallying for your favourites.

Worthy of every one of the five stars I awarded it on GoodReads/Amazon.co.uk. I wonder how many will manage to read the novel without pondering on what they'd do if it came down to fight or die. Not many I'm betting.