This book was incredibly predictable from start to finish, with mid world building and no moral of the story. 

I couldn’t connect with the characters because I never got to know them. 
For example,

Emerson is there start to finish but all I really know about him is that he’s ‘logical’. Not because I saw him being logical, but because that’s the only thing Bly described him as. But like, what logical person gets themselves death cursed?

. I don’t know Elise, her death was sad sure, but I don’t notice her loss even though that’s the entire plot of the book. 

Somehow Bly has prepared for the games for an entire year, but at every challenge she has to cheat her way through to win, orrr be lucky enough to catch the eye of a hopelessly romantic suicidal vampire. 

But the side characters will be quick to remind you that they see her strength, and fully believe she can achieve this impossible task. 

Our main character, Bly, isn’t very likeable either. She sees herself as this selfless person trying to revive her sister, but her reasoning is entirely selfish. She’s so selfish and self absorbed that she didn’t even realise her sister and Emerson were friends unrelated to her, she feels horrible for causing Elise’s death, not because she got her sister killed, but because her parents hate her for taking away their perfect daughter.

And the way she thought Emerson joined the games for her? Girly, Elise was his friend too, he joined to try to win Elise’s life back. Not to help you specifically get over your guilt so the two of you can live happily ever after. 

Speaking of guilt and Bly’s motivations, I’m so incredibly disappointed that she didn’t learn anything. At the end, after all the lessons we just went through she’s still the same Bly from the beginning of the story. The only difference is the pain and suffering, and pointless bloodshed she’s caused. 

Onto the romance, zero chemistry for miles. Kerrigan was probably the only interesting character, but still your typical edgy mysterious love interest who’s actually just misunderstood and a sweetheart. 

I hope he never forgives Bly for what she did. After everything he did for her, after opening up about his past and his insecurities, she intended to cause him the same pain she can’t live with.

And to end the review, circling back to the world building. The lore was nice, I liked the detail of history changing based on who you asked. But the game was disappointing. You expect something like Hunger Games, but the party didn’t even face any danger. It was just a walk through the woods, hearing the screams of death in the distance but never having to face it.

I’m disappointed. A really cool concept with really poor execution.