Middlegame

by K.A. Riley

exciting next installment of The Amnesty Games will be here soon!In a new game with uncertain rules, Alora’s search for safety and answers continues…

Genres: Dystopia

426 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 12, 2024

About the author

K. A. Riley is a writer of speculative and science fiction, dedicated to creating worlds just different enough from our own to be entertaining, intriguing and a little frightening all at once. For Riley, writing isn't a job. It's a laboratory where readers can wander into a land of ideas; it's a playground where they can scamper around, giggling, gasping, and freaking out to their hearts' content.

Riley is the top-secret pen-name of a NYT and USA Today best-selling author.

Reviews

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings

A review has to be honest or what's the point. I positively loved the first book and so, naturally, expected no different here. However, this book, to me, fell short of its predecessor. It lacked the excitement and action of the first book. I found parts repetitive without reason. It would get interesting and then the air would go out again and it was a stretch until it picked up again. The riddles were terrific though and fun to figure out. I hope the next installment finds its way back.

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the story but the “F” word was used frequently. I usually stop reading a book when I come across this word. In the first book it was only used 4 times so I thought I could skip over the word when it came up. K.A. Riley decided to use it over and over again in this book. I did my best to avoid it and the “SH” word and I don’t mean shut up. Now I’m in the 3rd book and I’ve already hit the “F” word several times and I’ve barely begun. I want to complete the story but I can’t recommend this trilogy to friends. I wish there was a way to black out those unnecessary cuss words. They only lower the intelligence of the characters that use them and Derrian appears to only have a filthy mind. Come on, I like his character, can’t he come up with something more intelligent than the garbage he thinks is funny but is always crossing the line? Make these books more universally friendly so more can enjoy them.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

It started out promising, and then went downhill from there. The timelines are nearly nonexistent and there’s no mention of basic needs being met, like eating, over the span of multiple days which feels minor, but it ruins the reality of it for me. There are entire chapters which feel like they’re filled with pointless thoughts. The MFC is oblivious and the characters seem entirely unreliable and I skip entire paragraphs of their ridiculous banter or pointless flashbacks. Everything ends up being extremely drawn out because of needless fluff. More groups of people start getting involved while others are never brought up again, meaning they were just there to add something to the story, which makes them feel pointless. It feels like things are just being made up as it goes along and becomes even more convoluted. There’s “action” but it serves no purpose to the plot line. Finally, that’s not how epilogues work.

[Walter Graff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good read, but authors bias reflected in heroes!

The authors belief that wealth inequality is the reason for all social ills dominates the story. Apparently, he believes wealth will magically remain equally distributed. Those without will be without again. Look at homeless given homes. Lottery winners given money.
The author fails to see the answer is simple! Keep government out of economics as much as possible! If no gain, no interest. When government prefers one person over another, money follows the preferred. Fear is all too often the motivator.

Still, the book is a good read! I would recommend it.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was a solid read (audible in my case)

With the first book getting a fantastic five-star rating, this was a little lack luster. Now, I am little hesitant to finish the series if is follows this downhill pattern.

There were some really great parts in the book, but there were some moments in the book that I just didn't think make sense, or that the author didn't spend enough time one. The author could have spent more time giving greater detail in many of the plot points. Missed opportunities.

It kind of made me feel like the author didn't believe in this series after the first one, but they had to finish if only out of obligation. It felt rushed. I didn't feel like the author put as much effort as did in Amesty Games

The storyline for the second book has a lot of potential. But it just fell short.

Still a solid read. I wish there was just more time taken on the book.

It scares me to go onto the final book

[Lindsay McPherson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know why this book got such low ratings from others. Yes it’s not the Hunger Games books but it was still good. It was full of surprises. Can’t wait to read book #3.

[mary sofia - BREAK BC OF SCHOOL · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as interesting as the first, but it still kept my attention (for the most part)
3.5 stars