An explosive sequel that ups the ante and takes what felt like a traitors style story into more of a squid game one.
Picking up pretty much where book 1 left off, our main characters are blackmailed back into playing Lie or Die: Blood moon an extreme game of werewolf that promises to provide deadly challenges, fatal consequences and new twists that will blow your mind.
There was a point in this book where I was plodding along happily enjoying where things were going then BAM shock, twist and then the giant ball of stone was released and now I’m exceedingly tired from reading in the early hours of the morning.
Make no mistake this is a YA murder mystery with strong adult themes but you are drawn into the world creating inside the games, if the first book felt like a true to form modern murder mystery this was it’s closely related true to form horror sequel and it was bloody brilliant.
The twists and turns kept me turning pages, the characters my investment in them kept me tense and on edge and the story unfolded in a way that was satisfying and resolute.
A.J Clack has become a new favourite of mine and her books will always be on my radar and I’m excited to see what she drops next.
I really loved the concept of the reality TV element in this book and thought it was executed incredibly well. It added such a gripping and entertaining layer to the story.
Since it continues directly from Lie or Die, the beginning felt a little slow while everything was being set back up, but once it found its pace, I was completely invested again.
The twists throughout kept me turning the pages and constantly wanting to know what would happen next. And the ending? Absolutely loved it. The mix of characters was another highlight, just like a real reality TV show, there’s such a range of personalities that make the dynamics interesting and unpredictable.
Overall, a really engaging read that kept me hooked.
Great sequel so Lie or Die. The outdoor setting around a castle makes it all seem darker. Really fastpaced with a great mix of characters, some you'll love, some hate, and some you won't be sure about. 😍📖😍
great book overall engaging and a thrilling read a little predictable in places and still a good read even if I didn't read the first novel in the series woops
Kass is still recovering from the events of Lie or Die. Losing people right in front of her, being duped by mastermind Skye, and feeling the guilt of death in her hands, has taken it’s toll. She doesn’t know what she’d do without her best friend Lewis and new-love Rhodri. Thea, her other best friend who had reeled her into the first Lie or Die game, Mafia, has gone off-grid after suffering her own trauma from the events of the game. Everything is heading toward rehabilitation for Kass and friends, though Skye is still on the run. That’s until a box gets delivered to her house—the initiation of a new game, Werewolf, coming with a warning and a life hanging in the balance if she should decline.
Suddenly, Kass is thrust back into the twisted games that she knows must be Skye’s doing. Werewolf is nothing and everything like Mafia. Now there are peasants and werewolves, hierarchy and motives. Though the look might be different on surface level, the games are just as eerily threatening and treacherous. With Lewis and Rhodri, plus a variety of other familiar faces vowing revenge against Skye, the game begins. The players thought they knew how the game worked after the last, but the tables have very much turned when they realise all is not what it—or who—it seems. The threats and the wolves are real, and Kass finds herself in enemy territory, faced with a startling revelation when her life and heart is on the line—in this game, you can’t trust anyone. And she’s finding out that the hard way…
Overall, Lie or Die: Blood Moon was sharply smart, entirely enrapturing from start-to-finish. Just like it’s predecessor, I was hooked from the get-go, pulled into the dark and wicked games that were twisty and cut-throat. A. J. Clack has a way of modernising and reinventing games, adding another tantalising layer of mystery and anticipation, whilst playing into the reality TV feel we all know and love. Kass is a character that I cannot help but root for, and there were so many times she showed bravery and rich character development, shaping her even more as this heroine I love to support. The wavering lines of trust, misdirection and friendship are rife and powerfully riveting in this stunning sequel, and I think that fans of thrilling mysteries that make you question everyone and everything will eat this up, just as I did. I cannot wait to read more from A. J. Clack—this has cemented that she’s a firm favourite for me.
I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
BLOOD MOON is an action packed, deadly sequel.
The game played here is an extreme version of werewolf - with a total wipe-out style (but deadlier!) twist. I really liked how some of the extra cards from werewolf were drawn into the game, mostly through the vehicle of "advantages" that players could win. It added extra tension to relationships and gave the more selfish characters extra incentives not to work as a team.
Reality TV is (according to its proponents) supposed to be about social experiments to look at group dynamics (I don't think actually ends up being the case!) The extreme circumstances of BLOOD MOON and the different incentives for the characters means that the book, at least, does use it to explore the ways we react under pressure and the tug between selfishness and helping others - how large scale characters can think, what the trust incentives are, and whether we're willing to potentially disadvantage ourselves in service of helping the most people.
After the cliffhanger at the end of Book 1 I knew that I needed to continue the story so I picked up Book 2 right away just to see what would happen next and I never in my wildest dreams would have predicted what awaited me as the story unfolded over the course of the book. This is an action-packed deadly sequel.
Kass is still recovering from the events of Lie or Die, losing people directly in front of her and learning of Sky’s discerption and for anyone it would have been a lot but especially for a teenager, but the gang are starting to recover and move on from the trauma. However, this all gets cranked up a level when a mystery box gets delivered to Kass with an invitation to a new game, Werewolf and a warning and a friend’s life is hanging in the balance. It’s an invitation that must not be turned down.
Kass is suddenly thrown into the cruel games that is all of Skye’s making. Whilst the name is different the games are still the same dispersion, lies and treacherous games that must be played. Whilst the New Players thought they knew how the game worked after the last, but the tables have very much turned when they realise all is not what it—or who—it seems. The threats and the wolves are real, and things have been cranked up to 1000. It’s an intense read.
A.J. Clack has written a sharp book that keeps you on the edge of your seat with every page turn you just want more, and you don’t know the twists that are to come and trust me they are unpredictable. The wavering lines of trust, misdirection and friendship are rife and powerfully riveting in this stunning sequel, I can’t wait to see what Clack writes next.
I loved Lie or Die (which I picked in a book shop based on the cover, with no prior knowledge of the book) so I was super excited to be approved for this eARC and I most definitely was not left disappointed. It’s very difficult to review this book without giving away spoilers. But if you love The Hunger Games and Squid Game you’ll love this book.