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Death Show Colossus
20 Climbers. 20 Watchers. 5 Hunters. 1 Colossus.
After both their parents die during the live broadcast of the Tournament of the Colossus, Quinne promises to always keep Benn safe. Even from the deadly Hunters who scour the slums for those who can wield magic. But when Benn's rare ability manifests during a public confrontation, the Hunters see them for what they truly are: riveting contestants.
Quinne will be a Climber, where she'll be chased by Hunters and mechanized monstrosities through a trapped forest before attempting to climb a thousand-foot-tall destructive god. And Benn will be her Watcher, as his consciousness will be transferred into nothing more than a glorified camera in the form of a metal bird.
The odds of survival are low, the likelihood of death and blood great. Tune in today, for this Tournament will be a ratings juggernaut!
After both their parents die during the live broadcast of the Tournament of the Colossus, Quinne promises to always keep Benn safe. Even from the deadly Hunters who scour the slums for those who can wield magic. But when Benn's rare ability manifests during a public confrontation, the Hunters see them for what they truly are: riveting contestants.
Quinne will be a Climber, where she'll be chased by Hunters and mechanized monstrosities through a trapped forest before attempting to climb a thousand-foot-tall destructive god. And Benn will be her Watcher, as his consciousness will be transferred into nothing more than a glorified camera in the form of a metal bird.
The odds of survival are low, the likelihood of death and blood great. Tune in today, for this Tournament will be a ratings juggernaut!
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 26, 2026
About the author
Bill Adams
6 books103 followersSci-fi/Fantasy author of middle grade and adult, sometimes editor, book reviewer at FanFiAddict, pizza connoisseur, beard grower, Ace, father, he/him
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
This review was originally published on Grimdark Magazine
I am not going to lie, I went into Death Show Colossus by Bill Adams with a healthy dose of side eye. On paper, this sounded like pure, pedal to the metal carnage, and historically that is not my comfort zone because I like things slow-burn and full of feelings, thank you very much. But you know what, Adams completely blindsided me, and I mean that as the highest possible compliment.
For context, this is a world where televised death is the main event. The Tournament of the Colossus throws twenty Climbers into a Hunger Games-esque slaughter, pairs them with Watchers, and unleashes Hunters to make sure the blood flows. After both of Quinne’s and Benn’s parents die live on air, the survival siblings do everything they can to protect each other and stay invisible. That plan collapses the moment the manifestation of Benn’s rare magic draws unwanted eyes to them during a failed mission, turning Quinne into a Climber who needs to reach the top of a thousand-foot-tall destructive god and Benn into a Watcher, his mind trapped inside a metal bird to help guide Quinne on her mission. Subtle, it is not. Effective, absolutely.
Needless to say, Death Show Colossus is one hell of a unique and unhinged genre blender, and I love it for that. Cyberpunk, fantasy, sci fi, horror, action adventure, and razor sharp political satire are all tossed into the same meat grinder. It has no right to work. And yet, somehow, it absolutely does. Death Show Colossus is loud, vicious, and feral, but it is also smart and very purposeful about where it aims its chaos.
The easiest comparison is obviously Dungeon Crawler Carl, not because Adams is retreading the same ground, but because both stories understand the power of spectacle as a trap. Yes, there is a flashy death game and yes, the violence is outrageous and often darkly funny. But much like Carl, Death Show Colossus uses its absurd, over the top premise to lure you in before hitting you with emotional depth you were not prepared for. The cruelty is not just there for shock value, and Adams absolutely nails the themes of rebellion, morality, family, exploitation and what it means to survive in a system that profits from your suffering.
More importantly, that depth is carried on the backs of its characters, with our main characters Quinne and Benn being the biggest showstoppers. I did not expect to latch onto them as quickly as I did, but here we are. Quinne is a foul mouthed, feral spitfire who radiates Mia Corvere from Nevernight with a dash of Gideon Nav from Gideon the Ninth energy. She is all teeth and fury and loyalty, and she might be a bit much for some people, but I loved her in all her feral glory. Benn, her survival brother, is a huge contrast to her with his quieter, softer, and more anxious personality, and I honestly wanted to wrap him in bubble wrap and hide him from the world. Their bond is not about blood but about choice, and it hit me straight in the feelings. The desire to keep each other alive is the main driving force behind all their actions, and I loved that their love for each other just dripped off every page even when they were separated.
It would’ve been easy for them to overshadow the other characters, but the side cast in Death Show Colossus is honestly just as strong and compelling. The rebels Ardenn and Lanier in particular leap off the page with their big personalities, intriguing backstories, and morally questionable actions. I also adored the villain POV chapters from Vera, who is deeply unsettling in that slow, skin crawling way that makes you dread every page she appears on. And you know what, Adams is frankly rude for making me care this much about so many characters in a story where nothing and nobody is safe. Prepare for emotional gutpunches and twists that will make you go: “NO, he did NOT just go there!!” (yes, yes he did).
And somehow, even with the fast pacing, heavy action, and rich character work, Adams also manages to find the time to deliver some seriously impressive world building in Death Show Colossus. The flux abilities are creative and consistently interesting, and Adams clearly delights in showing all the horrifying ways they can be used as well as the toll it takes on its wielder. At times I did need to refer back to the glossary at the front to remind myself what exactly the powers of a Dovetail or a Slab Head for example were, but I didn’t mind that slight level of confusion all that much because the rest of the world with all its rich lore and long history is just so immersive. I was especially intrigued to learn that this takes place in Adams’s own Cosmere-esque universe as his The Divine Godsqueen Coda series, which I haven’t read yet but could still see hints and connections to based on the title alone. Consider me officially invested.
So no, Death Show Colossus really does not sit neatly inside of my usual wheelhouse and the action-packed plot definitely exhausted me in a few places, but I think it’s a testament to Adam’s storytelling chops that I simply wasn’t able to look away. This is big chaos with a big heart, and somehow that messy combination of ferocity and tenderness just works. Don’t miss out on this one if you like your SFF adventures dark, sharp, fun, emotionally loaded, and full of all the best ‘wtf did I just read’ vibes.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Kickstarter campaign of Death Show Colossus will launch 9 February, with a scheduled release on May 26, 2026.
I am not going to lie, I went into Death Show Colossus by Bill Adams with a healthy dose of side eye. On paper, this sounded like pure, pedal to the metal carnage, and historically that is not my comfort zone because I like things slow-burn and full of feelings, thank you very much. But you know what, Adams completely blindsided me, and I mean that as the highest possible compliment.
For context, this is a world where televised death is the main event. The Tournament of the Colossus throws twenty Climbers into a Hunger Games-esque slaughter, pairs them with Watchers, and unleashes Hunters to make sure the blood flows. After both of Quinne’s and Benn’s parents die live on air, the survival siblings do everything they can to protect each other and stay invisible. That plan collapses the moment the manifestation of Benn’s rare magic draws unwanted eyes to them during a failed mission, turning Quinne into a Climber who needs to reach the top of a thousand-foot-tall destructive god and Benn into a Watcher, his mind trapped inside a metal bird to help guide Quinne on her mission. Subtle, it is not. Effective, absolutely.
Needless to say, Death Show Colossus is one hell of a unique and unhinged genre blender, and I love it for that. Cyberpunk, fantasy, sci fi, horror, action adventure, and razor sharp political satire are all tossed into the same meat grinder. It has no right to work. And yet, somehow, it absolutely does. Death Show Colossus is loud, vicious, and feral, but it is also smart and very purposeful about where it aims its chaos.
The easiest comparison is obviously Dungeon Crawler Carl, not because Adams is retreading the same ground, but because both stories understand the power of spectacle as a trap. Yes, there is a flashy death game and yes, the violence is outrageous and often darkly funny. But much like Carl, Death Show Colossus uses its absurd, over the top premise to lure you in before hitting you with emotional depth you were not prepared for. The cruelty is not just there for shock value, and Adams absolutely nails the themes of rebellion, morality, family, exploitation and what it means to survive in a system that profits from your suffering.
More importantly, that depth is carried on the backs of its characters, with our main characters Quinne and Benn being the biggest showstoppers. I did not expect to latch onto them as quickly as I did, but here we are. Quinne is a foul mouthed, feral spitfire who radiates Mia Corvere from Nevernight with a dash of Gideon Nav from Gideon the Ninth energy. She is all teeth and fury and loyalty, and she might be a bit much for some people, but I loved her in all her feral glory. Benn, her survival brother, is a huge contrast to her with his quieter, softer, and more anxious personality, and I honestly wanted to wrap him in bubble wrap and hide him from the world. Their bond is not about blood but about choice, and it hit me straight in the feelings. The desire to keep each other alive is the main driving force behind all their actions, and I loved that their love for each other just dripped off every page even when they were separated.
It would’ve been easy for them to overshadow the other characters, but the side cast in Death Show Colossus is honestly just as strong and compelling. The rebels Ardenn and Lanier in particular leap off the page with their big personalities, intriguing backstories, and morally questionable actions. I also adored the villain POV chapters from Vera, who is deeply unsettling in that slow, skin crawling way that makes you dread every page she appears on. And you know what, Adams is frankly rude for making me care this much about so many characters in a story where nothing and nobody is safe. Prepare for emotional gutpunches and twists that will make you go: “NO, he did NOT just go there!!” (yes, yes he did).
And somehow, even with the fast pacing, heavy action, and rich character work, Adams also manages to find the time to deliver some seriously impressive world building in Death Show Colossus. The flux abilities are creative and consistently interesting, and Adams clearly delights in showing all the horrifying ways they can be used as well as the toll it takes on its wielder. At times I did need to refer back to the glossary at the front to remind myself what exactly the powers of a Dovetail or a Slab Head for example were, but I didn’t mind that slight level of confusion all that much because the rest of the world with all its rich lore and long history is just so immersive. I was especially intrigued to learn that this takes place in Adams’s own Cosmere-esque universe as his The Divine Godsqueen Coda series, which I haven’t read yet but could still see hints and connections to based on the title alone. Consider me officially invested.
So no, Death Show Colossus really does not sit neatly inside of my usual wheelhouse and the action-packed plot definitely exhausted me in a few places, but I think it’s a testament to Adam’s storytelling chops that I simply wasn’t able to look away. This is big chaos with a big heart, and somehow that messy combination of ferocity and tenderness just works. Don’t miss out on this one if you like your SFF adventures dark, sharp, fun, emotionally loaded, and full of all the best ‘wtf did I just read’ vibes.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Kickstarter campaign of Death Show Colossus will launch 9 February, with a scheduled release on May 26, 2026.
May 26, 2026
This book is sort of Super Smash TV meets the Hunger Games meets Shadow of the Colossus, which is one of the strangest sentences I’ve written on Goodreads
Great pacing with non-stop action, but still manages to sprinkle in some world-building when the protagonists are fighting 80’s like action villains
Aside from the action, the characters are great, especially the primary antagonist, who I’m grateful gets a POV. Ben and Quinn are excellent and, without going into spoilers, I very much appreciated the ending. Learning the historical context around the colossus is well worth it. Feels very American that there is a gigantic godlike colossus stumbling around and the obvious solution is to film a violent tv show where people try to scale it.
Great pacing with non-stop action, but still manages to sprinkle in some world-building when the protagonists are fighting 80’s like action villains
Aside from the action, the characters are great, especially the primary antagonist, who I’m grateful gets a POV. Ben and Quinn are excellent and, without going into spoilers, I very much appreciated the ending. Learning the historical context around the colossus is well worth it. Feels very American that there is a gigantic godlike colossus stumbling around and the obvious solution is to film a violent tv show where people try to scale it.
January 6, 2026
An ARC review by Audrie Hopper:
This is a fast and bloody story that is equal parts dystopian science fiction and 80s neon fantasy.
What I loved about Death Show Colossus
- it is a heavy critique on oligarchic rule, oppression, and the transparency of media and with current events it felt powerful to watch the people at the bottom fight for equality.
- The fusion of mech and magic utilized by the characters on both sides of the conflict was sick! It made for very imaginative and engaging action sequences.
- okay, there is a lot of blood and violence, but it is not violence for the sake of violence. There is a strong plot that moves the story and characters forward, and the blood and violence have a place in this story.
- the familial bond between Benn and Quinne is so sweet, and their dynamic is great. They are trauma bonded in this odd sibling/parent/child relationship that gives us some really touching moments as well as some solid comedy.
This is a fast and bloody story that is equal parts dystopian science fiction and 80s neon fantasy.
What I loved about Death Show Colossus
- it is a heavy critique on oligarchic rule, oppression, and the transparency of media and with current events it felt powerful to watch the people at the bottom fight for equality.
- The fusion of mech and magic utilized by the characters on both sides of the conflict was sick! It made for very imaginative and engaging action sequences.
- okay, there is a lot of blood and violence, but it is not violence for the sake of violence. There is a strong plot that moves the story and characters forward, and the blood and violence have a place in this story.
- the familial bond between Benn and Quinne is so sweet, and their dynamic is great. They are trauma bonded in this odd sibling/parent/child relationship that gives us some really touching moments as well as some solid comedy.
June 16, 2026
Sometimes a book comes along that grabs you by the throat from page one and refuses to let go. Death Show Colossus was that book for me.
This story is brutal, inventive, hilarious, heartbreaking, and utterly impossible to put down. Bill Adams creates a world that feels both wildly original and terrifyingly believable, blending spectacle, rebellion, found family, and larger-than-life action into something that never loses sight of its characters.
Quinne quickly became one of my favorite protagonists. She's sharp-tongued, stubborn, flawed, and endlessly determined. Watching her journey unfold was every bit as compelling as the explosive action surrounding her. And what a journey it is.
The cast as a whole is phenomenal. The bonds between these characters felt real, hard-earned, and emotional. At its core, this is a story about family, not the one you're born into, but the one you choose. Those themes resonated deeply and gave the story an emotional weight that stayed with me long after I turned the final page.
The action scenes are some of the most imaginative and exhilarating I've read in a long time. A giant Colossus, gryphons, Hunters, rebellion, chaos, and destruction all come together in scenes that feel cinematic without ever overshadowing the characters at the heart of the story.
And then there's the ending.
No spoilers, but Bill Adams absolutely sticks the landing. The final act delivers everything I wanted and more. Emotional payoff, satisfying character arcs, unforgettable moments, and one of the most rewarding villain downfalls I've read in fantasy. Every page felt earned.
This is the kind of book that had me constantly highlighting passages, laughing out loud, cheering for the characters, and dreading the moment I would reach the final page.
By the end, I wasn't ready to leave this world or these characters behind.
If you're looking for a fantasy that combines heart, humor, unforgettable characters, spectacular action, and a story that knows exactly where it's going, Death Show Colossus deserves a place at the very top of your TBR.
An easy favorite of the year and one of the most memorable books I've read in a very long time.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (but in my heart, it's a 6-star read.) ❤️📚🔥
This story is brutal, inventive, hilarious, heartbreaking, and utterly impossible to put down. Bill Adams creates a world that feels both wildly original and terrifyingly believable, blending spectacle, rebellion, found family, and larger-than-life action into something that never loses sight of its characters.
Quinne quickly became one of my favorite protagonists. She's sharp-tongued, stubborn, flawed, and endlessly determined. Watching her journey unfold was every bit as compelling as the explosive action surrounding her. And what a journey it is.
The cast as a whole is phenomenal. The bonds between these characters felt real, hard-earned, and emotional. At its core, this is a story about family, not the one you're born into, but the one you choose. Those themes resonated deeply and gave the story an emotional weight that stayed with me long after I turned the final page.
The action scenes are some of the most imaginative and exhilarating I've read in a long time. A giant Colossus, gryphons, Hunters, rebellion, chaos, and destruction all come together in scenes that feel cinematic without ever overshadowing the characters at the heart of the story.
And then there's the ending.
No spoilers, but Bill Adams absolutely sticks the landing. The final act delivers everything I wanted and more. Emotional payoff, satisfying character arcs, unforgettable moments, and one of the most rewarding villain downfalls I've read in fantasy. Every page felt earned.
This is the kind of book that had me constantly highlighting passages, laughing out loud, cheering for the characters, and dreading the moment I would reach the final page.
By the end, I wasn't ready to leave this world or these characters behind.
If you're looking for a fantasy that combines heart, humor, unforgettable characters, spectacular action, and a story that knows exactly where it's going, Death Show Colossus deserves a place at the very top of your TBR.
An easy favorite of the year and one of the most memorable books I've read in a very long time.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (but in my heart, it's a 6-star read.) ❤️📚🔥
Review of advance copy received from Author
We’ve all been there -- the All-You-Can-Eat Buffet. Of course, there’s the salad bar with leafy greens, assorted raw veggies, and cold pasta salads. True buffet aficionados skip that stuff and head straight for the grill. Get that prime rib or roasted chicken, sliced fresh off the bone just for you. Then, you find the pastas, but not the cold ones -- no, the creamy macaroni and cheese, maybe some spaghetti with meatballs. You know what I’m talking about. What else? Maybe some fried catfish and hushpuppies followed by potato skins with all the toppings along with maybe a trip to Asia with some General Tso’s Chicken and rangoons. Can’t forget the hot rolls with cinnamon butter or cornbread to help complete the meal.
And we haven’t even made it halfway around the hot food…let alone the dessert line.
That’s Death Show Colossus by Bill Adams.
Just look at that title. Killer, right? It’s like pulling up to the buffet and it’s called something like King Buffet or something. You know before you even take a bite that this is gonna be epic.
There is a pace to Adams’ latest novel that made me think that every so often he was stabbing his own leg with an epipen or downing one of those fancy coffee drinks that has enough caffeine and sugar to down a baby elephant. This book thrives on action and Bill Adams gives it to you. From the get-go, we’re thrust into an action set piece and until late in Death Show Colossus, we’re barely given a chance to breathe with violence around every corner.
Non-stop action would be an apt description, just like getting a carb overload with the fresh bread basket at the buffet. Adams has a fascinating world crafted around his two protagonists, Quinne and Benn. A bit Hunger Games, a bit Running Man and a bit of about 10 other things from anime to sci-fi to fantasy and all points in between.
In Death Show Colossus, magic exists for certain members of society. We see Quinne utilizing some of her gifts as the book first opens, providing some X-Men or My Hero Academia vibes when they are in use throughout the book. Then, the main plot centers around a TV show where the government controls the public by making them fight five highly-trained fighters called Hunters, eventually leading to a showdown with a massive god they call the Colossus. As you can imagine, Quinne and Benn are thrown into the televised tournament, but there are many surprises and reveals to come -- often much too slowly for Quinne’s taste (and sometimes for my own as well).
It definitely feels like Adams has a lot more of the background to many of the characters and this world stored up in his cranium and it would be fascinating to see more of the world in future novels. The fantasy dystopian novel is definitely going to have some rabid fans this year and you can count me as one of them. If there is a downside, it’s the meat sweats. You’ve never had the meat sweats? Well…it’s when you eat so much pork, chicken, steak…you name it…that you physically start to sweat. And no matter what else is on your plate or still available on the buffet, it becomes a challenge to go back for more. There were a few times that the action was so much, so intense without a break or info dump, it was a little much. But…like a good buffet…if you just wait it out, it’ll settle down and you can dive right back in before you know it.
I had a blast with Death Show Colossus by Bill Adams and think you will, too. Give it a whirl and you might end up going back for seconds.
And we haven’t even made it halfway around the hot food…let alone the dessert line.
That’s Death Show Colossus by Bill Adams.
Just look at that title. Killer, right? It’s like pulling up to the buffet and it’s called something like King Buffet or something. You know before you even take a bite that this is gonna be epic.
There is a pace to Adams’ latest novel that made me think that every so often he was stabbing his own leg with an epipen or downing one of those fancy coffee drinks that has enough caffeine and sugar to down a baby elephant. This book thrives on action and Bill Adams gives it to you. From the get-go, we’re thrust into an action set piece and until late in Death Show Colossus, we’re barely given a chance to breathe with violence around every corner.
Non-stop action would be an apt description, just like getting a carb overload with the fresh bread basket at the buffet. Adams has a fascinating world crafted around his two protagonists, Quinne and Benn. A bit Hunger Games, a bit Running Man and a bit of about 10 other things from anime to sci-fi to fantasy and all points in between.
In Death Show Colossus, magic exists for certain members of society. We see Quinne utilizing some of her gifts as the book first opens, providing some X-Men or My Hero Academia vibes when they are in use throughout the book. Then, the main plot centers around a TV show where the government controls the public by making them fight five highly-trained fighters called Hunters, eventually leading to a showdown with a massive god they call the Colossus. As you can imagine, Quinne and Benn are thrown into the televised tournament, but there are many surprises and reveals to come -- often much too slowly for Quinne’s taste (and sometimes for my own as well).
It definitely feels like Adams has a lot more of the background to many of the characters and this world stored up in his cranium and it would be fascinating to see more of the world in future novels. The fantasy dystopian novel is definitely going to have some rabid fans this year and you can count me as one of them. If there is a downside, it’s the meat sweats. You’ve never had the meat sweats? Well…it’s when you eat so much pork, chicken, steak…you name it…that you physically start to sweat. And no matter what else is on your plate or still available on the buffet, it becomes a challenge to go back for more. There were a few times that the action was so much, so intense without a break or info dump, it was a little much. But…like a good buffet…if you just wait it out, it’ll settle down and you can dive right back in before you know it.
I had a blast with Death Show Colossus by Bill Adams and think you will, too. Give it a whirl and you might end up going back for seconds.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a spoiler-free review of Death Show Colossus by Bill Adams. Thank you to the author for providing the ARC!
I’ve had many feelings along the way—and some doubts as well. It’s quite distant from the type of stories I usually read and enjoy, but I found a lot of good and only a little bad. Bill is a seasoned author who knows what readers crave, while still pushing the narrative bounds in fresh ways.
The inspiration behind the story isn’t hard to decipher, but that’s not really the point. Think vertical Hunger Games meets battle royale with super-abled individuals, each with their own goals and motivations, all sharing a fierce desire to survive the direst situations. It’s not the most original premise, but it’s a magical experience watching the plot grind forward. There’s this special indie sauce running through it. Borderline obscene and hilarious at the same time that makes you unable to stop yourself from picking a favorite and rooting for them with everything you’ve got. The villains being thoroughly despicable doesn’t hurt either.
Overall, it’s fast, it’s fun, but it also won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. The book is hard to pin down beyond pure vibes, so “read to find out” isn’t a cop-out here. At its core, Death Show Colossus is a dystopian race to the heart of a freakishly gargantuan roaming colossus, but it’s also so much, much more. I see it as both a loving homage to B-movies and a snarky critique of conformity, the struggle against power, the role of entertainment industry, and endless consumerism—all wrapped in a chaotic, action-first package with a satisfying mic drop.
Frankly, I’d recommend this as your spring reading slump buster. It’s a bit out of left field, but you shan’t be disappointed in its quality or entertainment value. If cyber mechs and lethaly low odds of survival sound like your jam, tune in to the Death Show Colossus broadcast!
Don’t overthink it, join the climb — 4.00 / 5.00
I’ve had many feelings along the way—and some doubts as well. It’s quite distant from the type of stories I usually read and enjoy, but I found a lot of good and only a little bad. Bill is a seasoned author who knows what readers crave, while still pushing the narrative bounds in fresh ways.
The inspiration behind the story isn’t hard to decipher, but that’s not really the point. Think vertical Hunger Games meets battle royale with super-abled individuals, each with their own goals and motivations, all sharing a fierce desire to survive the direst situations. It’s not the most original premise, but it’s a magical experience watching the plot grind forward. There’s this special indie sauce running through it. Borderline obscene and hilarious at the same time that makes you unable to stop yourself from picking a favorite and rooting for them with everything you’ve got. The villains being thoroughly despicable doesn’t hurt either.
Overall, it’s fast, it’s fun, but it also won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. The book is hard to pin down beyond pure vibes, so “read to find out” isn’t a cop-out here. At its core, Death Show Colossus is a dystopian race to the heart of a freakishly gargantuan roaming colossus, but it’s also so much, much more. I see it as both a loving homage to B-movies and a snarky critique of conformity, the struggle against power, the role of entertainment industry, and endless consumerism—all wrapped in a chaotic, action-first package with a satisfying mic drop.
Frankly, I’d recommend this as your spring reading slump buster. It’s a bit out of left field, but you shan’t be disappointed in its quality or entertainment value. If cyber mechs and lethaly low odds of survival sound like your jam, tune in to the Death Show Colossus broadcast!
Don’t overthink it, join the climb — 4.00 / 5.00
May 30, 2026
Cover Art by Felix Ortiz
Cover title design and chapter header art by Dewey Conway
Naked cover art by Helena Nikulina
Interior character art by Benediktus Budi
An absolutely brilliant read! This read like I was completely immersed in watching an action movie. Death Show Colossus gave me similar vibes to things like The Running Man, The Maze Runner, The Hunger Games and a fabulous indie title called Failing Gravity. Note I said *vibes* because this is something special all its own. The world building is top tier. There are distinct classes, new terminology, and really intriguing magic (at least I'm calling it magic because that's the easiest way for me to explain it). We also have some fantastic characters; complicated, strong, and loyal.
I wish I had heard about this book sooner, as I would have loved to have contributed to the kickstarter. This is truly such an entertaining, immersive, and engaging read. The chapter headers and character art just add to the experience. Highly recommend!
Thank you so much to Bill Adams, Willow Wraith Press and Love Books Tours for the gifted copy to read and review. All thoughts expressed are my own.
Cover title design and chapter header art by Dewey Conway
Naked cover art by Helena Nikulina
Interior character art by Benediktus Budi
An absolutely brilliant read! This read like I was completely immersed in watching an action movie. Death Show Colossus gave me similar vibes to things like The Running Man, The Maze Runner, The Hunger Games and a fabulous indie title called Failing Gravity. Note I said *vibes* because this is something special all its own. The world building is top tier. There are distinct classes, new terminology, and really intriguing magic (at least I'm calling it magic because that's the easiest way for me to explain it). We also have some fantastic characters; complicated, strong, and loyal.
I wish I had heard about this book sooner, as I would have loved to have contributed to the kickstarter. This is truly such an entertaining, immersive, and engaging read. The chapter headers and character art just add to the experience. Highly recommend!
Thank you so much to Bill Adams, Willow Wraith Press and Love Books Tours for the gifted copy to read and review. All thoughts expressed are my own.
June 7, 2026
“Know anything about the process?”
“Pain.”
“Great. Love that for us.”
This book was a lot of fun. I mean it begins with a Mission Impossible-esque action sequence; it was impossible that it was not going to be fun after that. It’s a fast paced, standalone cyberpunk fantasy novel that feels like an action movie. I’m going to steal LordTBR’s words- the easiest comparison is Hunger games mixed with Shadow of the Colossus and fun.
It has been a long time since I read a sibling story and this one delivered very well. I was in love with both the siblings- Quinne and Benn, after just a couple chapters in. Both their POVs had the perfect level of balance between them and the proper level of intrigue was drip fed to me too. There were also a lot of interesting secondary characters (1 of whom broke me) and a good ol’ fashioned villain.
“Benn’s asshole was so tightly clenched, they could open another mine inside and check for diamonds.”
After the characters, the definite highlights were the magic and the world-building. Even though it is a short book, the reader cannot escape without feeling the breadth of the lore created around this story. All the cybperpunk elements from a mega corporation dictating the economy, the flow of information, and enforcing their own private army on the people to magic crystals to the line between being human and machine being blurred is all on display here.
And the way magic and technology are used here is a lot of fun. Many of the methods were very inventive and I was excited every time there was a fight scene to see how the magical abilities were going to be used to elevate the fight. There are five different types of magical abilities including one that lets one see seconds into the future, which made for interesting battle scenes. The whole sequence where the contestants are all climbing the colossus while having to battle the hunters was beautiful and Bill absolutely deserves his flowers for that one. It also gets very, very brutal.
All in all, it was like watching a final fantasy movie. If that sounds like your vibe, give this book a try. It is really good and it is really fun.
“Pain.”
“Great. Love that for us.”
This book was a lot of fun. I mean it begins with a Mission Impossible-esque action sequence; it was impossible that it was not going to be fun after that. It’s a fast paced, standalone cyberpunk fantasy novel that feels like an action movie. I’m going to steal LordTBR’s words- the easiest comparison is Hunger games mixed with Shadow of the Colossus and fun.
It has been a long time since I read a sibling story and this one delivered very well. I was in love with both the siblings- Quinne and Benn, after just a couple chapters in. Both their POVs had the perfect level of balance between them and the proper level of intrigue was drip fed to me too. There were also a lot of interesting secondary characters (1 of whom broke me) and a good ol’ fashioned villain.
“Benn’s asshole was so tightly clenched, they could open another mine inside and check for diamonds.”
After the characters, the definite highlights were the magic and the world-building. Even though it is a short book, the reader cannot escape without feeling the breadth of the lore created around this story. All the cybperpunk elements from a mega corporation dictating the economy, the flow of information, and enforcing their own private army on the people to magic crystals to the line between being human and machine being blurred is all on display here.
And the way magic and technology are used here is a lot of fun. Many of the methods were very inventive and I was excited every time there was a fight scene to see how the magical abilities were going to be used to elevate the fight. There are five different types of magical abilities including one that lets one see seconds into the future, which made for interesting battle scenes. The whole sequence where the contestants are all climbing the colossus while having to battle the hunters was beautiful and Bill absolutely deserves his flowers for that one. It also gets very, very brutal.
All in all, it was like watching a final fantasy movie. If that sounds like your vibe, give this book a try. It is really good and it is really fun.
May 27, 2026
Happy release day ~ Bill has done it again! Death Show Colossus is an ultra-cool, high-stakes cyberpunk competition with unrepentant snark, a strong central sibling relationship, and devastating twists. I adore the world and the breakneck pacing!
May 26, 2026
I was won a free paperback ARC of this book, eager to dive into my first Bill Adams novel. I was immediately hooked with the comparison to The Hunger Games, which I can accurately say this story embodies. It’s a strange, often grotesque morphing of a Cyberpunk Hunger Games with some magic, crystal gods, and a strong morally gray heroine. What I enjoyed most about this book is that it flipped the Chosen One trope around, focusing more on Quinne in the book rather than Benn, although we get a good bit of growth and POV chapters from him.
There’s plenty of action from the first chapter that really doesn’t let up. It did take me a bit to understand the different terms and abilities, but it was a fresh take on some familiar abilities. This is a very tactile and often dirty world and you leave almost being able to smell the coke smoke in your lungs.
And, girliepops, there are plenty of fun female characters in this book that range from evil, morally gray, and everything in between. Pretty much all the characters felt fleshed out and had growth by the end.
*Spoilers ahead* There were some things that left me with questions and the end felt a bit rushed. I felt like there could have been another chapter or two to show the survival siblings in the aftermath of their victory and processing through everything and wrap everything up nicely for a standalone or a continuation of the story (I’m not sure if there will be a second book but I feel like one might be needed). I also had questions about Ardenn’s revelation to being Benn’s grandmother and I felt like more could have been explored their. I knew she and Lanier were close but it didn’t reveal if they had been lovers or married, or how Ardenn’s relationship to Cerenn was especially after she was turned into Blood Lettie. After Ardenn’s revelation to Quinne, I felt like Quinne didn’t think on it much again. I would have also liked to see Benn’s reaction to learning this since he lost his grandfather and gained back his mother. I’m also curious about Cerenn’s fate now that Vera is dead and what will become of her after so much has been done to her.
Still, this was a solid sci-fi book for me that went by quickly once I sat down and really go into it. The illustrations in the regular paperback are stunning and I’d love to see some artwork of the Gryphons and the Diamond Dogs. A solid book that sometimes hits you like a flux punch and leaves you wanting more.
There’s plenty of action from the first chapter that really doesn’t let up. It did take me a bit to understand the different terms and abilities, but it was a fresh take on some familiar abilities. This is a very tactile and often dirty world and you leave almost being able to smell the coke smoke in your lungs.
And, girliepops, there are plenty of fun female characters in this book that range from evil, morally gray, and everything in between. Pretty much all the characters felt fleshed out and had growth by the end.
*Spoilers ahead* There were some things that left me with questions and the end felt a bit rushed. I felt like there could have been another chapter or two to show the survival siblings in the aftermath of their victory and processing through everything and wrap everything up nicely for a standalone or a continuation of the story (I’m not sure if there will be a second book but I feel like one might be needed). I also had questions about Ardenn’s revelation to being Benn’s grandmother and I felt like more could have been explored their. I knew she and Lanier were close but it didn’t reveal if they had been lovers or married, or how Ardenn’s relationship to Cerenn was especially after she was turned into Blood Lettie. After Ardenn’s revelation to Quinne, I felt like Quinne didn’t think on it much again. I would have also liked to see Benn’s reaction to learning this since he lost his grandfather and gained back his mother. I’m also curious about Cerenn’s fate now that Vera is dead and what will become of her after so much has been done to her.
Still, this was a solid sci-fi book for me that went by quickly once I sat down and really go into it. The illustrations in the regular paperback are stunning and I’d love to see some artwork of the Gryphons and the Diamond Dogs. A solid book that sometimes hits you like a flux punch and leaves you wanting more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2026
I was kindly sent a free copy of this book as part of a book tour in exchange for an honest review. I’ve been a bit torn on a star rating for this one because I did have some issues with it, but in the end I’ve rounded up to 4 stars. This is not the type of read i would usually go to but I’m trying to explore more genres and this was in many ways refreshing. It’s essentially the terminator meets the hunger games and that concept in itself was quite cool. I was an avid gamer back in the day so this should have been right up my street. The plot itself is strong and I liked the concept of the shards and flux enabling essentially super powers in certain individuals. What I felt was lacking was at times it felt like dialogue was being used too much and I didn’t really feel that connected to the characters till about the mid way point of the novel. The characters themselves showed a lot of potential and I was definitely rooting for them by the end but I think that the world building needed a little more attention as everything was being overshadowed by the constant action. There’s a lot of dark comedy moments sprinkled throughout and also a fair amount of profanity but this didn’t bother me that much. It’s really break neck paced and the villains are pretty cool but it just wasn’t entirely my cup of tea and felt more like a movie script turned manuscript. I would love to see this turned into a movie actually because it genuinely had some great moments in it, and I did get emotional at some of the death scenes but it just felt in places like it was being over explained to the reader, to speed things up to jump to the next action sequence. Still glad to have read it though and would be interested in other books by the author.
May 26, 2026
‘Death Show Colossus’ reminded me how nerdy I actually am if anything but this was a insane read! It’s full of sarcastic humour, different species, competitive characters and epic scenes.
I thoroughly enjoyed it all, all of the characters are strong minded and it keeps you on the edge of your seat, I loved how Quinn and Benn had a flashback so we could see their backstory and it’s a sad backstory but it helped me understand them a bit better.
As a whole, there’s this magnificent video game aesthetic applied throughout the whole book and combining that aesthetic with cyberpunk and fantasy is a genius idea and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series especially after that ending. This book is perfect for nerds so if you’re a nerd, don’t run, sprint to check out ‘Death Show Colossus’ it’s published and has been released today!
I thoroughly enjoyed it all, all of the characters are strong minded and it keeps you on the edge of your seat, I loved how Quinn and Benn had a flashback so we could see their backstory and it’s a sad backstory but it helped me understand them a bit better.
As a whole, there’s this magnificent video game aesthetic applied throughout the whole book and combining that aesthetic with cyberpunk and fantasy is a genius idea and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series especially after that ending. This book is perfect for nerds so if you’re a nerd, don’t run, sprint to check out ‘Death Show Colossus’ it’s published and has been released today!
May 27, 2026
Honestly, whenever a book starts out with a glossary, I’m in. It means that there’s something unique here that the author needs to orient you to.
The glossary describes the different kinds of “flux” that people can have - basically what innate powers they have that they can tap into. These fluxblessed people are forced to enter a televised death show that culminates in climbing something called the colossus.
This was an extremely high action novel. We’re talking fight scenes galore. The whole book reads like an action movie and I loved the television broadcasts that were built into the story. The author did a great job of making this something that I could vividly visualize.
The glossary describes the different kinds of “flux” that people can have - basically what innate powers they have that they can tap into. These fluxblessed people are forced to enter a televised death show that culminates in climbing something called the colossus.
This was an extremely high action novel. We’re talking fight scenes galore. The whole book reads like an action movie and I loved the television broadcasts that were built into the story. The author did a great job of making this something that I could vividly visualize.
May 27, 2026
If you are someone who enjoys the Hunger Games series then the book Death Show Colossus is one that you definitely need to check out! I will admit it has been a long time since I have read the Hunger Games but when I saw and decided to read this book it inspired me to make an effort aand possibly revisit the Hunger Games books sometime in the future. As for this book this story definitely has its own value which does separate it from the Hunger Games. You really have to admire the sibling relationship between Quinne and Benn because no matter what they go through their relationship manages to survive!
May 27, 2026
Genre Blending Chaos - Pure Enjoyment
This is an awesome read, super faced paced with some badass characters. The magic is pretty straightforward and once used in a few battles makes total sense. The battles in which this game show is based on are fun, it’s almost like an anime with the various magic/abilities. I love this honestly it was so much bundled together in this excellently crafted violent chaos.
If you’re looking for something new or changing things up this is definitely worth reading. So much fun 🤘🏽
4.5 ⭐️
This is an awesome read, super faced paced with some badass characters. The magic is pretty straightforward and once used in a few battles makes total sense. The battles in which this game show is based on are fun, it’s almost like an anime with the various magic/abilities. I love this honestly it was so much bundled together in this excellently crafted violent chaos.
If you’re looking for something new or changing things up this is definitely worth reading. So much fun 🤘🏽
4.5 ⭐️
May 7, 2026
2.5 ⭐
It's like if Hunger Games was a scifi aimed at men, rather than a dystopian aimed at teenage girls.
Conceptually, I thought that this sounded interesting. And, I do think that the plot was strong. However, this book overall fell really flat for me, for a few reasons:
1 - the world building was mostly limited to the glossary at the start. Normally I love a glossary, but I felt like it was included here in place of explaining the terms clearly in the story. It also didn't help that some terms were just dropped in later without a clear (plain English!) explanation, or that some terms referred to multiple things (Diamond Dogs are both people and dogs, explain please)
2 - the characters were all very bland, and I can tell you nothing about our two main characters beyond their names and relation to the other characters. It also suffered badly from the classic 'women written by men' problem that is sadly common in scifi - female characters were described invariably by their hair, and occasionally their busts.
3 - girliepop. Yes, this gets its own point. Quinne and Roak refer to each other exclusively as 'girliepop'. I swear this word appeared at least 50 times, and I had a cringe shudder every single time I was forced to read this word. Bill Adams, are you listening? Women do not talk like this!! Especially not when they're trying not to die!! Please stop, girliepop!!
I suspect this book just isn't for me, but even so. Less girliepop, please and thank you.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eArc.
It's like if Hunger Games was a scifi aimed at men, rather than a dystopian aimed at teenage girls.
Conceptually, I thought that this sounded interesting. And, I do think that the plot was strong. However, this book overall fell really flat for me, for a few reasons:
1 - the world building was mostly limited to the glossary at the start. Normally I love a glossary, but I felt like it was included here in place of explaining the terms clearly in the story. It also didn't help that some terms were just dropped in later without a clear (plain English!) explanation, or that some terms referred to multiple things (Diamond Dogs are both people and dogs, explain please)
2 - the characters were all very bland, and I can tell you nothing about our two main characters beyond their names and relation to the other characters. It also suffered badly from the classic 'women written by men' problem that is sadly common in scifi - female characters were described invariably by their hair, and occasionally their busts.
3 - girliepop. Yes, this gets its own point. Quinne and Roak refer to each other exclusively as 'girliepop'. I swear this word appeared at least 50 times, and I had a cringe shudder every single time I was forced to read this word. Bill Adams, are you listening? Women do not talk like this!! Especially not when they're trying not to die!! Please stop, girliepop!!
I suspect this book just isn't for me, but even so. Less girliepop, please and thank you.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eArc.
June 16, 2026
Welcome, Genties and Gentettes, to Dewey’s review of DEATH SHOW COLOSSUS!
Oh boy, where do I start? For those who know me, some might say I’m a gentle soul, content to spend my days sitting quietly in my office, drawing, pondering, snacking on a gummy bear or honey, and being generally peaceful and grumpily happy with an oblivious existence. Now, take that kind soul, place him in a spiked, body-shaped vice, mount him on an 80 mph roller coaster, and set that baby off, all the while squeezing the vice in a pulsing rhythm and blasting Rammstein at maximum volume. That perfectly describes my experience while reading Death Show Colossus.
And I loved every single minute of it!
I devoured this in four days. For me, that is incredibly fast and highly unusual. I’m a notoriously slow reader; it took me a year to read The Lord of the Rings. Except that book did not leave me mentally bloodied and bruised.
By now, you’ve probably gathered there’s plenty of blood to be had. I might be exaggerating a little, but you’ve read the other reviews, so you know it’s a bit gruesome. Let this kindly, Pooh Bear-ish grump paint a picture for you.
The story follows Quinne and Benn. They’ve been through the ringer, living in the lowest level of a dystopian city covered in dirt, grime, and crime. Quinne’s the fiercely over-protective older sister (she swears like the devil, but when Benn swears, she gets mad at him, haha!). Benn is a naive, kind, awkward teenage boy just trying to understand what the heck is going on. They aren't biological brother and sister, but rather “survival siblings” bound by shared trauma and completely relying on one another just to stay alive. She will do absolutely anything to protect him, and he needs her to keep going.
Suddenly, they are thrust into a nightmare game where they must literally rely on one another to survive. The event is produced by Elysia Vera, a beautiful TV personality. Imagine if the charisma and beauty of Dolly Parton were crossed with the game-show pizzazz of Gene Rayburn (look it up, kids). Elysia throws an event where a group of "fluxblessed" must traverse a treacherous forest and climb a 1,000-foot-tall, mountainous god known as the Colossus. Whoever gets to the top without dying gets to live out their life in peace and luxury. HA!!
Let’s back up… Elysia is terrible. She’s a sadistic, hedonistic, vengeful, petty opportunistic turd of a person. And the game? The “Climbers” (Quinne) and their “Watchers” (Benn, whose consciousness is trapped in a mechanical bird) are hunted by super-powered “Hunters”, horrific, sociopathic, and brutal trackers whose only goal is to obliterate them. It’s all televised to a cheering populace eager for the chase, where the more brutal the kill, the better the ratings!
A lot of reviews have said this is like The Hunger Games or The Running Man, but that is in theme only. It’s really nothing like those books or movies execution-wise, except for the pure excitement. I agree with other reviewers who say this is a familiar trope wrapped in a completely different package, making it a wildly fun romp. Honestly, I want to see more of Quinne and Benn, and there is definitely room for a sequel. Bill has said this is a one-off, and it completely works that way too, but a grump can dream.
While there’s so much to this world and so many interesting characters, this is squarely Quinne and Benn’s story. It's about their survival and pure devotion to one another. So enough of my rambling, you need to go grab this book right now if you like:
- A super fast-paced story
- Found family and “survival siblings”
- Shared trauma
- A twisted body-horror magic system
- A mountain-sized, oblivious Mech God
- Bio-crystal technology and metal monsters
Because I enjoyed it so much and flew through it so fast: 5 stars.
FULL TRANSPARENCY: I got my hardcover copy as part of Bill’s Kickstarter. I was the artist for the chapter headers, the Colossus, and the special edition painted edges. But I actually hadn't read the whole book until I received it after the campaign. If you can, I highly suggest grabbing the hardcover deluxe copy (if he has any left), because Bill did a beautiful job on the formatting.
Oh boy, where do I start? For those who know me, some might say I’m a gentle soul, content to spend my days sitting quietly in my office, drawing, pondering, snacking on a gummy bear or honey, and being generally peaceful and grumpily happy with an oblivious existence. Now, take that kind soul, place him in a spiked, body-shaped vice, mount him on an 80 mph roller coaster, and set that baby off, all the while squeezing the vice in a pulsing rhythm and blasting Rammstein at maximum volume. That perfectly describes my experience while reading Death Show Colossus.
And I loved every single minute of it!
I devoured this in four days. For me, that is incredibly fast and highly unusual. I’m a notoriously slow reader; it took me a year to read The Lord of the Rings. Except that book did not leave me mentally bloodied and bruised.
By now, you’ve probably gathered there’s plenty of blood to be had. I might be exaggerating a little, but you’ve read the other reviews, so you know it’s a bit gruesome. Let this kindly, Pooh Bear-ish grump paint a picture for you.
The story follows Quinne and Benn. They’ve been through the ringer, living in the lowest level of a dystopian city covered in dirt, grime, and crime. Quinne’s the fiercely over-protective older sister (she swears like the devil, but when Benn swears, she gets mad at him, haha!). Benn is a naive, kind, awkward teenage boy just trying to understand what the heck is going on. They aren't biological brother and sister, but rather “survival siblings” bound by shared trauma and completely relying on one another just to stay alive. She will do absolutely anything to protect him, and he needs her to keep going.
Suddenly, they are thrust into a nightmare game where they must literally rely on one another to survive. The event is produced by Elysia Vera, a beautiful TV personality. Imagine if the charisma and beauty of Dolly Parton were crossed with the game-show pizzazz of Gene Rayburn (look it up, kids). Elysia throws an event where a group of "fluxblessed" must traverse a treacherous forest and climb a 1,000-foot-tall, mountainous god known as the Colossus. Whoever gets to the top without dying gets to live out their life in peace and luxury. HA!!
Let’s back up… Elysia is terrible. She’s a sadistic, hedonistic, vengeful, petty opportunistic turd of a person. And the game? The “Climbers” (Quinne) and their “Watchers” (Benn, whose consciousness is trapped in a mechanical bird) are hunted by super-powered “Hunters”, horrific, sociopathic, and brutal trackers whose only goal is to obliterate them. It’s all televised to a cheering populace eager for the chase, where the more brutal the kill, the better the ratings!
A lot of reviews have said this is like The Hunger Games or The Running Man, but that is in theme only. It’s really nothing like those books or movies execution-wise, except for the pure excitement. I agree with other reviewers who say this is a familiar trope wrapped in a completely different package, making it a wildly fun romp. Honestly, I want to see more of Quinne and Benn, and there is definitely room for a sequel. Bill has said this is a one-off, and it completely works that way too, but a grump can dream.
While there’s so much to this world and so many interesting characters, this is squarely Quinne and Benn’s story. It's about their survival and pure devotion to one another. So enough of my rambling, you need to go grab this book right now if you like:
- A super fast-paced story
- Found family and “survival siblings”
- Shared trauma
- A twisted body-horror magic system
- A mountain-sized, oblivious Mech God
- Bio-crystal technology and metal monsters
Because I enjoyed it so much and flew through it so fast: 5 stars.
FULL TRANSPARENCY: I got my hardcover copy as part of Bill’s Kickstarter. I was the artist for the chapter headers, the Colossus, and the special edition painted edges. But I actually hadn't read the whole book until I received it after the campaign. If you can, I highly suggest grabbing the hardcover deluxe copy (if he has any left), because Bill did a beautiful job on the formatting.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*I received an eARC from Netgalley and Victory Editing in exchange for my honest review.*
I was initially attracted to this book as I am a fan of both Hunger Games and the video game Shadow of the Colossus, and this book sounded like it combined both! A dystopian world where contestants have to climb a colossus? Yes, sign me right up!
It started with a glossary of important terms, but I was a little annoyed at the phonetic spelling of words like 'eyeball' and 'leech'. Also eyeball as 'ahy-bawl' could still sound like AY (rhymes with hay) ball.
Since this was an ARC I knew it wasn't fully finished yet, but there were a LOT of spelling and grammar errors; hopefully they will be fixed before publication, but it does ruin immersion for me.
The premise of the book was mostly sound, but I felt the worldbuilding was a little lacking. Much was made of the Drossbred living in cramped quarters, covered in coal dust and working in mines, but it wasn't really clear how they got any food. It was mentioned they could grow potatoes sometimes, but then a main character ran a noodle shop? With no rice or wheat fields? Having to spend time wondering more about these things also broke immersion quite frequently – more so than getting to grips with the crys and flux systems, which were well fleshed out and cohesive (if a bit oddly named).
The story itself was quite exciting and moved along at a good pace. I was keen to see how the contest would play out and what the ending would be. Unfortunately, all the characters were quite bland and stereotypical. Any man with a beard had a BUSHY beard (Racin, Lanier, Hale), the round men are girthy and have wobbly jowls, and every woman had either a braid and shaved side/s or locks (which I thought should have been locs, just to be clear what hairstyle we are thinking of here). There are also some lazy habits like referring to characters by their role ‘the Smelter’ etc, which usually means the characters don’t have enough distinguishing features/action/dialogue to just say he/him/his. The ending was a little odd. It seemed to be over so quickly with Elysia Vera just giving up.
I wasn’t really a fan of how many of the characters spoke. Racin particularly had some awful Yorkshire-esque sounding accent where he dropped a lot of sounds at the start of words and just ended up sounding super awkward. Eg. “ya ‘ill get used to ‘t”. I HATED Ardenn’s use of ‘girliepop’ and Petr’s “oi oi”, but that’s just me.
The author has a quite repetitive writing style and uses some interesting words, usually correctly, but often just kind of weirdly. Eg. “his monotonal tone”, “head flung abaft” (no boat was present), “the air convexed” (???) I did actually learn some new words from this book, which is always a good thing. The sentences are frequently fragments, which for me is a bad thing.
Overall for my preference, the writing focussed way too much on fights and characters telling you they are trying not to shit their pants. But this is just my personal preference. I’m sure some people like to read a book that is 80% fighting. Probably men. This book felt very masculine. It looks like the 5* reviews so far (which mostly say ‘review to follow’) are from the author’s friends, so I’d love to see some more independent views. I think a lot of people would enjoy this, but for me it was just ok. Possibly it could be a bit more than ok if I’d read the finished copy without all the jarring mistakes, but fundamentally this is not my style of writing or book.
I was initially attracted to this book as I am a fan of both Hunger Games and the video game Shadow of the Colossus, and this book sounded like it combined both! A dystopian world where contestants have to climb a colossus? Yes, sign me right up!
It started with a glossary of important terms, but I was a little annoyed at the phonetic spelling of words like 'eyeball' and 'leech'. Also eyeball as 'ahy-bawl' could still sound like AY (rhymes with hay) ball.
Since this was an ARC I knew it wasn't fully finished yet, but there were a LOT of spelling and grammar errors; hopefully they will be fixed before publication, but it does ruin immersion for me.
The premise of the book was mostly sound, but I felt the worldbuilding was a little lacking. Much was made of the Drossbred living in cramped quarters, covered in coal dust and working in mines, but it wasn't really clear how they got any food. It was mentioned they could grow potatoes sometimes, but then a main character ran a noodle shop? With no rice or wheat fields? Having to spend time wondering more about these things also broke immersion quite frequently – more so than getting to grips with the crys and flux systems, which were well fleshed out and cohesive (if a bit oddly named).
The story itself was quite exciting and moved along at a good pace. I was keen to see how the contest would play out and what the ending would be. Unfortunately, all the characters were quite bland and stereotypical. Any man with a beard had a BUSHY beard (Racin, Lanier, Hale), the round men are girthy and have wobbly jowls, and every woman had either a braid and shaved side/s or locks (which I thought should have been locs, just to be clear what hairstyle we are thinking of here). There are also some lazy habits like referring to characters by their role ‘the Smelter’ etc, which usually means the characters don’t have enough distinguishing features/action/dialogue to just say he/him/his. The ending was a little odd. It seemed to be over so quickly with Elysia Vera just giving up.
I wasn’t really a fan of how many of the characters spoke. Racin particularly had some awful Yorkshire-esque sounding accent where he dropped a lot of sounds at the start of words and just ended up sounding super awkward. Eg. “ya ‘ill get used to ‘t”. I HATED Ardenn’s use of ‘girliepop’ and Petr’s “oi oi”, but that’s just me.
The author has a quite repetitive writing style and uses some interesting words, usually correctly, but often just kind of weirdly. Eg. “his monotonal tone”, “head flung abaft” (no boat was present), “the air convexed” (???) I did actually learn some new words from this book, which is always a good thing. The sentences are frequently fragments, which for me is a bad thing.
Overall for my preference, the writing focussed way too much on fights and characters telling you they are trying not to shit their pants. But this is just my personal preference. I’m sure some people like to read a book that is 80% fighting. Probably men. This book felt very masculine. It looks like the 5* reviews so far (which mostly say ‘review to follow’) are from the author’s friends, so I’d love to see some more independent views. I think a lot of people would enjoy this, but for me it was just ok. Possibly it could be a bit more than ok if I’d read the finished copy without all the jarring mistakes, but fundamentally this is not my style of writing or book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I was provided with a digital copy of the book through the author in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, injury, gore, body horror, death, parent death, swearing, confinement, classism, grief
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A Hunger Games-esque dystopic sci-fantasy that doesn't let off the accelerator for one second!
Death Show Colossus follows a found sibling duo who are rounded up by Hunters for being Fluxblessed – people able to activate superhuman abilities when they take a special tonic called Flux – and forced to take part in a televised gameshow for the entertainment of the Honours and upper class residents of the Spire. Winning means an opportunity to leave the squalor of the Dross and gain residency in the Spire however, they must face treacherous mechs, the Hunters who have flux powers of their own and climb the Colossus, a massive golem claimed to have been created by God, in order to do so.
I was immediately drawn in to the story, Adams' narration paints a vivid picture of the power structure within the Cauldron and immerses you right into this world. You can really feel the tensions simmering between the Drossbred and the Honours and their Hunters as the latter do all they can to quash any form of rebellion and track down more contestants for their tournament.
The Hunters straight up made me think of the Inquisitors from Star Wars but they’re also 10x more unhinged. The power system and how it was merged with technology was as horrifying as it was cool and the original spin to familiar abilities made for some cinematic fight and action scenes throughout the book.
I found myself instantly liking the two main characters – Quinne and Benn – and their sibling dynamic, which had equal amounts of sass and protectiveness. We shadow them both through this brutal experience where they also fall in with a rebel group that is trying to stand up to the system.
I would have loved if there had been another perspective from inside the movement so we could have seen more of the development and not just the resulting action as while Quinne and Benn became fundamental to the rebel’s plans and had direct involvement, they still felt more on the fringes of it all. The supporting characters were an interesting bunch though and all the details on the lore and backstory of this world that we are fed through the conversations they have with our MCs made the worldbuilding all the more impressive.
The quick pace does mean you don’t really get to sit and reflect on some of the pivotal moments and reveals that occur however, the commentary on oligarchies and the abuse of power, how stories are spun and manipulated in order to keep a hold of dominance plus the importance of standing up to such oppression is very much driven home.
If you’re looking for a standalone book that is entertaining through and through and you don’t mind quite a bit of chaos and violence then definitely check this one out!
**I was provided with a digital copy of the book through the author in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, injury, gore, body horror, death, parent death, swearing, confinement, classism, grief
--
A Hunger Games-esque dystopic sci-fantasy that doesn't let off the accelerator for one second!
Death Show Colossus follows a found sibling duo who are rounded up by Hunters for being Fluxblessed – people able to activate superhuman abilities when they take a special tonic called Flux – and forced to take part in a televised gameshow for the entertainment of the Honours and upper class residents of the Spire. Winning means an opportunity to leave the squalor of the Dross and gain residency in the Spire however, they must face treacherous mechs, the Hunters who have flux powers of their own and climb the Colossus, a massive golem claimed to have been created by God, in order to do so.
I was immediately drawn in to the story, Adams' narration paints a vivid picture of the power structure within the Cauldron and immerses you right into this world. You can really feel the tensions simmering between the Drossbred and the Honours and their Hunters as the latter do all they can to quash any form of rebellion and track down more contestants for their tournament.
The Hunters straight up made me think of the Inquisitors from Star Wars but they’re also 10x more unhinged. The power system and how it was merged with technology was as horrifying as it was cool and the original spin to familiar abilities made for some cinematic fight and action scenes throughout the book.
I found myself instantly liking the two main characters – Quinne and Benn – and their sibling dynamic, which had equal amounts of sass and protectiveness. We shadow them both through this brutal experience where they also fall in with a rebel group that is trying to stand up to the system.
I would have loved if there had been another perspective from inside the movement so we could have seen more of the development and not just the resulting action as while Quinne and Benn became fundamental to the rebel’s plans and had direct involvement, they still felt more on the fringes of it all. The supporting characters were an interesting bunch though and all the details on the lore and backstory of this world that we are fed through the conversations they have with our MCs made the worldbuilding all the more impressive.
The quick pace does mean you don’t really get to sit and reflect on some of the pivotal moments and reveals that occur however, the commentary on oligarchies and the abuse of power, how stories are spun and manipulated in order to keep a hold of dominance plus the importance of standing up to such oppression is very much driven home.
If you’re looking for a standalone book that is entertaining through and through and you don’t mind quite a bit of chaos and violence then definitely check this one out!
May 28, 2026
This book reads like a fantasy cyberpunk video game with Guy Ritchie-esque style. It shouldn't work, but it absolutely does.
The premise: adopted siblings Quinn and Benn are drafted into a deadly game show where 20 participants, assisted by a partner "watcher" (more on that later) race to climb a deadly colossus roaming the plains beyond a booby-trap riddled forest. And as a bonus, they're being hunted by magically-augmented villains and an assorted manner of mechanical beasties.
Adams throws a lot at the reader right off the cuff, builing the world through a combination of magic, tech, and well-placed bits of lore/history. The magic system uses a mix of inherent abilities and potions, and is also used in tandem with the world's technology. For example, the "watchers" are humans who are magically/neurologically linked to the mechanical hawks that transmit the broadcast of their respective partners, the "climbers." The tech also acts as a direct counter to some of the magic, which helps the world feel lived-in and multifaceted. The system is also pretty easy to follow despite its apparent complexity, which is always the mark of something being well-thought out.
Don't mistake this story for a dense, world-first exposition extravaganza, though. Death Show Colossus is like a rollercoaster ride where the lap bar doesn't quite fit snugly. It's designed to feel wild and out of control with incredible, propulsive momentum, and that's exactly what it does. It's vulgar and violent, with characters full of scorn and piss and vinegar, big attitudes and bigger egos, all thrown into a blender of brutal action and body horror (the latter due to the magic system).
Despite the action-heavy structure, there are some interesting revelations and interludes with the villain, where you see behind the curtain of the game show's production, and this lends a solid backbone to what would otherwise be a straightforward plot.
But most of all, this book is just fun. It's chock full of slang and jargon that compliments the worldbuilding and lends the book a style of its own. If you want a wild, pedal-to-the-medal cyberpunk fantasy bursting with magic, bombastic attitudes, and severed body parts, then you should definitely read this book.
The premise: adopted siblings Quinn and Benn are drafted into a deadly game show where 20 participants, assisted by a partner "watcher" (more on that later) race to climb a deadly colossus roaming the plains beyond a booby-trap riddled forest. And as a bonus, they're being hunted by magically-augmented villains and an assorted manner of mechanical beasties.
Adams throws a lot at the reader right off the cuff, builing the world through a combination of magic, tech, and well-placed bits of lore/history. The magic system uses a mix of inherent abilities and potions, and is also used in tandem with the world's technology. For example, the "watchers" are humans who are magically/neurologically linked to the mechanical hawks that transmit the broadcast of their respective partners, the "climbers." The tech also acts as a direct counter to some of the magic, which helps the world feel lived-in and multifaceted. The system is also pretty easy to follow despite its apparent complexity, which is always the mark of something being well-thought out.
Don't mistake this story for a dense, world-first exposition extravaganza, though. Death Show Colossus is like a rollercoaster ride where the lap bar doesn't quite fit snugly. It's designed to feel wild and out of control with incredible, propulsive momentum, and that's exactly what it does. It's vulgar and violent, with characters full of scorn and piss and vinegar, big attitudes and bigger egos, all thrown into a blender of brutal action and body horror (the latter due to the magic system).
Despite the action-heavy structure, there are some interesting revelations and interludes with the villain, where you see behind the curtain of the game show's production, and this lends a solid backbone to what would otherwise be a straightforward plot.
But most of all, this book is just fun. It's chock full of slang and jargon that compliments the worldbuilding and lends the book a style of its own. If you want a wild, pedal-to-the-medal cyberpunk fantasy bursting with magic, bombastic attitudes, and severed body parts, then you should definitely read this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’m not sure I ever quit something so fast. Apologies in advance, this is a pretty harsh review. I DNF’d after 1 chapter and I do not feel compelled to read any more. I can tell this won’t be for me. Spoilers included for chapter 1.
I tend to frown upon the use of a glossary in books. It generally makes me think that it’s needed because things aren’t explained well enough in text, as they should be. There aren’t any context clues given right in the first chapter because it is assumed you’ve read the glossary (and committed it to memory I guess). I had to keep flipping back and forth and did not make for a great reading experience. I don’t think giving me a definition of 5 different random types of things and then never putting that into the actual story was ever going to work for anyone.
At 5% in, pubic hair is mentioned twice…at this point I was hanging on a knife’s edge with putting this down and not picking it back up.
I feel this was extensively overwritten, adding on extra descriptive words in just about every sentence. “the murky room that was no longer murky”. So a room then? I felt pretty lost due to the lack of basically any world building. How are contestants chosen for the competition? Do they volunteer? Get chosen via a reaping? Couldn’t tell you though I gave up fairly quickly.
You find out in the first chapter that the main character Quinne has the rarest type of magic and she can use all magics. Seems like a pretty huge reveal for a first chapter especially one in which you didn’t explain Anything. About. The. Magic. I found out from the glossary what it meant/that is was rare.
I try to give books as much as I can before DNFing but there wasn’t anything here for me, sorry.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author/publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I’m sorry this wasn’t for me.
I tend to frown upon the use of a glossary in books. It generally makes me think that it’s needed because things aren’t explained well enough in text, as they should be. There aren’t any context clues given right in the first chapter because it is assumed you’ve read the glossary (and committed it to memory I guess). I had to keep flipping back and forth and did not make for a great reading experience. I don’t think giving me a definition of 5 different random types of things and then never putting that into the actual story was ever going to work for anyone.
At 5% in, pubic hair is mentioned twice…at this point I was hanging on a knife’s edge with putting this down and not picking it back up.
I feel this was extensively overwritten, adding on extra descriptive words in just about every sentence. “the murky room that was no longer murky”. So a room then? I felt pretty lost due to the lack of basically any world building. How are contestants chosen for the competition? Do they volunteer? Get chosen via a reaping? Couldn’t tell you though I gave up fairly quickly.
You find out in the first chapter that the main character Quinne has the rarest type of magic and she can use all magics. Seems like a pretty huge reveal for a first chapter especially one in which you didn’t explain Anything. About. The. Magic. I found out from the glossary what it meant/that is was rare.
I try to give books as much as I can before DNFing but there wasn’t anything here for me, sorry.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author/publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I’m sorry this wasn’t for me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Bill Adams takes disparate influences in his latest novel, Death Show Colossus, but uses each piece like the various flux-based powers of his characters to create a bloody, bold, and unabashed romp of a story that will have you on the edge of your seat.
At its core, Colossus takes elements of The Hunger Games and mixes those dystopian trappings with the magic of something like Mistborn before throwing them into a blender of “Beat ‘em up” sensibilities filtered through a pulpy, almost Tarantino-esque (Kill Bill, not Django) lens. And all this is wrapped around a clear homage to one of the best games of those PS2 era (iykyk).
Adams shows enormous restraint in telling this story, and that commitment to the narrative is evident throughout the entire plot. Where other authors would get lost in the weeds with world building or “what next,” Bill keeps the pedal to the metal and dares you to blink. This is not an epic fantasy. This is not hard sci-fi. This is a 90s grind house remake of The Never Ending Story written by Cannibal Corpse and directed by Hideo Kojima.
I found myself making comparisons to Stephenson’s excellent Snowcrash (the irreverent subversion of tropes and commitment to aesthetics) and oddly enough, Firefly (the Found Family that is pulled into a plot beyond them, but still functionally is agnostic of it).
Adams has a talent for language and imaginative worlds that few others dare dream. After every book I find myself saying, “there’s nothing else like it.” And while there are many things it’s like, Adams takes those influences and like a magician makes them disappear into one cohesive whole.
And I didn’t even mention the plot twists.
Is this book for you? Don’t ask me. Give it a read. It’s definitely going to be a love it or hate it book defying your ability to take the middle ground.
So what?
The ball is in your court, Slab Head.
At its core, Colossus takes elements of The Hunger Games and mixes those dystopian trappings with the magic of something like Mistborn before throwing them into a blender of “Beat ‘em up” sensibilities filtered through a pulpy, almost Tarantino-esque (Kill Bill, not Django) lens. And all this is wrapped around a clear homage to one of the best games of those PS2 era (iykyk).
Adams shows enormous restraint in telling this story, and that commitment to the narrative is evident throughout the entire plot. Where other authors would get lost in the weeds with world building or “what next,” Bill keeps the pedal to the metal and dares you to blink. This is not an epic fantasy. This is not hard sci-fi. This is a 90s grind house remake of The Never Ending Story written by Cannibal Corpse and directed by Hideo Kojima.
I found myself making comparisons to Stephenson’s excellent Snowcrash (the irreverent subversion of tropes and commitment to aesthetics) and oddly enough, Firefly (the Found Family that is pulled into a plot beyond them, but still functionally is agnostic of it).
Adams has a talent for language and imaginative worlds that few others dare dream. After every book I find myself saying, “there’s nothing else like it.” And while there are many things it’s like, Adams takes those influences and like a magician makes them disappear into one cohesive whole.
And I didn’t even mention the plot twists.
Is this book for you? Don’t ask me. Give it a read. It’s definitely going to be a love it or hate it book defying your ability to take the middle ground.
So what?
The ball is in your court, Slab Head.
Review of advance copy
Fuck yes. Here I go, don't stop me now.
I loved the action sequences in particular; this felt like it was written especially for me, especially since I was also reading other books like Empire of Silence and Discovery, so being able to pick this up and dive right into a brutal world full of fantastic fight scenes was just what I needed.
Importantly, I also loved that Quinne, one of the main characters, was the worlds biggest badass. Like Katniss, Quinne brought back such feminine action heroes like Sarah Connor, Ripley, and Leeloo, who I grew up watching in movies. She helped bring the world to life, and gave us someone fun to root for.
The plot is super fast paced, and I was actually pretty shocked with the amount of twists and turns that took place throughout. Especially in the back half, there were plenty of moments that I didn't see coming and really took me by surprise when the reveals were exposed.
I also thought the flux system was very well done, and it was really cool to see what effects all the characters were able to utilize based off of their own abilities. It took a bit to remember which did what, but it never got confusing; just a lot going on, but never overwhelming.
Overall, this is a perfect book to read whether you're in the middle of other series, just finished a chonky beast, or want to not worry about the FATE OF THE WORLD, or WHO WILL SAVE THE GALAXY, and just go on a relatively quick, action packed adventure. Bill's previous books I've read, definitely set the tone you can expect from his writing style with this one, and I think his voice came across perfectly in this one. It was a lot of fun to read, and if he decides to jump back into this type of story again down the line, we'll all be luckier for it!
I loved the action sequences in particular; this felt like it was written especially for me, especially since I was also reading other books like Empire of Silence and Discovery, so being able to pick this up and dive right into a brutal world full of fantastic fight scenes was just what I needed.
Importantly, I also loved that Quinne, one of the main characters, was the worlds biggest badass. Like Katniss, Quinne brought back such feminine action heroes like Sarah Connor, Ripley, and Leeloo, who I grew up watching in movies. She helped bring the world to life, and gave us someone fun to root for.
The plot is super fast paced, and I was actually pretty shocked with the amount of twists and turns that took place throughout. Especially in the back half, there were plenty of moments that I didn't see coming and really took me by surprise when the reveals were exposed.
I also thought the flux system was very well done, and it was really cool to see what effects all the characters were able to utilize based off of their own abilities. It took a bit to remember which did what, but it never got confusing; just a lot going on, but never overwhelming.
Overall, this is a perfect book to read whether you're in the middle of other series, just finished a chonky beast, or want to not worry about the FATE OF THE WORLD, or WHO WILL SAVE THE GALAXY, and just go on a relatively quick, action packed adventure. Bill's previous books I've read, definitely set the tone you can expect from his writing style with this one, and I think his voice came across perfectly in this one. It was a lot of fun to read, and if he decides to jump back into this type of story again down the line, we'll all be luckier for it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Probably more like a 3.3 or 3.4, this is an ARC review, so thank you to the author for allowing me to read the book early, I was really looking forward to this book as i loved the previous novella I read by Bill Adams, Unlucky Evens, Cursed Odds
I enjoyed the book at times, but ultimately I think it's left me feeling fairly flat, I loved the concept of the book, but the delivery just falls a little flat for me
Things I loved
An unusual, if not unique magic/powers system, is it magic when it's chemically induced or is it science? either way the idea is great
The relationship between Quinne & Benn, The Survival Siblings it really feels like they have the close bond you sometimes find with siblings, and the type of relationship where they hide their feelings behind jokes & banter, but you can see the real feelings shining through
Things I wasn't as keen on
The language, I appreciate it's meant to be a future speak type of vocabulary, but some of it just seems weird, and as I have seen other reviewers mention 'Girliepop' where on earth did that one come from, someone has mentioned it is used 50 times or more, I will stand with the author here, it is only used 31 times, I counted them, it just feels like more
The Ending, it seems to be over far too quickly , it just feels like the main antagonist just rolls over and gives up, all that build up and it just sems to be over in a few sentences, with a bit of a Deus ex Machina feel
I would say more about it but that would get into spoiler terriotory and I don't want to go there
Overall I probably enjoyed the book more than I didn't but I am not sure I will rush back into this world
I enjoyed the book at times, but ultimately I think it's left me feeling fairly flat, I loved the concept of the book, but the delivery just falls a little flat for me
Things I loved
An unusual, if not unique magic/powers system, is it magic when it's chemically induced or is it science? either way the idea is great
The relationship between Quinne & Benn, The Survival Siblings it really feels like they have the close bond you sometimes find with siblings, and the type of relationship where they hide their feelings behind jokes & banter, but you can see the real feelings shining through
Things I wasn't as keen on
The language, I appreciate it's meant to be a future speak type of vocabulary, but some of it just seems weird, and as I have seen other reviewers mention 'Girliepop' where on earth did that one come from, someone has mentioned it is used 50 times or more, I will stand with the author here, it is only used 31 times, I counted them, it just feels like more
The Ending, it seems to be over far too quickly , it just feels like the main antagonist just rolls over and gives up, all that build up and it just sems to be over in a few sentences, with a bit of a Deus ex Machina feel
I would say more about it but that would get into spoiler terriotory and I don't want to go there
Overall I probably enjoyed the book more than I didn't but I am not sure I will rush back into this world
Review of advance copy received from Author
Death Show Colossus by Bill Adams is an action-packed standalone dystopian fantasy. This book centers around familial bonds of found family siblings and the lengths they are willing to go to protect each other. Quinne and Benn are forced to compete in the deadly competition to climb the Colossus, who walks the wilds, as the competitors are being hunted by cruel individuals with super human abilities. This is all combined with a power struggle and rebellion brewing!
I wasn't sure what to expect from the genre bending extravaganza, but I was locked in for the ride! There were so many cool and refreshing concepts including, how they used their powers, connecting to mechanical beasts, and the city/class structures. Quinne and Benn had very different experiences but worked hand-in-hand through the deadly trial. And not to mention all the twists! When I thought the last one had been revealed, another banger would be dropped!
This was a pretty fast read with great characters, an interesting world, and epic scenes wrapped up in one book! I cannot say how refreshing it is to see such a well-crafted standalone book!The best way for me to describe it is a Hunger Games competition with competitors that have Mistborn-like abilities. I would recommend this book to a wide range of readers! It's a great experience and so much fun! Five stars easy! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I wasn't sure what to expect from the genre bending extravaganza, but I was locked in for the ride! There were so many cool and refreshing concepts including, how they used their powers, connecting to mechanical beasts, and the city/class structures. Quinne and Benn had very different experiences but worked hand-in-hand through the deadly trial. And not to mention all the twists! When I thought the last one had been revealed, another banger would be dropped!
This was a pretty fast read with great characters, an interesting world, and epic scenes wrapped up in one book! I cannot say how refreshing it is to see such a well-crafted standalone book!The best way for me to describe it is a Hunger Games competition with competitors that have Mistborn-like abilities. I would recommend this book to a wide range of readers! It's a great experience and so much fun! Five stars easy! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Author
Did you like Hunger Games?? You will love this !!
Quinne is an orphan living in Dross. Her parents killed in the Tournament.
Ben is also an orphan whose parents are killed in the Tournament. They are now survival siblings.
The Tournament is held once a year and players are drawn by ‘lottery’. Only all participants seem to be Fluxblessed. They are able to drink a tonic and have amazing ‘powers’.
Slab head can turn their bodies to stone.
Dovetail can manipulate their body to elongate limbs and heal swiftly.
Smart Money can see slightly into the future to help with fighting and escaping.
Eyeball can heighten their senses and see miles away.
And a Leech, they can use ALL the ‘powers’
Quinne is a leech and finds herself thrust into this years Tournament. She must survive this horrible death show, climb the Colossus, defeat the hunters and beasts sent to kill her and reach the temple at the top of the Colossus to win and enter the Spire.
An amazing world of bad ass fighters, strength of will, found family and overcoming all.
Highly recommend to anyone who doesn’t want ‘another typical fantasy’.
Hard hitting fighters, punches the heart, sadness, relief, trepidation. And most importantly…. Closure.
Quinne is an orphan living in Dross. Her parents killed in the Tournament.
Ben is also an orphan whose parents are killed in the Tournament. They are now survival siblings.
The Tournament is held once a year and players are drawn by ‘lottery’. Only all participants seem to be Fluxblessed. They are able to drink a tonic and have amazing ‘powers’.
Slab head can turn their bodies to stone.
Dovetail can manipulate their body to elongate limbs and heal swiftly.
Smart Money can see slightly into the future to help with fighting and escaping.
Eyeball can heighten their senses and see miles away.
And a Leech, they can use ALL the ‘powers’
Quinne is a leech and finds herself thrust into this years Tournament. She must survive this horrible death show, climb the Colossus, defeat the hunters and beasts sent to kill her and reach the temple at the top of the Colossus to win and enter the Spire.
An amazing world of bad ass fighters, strength of will, found family and overcoming all.
Highly recommend to anyone who doesn’t want ‘another typical fantasy’.
Hard hitting fighters, punches the heart, sadness, relief, trepidation. And most importantly…. Closure.
Review of advance copy
A rock-solid four star mash-up.
Indie author, Bill Adams, has done it again. Adams’ latest book, Death Show Colossus, is set in a world so close to ours you can taste and smell it.
Death Show Colossus is a fast-paced read with nods toward 80’s cinema and other influences in Bill’s early years. From the start to the end there is a familiarity that brings comfort but has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and delighted.
The heroine, Quinne, is a savage wrecking machine. She has sworn to protect Benn, the other protagonist, who, like Quinne, is an orphan. Personally, I would love to see a novella dedicated to her backstory.
The world is a mash-up of tech, magic, and dystopia—love it! Within this wild backdrop, the two get pulled into a a game show, reminiscent of Hunger Games. But wait… this one takes place climbing a towering colossus! WTF?! One swipe of its hand and you are a bloody smear.
This book was so much fun. I love the world Adams had created and want to see more soon.
Now, Bill, now!
Death Show Colossus is also a great intro to Adams other books. If you have not read The Divine Godsqueen Coda series, Death Show Colossus is a great place to start. Pick up a copy today!
Indie author, Bill Adams, has done it again. Adams’ latest book, Death Show Colossus, is set in a world so close to ours you can taste and smell it.
Death Show Colossus is a fast-paced read with nods toward 80’s cinema and other influences in Bill’s early years. From the start to the end there is a familiarity that brings comfort but has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and delighted.
The heroine, Quinne, is a savage wrecking machine. She has sworn to protect Benn, the other protagonist, who, like Quinne, is an orphan. Personally, I would love to see a novella dedicated to her backstory.
The world is a mash-up of tech, magic, and dystopia—love it! Within this wild backdrop, the two get pulled into a a game show, reminiscent of Hunger Games. But wait… this one takes place climbing a towering colossus! WTF?! One swipe of its hand and you are a bloody smear.
This book was so much fun. I love the world Adams had created and want to see more soon.
Now, Bill, now!
Death Show Colossus is also a great intro to Adams other books. If you have not read The Divine Godsqueen Coda series, Death Show Colossus is a great place to start. Pick up a copy today!
Review of advance copy received from Author
My rating is 4.50
Holy Cow!! Bill Adams does it again. This author continues to give us cutting edge, genre bending stories that no one else is doing. Have we seen the Battle Royale/Hunger Games style before, yes, but not done with the uniqueness like Death Show Colossus.
The Climbers and the Watchers are bonded pairs, one attempting to get to the top of the Colossus and the other inhabiting a mech bird to help the climber. The hunters are no joke and each is coming after the players in a unique way. It's basically a blood bath of carnage and violence but all done in a way that keeps the pages turning. At the heart is a story of family and love and all the emotion that comes with that. Tons of twists and hidden secrets, and not all our characters make it out alive. The villain in here is written fantastically...both evil and a true performer for the crowd, which only makes you hate her more.
The story aside...this book is incredibly well edited and designed. The art is banging!! chapter headers, interior artwork and the cover is divine!
Thank you to the author for the ARC to read and review. My thoughts are my own!
Holy Cow!! Bill Adams does it again. This author continues to give us cutting edge, genre bending stories that no one else is doing. Have we seen the Battle Royale/Hunger Games style before, yes, but not done with the uniqueness like Death Show Colossus.
The Climbers and the Watchers are bonded pairs, one attempting to get to the top of the Colossus and the other inhabiting a mech bird to help the climber. The hunters are no joke and each is coming after the players in a unique way. It's basically a blood bath of carnage and violence but all done in a way that keeps the pages turning. At the heart is a story of family and love and all the emotion that comes with that. Tons of twists and hidden secrets, and not all our characters make it out alive. The villain in here is written fantastically...both evil and a true performer for the crowd, which only makes you hate her more.
The story aside...this book is incredibly well edited and designed. The art is banging!! chapter headers, interior artwork and the cover is divine!
Thank you to the author for the ARC to read and review. My thoughts are my own!
May 30, 2026
🙋🏻♀️My experience reading DSC ↝ Story wise, I was snatched up and immediately dropped into the world which was both exciting and fun. An added layer to the story was the authors incorporation of a dialect that is native to the story’s setting: The Dross in effect making the story much more immersive and real. The descriptions were vivid and the action sequences kept my attention. I absolutely love the artwork depicted in the chapter headers and on the bookmark. In all honesty, I’d love to see this adapted into a graphic novel with the same art style.
💪🏻Character wise, Quinne our FMC is the epitome of a fighter, hell bent on surviving, keeping her and Benn (brother) alive. I knew I’d love her from the jump. Plus, I appreciate a story that appropriately distributes the comeuppance to the big bads.
✨Vibe wise, I was surprised as it reminded me of one of my favorite scifi stories, the well known Manga/Movie, Alita Battle Angel as well as fan favorites like The Hunger Games and The Running Man. I’d also recommend it to action scifi lovers who enjoy a fun read with characters that you can’t help but root for and a found family that motivates you to not only survive but thrive.
💪🏻Character wise, Quinne our FMC is the epitome of a fighter, hell bent on surviving, keeping her and Benn (brother) alive. I knew I’d love her from the jump. Plus, I appreciate a story that appropriately distributes the comeuppance to the big bads.
✨Vibe wise, I was surprised as it reminded me of one of my favorite scifi stories, the well known Manga/Movie, Alita Battle Angel as well as fan favorites like The Hunger Games and The Running Man. I’d also recommend it to action scifi lovers who enjoy a fun read with characters that you can’t help but root for and a found family that motivates you to not only survive but thrive.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A dystopian bloodbath that doesn’t stop once it starts.
Honestly, this book is just wild. V from Cyberpunk just stepped out of Night City, sat down with Katniss Everdeen, and together gave us the worst of both their worlds in the best of ways. A gang of rebels tossed into a televised death-show that ends either at the top of a metal giant or at the edge of a bloodied blade? Hell yeah!
You can tell when an author genuinely has fun writing their story, and you can certainly tell Bill Adam’s enjoyed this one. It was so well crafted he made writing look easy. The characters carry their own voice, the tone is top class, dialog is MINT, the pacing fits perfectly, and the plot never stops unraveling. Everything felt intentional, and the layers kept on coming, expanding what I thought would be a simple plot into something with much more depth.
Even if you’re not a fan of the genre, give it a try, at least just to pick up an insult or two by our firecracker, Quinne. Seriously, I don’t usually laugh out loud reading, but she just has a way with words.
Honestly, this book is just wild. V from Cyberpunk just stepped out of Night City, sat down with Katniss Everdeen, and together gave us the worst of both their worlds in the best of ways. A gang of rebels tossed into a televised death-show that ends either at the top of a metal giant or at the edge of a bloodied blade? Hell yeah!
You can tell when an author genuinely has fun writing their story, and you can certainly tell Bill Adam’s enjoyed this one. It was so well crafted he made writing look easy. The characters carry their own voice, the tone is top class, dialog is MINT, the pacing fits perfectly, and the plot never stops unraveling. Everything felt intentional, and the layers kept on coming, expanding what I thought would be a simple plot into something with much more depth.
Even if you’re not a fan of the genre, give it a try, at least just to pick up an insult or two by our firecracker, Quinne. Seriously, I don’t usually laugh out loud reading, but she just has a way with words.
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