Deathball

Deathball #1

by W.H. Lockwood, T.J. Rose

Intimidate. Annihilate. Survive.
Welcome to Deathball

ROBIN

They ripped me from my home.

They put me in these chains.

And now they expect me to fight other men to the death for their entertainment.

Bruised, battered, enslaved, and then I meet him—Marco, the reigning champion with blood on his hands and secrets in his eyes. Terrifying, unpredictable, an impossible beauty in the barren wastelands, Marco's twice as vicious as the sport itself.

So why is he obsessed with me, training me harder than the other men, pushing me to my limits? And why does every brutal lesson only draw me closer to the one man I should fear most of all?

MARCO

Five years I've been their weapon. Five years of victory, of survival, of telling myself one more season, and I'll finally earn my freedom, make it home.

Then they bring me Robin—beautiful, golden-haired, obstinately fierce, and smelling like the sunshine of my homeland—and suddenly I'm fighting a war on two fronts. In the arena, I have to forge him into a killer. In the shadows, I'm falling for the rival who could destroy everything I've worked for.

Because the one man I'm desperate to protect is also the one I'm destined to murder in the arena, in front of thousands of cheering Deathball fans.

When they’ve taken everything, maybe love is the only rebellion left.

Deathball is a high-stakes, life or death, post-apocalyptic MM dark sports romance packed with blood, sweat, spice, and swoony, angsty, heart-wrenching love against all odds. It ends with a HEA for this couple, with the overarching plot continuing with different main characters in Deathwish, book two.

Genres: M M Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Dark, Dystopia, Dark Romance, Fantasy

484 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 21, 2026

About the author

Author of the Endymion College series, W. H. Lockwood writes gothic romance, MM action-romance, historical fiction, dark academia and cosy horror.

Raised on a diet of teen horror books and Pepsi, only willing to leave her den to attend chess club at public school, W.H. Lockwood started writing at a young age and has kept this passion throughout her life.

Always a voracious reader, she obtained an undergraduate degree in literary studies from a gorgeous sandstone university, following that with a masters in publishing and editing, then a masters in astronomy, thus uniting her two great loves of the arts and science, leaving her utterly unqualified to cope with the real world.

These days, W.H. Lockwood can often be found aimlessly wandering the coffee shops and bookstores of the beautiful city she calls home.

Reviews

[Laura Jane ♡ (semi ia) · Rating 1 out of 5]

first thought when you are taken as a slave, ‘wow that man who’s my enemy is so beautiful’. it might seem picky of me to notice this, but that unfortunately set the tone of the lust to come. dnf at 43% sadly.

i am honestly so disappointed this didn’t work for me because i’ve been seeing the best reviews, and the concept is so interesting!! i mean i don’t think it’s necessarily a awful book but i personally need more than what this is giving.

enemies to lovers? i don’t think they ‘hated’ each other for more than 5 minutes. even when robin was saying how much he loathed marco, it was always followed up by something lusty.
what threw me off as well was the smut so early on. i actually boarder line skim read the first sex scene, not a good sign. but it was built upon nothing? these two didn’t really have any chemistry or tension, but i think i’m meant to believe they do. first kiss and fumble 25%, first naked dilly dallying 30% - for me, this doesn’t work for the concept and the dynamic of these two.

i also found the plot to be honestly kinda boring. some world building may have benefited here too. i’m not sure who the emperor is and how he became in power? all i know is robin was taken as a slave to play this brutal game of deathball, for the rich to watch, and marco is their trainer. there isn’t even any real explanation as to why all this happens. i mean sure you can grasp it’s a weird and messed up sport they are forced into by these powerful people but like, some background would have helped. i felt like i was thrown into them all just training and fighting without much context. i just couldn’t connect into everything that was going on.

i also feel like marco fixated on robin instantly and it just didn’t work, because why do you wana fuck him straight away? i mean fine whatever, maybe you think he’s super hot but given the circumstances it just made everything feel surface level. i expected some grit from the characters and a build up of hate and tension. not instantly getting hard over each other & developing really deep feelings like ‘my heart beats for him’ when they barely know each other. i unfortunately cannot believe or feel a connection to the way this developed.

maybe a few of my questions would have been answered but i genuinely don’t care enough to keep reading. i’m not interested in the plot and i don’t believe in the ‘romance’ at all. i’m sorry 😞
_______
this book is everywhere i go and everyone is hyping it upppppp! a post-apocalyptical dark romance 👀🫢

[Bee (semi ia) · Rating 4 out of 5]

OH YEAAH

4.5 ⭐️

First of all thank you very much to both authors for the ARC, this took me longer than expected to finish, but not because of the book, but rather because of my personal life issues lately that took away from my reading time!

For anyone having thoughts about starting this book, DO IT!

The plot follows Robin who is taken hostage from his home and brought to fight to the death in Arena style gladiator inspired fights, which turn bloody and crazy, there's some fantasy elements as well, and obviously that's where he meets his gorgeous Captain, Marco.

This was so fun to read, I've read from WH. Lockwood before, but together with TJ Rose, this was written beautifully. The book managed to combine all of the elements that usually make me super happy, great writing, good pacing, lots of chemistry between the couple and some SUPER HIGH stakes in this one. Not only that but the way they both got closer was quite addicting to read about.

Marco and Robin in my mind are literally two gladiators, they're both gorgeous, tall, thicc thighed but their relationship also blossoms into something emotional and loving. Sure it's also spicy, and the spice is DAMN, but the way they fight for each other, for their future(s) and the things that pull them apart is just so powerful to read.

I really liked the ending as well, I was expecting something to happen that made me think about it right from the start (hehe) and it did! I obviously won't spoil anything you have to see for yourself.
The concept of this is so different from the usual MM books you find and I'm a sucker for finding interesting, unique plots to dive right into!

______
pre:read
I was not sure what to pick up next, but then this arc hit my inbox and I AM SO EXCITED FOR IT YOU DONT UNDERSTAND

[Livvvvvvvv · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

review of advanced reader copy

how beautiful this scene could be in another time, in another place

he's just a man who's survived too much, lost too much

a love that should never have blossomed in a world that forces men to do reprehensible things, to kill, maim, harm, all for the entertainment of a society fueled by blood.

a bond born from sweat, fight and the desperate need to survive, but a bond so sweet, so real and so pure amongst that chaos these two find themselves in.

this is writing at its finest. lockwood and rose crafted a world that is so visceral, so dark, so harsh, but within it these specks of genuine light that are the characters and i loved it.

i really loved it.

"you," he says simply. "you".

robin and marco

our leading men, initial hatred quickly paved the way for a beautiful partnership. reading the way these two found eachother and held onto eachother despite everything they were going through was really beautiful. they couldn't stay away even if they tried (and they tried).

it was sexy, it was pure and it was just love and i love, love (no shit liv).

distinct in their personalities but similar in their drives, wants and dedication explained by their upbringings. i really liked that they were from the same place and could sense it immediately. i liked that their sparring was matched with neither one obviously having the upper hand and i loved the power plays between the two.

it was so hot (the shower hate sex was insane).

and the development of genuine love in such a dark and horrid place, the light for both of them to make it through. the hardest fought HEA i've ever read. and so deserved.

you're all i have left in this world

gosh the setting was delicious. i can only describe it as hunger games combined with captive prince, but also so unique, it didn't need these chapters of exposition because the world came forward in the dialogue, in the glimpses, in the overviews. and i felt it. it was vast, from the shores of atrea to the walls of victora. and i could see it, could imagine the world, felt myself watching these men fight to the death in the arena, whilst simultaneously fighting alongside them.

deathball is awful, it is sickeningly evil. and they did not shy away from that which i respected. it was gorey, the descriptions of skulls being caved in, ribs being broken and pages upon pages of injuries to these poor men. but it just made it better, it made the stakes higher and it made marco and robin's love so much more important, necessary.

i am so excited for cas and evander's story because cas was my favourite character and i need to be back in this world again because it is SO GOOD.

subtracting 0.25 stars because the ending felt a little rushed and i miss them already.

but i loved it, i loved it so much.

"hi," he whispers, dark eyes searching mine.
"hi," i lean into his touch, pressing a kiss to his palm

[Kati *☆･ﾟ(Dramione obsessed rn) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4**** stars
story & romance: 5 stars
world building: 2 stars


Freaking hell, this was amazing. thrilling, intense and hot. but also fucking BRUTAL!

“Gentlemen, welcome to the pit. You’ll live here, you’ll train here, and almost all of you will die here.”

But as the world building was only half cooked at best and shit at worst, I’m settling on four stars. And you know what is funny? If the authors wouldn’t have insisted on making this a dystopian world but just settled for an imaginary one, all would’ve been fine. But they didn’t. There wasn’t any real explanation to what happened to the world we know 150yrs ago apparently. I had no idea where we even were with an island of Spanish-speaking people and an all-ruling The City some weeks of traveling away. And exactly was it with these Infected out there in the wastelands? And why did the whole world feel like ancient Greece but with a few guns and trucks?

Anyways, it was glorious if you don’t mind the crappy world building, I can totally recommend it. I’m absolutely hyped for the next one.


************
Deathball Series

Book 1 - Deathball - 4.0 stars
Book 2 - Deathwish - release 2027
Book 3 - tbd

[Alisia alis_reads_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ 3🌶️
Oh my god the shower scene🥵🥵🥵 oh and that balcony scene too. Ahhhhhhhh🫠

Post apocalyptic
Gladiator
Hate f**king
Hate to love you
Verse 🔄
Push and pull
Hot and cold
ANGST & TENSION!!!!! Constant tension!!
A roller coaster of emotions
PLAYING FOOTSIES UNDER THE TABLE…love that type of flirting.
Touch him and 💀
Obsession
Jealousy 😝

[purlpur · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️
ці двоє - це просто чиста поезія 🥹🫠
знову мільйон виділених цитат, як марко і робін говорять один про одного. ти буквально розчиняєшся між рядків і ловиш ці рідкісні миті щирості, емоцій та відвертості в їхньому жорстокому світі. ніби пошепки проживаєш цю інтимність разом із ними.

«ось чому ти пахнеш сонячним світлом.
саме тому ти відчуваєшся, як тепло вечірнього океану.
...
ми з тобою вічні, як і зорі над атреєю 🌌
...
це ти, пташеня. зараз і назавжди – тільки ти. я кохатиму тебе, поки не згаснуть усі зорі, поки не висохнуть усі моря і не згорять усі світи».

мене ідеально вколихали на цих емоційних гойдалках. за емоційну складову віддаю 100/10. моментами навіть розчулитися дали. ну кайф 😝

розвиток лл. потяг між ними відчувається від самого початку, але через постійні бійки, спаринги, суперництво за виживання, динаміку наставник-підлеглий, підстьобування повітря між марко й робіном аж тріщить від напруги 😈 а вже наступної миті вони діляться своїми вразливостями, вчаться довіряти, зближуються й закохуються. та ще й так сильно, що під кінець хтось готовий пожертвувати усім і спалити весь світ вщент заради коханого 🔥

пристрасть між крихітками просто пожежа 🤤🥵😮‍💨
тут вистачає ворожнечі, дикості, боротьби. і разом з цим відчуваєш таку чуйність, тендітність і ніжність у кожному дотику кінчиками пальців, у розчісуванні волосся, спільних ваннах, у турботі й піклуванні 🥺

ох і як же боляче та тривожно було спостерігати, як марко паяє і він зривається. як неймовірно сильна людина, котра витримала 5 років смертельної гри, знущань і пекла, ламається від повного виснаження буквально за лічені дні до омріяної свободи.. 💔

сама гра смертбол теж доволі цікава. така собі суміш голодних ігор та гладіаторських боїв, де під кінець обов'язково треба вбити супротивника металевою кулею з шипами. видовищно, нещадно, криваво. і, звісно ж, усе це заради розваги імператора, покровителів, заможної еліти та простого люду.

і хоча мені хотілося більш закрученої кінцівки або трохи більше деталей про дистопічний всесвіт (особливо про причини поєднання устрою аля римської імперії та сучасних технологій), тут світ виявився більш камерним. увесь устрій запхали в одне величезне місто за мурами, а головний акцент зробили на любовній лінії між героями. і от вони цілком і повністю захопили і полонили моє серденько 🙂‍↔️

[martina (the life of a chaotic reader) · Rating 1 out of 5]

why is deathball?

not trying to get philosophical here, simply trying to understand what’s the reason.

i had been warned that the world building was shit, but damn, i didn’t expect it to be terrible.

there might be spoilers, proceed at your own risk.

there is more to a distopyan world than the hunger games x the roman empire. that’s a trope. in the book we need something more.

the infected by toxic waste? we don’t know shit.
why does atrea speak modern spanish? what the hell i know.
emperor of WHAT? no idea.
why does everyone treat the scary emperor like an imbecile? hell i don’t know.
if marco usually fucks other players, why is it an issue that he fucks robin? will never know.

but wait! it doesn’t end there! (unfortunately for me)
it is explained to us that deathball is a game where players kill each other to prove victora’s superiority. how in the fuck is it supposed to do that when they’re all pretending to be victorans.

in every match, one player is supposed to kill the other with the deathball.
except 100 pages later we find out that they don’t kill each other in the variety rounds.
except 50 pages later we find out they killed each other in the variety rounds, just as they were supposed to.
literally what are the rules.

marco, if he survives to the end of this season, he will be the first person to get out deathball.
except marco makes a very random comment about someone being ex-deathball. the authors try to justify it by saying that this person was more useful outside, but i’m making a wild comment and say that all of them will be more useful outside and not bashing their skulls to death.
just saying.
but it all doesn’t matter, since you can just take a stroll and go away apparently. i don’t even know why we bothered staying there.

the sponsors? they don’t even get to know the players before the match, and they just don’t know if they’re making a good investment by sending them things or not. yolo i guess?

you need to give a me a reason why a society is okay seeing people kill each other for sport. i fear that’s the bare minimum.

i could go on, but for my sanity i will stop here.
now, these are all objective reasons why this sucks, unfortunately i also found the romance abhorrent.

yay.

[Daje1968 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I know I’m not the first person to say this and I definitely won’t be the last, but I feel like I can never trust BookTok recommendations again after this. The way people are frothing over this book? I had a serious case of “am I reading the same book they read..?”

The only reason I made it to the end - and “made it” is doing a lot of heavy lifting because there was aggressive skimming involved - was that it was my book club’s pick this month. Besides being empirically terrible, this book could have been at least 100 pages shorter if someone had been willing to edit it.

Where do I even start?

First, the plagiarism-by-vibes was astonishing. At what point does “inspired by” become copyright infringement? Because this book is basically The Hunger Games wearing a fake mustache. A last-person-standing competition for the entertainment of the elite. Stylists preparing contestants. Wealthy sponsors sending supplies into the arena. I was clutching my metaphorical pearls on Suzanne Collins’ behalf.

Then there’s the “romance”.

Every once in a while I can get on board with insta-love. It’s a difficult needle to thread, but occasionally a book has that certain je ne sais quoi that makes me happily suspend disbelief. This book did not.

These two men were obsessed with each other almost immediately, but I never understood why beyond the fact that they were both from the same island. They had almost no discernible chemistry. They just kept declaring “Mine!” at each other until I was ready to start rooting for the Emperor. I skimmed most of the sex scenes which, if you’ve read my reviews before, should tell you everything you need to know.

I also never bought Robin as the more dominant force in the relationship. Maybe it’s my own heteronormative baggage talking, but the physically larger, more experienced man who had survived in Victora for five years felt like the natural protector. Instead, Robin was consistently written as the more controlling, possessive partner, and it never rang true for me. They eventually became verse, so I’m not talking about who tops and bottoms. I mean the entire dynamic.

And then…the battles. Sweet baby Jesus, the battles.

They were so repetitive that I eventually stopped skimming and just flat-out skipped them. Does anyone actually read pages upon pages of interchangeable fight scenes? Every encounter felt like the last one with slightly different weapons.

The world-building somehow managed to be both derivative and underdeveloped. This is supposedly dystopian, but as another reviewer said, it read more like historical fiction with electricity. There were vague references to “the infected,” bits that felt borrowed from every dystopian novel, action movie, and video game imaginable, and none of it came together into a world that felt original or even coherent.

By the end, it honestly felt like two romance authors got together for a drunken weekend, started throwing every popular trope they could think of into a blender, laughed at how ridiculous it was, and somehow decided the first draft was ready for publication.

This wasn’t just bad. It was exhausting.

[TetyanaSun · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5⭐

Ох, це було чудово))

Сам Смертбол — це пекло, перетворене на шоу. Людей кидають на арену жорстко калічити та вбивати одне одного заради кривавої розваги натовпу, який робить ставки, обирає фаворитів і вимагає більше крові. Гравці для них лише мʼясо, яке має видовищно страждати.

Марко і Робін ❤️ це просто щось космічне!!!
Між ними постійне тяжіння і відштовхування, погляди, дотики, догляд за ранами; перевірити синці, притримати, обійняти, заснути поруч, торкатися, відчувати тепло, вагу, шкіру, переконатися, що він живий
-все таке сенсорне, чуттєве-

Ще відмічу, поклоніння і милування чоловічими тілами: плечима, руками, спинами, м’язами, волоссям, рухами. Красивими, сильними, спітнілими, побитими, закривавленими.
Але ці величезні чоловіки плачуть, бояться, туляться одне до одного, потребують дотиків, говорять про любов, ламаються
-і якось нікуди їхня мужність не дівається-

Ну і НАШИЙНИК 😂
Те, як Робін на нього підвис, просто кайф
символ рабства для нього став гарячим і дуже інтимним символом «я твій, Марко»
-дякую-

Марко — мій краш, без варіантів. Величезний, небезпечний гладіатор, який може спокійно комусь розчавити череп, а потім тремтіти в руках Робіна, плакати, тулитися і любити з неймовірною відданістю. Марко вчить своє пташеня виживати, захищає, прикриває, лікує
-я не можу ❤️-

Фінальний вибір Марко мене просто розтрощив.
Пʼять років він так важко виживав заради свободи, і виявилось, що свобода без Робіна йому не потрібна,
він просто відмовляється його вбивати, і ламає гру
-прекрасно-

Напруга трималася до 99% книги
-я дуже сподівалася на HEA, але, реально, не уявляла, як із цього всього виберуться-

Не вистачило наповнення простору навколо смертболу. Сам світ після катастрофи готова сприймати як метафору, добре, що не було триста сторінок пояснень, чому все виглядає як техно-версія Римської імперії.
Але антураж безпосередньо навколо гри не зовсім розкритий: покровителі, Юліус, вартові, військові, архітектори гри, Імператор, сама Віктора, індустрія навколо смертболу — накидані штрихами і розмито
-сподіваюсь, повна картина відкриється в наступних книгах-

І ще, претензії до розв’язки.
Я весь час була переконана, що Віктора неприступна, тоталітарна машина, з якої не вирватися, а вони якось дуже легко проскочили
-ну, я рада, звичайно-

Висновок: хлопці-неймовірні, варті пильної уваги;
світ, крапельку, недокручений;
розв’язка трохи занадто зручна.
Але))) Марко забираю собі))) Нашийник теж)))

[haletostilinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a silly, ridiculous title for such an amazing book. This is a don't judge a book by it's title more than don't judge a book by its cover (because this cover is great!)

But in actuality, Deathball is a horrifying, brutal and devastating "game" played in a post apocalyptic world in a one of the few (if only?) cities that exist anymore.

Of course in this new world post apocalypse, it's been built up so the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor - oh and slaves are a thing. And just like the gladiators of ancient Rome, the men who are young and fit enough get sent to compete in Deathball, a fight to the death for the entertainment of the citizens of the city.

Marco was taken 5 years ago, and at 22 he's on the cusp of freedom. As a winner in Deathball so many years running, he also gets "perks" from sponsors and the Emperor and such, such as the title of "Captain" who is in charge of the rest of the men who will compete in Deathball for the "season" as if each year is a season of television. He also has his own villa and a personal housekeeper - Maria, another slave who is close with Marco who he plans to take with him once he's gotten his freedom.

Robin is from Atrea, an island somewhere off the mainland which basically has its own society, and they're fighters who prepare all the time to fight against Victora, the city that enslaves so many.

The thing is, this world seemed to have something like a zombie apocalypse because of chemicals used - perhaps in warfare or something of the like? - and these mix of deadly chemicals caused the infected, and most of the world to become a wasteland, so there's pockets of society all over, but cities almost don't exist anymore, and Victora has very, very high walls to keep out the infected and other mutant creatures.

So it would seem like something of an oasis on the surface - a safe place to live, to have a normal life. I bet those comforts and worries of the outside world not being a threat makes the civilians very comfortable and causes them to look the other way at the slavery and savagery their ruling class engage in.

And I guess what are they to do to entertain themselves but watch men forced to kill each other? In many different ways.

In a way it's similar to the hunger games - a post apocalyptic world in which one city or ruling elite subjugate others to play in some sort of arena games for the public's entertainment. At least in this it's not young children dying, I guess? Well we know they took Marco at 17, so maybe that's not strictly true.

Anyway, that's the backdrop for Marco and Robin to fall deeply in love. Pretty difficult time and place to do so.

Especially as Marco is the Emperor's "favorite" and anyone knowing about them having feelings for each other would be a bad thing for them.

But oh how I loved these two together. They start out as kind of enemies, kind of not. Marco has been through so much - but still has a good soul underneath all the trauma - and he starts off pretty cold and seemingly brutal.

He has to train the new men as well, get them ready for the first Deathball match, in a bit over a month.

We get to know not only these two, but the other men around them. Some we like but we know some are going to die. Some are awful, like Jason, who have ulterior motives.

And Marco can't be seen to have favor for Robin, but he can't seem to help himself at times anyway. But also he has to try to protect Robin as best he can from others, others like the Emperor. But also one day, if Robin lives long enough, he and Robin might have to face each other to the death in the Deathball ring.

They shouldn't get close, they're not supposed to get close, but they do. And then there's Cas and Evander. Cas becomes Robin's best friend - another thing not to do, as they might have to face each other one day too - and Evander is basically Marco's best friend, as the doctor they have on hand for all the injuries or worse these men get. (Although before Evander was there, how did they patch up the men in these Deathball matches? I hate to think there was either no one or a person who barely knew what they were doing).

Anyway, these two have to be careful at every turn, but they start to take risks here and there to be together as time goes on.

But the Emperor...Jason...other higher ups...they're watching...and they're waiting.

By the way, Marco does have to "sleep" with the Emperor - he'd be killed otherwise - so it's clear that he's had to do it for years, but it's not consensual. It is sexual slavery, as the book warns for. Thankfully we never have to see any of it on page, and once Marco and Robin really get into their relationship and fall deeply in love, they're not with anyone else for the rest of the book.

I was wondering how these two would get a HEA, because it seemed hopeless. But then it seemed like they could get a HEA, it'd just take time...but oh, how they get it was perfect. This book puts you through the wringer, as it puts our two protagonists through it as well.

Just when you think they'll somehow get their happy ending, something happens to make you think all hope is lost.

The sexual tension, the longing, the heartbreak these two go through throughout this book. They want each other, bad, then they love each other to the ends of the earth, when they're in a position where something like that isn't allowed, but they persist anyway.

The sex scenes were SO well done too, they were so hot and sexy.

And I loved how they got a HEA - or well more like a strong HFN as the world they live in is still awful. But between them, with their relationship, it's a HEA. But it ends on a strong HFN, but there's a lot of work to be done to take down the system in which slavery persists, in which many are oppressed by the ruling class. So there's still so much plot to cover, and these two aren't 100% safe, so a HFN is more fitting. They are absolutely happy and together at the end, though.

My smallest gripe, I guess, was that Victora finds out where Atrea was in the beginning, they come and basically destroy the island. So to me why do they go back there? Why does Marco risk sending coordinates to Evander of exactly where they are? I know they want to be home, but doesn't Victora know where they are? That Atrea exists? Why wouldn't they search there after Marco and Robin's escape first thing? That's the only thing that had my head scratching a bit. Like why wouldn't they just go right back there and try to enslave everyone again?

Butttt I couldn't find it in me to care enough about that small gripe to give this anything less than 5 stars, because it was amazing, I couldn't get enough of it, I was up reading it until the early hours of the morning, I just couldn't stop reading.

And I loved these two together so so much, I couldn't get enough of them either, and the intrigue and the forbidden-ness of it all, and everyone around them who would wish to see them dead than be together.

But the world building wasn't too bad to me, because I know we'll get more as the books progress, and this was only the beginning. I will say Marco and Robin will be a tough couple to beat. They were perfect together, and you're able to feel the love between them so keenly.

I am excited for Cas and Evander though, they have a perfect banter going between them, and Evander falling for the man he's supposed to look after as a patient/doctor and who might die any day...it'll be as deliciously forbidden as this. Also I'm eager to see what it will be like for them after Marco and Robin escaped and how they'll get out of where they are in all this.

Absolutely, this is a must read. It was amazing and I absolutely will be be reading more from these authors and this series.

Absolutely can't wait, until then! 😍

[Gaby · Rating 1.75 out of 5]

Dobby is free! I can’t believe I finally finished this book. What an absolute waste of time. I can’t write a review about it without spoilers. So here it goes.

Nothing makes sense in this book. This is supposed to be a dystopian/post-apocalyptic story; however, it is never explained what happened to the world. There are vague references to wars and nuclear weapons that led to devastation and “infected people”, infected with what, you may ask, are they zombies? Who knows, not me and maybe not the authors either.

The book starts with Robin painfully describing how everyone in his tiny island is a warrior, and yet it takes like 10 min for the big bad empire of Vitora to defeat them all and kill the rest. It is, however, mentioned that they are all captured, that the island is tiny, and everyone knows each other.

Robin is eventually led to the city to I guess be chosen for Deathball, and even though everyone from his island was a warrior, only he is there, and only he is chosen. What happened to the rest of the population? Where are they? Why are they not being chosen to fight, too? Enter Marco, from their first encounter, it’s clear they both have the hots for each other, and after some really boring conversations and deathball rules and vague explanations, Marco and Robin proceed to have the same fight like 4 different times. They have sex, Robin feels tender for Marco, and Marco has an insufferable inner monologue of how he has to protect Robin and proceeds to be mean and rude to him.

I really can’t understand how two people worked on this book together and neither realized all the many plot holes this story has.

-How come Marco and Robin are from the same tiny island, and yet they didn’t know each other?
-Why do they speak Spanish as an Atrean language?
-Why are Vitora and the Emperor clearly modelled after the Roman Empire, and Deathball after gladiator matches, when gladiators didn’t always fight to the death? Did they all just watch the Gladiator movie and decide it was enough research?
-Why do they lack technology to the point Robin has never seen a truck in his life before, and they use ancient clothing, but at the same time, they use shirts with buttons, and there are guns and giant screens?

I think I could go on and on about everything that makes no sense. But I’ll just finish my rant, saying this was obviously heavily inspired by The Hunger Games; it wasn’t even subtle. And again, what are the infected????

[Jordy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, these silly little men are *toxicccccccc* and truthfully, I’m here for it. Deathball is •dark• and yes I mean DARK. But this world Lockwood and TJ built makes you forget all the darkness, and where to find the light! The fights in the arena held back nothing, there was plenty of blood, guts, and gore. The fights being themed, added such a great flare to the battles, even if some put em in *silly little costumes.* I ate this book up, I couldn’t put it down. Marco & Robin truly are the definition of toxic, but TRUST they redefine it by •all• means necessary the higher the stakes got. The side characters were so well created and each of them had their own intense personalities that weren’t bland, and just used as filler, and the other fighters were built in such a way that MADE you actually hate them, and I mean hateeeee them -or love em-! You gotta watch out for the ones who’s names start with J (we ignore mine 😉) I truly accepted the fate of how the book was going to end, and it ended up going a different route catching me off guard! (Not in a bad way!) I don’t want to give off too much info or spoilers so I’ll leave it at that! This book was Brutal, Bloody, and built on FAFO.i can’t wait to see the story the next one takes off with a certain *couple* 😬😬 oh, and one last thing, a little *Birdie* says you’ll love this book 1000000%!

[anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

If goodreads allowed it, I’d give this book a hundred stars... no wait, infinite stars!

T.J. Rose and W. H. Lockwood absolutely delivered something special here. The story was incredibly original and unlike anything I’ve read before, and the vibes were immaculate. Deathball took me on a full emotional rollercoaster—it’s full of action, tension, sharp banter, romance, and yes, plenty of steamy scenes. Their story broke me and then carefully pieced me back together. Robin and Marco are characters I won’t be forgetting anytime soon, they’ve earned a permanent place in my heart. I'm so excited for the next couple 👀

I totally recommend it if you're a fan of:
☠️ gritty, post-apocalyptic setting
🔥 sports romance—fight to the death
🖤 touch h!m and d!e
🥵 hate sex
🌶️ everywhere but the bed
⚔️ counting down until the day they have to kill each other
💔 angst
🥀 pining
📚 series of interconnected standalones

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

With this book, I wanted to feel it all… A love bigger than life itself, unforgettable spice, and complex characters I would end up loving forever. I wanted to live the story, not simply read it. And OMG, did this book deliver! I got exactly what I was hoping for and then some… This is without a doubt one of my favorite reads of the year!

Even though I knew I absolutely had to read this book, it also scared me A LOT. Anyone who knows me knows I’ve struggled quite a bit with angsty books, and I generally don’t enjoy suffering too much while I read. Turns out, I had every reason to be afraid because this book put my heart through the wringer more than once ❤️‍🩹 And I don’t think I’ve ever been this stressed while reading, but every single moment of it was worth it! I’m so happy I gave this one a chance.

I tend to favor one character over the other in most books I read, but here? I loved them equally, and I honestly hit the jackpot with these two! 🥹

I instantly fell in love with Robin. My heart broke for him at the beginning as we see what he’s going through when he’s ripped away from his life and brought to that horrible place. But I really adored his fire. I loved that he never made himself small, that he wasn’t afraid to stand up to Marco, and that he refused to let anyone break him. At the same time, he could be incredibly vulnerable during their most intimate moments, and that contrast made me love him even more.

And Marco? Oh, I was not sure I was going to like him at first… But the more I got to know him, the harder I fell! Everything he did—and was willing to do—for Robin completely melted my heart, from the smallest gestures to the biggest sacrifices. And knowing that he had been in that place for five years? Absolutely heartbreaking. I was so happy that he finally found a safe haven and, in Robin, a wonderful person who was simply perfect for him.

Those two were truly legendary lovers! 🔥🔥🔥

Every single match in the arena was epic and larger than life. The intensity, the stakes, the sheer spectacle of it all…

As for the story, there were a few things I managed to predict, but for the most part, I was genuinely surprised by where everything went. This is the kind of book you simply cannot put down, and I was completely immersed from beginning to end. I never wanted to step away from these characters or their world.

I think I’m going to lose my mind the second the promo for season two drops, and you can bet I’ll be jumping on that book the moment it becomes available. I need it. So bad. Immediately.

6 ⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

[Julia (bookish.jka) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"My hand clamps harder over his mouth as his body starts to shake. The tremors run through him like an earthquake, building from somewhere deep inside. His breathing turns ragged against my palm, desperate little puffs of air through his nose."

Well now, Deathball was quite the rollercoaster read! W.H. Lockwood and TJ Rose may have just become my fave MM romance writing duo!

Deathball is the first book in a series of linked standalones, and this was Robin and Marco's story.

Think Gladiator, meets The Running Man, meets The Hunger Games but then make it MM and really dark and dirty, but still with a gripping storyline and all the twists and turns of a dystopian gladitorial-style nightmare.

🖤Dystopian MM romance
🖤Post-apocalyptic setting
🖤Rivals to lovers
🖤Fight to the death
🖤Touch him and die (literally)
🖤Dark themes
🖤All the hate sex
🖤All the angst
🖤All the pining
🖤Hard won HEA

Loved it!

4.5 stars rounded up

[labibliofille · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 for Goodreads

Woah is Deathball a wild, crazy, dark ride! This one really sent me spiraling, but knowing there's an HEA kept me hanging on through the trauma these two men (and their colleagues (?) / friends (?) / fellow fighters(?)) go through. While this hit hard, I also think the *big event* didn't hit as hard for me as I was hoping it would since I knew there was an HEA and something had to happen for the Happy part of the ending to come about.

Still, I really loved this one and I'm super excited to see where this series goes!

[Sully (sulliedjedi) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I raise the Deathball above my head.

The arena holds its breath. Twenty thousand people waiting to see which of us walks away.

Don’t hesitate.

I bring the Deathball down with everything I have.

That was fun! 3.5 stars.


Full RTC/add full tags

[Ayla Shoulders · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 ⭐️ 1000x THANK YOU TO THE AUTHORS FOR THE CHANCE TO READ AN EARLY COPY OF DEATHBALL! This was an EXPERIENCE you will not want to miss.

You guys, picture this:
Brad Pitt from Troy and Kit Harrington from Pompeii, but put them in Russell Crowe’s Gladiator arena and make it a Hunger Games fight to the death with a mother fucking Deathball and a side of 10 Things I Hate About You. It’s super bloody and violent and so goddamn sexy.
Oh, and they fuck, like REALLY GOOD.
Yeah. I want all that. We get it with Deathball, y’all. And it’s sad and beautiful and brutal…
All the tears I shed are not necessarily a part of my Brad Pitt/Kit Harrington wet dream, but they were a reality with Deathball. I cried like a freaking baby. My emotions were all over the place with these two. Our two beautiful, broken boys had me screaming from the moment they meet. I’m pretty sure I highlighted 90% of this book.

Deathball was a journey. You literally never know what’s coming next. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. It was intense and heartbreaking and exciting! The pain and heartbreak was completely worth it to get to the HEA. The chemistry and love between Robin and Marco was so beautiful. The violence was fucking hardcore SAVAGE. The side characters were FIRE (looking at you Cas & Evander!) The spice was some of the best spice I have EVER read. I LOVE A COUPLE OF VERSE MMC’s 🔥🔥🔥 The Epilogue had me in a chokehold.
Come for the smut stay for the plottttttt 🖤

Deathball. Where ANYTHING goes. And I mean anything…
Cocaine Bears, Cannibal Prisoners, mutant lizards, and mother fucking flamethrowers! I’m hoping in future books we get more of a look into the wastelands and the infected, I know some shit is going down out there!

So, in my best Anthony Hopkins Anaconda voice “Welcome to Deathball little baby bird”

TJ & WH have way outdone themselves with this beautiful masterpiece.
Fingers crossed for Doctor Death and Cas up nexttttt 😍 I just KNOW those two are dying to bang it out!
*I’m also incredibly intrigued by Julius. Anyone else? I feel like he’s gonna have a good story to tell.*

[ChasxSabri🫧 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aren’t they supposed to be enemies to lovers? Why is there a love confession (basically) only 40% in?….. 🫩
And that’s where I stop, ladies and gentlemen!

[Ashley H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to give this book an INFINITY ⭐️ RATING. I got it as an ARC & omg did it put me through it. From the beginning this book was everything promised by tj & lockwood like 😭🥹😡😮‍💨😩🫠🫣🥵 all of it hurt hurt hurt hurt comfort was absolutely serious the anxiety and soul wrenching tears this book pulled from me were everything i needed it too be. Marco & Robin literally are everything.. they have my whole heart and soul & im happily unwell 😂🫶🏼 the HEA is perfect & so hard fought the ROLLER COASTER 😭😭 omg how am i even supposed to read another arc after that?! None will compare.. but i dont wanna give spoilers just buckle up and enjoy this amazing ride that these two AMAZING authors provided 😭😂🫶🏼

[˗ˋˏ mckenna ˎˊ˗ · Rating 5 out of 5]

”Until your dying breath, Marco, who do you belong to?"
"You, Robin. Forever and always, it's you.”

Umm hello yes I'd like to let WH Lockwood and TJ Rose know that they will be receiving my therapy bills after reading Deathball because I am EMOTIONALLY WRECKED 😭😭

Have you ever felt like a book was written specifically for you? Because Deathball was literally the Perfect recipe for everything I love in a book. We had an intense dystopian world, high stakes, harrowing fight scenes, blood and gore, angst, forbidden love, spicy sex scenes and kill for him x2!?!??!?! There was no way this book was not going to be a banger for me and even still I'm blown away by how fucking captivated I was this entire story!

Marco is such a complicated character and I loved how hard he fought to keep Robin away and watching his walls slowly break down around Robin to see these two characters allowing themselves to fall for each other was beautiful and heartbreaking. Because in Deathball two people cannot survive in a match against one another. This book had me on the edge of my seat for all 514 pages and I think I might need to check my blood pressure after finishing the story because DAMN I really went through it while reading this 😭😭

If I could I would give this book all the stars in the galaxy. I could easily read another 500 page book about Robin and Marco and hope we get maybe a novella or full ass sequel to see how my boys are doing 🥹 That being said, I think book two is going to be Cas and Evander?? 👀 And I am so ready to eat that shit uppppp!!!!! Their chemistry was amazing and they bicker like an old married couple I cannot WAIT to see how these two (hopefully) end up together sdlfkjsdlkfdsjfk

Massive thank you to the authors for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!! Appreciate yall so much <3

[Anna Ha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Оціночка 4.5*
Так багато драми, так багато моїх переживань і нервів, але так багато-багато справжнього, всепоглинаючого кохання 🥹😢
Для мене був трохи перебір з кровавими твістами та прогулянками по моїх нервах..
Тільки здається, що от-от все налагоджується, а ніхуя 😁 знову якийсь поворот..
Дуже важка, насправді, дистопійка з елементами античних гладіаторських боїв та голодних ігор з покровителями, які полегшують проходження випробувань..

Історія починається з нападу на рідний острів Робіна, маленьку оазу серед пустошів, де кожна людина змалку навчається боротьбі та виживанню.. Робін потрапляє у полон, де вимушений брати участь у тренуваннях та змаганні за виживання та чемпіонство..
Інший наш ЧГГ - Марко - один з чемпіонів, який вже 5 років намагається здобути свободу, підвищений до рангу капітана.
Їх стосунки, пристрасть, відторгнення, притягання, любов - такі напружені і потужні емоційні гойдалки 🤭Якщо коротко:
- Пішов нахуй!
- Сам пішов нахуй!
- Пташеня..
- Марко...
- Все рівном пішов нахуй 🤣😂
І так всю дорогу...

Для мене книжка трохи розтягнута, хотілося б трохи урізати, було місцями очевидно і нудновато.. А от описання боїв, облаштування арени по тематиці та реквізиту - це було цікаво..
Найголовніше, що ми тут маємо ХЕ, який ледь не на останніх сторінках, що тримає в напрузі до останньої сторінки ❤️‍🔥⚡

[LauraSt · Rating 5 out of 5]

someone produce the movie RIGHT NOW

No because this is easily going on my top favorites of the year and we are not even halfway through the year yet.

Deathball is a post-apocalyptic MM rivals-to-lovers romance following Marco and Robin, two men trapped inside a brutal death arena where fighters are forced to kill for entertainment while surviving under a system built on violence, slavery, and fear. Marco is the reigning champion, cold and ruthless after years of surviving the arena, and Robin is the new fighter thrown into his orbit, still carrying hope, a little softness, and a desperate need to get back to the sister he lost.

Think gladiator meets GoT meets Hunger Games.

And GOD this book was EVERYTHING.

When I say rivals to lovers, I mean RIVALS. These men FOUGHT. Physically, against one another. Emotionally, against their feelings. Mentally, against all the horrors surrounding them. Every interaction between them felt dangerous and intense. One second they wanted to kill each other and the next they were looking at each other like they couldn’t live without the other. The tension in this book was INSANE.

And the violence? Brutal. Absolutely brutal. We are talking Game of Thrones levels of violence and emotional suffering. Bodies dropping left and right, blood everywhere, horrifying arena fights, constant danger, political manipulation, slavery, survival. Every single time the characters had thirty seconds of peace I was already anxious waiting for the next horrible thing to happen.

But honestly? I ate it up.

This book had me on edge the ENTIRE time. It genuinely felt like holding my breath for hundreds of pages because the stakes never stopped escalating.

And underneath all the brutality??? One of the most emotional love stories!

Marco absolutely destroyed me. Like genuinely cracked something inside my chest a little. This man has been surviving for so long that he barely even remembers how to WANT things anymore, and watching him slowly fall apart over Robin while trying to push him away because he knows they are ultimately meant to stand on opposite sides of the arena?? SICK. I was unwell.

Robin still managing to hold onto pieces of tenderness and hope despite everything they did to him made my heart ache so badly.

Because that’s the thing. Marco is trying to survive long enough to finally earn freedom after 5 years of deathball, while Robin still desperately wants to get back to his sister and whatever remains of home. They both know where this story is supposed to end, and that knowledge hangs over every soft moment, every touch, every moment of vulnerability between them. Every toxic push and pull was absolutely addicting because they wanted each other so desperately while also knowing loving each other could destroy everything. So 10/10 for yearning.

ALSO THIS BOOK WAS HOT AS HELL.

Like excuse me? The chemistry between these men was off the charts. Whether they were threatening each other, training together, fighting, or hooking up, the tension never disappeared for even a second. AND THEY’RE VERS!! 🤌🏼

Also need to talk about the writing for a second because some of the lines in this book genuinely felt like getting stabbed directly in the heart. The dialogue, the emotional confessions, the desperation between them??? I highlighted SO MUCH.

ES QUE FUE ESPECTACULAR!
“Eres mi sol, mi mundo, mi todo.”
“Te Amo, mi amor.” LIKE WHAT?!!!

What also made this book stand out to me was how immersive the worldbuilding felt. This didn’t feel like a generic dystopian setting thrown together in the background just to force two hot men into danger. The arena system, the politics, the sponsorships, the brutality of the society itself, all of it felt fully realized and terrifyingly believable. The arena scenes were so vivid and intense that I could practically hear the crowds screaming while reading about my men trying to survive.

And somehow despite how dark this book gets, there’s still this thread of hope running underneath everything. This feeling that maybe, just maybe, they’ll be rebels and steal a piece of happiness for themselves.

I am genuinely losing my mind knowing we have to wait until NEXT APRIL for book two because I need it immediately. IMMEDIATELY. Hoping it’s Cas and Evander’s story!

Marco and Robin own me now.
I fear there is no recovery from this.
10/10 for this book. No notes.

[Seraphina Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good

Wow. What a book
This was brutal but itn the best way. What a plot
Filled with desperation grief longing hate survical and a small found family
Robin and Marco definitely have a uphill battle to get their hea
This was really good
Looking forward to the next book

[GiveMeBooksOrGiveMeDeath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Deathball series.

The way this book immediately had me in a chokehold. Robin and Marco had so much chemistry whether they were trying to kill each other or kiss each other. And when they got hot together, it was scorching. To say this book was emotional is an understatement. I felt like I was holding my breath the entire time I was reading it. You are going to feel all the feels with this one. The arena scenes were incredible, the detail, the emotion, the drama, the graphic violence, everything was just amazing. I did not want to stop reading because I had to know what was gonna happen next, and unlike some books, you will stay guessing the entire time with this one.
But despite all the death and chaos, we get to see the small intimate moments between Robin and Marco. You can truly feel how much they yearn for one another. I felt like my heart was being ripped in half seeing everything they had to go through, everything kept tearing them away from each other but somehow they still managed to be together. If I had to choose a couple to demonstrate what true love is it would be these two. To die for someone is brave, but to live for someone takes true courage. After a lot of blood sweat and tears, Robin and Marco do eventually get a happy ending, but it was very hard won. This has been a truly incredible story and I can’t wait to see what happens next! I want to thank the authors for allowing me to review this book. It is definitely a five star read for me.

[TashiexReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐ overall
This was a hard one for me to rate!
I had a really good time reading this, the premise is so interesting and I loved Marco and Robin (even more so Evander and Cas - I hope their book is next!).
However, I was very confused on details on the world this is based in. You don't get much information and it does make it difficult to understand aspects of the story, which also makes it difficult to really connect to it, but I am hoping we will get more of this in book 2.

[Cat Face Gargoyle Vesta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does it count as forced proximity if they're imprisoned in a terrifying coliseum/prison? (I think so)

This book is vibey as HELL. The authors have created a really alive, interesting, fun world rich with possibilities for future stories, and I was very pleased to have Beta read this start of a new series!

Mad Max meets Hunger Games, but if President Snow/Immortan Joe was like, some smarmy guy with a big ol' hard-on for Roman gladiatorial combat. The fight scenes in this book were absolutely breathtaking - a few times, I forgot I was supposed to be reading a romance, and by far I would consider them the highlight of the book, for me. Marco and Robin battle for their lives through some extremely elaborate and incredibly cool stuff, though I won't cite any specifics so I don't spoil your surprise. ;)

I did think that as a whole, the book ran a bit long, dragging in the middle before the Deathball fights REALLY take off. This is definitely a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers, so I did expect that it would take a while for them to get where they were going, but the tension wasn't quite the type I'd been hoping for. These two get in their feelings and then go back and forth quite a bit, so be prepared for a game of emotional tug of war. The authors have done a great job of establishing mood, though, and I'm eager to find out what the next books have in store for us.

I have SO many questions that I'm really hoping will be answered in later books, too! (Mostly about Evander and Cas and their drama and relationship and pasts, and if we don't get to see the inside of that horrific prison, the terrible, sadistic person in me is going to pout.)

A great blend of both WH Lockwood and TJ Rose's respective styles and strengths, so if you like both (or either) author, you won't be disappointed.

If this is your first experience with Dark Romance, definitely know that it felt on the lighter side of "dark", and the boys only get a little toxic... as a treat. It's all better by the end!!

[Syd · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC review✨

This book put me through the wringer, and I loved every fkn second of it. Despite how deranged and chaotic their situation was, Marco and Robin somehow kept finding their way back to each other—though the emotional whiplash was brutal. I’m talking peak emotional damage 🥲. I was stressed, overwhelmed, and completely obsessed the entire time. 10/10 would emotionally spiral over them again 🙂‍↕️🔥 (ps - it’s giving gay Hunger Games and I absolutely love it)

[Evelyn220]

DNF at 20% - I tried for a month to read this, but just kept putting it down. It should be interesting because of the premise, but it’s not. The characters are so utterly boring and vague. There’s no intrigue or chemistry. No reason to care about either of them. There’s no world-building either. Which is wild.

But I also didn’t like Captive Prince, so… 😬🤷‍♀️ maybe these types of stories aren’t for me.

[A Low Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was OTT. Enjoyable, entertaining as hell—even riveting at times, but. I like angsty, but at times it was like, damn boys! I was there for it and it was also, either you hate him with every fiber of your being or you’re fucking him—for the last time! For real this time! Good for the first two times, but after that, do we really need to do this again?

And so much smut. Like, ok, we’re going for a hyper violent Hunger Games meets Gladiator vibe done MM spicy romance style, but there’s nothing sexy about a man who was just beaten unconscious then stabbed. No, thank you. I want to see you washed up and resting. Sex and violence is a popular combo, but when it’s dialed up to 11, it’s a bit much for me, personally.

Still, the writing and world building was pretty darn good, and I was interested in what was going to happen. The characters were vibrant and I liked the visuals—again, strong Hunger Games vibes, but I love those movies so what the hell.

But there were so many weird inconsistencies. Like our boy Robin is supposed be a super skilled fighter but it feels like we’re constantly seeing him getting his ass handed to him. Then Marco telling Robin that they could be listened in on and they have to be careful, then about 25 pages later this is totally not a thing we care about anymore. And Marco constantly leaning into Robin then saying “no! I can’t!” and pushing him away, and Robin being like, “I see why you did that, you’re just hurting so badly because of all they’ve done to you!” I dig that this was a melodrama, and I can get down with that, but the rinse and repeat of the action, smut and emotion actually took away from impact for me. I think that tighter editing could have been really helpful for this aspect.

And that ending.

I’m sorry. That was a total deus ex machina ending and I didn’t believe that in the slightest. I mean, I read this genre in some large part because of the HEA guarantee, but I want to at least feel like, yes, things could have gone that way. But with this one, no way in hell given that the entire plot has hinged on them being so powerless against the might of Vitoria (sp?) that they’re made to violate all their core values and fight to the death against their will.

Anyway. It was fun as hell and helped a slow Monday pass by quicker. “Deathball” is an objectively stupid name, but it works here, and I can honestly picture it being the literal translation of an ancient gladiatorial sport. I love the freedom that authors of a sub-sub genre that’s not taken at all seriously have—the creativity is awesome even as it magpies shamelessly from pop culture. But I think this one could have been kinda excellent, and that’s the part that bugs me.