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Cruel Reality: Games of Life and Death
Taken by masked men in the night, a host of British people find themselves at the mercy of unknown abductors. They cannot guess where they are going, or why they are going there. When they find an arsenal of medieval weapons in their new prison, horrific possibilities are imagined. When the cruel reality of their fate is revealed to them, they must learn a new way of life.
Fight or die. There is nowhere to run.
Fight or die. There is nowhere to run.
582 pages, Paperback
Published April 25, 2016
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747 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 6, 2016
Please can I give this one more than 5*?
Just imagine going for a walk down your local street only to be attacked, abducted and drugged. Then imagine the trauma of awaking in the hold of a moving ship alongside hundreds of other people who have been similarly treated. That’s what happens at the start of this dramatic story that is a real page turner from the very start.
I’m not quite sure how to avoid giving out spoilers on this one, but I’ll try! The story certainly lives up to the title of the book - it is filled with Cruel realities and games of life and death. The rewards for winners are essentially to remain alive and the consequences of losing are frequently fatal. This is a contemporary story, with a superb plot that keeps the reader enthralled and uncertain of the final outcome until they’ve read the final few pages of the epilogue. It is told mainly from the points of view of Mike and Kay, but don’t assume that means they’re a couple. They’re two of the people in the hold of the same ship who help those who recover from the sedation given to all the kidnapped victims. There are others who also get to share their voice in this.
When I asked the author what this book, he replied:
As for a genre, I think I'd say it was a NA Thriller, with a romantic side-story. But I also might say that is a contemporary story with a bit of a Dystopian feel to it (that all sounds a bit ambitious perhaps?)
A very brief way to describe it might be to say that it is a bit like the Hunger Games, but set in the present-day, real-world.
Actually, having read and thoroughly enjoyed it, I have to agree with him! There are many themes running through the story, skilfully interwoven to create a present day story that leaves the reader pondering what they would do should this happen to them, resulting in them being in such a terrifying situation. The characters are superbly portrayed, brought to life by the author, making them believable, their reactions and behaviours understandable and most of them are easy to empathise with even if you don’t agree with them. Their interactions and experiences certainly aren’t for the feint hearted, this reality is certainly cruel and unforgiving. It is a story that could happen, making it even more powerful because of that. It is a roller coaster ride, with so many twists and turns as well as climbs and falls, that you’re never quite sure what will happen next or just who can survive the experience. The ending even has surprise revelations in it - what a fantastic novel!
The descriptions bring to life events in this action packed story that has the reader on the edge of their seat! No hesitation with this one, this is one of the most powerfully written books I’ve read in a long time and one I highly recommend to adults who enjoy contemporary action packed stories with a healthy dose of mystery, suspense and a dramatic fight for survival, a touch of romance and, of course, a reality check.
This is my honest opinion after reading a gifted ecopy of this book from the author, received with no obligation to read or to share my review.
Just imagine going for a walk down your local street only to be attacked, abducted and drugged. Then imagine the trauma of awaking in the hold of a moving ship alongside hundreds of other people who have been similarly treated. That’s what happens at the start of this dramatic story that is a real page turner from the very start.
I’m not quite sure how to avoid giving out spoilers on this one, but I’ll try! The story certainly lives up to the title of the book - it is filled with Cruel realities and games of life and death. The rewards for winners are essentially to remain alive and the consequences of losing are frequently fatal. This is a contemporary story, with a superb plot that keeps the reader enthralled and uncertain of the final outcome until they’ve read the final few pages of the epilogue. It is told mainly from the points of view of Mike and Kay, but don’t assume that means they’re a couple. They’re two of the people in the hold of the same ship who help those who recover from the sedation given to all the kidnapped victims. There are others who also get to share their voice in this.
When I asked the author what this book, he replied:
As for a genre, I think I'd say it was a NA Thriller, with a romantic side-story. But I also might say that is a contemporary story with a bit of a Dystopian feel to it (that all sounds a bit ambitious perhaps?)
A very brief way to describe it might be to say that it is a bit like the Hunger Games, but set in the present-day, real-world.
Actually, having read and thoroughly enjoyed it, I have to agree with him! There are many themes running through the story, skilfully interwoven to create a present day story that leaves the reader pondering what they would do should this happen to them, resulting in them being in such a terrifying situation. The characters are superbly portrayed, brought to life by the author, making them believable, their reactions and behaviours understandable and most of them are easy to empathise with even if you don’t agree with them. Their interactions and experiences certainly aren’t for the feint hearted, this reality is certainly cruel and unforgiving. It is a story that could happen, making it even more powerful because of that. It is a roller coaster ride, with so many twists and turns as well as climbs and falls, that you’re never quite sure what will happen next or just who can survive the experience. The ending even has surprise revelations in it - what a fantastic novel!
The descriptions bring to life events in this action packed story that has the reader on the edge of their seat! No hesitation with this one, this is one of the most powerfully written books I’ve read in a long time and one I highly recommend to adults who enjoy contemporary action packed stories with a healthy dose of mystery, suspense and a dramatic fight for survival, a touch of romance and, of course, a reality check.
This is my honest opinion after reading a gifted ecopy of this book from the author, received with no obligation to read or to share my review.
May 6, 2016
**We received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
Reviewed by Freya at The Reader's Hollow
First thing to say is this is quite a long book – and I’m glad because I loved it and didn’t want it to end.
The book has two point-of-view characters. Although their viewpoints seemed to get almost equal amounts of time as the story was told through both of them, I really felt that this was the story of Mike, the male lead. The female lead, Kay, was just as important to his story, but it did feel like his story. Not saying that was a bad thing, just an observation. Through circumstance of the story, the characters are never far apart, but the alternating viewpoints worked well in telling quite different sides of the same story, with the narrative occasionally stepping back a little to go over the same event from the other viewpoint (something I quite liked, finding it interesting how two people might interpret the same action differently).
The story starts with the characters, a random mix of 300 British people, trapped in a room on a ship. There is a mix of men women and children, but a majority of the people are younger adults (18-25), including the main characters. They have no idea what’s going on – they were just kidnapped with no warning and woke up together on the ship. It was a really engaging start to the book, making me want to know what the hell was happening just as much as the characters did. It has a bit of a slow build from there as the ship transports them to their destination – a tropical forest. Once there they still know very little, with strict instructions to not go anywhere on pain of death. But what they do find is a load of swords, axes, bows and arrows and stuff. And it just kept getting more exciting, with some truly unexpected and at times brutal twists – not for the feint-hearted!
I don’t want to give any more than that away, as I hate spoilers, so no more plot stuff.
I think what I loved about this was that it was all a bit far-fetched and so unlikely to happen, but none of it was totally unbelievable – this book is set in the real world and everything in it COULD HAPPEN! The characters struggle with stepping up to the challenges, they make mistakes, there is tension among them and even the romantic side-story seemed just a believable natural progression. I felt I really related to several of the characters and got a bit emotional a few times.
It had a great ending that really left me an emotional wreck. I definitely recommend this.
Reviewed by Freya at The Reader's Hollow
First thing to say is this is quite a long book – and I’m glad because I loved it and didn’t want it to end.
The book has two point-of-view characters. Although their viewpoints seemed to get almost equal amounts of time as the story was told through both of them, I really felt that this was the story of Mike, the male lead. The female lead, Kay, was just as important to his story, but it did feel like his story. Not saying that was a bad thing, just an observation. Through circumstance of the story, the characters are never far apart, but the alternating viewpoints worked well in telling quite different sides of the same story, with the narrative occasionally stepping back a little to go over the same event from the other viewpoint (something I quite liked, finding it interesting how two people might interpret the same action differently).
The story starts with the characters, a random mix of 300 British people, trapped in a room on a ship. There is a mix of men women and children, but a majority of the people are younger adults (18-25), including the main characters. They have no idea what’s going on – they were just kidnapped with no warning and woke up together on the ship. It was a really engaging start to the book, making me want to know what the hell was happening just as much as the characters did. It has a bit of a slow build from there as the ship transports them to their destination – a tropical forest. Once there they still know very little, with strict instructions to not go anywhere on pain of death. But what they do find is a load of swords, axes, bows and arrows and stuff. And it just kept getting more exciting, with some truly unexpected and at times brutal twists – not for the feint-hearted!
I don’t want to give any more than that away, as I hate spoilers, so no more plot stuff.
I think what I loved about this was that it was all a bit far-fetched and so unlikely to happen, but none of it was totally unbelievable – this book is set in the real world and everything in it COULD HAPPEN! The characters struggle with stepping up to the challenges, they make mistakes, there is tension among them and even the romantic side-story seemed just a believable natural progression. I felt I really related to several of the characters and got a bit emotional a few times.
It had a great ending that really left me an emotional wreck. I definitely recommend this.
July 14, 2016
Cruel Reality: Games of Life and Death by C.J Whitley Book Review
Synopsis
Taken by masked men in the night, a host of British people find themselves at the mercy of unknown abductors. They cannot guess where they are going, or why they are going there. When they find an arsenal of medieval weapons in their new prison, horrific possibilities are imagined. When the cruel reality of their fate is revealed to them, they must learn a new way of life.
Fight or die. There is nowhere to run.
Review
I received this book through direct contact with the Author who requested a review for his new book. I had received this book before the date of release. So as requested here is a review of Cruel Reality: Games of life and death.
The start of the book was admittedly quite slow. The book had introduced the main character Mike who is abducted by strange men in a van before passing out and awaking on board a secluded ship along with 300 other British victims who also have no idea what happened to them or why. The author introduces the main characters however, there is very little description of what they look like so it weighs heavily on imagination. Once the book moves location to a secluded tropical forest it begins to pick up and the battle of survival begin. Not only were the British taken captive but also victims from France and Germany for which they would have to kill one another in order to earn credits and provide food for the camp. This is the objective throughout the novel.
Mike unoknowlingly and naturally becomes the leader of the camp due to his level headedness in the midst of chaos therefore when problems arise we see him mature as a leader provided only being in his early twenties and not really having any experience. He has a natural fighting spirit and is talented in sword fighting which is what is used throughout his battles with the French and Germans. Throughout the book Mike changes considerably both mentally and physically having to make tough choices that ultimately affects everyone around him and himself as he fights his internal killer instinct. Most of the book is set in Mike’s point of view but also the points of views of other key characters.
Kayleigh is one such character and is one of the first characters to be introduced to the novel. She was abducted along with her family, her mother, father and younger sister. Naturally, she becomes attracted to mike and supports him throughout the novel and with shock twist near the end of the novel that makes their survival more imperative than ever. Her romantic relationship with Mike is up and down throughout and both confused on their feelings while taking on the responsibility of supporting the camp. Kayleigh has a nack with children and teaches the children of the camp some education as well as taking the role of mother to a girl named Claires daughter. Life for Kayleigh continues to grow more complicated but somehow she always seems to be okay.
The deaths in this novel are actually quite strongly detailed and for a moment it has a feel of Game Of Thrones due to the realism of killing another human being. Some deaths were quiet and uncontrollable while others were graphic and brutal. The unfairness is clear throughout the novel and you really go through this horrendous situation with the characters which I thought was really good as you get quite attached to the characters fairly quickly and so it breaks your heart when one suffers trauma or even death.
The mystery of who their captors are is what makes the novel so captivating and mysterious because its not until right at the end do we find out the identity of the ones who make their lives hell for over a year and its not the people you expect. One such character I was suspicious off and it turnt out to be right but the blow was no less gentle. I was both disappointed in the character yet sad for them.
One character that fascinated me was Tom who is writer particularly to “The Great Game” and writes about Mike and the rest of his fellow captives in tabloids and newspapers. But, it turnt out that Tom wasn’t exactly all that we thought he was, in a good way of course. And it is this revelation that sets the tone for the end of the book.
I have only a few negatives about the book. One is that the longevity of the book could have been shortened as some chapters I could have done without, so the chapters could have been longer and the book shorter. There were some grammar issues, the wrong words in the wrong place but I don’t know if that is just my copy. There could have been more visual aid in terms of what the characters looked like especially mike as the only description of him is that he has silver eyes and is quite muscle toned. Nothing about hair colour, how long or short? Etc. Other than that the story itself I have no issue with.
Overall, This book is about the human spirit, building of community and family and not taking what you have for granted. Taking control of your life and holding on to your humanity no matter what life throws at you. I also liked the fact that it is set in our time at least I think it is as didn’t think that anything felt futuristic about it. And also the realism of the book. In conclusion, I give with book 3.5 out of 5 stars due to the longevity of the book, but it is a great book for C.J Whitley’s First novel. So if you’re a fan of The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner or anything like that, this book might be worth the read for you.
George J. Galasso
Synopsis
Taken by masked men in the night, a host of British people find themselves at the mercy of unknown abductors. They cannot guess where they are going, or why they are going there. When they find an arsenal of medieval weapons in their new prison, horrific possibilities are imagined. When the cruel reality of their fate is revealed to them, they must learn a new way of life.
Fight or die. There is nowhere to run.
Review
I received this book through direct contact with the Author who requested a review for his new book. I had received this book before the date of release. So as requested here is a review of Cruel Reality: Games of life and death.
The start of the book was admittedly quite slow. The book had introduced the main character Mike who is abducted by strange men in a van before passing out and awaking on board a secluded ship along with 300 other British victims who also have no idea what happened to them or why. The author introduces the main characters however, there is very little description of what they look like so it weighs heavily on imagination. Once the book moves location to a secluded tropical forest it begins to pick up and the battle of survival begin. Not only were the British taken captive but also victims from France and Germany for which they would have to kill one another in order to earn credits and provide food for the camp. This is the objective throughout the novel.
Mike unoknowlingly and naturally becomes the leader of the camp due to his level headedness in the midst of chaos therefore when problems arise we see him mature as a leader provided only being in his early twenties and not really having any experience. He has a natural fighting spirit and is talented in sword fighting which is what is used throughout his battles with the French and Germans. Throughout the book Mike changes considerably both mentally and physically having to make tough choices that ultimately affects everyone around him and himself as he fights his internal killer instinct. Most of the book is set in Mike’s point of view but also the points of views of other key characters.
Kayleigh is one such character and is one of the first characters to be introduced to the novel. She was abducted along with her family, her mother, father and younger sister. Naturally, she becomes attracted to mike and supports him throughout the novel and with shock twist near the end of the novel that makes their survival more imperative than ever. Her romantic relationship with Mike is up and down throughout and both confused on their feelings while taking on the responsibility of supporting the camp. Kayleigh has a nack with children and teaches the children of the camp some education as well as taking the role of mother to a girl named Claires daughter. Life for Kayleigh continues to grow more complicated but somehow she always seems to be okay.
The deaths in this novel are actually quite strongly detailed and for a moment it has a feel of Game Of Thrones due to the realism of killing another human being. Some deaths were quiet and uncontrollable while others were graphic and brutal. The unfairness is clear throughout the novel and you really go through this horrendous situation with the characters which I thought was really good as you get quite attached to the characters fairly quickly and so it breaks your heart when one suffers trauma or even death.
The mystery of who their captors are is what makes the novel so captivating and mysterious because its not until right at the end do we find out the identity of the ones who make their lives hell for over a year and its not the people you expect. One such character I was suspicious off and it turnt out to be right but the blow was no less gentle. I was both disappointed in the character yet sad for them.
One character that fascinated me was Tom who is writer particularly to “The Great Game” and writes about Mike and the rest of his fellow captives in tabloids and newspapers. But, it turnt out that Tom wasn’t exactly all that we thought he was, in a good way of course. And it is this revelation that sets the tone for the end of the book.
I have only a few negatives about the book. One is that the longevity of the book could have been shortened as some chapters I could have done without, so the chapters could have been longer and the book shorter. There were some grammar issues, the wrong words in the wrong place but I don’t know if that is just my copy. There could have been more visual aid in terms of what the characters looked like especially mike as the only description of him is that he has silver eyes and is quite muscle toned. Nothing about hair colour, how long or short? Etc. Other than that the story itself I have no issue with.
Overall, This book is about the human spirit, building of community and family and not taking what you have for granted. Taking control of your life and holding on to your humanity no matter what life throws at you. I also liked the fact that it is set in our time at least I think it is as didn’t think that anything felt futuristic about it. And also the realism of the book. In conclusion, I give with book 3.5 out of 5 stars due to the longevity of the book, but it is a great book for C.J Whitley’s First novel. So if you’re a fan of The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner or anything like that, this book might be worth the read for you.
George J. Galasso
June 16, 2016
Though as always left to the individuals discretion - in this case, I would have thought, an adult's discretion as to its suitability for younger readers - Cruel Reality is aimed at the Young Adult market and with very good reason. Though not what I thought of as gratuitous there are of necessity some themes that are unsuitable for young readers.
One of those books I admit I had second thoughts about accepting. A fairly lengthy tome of nigh on six hundred pages, would my attention be held throughout? Informed by the author (and I quote) 'A very brief way of describing it might be to say it is a bit like The Hunger Games, but set in the present day, real world'. Would it be too much like The Hunger Games OR, worse still, would it be written in such a way that whilst a book it was obviously written with a film deal in mind?
Not that I've read the books but I have seen the films and judging by these and these alone I think the author does himself a bit of a disservice. In my opinion better than The Hunger Games (the film adaptations at least) - whilst there is just as much action, I felt that there was more of an actual story to Cruel Reality.
A big book but with lots of short chapters. In my experience often a plus when it comes down to YA novels.
Though definitely main protagonist Mike's story, there is in addition the occasional point of views from main female lead, Kay, and the entwined 'stories' of two others (I won't say what part they play in the book overall for fear of spoilers) which not only keeps the story fresh but, with a main male and female character, ensures the book as a great read no matter what your gender.
And as well as the action scenes - all well done which is surely testament to the author having had six months of sword and archery lessons - there are also lots of big themes throughout (the notion of leadership and fealty and, even, perceived sexism included).
All factors which contributed to the plot flowing nicely. All ensuring the reader a roller coaster of a read, the family dynamics and tender, if largely understated, love story between Mike and Kay an emotional one.
But what of the characters?
Well developed each and every one of them. All manner of characters are covered and yet despite there being so many you really do come to know them as individuals and, if you are anything like me, will find yourself rallying for your favourites.
Worthy of every one of its five stars. I wonder how many will manage to read the novel without pondering on what they'd do if it came down to fight or die. Not many I'm betting.
Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper
Disclaimer: Received for review from the author, no financial compensation was asked for nor given.
One of those books I admit I had second thoughts about accepting. A fairly lengthy tome of nigh on six hundred pages, would my attention be held throughout? Informed by the author (and I quote) 'A very brief way of describing it might be to say it is a bit like The Hunger Games, but set in the present day, real world'. Would it be too much like The Hunger Games OR, worse still, would it be written in such a way that whilst a book it was obviously written with a film deal in mind?
Not that I've read the books but I have seen the films and judging by these and these alone I think the author does himself a bit of a disservice. In my opinion better than The Hunger Games (the film adaptations at least) - whilst there is just as much action, I felt that there was more of an actual story to Cruel Reality.
A big book but with lots of short chapters. In my experience often a plus when it comes down to YA novels.
Though definitely main protagonist Mike's story, there is in addition the occasional point of views from main female lead, Kay, and the entwined 'stories' of two others (I won't say what part they play in the book overall for fear of spoilers) which not only keeps the story fresh but, with a main male and female character, ensures the book as a great read no matter what your gender.
And as well as the action scenes - all well done which is surely testament to the author having had six months of sword and archery lessons - there are also lots of big themes throughout (the notion of leadership and fealty and, even, perceived sexism included).
All factors which contributed to the plot flowing nicely. All ensuring the reader a roller coaster of a read, the family dynamics and tender, if largely understated, love story between Mike and Kay an emotional one.
But what of the characters?
Well developed each and every one of them. All manner of characters are covered and yet despite there being so many you really do come to know them as individuals and, if you are anything like me, will find yourself rallying for your favourites.
Worthy of every one of its five stars. I wonder how many will manage to read the novel without pondering on what they'd do if it came down to fight or die. Not many I'm betting.
Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper
Disclaimer: Received for review from the author, no financial compensation was asked for nor given.
October 2, 2016
Abducted and drugged, a group of three hundred British people wake up in some type of holding facility. Over a loud speaker, they are given instructions but no information as to the reason they have been taken or when they will be released.
Nine days later, they wake up in tents in a man-made jungle. Soon, the loud speaker delivers instructions: kill others to receive "credits" for food using the arsenal of old world style weapons that have supplied for them by their captors.
Their survival depends on unskilled people. They aren't Bear Grylls or Seal Team 5. They are blue collar workers, bankers, nurses, carpenters, accountants, and families with small children. Not people who hide in whale carcasses to escape a snowstorm and drink their own piss.
Mike is the leader of the British group. He is smart, levelheaded and a sword wielding bad-ass. Right away, he organizes the group into mobile assassins, camp defense, chef, grave diggers, shit hole diggers and a school for the camp children. He also appoints others to run each group. He was able to go "full-Shane" and return to normal.
I REALLY enjoyed reading this book, and started up my typical "stalling tactics" where I put a book aside for a few days so I don't finish it too quickly, as I'm not ready for it to be over. Because didn't read spoilers before starting it, I had no idea what was going to happen, and found out along with the characters, which I would HIGHLY recommend doing if possible. You will thank me.
I loved all the characters, except the assholes that you weren't supposed to like anyways. I was nervous for them, for the changes in the "experiment" that were happening to them. I loved the mystery of the captors, and how Mike was able to make his camp run so smoothly. Towards the end, I texted a friend panicked that it might be a series and I would have to wait for the next book to come out. Everything wrapped up smoothly, but I would love to know what happened to Rupert.
Cruel Reality has enough action, plot twists and turns, feelings of hopelessness and despair, blood and guts, mystery, murder by ax, murder by sword, and a scene of hot naked man warfare to keep my interest long after I turned off my kindle. It also has a drizzle of a love story, but for me it wasn't much, which is good as I don't like to mix my gruesome murder scenes with unicorns and rainbows.
Great entertaining read! I would recommend for fans of Battle Royale, Hunger Games, Gone series, and that 90's movie Wedlock.
A special thanks to C.J. Whitley for sending me a copy of Cruel Reality to review. LOVED IT.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2019
An amazing read!
Best indie book I've read! It was thought provoking in a 'what would I do in that situation?' sort of way.
Highly recommended.
Full video review at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8el-n...
The book goblin.
Best indie book I've read! It was thought provoking in a 'what would I do in that situation?' sort of way.
Highly recommended.
Full video review at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8el-n...
The book goblin.
May 30, 2016
I was asked whether I would read and review this book by the author C.J Whitley, and what an honour it was to be asked as this was an amazing, imaginative read. It was marketed to me as a YA (young adult) read, somewhat resembling a modern day Hunger Games style. I thought to myself, bring it on. I am not adverse to a bit of dystopian fantasy.
Soon enough, this book came flying through my letter box. I say flying, really, that is not the right word for a book of it's size. I have read books of many more pages and books of much less so wasn't at all daunted by it's sheer size.
Upon opening and reading the first few pages, I was soon to realise that it held lots of very short chapters. This was a smart move by the author I felt as there is nothing more off putting than a huge book with extremely long chapters and worse still, no chapters to some. Remembering the target audience, shorter chapters in busy lives are quite attractive. The chapters were catchy and gripping, willing me onto turn the page, onto another chapter. I was loving this book, it appeared.
300 British people of varying ages wake to find themselves in a room, a room with no windows, doors that do not open (from their side at least), but they have been provided with food and water and a blanket for warmth/comfort. What is it all about? Have they been kidnapped? Is it all just a scary dream for someone? Once all awake, this picture slowly becomes clear and the reality isn't the most desirable.
As regular readers of my reviews know, I am not a fan of repeating the plot/story as there are many that do that and people just want to read thoughts and opinions and after the first handful, tend to scroll past until they get to the desired review part. The above paragraph is all you are getting out of me regarding the story line.
This amazing story encouraged convincing imagery with the detailed but light descriptions although I did find on the subject of detail, that it bounced around with how full it was of it. At times, like some of my reviews ;-) it was a little too wordy in places. There is a sentence which says of one of the main characters, '....she went and used the toilet'. Nice to know that unlike on television, they actually carry out normal every day activities, but this is where tv have it right, as I felt it wasn't needed.
I found myself feeling for the characters, I felt very connected to them as the story went on and I think that is the sign of a good writer if they can get a reader feeling (with) for the characters portrayed. I felt the claustrophobia and fear when it was being described for the characters and went on that first recce with Mike (the main pratagonist), armed with those scary feelings. Another element that stood out for me was when I read some of the book earlier in the day, I was thinking often about the characters and the story most of the day and couldn't wait to get my nose stuck back into those characters lives again.
This story was all a bit far fetched really, as with all books of this subject but but not completely unbelievable.
There was one point (by page 85) where I remember thinking the young children were being exceptionally good. Really? by this point, none of them had 'created' about having no gaming systems etc? hmmmm, hard to believe and if going to the toilet is mentioned, surely this wouldn't be excess detail to add.
The author seemed to have an understanding of what runs through a young ladies mind when in 'love'. It reminded me of when I was young and in that lust stage and I felt myself smiling with the memories of this. Great thought and empathy shown there from C.J Whitley. I felt a bit emotional a few times reading this book.
I was left wondering throughout, what people must have been thinking with this disappearance of many. This question kept rearing it's head and the author didn't fail to disappoint. From page 207, this was indeed answered.
The pages included some truly unexpected, shocking and brutal twists that are certainly not for the feint hearted but it just kept giving more and getting more exciting and shocking. I couldn't work out what was coming next. There was no build up to events, just a pure adrenaline fuelled read. I have seen two of The Hunger Games films although I have not read the books but I actually preferred this to watching those if I am honest. The author did a magnificent job of making the story feel real, so real in fact that it has taken me a while to be able to put a review together for it.
I highly recommend this book and not just to young adults but anyone who is willing to take chances, wanting an adventure, able to believe the unbelievable and isn't afraid of an emotional roller-coaster that may leave them feeling a bit of an emotional wreck of any age.
Soon enough, this book came flying through my letter box. I say flying, really, that is not the right word for a book of it's size. I have read books of many more pages and books of much less so wasn't at all daunted by it's sheer size.
Upon opening and reading the first few pages, I was soon to realise that it held lots of very short chapters. This was a smart move by the author I felt as there is nothing more off putting than a huge book with extremely long chapters and worse still, no chapters to some. Remembering the target audience, shorter chapters in busy lives are quite attractive. The chapters were catchy and gripping, willing me onto turn the page, onto another chapter. I was loving this book, it appeared.
300 British people of varying ages wake to find themselves in a room, a room with no windows, doors that do not open (from their side at least), but they have been provided with food and water and a blanket for warmth/comfort. What is it all about? Have they been kidnapped? Is it all just a scary dream for someone? Once all awake, this picture slowly becomes clear and the reality isn't the most desirable.
As regular readers of my reviews know, I am not a fan of repeating the plot/story as there are many that do that and people just want to read thoughts and opinions and after the first handful, tend to scroll past until they get to the desired review part. The above paragraph is all you are getting out of me regarding the story line.
This amazing story encouraged convincing imagery with the detailed but light descriptions although I did find on the subject of detail, that it bounced around with how full it was of it. At times, like some of my reviews ;-) it was a little too wordy in places. There is a sentence which says of one of the main characters, '....she went and used the toilet'. Nice to know that unlike on television, they actually carry out normal every day activities, but this is where tv have it right, as I felt it wasn't needed.
I found myself feeling for the characters, I felt very connected to them as the story went on and I think that is the sign of a good writer if they can get a reader feeling (with) for the characters portrayed. I felt the claustrophobia and fear when it was being described for the characters and went on that first recce with Mike (the main pratagonist), armed with those scary feelings. Another element that stood out for me was when I read some of the book earlier in the day, I was thinking often about the characters and the story most of the day and couldn't wait to get my nose stuck back into those characters lives again.
This story was all a bit far fetched really, as with all books of this subject but but not completely unbelievable.
There was one point (by page 85) where I remember thinking the young children were being exceptionally good. Really? by this point, none of them had 'created' about having no gaming systems etc? hmmmm, hard to believe and if going to the toilet is mentioned, surely this wouldn't be excess detail to add.
The author seemed to have an understanding of what runs through a young ladies mind when in 'love'. It reminded me of when I was young and in that lust stage and I felt myself smiling with the memories of this. Great thought and empathy shown there from C.J Whitley. I felt a bit emotional a few times reading this book.
I was left wondering throughout, what people must have been thinking with this disappearance of many. This question kept rearing it's head and the author didn't fail to disappoint. From page 207, this was indeed answered.
The pages included some truly unexpected, shocking and brutal twists that are certainly not for the feint hearted but it just kept giving more and getting more exciting and shocking. I couldn't work out what was coming next. There was no build up to events, just a pure adrenaline fuelled read. I have seen two of The Hunger Games films although I have not read the books but I actually preferred this to watching those if I am honest. The author did a magnificent job of making the story feel real, so real in fact that it has taken me a while to be able to put a review together for it.
I highly recommend this book and not just to young adults but anyone who is willing to take chances, wanting an adventure, able to believe the unbelievable and isn't afraid of an emotional roller-coaster that may leave them feeling a bit of an emotional wreck of any age.
September 15, 2016
This had a strong start – hundreds of people (including kids) waking on a ship together with no idea why. They were all taken in the night, from across the nation, but they don’t know why or by whom. I wanted to know what was going on. The story continued to keep me interested, not really explaining the what’s or why’s for quite a while, but throwing in twists that really kept me reading, so still good. Then about 40 or 45% of the way through, it really went up a gear to become a really quite incredible read. This story deals with a lot of different social issues in the context of a Battle Royale setting, which sounds a bit odd, but worked really well. They have to build a new community and social structure, while learning to live life with medieval tools instead of electronic equipment, all while having to fight for their lives. The plot takes place over about a year, so the relationships (with quite a lot of characters involved) develop naturally, slowly and very well. At times, I wasn’t sure how this story would end, as the torment of the characters showed no signs of ending. It did end eventually (obviously) in a really exciting and dramatic fashion. I really enjoyed every page of this and strongly recommend reading if you’d like a bit of action, a bit of thriller, bit of mystery and a bit and of romance, with some psychological social issues thrown into the mix.
July 20, 2016
The author asked me to review this story... At first I was shocked at how long it was! It said it would take me 20 hours to read! But I soon got into it, then I was hooked. I know I say this a lot but this really is a one of a kind story which I've never read anything similar to before. It's brilliant... I don't know what else to say than it is a must read!! Cruel Reality does have a lot of fighting in it and killing so be warned. The ending had me happy and mad as theres one question that I NEED answering (I will try to find out). You know I dont like giving anything away in books as it takes the fun away! This story is perfect for readers who enjoy a book packed with action, killing, fighting, horror (ish), thriller and mystery. One I would highly recommend to you all! Even if it takes you a while to finish it, it is well worth reading I promise you.
Had me hooked, thrilled, a real page turner, addicted, fast paced and I enjoyed every minute of it. Enjoy, I did.
Had me hooked, thrilled, a real page turner, addicted, fast paced and I enjoyed every minute of it. Enjoy, I did.
October 9, 2016
4.5 *
Imagine The Hunger Games mating with The Maze Runner or Gladiator and giving birth to an evil adult child and call it Cruel Reality. I absolutely LOVED this book. The main character Mike is the ultimate alpha male who is highly respected and will do whatever is necessary to protect his people. The supporting characters are well developed and contribute to the overall sense of comunity that engaged readers throughout the story. This book is so well developed and written that the reader will feel like picking up a sword and becoming part of the story.
The book starts off a little slow but ...wait for it, by the third chapter the non-stop action begins and you will be hooked right up to the surprise twist at the end. Be forewarned...this book is not for the squeamish. Violence and bloodshed are normal everyday occurrences in the lives of the characters but if you like action filled stories with twists around every corner, then this is the book for you.
Imagine The Hunger Games mating with The Maze Runner or Gladiator and giving birth to an evil adult child and call it Cruel Reality. I absolutely LOVED this book. The main character Mike is the ultimate alpha male who is highly respected and will do whatever is necessary to protect his people. The supporting characters are well developed and contribute to the overall sense of comunity that engaged readers throughout the story. This book is so well developed and written that the reader will feel like picking up a sword and becoming part of the story.
The book starts off a little slow but ...wait for it, by the third chapter the non-stop action begins and you will be hooked right up to the surprise twist at the end. Be forewarned...this book is not for the squeamish. Violence and bloodshed are normal everyday occurrences in the lives of the characters but if you like action filled stories with twists around every corner, then this is the book for you.
October 4, 2016
Loved this! So disappointed that it’s over!
This was an exciting and original plot with engaging characters that I really felt for.
It starts with 300 people kidnapped with no idea of why, by who or what the hell is going on.
There are loads of twists that worked really well and kept it all really exciting, and it touches on some serious issues too.
The book is long and, even though it gets straight into the plot, it has a bit of a slow build. The second half of the book is definitely the better half, but I still really enjoyed the first half, where these clueless people are just trying to work out how to stay alive.
There are two main characters, Mike and Kay, who do have a bit of a romance thing going on, but this is not a romance novel – there is definitely more emphasis on the action and thriller/mystery type stuff – in fact some of the action is really quite gruesome. It was awesome.
The plot wraps up nicely with an ending that had me full-on blubbing in tear, so there’s no waiting for the sequel – which his great, even though I kind of wish there was a sequel, as I fell quite invested in these characters and wish there was more.
There was no saving the world, no love-triangles, no taking terrible vengeance on a hated enemy – it was just a community of scared people trying to survive a horrific situation. I really felt for every tragedy they suffered, and loved it for being different.
Highly recommended to lovers of action, thriller, mystery or just wanting something different.
This was an exciting and original plot with engaging characters that I really felt for.
It starts with 300 people kidnapped with no idea of why, by who or what the hell is going on.
There are loads of twists that worked really well and kept it all really exciting, and it touches on some serious issues too.
The book is long and, even though it gets straight into the plot, it has a bit of a slow build. The second half of the book is definitely the better half, but I still really enjoyed the first half, where these clueless people are just trying to work out how to stay alive.
There are two main characters, Mike and Kay, who do have a bit of a romance thing going on, but this is not a romance novel – there is definitely more emphasis on the action and thriller/mystery type stuff – in fact some of the action is really quite gruesome. It was awesome.
The plot wraps up nicely with an ending that had me full-on blubbing in tear, so there’s no waiting for the sequel – which his great, even though I kind of wish there was a sequel, as I fell quite invested in these characters and wish there was more.
There was no saving the world, no love-triangles, no taking terrible vengeance on a hated enemy – it was just a community of scared people trying to survive a horrific situation. I really felt for every tragedy they suffered, and loved it for being different.
Highly recommended to lovers of action, thriller, mystery or just wanting something different.
November 30, 2016
Y'know how you read a book (or watch a movie) and yell at the people "Why don't you just ____?" I didn't have any of that. Perhaps the author had me on a rail and I didn't know it, but I didn't find myself rolling my eyes at manufactured situations or idiots missing the obvious.
Initially, the Queen's English kept pulling me out of the story. I was able to suppress my brain tripping over our different spellings that registered as typos (I've always found the extra u's to be fanciful - colour, favour, etc.), but the "had sat" thing never failed to jar me out of the narrative. If that's proper English, I'm unfamiliar. Is it really "straitened" across the pond?? Plus, not being from England, references to "the British" made me think "them" instead of "us" so I'd briefly think of our protagonists as enemies.
Beyond that . . . DAMN! I'm use to reading a lot of sci-fi/fantasy/dystopian so it was super scary to read something that seemed like it could actually happen - or be happening as I write! About 25% in, we and the participants hadn't been let in on the big picture and I almost wanted to stop there lest I be disappointed. Love the anxiety! So many possibilities! I did finish it though and was not disappointed.
Was a little annoyed with Kay, who reeked of desperation, or perhaps that's just me projecting my youth because Mike was the perfect man and I would have been wistfully admiring him, too. And Mike was a little too perfect - his swords becoming a natural extension of himself as a lethal fighter, yet a tender lover. It's all the Mikes in books out there that screw it up for the real guys out in the real world because he makes us believe they exist. These complaints are just me musing, they weren't enough to detract from what was a surprisingly original book despite covering a lot of unoriginal territory.
Initially, the Queen's English kept pulling me out of the story. I was able to suppress my brain tripping over our different spellings that registered as typos (I've always found the extra u's to be fanciful - colour, favour, etc.), but the "had sat" thing never failed to jar me out of the narrative. If that's proper English, I'm unfamiliar. Is it really "straitened" across the pond?? Plus, not being from England, references to "the British" made me think "them" instead of "us" so I'd briefly think of our protagonists as enemies.
Beyond that . . . DAMN! I'm use to reading a lot of sci-fi/fantasy/dystopian so it was super scary to read something that seemed like it could actually happen - or be happening as I write! About 25% in, we and the participants hadn't been let in on the big picture and I almost wanted to stop there lest I be disappointed. Love the anxiety! So many possibilities! I did finish it though and was not disappointed.
Was a little annoyed with Kay, who reeked of desperation, or perhaps that's just me projecting my youth because Mike was the perfect man and I would have been wistfully admiring him, too. And Mike was a little too perfect - his swords becoming a natural extension of himself as a lethal fighter, yet a tender lover. It's all the Mikes in books out there that screw it up for the real guys out in the real world because he makes us believe they exist. These complaints are just me musing, they weren't enough to detract from what was a surprisingly original book despite covering a lot of unoriginal territory.
May 27, 2016
Husbands, wives, children, and young adults are stripped from their beds and their lives without a bit of notice. They are forcefully sent to a strange land where they must learn to survive... or die. In Cruel Reality, Whitley creates a world that is a mix between The Hunger Games and Gladiator.
I have to admit, when I first started the book it seemed a little slow. After two or three chapters, I completely changed my tune. I was utterly sucked in and I had to know how it ended. It is a fairly long book, coming in just shy of 550 pages. Don't let that scare you off. It is action packed and full of developed characters. Mike, the main character, is a young man who automatically picks up the task of group leader. He is strong, courageous, and humble. Throughout the novel, we meet many other robust characters that you instantly feel close to. There are many characters that you meet throughout the novel. It seems a little overwhelming at first, but the reader gets to know the character so well throughout the book that it becomes entertaining to know so many of the people in the camp. You start to feel like you are there yourself!
Whitley's summary of the novel didn't give away too much information and leaves a lot to the imagination, so I don't want to give away any spoilers. While reading, I often found myself wondering how I would react if I were abducted from my home and forced into the same situation. I think it was relatable because even though it was a little far fetched, it is something that could possible happen to you. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and if you like suspense, fight scenes, non-stop action, and a little bit of romance... then you will enjoy it too!
Rating 4/5
I have to admit, when I first started the book it seemed a little slow. After two or three chapters, I completely changed my tune. I was utterly sucked in and I had to know how it ended. It is a fairly long book, coming in just shy of 550 pages. Don't let that scare you off. It is action packed and full of developed characters. Mike, the main character, is a young man who automatically picks up the task of group leader. He is strong, courageous, and humble. Throughout the novel, we meet many other robust characters that you instantly feel close to. There are many characters that you meet throughout the novel. It seems a little overwhelming at first, but the reader gets to know the character so well throughout the book that it becomes entertaining to know so many of the people in the camp. You start to feel like you are there yourself!
Whitley's summary of the novel didn't give away too much information and leaves a lot to the imagination, so I don't want to give away any spoilers. While reading, I often found myself wondering how I would react if I were abducted from my home and forced into the same situation. I think it was relatable because even though it was a little far fetched, it is something that could possible happen to you. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and if you like suspense, fight scenes, non-stop action, and a little bit of romance... then you will enjoy it too!
Rating 4/5
September 22, 2016
My opinions on this book went back and forth while I was reading it, and by the end I can’t honestly say that I loved it – but I didn’t hate it, either. It had its moments and was relatively well-written, despite some technical errors here and there that could benefit from another run-through by a professional editor. The biggest hurdles were the length of the book and the overall pacing of the plot. It’s really long and probably not for someone who has reading ADD like I do. I prefer concise, simple books, and this one is neither concise nor simple. It’s quite complex, with lots of different viewpoints and story-lines. Those were obviously well-planned and well-executed, and I really like the way that everything came together at the end. The only thing I didn’t like about the multiple points of view was that sometimes the same event was told twice from different perspectives, which just seemed a bit redundant and only fluffed up the length of the book. I personally would have enjoyed this better if it had been a series. It could easily be broken into three shorter books, I think.
The story itself was amazing, with a great concept and super amazing characters. It’s quite obvious that a lot of work went into this book, and the outcome is impressive, if not overwhelming. There are deep messages here as well that really touched me, and might be explain why I went with 4 stars instead of 3. It’s a good book, but I probably will not read it again.
The story itself was amazing, with a great concept and super amazing characters. It’s quite obvious that a lot of work went into this book, and the outcome is impressive, if not overwhelming. There are deep messages here as well that really touched me, and might be explain why I went with 4 stars instead of 3. It’s a good book, but I probably will not read it again.
February 15, 2021
Wow
What an amazing book. I will be thinking about this one for quite awhile. The author has to have an exceptional imagination for all of this to be thought out and put together in a way for it all to work. To take nine hundred people and hide them, then make them fight to survive is beyond scary. I did feel like the ending was a bit rushed. Guess I didn't want the book to end.
What an amazing book. I will be thinking about this one for quite awhile. The author has to have an exceptional imagination for all of this to be thought out and put together in a way for it all to work. To take nine hundred people and hide them, then make them fight to survive is beyond scary. I did feel like the ending was a bit rushed. Guess I didn't want the book to end.
May 7, 2016
I was given a copy of this book to read for an honest review.
I loved this book. It was like Hunger Games but with a twist. It kept me wanting more. The way the story is written makes you feel like you are right there with characters and that you can actually see this happening.
This is the first book I've read by this author and he did a wonderful job making the story feel real.
I loved this book. It was like Hunger Games but with a twist. It kept me wanting more. The way the story is written makes you feel like you are right there with characters and that you can actually see this happening.
This is the first book I've read by this author and he did a wonderful job making the story feel real.
Read
June 5, 2016I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Review to come soon!
Review to come soon!
October 23, 2016
I don't want to say too much about this book in ways of a synopsis as there isn't that much to go off on the blurb/goodreads and I don't want to give much away either; so here's a short one:
A large group of men, women and children are abducted in the night by masked individuals. They all find themselves waking up in the hanger of a ship. Nobody knows why or who has taken them; they are given no instructions other than when meals are to be given. After waiting on the ship for over several days, they then find themselves waking up in a tropical forest with tents and medieval weapons. Still unknown as to where this may take them, all they know is they need to fight or die.
This book is such a huge story, and I don't just mean the fact that it is almost 600 pages long. There is a lot of detail and you can see how much time the author has taken to research and write this piece. We follow a few main characters throughout the book, especially Mike. He seems to become a leader of sorts, making sure everyone is ok and making suggestions on what they should all do. At first, this is a great idea, but as you start reading the book, I would say I started to become a little annoyed with Mike. He lays down a lot of 'laws' and wants everything done in such a way. Yes, everyone follows him, which makes for an easy life, but it does get on your nerves after a while as he begins to put himself down or a little arrogant with fighting. There are other characters in which we read from their point of view such as Kayleigh (love interest), but it is mostly Mike's.
My main reason for giving this book 4 stars is that I enjoyed the way it spoke about morals and ethics in life. It looked at what humans will do for survival, how we can survive without all our technology and become more interested in each other. For those of you looking however, for a fast paced kind of read, this isn't one of them. It certainly wasn't slow paced, but more of an average paced kind of read. For this reason and a few others such as an overload of detail, there could have been a few parts that could have been reduced or axed from the overall book. I also found the mystery around who their captives were and why they had been chosen etc to also be an interesting part of the book. It is a little obvious as to the use of all the cameras and recording equipment but you still have no idea until towards the end of the book as to why they are being watched and who took them.
Overall, this book made for an interesting read and another great way to look at how we as humans are part of this world and how we can survive. I think those who like that kind of thing will be very interested in reading this book and those who like dystopian style books such as The Hunger Games.
A large group of men, women and children are abducted in the night by masked individuals. They all find themselves waking up in the hanger of a ship. Nobody knows why or who has taken them; they are given no instructions other than when meals are to be given. After waiting on the ship for over several days, they then find themselves waking up in a tropical forest with tents and medieval weapons. Still unknown as to where this may take them, all they know is they need to fight or die.
This book is such a huge story, and I don't just mean the fact that it is almost 600 pages long. There is a lot of detail and you can see how much time the author has taken to research and write this piece. We follow a few main characters throughout the book, especially Mike. He seems to become a leader of sorts, making sure everyone is ok and making suggestions on what they should all do. At first, this is a great idea, but as you start reading the book, I would say I started to become a little annoyed with Mike. He lays down a lot of 'laws' and wants everything done in such a way. Yes, everyone follows him, which makes for an easy life, but it does get on your nerves after a while as he begins to put himself down or a little arrogant with fighting. There are other characters in which we read from their point of view such as Kayleigh (love interest), but it is mostly Mike's.
My main reason for giving this book 4 stars is that I enjoyed the way it spoke about morals and ethics in life. It looked at what humans will do for survival, how we can survive without all our technology and become more interested in each other. For those of you looking however, for a fast paced kind of read, this isn't one of them. It certainly wasn't slow paced, but more of an average paced kind of read. For this reason and a few others such as an overload of detail, there could have been a few parts that could have been reduced or axed from the overall book. I also found the mystery around who their captives were and why they had been chosen etc to also be an interesting part of the book. It is a little obvious as to the use of all the cameras and recording equipment but you still have no idea until towards the end of the book as to why they are being watched and who took them.
Overall, this book made for an interesting read and another great way to look at how we as humans are part of this world and how we can survive. I think those who like that kind of thing will be very interested in reading this book and those who like dystopian style books such as The Hunger Games.
October 11, 2016
Loved the story idea start to finish!
December 17, 2016
Actual rating - 3.5
November 26, 2016
You can find my review at www.readinglark.blogspot.com after 25 Nov 2016.
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