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The Race #1
The Race
Experience the electrifying thrill of survival in "The Race," the heart-pounding first instalment of Joan De La Haye's gripping series. Follow Joanna Perry, an unsuspecting victim thrust into a world where life hangs in the balance, as she embarks on an unimaginable journey.
When Joanna's life takes a terrifying turn, she finds herself drugged, violently abducted and forced into a deadly contest for the entertainment of the world's elite. With her own survival on the line, she must confront her limits in a twisted game orchestrated by the rich and depraved.
As the stakes reach unprecedented heights, Joanna must tap into her inner strength and navigate treacherous terrain where each step could be her last. Will she embrace her newfound ferocity and outsmart her merciless adversaries, or will she succumb to the darkness that surrounds her?
"The Race" delivers an adrenaline-fueled narrative that will leave readers breathless. With its breakneck pace and relentless action, this quick read is a perfect fit for fans of pulse-pounding tales like "The Hunger Games," "Gladiator," and "The Running Man." Brace yourself for a rollercoaster ride of danger, courage, and the fight for freedom.
Enter a world where survival is the ultimate triumph, where glory exacts a deadly cost, and the race for Joanna's life, glory, and gold brook no mercy. Get ready for an adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.
When Joanna's life takes a terrifying turn, she finds herself drugged, violently abducted and forced into a deadly contest for the entertainment of the world's elite. With her own survival on the line, she must confront her limits in a twisted game orchestrated by the rich and depraved.
As the stakes reach unprecedented heights, Joanna must tap into her inner strength and navigate treacherous terrain where each step could be her last. Will she embrace her newfound ferocity and outsmart her merciless adversaries, or will she succumb to the darkness that surrounds her?
"The Race" delivers an adrenaline-fueled narrative that will leave readers breathless. With its breakneck pace and relentless action, this quick read is a perfect fit for fans of pulse-pounding tales like "The Hunger Games," "Gladiator," and "The Running Man." Brace yourself for a rollercoaster ride of danger, courage, and the fight for freedom.
Enter a world where survival is the ultimate triumph, where glory exacts a deadly cost, and the race for Joanna's life, glory, and gold brook no mercy. Get ready for an adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.
- GenresThrillerScience Fiction
59 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2016
77 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Joan De La Haye
55 books132 followersI write dark and twisted thrillers featuring dangerous women, cold-blooded assassins, and survivors who turn the tables—violently. If you like fiction that pushes boundaries and heroines who don’t play nice, you’re in the right place.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 13, 2016
Sometimes I like nothing more than a straightforward thriller. My needs are simple – a plot that whips along at breakneck speed, a protagonist made of steel, and a few twists and turns to keep things interesting. The latest from Joan De La Haye, The Race, does exactly that and then some.
The thing I liked most about The Race is the premise. It manages to be deceptively simple but still effective. Just imagine it, you wake up in an unfamiliar location, surrounded by complete strangers. You are all given a simple choice – participate in a race to the death or face immediate execution. I suspect in my case I’d be dead within approximately twenty seconds, but Joanna Parypinki fares slightly better than I. When she finds herself in the world’s most brutal competition she steps up.
Joanna finds herself in a situation that she is barely prepared for. The good news for our heroine is that she swiftly proves she is nothing if not adaptable. I found myself cheering Joanna on. She suffers, and has her ass kicked on more than one occasion, but there is a steely determination that forces her to always get back up. The tension builds nicely as we race towards the conclusion of the event. Will Joanna last long enough to survive? Especially when the rest of the field is made up by a who’s who of sword waving sociopaths with anger management issues.
There are a handful of glimpses behind that curtain of the shady group who are responsible for the race. I’d be keen to learn more of what is going on behind the scenes of the competition. There is obviously a massive amount of organisation happening. How far does it spread? Who is ultimately responsible? The narrative indicates that governments, and those with influence, are responsible for sponsoring the participants, but there must be more going on. What can I say, I’m a sucker for far reaching globe-spanning conspiracies. Obviously, being the kind hearted wishy washy liberal anti-capitalist that I am, it almost goes without saying that I want to see the ringleaders destroyed for their evil schemes.
My only complaint is that I wish there was more. Just at the point where I was really getting into all the action and mayhem the story was done. Normally I’d be hugely disappointed but in this instance, it becomes only a minor quibble. I recently read that there is a sequel to The Race already in the works so I can be content with that. My personal preference will always be for a full-length novel rather than splitting the story up, but that is just the way I prefer reading.
The thing I liked most about The Race is the premise. It manages to be deceptively simple but still effective. Just imagine it, you wake up in an unfamiliar location, surrounded by complete strangers. You are all given a simple choice – participate in a race to the death or face immediate execution. I suspect in my case I’d be dead within approximately twenty seconds, but Joanna Parypinki fares slightly better than I. When she finds herself in the world’s most brutal competition she steps up.
Joanna finds herself in a situation that she is barely prepared for. The good news for our heroine is that she swiftly proves she is nothing if not adaptable. I found myself cheering Joanna on. She suffers, and has her ass kicked on more than one occasion, but there is a steely determination that forces her to always get back up. The tension builds nicely as we race towards the conclusion of the event. Will Joanna last long enough to survive? Especially when the rest of the field is made up by a who’s who of sword waving sociopaths with anger management issues.
There are a handful of glimpses behind that curtain of the shady group who are responsible for the race. I’d be keen to learn more of what is going on behind the scenes of the competition. There is obviously a massive amount of organisation happening. How far does it spread? Who is ultimately responsible? The narrative indicates that governments, and those with influence, are responsible for sponsoring the participants, but there must be more going on. What can I say, I’m a sucker for far reaching globe-spanning conspiracies. Obviously, being the kind hearted wishy washy liberal anti-capitalist that I am, it almost goes without saying that I want to see the ringleaders destroyed for their evil schemes.
My only complaint is that I wish there was more. Just at the point where I was really getting into all the action and mayhem the story was done. Normally I’d be hugely disappointed but in this instance, it becomes only a minor quibble. I recently read that there is a sequel to The Race already in the works so I can be content with that. My personal preference will always be for a full-length novel rather than splitting the story up, but that is just the way I prefer reading.
September 30, 2016
A cool, clever little story with more depth than you originally give it credit for. Superb pacing (fast and furious) and a great action packed romp, peppered with delightful f-bombs!
October 25, 2016
Outstanding.
This short story packs a huge punch. The main character is a bartender with a bit of a checkered past, and somehow winds up in a battle royale.
World leaders and political figures make bets and wagers among themselves on which of these people will win out and Joanna has no one betting on her. A pawn in the game, but she's not ready to lie down and give up. Joanna's got some fight in here.
I know this is a novella, but I love this world that Joan built. It's interesting and I want more of it. I want to see the new challengers and what will happen next.
Joan's writing as always is flawless, grounded in our real world but so engaging that you don't want to stop reading it. It just grabs you! I can't wait to read more from her! Highly recommended!
*Review was done in conjunction with NerdGirl Official. For more information, visit them on Facebook. Book was provided for honest opinion.
This short story packs a huge punch. The main character is a bartender with a bit of a checkered past, and somehow winds up in a battle royale.
World leaders and political figures make bets and wagers among themselves on which of these people will win out and Joanna has no one betting on her. A pawn in the game, but she's not ready to lie down and give up. Joanna's got some fight in here.
I know this is a novella, but I love this world that Joan built. It's interesting and I want more of it. I want to see the new challengers and what will happen next.
Joan's writing as always is flawless, grounded in our real world but so engaging that you don't want to stop reading it. It just grabs you! I can't wait to read more from her! Highly recommended!
*Review was done in conjunction with NerdGirl Official. For more information, visit them on Facebook. Book was provided for honest opinion.
September 10, 2017
I picked this book up because I wanted a quick read and am intrigued by the topic. Eight short chapters pack a gut-punch of a story! Our heroine makes no apologies for her "bad girl" life style, which matters because she acknowledges it (character growth) as an advantage later in the book, and boy does Joanna need her skills, and then some if she hopes to survive this crazy race. From the first paragraphs, I was hooked. Ladies take notes; Joanna has an excellent solution for date rapists! My favorite part was how history and politics played into the game, a thoughtful touch that deepens the story world. I am happy to see the next book is out, so I am off to buy Training Days. An aside, the cover art for both books is glorious.
September 3, 2017
The Race
An interesting and thrilling book. I liked it. Compelling characters, in extreme situations. Get your copy today you won't be disappointed.
An interesting and thrilling book. I liked it. Compelling characters, in extreme situations. Get your copy today you won't be disappointed.
February 5, 2017
A gripping tale about survival of the fittest. Could you kill if your life depended upon it? This story follows Joanna, where she finds herself in the middle of a 'gladiator' nightmare. The underground is full of sick and twisted people, during her fight for survival, Joanne learns that not all friends are what they seem, enemies lurk in all corners. To live, she plays a their sadistic game game and exceeds all expectations. Who is the mysterious man? Where will she end up? Can she survive what lays in wait? I tried to scroll further to keep on reading, the adrenalin was pumping from the story into myself, as I sat on the edge of my seat, I realized that I had to wait for my questions to be answered. Joan DE La Haye has the ability to keep you coming for more, like a Crack dealer, she supplies me with my dose of reading materials. I would recommend The Race to anyone who enjoys a fast paced action story. I would give it more than 5 stars.
October 3, 2023
This is the second book by Joan De La Haye I have read and I must say I am a huge fan.
In short, a woman gets kidnapped and is thrown into a Battle Royale murder race that is way more than it seems.
I like that it is written in the first person and that Joan let the main character's personality and thoughts shine through in a very believable manner. Her talent for describing situations, feelings and atmosphere set a high bar for other slasher thriller writers of her peers.
I highly recommend reading Joan De La Haye's work because it is captivating, imaginative and hard to put down. The Race in my eyes is a perfect five out of five.
In short, a woman gets kidnapped and is thrown into a Battle Royale murder race that is way more than it seems.
I like that it is written in the first person and that Joan let the main character's personality and thoughts shine through in a very believable manner. Her talent for describing situations, feelings and atmosphere set a high bar for other slasher thriller writers of her peers.
I highly recommend reading Joan De La Haye's work because it is captivating, imaginative and hard to put down. The Race in my eyes is a perfect five out of five.
November 17, 2017
The Race is not something that I would normally read, but I am really glad that I have and I think anyone who loves dark and twisty stories will just love it and may have found themselves a new favourite author.
October 14, 2020
Fast paced action thriller with decent character development and lots of blood and gore. Clean editing and a smooth writing style. Quite a bit happens in a really short time and across very few pages. Well done!
November 28, 2017
A quick read. I finished it in a night. This is all action! I loved the main character and I transported easily into the story. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
December 6, 2017
Sharp and tough. You fall into the madness and only know a bit more at the end. Whew.
January 4, 2026
Loved this! I will be doing a full series review once complete 🎉
Book 1 - YES 👏
It's giving Hunger Games X Squid Games and I am LOVING this take on it!
Book 1 - YES 👏
It's giving Hunger Games X Squid Games and I am LOVING this take on it!
January 25, 2018
The concept of women fighting modern gladiatorial games is an okay concept. Character assassination of world leaders is not an okay concept. Throw in the brutality and foul language and you really don't have an appealing or enjoyable story.
August 18, 2019
A twisted, dark adult version of Hunger Games
Without giving away the story, this reminded me of Hunger Games. A deeply disturbing, unsettling type of hunger games.
I can't wait to read the next in the series.
Without giving away the story, this reminded me of Hunger Games. A deeply disturbing, unsettling type of hunger games.
I can't wait to read the next in the series.
September 7, 2017
Dark
Short fast paced read with lots of action,suspense and dark murderous twists that might be geared towards a dark future
Short fast paced read with lots of action,suspense and dark murderous twists that might be geared towards a dark future
December 10, 2017
Worth a read
This story was short but pretty good. For less than a dollar I will definitely check out the next arc in this tale.
This story was short but pretty good. For less than a dollar I will definitely check out the next arc in this tale.
December 9, 2021
A cool short story that reminded me a little of The Hunger Games, but with all the boring bits taken out.
We meet Joanna Perry, who wakes up and discovers she’s now part of a gladiatorial contest where she must win or die.
We learn very little about her past or how she came to be in the situation, and it’s non-stop action from the outset. I loved it, and the bit of exposition you get at the end is both surprising and believable.
The editing is good. The author uses the phrase “sliced and diced” a lot when describing what the characters do to each other. But I think that’s probably just her schtick, because it made me think of her horror collection, Sliced and Diced (which is also pretty good, by the way).
Other than that, I can’t remember any specific problems.
Click here to find out where you can get your hands on a copy: https://books2read.com/u/b6Mx9y
* Note: That's an affiliate link, so if you click through to a store and end up buying anything, I might earn a commission from your purchase.
We meet Joanna Perry, who wakes up and discovers she’s now part of a gladiatorial contest where she must win or die.
We learn very little about her past or how she came to be in the situation, and it’s non-stop action from the outset. I loved it, and the bit of exposition you get at the end is both surprising and believable.
The editing is good. The author uses the phrase “sliced and diced” a lot when describing what the characters do to each other. But I think that’s probably just her schtick, because it made me think of her horror collection, Sliced and Diced (which is also pretty good, by the way).
Other than that, I can’t remember any specific problems.
Click here to find out where you can get your hands on a copy: https://books2read.com/u/b6Mx9y
* Note: That's an affiliate link, so if you click through to a store and end up buying anything, I might earn a commission from your purchase.
April 1, 2025
Hunger Games meets Gladiator
This book is a very short story which reminds me of Hunger Games and Gladiator combined. I didn’t realize it was quite this short but I do look forward to reading the next book in the series to find out what happens to Joanna. The cover was a bit off putting for me but the description of the story is what intrigued me and I’m glad I read this. This author was assigned to me as part of adopt an author for April in my Killer Thriller group.
This book is a very short story which reminds me of Hunger Games and Gladiator combined. I didn’t realize it was quite this short but I do look forward to reading the next book in the series to find out what happens to Joanna. The cover was a bit off putting for me but the description of the story is what intrigued me and I’m glad I read this. This author was assigned to me as part of adopt an author for April in my Killer Thriller group.
April 18, 2018
Wow.
This was over so quickly.
Action packed from the first page to the last.
A great teaser first story - I wonder if the second book/installment is longer?
Thankfully my eBook came with the first chapter of the second book - so I can read that tomorrow morning over my breakfast. Need to decide whether to buy the rest or not.
Warning - it is quite violent. Think Gladiators violent.
This was over so quickly.
Action packed from the first page to the last.
A great teaser first story - I wonder if the second book/installment is longer?
Thankfully my eBook came with the first chapter of the second book - so I can read that tomorrow morning over my breakfast. Need to decide whether to buy the rest or not.
Warning - it is quite violent. Think Gladiators violent.
January 25, 2022
OK, you awaken in a jail cell with a bunch of other women. You aren't wearing your own clothes, you are wearing a pink jogging suit just like all the other women in the cell. Your head feels like you've been drugged. You look outside the cell and see a bunch of other women, all carrying swords and dressed like warriors. This does not bode well for your future, does it?
December 14, 2025
A free novella I picked up on kindle. The Race is a meat and potatoes first chapter of a larger story. The first little dose of information on why women are kidnapped to battle and race tornament style for patrons was pretty silly. Though perhaps this book needed to be more pulpy and ridiculous for me to want to continue. Compact and short, I'm grateful it didn't waste more of my time.
April 11, 2018
The Race
Easy and quick read with a very interesting take on World politics in a sick and disgusting sort of way, but then politics often are ugly.
Editing is decent and needs little improvement.
Easy and quick read with a very interesting take on World politics in a sick and disgusting sort of way, but then politics often are ugly.
Editing is decent and needs little improvement.
August 30, 2017
I initially liked the setup, but not the drawn out explanation or execution of the story. The action scenes and the pacing of the story just felt awkward to me.
September 17, 2017
Interesting
Short but interesting. Power play between countries being pinned on girls fighting for their lives on an island in the middle of nowhere.
Short but interesting. Power play between countries being pinned on girls fighting for their lives on an island in the middle of nowhere.
November 30, 2017
An interesting premise that has promise, but very short - a taster, rather than a novel.
January 20, 2019
Not good :(
Absurdish battles, strange rules, lack of believe. Language is dull, the whole story turns crappy since second part of chapter 1.
A great idea is wasted.
Absurdish battles, strange rules, lack of believe. Language is dull, the whole story turns crappy since second part of chapter 1.
A great idea is wasted.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews