The Voting Game

The Voting Game #1

by Peter Gulgowski

Darrius Young's sixteenth birthday brings a harsh It's time to join the Voting Game. Playing is mandatory, and each day may be his last. In this bleak future's society, citizens rate their interactions with one another. Highest scorers are members of an elite upper-class. An average score means you can keep playing. Fall below average? You are taken and killed by the government entity known only as The Bureau.  Darrius has prepared his whole life for this challenge, knowing the reality he will soon face — especially after the death of his mother to the game. But despite preparation, he's losing — and not just the Game. Suddenly the people he loves are getting brutally downvoted and taken by the Bureau. It's soon clear there's a target on his back, drawn there by the Bureau itself, and Darrius has no idea why. In a frantic race against time in a society that’s already sentenced him to death, can Darrius save himself and those around him before it’s too late?

405 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 20, 2018

About the author

Born and raised in Wisconsin, Peter Gulgowski had a childhood full of imagination. Now grown-up, Peter gets to play make-believe with words. He enjoys writing books across a full spectrum of genres, loving the challenge each offers.

When not writing, Peter loves to travel, play video games, and watch the latest television series.

You can visit him online at www.petergulgowski.com or follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @petergulgowski.

Reviews

[Charvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

OH WOW.

I'm kind of shocked about the ending even though I guessed a huge chunk of it.

Since this is a part of a blog tour my review will go up on my blog Not Just Fiction on 9 April!

[Bookablereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a world where every interaction is being counted, The Voting Game is like The Hunger Games meet The Purge.

To be honest, I'm scared if I will like the book, but reading the first chapter took all of my fear and hesitations. Just by reading the first few lines in the story I definitely know that this book will be super hecka awesome. And after reading the book... I could say that it really is awesome. 

The characters are well-developed in the story especially Darrius and Jada. The two really did a great job in showing and teaching us what siblings and family  can do to protect each other in times of danger. 

I love how unpredictable the book is. It is the kind of book that you will really think of what will happen. Think of who really did this things. Who in the right person have the capacity to do such horrible things.

There is also an aspect in the book where it will open up our eyes  how the government works nowadays. That even the President thinks only of what good he/she will gain, not minding the people in our society. 

I also love how people reciprocate the good things that we did to them. That doing simple things can lead and help a person big time.  That people don't mind what the consequences they will get as long as they can help each other.

All I could say is that Peter FREAKING nailed in writing the last part. I love how that cliffhanger took me by surprise and how I didn't see that coming. 

Lastly, if you are having a reading slump and looking for a fantastic book to read, I suggest that The Voting Game is the RIGHT BOOK that you should read. 

[Rosemarie ♦ wandersbetweenpages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually rating: 4.5

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all I would like to say, “WOW!”
Everything in this book just wow. The beginning, middle and end was all just a big WOW.
The plot of this book was both out of this world, unique and so realistic.
I mean first of all, everything being based on voting is extremely realistic with the way we are going and how corrupt the government can be is honestly something that is already happening.
The Characters!!!!!
OMG, I loved Darrius.
He was so lovable and real and just I want to wrap him up in a blanket and hold him and tell him everything is OK.
I also loved how this story didn’t have a heterosexual romance in this dystopian plot. It would’ve honestly turned me away so fast and I loved reading the whole relationship he has with his boyfriend.
He and his family were all just heart healing. They all loved each other and they were all just REAL!
THE ENDING.
I AM NOT HAPPY. AND BY THIS I MEAN I WISH THE SEQUL WAS ALREADY OUT BECAUSE OMG SO MUCH CLIFFHANGER AND IT LEFT ME ON THE CLIFF JUST HANING WITH A STRING OF MY SANITY.
All-in-All this book was really enjoyable for both a though provoking novel and a cute fast read. I hope you read it and tell me your thoughts and opinions on it.
I give this 5/5 stars.

[Caryssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS BOOK IS… UGH.

It will have you on the edge of your seat from the beginning to the end. Although, honestly, I think you’ll be sitting on the floor when you finally finish reading.

It will throw you mysteries that you think you can solve but — tadaaa — you’re wrong and there’s a whole different level of mystery underneath that layer you just peeled off.

It has characters that will grow close to your heart but thanks to the universe, they live in a society where their arms are turned into ticking countdown timers when they turn sixteen. The trick to this is to love the ones who are younger than sixteen, so LET’S ALL GIVE JADA SOME LOVE FOLKS.

It will make you forget all your scheduled chores because all you’d want to do is make it to the ending as soon as possible. Don’t look at me, I finished all my laundry two days ago albeit almost a week late.

It will significantly ruin your sleep cycle because you won’t be able to sleep well trying to finish it and that ending will not let you sleep for the days that follow.

It will make you need a support a group, and badly. Good thing we’ve created one so after you read it, don’t forget to hit me up or any other tour participants here so we can all hug each other and share theories and all.

It will make you stare into the void for a good five minutes after closing the book and then you will realize

WOW THAT IS ONE HECK OF A ROLLER COASTER RIDE OF THRILL AND FEELS

I WANT MOOOORE!!!

Read the full review on my blog to know more about the other things that I loved in this book!

I received a digital copy of this book as part of the #TheVotingGamePH blog tour organized by Shealea @ That Bookshelf Bitch.

[JussJess · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Voting Game is so realistic, like you can see this happening in the future. I mean more government control, rating/voting every encounter with people?? Not to mention that this would create social and economic differences but ehh crime is down! Haha but really their president was an *** I loved Darrius as a main character but Jada his sister is definitely going to be an issue and I love it! Bring the MAN down!! I can't give away any spoilers but you should read!! You like plot twists, page turners, or SEVERE HEARTBREAK!?!?! Read The Voting GAME! Also check out the #TheVotingGamePH Blog Tour https://thatbookshelfbitch.wordpress....

Check out my blog review for #TheVotingGamePH https://booknerdrambling.blogspot.com/

[Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book seemed a little strange when I started reading it but after getting about two chapters in I began to enjoy the book and the main character. This book took caring what others think about you to a whole new level. If you met horrible people like the president then you could possibly die. This story was really good and I am having a hard time not giving anything away! I say you really need to read this book if you want to know what happens to Darrius. He is definitely something special. ;)

[Sam Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I like about Peter's books is that they are so unique and gripping. This one is no different. The country is run by a dictator who imposes his own clicker system to keep citizens under control and "promote a peaceful society". Basically, fall out of line and you're out. When you turn 16, you get a clicker and the story begins on our main character Darrius' 16th birthday. We dive into the world where you can see things aren't as you'd expect. I loved how the story played out. The main character is gay which I thought was great considering there are not many gay characters in young adult fiction where the story doesn't revolve around them being gay. It's really a roller-coaster adventure, where you don't know what will happen next until it does and at the end, you're left sitting there wanting to turn the next non-existent page. The book ended with "To Be Continued" so I can't wait until the sequel. The ending left me open-mouthed and craving more! A book for every YA reader!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read every one of Peter's books and this is by far his best in my opinion. After receiving it this morning after preordering, I was able to read it throughout today! Following him on Twitter, you could just tell that he knew he was onto something special and he was! =) LGBT isn't big in the dystopian genre so I was happy to see a gay character, but the book does not focus on him being gay. It's a part of him and of course his boyfriend has a role, but the story isn't him being gay which I liked. Peter's characters were well-developed which I know he wanted to focus on from comments. A comment from Peter's twitter which was thought-provoking to me was that this book was a metaphor for his battle with depression and coming of age struggles. I think readers will find their own metaphors too. I know I did.

I will say that the book does have an ending that some may not like but others will. What I will say is that it is 100% fair which is important to me, and I truly liked it. It sets up perfectly for the sequel. Peter's villains are excellent and President Wright is unlike any other. His backstory is very deep even though he doesn't appear that much throughout the story. He's this distant presence that you can tell is chipping away at Darrius from afar, almost like Voldemort in the first three Harry Potters. I'm hoping the sequel will bring him more up front. The secondary villain became a group-minded society in my opinion and it's really fitting with the current times.

Peter's not afraid to not go with the happily-ever-after story. Most of his books don't end that happily. They tug at your heart, and with one death in the book, I said, "No! Why? There's no reason!" But I realized that was the point. Life isn't fair in this fictional world. He tells the story how it's meant to be told. He doesn't hold back.

If you haven't read a Peter Gulgowski book, give this one a chance because I think you'll love it and leave it wanting more and ready for the sequel! =D

[coffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I know I said I probably wouldn’t be doing another blog tour for a while but…I just couldn’t resist! Not only am I sort of getting addicted to joining these tours because they’re fun (heads up! two more coming to the blog~), but they’ve really been helping me stay on track with reading

Honestly, when I saw this blog tour, I wasn’t sure if I should sign up or not. I’d just finished the Crimson Ash tour and wasn’t too big on wanting to read another sci-fi type story. But part of me was so curious! The summary just sounded so interesting and to have ratings like you’d see on Uber or Amazon actually dictating our lives?! I ended up caving and signed up and am So Glad I Did!

“…and then once you leave here, you’ll never meet a sincere person again. At midnight, you join the club..”

When Darrius Young turns sixteen he is taken to the Bureau to receive his clicker, a device that he will use for the rest of his life to rate every interaction he has with people. Darrius has been dreading this day because of what happened to his mother, who was taken when her score dropped. He just wants to live happily with his family, friends, and boyfriend and help out others when he can. Except he can’t because it’s against the system. His father tells him to stick to people of his class and to mind his own business. That’s how they play the game and survive.

But nothing is ever this easy, especially when Jacob’s (Darrius’ boyfriend) ratings start to malfunction and drop, and a mysterious reporter starts asking about Emily, Darrius’ mother.

Honestly, there were so many good things in this book! Since the first pages, I instantly loved Darrius. I really enjoyed reading from his POV, his interactions with his friends and loved ones, and how real he felt. I feel like we’ve all been Darrius at some point in our lives and even when things go south, his reactions are reasonable.

But I didn’t just love Darrius. All of the characters were fun to interact with. I might have fallen a lot a bit for Jacob and his romantic little heart. I swear the two of them were so sweet together so you bet I was devastated as the story progressed. Like, my son was in danger but all I could do was read on! Another relationship I really enjoyed was Darrius and Jada, his younger sister. I always feel like there’s some sort of conflict between siblings but here the two got along fine. Jada listened to Darrius’ problems, gave him advice, and was just there for him whenever he needed it. I also had to remind myself that she was younger sometimes. She just talked and acted in a way I would expect someone older. Plus, she’s artistic, what other reason do I need to love her?

Something that I think really helped me get through this book (considering it’s sci-fi) was how easy to read this was. We get a rundown of how society works, not so much through information dumps but through experience. We see how some people would rate others low scores just because they were of a lower class (and how it was entertainment even!). Just from the summary, I was able to tell how this system could be abused and we see it, not just on an individual level, but governmental.

But if there is something I have to complain about, it’s the pacing. I think the story had a really good start but the middle starts to slow down with no real rewards for the reader. It isn’t until the last 60 or so pages that we start to really get into some action and suspense. If I hadn’t binged the book, I probably would have found it hard to come back and finish it. Still, the nice thing about it having so little action is that it made everything more realistic to me. I could really see this type of society happening and us living in it.

Overall I really recommend checking this book out. I ended up rating it a 4.5 (5 on GRs since they don’t do halves). It has a very cool concept, fun characters, plot twists, and an ending that will leave you wanting for mOre! Oh, and since I’m a fujoshi at heart, I super loved that we had a gay couple. I thought they were super sweet and had a very healthy relationship, which I think is hard to find. Plus, this is an lgbtq story not centered around coming out!! Finally, I’m finding more of these.

[Vee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a classic case of a novel with tons of potential ... but not the best execution. I think that the author definitely has an interesting concept but the book could use some refinement.

I think that the plot itself was very interesting. The idea that people can rate each other and it determines whether you live or die is an awesome concept. While this idea could have been pushed further to incorporate a rewards system perhaps so that people are more motivated to reach the high-4 and 5 score, it wasn't necessary, and I liked that the author kept it simple.

However, I feel like the story was a bit rushed and lacked the depth it needed. This is usually the case when an author tries to do too much with the plot. I don't necessarily think that doing too much was the issue here; it was more that the different plot elements didn't really connect well with each other. I wanted more of a search, more of an investigation, more moments where the pieces of the puzzle fit together. In this book, it happened a bit awkwardly and that took away from the story. Half of the time it felt like the novel was focused on the friendship and sexual orientation of the main character rather than the actual plot that is outlined in the story. This may have been because the author wants the readers to feel that emotional connection that Darrius has with his friends and family ... but it didn't work out that well. I never felt connected to Darrius and I found his interactions with those he was close with to be very awkward and staged, lacking that realistic element.

Another problem I had with the plot was that it was difficult to tell if this was a story about a society ruled by voting, or a story about being accepted for being gay. There were far too many elements exploring the latter and not enough of the former. I don't have a problem at all with characters having sexual orientations other than hetero, and I also don't have a problem with reading about their struggles against ignorant people. But when this becomes the focus of a story purported to be a dystopian fiction about a ranking system, then I don't really like it. I also didn't feel like it was presented in the best way; the issue of being accepted as gay was more told than shown, with characters saying cheesy, overused lines that didn't express the realness of the situation too well.

I also wasn't a big fan of the writing style. Apart from grammatical errors, I found the writing style to be a little childish. There were awkward phrases and jumps in scenes that took me aback. Again, it lacked the depth that this novel needed. I understand that this is a YA novel, but that doesn't mean that the writing has to reflect the style of a 13-year-old.

While I think that this novel has a lot of potential, I think its execution prevents it from shining through. For those reasons, I'm giving this a 2/5 stars.

[Nayantara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Voting Game by Peter Gulgowski follows the live of Darrius, in a world where every interaction could mean life or death. Darrius lives in a dystopian future where humans rate each interaction they have. The average of these scores is your number, and essentially dictates how your life will go. Let me tell you, I was hooked from the first page. I opened the book to flip through it and check it out and ended up reading well into a 100 pages without even realizing.

Gulgowski has created a story that is intriguing and full of twists, that keep you hanging on to every word. The dystopian future he describes might be fictional, but the parallels to our current society are eery and make you wonder about the future of technology. China is in the process of implementing a social credit system. However unlike in Darius’s reality where people who score less than 2.5 are killed, China is restricting travel, admission to private schools etc…for now.

Wright, who is the president of the United States in the book, at times reminded me of Donald Trump. Whether intentional or not, it made the story more than just fictional. If anything it made me more apprehensive about our futures. I also liked the characters and the diversity between them. I haven’t read many books, especially young adult, that have anything other than cis-white protagonists so this was a breath of fresh air.

Overall, the book was good and I would recommend it for anyone looking for something a little different. The only problem I have with the book is the writing. While it wasn’t bad, there is much scope for improvement on Gulgowski’s part. His writing is very easy to read. At times, too easy. Gulgowski often just flatly states what is going on and lacks a subtle finesse to his storytelling, making it predictable in parts. The ending of the book also seemed a little rushed and left me feeling unsatisfied. Though I am hoping that the sequel will help get rid some of the questions I have.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

The year is 2084. A clicker-based system where people rate their interactions on a scale of 1 to 5 has been implemented to curb negative elements of society. It’s supposed to be a great equalizer, but instead it’s just a way for the elites to maintain a caste system that ensures the middle class is kept in place, and that the lower classes are systematically eradicated. Born into this dystopia is Darrius Young, whose father is hiding secrets – both his own and those of Darrius’s dead mother – with dangerous consequences, not just for Darrius, but those he cares about. As Darrius struggles to find out what exactly his parents have to do with Sylvan Wright, creator of the Voting Game, he finds himself on the run from dangerous Bureau operatives, desperately searching for answers before he’s taken out once and for all.

I loved Darrius. There’s no two ways about it. As interesting as the premise of the book was, I firmly believe that it would not have worked without the character of Darrius Young, and how Peter Gulgowski wrote him. I’m very cautious with dystopian young adult fiction because sometimes I feel like authors have forgotten what it’s like to be young, judging by the extremely unrealistic behavior of their teenage protagonists. I absolutely did not feel that way with Darrius. He has that streak of nobility so typical of heroes of dystopian YA, but he’s also brash, impatient, and naive. I also liked how he responds with determination tinged with uncertainty when finally made to go off the grid without his father, who has sheltered him from the Voting Game for as long as he could. He acts like how you’d expect a real, actual teenager would when told to go off on a dangerous world-changing adventure. I also love that Peter Gulgowski took the time to flesh out Darrius’s relationship with his father and his sister Jada.

Read my full review here!

[Roseena Peralta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hunger Games and the Purge.

I was pulled into the book from the start, however as it was going in it started to be really predictable.

The concept was cool, but it was predictable.

I look forward to seeing other books by Mr. Gulgowski

[Saba Sitter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book had massive potential, and it was pretty good. Sometimes though, it felt like the characters were just saying really cliche things for no reason and the dialogue was a little bit forced...

[Shealea]

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