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No Pain, No Game
What would it take for you to endorse human torture?
What if it were for the greater good?
...Are you sure?
In this alternate version of modern-day Britain, sky-high crime rates and a state of economic crisis mean people live in a climate of fear – while yearning for change, hope and justice.
To tackle the nation’s prison overcrowding issue, Sean Cravanaugh, a fearsome television magnate, has devised a radical and controversial solution: a live televised show, pitching selected convicted criminals against one another in a series of dangerous and painful challenges, a fight for their lives and a rare chance at freedom.
In the world of ‘No Pain, No Game’, Sean Cravanaugh decides who lives or dies. With his razor-sharp instincts for deciphering and manipulating people, he takes us on a journey bound to make us question our own sense of morality.
No Pain, No Game follows the intertwined paths and struggles of those who find themselves, willingly or forcefully, entangled in the show. They lead us into a world of pain and trickery, where nothing and no one truly is the way they seem. Can they cope with the nation’s anger and hatred, standing as they do in the eye of the storm?
Who will lose everything, and who will come out unscathed?
No Pain, No Game is available on Amazon in Paperback and e-Book format.
What if it were for the greater good?
...Are you sure?
In this alternate version of modern-day Britain, sky-high crime rates and a state of economic crisis mean people live in a climate of fear – while yearning for change, hope and justice.
To tackle the nation’s prison overcrowding issue, Sean Cravanaugh, a fearsome television magnate, has devised a radical and controversial solution: a live televised show, pitching selected convicted criminals against one another in a series of dangerous and painful challenges, a fight for their lives and a rare chance at freedom.
In the world of ‘No Pain, No Game’, Sean Cravanaugh decides who lives or dies. With his razor-sharp instincts for deciphering and manipulating people, he takes us on a journey bound to make us question our own sense of morality.
No Pain, No Game follows the intertwined paths and struggles of those who find themselves, willingly or forcefully, entangled in the show. They lead us into a world of pain and trickery, where nothing and no one truly is the way they seem. Can they cope with the nation’s anger and hatred, standing as they do in the eye of the storm?
Who will lose everything, and who will come out unscathed?
No Pain, No Game is available on Amazon in Paperback and e-Book format.
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 18, 2020
3 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Lucie Ataya
3 books18 followersLucie Ataya grew up in Tours, France where her passion for writing and her love for the English language were born. She studied modern languages, took a random detour through Radford, Virginia in the US and moved to England to complete a Masters' Degree in Sociology at the University of Bristol. She now lives in London with her husband, their Cocker Spaniel Veer and their Burmese cat Leela.
A yogi at heart, Lucie practices yoga as a qualified Vinyasa Flow Yoga Teacher. For her day job, she works as a Product Manager in an Ad tech company.
When she's not writing, working or practising her Sun Salutations, she can be spotted walking with Veer, trialing independent coffee shops, or indulging in crafty projects.
A yogi at heart, Lucie practices yoga as a qualified Vinyasa Flow Yoga Teacher. For her day job, she works as a Product Manager in an Ad tech company.
When she's not writing, working or practising her Sun Salutations, she can be spotted walking with Veer, trialing independent coffee shops, or indulging in crafty projects.
Her first novel, No Pain, No Game, is a dystopian thriller, and was published in 2020.
Passing It Forward is a free non-fiction digital guide released in April 2021, aimed to help indie authors navigate the process of self-publishing and book promotion.
Her second fiction novel, The Dhawan Brothers, is due to release in the fall of 2021.
Lucie is also the co-founder of The Indie Writers Collective, an initiative dedicated to promoting Indie Authors and their work (Instagram: @the.indie.writers.collective).
You can learn more about Lucie on her website
https://www.lucieataya.com
And on Instagram: @lucieataya
A yogi at heart, Lucie practices yoga as a qualified Vinyasa Flow Yoga Teacher. For her day job, she works as a Product Manager in an Ad tech company.
When she's not writing, working or practising her Sun Salutations, she can be spotted walking with Veer, trialing independent coffee shops, or indulging in crafty projects.
A yogi at heart, Lucie practices yoga as a qualified Vinyasa Flow Yoga Teacher. For her day job, she works as a Product Manager in an Ad tech company.
When she's not writing, working or practising her Sun Salutations, she can be spotted walking with Veer, trialing independent coffee shops, or indulging in crafty projects.
Her first novel, No Pain, No Game, is a dystopian thriller, and was published in 2020.
Passing It Forward is a free non-fiction digital guide released in April 2021, aimed to help indie authors navigate the process of self-publishing and book promotion.
Her second fiction novel, The Dhawan Brothers, is due to release in the fall of 2021.
Lucie is also the co-founder of The Indie Writers Collective, an initiative dedicated to promoting Indie Authors and their work (Instagram: @the.indie.writers.collective).
You can learn more about Lucie on her website
https://www.lucieataya.com
And on Instagram: @lucieataya
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
September 21, 2024
An alternate Britain sees a future where high crime rates & economic crisis mean people fear the criminals & have little hope of seeing justice done. Prison seems to hold little deterrent & to solve the overcrowding issue, Sean Cravanaugh, (TV mogul) pitches a bold idea to the besieged & desperate Prime Minister. Why not solve the crisis with a game show? 100 convicted criminals face a series of challenges where the losers each week are immediately executed live on TV whilst the eventual winner wins their freedom, & it's called 'No Pain, No Game'.
Published 4 years ago, this was a very timely read with the recent events in the UK re: prison overcrowding & the resulting anger when criminals are released early. The narrative is from several points of view but mainly we hear from tv mogul Sean Cravanaugh (a menacing figure who manipulates events from behind the scenes), Medina (who runs a blog looking for the truth), Tyler Benson (the reluctant host of the reality show), & Terrance Blake (one of the 'contestants'). There are one or two others but these are the main four.
I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was really quite good. The author looks at the dark side of the popularity of reality TV & its ability to control the masses (bread & circuses, anyone?) I was drawn into Terrance's story straight away & you can tell that there's more there than what the reader has been told initially. There's no big surprises - everything pretty much plays out as you would expect - but the author gets the reader onboard to go on that journey with the characters.
If you are a little squeamish, please be aware that some of the 'games' on the show are rather violent & deaths are often dealt with in detail, as are some of the crimes that have been committed, so it is not the faint-hearted. Verdict: this dystopian satirising of reality TV & society is brutal but good, although I wish some of the characters had been fleshed out a little more.
TWs:
I received a free copy of the ebook from the author via Voracious Readers Only, and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Published 4 years ago, this was a very timely read with the recent events in the UK re: prison overcrowding & the resulting anger when criminals are released early. The narrative is from several points of view but mainly we hear from tv mogul Sean Cravanaugh (a menacing figure who manipulates events from behind the scenes), Medina (who runs a blog looking for the truth), Tyler Benson (the reluctant host of the reality show), & Terrance Blake (one of the 'contestants'). There are one or two others but these are the main four.
I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was really quite good. The author looks at the dark side of the popularity of reality TV & its ability to control the masses (bread & circuses, anyone?) I was drawn into Terrance's story straight away & you can tell that there's more there than what the reader has been told initially. There's no big surprises - everything pretty much plays out as you would expect - but the author gets the reader onboard to go on that journey with the characters.
If you are a little squeamish, please be aware that some of the 'games' on the show are rather violent & deaths are often dealt with in detail, as are some of the crimes that have been committed, so it is not the faint-hearted. Verdict: this dystopian satirising of reality TV & society is brutal but good, although I wish some of the characters had been fleshed out a little more.
TWs:
I received a free copy of the ebook from the author via Voracious Readers Only, and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
January 23, 2021
"Isn't everything a game? Isn't everyone's goal to get as much as they possibly can with the hand they've been dealt?"
No Pain, No Game takes place in crime-ridden Britain on the verge of economic collapse. Citizens live in constant fear. In order to deal with these issues, a radical 'solution' has been proposed: Convicts are pinned against one another and forced to endure dangerous challenges on live television.
This is an amazingly thrilling debut by Lucie Ataya--one I would probably argue walks the line of genre and literary fiction. While you can easily connect with each and every character, from my favorite Terrence Blake to the sadistic Mr. Sean Cravanaugh, it's also a story that picks at your brain and makes you question everything... the way the world works, the human psyche, our sense of morality, and what drastic measures we as humans are willing to take in order to get what we want.
There were several times I'd stop reading (even though I desperately wanted to continue) to gush to my husband about what was going on in that exact moment of the book, which led the two of us into lengthy conversations and speculations of our world and 'justice' system in the present.
Immediately after starting this book, I thought of George Carlin's skit on the death penalty. I reached out to Lucie, curious if she'd drawn any inspiration from his take on it, and was surprised that she'd never even heard of him!
"I don't care about capital punishment one way or another because I know it doesn't do anything. It doesn't do anything except maybe satisfy a kind of biblical need for revenge." -George Carlin
No Pain, No Game takes place in crime-ridden Britain on the verge of economic collapse. Citizens live in constant fear. In order to deal with these issues, a radical 'solution' has been proposed: Convicts are pinned against one another and forced to endure dangerous challenges on live television.
This is an amazingly thrilling debut by Lucie Ataya--one I would probably argue walks the line of genre and literary fiction. While you can easily connect with each and every character, from my favorite Terrence Blake to the sadistic Mr. Sean Cravanaugh, it's also a story that picks at your brain and makes you question everything... the way the world works, the human psyche, our sense of morality, and what drastic measures we as humans are willing to take in order to get what we want.
There were several times I'd stop reading (even though I desperately wanted to continue) to gush to my husband about what was going on in that exact moment of the book, which led the two of us into lengthy conversations and speculations of our world and 'justice' system in the present.
Immediately after starting this book, I thought of George Carlin's skit on the death penalty. I reached out to Lucie, curious if she'd drawn any inspiration from his take on it, and was surprised that she'd never even heard of him!
"I don't care about capital punishment one way or another because I know it doesn't do anything. It doesn't do anything except maybe satisfy a kind of biblical need for revenge." -George Carlin
February 11, 2021
In this dystopian world in Great Britain, the country is facing ’𝙤𝙛𝙛-𝙩𝙝𝙚-𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙨 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜.’ There is an immediate economic, political and social crisis that is affecting the nation and something needs to be done.
As conventional solutions/methods have failed, Sean Cravanaugh, an entertainment tycoon and figure, has devised a radical and controversial plan: a live televised game show where convicted criminals facing a life sentence or awaiting death penalty for the most heinous crimes will face challenges and battle to the death for a slim chance of potential freedom.
💭 This is an addictive and thought provoking read, with plenty of action and despicable characters (Sean Cravanaugh is up there!). Your own views of the world are turned on its head making you rethink key moral issues on what is good/bad, right/wrong, what is and who defines justice, who decides who lives or dies? The fascinating issue is the commercialisation and sadistic nature of this show which draws huge success.
Ataya weaves a compelling story through multiple narratives and perspectives which gives the reader a holistic view of the situation, whether you are in the audience, a criminal or designer / controlling the show.
⚖️ This book makes me think of the Hunger Games and even the film Gladiator - there are similarities in themes and thoughts on morality and justice. But this is a unique and not necessarily impossible modern outcome in a world gone wrong, so this has an interesting twist and makes it a disturbing read at times. Recommend reading!
As conventional solutions/methods have failed, Sean Cravanaugh, an entertainment tycoon and figure, has devised a radical and controversial plan: a live televised game show where convicted criminals facing a life sentence or awaiting death penalty for the most heinous crimes will face challenges and battle to the death for a slim chance of potential freedom.
💭 This is an addictive and thought provoking read, with plenty of action and despicable characters (Sean Cravanaugh is up there!). Your own views of the world are turned on its head making you rethink key moral issues on what is good/bad, right/wrong, what is and who defines justice, who decides who lives or dies? The fascinating issue is the commercialisation and sadistic nature of this show which draws huge success.
Ataya weaves a compelling story through multiple narratives and perspectives which gives the reader a holistic view of the situation, whether you are in the audience, a criminal or designer / controlling the show.
⚖️ This book makes me think of the Hunger Games and even the film Gladiator - there are similarities in themes and thoughts on morality and justice. But this is a unique and not necessarily impossible modern outcome in a world gone wrong, so this has an interesting twist and makes it a disturbing read at times. Recommend reading!
November 14, 2020
This novel focuses on the lives of multiple characters as a new game emerges—a game where 100 convicted criminals are forced to compete against one another with the knowing that there will only be one winner. That winner will be the only survivor.
With an understandably, mildly slow start as the concept of the game unfolds, we see why modern day Britain accepts this barbarous game and proclaims it as justice. We are also introduced to the series of characters whose stories drastically change over the course of the novel.
As the tension builds, the novel speeds in pace. Characters will surprise you, plot twists will shock you and if you’re like me, you’ll be in tears at the end.
Ataya very clearly wrote this novel to showcase that things are not always what they seem, as depicted through her characters and their stories. She also explores the theme of justice and how people in power can twist and manipulate perceptions of others. It had me reflecting on my own morality and contemplating the meaning of justice. I love a book that brings about deep thoughts within its readers.
Looking forward to reading future works from this author!
With an understandably, mildly slow start as the concept of the game unfolds, we see why modern day Britain accepts this barbarous game and proclaims it as justice. We are also introduced to the series of characters whose stories drastically change over the course of the novel.
As the tension builds, the novel speeds in pace. Characters will surprise you, plot twists will shock you and if you’re like me, you’ll be in tears at the end.
Ataya very clearly wrote this novel to showcase that things are not always what they seem, as depicted through her characters and their stories. She also explores the theme of justice and how people in power can twist and manipulate perceptions of others. It had me reflecting on my own morality and contemplating the meaning of justice. I love a book that brings about deep thoughts within its readers.
Looking forward to reading future works from this author!
January 6, 2022
I could write now that No Pain No Game reminds me of Squid Game. But I don't!
Instead, I write that I usually don't read books about murder, rape, child and substance abuse, torture, and sick visions of the future. I don't like such books. I already see and read enough of these human abysses in the news.
What intrigues me is that this all applies to No Pain No Game and yet I enjoyed the book so much that I had to give it a 5* rating.
Lucie's writing is just great and engaging. I devoured the book - although I always read several books in parallel - within a very short time, leaving books from my "common" genres.
I am already looking forward to the next book by Lucie Ataya.
Instead, I write that I usually don't read books about murder, rape, child and substance abuse, torture, and sick visions of the future. I don't like such books. I already see and read enough of these human abysses in the news.
What intrigues me is that this all applies to No Pain No Game and yet I enjoyed the book so much that I had to give it a 5* rating.
Lucie's writing is just great and engaging. I devoured the book - although I always read several books in parallel - within a very short time, leaving books from my "common" genres.
I am already looking forward to the next book by Lucie Ataya.
December 29, 2020
Plot summary.
In the alternate version of modern-day Britain, crime rates are high and fear rules people’s life. The powerful TV magnate comes out with the new show pitching selected criminals in many cruel challenges - the show gives name to the book. Many are involved in the game. How would they cope? And who is going to win the main prize?
It took me some courage to start this book. The genre is not entirely mine, and the summary predicted strong emotions to be lived through. That prediction was accurate. The range of emotion evoked by the story was, I’d say, powerful. Sometimes I had to make pauses and to share impressions with my husband, although it was a page-turner, especially the culmination part.
Characters were easy to relate to. At the same time, I craved for even more details, to know those people even better. Well, not all of them - some of characters’s personalities stood far beyond my understanding of people’s nature…
The plot twists appeared to be really unexpected, sometimes even shocking for me. But in a few cases, I was able to guess what was going to happen. Actually, the setting of the story was truly shocking! It contradicted with my beliefs - as, I feel, it was intended to do. A lot of question arose after the last page was swiped left in my Kindle. The thing is - I liked the story being totally disagree with it’s outcome.
I’d definitely run to one of these meetings when a writer talks and answers questions (and signs a copy of the book). A lot to think of, to discuss, and dispute.
Isn’t it the best when a story arises questions?
In the alternate version of modern-day Britain, crime rates are high and fear rules people’s life. The powerful TV magnate comes out with the new show pitching selected criminals in many cruel challenges - the show gives name to the book. Many are involved in the game. How would they cope? And who is going to win the main prize?
It took me some courage to start this book. The genre is not entirely mine, and the summary predicted strong emotions to be lived through. That prediction was accurate. The range of emotion evoked by the story was, I’d say, powerful. Sometimes I had to make pauses and to share impressions with my husband, although it was a page-turner, especially the culmination part.
Characters were easy to relate to. At the same time, I craved for even more details, to know those people even better. Well, not all of them - some of characters’s personalities stood far beyond my understanding of people’s nature…
The plot twists appeared to be really unexpected, sometimes even shocking for me. But in a few cases, I was able to guess what was going to happen. Actually, the setting of the story was truly shocking! It contradicted with my beliefs - as, I feel, it was intended to do. A lot of question arose after the last page was swiped left in my Kindle. The thing is - I liked the story being totally disagree with it’s outcome.
I’d definitely run to one of these meetings when a writer talks and answers questions (and signs a copy of the book). A lot to think of, to discuss, and dispute.
Isn’t it the best when a story arises questions?
November 16, 2021
This is one of the more disturbing(ly good) books I’ve read lately. No pain, no game is a gripping story of mass hysteria, maybe blind obedience and the complete lack of ethical awareness of a hypothetical version of the post Brexit UK. Let’s hope it never goes that far...
The story starts of perfectly. Emotional, engaging and terrifying. It sets the scene for the rest of the story. Many pages are filled with a feeling of impending doom that somehow feels very believable. Personally the only part that didn’t feel believable to me were the rationalizations to sidestep the laws, but then again with all the fallacies we hear on the news these days, it might not even be unbelievable after all. There are plenty of plot twists to keep you on your toes as well.
I would suggest this book to fans of The Hunger Games and probably Squid Game watchers.
Were there things I didn’t like? Yes, but they are very minor things. Some characters keep mentioning the same things over and over. For instance; Sean’s disdain for the concept of ethics and his favorite line of swearing involving arse.
My favorite quote: “A mass which could be manipulated with fancy ideas and clever words, for whom the security of numbers justified everything and everything, as long as enough of them were on the same side.”
Thanks to Voracious Readers Only for my free copy.
The story starts of perfectly. Emotional, engaging and terrifying. It sets the scene for the rest of the story. Many pages are filled with a feeling of impending doom that somehow feels very believable. Personally the only part that didn’t feel believable to me were the rationalizations to sidestep the laws, but then again with all the fallacies we hear on the news these days, it might not even be unbelievable after all. There are plenty of plot twists to keep you on your toes as well.
I would suggest this book to fans of The Hunger Games and probably Squid Game watchers.
Were there things I didn’t like? Yes, but they are very minor things. Some characters keep mentioning the same things over and over. For instance; Sean’s disdain for the concept of ethics and his favorite line of swearing involving arse.
My favorite quote: “A mass which could be manipulated with fancy ideas and clever words, for whom the security of numbers justified everything and everything, as long as enough of them were on the same side.”
Thanks to Voracious Readers Only for my free copy.
February 14, 2021
No Pain, No Game by Lucie Ataya is a dystopian novel that explores what would happen if convicts sentenced to death row were put up on reality TV and tortured to death.
I enjoyed this book, but just like hunger games or the movie “Purge,” the premise is a little unbelievable, sometimes breaking my suspension of disbelief. At the same time, however, who’s to say something like this WOULDN’T happen to society? We had public execution and torture during the middle ages; what makes us so different now? What TRULY separates us? Humans are still just as bloodthirsty. And if we got desperate enough, perhaps we would revert back to past mistakes.
This was a fun exploration into the mind and forced me to think about what really makes up humanity and society. My only real critique was about the character Miranda. We got many descriptions and stories from other characters, and while we did get some from her, I believe her story fell flat. There wasn’t enough time taken to her investigation, nor of her past. There were certain elements I would have loved to see fleshed out more, but she was still a great character, and
I enjoyed her and Pedro’s relationship.
Other than that, I had a lot of fun with this book, and the polished writing and formatting made it all the more enjoyable.
There were some AWESOME quotes in this book too:
“...The smile on his face was as polished and impeccable as the dark designer suit he was wearing.”
“The beast had awoken, and deciding upon not granting its prey any mercy, it had sprinted towards it at full speed, pouncing before allowing itself another moment of doubt.”
“The world of fame and fortune was a solitary one, and everyone wasn’t cut out for it.”
If you enjoy dystopian stories, check this one out! This is a great addition to the genre.
I enjoyed this book, but just like hunger games or the movie “Purge,” the premise is a little unbelievable, sometimes breaking my suspension of disbelief. At the same time, however, who’s to say something like this WOULDN’T happen to society? We had public execution and torture during the middle ages; what makes us so different now? What TRULY separates us? Humans are still just as bloodthirsty. And if we got desperate enough, perhaps we would revert back to past mistakes.
This was a fun exploration into the mind and forced me to think about what really makes up humanity and society. My only real critique was about the character Miranda. We got many descriptions and stories from other characters, and while we did get some from her, I believe her story fell flat. There wasn’t enough time taken to her investigation, nor of her past. There were certain elements I would have loved to see fleshed out more, but she was still a great character, and
I enjoyed her and Pedro’s relationship.
Other than that, I had a lot of fun with this book, and the polished writing and formatting made it all the more enjoyable.
There were some AWESOME quotes in this book too:
“...The smile on his face was as polished and impeccable as the dark designer suit he was wearing.”
“The beast had awoken, and deciding upon not granting its prey any mercy, it had sprinted towards it at full speed, pouncing before allowing itself another moment of doubt.”
“The world of fame and fortune was a solitary one, and everyone wasn’t cut out for it.”
If you enjoy dystopian stories, check this one out! This is a great addition to the genre.
September 7, 2021
Dark! This book is about a game show where criminals on death row, or with a life sentence, compete for the chance to win their freedom – but if they lose, they are executed. The stakes are high. And that’s what makes this book a very interesting read.
It’s written from multiple POV’s which I don’t usually like, and although I think this book could have had a few less, overall, I liked most of the different POVs. The most fun was the malicious psychopath, Sean Cravanaugh – which is an evil Simon Cowell and the head judge of the show. But I also thoroughly enjoyed the thoughts of the reluctant host, Tyler Benson.
I feel there was a missed opportunity in the POV of Terrence Blake, one of the contestants/criminals, even though I liked him as a character. However, he never interacted with any of the other contestants/criminals and I think that would have been fascinating. In fact, I would have loved to see some of the criminals get into the game, try to manipulate the audience, see how some of them would try and fail, and their strategies. And then how Terrance relates or doesn’t relate to that.
Just like I would have preferred to see a lot more from Terrance’s POV, I wished we didn’t have as much of Medina’s POV, in fact, I could have done without her POV at all and would have happily got her story from another person within the story. I felt like she hijacked the story halfway through the book with an irrelevant romance that didn’t add to the overall tale. Every time her name showed up, I groaned – I wanted to get back to the game. Truthfully, her story was interesting, but it felt like it was a different book.
Overall, I very much enjoyed the book. The evilness of it was fun and it definitely made me think. It would make a great movie.
It’s written from multiple POV’s which I don’t usually like, and although I think this book could have had a few less, overall, I liked most of the different POVs. The most fun was the malicious psychopath, Sean Cravanaugh – which is an evil Simon Cowell and the head judge of the show. But I also thoroughly enjoyed the thoughts of the reluctant host, Tyler Benson.
I feel there was a missed opportunity in the POV of Terrence Blake, one of the contestants/criminals, even though I liked him as a character. However, he never interacted with any of the other contestants/criminals and I think that would have been fascinating. In fact, I would have loved to see some of the criminals get into the game, try to manipulate the audience, see how some of them would try and fail, and their strategies. And then how Terrance relates or doesn’t relate to that.
Just like I would have preferred to see a lot more from Terrance’s POV, I wished we didn’t have as much of Medina’s POV, in fact, I could have done without her POV at all and would have happily got her story from another person within the story. I felt like she hijacked the story halfway through the book with an irrelevant romance that didn’t add to the overall tale. Every time her name showed up, I groaned – I wanted to get back to the game. Truthfully, her story was interesting, but it felt like it was a different book.
Overall, I very much enjoyed the book. The evilness of it was fun and it definitely made me think. It would make a great movie.
May 10, 2021
So I would describe this as deadman wonderland in contemporary Britain.
This book follows several people including the creator of a radical new idea to reduce crime in contemporary Britain. This idea is a game where 100 death row or life in prison criminals battle it out through a series of deadly challenges to win their freedom.
The premise itself appealed a lot to me. I love the idea of games and I do love the saw franchise so I was interested to see how this book would go. Despite this and the large number of philosophical questions that this asked, I felt like there was very little emphasis on the events of the game itself. It felt almost glossed over which didn't to me.
I had small issues with the coaching, I felt that it was slow in the beginning and only picked up towards the end with a few kicks in the middle. It made the book feel chunky and disjointed at times.
The characters themselves were likeable when they were supposed to be and others of course were not. You get perspectives from the core characters which doesn't ever seem boring or out of place. Each character had a new perspective to give and something to add to the story which I greatly appreciated.
The ending threw a few curveballs, some of which I was expecting to a degree and others which came out of nowhere. Just when you think you have the backstory or understanding of one character it's thrown upside down and something unexpected happens.
Overall I did enjoy this, despite my issues with the pacing and focus I felt like this was a good read. It makes you ask a lot of questions and makes you think about just what people are capable of.
This book follows several people including the creator of a radical new idea to reduce crime in contemporary Britain. This idea is a game where 100 death row or life in prison criminals battle it out through a series of deadly challenges to win their freedom.
The premise itself appealed a lot to me. I love the idea of games and I do love the saw franchise so I was interested to see how this book would go. Despite this and the large number of philosophical questions that this asked, I felt like there was very little emphasis on the events of the game itself. It felt almost glossed over which didn't to me.
I had small issues with the coaching, I felt that it was slow in the beginning and only picked up towards the end with a few kicks in the middle. It made the book feel chunky and disjointed at times.
The characters themselves were likeable when they were supposed to be and others of course were not. You get perspectives from the core characters which doesn't ever seem boring or out of place. Each character had a new perspective to give and something to add to the story which I greatly appreciated.
The ending threw a few curveballs, some of which I was expecting to a degree and others which came out of nowhere. Just when you think you have the backstory or understanding of one character it's thrown upside down and something unexpected happens.
Overall I did enjoy this, despite my issues with the pacing and focus I felt like this was a good read. It makes you ask a lot of questions and makes you think about just what people are capable of.
April 7, 2021
I received a free copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for a review.
'No Pain, No Game' is a novel that explores a fundamental philosophical issue - are prisoners / criminals worthy of retribution, and how we as humans view those who live against the rules our society has set up. However, this book never really seems to truly make the point I think it wants to make. It sets up a game between 100 prisoners where only one can survive, and the others are executed - a troubling answer to the issue of prison overcrowding and an uprising of criminal activity in a dystopian future Britain - but never truly gives us the answer to whether this book is making this seem like a bad thing or not.
This novel follows multiple different narrative viewpoints. We have Sean Cravanagh (a Simon Cowell-esque psychopath who is the one who sets up this brutal game), Terrence Blake (a prisoner taking part in the games but quel surprise he's ), Medina Salim (a blogger who uncovers truths and shock of the century ), and Tyler Benson (the presenter of the games). There's some others spattered here and there but those are the main 4. And, personally, I think it's too many. This book suffers quite often from retelling the same scene from multiple views. Now this could be fun, but unfortunately, in this book, it just feels like lazy padding. None of the characters are well rounded enough that you really care about any of them, and the writing style is a bit too 'tell don't show' that it all sounds like the exact same person even when reading polar opposites.
My main issue with this book actually lies with the message. Whilst I think there are problems with the overall writing, and the character development, the world and the meaning that this novel is trying to impart are just very foggy. Perhaps it's just me, but I think any society where these sort of games were to take place would have quite open and loud disapprovers. We get a hint of this in one of the judges, John whatshisface, who timidly mentions that pitting prisoners against each other in this way might be a human rights violation, but he doesn't argue it well at all. Sean makes one weak point, and John crumbles as though he's arguing with the world's best debater. I find it astounding that not one character, even those who in their inner monologues seem to disagree with the games, doesn't think 'But now aren't we just as bad as these criminals?' Not once!? It's insane, some of the prisoners in this game are literally just bank robbers. I don't think anyone would think it's okay to torture and murder bank robbers...????? It's so unrealistic. And at the end, there are no consequences, no mention of this having been a bad idea. It's baffling really.
Overall it's a 2 star from me. I really didn't enjoy this. It was overly predictable, confusing in it's perceived message, and didn't have good characters. I think you'd be better off watching that one Black Mirror episode that tackles a similar theme but actually gets the point across.
'No Pain, No Game' is a novel that explores a fundamental philosophical issue - are prisoners / criminals worthy of retribution, and how we as humans view those who live against the rules our society has set up. However, this book never really seems to truly make the point I think it wants to make. It sets up a game between 100 prisoners where only one can survive, and the others are executed - a troubling answer to the issue of prison overcrowding and an uprising of criminal activity in a dystopian future Britain - but never truly gives us the answer to whether this book is making this seem like a bad thing or not.
This novel follows multiple different narrative viewpoints. We have Sean Cravanagh (a Simon Cowell-esque psychopath who is the one who sets up this brutal game), Terrence Blake (a prisoner taking part in the games but quel surprise he's ), Medina Salim (a blogger who uncovers truths and shock of the century ), and Tyler Benson (the presenter of the games). There's some others spattered here and there but those are the main 4. And, personally, I think it's too many. This book suffers quite often from retelling the same scene from multiple views. Now this could be fun, but unfortunately, in this book, it just feels like lazy padding. None of the characters are well rounded enough that you really care about any of them, and the writing style is a bit too 'tell don't show' that it all sounds like the exact same person even when reading polar opposites.
My main issue with this book actually lies with the message. Whilst I think there are problems with the overall writing, and the character development, the world and the meaning that this novel is trying to impart are just very foggy. Perhaps it's just me, but I think any society where these sort of games were to take place would have quite open and loud disapprovers. We get a hint of this in one of the judges, John whatshisface, who timidly mentions that pitting prisoners against each other in this way might be a human rights violation, but he doesn't argue it well at all. Sean makes one weak point, and John crumbles as though he's arguing with the world's best debater. I find it astounding that not one character, even those who in their inner monologues seem to disagree with the games, doesn't think 'But now aren't we just as bad as these criminals?' Not once!? It's insane, some of the prisoners in this game are literally just bank robbers. I don't think anyone would think it's okay to torture and murder bank robbers...????? It's so unrealistic. And at the end, there are no consequences, no mention of this having been a bad idea. It's baffling really.
Overall it's a 2 star from me. I really didn't enjoy this. It was overly predictable, confusing in it's perceived message, and didn't have good characters. I think you'd be better off watching that one Black Mirror episode that tackles a similar theme but actually gets the point across.
November 7, 2021
Lex Talionis
This book turns out to be an unexpected and fascinating treatise on the philosophy of law.
In an attempt to solve the problem of overcrowded penitentiaries and brain drain due to public discontentment, death row inmates and those serving a life sentence are to enter a competition. The stakes are simple: win and you will ‘earn’ your freedom, lose and the death penalty will be carried out directly and before a life audience. Participation of the game is mandatory, ‘tilting the odds in favor is to play along’ [red.]
Exemplary is the fate of a gladiator, - often a slave -, who had to fight in order to gain his rudis - wooden sword, and with it eventually his freedom.
With this tract it appears the author wants to provoke a moral argument about the death penalty, justice and/or the relationship of law and punishment (the principle of retaliation).
In the ‘Cradle Arena’ the prisoners literally have to run for their lives, - the principle of equality is not taken into account - the elderly and the sick run along with the rest, and it will be clear that in the end they are the ones that have to pay with their lives. The tests are also completely arbitrary: it turns out that a simple song can make the ‘jury’ press a button and hop off there goes your head.
The further the game progresses, the more degrading the punishments become, and a gruesome death awaits those who fail the test, like the Wheels-on-the-Bus, Take-a-Seat, Spiderman, Mirror-Mirror-on-the-Wal. What these punishments entail is up to the reader's imagination….
The story mainly focuses on the man who runs the show, as well as one who is called to witness, and prisoner 77 (Terrence).
The second part of the book takes a closer look at their personal backgrounds, possible mitigating circumstances, if any, and motives to ‘play.’
He uses different angles, suchs as free will, Machiavellism, Kant, and Hegel’s philosophy of right.
Albeit shocking and described in gruesome detail, it is what it is. Do we not demand revenge and retribution for what has been done to us?
The book can also be read as is - a grim glimpse into a not-too-distant future, similar to King's the Running Man, or as a variation on Death Race & the Hunger Games.
****** (6 stars - highly recommended)
*** free review copy via VOR *** Thank you.
This book turns out to be an unexpected and fascinating treatise on the philosophy of law.
In an attempt to solve the problem of overcrowded penitentiaries and brain drain due to public discontentment, death row inmates and those serving a life sentence are to enter a competition. The stakes are simple: win and you will ‘earn’ your freedom, lose and the death penalty will be carried out directly and before a life audience. Participation of the game is mandatory, ‘tilting the odds in favor is to play along’ [red.]
Exemplary is the fate of a gladiator, - often a slave -, who had to fight in order to gain his rudis - wooden sword, and with it eventually his freedom.
With this tract it appears the author wants to provoke a moral argument about the death penalty, justice and/or the relationship of law and punishment (the principle of retaliation).
In the ‘Cradle Arena’ the prisoners literally have to run for their lives, - the principle of equality is not taken into account - the elderly and the sick run along with the rest, and it will be clear that in the end they are the ones that have to pay with their lives. The tests are also completely arbitrary: it turns out that a simple song can make the ‘jury’ press a button and hop off there goes your head.
The further the game progresses, the more degrading the punishments become, and a gruesome death awaits those who fail the test, like the Wheels-on-the-Bus, Take-a-Seat, Spiderman, Mirror-Mirror-on-the-Wal. What these punishments entail is up to the reader's imagination….
The story mainly focuses on the man who runs the show, as well as one who is called to witness, and prisoner 77 (Terrence).
The second part of the book takes a closer look at their personal backgrounds, possible mitigating circumstances, if any, and motives to ‘play.’
He uses different angles, suchs as free will, Machiavellism, Kant, and Hegel’s philosophy of right.
Albeit shocking and described in gruesome detail, it is what it is. Do we not demand revenge and retribution for what has been done to us?
The book can also be read as is - a grim glimpse into a not-too-distant future, similar to King's the Running Man, or as a variation on Death Race & the Hunger Games.
****** (6 stars - highly recommended)
*** free review copy via VOR *** Thank you.
March 26, 2021
This was a carefully crafted story with a balance of horror, mystery, and hope. While some parts of it became clear early on, other parts of the mystery worked like nicely oiled gears.
Going into this book, I was concerned that the concept might exploit incarcerated folk. However, that was, thankfully, not the case. Instead, this book shines a light on the way we often stop seeing incarcerated people as, well, people. It challenges the narrative, making the reader sit back and reflect on why. Where does the line begin that we suddenly stop treating human beings as human beings.
I did find myself struggling to connect with the characters, and I think it was due to lots of exposition and very little dialogue. Instead of being there with the characters, I felt that I was also viewing the spectacle, and never wholly felt I could understand who they really were. The most well-developed character was definitely Terrence, though his dialogue was limited due to his position. I do wish there was a bit more character interaction to show us who they were, rather than having it told to us with exposition, but that way of writing did make me feel like I was watching "No Pain, No Game", along with the millions of viewers in the book.
Overall, this book was not as grim as I thought it would be - and for good reason. Again, it didn't exploit, it taught. And I think it taught a good lesson - to those who might look at incarcerated people with malice or spite, perhaps pick up this book and reflect on why you think that.
There should possibly be some content/trigger warnings for this book
Going into this book, I was concerned that the concept might exploit incarcerated folk. However, that was, thankfully, not the case. Instead, this book shines a light on the way we often stop seeing incarcerated people as, well, people. It challenges the narrative, making the reader sit back and reflect on why. Where does the line begin that we suddenly stop treating human beings as human beings.
I did find myself struggling to connect with the characters, and I think it was due to lots of exposition and very little dialogue. Instead of being there with the characters, I felt that I was also viewing the spectacle, and never wholly felt I could understand who they really were. The most well-developed character was definitely Terrence, though his dialogue was limited due to his position. I do wish there was a bit more character interaction to show us who they were, rather than having it told to us with exposition, but that way of writing did make me feel like I was watching "No Pain, No Game", along with the millions of viewers in the book.
Overall, this book was not as grim as I thought it would be - and for good reason. Again, it didn't exploit, it taught. And I think it taught a good lesson - to those who might look at incarcerated people with malice or spite, perhaps pick up this book and reflect on why you think that.
There should possibly be some content/trigger warnings for this book
January 29, 2021
A wild display of retribution through a riveting thriller.
‘No Pain, No Game’ is set in a country shaken by a horrendous rate of crimes. The civilians have abandoned their homeland, and the only people among them to be left behind are the ones who could not manage to leave. Amidst the crisis, Sean Cravanaugh comes up with a gameshow approved by the desperate Prime Minister, where all of the 100 contestants are prisoners on death row. The competition is set to end with a single survivor while everyone else gets executed, and the ultimate prize is freedom. Despite the unspeakable cruelty of the show, it manages to steal the heart of the nation. Sean has pledged to bring the people justice, but the question remains, does the end always justify the means?
The engrossing book takes the reader on an insane ride around the human mind and the darkness that it holds. Guarded by the delicate aspects of life, the story is a depository of sheer insanity, agony beyond imagination, and cunning manipulation.
The story is shaped by the inner world of the incredibly diverse characters featured throughout the book. One of the best sides of the piece is the fact that the author has refrained from reaching a conclusion, and has left that part up to the readers. The believability of the ending along with the naturalness is icing on the cake.
I do not possess a modicum of sympathy for Mad Spencer, but it cannot be denied how incredibly intriguing and well written the character is. As the author would describe, ‘He is not mad, he is madness itself.’
The book is simply wonderful. Recommended for readers who can deal with heavy violence.
(I received a copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily)
‘No Pain, No Game’ is set in a country shaken by a horrendous rate of crimes. The civilians have abandoned their homeland, and the only people among them to be left behind are the ones who could not manage to leave. Amidst the crisis, Sean Cravanaugh comes up with a gameshow approved by the desperate Prime Minister, where all of the 100 contestants are prisoners on death row. The competition is set to end with a single survivor while everyone else gets executed, and the ultimate prize is freedom. Despite the unspeakable cruelty of the show, it manages to steal the heart of the nation. Sean has pledged to bring the people justice, but the question remains, does the end always justify the means?
The engrossing book takes the reader on an insane ride around the human mind and the darkness that it holds. Guarded by the delicate aspects of life, the story is a depository of sheer insanity, agony beyond imagination, and cunning manipulation.
The story is shaped by the inner world of the incredibly diverse characters featured throughout the book. One of the best sides of the piece is the fact that the author has refrained from reaching a conclusion, and has left that part up to the readers. The believability of the ending along with the naturalness is icing on the cake.
I do not possess a modicum of sympathy for Mad Spencer, but it cannot be denied how incredibly intriguing and well written the character is. As the author would describe, ‘He is not mad, he is madness itself.’
The book is simply wonderful. Recommended for readers who can deal with heavy violence.
(I received a copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily)
March 12, 2021
If this doesn’t scare you about the human capacity for hatred and revenge then nothing will!
This is a brilliant but frightening story of a Britain where crime rates are impossible to manage, and prisons are completely overcrowded, so to help control this there will be a new reality TV show. One in which a hundred convicts get the chance to fight for their freedom by taking part in some seriously twisted games - or torture as you may prefer to think of it. With only one convict surviving to find freedom, the odds are as deadly as they get...
Narrated by a whole cast of characters - from the awful man behind the TV show to one of the more innocent prisoners, and plenty of others in some way involved with the show, this whole story feels like a powerful warning. The shock of the story isn’t even in the fact that the TV show has been created, but in the total bloodlust of the audience - normal people like you and I who can sit there and enjoy watching people die for fun. It made me think of how easily people will jump on the bandwagon when they see something posted on social media or on the news, and how quickly they share their opinions and anger without thinking of the consequences. This is definitely the worst case scenario version!
The story is really well written - raw, brutal but with moments of tenderness which keep it from becoming too morbid. Think Hunger Games for grown ups!
I really enjoyed this - it’s a real thought provoking read that left me feeling unsettled in the best way.
Huge thanks to the author for my gifted copy.
This is a brilliant but frightening story of a Britain where crime rates are impossible to manage, and prisons are completely overcrowded, so to help control this there will be a new reality TV show. One in which a hundred convicts get the chance to fight for their freedom by taking part in some seriously twisted games - or torture as you may prefer to think of it. With only one convict surviving to find freedom, the odds are as deadly as they get...
Narrated by a whole cast of characters - from the awful man behind the TV show to one of the more innocent prisoners, and plenty of others in some way involved with the show, this whole story feels like a powerful warning. The shock of the story isn’t even in the fact that the TV show has been created, but in the total bloodlust of the audience - normal people like you and I who can sit there and enjoy watching people die for fun. It made me think of how easily people will jump on the bandwagon when they see something posted on social media or on the news, and how quickly they share their opinions and anger without thinking of the consequences. This is definitely the worst case scenario version!
The story is really well written - raw, brutal but with moments of tenderness which keep it from becoming too morbid. Think Hunger Games for grown ups!
I really enjoyed this - it’s a real thought provoking read that left me feeling unsettled in the best way.
Huge thanks to the author for my gifted copy.
May 28, 2021
I received a free advanced copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
First, the negatives. This book contained a lot of typos and even several missing passages. This contributed to some mild confusion here and there, and a bit of frustration, but overall it didn't detract enough from how great the book was for me to dock it down a star, or even a half star.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I really love that it's a dystopian novel without changing very much of the current world, only showing us the nature of ourselves as human beings, and what could come to pass should we cease to take heed of some conventional social norms and niceties - in this case treating prisoners with even a modicum of respect.
Though the book is set in England, it resonates as well with the prison system in America - overcrowded and underfunded, as well as the police system - presuming black men and women guilty until proven innocent and often not putting much time into investigating cases before handing suspects over to the justice system to be torn apart.
Though this book was told from many different perspectives, I find that I didn't lose track of anyone's story or point of view, and instead found myself highly invested in each person's story. Everything came together quite nicely in the end, and though the conclusion to many questions came within the last 10-15% of the story, I did not feel as though the ending was rushed.
First, the negatives. This book contained a lot of typos and even several missing passages. This contributed to some mild confusion here and there, and a bit of frustration, but overall it didn't detract enough from how great the book was for me to dock it down a star, or even a half star.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I really love that it's a dystopian novel without changing very much of the current world, only showing us the nature of ourselves as human beings, and what could come to pass should we cease to take heed of some conventional social norms and niceties - in this case treating prisoners with even a modicum of respect.
Though the book is set in England, it resonates as well with the prison system in America - overcrowded and underfunded, as well as the police system - presuming black men and women guilty until proven innocent and often not putting much time into investigating cases before handing suspects over to the justice system to be torn apart.
Though this book was told from many different perspectives, I find that I didn't lose track of anyone's story or point of view, and instead found myself highly invested in each person's story. Everything came together quite nicely in the end, and though the conclusion to many questions came within the last 10-15% of the story, I did not feel as though the ending was rushed.
February 5, 2022
This is an interesting dystopia story that is kind of like The Hunger Games meets 60 Days In, rolled in American Idol and sprinkled with Squid Game, with a tiny dash of The 100 and a little thriller mystery.
Yep, it’s that many ideas in one. It’s fascinating and entertaining, albeit a bit nauseating sometimes. 100 convicts are put on a reality TV show, a competition that’s judged by select judges and help from the audience and public, the last one standing wins and the remainder of their sentence is dissolved. The losers face punishments that made my stomach turn just a bit.
The characters are complex and startling. It was hard to wrap my head around some of them and their motives. The plot line was good and enjoyed the pace of the story. The switching up of perspective made this a fiery read and impossible to feel bored.
Rounded up to 4 stars from 3.5, this was a relatively quick read and was actually difficult to put down. I liked that the story didn’t take too many “pauses” and it just kept rolling on. The story provides a compelling commentary on society’s need for justice and love for entertainment, regardless who it hurts. I was stuck in thought about the (im)morality of the competition and actually wondered what the reaction would be like if this actually happened today for real.
Thank you to the author and Voracious Readers Only for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Yep, it’s that many ideas in one. It’s fascinating and entertaining, albeit a bit nauseating sometimes. 100 convicts are put on a reality TV show, a competition that’s judged by select judges and help from the audience and public, the last one standing wins and the remainder of their sentence is dissolved. The losers face punishments that made my stomach turn just a bit.
The characters are complex and startling. It was hard to wrap my head around some of them and their motives. The plot line was good and enjoyed the pace of the story. The switching up of perspective made this a fiery read and impossible to feel bored.
Rounded up to 4 stars from 3.5, this was a relatively quick read and was actually difficult to put down. I liked that the story didn’t take too many “pauses” and it just kept rolling on. The story provides a compelling commentary on society’s need for justice and love for entertainment, regardless who it hurts. I was stuck in thought about the (im)morality of the competition and actually wondered what the reaction would be like if this actually happened today for real.
Thank you to the author and Voracious Readers Only for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 3, 2021
“Was this justice? Terrence wondered. Was making one man compromise his soul to shatter another, no matter how despicable his opponent may be, any sort of justice? If any of it was at all fair, then what kind of world was this?”
No Pain, No Game is Lucie Ataya’s debut novel and wow, I was so sucked in! Set in what feels like a not-too-distant future, a game show is launched to pitch a selection of prisoners against one another. A bit like Hunger Games then? Yes, but also no! Aside from the storyline being different, there is a whole range of narrative views which span the events, drawing you close to not just one participant but to multiple characters nearer and further away from the action of the games. Ataya’s writing is effortless and confident, and the direction and flow of the story was such that I binge read it in a few days straight.
There are trigger warnings for murder, rape, child abuse, substance abuse and torture. While touching on these awful topics, somehow, this book manages to be hopeful. You hope for the characters (some of them, at least) and you sense that Ataya has faith in what people are, and the value they should always essentially hold.
They say that if you buy a book from an Indie author, they do a happy dance. If you’d like a dabble in a well-explored new dystopian novel, have a look on Amazon for this one. I’d totally recommend it!
No Pain, No Game is Lucie Ataya’s debut novel and wow, I was so sucked in! Set in what feels like a not-too-distant future, a game show is launched to pitch a selection of prisoners against one another. A bit like Hunger Games then? Yes, but also no! Aside from the storyline being different, there is a whole range of narrative views which span the events, drawing you close to not just one participant but to multiple characters nearer and further away from the action of the games. Ataya’s writing is effortless and confident, and the direction and flow of the story was such that I binge read it in a few days straight.
There are trigger warnings for murder, rape, child abuse, substance abuse and torture. While touching on these awful topics, somehow, this book manages to be hopeful. You hope for the characters (some of them, at least) and you sense that Ataya has faith in what people are, and the value they should always essentially hold.
They say that if you buy a book from an Indie author, they do a happy dance. If you’d like a dabble in a well-explored new dystopian novel, have a look on Amazon for this one. I’d totally recommend it!
March 26, 2021
A smart, thoughtful read about what people are willing to do to throw morals out the window when circumstances arise.
I'm always trying to weave out of my typical genres and love to go into reads blind so it was fun to break things up with No Pain, No Game.
It's set in an overcrowded world of Britain where lived are being ruined as a result of the ever expanding prisons. In order to try and bring some order a game show is being used to put to the test the lives of those on death row or lifetime sentences.
The concept of the game is woven in from the beginning so you're suspicious as to what it could behold. However the minute you see what it holds, it really starts making you question everyone involved.
Written in the third person we follow the lives of multiple people from different perspectives. I loved that as you got a well rounded view of how everyone is stomaching the ruthlessness of this game.
It's a very thoughtful read as you see the conniving actions of some and others how they can't handle the results and end up taking severe escapes.
If you're looking for a read that takes you out of this world, gives you a little Blacl Mirror vibes in the way it gets you thinking about the control and morals of viewer who don't think about the people but the game, then this is for you!
Thank you Lucie Atya for the review copy!
I'm always trying to weave out of my typical genres and love to go into reads blind so it was fun to break things up with No Pain, No Game.
It's set in an overcrowded world of Britain where lived are being ruined as a result of the ever expanding prisons. In order to try and bring some order a game show is being used to put to the test the lives of those on death row or lifetime sentences.
The concept of the game is woven in from the beginning so you're suspicious as to what it could behold. However the minute you see what it holds, it really starts making you question everyone involved.
Written in the third person we follow the lives of multiple people from different perspectives. I loved that as you got a well rounded view of how everyone is stomaching the ruthlessness of this game.
It's a very thoughtful read as you see the conniving actions of some and others how they can't handle the results and end up taking severe escapes.
If you're looking for a read that takes you out of this world, gives you a little Blacl Mirror vibes in the way it gets you thinking about the control and morals of viewer who don't think about the people but the game, then this is for you!
Thank you Lucie Atya for the review copy!
March 26, 2021
With the title itself, I had a lot of expectations with this book and the book description made me curious to read it. The plot is superb, I haven't read anything like this before-
Welcome to dystopian world in Great Britain where the country is facing high criminal rates and prison overcrowding. Can you imagine, "People living in a climate of fear?" There is an immediate economic, political and social crisis that is affecting the nation and if the reasonable steps wouldn't be taken, the situation will get worse. Who will help in this situation?
There comes an interesting character, Sean Cravanaugh, an entertainment tycoon who has initiated a controversial plan - A live televised game show where convicted criminals have to face challenges for their most heinous crimes, they will have to fight for their lives while having a rare chance at freedom. In the world of ‘No Pain, No Game’, Sean Cravanaugh decides who lives or dies.
Read the whole story to know what is going to happen with this game play?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading “No Pain, No Game”. A fantastically written book that had me turning page after page, its a page turner. I liked the suspensr maintained throughout, the suspense of wanting to know what is next kept me interested till the end.
Overall it is a thrilling read and I would definitely recommend this book to everyone!
Welcome to dystopian world in Great Britain where the country is facing high criminal rates and prison overcrowding. Can you imagine, "People living in a climate of fear?" There is an immediate economic, political and social crisis that is affecting the nation and if the reasonable steps wouldn't be taken, the situation will get worse. Who will help in this situation?
There comes an interesting character, Sean Cravanaugh, an entertainment tycoon who has initiated a controversial plan - A live televised game show where convicted criminals have to face challenges for their most heinous crimes, they will have to fight for their lives while having a rare chance at freedom. In the world of ‘No Pain, No Game’, Sean Cravanaugh decides who lives or dies.
Read the whole story to know what is going to happen with this game play?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading “No Pain, No Game”. A fantastically written book that had me turning page after page, its a page turner. I liked the suspensr maintained throughout, the suspense of wanting to know what is next kept me interested till the end.
Overall it is a thrilling read and I would definitely recommend this book to everyone!
March 26, 2021
No Pain, No Game is Lucie Ataya’s debut novel which is really a great masterpiece. I was so sucked in completely. The plot is one of a kind, very well written with a totally different storyline. I was totally lost in the world created by her.
Its very impressive creativity done by Ataya about the game play, there is a game show launched to pitch a selection of prisoners against one another. A game where 100 convicted criminals are forced to compete against one another, a type of game full of dangerous and painful challenges where the creator of this game, Sean Cravanaugh will decide who lives or die. Aside from the storyline being different, I really liked the flow of the story. Ataya’s writing is effortless, creative and confident. The story is really well written and when I thought it couldn't get any better, the twists just came to spice it up at the right time and those twists and turns kept me interested till the end.
A very good and engaging read, I didn't wanted to put it down. I loved the characters, they will surprise you and I really had tears at the end. Ataya very clearly wrote this novel and tried to convey some really good messages through her characters and their stories. I really enjoyed reading this novel, its amazing.
Its very impressive creativity done by Ataya about the game play, there is a game show launched to pitch a selection of prisoners against one another. A game where 100 convicted criminals are forced to compete against one another, a type of game full of dangerous and painful challenges where the creator of this game, Sean Cravanaugh will decide who lives or die. Aside from the storyline being different, I really liked the flow of the story. Ataya’s writing is effortless, creative and confident. The story is really well written and when I thought it couldn't get any better, the twists just came to spice it up at the right time and those twists and turns kept me interested till the end.
A very good and engaging read, I didn't wanted to put it down. I loved the characters, they will surprise you and I really had tears at the end. Ataya very clearly wrote this novel and tried to convey some really good messages through her characters and their stories. I really enjoyed reading this novel, its amazing.
September 1, 2021
This was a great book by a brilliant writer. It is well written and a very intriguing storyline where Britain is on the verge of collapse, where it's citizens live in constant fear and the economy is verge of collapse. To deal with the overcrowding of prisons a gameshow is devised as a solution to deal with the problem. The characters were engaging, the writing was well thought out and really added to the tension needed in such a book. This is Lucie Attaya's first work (hopefully) of many and I was very happy to have read this, her first novel.
I'd love to add more to this review but it wound be rather disingenuous of me because of the manner in which I read this book. It was a title that I was constantly putting down because of commitments to Beta reads and ARC's. That is why it took so long for me to finish the book, which is a darn shame because it deserves better than I have written here. But I can only go with what I remembered of the novel even though I re-read parts whenever I came back to try and pick up from where I had left off. This was my problem and not the author's. As such I could not punish her for my problems reading it. I will re-read this book sometime in the future simple because it deserves it, and I genuinely want to.
I'd love to add more to this review but it wound be rather disingenuous of me because of the manner in which I read this book. It was a title that I was constantly putting down because of commitments to Beta reads and ARC's. That is why it took so long for me to finish the book, which is a darn shame because it deserves better than I have written here. But I can only go with what I remembered of the novel even though I re-read parts whenever I came back to try and pick up from where I had left off. This was my problem and not the author's. As such I could not punish her for my problems reading it. I will re-read this book sometime in the future simple because it deserves it, and I genuinely want to.
February 5, 2021
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
No Pain, No Game is Lucie Ataya's debut novel and I'm looking forward to seeing what follows because this was an excellent book. It is not for the faint-hearted, due to some very graphic descriptions of unpleasant situations, but is incredibly thought-provoking as it depicts a world not so far from our own. The telling of the story from several different character perspectives is insightful, and really helps the reader to imagine things from their point of view. I wasn't surprised by many of the twists which came out in the story, but they were still very well thought out. The book started relatively slowly, due to the ideas and characters which needed to be introduced, but soon picked up the pace and I found it hard to put down (even late at night when I was concerned how much would make it into my dreams/nightmares!).
There are a lot of big topics within this book, including power, justice, morality, family ties and fame. Overall it is a thought-provoking page-turner and I would highly recommend it.
No Pain, No Game is Lucie Ataya's debut novel and I'm looking forward to seeing what follows because this was an excellent book. It is not for the faint-hearted, due to some very graphic descriptions of unpleasant situations, but is incredibly thought-provoking as it depicts a world not so far from our own. The telling of the story from several different character perspectives is insightful, and really helps the reader to imagine things from their point of view. I wasn't surprised by many of the twists which came out in the story, but they were still very well thought out. The book started relatively slowly, due to the ideas and characters which needed to be introduced, but soon picked up the pace and I found it hard to put down (even late at night when I was concerned how much would make it into my dreams/nightmares!).
There are a lot of big topics within this book, including power, justice, morality, family ties and fame. Overall it is a thought-provoking page-turner and I would highly recommend it.
June 4, 2021
This book was sent to me in exchange for a fair review.
Very unique idea and great premise, however it lacked a little bit in the world building aspect. The concept that majority of the public just embraced the game is bizarre, and could come across better if more time was spent in establishing Britain's spiral into crisis where this could be seen as the only solution.
The characters were well written, both the good ones and the baddies, and it was very interesting to read about different perspectives. Some additions didn't really feel necessary to the story and were unwelcome distractions from the plot (e.g. Pedro bits), but it wasn't really an issue as the story still moved at a decent pace.
The plot kept me engaged and certain parts of the book were very thought provoking, to the point I had to put the book down and think 'actually, what is my take on this?'.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I was very suprised to find this is the writers debiut. Great suspence, solid characters and interesting plot.
Very unique idea and great premise, however it lacked a little bit in the world building aspect. The concept that majority of the public just embraced the game is bizarre, and could come across better if more time was spent in establishing Britain's spiral into crisis where this could be seen as the only solution.
The characters were well written, both the good ones and the baddies, and it was very interesting to read about different perspectives. Some additions didn't really feel necessary to the story and were unwelcome distractions from the plot (e.g. Pedro bits), but it wasn't really an issue as the story still moved at a decent pace.
The plot kept me engaged and certain parts of the book were very thought provoking, to the point I had to put the book down and think 'actually, what is my take on this?'.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I was very suprised to find this is the writers debiut. Great suspence, solid characters and interesting plot.
October 29, 2021
I received a copy of this from Voracious readers.
Wow this book took my breath away. I know that I like murder mysteries and horror stories but this tops everything that I have previously read in either genres for pure evil.
This is a well written book that will have you turning pages long after you want to stop for the night.
Lucie Ataya has an imagination and writing style that leaves you out of breath at the thought of how wicked human beings can be toward each other.
It tells of how human beings act together as a pack and how difficult it can be to stick to your own moral standards when faced with a crowd that have no moral compass.
Her words paint such vivid pictures that you can feel as if you to are taking part in the audience.
If you like a gruesome story then you’ll love No Pain No Game.
Wow this book took my breath away. I know that I like murder mysteries and horror stories but this tops everything that I have previously read in either genres for pure evil.
This is a well written book that will have you turning pages long after you want to stop for the night.
Lucie Ataya has an imagination and writing style that leaves you out of breath at the thought of how wicked human beings can be toward each other.
It tells of how human beings act together as a pack and how difficult it can be to stick to your own moral standards when faced with a crowd that have no moral compass.
Her words paint such vivid pictures that you can feel as if you to are taking part in the audience.
If you like a gruesome story then you’ll love No Pain No Game.
June 14, 2021
I was given a copy of this book from Voracious Readers in return for an honest review.
A greedy TV executive decides to make more money by devising a competition where criminals facing life in prison compete in horrific games with the overall winner gaining his/her freedom but the losers will lose their lives.Although some see this as barbaric, the majority are excited. Also what happens when one of the inmates appear to be innocent?
I enjoyed the concept of this book & it was more interesting as each chapter was told from, a different characters point of view. This subject was disturbing, although with the Big Brother reality show culture we live in, who knows what the future holds??!!
A greedy TV executive decides to make more money by devising a competition where criminals facing life in prison compete in horrific games with the overall winner gaining his/her freedom but the losers will lose their lives.Although some see this as barbaric, the majority are excited. Also what happens when one of the inmates appear to be innocent?
I enjoyed the concept of this book & it was more interesting as each chapter was told from, a different characters point of view. This subject was disturbing, although with the Big Brother reality show culture we live in, who knows what the future holds??!!
September 3, 2021
This is not my normal type story to read but the blurb just drew me in and I love it. I’ve watched more than my share of game shows but this is one I would never have thought of. While this story does have main characters it also highlights a number of other characters. I like that it brings together so many different type personalities with a number of different backgrounds that play into the story and how entwined strangers can be. It does show how some incidents in a person’s life can shape their actions. It also points out how a person’s conscience plays into their decisions and what people will do for their self interest. I can’t wait to see what this author will write next
August 19, 2025
A must-read for those who love dark, socially charged thrillers.
A brutal, brilliant dystopian thriller, No Pain No Game throws readers into a deadly contest where power, violence, and survival collide. Lucie Ataya’s sharp writing and layered characters keep you guessing until the shocking end. The story is unflinchingly violent but razor-sharp in its critique of society—exposing how the rich and powerful manipulate the game while the rest suffer.
Fans of The Hunger Games and Squid Game will love this intense, thought-provoking read. Ataya doesn’t hold back, delivering a gripping, gut-punch of a novel that lingers long after the final page.
A brutal, brilliant dystopian thriller, No Pain No Game throws readers into a deadly contest where power, violence, and survival collide. Lucie Ataya’s sharp writing and layered characters keep you guessing until the shocking end. The story is unflinchingly violent but razor-sharp in its critique of society—exposing how the rich and powerful manipulate the game while the rest suffer.
Fans of The Hunger Games and Squid Game will love this intense, thought-provoking read. Ataya doesn’t hold back, delivering a gripping, gut-punch of a novel that lingers long after the final page.
March 24, 2021
I couldn't fall a sleep last night, so instead I read "No Pain, No Game" This afternoon i just finished the rest. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this fantastically written book. It had me turn page after page, even i was exhausted. I couldn't let go, because it's a real page turner of 57 smaller chapters. So easy to take a break once a while. I liked the suspense maintained throughout, and I wanted to know more and what was next. It kept me interested till the end. Overall it is a thrilling read. Well done. I can definitely recommend it to everyone!
August 4, 2021
In futuristic Britain, amidst a social and economic crisis where criminal rates have skyrocketed, a new game is launched where 100 criminals are competing against one another. Only 1 can win, only 1 can live.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel by Lucie Ataya with surprising plot twists and wide range of characters, some loveable, some despicable. The story makes you think about how the world works, the importance of justice, what is right or wrong. At times it was a disturbing read but absolutely addictive and realistic.
Highly recommended to lovers of thought provoking books!
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel by Lucie Ataya with surprising plot twists and wide range of characters, some loveable, some despicable. The story makes you think about how the world works, the importance of justice, what is right or wrong. At times it was a disturbing read but absolutely addictive and realistic.
Highly recommended to lovers of thought provoking books!
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