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Madness
Death is not an escape.
One night Ezra Adkins is brutally murdered in her own home. As she was dying, she expects to wake up in the afterworld.
She was wrong.
She loses consciousness and awakens into a horrific game of kill or be killed. Players can be killed an infinite number of times, but the only permanent way out of the game is their actual death by suicide.
Players in the game ruthlessly hunt each other for points, while others kill for fun. Most players have given up on finding an escape from the game and spiral into insanity, killing without reason.
It’s mayhem.
Ezra soon learns who to trust and who to hunt down. But as she falls deeper into the game, she starts to lose herself as the bodies pile up. The line blurs between what she’s always known to be right and wrong.
Metal will clash. Blood will spill. Minds will break. And before it’s too late, Ezra must find an escape from the game before she becomes the real enemy.
Madness is an award-winning novel that explores a dangerous game of death, morality in anarchy, and survival, perfect for fans of the Hunger Games or Maze Runner. It is the first novel of the Engine's Game series.
One night Ezra Adkins is brutally murdered in her own home. As she was dying, she expects to wake up in the afterworld.
She was wrong.
She loses consciousness and awakens into a horrific game of kill or be killed. Players can be killed an infinite number of times, but the only permanent way out of the game is their actual death by suicide.
Players in the game ruthlessly hunt each other for points, while others kill for fun. Most players have given up on finding an escape from the game and spiral into insanity, killing without reason.
It’s mayhem.
Ezra soon learns who to trust and who to hunt down. But as she falls deeper into the game, she starts to lose herself as the bodies pile up. The line blurs between what she’s always known to be right and wrong.
Metal will clash. Blood will spill. Minds will break. And before it’s too late, Ezra must find an escape from the game before she becomes the real enemy.
Madness is an award-winning novel that explores a dangerous game of death, morality in anarchy, and survival, perfect for fans of the Hunger Games or Maze Runner. It is the first novel of the Engine's Game series.
- GenresYoung Adult
301 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 11, 2021
11 people are currently reading
1424 people want to read
About the author
Paityn E. Parque
3 books27 followersPaityn Parque lives in Washington state where she spends most of her time powerlifting and studying cybersecurity at the University of Idaho. At 15 years old, she published her debut YA novel, Madness, which won TCK's Reader's Choice Awards in the Science Fiction category. At 16, she published its sequel, Havoc. At 18, she finished Fury and completed her debut series, Engine’s Game. She wants to continue her career in writing and hopes that you’ll stick around to see her grow.
You can get in touch by her official website:
https://paitynparque.wixsite.com/auth...
Or
Email her at:
Paityn(dot)Parque(at)gmail(dot)com
You can get in touch by her official website:
https://paitynparque.wixsite.com/auth...
Or
Email her at:
Paityn(dot)Parque(at)gmail(dot)com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
December 8, 2021
I was at the point where reading one book took me ages and I was certain it would take me at least a month, but I finished Madness within the week of starting! It was just that good!
I plunged into the book with an open mind, not really knowing what to expect. I’ll tell you: you can expect incredible character growth, great plotline and amazing writing. Paityn Parque has created an unbelievably realistic world within a mindblowing computer game. It’s something that many authors aspire to do, and only some succeed. You do not notice from the vocabulary nor the writing style that this young author is only fifteen years old. This novel is a masterpiece in its own right.
Right off the bat, Erza gets thrown into a game that keeps her trapped, until she either succumbs to the madness of it or wins enough points to buy her way out. There is no escape unless she does either of those two things, but neither of them is easy. This book has brought to life its own version of squid games. Kill or be killed. Win by being the best in it. Most players go crazy before gaining enough points to get out.
Erza is my favourite kind of protagonist: strong-willed, stubborn, kind and totally bad-ass. I related to her the moment she was introduced and we don’t even have all that much in common, except I can be kind, too. Her journey takes her from innocent-scared girl to a leader of sorts to a gang of players. With the most feared skill set she manages to raise up the ranks faster than any other player. It is a bloody, messy, crazy raise that in its madness will leave you on the edge of the seat and somehow still craving for more.
Jack is Erza’s teammate and I absolutely enjoyed their love and hate relationship, the secrets and tension. Can’t say enough of how much I really, really enjoyed it. And you’ll simply have to read the book to enjoy it, too! You should definitely read the book!!
I can’t recommend this book enough. If you are into a bit darker, paranormal inspired actions books Madness is something you’ll really have to read.
I plunged into the book with an open mind, not really knowing what to expect. I’ll tell you: you can expect incredible character growth, great plotline and amazing writing. Paityn Parque has created an unbelievably realistic world within a mindblowing computer game. It’s something that many authors aspire to do, and only some succeed. You do not notice from the vocabulary nor the writing style that this young author is only fifteen years old. This novel is a masterpiece in its own right.
Right off the bat, Erza gets thrown into a game that keeps her trapped, until she either succumbs to the madness of it or wins enough points to buy her way out. There is no escape unless she does either of those two things, but neither of them is easy. This book has brought to life its own version of squid games. Kill or be killed. Win by being the best in it. Most players go crazy before gaining enough points to get out.
Erza is my favourite kind of protagonist: strong-willed, stubborn, kind and totally bad-ass. I related to her the moment she was introduced and we don’t even have all that much in common, except I can be kind, too. Her journey takes her from innocent-scared girl to a leader of sorts to a gang of players. With the most feared skill set she manages to raise up the ranks faster than any other player. It is a bloody, messy, crazy raise that in its madness will leave you on the edge of the seat and somehow still craving for more.
Jack is Erza’s teammate and I absolutely enjoyed their love and hate relationship, the secrets and tension. Can’t say enough of how much I really, really enjoyed it. And you’ll simply have to read the book to enjoy it, too! You should definitely read the book!!
I can’t recommend this book enough. If you are into a bit darker, paranormal inspired actions books Madness is something you’ll really have to read.
August 24, 2021
***I was lucky enough to receive a free copy of this book for an honest review. Getting the free copy in no way affects my opinions in my review of this novel***
“Congratulations! You’ve been selected to participate in the Battles. You just died, but you have unlimited lives.”
This debut novel is absolutely a must-read. I am stunned that this author is only 15 years old. The mind she has, and the ability to write a world like this is phenomenal. I was hooked from the first paragraph and had to fight to put the book down more than once today to attend to appointments I had. In the end though, I just had to finish it all in one day. Paityn has a unique writing style and story telling ability that perfectly hits the nail on the head. Equally enthralling, heartbreaking, and thrilling, this novel had me feeling multiple emotions at once, captivating me and pulling me into the world along with the MC’s. Speaking of MC’s, Paityn has done an excellent job at character building, not only in ability to describe looks but also emotions inside of each character and between them. I don’t feel I came across one flat character.
I’m already pining over a sequel for this. Congratulations, Miss. Parque, on an excellently written first novel. I believe you have a pretty bright future ahead of you as an author, and I cannot wait to see what else you have in store!
September 10, 2021
~I'd like to thank the awesome author for sending me a free copy in exchange for my honest review!~
Um... Okay. Is there a six star option here? Where do I even start?!
This was absolutely an AMAZING book, I loved it SO MUCH!!
One thing that I loved most, was the character development. It was so deep! Also, I'd say there wasn't much of a plot itself (in a good way, so there wasn't too much going on), as it was more the character development. I loved how each of the characters' personalities were different and relatable, and none of them were 1d, all of them had secrets and very complex personalities.
Now, the cliffhanger. I mean, the ending wasn't at all expected, and I was so surprised! I CAN NOT wait to read the sequel and see what will happen next!!!
In conclusion, I must say, Paityn Pardue, you're a legend! Writing an awesome book, like this, at 15?! I mean... I've got no words. You're AWESOME!
ABSOLUTELY RECOMMENDED!
~Full Review To Come~
Um... Okay. Is there a six star option here? Where do I even start?!
This was absolutely an AMAZING book, I loved it SO MUCH!!
One thing that I loved most, was the character development. It was so deep! Also, I'd say there wasn't much of a plot itself (in a good way, so there wasn't too much going on), as it was more the character development. I loved how each of the characters' personalities were different and relatable, and none of them were 1d, all of them had secrets and very complex personalities.
Now, the cliffhanger. I mean, the ending wasn't at all expected, and I was so surprised! I CAN NOT wait to read the sequel and see what will happen next!!!
In conclusion, I must say, Paityn Pardue, you're a legend! Writing an awesome book, like this, at 15?! I mean... I've got no words. You're AWESOME!
ABSOLUTELY RECOMMENDED!
~Full Review To Come~
September 15, 2021
Ezra, an 18-year-old overachiever, is brutally murdered in her home. The last thing she sees is a laughing red mask.
That sounds like it should be the end of a psychological thriller, not the beginning. But in Paityn Parque's debut novel, Madness, nothing is as it should be. Ezra wakes up somewhere she doesn't recognize, still wearing her bloody clothes, with the evidence of her mortal wounds scarred into her skin. She stumbles upon a book entitled "Handbook of the Battles," and the rules are simple, kill or be killed. Again and again and again and again. But how did she get there? Who trapped them here? In her search for answers, she finds tentative allies, new strengths, and formidable enemies. Can she find the origin of this horrible place before the endless cycle of killing and dying destroys her sanity?
The world that Paityn created in this novel is truly one of a kind. Thousands of people aged 18-21 are trapped in a never-ending cycle of killing each other to gain blood points so they can eventually buy themselves out. The relentless cruelty changes and shapes each person, creating character arcs that are both believable and painful. It also paints a brutal picture of humanity. It demonstrates the cruelty we are capable of and how far someone could go to save themselves. How many times could you take someone's life before it drives you mad?
At some points, the story does seem a bit rushed. So readers may not fully connect with some of the characters enough to really empathize with them. Parts of the dialogue are a bit juvenile and obnoxious, but they're 18-21-year-olds trapped in a death cycle, so that's to be expected. If they acted like mature, rational people, the story wouldn't be believable.
Neither of the issues above detracts from the story, so Madness receives five out of five stars. It has such an incredible and unique storyline, with characters that are nuanced and realistically flawed. The simplistic, straightforward writing style balances out the complexity of the story perfectly.
Of course, there are trigger warnings necessary here. There's no romance in the novel. (but maybe some tension? Or, perhaps that's just wishful thinking on my part. I love a good psychotic anti-hero, okay? Sue me.) So there are no graphic scenes of that nature. The cursing is mild as well. But the violence is brutal and pervasive throughout the novel, so be prepared for intense bloodshed.
It's a stunning, macabre plot reminiscent of universally loved series like The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner. Perfect for fans of novels that traverse the line between sci-fi, horror, and psychological thrillers. Also... I need the next installment, like yesterday. Please.
I received an advanced copy of this novel for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
That sounds like it should be the end of a psychological thriller, not the beginning. But in Paityn Parque's debut novel, Madness, nothing is as it should be. Ezra wakes up somewhere she doesn't recognize, still wearing her bloody clothes, with the evidence of her mortal wounds scarred into her skin. She stumbles upon a book entitled "Handbook of the Battles," and the rules are simple, kill or be killed. Again and again and again and again. But how did she get there? Who trapped them here? In her search for answers, she finds tentative allies, new strengths, and formidable enemies. Can she find the origin of this horrible place before the endless cycle of killing and dying destroys her sanity?
The world that Paityn created in this novel is truly one of a kind. Thousands of people aged 18-21 are trapped in a never-ending cycle of killing each other to gain blood points so they can eventually buy themselves out. The relentless cruelty changes and shapes each person, creating character arcs that are both believable and painful. It also paints a brutal picture of humanity. It demonstrates the cruelty we are capable of and how far someone could go to save themselves. How many times could you take someone's life before it drives you mad?
At some points, the story does seem a bit rushed. So readers may not fully connect with some of the characters enough to really empathize with them. Parts of the dialogue are a bit juvenile and obnoxious, but they're 18-21-year-olds trapped in a death cycle, so that's to be expected. If they acted like mature, rational people, the story wouldn't be believable.
Neither of the issues above detracts from the story, so Madness receives five out of five stars. It has such an incredible and unique storyline, with characters that are nuanced and realistically flawed. The simplistic, straightforward writing style balances out the complexity of the story perfectly.
Of course, there are trigger warnings necessary here. There's no romance in the novel. (but maybe some tension? Or, perhaps that's just wishful thinking on my part. I love a good psychotic anti-hero, okay? Sue me.) So there are no graphic scenes of that nature. The cursing is mild as well. But the violence is brutal and pervasive throughout the novel, so be prepared for intense bloodshed.
It's a stunning, macabre plot reminiscent of universally loved series like The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner. Perfect for fans of novels that traverse the line between sci-fi, horror, and psychological thrillers. Also... I need the next installment, like yesterday. Please.
I received an advanced copy of this novel for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 26, 2021
A cool novel that reminds me of the Hunger Games in a way.
After a couple weeks of feeling like hell, Ezra wakes up in it, literally. She is introduced to the Battles, a strange type of lotto that had people 18-22 battling for their lives. At least if they die on the Battles, they just come back, right?
This was a great novel of how far people can go until they break. All the “players” of this horrific never-ending game are out to the ultimate test of kill or be killed.
Although some of the dialogue left much to be desired, overall the characters were well thought out and well written. Especially when you look at the ages of the characters and the situations that they’ve found themselves in.
I greatly enjoyed the small nuances of this novel; how all the little pieces of the puzzle start to come together both for Ezra and the reader. The novel does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, but it definitely left me wanting more. I look forward to reading more from this author and hope to see more of this series.
I received this advanced readers copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
For more reviews, please check out my blog:
https://bookshelfadventures.home.blog/
After a couple weeks of feeling like hell, Ezra wakes up in it, literally. She is introduced to the Battles, a strange type of lotto that had people 18-22 battling for their lives. At least if they die on the Battles, they just come back, right?
This was a great novel of how far people can go until they break. All the “players” of this horrific never-ending game are out to the ultimate test of kill or be killed.
Although some of the dialogue left much to be desired, overall the characters were well thought out and well written. Especially when you look at the ages of the characters and the situations that they’ve found themselves in.
I greatly enjoyed the small nuances of this novel; how all the little pieces of the puzzle start to come together both for Ezra and the reader. The novel does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, but it definitely left me wanting more. I look forward to reading more from this author and hope to see more of this series.
I received this advanced readers copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
For more reviews, please check out my blog:
https://bookshelfadventures.home.blog/
October 25, 2021
When Paityn contacted me to review her book, I considered not taking the offer simply because I was busy with Exams and School etc
But I decided against that because I saw her age, 15, which is my age.
I wanted to see how a girl my age would be able to write and see if I could learn for it and I can proudly say that she did not disappoint.
Madness is about Ezra, a teenage girl who after weeks of weird headaches and lack of concentration finds herself brutally mudered and in a crazy world in which it is kill or be killed.
I was quite suprised that the writing felt completely normal and smooth to me, It was really inspiring.
The characters were actually engrossing even though I felt that the fact that Ezra just pretty much became a vengful angel(or demon) is pretty unrealistic.
Th worldbuilding was excellent and the while the story really didn't have a strong plot, it still manages to pull you in.
The only other problem I can think of is how Ezra doesn't have any serious inner conflict with the whole causing murder all around thing.
The only left to say is that I am impressed.
But I decided against that because I saw her age, 15, which is my age.
I wanted to see how a girl my age would be able to write and see if I could learn for it and I can proudly say that she did not disappoint.
Madness is about Ezra, a teenage girl who after weeks of weird headaches and lack of concentration finds herself brutally mudered and in a crazy world in which it is kill or be killed.
I was quite suprised that the writing felt completely normal and smooth to me, It was really inspiring.
The characters were actually engrossing even though I felt that the fact that Ezra just pretty much became a vengful angel(or demon) is pretty unrealistic.
Th worldbuilding was excellent and the while the story really didn't have a strong plot, it still manages to pull you in.
The only other problem I can think of is how Ezra doesn't have any serious inner conflict with the whole causing murder all around thing.
The only left to say is that I am impressed.
August 23, 2021
Read this review on my blog.
ACTUAL RATING: 3.5/5
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
TW: suicide
Madness is Paityn Parque - 15-year-old American girl - debut novel. Initially, I was reluctant to accept this collaboration, convinced that a book written by such a young author could certainly not give me what I was looking for. The plot, however, intrigued me too much, thanks to the fact that it was clearly dystopian and not one of the usual fantasy that are normally proposed to me.
I’m happy to say that I had to change my mind: Madness has completely captured me, taking me into a binge-read of several hours thanks to which I finished the book in half a day.
This book gave me very mixed emotions, which make it difficult to write a review that is not just negative or positive. But let’s go step by step:
writing style: the first thing I noticed about this book was the "immature" writing. It’s a very simple style, certainly lacking in substance. Therefore, it's definitely suitable for those approaching reading in English for the first time.
world-building: the world imagined by Parque is very interesting, original I would say, but the idea of a group of people waking up in a video game is nothing new. What I find original is the type of video game, and the why. Exactly, why does Ezra wake up in the Battles? Who sends all these kids to die continuously in a virtual world? For what purpose? Well, don’t expect to find the answer to these questions in Madness. Some clues are given to us, but we will have to wait for the sequel to shed light on all these doubts. Having said that, how is this world built? In my opinion, not too well. Parque describes only a small part of the Battles: we know that there is a border beyond which you can not go (as if the players were in a bubble), we know that here and there are scattered houses where the players take refuge, and we know that at the center of the Battles there is a square-like place where any kind of violence it's illegal, under penalty of exploding (literally). In this square you can buy things like the Intraface - sort of a book that shows the statistics of the player and his special skills - or even a passage to the real world. Yes, players - giving up a few Blood Points - can spend 24 hours in the real world, where they can also interact with family, friends etc. Nothing else is explained to us, and I find it a shame because the Battles had the potential to be a really interesting world to explore. The story takes place over 6 months or more, but Ezra spends 90% of this time in her own home. Too bad, with a hundred extra pages you could add small adventures in the various areas of the Battles.
characters: get ready for the found-family trope, but with a little twist. In the Battles, players can form Teams but, usually, these groups are created more for convenience than for genuine friendship. We have a nice set of characters: Ezra, Speedy, Jack, Zag, and Tiago. Luckily there are no multiple POVs, the story is told in the third person but focuses on the protagonist's POV. Ezra is a main character that needed much more characterization and substance. I mean, we’re still talking about a normal high school student who, overnight, finds herself having to kill people. Yes, those people never really die, but the experience is quite realistic, bloody, and certainly shocking for anyone. I wished the author had dedicated more pages to Ezra's inner conflicts, I wanted to see her seriously traumatized by the events, I would have liked to see her cry, scream, not accept her destiny, try to escape... all those stages that I think anyone would go through if they were in her place. Instead, she accepts everything almost willingly, immersing herself immediately in the spirit of the Battles. Throughout the book, she will dedicate a thought to her life in the real world perhaps a couple of times, but not more. I found her development very rushed and unrealistic, which made it difficult for me to empathize with her. In fact, I find her rather unpleasant.
Speedy is an interesting character, but we know very little about him. I got the impression that the author created him just to give Ezra a way to survive and learn to fight and defend herself from the start. Oh, and to get a lot of info-dump out of his mouth. We know nothing else, neither where he comes from, nor why he decides to take Ezra under his wing, nada de nada. Speedy is a literary device made character, and I didn’t like that very much. Zag is adorable: we know very little about him too, but at least his actions and his words always remain consistent, which makes it easy to understand him and feel like you know him. The same could be said for Tiago, who however lacks personality, and sometimes sins of a terrible flatness. Then we have Jack, certainly the most controversial and intriguing of the group, as well as the most three-dimensional. I would have liked to explore him more, to know him better, instead we are given only confused flashes of his past, and selfish, not always consistent behaviors. I think the author had a lot of ideas for him, but she couldn’t design a well-defined plan for his construction and develpment. This applies a bit to all the characters in general: you can see that the idea is there, that the desire to create a heterogeneous and unique group is there, but the execution isn't the best. They all lack three-dimensionality, and often their actions or words confuse the reader. However, Parque managed to convey through them that sense of found-family, of a group formed by chance and still together by choice, which I find admirable.
In short, Madness is clearly the work of a still "immature" author, and - technically speaking - sins with various shortcomings. However, my opinion is that of a reader accustomed to older, more experienced authors, from which I expect substance, three-dimensionality, complexity. To have the same expectations for a book written by such a young girl wouldn't be fair. And, despite everything, Madness tells an engaging, addictive story, full of action scenes, with one or two pretty good plot twists and a surprising ending - I dare say touching - that opens the doors to a sequel not to be missed. With these "The Maze Runner" kinda vibes (yes, I’m comparing this book to one of my favorite series!) Madness kept me glued to its pages, and its fast pace made me devour it without a moment of boredom. Every chapter made me want to continue!
I can say with certainty that I have read many books by adult authors that I did not like as much as I liked this, and I would strongly recommend it to young readers - between 12 and 16/17 years - as well as to a more mature audience that finds pleasure in reading Middle-Grade books.
ACTUAL RATING: 3.5/5
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
TW: suicide
Madness is Paityn Parque - 15-year-old American girl - debut novel. Initially, I was reluctant to accept this collaboration, convinced that a book written by such a young author could certainly not give me what I was looking for. The plot, however, intrigued me too much, thanks to the fact that it was clearly dystopian and not one of the usual fantasy that are normally proposed to me.
I’m happy to say that I had to change my mind: Madness has completely captured me, taking me into a binge-read of several hours thanks to which I finished the book in half a day.
This book gave me very mixed emotions, which make it difficult to write a review that is not just negative or positive. But let’s go step by step:
writing style: the first thing I noticed about this book was the "immature" writing. It’s a very simple style, certainly lacking in substance. Therefore, it's definitely suitable for those approaching reading in English for the first time.
world-building: the world imagined by Parque is very interesting, original I would say, but the idea of a group of people waking up in a video game is nothing new. What I find original is the type of video game, and the why. Exactly, why does Ezra wake up in the Battles? Who sends all these kids to die continuously in a virtual world? For what purpose? Well, don’t expect to find the answer to these questions in Madness. Some clues are given to us, but we will have to wait for the sequel to shed light on all these doubts. Having said that, how is this world built? In my opinion, not too well. Parque describes only a small part of the Battles: we know that there is a border beyond which you can not go (as if the players were in a bubble), we know that here and there are scattered houses where the players take refuge, and we know that at the center of the Battles there is a square-like place where any kind of violence it's illegal, under penalty of exploding (literally). In this square you can buy things like the Intraface - sort of a book that shows the statistics of the player and his special skills - or even a passage to the real world. Yes, players - giving up a few Blood Points - can spend 24 hours in the real world, where they can also interact with family, friends etc. Nothing else is explained to us, and I find it a shame because the Battles had the potential to be a really interesting world to explore. The story takes place over 6 months or more, but Ezra spends 90% of this time in her own home. Too bad, with a hundred extra pages you could add small adventures in the various areas of the Battles.
characters: get ready for the found-family trope, but with a little twist. In the Battles, players can form Teams but, usually, these groups are created more for convenience than for genuine friendship. We have a nice set of characters: Ezra, Speedy, Jack, Zag, and Tiago. Luckily there are no multiple POVs, the story is told in the third person but focuses on the protagonist's POV. Ezra is a main character that needed much more characterization and substance. I mean, we’re still talking about a normal high school student who, overnight, finds herself having to kill people. Yes, those people never really die, but the experience is quite realistic, bloody, and certainly shocking for anyone. I wished the author had dedicated more pages to Ezra's inner conflicts, I wanted to see her seriously traumatized by the events, I would have liked to see her cry, scream, not accept her destiny, try to escape... all those stages that I think anyone would go through if they were in her place. Instead, she accepts everything almost willingly, immersing herself immediately in the spirit of the Battles. Throughout the book, she will dedicate a thought to her life in the real world perhaps a couple of times, but not more. I found her development very rushed and unrealistic, which made it difficult for me to empathize with her. In fact, I find her rather unpleasant.
Speedy is an interesting character, but we know very little about him. I got the impression that the author created him just to give Ezra a way to survive and learn to fight and defend herself from the start. Oh, and to get a lot of info-dump out of his mouth. We know nothing else, neither where he comes from, nor why he decides to take Ezra under his wing, nada de nada. Speedy is a literary device made character, and I didn’t like that very much. Zag is adorable: we know very little about him too, but at least his actions and his words always remain consistent, which makes it easy to understand him and feel like you know him. The same could be said for Tiago, who however lacks personality, and sometimes sins of a terrible flatness. Then we have Jack, certainly the most controversial and intriguing of the group, as well as the most three-dimensional. I would have liked to explore him more, to know him better, instead we are given only confused flashes of his past, and selfish, not always consistent behaviors. I think the author had a lot of ideas for him, but she couldn’t design a well-defined plan for his construction and develpment. This applies a bit to all the characters in general: you can see that the idea is there, that the desire to create a heterogeneous and unique group is there, but the execution isn't the best. They all lack three-dimensionality, and often their actions or words confuse the reader. However, Parque managed to convey through them that sense of found-family, of a group formed by chance and still together by choice, which I find admirable.
In short, Madness is clearly the work of a still "immature" author, and - technically speaking - sins with various shortcomings. However, my opinion is that of a reader accustomed to older, more experienced authors, from which I expect substance, three-dimensionality, complexity. To have the same expectations for a book written by such a young girl wouldn't be fair. And, despite everything, Madness tells an engaging, addictive story, full of action scenes, with one or two pretty good plot twists and a surprising ending - I dare say touching - that opens the doors to a sequel not to be missed. With these "The Maze Runner" kinda vibes (yes, I’m comparing this book to one of my favorite series!) Madness kept me glued to its pages, and its fast pace made me devour it without a moment of boredom. Every chapter made me want to continue!
I can say with certainty that I have read many books by adult authors that I did not like as much as I liked this, and I would strongly recommend it to young readers - between 12 and 16/17 years - as well as to a more mature audience that finds pleasure in reading Middle-Grade books.
September 21, 2021
Have you ever read a Michael Bay movie?
Have you ever wanted to?
Explosions, super powered ninjas, everybody dies and then goes back to kicks some more ass?
I read Madness after the author reached out to me for a review, and I'm excited I found this book. It won't be for everybody, but no book is.
The main character, Ezra, gets shipped off to a secret government (maybe) facility with a force field containing players (prisoners?) who are immortal. Not invincible. If you die in the game, you just get brought back. Over. and over. and over.
Players are given super powers like super strength, speed, healing powers, etc. Feels like upgrades in a variety of video games. These powers are upgraded with points earned from killing others, so killing people makes you better at killing people... I see a pattern here.
A rule book explains some things; the only ways out of this Hell is to earn enough points by killing others, or suicide. That's it. No guns, no explosives, you have to get up and close and EARN those points.
Points can buy you a trip back to the "real" world to visit family or upgrades to the game-given super powers.
The story follows Ezra through the learning curve of living in this world, from a realistic training montage (hand-to-hand knife fighting mostly), to earning a nickname (username?), to making alliances out of friendship and necessity.
I say the book isn't for everyone, but no book is. This story is all action. It is fire, blood, and guts.
The trade off is characters. The character development suffers as the plot races on, but I don't see this as a bad thing. I see it as an artistic decision, one I don't usually like. I usually prefer the story to concentrate on the people and how they deal with the plot, but for an every-once-in-a-while read, this style of writing is fun. You learn a little about the characters, but mostly how they stabby-stab-stab their way through the game.
The vibe came off as very "person gets sucked into video game" to me, but I don't think that's the point. That's the metaphor that allows the story to happen.
The point is how people act under stress, how people react to social norms that conflict with their values, and what lengths someone will go to for survival.
People in this world are given great power, would you act with great responsibility?
** I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Have you ever wanted to?
Explosions, super powered ninjas, everybody dies and then goes back to kicks some more ass?
I read Madness after the author reached out to me for a review, and I'm excited I found this book. It won't be for everybody, but no book is.
The main character, Ezra, gets shipped off to a secret government (maybe) facility with a force field containing players (prisoners?) who are immortal. Not invincible. If you die in the game, you just get brought back. Over. and over. and over.
Players are given super powers like super strength, speed, healing powers, etc. Feels like upgrades in a variety of video games. These powers are upgraded with points earned from killing others, so killing people makes you better at killing people... I see a pattern here.
A rule book explains some things; the only ways out of this Hell is to earn enough points by killing others, or suicide. That's it. No guns, no explosives, you have to get up and close and EARN those points.
Points can buy you a trip back to the "real" world to visit family or upgrades to the game-given super powers.
The story follows Ezra through the learning curve of living in this world, from a realistic training montage (hand-to-hand knife fighting mostly), to earning a nickname (username?), to making alliances out of friendship and necessity.
I say the book isn't for everyone, but no book is. This story is all action. It is fire, blood, and guts.
The trade off is characters. The character development suffers as the plot races on, but I don't see this as a bad thing. I see it as an artistic decision, one I don't usually like. I usually prefer the story to concentrate on the people and how they deal with the plot, but for an every-once-in-a-while read, this style of writing is fun. You learn a little about the characters, but mostly how they stabby-stab-stab their way through the game.
The vibe came off as very "person gets sucked into video game" to me, but I don't think that's the point. That's the metaphor that allows the story to happen.
The point is how people act under stress, how people react to social norms that conflict with their values, and what lengths someone will go to for survival.
People in this world are given great power, would you act with great responsibility?
** I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2021
All right! Finally, we have a novel of the Video Game Fantasy genre that is still, at the bottom, a novel. The key point is that the author did not concentrate on the game but on the characters. This is an author writing a book for her readers, not a gamer trying to attract the attention of video game creators.
Like any Fantasy, this story takes place in a world with magic. Here, the rules of the magic are simple, clearly stated, and always followed. Because of this, the players in the game have several levels of conflict: global, which is how to beat the game (called Engine) itself; external, which is how to defend themselves against the other players; family, which is how they deal with members of their team; and the most important one, personal, which is how they react to the stresses and opportunities visited on them. You could even say there is a metaphysical element, because the nature of death is often discussed, and Engine takes the place of a god.
The main conflict involves the character development of the heroine, Shadow, who has to come to terms with her ability to kill and her growing enjoyment of the act. It is the story of someone pushed to the verge of madness and fighting to stay sane. At the same time, she is a positive person, with a soft side she rarely reveals and a sense of ethics completely at odds with the environment into which she is thrust. It is her struggle that provides the overall conflict to the story arc and creates the rising suspense to the final conflict.
If pushed, I could point out a few small errors. For example, the Prologue, which is actually a scene from later in the novel, must have been written early in the process and then not adapted to the changes made as the book was written. There is technology mentioned that is not used in the rest of the story. I also noted slips in the fight scenes, where certain actions are impossible because of the weapons being used. But these are minor annoyances in a book that brings us in and keeps us engaged throughout.
Highly recommended for Gamers and other Fantasy readers. A bit gory for younger souls.
Like any Fantasy, this story takes place in a world with magic. Here, the rules of the magic are simple, clearly stated, and always followed. Because of this, the players in the game have several levels of conflict: global, which is how to beat the game (called Engine) itself; external, which is how to defend themselves against the other players; family, which is how they deal with members of their team; and the most important one, personal, which is how they react to the stresses and opportunities visited on them. You could even say there is a metaphysical element, because the nature of death is often discussed, and Engine takes the place of a god.
The main conflict involves the character development of the heroine, Shadow, who has to come to terms with her ability to kill and her growing enjoyment of the act. It is the story of someone pushed to the verge of madness and fighting to stay sane. At the same time, she is a positive person, with a soft side she rarely reveals and a sense of ethics completely at odds with the environment into which she is thrust. It is her struggle that provides the overall conflict to the story arc and creates the rising suspense to the final conflict.
If pushed, I could point out a few small errors. For example, the Prologue, which is actually a scene from later in the novel, must have been written early in the process and then not adapted to the changes made as the book was written. There is technology mentioned that is not used in the rest of the story. I also noted slips in the fight scenes, where certain actions are impossible because of the weapons being used. But these are minor annoyances in a book that brings us in and keeps us engaged throughout.
Highly recommended for Gamers and other Fantasy readers. A bit gory for younger souls.
October 22, 2021
Ezra keeps getting sicker with migraines. Then, one day, she wakes up in a game run by “Engine.”
“Congratulations! You have been selected to participate in the Battles. You just died, but have unlimited lives.” So begins the Rules of the game. Ezra enters the game, making an ally with Speedy. Others follow as she enters a world of RPG video game destruction. She discovers her own feats and how to use them as well as their potential danger to herself. After all, killing yourself removes you from the game and life permanently
As the book progresses, Ezra devolves. We are prepared for this early as she is told the game leads you to madness and few if any escape. She is eventually so transformed, she is even given a new name: Shadow. “She was her own worst enemy. By now, Shadow couldn’t tell who she was. Was she Ezra? Was she Shadow?”
As Ezra wrestles with her own identity she must also continue to wrestle with the Battles the mysterious company, Engine, has set her in. The book ends both satisfactorily with regards to Ezra and her entrance to the games but also offers a cliffhanger, setting up a future volume.
Overall, this is the most enjoyable RPG Fantasy I have read. It is fast paced, doesn’t overload me with video game talk, and has some “man vs institution” themes I enjoyed. It could certainly use a bit of a content edit and the world had some puzzles for me (Why don’t you just team up with one person, kill each other, earn points, and leave?) but there is enough good here to offer suspension of disbelief. Especially, as mentioned in other reviews, knowing the story comes from a teenager herself it is an excellent debut novel. The things that really distract me in indie novels – bad grammar, misspellings, lack of proofing – are not here. It reads fast and smooth. I would say the book is well worth picking up, if for nothing else so you can say you knew about this rising star of an author before she was famous.
I was given a copy of the book for review on my blog: circumlocution.net. The opinions are my own.
December 8, 2021
Absolutely wonderful... Can't recommend enough.
I enjoyed through this book and it was an awesome experience to read this book. Given that the author was only 15 years old when writing this, the book is just perfect. I literally cried when speedy died/ did suicide. I never really saw that coming.
Coming to the plot: A girl named Erza is brutally murdered after being sick for 14 days. When she woke again, she totally expect herself to be dead and in heaven but no, she founds herself in a game created by Government. Not only her, but many people around her age. The catch? To survive in this game, you have to be killed or kill. You have unlimited lives and the permanent solution to escape the game is to suicide. With madness in players, with madness in game, you can't trust anyone. Even a teammate could be your enemy. Can Erza escape the game? Or she will let herself be absorbed in madness?
I recommend everyone to read this book. I don't know if there is, but I definitely need a squeal for this book. I loved all the characters, each character is unique. Jack and speedy were my favourite whereas erza was obsession. Last chapters took my breath.
“Does it really matter what you feel? This is your final destination, Jackie boy. You're heading to hell."
“Isn't that what family is? Waiting for me... On the other side? Family sticks together, and being through hell sure put us together like some pack of wolves. I guess I'll meet you two on the other side, then."
“You believed him more than your teammate because you defined me by my past even after I changed. Everyone knew what actually happened except for you."
I enjoyed through this book and it was an awesome experience to read this book. Given that the author was only 15 years old when writing this, the book is just perfect. I literally cried when speedy died/ did suicide. I never really saw that coming.
Coming to the plot: A girl named Erza is brutally murdered after being sick for 14 days. When she woke again, she totally expect herself to be dead and in heaven but no, she founds herself in a game created by Government. Not only her, but many people around her age. The catch? To survive in this game, you have to be killed or kill. You have unlimited lives and the permanent solution to escape the game is to suicide. With madness in players, with madness in game, you can't trust anyone. Even a teammate could be your enemy. Can Erza escape the game? Or she will let herself be absorbed in madness?
I recommend everyone to read this book. I don't know if there is, but I definitely need a squeal for this book. I loved all the characters, each character is unique. Jack and speedy were my favourite whereas erza was obsession. Last chapters took my breath.
“Does it really matter what you feel? This is your final destination, Jackie boy. You're heading to hell."
“Isn't that what family is? Waiting for me... On the other side? Family sticks together, and being through hell sure put us together like some pack of wolves. I guess I'll meet you two on the other side, then."
“You believed him more than your teammate because you defined me by my past even after I changed. Everyone knew what actually happened except for you."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2021
Masterpiece
A Mind blogging dark fantasy novel with an intense and melting climax. The author’s best imaginative skills keep the readers anxious while slowly revealing the world of the deadly game. The chapters are delightfully packed with mystery and action. A definite page-turner with interesting character development.
All about the deadly game is clearly explained in simple terms and can be easily understood. I’m amazed at her creativity and imagination to create this unusual plot. The readers can get caught in the twisted game that keeps you on edge.
The characters are lively, unique and the incidents are engrossing. The author’s powerful narrative gets you involved in the game. You may get indulgences of exploration in this adventurous journey to experience the unexpected with thought-provoking quotes.
Quotes I loved from the book:
Fear made her heart beat faster than the drums of death itself.
Family sticks together and being through hell sure put us together like some pack of wolves.
A Mind blogging dark fantasy novel with an intense and melting climax. The author’s best imaginative skills keep the readers anxious while slowly revealing the world of the deadly game. The chapters are delightfully packed with mystery and action. A definite page-turner with interesting character development.
All about the deadly game is clearly explained in simple terms and can be easily understood. I’m amazed at her creativity and imagination to create this unusual plot. The readers can get caught in the twisted game that keeps you on edge.
The characters are lively, unique and the incidents are engrossing. The author’s powerful narrative gets you involved in the game. You may get indulgences of exploration in this adventurous journey to experience the unexpected with thought-provoking quotes.
Quotes I loved from the book:
Fear made her heart beat faster than the drums of death itself.
Family sticks together and being through hell sure put us together like some pack of wolves.
September 26, 2021
I was not ready for this amazing dark thriller. Madness by Paityn Parque is dark, intense, highly imaginative by the author, and a page-turner. Be prepared to never put this down until the last page, because you will find yourself on the end of your seat from the beginning. The deadly game, the main theme of the storyline, is addictive to read but also gives anxiety to the reader as the mystery is slowly opening up. The danger is always near for Ezra and it's be killed or kill.
Honestly, I really loved this novel and wished that I read it earlier. I was in a bit of a reading slump for a bit, and this was the perfect pick-me up. I enjoyed reading how all the pieces slowly came together while Ezra feared for her life. I look forward to reading what this author writes in the future. She's definitely one you want to watch for!
I received this advanced reader's copy for free for an honest review. My thoughts are my own.
Honestly, I really loved this novel and wished that I read it earlier. I was in a bit of a reading slump for a bit, and this was the perfect pick-me up. I enjoyed reading how all the pieces slowly came together while Ezra feared for her life. I look forward to reading what this author writes in the future. She's definitely one you want to watch for!
I received this advanced reader's copy for free for an honest review. My thoughts are my own.
September 7, 2021
TW: Suicide
Let me just say how commendable it is to write a book, especially a dystopian book. I feel like most dystopian books have pretty similar elements, and it was honestly a breath of fresh air to read “madness” by Paityn. She nailed this. I love the concept, and how it’s not in any way cliche. It gave me the hunger games meets the cruel prince vibes.
This book is still able to retain its dystopian-ness, if you will, but manages to make me feel like I’ve been thrown in a completely different world, much like the protagonist. Paityn uses a perfect balance of vocabulary to the lingo of today. I think it’s really important to plan your characters, and use your language to convey them. And the way that she uses lingo, to convey that they’re still kids, is amazing. I love Zag. He’s the character that changes this whole dystopian environment for me.
The book starts by giving us a bit of insight into our protagonist, Ezra. Ezra is an overachiever who feels drained and burnt out. And honestly, the same girl. I think that Ezra is a super relatable character, and I feel like I’m living and feeling her emotions and pain. So when she was plunged into a whole new world, I felt one with her, sitting at the edge of my chair, in anticipation, waiting to see what would happen.
The first character we meet on Ezra’s adventure, is Speedy. He seems to want to help her, without any ulterior motives which she’s quite wary of. But who wouldn’t be? Speedy is the lovable, cute by cocky character, that would probably hunt down anyone who hurts Ezra. THAT'S MY FAVOURITE TROPE. And when they had their mock fight? CHEFS KISS. It’s my favourite thing in the world when a character can defend themselves, pushing against the damsel in distress norm. He’s honestly perfect. Anyhow, The next character we meet on Ezra's journey is Jack. She meets him after some unfavourable circumstances take place, leaving Jack at their mercy and as their hostage. Jack seems to portray that he’s a bad person, but in reality, I think he’s quite sweet. The next person is Tiago. He’s a friend of Speedy’s, who unfortunately was chosen. We don’t know much about him, other than he's rich, and mysterious. And, at last, We meet the last member of this oddball family, Zag. He’s one to make light of a situation. And he’s personally my favourite. He’s able to make light of any dire situation. And I believe he’s one of the only components that puts light in this dark, twisted dreadful situation.
“Leave no one alive”. And I feel like that’s some serious character development from Ezra’s side. How she was able to keep her humanity, and switch it on and off when she pleases. And how much she’s changed from the start of the book, to now.
The thing that most people look for in a good story, is world-building. And although the world hasn’t been vividly described, I think I like it that way. It doesn’t take away from the plot or it doesn’t tell me what to think about their surroundings. And I like the world building, but there could’ve been a little bit more. But I think it complemented the characters well. We got to see deeper and understand the characters true intentions. I also feel like a bit more depth to Jack's character could help. A quote I loved from this book was
The way Paityn’s writing can pull at my heartstrings and control and contort my emotions at different points in the story is a sign of amazing writing. And I honestly hope that there is a sequel. I genuinely hope to hear more from Ezra, and Jack, and the whole crew. Just the way that they had their tight-knit group reminds me of Jude, and her group in the cruel prince. I loved and enjoyed this book. And I hope you choose to read this book and enjoy it as much as I did.
Let me just say how commendable it is to write a book, especially a dystopian book. I feel like most dystopian books have pretty similar elements, and it was honestly a breath of fresh air to read “madness” by Paityn. She nailed this. I love the concept, and how it’s not in any way cliche. It gave me the hunger games meets the cruel prince vibes.
This book is still able to retain its dystopian-ness, if you will, but manages to make me feel like I’ve been thrown in a completely different world, much like the protagonist. Paityn uses a perfect balance of vocabulary to the lingo of today. I think it’s really important to plan your characters, and use your language to convey them. And the way that she uses lingo, to convey that they’re still kids, is amazing. I love Zag. He’s the character that changes this whole dystopian environment for me.
The book starts by giving us a bit of insight into our protagonist, Ezra. Ezra is an overachiever who feels drained and burnt out. And honestly, the same girl. I think that Ezra is a super relatable character, and I feel like I’m living and feeling her emotions and pain. So when she was plunged into a whole new world, I felt one with her, sitting at the edge of my chair, in anticipation, waiting to see what would happen.
The first character we meet on Ezra’s adventure, is Speedy. He seems to want to help her, without any ulterior motives which she’s quite wary of. But who wouldn’t be? Speedy is the lovable, cute by cocky character, that would probably hunt down anyone who hurts Ezra. THAT'S MY FAVOURITE TROPE. And when they had their mock fight? CHEFS KISS. It’s my favourite thing in the world when a character can defend themselves, pushing against the damsel in distress norm. He’s honestly perfect. Anyhow, The next character we meet on Ezra's journey is Jack. She meets him after some unfavourable circumstances take place, leaving Jack at their mercy and as their hostage. Jack seems to portray that he’s a bad person, but in reality, I think he’s quite sweet. The next person is Tiago. He’s a friend of Speedy’s, who unfortunately was chosen. We don’t know much about him, other than he's rich, and mysterious. And, at last, We meet the last member of this oddball family, Zag. He’s one to make light of a situation. And he’s personally my favourite. He’s able to make light of any dire situation. And I believe he’s one of the only components that puts light in this dark, twisted dreadful situation.
“Leave no one alive”. And I feel like that’s some serious character development from Ezra’s side. How she was able to keep her humanity, and switch it on and off when she pleases. And how much she’s changed from the start of the book, to now.
The thing that most people look for in a good story, is world-building. And although the world hasn’t been vividly described, I think I like it that way. It doesn’t take away from the plot or it doesn’t tell me what to think about their surroundings. And I like the world building, but there could’ve been a little bit more. But I think it complemented the characters well. We got to see deeper and understand the characters true intentions. I also feel like a bit more depth to Jack's character could help. A quote I loved from this book was
The way Paityn’s writing can pull at my heartstrings and control and contort my emotions at different points in the story is a sign of amazing writing. And I honestly hope that there is a sequel. I genuinely hope to hear more from Ezra, and Jack, and the whole crew. Just the way that they had their tight-knit group reminds me of Jude, and her group in the cruel prince. I loved and enjoyed this book. And I hope you choose to read this book and enjoy it as much as I did.
October 12, 2021
"Madness" by Paiton Parque is a debut novel that takes readers down a treacherous descent into chaos and insanity. It's a story that exemplifies the monstrous qualities of humanity and how, when someone is pushed hard enough, they can become more terrifying than any horrific creature one can imagine.
When Ezra Adkins is brutally murdered in her own home, she discovers the hard way that there's no such thing as a heavenly afterlife. Thrown into an in-between place with unlimited lives, Ezra enters a world of murder, torture, suicide, and madness. The only way to survive is to play by the rules and hang onto sanity which dissipates a little more with each day that passes. Determined to find a way out of this hellish nightmare, Ezra fights to find a loophole out of the game of death she's been dragged into.
"Madness" is like a horror-themed video game in which the players get unlimited chances at life but only one chance at "winning" by earning enough kills to permanently exit the game. While some people turn murder and torture into a sport, there are others like Ezra who want to escape the horror wrought upon them and return home to their families.
The originality of how this story unfolds like a video game is an aspect that is going to generate a lot of interest and make people stick with the story. A lot of horror stories tend to have the same elements of abandoned cabins in the woods, or a demonic ritual, a haunted house, or something predictable readers know will end badly. Parque's idea of a horror-themed story within a game-like setting creates an unpredictable storyline with an incredibly tense and unsettling atmosphere.
Some of the dialogue is a bit cliche. To be fair, it is hard to portray a realistic reaction in emotional scenes within horror unless someone has a long, in-depth background in human psychology and social behavior. There were some moments where I felt even without this education, the dialogue could've been a bit more original and therefore realistic.
To add to the emotional reactions, though there is a lot of death happening in this story, there were a few instances I felt the main character was a little too detached. While witnessing a lot of death can make someone become emotionally numb, there were I few people I didn't expect Ezra to feel that way toward. It seemed as though she quickly moved on from the emotional pain of losing someone when I expected that pain to last a bit longer or to appear off and on throughout the book like a bruise that unexpectedly gets bumped as a reminder that the pain is still there, even if it isn't constant.
Overall, I thought this was a pretty badass book with a strong female lead. Ezra is a fascinating character to follow in this messed-up world that's a mix of The Purge and The Hunger Games. It's deceptive, dark, gory and full of chaotic madness. If anyone is a fan of horror this is one to pick up. "Madness" by Paiton Parque is a step away from the horror classics and into another kind of terrifying hell that readers will no doubt enjoy. It does come with some heavy content warnings (such as suicide, murder, torture, gaslighting, self-harm, paranoia, mental health abuse) readers need to be aware of before picking up the book. For those who can handle it, this book is currently out for purchase! Buy now and add to your reading lists!
Thank you to BookSirens for providing me with a free e-arc of this novel and the chance to share my honest opinion in this review.
When Ezra Adkins is brutally murdered in her own home, she discovers the hard way that there's no such thing as a heavenly afterlife. Thrown into an in-between place with unlimited lives, Ezra enters a world of murder, torture, suicide, and madness. The only way to survive is to play by the rules and hang onto sanity which dissipates a little more with each day that passes. Determined to find a way out of this hellish nightmare, Ezra fights to find a loophole out of the game of death she's been dragged into.
"Madness" is like a horror-themed video game in which the players get unlimited chances at life but only one chance at "winning" by earning enough kills to permanently exit the game. While some people turn murder and torture into a sport, there are others like Ezra who want to escape the horror wrought upon them and return home to their families.
The originality of how this story unfolds like a video game is an aspect that is going to generate a lot of interest and make people stick with the story. A lot of horror stories tend to have the same elements of abandoned cabins in the woods, or a demonic ritual, a haunted house, or something predictable readers know will end badly. Parque's idea of a horror-themed story within a game-like setting creates an unpredictable storyline with an incredibly tense and unsettling atmosphere.
Some of the dialogue is a bit cliche. To be fair, it is hard to portray a realistic reaction in emotional scenes within horror unless someone has a long, in-depth background in human psychology and social behavior. There were some moments where I felt even without this education, the dialogue could've been a bit more original and therefore realistic.
To add to the emotional reactions, though there is a lot of death happening in this story, there were a few instances I felt the main character was a little too detached. While witnessing a lot of death can make someone become emotionally numb, there were I few people I didn't expect Ezra to feel that way toward. It seemed as though she quickly moved on from the emotional pain of losing someone when I expected that pain to last a bit longer or to appear off and on throughout the book like a bruise that unexpectedly gets bumped as a reminder that the pain is still there, even if it isn't constant.
Overall, I thought this was a pretty badass book with a strong female lead. Ezra is a fascinating character to follow in this messed-up world that's a mix of The Purge and The Hunger Games. It's deceptive, dark, gory and full of chaotic madness. If anyone is a fan of horror this is one to pick up. "Madness" by Paiton Parque is a step away from the horror classics and into another kind of terrifying hell that readers will no doubt enjoy. It does come with some heavy content warnings (such as suicide, murder, torture, gaslighting, self-harm, paranoia, mental health abuse) readers need to be aware of before picking up the book. For those who can handle it, this book is currently out for purchase! Buy now and add to your reading lists!
Thank you to BookSirens for providing me with a free e-arc of this novel and the chance to share my honest opinion in this review.
September 27, 2021
*I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. *
Wow! What a pleasant surprise this book was! I was intrigued by the premise of this book, because it is quite unique. I wasn't quite sure what I was going to be reading about when I first read the description, but I was excited to dive in, and I felt I did exactly that.
I enjoyed the main female character, Ezra. She was realistic and had her strengths and weaknesses. She was just as confused as I was in the beginning, which I think worked in the favor of this book. Speedy's character was confusing, because I don't think there was enough background information on him. He was hot and cold towards Ezra, to the point that I just didn't know if I liked him or not. Jack's character had the embodiment of some of my favorite characters. He was morally grey, conflicted and intriguing. I also enjoyed the other team members, and I am excited to see their character development and to delve more into their backgrounds in the sequel. Some of the dialogue seemed out of character in parts, but I believe that may be due to some plot pacing errors. Overall, I loved all the main characters and side characters.
There were a few plot pacing issues, and possible plot holes that remained unanswered, but overall the plot was phenomenal. The world of the Battles was intriguing. The concept of Engine and someone else forcing them into a world of Battles, and them being possible social experiments was also fascinating. I look forward to increased world building and more explanations to the questions presented in this book.
The cliffhanger ending makes me excited to read the next in the series! I hope it comes out soon. If I were to rate this book based on the authors age and the skills required to write this book, I would give this book 5 stars. Paityn is only 15 years old, and she wrote an impressive book with a luring plotline and a unique premise. But, to make this fair and push age aside, I will have to give this book 4 stars. I loved this book and this debut author has so much promise! I hope to read more books of hers in the future.
https://coffeewanderbooks.blogspot.co...
Wow! What a pleasant surprise this book was! I was intrigued by the premise of this book, because it is quite unique. I wasn't quite sure what I was going to be reading about when I first read the description, but I was excited to dive in, and I felt I did exactly that.
I enjoyed the main female character, Ezra. She was realistic and had her strengths and weaknesses. She was just as confused as I was in the beginning, which I think worked in the favor of this book. Speedy's character was confusing, because I don't think there was enough background information on him. He was hot and cold towards Ezra, to the point that I just didn't know if I liked him or not. Jack's character had the embodiment of some of my favorite characters. He was morally grey, conflicted and intriguing. I also enjoyed the other team members, and I am excited to see their character development and to delve more into their backgrounds in the sequel. Some of the dialogue seemed out of character in parts, but I believe that may be due to some plot pacing errors. Overall, I loved all the main characters and side characters.
There were a few plot pacing issues, and possible plot holes that remained unanswered, but overall the plot was phenomenal. The world of the Battles was intriguing. The concept of Engine and someone else forcing them into a world of Battles, and them being possible social experiments was also fascinating. I look forward to increased world building and more explanations to the questions presented in this book.
The cliffhanger ending makes me excited to read the next in the series! I hope it comes out soon. If I were to rate this book based on the authors age and the skills required to write this book, I would give this book 5 stars. Paityn is only 15 years old, and she wrote an impressive book with a luring plotline and a unique premise. But, to make this fair and push age aside, I will have to give this book 4 stars. I loved this book and this debut author has so much promise! I hope to read more books of hers in the future.
https://coffeewanderbooks.blogspot.co...
August 29, 2021
This book was given to be for a review request.
Let me first say, Paityn is 15 years old and wrote a whole book with 301 pages! That alone is super impressive.
I was very intrigued after reading the summary; it reminded me of a mix between Hunger Games and Sword Art Online. We follow Ezra, who becomes trapped in a game, a game she never signed up for. The rules are simple; you level up by surviving and killing others; the people you kill will not permanently die but respawn somewhere else. However, if you decide to kill yourself, you will permanently die. The only way to get out of the game alive is to kill people, gain blood points, and buy your way out.
Our main character Ezra is a headstrong girl with a well-thought-out personality. I loved her character development and how she didn't seem perfect. She had flaws, and being completely new to the game and its work meant that she was also naive. She overestimated herself and her abilities and underestimated the other players, forgetting that they also had abilities. This made Ezra appear more human and realistic.
Every player has abilities, and they access them through a book. Everyone has main abilities and can unlock upgrades for the abilities, which I found very interesting and fun. The abilities were unique, so every player had their own style of fighting others.
The world Paityn created was simple and easy to understand. The world itself wasn't the main plot, and I'm glad she did not use lots of time to explain how the world looked like. She explained everything necessary and kept it at that.
Her writing style was also excellent. The way she described the characters was very natural. She described them by expressing their facial expression, adding their eye colors, jawlines, height, etc., clearly and simply. Paityn also described their personality through their emotions and how they reacted in certain situations, cleanly and. It was lots of fun to read it.
There are two reasons why I can not give this book 5 stars.
1) Dramatic scenes were over too quickly.
This book is characterized by action and dramatics. It's a world where our characters have to fight for survival, and not everyone has the right mindset to survive it. The build-ups to important events were over too quickly. Important events that scarred Ezra were over before I realized it was about to happen, something dramatic. The villain that follows us has great potential, but when we first got introduced to him, to be honest. I didn't even realize he would be our main villain.
2) The name change in the middle of the book.
The name change that happens is not my cup of tea. Someone might love it, and I am impressed by her unique way of changing the name of our main character and marking the change of her personality, but it was just not my thing.
I'm really looking forward to seeing how Paityn will grow as an author!
Let me first say, Paityn is 15 years old and wrote a whole book with 301 pages! That alone is super impressive.
I was very intrigued after reading the summary; it reminded me of a mix between Hunger Games and Sword Art Online. We follow Ezra, who becomes trapped in a game, a game she never signed up for. The rules are simple; you level up by surviving and killing others; the people you kill will not permanently die but respawn somewhere else. However, if you decide to kill yourself, you will permanently die. The only way to get out of the game alive is to kill people, gain blood points, and buy your way out.
Our main character Ezra is a headstrong girl with a well-thought-out personality. I loved her character development and how she didn't seem perfect. She had flaws, and being completely new to the game and its work meant that she was also naive. She overestimated herself and her abilities and underestimated the other players, forgetting that they also had abilities. This made Ezra appear more human and realistic.
Every player has abilities, and they access them through a book. Everyone has main abilities and can unlock upgrades for the abilities, which I found very interesting and fun. The abilities were unique, so every player had their own style of fighting others.
The world Paityn created was simple and easy to understand. The world itself wasn't the main plot, and I'm glad she did not use lots of time to explain how the world looked like. She explained everything necessary and kept it at that.
Her writing style was also excellent. The way she described the characters was very natural. She described them by expressing their facial expression, adding their eye colors, jawlines, height, etc., clearly and simply. Paityn also described their personality through their emotions and how they reacted in certain situations, cleanly and. It was lots of fun to read it.
There are two reasons why I can not give this book 5 stars.
1) Dramatic scenes were over too quickly.
This book is characterized by action and dramatics. It's a world where our characters have to fight for survival, and not everyone has the right mindset to survive it. The build-ups to important events were over too quickly. Important events that scarred Ezra were over before I realized it was about to happen, something dramatic. The villain that follows us has great potential, but when we first got introduced to him, to be honest. I didn't even realize he would be our main villain.
2) The name change in the middle of the book.
The name change that happens is not my cup of tea. Someone might love it, and I am impressed by her unique way of changing the name of our main character and marking the change of her personality, but it was just not my thing.
I'm really looking forward to seeing how Paityn will grow as an author!
September 1, 2021
________________
Rating: 5⭐/5⭐
________________
♧ When I found out about this book, I was really intriguied because, for me, the idea was so unique and promising. Although, even if I was interested in reading it, I was a little hesitant.
♧ But as soon as I started it, I couldn't put it down. It was fast paced and I met a bunch of characters that were ready to fight.
_______________
World building:
________________
♡ I liked how there was not so much accent put on the world, yet the author managed to make me want to find other things about the world. The Battles and its connection with the real world was well written, so I can say I got anything I wanted.
_______________
Characters:
________________
♤ The main character had a complexity that stunned me. I mean, she really wanted to make justice, even if she got to the point where she didn't recognise herself because of her addiction and the hole game.
♤ However, my favourite character was Jack because I somehow saw myself in his bold personality. He was the one to keep it together in their team.
♤ The rest of the characters were so beautifully written. I loved Zag and his childlike behaviour, I loved Tiago with his courage. I appreciated how the author tried to give each of her characters a unique personality.
________________
Action:
________________
◆It was chef's kiss. 🥰
I just adored the fighting scenes, the way the trainings were made. All the plot twists made me love this book more and more, as I always look for a good action in a book. I wished for a long time to read such a book! Just perfect!
________________
Overall:
________________
□ There were some things I didn't like that much, but when you get to read such a good book, they don't bother you anymore.
This author showed that you can write a great book even without romance (there was a little, but still the author was focused on Ezra's experience, on finding what's most important in her life, on frienship).
□ I loved the story and I hope there will be a book 2. Madness is for sure one of my all time favourite books.
___________________________________________
If you want a book with a lot of action, plot twists, great characters, this book is definitely for you!
___________________________________________
*I got this book for reviewing it, but this did not affect my opinion.*
Rating: 5⭐/5⭐
________________
♧ When I found out about this book, I was really intriguied because, for me, the idea was so unique and promising. Although, even if I was interested in reading it, I was a little hesitant.
♧ But as soon as I started it, I couldn't put it down. It was fast paced and I met a bunch of characters that were ready to fight.
_______________
World building:
________________
♡ I liked how there was not so much accent put on the world, yet the author managed to make me want to find other things about the world. The Battles and its connection with the real world was well written, so I can say I got anything I wanted.
_______________
Characters:
________________
♤ The main character had a complexity that stunned me. I mean, she really wanted to make justice, even if she got to the point where she didn't recognise herself because of her addiction and the hole game.
♤ However, my favourite character was Jack because I somehow saw myself in his bold personality. He was the one to keep it together in their team.
♤ The rest of the characters were so beautifully written. I loved Zag and his childlike behaviour, I loved Tiago with his courage. I appreciated how the author tried to give each of her characters a unique personality.
________________
Action:
________________
◆It was chef's kiss. 🥰
I just adored the fighting scenes, the way the trainings were made. All the plot twists made me love this book more and more, as I always look for a good action in a book. I wished for a long time to read such a book! Just perfect!
________________
Overall:
________________
□ There were some things I didn't like that much, but when you get to read such a good book, they don't bother you anymore.
This author showed that you can write a great book even without romance (there was a little, but still the author was focused on Ezra's experience, on finding what's most important in her life, on frienship).
□ I loved the story and I hope there will be a book 2. Madness is for sure one of my all time favourite books.
___________________________________________
If you want a book with a lot of action, plot twists, great characters, this book is definitely for you!
___________________________________________
*I got this book for reviewing it, but this did not affect my opinion.*
September 21, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
If you've read author Paityn Parque's bio, you'll know that she's 15 years old. While some minor criticisms I have about this book are undoubtedly due to her age, I do base my reviews on the simple question of 'should you read it?' The answer to this is yes.
Madness tells the story of Ezra, an eighteen-year-old murder victim, who, post-death, finds herself forced into playing a game. A game where she must kill… or be killed herself. The catch is that the players in this game return after death any number of times. While I haven't read The Hunger Games Trilogy Boxset, it does appear to be an influence on this book, along with video games.
The author has written her prose economically. While this largely suits the pace of the book, and helps move things along quickly, it also has the consequence of moments not taking much time, skirting over them. The prose is also written well, reaching a higher benchmark than the average self-published book.
At points, explanations the book gives for events are simplistic, and based on an assumption from a character, with black and white viewpoints. It is worth noting that this only happens occasionally.
I recommend Madness to enybody who enjoys science fantasy, violence, dystopian horror and/or young adult stories.
For my full review, click here.
If you've read author Paityn Parque's bio, you'll know that she's 15 years old. While some minor criticisms I have about this book are undoubtedly due to her age, I do base my reviews on the simple question of 'should you read it?' The answer to this is yes.
Madness tells the story of Ezra, an eighteen-year-old murder victim, who, post-death, finds herself forced into playing a game. A game where she must kill… or be killed herself. The catch is that the players in this game return after death any number of times. While I haven't read The Hunger Games Trilogy Boxset, it does appear to be an influence on this book, along with video games.
The author has written her prose economically. While this largely suits the pace of the book, and helps move things along quickly, it also has the consequence of moments not taking much time, skirting over them. The prose is also written well, reaching a higher benchmark than the average self-published book.
At points, explanations the book gives for events are simplistic, and based on an assumption from a character, with black and white viewpoints. It is worth noting that this only happens occasionally.
I recommend Madness to enybody who enjoys science fantasy, violence, dystopian horror and/or young adult stories.
For my full review, click here.
October 26, 2021
This book is dark, it’s the Hunger Games meets Alice in Borderland with a real sense of hopelessness. Although it does have similarities with various survival game narratives, the plot does not feel too derivative, likely because of the acceptance that there is no escape. The chances of buying your way out of the Battles are so slim, that people need to find a new purpose.
I enjoyed the portrayal of Ezra’s grip on her humanity and her loss of control as she embraced her powers. However, it felt like she adjusted to the ‘new normal’ a bit too quickly to be realistic. I would have expected her to reject her situation and her deadly powers rather than simply accept them with no issues about killing people. This may be the result of the action-based writing though. Like many action-filled books, the writing is not always the most expressive which leaves little room for internal monologues or detailed descriptions about the characters and their motivations.
That being said, the story moves along rapidly with an interesting plot and debates about what makes a ‘good’ person. I found it exciting to read and thought the world-building was done really well. The idea of the Battles is expressed nice and clearly which allows more room to be given on what this deadly atmosphere means for the people that end up there. The way the story ends definitely makes me want to read the next one and hopefully find out more about the world of the Battles and how and why it was created.
This will definitely appeal to those who like YA dystopian/survival stories and don’t mind some gore and violence
I enjoyed the portrayal of Ezra’s grip on her humanity and her loss of control as she embraced her powers. However, it felt like she adjusted to the ‘new normal’ a bit too quickly to be realistic. I would have expected her to reject her situation and her deadly powers rather than simply accept them with no issues about killing people. This may be the result of the action-based writing though. Like many action-filled books, the writing is not always the most expressive which leaves little room for internal monologues or detailed descriptions about the characters and their motivations.
That being said, the story moves along rapidly with an interesting plot and debates about what makes a ‘good’ person. I found it exciting to read and thought the world-building was done really well. The idea of the Battles is expressed nice and clearly which allows more room to be given on what this deadly atmosphere means for the people that end up there. The way the story ends definitely makes me want to read the next one and hopefully find out more about the world of the Battles and how and why it was created.
This will definitely appeal to those who like YA dystopian/survival stories and don’t mind some gore and violence
September 6, 2021
I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion..
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. The author is only 15 years-old and even if I didn't want to there were preconceived notions when approaching this story. I'm happy to say that they were blown away.
First the story felt like a battle royale Anime, and for someone like myself who enjoys that type of media I felt at home reading this. There's plenty of action, intrigue, and the most addicting pacing I have read in a while.
As for the world building it doesn't fully get flesh out you get an idea but there's too much still up in the air I'm guessing it will be developing in future books in the series.. Which you'll want to read.
The characters are okay, I wish there was a bit more inner conflict of Ezra our main character but it's something that doesn't take away from the story at all.
If you like dystopian books similar in style to The Maze Runner or just enjoy Anime like Mirai Nikki and Darwin's game.. I would suggest you pick up this book.
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. The author is only 15 years-old and even if I didn't want to there were preconceived notions when approaching this story. I'm happy to say that they were blown away.
First the story felt like a battle royale Anime, and for someone like myself who enjoys that type of media I felt at home reading this. There's plenty of action, intrigue, and the most addicting pacing I have read in a while.
As for the world building it doesn't fully get flesh out you get an idea but there's too much still up in the air I'm guessing it will be developing in future books in the series.. Which you'll want to read.
The characters are okay, I wish there was a bit more inner conflict of Ezra our main character but it's something that doesn't take away from the story at all.
If you like dystopian books similar in style to The Maze Runner or just enjoy Anime like Mirai Nikki and Darwin's game.. I would suggest you pick up this book.
October 10, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is 3.5 stars, that are rounded up, instead of down, and I think this is because I am impressed by the author being 15 years old and doing what she has done in this book.
I read this book, and am really unsure what I feel about it. Having said that, it was good enough that I would like to read the next book in the series.
I enjoyed the message that I believe the author was trying to portray, and she has a good writing style, investing me in the characters. Great character development and world building all go in the plus column.
In the minus column, I felt that the author was trying to hard to shock, and by doing that, lost a bit of the story along the way.
It was also very 'Hunger Games' but I think the author still managed to make it different enough to make the story enjoyable.
Recommended. Fast read. Page-turner.
Great debut novel!!
This is 3.5 stars, that are rounded up, instead of down, and I think this is because I am impressed by the author being 15 years old and doing what she has done in this book.
I read this book, and am really unsure what I feel about it. Having said that, it was good enough that I would like to read the next book in the series.
I enjoyed the message that I believe the author was trying to portray, and she has a good writing style, investing me in the characters. Great character development and world building all go in the plus column.
In the minus column, I felt that the author was trying to hard to shock, and by doing that, lost a bit of the story along the way.
It was also very 'Hunger Games' but I think the author still managed to make it different enough to make the story enjoyable.
Recommended. Fast read. Page-turner.
Great debut novel!!
January 25, 2022
This book is about a girl named Ezra who is forced into a game to fight other players. As long as players don't commit suicide, they will respawn when murdered. Players collect "bloodpoints", can work together on teams, and develop "feats" which are perks or special abilities.
I selected this book to read because the summary reminded me of the video game "Dead by Daylight." And I was impressed to discover the author was only 15 years old when writing this book!
It has great character development and interaction, lots of action, and is fast-paced. The writing itself is also quite good, especially given the author's age. Seriously. It's well edited as well.
To other readers, my only suggestion is be aware of trigger warnings, i.e suicide, murder, and gore.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
5/5 stars. This is an amazing piece of work.
I selected this book to read because the summary reminded me of the video game "Dead by Daylight." And I was impressed to discover the author was only 15 years old when writing this book!
It has great character development and interaction, lots of action, and is fast-paced. The writing itself is also quite good, especially given the author's age. Seriously. It's well edited as well.
To other readers, my only suggestion is be aware of trigger warnings, i.e suicide, murder, and gore.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
5/5 stars. This is an amazing piece of work.
October 13, 2021
For 15 years old, Madness is an impressive first older young adult novel that has fantasy, paranormal and horror aspects set in a dystopian game setting. There is a plot that keeps moving with enough light (or slow) moments for the reader to catch their breath, characters who are interesting (particularly Dag), an almost star-crossed romance between Shadow and Jack in what can be characterized as a Hunger Games turned inside out. There is a quite a bit of violence and gore, but it is not gratuitously done. There are some awkward bits of language, odd word choices and places where the editing could have been better but overall Parque's writing style is well-developed and should get better over time.
Thank you to the author for giving me a copy of Madness to review.
Thank you to the author for giving me a copy of Madness to review.
November 25, 2021
This book is an absolute must read. I was so lucky to recieve a free copy from the author herself. I am so lucky to actually know Paityn in real life, and she has such a way with words. If you liked the hunger games and the maze runner, this book is completely for you.
I love writing, and this book has inspired me to pick it up again.
The plot twists keep you 100 percent all in to the book, and you never know what's coming. She uses very detailed verbs to help you see what she is. It's so descriptive that you feel like you're living in Ezra's world.
All I can say is, READ THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW. You won't regret it.
I love writing, and this book has inspired me to pick it up again.
The plot twists keep you 100 percent all in to the book, and you never know what's coming. She uses very detailed verbs to help you see what she is. It's so descriptive that you feel like you're living in Ezra's world.
All I can say is, READ THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW. You won't regret it.
November 23, 2021
I loved Madness! The story was compelling and kept me engaged throughout. The characters were great to cheer for. Not to give anything away but I really hope there is a second book! This is my honest for receiving an ARC.
December 3, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The premise intrigued me, the good place meets Squid game. Ezra wakes up after being murdered in some sort of cutthroat game. Kill or be killed.
The story is great, very unique premise, great characters.
The premise intrigued me, the good place meets Squid game. Ezra wakes up after being murdered in some sort of cutthroat game. Kill or be killed.
The story is great, very unique premise, great characters.
October 23, 2024
Definitely an interesting take on a book. Looking forward to reading the next in the series.
September 23, 2021
Let me first start by saying this story is an incredible feat for a 15 yo. While it has a strong Hunger Games feel to it, it is a very interesting concept and the action is well-paced.
However, overall this felt like a draft, rather than a novel about to be published. With some judicious editing, I think the story could be significantly improved.
After a suitably intriguing prologue - which I thought we would return to, but don't remember specifically re-reading - the story starts very abruptly. Ezra is thrown into the arena with only a cursory introduction. It might have been nice to get to know her in the real world first, what sort of person she was, before entering the Battles.
When Ezra decides she is going to be an avenging angel, hunting down the packs who are taking advantage of other players, she is supremely confident in her abilities to take down multiple experienced foes (and promptly does just that). Despite her training period with Speedy, I don't think there was any evidence that she should be able to achieve this feat. I also there were too many conversations where Ezra and Speedy or Jack talked in circles around each other and were extremely unclear.
The biggest element in the world-building I didn't get was why anyone was afraid of dying in the Battles. They just spawn right back anyway and seem to recover very quickly. I felt like there should have been clear, major BP penalties for dying to at least incentivise the characters to stay alive within the Battles.
I think this story and the world it is set in has potential, and I loved the set-up for future books (although that final part did remind me of Maze Runner), but I didn't fully enjoy it in its current form.
Thank you to BookSirens for this advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
However, overall this felt like a draft, rather than a novel about to be published. With some judicious editing, I think the story could be significantly improved.
After a suitably intriguing prologue - which I thought we would return to, but don't remember specifically re-reading - the story starts very abruptly. Ezra is thrown into the arena with only a cursory introduction. It might have been nice to get to know her in the real world first, what sort of person she was, before entering the Battles.
When Ezra decides she is going to be an avenging angel, hunting down the packs who are taking advantage of other players, she is supremely confident in her abilities to take down multiple experienced foes (and promptly does just that). Despite her training period with Speedy, I don't think there was any evidence that she should be able to achieve this feat. I also there were too many conversations where Ezra and Speedy or Jack talked in circles around each other and were extremely unclear.
The biggest element in the world-building I didn't get was why anyone was afraid of dying in the Battles. They just spawn right back anyway and seem to recover very quickly. I felt like there should have been clear, major BP penalties for dying to at least incentivise the characters to stay alive within the Battles.
I think this story and the world it is set in has potential, and I loved the set-up for future books (although that final part did remind me of Maze Runner), but I didn't fully enjoy it in its current form.
Thank you to BookSirens for this advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2021
6.93/10
Huge thanks to the author for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
https://livingnormally.home.blog/2021...
Huge thanks to the author for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
https://livingnormally.home.blog/2021...
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