Pretty Little Liars meets One Of Us Is Lying. Great thriller ... the last twist definitely caught me by suprise.

16 year-old Donovan receives a message on her phone during class one day, wanting her to participate in a game. There are some ground rules, however: if she tells anyone or breaks the rules her sister will die. The tasks she's put up to are meant to hurt someone in her life. I thought that the sister, Caelyn, was honestly the most likeable and that most of the other characters really didn't have that much depth or reason to empathize with them. I do think, however, that that aspect of the writing didn't detract from the work enough to make me like it less. It is a bit predicatble, and it does feel like the tasks were solved a bit too easily, but I think that it was still fun and the pacing was pretty good. I thought that the other themes present in the book were interesting, too, and were really compelling.
This book was intense and fast-paced, and while it isn't going to completely blow your mind you will have an absolutely enjoyable time on this rollercoaster! I definitely recommend!

Crystal Donavan is a competitive gaming streamer who's goal of winning the prize money in a tournament is derailed when she starts receiving sketchy texts from a mysterious app asking her to complete challenges. If she fails to complete the tasks in time or tells anyone about the secret game she's playing her little sister will die.

Maybe I don't read enough thrillers so the plot actually kept me hooked. I was constantly guessing at who the kidnapper could be and what the end goal was. The main character was likable enough that you felt for a lot of the tough decisions she had to make and the stacks really did feel high at all times.

I would read more from this author without question.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with an opportunity to read and review this book as an arc.*

This was such a propulsive and entertaining race against the clock thriller!

I don’t read a tonne of YA books but I always seem to enjoy them when I do and this one was perfectly twisted and devious! It was fast paced, addictive, action packed and bursting with tension and suspense!

While some parts were predictable, others certainly were not! I enjoyed this wild ride of a story!

3.5 stars.

Crystal receives mystery messages revealing her sister has been kidnapped and she must complete tasks to save her. As she completes these bizarre tasks, she realizes the mastermind isn't just out to hurt her, but her friend group too.

A friend group is competing against one another for an upcoming gaming competition, but their past threatens to haunt them as these tasks seem to be targeting their group. As someone who is not into video games, that portion of the storyline was foreign to me, but it was interesting to see the pressure and stress of their situation continue to escalate.

I wish we had a bit more character development because they weren't very likeable and didn't seem to be that great of friends. You also have to suspend belief to wrap your head around teens orchestrating this chaos, but once you do that it's fun to try and piece the puzzle together.

Overall this was a fun but somewhat predictable YA thriller that I'd recommend for fans of Karen McManus.

Thank you Wednesday Books for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is my second book by this author and while she has solid ideas, I just don't feel like I can connect to her characters really or the execution of the book. Keep in mind that this is just my opinion and others really seem to enjoy her stories so pick it up if it sounds interesting to you.

I went into this read completely blind, not having read the synopsis just knowing it was a mystery. I will say that this was super dark, much more than I expected from a YA story with murder strewn about and the frantic pace was easy to be able to keep reading. The mystery element was not well done for me, but maybe I just read too many mysteries, I knew who and the why almost from the beginning, I was just waiting for the big reveal to occur to gloat at my smartness. I think the author needs to work on the subtleties of her writing if she wants her plots to be more surprising, the way she had flashbacks was a big red flag as to what was going on.

Overall I was just glad to get to the end so I can start a new book. There was nothing per se wrong with this, I just found it predictable and pretty unbelievable overall- you will definitely need to suspend your belief to get through. The ending was a little too quickly wrapped up as well as with a huge open door almost as if there will be a sequel (that I will not be reading) so if you like that kinda thing here you go.

I read the author's first book and was so excited for this book. I really enjoyed this book and it kept me guessing until the end. I wasn't very fond of many of the characters but still really enjoyed the book. There were twists and turns throughout. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC.

A great thriller for lovers of YA thrillers! It gave me a bit of creepier One of Us is Lying vibes. I thoroughly enjoyed the authors writing style and character development!!

A big Thankyou to NetGalley for providing me with an e-galley of These Deadly Games by Diana Urban.
I requested this bc I have teenage twin boys who love video games and I thought it would be another great way to connect with them. I was a little worried that I would get lost in gaming talk, but I can assure any non gamer readers, that was not the case.
This is about a group of six friends who are entering an annual gaming competition that only allows 5 participants per team, so they are competing against eachother to see who will be eliminated before the contest.
If that wasn’t stressful enough, our main character Crystal is forced to play some “game” set for her in order to save her sister who was just kidnapped. Who is doing this? Is this real or some crazy prank?
The rules are simple:
Call the police -her sister dies
Tell anyone else-her sister dies
Quit the game-her sister dies, and the “game” continues without her.
This was a fast paced YA thriller that had me questioning everyone……even Crystal.
I think that anyone who loves their books packed with action, will enjoy this book.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the premise of the book bc I’m not into video games or anything game related at all.
My print copy is ordered for my kids to read next!

It has been a minute since I've read a YA thriller and what a way to get back into them than with These Deadly Games by Diana Urban. This was a completely wild and fast-paced novel, and I don't think I saw any of the twists coming. I started and finished the audiobook on the same day and managed to listen to it in just a few hours and one sitting at that. Once you start you aren't going to want to put it down and while I did think the middle lagged just a little bit at times, the majority of this book is nonstop craziness. It was super fun and unique having the main character Crystal be a gamer, and I loved how smart she came across especially when it came to her clues. I was rereading the synopsis again and I think this is best to go into blind since it gives a decent amount of the plot away which no one wants.

The audiobook is narrated by Kate Rudd, and she was pretty dang incredible as Crystal. She managed to completely nail Crystal's emotion and panic throughout, and I couldn't have asked for a better narrator for this book. These Deadly Games brought up something I hadn't actually heard of before, and as crazy as it seemed it is apparently completely real. I can't say anything else for spoiler reasons, but I loved the inclusion of this from the author. I really enjoyed the end of the book, but it was a tad open-ended and makes me wonder if Urban will ever revisit these characters. I didn't really understand part of it, and it wouldn't be MY choice, but it does make you wonder. I will certainly be reading anything else Urban writes, and this is going to be an excellent choice for those of you who love YA thrillers with fast pacing.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

3.5/5 stars

These Deadly Games is a Young Adult thriller set in Vermont.

The narrator is 16 year old Crystal (1st person POV).

She is part of a gaming team with her friends. They are going to the MortalDusk statewide tournament. And they have a great chance to win the huge monetary prize.

I found the e-sports/video game aspect to be very interesting. I know nothing about this so it was fun to read about it.

The main premise of the story is that something bad happens and Crystal is led on a high stakes mission. This was a very interesting idea. And I actually liked this part of the story.

The book had some interesting twists. It's an action-packed book. It did remind me a lot of One Of Us Is Lying. However, the part that I loved less was the middle. There is a fine line between a fun mystery and a deadly one that is less fun to read. I guess that the title should have clued me in. But I'd rather read about fun pranks vs someone actually trying to pick off all of the characters.

I did enjoy the two big reveals towards the end. But the actual end was just okay. Overall, this was a dark YA thriller with extremely deadly consequences.

Well well well I am *very* happy that did not go the way I thought it was going for a while. I found myself getting more pissed off as I read it, thinking "if the killer is this person, this is my last Diana Urban book because that's ridiculous." Fortunately for all, this will not be my last Diana Urban book.

Both with All Your Twisted Secrets and These Deadly Games, I realized that this particular author is scratching an itch I didn't know I had. No no, I don't mean that the mysteries are excellent. I mean that they give me the same feeling I had when I read Christopher Pike books in middle/high school. They're outlandish and not believable in the least, but they're readable and they're a fun way to pass the time.

Listen, this book has its flaws, but who cares? It's a YA mystery that wasn't easy to guess and it held my attention all the way through. Mission accomplished.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for sending me an ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.

CWs: domestic abuse, recovery from an eating disorder, violence, kidnapping, gaslighting, MC has panic attacks, death

4/5 stars
Holy crap this one got really intense! I read the second half all in one sitting and I couldn’t put it down. It seemed to get wilder and wilder and I NEEDED to get answers.
I thought it was a bit of a slow start, and I struggled with the premise a little bit, but once it started to pick up and things seemed to keep happening I found myself more invested in the story. I thought the pacing was pretty good overall, and the writing style flowed well and it was easy to read.
Crystal was a really interesting character. Her love for her sister was really amazing, but her intensity about games had me doubting her as a narrator. I think this helped the story because I wasn’t sure if I could actually trust her.
I thought the other characters were also interesting, and I liked the group dynamic. I also liked the gaming aspect and how they would livestream. It was just an interesting piece of the story for me.
Overall I thought it was an interesting and intense YA thriller. The cast of characters was interesting, and the writing style was compelling. I was all over the place with my guesses for what was really happening and who was behind it, although I did end up being right in the end.

I am always on the lookout for a good YA thriller/mystery and I think this one is up there with the Karen M. McManus books. Which means I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Only Crystal and her friends know the truth about what happened years ago when a friend died while playing a game. Now Crystal is planning to play in a video game competition with her friends with the dream of winning big. Then, Crystal receives a text informing her that if she doesn't cooperate, her sister will die. Crystal tries to follow the rules of the game while keeping it a secret from everyone around her, but will that put everyone in danger?

The ending was intense and had me turning the pages wanting to know what happens. The book was very well-plotted and I was in awe of Diana Urban's creativity. Add in the diverse cast of characters and you get a well-rounded. Highly recommend!

Ok, well first off #justicefor_____. Well, I cannot reveal the name, but if you read this you likely know who I am talking about. Second, Crystal is a terrible friend! I don’t mind unlikable characters, but her lack of self-awareness and depth made it very difficult to care about her. Third, I think I was too old for this read. I am an old lady who loves a lot of YA, but this one made me feel old.

This has a great pace and a lot of twists, but all of the above really knocked this rating down for me. You will need to suspend your disbelief quite a bit when reading this. You will also maybe need to care about what happens to Crystal? I wanted to NOT spend time with her. Every time I picked this up I had to give myself a pep talk because I was going to be forced back into the head of Crystal. Again, maybe I am too old but her immaturity and selfishness was not for me.

If you do not mind selfish, immature characters and like thrilling but implausible plots this may be for you. Ok, that sounds bitter. I think my old self is bitter because I felt like my time could have been better spent elsewhere. I will see my aging self out the door.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday books for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Diana Urban's These Deadly Games had me hooked from the very first page! Urban doesn't "dawdle" at any point in this story -- the thrills hit quick and the pace moves fast with every page...

Crystal Donovan and her friends have quite the competitive eSports team and are preparing for an upcoming tournament that could win them a lot of money, money that each person desperately needs. But when Crystal starts getting strange messages from someone who has kidnapped and is threatening her little sister, the gaming becomes all to real. As the kidnapper sends riddle after riddle, along with threatening messages and videos of her sister crying, Crystal finds herself desperate, alone, and terrified with every phone notification. Each riddle brings ill-fated consequences that not only shock Crystal but will shock readers, as well. I couldn't stop turning pages, and I told every reader I know about this book! I have already purchased a copy to put in my high school library collection, and I can't wait to tell my students about it.

**Thank you, NetGalley and publisher, for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.**

This book was pretty good. It moved quickly, the action was constant and I really enjoyed the characters and relationships. It skews age appropriate, neither too mature or too young. It kept me turning the pages wanting to find out what happened next and who was behind it all. I'll look forward to recommending this to our patrons, young adult and adult alike.

These Deadly Ganes by Diana Urban

Well, this was a fun book. It read like a video game with a cat and mouse chase. It was a nice ya but i found i didn't care for its characters and i had a hard time getting into it because of that. It also felt a bit long. The ending though was fabulous!!


Thank you Netgalley and to the publisher for this e-arc!

I found it a "little" predictable, but it's not bad at all. I wasn't even 100% sure on if who I suspected would An0nym0us1 would actually be the culprit, so don't let that deter you. The MC wasn't likeable, but that's the whole point, really. They're just a bunch of kids with a dark secret and some of them have their own personal tragedies, so it makes sense they're detestable, but experience character growth. Definitely an interesting YA Thriller worth a read and sincerely hope there'll be a sequel.

Crystal Donovan and her five friends are a fantastic team on the popular online game MortalDusk. When a tournament with a huge grand prize comes up, her friends are excited to play together, win, and split the money - it could make a big difference for all of them. But a week before the tournament, Crystal gets an anonymous message in the middle of class: a video of her little sister gagged and bound with the caption: "Let’s play a game. You have 24 hours to win. If you break my rules, she dies. If you call the police, she dies. If you tell your parents or anyone else, she dies. Are you ready?" The kidnapper sends Crystal on a series of random tasks - and soon, Crystal realizes that the tasks are intended to kill each of her friends and teammates, one by one. She has to figure out who the kidnapper is and end their game before she loses all of her friends - and maybe even her sister.

I was super intrigued by this premise at first - it reminded me a lot of [book:The Chain|42779092], one of my favorite thrillers from 2020. But I just couldn't get absorbed in this book - it didn't hook me like I was expecting it to. The primary reason for this is the characters - there are too many of them, I didn't get to know any of them, and much of the plot hinges on the idea that the reader knows the characters intimately. In order for the book to actually be successful, I needed a lot more backstory on who everyone was. They were unlikeable and not relatable at all - it just wasn't realistic for a high school story.

The plot itself was really oddly paced and drawn out. Crystal would be doing these insane murderous tasks one minute, then spend the next 50 pages bantering with her friends and acting like everything was normal. It somehow went way too fast and way too slow at the same time. There's also this subplot of a big secret that happened to Crystal and her friends five years earlier - it's important to the plot, but weaved in in a very weird way, to the point where I didn't want to pay attention to those interludes because it distracted from the main plot at hand.

At times I was surprised at how dark it could get for a YA book, and other times laughed at how utterly high school everything was. The ending got a little twisty, but was ultimately unsatisfying and completely unrealistic. Overall, I did not love this book and probably wouldn't recommend it - if you're looking for a dark thriller that keeps the main characters captive with mysterious and horrific orders, I'd say to pick up The Chain instead. Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC via Netgalley.