These Deadly Games by Diana Urban was such an addictive YA thriller! The story kicks off with a group of friends preparing to compete in an esports tournament. When one character receives a chilling message, she becomes entangled in a twisted game with dire consequences. Once I started reading, it was extremely hard to put it down. I was wrapped up in the story and loved the tense atmosphere that carried throughout. I was able to guess some elements of the plot and was surprised by others. It was a fast-paced, enjoyable read that I wanted to devour in one sitting! I’d highly recommend this for fans of YA thrillers.

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is voluntary and all opinions are honest and my own.

These Deadly Games is a high-stakes, adrenaline-filled YA thriller that you will want to devour in one sitting.

The story follows Crystal Donovan who is competing with her friends to win a place in a gaming tournament. As the deadline looms, Crystal receives a message from someone claiming to have kidnapped her younger sister. In order to free her, Crystal has to play a series of games. What she doesn’t realise is just how deadly they really are. What seems like a simple and easy task will have dire consequences for her friends.

As someone who really enjoys playing video games, I loved that the plot was centred around the main character having to play a game and solve puzzles to keep her sister alive. It made the plot so much more thrilling, especially when Crystal realised what the consequences were. To keep her sister alive, she has to hurt – and kill – her friends. With each new game deadlier than the last, Crystal becomes increasingly desperate to find a way to outsmart the kidnapper and save her sister.

I really felt for Crystal and it was clear how much she adores her sister. However, the way she acted at times was very strange. Despite her sister being in a life-and-death situation, Crystal finds herself intrigued by the kidnapper and gets competitive as she’s determined to win the game. I was a bit baffled that, in such a terrifying situation, Crystal was intrigued by the games she had to play. I’d probably be an emotional wreck and struggle to wrap my head around it. That said, she tries to do everything she can to save those she loves and she is actually a strong lead character.

The plot flips between the past and the present. I won’t spoil what happens in the past, but it explains the reasons behind Crystal’s attacker. There’s some really tragic and shocking events throughout that all lead back to a night from Crystal’s past. There’s so many incredible twists and red herrings to throw you off and I suspected all of Crystal’s friends were in on it at one point.

This is the first book I’ve read by Diana Urban and it definitely won’t be the last. It was a riveting read and a real page turner. I highly recommend it for those that like thrillers with plenty of dark moments and lots of twists.

This book was such a rollercoaster I could not put it down! Everytime I was about to take a break it would suck me back in with another twist. I highly recommend if you love books about YA mysteries, thrillers, and twists.

This is probably the best YA psychological thriller I’ve read, to date. More than that, it’s one of the best psychological thrillers meant for any age group I’ve ever read. It hooked me immediately. I was drawn so deep down into it hours passed without notice. My television went to sleep and I was none the wiser. I was honestly surprised when I realized I was approaching the turn (it’s a thriller–of course there’s a turn).

It’s not a perfect book, but I gave it five stars anyway because it was sharp, smart, and propulsive. This isn’t just your regular roller coaster: it’s a thrill ride. It simply doesn’t let up. It doesn’t slow down. Once the clock starts ticking it doesn’t stop: you are in it, you are invested, and you are committed to seeing this book through.

I have a personal problem in that I usually guess the whodunit in mysteries, suspense novels, and thrillers pretty early on. Only once in the last 6-9 months have I been surprised. This novel is no exception in that I guessed who was the culprit very early one. Usually this dampens my enjoyment of the novel and leads to me lowering my rating a star at the very least. In this case I couldn’t bring myself to care, because the book as a whole was just too dang good. The quality of the writing, the plotting, the dialogue, the characterizations, and the tight editing!

The way Diana Urban spins this book down is as unnerving as it was inevitable, and I was HERE for it. I just enjoyed this book from cover to cover. I will not stop recommending it, I can tell.

It was really predictable, I predicted it from about chapter 2. The premise was elementary, the characters didn’t have that much depth or development to me, and I felt the plot was a bit lacking in execution.

I feel in love with Diana when I read her first book, All Your Twisted Secrets. I could not get enough of that book. Thus, I was very excited to read her next book, These Deadly Games. So, while I did like this book, I felt that it moved at a much slower pace than the first book and therefore it took me longer to finish.

Where in the first book, all of the characters were more engaging, and the heightened intensity was stronger. In this book, the other characters did not really play a major role in the story. It was mainly Crystal against the kidnapper. I will say that the games that the kidnapper had Crystal play were no "kid's games". Overall, I did like this book and do plan to read the author's next one.

This is the 2nd book that I have read of Diana Urban and it was the 2nd book of her that made my watch 'yell' at me to breathe. I couldn't get through the pages fast enough. I will definitely be recommending to any reader who enjoys thriller/suspense.

When I tell y’all that this book was so good and intense and omg! 4.5/5 stars for sure!!!! I normally don’t get freaked out while reading books, but there were so many times that I had to stop reading because my heart was beating so fast and I was freaking out. What I loved most about These Deadly Games is how incredibly realistic it was- what was happening to Crystal could have happened to anyone and how would you be able to get someone to believe you (if you decided to go to the cops, that is). The only part I wasn’t the biggest fan of (and the reason it was 4.5 instead of 5 stars) was the very, very end (you’ll know what I’m talking about when you read it). These Deadly Games comes out on February 1st, so make sure you grab it then!

This YA thriller invests you in the character and keeps you guessing.

Crystal Donavan is preparing for an MMORPG tournament with her friend when she receives a message on a mysterious app that she never installed. In the message is a video of her little sister gagged and bound as well as a note saying that to save her sister Crystal has to play a game. But this isn't like the one she is playing with her friends; the tasks are pranks like stealing a test or calling 911. She does these eager to save her sister. But when she sees the results of her actions, Crystal realizes she is playing with life and death. How far will Crystal go to save her sister?

I was actually surprised by how invested I became in the characters. The premise is intriguing but similar ideas have been done over and over. But Diana Urban creates brilliant twists that keep the story exciting. Blending technology with classic horror, she gives a new urgency that other stories are missing. And while I knew who the antagonist was, I wasn't prepared for the depth of the villain's preparedness. The third act is truly magnificent.

The writing is easy for young adults to understand but doesn't talk down to them or adult readers. The chapters are formatted for fast pacing and don't drag. There are no elongated descriptions to bog the story down. Urban has slick writing skills that perfectly embody the story she has created.

Overall, this is a frightening and exciting story that asks the reader “what would you do?”. Easy to understand but not dumbed down, These Deadly Games is a fun experience.

This book is Pretty Little Liars but with Gamers instead.

Crystal and her friends are preparing for the upcoming MortalDusk tournament when one day , Crystal receives a threatening text from an Anonymous person showing that they have kidnapped her little sister and if she refuses to play their games, the kidnapper will kill her sister. As time goes on, Crystal realizes that these "games" have consequences, that are more drastic then one could ever predict. Slowly her friends are picked off one by one, either dying or having their lives ruined in drastic ways. Will they ever forgive her when they find out, she's the one behind it all? After all, when it comes to family, you must protect them; no matter the cost.

When I finished this I just stared at my kindle with no idea how to react. This was really well written and I enjoyed it, the mystery was intriguing and I couldntstop reading because I HAD TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT. The games that the kidnapper made Crystal play were interesting, and I really enjoyed the whole riddle aspect to this, it felt like watching a movie, I was trying to solve the tasks with Crystal. However, this story fell flat for me near the end because when everything was unraveled, I felt like there was no real conclusion. it was a bit rushed, and kind of just like oh ok, so that's it? However, it did leave for a possible sequel and that could be interesting, I would like to see where the story goes next. This was a good read even though it was frustrating at points, because there were other ways the main character could have approached the situation and it was a bit annoying. However, that was the point, I mean no one knows how they would react in a situation like this, and Crystals reaction and her actions afterwards were exactly what most people would do, and you have to remind yourself that at the end of the day, she's just a Kid, A kid who is trying her best in a horrible situation and so I felt for her. Overall, if you are looking for a young adult Mystery, then this one is good, it really shows how you never know how one moment or one mistake can change your life, is this story a bit predictable? yes, but I still enjoyed it, and I'm curious as to what will happen next.

Thrillers are always hit or miss for me. As much as I wanted to like These Deadly Games, it's leaning more towards 'a miss'. It feels a little too like the 'generic YA Thriller'. If that makes sense. The writing is fine. The plot is fine. If you're new to the genre or just enjoy them, then this book is definitely for you. Just not for me. It would probably make a great Netflix show, though.

Thank you for the opportunity to review These Deadly Games.

Wow what a ride! Diana Urban knows how to write a mystery that keeps you flipping the pages. Crystal is a character that I’ll think about for awhile. Crystal is the main character who is forced to play a game of secrets in order to get her sister back home safely in one piece. I thought this was so well written and I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next. I thought I had it figured out who Anonymous1 was and was a little shocked I hadn’t figured it out after all.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

These Deadly Games by Diana Urban is a YA Psychological Thriller that takes the reader on an unforgettable series of jaw-dropping twists and dangerous turns, where no one returns the same as they began. Crystal Donovan, who dreams of winning a gaming championship with her closest friends to help her mother pay for their family home, narrates this fast-paced thriller.

One fateful day, all her dreams go up in smoke as someone kidnaps her sister and sends her to solve a sequence of puzzles and games to save her sister’s life, but at what cost. As Crystal races to figure out who is behind the deadly games and beat them at their own game, she faces more difficult choices and impossible requests.

The overall mystery is pretty good, though I did figure it out by about the halfway point. However, I only wish that I hadn’t noticed the glaring plot gap in the conclusion. I did love the creepy ending, though. I thought it was totally in keeping with the story, even though it didn’t add to character growth or lessons learned. These Deadly Games is truly a YA thriller appropriate for the youngest in that age group, but without the dreaded angst, for which older YA and adults have little patience. My focus didn’t waver once as I sped through this scary tale reminiscent of one of my all-time favorites, The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell.

The twists and turns in this intense book will give you whiplash. I could barely keep up with the frenetic pace of this well told story. Tense and gripping you won't want to put it down until the last page. Happy reading!

This book was so fun! The twists and turns were really exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The only thing that I did not realize was that this might be a young adult novel and I don’t usually go for YA but this was still a good read overall! Thanks very much to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

These past few years I’ve steered clear from reading YA. The last few books I’ve read that were YA I just didn’t seem to enjoy as much as I used to. So picking up this book and actually liking it really surprised me. Since I’ve never read this author before, I was really excited to see what her writing was going to be like. The second I started reading this book I knew it was one that I wouldn’t be able to put down easily. I thought that this book was really good. It was fast paced and filled with tons of twists and turns. I was heavily invested and often kept putting the book down because it was making me too anxious. I desperately wanted to know who Anonymous was but, at the same time I didn’t. I found both the plot and the ending of this book very shocking and it genuinely surprised me. I truly didn’t see that coming.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The moment Crystal receives a text from An0ny0us1, everything changes. An0ny0us1 has kidnapped Crystal's sister and threatens to kill her if Crystal reveals anything. The only way for Crystal to free her sister is to play a game and win. Crystal could lose her sister or her friends if she plays the game. Can Crystal outwit An0ny0us1?

These Deadly Games is filled with over-the-top scenarios and high drama. This may delight some readers while annoying others. I loved that this book kept me on the edge of my seat. The suspense and tension keep ratcheting up as I read. The strategically placed flashbacks that took me out of the action built my frustration and drove me to turn the pages even faster. I constantly wondered, "how far will this go?" and "who is behind this?". Plus, just when I thought I had it figured out, there was yet another twist. What didn't I like? Several implausible details bothered me. Also, I did not feel Crystal was someone you wanted to root for. I didn't need to like her, but I wanted to feel like she deserved to beat An0ny0us1.

There is much to enjoy in These Deadly Games; it's a creative cocktail of family, friendship, secrets, and vengeance.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

We all know how much fun the game trope is, but we also know how easily it can slip and slide. You have to hold back some belief for this one, but it is definitely a fun read.

This book was EXCELLENT! I finished it in one day (not something typical for me) because I really needed to know what was going to happen next. Many twists and many shocking turns. Highly recommend it. This was the first book of Diana Urban that I read and now I really need to go back and read All Your Twisted Secrets.

This YA psychological thriller might make you question what goes on in people's minds! From the group of friends, to the "killer", to the parents.

This is the first book by this author that I read and I was pulled into the story from the start as I watched this group of friends prepares for a gaming tournament yet a small twist in Crystal's life changes her life forever. The story is primarily set in the present but there are some flashbacks to 5 years ago when a friend of Crystal's goes missing. With those flashbacks, some of the twists might become apparent but not necessarily. This ragtag group of friends has mixed emotions when it comes to each other. Some get along great, and others have animosity towards each other. It makes you wonder why they hang around each other if they don't like each other.

I have to wonder how I would react if I were in Crystal's shoes and someone has kidnapped my sibling and says not to tell anyone. And then the tasks she has to perform seem innocuous at first but then become more and more dangerous, not necessarily to Crystal but her friends. Since the cast of characters is smaller, I wondered if it was someone we knew or not. I had some suspicions at first just because of timing, but I was wrong. I did determine who was behind it all but not until closer to the end. The twists kept me guessing until the very end.

And that ending? Did not expect that and makes me wonder, could there be another book that follows this one? Maybe, or we are just left to wonder how things play out for this group.

We give this a solid 4 paws up and if a psychological thriller is one of your go-to genres, then definitely check this one out.