A brand-new game show that offers young criminals the chance at freedom has been greenlit. Little do they know, winning is their only chance at survival.

This was not as good as I wanted it to be, but still pretty solid. Interesting concept but it fell a little flat in the end for me.

Ben Oliver's The Kill Factor is a twisted young adult centered dystopian horror mash up featuring 16-year-old Emerson Ness who is a Burrower. A Burrower is a person who lives in the tunnels below the city. Emerson has scraped and dug and, yes, stolen, trying to support herself and her brother Kester, with minimal help from her father, a would-be influencer convinced that someday, his cast will take off and they can become one of the Topsiders living in luxury.

After she is arrested for theft, arson, and manslaughter and a huge bag of money she planned on using to help her younger brother who is hearing impaired, she is visited by a man known as the Producer. He claims he is part of a brand-new game show that offers young criminals the chance at freedom has been green lit. Little do they know, winning is their only chance at survival. Fifty contestants. Six mental and physical challenges. One winner.

In a near-future where a virtual currency of digital content fuels a fame-hungry society, a brand-new experiment that combines social media and reality TV. Contestants are sent to a maximum-security reform camp on an island where they can have no contact with the outside world. To lose means prison or death. To win is to be free. The most popular young offender with the most upvotes by the end is given both a second chance in society and a cash prize.

This kind of money could mean everything to Emerson and her family. It's more than freedom. It could mean the chance to change her family’s circumstance and finally find a place in the society they’ve never been allowed into. But what Emerson doesn’t know, what the viewers don’t know, is that the prison on the island is empty. Those who lose, those who are voted off aren’t incarcerated. Each challenge will leave more and more contestants to die. And the only choice they have is to win over viewers before it’s too late.

*Thoughts* A captivating examination of the dark truths around the criminal justice system, Ben Oliver, critically acclaimed author of The Loop trilogy, delivers an action-packed thrill ride with deadly high stakes. This concept is Hunger Games but a prison reform camp version, or even a Black Mirror episode mixed with the TV show Survivor where you face elimination by the number of likes you receive. A big chunk of this is a social commentary about how modern society has become dependent on likes and follows on social media which I refuse to adhere to.

If you follow me, thank you, if not, that's okay too. I am not a fan of learning that this is not a standalone. How can it be when the author leaves a roundabout way of saying it's not over yet after a brutal ending that leaves more questions than answers. Like, who created the show? Was it the government? Was it a powerful corporation? Was it some billionaire who has too much money and is able to change the laws with a bribe here and there to certain politicians?

Kill Factor by Ben Oliver is a gripping thriller that delivers relentless action and suspense with every page. Oliver's skillful storytelling and well-crafted plot twists ensure an exhilarating and memorable read.

"The Kill Factor" by Ben Oliver is a thrilling read that kept me hooked from start to finish. The story dives into the dark world of espionage and covert operations, with twists that left me guessing. Oliver's writing made me feel like I was right alongside the protagonist, experiencing the tension and adrenaline. The characters felt real, with flaws and complexities that made their struggles relatable. If you're into fast-paced thrillers with a lot of suspense, this book is definitely worth picking up.

I had high hopes for this book but unfortunately, it fell short for me. While I tried to avoid comparing it to ‘The Hunger Games’, I couldn't help but draw parallels, and it just didn't measure up. The plot lacked originality and failed to draw me in. I found myself bored through much of the story, struggling to stay engaged.

I like the writing style and the suspense is done well. The ending was shocking and well done. I would recommend this! Special Thank You to Ben Oliver, Scholastic and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

In a world where popularity equals success, Emerson Ness does what she has to do to give a life for her brother.
She enters a reality show to get her charges of 15+ years in jail dropped and for the popularity that will give her and her family the life they need. If she can survive and make it to the end, which is a very slim chance out of 50 other competitors, she will be a free woman. The downside is, if she fails, is that she will be locked in solitary confinement for the rest of her life with no contact with any other person. But as you can imagine, the show isn’t quite what was promised…
This book for sure gives me Squid Games /The Hunger Games vibes for sure.
I honestly picked up this book randomly and didn’t really look into the synopsis. Which in this case kind of helped me get into this book a lot more quickly.
It was for sure a change up from what I have been usually reading. I was really impressed with how the action, the harsh reality show aspect, and the believability of the characters played out over the course of 350+ pages.
There are so many times where I literally was cringing because of some of the harsh aspects of the story. But it’s sad to say that a lot of the things done with this book are not out of the possibility if this was a real life show.
I really ended up enjoying this book overall. For sure a platte cleanser of a book that has me wanting to go read a happy book right about now lol.
If you were looking for a high stakes/ hunger/games kind of book. this book for sure will get your blood pumping and leave you speechless. That ending for sure had me intrigued enough for sure. Pick up the sequel if there happens to be one.
Thanks to folks at NetGalley for a copy of this book. My review is a honest reflection of my feelings towards this book.

This book starts with one of the more believable premises I've encountered - a world where social media following determines your wealth and teen offenders are exploited for entertainment, promised a chance at freedom and power. But with such a clear agenda the thrust of the plot becomes pretty predictable. We can guess, pretty early on, that the promise of the game is not as it appears. And the writing supports that. The reader will join the characters in their doubt. It's action heavy and violent without becoming overly descriptive. But the characters are under developed and the twists are more manipulative than natural outcomes of plot. It's moderately entertaining but fails to explore the morals of the world in a meaningful way.

Ben Oliver's newest thriller, "Kill Factor," centers on the connection between reality TV and the criminal justice system in a near-future world powered by fame and digital money. With echoes of societal commentary and heart-pounding action, Oliver creates a story that goes deeply into the moral issues of entertainment at the price of human lives. The concept is both intriguing and scary.

Oliver's story is a thought-provoking examination of power relations, social voyeurism, and the monetary value of human existence for ratings and online encouragement. While reading, I was struck with the harsh truths of a society where justice is distorted and morality is sacrificed on the altar of pleasure.

Kill Factor" is a heart-pounding thrill trip from beginning to end, with twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat. Oliver's incisive style and relentless pacing propel the tale ahead, ending in a jaw-dropping climax that forced me to confront my own role in the exploitative culture depicted in the novel.

In a world where reality television blurs the distinction between entertainment and exploitation, "Kill Factor" serves as a sharp reminder of the grim truths that lurk under the surface. It's a book that made me really rethink the morality of our media-saturated world long after I finished it. This book has been absolutely amazing to read and fascinating to think about as well.


Thank you scholastic | chicken house and netgalley for the ARC

I really enjoyed this wild, dystopian book. I appreciated the strange world that Oliver built up, with massive class divides at its core, which put people in incredibly vulnerable positions that force them to make drastic decisions. Without that vulnerability, most of these characters, even the wealthy ones, wouldn't have committed crimes, and thus none of them would have felt the pressure to join the Kill Factor show. Emerson was an extremely sympathetic character to follow. She's not perfect in any way, but she's trying to live by her own ethics in an environment that is completely out of her control. You can feel her frustration which is a sign of strong character development. I was also fascinated by the way that Oliver made the economy of the world completely focused around people's followers and personal brand. The commentary on our social media and influencer-driven world was poignant.

I will definitely be buying this book for my HS library. It is both a page-turner and a book filled with important messages. The best of both worlds!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Scholastic for providing me with an eARC of The Kill Factor in exchange for my honest review!

As a reader who very much enjoyed the Loop series from Ben Oliver (though I still need to read the third book), I've been anticipating The Kill Factor, and now I'm happy to give it praise. I don't even dive into that many YA dystopia tales anymore, but it's still possible for them to captivate me. It's not even like The Kill Factor accomplishes this by being all that groundbreaking with the YA dystopia cliches it dishes out (it's particularly borrowing a ton of vibes from The Hunger Games), but it manages to get me invested in its characters and the ridiculously unjust world they're forced to endure. Whether the characters are endearing, flawed, and/or downright despicable, the majority of them draw me deeper into the narrative. Even with the ones who don't get much time on the page before the book kills them off (and trust me, this is not afraid of hitting us in the face with a variety of brutal deaths), they pull some genuine emotions out of me, encouraging me to grieve them and be indignant toward the agony that this tyrannical society had inflicted against them.

On the thematic side of things, I admire how Oliver continues his focus on the ways in which the wealthy and the powerful use incarceration to exploit and abuse the marginalized and vulnerable members of our world. This is something he'd smartly explored in The Loop as well, but he adds onto this vehement criticism of class inequity and capitalism in The Kill Factor by weaving influencer culture and social media into the mixture. It's not even like this is anything new to navigate—our addiction to the online landscape, the artificial personas we generate there in order to present ourselves in a much more charming fashion, widespread surveillance from governments and corporations, the poisonous ability that influencing has to monetize and quantify everything, the privilege that traditionally attractive and charismatic people have to become successful at influencing—but it all remains absorbing to follow in this book.

Overall, I'm officially rating The Kill Factor 3.75 out of five stars, which I'm rounding up to 4 stars on Goodreads. I'm looking forward to the sequel, and I'll be eager for any more of Oliver's books, too.

Emerson tried to burn down her school and killed someone in the process. After she's arrested, she's offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get out of jail free by competing in a reality show full of 50 other child criminals. All she has to do is gain more social followers and survive.

Was this book spectacular? No. Did it have the best writing or character development? Also no. But was it fun and so readable? Absolutely. This is perfect for fans of any of the mid 2000s dystopian books. There was just enough horror to keep you on your toes.

I'll say it over and over, I absolutely love books with deadly games. It keeps me engaged and nervous and ramps up the tension in the story. The setting of this was also interesting, in a not-so-far future where social credit means more than actual money and most people make their living through online content. It's scary to think that we aren't far from something like this happening.

The main character didn't really make an impression on me other than her connection with her younger brother. I thought Emerson was a bit irritating in how she kept trying to be better than other contestants by not following the rules, even when it hurt herself and others. She also came across as kind of weak and helpless a lot of the time and wasn't the lead I wanted.

The ending wasn't quite what I expected and I enjoyed the extra twist. Maybe there will be a sequel at some point?

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Chicken House for the copy.

Although this book is book is primarily for YA readers, I really enjoyed it.
It is a bit like the Hunger Games mixed with Squid Games. It is a gameshow that allows teens who have committed crimes to be allowed to go free. However, the catch is they must compete in each game and try to get people to vote for them based on their social media feed. If they are in the bottom two, the one with the lowest amount of likes is eliminated.
If you are a Hunger Games and or Squid Game fan you will enjoy this.
I would recommend.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Kill Factor is a young adult futuristic novel about a group of teens accused of crimes and sent to an island to compete for social media followers. The winner will receive a pardon, while the losers will face a life sentence of solitary confinement.

Emerson was robbing her old high school when something went wrong and a fire started, killing the janitor. Once arrested, she receives an offer to clear her record by joining a competition with other juvenile offenders. Her immediate response is to refuse the offer, but her brother thinks she can win, and the social media followers she picks up could help her entire family. However, the offer isn’t what she thought it was, and the teenagers will be picked off one by one in a series of brutal contests, expected to create engaging video content to gain followers.

The Kill Factor is a fast-paced and easy read that will be great for younger, reluctant readers. Although there is death on the page, it isn’t gory or too detailed. The language and dialogue were a little too spare for me personally, but I could see a reader who appreciates a more action-driven novel enjoying it.

Emerson Ness has a choice to make. Either face the sentence she’s been given for arson and manslaughter or participate in a new game show to try to earn her freedom. The only catch? If she loses the game, she will be sentenced to life in solitary confinement. Deciding to take a risk, Emerson joins the other 49 contestants all looking to clear their sentences. But after they set sail on the Calypso to be taken to the site of the games, they quickly find out that the competition is very different than what they were told and the stakes are much higher. With no way to back out, the contestants must give it their all to make it through each challenge. Does Emerson have what it takes to survive the games and come out on top?

This book was like a cross between The Hunger Games and The Squid Games! The author does such a good job of describing what Emerson was experiencing, that it felt like you were right there with her. Every free minute I had was spent reading this book. It was so good I could not put it down. This book was full of adventure, suspense, friendships, conspiracies, and a little bit of heartbreak. The ideas the author embeds into the storyline about the ups and downs of social media and influencing was done well and will lead to great discussions within book clubs. This is a must-buy for our library and my fingers are crossed there will be a sequel! Overall, this book was excellent!

Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Look, I am going to be straight with you: this book does require a bit of suspension of disbelief. It just does. But it is so worth it, because once I was able to do that, I could not put the book down. It was so delightfully messed up, and there were so many questions to be answered. Also, the stakes were immensely high, as the author made it very clear from early on that no one would be safe.

Here's the gist: Emerson was arrested for some shenanigans that resulted in a fire and death. She's obviously facing prison time if convicted, even though she swears she did not do it. This guy comes to her and makes an offer: join some messy reality show, win and earn your freedom and some money for your struggling family. Lose and it's life in solitary confinement. Now- this is where my suspension of disbelief came in, because who the everloving heck would accept this offer?! I mean, you have a 98% chance of being imprisoned for life, or worse. And in fairness, Emerson does at least scoff at the offer for awhile, though based on the entire premise of the book, you know she eventually acquiesces. So you just have to go into it accepting that she is making this terrible life choice, and move on.

Because once you do, things get wild. She meets 49 other fools kids who are willing to take this chance, too. Some for fame, some for freedom, but the result remains the same, they find themselves on a cruise ship to hell, where even the winners are losers. Because this is not set up for success, it is set up to be horrifying, and it's also set up for views. Certainly, you can see the relevance in our current culture, yeah? There is a lot of great commentary on current societal problems, which was fabulous too.

The premise was wild, the execution even more so. It's a pretty dark concept, but there were some lighter moments, a hint of romance (that was a little insta-lovey but also was not at all the main focus so it was fine) and a lot of very solid friendships being made. Of course, there was also backstabbing and awfulness, but it's a reality show about teen murder, so. I thought I had figured some stuff out, and I had, but the stuff I had figured out was just the tip of the iceberg, and there were so many twists and turns and secrets that I had no idea were coming!

It ends in a sort of satisfying way, but it also very much lends itself to a sequel. Like, it definitely seems like it was designed for one, so fingers are very much crossed!

Bottom Line: Truly could not put this book down- it was so messed up in the very best way!

The Hunger Games book series (like the HP book series) influenced not only a slew of contemporaries at the time of their release but the tweens and teenagers who read The Hunger Games growing up have carried their love of those books through the last 13 or so tumultuous, anxious years since its release to write their own YA dystopian novels in which it’s teenagers against the system. Some of them have brilliant writing and excellent takes on the genre, and some of them just reach a little too far and don’t exactly pay off in the end.

The Kill Factor feels very much like The Hunger Games in a lot of ways (in more ways than not, in my opinion), but it just didn’t touch me in any meaningful or emotional way. The book wants to go deeper and philosophical, and that was actually a great plot choice for author Ben Oliver, but in the third act it felt a little like going “deeper” was switched out for going “brutal” and those aren’t the same thing.

It’s not a bad read, just an average one.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Due to a three star or lower rating this review will not appear in my social media. Thank you.

File Under: Dystopian Fiction/YA Fiction/YA Horror/YA Science Fiction/YA Thriller

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

In the realm of dystopian fiction, Ben Oliver's "The Kill Factor" emerges as a harrowing tale that intertwines the thrill of a game show with the stark reality of survival. Set in a near-future society fueled by virtual currency and digital content, Oliver crafts a world where fame is the currency and life is the stake.

The novel introduces us to Emerson, a young offender who finds herself in a high-stakes game show offering a shot at freedom. The catch? It's win or die. As the contestants are whittled down through a series of mental and physical challenges, the reader is taken on a journey that is as much about internal struggle as it is about external survival.

Oliver's prose is sharp and engaging, masterfully setting scenes that are vivid yet not overwrought with detail. The pacing is relentless, propelling the reader through twists and turns that are as unpredictable as they are satisfying. The author's ability to weave social commentary into the narrative is commendable, touching on themes of elitism, the dehumanization effect of social media, and the voyeuristic nature of reality TV.

Emerson, as our protagonist, is a character of depth and complexity. Her evolution throughout the story is both believable and compelling, making her someone readers will root for. The supporting cast is equally fleshed out, each with their own motivations and backstories that enrich the narrative.

"The Kill Factor" is a book that provokes thought and discussion about the society we live in and the direction we're headed. It's a must-read for fans of "The Hunger Games" and "The Maze Runner" series, offering a fresh perspective in the crowded field of YA dystopian literature.

Ben Oliver's "The Kill Factor" is a gripping, thought-provoking read that will resonate with readers. It's a testament to Oliver's storytelling prowess and his ability to craft a narrative that is both entertaining and enlightening. A solid addition to any dystopian aficionado's collection.

This is a dark YA novel for fans of The Hunger Games. In a futuristic dystopian world where social media followers are all that matters, teen criminals are invited to participate in a game show that offers redemption -- or a lifetime in prison. This is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller that teens will devour. Recommended!