I loved this book! It was so suspenseful with so many different twists and turns throughout the whole story. I liked the thrill and the suspense of it all. It had good writing, good twists, and kept me hooked from page one!! I recommend this book for sure!


Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

What a great book! I just couldn't put it down. The story was mesmerizing and the characters were phenomenal. Twists and turns throughout will keep your heart pumping. This is how thrillers are supposed to be written. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

The way I run to read Shade Owens just to give myself some nightmares. This was one was actually a lot "happier" than her usual books, as long as you don't care about anyone but the main protagonists. I read this one go.

Thank you NetGalley and Red Raven Publishing for this eCopy to review

When I first picked up Death Row Games by Shade Owens, I was immediately drawn into the intense and gripping world that Owens has masterfully created. The premise is both chilling and fascinating: six death row convicts are given a chance to win their freedom by participating in a deadly survival game on a remote island. The last person standing walks away free, while the others face certain death.

Brooklyn Winters, is a compelling character who finds herself on death row after being charged with first-degree murder. When she receives a mysterious letter offering her a chance at freedom, she is understandably sceptical. However, faced with the grim reality of execution, she decides to take the risk and participate in the game.

The plot unfolds with relentless tension as Brooklyn and the other convicts navigate the treacherous island, facing not only the dangers of the environment but also the constant threat from each other. Owens does an excellent job of building suspense, and I found myself on the edge of my seat, eagerly turning pages to see what would happen next.

One of the standout aspects of the book is the way Owens delves into the backgrounds and motivations of the characters. Each convict has a unique story, and their interactions add depth to the narrative. The moral dilemmas they face and the alliances they form (and break) make for a thought-provoking read.

The writing is sharp and vivid, painting a clear picture of the island's harsh landscape and the brutal reality of the game. Owens' ability to create a sense of claustrophobia and desperation is impressive, and it kept me hooked from start to finish.

While the book is undeniably thrilling, it also raises important questions about justice, redemption, and the human will to survive. The ending is both satisfying and thought-provoking, leaving me with plenty to ponder long after I finished reading.

Brooklyn was convicted of first-degree murder and awaiting her execution on death row. Days before her execution, she receives a letter from an anonymous person, inviting her to a remote island where she can win her freedom. The rules are simple. The last person standing wins their freedom. When Brooklyn shows up to the remote island, she finds out she is one of 6 death row convicts. How is she going to survive against these people who have committed the most heinous crimes? I will leave it there as it is best to go in with only a basic description.

This was my fourth novel by Shade Owens and once again, another hit! Love the writing style and the quick pace. A super crazy read and really unique storyline. I read a lotttt of thrillers, and this was the first time I read something with this premise! A very interesting concept and I could not wait to see where the story would take me.

I really liked our main character, Brooklyn. Her story was written really well and we were provided with just the right amount of background information. Character development in general was spot on.

I read this book super quickly as I couldn't put it down. I was so invested and had to see where the story was heading. A must read for thriller fans!

Thank you to Red Raven Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A woman named Brooklyn Winters, who is facing execution for murder, is offered a chance to win her freedom by participating in a survival game on a remote island with five other convicts. The last person standing will be granted freedom. Brooklyn must decide whether to risk it all in the brutal competition or face her impending execution.

Wow, this book is a thrilling combination of Hunger Games and Predator, set on a remote island where only one can survive. The plot is well-thought-out, with intriguing characters that add depth to the story.

This is the second book I've read by this author, and I must say, I am thoroughly impressed. I found myself enjoying this book even more than the last one. The author's unique writing style truly sets this book apart.

The characters in this story are complex, with secrets, lies, and a shared experience on death row. As you uncover the backgrounds of each inmate, you begin to question the harshness of their punishment. Some still hold onto their moral compass, while others have lost their way.

The multiple points of view in the story provide a comprehensive understanding of both past and present events. The flashbacks offer crucial information about each convict, adding layers to the narrative.

The island setting is chilling and eerie, reminiscent of a survival show. Reading this book made me feel like I needed to brush up on my survival skills!

If you enjoy dark, bone-chilling tales set on a secluded island with dangerous prisoners on the loose, this book is for you. The unpredictable plot will keep you guessing, and the story will continue to evolve as you delve deeper into its pages. This book will challenge you to consider what you would do in a similar situation.

Thank you, Red Raven Publishing for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

“Death Row Games” is a gripping, fast-paced read that kept me hooked from start to finish. The stakes are incredibly high, with life-or-death decisions that had me on edge the entire time. The characters feel real and raw, making it easy to get invested in their fates, and the concept itself is chilling in the best way. The story is packed with twists. It’s an intense, thought-provoking, and thoroughly entertaining read that fans of dark thrillers will devour. Solid 4 stars!

As soon as I got accepted for this ARC yesterday I just had to pick it up straight away! It was very dark and twisty and I absolutely loved it, it definitely lived up to the high expectations that I had of this book from the cover and description

Thank you netgalley and the publishers for this ARC.

If you are looking for a book with a great plot and character development, this is it. I enjoyed the pacing of the story and never felt bored. I finished it quickly too because the way the author constructed the chapters you want to know what is going on with the characters.

The ending was perfect and wraps everything up nicely. I can’t wait to read more by the author in the future.

This was definitely interesting and intense.
I was so gripped at first i thought it would be like the hunger games but nope this was so much darker and more blood.
I actually loved Brooklyn and Eddie
I was rooting for them both even though only one could survive
A brilliant thriller which was definitely unique crazy unpredictable with some great characters

The premise is intriguing: six death row convicts are invited to participate in a battle royale on an island. The winner gets their freedom, while the others—well, they were already on death row, so execution is inevitable. I expected a good battle royale, and while it delivered on entertainment, it didn’t quite meet all my hopes.
I was looking forward to following all the characters’ POVs and seeing how each planned to survive those critical first moments. Unfortunately, the story focuses on just two characters (plus an anonymous one), which means we don’t learn much about anyone else.
Was it predictable? ABSOLUTELY. Easily forgettable? YES. But it was also entertaining in a lazy, low-effort way, perfect for when you don’t want to think too much.

What can I say except, WOW.
After reading so many holiday read recently I needed to get back to my favorite genre. I was looking for a captivating thriller I could jump into and I found just that with this book.

The premise of the book reminds me of a dark twisted hunger games.

Death Row Games is about six death row convicts on one island and the last player standing is able to win their freedom.

It sounds crazy but honestly what do they have to lose? They’re going to be executed anyway. At least this way one of them will have the chance to walk out alive, right?

Our two contestants we have insight to through their POV are there due to life circumstances.

Now they not only need to survive against each other but the elements as well.

This book took me for a spin. I kept trying to guess where it was going. The twist was insane.

I appreciated the multi pov perspective the author included. The pov of anonymous made the whole book feel so sinister. You had no idea whose mind we were in or if it was even a person at all.

I really enjoyed this read. I loved reading and trying to decipher between who was trust worthy and who was not. It was hard to tell if the games really were what they seemed on the surface, or if something more sinister was at play. It kept me on my toes from beginning to end.

This book was fantastic! I really liked how the point of view shifted between different characters. It was really chilling to see the character's thoughts in their "anonymous" form. They were pretty dark characters, with some pretty morbid thoughts and actions. I especially enjoyed seeing the characters go from feeling hopeless and unsure if they could survive to finding the strength to fight back. I was surprised by the moments when the evil characters were trusted. I wish I could have communicated to the good characters that they needed to run! That final page was shocking. I wasn't expecting that!

I absolutely loved this book! I really enjoyed how the point of view alternated between different characters. Being able to see the character “anonymous” thoughts gave me chills. They were a very dark character with morbid thoughts and actions. I especially enjoyed getting to see the characters going from feeling hopeless and not knowing if they had what it took to survive to getting the strength to fight back.

The moments where the evil characters were trusted had me wishing I could somehow communicate to the good characters that they needed to run! That final page left me shocked! I was not expecting that!

Minus 1 star I felt like it was easy to predict who the evil characters were from the beginning.

My favorite characters:
- Brooklyn
- Eddy

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Shade Owen’s and Res Raven Publishing for the ARC and opportunity to review this book.

4.5⭐️ rounded up just because the ending didn’t really do it for me.

This was my first from this author but it won’t be the last. It was hunger games meets death row. A nice change from the usual overdone storylines. It was suspenseful and gripping. A fast paced read. I loved Eddy and Brooke’s characters and felt the author did a great job developing them throughout the book.

The storyline was done well, my only complaint was the very last part. I felt it was just thrown in there and didn’t really fit at the end. I would have preferred it somewhere else along the book.

Overall a great book!

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️