Review: Raw, brutal and gripping spin on the Hunger Games
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 19, 2013
"Blood Tournament (2018, #1)" by King Samuel Benson is a raw, brutal and gripping futuristic thriller in the tradition of the Hunger Games.Set in 2018 after the war of 2015 it follows several teenagers in the New World, Western Region V.The teenagers are all greatly chosen characters whose different backgrounds enable the reader to get a good picture of both, the old and the new society. A kind of social realism brought into play with this makes the story all the more realistic and gripping. Although the story is set in the future it bears a lot of relevance to current times.In the story Melody and Alex are chosen to represent their district in the Tournament of the title, an uphill struggle, as their competitors are fierce. The tournament and the plot thereafter bring some great twists and unexpected surprises.What I adore most about this book is the raw tension and the way the characters are so much more real than in other science fiction or dystopian thrillers. I really got into the heads of the characters and still enjoyed the action.A very promising start to the series and a talent to watch.