Helpful Score: 1
Reviewed by Karin Librarian for TeensReadToo.com
In today's society, we enjoy brutal sports like World Wrestling Entertainment and the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Imagine, if you will, a world where we also couldn't wait for the next gladiator match.
Lyn lives in just such a world. In fact, she is deeply entrenched in the Glad lifestyle. Lyn's mother has had seven husbands - all Glad fighters. She has been widowed six times, her husbands always dying in the arena. Her latest husband, Tommy, is set to fight in a championship battle against Uber, a young up-and-comer in the Neo-Glad world.
When the worst possible thing happens and Tommy is killed in the fight, Lyn, her mother, and her brother are left in a desperate situation. Either Lyn marries Uber and becomes a Glad Wife, or the family loses everything. Lyn must look deep within herself to decide what she is willing to do.
I really enjoyed reading GIRL IN THE ARENA, even though the writing style took a little getting used to. The only reason it didn't get 5 Stars is the ending. It seems a little rushed and leaves too much up in the air. GIRL IN THE ARENA doesn't seem to need a sequel, so the reader will be left with their questions forever.
In today's society, we enjoy brutal sports like World Wrestling Entertainment and the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Imagine, if you will, a world where we also couldn't wait for the next gladiator match.
Lyn lives in just such a world. In fact, she is deeply entrenched in the Glad lifestyle. Lyn's mother has had seven husbands - all Glad fighters. She has been widowed six times, her husbands always dying in the arena. Her latest husband, Tommy, is set to fight in a championship battle against Uber, a young up-and-comer in the Neo-Glad world.
When the worst possible thing happens and Tommy is killed in the fight, Lyn, her mother, and her brother are left in a desperate situation. Either Lyn marries Uber and becomes a Glad Wife, or the family loses everything. Lyn must look deep within herself to decide what she is willing to do.
I really enjoyed reading GIRL IN THE ARENA, even though the writing style took a little getting used to. The only reason it didn't get 5 Stars is the ending. It seems a little rushed and leaves too much up in the air. GIRL IN THE ARENA doesn't seem to need a sequel, so the reader will be left with their questions forever.
Helpful Score: 1
I'll prequalify this by saying I have not yet finished the book (about 2/3 of the way through) but so far, very disappointed. Such an interesting premise for a plot, but the follow-through is lacking. The style of writing is very off-putting and creates an atmosphere of having to WADE through the dialogue. It just does not flow smoothly- the author frequently does not utilize punctuation to indicate if what you are reading is thought or speech of the characters. I can't say the characters are all that engaging either, although there is potential there.
Update: I finished the book and trust me- it did not get any better. Don't waste your time.
Update: I finished the book and trust me- it did not get any better. Don't waste your time.
IT DOESN'T END!!!! The writing just stops!
Decent book. Despite the dramatic looking cover and description, it's fairly slow-paced. Could've done with more time spent in the arena + training instead her relationships with others and her thoughtprocesses, which took up a good deal of the book. Most of the book took place in the space between her father's death and her battle at the end, and didn't have much high-paced or even really all that interesting content. OK to read once but wouldn't bother reading it a second time.
