Synopsis from Amazon:
Earth is gone...
The galaxy is at war...
But Duncan Alexander Greyson has more important things to worry about.
After the death of his mother, Duncan’s dad sells him into slavery.
Now, he must fight for his life in a space-age coliseum, trained to kill by the worst humankind has to offer. He’s promised freedom but only if he can claw his way out from ever-mounting debt.
When a secret his mother took to her grave comes to light, Duncan becomes more determined than ever. He’s leaving Neo Roma. Even if it’s in a body bag.
>>>>>>>>>
My Review:
I dove headlong into this book because
of its connection with another author I've read before and
enjoyed--namely that they are family! The skill in storytelling and
weaving a sympathetic character and a strong host of supporting
characters is as matched as two apples from the same tree--Santana
Young holds her candle high alongside E. A. Copen (*see below for books by this author!), in this wild
ruckus that is at once a neo-historical dystopia and a sci-fi
cyberpunk all rolled into one!
Duncan is quite young for the
situations and trials life forces upon him--but at the same time, the
circumstances of his heritage also uniquely equip him with unexpected
fortitude to withstand such trials that would break an ordinary
person of his age. Sold into an inter-planetary gladiator training
school, he doesn't have much time to make the switch from fighting to
understand how he got there and why things are the way they are, to
fighting just as hard to survive and navigate the social intrigues
and sheer peril of being a killer entertainer.
(Pun intended)
My
favorite part about the whole adventure would have to be the
characters. Young populates her novel with exquisite and unique
characters, from Pitbull, the man in charge, to various other
gladiators and trainees who have managed to survive this long. Most
intriguing of all, though, was the one known as "Mom." I
feel like the story really took of and became irresistible when Mom
joined the story! I loved Mom. Don't get me wrong, the other characters were enjoyable too, the way some of them went from "every man for himself" to working together to pull off the biggest upset in the history of Neo Roma! I loved the way Young gave them all their individual arcs, and involved them in their own unique ways. Well done!
The
fight scenes played out exactly like something from a blockbuster
film. I could see every twist, turn, and cut clearly playing out in
my head as I read. I would grimace and turn the page really
fast at the gruesome parts.
Young doesn't shy away from killing a few darlings and dealing real
peril to even her best characters,
to say nothing of the hero, Duncan! It almost felt like "everything
that the Hunger Games might have
been, with just a little more planning and a little less
tech-obsession"!
Bottom
line, I am totally sold on the Everen Series--in fact, the whole
concept of the Everen as a mysterious race was beyond cool
to me! THE ARENA earns a full *****5 STAR***** rating, and it is with
great pleasure that I include an Upstream Writer Certified Absolutely
Recommended endorsement. If you love high action, distinct
characters, and new twists on ancient cultures... if you don't mind
intense violence/gore and the odd sexual reference (more along the
lines of "it comes with the social territory" and not "it's
the sole focus of the whole book"... Young is tactful about it,
otherwise I couldn't recommend it!), then this is definitely a book
worth reading and a series worth hyping!
Further Reading: (Neo-Historical/Intense Plots/Future-Past)
Stories of Togas, Daggers And Magic--Assaph Mehr
-Murder in Absentia
-Murder in Absentia
The Cadeau Series--Connie Olvera
-Who Can You Trust?
-Who Can You Trust?
The Books of Winter--R. R. Virdi
-Dangerous Ways
-Dangerous Ways
Judah Black Series--E. A. Copen
-Guilty By Association
-Guilty By Association
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