A review by howifeelaboutbooks
Black Chalk by Christopher J. Yates

2.0

2.5 stars. Six college students in England decide they should play a game of high stakes. Things start off simply enough - you accept a "consequence," which kind of works like a dare. They range from being silly to embarrassing to life-changing. The consequences are supposed to make people drop out until there is only one winner, but the game doesn't end while everyone's still in school - it won't end until 14 years later, which is when the bulk of the book takes place. It's told through flashbacks, as one of the students, now 34 years old, is writing about that year of college. There is a lot of foreshadowing, but the payoff isn't that great, so I didn't really feel all the ominous talk was warranted. I also think I read it too close to Lauren Oliver's Panic, which has a similar premise but way more suspense. I'd recommend that one, if suspense is what you're looking for.