A review by emanck15
#murdertrending by Gretchen McNeil
4.0
I enjoyed this, as much as someone can enjoy a dystopian world where the justice system is so corrupt that innocents become criminals, and their executions are live streamed in bizarre theatrical ways for ratings. This kind of felt like the Hunger Games, meets Saw, meets Pleasantville? Great for those that want something that bridges dystopian and horror.
Overall, my biggest complaint however, is that when Dee faces the different Painiac's at the end... it all seemed very rushed. It was like hitting all the boss levels one after another and instantly knowing how to beat them, and then almost being a little disappointed that it was too easy. Also the Zoolander challenge... what? Such a weird choice to reference...the author must love that movie.
Spoiler
I feel like I am pretty regularly disappointed by character development in YA thrillers. They have this great entourage of characters that becomes the 'Death Row Breakfast Club' but I felt like there were some serious holes in how they got to be so dependent on each other. There is this whole build up about trust no one at the beginning, but then they start running into dangerous situations to save each other. And then Dee turns on them and accuses them of being accomplices but then they still come back to save her. Why? I just had a hard time buying it all. I also thought the budding romance between Nyles and Dee was completely superficial, and unnecessary. Like when did that even happen?Overall, my biggest complaint however, is that when Dee faces the different Painiac's at the end... it all seemed very rushed. It was like hitting all the boss levels one after another and instantly knowing how to beat them, and then almost being a little disappointed that it was too easy. Also the Zoolander challenge... what? Such a weird choice to reference...the author must love that movie.