LitPick Review
“Candy makes them sweet.” As the hostess introduces the contestants of the fifth season of Carnival Panic to the cute, fluffy, pink bunny at her side; the creature certainly doesn’t resemble the limb-removing, metal monster it can become. In a world filled with misery and death every day, why wouldn’t the masses enjoying watching more of it on live television in a competition to the extreme?
Cecile, Jax, Merindah, Quinn, Jean-Emmanuel, and Fletch all have different reasons for competing in Carnival Panic, but the outcome is the same — fame and, of course, fortune. A prize of unimaginable wealth in a world of anything but, and all the contestants have to do is solve a series of 12 puzzles in 14 days. The catch? Only one can win…and the rest do not get simply voted out. Filled with dismembering traps, false clues, and any intrigue the producers can throw out — this is a televised show after all! — the six contestants must decide if the sacrifices are worth the final prize.
Opinion:
Carnival Panic is the Hunger Games for the next generation of dystopian fiction readers! From the very first sentence I was totally absorbed, ignoring everything around me to discover what this game is and why ANYONE would choose to take part in it. I really enjoyed how the reader is basically dropped right into the game, along with the players, and then you learn about the world outside and the reasons for each player’s participation as you go. Told in first person POV from each character’s perspective inside the game, you are slowly given factoids about the dystopian world they live in and how each player reaches a moment in their life that signing up for such a dangerous game seems like a good idea. It also includes heart-pounding moments of suspense as you wait to find out what will happen to each player as they make decisions in the puzzles or with the other players.
I loved this world and the premise for this game! Honestly, I could easily see this becoming a series of short books OR a longer novel just on this story. I would gladly immerse myself in this world again!
I think readers with an interest in dystopian fiction will love this. Due to some graphic information, probably readers 16 and older.
