Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines
pages: 336
released: October 2009
publisher: Bloomsbury
cover love: ♥♥♥

It’s a fight to the death—on live TV—when a gladiator’s daughter steps into the arena, Lyn is a neo-gladiator’s daughter, through and through. Her mother has made a career out of marrying into the high-profile world of televised blood sport, and the rules of the Gladiator Sports Association are second nature to their family. Always lend ineffable confidence to the gladiator. Remind him constantly of his victories.And most importantly: Never leave the stadium when your father is dying. The rules help the family survive, but rules—and the GSA—can also turn against you. When a gifted young fighter kills Lyn’s seventh father, he also captures Lyn’s dowry bracelet, which means she must marry him… For fans of The Hunger Games and Fight Club, Lise Haines’ debut novel is a mesmerizing look at a world addicted to violence—a modern world that’s disturbingly easy to imagine. (from Goodreads)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON 5/18/2011 ON BOOKSLIKESTARS.NET

Review:

I liked this book in the beginning but by the end it was a sinking ship. Lise Haines pastes us in this alternate “now” where Gladiator sport is the norm and watching them fight and maime each other to death is the most popular entertainment in the world. Glads are treated like full blown celebs like Angelina and Brad, they’re chased by paparazzi, give tv interviews, are adored by fans, etc. The whole glad culture had a religious feel to it with all its laws and rules that have to be obeyed or you will be shunned by society. What I liked most was the plot. Or should I say, the idea of the plot. Upon the death of her stepfather, Lyn has the choice to either marry the man that murdered him or fight him herself. It’s a big deal for her, seeing as a lot is riding on her decision. If she fights him it equals freedom from this backward culture. If she marries him, her family will be taken care of for life. Yes, all very interesting. But the book fell really far from my expectations.

First off, the author decides not to use any quotation marks when characters are speaking, just dashes, which makes it confusing for readers. And the blurb gives off this notion that it will be action packed but Lyn and Uber don’t step in the ring together until the last 20 pages. Mostly the book follows her family’s life after her stepfather dies and how she watches it destroy her mother. I’ll give the book credit for a few absorbing passages but other than that it was definitely short of memorable. Lyn isn’t a bad character, I just couldn’t stay connected to the story. Especially after scenes where she and her BFF Mark create a simulated “Lyn” to run off a LifeMachine (a popular electronic used to have virtual famous people or relatives walking around your living room). The only place stuff like that works in is movies like Weird Science. I can understand designing a digital twin but how can you code your own personality traits, feelings, judgments, yada yada yada, into a computerized you? Impossible. Maybe in Earth 3055 but not now.

If you have something else you’d rather read, go forth and do so. I wouldn’t say don’t read it. But don’t rush to get to it. You’re not missing much.

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