Book Review – The Challenger (Contender #2) by Taran Matharu
CADE CARTER HAS BEEN CHOSEN
In a realm of monsters and warriors, Cade is an unwilling contender in a deadly tournament controlled by the brutal alien overlord Abaddon.
Cade may have won the first round but the fight isn’t over yet. For his next battle he must duel a seven-foot-tall, clawed monster – the reigning champion of an alien race.
LOSING WILL LEAD TO EARTH’S DESTRUCTION
Desperate for anything that may give him an advantage, Cade sets off on an expedition into the jungle to scavenge weaponry to help him win. But there he is captured by gladiators, and before he knows it he finds himself participating in a deadly new game where the prize is his freedom.
ROUND TWO IS ABOUT TO BEGIN…
My rating:
I received this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is such honest good fun, and we continue on with both the action and adventure we saw in book one. It branches out away from the competition a little, but finds another instead!
Sadly I didn’t think that was different enough, but that is often the case with these sorts of trilogies. Look at the hunger games, the extinction trials, the nyxia trilogy. It repeats a similar format to vary the impact on the reader while staying with the overall plot.
In this case it works well but not brilliantly. I did love the gladiatorial element, and getting an insight into other residents of the planet. The adventure was perhaps a little too straight forward from a story telling perspective, it all seemed clear if things were going to go well or poorly for the most part. It is however still fast paced and fun; so you don’t have much time to notice! 🙂
I’m definitely interested in what Cade and co get up to next, so will be picking up book three as soon as it’s out! 3.5 stars.
Buy The Challenger from Waterstones.
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9 Comments
Lorraine
I saw the cover and thought hmmm, gladiator and dinosaurs… interesting. And then I read the blurb and saw alien, but the alien is named after a demon. I am most definitely very intrigued!
LiteraryLeisha
I haven’t read any of this series but it sounds fun!
Ellie
Shame you didn’t love this, but glad you still enjoyed it! I don’t think this type of book is for me, I don’t like trilogies that feel repetitive!
Booksandlemonsquash
I think it could weigh out but it’s hard with action type things to keep the tension high
amyjanealice
Ooh I’m intrigued but it is a shame that you didn’t love this as much!
Kirsty
That’s a shame this one wasn’t as good as you’d hoped. I tried reading this author before on audio and I just didn’t gel with it but it might’ve been the narrator tbh
Booksandlemonsquash
I read his first book but didn’t carry on, finding this one better though
Nicola Chard
I got this for Christmas and really looking forward to reading it!
BookMeSomeTime
I had never heard of this trilogy, but it’s not my thing at all though it sounds not too bad