Reading round up (23)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress and my thoughts on each book as I read it. I have a tonne of novellas so I'm hoping to read a few of those, along with some galleys. I'm super behind with galleys.

14th April

Finished Proxy (30% read) and let's not ever talk about that ending okay. What the hell happened?

15th April

Currently reading: The Headhunter's Race | Kimberly Afe

Current page/percent: 27%

Read today: 27%

Thoughts: Woah. What a way to start. So happy this didn't disappoint.

16th April

Currently reading: The Headhunter's Race | Kimberly Afe

Current page/percent: 45%

Read today: 18%

Thoughts: Yeah. Pretty great. Maybe a bit droning, but hoping it's gonna change. It feels as if the character is just going through the motions.

17th April

Currently reading: The Headhunter's Race | Kimberly Afe

Current page/percent: 77%

Read today: 32%

Thoughts: This got better. I think the dialogue and interaction makes this book a bit more compelling. If it had been Avene on her own, I think I'd have been irritated by her by now.

18th April

Finished The Headhunters Race (22% read), and read a further 5% of Defy by Sarah. B. Larson, taking me to 9%, though it looks like I'll be abandoning it for a few days, since Dreams of Gods and Monster came!!

19th April

Went out to see Bayside today so didn't read anything at all. Bayside were awesome, if you were wondering. In other news: I am now starting Dreams of Gods and Monsters.

20th April

Currently reading: Dreams of Gods and Monsters | Laini Taylor

Current page/percent: page 75

Read today: 75 pages

Thoughts: Ooh I like this new character. I have a theory she's one of the Godstars, and that they left to be hidden on Earth. Lets see if I'm right.

Books finished this week: 2

The Headhunters Race (RC Review)

Headhunters: The Headhunters Race | Kimberly Afe

Published by: January Sky Publishing, January 3rd 2014

Genre: YA, Dystopia, Survival Story

Pages: 196

Format: Ebook

Source: Provided by author in exchange for an honest review

Sixteen-year-old Avene was sentenced to prison at thirteen for a crime she didn't commit. Now she has a chance to win her freedom back – if she enters the Headhunters Race. Second prize isn't so bad either, an upgrade to the Leisure Prison if you make it to the finish line. To win either prize, Avene and the other prisoners must navigate one hundred and fifty miles of dense forest, desert, and worst of all, cannibal territory.

With a mechanical collar timed to strangle the prisoners if they're not back in nine days, Avene allies herself with seventeen-year-old McCoy, another prisoner that insists on helping her at every turn and a boy she's trying hard not to fall for. Together they battle nature, other prisoners, and the timed death collars to win the coveted prize. But when Avene is tested with one deadly conflict after another, she realizes there is more at stake than winning her freedom – first she has to survive.

When I started reading this, I expected more dystopia than survival story and I am extra happy that this book is what it is.

In The Headhunters Race Avene, the protagonist, is imprisoned with only one hope of getting out of jail - win a manhunt of prisoners organised by the governor, and capture a fugitive in return for her freedom. But she'll have to battle criminals much more deadly than her in order to return the fugitive to the governor - her sadistic stepfather.

The Headhunter's Race reads, quite unexpectedly, as a modern survivalist fairy tale. The imprisoned girl, the malevolent stepfather, the huge task she has to complete in order to achieve her goal - freedom. I loved all the different elements of this book. The transition from prison to wildlands is seamless, the threats and dangers piled on top of each other to create an impossible summit of conflict Avene had to overcome, and made for a compelling and at parts emotional thrill ride.

I had a couple issues with the middle of the book, where it seemed like threats were being thrown at Avene one after another for no apparent reason. I feel like this could have worked better had Avene made some real progress and then had set backs spaced at crucial moments - which actually did happen later in the book. But other than that, I enjoyed it.

The Headhunters Race is a fast paced, quick read to be enjoyed by fans of dystopia, post-apocalyptic, and contemporary thrillers alike.

Characters ★★★☆☆

Setting/world building ★★★☆☆

Writing Style ★★★☆☆