Girl in the Arena

Author: Lise Haines

Series: Stand Alone

Genres: Action, Adventure

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

Released: October 13, 2009

Summary: courtesy of: goodreads.com 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.

For Fans Of: The Hunger Games

My Review: Oh where to begin? Yes I know! This book was terrible. I thought this was a self-published book at first. My biggest reason for disliking this book? There are no freaking punctuation/quotation marks!

Example: -Don’t you dare- I said viciously –this is ridiculous- I thought to myself.

And this went on and on throughout the whole book! I had no idea where the thought started and ended and when she was really saying anything out loud. It was to tedious to read trying to figure that out and I eventually gave up half way through the book. Why try to read something you can’t even read? Way to frustrating.

The mom bugged the crap out of me-she acted younger than Lyn and was all ‘me, me, me’ the entire time. Lyn bothered me too. She was too willing to give in and help her mom-which she called by her first name which bugged-and even put her life on the line so her mom didn’t have to remarry.

The reason I started reading this was the cover art. And it had gladiators’ in it. But that’s all the good this book has going for it. If the author went back and actually added quotation marks and made it a real book, I might give it another go.