The Game of Love and Death

by Martha Brockenbrough

E-book edition, 336 pages

Published April 28th 2015 by Scholastic, Inc.

✰✰✰

Antony and Cleopatra. Helen of Troy and Paris. Romeo and Juliet. And now . . . Henry and Flora.

For centuries Love and Death have chosen their players. They have set the rules, rolled the dice, and kept close, ready to influence, angling for supremacy. And Death has always won. Always.

Could there ever be one time, one place, one pair whose love would truly tip the balance?

Meet Flora Saudade, an African-American girl who dreams of becoming the next Amelia Earhart by day and sings in the smoky jazz clubs of Seattle by night. Meet Henry Bishop, born a few blocks and a million worlds away, a white boy with his future assured — a wealthy adoptive family in the midst of the Great Depression, a college scholarship, and all the opportunities in the world seemingly available to him.

The players have been chosen. The dice have been rolled. But when human beings make moves of their own, what happens next is anyone’s guess.

Achingly romantic and brilliantly imagined, The Game of Love and Death is a love story you will never forget.

Okay this one is kind of hard. I love the plot and the Edwardian settings. I love how authentic the setting feel, with social etiquette and obsessions' with class. I love how this one sets around the time women started to ask for equality, with a lot of new information about the suffragettes. It's such a amazing movement, fighting for women's rights and just equality for all. And I love the art element in this book (even though I'm not an artist). 

The problem is the characters. I liked Victoria's passion and will, but most of the time she comes across as spoiled and obstinate. She made lot of rash decisions without thinking of the consequences, even though every freaking person on this book told her not to do it. She could at least stop and think for a moment. She doesn't think about what her actions would cost everyone; what her behaviour cost her parents, what it would cost Freddy everytime he defends her, Will's feelings, Sophie's job, and so many other things. It's upsetting to see her behave like that. 

And maybe because I was too irritated with Victoria, other characters don't really shine. Victoria describes people around her as "typical Victorian that only cares about fashion, class, and weather". And it's true. From what I read, other characters are just boring and one dimensional. Except for Lucy and Sophie. They're just so brave, but again, we know almost nothing about them. And the main love interest, Will, well, he's nice, but that's all. I guess their passion for art (in different ways) make them understand each other more and made them kind of perfect for each other. 

Overall, it's an interesting book, but the characters make it doesn't work for me.

 

Juliette is still haunted by her deadly touch. But now that she has teamed up with other rebels with powers of their own, she'll be able to fight back against The Reestablishment to save her broken world. With the help of these new allies, she'll also finally learn the secret behind Adam's—and Warner's—immunity to her killer skin.

Writing style. The writing style is more bearable and better that Shatter Me. Maybe because Juliette is more sane in this book. It's amazing how Tahereh's choice of words describe the emotion and touch us. But still it was too repetitive for me and sometimes it doesn't fit the situation. Even though the phrase helps us connect with Juliette and understand what she feels, it just too much. Tahereh could use simple words to tell her meaning. 

"My fists are full of unlucky pennies and my heart is a jukebox demanding a few nickles and my head is flipping quarters heads or tails heads or tails heads or tails heads or tails."

Plot. This book has some amazing action packed scenes. At some point, I had to actually stop reading to slow my heart rate! It was soo good. But sadly, it feels like Tahereh made this book focuses more on the love triangle rather than the action part. Honestly, when I read dystopian books, I want to read a lot of badass action instead of romance, I could read contemporary for romance.

Juliette. I can understand that she's afraid people would reject her again, but she doesn't even make any attempts to know anyone at Omega Points (beside Adam, Kenji, James) not even her room mate. And yet she wonders why people are afraid of her. If only she's more friendly and approachable. Yes, we can see how she has changed throughout the book, but she's still whiny, self centered and indecisive. But one thing, Juliette is better off alone. No Adam, no Warner. When she's with Adam, he's over protective with her that it holds her back. Juliette seems to forget every problem and everything when she's with Adam. And then comes Warner, and same things happens. With both of them, she can't decided who she wanted to be with. The war is coming, the whole world is dying, and all Juliette can think is about Adam/Warner. She has amazing powers yes, but I can't stand her.

"All you do is sit around think about you feelings. You've got problems. Boo-freaking-hoo." he says. "You parents hate you and its so hard but you have to wear gloves for the rest of your life because you kill people when you touch them. Who gives a shit?" He's breathing hard enough for me to hear him. "As far as I can tell, you've got food in your mouth and clothes on your back and a place to pee, peace whenever you feel like it. Those arent problems. That's called living like a king. And I'd really appreciate it if you'd grow the hell up and stop walking around like the world crapped only on your roll of toilet paper. Because its stupid." he says, barely reigning in his temper. "It's stupid, and its ungrateful. You dont have a clue what everyone else in the world is going through right now. You dont have a clue, Juliette. And you dont seem to givea damn, either"

Even Kenji can't stand her.

Adam. Poor guy. Bad things seem to keep happening to him. It's no wonder he's been angsty in this book. But one thing for sure, Adam deserves better than Juliette. Everything is killing him and Juliette can't even see that. Instead, she's playing around with Warner. At least Juliette could try to be with Adam and talk without actually doing anything. BUT NO. Instead we get repetitive scenes of Juliette and Adam angsty fights.

Warner. It's nice to see more of his backstory and seeing him as a human being. But he's still cheesy and psycopath and want to be with Juliette for reasons unknown for me. Yeah he's hot but he's also screwed. But we can see the reasons for his attitude in this book. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN JULIETTE CAN FORGIVE HIM AND MAKE OUT WITH HIM THAT EASILY.

God.

The triangle is exhausting and silly and I just want more of the world building and the war instead of angsty romantic drama.

Kenji. My favorite character from this series. I would like a bestfriend like Kenji. He's funny, but he can be serious when it needed. And maybe his words stung, but it is for our own good. And, he'll do anything to protect Omega Point and it's people.

This book feels like 98% romance and 2 % dystopia. They should've put it in romance category instead of dystopia. I really wish Ignite Me will get better. I really do. Because I want to see how they defeat the Supreme Commander and how it all works out instead of Juliette regreting her power, crying, and making out with both Adam and Warner.