This book begins with a reality TV show where 12 contestants are sent into the woods to face a series of challenges (some together, some alone). Cut off from society, the contestants don't know anything about what is happening in the real world -- until one of them stumbles across something awful. However, she assumes it's all part of the game . . . or is it?
I thought this was an interesting way to tell a story, where there is a reality show going on at the same time that something horrendous is happening in the real world. There are two perspectives, basically --- we have the outside narration of what is happening on the show, and then the direct point of view of one character. I liked how I wasn't sure who the main character was (she could be any one of the reality show contestants at first), and even though I had started to figure it out, it took a while for it to be completely clear. I also liked how it was easy to be as confused as the main character was. What I mean is, when she comes across something and is convinced it's part of the game, I had some doubts. However, it's hard to know in this book if the producers for the show would (or could) go as far as she thinks they do, so a lot of things start to sound plausible.
It's tricky to talk about the book without giving a lot of the plot away, but I can say that it has a pretty good pace, which increases as the story unfolds. The main character is compelling, and because the story doesn't give too much away, the reader is left to figure out things (more or less) as some of the characters do. Clever way to tell a story.
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