Chain-Gang All-Stars - Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

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⭐ 8.5/10

(Originally written by Magdalene)

I'm sure I'm not the first person to consider this a grown-up Hunger Games but with prisoners instead of kids. In the near future, the US has created a new for-profit prison system where inmates can compete in fights to the death, where if they win a certain number of matches, they win their freedom. It's become highly profitable as a reality show and live spectacle. It mostly follows Thurwar and Staxxx, two female fighters who are teammates and lovers, but also some other fighters, protestors, and supporters, as Thurwar gets close to earning her freedom.

It is just as brutal as it sounds. Lots of depictions of murder, abuse, torture, etc. as the author absolutely demolishes America's current prison system with its inherent racism and capitalism. It was the kind of horror that I kind of couldn't look away from.

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