relzreviewz.com The Contest by K. E. Ganshert

Synopsis:~

In a world of haves and have nots, where petty crime is punishable by death and magic is forbidden, a deadly contest unfolds in secret. Twelve competitors are mysteriously invited. The winner gets one wish. For 17-year-old Briar Bishop, this means saving her brother from execution by guillotine, and she’s not going to let anything or anyone get in her way. Especially not Leo Davenbrook, the handsome High Prince, who has grown up with everything she never had and whose very presence threatens her chance at survival. She has no idea a darker battle wages in secret, one that could lead to a fate far worse than the death of her brother.⁠⁠

My take:~

With shades of The Hunger Games but a unique feel all its own, The Contest is your next must read novel!

K. E. Ganshert thrills with this adventurous, addictive read as the courageous Briar Bishop determines to do everything in her power to save her brother. Thrust into a dangerous contest where survival is uncertain and her fellow competitors might be friend or foe, Briar’s heart, soul, and mind are just as much at war.

Ganshert’s ability to tap into the young adult mind and pen a story that is appealing, intriguing, and thought-provoking is second to none. And yet, this older adult mind enjoyed every minute between the pages of this compelling tale of avarice and sacrifice, danger and romance.

Readers will find reflections of themselves in Briar and Leo’s personal struggles and be moved as perseverance, devotion, love, and hope can be found amidst darkness and danger.

The Contest is a foray into the best of any dystopian fantasy YA romance!

With thanks to the author for my review copy. My opinions remain my own.

Award-winning author, Katie (K.E.) Ganshert, graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a degree in education, and worked as a fifth grade teacher for several years before staying home to write. Now she’s a full-time author torn between two genres: young adult fiction of the fantastical variety and contemporary fiction of the inspirational variety. She was born and raised in the Midwest, where she lives with her family. When she’s not penning novels, she volunteers as project manager for a non-profit that serves vulnerable women and children in her daughter’s birth country. You can learn more about Katie and her books by visiting her website (www.katieganshert.com). You can learn more about her heart for vulnerable women and children by Googling Reeds of Hope, The Lokumu Project.