Killing Show

"Wow, this one even has an English translation, hilarious! Haha, my apologies, got a bit carried away there. Let me say, the duo is actually fantastic. The battles are intense and thrilling, but the level of gore... *sighs heavily* Imagine these monsters as something that would make H.P. Lovecraft beam with pride. They're not just disgusting, they're utterly revolting, eww.

The non-player characters are, by far, the epitome of nastiness. They're way too abusive. Consider yourself warned~"

The author ingeniously blends the essence of the Hunger Games' societal critique with the harsh realities of late-stage capitalism, particularly within the context of contemporary China's entertainment industry. The narrative delves deep into themes such as materialism, ruthless exploitation, audience disengagement,阶级分化, and the cutthroat nature of capitalism, all depicted in a stark and unapologetic manner.

There's a wealth of social commentary present, which may be blunt but I find refreshing. I admire the author's bravery and straightforward approach, as it's not something I expected to encounter in a Chinese novel – my reading palette seems limited. The thought of being a public figure in this story, or perhaps in real life, fills me with unease – it paints a chilling picture.

Caution! The book contains potentially disturbing content such as rape, cannibalism, torture, and other extreme themes. Despite this, I am captivated by the storyline and the characters. It would be surprising if it didn't receive at least 4 stars. The only possible reason for a 1-star rating might be excessive gore. The plot revolves around the corruption of the powerful, human nature's darker side, and the fight for rebellion. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Of all the web novels I've come across, this one stands out as exceptional. Highly recommend giving it a read, especially if you're comfortable with raw content. I even introduced it to a friend, who fell in love with it too. It's an outstanding dystopian tale. Both the main character (MC) and the male lead (ML) possess unique charm. I won't reveal any spoilers, but the MC exudes a bold and vivacious personality, akin to a dashing and lovable character, while the ML is calm, clever, and endearing.

I truly hope this book gets a full translation someday, as it deserves a wider audience. By the way, personally, I have a huge soft spot for Qi Lan, one of the characters in the story.

I'm really enjoying this so far! It's incredibly thrilling with plenty of action and combat, though the romance is developing at a slow pace. Both the main character (MC) and the male lead (ML) are strong and skilled, which is great to see.

The story is inspired by Hunger Games/Battle Royale, but with a unique twist: contestants are criminals living in a dystopian future where the rich-poor gap exists. The show, called "The Killing Show," involves participants who are either indentured or taken from prisons. It's a survival-war game where males and females are divided and randomly assigned to teams. The violence serves as entertainment, but the players are not inherently bloodthirsty; their primary goal is survival. Outside the game, they live in a surreal celebrity world, attending interviews and having their lives manipulated by the show's producers.

The MC starts off as a kind and gentle soul but becomes dangerous over time, displaying a yandere personality - friendly yet capable of lethal actions. The ML's background hasn't been fully disclosed, but he's distant and analytical. He tries to avoid drawing attention from the show's masters by downplaying his public image. Both MC and ML carry psychological scars, and their relationship grows as they rely on each other.

The plot primarily revolves around the battles within the game, but there's also intrigue involving the wealthy powers behind it. Fans of survival, fighting, dystopian, and zombie themes will find this appealing. The protagonists are strong but not invincible, making them relatable as they face challenges together.

Current rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars. The narrative is an intensified exploration of brutality, akin to The Hunger Games, but I appreciate the characters more. It seems that the overall rating might be influenced by those who found the cruelty disturbing. Personally, I think the story itself is commendable.

However, I must issue a strong warning: The content contains graphic violence, torture, rape, and unimaginable horrors. This is not a light read; it goes well beyond descriptions of violent acts. Reader discretion is highly advised.

I couldn't continue reading due to the repetitive nature of the content. The author constantly repeats the same themes, making it monotonous. The main character (MC) is destined to rise to fame, while the main love interest (ML) is portrayed as uninteresting. The story revolves around the idea that wealth and power reign supreme, with rich individuals solely indulging in smoking and drinking. It's stated that strength is revered, yet those strong characters are often depicted as struggling in the lower world. This cycle is repeated for 19 chapters without much variation.

The logic doesn't quite hold up – if the upper world values strength above all else, why aren't the strongest individuals in charge? The explanation given is that they gain their prowess through a 'killing game,' but their growth is minimal, and they merely kill. The supporting characters are portrayed shallowly, and when they die, the author dismisses them as mere plot devices.

The lack of significant obstacles or meaningful challenges for the MC is disappointing, considering the author's early emphasis on their starring role. The journey promised potential, but it turns out to be formulaic and clichéd, reminiscent of a poor adaptation of "The Hunger Games."

Death is treated rather casually in the narrative, with little graphic detail. Torture is mentioned vaguely, leaving the reader to imagine the scene. In one instance, a character tortures another during an Easter egg plot, but the author doesn't delve deeper, leaving readers uncertain about the true nature of the event.

In summary, the repetitive tropes and lack of depth in both character development and plot execution made the book unengaging for me.

It was pretty good at first, then? I believe the author used techniques such as sitting, walking and jumping on his keyboard to write this story. (I'm so moved by the story and how hard-working the author is as you can see.)