Book Title: The Gauntlet
Author: Karuna Riazi
Number of pages: 298
Synopsis:
When twelve-year-old Farah and her two best friends get sucked into a mechanical board game called The Gauntlet of Blood and Sand—a puzzle game akin to a large Rubik’s cube—they know it’s up to them to defeat the game’s diabolical architect in order to save themselves and those who are trapped inside, including her baby brother Ahmed. But first they have to figure out how.?
– Middle Eastern Jumanji; board game with puzzles although present in third person re: readers may find difficulty in participating in the game too
– The culture and heritage of the characters just are and are not trivialized
– Challenges lack urgency and reads as though failure is rarely a possibility; some plot holes left unresolved
– Protagonist/heroine is one to look up to; a role model of wit and resourcefulness
– Lots of inclusion of food
Initial Thoughts
I had so much excitement for this book yo.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of The Gauntlet from Simon and Schuster Canada.
Alternatives is the tagline feature for other forms of entertainment outside of discussing literature. These posts may encompass television, movies, games, and music with a randomized flavour of the moment approach to each post.
Alternatives Interactive Games – Escape Rooms
(This isn’t the place I visited but it gives a good visual example of what to expect with these escape rooms…even if it looks slightly cheesy.)
Monopoly is the board game that ruins friendships. Escape Rooms are the interactive games that make you want to murder them. Well, maybe.
When twelve-year-old Farah and her two best friends get sucked into a mechanical board game called The Gauntlet of Blood and Sand—a puzzle game akin to a large Rubik’s cube—they know it’s up to them to defeat the game’s diabolical architect in order to save themselves and those who are trapped inside, including her baby brother Ahmed. But first they have to figure out how.?
thoughts and afterthoughts. 