This was the perfect end of summer read! 
 Twelve contestants begin filming for a survival type reality show. While there are the usual elements (generic names, stereotypes, challenges) most of these people have a personal reason for competing and are taking the game very seriously. Deep in the woods they are expected to fend for themselves. And if a contestant has had enough, they simply have to recite the phrase, "Ad tenebras dedi" and they will be whisked away by show staff, one less competitor. The last hold out wins. 
 From the first chapter of the book, we find out that something catastrophic has occurred. But do those contestants still competing in the woods without any outside communication know anything? This becomes clear through the first hand account of "Zoo", one of the more adept contestants. And what follows is riveting. 
 I am a complete sucker for reality shows. While I know they are manipulated, I love suspending my belief for that hour and buying in to the story line. The Amazing Race is one of my personal favorites. I often wonder how well the show can control the areas they are in and how safe the challenges are. I also wonder how they can keep contestants from contacting family and friends during and after the competition until the winner is announced on TV. Perhaps this is part of the reason that I 100% bought in to this book. 
 The story is well written and well paced. It would have been easy for the author to play on the readers' emotions, but instead she lets the story unfold with little character introspection or backstory. It is effective and keeps the reader in the moment. And finally, while the plot is not air tight, those parts are vague enough to let the reader fill in the holes. 
 5 stars for an original and thoroughly engrossing read!