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|title=Arena

|author=Holly Jennings

|isbn= 978-1101988763

|website=http://www.authorhollyjennings.com/

}}

Kali Ling competes in the RAGE tournaments – a competition of Virtual Gaming, where the world's best gamers compete in a fight to the digital death. Every fights is broadcast to millions, and each player leads lives of fame. Although the weapons are digital, the players feel every blow… Kali Ling – the first female captain in tournament history, is famed for her prowess – but has her world shaken when her teammate and lover overdoses. Now, she must win the tournament and uncover the truth about the tournament, for the Virtual Gaming League has dark secrets. And the only way to change the rules is to fight from the inside…

There is a love story thrown in, and whilst initially it seems a little inappropriate, it's convincing and written well – although thankfully the main aim of this plot is to encourage the development and growth of the lead character. Kali Ling is truly a fascinating character, layered, complex, and a good companion for the reader throughout the book, and her rise is a gripping one to watch. I can't deny that there are some issues I had with this book – some prose is a little clunky, and the ''Hunger Games'' meets ''Ready Player One'' shtick is a high bar that isn't always explore to the full potential it suggests. However, I'm inclined to remember that this is just the first book of a series, and I'm sure the potential of both this world and the character of Kali Ling will be explored more going forward – and I'll definitely be reading.

{{amazontext|amazon=1101988762}}