Every single character feels colorful, with a distinct personality that makes them pop out of the page. The narrative is fast-paced and filled with twists and turns to keep you glued to the pages. The dialogue is crisp and laden with wit and humor.

The pace rarely subsides from beginning to end. Throughout the adventures, the reader is introduced to a bevy of well-developed, flawed, and off-beat characters. The protagonist’s struggles, both physical and emotional, are realistically portrayed with plenty of surprises along the way.

I was reminded of history and the gladiators of Ancient Rome in particular, as well as stories like ”The Running Man” and satirists like Jonathan Swift. Swanson is an intelligent writer, clear on character and the way that the plot develops is well executed throughout. There were no weak spots, although I have to say that I found the ending a little unexpected.