This precursor to the Hunger Games ends up getting the same rating, but for different reasons. I ought to update my one-line review of that also.

This story is told from multiple points of view, often visiting a student's story just before they are killed. I really enjoyed seeing the friendships and the differing perspectives. We never end up in the head of one of the students, the nearly unstoppable bad-guy.

Of course, most of those stories come to a violent end, and the descriptions in this book are very violent - fountains of blood and brain bits are all too common. These gory bits relate not just to guns but also the other weapons provided and found - knives, bows, and an axe.

Comparing to Hunger Games, I enjoyed knowing multiple characters and the ending here was much better; on the flip side this book is far more violent.