On a futuristic Earth, audiences are amused by ruthless competition. Bradley Caffee’s The Chase, book 1 in the Chase Runners sci-fi series, pursues nineteen-year-old Willis, elite runner in a game run by sadistic wizards. Unlike other dystopian tournaments, this one is not deadly to all—only to continual losers. Willis begins to doubt certain “truths.” When he meets a mysterious helpful slave woman, and confronts other runners’ alliances or sabotage, Willis faces terrible choices. Right out of the gate, The Chase introduces a lineup of many characters and rapid viewpoint shifts, threatening to throw this race into chaos. But readers who catch a second wind will find a gripping adventure and reason to anticipate the next match.

Best for: Young adults, sci-fi lovers, fans of The Hunger Games.

Discern: Fairly high levels of violence.