Win Lose Kill Die

Greetings, Cynthia Murphy, it's a pleasure to connect with you through the pages of “Win Lose Kill Die.” As a newcomer to the YA literary realm, I've found myself captivated by your storytelling prowess. Although this may not mark your debut in the literary landscape, “Win Lose Kill Die” has served as an excellent initiation for me. Your ability to craft a compelling narrative has undeniably won me over, earning this book a well-deserved five-star rating in my literary journey.
Navigating the corridors of “Win Lose Kill Die” felt like an enthralling journey into the heart of Morton Academy, a prestigious institution where brilliance opens doors to futures paved in gold. As a recent initiate into the YA literary realm, I found myself spellbound by your storytelling prowess.

The narrative unfolds within the hallowed halls of Morton Academy, where the promise of a brighter future beckons to the brightest students. The secret society of Jewel and Bone casts its shadows, and from its members emerge the coveted positions of head girl and head boy—gateways to a funded future education. However, beneath this facade of academic ambition lies a darker undercurrent, as mysterious deaths, initially dismissed as tragic accidents, weave a sinister web. A pattern emerges: each victim held the esteemed position of head student or deputy head student, and whispers of a cult that haunted the campus a quarter-century ago linger.

“Win Lose Kill Die” brings a macabre delight, reminiscent of the thrill found in the twists and turns of a season of Riverdale. The narrative doesn't shy away from drama, delivering a perfect dose befitting a tale of secret societies. What stands out is the well-crafted characters, breaking free from teen drama stereotypes and contributing depth to the narrative. The unexpected twist, unveiled towards the clear end, adds a refreshing layer to the storytelling.

Yet, amidst the enjoyment, a few elements stood out, flirting with the line between on-the-nose and nostalgic. The groundskeeper dubbed “Creepy Billy,” an apparent homage to Billy Loomis from Scream, felt like a nod that might elude those unfamiliar with the iconic film. Similarly, the ignorance of Charles Manson among the characters, save for the true crime enthusiast, raised eyebrows, creating a generational disconnect that, at times, pulled me from the narrative.

Despite these minor hiccups, the overall experience was thoroughly enjoyable. My gratitude extends to Netgalley and Scholastic for the ARC, a key that unlocked a tale I'll undoubtedly recommend and perhaps gift to those in my life. If you're considering a journey into the intriguing world crafted by Cynthia Murphy, the link below awaits your exploration.

Ok so, did I enjoy myself? Yeah, I did. This book was an extremely quick read; I blasted through it in about 3-4 hours I think, and the short chapters definitely help with that. It kept the tension high throughout pretty much the entire story, so it was kinda impossible to stop reading at all. I was entertained throughout the whole thing, no matter what my opinions are on the choices the author made.

I could've gone without all the pop-culture references since I feel like they added a level of cheesiness the book really didn't need. I think they were included to play up the whole teenager aspect (since this book is YA) but we could've gone without it with no effect on the story.

Now, as for my gripes with the story. This is all gonna be spoilers.

In the final confrontation with Dr. Patel, I think she was written way too juvenile for how old she was. No adult talks the way she talks; the author transferred over the way the teenagers we speaking to this adult woman and she started coming off as a cartoon villain.

In regards to the whodunit, I don't like that it was Liz. I especially don't like that the main reason she did is because ‘she was crazy!!11!!'. I think that's a tired motivation that's been overused so many times it just doesn't work anymore. Yes, part of her motivation was that she wanted to be Head Girl because she had her own ambitions, but I would've liked it better if they leaned into that rather than ‘ooo she's not right in the head!'

There was also absolutely no indicators or little clues that Liz was the murderer throughout the entire book. I understand wanting to keep the twist a surprise but with this kind of plot device you need to do SOME sort of foreshadowing for it to be truly effective. To think Liz is good the entire book only to plot dump in one of the final chapters and having a quick villain reveal just leaves your readers going “...ok?”. It takes away almost all of the impact.

Overall I had a good time reading this but there were a lot of things it could've done better.