Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid

Ava Reid is becoming one of my automatic read authors.

This book will remind you of “The Hunger Games” with its high stakes televised competition and sweet romance, but Reid builds a unique world that had me racing through the pages.

In the Shallows, the goal is to survive without accumulating too much debt. If you fall into debt you can’t repay, the Gauntlet is an option, but mostly a death sentence.

“Angels” are trained to hunt you in the Gauntlet. If you can survive these robotically enhanced hunters, you go free, if not, they kill you for the watcher’s amusement. 

Inesa and her brother Luka are trying to survive in Esopus Creek since their dad left and their mom just stays in bed imagining illnesses that she might have.

When Inesa is thrown into the gauntlet, Luka goes with her to try to keep her alive.

The “angel” Melinoe is trying to prove herself after making a mistake in the last gauntlet.

It’s two against one, but that “one” is a hunting machine. 

In the middle of this chaos, a sweet, sapphic romance blooms that will have you hoping that this gauntlet can end without bloodshed.

I rated this 5 stars and really hope that Reid has a sequel planned.