i wanted to read this because i saw reviews describing it as the 100 (my fav show) x the Hunger Games (my fav book series)

unfortunately, it did not live up to any of my expectations.

i found the characters all annoying and insufferable. obviously there are characters we are supposed to hate but i even hated the ones we were ‘supposed’ to like. there was no one i was rooting for and in my opinion they didn’t develop at all throughout the story. for instance, one thing that really bothered me was everyone was so mean to Winston for no reason and the characters never reflected on that. also i didn’t think the 3 povs (Bex, Raya, Zane) were distinct enough. often i’d forget who ‘i’ was supposed to be until the other two were name dropped.

it is supposedly set in space and in a universe with different planets and what not but asides from random lore drops it didn’t feel that way at all. probably would’ve been better (and less complicated) to just set it on a futuristic earth.

i liked one of the plot twists that happened at around 80% in and had hope that it could maybe save the book but it did not. the ending was really rushed and came out of nowhere and wasn’t fleshed out enough to make sense. i can see concepts of a plan at foreshadowing but the execution didn’t work and everything felt really random.

yes, it did end on a cliffhanger but no, i probably won’t read the sequel (if there is one).

Bex can't deal with it any more. Her father has made it very clear what he thinks of her, wanting to marry her off as soon as possible so he doesn't have to even look at her in their home. A chance to escape comes with an entry to The Pinnacle - a competition every planet in their system has heard of. Sure, she's no athlete, and hardly a scholar, but anything is better than staying home. The prize money means escape... finally.

Zane is the son of a wealthy politician. But wealth does not mean happiness. On Zane's planet, arranged marriages are the norm. He's not sure about his upcoming nuptials, as he doesn't want his bride's family to know any more about his own. There is too much to hide.

Raya lives on The Moons. These are the planets mined for their minerals and riches, with none of the wealth going to the miners. In fact, it has proven itself again and again since Raya was eight years old and alone, that miners are to be worked to death, with little if any pay and no rights whatsoever. Raya is tough, street smart and loves her dog Zircon. If she could win The Pinnacle, her and Zircon could leave The Moons, buy a house and never have to fight or steal food again.

They are only three of ten contestants for the competition - all looking each other over as they buckle themselves into the shuttle that will take them to the venue. Will it be a desert, a jungle or an icy mountain? What will the challenges be, and should they find allies early?

All these concerns are soon forgotten when one of them dies. Then another. And another. Someone knows what they have all done at home. Someone wants justice.


Set 400 years in our future, this YA novel is a little Hunger Games, a little Lord of the Flies and a lot riveting! Ten teens, are all desperate to win a huge cash prize after eliminating their competition. But as the bodies pile up, the realisation that they might not be accidents, ups the tension ten-fold.

The stress is high as they try to figure out who the killer is, who to trust and how much to admit of their past lives. Three of the characters tell the tale, with the other seven as collateral damage in the plot.

A page-turning plot and contrasting characters make this a compelling read. 

Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC of this exciting novel.

ARC Review: Then There Was One
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Summary: Ten teens are invited to compete in The Pinnacle, a high-stakes reality show set on a remote planet, with a massive cash prize for the winner. But when the game takes a deadly turn, it becomes clear this is no ordinary competition—it's a fight for survival. With secrets unraveling and contestants being eliminated one by one, only one can make it out alive.

Review:
As someone who loves The Hunger Games and dystopian stories, I was immediately drawn to Then There Was One. The concept of ten teens competing in a deadly reality show on a remote planet sounded thrilling and full of potential. The fast-paced plot and high-stakes mystery kept me turning pages, especially as the competition took a dark turn and the tension started to build.

However, I struggled with the multiple POVs. The characters’ voices weren’t distinct enough, which made it difficult to stay immersed or form strong connections with them. I also felt the world-building, while intriguing, was a bit surface-level—I wanted to know more about the universe beyond the game.

The ending was abrupt, but it left just enough open to suggest a possible sequel. And honestly, I hope there is one—I need to know what happens to Zircon the dog! Overall, it’s an entertaining read for fans of YA dystopian thrillers, even if some parts didn’t quite hit the mark.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK Children's for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wendy Cross’s “Then There Was One” is an energetic, high-octane YA thriller set in a dystopian future where class divides run deep, secrets are deadly, and trust is a luxury no one can afford. Ten teens enter a mysterious reality show called The Pinnacle, expecting competition and glory—only to discover they’ve been chosen for a far darker reason: each of them is hiding a deadly secret, and only one will make it out alive. Sound familiar? Sure. But Cross adds just enough twists, emotional undercurrents, and futuristic flair to make this a standout in the genre.

The story unfolds through the alternating perspectives of Bex (a privileged heiress escaping her toxic home life), Zane (a grieving son with a quiet strength), and Raya (a fiery miner from the Moons, driven by survival and revenge). All three are compelling in their own right, though Raya’s recklessness and the underdeveloped inner voices sometimes make them blend together a bit too much. Still, their dynamic drives the story and offers a steady pulse as contestants start dropping one by one. When it becomes clear that this isn’t a game about puzzles or strength, but about atonement and retribution, the story kicks into overdrive.

Cross doesn’t waste time. After a brief intro, the book throws you into the action and doesn’t let up. Murders happen quickly, and paranoia builds as alliances fray and secrets surface. The pacing is snappy, aided by short chapters and cliffhangers that make it easy to devour in one sitting. Think “And Then There Were None” in space, with just enough “The Hunger Games” vibes to feel thrilling but not derivative. The reality-show-turned-deadly twist, combined with the characters’ checkered pasts, creates layers of suspense and moral ambiguity.

The world of the Cael Quadrant—with its rich planets, impoverished Moons, and high-tech illusions—is a fascinating backdrop, even if it’s underexplored. You can feel the underlying commentary on classism, privilege, and justice bubbling just under the surface. At its heart, this is a revenge story wrapped in sci-fi trappings. The perpetrator’s motive is both chilling and oddly understandable, which gives the book emotional weight beneath the carnage.

The setting has potential (especially the tech like the holographic theatre and planetary escape), but it’s more of a stylish backdrop than a fleshed-out universe. Similarly, some characters—especially side ones—feel melodramatic or flat, more archetype than person. Zane stands out as the most grounded and empathetic of the group. Certain futuristic details feel a bit under-explained, and there are moments where the plot’s logic gets fuzzy. I wanted more world-building to really help develop the sci-fi aspect and help this book stand out from other competitions turned murder-spree books.

While the final twist lands well and the body count feels earned, the story ends on a sharp cliffhanger, leaving several threads dangling—including the fate of Raya’s dog, Zircon. I really hope there is a sequel planned because I am dying to know what happens next (especially with the dog).

Overall, “Then There Was One” is a gripping, YA survival thriller that succeeds in its goal: to entertain, shock, and leave you anxiously flipping pages. It might not offer the deepest lore or most nuanced characters, but it more than makes up for it with tension, intrigue, and a premise that never stops escalating. Fans of teen dystopias, murder mysteries, and reality-show-gone-wrong tales will feel right at home.

2.5 Stars

I initially picked up this book because I’m a sucker for competition books. I thought the concept of this book was super interesting with a sci-fi completion reality tv show filled with character lead drama. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case. I was really disappointed that the story didn’t focus on the actual competition at all, especially since there was so much lore building up this show and the fight for the money. I just think it was a missed opportunity to not explore that tagline from the synopsis. Especially since we could’ve explored the reality competition for a few days before the characters realized the truth.

This book had even pacing, being slow in some chapters while feeling rushed with the overall reveal in the end. The reveal about who the villain was was pretty predictable as well and I don’t think this book needs a sequel, like what is it even going to be about if one of the villains isn’t the one who’s alive in the end.

I didn’t like Raya, especially towards the end. She was rude for no reason and was judging everyone so much, which I know is understandable from the way she grew up, but to have her think Winston’s very helpful expertise was annoying and thinking Bex can’t survive on her own as the onto reason she cares to help her because she doesn’t understand or trust her friendship got annoying really fast. Honestly all three POVs tried to justify their murders and make them seem like they’re morally better than everyone else, which I don’t think the novel spent nearly enough time exploring.

Overall this book was just ok. I’m kind of curious about who is left alive in the end but not enough that I’ll go out of my way to read the sequel when it comes out.

Thank you to NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There There Was One is a really fun YA Sci-Fi Whodunnit set in the future. Clearly inspired and influenced by the classic Agatha Christie novel it follows three teenage protagonists who each have a murderous secret and whom find themselves invited to a far away planet for they assume is a reality show that quickly becomes a nightmare as the cast of 10 gets picked off 1 by 1.

The story is well paced and each of three main pov characters each have distinct personalities and backgrounds that got me invested as a reader.

Cross takes a classic slasher premise and puts a nice modern twist on it with a mystery that’s well developed, smartly paced and not overly predictable despite being a YA title.

I’m a little old to be in this novel’s target demographic, but I do think it holds up as a fun thriller for young and older readers alike.

I give this book a solid 3.5/5 and would recommend it to any youths starting to get interested in the mystery genre.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

𐙚 2.75 rounded up-
🅣🅗🅞🅤🅖🅗🅣🅢: Twisty, but a little rushed✨
Definitely had potential. High stakes read that picks up. There wasn’t a lot of character building in my opinion which made this read feel rushed and hard to navigate at times.

Then There Was One is a solid mystery novel that will keep readers hooked from start to finish. Wendy Cross demonstrates a strong command of suspense and storytelling, making this a highly enjoyable read for fans of the genre.

The characters just fell flat for me. I really wanted to be invested because of the game aspect, but connecting to what was happening wasn't as enjoyable as I expected. It was also really slow paced for a book about a game.

The Pinnacle is the ultimate reality TV contest, set on a remote planet with a $5 million prize. For Bex, Zane, and Raya, winning isn’t just about the money; it’s their only shot at a better life.

But when the competition begins, they quickly realise this year’s game isn’t what they signed up for. The rules are unclear, the dangers are real, and survival isn’t just a strategy – it’s the only option.

I love YA fiction because it stretches the imagination and often pulls young people into adult worlds or complex ideas. Then There Was One had the potential to do this, but unfortunately, it didn’t hit the mark.

The premise sounded incredible – contestants thrown into a high-stakes survival game in space? But the execution didn’t live up to the promise.

Calling this The Hunger Games in space is completely misleading. There are no games here. No structured competition, no challenges, just a group of teens lured into something dangerous with no clear explanation. A more accurate way to describe this book would have been to lean into the mystery of why they were brought to the island, rather than forcing a comparison that doesn’t fit.

Then there’s the lack of world-building, which was my biggest frustration. This is a sci-fi novel set in space, but we never learn why.

Why did humans leave Earth?
How many planets do they now inhabit?
What are these different sectors that keep getting mentioned?
Are there other species, or is this just humans in space?
None of these questions are answered, making the setting feel vague and underdeveloped.

The characters and writing didn’t help either. The book jumps between multiple POVs, but none of them felt distinct. A single, well-developed perspective would have been much stronger. Instead, we get a cast of characters who are hard to tell apart, with some sharing nearly identical backstories. Because of that, I struggled to connect with anyone or care about their survival.

That being said, the book does ramp up the action well. When the stakes are high, the pacing picks up, and those moments are engaging. I just wish the rest of the book had the same level of intensity.

The only part that genuinely intrigued me was the final section with Bex. It was the first time I felt fully invested, where the story actually felt like it had a purpose. If more of the book had followed that direction, I think it could have been much stronger.

Thank you to IPG / Penguin and NetGalley for the opportunity to review. I will update with a link to my online review (should I chose to share on my social channels).

R E V I E W

this book checks a lot of ya boxes. i get where the author was going for: a sci fi whodunnit with a side of Hunger Games survival.

i personally did not love it as much as i wanted to. the story is fast paced, which is good in a whodunnit, but in this case it almost felt too rushed. i felt that we didn’t get enough time to care about the characters or get attached to them before they met their demise.

usually i am down for multiple povs because we get more of the story, but to me the swapping pov did a disservice to the novel. i felt like we didn’t get to know any of the main narrators in a meaningful way. for me i felt they felt flat. if we had stuck to one main narrator, or even two, i feel this novel could have been more cohesive. granted i am not a teen/young reader so it is possible that my previous experiences reading thrillers/mysteries more aimed at adults may have impacted my opinion.

the conclusion felt really rushed to me. i also felt that the ending came out of nowhere, there could have been more hints or clues that gave us even a hunch toward what was going on to build up suspense for the reveal. it felt jarring when the twist was revealed, and not in a good way. it also felt like the world building (which had the promise of being super interesting) was cut short.

this might be someone’s cup of tea, but it was not mine. the vibes give Hunger Games, sci fi, Lost, and murder mystery.

***thank you to Independent Publishers Group, Penguin, Wendy Cross, and NetGalley for this Advanced Reader Copy 🫶🫶🫶***

cw: murder, drowning, drug use (mentioned), cheating, poisoning

I was so lucky to receive and ARC of this story from the publisher because it was right up my alley.

At first, I thought that the book might be a little bit too YA for me, but it quickly got more adult despite the characters being teenagers.

There were so many twists that most definitely kept you guessing on what was happening throughout the entire story and while I had some suspicions, I could never have seen the end coming.

I love the combination of sci-fi into this hunger games like story. I only wish that each chapter was longer, and so that we were able to get a more distinct voice from each of the three main characters and that some of the backstories could have been fleshed out a bit longer, sometimes the narrative felt rushed. But in the end, I’m only left wanting more of this story.

So excited for the next one and other stories from Wendy!!

This was really fast paced and a great mystery, although I could not stand the scenes between two of them (I'm not going to tell names in case of spoilers). I read it in one sitting, I liked it a lot.

⭐ Rating: 4/5
📖 Genre: YA Sci-Fi, Thriller, Dystopian
📅 Publication Date: October 5, 2023

🌟 Summary:
Imagine a high-stakes reality show where survival isn't just part of the game—it’s the only rule. Then There Was One follows ten teenage contestants as they compete in The Pinnacle, a deadly televised competition set on an abandoned planet. Each contestant has something to hide, but as the game progresses, the true dangers lurking in the shadows become more sinister. When contestants start disappearing, it’s clear that winning might not be as simple as following the rules.

🖋️ My Thoughts:

✔ Reality TV Meets Survival Thriller – The premise immediately hooked me! The mix of an And Then There Were None-style mystery with a Hunger Games-esque survival competition kept me turning pages. The unpredictability of the eliminations and the secrets behind each contestant added layers to the story.

✔ Diverse & Complex Characters – Each of the ten players brought their own strengths, weaknesses, and hidden motives, making it impossible to know who to trust. I especially loved how the relationships and alliances shifted over time, revealing deeper layers of manipulation, friendship, and betrayal.

✔ Fast-Paced & Suspenseful – The short chapters and tense cliffhangers made it nearly impossible to put this book down. Every challenge, twist, and unexpected disappearance heightened the sense of urgency, making for an adrenaline-fueled read.

🔸 A Few Drawbacks:

▫ Could Have Been Longer – Some aspects of the world-building felt a little underdeveloped. I wanted to know more about the broader universe and what led to The Pinnacle becoming such a major event.

▫ Slightly Rushed Ending – While the build-up was fantastic, I felt like the climax could have been drawn out a little more for a bigger impact.

✨ Final Verdict:
Then There Was One is a gripping YA sci-fi thriller that blends reality TV, survival, and psychological twists into a high-stakes game of deception. With strong characters, nonstop tension, and a plot full of twists, this book is perfect for fans of dystopian thrillers and edge-of-your-seat mysteries. Despite some minor pacing issues, it’s an exciting and immersive read that will keep you guessing until the very end!

📌 Recommended For: Fans of The Hunger Games, One of Us Is Lying, and The 100.