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The Game
No matter where you are, they’ll find you, and put you in “The GAME”.
Candice Laguna’s life is being systematically dismantled, by an unknown force, for a reason she can’t imagine. But she is about to become the unwilling star of a reality game competition the likes of which has never been broadcast to the world.
Just when things get darkest, a mysterious man snatches her from the grips of doom. He is a man who is not what he appears, and not who he says. He has no name and his motivation to help Candice is not what it seems to be.
THE GAME is a mystery/thriller with an unpredictable paranormal twist. It has action and adventure and plays up the everyday exploitation of reality television obsession gone wrong.
Candice Laguna’s life is being systematically dismantled, by an unknown force, for a reason she can’t imagine. But she is about to become the unwilling star of a reality game competition the likes of which has never been broadcast to the world.
Just when things get darkest, a mysterious man snatches her from the grips of doom. He is a man who is not what he appears, and not who he says. He has no name and his motivation to help Candice is not what it seems to be.
THE GAME is a mystery/thriller with an unpredictable paranormal twist. It has action and adventure and plays up the everyday exploitation of reality television obsession gone wrong.
231 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 13, 2013
38 people are currently reading
1156 people want to read
About the author
Shane Scollins
16 books117 followersShane Scollins is an Amazon best selling author with several novels to his credit. He is originally from northern New Jersey, has lived in the snow covered mountains of upstate New York, and now resides near the beaches of Wilmington, North Carolina. In 2011 he made the decision to follow his dream and become a full time novelist. In 2012 he signed his first contract with Limitless Publishing and has been writing for them exclusively ever since. Primarily a suspense/thriller writer, Shane enjoys taking his readers on surprising and unexpected journeys that sometimes venture into the paranormal/supernatural. He is currently working on his next book,
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
January 22, 2013
If you're a fan of Hunger Games or The Maze Runner your gonna love this!
April 19, 2013
Review:
Sometimes a book comes along that grabs you, holds on tight and just when you think you can't take anymore (though secretly you do) the book decides to let you go. First half of The Game was awesome. Think Saw meets Untraceable. Sick, twisted, visceral I loved it! Seriously, the first half of The Game would make an amazing movie.
Before trashing getting to the negatives of the second half of The Game I want to talk about the amazing first half. I like most of the population enjoy reality television. Not gonna lie, I enjoy watching people escape from messed up scenarios. However, their is a fine line between enjoyment and straight up torture. I'd never want to actually see a person go through what Candice Laguna does. On paper it's a whole other story. I wanted more!! I mean it's horrible but bloody fantastic at the same time. Only downside is that portion of the book is over quickly. Clearly, I didn't read the synopsis close enough. I really need to skim to the bottom and not just read about the plot. Lesson learned that's for sure.
Now the first half of the book is 5 Stars all the way. In fact I'd recommend picking up the book just to read the beginning. The second half however, Why? Why? Why? Do you hate your readers? Was your ultimate goal to have the book thrown across the room in disgust? If so, Congrats you succeeded!
Unpredicatable Paranormal twist did not work. Why would someone try to combine these two elements together? It's like the author had writer ADHD, To many ideas, not enough time to write them all so I know, let's just throw them together. Ugh, I can't even begin to describe how truly disappointing horrible the second half of this book was. Had The Game been written that way the entire time I might feel different, might being the operative word. The ONLY reason I didn't DNF this book was a. I promised to review it for the tour and b. I kept torturing myself in the hopes things would get better.
Overall, The Game was a huge disappointment. So much potential was wasted by introducing the paranormal element. It saddens me to say this but I'm definitely going to be leery reading from this Author again. In the end, The Game is being rated a solid ★★★. While I loved the first half, the second half killed the book for me. I highly recommend borrowing this book and testing it out before purchasing. You've been warned.
April 19, 2013
Review also posted at Ja čitam, a ti?
Honestly I'm really used to the YA novels and the writing style so jumping out of that world is sometimes really necessary. This one provided me that. Or the author did. Either way thank you.
If I had to describe my feelings after reading this book - my first reaction would be freaked out. Really this book freaked me out even more than I could imagine. To make things clear that's not a bad thing cause I started thinking a lot. This book is so real but still so unreal at the same time. While it tells you about the things that are all around you and really possible still you can't believe it. We're really the slaves of technology. That generally doesn't have to be a bad thing if you're a god guy but when you get a bad guy against you - well that's another thing all together.
Reality TV is something that became so popular few years ago and everyone started watching Big Brother and other shows. Even now they're popular. But this is a story about a bit disturbing show called The Game. Simple name for the simple game but with complex outcome. Candice is a normal girl, living her life up until one day everything turns upside down. She loses everything, her job, boyfriend, privacy - basically her life. She is in the middle of something she couldn't dream of. She lost control of her own life and there is only one way to get it all straight. To play a game. Soon someone else jumps into all that mess. Someone who knows everything just needs a little reminder.
Needless to say you should mix a bit of paranormal and romance into all that and then you pretty much get this book. This was my first book from this author and I decided to join this blog tour because it sounded interesting enough. I really liked characters and the idea of the story. Maybe it's a bit extreme but that's why it really gets you.
Even though the paranormal thing really works for this story I somehow wish that it stayed realistic till the end. That's the only thing that I could point out as bad.
Honestly I'm really used to the YA novels and the writing style so jumping out of that world is sometimes really necessary. This one provided me that. Or the author did. Either way thank you.
If I had to describe my feelings after reading this book - my first reaction would be freaked out. Really this book freaked me out even more than I could imagine. To make things clear that's not a bad thing cause I started thinking a lot. This book is so real but still so unreal at the same time. While it tells you about the things that are all around you and really possible still you can't believe it. We're really the slaves of technology. That generally doesn't have to be a bad thing if you're a god guy but when you get a bad guy against you - well that's another thing all together.
Reality TV is something that became so popular few years ago and everyone started watching Big Brother and other shows. Even now they're popular. But this is a story about a bit disturbing show called The Game. Simple name for the simple game but with complex outcome. Candice is a normal girl, living her life up until one day everything turns upside down. She loses everything, her job, boyfriend, privacy - basically her life. She is in the middle of something she couldn't dream of. She lost control of her own life and there is only one way to get it all straight. To play a game. Soon someone else jumps into all that mess. Someone who knows everything just needs a little reminder.
Needless to say you should mix a bit of paranormal and romance into all that and then you pretty much get this book. This was my first book from this author and I decided to join this blog tour because it sounded interesting enough. I really liked characters and the idea of the story. Maybe it's a bit extreme but that's why it really gets you.
Even though the paranormal thing really works for this story I somehow wish that it stayed realistic till the end. That's the only thing that I could point out as bad.
December 24, 2013
In a year full of me reading stupid, awful books on my Kindle, partially because I'm a glutton for punishment but mostly because they were free, this is one of the stupidest. The actual plot ends about halfway through the book (There's a madman! With a plan! He'll host it in a can! Everyone will be a fan!), then veers right and busts out some preposterous supernatural nonsense, which is, unsurprisingly, tied up with a not even pretending to be subtle deus ex machina at the end. There's a love story, kind of, in the way "hey! two people are in the same room at the same time! Now they're in love!" is a tenable love story. You know the heroine is the heroine because the author has to stop every few sentences to remind you how effortlessly amazing the heroine is - which is true, but only because everything the heroine does is literally without effort.
Ok. Here. It's my favourite line of the book:
"This cherry sat atop the insanity-cake she didn't order and didn't want to eat. But someone had already smashed it into her face and dared her to lick her lips."
I've been working on unraveling that one for a few days, now. Have at it.
Ok. Here. It's my favourite line of the book:
"This cherry sat atop the insanity-cake she didn't order and didn't want to eat. But someone had already smashed it into her face and dared her to lick her lips."
I've been working on unraveling that one for a few days, now. Have at it.
February 4, 2013
Yet another amazing book by Shane Scollins! Just when I thought I knew where the book was going he threw in a twist I didn't see coming! My kids thankfully know how to cook because once I start one of these books, I'm not putting it down until it's finished! I'm looking forward to seeing more from this author, his books keep me interested and it takes a lot to hold my attention. I'm generally reading several books at once but his I have to finish before I pick up another.
January 28, 2013
Just finished this book today. Loved it. I got into it right off without having any idea where it would lead. I was surprised by the turns it took. Very exciting and enjoyable read. Recommend it highly.
April 16, 2013
Reality Television – I think everyone loves watching those. It gives us viewers a glimpse as to how normal people acts or works or plays while being filmed; but what if The Reality Television turned into an ULTIMATE sick and twisted REALITY show?
Reading The Game has it’s good side and bad sides for me. I’ll start it up with the good points:
I’ll give The Game A for the uniqueness that it encompasses. It has a very unique plot that could easily get your attention coz from the get go you would find yourself asking different questions like “Who are those people who keep calling Candice?”How could they track her?” What do they want out of her?” – The curiosity as to what would happen will surely keep you in reading it.
Angus, Lena and Rena are very effective villains. They totally scared me and creeps me out! I was literally scared to my seat as to what they might do next they’re very much effective for me; They definitely left me at the edge of my seat.
The story started with those weird calls that our protagonist Candice gets and from then I get this weird and creepy feeling and as the story progress that feeling stays and add up to it is the utter feeling of disturbances. It’s a good point for me because I could see that the effect that the author wants the readers to get is there. I definitely feel the story.
I’m still torn if it’s a good point or not but at some point as I’m reading this it suddenly reminded me of the movie series SAW – just eliminate the uber gross killing parts.
Now, for the not so good parts for me. Hmmm..
The cover doesn’t really make sense to me. To be honest, when it comes to reading, the cover usually depicts what might happen inside the book so you really can’t blame me if I was expecting something Dystopian-ish to happen here or Maze Runner type of story (what with the maze thing that we could see on the cover) but I guess none of the things on the cover represent to what really happened on the story.
This is supposed to be called The Game right? So why does it feels like it all boils down into some Science Fiction Stuff without the game into it. Yes, I get the concept of a reality TV show turned into a horror story but The Game that I was expecting (though Its damn right creepy) didn’t even last that long. Just two rounds of the game and it ended then Bam enters the Science Fiction stuff or in other words another issue that is too far from the concept of the supposed to be game.
The characters Candice and Lukas – I can’t feel enough chemistry! I know this is not about romance and stuff like that but I think their relationship is too forced.
Lukas’ real identity and situation also disturbs me. It’s a good addition to the story BUT I do think it doesn’t fit very well. His situation is unique and intriguing. It just doesn’t sit well for the story.
The Game has a very unique story flow but a bit disturbing and weird. The last chapters seems to lead us into a whole new other story so I guess there would be more. Pick this one up so you could all see what I’m talking about.
*Advanced copy kindly provided for review*
*Blog Tour deets posted at Reads and Thoughts.
Reading The Game has it’s good side and bad sides for me. I’ll start it up with the good points:
I’ll give The Game A for the uniqueness that it encompasses. It has a very unique plot that could easily get your attention coz from the get go you would find yourself asking different questions like “Who are those people who keep calling Candice?”How could they track her?” What do they want out of her?” – The curiosity as to what would happen will surely keep you in reading it.
Angus, Lena and Rena are very effective villains. They totally scared me and creeps me out! I was literally scared to my seat as to what they might do next they’re very much effective for me; They definitely left me at the edge of my seat.
The story started with those weird calls that our protagonist Candice gets and from then I get this weird and creepy feeling and as the story progress that feeling stays and add up to it is the utter feeling of disturbances. It’s a good point for me because I could see that the effect that the author wants the readers to get is there. I definitely feel the story.
I’m still torn if it’s a good point or not but at some point as I’m reading this it suddenly reminded me of the movie series SAW – just eliminate the uber gross killing parts.
Now, for the not so good parts for me. Hmmm..
The cover doesn’t really make sense to me. To be honest, when it comes to reading, the cover usually depicts what might happen inside the book so you really can’t blame me if I was expecting something Dystopian-ish to happen here or Maze Runner type of story (what with the maze thing that we could see on the cover) but I guess none of the things on the cover represent to what really happened on the story.
This is supposed to be called The Game right? So why does it feels like it all boils down into some Science Fiction Stuff without the game into it. Yes, I get the concept of a reality TV show turned into a horror story but The Game that I was expecting (though Its damn right creepy) didn’t even last that long. Just two rounds of the game and it ended then Bam enters the Science Fiction stuff or in other words another issue that is too far from the concept of the supposed to be game.
The characters Candice and Lukas – I can’t feel enough chemistry! I know this is not about romance and stuff like that but I think their relationship is too forced.
Lukas’ real identity and situation also disturbs me. It’s a good addition to the story BUT I do think it doesn’t fit very well. His situation is unique and intriguing. It just doesn’t sit well for the story.
The Game has a very unique story flow but a bit disturbing and weird. The last chapters seems to lead us into a whole new other story so I guess there would be more. Pick this one up so you could all see what I’m talking about.
*Advanced copy kindly provided for review*
*Blog Tour deets posted at Reads and Thoughts.
May 21, 2013
This review first appeared on Books i View.
This is the first book I’ve read by Shane Scollins and I must say I am hooked! The Game is the story of a woman named Candice after receiving a series of strange phone calls she is thrown into a psychological reality game.
In the beginning of the book I really didn’t like Candice all that much. She struck me as overly confident type. However, as her life started to fall to pieces at first you think she’ll break but she only grows fiercer and more relatable/likable.
The unpredictable paranormal twist was in my opinion unnecessary but very interesting and you might just end up with your mouth gaping open saying “Nooo” or scratching your head saying “What?” This would be a good book to read if you’re not much of a paranormal fan but want to give it a shot.
The story is what dragged me in. I was creeped out yet intrigued by the phone calls all at once. The darker, creepier, and more psychotic a story/character can get the better, and Scollins managed to create a brilliant sociopath that you’ll love to hate! The Game, kind of had a Stephen King vibe to it because Scollins was not afraid of bringing out the sadistic side of the story.
The only downside for me was I wish it was longer. I wanted the actual game part to be longer it just seemed too short. I ended up reading the whole book in one sitting and I would gladly read anything else by Shane Scollins!
This is the first book I’ve read by Shane Scollins and I must say I am hooked! The Game is the story of a woman named Candice after receiving a series of strange phone calls she is thrown into a psychological reality game.
In the beginning of the book I really didn’t like Candice all that much. She struck me as overly confident type. However, as her life started to fall to pieces at first you think she’ll break but she only grows fiercer and more relatable/likable.
The unpredictable paranormal twist was in my opinion unnecessary but very interesting and you might just end up with your mouth gaping open saying “Nooo” or scratching your head saying “What?” This would be a good book to read if you’re not much of a paranormal fan but want to give it a shot.
The story is what dragged me in. I was creeped out yet intrigued by the phone calls all at once. The darker, creepier, and more psychotic a story/character can get the better, and Scollins managed to create a brilliant sociopath that you’ll love to hate! The Game, kind of had a Stephen King vibe to it because Scollins was not afraid of bringing out the sadistic side of the story.
The only downside for me was I wish it was longer. I wanted the actual game part to be longer it just seemed too short. I ended up reading the whole book in one sitting and I would gladly read anything else by Shane Scollins!
December 17, 2017
The main character is Candice. She’s a bit of sassy little thing until she start receiving some very unwanted calls from a man who appears to infatuated with her. What she doesn’t understand is that she and her friends have been chosen to participate in the most macabre reality show to ever hit the airwaves and internet.
The villain in the story is Angus and his collection of minions: Rena, Mark and Caleb. This is one of the nastiest collections of individuals I’ve ever come across. Of the group, Caleb is definitely the vilest person you will ever come across.
Angus wants Candice to play in his game. She does everything she can to get away from this nut job he starts turning her life upside down: fired from her job, reposed car, drained bank account, the murder of one of her ex-boyfriends and a video of her best friend, stripped and bound to a bed.
From this point, Angus toys with her, drawing him into his “Game.” Let me tell you, the scenes of the game Angus has her play are some of the most exciting I’ve ever read. It’s gruesome, horrifying and extremely suspenseful!
Did I mention there’s also a ghost in the story?
The main problem I have is once the game is over, the story continues. I think it should have a sequel. A lot of the energy and excitement that is packed into this thriller, loses its punch.
Highly recommend for all YA and adult readers.
A few grammatical errors, but nothing to detract from the story.
Solid four stars
The villain in the story is Angus and his collection of minions: Rena, Mark and Caleb. This is one of the nastiest collections of individuals I’ve ever come across. Of the group, Caleb is definitely the vilest person you will ever come across.
Angus wants Candice to play in his game. She does everything she can to get away from this nut job he starts turning her life upside down: fired from her job, reposed car, drained bank account, the murder of one of her ex-boyfriends and a video of her best friend, stripped and bound to a bed.
From this point, Angus toys with her, drawing him into his “Game.” Let me tell you, the scenes of the game Angus has her play are some of the most exciting I’ve ever read. It’s gruesome, horrifying and extremely suspenseful!
Did I mention there’s also a ghost in the story?
The main problem I have is once the game is over, the story continues. I think it should have a sequel. A lot of the energy and excitement that is packed into this thriller, loses its punch.
Highly recommend for all YA and adult readers.
A few grammatical errors, but nothing to detract from the story.
Solid four stars
April 29, 2013
This book was TERRIBLE! The plot was ridiculous to begin with, and then halfway through took another twist that exponentially increased the ridiculousness. Dialog was awkward and forced, typos were scattered throughout, and it seemed like the author lost track and interest in where he was going and what he was writing toward the end. Nothing really resolved and the end of the book had nothing to do with the majority of the story. The only good thing I can really say is that I absolutely flew through it - you could easily skim as the author used 3x as many words as he needed to get the point across.
April 22, 2013
Yum. Intense. Exciting. Action Packed. Smidge of romance. Great characters. Fun, new plot. In all, a fantastic book that was well worth the read. This girl gets sucked in to a maniacs version of a reality show- and that means 'testing' his candidates before starting the show. Oh too good!
February 23, 2014
Независимо къде се намирате, те ще ви открият и ще ви приемат в "Играта". Тайнствен трилър с непредсказуеми паранормални обрати, история пълна с приключения и стремежи. Така ме завладя, че не заспах, докато не я дочетох.
March 28, 2013
For those of you that don’t know, my husband is a bit of a computer genius. He can spend hours staring at random dots and slashes (that to any “normal person” (like myself) looks like nothing more than gibber jabber) and definitively determine who/what/when/and where something may or may not be occurring. He speaks a language that I fail to understand (usually including words like: bit, ram, server, cache, appatach…I could keep going.) and can usually fix anything (in 5 minutes or less) that my computer illiterate ass can screw up.
Because of this deep understanding of the digital world, he is Captain Paranoid when it comes to online security. Me? Not so much. Sure…I’ve watched Hackers, and heard horror stories about identity theft, but much like any 85 year old Grandpa who has a hard time using Google, I just assume nothing bad is going to happen to me and I go about my day.
Last month however, I stumbled upon this web series called Cybergeddon and reality finally smacked me square in the jaw. Sure…I knew it was just a show, (and the possibility of me being hunted down by a deranged lunatic with a grudge was about as likely as me eating a cockroach for fun) but something struck a chord with me.
We are all connected!
Over the years we have become slaves to the internet. Privacy? Pffft. Forget it! Every piece of personal information we possess is tucked away somewhere in some digital file just waiting to be exploited. And that is a pretty scary thought.
But not as scary as Shane Scollins “The Game.” After reading this…I’m just gonna go with “F’d up book”… I am making a vow to be a little more careful. Also…I’ve decided that “shoot first, ask questions later” might not be such a bad motto to have in some circumstances. (David would be so proud.)
"No matter where you are, they’ll find you, and put you in… “The GAME”.
Candice Laguna’s life is being systematically dismantled, by an unknown force, for a reason she can’t imagine. But she is about to become the unwilling star of a reality game competition the likes of which has never been broadcast to the world.
Just when things get darkest, a mysterious man snatches her from the grips of doom. He is a man who is not what he appears, and not who he says. He has no name and his motivation to help Candice is not what it seems to be."
Well…since I’m feeling extra generous today, I’ve decided to serve up the “happy side” of this book review first. Which, coincidently enough, is about the first half of the book.
Up until the 52% mark in “The Game” I was one sadistically happy camper. People’s lives were being ruined left and right. A group of expertly penned nefarious foes were blissfully residing in Crazy Town. And the amount of goosebumps popping up on my forearms made me look more like a leaper than a enraptured reader. In short: it was a 5 star read backed by a 6 star dose of WTCrapology is wrong with people!! I loved it.
Imagine for a second that the ladies of the “Real Housewives” franchises were kidnapped by Jigsaw (from Saw movie madness.) And then the whole debacle (the puzzles, the gore, the struggle to survive) were broadcasts to the masses as some sort of sick sociological experiment (complete with American Idol type text voting to let a player live another day.) This is the type of chaos that resided in the first half of “The Game.”
Candice was just an innocent girl, minding her own business, when a psycho with an agenda (that apparently involved sticking it to the producers of crap reality TV) decided he liked her unique combination of looks and gumption. (See…sometimes is sucks to be the hot one.) As a result, she spends the first half of the book in a wild goose chase to save not only herself but several others from impending doom.
**
“Candice Laguna, you’ve been chosen to receive this call.” The voice was that of an enthusiastic game show announcer. “We’re so glad you’ve answered, we’d like to invite you to see this video.” A text message bleeped through, with a video attachment. What she saw in the video halted her breathing. She involuntarily moved her hand over her mouth. It was Zee, bound and gagged, tied to a bed in her underwear. Candice couldn’t breathe. Her heart began beating oddly out of time. Tears came and her hands shook so badly she almost dropped the phone. The three-second clip looped over and over and she couldn’t look away. The phone rang again, and the overly enthusiastic voice blurted again. “What you’ve seen may be disturbing to you, but you haven’t seen anything yet. If you don’t do exactly as we say, she will die a horrible death. That’s right, a horrible death. You cannot go to the police, or she dies an even more unimaginably horrible death. This is going to be the best time of your life, Candice Laguna. You’re getting exactly what you asked for, that’s right, exactly what you asked for. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so don’t delay. Stay tuned for your instructions. And remember, you must do exactly as we say. Thank you for participating. Good night.”
**
Makes you shudder right? Trust me when I say…it gets so much more mucked up than that. (Can you say ring of fire and tar?)
But..with the good comes the bad. Which (unfortunately) pretty much encompasses the entire second half of the book. (*insert sad face*)
Not only did “the game” end abruptly (Not that I was pulling for more torture…it just seemed quick.) but at that 52% mark the entire structure of the story changed from Horror to Paranormal. Now..before you give me a hard time by reminding me that it says “paranormal twist” in the synopsis, I know! I also know when something just isn’t working. And the slap shot feeling that assaulted my chest in a matter of one freaking sentence had me rolling over in agony.
Who here has read David Levithan’s novel “Every Day” about a boy who body hops? This is basically the premise (though slightly more complicated and apparently comes with a pink clad Colonel Sanders) of the entire second half of the novel. Goodbye crazy train. Hello WTF! My mind was on overdrive before this point. Picking up and selfishly devouring the awesomeness of gruesomeness and then WHAM! I hit a brick wall and never recovered.
As a matter of fact…there are TWO quotes from the book that sum up my thoughts exactly.
“This whole experience had been one ridiculous thing after another, but it wasn’t paranormal in any sense, until now. This cherry sat atop the insanity-cake she didn’t order and didn’t want.”
“It was as if the entire balance of the universe had blown into pieces.”
To make a very long rant short…it was like the book had split personality disorder, and apparently I liked Brutus the Butcher much more than Betty the…screw it, I can’t think of anything witty.
My final verdict. If you enjoy horror I encourage you to take a chance. The beginning really is a big ol chunk of YES!!!! As for the rest of you…I say ‘meh. Take it or leave it.
Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: It’s ok if you talk to yourself. Just don’t start answering.
Because of this deep understanding of the digital world, he is Captain Paranoid when it comes to online security. Me? Not so much. Sure…I’ve watched Hackers, and heard horror stories about identity theft, but much like any 85 year old Grandpa who has a hard time using Google, I just assume nothing bad is going to happen to me and I go about my day.
Last month however, I stumbled upon this web series called Cybergeddon and reality finally smacked me square in the jaw. Sure…I knew it was just a show, (and the possibility of me being hunted down by a deranged lunatic with a grudge was about as likely as me eating a cockroach for fun) but something struck a chord with me.
We are all connected!
Over the years we have become slaves to the internet. Privacy? Pffft. Forget it! Every piece of personal information we possess is tucked away somewhere in some digital file just waiting to be exploited. And that is a pretty scary thought.
But not as scary as Shane Scollins “The Game.” After reading this…I’m just gonna go with “F’d up book”… I am making a vow to be a little more careful. Also…I’ve decided that “shoot first, ask questions later” might not be such a bad motto to have in some circumstances. (David would be so proud.)
"No matter where you are, they’ll find you, and put you in… “The GAME”.
Candice Laguna’s life is being systematically dismantled, by an unknown force, for a reason she can’t imagine. But she is about to become the unwilling star of a reality game competition the likes of which has never been broadcast to the world.
Just when things get darkest, a mysterious man snatches her from the grips of doom. He is a man who is not what he appears, and not who he says. He has no name and his motivation to help Candice is not what it seems to be."
Well…since I’m feeling extra generous today, I’ve decided to serve up the “happy side” of this book review first. Which, coincidently enough, is about the first half of the book.
Up until the 52% mark in “The Game” I was one sadistically happy camper. People’s lives were being ruined left and right. A group of expertly penned nefarious foes were blissfully residing in Crazy Town. And the amount of goosebumps popping up on my forearms made me look more like a leaper than a enraptured reader. In short: it was a 5 star read backed by a 6 star dose of WTCrapology is wrong with people!! I loved it.
Imagine for a second that the ladies of the “Real Housewives” franchises were kidnapped by Jigsaw (from Saw movie madness.) And then the whole debacle (the puzzles, the gore, the struggle to survive) were broadcasts to the masses as some sort of sick sociological experiment (complete with American Idol type text voting to let a player live another day.) This is the type of chaos that resided in the first half of “The Game.”
Candice was just an innocent girl, minding her own business, when a psycho with an agenda (that apparently involved sticking it to the producers of crap reality TV) decided he liked her unique combination of looks and gumption. (See…sometimes is sucks to be the hot one.) As a result, she spends the first half of the book in a wild goose chase to save not only herself but several others from impending doom.
**
“Candice Laguna, you’ve been chosen to receive this call.” The voice was that of an enthusiastic game show announcer. “We’re so glad you’ve answered, we’d like to invite you to see this video.” A text message bleeped through, with a video attachment. What she saw in the video halted her breathing. She involuntarily moved her hand over her mouth. It was Zee, bound and gagged, tied to a bed in her underwear. Candice couldn’t breathe. Her heart began beating oddly out of time. Tears came and her hands shook so badly she almost dropped the phone. The three-second clip looped over and over and she couldn’t look away. The phone rang again, and the overly enthusiastic voice blurted again. “What you’ve seen may be disturbing to you, but you haven’t seen anything yet. If you don’t do exactly as we say, she will die a horrible death. That’s right, a horrible death. You cannot go to the police, or she dies an even more unimaginably horrible death. This is going to be the best time of your life, Candice Laguna. You’re getting exactly what you asked for, that’s right, exactly what you asked for. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so don’t delay. Stay tuned for your instructions. And remember, you must do exactly as we say. Thank you for participating. Good night.”
**
Makes you shudder right? Trust me when I say…it gets so much more mucked up than that. (Can you say ring of fire and tar?)
But..with the good comes the bad. Which (unfortunately) pretty much encompasses the entire second half of the book. (*insert sad face*)
Not only did “the game” end abruptly (Not that I was pulling for more torture…it just seemed quick.) but at that 52% mark the entire structure of the story changed from Horror to Paranormal. Now..before you give me a hard time by reminding me that it says “paranormal twist” in the synopsis, I know! I also know when something just isn’t working. And the slap shot feeling that assaulted my chest in a matter of one freaking sentence had me rolling over in agony.
Who here has read David Levithan’s novel “Every Day” about a boy who body hops? This is basically the premise (though slightly more complicated and apparently comes with a pink clad Colonel Sanders) of the entire second half of the novel. Goodbye crazy train. Hello WTF! My mind was on overdrive before this point. Picking up and selfishly devouring the awesomeness of gruesomeness and then WHAM! I hit a brick wall and never recovered.
As a matter of fact…there are TWO quotes from the book that sum up my thoughts exactly.
“This whole experience had been one ridiculous thing after another, but it wasn’t paranormal in any sense, until now. This cherry sat atop the insanity-cake she didn’t order and didn’t want.”
“It was as if the entire balance of the universe had blown into pieces.”
To make a very long rant short…it was like the book had split personality disorder, and apparently I liked Brutus the Butcher much more than Betty the…screw it, I can’t think of anything witty.
My final verdict. If you enjoy horror I encourage you to take a chance. The beginning really is a big ol chunk of YES!!!! As for the rest of you…I say ‘meh. Take it or leave it.
Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: It’s ok if you talk to yourself. Just don’t start answering.
April 19, 2013
As seen on my blog:
The Game was definitely a mash-up of so many genres I love: psychological thriller and paranormal to name my top two. It started off going in one direction, and then completely threw me for a loop. It was quick paced, and took me only about 2 hours to read through. I could have done with more substance, more back story material, but I think the author achieved exactly what he must have been going for: a quick punch to the gut.
We are immediately introduced to Candice Laguna, and learn that she's somehow been placed in the middle of a sick and twisted "game": phone calls from strangers that know her name, losing her job, and threats made to the people she loves. Not too long after that, we meet Vince, the appointed "hero" of the plot, who seems to want nothing more than to catch the people running the "game," and stop them from claiming more victims. What ensues is a wild goose chase of sorts, with obstacles thrown in at opportune times, and even an insta-INSTA-love aspect for good measure.
I almost felt like-no, I DID feel like-I was reading a short story. The world and character building was next to non-existent, and what connection I felt to the characters was based purely on my fear for their life, and hope for their safety. However, despite that, The Game was definitely a page turner, and teemed with action from the first word to the last. The premise was GENIUS, and had the stirrings of a story line that would have been AMAZING had it been fleshed out, and filled in, a lot more. It touched on realistic and controversial topics, even though they mostly lurked in the background, and really made me want to pray for this world we live in.
The characters were distinct, and easy to differentiate between, and again, I felt like I just wanted Shane Scollins to delve DEEPER into their lives, tell me EVERYTHING there was to know about them! Sadly, we were only given a taste, but I really enjoyed what he offered. Candice was a strong female lead, with a feisty attitude, and some profound dialogue. Vince played his hero role to a tee, and I only fell harder for his character as the book went on, and we were given the truths from past. I also really enjoyed Alexis, a sort of "side-kick" of Vince's, and I so wish we got to hear more from her.
The PUNCH to the gut for me, in a good way of course, was the paranormal plot twist thrown in near the last quarter. I did not see it coming at ALL, but found myself welcoming it with arms WIDE open. It was like "Oh heeey there! I know YOU!". My good friend paranormal. I absolutely loved what the author did with the story line from that point forward, and it was easy totally easy to ignore the lack of character development once that piece of magic was thrown in. I highly recommend reading this book in it's entirety. It has something for almost every genre reader to appreciate.
Recommended for Fans of: psychological thrillers, mystery, and paranormal.
----------
*DISCLAIMER* I received this book as an ecopy from the author, in order to participate in the blog tour.
The Game was definitely a mash-up of so many genres I love: psychological thriller and paranormal to name my top two. It started off going in one direction, and then completely threw me for a loop. It was quick paced, and took me only about 2 hours to read through. I could have done with more substance, more back story material, but I think the author achieved exactly what he must have been going for: a quick punch to the gut.
We are immediately introduced to Candice Laguna, and learn that she's somehow been placed in the middle of a sick and twisted "game": phone calls from strangers that know her name, losing her job, and threats made to the people she loves. Not too long after that, we meet Vince, the appointed "hero" of the plot, who seems to want nothing more than to catch the people running the "game," and stop them from claiming more victims. What ensues is a wild goose chase of sorts, with obstacles thrown in at opportune times, and even an insta-INSTA-love aspect for good measure.
I almost felt like-no, I DID feel like-I was reading a short story. The world and character building was next to non-existent, and what connection I felt to the characters was based purely on my fear for their life, and hope for their safety. However, despite that, The Game was definitely a page turner, and teemed with action from the first word to the last. The premise was GENIUS, and had the stirrings of a story line that would have been AMAZING had it been fleshed out, and filled in, a lot more. It touched on realistic and controversial topics, even though they mostly lurked in the background, and really made me want to pray for this world we live in.
The characters were distinct, and easy to differentiate between, and again, I felt like I just wanted Shane Scollins to delve DEEPER into their lives, tell me EVERYTHING there was to know about them! Sadly, we were only given a taste, but I really enjoyed what he offered. Candice was a strong female lead, with a feisty attitude, and some profound dialogue. Vince played his hero role to a tee, and I only fell harder for his character as the book went on, and we were given the truths from past. I also really enjoyed Alexis, a sort of "side-kick" of Vince's, and I so wish we got to hear more from her.
The PUNCH to the gut for me, in a good way of course, was the paranormal plot twist thrown in near the last quarter. I did not see it coming at ALL, but found myself welcoming it with arms WIDE open. It was like "Oh heeey there! I know YOU!". My good friend paranormal. I absolutely loved what the author did with the story line from that point forward, and it was easy totally easy to ignore the lack of character development once that piece of magic was thrown in. I highly recommend reading this book in it's entirety. It has something for almost every genre reader to appreciate.
Recommended for Fans of: psychological thrillers, mystery, and paranormal.
----------
*DISCLAIMER* I received this book as an ecopy from the author, in order to participate in the blog tour.
October 13, 2015
Typically I enjoy books that have somewhat of a romance angle in them and while The Game did eventually end up having some unexpected romance, it was mostly a physiological thriller with a dash of paranormal element in it. And I loved every second of it. Shane Scollins is a God. No for real, I loved this story so much.
The plot centers around Candice Laguna and how her life is destroyed by a group of people who want her to be a part of the game. I don’t want to give away too much about what the game in the story is, but if I had to classify it I would say its The Hunger Games meets Awaken (Katie Kacvinsky).
It’s almost scary to think what people can do with technology today and Scollins did an amazing job of showing us the negative side of this virtual world we all live in. The characters were relatable and some were far past crazy, but incredibly interesting. I loved the bad guys as much as the good guys. Putting the pieces together along with the characters was one of my favorite parts of this book.
Being able to follow along and see things from every angle and seeing where things intersected between characters was fun and entertaining, but it also kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t put this book down. It’s fast paced, but not in a confusing way, which I love. I can’t stand stories that start off slow because then I drag my feet while reading and it takes forever to get to the good part.
But with The Game, the entire book is the good part. Candice meets a lot of interesting people on her journey and the violence is definitely medium-high. We’ve got death, guns, things blowing up, kidnappings, and foul language, which of course has the makings of an awesome book.
This is one of those books I’d like to see made into a movie. I swear it’s got one of those plots that you can absolutely see was made for the big screen. It’s unique and definitely worth the read. If you haven’t checked it out, you should. I need a paperback copy of this book for sure! Hats off to Scollins, please tell me there’s a sequel???
April 16, 2013
No offense to Shane Scollins but this book isn’t for me. If I was closer to Candice’s age, I think that I might have enjoyed this book more than I had. I think that I could have connected with her more than I did. With this being said, I didn’t care about most of the characters or the problems they had.
For the things that I don’t like go, there is a lot. There is close to no world building at all in the story. I understand that it takes place in New York and New Jersey but still, there could have been a lot more details than there was. Another thing I don’t like is the intensity of it, it’s not at all intense or mysterious. I felt like I was reading a love story instead of an actual thriller that was supposed to keep me on my toes. There is an unbelievable amount of insta-love in this book. In some instances, I can tolerate it but the relationship between Vince and Candice goes from sweet and cute to full-out love in a matter of days. It’s just not realistic. The ending of the book is somewhat predictable yet there is a few surprises that keep interesting but not enough to actually like it.
The writing style is something that kept me reading because it’s really smooth. This says a lot because I don’t usually like books that are written in third person. I really like the cool twist that happens with Vince and his life. I was not expecting it at all and actually made me happy that I kept reading. I also like Angus because he’s crazy. He’s this evil genius who gets what he wants and doesn’t care. Reading about him is going to interest most readers who are curious to know what goes through the mind of a killer without a heart. Shane Scollins did a fine job developing Angus as a character.
Overall, not a bad read, but it isn’t a young adult book. It’s more directed towards adults which instantly made me not like the book but I kept reading because I liked the premise of it. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys movies like Gamer, Arena, and even books like The Hunger Games in a sense of the twisted minds of people and what they want out of reality tv show.
For the things that I don’t like go, there is a lot. There is close to no world building at all in the story. I understand that it takes place in New York and New Jersey but still, there could have been a lot more details than there was. Another thing I don’t like is the intensity of it, it’s not at all intense or mysterious. I felt like I was reading a love story instead of an actual thriller that was supposed to keep me on my toes. There is an unbelievable amount of insta-love in this book. In some instances, I can tolerate it but the relationship between Vince and Candice goes from sweet and cute to full-out love in a matter of days. It’s just not realistic. The ending of the book is somewhat predictable yet there is a few surprises that keep interesting but not enough to actually like it.
The writing style is something that kept me reading because it’s really smooth. This says a lot because I don’t usually like books that are written in third person. I really like the cool twist that happens with Vince and his life. I was not expecting it at all and actually made me happy that I kept reading. I also like Angus because he’s crazy. He’s this evil genius who gets what he wants and doesn’t care. Reading about him is going to interest most readers who are curious to know what goes through the mind of a killer without a heart. Shane Scollins did a fine job developing Angus as a character.
Overall, not a bad read, but it isn’t a young adult book. It’s more directed towards adults which instantly made me not like the book but I kept reading because I liked the premise of it. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys movies like Gamer, Arena, and even books like The Hunger Games in a sense of the twisted minds of people and what they want out of reality tv show.
March 15, 2013
ORIGINAL REVIEW AT: LITTLE BOOK STAR
I really enjoyed reading The Game! At first I thought it was about the characters getting put into a maze which is the game, but nope! It was a fresh read because there was a lot of unique things going on especially with Lukas’s character, our protagonist. The beginning was super uber intense and terrifying! It starts out with this person who creepily butts in to Candice’s life. I was just like “who is this creeper!? How did he know Candice’s number? Who the heck is he?” It was just like a movie playing in my head. Even if it’s a young adult book, the characters seems mature. It’s written in 3rd person point of view and it switches perspective between Candice, our 19 year old protagonist, Lukas, and the third perspective is sometimes the antagonist or another character in the book. What I also like about this book was the actual “game” scene. Oh my goodness. I wish I had popcorn with me while I was reading those scenes because they were just suspenseful and scary! I wish the game lasted longer though, and it’s not because I want to see the characters suffer, lol, no!
What I was kind of iffy about was when I got to know more about Lukas and his situation. Even though his character was well thought of, I feel like his situation didn’t really fit the whole game thing, especially the ending. The last couple of chapters were kind of leading into a new plot and new type of story. But I think some of you will like it though. While there is the whole game thing going on, we also get to see who Lukas really is. Another thing that I was “so-so” about was the romance. It was alright to me, and kind of cheesy sometimes. It was a bit sudden, but I love how every time an obstacle comes crushing in between them, they still find a way to be together.
Overall, I recommend this to everyone especially if you’re in for a thrill! It’s such a fresh read that will leave you hooked on from the first page.
I really enjoyed reading The Game! At first I thought it was about the characters getting put into a maze which is the game, but nope! It was a fresh read because there was a lot of unique things going on especially with Lukas’s character, our protagonist. The beginning was super uber intense and terrifying! It starts out with this person who creepily butts in to Candice’s life. I was just like “who is this creeper!? How did he know Candice’s number? Who the heck is he?” It was just like a movie playing in my head. Even if it’s a young adult book, the characters seems mature. It’s written in 3rd person point of view and it switches perspective between Candice, our 19 year old protagonist, Lukas, and the third perspective is sometimes the antagonist or another character in the book. What I also like about this book was the actual “game” scene. Oh my goodness. I wish I had popcorn with me while I was reading those scenes because they were just suspenseful and scary! I wish the game lasted longer though, and it’s not because I want to see the characters suffer, lol, no!
What I was kind of iffy about was when I got to know more about Lukas and his situation. Even though his character was well thought of, I feel like his situation didn’t really fit the whole game thing, especially the ending. The last couple of chapters were kind of leading into a new plot and new type of story. But I think some of you will like it though. While there is the whole game thing going on, we also get to see who Lukas really is. Another thing that I was “so-so” about was the romance. It was alright to me, and kind of cheesy sometimes. It was a bit sudden, but I love how every time an obstacle comes crushing in between them, they still find a way to be together.
Overall, I recommend this to everyone especially if you’re in for a thrill! It’s such a fresh read that will leave you hooked on from the first page.
April 15, 2013
From the very first chapter, we are vaulted into the action packed world of The Game. The book opens with our main character, Candice, who receives a mysterious phone call. She doesn't think much of it, just that someone is playing a prank on her. However, as the calls persist, Candice realizes that things are a bit more serious than a harmless prank.
You can't help but feel for Candice's character. Upon receiving these phone calls, her life starts to unravel around her and she is at a loss as to what to do. She realizes that she is in danger, yet no one seems to believe her, as there is no evidence of any mysterious phone calls. Where most people couldn't handle half the things Candice goes through in this novel, she manages to stay strong in light of everything and I really liked that about her. She doesn't just give in and give up. Everything that happens to Candice is in build up of "The Game", which is created by a sick, twisted, sociopath bent on re-educating the world about how society has failed time and time again.
I hate to admit it, but I was a bit fascinated with our sociopath. Scollins did a great job of creating this sadistic character and to hear his views on society and how it has failed is really interesting. And quite scary if you think about it!
Candice is lucky enough to encounter Vince, who tries to help her survive "The Game". There is a pretty big plot twist about halfway through the novel that literally made my jaw drop and say, "Nooooo!" (Guess you'll have to read it to find out what it is!)
This book definitely has a psychological thriller element to it, and then later reveals a really interesting paranormal one. I was not sure where Scollins' was going to go with the paranormal element and I am very curious to learn more about it in the future!
Overall, The Game has a little bit of everything: suspense, action, romance, mystery, and intrigue.
You can't help but feel for Candice's character. Upon receiving these phone calls, her life starts to unravel around her and she is at a loss as to what to do. She realizes that she is in danger, yet no one seems to believe her, as there is no evidence of any mysterious phone calls. Where most people couldn't handle half the things Candice goes through in this novel, she manages to stay strong in light of everything and I really liked that about her. She doesn't just give in and give up. Everything that happens to Candice is in build up of "The Game", which is created by a sick, twisted, sociopath bent on re-educating the world about how society has failed time and time again.
I hate to admit it, but I was a bit fascinated with our sociopath. Scollins did a great job of creating this sadistic character and to hear his views on society and how it has failed is really interesting. And quite scary if you think about it!
Candice is lucky enough to encounter Vince, who tries to help her survive "The Game". There is a pretty big plot twist about halfway through the novel that literally made my jaw drop and say, "Nooooo!" (Guess you'll have to read it to find out what it is!)
This book definitely has a psychological thriller element to it, and then later reveals a really interesting paranormal one. I was not sure where Scollins' was going to go with the paranormal element and I am very curious to learn more about it in the future!
Overall, The Game has a little bit of everything: suspense, action, romance, mystery, and intrigue.
April 7, 2013
Wow this book is creepy and that is coming from someone who very rarely gets paranoid while reading something but this was an exception, I was freaking out. Especially when Candy tried getting help from the police but they couldn't find anything. It was as if she was going crazy. I don't know how I'd act if my world was crashing down right before my eyes. Its as if Candice blinked and every thing went from bad to worse in just a matter of days.
I think I would have reacted the same way as her, even if that meant my life would be in danger I'd still try to save my best friend. What's even more insanely creepy is that they were watching her and she didn't even know who "they" was. I guess the question that went through my mind the most was "How sick could someone be that they would push a person to their breaking point so easily without having any feelings." it's like they don't have a soul.
My thoughts on Candy were that she is one scary ass kicking, fierce, don't mess with me type of girl. In the beginning she put out this vibe that made her seem lost but once you for more into the book you realized that behind all that was this crazy chick that could cut someone's head off and not even flinch. She was stronger than I had actually thought.
The outcome of the game was pretty unexpected in a way, although I was happy with the ending it made me angry that it wasn't over but at least they are going to be helping others. The book was amazing, it was definitely a Stephen King meets Wes Craven type of story. With many twists and turns, and also action packed including some mystery.
I give it 5/5 stars
I think I would have reacted the same way as her, even if that meant my life would be in danger I'd still try to save my best friend. What's even more insanely creepy is that they were watching her and she didn't even know who "they" was. I guess the question that went through my mind the most was "How sick could someone be that they would push a person to their breaking point so easily without having any feelings." it's like they don't have a soul.
My thoughts on Candy were that she is one scary ass kicking, fierce, don't mess with me type of girl. In the beginning she put out this vibe that made her seem lost but once you for more into the book you realized that behind all that was this crazy chick that could cut someone's head off and not even flinch. She was stronger than I had actually thought.
The outcome of the game was pretty unexpected in a way, although I was happy with the ending it made me angry that it wasn't over but at least they are going to be helping others. The book was amazing, it was definitely a Stephen King meets Wes Craven type of story. With many twists and turns, and also action packed including some mystery.
I give it 5/5 stars
April 20, 2013
The Game is a great book to read. I have to say that reality TV has taken over Americans. We live to see people act a fool and carry on. Some of those reality TV shows are to much though. It makes you wonder whether or not they are scripted or people are just that crazy. The Game is no different.
Candice have a great life, job and boyfriend until one day she gets a call. The caller wants her to play the game but Candice is not interested in playing any game. But the game has something else in mind for Candice. If she will not do it willingly then they will force her to play and they start taking everything from her. They take her family, friends and her boyfriend and even her job. With no other options she is left with no other choice but to comply.
Just as Candice is trying to figure out things she meets this mysterious boy who wants to help her. Candice keeps wondering why he is helping her out and most importantly who is he? But things are not always as they seem and the mysterious boy does not know who he is or why he is helping out Candice but he knows it feels right. Vince knows that he has to help out Candice and he will stop at nothing to help her out.
What is going to happen to Candice and Vince? Will Candice make it out of the game alive or dead? Who is Vince? Where did he come from? This story will have you on the edge of your seat wanting to read faster to see what happens next. This story is also kind of scary because it could happen in real life and that is just down right frightening.
Candice have a great life, job and boyfriend until one day she gets a call. The caller wants her to play the game but Candice is not interested in playing any game. But the game has something else in mind for Candice. If she will not do it willingly then they will force her to play and they start taking everything from her. They take her family, friends and her boyfriend and even her job. With no other options she is left with no other choice but to comply.
Just as Candice is trying to figure out things she meets this mysterious boy who wants to help her. Candice keeps wondering why he is helping her out and most importantly who is he? But things are not always as they seem and the mysterious boy does not know who he is or why he is helping out Candice but he knows it feels right. Vince knows that he has to help out Candice and he will stop at nothing to help her out.
What is going to happen to Candice and Vince? Will Candice make it out of the game alive or dead? Who is Vince? Where did he come from? This story will have you on the edge of your seat wanting to read faster to see what happens next. This story is also kind of scary because it could happen in real life and that is just down right frightening.
March 25, 2013
This was my first taste of this author’s work, and clearly I did not read the synopsis well enough. The “unpredictable paranormal twist” threw me for a what the hell?. I found it a little jarring and distracting, truth be told. It also wrapped things up a little too neatly. I liked the plotline about Lukas and the leaping, but would probably have liked it more if stood on its own.
Now the sadistic reality show angle is pretty cool. I guess I’m as sick as the rest of the world, I was fascinated by the idea of how far people would go in exploiting others for the sake of fame and entertainment. I felt the story held back in that area. For all the chasing and mental anguish the main character, Candice Laguna, is put through in the beginning, the part with the actual game is over very quickly. It’s not like I want more torturing of women, but I was hoping for something… I don’t know, just more. Creepier. More of the mental anguish and less of the guy in the leather mask. More guys, really. Why is it always the girls getting beaten down?
The bad guy, Angus, was the most interesting character in the story to me. I think I would have liked to spend a little more time in his unhinged mind.
Now the sadistic reality show angle is pretty cool. I guess I’m as sick as the rest of the world, I was fascinated by the idea of how far people would go in exploiting others for the sake of fame and entertainment. I felt the story held back in that area. For all the chasing and mental anguish the main character, Candice Laguna, is put through in the beginning, the part with the actual game is over very quickly. It’s not like I want more torturing of women, but I was hoping for something… I don’t know, just more. Creepier. More of the mental anguish and less of the guy in the leather mask. More guys, really. Why is it always the girls getting beaten down?
The bad guy, Angus, was the most interesting character in the story to me. I think I would have liked to spend a little more time in his unhinged mind.
March 29, 2013
"The Game" by Shane Scollins is brilliantly suspenseful! I love a good psychological thriller that I can loose myself in, and Scollins gave me just that experience with The Game. Five Stars!!
"She turned to face him. 'He's right, I can't let them die. And you don't
want me to let Alexis die either. I have to do this. I have to see if I can save
them. Let me at least hear him out and find out what the hell all this is. If I don't
like it, we can walk away.' She turned to face Angus again. 'I'm in.'
He smiled and folded his hands. 'Well, let the games begin.'"
When I read the synopsis, I expected a certain level of suspense, but didn't really know what to expect. Where so many other books within this genre fall short, The Game shines. With each murder or kidnaping, Scollins presents them in a twisted, yet tasteful manner. Because he stays away from grotesque scenes, he draws you in as you try to figure out the twisted mind acting as puppeteer in the story.
"She turned to face him. 'He's right, I can't let them die. And you don't
want me to let Alexis die either. I have to do this. I have to see if I can save
them. Let me at least hear him out and find out what the hell all this is. If I don't
like it, we can walk away.' She turned to face Angus again. 'I'm in.'
He smiled and folded his hands. 'Well, let the games begin.'"
When I read the synopsis, I expected a certain level of suspense, but didn't really know what to expect. Where so many other books within this genre fall short, The Game shines. With each murder or kidnaping, Scollins presents them in a twisted, yet tasteful manner. Because he stays away from grotesque scenes, he draws you in as you try to figure out the twisted mind acting as puppeteer in the story.
April 16, 2013
Read FULL review (and enter a giveaway for this book!) at: ReadingToTheStarsAndBack
When I read the description for this book, I thought it would be like The Hunger Games, and I guess parts of it were. But there was also super-natural elements to this novel that I hadn’t expected.
Candice was an easy character to connect with. She was just a normal girl. The first chapter showed her breaking up with her normal boyfriend. But then people that she didn’t know started calling her and commenting on the clothes she was wearing…it was so creepy! Candice then went to the police but they couldn’t find any evidence that she was being stalked, so the case was dropped.
And then her bank account was frozen. She didn’t have any money.
And then they towed her car.
And then they took her friend.
When I read the description for this book, I thought it would be like The Hunger Games, and I guess parts of it were. But there was also super-natural elements to this novel that I hadn’t expected.
Candice was an easy character to connect with. She was just a normal girl. The first chapter showed her breaking up with her normal boyfriend. But then people that she didn’t know started calling her and commenting on the clothes she was wearing…it was so creepy! Candice then went to the police but they couldn’t find any evidence that she was being stalked, so the case was dropped.
And then her bank account was frozen. She didn’t have any money.
And then they towed her car.
And then they took her friend.
September 26, 2013
The first half of "The game" was quiet good.
The phone calls were creepy, and seeing Candice's life getting wrecked because of the stalker made for a good read.
The way they were tracking her was really creepy.
I liked Candice, she turned into a good character.
I really liked how she didn't let her fear overcome her.
I did have a few problems with it though.
The actual game bit was so good, but it took so long to get to it! When it did finally come (at around 60%) it didn't last long.
The paranormal bit kind of lost me. It would have been a great story on it's own, but mixed with the other stuff, it just didn't work.
The phone calls were creepy, and seeing Candice's life getting wrecked because of the stalker made for a good read.
The way they were tracking her was really creepy.
I liked Candice, she turned into a good character.
I really liked how she didn't let her fear overcome her.
I did have a few problems with it though.
The actual game bit was so good, but it took so long to get to it! When it did finally come (at around 60%) it didn't last long.
The paranormal bit kind of lost me. It would have been a great story on it's own, but mixed with the other stuff, it just didn't work.
May 7, 2013
Shane Scollins delivered a gripping tale in The Game. Although not my usual genre, I was intrigued by the synopsis. The Game offers a little of something for most reading tastes - suspense, romance and paranormal -sitting comfortably within each genre. I didn't realise it was the first of a series but look forward to following this story, and to more from this author.
March 27, 2013
Shane pens "The Game" a paranormal suspense thriller filled with twists and turns that will keep you hook until the end. His characters are believable to the point they will keep you guessing and at the edge of your seat. A must read for all paranormal thriller fans.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
August 2, 2013
Hor damn I love a psychological thriller and this book hit all the right notes for me. The slightly paranormal twist, the budding romance, and the sheer terror of the game had me awake till the small hours just so I could finish it.a very well plotted and written book with enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. Loved it
April 20, 2013
What a great book, really enjoyed it, great characters, and yeah, really good!
July 21, 2013
plot took an unexpected twist
August 9, 2021
A little lost.
Huh? This story had some good things about it. It was fast-paced, kept me guessing, and was fairly entertaining. It also had quite a bit of suspense to it and I'm a big fan of suspense.
I don't usually include any SPOILERS, so if you don't want to know my thoughts on this, then don't read any further.
My initial reaction to the ending was the "Huh?'" response. The first "Game" didn't exactly go over well for our heroine, her best friend and new friend, so when this new, out of the blue character Kellogg shows up and says, "You must keep the game alive," I'm thinking Hell no. I get perhaps helping the others lost and trying to find their way back, but not in the interest of keeping any game alive, if this Kellogg fellow has any good intentions at all. I think I would have been okay with the story, had things not gone down in the end of this story as they did. This ending just didn't seem to fit right.
Huh? This story had some good things about it. It was fast-paced, kept me guessing, and was fairly entertaining. It also had quite a bit of suspense to it and I'm a big fan of suspense.
I don't usually include any SPOILERS, so if you don't want to know my thoughts on this, then don't read any further.
My initial reaction to the ending was the "Huh?'" response. The first "Game" didn't exactly go over well for our heroine, her best friend and new friend, so when this new, out of the blue character Kellogg shows up and says, "You must keep the game alive," I'm thinking Hell no. I get perhaps helping the others lost and trying to find their way back, but not in the interest of keeping any game alive, if this Kellogg fellow has any good intentions at all. I think I would have been okay with the story, had things not gone down in the end of this story as they did. This ending just didn't seem to fit right.
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