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The Game #9
To Face Your Fears
Before "How Much To..?", "How Much 2", "The Game", "The Mid Season Break", "The Island", "Murder House" and "This or That" - there was another show streaming on the Dark "To Face Your Fears".
Contestants sign up in the hope of winning a life-changing sum of money. To win the money, all they need to do is face their ultimate fear. If they can conquer it, they win the money. If they can't conquer it, they leave empty-handed. At least, that's what they believe is happening... They go in, all nervous smiles, unaware these games are rigged.
For fans of the "Saw" franchise, this is a prequel to Matt Shaw's Game series. It can be read as a stand-alone novel.
Contestants sign up in the hope of winning a life-changing sum of money. To win the money, all they need to do is face their ultimate fear. If they can conquer it, they win the money. If they can't conquer it, they leave empty-handed. At least, that's what they believe is happening... They go in, all nervous smiles, unaware these games are rigged.
For fans of the "Saw" franchise, this is a prequel to Matt Shaw's Game series. It can be read as a stand-alone novel.
- GenresHorror
125 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 2, 2024
50 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Matt Shaw
529 books2,203 followersBiography
MATT SHAW was born, quite by accident (his mother tripped, he shot out) September 30th 1980 in Winchester hospital where he was immediately placed on the baby ward and EBay. Some twelve years later (wandering the corridors of the hospital and playing with road kill when he was on day release), the listing closed and he remained unsold, he was booted out of the hospital to start his life as a writer and hobbit – beginning with writing screenplays and short stories for his own amusement before finally getting published when he was twenty-seven years and forty-five seconds old.
Once Published weekly in a lad's magazine with his photography work, Matt Shaw is also a published author and cartoonist. Has to be said, can be a bit of a flirt and definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, somewhat of a klutz.
Favourite books
"Roald Dahl's Collection of Short Stories"
Tim Burton's Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy
Anything, really, written by himself. Because he is that good.
MATT SHAW was born, quite by accident (his mother tripped, he shot out) September 30th 1980 in Winchester hospital where he was immediately placed on the baby ward and EBay. Some twelve years later (wandering the corridors of the hospital and playing with road kill when he was on day release), the listing closed and he remained unsold, he was booted out of the hospital to start his life as a writer and hobbit – beginning with writing screenplays and short stories for his own amusement before finally getting published when he was twenty-seven years and forty-five seconds old.
Once Published weekly in a lad's magazine with his photography work, Matt Shaw is also a published author and cartoonist. Has to be said, can be a bit of a flirt and definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, somewhat of a klutz.
Favourite books
"Roald Dahl's Collection of Short Stories"
Tim Burton's Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy
Anything, really, written by himself. Because he is that good.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 6, 2024
This book had the unfortunate honor of being the Shaw book I read after The Dreams They Weave. That one was truly moving to me. But with To Face Your Fears,
Don't get me wrong. The writing is good. It was gruesome and had entertaining inner monologue and the voice of the main character. And I most certainly will read more and more and more of his books. Just this one wasn't my favorite.
Don't get me wrong. The writing is good. It was gruesome and had entertaining inner monologue and the voice of the main character. And I most certainly will read more and more and more of his books. Just this one wasn't my favorite.
September 29, 2024
Readable
This is readable and has some good plots, but it didn't grip me like Matt Shaws other books. It wasn't grabbing my attention and reeling me in further to the storyline and took me longer to read due to this. I enjoyed the plot, being a prequel to the games book and could see the relevance. The characters had no descriptions so I couldn't empathise with them. Knowing only their name and fear. Ok if you don't mind not getting to know them and feel more involved in the story I suppose. Unfortunately not a favourite read to me.
This is readable and has some good plots, but it didn't grip me like Matt Shaws other books. It wasn't grabbing my attention and reeling me in further to the storyline and took me longer to read due to this. I enjoyed the plot, being a prequel to the games book and could see the relevance. The characters had no descriptions so I couldn't empathise with them. Knowing only their name and fear. Ok if you don't mind not getting to know them and feel more involved in the story I suppose. Unfortunately not a favourite read to me.
May 25, 2024
This was a prequel to the Game series. This was a good one. Some challenges that characters faced didn't seem so bad, and then there were some that were crazy. It was funny to see a name that I know in this Matt Lutton. I'm sorry for your demise, lol 😆
December 6, 2024
You can read this book as a standalone just fine. I’ve read the first “How Much To?” in the games series. This story is a tad different. This time, contestants aren’t pitted against each other but they have to face their particular fear in order to win a large sum of money. However, little do they know, they won’t be getting any money and their fears will entirely consume them.
This was a fun read and some of the fears hit really close to home for me personally! 🫣
This was a fun read and some of the fears hit really close to home for me personally! 🫣
November 23, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
November 24, 2024
I really enjoyed this one. Quick but brutal.
My spoiler free thoughts on each death.
1. Steve-sucks to be him. Why would you write something like that down?
2. Mary-😳. And it got worse.
And then, it got even worse. And terrifying. Fuck.
3. Candace-from the brief description, wtf.
Longer description, still a wtf, and also omg.
4. Stephen-🫣, no. Absolutely not.
5. Michelle-Jesus Fucking Christ, my skin is crawling. Absolutely fucking not.
6. Jill- a brief flash of hope that soon vanished. And got worse.
7. Kimberly-I don’t know where she heard that lie but absolutely untrue. This one is terrifying to me😢.
8. Matt L-awkward.
9. Nicole-I didn’t see that coming.
Also, two of my worst horror fears that make me cringe.
10. Matt W-I’m uncomfy🫣. The thought makes me cringe.
11. Scott- absolutely fucking not. Jfc.
12. Samantha-this is an interesting take on her fear, but makes sense.
Except, I didn’t see that coming😳.
13. Heather-I understand this fear. I have the same one. But somehow, Matt made it so much worse.
14. Jodi-this one was fine (for me). Shitty for her though.
Until of course, I got to the end.
15. Ivie-I can understand this one.
My spoiler free thoughts on each death.
1. Steve-sucks to be him. Why would you write something like that down?
2. Mary-😳. And it got worse.
And then, it got even worse. And terrifying. Fuck.
3. Candace-from the brief description, wtf.
Longer description, still a wtf, and also omg.
4. Stephen-🫣, no. Absolutely not.
5. Michelle-Jesus Fucking Christ, my skin is crawling. Absolutely fucking not.
6. Jill- a brief flash of hope that soon vanished. And got worse.
7. Kimberly-I don’t know where she heard that lie but absolutely untrue. This one is terrifying to me😢.
8. Matt L-awkward.
9. Nicole-I didn’t see that coming.
Also, two of my worst horror fears that make me cringe.
10. Matt W-I’m uncomfy🫣. The thought makes me cringe.
11. Scott- absolutely fucking not. Jfc.
12. Samantha-this is an interesting take on her fear, but makes sense.
Except, I didn’t see that coming😳.
13. Heather-I understand this fear. I have the same one. But somehow, Matt made it so much worse.
14. Jodi-this one was fine (for me). Shitty for her though.
Until of course, I got to the end.
15. Ivie-I can understand this one.
December 25, 2024
This prequel to the Game series sees one of the first ever ‘games’ - in which contestants are offered the chance to face their wildest fears in exchange for a big cash prize, not realising the whole thing is one giant trap from which there can be no escape.
The story itself is okay, and offers up some interesting kills, but the whole thing feels a lot like nothing we haven’t seen before.
I mean, it’s enjoyable - but the previous games in the series were better and all this just feels a little… well, tame.
4 stars
The story itself is okay, and offers up some interesting kills, but the whole thing feels a lot like nothing we haven’t seen before.
I mean, it’s enjoyable - but the previous games in the series were better and all this just feels a little… well, tame.
4 stars
June 2, 2024
loved it….
Awesome, perfect introduction to the game series which I loved when I read them, this just ties it all together and shows how it developed (would also be good as a stand alone story if you hadn’t read the others so don’t be put off, just if you have read the others this enhances it)
Awesome, perfect introduction to the game series which I loved when I read them, this just ties it all together and shows how it developed (would also be good as a stand alone story if you hadn’t read the others so don’t be put off, just if you have read the others this enhances it)
April 23, 2024
not bad
I liked the idea but of this but I feel like there were times when it was a bit rushed. Also when moving from character to character it can be a little confusing just because of shaw’s writing style. Overall not a bad fast read.
I liked the idea but of this but I feel like there were times when it was a bit rushed. Also when moving from character to character it can be a little confusing just because of shaw’s writing style. Overall not a bad fast read.
October 22, 2025
This series started off so well, I was hooked, but it just didn't stay at that level. I enjoyed this, there were some good deaths, and had it been a stand alone, rather than a prequel, I could have possibly rated it higher. Expectations were high, but not entirely met
August 12, 2024
Grusomme and creative. Love how some chapters we get to read about the hosts perspective!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2024
5 Stars
I like most of Matt's stuff sometimes I come across one I can't get in to. But this is not one is not one of those. I could not put it down.
I like most of Matt's stuff sometimes I come across one I can't get in to. But this is not one is not one of those. I could not put it down.
January 9, 2026
was great except for the Matt Lutton parts. (jk ;) Shaw is always a good time. Great thing about him is he is a candy shop. You can get a flavor of anything you are looking for in his books
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews