The Elevator Game

by Z. Martin

*Listening Length - 1 hour and 7 minutes

Ten floors

One wish

How far are you willing to go to get what your heart desires? Dan, already at the end of his rope, has nothing left to lose. Why not traverse the derelict Pelican hotel and fix his crappy life.

He’s already lost it all.

What’s the worst that could happen?

Genres: Horror

59 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 2024

About the author

Z martin. Where do you even begin to explain the entity that is this author. He has been known to haunt random bookstores, occasionally purchasing the odd book or two. Some say he writes horror stories while others say he reviews books he has read. Legends say if you speak his name thrice in a mirror he will appear (please do not attempt this he has been known to startle easy).

Reviews

[Peter Topside · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I really, really enjoyed this concept. Probably 30 years ago, when I was a little Topside, I used to write tons of horror shorts, one of which was exactly like this. So, this brought me back to that, yielding some great nostalgic value. Dan, our lead, is in a very rough spot in his life and didn’t see a path forward. This was where the premise lost me a bit. We really didn’t get much in-depth emotional time with Dan. The challenges he faced in each floor, his thoughts of Sara, etc, felt very underdeveloped. And that was really where the heart if the story needed to be. The primary focus was on the monstrosities and horrifying situations on each floor of this mysterious structure. Now, speaking of the floors, they were very unique and creative, living up the expectations. Great use of horror elements. If the authors just added some more developmental content here, sprinkled throughout, it was have made a good story into a great one.

[Veronica ☠️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dan is ready to end it all. Being broke, not being able to find a job, and his wife being unfaithful for a promotion, he's ready to end his misery. He goes to his favourite diner for one last meal when he's encountered by an eerie man in a suit.

This man offers him to play a game called the elevator game. If he completes all 10 floors, he will be granted with a wish. Having nothing to loose, Dan agrees to play. He heads to the hotel to play one of the most depraved games of his life. Will he make it? Will he get his wish granted? Find out November 30th!

Thank you Author Z Martin for the arc copy! The first chapter shows how desperate and how miserable Dan really is. The descriptions from beginning to end were great! You see just how far people will go for happiness or for a better change but be careful what you wish for! I highly suggest to grab a copy of the elevator game on November 30th! Excellent job Z! I look forward to reading more from you.

[William Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really unique and creative. A short read. There are ten floors. Each gets more extreme and crazy than the last. Reminiscent of SAW but with more heart. Z Martin continues to be one of the most creative horror authors in the game.

[Jyl Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dan’s wife has left him, he’s unemployed, and broke. He spends his last few dollars at his to his local diner for his favorite meal before he ends it all. And then he meets a stranger who offers him the chance to play the elevator game. If he wins, he gets one wish.

This book is bleak and absolutely vile. Leave your triggers on the ground floor.

[Shannon Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book! I know 1 thing I will never do lol. And that is I’m never getting into an elevator with Z Martin! Cause I know one thing, I definitely don’t want to play this game lol. Even though I didn’t like that ending Mr Martin! I freaking loved this book. It had just the right amount of horror and nothing too bad!

[ScarlettAnomalyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this short very fucked up story.

When I saw the title I really hoped it was going to be about the old urban legend, no sleep game and YES!

I made a post about this when I started reading it, saying my toxic trait was I thought I could survive, but after this one, I am no longer sure.
There was a floor, cannot remember which, but after he got back on the elevator, I was actually gagging in real life, because of how vivid the description was, and that is rare for me.

10 Floors and all you have to do is survive, not a problem right ?
These floors get more fucked up as you go, and can we talk about the elevator operator ??

This was fast paced, brutal, and absolutely disgusting, I loved it.

[Erika Horton · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Elevator Game by Z Martin offers a dark and intense journey through ten weird and horrifying floors, testing the protagonist Dan's will and morality.

While the premise is intriguing, the abrupt ending and lack of depth regarding Dan's backstory left me wanting more. A quick read, but not entirely satisfying.

[Jennifer Osborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our troubled main character is presented with a unique opportunity, which he decides to act upon. On paper the challenge is simple… complete all 10 levels, and he’ll win the prize.

This short packs a punch as each level progressively gets more frightening—challenging not only the MC’s physical strength and willpower, but also his morality.

(This would make a great episode in a horror anthology tv series…)

The Elevator Game reminded me of my favorite episode of Creeped Out, called The Many Place… as well as Saw, House of Wax, The Platform, Jumanji & The Midnight Library. The author tied all of these wonderful concepts into a fantastically strange tale reminiscent of something one Mr. Bentley Little might dream up.

I would love to see this fleshed out into a full blown novel at some point.

All in all, this was a quick, fun, read that really assaults all the senses! 📖

[Angel Medina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun story about a man who is down on his luck and looks for anything to flip things around. Then he gets drawn into The Elevator Game where he just has to survive ten floors to get whatever he wishes. It starts off gross enough, but as he gets closer to the tenth floor, the challenges get darker and worse.

My favorite floor was the eighth floor, nothing more appetizing than rats and maggots, yum!

The only reason why it doesn't get five stars is because I would've loved more background about Dan and Sara's relationship. The ending is pretty dark and it's left to your imagination to what ended up happening after the tenth floor of the game, but it had me asking questions about how their relationship really was. But that's about the only thing I can say wrong. This is an otherwise fun read.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

A master of the short story. Martin goes dark and vile. Great short read.

Dan, the MC has had enough. A last supper before ending it all presents him with an invitation to play The Elevator Game. The prize - anything he could ever want. Choose well !

I have been so excited to read this after being asked to contribute an idea for one of the tests - Martin’s interpretation is brilliantly brutal.

Releases on November 30th. Go grab it 👻

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, it was very interesting. It reminded me of the movie devil mixed with passengers by John marrs and a little aron beauregards playground thrown in there. Some of the scenes could use more descriptions but still really good.
I'll definitely be looking into this authors books in the future.

*i received an ARC from the author for my honest review*

[Jessie Raven · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this in one sitting. But the chapters themselves ruined the whole book. First floor, second floor…. Tenth floor and then home. So from the very beginning we know the character gets home which spoilt it entirely for me. The ending was way too abrupt with absolutely no explanation. He gets his wish at the end, it doesn’t end up happily and that’s it? Not for me at all. I enjoyed the writing and the grossness of the floors though but the fact I knew he would survive completely ruined it

[Megan Russ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The twisted mind of Z. Martin strikes again. I love this guys writing style. It sucks you in and throttles you until you don't want to beg for mercy.
The elements of emotion and fear that Martin manages to bring to the page are amazing.
I could not put this crazy book down.

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short story with a plot that kept me interested. I like the format where each floor is a new chapter. Anyone who watched any of the Wishmaster movies will see the ending coming but overall a good story. Narrator took a bit of getting used to but was okay after that.

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dan lost his gf and was on the way to ending it all until one night he stopped to eat his last meal when he was handed a card for the elevator game. He would have to get through 10 floors of horrible challenges in order to get a wish granted. Dan decides he is willing to risk it all. These challenges were super unique and wicked. My fav floors were definitely 4 & 5!

[C Lenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relentless, nihilistic, and bleak in the best possible way. The Elevator Game starts out dark and only gets more intense with each floor.

[JD · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was something different, yet enjoyable. Floors 5 & 8 stuck out to me. Will be looking forward to more material

[Bambi Ortiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who in their right mind takes a card from a stranger and goes to the place listed on said card? Dan, that's who!

Screw every single one of these floors! And the ending! That was just rude, Sir!

[Bailee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really neat! Reminded me of the elevator game nosleep/creepypasta stories. Just wish it was a bit longer, but overall a solid gross story.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not much to this. Liked the premise, but it felt rushed with a predictable ending

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure there's any prize I want badly enough to play the Elevator Game. If you like survival game stories where the obstacles to survival get progressively worse, step into the elevator.

[Leighah · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a short read man this book just goes and goes and goes. As the main characters travels the elevator to more disturbing challenges you really feel his prospective on life change which was good. I must admit I did giggle a bit when he got to the fourth floor. My favourite floor has to be the ninth floor. This is definitely binge worthy if you are into short intence reads.

[Dallas Reeves · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great idea, poor execution. I had a hard time with the descriptions of each floor, it wasn’t written in a way that I could picture easily. I was drawn to this book because of the Saw-esque theme, but it just didn’t do it for me.

[K.L. Allister · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dan is down on his luck, heartbroken over Sara’s betrayal of their trust, and ready to end it all. He’s handed a red card from a stranger and offered a chance to play the Elevator Game: ten floors, ten challenges, no going back. The payoff? Whatever his heart desires.

Elevator Game by Z Martin will twist your mind and distort reality.

I just really wish we got more background on Sara and their relationship, making Dan more worthy of being rooted for. I felt like just as the action/depravity of the floors began, they were over in a blink of an eye. Overall, good installment by Z, I will definitely look into his other works!

[Stephanie Vicente · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ I was intrigued by the premises of this story , I thought it was very well written and it was an excellent read! It was creative and entertaining as well! I had a great time reading this!

[Nick Scarbrough · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in one sitting and breazed through it. This book has a little bit of everything as you travel throughout the floors of the game. Well written as usual by this author. Highly recommend.

[Andrew Wilkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dan is a man who is down, and desperate. All alone, depressed with the way his life has turned out, and wanting to end it all. One day, while eating at a restaurant, a man in a suit approaches Dan, and slides him a card. Dan is told that he may have anything his heart could desire, if, and only if, he is willing to play a little game. The rules seem simple. Take an elevator to the top floor of the run down Pelican Hotel. But, is it really that simple? Soon, he finds himself going through trials that will test everything he is made of. Will be make it to the top? What will he ask for if he does, and how can he trust that the man in the suit can even fulfill his greatest desire? Be careful what you wish for! This is my first from Z. Martin. I really enjoyed this. This seemed like a fever dream, or a nightmare when listening. Some of the levels of the hotel that Dan finds himself facing are particularly eerie. For me, the wildest floor had to be floor 5! Very detailed, and gruesome! Overall a very good listen, and will be checking out more from Z. Martin in the future! 4⭐/4⭐

[Becki 🤎 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Elevator Game

Z Martin kindly sent me an Audible code for this & id heard nothing but good things so I was excited to get to it. Although the content warning scared the life out of me, I didn’t expect the deep voice 😂

Dan has nothing to live for, he’s come to the end of the line & feels like life can get no lower, he may as well end it. He goes for his last meal at his favourite restaurant & this is where he meets a creepy guy. He offers him an opportunity to play a game, so throwing caution to the wind Dan thinks F it…what’s the worst that could happen?!

Ten floors, one wish…complete it and you get whatever your heart desires!!

This was so good!! To see the change in Dan through out, he just wanted something to live for 😔 This was a quick listen for me, but I really enjoyed it!

Thank you for audible code Z! Appreciate it as always! Make sure to grab your copy for a quick spooky read this month 🤎

[Jed Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Elevator Game” plunges readers into a relentless ascent as Dan, a man with nothing left to lose, faces unspeakable horrors on each floor in a twisted bid for his deepest desires.

Each floor brings a fresh nightmare, testing Dan’s willpower and sanity in ways that will haunt readers.
Fast-paced and vividly chilling, this story is a relentless thrill ride that keeps you guessing whether Dan will reach the top—or if each floor's dark secrets will consume him first.
Support Indie Authors! Support Z Martin! Thanks for the ARC! Enjoyed the story!

[Alexandra Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a fun short read this was!

Dan, a man suffering from su!cidal thoughts, agrees to play The Elevator Game: 10 floors with a task on each floor. If you lose, you die, but if you win, you get anything you wish.

Be very careful what you wish for.

Looking forward to reading more by Z. Martin