Make a Wish

by Matt Shaw

From the author of the infamous "Hub Trilogy" comes a new disturbing glimpse at a cruel world's possible future.Martin and Sonia's child, Stevie, needs a liver transplant but in this cruel world, unless you're rich enough to go private, the only way they're going to get one is if Stevie enters The Arena with other sickly children and steps out victorious...

This will make you uncomfortable, this will make you question things in this very world we live in now but - ultimately... This is going to take your heart, rip it out and stamp on it.

Genres: Horror

56 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 8, 2025

About the author

Biography

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.

Reviews

[Peter Topside · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I really didn’t care for this at all. The beginning was an information dump to set up the premise, which, eventually, amounted to nothing. Then, the pacing was so abrupt and fast that any good pieces of the story, including the family dynamics and stakes at hand, were near completely breezed over and made to feel almost insignificant. The biggest let down, without spoiling anything, was that there was this entire promise of an adventure following Stevie and an incredible journey to a hard-fought continued life versus an early death. So much of the synopsis and book were setting it up and it had so much potential, but nothing happened with it. This boasted some very strange creative decisions from Matt Shaw and was just extremely disappointing.

[Nicki Thoirs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was expecting the Hunger Games and got something else altogether. I really wasn't expecting that ending at all!

[Anirudh Kukreja · Rating 1 out of 5]

So... this book was clickbait? wtf

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really expecting a lot more from this book...the cover pulled me in and the so did the first few chapters, I desperately wanted to know more about "The Arena" and what was going to happen to Stevie in there.
There wasn't enough excitement or gore included in this this book and I found myself rather disappointed with it.
Maybe I was judging this book before I'd read it on Matt Shaw's other books?

The story line was interesting but it needed more...a lot more...to make it my kind of extreme horror fix.

3 ⭐⭐⭐'s For making the effort to produce something worth reading!! NOT one of Matt Shaw's better books☹️

[Cocolici · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay… confession time, the cover totally sucked me in. It had that eerie, “what twisted magic is this?” vibe, and I was ready. But the story itself? It dragged a little more than I hoped. The tension felt stretched thin, like waiting for a wish that just wouldn’t blow out. 🕯️

That said, the ending absolutely made up for it. Didn’t see that twist coming at all, it hit hard and dark, the kind of payoff Matt Shaw always delivers when you least expect it. 🩸

Would I reread it? Probably not. But that ending? Chef’s kiss for shock value. 👀

[Sara]

Why nt
make a wish
turn around my heart
transport to win and just whjn
play it gd
long time but come true
the win winds make fal5 show
its gd sun tthere
voyage to sun prie
to play fair

[❤ArtfullySinful❤ · Rating 1 out of 5]

‘I’m sorry I got sick.’

Living in a society where only the extremely wealthy can afford organ transplants,those less fortunate are forced into competing in the Arena or simply dying while waiting on the never ending list. The Arena pits children ages 5-14 and 15-18 to a battle to the death to determine the strongest candidate for the transplant. With sheer luck and weaponry, those would kill the other children or be killed themselves while spectators can pay to watch the live streamed carnage. Able to watch from afar or actually choosing individual children's cameras, people with a lined pocket can feel part of the action from the safety of their homes. For Stevie Dudley, his parents fell on the poor side of the globe, and when he desperately needed a liver transplant to survive after twelve years old, they were offered the pamphlet. With his parents; Sonia and Martin trying to scramble any money they can to avoid this, Stevie managed to catch a glimpse of the Arena and decide for himself his desire to complete it. Refusing to force his parents into any deeper debts for his health, he knows the worst outcome can be death. Taking matters into her own hands, Sonia mixes that poison into their custard dessert that both herself and Stevie consumed. Watching them vomit up the blood and turn to convulsions, Martin found out too late what her plan was. When he chose not to eat it, he was left with little options but slitting his own throat. Awakening in the bright lights, he sees his wife and son healthy and full of life. But with every step he tries to take towards them, they drift further and further away. Forced from heaven's gates, he was horrified by the paramedics and surgical team that managed to revive him into this world.

What if I were to tell you “wishes” were nothing but the hopes of the desperate. Something done by people with no other option, as all other doors close? How many people close their eyes one final time, wishes unfulfilled as they lay in their casket to start slowly rotting away? The wish of those left behind being that they can - somehow - turn back the cruel hands of time and find another way. Another wish to carry to the lonely grave that awaits us all.

[Andrew Wilkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Martin, Sonia, and their 12 year old son, Stevie have a happy little family unit. Living a rather ordinary life, going to work, school, family dinners. They had not a care in the world. Until one day, when Stevie has a life changing check up appointment. Martin, and Sonia must now come to grips with the fact that, not only is their child ill, but they now have to make a hard decision. And, it seems like, for them, the only way to get Stevie the help he needs is to submit him to the barbarism that is "The Arena". This was a quick read, that I had in my list for a while, now. my best friend decided to read it with me, for discussion. I really loved the concept behind this, and the thoughts it provoked. Having to stop, and ask oneself, "What would I do in the parents' situation?". The ending gutted me. A pretty sad ending, to a very well written story! If you don't have triggers against child violence, check this out! I highly recommend it! 5⭐/5⭐

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set in a dystopian England.

Sonia and Martin Dudley have son Stevie (12), who is in the midst of liver failure. He needs a replacement liver, or he will die.

Due to further government intervention, organ transplants are only obtainable via one of two ways: pay an astronomical amount for private care, or have your child fight in The Arena.

The live-streamed program is also organized by the government. A runaway success of a show…where children must fight to the death against one another.

The winner gets the organ he or she needs.

A ton of background and setting of the table.

The editing is far from perfect, but it’s better than we’ve generally come to expect from Shaw.

Oof. Another super-promising premise…and another dud of an ending. 😔

Fascinating idea. Zero payoff. 👎🏻👎🏻

[Jessie Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martin and Sonia are parents of a little boy, Stevie, who is in need of a transplant. In the day and age the only way to get that is to fight in the arena. May the strongest child win and get the transplant! We follow their journey to decision and ultimately the final choice they make

This was a bit misleading. Based off the blurb I was expecting more action in the arena. This was not what I was expecting. We thoroughly got to know the characters and how they were feeling while making their decision. I liked the story but it wasn’t what I envisioned would be within the pages

[Ieva Valentinavičiūtė · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hope this kind of future never comes! In the book’s universe, the only affordable way for a child to receive an organ transplant is by fighting other sick children in a live-streamed arena. From the cover and the blurb, I was expecting something different, but I still enjoyed it. Especially watching the parents grapple with the heartbreaking decision of whether to let their son risk his life for a chance at treatment.

[SeveredTherapy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely Unexpected

That was nowhere near what I was expecting it to be when I started, but the ending actually got me a little misty. The build-up was leading to one thing, then its a hard left into something that ended up being even darker.

Mr. Shaw has definitely managed to subvert my expectations with this one in the absolute best way.

4.75 out of 5 severed thumbs-up.

[Eskeleta · Rating 2 out of 5]

🍅🍅🍅 booo tomato tomato. boring and completely different than the synopsis suggested it would be. thought this was an extreme horror book about kids having to fight “battle royale/hunger games” style for their organ transplants but was more of a drama about one family’s emotional back & forth about whether or not to send their kid into the arena or not. really repetitive and over explained literally every thought process the characters had. at least it was super short

[Jen Morris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ummmm.. I was fully prepared for the worst but this was very tame. Honestly disappointed with this one, was not what I thought and was a very random short story. Unless this is the start of something then okay but if we don't have more stories about the plot behind the disaster then I think this one wasn't needed at all.

[Marktroth · Rating 4 out of 5]

MAKE A WISH

Another gripping horror story from Matt shaw much better than the last one of his books I read will be going back to a series of 15 books by Priscilla masters next but will definitely come back to Matt shaw like the fact his books aren’t too long so I can take a break from a long series then go back tater reading one of his books

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Is it possible to write an amazing 5 star rated story only 56 pages long? Apparently if you are Matt Shaw you can! I chose this book to satisfy a Kindle challenge and had never heard of or read anything by this author but he is extremely talented. This book is just fantastic and I can't wait to read some more of his work.

[Derrick College · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was expected a more fucked up Hunger Games book and it got me excited. What I got though.. was a heartbreaking short story that just ended abruptly. I guess you would do anything for your kids.. so they don’t suffer a cruel and televised fate.

[Oliver Behegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

We NEED more about The Arena.

[Tee Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

I wanted Sam to go to the arena.. Lol this is a sad read but honestly I did like the ending . We would do anything to protect are children even die.

[Pamela Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tears

The Last story of the 12 yr old with liver failure.. oh my, tears and heart ache. This hit to close to home.

[Jess Pegg · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

[Angel · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was described like the hunger games, but all it offered was fifty pages of a husband and wife deliberating, and then three pages at the end where something finally happens.

[niamh · Rating 2 out of 5]

hmmm idk

[Hilton Alligood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good one,

I just knew there would be a twist at the end. Matt Shaw is the Twist Master!
Now to pick another another Matt Shaw book.

[Kendra Litka · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love Matt Shaw’s books! But this book was a major disappointment! I would have given it a zero if I could. Don’t be discouraged reading his other books, because those are great.

[Rhianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

what

this did not go where i thought it would. hunger games for organ transplants is wild but not as crazy as that twist

[Nik Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audio book Matt Shaw narrates and loved every second of it. This book definitely rips your heart out and makes you feel things. 100% would recommend this!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad and thought provoking

This is a world that I am glad I am not a part in. The family faced the worst of decisions in a life of pain. The twist at the end I didn't see coming. Excellent read.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings on this one. I didn’t dislike the story, but it was nothing like what I expected or hoped for. I honestly didn’t feel anything reading it, which may have been my expectations but it was meh

[Emily Fiore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just read this please. It's giving Hunger Games.... but much shorter and super goooooood