The Game

by Vivian VanDam

Trapped by a man who said he loved her.
Trapped by a man who said he would never do it again.
Trapped in a marriage that had long lost its love.
There was a darker secret that Sigmund never told.

He was trapped in a game, that once you play…
There was no escape.
No other way out.

With each pawn in place.
The Game Master can begin.

One was Innocent.
One was Tarnished.
One was Guilty.

Another was a stalker.
Another was a killer.

Death.
Obsession.
When the Game Master has their hands on you.
There’s no escape.

157 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 15, 2026

About the author

Vivian has been professionally writing since 2017, but has always been writing since she was very young. She lives in Maryland with her husband fellow author, James Lefay Bishop.

She can be found at any coffee shop working on her next book, or at a bookstore looking through the horror section.

Stephen King has always been her hero.

Reviews

[Andrew Wilkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just outside of the Appalachian mountains, and forest, lies the small, dark, and somewhat cursed town of R'Nan. A seemingly nice place to live. That is, unless you are a sinner, have really dark secrets, or, hurt the innocent. Which, fits Sigmund to a T. Sigmund is a married man. Married to who is supposed to be the love of his life, Ember. But, as Ember navigates the healing, and mourning process of a miscarried pregnancy, Sigmund is off, in the arms of many other women. Ember, being a good soul, and a trusting, loving woman, believes that her husband is always working. But, soon, she will find out the truth, and Sigmund will know that his indiscretions aren't as private as he had once thought, when he becomes the target of a deadly game. A game which will see him punished for the pain he has caused Ember, and the "sluts" he ran to will find that they are merely pawns, suffering for their sins, as well. There are rules that Sigmund must follow, but, being the narcissistic control freak that he is, can he follow them? Will he be safe, at the end? Is Ember safe from the looming figure of Death? We find out as the true intentions of these trials are revealed, and Sigmund races against his own actions to try to escape his cruel, yet justified fate. This was really good! I love the spiciness that was added, but, I expect nothing less from Vivian. What I didn't expect, was the super descriptive torture scenes (Chapter 11 was brutal, and I loved it!). If you love a bit of smut, with an obsessive, and protective character, violence, and a few twists, and turns, check this out, for sure!
5⭐/5

[Nix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dark Novella with a sprinkle of spice.

(ARC Review)

While this chronicled the game with some other worldly forces holding a man accountable for his sins; I do wish there was much more about the game.

The story is a very quick read and honestly I could have used so much more detail of the game and some more suspense. As soon as I got really into it - it was over.

I want to know more about Death and the Game makers methods, and process, why did they chose Sigmund of all the sinners in the world, I want to hear about Emmy and how she was magically able to be pregnant with a reaper - did that baby really not alert her to anything at the doctor if she had all the medical issue? She was really able to keep that quiet.

Sigmund was shocked and almost elated but then his true colors and feelings seeped out even more as the game made him put down his own mask.

I do really wish there was much more of the story and deeper into the world. It's a very heavy concept for a novella style. Theres so much room for mind-blowing details and world building.

Now being said that it is a very quick read there is horror- there is gore and violence and some graphic descriptive set from a 3rd person view that describes the injuries and deaths involved in the game.

[TJ Turns Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Game by Vivian VanDam follows Sigmund, a chronic cheater whose life quickly unravels when he is forced to confront the fallout of his choices. The opening is sharp and engaging, and his early arc sets the hook right away.

The story then shifts to his wife, Ember, whose loneliness and emotional neglect take center stage. She is carrying a secret of her own, and the growing fixation of a watching presence adds a tense, eerie tone to her chapters.

It is a fast read, and I enjoyed the premise and pacing. My one critique, and the reason I settled on four stars instead of five, is that the novella tries to fit a lot of world-building into a small space. I found myself wanting more room for the concept of The Game itself and a bit less focus on the broader lore surrounding the Game Master. Even so, the story holds together well, and the heat supports the narrative rather than distracting from it.

Thank you to Vivian VanDam for the ARC. This review is voluntary.

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Game, by Vivian Vandam
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
What a wild, exciting and deadly game! This is a very intense and edge-of-the-seat read!!
Sigmund has lots of secrets, and is full of lies. The ugly way he has led his life is coming back to punish him, in the form of a deadly game. Death is after him for his sins.
Who is the game master?
Who is death?
Sigmund’s wife Ember is innocent of his misdeeds, and has given him lots of unconditional love that he has taken for granted. This upsets death very much!

This story is very well written, suspenseful, and a bit emotional. My jaw was on the floor for several scenes!

The book is a fast and very engaging read. I could not put it down! Vivian Vandam is a fantastic storyteller, and writer. She’s quickly become a must read author for me!!

This is part of the Chronicles of R’nan series. Check out the whole series!!
1.) Who is Johanna?
2.) Scarecrow
3.) Forever Mine
4.) The Game

*This book comes out January 15th and is a must read!*

[OooLaLa Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Game You Can’t Escape

I’m gonna be real... I’m usually not a 3rd-person girlie, but "The Game" hooked me from chapter 1 and did not let go. A small, eerie town outside the Appalachian mountains sits R’Nan. That has a feeling of being doomed. There is Ember, a genuinely beautiful soul grieving a miscarriage, and Sigmund, her cheating, douch€-bag of a husband. While Ember mourns, Sigmund is "busy" with other women. And plot twist... Death is keeping score.

When Sigmund becomes the target of a deadly game, the rules are clear... but control freaks never play fair. The punishment? Brutal. Deserved. Add in paranormal elements, obs€ssiv€ energy, and shockingly graphic torture (Chapter 11? Unhing€d perfection), and I was fully seated. Dark, spicy, viol€nt, and twisty... Vivian did not come to play.

My Ratings: ⭐ 4.5/5 ▪︎ 🥵 3/5

🥀 For my rating scale breakdown, head over to my Goodreads &/or Amazon profile! 🖤

[Breanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sigmund is a terrible person, and an even worse husband. While he’s out cheating on his grieving wife, his night takes a sharp turn when he’s pulled into The Game, a twisted setup controlled by a mysterious gamemaster. With rules, instructions, and consequences he can’t escape, the real question becomes: will Sigmund follow them… or fall deeper into the chaos?

This was honestly such a fun read! It’s violent, dark, and spicy in all the best ways. The pacing keeps you hooked, and the gamemaster adds such an intriguing layer to the story. I’d love to see even more of that character explored. Out of the entire R'nan series, this might just be my new favorite!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow the reaper coming to advance a woman scorned and being cheated on by her husband right after the miscarriage. torturing and killing all his mistresses just to then become the wife's lover and stalker. so fucking amazing. I loved this so much. Hopefully then will be more in store

[Amanda Elizabeth Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sigmund is a horrible husband. Ember is a devoted wife waiting at home for a husband who cares nothing about her. Sigmund’s cheating ways lands him in the path of the Game Master. This was a great book that held my attention the whole way.