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The Game #5
The Island
Ten contestants were sent to a deserted island in the Pacific Ocean, where they'd be left to fend for themselves for a number of weeks, as part of a new reality television show. After a quick weekend learning basic survival skills, these people were dumped on the island's shoreline with basic rations, basic tools and equipment they could use to document their journey. Also tucked in the supplies were radios with which to communicate with the show's producers if they needed evacuation at any point. The purpose of the show was simple: See if modern man and woman still had the skills to survive away from the comforts every day life now provided them...
But when things go wrong they quickly learn that they're very much alone and part of a much, much darker reality television program. From the makers of "The Game"...
But when things go wrong they quickly learn that they're very much alone and part of a much, much darker reality television program. From the makers of "The Game"...
144 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 9, 2018
191 people are currently reading
318 people want to read
About the author
Matt Shaw
529 books2,192 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 - 30 of 50 reviews
December 9, 2019
Lissen up, son. Y'all are soooo worried about offendin' some'un, it's silly.
Human nature issa human nature, ya hear me?
Ya watch rasslin cause ya wanna see blood or broken bones.
Ya love y'all some Nasscar cause ya wanna see some'un crash an' burn.
An' I ain't even gonna start with huntin'...
So, these Hollorwood pricks wanna tell ya 'bout "Reality TV" bein' all real...she-it!
"Survivor" mah big, fat, hairy ass!
Back inna day, spewin' those lies woulda gotten 'em in a whole world a' worry, lemme tell ya.
Whoos that dick again? Johnny Fairfuck or some such...
Disrespectful little piss-ant...ya don't fuck with family an' death...makes me madder thanna weasel inna blender.
I tell ya right now, if I eva find that pussy inna dark alley at night, only one-na us will walk outta there.
The real world ain't that forgivin', an' any-un who says diff'ent is a lie-in sack-o-shit!
No snake or gator gonna care if y'all are holdin' a camera...nature don't giv'a fuck, kiddo.
What'a we need is a real show, one where survivin' means not dyin'.
This might be that show...
P.s. Waste not, want not...you'll see.
Human nature issa human nature, ya hear me?
Ya watch rasslin cause ya wanna see blood or broken bones.
Ya love y'all some Nasscar cause ya wanna see some'un crash an' burn.
An' I ain't even gonna start with huntin'...
So, these Hollorwood pricks wanna tell ya 'bout "Reality TV" bein' all real...she-it!
"Survivor" mah big, fat, hairy ass!
Back inna day, spewin' those lies woulda gotten 'em in a whole world a' worry, lemme tell ya.
Whoos that dick again? Johnny Fairfuck or some such...
Disrespectful little piss-ant...ya don't fuck with family an' death...makes me madder thanna weasel inna blender.
I tell ya right now, if I eva find that pussy inna dark alley at night, only one-na us will walk outta there.
The real world ain't that forgivin', an' any-un who says diff'ent is a lie-in sack-o-shit!
No snake or gator gonna care if y'all are holdin' a camera...nature don't giv'a fuck, kiddo.
What'a we need is a real show, one where survivin' means not dyin'.
This might be that show...
P.s. Waste not, want not...you'll see.
December 12, 2018
The most messed up horrifying reality show that you never want to be a contestant on!
I was excited about this book from the moment I read the synopsis and immediately pre-ordered it. Reality show, island survival, psychological horror, by Matt Shaw! ... A lot of my favorite things to read about all mixed into one story. My eyes inhaled it in one sitting, and loved every second of it.
A group of everyday people, dropped off on a deserted island to survive and compete in a reality show, begin to have issues immediately due to personality clashes. We all know that guy, the smart-ass who is masterful at pushing buttons, or the bully, or the doormat ... the peacekeeper ... the coward ... the one who will not listen to reasoning ... the sneaky one ... the one who loses their shit at the drop of a hat ..... now put them all in a group that you must depend on for your survival, and see how horribly it works out for you.
Days after the nightmare begins the arrival of an unexpected and terrifying message causes everything to go sideways and no one can be trusted. There are some deliciously gruesome scenes to go along with the psychological terror that we have come to love and anticipate from Matt Shaw. I also loved the format, going episide by episode throughout the story. Definitely do not pass this one up!
I was excited about this book from the moment I read the synopsis and immediately pre-ordered it. Reality show, island survival, psychological horror, by Matt Shaw! ... A lot of my favorite things to read about all mixed into one story. My eyes inhaled it in one sitting, and loved every second of it.
A group of everyday people, dropped off on a deserted island to survive and compete in a reality show, begin to have issues immediately due to personality clashes. We all know that guy, the smart-ass who is masterful at pushing buttons, or the bully, or the doormat ... the peacekeeper ... the coward ... the one who will not listen to reasoning ... the sneaky one ... the one who loses their shit at the drop of a hat ..... now put them all in a group that you must depend on for your survival, and see how horribly it works out for you.
Days after the nightmare begins the arrival of an unexpected and terrifying message causes everything to go sideways and no one can be trusted. There are some deliciously gruesome scenes to go along with the psychological terror that we have come to love and anticipate from Matt Shaw. I also loved the format, going episide by episode throughout the story. Definitely do not pass this one up!
April 6, 2019
I found that the idea was lacking some background, although I can see the point of making it a meaningless massacre.
Killings still feels rushed and I did not enjoy it too much, which is a pity, since the idea itself could be very cool.
Killings still feels rushed and I did not enjoy it too much, which is a pity, since the idea itself could be very cool.
May 27, 2021
Think Survivor but without communication or producing. Books like this makes me wonder about v things such as, how long would I starve before consuming human flesh. Probably not as long as I would expect. But I like food. It's a comfort for me
January 23, 2022
Awesome!! I love Matt Shaws games books and this was a great one. Of course nothing compares to the How Much To..? books but this was my next favorite after those. 4/5 savage skulls 💀
January 14, 2019
Welcome to the jungle, baby...
Both awesome AND gruesome, The Island is everything you might expect from uk horror author, Matt Shaw and then more so.
In what can only be described as a clever parody of the popular Bear Grylls show, The Island sees several ordinary people dropped onto a remote desert island to test their mettle and see just how long they can survive against all odds.
But what starts out as just another reality tv show soon takes a turn for the worse when one of their number is accidentally killed...
Seeking aid, as the contestants realise their only contact with the outside world appears to have been cut off, any former intention between the survivors to work together quickly begins to break down as the producers manipulate events from behind the scenes.
In this game, there can be only ONE winner and in this show, it’s every man (or woman) for themselves.
Once again, Shaw has excelled himself with yet another grisly tale.
The ending of this book teases his next offering and I for one simply cannot wait to see what this authors sick mind can come up with next.
A very confident and well deserved five stars out of five!
Both awesome AND gruesome, The Island is everything you might expect from uk horror author, Matt Shaw and then more so.
In what can only be described as a clever parody of the popular Bear Grylls show, The Island sees several ordinary people dropped onto a remote desert island to test their mettle and see just how long they can survive against all odds.
But what starts out as just another reality tv show soon takes a turn for the worse when one of their number is accidentally killed...
Seeking aid, as the contestants realise their only contact with the outside world appears to have been cut off, any former intention between the survivors to work together quickly begins to break down as the producers manipulate events from behind the scenes.
In this game, there can be only ONE winner and in this show, it’s every man (or woman) for themselves.
Once again, Shaw has excelled himself with yet another grisly tale.
The ending of this book teases his next offering and I for one simply cannot wait to see what this authors sick mind can come up with next.
A very confident and well deserved five stars out of five!
May 9, 2019
Stranded on an island and guess what happens?
This is a quick, entertaining read.
However, nothing new is added to the genre or the premise. It is lacking in a great deal of character and plot development. Good editing should be mandatory. But, hey... this is a Matt Shaw story. So, it was a fun read, and this man is the king of pumping out new stories. If you are a fan, then you’ll enjoy yourself, but still a forgettable novel. Would not be my first choice for new readers of Shaw.
This is a quick, entertaining read.
However, nothing new is added to the genre or the premise. It is lacking in a great deal of character and plot development. Good editing should be mandatory. But, hey... this is a Matt Shaw story. So, it was a fun read, and this man is the king of pumping out new stories. If you are a fan, then you’ll enjoy yourself, but still a forgettable novel. Would not be my first choice for new readers of Shaw.
January 31, 2023
Survivor meets Saw
Honestly, going into this one I didn't see how Matt Shaw would keep with the flow of the series without being overly cheesy.
Welp, he nailed it. Series isn't turning stale or cheesy. Not for the faint of heart.
Honestly, going into this one I didn't see how Matt Shaw would keep with the flow of the series without being overly cheesy.
Welp, he nailed it. Series isn't turning stale or cheesy. Not for the faint of heart.
October 9, 2025
I'm still chasing the high and originality I felt with the first 2 books. This was ok, but I feel like I've read/heard/seen this type of story many times before.
I'm not giving up on this series though, I'm seeing it through to the end.
I just really hope we return to the previous format!
I'm not giving up on this series though, I'm seeing it through to the end.
I just really hope we return to the previous format!
February 1, 2019
The Island: A Psychological Horror is a fast, fun read. Theme-wise, it bears a resemblance to Lord of the Flies, but with a healthy dollop of evil, greed and of course...……..cannibalism. It's also an interesting examination of our fascination with reality TV, and how far our society is willing to push boundaries in the name of entertainment.
January 13, 2019
A group of strangers have been marooned on a remote, uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean as part of a reality TV show. The program will test how long they can survive without the modern comforts of life. Completely alone, the strangers are unaware of the dangers lurking on the island.
A few days into their stay, things take a weird turn following a freak accident. It soon becomes clear they have been deserted on the island, as communications to the outside world have been cut off. And rescue team will send help on the condition that only one of them survives. Slowly it dawns on the team that they may have unwittingly signed up to be part of a psychological experiment.
Who is likely to leave the island? Who stays behind?
The Island is a gripping fast-paced psychological thriller with twists and turns. I would recommend.
A few days into their stay, things take a weird turn following a freak accident. It soon becomes clear they have been deserted on the island, as communications to the outside world have been cut off. And rescue team will send help on the condition that only one of them survives. Slowly it dawns on the team that they may have unwittingly signed up to be part of a psychological experiment.
Who is likely to leave the island? Who stays behind?
The Island is a gripping fast-paced psychological thriller with twists and turns. I would recommend.
August 18, 2022
Matt Shaw is usually my go to when I just want a brain rotting trashy horror. He does that well. There are no twists or turns in his novels that keep you guessing with the exception of how disgusting he can make it, however, even the most extreme points of the Island were underwhelming compared to previous Game instalments.
That being said, this was probably the first one where I actually had a little bit of sympathy for a couple of the characters, usually they are either lacklustre or so terrible that you want them to die or you just don’t care either way.
Reading this via Kindle I did find many typos that infuriated a me more than it probably should but considering the amount of novels he writes it’s about time he invests in a proofreader first.
That being said, this was probably the first one where I actually had a little bit of sympathy for a couple of the characters, usually they are either lacklustre or so terrible that you want them to die or you just don’t care either way.
Reading this via Kindle I did find many typos that infuriated a me more than it probably should but considering the amount of novels he writes it’s about time he invests in a proofreader first.
December 26, 2018
Definitely horrifying!
Just think that you may be chosen as a contestant on a show like Survivor, but so different in reality. These players have no idea what they actually signed up for, and it just makes me wonder; what would people choose to do in this situation?
Just think that you may be chosen as a contestant on a show like Survivor, but so different in reality. These players have no idea what they actually signed up for, and it just makes me wonder; what would people choose to do in this situation?
January 3, 2019
Matt Shaw has done it again. If you have watched the many seasons of survivor on TV, I think they should try something like this....lol. I enjoyed this book and recommend to any fan of the graphic horror genre.
February 12, 2019
A fun scary quick read. Matt takes on the Reality Show Genre with a survivor themed short novel. The kick here is that unbeknownst to the participation they have been abandoned with no food, no gear and only enough water for 1 day. Things fall apart quickly and the Winner is literally the Survivor.
February 16, 2019
This was so different from any Matt Shaw books I've read so far and I've read quite a bit. There was NO sex in it??? LOL
February 19, 2019
Page turner
I enjoyed this story. It kept me wanting to know who died next. Its was a good story that kept you on your toes.
I enjoyed this story. It kept me wanting to know who died next. Its was a good story that kept you on your toes.
March 16, 2024
I didn’t get the typical splatterpunk feels from this one… I liked how messed up the previous games were. I am excited to see chained tied in!
April 5, 2024
Iv been going though this series and enjoying every moment of it. The first book I thought was abit slow but the 2nd and 3rd were amazing!! And plenty of gore. The 4th? Hmmm was my least fave. This one however I couldn’t put down simply because of the little “quick flicks” at the end of each chapter, just like a tv episode where it shows you a clip on what’s to come. I loved how the author included that in the book. It was different and had me guessing and wanting more to see what happens. Can’t fault it. Brilliant read.
One to the haunted house one now, on my kindle ready to dive into tomorrow night.
One to the haunted house one now, on my kindle ready to dive into tomorrow night.
January 7, 2023
well done
This is likely my favorite in The Game series so far (though #2 was incredible as well). I may be biased due to a current binge watch of Naked and Afraid, but I would watch the heck out of this show.
I do agree with some other reviews that, between books in the series, there is some serious whiplash of how much detail to expect. This one is much lighter on the gore and squick than most of the others.
This is likely my favorite in The Game series so far (though #2 was incredible as well). I may be biased due to a current binge watch of Naked and Afraid, but I would watch the heck out of this show.
I do agree with some other reviews that, between books in the series, there is some serious whiplash of how much detail to expect. This one is much lighter on the gore and squick than most of the others.
March 23, 2021
While nowhere near as extreme horror as the others by the author or even in this series I found it a pretty decent read with an ending I didn't see coming. This is actually a really good series and this one is kind of a breather between the extreme horror of the others in the series. Still really enjoyed it though.
September 22, 2023
Was a very good read but not as good as the others I would say. One thing I’ve learnt from these books is the endings are always bloody unexpected I never expect them to end the way they do. Which is a massive plus in my eyes. Still some very unsettling dark themes so triggers are there but I found it amazing
July 17, 2019
Premise was good however the delivery wasn't what I would have hoped for. It is good for a quick read but if you're looking for an in depth story with character development this isn't something that you would enjoy.
Very disappointed but at least it wasn't unreadable.
Very disappointed but at least it wasn't unreadable.
April 3, 2020
This is my first Matt Shaw book. I picked it because I thought it would be a good starter book in the genre. It had a slow start but the ending wrapped up fast. It had an interesting twist at the end.
December 29, 2022
Would make an amazing movie
Loved it. Action kicked off straight away. Really liked the style it was written in with the different episodes Wasn't sure of it was going to work but it really did. Absolutely recommend.
Loved it. Action kicked off straight away. Really liked the style it was written in with the different episodes Wasn't sure of it was going to work but it really did. Absolutely recommend.
May 18, 2024
Book #5 in the Game series
This one wasn't as extreme as the others in the series. It was a really addicting story, and it was written like a reality show, so it was really cool and fun reading experience it even had commercials, lol 😆
Onto book #6
This one wasn't as extreme as the others in the series. It was a really addicting story, and it was written like a reality show, so it was really cool and fun reading experience it even had commercials, lol 😆
Onto book #6
July 22, 2025
It keeps getting better...
This is book 5 in the series. I think this was a step up from the last book. It was a lot less descriptive/gory than the previous books. It did feel a bit rushed at the end. Overall, this is a great read, and it is continuing with the theme.
This is book 5 in the series. I think this was a step up from the last book. It was a lot less descriptive/gory than the previous books. It did feel a bit rushed at the end. Overall, this is a great read, and it is continuing with the theme.
December 6, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
This book is incredibly tamer than others in this series
Plot felt thin and rushed
Characters have very forgettable backgrounds and traits even though it’s implied at the start that it will be important
This book is incredibly tamer than others in this series
Plot felt thin and rushed
Characters have very forgettable backgrounds and traits even though it’s implied at the start that it will be important
February 25, 2019
Ffs
I liked it until midway one character turns to cannibalism on the third day of their adventure. Not realistic in the slightest. The whole premise felt fake after that
I liked it until midway one character turns to cannibalism on the third day of their adventure. Not realistic in the slightest. The whole premise felt fake after that
May 10, 2019
Eh
No character development. No way to care who lives or dies. Oh and a stupid “surprise” ending. Waste of time
No character development. No way to care who lives or dies. Oh and a stupid “surprise” ending. Waste of time
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews