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Endgame
When Leigh, a young and successful lawyer, is left by her boyfriend of two years for an Instagram model, she enters into a daily cycle of excessive alcohol and first dates in a virtual reality dating app called “The Game”.
Then she meets the enigmatic Alexei and it’s different. He’s beautiful, just her type, and into her. But when Leigh is trapped in The Game during a Gatsby-themed gala and forced to catch a hacker who’s using the app to set up crimes in the real world, she realizes there’s a far more dangerous game being played…
And Alexei might be the death of her.
Then she meets the enigmatic Alexei and it’s different. He’s beautiful, just her type, and into her. But when Leigh is trapped in The Game during a Gatsby-themed gala and forced to catch a hacker who’s using the app to set up crimes in the real world, she realizes there’s a far more dangerous game being played…
And Alexei might be the death of her.
65 pages, ebook
Published January 1, 2020
51 people want to read
About the author
Aisha Tritle
7 books39 followersAisha Tritle is a novelist, playwright, actress, entertainment analyst, and AI enthusiast. Spending her childhood in Arizona, she was active in the performing arts - which led to her moving to Los Angeles at the age of eighteen to pursue a career in entertainment. She has studied with famed acting coach John Kirby and at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Turning her hand to plays, she completed two One-Act Comedies in 2016: both of which have been published in the U.K.
Aisha currently spends her days as a research consultant for film studios and fulfilling her passion of writing novels. Her techno-thriller novelette Endgame was released by Kyanite Publishing in February, and her novel Life2 will be also be released by Kyanite later this year.
Aisha currently spends her days as a research consultant for film studios and fulfilling her passion of writing novels. Her techno-thriller novelette Endgame was released by Kyanite Publishing in February, and her novel Life2 will be also be released by Kyanite later this year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 26, 2021
Despite only measuring in at just over 50 pages, I was entirely captivated with this short, futuristic tale. It focused on protagonist, Leigh's, sadness after her recent separation with her boyfriend of two years. She falls down into a rabbit hole of alcohol abuse and virtual reality dates, as a way to cope with the strains of reality.
One evening begins in the same fashion as all the others, but ends with a virtual meeting that leaves her unable to think about anything, or anyone, else. She longs to reconnect with this special someone without yet realising that a killer twist is waiting for both her and the reader as she does...
I couldn't predict where the story was going to take the reader and enjoyed being entirely immersed in the tale, as multiple twists and a cliff-hanger ending kept me longing for more. I wished more details about the virtual world that Leigh entered were included but understood the necessity of painting it in brief strokes, given the short page length. I thought Tritle artfully delivered all the need-to-know facts and crafted an easily navigated world for the reader to dive into.
Something I couldn't understand, however, was Leigh's immediate adoration for the figure she meets at the beginning of the book. She seemed instantly smitten and content to believe his every word. It marred by enjoyment a little as I struggled to feel the same way.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Aisha Tritle, for this opportunity.
One evening begins in the same fashion as all the others, but ends with a virtual meeting that leaves her unable to think about anything, or anyone, else. She longs to reconnect with this special someone without yet realising that a killer twist is waiting for both her and the reader as she does...
I couldn't predict where the story was going to take the reader and enjoyed being entirely immersed in the tale, as multiple twists and a cliff-hanger ending kept me longing for more. I wished more details about the virtual world that Leigh entered were included but understood the necessity of painting it in brief strokes, given the short page length. I thought Tritle artfully delivered all the need-to-know facts and crafted an easily navigated world for the reader to dive into.
Something I couldn't understand, however, was Leigh's immediate adoration for the figure she meets at the beginning of the book. She seemed instantly smitten and content to believe his every word. It marred by enjoyment a little as I struggled to feel the same way.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Aisha Tritle, for this opportunity.
February 14, 2020
I didn’t know much about Endgame going in to it, aside from the sort of futuristic vibe the synopsis gives, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised on several levels by this short gem.
Clocking in at about 65 pages, Endgame takes readers on a fast paced and dangerous journey filled with AI and tech, all centering around a virtual dating game. Leigh is nursing a bad breakup and plays the dating game in between stalking her ex’s social media posts. The game takes a decidedly dark and different turn rather quickly, and Leigh is unable to escape.
I really enjoyed everything about this novella, particularly the myriad of twists and turns. If I only had to make one complaint, it would be that I wish this were about 300 pages longer. Or however long a novel is 😉 If you like thrillers, especially those of the futuristic and tech variety, give this one a shot. It’s a quick and fun read and I’ll certainly be looking for more from this author.
Many thanks to the author for providing a free copy for review.
Clocking in at about 65 pages, Endgame takes readers on a fast paced and dangerous journey filled with AI and tech, all centering around a virtual dating game. Leigh is nursing a bad breakup and plays the dating game in between stalking her ex’s social media posts. The game takes a decidedly dark and different turn rather quickly, and Leigh is unable to escape.
I really enjoyed everything about this novella, particularly the myriad of twists and turns. If I only had to make one complaint, it would be that I wish this were about 300 pages longer. Or however long a novel is 😉 If you like thrillers, especially those of the futuristic and tech variety, give this one a shot. It’s a quick and fun read and I’ll certainly be looking for more from this author.
Many thanks to the author for providing a free copy for review.
August 4, 2021
This short SF-novella tells the story of Leigh who's left by her boyfriend of two years.
To get over him she starts to date through the virtual reality dating app "The Game".
But soon she discovers that this app isn't as harmless as it seems.
"I strut down the street, new Louboutins clacking on the pavement, carefully coiffed hair flowing in the hazy wind."
The first sentence of a book says a lot.
What immediately catches the attention is that the phrase starts with 'I' (just like many other sentences in this book). So probably Leigh's a pretty self-centered woman.
Let's continue reading:
"I think that man in the tailored D&G suit with the cheekbones that could cut glass just checked me out …"
Not only self-centered, but a fashionista as well.
This will be shown throughout the entire story by mentioning J. Crew, Tom Ford, Balenciaga, …
"But I'm not sure.
I try to meet his gaze, it doesn't work. He walks by.
Fuck."
And this is the first in a series of fuck(ing)s.
In the swearing sense. Not in the sexual one.
Even though I'm not at all rooting for the main character, this isn't a strict requirement to enjoy a good story. A bad villain f.e. can be entertaining too.
A minimum of credibility is required though. And that's missing here.
There's nothing that convinces me of the fact that Leigh is a successful lawyer, as is stated at the beginning of the story.
She's more like an empty-headed, self-centered and above all superficial woman.
Here's her reaction to a picture of a date proposed by the app:
"Brody is … Brody? Jeeze. He's hot, but you'd think the artificial intelligence in this thing would've figured out by now that I'm very picky about names. I dated a Brody when I was thirteen and it ended poorly. It's on one of my connected social profiles, for chrissake. You'd think it would know better."
For someone who's not over her ex yet, following reasoning is not credible either:
"I nod, because I can't trust myself to open my mouth. Would "I love you" slip out already? Why haven't I learned my lesson? It's barely been ten minutes and I'm already thinking of this guy as endgame."
Immediate physical attraction is something believable. Insta-love isn't. Certainly not if one is as obsessed by her ex-boyfriend as Leigh.
The premise sounded very appealing and it's true that you read this rather short story in one go.
But the lack of credibility of the obnoxious protagonist's behaviour distracted me too much from the rest of the story to enjoy it fully.
There's a lot of potential as the game-part was more entertaining, even though the twist at the end was quite predictable (no details to avoid any spoiler).
But overall this story doesn't leave a lasting impression.
Seeing all the raving reviews, it's probably just a matter of me not being the right reader for this book.
So decide for yourself if, just like in the dating-app, you swipe this one to the left or to the right.
Or to stay in the title's vein: you can choose between 'game over' or 'endgame'.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Kyanite Publishing LLC for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 15, 2020
A compelling speculative thriller introducing the reader to the future of AI dating on the GAME, when singles test their attractions in the safe environs of virtual reality. Glamorous Leigh, whose shallowness puts the Valley Girls to shame, is nursing an iceberg of a chip over a recent breakup when she hooks up with a new Game date. His voice, appearance, and attentiveness cause her to left swipe her defenses. When the second date turns into a virtual nightmare, she's not at all sure it is virtual.
June 1, 2020
I am so happy that I decided to read ‘Endgame’ by Aisha Tritle. This is a fast paced, futuristic novella set in 2029 that takes the reader on a thrilling journey. The story is based on a dating app platform that uses AI and virtual reality to match couples until things start going wrong and the story takes a darker turn. The synopsis really intrigued me and the book was much more exciting than I expected. With compelling narrative, the mystery element was very well portrayed keeping me hooked to it. The story runs only for about 57 pages but each of those was fascinating. The plot twist was amazing and the ending was totally brilliant! I just loved it and look forward to reading more from Aisha. Highly recommended!
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Connect with me on:
Instagram | Twitter | Blog
February 1, 2020
I did not expect that ending!
A quick, dark, and techno-thriller.
If you like future tech/ VR you’ll like this.
Fans of Ready Player One/ Black Mirror would like this too!
A quick, dark, and techno-thriller.
If you like future tech/ VR you’ll like this.
Fans of Ready Player One/ Black Mirror would like this too!
January 25, 2020
Wonderful read! Always enjoy your books so much - can't wait for the next one!
June 12, 2020
Leigh lives in the future and after a nasty break up spends a lot of her free time on an exceedingly safe and popular virtual reality program “The Game”. There, she meets Alexei and is instantly smitten. Is everything really as it seems?
I found this to be an interesting short story set not too far into the future. Told in the first person I was intrigued in that there is enough future-type of tech to make this feel a bit of a Sci-Fi story but yet still remain close enough to the present to not stretch readers who usually wouldn’t delve into the realms of Sci-Fi stories. While it took quite some time (almost half the short story) for the mystery/suspense aspect of the plot to really get going I thought that it was well thought out. Although initially I found the plot a little murky and hard to understand I was pleased that this quickly smoothed out and it became a lot clearer and the pace picked up. Readers who enjoy futuristic thrillers should find this an interesting and quick read.
I thought Leigh and Alexei’s characters were interesting and I thoroughly enjoyed that neither of them were as simple or straight-forward as I expected. I really wish the story had a bit more time to flesh out both of their characters and give a more solid grounding to their actions. A few times I had to pause and go back to re-read as I didn’t fully comprehend why they sometimes acted as they did. I feel if the author had spent a bit more time rounding out both Alexei and Leigh’s characters and showing us the reasons and thinking behind their actions then this would have allowed me as the reader to more fully understand each of their motivations.
That said I think the fast pace of the story helped sell the action aspect to the story and helped make the reader feel that this was a roller coaster that had simply gone out of control. While I personally found there was a solid lead-up to Leigh’s final actions and they were explained quite well, I’m not certain all readers will feel the same way. Such a polarizing action will likely split many readers and while many will find them justified I think many equally will feel that Leigh crossed a line.
Futuristic and yet far too believable, this is an interesting Sci-Fi story with a good, solid mystery aspect to it. A quick and heart-pounding read I feel it should appeal to a wide range of readers.
I found this to be an interesting short story set not too far into the future. Told in the first person I was intrigued in that there is enough future-type of tech to make this feel a bit of a Sci-Fi story but yet still remain close enough to the present to not stretch readers who usually wouldn’t delve into the realms of Sci-Fi stories. While it took quite some time (almost half the short story) for the mystery/suspense aspect of the plot to really get going I thought that it was well thought out. Although initially I found the plot a little murky and hard to understand I was pleased that this quickly smoothed out and it became a lot clearer and the pace picked up. Readers who enjoy futuristic thrillers should find this an interesting and quick read.
I thought Leigh and Alexei’s characters were interesting and I thoroughly enjoyed that neither of them were as simple or straight-forward as I expected. I really wish the story had a bit more time to flesh out both of their characters and give a more solid grounding to their actions. A few times I had to pause and go back to re-read as I didn’t fully comprehend why they sometimes acted as they did. I feel if the author had spent a bit more time rounding out both Alexei and Leigh’s characters and showing us the reasons and thinking behind their actions then this would have allowed me as the reader to more fully understand each of their motivations.
That said I think the fast pace of the story helped sell the action aspect to the story and helped make the reader feel that this was a roller coaster that had simply gone out of control. While I personally found there was a solid lead-up to Leigh’s final actions and they were explained quite well, I’m not certain all readers will feel the same way. Such a polarizing action will likely split many readers and while many will find them justified I think many equally will feel that Leigh crossed a line.
Futuristic and yet far too believable, this is an interesting Sci-Fi story with a good, solid mystery aspect to it. A quick and heart-pounding read I feel it should appeal to a wide range of readers.
September 7, 2020
I think it’s safe to say that Aisha Tritle is fast becoming one of my favourite sci-fi authors - which, considering at the start of this year I was pretty adamant that sci-fi just wasn’t a genre for me, is saying something! Clocking in at just over 60 pages this is a great place to start with Aisha’s work, and by the end of this fast-paced and compelling speculative thriller I guarantee that you’ll want to delve further into her backlist.
I don’t want to give too much away in terms of plot as this is certainly a novella you could devour in one sitting, but, in short, Endgame follows our protagonist Leigh who, following a messy break-up, delves head-first into a virtual dating game. While everything appears fun at first things quickly start to take a worryingly dark turn, and what unfolds next will have you hooked until the very last page. An excellently-crafted mystery so skilfully written by Tritle, the pace and intensity accelerating rapidly in the later half until it reaches an absolutely unbelievable ending that had me gasping out loud!
Perfect for fans of Black Mirror and The One by John Maars, Endgame is a fascinating and eery look into the world of AI and virtual dating that, despite the futuristic elements, doesn’t seem entirely unbelievable and something I could definitely see happening in the not-too-distant future. My only complaint is that it wasn’t longer! A real rollercoaster of emotions with a few fantastic twists thrown in for good measure, this is the perfect short little pick-me-up when you’re in need of a few thrills.
I don’t want to give too much away in terms of plot as this is certainly a novella you could devour in one sitting, but, in short, Endgame follows our protagonist Leigh who, following a messy break-up, delves head-first into a virtual dating game. While everything appears fun at first things quickly start to take a worryingly dark turn, and what unfolds next will have you hooked until the very last page. An excellently-crafted mystery so skilfully written by Tritle, the pace and intensity accelerating rapidly in the later half until it reaches an absolutely unbelievable ending that had me gasping out loud!
Perfect for fans of Black Mirror and The One by John Maars, Endgame is a fascinating and eery look into the world of AI and virtual dating that, despite the futuristic elements, doesn’t seem entirely unbelievable and something I could definitely see happening in the not-too-distant future. My only complaint is that it wasn’t longer! A real rollercoaster of emotions with a few fantastic twists thrown in for good measure, this is the perfect short little pick-me-up when you’re in need of a few thrills.
May 28, 2020
Aisha Tritle created a story of dangerous adventure and mystery. I really liked this book! You keep connecting with Leigh, which is not easy, it is very hard for an author to create empathy between the reader and the characters, but you can expect it in Endgame.
I recommend Endgame as it is a great book for us to think about love, trust, and artificial intelligence. Leigh enters in The Game and she wants to find someone special, after her breakup with her boyfriend. She is a great lawyer and the game will present to her some moral questions. Will she be able to trust on a recently met person? Is the game safe? Why are women being killed?
I am still shocked with this ending and I can’t believe there are no more pages. I need more and I need to know what will happen to Leigh. You can expect a roller coaster of emotions. Believe me when I tell you that it is addictive, I have read it in a day!
I recommend Endgame as it is a great book for us to think about love, trust, and artificial intelligence. Leigh enters in The Game and she wants to find someone special, after her breakup with her boyfriend. She is a great lawyer and the game will present to her some moral questions. Will she be able to trust on a recently met person? Is the game safe? Why are women being killed?
I am still shocked with this ending and I can’t believe there are no more pages. I need more and I need to know what will happen to Leigh. You can expect a roller coaster of emotions. Believe me when I tell you that it is addictive, I have read it in a day!
February 1, 2020
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book, but when it was finished I wanted more.
It is an interesting take on what the not so distant future of dating online mixed with murder and an interesting reveal at the end.
I admit, I didn't like the main character at the start as she seemed less like the successful career woman she described herself as and more like an adult "Regina George". But, as the story progressed, I became more intrigued with who she was.
The book is a quick read. The pacing is efficient and doesn't bog down by being too descriptive when setting the scene.
In the end, I was intrigued by the world of this book. If, in the future a sequel was written, I would like to see where the character goes next.
It is an interesting take on what the not so distant future of dating online mixed with murder and an interesting reveal at the end.
I admit, I didn't like the main character at the start as she seemed less like the successful career woman she described herself as and more like an adult "Regina George". But, as the story progressed, I became more intrigued with who she was.
The book is a quick read. The pacing is efficient and doesn't bog down by being too descriptive when setting the scene.
In the end, I was intrigued by the world of this book. If, in the future a sequel was written, I would like to see where the character goes next.
May 29, 2020
Written in first person of voice, Endgame amalgamates the elements of science fiction, thriller and speculative fiction. It is set in 2029 where the world has progressed technologically and thrives on algorithms. The story starts with our protagonist Leigh searching for a date on The Game app and quickly proceeds from there. The plot is exciting and fast paced. It is dark and keeps you at the edge of your seat throughout. But what steals the show is definitely the writing. It is very well polished and perfectly in control of the author. The narrative is immensely compelling. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and now want to read a full length novel by Aisha. She seems to has it in her!
July 14, 2020
Reacting to being dumped by her boyfriend for a model, Leigh spirals down into too much drinking and starts to play a virtual dating app, definitely not a smart thing to do in her current frame of mind. Soon enough, she finds herself in a virtual world of trouble when she meets a guy named Alexei, a guy who might be way too good to be true.
Leigh, a woman with her nose bent out of shape who’s not above semi-stalking her ex on social media, is an attorney and should certainly know better but…. When things start to turn dark, Leigh will have to find her way out of this dangerous situation and figure out who Alexei really is. For a novelette, this is pretty well packed with tension, action and quite a few twists, making it very entertaining.
Leigh, a woman with her nose bent out of shape who’s not above semi-stalking her ex on social media, is an attorney and should certainly know better but…. When things start to turn dark, Leigh will have to find her way out of this dangerous situation and figure out who Alexei really is. For a novelette, this is pretty well packed with tension, action and quite a few twists, making it very entertaining.
August 7, 2021
This was a perfectly entertaining novella. I enjoyed the premise of the story - a dating app VR game thing. I would have loved to see this developed further, along with the overall, slightly futuristic world - despite not being that far into the future.
The main character was the worst thing about the novella. I would hope with a full length novel thst we could see some redeeming qualities to her, but overall, she's self-absorbed and whingey. She's highly annoying throughout. She reminds of the characters you see in the cheap romance novels.
The main character was the worst thing about the novella. I would hope with a full length novel thst we could see some redeeming qualities to her, but overall, she's self-absorbed and whingey. She's highly annoying throughout. She reminds of the characters you see in the cheap romance novels.
February 18, 2020
This was a lot of fun, I was surprised to get so much backstory in a short story. I wish it was a little bit longer to know what happens next with the main character, but the revelation in the end was cool!
October 12, 2021
It was interesting. As I was reading it I felt like i was watching a cool movie, which they should totally do based on this. I liked the ideas very much.
July 28, 2021
Holy crap I just got taken on a wild ride by a less than fifty page short story. Short stories general are not my thing but I was pleasantly surprised by Endgame.
This futuristic sci-fi thriller follows Leigh, a seemingly successful lawyer as she navigates recent heartbreak by throwing herself into a virtual reality game that seems like futuristic Tinder.
And now, for my new favorite pastime of being a snotty, drunken, half-naked mess.
I mean if that is just not a mood all by itself, I don’t know what is.
The story starts off with a bang and ***TRIGGER WARNING*** a mention of suicide with literally no lead up to it at all.
Good ol’ Jamie. She warned me against Peter when I first started seeing him, but she threw herself out the window of her high-rise apartment before she could really nail into my brain how bad he was.
Oh okay we are going to a dark place right off the bat, but it will make sense in the end so just hold on.
The action kicks off fast and this Is a real page-turner with a HUGE surprise ending. It does exactly what a short story should do and draws you in at the start and keeps you hooked until the very last page.
I am not a short story reader so I was very surprised by how much I liked this. There was good world building and character description/development in such a short read, which I found to be really impressive. Overall I really enjoyed this and can’t wait to check out more from this author.
August 7, 2021
Endgame is short and sweet! This novella isn't super long and is about 65 pages but it really is a blending of genres. It's really fast paced and engaging all set around a virtual dating game. It's full of twisty turny wonderfulness.
July 29, 2021
Received as a review copy from NetGalley, this is an honest review. This is an absolutely addictive short read that provides harrowing twists within its six chapters. Leigh is a brilliant lawyer who has a scrappy dating life in the real world; an app called "The Game" that gives uses a place to have experiences in a virtual world, changes everything Leigh thought she understood. She enjoys her time with Alexi... soon the fun times get very dark as he needs Leigh's help to go a dangerous young man that orchestrating the murders of important individuals. Discovering the truth is only the beginning. Highly recommended.
September 26, 2021
A solid scifi novella with good pacing and ending. Nicely done. I hope she continues to write.
Thanks for the free review copy!!
Thanks for the free review copy!!
July 28, 2021
OH MY GOD. The plot twist at the end was so shocking, it was so unexpected!!
This book is about Leigh who got into a date with Alexei in The Game, a virtual reality where you can alter your avatar to be more attractive and choose your dates. Leigh met Alexei in The Game and she found out a secret in The Game from Alexei and they will borh try to fix it.
This is was such a good read! Everything was so amazing and the concept of the book is incredible! I loved the writing style and the characters. This is one of the shortest but greatest books I have ever read.
This book is about Leigh who got into a date with Alexei in The Game, a virtual reality where you can alter your avatar to be more attractive and choose your dates. Leigh met Alexei in The Game and she found out a secret in The Game from Alexei and they will borh try to fix it.
This is was such a good read! Everything was so amazing and the concept of the book is incredible! I loved the writing style and the characters. This is one of the shortest but greatest books I have ever read.
September 20, 2021
Holy shit I didn't expect that.
This is a futuristic sci-fi novella. At first I thought it was about romance, but NOOOO i was wrong.
It tells a story about Leigh who tried to cope with her break up by roaming in a dating app VR... until something thrilling happened. The writing is good and the setting was not confusing at all even though it's a sci-fi. Overall, I enjoyed it✨
Thank you so much to NetGalley and BookBuzz.net for this ARC!
This is a futuristic sci-fi novella. At first I thought it was about romance, but NOOOO i was wrong.
It tells a story about Leigh who tried to cope with her break up by roaming in a dating app VR... until something thrilling happened. The writing is good and the setting was not confusing at all even though it's a sci-fi. Overall, I enjoyed it✨
Thank you so much to NetGalley and BookBuzz.net for this ARC!
September 12, 2021
This was so good! I'm so disappointed that it is merely a short story.
The Game is a futuristic dating app, Ready Player One meets The Inception kinda stimulation.
Leigh is a successful lawyer, she starts using The Game after her boyfriend left her. She meets Alexei, who felt like her soul mate. But then she founds herself in the middle of some sort of a killing club.
PS. I received this e-book via NetGalley in exchange of a review.
The Game is a futuristic dating app, Ready Player One meets The Inception kinda stimulation.
Leigh is a successful lawyer, she starts using The Game after her boyfriend left her. She meets Alexei, who felt like her soul mate. But then she founds herself in the middle of some sort of a killing club.
PS. I received this e-book via NetGalley in exchange of a review.
December 28, 2023
THIS, ladies and gentlemen, is how you write a novella.
Endgame sucked me in from the first page with its distinct voice. The world-building is so well done—it gives you just what you need for a novella, but you can tell there’s so, so much more under the surface. The pacing is fast and the story is TIGHT, every scene serving its purpose. This was a delight to read.
My only sadness is that it’s so short—it definitely left me wanting more.
If you’re into fast-paced sci-fi thrillers, Endgame is for you.
Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc un exchange for an honest review!
Endgame sucked me in from the first page with its distinct voice. The world-building is so well done—it gives you just what you need for a novella, but you can tell there’s so, so much more under the surface. The pacing is fast and the story is TIGHT, every scene serving its purpose. This was a delight to read.
My only sadness is that it’s so short—it definitely left me wanting more.
If you’re into fast-paced sci-fi thrillers, Endgame is for you.
Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc un exchange for an honest review!
February 8, 2020
Endgame s a short story of Sci-Fi with Thriller. Our protagonist uses an app of virtual reality to have a date (The Game) Apparently everything is safe and is full of glamor, she just wants to have fun and meet someone, but she will end up in a nightmare and she will don't know if is a real or not.
It is a speculative story of what could be a near future and can be exciting but at the same time can be terrifying
It is a speculative story of what could be a near future and can be exciting but at the same time can be terrifying
July 25, 2021
The Endgame by Aisha Tritle is a work of fiction in the sci-fi/techno-thriller genre. It is aimed at young adults and was penned by author Aisha Tritle. The book follows the path of Leigh, a young and successful lawyer, who is left by her boyfriend of two years for an Instagram model. Because of this, Leigh enters into a virtual reality dating app called “The Game”. In this futuristic world set in 2029, the virtual world is their playground – a façade where they can be and do anything they want. They belong to the new generation, that of people addicted to the instant gratification.
The end was quite different from what I expected – that’s always a good thing but in this case it also made me feel sad. The web of lies that each character spins, their inability to say what they really feel make them inhabitants of an imaginary world they can’t seem to be able to leave, trapped in their own fantasies. The book was fast-paced, flowed nicely and provided a thought provoking message. I believe Aisha will really make readers wonder just how far and to what lengths they would go to find love in a high-tech or more advanced world.
Aisha Tritle writes beautifully with vivid imagery and creates details that lead the reader on a fantastic visual journey. What we, as readers, are not able to conjure, the author lays out masterfully before us. Where some authors of this genre lean toward flowery language, the author manages to keep her narrative straightforward and simultaneously descriptive and elegant. The world Aisha has created is a fascinating and futuristic place with secrets and mysteries. This book is a delightful sci-fi thriller that has dramatic moments and suspense, and coming of age romance. The plot of the story is engaging and will have readers eagerly turning the pages for more. It is a mixture of romance with the suspense and sci-fi creating an exciting story. This is a short thriller that will be enjoyed by preteens and older young adults. Adults also will find it interesting and entertaining. Aisha weaves an interesting futuristic tale and I cannot wait for the next instalment of the series to appear on the bookshelves.
It is a difficult task to be the first entry into a wider series; a tone needs to be set, lore needs to be established, characters and themes need introducing. Establish a world too narrow and future instalments will feel disjointed, too wide, and the book won’t feel like it stands on its own merit. Plus, all of the above must be done whilst telling a complete story that still leaves room for growth in the rest of the series. Aisha Tritle succeeds triumphantly with this book, weaving a novella that fits into that surprisingly narrow band with enormous skill. By the end of the story I felt like I had read a satisfying conclusion but was still keen to see more of the world and learn more of the characters. Endgame creates a wonderful protagonist in the form of Leigh and Alexie who manages to be admirable and relatable. I would happily recommend this book to any fans of the sci-fi fiction/techno-thriller/suspense-mystery genre.
I have to note that there were times throughout the book that Ready Player One came to mind. For some reason, the imagery conjured by Aisha brings about the dark feel of the futuristic artificial intelligence or A.I. tale--definitely not a bad thing at all for this fan of genre. Yet another plus to Endgame is the length of chapters. Aisha keeps her chapters concise and brings each one to a fitting end that urges the reader on to the next for more. The book is overall a quick read and difficult to put down. I am giving this book, by Aisha Tritle, 5 out of 5 stars. With a surprisingly relatable cast of characters and an engaging and fascinating plot surrounding the phenomenon of A.I., it will appeal to readers across genres. The Endgame is easily one of the most engaging books in the techno-thriller genre I have encountered.
The end was quite different from what I expected – that’s always a good thing but in this case it also made me feel sad. The web of lies that each character spins, their inability to say what they really feel make them inhabitants of an imaginary world they can’t seem to be able to leave, trapped in their own fantasies. The book was fast-paced, flowed nicely and provided a thought provoking message. I believe Aisha will really make readers wonder just how far and to what lengths they would go to find love in a high-tech or more advanced world.
Aisha Tritle writes beautifully with vivid imagery and creates details that lead the reader on a fantastic visual journey. What we, as readers, are not able to conjure, the author lays out masterfully before us. Where some authors of this genre lean toward flowery language, the author manages to keep her narrative straightforward and simultaneously descriptive and elegant. The world Aisha has created is a fascinating and futuristic place with secrets and mysteries. This book is a delightful sci-fi thriller that has dramatic moments and suspense, and coming of age romance. The plot of the story is engaging and will have readers eagerly turning the pages for more. It is a mixture of romance with the suspense and sci-fi creating an exciting story. This is a short thriller that will be enjoyed by preteens and older young adults. Adults also will find it interesting and entertaining. Aisha weaves an interesting futuristic tale and I cannot wait for the next instalment of the series to appear on the bookshelves.
It is a difficult task to be the first entry into a wider series; a tone needs to be set, lore needs to be established, characters and themes need introducing. Establish a world too narrow and future instalments will feel disjointed, too wide, and the book won’t feel like it stands on its own merit. Plus, all of the above must be done whilst telling a complete story that still leaves room for growth in the rest of the series. Aisha Tritle succeeds triumphantly with this book, weaving a novella that fits into that surprisingly narrow band with enormous skill. By the end of the story I felt like I had read a satisfying conclusion but was still keen to see more of the world and learn more of the characters. Endgame creates a wonderful protagonist in the form of Leigh and Alexie who manages to be admirable and relatable. I would happily recommend this book to any fans of the sci-fi fiction/techno-thriller/suspense-mystery genre.
I have to note that there were times throughout the book that Ready Player One came to mind. For some reason, the imagery conjured by Aisha brings about the dark feel of the futuristic artificial intelligence or A.I. tale--definitely not a bad thing at all for this fan of genre. Yet another plus to Endgame is the length of chapters. Aisha keeps her chapters concise and brings each one to a fitting end that urges the reader on to the next for more. The book is overall a quick read and difficult to put down. I am giving this book, by Aisha Tritle, 5 out of 5 stars. With a surprisingly relatable cast of characters and an engaging and fascinating plot surrounding the phenomenon of A.I., it will appeal to readers across genres. The Endgame is easily one of the most engaging books in the techno-thriller genre I have encountered.
August 2, 2021
There are some books I wish were shorter, and there are some books (like this one) that I wish were longer.
I have received this book in exchange of an honest review, thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity.
I have my own blog now, so please do give it a visit if you're interested in my other reviews :)
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It's been a long while since I read a sci-fi book, and even though I'm not as big on the genre as I used to be, I do think that this novella was an interesting read. I was actually shocked when I learned that this is a novella, since reading the synopsis implies that it's going to be a complicated one to get through and having lesser amounts of pages isn't exactly going to help that.
Technically, it didn't. I say this because the author decided to focus on a single part of the plot and fast forward the progression to the conclusion which makes it a fun read, but also leaves quite a few things to be desired. For instance, knowing about Leigh herself. I only know what I was told about her without getting any time to spend around her to build up a bigger image, which I think is a bit of a bummer considering my interest in knowing how being a lawyer actually is in her world, as it seems way more advanced than implied despite, supposedly, only being set in 2029.
One more thing that I really wanted to see in bigger details was The Game itself, as what I got to see here is extremely limited to the plot in the book, which was once again a bummer. I don't mean the focus of the game, not quite, but having something that takes simulation and makes it so life like, is bound to be able to create so many other things within those bounds as well, in the same space and focus which made me very interesting in see.
Despite me saying the above however, the novella was extremely engaging for me and I finished it in a sitting quite easily, while more importantly having a lot of fun in the process. The above issues, or at least one of them could have been easily fixed with a longer novel to further explain the world and get me more attached to Leigh and her troubles. Before the mystery began, and I can see its progressions being made in earnest instead of just being thrown into the mix alongside the protagonist who is asked to go along with it.
All in all, in this small package of a novella, the author ended up creating a fun and engaging story for me to read which is actually pretty interesting in its own right and something I only experienced previously with A Dead Djinn in Cairo which was another extremely short novella that ended up being insanely entertaining to read.
Final rating: 3.5/5
I have received this book in exchange of an honest review, thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity.
I have my own blog now, so please do give it a visit if you're interested in my other reviews :)
──────────────────
It's been a long while since I read a sci-fi book, and even though I'm not as big on the genre as I used to be, I do think that this novella was an interesting read. I was actually shocked when I learned that this is a novella, since reading the synopsis implies that it's going to be a complicated one to get through and having lesser amounts of pages isn't exactly going to help that.
Technically, it didn't. I say this because the author decided to focus on a single part of the plot and fast forward the progression to the conclusion which makes it a fun read, but also leaves quite a few things to be desired. For instance, knowing about Leigh herself. I only know what I was told about her without getting any time to spend around her to build up a bigger image, which I think is a bit of a bummer considering my interest in knowing how being a lawyer actually is in her world, as it seems way more advanced than implied despite, supposedly, only being set in 2029.
One more thing that I really wanted to see in bigger details was The Game itself, as what I got to see here is extremely limited to the plot in the book, which was once again a bummer. I don't mean the focus of the game, not quite, but having something that takes simulation and makes it so life like, is bound to be able to create so many other things within those bounds as well, in the same space and focus which made me very interesting in see.
Despite me saying the above however, the novella was extremely engaging for me and I finished it in a sitting quite easily, while more importantly having a lot of fun in the process. The above issues, or at least one of them could have been easily fixed with a longer novel to further explain the world and get me more attached to Leigh and her troubles. Before the mystery began, and I can see its progressions being made in earnest instead of just being thrown into the mix alongside the protagonist who is asked to go along with it.
All in all, in this small package of a novella, the author ended up creating a fun and engaging story for me to read which is actually pretty interesting in its own right and something I only experienced previously with A Dead Djinn in Cairo which was another extremely short novella that ended up being insanely entertaining to read.
Final rating: 3.5/5
June 2, 2020
Endgame by Aisha Tritle is a fast-paced, sci-fi themed tale that will keep you hooked from the start to the end. It starts off with recently dumped and heartbroken Leigh Thompson looking to a futuristic virtual dating program called ‘The Game’ as a distraction. She unexpectedly finds herself drawn to a handsome man named Alexei on ‘The Game’ and she connects instantly with him. He’s gorgeous, well-spoken and is everything that Leigh looks for in a guy. But some things are just too good to be true and Leigh is about to find out that maybe Alexei isn’t quite as perfect as she thought.
The characters in the book, although very few, were well-developed and intriguing enough to hold readers’ attention throughout the book. Furthermore, there are several twists in this book that were very well-written and is sure to leave readers stunned. The writer has clearly put in a lot of effort and care into developing the plot as she expertly left small hints throughout the book to make the twists more believable. The cliffhanger at the ending was great, which will cause readers to become hungry to read more. Apart from that, there is a good amount of suspense and mystery accompanied by exciting fast-paced writing in this book. As a whole, this book was a delight to read and I would whole-heartedly recommend it to others.
The characters in the book, although very few, were well-developed and intriguing enough to hold readers’ attention throughout the book. Furthermore, there are several twists in this book that were very well-written and is sure to leave readers stunned. The writer has clearly put in a lot of effort and care into developing the plot as she expertly left small hints throughout the book to make the twists more believable. The cliffhanger at the ending was great, which will cause readers to become hungry to read more. Apart from that, there is a good amount of suspense and mystery accompanied by exciting fast-paced writing in this book. As a whole, this book was a delight to read and I would whole-heartedly recommend it to others.
August 27, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A short futuristic sci-fi fast paced thriller in a virtuel dating game. That was amazing with such an ending that leaves you asking for more. It should have been a novel and with such an idea as a plot this book would have been a bestseller thriller. I think that the author should rewrite it as a much more developed novel, really that would be fantastic because she is an amazing writer of sci-fi.
Leigh is a successful lawyer who has been dumped by her boyfriend that she "follows" on Instagram with his new girlfriend while drinking a lot and keeps having first dates in this virtual reality dating app called “The Game” where she meets Alexei and everything changes from fun to really dangerous.
I really liked it and I'm looking forward to reading more this kind of books by this author or in other genres if they will be as good as this one.
A short futuristic sci-fi fast paced thriller in a virtuel dating game. That was amazing with such an ending that leaves you asking for more. It should have been a novel and with such an idea as a plot this book would have been a bestseller thriller. I think that the author should rewrite it as a much more developed novel, really that would be fantastic because she is an amazing writer of sci-fi.
Leigh is a successful lawyer who has been dumped by her boyfriend that she "follows" on Instagram with his new girlfriend while drinking a lot and keeps having first dates in this virtual reality dating app called “The Game” where she meets Alexei and everything changes from fun to really dangerous.
I really liked it and I'm looking forward to reading more this kind of books by this author or in other genres if they will be as good as this one.
February 14, 2020
stop what you’re doing and go read this incredible techno-thriller novelette! I was absolutely stunned with this one. I read it in the car on the way to do my nails! (I wasn’t driving fyi) I couldn’t not put it down I was so intrigued with this story and it certainly did not disappoint. So much so that I finished it and I was trying to scroll for more pages haha I really didn’t want it to end. (Just saying if the author wants to continue this I would have NO problems [: ) I’ve been disappointed by so many big name thrillers recently that it was seriously so refreshing to read a story that left me grasping for more.
Of course the plot isn’t the only thing that hooked me but Aisha Tritles writing and her descriptions were on point and I was able to clearly visualize the real world and the virtual world. I want to thank her for reaching out and sending me an E ARC of this because its definitely a 2020 favorite. Oh and someone please tell Black Mirror to make me an episode of this!! It’s just the perfect length for a 45 minute episode, please please pleeeease.
EndGame is currently available for download so go get it! I can’t say much without spoiling it so read it for yourself! and then come talk to me because wow I NEED to discuss this!! Make sure to read it review it tell your friends tell your fam! It gets 5 out of 5 stars from me!!
Of course the plot isn’t the only thing that hooked me but Aisha Tritles writing and her descriptions were on point and I was able to clearly visualize the real world and the virtual world. I want to thank her for reaching out and sending me an E ARC of this because its definitely a 2020 favorite. Oh and someone please tell Black Mirror to make me an episode of this!! It’s just the perfect length for a 45 minute episode, please please pleeeease.
EndGame is currently available for download so go get it! I can’t say much without spoiling it so read it for yourself! and then come talk to me because wow I NEED to discuss this!! Make sure to read it review it tell your friends tell your fam! It gets 5 out of 5 stars from me!!
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