Devil Game

by Kyle Adams

In the last days, the heavens descend. Personal devils and angels sit on shoulders, granting divine powers and facilitating devil games. The game can be anything, the wagers are limitless, the reward is pleasure. The entry cost? Throwing a chunk of soul into the winner's pot.

Cal MacArthur thrives in this apocalypse, challenging his classmates for whatever they'll wager. Part of him wants to be a better person, but these unholy games draw him like a moth to hellfire. As long as Cal never loses, he won't get burned.

But the stakes soon ramp up, and Cal wagers himself into a tournament game against the servants of Lucifer himself. Cal wants to keep his winning streak going, and devote himself to a righteous cause, for once. But if he doesn't master the devil games before facing Lucifer's soulless thralls, he might lose himself to his own demon and become the terror he fights against.

Genres: Fantasy

272 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 18, 2020

About the author

I was born on a stormy night in March, while cyclones raged across the southeast. Now I live in the shadow of a giant missile, waging war against the foe all creators face—The Day Job.

I'm the author of the quirky urban fantasy Drama Club series, and the standalone Devil Game, which twists Christian mythos into a battle manga (but without the pictures).

To complete my bardic résumé, I took on audiobook narration. I am the unofficial narrator of the Pact Audiobook Project, a web serial written by Wildbow, and have lent my voice to a smattering of other works on Audible.

I also climb rock walls in between ankle sprains, seduce half-orcs in Dungeons and Dragons, and dabble in music and programming.

Reviews

[C.S. Wachter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, first off, the blurb caught my attention. “In the last days, the heavens descend. Personal devils and angels sit on shoulders, granting divine powers and facilitating devil games. The game can be anything, the wagers are limitless, the reward is pleasure. The entry cost? Throwing a chunk of soul into the winner's pot.”

In the second place, the first few paragraphs confirmed my choice.

This is an imaginative, creative, and well-written book that once I started, I couldn’t put down. The main character is a teen named Cal. His shoulder devil is a kitty cat named Lix Toyol. I mean, how cute is that?.But don’t let that innocent kitten persona fool you, Lix is powerful. Cal’s shoulder angel is sweet and shy Cassiel.

But losing your soul, piece by piece, to the darkness behind the games isn’t cute or sweet. Cal, however, is a winner and, as such, takes the games lightly … and the euphoria of winning is addictive. Like most teens, Cal thinks he is invincible and acts on that assumption.

Cal’s life changes when he’s recruited by Raj for a special, high stakes game. Training and a series of interesting and varied exercises quickly follow with steady pacing drawing the reader inexorably forward to a wonderfully satisfying ending.

Several other characters round out the story. From Raj, the mysterious recruiter, to Cal’s monk-like roommate Mattan, to the explosive Winter, the distinctive characters grabbed my attention.

Though I took note of a few missing words and grammatical errors, they weren’t enough to pull me from the story and certainly not enough to lower the 5-star rating.

Devil’s Game is a unique story with excellent pacing and interesting characters. Although I’m not personally a fan of 1st person POV, I enjoyed being in Cal’s head … even if he’s a teenage boy. In all, I highly recommend Devil Games. It gives a whole new meaning to the apocalypse.

[Sean Elliot Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kyle Adam's "Devil Game" is a well-written, incredibly original fantasy novel that takes place during the Apocalypse. In this world, there are select individuals who have taken the Mark who are able to use either demons or angels to contract superhuman abilities against others in various contests or challenges. Losing means a part of a person's soul is taken, and that person becomes more susceptible to the demonic realm.

A teenager, Cal, who's never lost a Devil game finds himself recruited to join a group who will stand up against, and seek to save, the Lost Legion, humans who have been overtaken by powerful demons and are being used to terrorize cities across the world.

Adams does a stellar job of portraying Cal in the first person keeping the narrative fresh and with surprises throughout the journey. Battle sequences are exciting and conducted with great imagination. Surprises await the reader with a finale that was unexpected and authentic to the characters. I wonder if the author has been influenced by anime as the demon, Lix Toyol, and Cal's angel, Cassie, are both shown with vivid descriptions, both interactions allowing for some comedic moments. I found the interactions between Cal and Lix Toyol to be especially interesting. Questions of selfishness versus selflessness, being a good person even when you don't feel motivated to be good, and much more are weighed by the author.

Although set during the Apocalypse, the story is only loosely based on a Biblical worldview. Christ's redemptive work, "the Word becoming flesh", is only subtly mentioned, but I'm sure many will enjoy the author's handling of the story, which, on its own merits, is well done and unforgettable. I'll ruminate aspects of this novel as I believe it has something to say to us. The characters are interesting and have depth. I could see this fresh take on the Apocalypse being made into a film. Recommended

[K. Queen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a lot of fun and has a quick, engaging style that pulls the reader forward effortlessly. There is the overall arc that kept me engaged and curious how the story would play out, and all the individual games from chapter to chapter made each chapter a satisfying sort of mini-arc, making it all the more enthralling.

The world-building is perhaps my favorite part. The angels and demons were used in an exceptionally unique way, and the games and their stakes were incredibly imaginative. The unique world-building gave this story a wonderfully distinctive atmosphere.

The characters were also very well-defined. The POV protagonist as an ambitious teenager with a high view of himself made for an easy, natural read for someone like myself who has been that teenager. Character growth and revelations were incremental, keeping a sense of progress throughout.

Very well done on this story!

[Kim Acco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is a different take on how the apocalypse will play out. It seems life goes on as normal although daily living proof of the paranormal exists; angels and demons are visible on the shoulders of human beings. Teenagers still go to high school while the ultimate fate of all souls is being questioned, or bartered, through ‘devil games’. There is a gaming addiction problem that is spiritually corrosive. What’s the solution? This coming-of-age narrative is told in the first person through the main character, Cal Macarthur. I think this story would make a great premise for an anime series, like Pokémon, except demons' powers are captured instead of pocket monsters.

[Glen Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his new book, Devil Game, Kyle Adams shares his writing abilities and demonstrates that he knows how to tell a good story, an original story. It’s based on the premise that the apocalypse comes to Earth and with it, demons and angels are now visible to humans. People use them to wager against each other in games–Devil games–and when you lose a game, you lose part of your soul. Participating in these games gets the Mark of the Beast branded on your forehead.

The risk is obvious. Just like going to Vegas, the odds are stacked against you, and eventually everyone loses, and loses their soul. But they play anyway, because it is addictive. And that’s why the main character is involved. He’s good, and claims that he never loses, despite evidence to the contrary. He’s recruited, along with other young people, to fight against Lucifer and his Lost Legion in an effort to regain the souls of those who were lost.

The story is quite original, with most of the emphasis being on the games themselves, and I found myself thinking a lot about similarities to Ready, Player One. There’s a lot of positives to be said for this approach to telling the story, and the author does a good job in characterization, in dialog, and in overall writing throughout. Especially there is a lot of action in this story. I would imagine that the story would appeal to a younger audience, those who might be more involved in computer games.

If I were to think of any hesitations I have about the story, it would be my concern that evil, especially dealing with demonic forces, might be handled a bit too trivial. At the same time, the power of God was not emphasized enough. That’s a danger that I think would come with the subject matter, but I think it is also consistent with those who deal with gaming today anyway. Satanic imagery, and demonic representation seems to be everywhere in gaming today, and it may be that a book like this can appeal and reach readers who might not consider reading anything else associated with Christianity. I’m of the belief that Christians need to use any and every tool possible to reach people about God’s goodness and the dangers of Satan.

[Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kyle Adams' Devil Game offers a compelling blend of urban fantasy and Christian mythology, presenting a unique take on apocalyptic narratives. In this world, the apocalypse unfolds not with fire and brimstone, but through the emergence of personal devils and angels that grant individuals the ability to engage in "devil games." These games allow participants to wager anything, with the reward being pleasure and the cost being fragments of their souls.

The protagonist, Cal MacArthur, is a high school student who becomes deeply involved in these devil games, challenging his classmates for various stakes. Cal's journey is one of internal conflict; he is drawn to the thrill of the games and the power they offer, yet he is also aware of the moral implications and the risks to his soul. His character is well-developed, capturing the essence of a teenager grappling with temptation and the desire for redemption.

Adams' writing is engaging and fast-paced, effectively immersing the reader in this dystopian setting. The concept of visible demons and angels facilitating these games is original and thought-provoking, offering a fresh perspective on the battle between good and evil. The narrative delves into themes of addiction, morality, and the human tendency to gamble with one's well-being for transient pleasures.

The stakes escalate as Cal finds himself in a high-stakes tournament against Lucifer's own minions. This progression keeps the reader invested, as the outcome is uncertain and the tension palpable. The novel does an excellent job of portraying the allure and danger of the devil games, making it a compelling read for fans of urban fantasy and theological explorations.

In conclusion, Devil Game is a thought-provoking and entertaining novel that successfully combines elements of urban fantasy with Christian mythology. Kyle Adams has crafted a story that is both original and reflective, prompting readers to consider the nature of temptation and the cost of one's choices.